broken chain of their sins, and He will lead them by the power of His Divinity into everlasting life.'

"While they were thus discoursing together, Satan, and the Prince of Hell, lo, a voice was heard, like the sound of many waters, and the noise of rushing winds, saying, Lift up your heads, ye gates, and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in.' And the Prince of Hell, hearing that, said unto Satan,Depart from me, and begone out of our habitations. If thou art a mighty warrior, fight thou with the King of Glory but what art thou to contend with Him ?' So he cast him forth from his habitations."

:

Thus, too, is the anticipation of the SAVIOUR'S Descent into Hell described by Cadmon :

THE OLD GARDEN.

"Gop the first garden made—and the first city, Cain."

Cowley.

"Deep grief-deep love-how naturally do these ally themselves with religious feeling; and all three-love, grief, religion-are haunters of solitary places. Love-grief-and the mystery of devotion-what are these without solitude? Solitude-though it may be silent as light-is, like light-the mightiest of agencies-for solitude is essential to man. All men come into this world alone-all leave it alone."-De Quincey.

"It is impossible to define the workings of this mysterious inner life-its promptings-its questionings-its extraordinary elucidations, and lucid perceptions; impossible to express in mere words, its reprovings-its plain speaking-its unblushing confidence, and yet shrinking timidity. Mystery of mysteries-this impalpable beingthis spiritual essence-this gossamer texture of thought and feeling, this adamantine chain never broken while reason holds its sway.". Winifred.

Yes-happy spirits come wandering round,

Among flowrets of the old gardens bound;

They shower pearl dew drops, as manna of days-
And the food sufficeth for sabbaths of praise.

At night time with shining wings unfurled,
Swift passing for work divine in the world-
They waft sweet hymns thro' the fields of air
When earth grows dim with its pain and care.

Is it wild fancy which careth to trace,
O'er lilies a mystic ineffable grace-

When Paradise angels have wandered round,
And with fragrance filled the old garden's bound?

The journey of life developes to me,

A black highway of folly and falsity;

Wounded and faint-my soul cannot stay

In the glitter and toil of the long work-a-day.

Whoso pleads for Help at the pure golden door

Shall be nourish'd when hungry-and rich when poor;
As seers shall discern in those precious hours,
When communing lone among fountains and flowers.

Yet warned by reality-fancy must fly-
The day is far spent the night draweth nigh;
Arise, O my soul-nor dream at the gate-
Whose portals may close-if awakening late.

COMMON THINGS.

MISS BURDETT COUTTS (whose name will be well known to our readers,) is doing her best to diffuse a knowledge of " common things" among schoolmistresses and female pupil-teachers. She visited Whitelands (the National Society's Female Training School) last week to award the prizes, &c., an account of which no one can read without interest.

"Miss Coutts was received by the officers of the Institution, and conducted to the large workroom, where she made the following address to the assembled young women (150 in number), who are either school-mistresses in charge of important metropolitan schools, or pupils in training at Whitelands, or pupil-teachers apprenticed to schoolmistresses :

"Before I give these prizes, I must first thank all the schoolmistresses who have competed for them, as they, by coming forward, have, I believe, given a great impulse to industrial training-the object I have so much at heart. It has been impossible to visit the schools of the schoolmistresses now present without feeling that they also have had this object greatly at heart, and that each in her district has tried to advance it, under a great variety of circumstances more or less advantageous, arising from a difference of local circumstances. Considerable misapprehension or misunderstanding has, I believe, existed with the public generally, and even sometimes among the schoolmistresses and pupil-teachers, as to the sort of education the Committee of Council on Education wished to promote; but none of the pupils in Whitelands, or in the schools the schoolmistresses of which are now present, can doubt that in these schools the first object of the committee is to encourage mistresses who will strive to promote, to the best of their means and ability, among the children under their care a sound scriptural education, industrious habits, and such an amount of information upon all subjects connected with their wants and occupations as will render them happier and more useful in their respective stations and classes. Social differences among classes must exist; but to whatever class a person may belong, the industrious discharge of the duties of that station in life is a social and religious obligation.'

"A copy of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Commentary on the New Testament was then delivered to each of the successful candidates among the school mistresses. To each of the successful candidates among the pupils at Whitelands another religious work was presented, and as each candidate advanced from the ranks to receive her prize, Miss Coutts called attention to those points in her written

exercise which had secured it for her. Some she commended for the sensible manner in which they had spoken of household work,' 'teaching boys to knit,' needlework,'' country matters.' One she specially commended for her observations on the influence exercised by the head of the family.' It is quite true,' said this pupil,' and it should not be forgotten, that though a woman cannot alter this after marriage, it is entirely in her own power whom she chooses to make the head of her family.' And to this remark Miss Coutts added Teachers would be doing a kindness to point this out to their elder girls when they leave school; and advise them, before they marry, to observe carefully the habits of life and conduct towards others of those who wish them to enter into so serious and responsible an engagement.' Other pupils were commended for their excellent treatment of economy, and their feeling answers on kindness to animals (insects included). The pupil-teachers were lastly called up and presented with appropriate prizes. The Rev. Harry Baber, the chaplain of Whitelands, was then authorized to state that Miss Coutts purposed to continue her offer of prizes for common things. The pupils in training and the pupil-teachers were invited again to come forward and compete. The chaplain informed the candidates that Miss Coutts had visited in person the school of each candidate, and thoroughly examined the whole of the papers. He then offered to Miss Coutts the best thanks of those assembled for the great amount of care and time and thought which she had so kindly bestowed upon them. Archdeacon Sinclair, as treasurer of the National Society, and the Rev. F. C. Cook, as Her Majesty's Inspector of Schools, both spoke warmly of the services which Miss Coutts had rendered to the cause of education, and pressed upon the young women the importance of making every attainment subordinate to the formation of a religious and practical character. When the meeting was over, Miss Coutts and her friends visited different portions of the institution, and expressed themselves much gratified with the spaciousness and manifest fitness of all the arrangements. They then returned and rejoined the young women, and conversed with them on the subject of the day. The proceedings closed with a wholesale tea-drinking, Miss Burdett Coutts not only assisting at, but partaking of, the refreshments. In a private letter of Miss Coutts, which we have had the opportunity of perusing, that lady states that she has been most anxious to impress upon this effort to promote industrial training a 'feminine and domestic' character. The scheme has been carried out with the distinct approbation of the Committee of Council on Education, who offered to attend on the occasion, and it has now assumed sufficient importance to be made public."

The Children's Corner.

ELLEN MUNRO; OR SCHOOL LIFE.

(Concluded from Vol. XIX. p. 473.)

Ir was almost eleven, when the stillness of the house was interrupted by the arrival of a carriage, and Mr. Lockwood came to see his child, whom he had expected to greet at her own home in health and gladness that evening. He had been detained till late in the afternoon by parish business, and as he was returning, a summons met him to the sick-bed of a man, whom he had often in vain tried to win from a desperate course, but who now in the midst of a dangerous illness wished to see him. Here in giving help to poverty, and trying to administer comfort to despair, the evening passed, and he returned wearied to his house, rejoicing in the anticipation of being met by Edith's bright face, and having her to himself after their separation. . . His coming did indeed seem to revive her, and during the hour he remained beside her, she scarcely looked ill. He saw very clearly however, even in the slight return of pain from time to time, that he must not hope for her to be spared to him, and the cheerful words and trustful language both used referred to no earthly prospects. Gladly would he have sat with her through the night, but more nursing than he could give was needed, and Mrs. Lonsdale persuaded him to rest, especially as he had further calls on him on the morrow which if possible he must attend to.

Early in the morning he came again to hear the report that she was not better, to mark the traces of suffering in her, and to see the fruit of his labours and prayers in the cheerful submission and sweet temper in which all was borne. She would not suffer him for her sake to leave his other patients unvisited, many she said needed him more than herself, and she would look forward to having him again in the evening, when he had promised her to administer to her the Holy Communion. Mrs. Lonsdale had just accompanied him to the hall