The past patients and guests crowded in in batches to gaze at the trees; and then occurred what brought back to my remembrance the fact that I was within the walls of a hospital, which, in the bright and happy scene around me, I had nearly forgotten. For those of the present inmates who could bear the removal and the excitement, were brought down, one by one, in the sturdy arms of the nurses, and carefully placed in chairs, from which they could see the beautiful sight. Soon there was a semi-circle of maimed and halt and sick looking on, and one could see eyes dulled with pain and suffering, gleam with satisfaction, and crutches raised in trembling hands to point out particular beauties. I hardly knew whether to be sorry or glad at the sight; but I could not forget what would have been the fate some years ago, not only of these present patients, but also of a large number of the strong and hardy past patients who were looking on, when such an Institution as this Cottage Hospital was not in existence. After all had gazed to their full satisfaction at the trees, the work of demolition began, and everyone received some little remembrance of the occasion, and great was the general satisfaction. I was amused at the numberless little confidences that took place in corners over the gifts, comparisons being by no means odious. There were numbers of children and even babies present, and one of the long passages was soon turned into a race-course, along which a shouting competition was held. The babies very wisely went off to sleep after they had seen all that was worth seeing, and slept on quite regardless of the noise around them. Being fond of these little human buds, I cross-examined the parents about them; and in one case, I found a man with a baby asleep in his lap, who, as far as I could see, belonged in no way to his charge, having merely taken it for a time as a friend of the father, who after a while returned and took his child again; and I observed that it seemed quite a matter of course for one man to give a young baby into the charge of another. I wondered which among my own male friends would hold my baby for an hour as a matter of course.

By ten o'clock, and with many kind words from their hostesses, the whole of the visitors had gone away to their homes, and the Cottage Hospital was left to ordinary work again. The readers of this Magazine will see that this was, except for the circumstance of where it was spent, a very uneventful evening, and that I have very little indeed to tell about it. I may mention, I hope with propriety, the extreme energy and activity of the Sisters generally, and especially of one, who really seemed to contradict the assertion that a person cannot be in two places at once. May they long have the mental vigour and physical strength so necessary for their great labours of charity and love.

Among the special features of this Cottage Hospital may be mentioned a ward for incurables, for whom no provision is made in ordinary hospitals. When funds can be raised, a ward for consumptive patients will be instituted; but this, and numerous other necessary additions and conveniences, must wait for funds.

There are various other Institutions in connection with the Cottage Hospital. The Christ Church Home at Coatham on the sea-coast is a temporary Mother House for the Sisterhood. Here ten Industrial Girls live under the care of one of the Sisters. The Nursing Institution trains and sends out nurses, and their services are in great request throughout an extended district. At the Mission House, Middlesbro', live the Sisters, who, under the parochial clergy, visit the sick and poor in the district.

Classes are held here four evenings in the week, at which there is an average attendance of thirty boys and thirty girls.

I am sorry to have to finish this most imperfect account of this admirable charity by saying that it is-like most charities, I fear-greatly in want of funds. There is a debt on the building fund, which should not be allowed to exist; and, as I have said before, there are numerous improvements, which cannot be undertaken for want of money. The Sisterhood have given all they have-money, time, and labour; and it would be well if the great brotherhood around would take care that the one thing-moneywhich the Sisters cannot continue to supply, should be its special care; and I do trust that when the full sun-light of prosperity has returned to the Cleveland iron-trade, the first glimmerings of the dawn of which are now visible, the Cottage Hospital at North Ormesby and its branches will not be kept back in their excellent work by the want of what is even now pretty plentiful, and will be then in great abundance.

W. E. WILCOX.

EGOTISM.

'THIS does not concern me, at any rate,' I hear you say, young girl with the shadowy eyes, young girl of sixteen, seventeen, eighteen-feeling thoughts, aspirations, opinions, stirring within you, which you take for your character, but which are only the raw materials out of which every day your character is being moulded.

'But no one could say I was selfish; I would willingly sacrifice myself for another. How often I do so without being understood-how often my-'

How do you know all this about yourself? The egotism of which I would speak is the egotism of self-thinking, if I may be allowed the expression, not of self-seeking; of that I acquit the sort of mind I mean. Young girls who are at all above the common-place run, young girls who take the trouble of thinking at all, who have any imagination, are too apt to become self-conscious. They analyse their feelings and their thoughts too closely. There is an old and vulgar, but for all that very true, saying, that 'the healthy man does not know he has a stomach :' well, in the same way, the healthy mind is not aware of all its processes, of all the steps by which it arrives at any given result either of action or opinion. Yet this is a common form of egotism. Or else a girl makes to herself some ideal-some shadowy type of what she imagines herself to be, or wishes to be-and then leads an existence as if in a dream, often more or less acting the part she has assigned to herself. Now, the thought of how this and that would look in a book may occasionally be of use to us in helping to cure some minor bad habit, such as untidiness, unrefined language, or personal trick, (though even then it is seldom some higher motive to please a parent or other relative, for instance-cannot be found;) but habitually persisted in, this is a frame of mind apt to lead to affectation, insincerity, and even worse results. For in these ideal characters faults are too often allowed, and even tolerated. Pride is a very favourite one, forgetting the humility so especially inculcated all through the Bible.

I have seen girls pride themselves on their pride; or impetuosity, coldness, despondency, are the failings elected to predominance; and if

they do admit that their favourite short-coming is wrong, they too often make the confession of it stand for its correction. They forget that true penitence is to

'Bewail the sin we do commit,

Not to commit the sin we do bewail.'

'I could not help it,' they say; 'it was my pride, my impetuosity.' 'I know I am proud;' or, 'I know I am impetuous;' or, 'I know I was wrong, but I could not do otherwise: I have naturally a quick temper; I may be led, but will not be driven.' Then comes, perhaps, the flashing eye, the drawing up to the full height, that sound well in a book, that look well in a picture, but which in real life only make one sorry for the exhibition of such undisciplined passions; whose indulgence only render their owner unfit both for earth and Heaven, and which too often God has to tame by chastening and trials. 'He resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.'

Perhaps you will say we have wandered a long way from egotism; but have we not proved that all this comes from too much self-thinking? as the French have it, 'Elle se l'écoute trop;' and of how many is this true, resulting in other cases in a sort of morbid feeling that no one understands you?' Would it not be better if, instead of dwelling on your self-isolation, you were to try to understand others better, to help them more, and to see whether after all they are not perhaps better daughters, sisters, or wives, than you are, standing apart on your own pedestal?

There are many feelings that grow in intensity by being openly dwelt upon; perhaps that may be one reason why finely strung organizations seldom find the

'heart in perfect sympathy'

to beat with theirs; but how beautifully Keble has reminded us of Him who

'knows all, yet loves us better than He knows.'

Yes, the Christian should never feel that loneliness of heart which looks round in vain for one to answer.

'Alone, no, not alone while One is nigh

Who knows each thought ere it becomes a sigh,
Who feels the weights that on thy spirit fall,
Who has felt all, that He may comfort all.'

Oh, sad, perhaps bitter, heart! 'cast all your care upon Him who careth for you,' who will not leave you comfortless; ask Him, not for ecstasies or peculiar bliss, but for strength and peace, for grace to serve Him with a quiet mind, for that moderation so often impressed upon us by St. Paul as a most necessary grace. Let us not seek to

'wind ourselves too high

For sinful man beneath the sky;'

but let us come down from our pedestal, and cultivate every-day common usefulness and forbearance; remembering the day of small things, remembering that life is not made up of great emotions, intense sensations of either grief or joy, but-a woman's life especially-of small annoyances and of little pleasures; and happy is she to whom God has given the gift of being pleased with small things.

519

HINTS ON READING.

The Spinsters of Sandham, (Newby,) is a quiet story, inculcating the peaceful life of usefulness and submission that may grow up after a lovingly and meekly borne disappointment.

Fellowship, (Macmillan,) a series of gently, sensibly written letters from a mourner to other mourners, pointing to the true comforts, and wisely distinguishing between mere spirits and the sense of submission. We should think it specially useful in teaching the young and inexperienced who watch a sufferer-such as daughters or sisters of a widow-not to expect too much, or to confound want of elasticity with want of resignation.

Simple Rules for Nursing the Sick, by a Lady, (Bishop and Son,) is an excellent collection of short hints in a cheap form, which would be most useful to give to any suddenly called in their inexperience to become sick nurses.

Mr. Masters has put forth a book called A Life's Search, on which much thought and labour have evidently been expended. It is the history of a young man and his sister who have made shipwreck of their faith, and of the effect they produce on a family with whom they are brought in contact. We should regard it as likely to be a beneficial warning to young people how they lightly entangle themselves in the speculations now unhappily so much the fashion, often in mere vanity and desire to enter into what other people are talking of. There is real argument, which may help to forearm as well as forewarn them. The girl who wilfully runs into danger, and then finds her power of prayer gone in the hour of need, is to our mind the best part of the story.

We wish we had received in time to notice Mr. Orby Shipley's beautiful edition of Guevara's Mysteries of Mount Calvary, a time-honoured mystical book of exceeding sweetness and grandeur.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

No MS. can be returned unless the Author's name and address be written on it, and stamps be sent with it.

Contributions must often be delayed for want of space, but their writers may be assured that when room can be found they shall appear.

D. M. wishes to know if there be any Institution in England to train girls for Teachers free of expense.

O. would be very glad if anyone could tell her of a small book of daily texts, with a few words of explanation to each text, for girls who have just been confirmed; or if anyone could tell her of any nice book of Daily Meditations which are easy and short. She knows Morning Light.- -The Brook in the Way (Grant and Sons, Edinburgh) is such an arrangement of texts and thoughts. Would the Rev. P. Young's Daily Readings from the Gospels, or the Rev. J. Wilkinson's Daily Meditations, be too long?

L. would be glad to be informed where valuable autographs and old coins may be disposed of to greatest advantage, with a view to obtaining money for Church purposes.

Mr. Allnutt acknowledges, with thanks, the following further donations to the Portsca Nursery-Miss Sullivan, £5; One Who Loves Little Children, 2s. 6d.; A. H. C., 2s. 6d.; A. A., 1s. The Misses Gilbard, £2 10s., and a Hamper of Groceries, Toys, and Picture-books, and a Large Tin of Biscuits.

The Committee of Ladies who appoint Parochial Women for the assistance of different districts, would gladly grant one to the St. Luke's Mission, Stepney, if £20 per annum could be guaranteed for her support. Our readers have taken so warm an interest in this Mission, that we cannot but hope that some of them may be kindly willing to promise an annual sum, however small, on the good old principle, that many a little makes a mickle ;' and that now that wealth and poverty so often draw apart into their own exclusive neighbourhoods, it is the bounden duty of the prosperous to send aid to the poor. Our next number shall give a picture of the work of these home missionaries.

Ulrica.-St. Julia's Day is the 2nd of May. She was a maiden of Carthage, who, when it was taken by the Vandals, in 439, was sold to a Syrian merchant-a pagan. On the way from Africa, the ship that carried her was wrecked on the Corsican coast. The people were still idolators, and were celebrating a heathen sacrifice: her testimony against this so enraged them, that they martyred her.

The universal rule of the Church is against celebrating the Holy Eucharist later than noon, except at mid-night at Christmas. The chief reason is, that so great a solemnity requires hearts in their morning freshness—and, if possible, fasting.

V., Rugby, has sent a stamp, but no more explicit address than the above; therefore we cannot return the MS., which is declined with thanks.

A Hamper of School and Story Books, from Rochester, for The Hospital for Sick Children, is thankfully acknowledged.

N. C. asks when Adeste Fideles first came into use in the Anglican Church—whether the music be as old as the words—and whether it were ever used except for the Christmas hymn.

M. R. may procure Mr. A. G. Jackson's 'Penny Pocket Book of Prayers and Hymns' from F. Warne and Co., Bedford Street, Covent Garden.

B. C.-Apply to the Reformatory and Refuge Union, 24, New Street, Spring Gardens. The Fourteenth Day of the Month is the last on which a communication is sure of being inserted.

Many more kind offers of MS. copies of The Mother's Lament over Her Idiot Boy have been received; but as S. W. has already been answered direct, we only insert F. H.'s reply, that it is to be found in a collection of poems called The Pilgrim's Hand-book, published by Wertheim.

A. L. H. G. begs to know whence the character of The Gay Lothario is taken.—— We believe it to have been in a play of Congreve's.

H. M. will be much obliged to the Editor of The Monthly Packet if he can tell her by whom the lines are written, beginning

'What though I trace each herb and flower.'

M. G. will thank one of our Correspondents if they can tell her the meaning and origin of Runic Crosses in old churchyards.

K. A. E. would be glad if any of the Correspondents of The Monthly Packet can tell her where she can get the hymns Endless Alleluias and Pilgrims of the Night, with the music.-Also, of a good book on the organ for a beginner, and some easy voluntaries suitable for Church Services. She has got Rimbault's.

K. begs for the names of books suited to a night-school library for young people, aged from twelve to twenty.- The following are a few suggestions:—

1. Eldad the Pilgrim. (S. P. C. K.)

2. Copseley Annals. (Nisbet.)

3. Ballantyne Series. (Groombridge.)

4. Narratives of Shipwrecks. (S. P. C. K.) 5. Hans Egede. (Morley)

6. Life of Mrs. Robertson. (Bell and Daldy.) 7. Miss Sewell's Church History. (Longman.)

8. Readings for Evening Schools. (Mozley.) 9. Ben Sylvester's Word. (Mozley.) 10. Friarswood Post-office. (Morley.) 11. Marryat's Masterman Ready. 12. The Exiles of the Cebenna. (Parker.) 13. Kenneth (Parker) 14. The Blue Ribbons.

15. Sally Rainbow's Stories. (S. P. C. K.)

Accepted with thanks.—Felicité.
Declined with thanks.-B. R.

John and Charles Mozley Printers, Derby.