“Oh,” he would say, “God never think such poor negro, he no love so much sinner, he no before ever see such bad heart!” The mercy of Christ, and his compassion towards sinners, were explained to him, and his soul was filled with “joy and peace in believing,” He now rejoiced and thanked God that he was brought from his native shores, as he had a fairer country, and purer enjoyments presented to his view, after the scenes of this transitory world shall be over.  He now became more industrious and more faithful.  By uncommon industry he raised money sufficient to purchase his own freedom.  He next bought the liberty of his wife, and had nearly completed paying for that of his only daughter, when she was liberated by the hand of death.  His wife soon followed her, and left this world a perfect void to the husband and father.  His every tie that bound him to earth was now broken.  Having no earthly enjoyment, he now placed his affections on heaven above.  It is easy for the Christian to make rapid progress in holiness when not fettered by worldly cares.

It was now dark, and I must leave my new acquaintance.  I left him with his face wet with tears, still standing beside the tomb—­the tomb of his old minister!  This good man had been his faithful and constant guide, and though his ashes had been slumbering for years, the negro had not yet forgotten how to weep at their urn.  I could not but admire the wonderful dealings of God, in order to bring men to himself.  Happy minister! who hast been the instrument of covering a multitude of sins!  Happy negro! his is not this world.  Though no sculptured marble may tell the traveller where he may shortly lie—­though he never trod the thorny road of ambition or power—­though the trumpet of fame never blew the echo of his name through a gaping world—­still those eyes, which will soon be closed in death, may hereafter awake, to behold, undaunted, a world in flames, and these heavens fleeing away.

Violent Earthquake in Calabria.

In nature there is nothing which can inspire us with so much awe as those violent outbreakings which occasionally convulse the earth, creating fearful devastation, overthrowing cities, and destroying much life and property.  The following is a description of one which occurred in Calabria and Sicily in the year 1783; and which, from its violence, overthrew many cities, creating an universal consternation in the minds of the inhabitants of the two kingdoms.

On Wednesday, the fifth of February, about one in the afternoon, the earth was convulsed in that part of Calabria which is bounded by the rivers of Gallico and Metramo, by the mountains Jeio, Sagra, and Caulone, and the coast between these rivers and the Tuscan Sea.  This district is called the Piana, because the country extends itself from the roots of the Appenines, in a plain, for twenty Italian miles in length by eighteen in breadth.  The earthquake lasted about