ing that in all this he has done too much, he lays me under new obligations by unnumbered kind attentions. When I had no horse, his was always at my service, to ride to my distant appointments, and to make my long journeys of 300 or 400 miles, to the meetings of the Con-tain the preached gospel, besides bearvention of ministers. Week after week he has not only provided a conveyance, but has gone himself to drive six miles to accompany and encourage me in my pastoral labors, and has delighted to carry a sleigh load, during the long win-members of his family, expressed hope ter, of brethren and sisters of the church, of conversion to God, and three of these the same distance to sustain me by their are now members of our church, in presence and their prayers. Besides, he whose christian walk we have much has never been forgetful of my basket occasion to rejoice. and my store. The New-England custom of sending to the pastor a piece of the fatted calf, or the stalled ox, or the tender fowl, has prevailed here so extensively that, though my table has been sufficiently supplied with fresh flesh, fish, and fowl, I have never but in one instance bought either in the period that I have been with this people; and in that instance, when I came in with my purchase, my wife met me, saying that the hour previous more than we needed had been sent in gratuitously by the brother above referred to. His have been the most frequent donations of this kind, though many others have been generously mindful of our wants. and souls of men, and he has enjoyed the smiles of God and the approbation of men. Though he has not entirely escaped the embarrassments which have been so universal, yet he has done for years much as he is now doing to sus ing a heavy burden in building a church As he has sowed bountifully he bas also reaped, in some respects, bounti fully. During the previous revival of last winter, five different individuals. THE PASTOR A PARENT, BEING SOME Let none, after glancing at the following obituary, turn away with indifference, say ing, "it is only a child." Those who have never died, themselves, in the death of sweet infants, and still survived to suffer, cannot appreciate the language which a father's full heart employs to describe such an experi ence. But there are many who have tasted this cup, who can sympathize with the fol lowing article; it is for them that it is pub which the world was made to disappear for a time, and heaven came very near and made new impressions on their softened hearts; and peradventure the reading may quicken them to duty in the training of those little ones whom God has permitted them still to retain. I will mention some additional facts concerning the brother to whose bene-lished. It will recall scenes of the past in volence I am so much indebted. Previous to the conversion of him and his wife, which occurred in connection with the labors of a devoted missionary, he was engaged in trade with the Indians, and dealt largely in ardent spirits. As soon as his eyes were opened by the Spirit of God to the awful consequences of that traffic, he resolved to abandon it entirely. When he threw away his intoxicating drinks, he found his business good for nothing, and he was thrown out of employment, with a little family growing up around him. Many called him a fool for being so scrupulous; while conscientious Christians said: the Lord will provide for those who make sacrifices for him. The event has thus far verified that prediction. He commenced business, adhering to his noble purpose, never to deal in that which so fearfully destroys the reason The scarlet fever was in this village, fast multiplying the victims of death. Some of the sweetest and brightest were its trophies. Yes, flowers the most fragrant and beautiful lay withered, and there was mourning in many a family. I often visited the beds of sickness, and accompanied the bereaved to the field of burial. Soon, to the scarlet fever were added the measles; many had them together. Nearly all of some families were sick at the same time. In one instance, a family the next door to us were all sick together except the male head. We had scarcely heard that || month after she was taken with the sickness was there, ere it was announ- fever, she fell into a relapse. She was ced that their eldest child had just ex- seized with violent symptoms late in the pired, and their second was dying. We evening, and so continued through the hastened to the spot; and O there was night. Her case soon became alarmsuch a scene as I had never witnessed. ing. We felt that she might soon be The eldest daughter, a blooming little taken from us, and the thought was one, in her fifth year, lay a corpse; the agony. She was brilliant and lovely. second, equally attractive, was lying She possessed a most sweet disposition, sick, her eyes looking up and sparkling, and was every way very promising. If her little hands raised and in constant she was not sanctified from her birth, motion, and her whole frame in the live- we believe she was very early. She liest exercise, as though she would fly was unusually fond of religious exeroff like an angel to heaven. The mo- cises, both at home and in the house ther and her only son, an interesting of God. She greatly delighted to be in little lad, confined by the sickness in the sanctuary, and was habitually there, the same apartment. Her infant daugh- almost from her earliest infancy. When ter, of three months, sick in the arms of only a year and half old, she would the nurse, and the father pale and so- sing several tunes, correctly, with the lemn standing in the midst of this over-sweetest voice; and often her notes whelming scene, and looking as though he wondered why Heaven had such a controversy with his family. Soon the second daughter expired, and the following day was buried in the same grave with her sister; and the day after, the infant was interred by their side. Thus in a moment were these parents made desolate one only child remaining. A little previous to this, being out some five miles to preach a funeral sermon, I was drenched with rain, which brought on a severe influenza which confined me for a season to the house, and prevented my preaching for two Sabbaths. Soon after, and on the day the last of the three sisters was buried, our only son was seized with the scarlet fever, and three days later, our Harriet Fidelia, near three and a half years old, was taken with the same disease, and so the father, son, and daughter were the subjects of the daily attention of physicians. My mind was now busy with forebodings! But, for a season the dispensations of the Lord appeared better than my fears, giving indications, that shortly, all would be well. The children were very sick. In a fortnight, however, the boy was able to go out, and soon after, the daughter to sit up a little each day. While her brother increased in strength, she remained feeble, occasionally relapsing, then growing better and exciting, alternately, painful apprehensions and cheering hopes. About a were heard in the great congregation, in harmony with the choir. At this early age, and ever after, she knelt, not only in family prayer, but frequently on other occasions, and without being bidden, to pour out her infant petitions to her Father in heaven. Often would she say, "I love Jesus." With indescribable simplicity and interest-her cheeks glowing and her eyes sparkling, she would frequently say, "I love God: God loves me :" "God made me." She had many excellencies, which none knew like her parents. She was the most affectionate of daughters, the sweetest of sisters, and the warmest of friends. She loved to share her little portions with others. She was quick of apprehension, very easy to learn, and unusually fond of books. Ere we were aware and with scarcely any help, she had committed the alphabet. She would often call our attention to her lessons, if we neglected her, and this was especially true, a little previous to her sickness. Within two days of her death, she asked for a favorite book, and after turning over its pages a few moments, for the last time, she requested to have it laid up and kept choice. She was very smiling and playful, attracting the attention of every circle where we came. Her name-Harriet Fidelia-was to us very dear, being named after Harriet Newell and Fidelia Coan-the latter the wife of a missionary at the Sandwich Islands. In view of her many traits of loveli ness, and of these endearing associa-stantly, as I had done every night since tions, the thought of a separation, her relapse, except an hour or two on seemed like dying ourselves. Every the night when she rested the best effort was made to save her. Two Her distress was exceedingly great, her physicians attended her faithfully; but lungs fast filling up, but she appeared no medicine operated till the second to know us, and was quite patient and morning; and then-O, the heart-ren- submissive. She had now a terrible ding scene, which followed!-her limbs conflict with the king of terrors. But became cold, her pulse ceased, her toward the morning she became easier, breathing was difficult, her eyes changed, and so continued, not appearing to noappearing larger, rolling about the room, tice any thing till a little past seven in and then were fixed expressively on me, the morning, when we went again with then on her mother, as we knelt by her, her, down to the dark "valley of the weeping. We viewed her as dying, shadow of death!" She lingered a expecting every moment she would while, and still lingered, beyond our exleave us. We sent, in haste, for the pectation, and we looked upon her with physicians, using at the same time all intense anxiety, and still felt, “O that the means in our power to detain her, she might yet accompany us, on life's and "praying with much entreaty," earthly pilgrimage; we would give mil"with strong crying and tears," that lions, did we possess them!" But she the Lord would raise her up. The doc- returned with us no more. Without a tors soon entered and found her a little struggle, in perfect peace she departed revived, but they expected she would from us into the other world. We soon die. It was such a time we had thought we gave her up, and we thought never before experienced. We had we had done it before, when we supnever before stood, where we then posed her dying; but the actual partstood. We had never before gone with ing-O the anguish !-Ours was the a dear child" down to the dark valley," dying! expecting her, every moment, to leave us. She has left a void in our family, beMeans were blessed. The Saviour yond the power of description. So fades bid her tarry, and she lingered on our the sweetest flower. So departs all shores. Her flesh grew warm, and she earthly bliss. Thus are blasted all was soon in complete perspiration. earthly hopes. God needed her, such There were symptoms of a recovery. are his plans. Her intellectual and She remained better for nearly twenty-moral powers are far more rapidly grow. four hours. Almost, in ecstacy I ex-ing in that world, than they could have claimed, "Can it be, our dear dying done here, with all the facilities of the child is still with us! It seems like a best literary and religious institutions; miracle." "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and she is, doubtless, so employed as to and forget not all his benefits, who pre- accomplish far more, in the advanceserveth her and my family from death." ment of his kingdom, than she could "Will the Lord restore her, and give have done in this world, with all the us grace to educate her just right and advantages of the very best education, make her a rich blessing to the church?" the richest treasures and the longest But, in the midst of these happy emo- life. Probably the reason why God so tions, our hopes were suddenly blasted. often selects the brightest of our chilThe burning fever was on her lungs, dren, and puts them upon the immediate and they were in danger of filling up. training of Heaven, is that in some gloThe next morning she was again easier rious enterprises in that world, they and our hopes again revived; but ere may more efficiently serve the interest noon, they were exchanged, for more of his great church, than they could agonizing fears. Her distress become have done on the earth. Since Hargreat, and rapidly increased, and before riet's death, I have had such views of the sun went down, her eyes seemed this subject, as I never had before, and closed forever on all earthly scenes! these views have not a little comforted This night I watched with her con me. G. C We depart from our usual custom of publishing the monthly correspondence of the Society, for the purpose of presenting a condensed view of FACTS which constitute the great Home Missionary claim. The period of the year has arrived when many churches are accustomed to make their annual collections in aid of this cause. Most of the information contained in the following pages has been published before, but it is here brought together and arranged so as to furnish the particulars which pastors may need in presenting this object to their people. And we earnestly solicit every pastor under whose eye this number may fall, to present an outline of these facts to his people, and ask them to inquire at the mercy-seat what the Lord will have them to do. They are matters of deep and solemn interest to him and to his flock. We ask every individual who may take up this paper to read it-to read it through. There are facts-there is an argument, we are persuaded, embodied here, however imperfectly it may be presented, that ought to make every christian ear to tingle, and nerve every christian arm in effort. Read it, Christian, read it, patriot, philanthropist, citizen of this republic, read it through, make, if you please, every deduction that incredulity itself can ask for, and say, even then, if the work of evangelizing this land, while yet it may be done, is not one of amazing moment! THE DUTY OF THOROUGHLY EVANGELIZING THE UNITED STATES. The salvation of this country is a subject of immense interest to the cause of Christianity. That great events, involving the renovation of the world are wrapt up in the future destinies of this nation, must be apparent to all who appreciate either-The intrinsic greatness of the United States; or-Their influence on the rest of the world. I. THE INTRINSIC GREATNESS OF THIS COUNTRY. SUPERFICIAL EXTENT. The territory of the United States extends over a surface of about two millions of square miles, lying wholly within the temperate zone. It affords therefore a space for the accommodation of human existence equal to the whole of Europe, exclusive of Russia; twice as great as either Hindoostan or China proper; more than six times as large as Great Britain and France taken together; ten times as large as France alone; and sixteen times as large as England, Scotland, and Ireland. The territory of the United States is nearly equal to that of the whole empire of Britain, including all her colonies and dependencies in Europe, America, Asia and Africa. weight, like that of the element in which we live, no man feels, unless he internal discord and foreign war, there opposes it; and in the exemption from is no example of a nation more favored. In the fact that every sober and industrious man may become a freeholder of the soil, may have a home which he may call his own-a word so fragrant and delicious to the heart-and by reasonable toil and frugality, may rear, educate, and comfortably endow a family, and this without hindrance, or and pillage, we witness a privileged fear of oppression or authorized robbery condition of mankind, an encourageduct, the counterpart to which has never ment to enterprise, labor and good conbeen found. In other countries the condition of labor has been a condition of restraint, servility and degradation. Let us thank God, that there exists in our country no other rank than moral rank. Here, without prejudicing his AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITIES OF THE neighbor's interest, and where the suc UNITED STATES. Of all countries, to none is agriculture more suited, no where can it bel more successfully prosecuted than in the United States. With a climate extending through sixteen degrees of latitude, there is scarcely a vegetable, cess of any one brings equal good to the community as to himselt, every man which his ambition can ask.-H. Coleman.) may aspire to the highest attainments and a half. or fruit, or cereal grain, which may not POPULATION, PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE, in some portion of it be successfully cultivated. With an unmeasured extent of soils of unsurpassed fertility resident population of the United States The census for 1940 gives the total every product conducive to comfort, at 17,062,566. Every year adds five health and luxury, is, under the bless-hundred thousand more; so that aling of Heaven, at the command of the ready the number is seventeen millions cultivator. With land to be had almost for the asking, and where a year's labor will purchase for any industrious man an ample farm; with a perfect security, in the free states, of the fruits of one's. industry; with an exemption from all burdensome taxation; with markets as good as any part of the world presents; with lines of intercommunication, rapid, easy. and certain, which abolish all distance, and which tend to equalize the advantages of the whole country; and with a government spreading its broad shield of protection over all, and whose What the population may become. Admitting as may be safely donethat the agricultural facilities and the salubrity of climate in this country are equal to those of any portion of the globe of equal extent, and what then is to hinder the population from becoming as dense here as in any other country? Should it ever equal that of Europe, |