refuse or neglect this, ought not to have the care of my little boy. It would operate as a strong incentive to good conduct on the part of the child, to know that a faithful account of all his actions was to be sent to his mother ;but still it is better to make the love and fear of God the great motive by which he is influenced."

The editress of the Mother's Journal remarks, in her Obituary Notice, that Mrs. Judson's friends in America were afraid to take charge of little George; "for so perfect had been his mother's work in training him thus far, that they should fear they would only mar what had been done." Mrs. Ballister, the wife of the American Consul at Singapore, became very fond of him, and expressed the greatest astonishment, that a child born, and thus far bred, in an Asiatic country, could have made such progress in mind, manners, and morals; and the friends who had charge of him, wrote from the same place, “He causes us no trouble, since he only needs to understand what we wish of him, and he is ready to do it."

Notwithstanding all this, Mrs. Judson wrote to a friend, some years later, and when she had other children about her, "I think I made

one mistake in the management of George; but I trust the effect has been obviated by his being so early thrown, in some degree, upon his own resources. I allowed him to lean too

much on others, instead of studying to strengthen his character, as I now see would have been better. I shall endeavour to teach my other children more independence."

We cannot do better here than add short extracts from a couple of letters, written many years afterward, when the mother's earnest prayers had been answered, and her faith had received the richest of all rewards:

"My Beloved George—The last letter which I received from America respecting you, rejoiced my heart more than the reception of any letter before in my life. It was from Doct. Bolles, and contained the joyful intelligence of your hopeful conversion to God. Still I am not fully satisfied-I am longing to hear that you 'daily grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." "

"This is the fifteenth anniversary of your birth-day; and I feel it to be--I had almost said, the most important period in your life. At least it is very, very important, as on the turn which you now take, your course through life will probably depend. Oh, how comfort

ing to my anxious heart is the thought, that you have decided on the most momentous of all subjects, and that you have decided right; that you have determined to identify yourself with the people of God, by leading the life of a humble follower of the blessed Jesus. Oh, how full of anguish would my soul be, now that you have arrived at this age, had I not a hope, that you were a Christian! Blessed be God! I have this sweet, this cheering, this most consoling of all hopes, to sustain my heart when ready to sink, as it measures the distance between us, or looks back upon my long separation from you, my darling, eldest

son.

Tears come to my eyes, and I am ready to throw aside my pen, and obey the strong impulse to weep, as I think of the endearments of your infancy, and the sweetness of your childhood, when your soft cheek was pressed to mine, and all your little griefs buried and forgotten in my bosom. I always think of you as the little, innocent, prattling boy you then were. I would fain ever think of you as such; but the picture must change; and I must try to imagine you growing up to be a tall, young

man.

"I said before, that it is an unspeakable joy to my heart that you are hopefully pious.

Still, I am far from being free from anxiety on your account. There is, you know, a possibility of our being deceived. And even if we are able to say, as we doubtless may be, ‘I know that I have passed from death unto life,'yet the Christian's path is beset with snares and dangers. No doubt you have already had severe struggles with remaining sin in your heart. I feel strong and peculiar desires, that you become a truly conscientious, prayerful, devoted Christian. Be not contented with possessing a mere hope in Christ, that He will pardon your sins and save you at last. Live with religion in daily exercise in your soul. Then you will-you must be happy. Can you resolve to devote your whole life to the service of your blessed Saviour? Do you really give Him your heart, and determine, (with His assistance, which He will surely grant in answer to prayer,) never to do, nor say, nor think anything contrary to His holy will? True religion, always in exercise, affords the only certain retreat from the sorrows, and trials, and sins of this mortal state.

Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh unto you.'

"Pray without ceasing.'

Watch unto prayer.'

CHAPTER XIV.

TRIAL ON TRIAL.

"Oh! who could bear life's stormy doom,
Did not Thy wing of love

Come brightly wafting through the gloom,
Our peace-branch from above?"

X

Moore.

N less than half-a-dozen years after her second marriage, Mrs. Judson thus wrote to her parents: "My beloved husband has been troubled with a cough for about six months; and, unless speedily removed, it must terminate in pulmonary consumption. It seems to me, that it would be pleasant to die with him, but oh! how could I live without him? I have already passed through many trying scenes; but now, were it not for the sure promise, "As thy day is, so shall thy strength be," I should yield to utter despondency, at the sad prospect before me."

Of all destroyers, she had reason to dread this the most; and now it was standing a