d designed for me
and my poor sinful soul! But, thank God, I did go, and there learned the
way of salvation. Mother, I wish you had learned too."

As I listened to this affecting conversation, it appeared to me, from the
tone and manner of the mother's voice, that she was more under the
influence of temporary grief, on account of her child's extreme illness,
than sincere sorrow from any real sense of her sins. I however hoped the
best, and rejoiced to hear such weighty and important exhortation
dropping from her daughter's lips. I felt that present circumstances
rendered it far more valuable than my own could have been.

I have often, since that time, seen the wicked and careless much
affected, while sitting by the dying bed of a near relative: I have
witnessed their temporary acknowledgments of sin, and heard their
professions of amendment. But, after a short season, all has passed away
like the morning dew. The friend has been buried out of sight. The
world and its cares, the flesh and its sins, have returned with new
temptations, and the eloquence of iniquity has prevailed over the voice
of truth. "The dog has returned to his vomit, and the sow to her
wallowing in the mire."

On the other hand, how frequently have the deathbeds of true believers
been blessed to the eye-witness of the triumphs of grace over sin, death,
and hell! Often has the careless bystander received the first saving
impression of divine truth, whilst the dying Christian has experienced
and testified the supports of love and mercy in the trying hour. At such
seasons, faith wields a bright and burning torch, which occasionally
softens the hardest and warms the coldest heart. The expressions of that
heavenly consolation and devout solicitude, which the Holy Spirit
vouchsafes to some, thus become the happy means of grace and blessing for
the conversion and edification of others.

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches!"

At this moment the house-door opened, and a younger child, a brother of
Jane's, came in. The mother asked from above who it was: the boy
replied; and, without further inquiry, she remained in the chamber. I
beckoned to the lad to sit down quietly; and thus it still remained
unknown that I was below.

"Mother," continued Jane, "that is my brother, and will soon be your only
remaining child. Do, pray, encourage him to follow good ways. Send him
to Mr. ---, and he will be kind to