she desired him to “attend her funeral and comfort her brothers and sisters, and especially that sister who had been a mother to her.” “Oh, Hannah has always been a good girl” burst from the lips of that sister,—­an involuntary tribute to cheerful, ready obedience, and true excellence of heart.  She had given some little memento of affection to each of the family and friends, and enjoined upon her brother, who still remains with the sisters, to “be sure and be kind to them,” when she quietly fell asleep.

Thus died an excellent young woman, Oct. 2d, 1850, aged 24 years and 8 months.  The strength of her trust and the depth of her Christian experience could be seen in her meek submission to suffering, in that remarkable patience which allowed not a word of murmuring to escape her lips through the whole progress of her disease, and which enabled her to believe that every providence of God is ordered in perfect wisdom.

Humble in her outward position, her spiritual attainments were of the most exalted character.  The stores of excellence treasured in her heart were made manifest in the hour of great trial, and the Christian instruction to which she was accustomed to apply herself, begat the holiest resignation and the most confident trust.

The fact that this good was in no small degree wrought in the Sabbath school, should lead the Sabbath school teacher to understand the dignity and importance of his office, the opportunities he enjoys for directing the affections of the young heart, and the necessity of a large measure of Christian attainment to qualify him for the successful discharge of so great responsibilities.  May the example of our departed sister be sanctified to the good of all thus employed.

THE SABBATH SCHOOL BOYS.

“What do we go to the Sabbath school for?” asked a little boy of his companion who was some years older than himself, and who had, as I discovered by their conversation, attended the school for a long time, that is, compared with the time which many children, boys especially, think it of any use to go to the Sabbath school.  Some boys when at the age of twelve or fourteen years, think they are too old to receive any benefit from Sabbath school instruction.  Hearing the question of this little boy, and observing the look of intelligence and sincerity in his companion, and being desirous of knowing what answer would be given, I remained within hearing of their conversation, and will try to present to the scholars in our school, through the medium of “Our Gift,” the good reasons which he gave to his little companion, (who was his younger brother,) why he went to the Sabbath school.

Eld.  B. I go because I like to go, and I like to go because I always enjoy myself there better than I do anywhere else.  I find pleasure in the singing, in the prayer, and in the lessons.  The lessons are not hard to learn when I understand them, and the learning of them is even a pleasant task; for my teacher has a way of making our lessons interesting to us, in hearing us recite.  He asks us questions about the subject of the lesson before using the book, and he generally finds some interesting matter relating to it, and we become so much engaged that the time is gone before we are aware of it, and we have to stop and wait for the next session of the school.