Once more "the Imp" broke in :

66

Oh, let me tell, dear Miss Atherton !" she exclaimed, dancing up and down in her impatience. "Lily, dear Lily, I must !" and without waiting for further permission than the smile which Miss Atherton could not repress, she dashed on: "I found out quite accidentally, and I did not tell, because Lily doesn't like such things told of her-but it's a poor girl who has spine-disease, and Lily wanted her to have the money for a better bed, and she saved up for ever so long, and then she made Nanny manage it, because Nanny had known the girl longest, and Lily thought maybe the girl wouldn't like to see her, if she knew, and that's where she takes Lina's flowers and things !"

Here Lina, beaming with delight, took the word: "It was so good of Lily to tell me, Miss Atherton, and to let me help! She wrote me such a sweet little note, and told me why she didn't refuse my trash, and how much good it was doing, as if I had anything to do with it! I'd bring her twice as much, if she'd only let me, but she won't l"

"This is turning into an ovation !" said Miss Atherton, smiling kindly at Lily's abashed face. "We will stop here, and not distress Lily further. Are you satisfied now, Martha ?" and she turned, her tone growing stern.

But Martha's face was buried in her hands, and her bitter sobbing rang through the room. Lily was by her side in a moment, with both arms around her neck.

"Dear Martha," she said, softly, "don't cry so-please don't! It was all a mistake, and we will never think about it again, but be just as we were before it happened, won't we, girls?" and she looked round appealingly.

There was a moment's hesitation, and then May Ogden stepped to Martha's side.

"I'm sure I can forgive you if Lily can," she said, "and I know it will please Lily best for us all to be friends again," and she gave Martha a resolute, if not a very cordial, kiss.

The other girls followed her example, and Miss Atherton did not interfere. She had carefully studied the characters of her girls, and she knew that the recollection of this day would do more for Martha than reproof or punishment.

The event proved her right. Martha was softened and humbled by the bitter experience through which she had passed, and she turned the resolute will, which had caused her to be quite as much feared as loved, into a force to control the faults to which she was now, for the first time, fully awake.

And many times, in after years, did her friends wonder at the fervent charity with which she spoke of words and actions which others condemned. "We can only see actions and results," she would say; "let us leave judg ment, and above all, condemnation, to that One who alone can see our thoughts and motives."

hath absented himself from the public worship of God for five weeks last past, contrary to law, etc. 3. That Hannah, the wife of Edward Sadler, of sd Boston, ropemaker, hath wilfully absented herself from the worship of God for six weeks last past, contrary to law, etc. These are, therefore, in his Majesty's name to will and require you to attach the bodies of the said Gamaliel Rogers, Benjamin Loverage and Hannah Sadler, if they may be found in your precinct, and them convey before one or more of his Majesty's justices of the peace in said County of Suffolk, in order to their being secured, to make answer to said presentment at the adjournment of court of general sessions to be holden at Boston in and for said County of Suffolk, on Monday, the 27th day of January next, at 9 of the clock in the forenoon of said day. You are also alike required to summon the persons named as witnesses to the respective presentments, to appear at the same time, to give evidence on his Majesty's behalf. Herein fail not, and make return of your doings therein unto the said court."

GOING TO CHURCH.

SOME go to church just for a walk; Some to stare, and laugh, and talk; Some go there to meet a friend, Some their idle time to spend; Some for general observation, Some for private speculation; Some to seek or find a lover, Some a courtship to discover; Some go there to use their eyes, And newest fashions criticize; Some to show their own smart dress, Some their neighbors to assess; Some to scan a robe or bonnet, Some to price the trimming on it; Some to learn the latest news, That friends at home they may amuse; Some to gossip, false and true, Safe hid within the sheltering pew; Some go there to please the squire, Some his daughters to admire; Some the parson go to fawn; Some to lounge, and some to yawn; Some to claim the parish doles; Some for bread, and some for coals; Some because it's thought genteel; Some to vaunt their pious zeal; Some to show how sweet they sing; Some how loud their voices ring; Some the preacher go to hear, His style and voice to praise or jeer; Some forgiveness to implore; Some their sins to varnish o'er; Some to sit and doze and nod; But few to kneel and worship God.

GOING TO CHURCH IN THE OLDEN TIME IN the olden time every one of Boston's ancestors was compelled to go to church. The following is a copy of a writ, the original of which is in possession of the Rev. Dr. Clark, served upon the sheriff in the town of Boston, something more than one hundred and forty-nine years ago: "Whereas the grand in quest for the body of the County of Suffolk have upon their oaths presented that Gamaliel Rogers of Boston, in the County of Suffolk, victualler, hath wilfully absented himself from the public worship of God for the space of five weeks last past, not having at such time any lawful cause for so doing contrary to laws, etc. 2. That Benjamin Loverage of sd Boston, laborer,

OLD DOCTOR PHELPS.

PROFESSOR AUSTIN PHELPS, of Andover Theological Seminary, gives this illustration of the pastoral zeal and success of his father, Rev. Dr. Eliakim Phelps, who died last year at the age of ninety :

"I remember once riding with him six miles into the country in search of a man, not one of his congregation, but who professed to be an infidel, and whom my father claimed on the principle which he often affirmed as the rule of his pastoral labors: "The man who belongs nowhere belongs to me, and I must give account of him.' On the occasion referred to, he spent the whole afternoon in argument and friendly admonition to the unbeliever. I could not judge of his success; I only knew that he seemed to have made the man his friend. One of the wealthiest

men in his parish was believed to be unapproachable on the subject of religion. The pastor, not daunted by the report, called upon him, followed him into his magnificent garden, and after discussing the fruits of the season till his host seemed to be in a good humor, he sat down with him on a bench in the arbor, and told him his errand. The old man drew himself up and said, in hackneyed pride:

"Sir, my religion lies between me and my God. When I feel the need of other aid I will send for you.' "The pastor grasped his hand and replied:

"In this matter of personal fidelity to the souls of men, I must regard him as a model pastor. He had little confidence in the usefulness of a pastor whom his people saw only or chiefly in the pulpit. Volumes would be required to relate the narrative of his pastoral faithfulness and its reward. The staple theme of conversation in his home was the salvation of men. I well remember the novelty of the discovery to me when I left home and learned that there were clerical families in which this was not true. The home life of my father for years led me to interpret

sation.' His life's work was that of preaching Christ publicly, and from house to house. The Apostle to the Gentiles' could scarcely have given himself more devotedly to that one thing."

years.

could check his course in any career it may have pleased him to pursue.

Alexander Nicolaivitch was born on the 29th of April, 1818, at a time when his father was simply a Russian Grand Duke, having no apparent chance of succeeding to the throne. He was carefully educated by his mother, Alexandra Feodorowna, sister to the King of Prussia, and by his first tutor, General Moerder, a German Protestant. By his father he was trained in soldierly habits and martial exercises, and he had for the finishing of his education the assistance of a somewhat extraordinary preceptor for a prince; the famous Russian poet, Joukowski. In 1834, at the age of sixteen, he was considered to have attained his majority, and was intrusted with high command in the army. As chief aide-de-camp to his father, it was a part of his duty to conduct those splendid reviews in which Russian im

The two assassins of the Czar were immediately arrested. The glasses of the gas-lamps in the Michael Garden, beside the canal, were broken in pieces by the concussion of the explosion. A cordon of guards was drawn around the scene of the murder. The streets became densely thronged with excited crowds. The utmost sympathy for the imperial family was everywhere expressed, and the bells of the principal churches were tolled. The Czarevitch, on leaving the palace after the death of the Czar, was hailed as Emperor by the crowd. He was surrounded, contrary to his custom, by a strong mounted escort.

Telegrams announcing the death were sent to all foreign courts, and to every part of the empire. It is said that the bombs were made of thick glass, filled with nitroglycerine. The assassins stood on opposite sides of the road. The carriage was moving fast, and the first shell struck the ground behind it, and the back of the carriage was blown out. The coachman implored the Czar to enter the carriage again, but he moved a few paces from the carriage to see the wounded of his escort. The assassin who threw the first bomb tried to point a revolver at the Czar, but the pistol was struck from his hand.

Sovereign of half Europe, lord of one-third of Asia, ruler of one-seventh of the surface of the world, and irresponsible master of eighty millions of people, the Czar of all the Russias knew no equal upon earth. His power extended over the consciences of his subjects as well as over their lives and liberties. As head of the Church he wielded a moral despotism as great as his material power, and neither lords nor commons, press nor people, held one rein that

From the time of his marriage, which took place on the 28th of April, 1841, one day before his twenty-third birthday, until the day of his accession, on the 2d of March, 1855, he passed his days very quietly, occupying himself chiefly with the care of the military schools of the empire. He was understood to be violently opposed to the Crimean War, and it was, therefore, easy for him to conclude a peace when the embarrassing heritage of the quarrel devolved upon him.

All Europe hailed his succession to the throne with delight. A large and liberal system of education was promulgated, the universities were set free from certain restrictions imposed by Nicholas, and the supremacy of the military in civil affairs rigorously suppressed. This was the task of his first year of power. In his second he set himself to work to try and pacify Poland, and by a decree of the 27th of May, 1856, he allowed the exiles of 1830 to return to their country.

But while the dealings of Alexander with Poland were more cruel and severe than those of any monarch in history with any former captive nation, he proved himself a beneficent ruler to his own subjects. His name will be remembered throughout all time as that of a monarch who, in spite of the strenuous opposition of his counselors and of the nobility, abolished the degrading condition of serfdom in which his people had for ages languished. By a decree of the 3d of March, 1861, serfdom was abolished throughout the Russian Empire, and the lasting gratitude of millions yet unborn must follow the name of him who gave them freedom.

discreetly transferred her affections to the new heir to the throne, the Emperor's second son, Alexander, who now becomes Emperor of Russia. On the day succeeding the assassination the oath of allegiance to Alexander III. was taken by the members of the imperial family. In the afternoon all the officers of the guards, the civil officers and the Court dignitaries met at the Winter Palace to take the oath. When all were assembled, the Emperor and Empress and the imperial family issued from the cabinet where the dead Czar lay. In passing through St. George's Hall, on the way to the chapel, the Emperor stopped before the guard of honor and said, with emotion: "I should not like my son to ascend the throne under such circumstances as the present."

A MODEL DRINKING-FOUNTAIN.

THE drinking-fountain erected at the intersection of Madison Avenue and Twenty-third Street, by Miss Olivia Phelps Stokes, daughter of Mr. James Stokes, of New York, and by her presented to the city, has already become a principal attraction in that quarter, where the generosity and public spirit of the donor are most thoroughly appreciated. The fountain, erected at a cost of $6,000, is triangular in form, and eleven feet in height above the pavement. Two of its sides are devoted to troughs for horses, which receive water from the mouths of twin dolphins, while the third is reserved for the accommodation of thirsty bipeds, who are supplied with water from a foliated shell. It is constructed of polished granite, resting upon a brick foundation. Over the entablature of the columns are carved dolphins, which repose upon the angles of the dome. The whole effect is tasteful and pleasant.

It was not intended, by the lady at whose expense this handsome fountain was erected, that her name should be known to the public, and her thoughtful act has, perhaps, a greater charm for that very reason than it would have possessed had it been ostentatiously done.

The immediate consequence of the Czar's assassination will probably be a harsher pressure upon the Russian people of the iron rule of that "Third Section" by which all the earlier efforts of Alexander II. at reform were so effectually nullified. After the attempt of April, 1879, upon the life of the Czar, all Russia was put under the sway of six Governors-General, wielding full powers to suspend all the ordinary procedures of the police and of the tribunals of justice. The empire was simply ruled by the sword, and it can scarcely be questioned that for a time at least the imperial authorities will feel themselves compelled to renew this system of absolute and merciless repression. But fortunately for Russia and for humanity, there are many reasons to believe that the new Emperor will not be disposed to permit such a system to be maintained for any considerable period. It has been well known for years past that the son of Alexander II. has been estranged from his father not only by domestic difficulties, but by a very serious divergence of views as to the political conduct of the empire. From the outset of the Schouvaloff régime in 1867 the Czarewitch openly condemned the reactionary measures imposed by that able and unscrupulous minister upon the Czar. He openly took part with Nationalists like Aksakoff and Samarin, and gave it to be understood on all possible occasions that he would never consent to rule Russia as an autocrat. The event which has suddenly called upon him to prove his words by his works is not of a sort to tempt him into turning his upon pledges and promises in the fulfillment of which alone he can hope to find a happier destiny for himself as well as for the great nation over which

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GOOD WOMAN'S TOMBSTONE.-Many of the old epitaphs found on country tombstones are notable only for their oddity, but here is one which contains in brief compass a whole nest of Scripture lessons. It is engraved on the slab which covers the grave of an old lady in Massachusetts:

"A Sarah to her husband,

A Eunice to her children,
A Lois to her grandchildren,

A Lydia to God's ministers,
A Martha to her guests,
A Dorcas to the poor, and
An Anna to her God."

The husband of this good woman must have been a highly favored man, and her children must have risen up and called her blessed.

NEEDLESS NOISE IN CHURCH.-In a Denver church there was, on a recent Sunday evening, a wild excitement. Passers heard the voices of women, blended together in a most inharmonious manner, shrieking as though in agony. Trembling with excitement and fear, the good citizens rushed to the rescue. Passers-by joined the throng; and in less time than it would take to tell it some of the crowd rushed in at the door and windows, while the others surged around the building. On the other hand, the occupants of the edifice, terrified by the intrusion, jumped to their feet, evidently thinking that the house was on fire. The screaming ceased, and astonishment and confusion took possession of the multitude. Neither party understood what was wrong with the other, and consequently neither fully comprehended the meaning of the other's interrogations. Luckily, just at this juncture, some member of the congregation was made to understand what the matter was, and at once enlightened the untimely visitors, by informing them that it was only a woman who had "foun' de Lawd," and was so happy that she was forced to express her feelings in unmistakable terms. It was thought by many, both of the church people and the outsiders, that a more subdued way of making known her new-found joy would have served this good sister quite as well as the great

racket she made.

SPURGEON ON PRAYER.—The suggestion recently made

by Spurgeon in regard to public prayer is worthy of the attention of every clergyman and of everybody who helps at a prayer-meeting: "It is my solemn conviction that the prayer is one of the most weighty, useful and honorable parts of the service, and that it ought to be even more considered than the sermon. There must be no putting up anybodies or nobodies to pray, and then the selection of the abler man to preach. Appoint the ablest man to pray, and let the sermon be slurred, rather than the approach to heaven."

A GOOD notion in church arrangement is suggested by the Presbyterians of Amenia, N. Y., whose church is improved as described in a letter by the pastor: "A word as to the place of the lecture-room. We have tried the novel experiment of putting it before the auditorium. The advantages are many (for a rural congregation); for instance, the cold vestibule in the tower is not a convenient lobby in which to wait for teams to come, the 'men folks' can stand there and summon the ladies on arrival of the carsome than tha laatum mom in a good nlega in which to

keep the outer wrappings warm, ready to put on after service; again, with a lower ceiling than the church, you have an infant class-room above it, with entrance from the tower. Finally, the system of doors prevents draughts upon the worshipers in the back pews of the church, and your extra seats are just where they will be wanted when there is a crowd to be accommodated."

In

BISHOP RYAN ON LENT.-Bishop Ryan, of St. Louis, in his Lenten Pastoral took ground far above the mere minutiae of bread and meat, and gave advice, the spirit of which may be found profitable to the devout of other communions as well as to those of his own. He says: "We also again remind you that the season of Lent is sanctified not only by fasting and abstinence and penitential observances, but also by a spirit of prayer, by more frequent attendance at Divine worship and religious services, by more regular and lengthy family devotions, by avoiding worldly dissipations and all unnecessary indulgence. all the churches during Lent there will be special instructions and devotional exercises, such as Stations of the Cross and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and the clergy will afford all an opportunity of approaching the Sacraments. We hope that no one will be found to neglect the Paschal Communion, which is of strict obligation within the Easter time, the first Sunday of Lent and Trinity Sunday; and as each pastor, in the yearly account of his mission, is required to report the number of those who neglect their Easter duty, we will indulge the hope that the number of those who are Catholics only in name, who despise the gifts and graces of God and forfeit all tight and title to the privileges of membership in God's Holy Church during life and after death, will be shown to be very small and yearly growing less. These holy Sacraments are the channels through which flow unto our souls from the Saviour's fountains the waters of life; they are by God's appointment the sources of supernatural grace; through them we are made partakers of the merits of Christ. Let no one, then, through carelessness or neglect deprive himself of what our Blessed Lord has purchased for him at the price of His very life, for 'you were not re

deemed with corruptible things as gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ.'"

DR. FRAZER'S WORK.-The Rev. D. R. Frazer, D.D., has completed his first year with Classon Avenue Presbyterian Church, Brooklyn, during which time sixty-nine persons have been added to the church, which now numbers 838 members, who last year raised $25,668 for church work, including $5,000 to complete the purchase of Duryea Chapel. The Sunday-school has 700 members, and the Young People's Association 205. We had the pleasure, in a previous issue of this magazine, of recording the wiping out of the church debt. Dr. Frazer's health, which was for a time somewhat broken down, is now in perfect condition, and his congregations fill the house.

Dr. COLLYER ON LENT.-The Rev. Robert Collyer, D. D. cannot see any good in the Lenten fast, but objects to it on this wise: "We are of the number who stand aloof from the thick shadows and insist on keeping the even tenor of our life. We cannot believe in the wholesomeness of the order to keep Lent, let alone its holiness, or agree for an instant that the soul's growth i ho these