'I do not think so well of the plan, my child. The fourth wear of Louisa's dresses would scarcely answer for baby

sis.'

'That was what I was thinking,' said Ernest; 'Our dear little sis shall never be clothed in rags- -we must think of some other plan. If Mr. Eaton will let me take care of the school-room, I could earn some money to buy her clothes with. Will you, Mr. Eaton?'

'I think, my little lad, you are hardly old enough.'

'I can help him,' said Louisa, and together I am sure we could. I can lock and unlock the door, and do the sweeping, and Ernest can dust and put things in their places. Will you not let us try, Mr. Eaton?'

'Yes, I will let you try on one condition. You must give me a share in the lamb.'

He

The children were greatly surprised—they looked Mr. Eaton earnestly in the face to learn his meaning. smiled and explained a little more. 'You must allow me to share in the pleasure of providing whatever Rosa may need.' How will you do it,' said Ernest.

'I will pay you every Saturday night twenty-five cents for taking care of the school-room, and I will put with it twentyfive cents more as my part for Rosa-this you must put into mother's hands for her use. Do you agree to this? 'Yes, indeed! What a grand plan this is! Rosa, you will not have to wear old clothes. will be-and we shall all be rich, for we shall Sister Aggie, does not this plan suit you? Louisa calls a dew-drop in your eye-what is the matter?' 'I do not like this plan. I have no share in doing anything for Rosa.'

Now, dear How rich you be so happy. There is what

'Yes, just as much as we have, for you must take care of her while we clean the house.'

6

'And, that is not all,' said Mr. Eaton, you must take care of her and little sister every day some of the hours between school while Louisa learns her lessons, and I must take one hour every evening to come in and hear her recitations. For in keeping the pet lamb, Louisa must not neglect her books.'

'I think that will do,' said Agnes, and I can sleep with her, and put on her stockings and shoes every morning; but the dear little lamb has n't got any yet, but she shall have some when we get the first half dollar. Now, father, do you not think we have got a plan at last that will do?'

'Yes, if your mother likes it.'

And I know mother does, for she always loves everything good, and she loves Rosa as much as any of us. Do you not like it, mother?'

'Very much, my dear child; and I think I will step over to Mrs. Murray's and tell her we have a home for her babe, for it will be such a comfort to her mother's heart.'

Mr. Eaton remained with the family, interesting_the children with some incidents of his early life, until Mrs. Dale returned from her mission of love. Then every eye was fixed on her with an inquiring look.

In answer to this, she said, The poor woman is very faint this evening and could only speak with difficulty. When I told her we wished to keep her babe, that we all were unwilling to part with the little pet lamb, she fixed on me an earnest loving gaze, and raising her clasped hands, she said, Amen.' She then seemed absorbed in silent prayer. I waited for a few minutes and rose to leave her. She faintly whispered, Bring the lamb to my arms once more.'

'And may I not see her again?' said Louisa.

'Yes-to-morrow is the Sabbath; father will be here to care for sis, and you may all go over to see Mrs. Murray with me, and we will take Rosa.'

The morning came with a warm sun, and Mrs. Dale with her family walked silently forth. Ernest drawing his little waggon with Rosa. When they reached the low hut, Mrs. Dale told the children to remain quietly at the door, until she stepped in and learnt if the sick woman was able to see them. Mrs. Murray smiled as she saw her friend, and extended to her her hand, saying 'I am feeling better this morning. I have rested in prayer through the night, and have had bright glimpses of our Heavenly Father's love. I believe all suffering with me is over. The terror and pain of death belong to the past, not the future. I do but tarry in this worn-out body a little longer, that these eyes may behold the Lord's little lamb once more. Can you bring

her to me?'

Mrs. Dale raised the sick woman in her bed, and presented to her once more her own dear child, who was kissed and kissed by the pale lips of the dying woman. The pet lamb stretched forth its little arms, and smiled as only a child can smile.

A few hours after, the mother died with the beam of

triumph on her brow, and her last words were, 'God bless my child-Lord Jesus receive my spirit;' and she passed to the land of sunshine, where holiness ever reigns, and happiness ever lives.

The pet lamb was provided for, and tenderly watched over in the bosom of the family which had adopted her; and she grew up and became a blessing to herself her friends, and the world.

FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY.

"Faith, Hope, and Charity-these three,"
But chief of these, fair Charity,

What would this world without you be?
Faith in the heavenly mystery,

Hope in the glories yet to be,
Where all is boundless Charity.

Faith in the blessed Trinity,

Hope through Christ's glorious victory,

Both fruitless without Charity.

Faith, casting mountains in the sea,

Hope, piercing through eternity,
Both crowned by god-like Charity.

Faith, lofty as the mustard tree,
Hope, smiling through heart-agony,
Their source and end, sweet Charity.

Through Faith the heaven of heavens we see;
Hope gilds life's path with radiancy;
Brightest of all shines Charity.

On earth, Faith holds high sovereignty,
From earthly griefs Hope sets us free,
In earth and heaven reigns Charity.
By Faith from perils dread we flee,
Hope is of rainbow brilliancy,
But Heaven's bright star is Charity.
Faith looks on death triumphantly,
Hope's rays then beam most lustrously,
Lit by the flame of Charity.

Faith ends with frail mortality,
Hope, also, ceases then to be;
Eternal is fair Charity!

E. HARPER.

REGENERATED PRESTON,

All our readers are most likely aware that, for seven or eight months, a fierce antagonism was carried on between the operatives of Preston and their employers. A dispute arose about the amount of wages which should be paid for a certain amount of work done. Trade having revived, and the country generally having, under the influence of Free Trade, grown more prosperous, the operatives in the manufacturing districts asked for higher wages, and in most of the large towns that request was complied with. But they were not so fortunate in Preston, and they accordingly struck. A prolonged contest was the result. The hands in Preston weré sustained by the operatives in full work in other parts. At last, as it might have been expected, the hands had to give way. Capital can remain longer without labour, than labour can remain without food. Hence, in all prolonged strikes, capital is almost certain to obtain the victory.

Without entering into the merits of the question, and ascertaining, according to the wisest teachings of political economy, whether strikes are proper or not, or whether the employed should dictate their own terms to the employer,

or whether the natural operation of the laws of supply and demand are the only ones before which all our social regulations which have reference to labour and the world's market must yield, without entering into this complicated question, we may say, that throughout this long and agonising struggle, the working men of Preston exhibited a spirit which was never before observable among what are called the lower orders in this country. They in no way threatened property. There was not a whisper of resorting to physical force to destroy the influence of the capitalists. The working men met in large bodies, sometimes as many as 15,000 at a time, and hardly ever less than 10,000; they listened to speeches, passed resolutions, cheered vehemently, all animated with one idea and one feeling, and they separated as quietly as they met. During a period of unexampled distress, while harrassed by supposed wrongs, and suffering with cold and hunger, they maintained the same silent respect for capital and the civil institutions of the country. During this period of seven or eight months, between two and three thousand pounds were subscribed weekly, by the operatives out of Preston for the maintenance of those who had struck. The war, and strikes in other places, brought the struggle to a termination.

We regard this strike as the most significant feat ever achieved by the working men in this country. It is an evidence of what they could do and endure. We do not say that the policy they pursued was a wise one. But we do say that they never presented to the world such unity of action, such sobriety of conduct, and such heroism before. Men who acted so firmly, so unitedly, and with such fortitude for so long a time, are capable of doing something better, and something which will contribute infinitely more to their advancement than any strike can accomplish. One of the speakers on one occasion spoke of the property of the men associating together, and work for themselves in mills of their own, and so have a regenerated Preston. Such a consummation is much more easily talked about than realised; but the fate and the future of England's working population is in their own hands. Working men are gene rally the greatest enemies of their own interests. Let them drive from their ranks intemperance; let them become sober and husband their resources; let them respect property and rely on the force of ideas and opinions, and they may accomplish wonders.