bridgeshire, who invited us to return with them to inspect a Bazaar then open in the Restaurant of the Royal Hotel, for the benefit of a place of worship. Here may I say, that one reason why we decided on visiting Lowestoft was that we might be where we were unknown, and so be at rest, and free from all engagements. But visiting this bazaar dispelled our designs. We were soon recognized, and on being introduced to the minister for whose chapel the bazaar had been opened, we were sorry to find him suffering from a recent accident. This he pleaded as a reason why I must relieve him by taking his place on the next sabbath morning. I could not, under these circumstances, refuse; but should have much preferred to be at rest, especially as, having resolved to be quiet, I had not with me what I needed for such an engagement, and had to spend the next day in making preparation.

Having made a few purchases to encourage the design, we went to the pier—the place of general rendevouz in the evening. One penny is required of each visitor on entering; but who could begrudge it? Here was a wide platform stretching out a considerable distance into the sea, and forming one side of a spacious harbour, on each side of the entrance to which were two pagoda-like lighthouses. About half-way down the platform of the pier was another tasty erection-a sort of concert room, with refreshments for visitors. Near this building a brass band of German musicians were playing various favourite airs-home and foreign, as the visitors paraded up and down, or stood or sat to listen to their harmonies.

RUINS OF AN ANCIENT ENGLISH ABBEY.

WE have given you a handsome picture of an "Old English Castle," and have told you something about them. Here is an interesting sketch of the "Ruins of an Ancient English Abbey." Such ruins may yet be found scattered here and there over the lovely valleys of England.

More ancient than most of the castles of England were the abbeys. The castles, as we have told you, were for the barons and their soldiers, the abbeys were for the abbots and their monks. The castles were usually built on hills, or on high cliffs accessible only on one side; but the abbeys, which

were religious buildings, were usually erected in fertile valleys near some running stream.

The abbot was the chief man of the abbey. He was a sort of spiritual prince, and sat with the barons at their councils. Abbeys were very rich, and the monks who lived in them were plentifully supplied. They had many written books, which they spent nights and days in reading; but they were mostly popish tales, legends of saints, and lying wonders.

There were some good men among these abbots and monks who feared God, and were kind to the poor; but we fear the greater part of them were idle men who did not like to work, and so, under pretence of religion, crept into these places to eat and drink and do nothing but mutter the same forms of prayer every day and every night.

At the time of the Reformation from popery in this country, the abbeys were broken up by order of the king, who seized their property, and distributed the buildings and lands among his nobles. Only a few of the abbeys were fitted up as mansions by the nobles, the rest fell into decay and ruin, as they may be now seen in various parts of the kingdom. The stone work of the large old windows, overrun with ivy and crumbling to pieces, present an interesting appearance. But we do not regret them. We want neither abbeys nor abbots in England any more. We have got what is far better, and what they never had plenty of printed copies of the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make us wise unto salvation, through faith in Christ Jesus; and which are worth more to us than all the riches that mitred abbots ever called their own.

MAMMA'S PET.

WE expect that you have heard that there has been sad doings in India, where the black soldiers have risen in mutiny and done many dreadful things. Of some things they did we must not tell you; but they tortured and murdered many English fathers, and mothers, and children, who were living among them. Some of these escaped, and after many perils, reached the city of Calcutta, where they were safe. But most of these had lost a husband, or a wife, or children, or parents, and when they reached Calcutta were in great distress. One of these was a dear little girl all alone! This explanation will help you to understand these verses by a writer in Chambers' Journal.

WOMEN and children!-what a sight
Was there when, gathered to her breast
After their bloody breathless flight,
Calcutta bade the victims rest!

Strong men, with voices weak and low,

Stood by to ask their names, their woe.

Some answered, but with choking sighs

And wringing hands; and some stood there
Heedless, with their unconscious eyes

Fixed in a blank and ghostlike stare;

Some told their tale in screams, and some

Covered their faces and were dumb.

One of the throng, a little child,
A fair-haired girl, was all alone;
No mother on her darling smiled,
No brother spoke in cheering tone:

All, all alone, with eyes serene,

She gazed upon that strange sad scene.

They came to her, these pitying men, And one beside her knelt, and took The orphan to his breast, and then, With gentle voice, and gentler look, "Dear child, what is your name?" he cried: "I'm mamma's pet," the child replied.

The wild moustache, the rough black beard
Quivered: upon her golden head

He laid his broad brown hand, and cleared
His husky throat: "Poor child," he said,
"You are called something more-say yet
Your name," "I'm just mamma's sweet pet."

O Mother! in your dismal grave,

O murdered Father! hear us vow
Our homage to the fond and brave

To lavish on that baby brow,
To pay in love our sacred debt-

For yours shall be the Nation's pet!

MOTHER AND BABE IN HEAVEN.

OH! when a mother meets on high
The babe she lost in infancy,

Hath she not then, for pains and fears,

The day of woe, the watchful night,

For all her sorrows, all her tears,
An over payment of delight!