Year: 1867

hands outstretched, as if to bring
down on them the blessings for which
he prayed. Some of the women sob
bed audibly, but the minister was
calm. After>a few moments he said
"My brethren, as far as possible,
the services will proceed as usual"


Then in clear voice, in which there
seemed to his listeners ears some un-
earthly sweetness, he recited the Both
psalm, commencing:


"Out Of the deep have | called un-
to Thee; o Lord; Lord, hear my
voice r


Afterwards he gave out the first
llne of hymn which the congregation
sang. Then he prayed, and some
said who heard him that the eyes
closed on the earth were surely be-
holding the beautiful vision, for he
spoke as a son beloved, whose very
soul was full of the glory Of the Faith
er's presence.


The sermon which followed was
such an one as they had never heard
before from his lips. There was in it
a power, a fervor, a tenderness which
no words of mine can describe. 1t
was the testimony ola living witness
who had found the Lord a very present
help in every time Of trouble.


When all wa over, and he came
down the pulpit stairs, his wife stood
again at their foot, and he took her
arm and went out silently.


He seemed to the waiting congre-
CATION as one set apart aud conse-
Grated by the Amounting of special
sorrow, and they dared not break the
holy silence round him with common
speech.


The next afternoon committee
from the church went to the parson-
age. Mrs Spencer saw them coming
and told her husband,


at must be, he said, "to ask my
advice in the choice Of my successor"


Il think they might have waited one
day" she cried with woman's passion
ate impatience at any seeming forget
fulness Of the claims given him by his
years of faithful service.


The delegation had reached the
door by that time, and the minister
did not answer her. She waited on
the men into his study, aud left them
there, going about her usual task
with a heart full of bitterness.


1t was natural perhaps, that they
should not want hlind minister, but
to tell him so now. to make the first
paug Of his sorrow sharper 10y their
thanklessness; it was most too much.


An hour passed before they went
away, and then she heard her hus-
bands voice calling her. and went into
the study prepared TO sympathize
with his sorrow.


She found him sitting where she
lad left him with such a look of JOY.
peace, and thanklulness upon his face
as she had never expected to see it
wear again.


MARY" he said, there are some
kind hearts in the world. My parish
want me to stay with them, and insist
on raising my salary hundred dol
lars more a year.


"Want you to stay with them p
! she cried, hardly understanding his
words.


''Yes, told them that could not
do them justice but they would not
listen; they believe that my very at
Fiction will give me new power over
the hearts of men. that / can do as
much good as ever. They would not
wait a day, sou see, least we should
| be anxious about our future"


"And thought they were coming,
in indecent haste, to give you notice
to go" Mrs. Spencer cried penitently.
"How | miSjudged them! Shall |
never learn christian charity ?"


So it was settled the minister OF
MontcIair shall abide with his people.


For three years more his persua,
Sive voice called them TO choose the
better way, and then his own sum
mons came to 90 up higher. In those
three years he had sown more seed
and reaped more haveSts, than some
men in q long life time.


He did his work faithfully, and was
ready when the hour came for him to
90 home. Just at the last, when
those who loved him best stood weep
ing around his bedside. they caught
upon his face the radiance of a light
not in this world. He put out his
hands with glad cry:


II see, sect Out of the dark in
to the light Y


And before they could look witt
awe and wonder into each Others
eyes, the glory had begun to fade, The
outstretched hands fell heavily, ant
they knew that the blind minister
was gone, past night, past day,
where for him there would be NJ
more darkness.


! Two very gallant sons of Erin, be
ing just discharged from service, wer'