the table their various donations of from two to ten francs[3] each, till, in a few moments, the table was well nigh covered.  M. ——­ told them he was unwilling to receive money in that manner, and wished them to put their gifts into the hands of the widow, accompanied by the names of the donors, that they might be regularly accounted to the Bible Society.  This they consented to with some reluctance, when the widow brought from her drawer a purse containing a hundred and seventy francs, saying to M. ——­, that he could not refuse that money, as it was the proceeds of Bibles and Testaments which she had sold in compliance with his directions.  M. ——­ replied to her, that he had indeed requested her to sell these volumes to such as were able to purchase, that he might ascertain whether there were persons in that neighbourhood who sufficiently appreciated the word of God to be willing to pay for it; but, that object having been accomplished, it was now his privilege, on his own personal responsibility, to place the hundred and seventy francs in the hands of the widow, to be distributed, in equal portions, to the three unfortunate families whom they had mentioned us having recently lost their husbands and fathers by the caving in of a coal-pit.

[Footnote 3:  Five francs are nearly equal to one dollar.]

On hearing this, they together, spontaneously as it were, surrounded M. ——­, and with tears streaming from their eyes, loaded him with their expressions of gratitude and their blessings, rendering it the most touching scene which M. ——­ ever witnessed.

Amidst all these tokens of their Christian affection, M. ——­ was compelled to prepare for his departure, and imploring the richest of heaven’s mercies upon them, bade them an affectionate farewell.

The whole company followed him to the carriage, and just as he had reached it, he once more addressed them, saying, “My dear friends, if any of you have not yet submitted yourselves to God, and are out of the ark of safety, I beseech you ’give not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eye-lids,’ until you flee to the Saviour.  And those of you who have tasted that the Lord is gracious, live near to God, bear cheerfully the cross of your Redeemer, follow on to know the Lord and do his will, and by his grace reigning in your hearts, you shall come off conquerors, and more than conquerors!”

When he had said this, and had again commended them to the God of all mercy through a crucified Redeemer, he drove off amid their prayers and blessings, to see them no more till that day when they shall meet in the kingdom of their Father, where sighs and farewells are sounds unknown, and where God shall wipe away all tears from every eye.  After M. ——­’s return to Paris, he had the pleasure to learn from the widow that all the Bibles he had left with her were disposed of, and that many, in various directions from the village, were earnest to obtain them, but could not be supplied.  In the meantime a deep