less from age and rheumatism; her temper was soured by trouble, and she complained that God had dealt very hardly with her. She knew nothing of His love, and only thought of Him as an unjust and cruel Judge, who had punished her beyond her deserts. Thus from day to day she existed miserably, with no ray of comfort, no shadow of. hope. She was living, poor old creature, without God. This was the real secret of all her discontent and unhappi

ness.

As she grumbled over her scanty fare, and thought how lonely and neglected she was, little she imagined that there was one who watched over, and who loved her, and who desired the love of her poor heart in return. But poor old Betty, for that was her name, was not destined to be always thus wretched and miserable. There was comfort and hope in store, even for her. Her heart was very hard-hardened by sin. But The word of the Lord is like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces;" and so it proved to be in her case.

Through the kindness of a Christian lady who visited Betty, a large-print Bible was given to her. In her lonely hours she made it her study; and although Betty was no great scholar, she learnt, through the teaching of the Holy Spirit, all that was needful to save her soul. She learnt that she was a "big sinner," that her sins deserved eternal death; and she learnt, too, of One " mighty to save,” of Jesus the friend of sinners, who came down from heaven to save poor sinners like herself. A sense of sin overwhelmed her. She had lived a long life without loving Jesus, without caring to know His love for her, forgetting and neglecting His Word, and could it be possible that He would save her now? Did Jesus indeed come down to save such a sinner as she was to die and to suffer instead of her? The thought of so much love was the hammer which broke her heart. Would He forgive all her murmurings against Him? Might she, an aged sinner, really hope to live for ever in heaven with the dear Saviour who had so

loved her? So the Bible told her, and therefore it must be true. She believed with all her heart that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Words could not say more. She believed. An intense joy filled her soul, such as she had never known before the joy of a sinner saved, whose sins are pardoned. What mattered her cheerless dwelling ?-the light of God's countenance filled it now. What mattered her scanty meal?-the love of Jesus made it a feast. She was no longer alone.

One longing desire now took possession of her mind. She must make some return for so much love; she must do something for her dear Saviour. Him how dearly she prized His love. to bring others to Him. She would neighbours. She would tell, again and again, what He had done for her soul.

She longed to show She resolved to try speak of Him to her

In a room adjoining Betty's lived a man of very intemperate habits; it came into her heart one day that, God helping her, she would go and speak to him. Accordingly one afternoon she knocked at his door, and asked for admittance; in a gruff voice he bade her enter, demanding, at the same time, what she wanted.

"I am come to ask you to let me read to you," she replied, holding up her precious Bible: "the words in this book have changed all my thoughts and feelings; may be they will change yours, too, if you will listen to them."

In great anger the man replied that nobody should read the Bible to him.

"I think," said Betty, "you will let me read a few words."

No; I will not," the man bluntly retorted. "So just leave my room, and mind, if you come here again, I will throw you over the stairs."

Poor Betty, much cast down, retired and again entered her own lonely room, and falling on her knees, she poured

out all her trouble to her Lord and Master in heaven, and earnestly entreated Him to open poor Joseph's heart. In a few days she once more summoned courage to knock at the drunkard's door; as soon, however, as he saw Betty, he called out in a great rage, "I thought I told you never to come here again; I'll throw you downstairs, and break your neck, woman, if you don't leave me this instant."

"Oh no," replied Betty, smiling, "you won't hurt an old woman, who seeks your good. You will let me come in and sit down a bit and talk to you."

"Well," replied Joseph, evidently softened by Betty's kind manner, "you may sit down, if you can find a place to pitch upon in this wretched den."

Thus encouraged, she pulled a three-legged stool to the chimney-corner, and seating herself just opposite to the old man, she opened her Bible and read slowly: "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. will, let him take the water of life freely !" 1 quickly over the leaves of her book, she read from John iii. 16, 17.

And whosoever
Then turning

Joseph, with his hands on his knees, and his whole body bent forward, listened throughout with fixed attention. She closed the book, and was about to retire, saying, as she rose from her seat :

"Joseph, you see the Lord would not let you hurt me; and now I want you to go with me upstairs to see Jack P, who I hear is very ill, and very ignorant; he might be rude to me if I go alone. I want you to take care of me."

"Yes, I'll take care that nobody shall hurt you," exclaimed Joseph, starting from his seat; "nobody shall lay a hand on you, or say a rude word to you, missus, so come along with And Joseph led the way upstairs to a miserable garret, in one corner of which lay on a heap of rags a most deplorable object-a very old man, unshaved,

me.

1 Rev. xxii. 17.

uncombed, unwashed; apparently dying, neglected and alone.

While Betty was silently asking her Father in heaven to direct her what to do, and what to say to the poor old man, Joseph had found his way to the bedside, and seizing the old man's hand, he said, "This old woman is come to read to you."

The unhappy sufferer made no objection. Betty was permitted to read unmolested, while the two old men listened with the deepest attention; and, closing her book, she entreated them, in her own simple way, to forsake their sins and come at once to the Saviour.

From this day, for many months, she went regularly to read and talk to the old men about a loving Saviour; and it was a beautiful sight to see how these poor creatures hung upon her words, and the wrapt attention with which they listened, drinking in every word, as men who felt that they had but a short time, and that the gracious invitation must be accepted by them now or never.

After many weeks of suffering, Jack P- recovered from his illness, and thus had an opportunity of proving the reality of the great change which had taken place in his heart. He and Joseph both lived many years after their conversion to God; for, indeed, by the blessing of God's Spirit on His own Word, they were truly convertedthe whole tenor of their lives was changed. Instead of cursing and swearing and drinking, they might now be heard singing praises to God, and urging their former companions in sin to forsake their evil ways, and to come to the Lord Jesus for pardon and salvation.

Dear reader, if you are old and have not yet found a Saviour, you must necessarily be in a very deplorable case. The pleasures and comforts of this life, if you have ever known them, must needs be passing from you. You have no longer the same zest for them. Your body begins to feel weak, and small exertions fatigue you. Many whom you

have known and loved have gone before you. You feel that you must soon follow; but you have no certain hope. You know not whither you are going. All is dark and uncertain.

This story of these three old people is recorded in order that you may learn from it that there is hope and joy, even for you, if, without delay, you accept the loving offer of mercy offered to you by Jesus Christ. He will receive you now if you will come to Him; however often you may have refused Him, however long you may have despised and neglected Him. Such is His tender love for sinners! "The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come." These words first awakened poor old Joseph; may God grant that they may again speak with power to your heart, and be the means of bringing you, be you old or young, at once to the only source of peace and joy. Come to Jesus; come just as you are; bring your sins and lay them at the foot of His cross; bring all your wants and cares to Him. Weary and heavy-laden ones, come to Him, and He will give you rest!

The Try Company.

CHAPTER II. THE ARGUMENT.

THESE words, "I belong to the Try Company," set me thinking again, and off I went on another tack. It seems to me that there are a good

many "Try Companies;" some of limited liability, and some of unbounded means and confidence. And a good many people are members of these different companies. Indeed, I am not sure that every one does not belong to some one or other of them. Though some of the members, unfortunately, are only doing all they can to ruin their prospects for time and for eternity while "trying to make the best of both worlds" trying to enjoy themselves and shut out