I answered, I am.

‘Are these your scholars?' I answered, Yes.

See, here is a pencil Mr. A

gave me to write the texts of Scripture and hymns with.' After saying something to each of the children, he had a distressed turn, which lasted for a few minutes. Soon he revived. I said, You

suffer a great deal of pain.

'O, yes sir,' he replied.

Do you feel happy in all your sufferings, when you remember what our Saviour suffered for us?

He replied, 'We do not suffer anything compared with what he suffered for us-nor half so much as we deserve.'

On my saying that in heaven there is no sickness nor pain, I asked him how he felt in view of it.

'Happy,' was his reply.

I asked him if he was willing to leave all and go to Christ.

He answered quickly, 'Yes sir.'

On my next visit, he was much worse, and could say but little. But his countenance told his feelings.

I asked him, if, now he was walking through the dark valley of death, he feared any evil. 'No sir,' he replied.

He evinced his love for the ordinances of God by his remarking 'Next Sabbath is Communion at Dr. Jenks's, and I expect he will come here;' and invited me to attend-adding, ‘I should like to have you come.'

Observing us in tears, he said,

'What are you crying for?' adding, 'You must not cry for me.'

He gave each of us a tract.

To me he gave

the Young Cottager, saying 'That is an excellent tract;' adding also, I like them.'

CHAPTER VI.

The Author returns. Nathan's proposal about a little school. His great suffering. Symptoms of approaching death. Devotional exercises. He gives away his playthings and other little property. He invites a little girl to go to Sabbath School.

Mr. A―

had now returned to the city, and

the journal was resumed.

Sabbath Evening, Nov. 22.-Nathan was in great pain this evening, but soon after I went in, asked me to read a hymn.

I inquired if there was any one in particular he would like.

"Yes sir,' he replied, the one you spoke about yesterday.'

I don't remember which it was, said I; was this the one?

'Sweet was the time when first I felt
The Saviour's pardoning blood.'

I repeated the hymn slowly, and explained to At the close of the last one-

him the verses.

'Rise, Lord, now help me to prevail,

And make my soul thy care;
I know thy mercy cannot fail,
Let me that mercy share.'

he said, 'Do you think he did, Mr. A-?' He requested me also to read a chapter, saying, 'I wish I could hear one read and explained every day; I should know a great deal about the Scriptures.'

God can teach you Nathan, said I, by his Spirit.

'Yes sir,' he said, he has taught you.'

I hope he will teach me, I replied, for we depend always upon Him for all our good thoughts. 'Yes sir,' said he; you would not have come to see me again, if the Lord had not put it into your heart.'

He then desired me to read about the Saviour when he was young. I turned to tre second chapter of Matthew, and endeavored to explain it as I read.

At the 8th verse. 'And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go search diligently for the young child, and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.'

I asked him why he supposed Herod wanted to know.

'That he might go and believe on him,' said he.

But at the 16th verse, 'Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, sent forth

and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem,' he said, 'Now I know what Herod wanted.' What?

'To kill Jesus,' he replied.

Sabbath Morning, Nov. 29.-Last night was rather a more comfortable one for little Nathan than the preceding, yet he is still in much pain.

He said to me, this morning, 'Do you ever have little children come together around you, and have a kind of little school?'

Yes, said I, I very often get them around me, to talk with them and tell them stories.

'Why won't you come this afternoon,' said he, and bring some little children, and we will have a little school.'

I should like to come,-very much,-but perhaps your parents would prefer not to have us.

'O yes, they are perfectly willing,' said he, 'will you come and talk with them, and I will talk with them too.'

Well, said I, we will see if we can find some children to come.

Presently he asked for the hymn book, and after turning over the leaves very hastily a few moments, as if trying to find a particular hymn, he said, giving the book to me,

'Till late I heard my Saviour say,'

Afterwards, he requested me to read a passage which he had marked in Baxter's Saint's Rest, -On Heavenly Meditation.

His little sister was quite sick to-day, and his mother was trying to persuade her to take some bitter medicine, which she was very unwilling to do. Nathan was to take some of the same kind, which he did very pleasantly indeed, without objecting at all, and then whispered to

me,

Our Saviour drank vinegar and gall.'

This afternoon Nathan was laboring very much for breath, and his face was swollen sadly; but he did not seem to mind it much. He asked again for the hymn book, and said, 'Now won't you read me the hymn you like best.'

He spoke again about the meeting for children, but there had been no opportunity to invite any during the day.

'Well,' said he, we can have it to-morrow, and then I can see some of the little girls from the school,' meaning the Mt. Vernon school, of which he often spoke. Several of the scholars had often been to see him, and had made him presents of grapes, oranges and books, during his sickness. He was very much attached to them, and remembered their kindness with much gratitude.

He wished me to read a chapter, and being asked what passage he would like, replied,

About the star of Bethlehem.'

I had said something to him on the subject before.

A very severe fit of pain soon came upon him, and he asked to be carried around the room, as his friends often carried him, in their arms.

As