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June 2, 1852.

MY DEAR MADAM,—­I send you an extract from an unpublished memoir of the Rev. E.J.P.  Messinger, who died in Africa, where he was sent as a missionary of the Protestant Episcopal Church.  This biography is not finished; but I think the following passage is well adapted to your Magazine.

Yours, with respect,
STEPHEN H. TYNG.

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Original.

THE BOY WHO NEVER FORGOT HIS MOTHER.

When James was ten years old his father was suddenly removed by death.  His mother was then left to provide for the aged mother of her husband, as well as her own little family, of whom the youngest was an infant of a few weeks old.  This was a weary and toilsome task.  Neither of her sons were old enough to render her any assistance on the farm, and the slender income arising from it would not warrant the expense of hiring needful laborers.  She was obliged to lease it to others, and the rent of her little farm, together with the avails of their own industry, became the support of the widow and fatherless.  With this she was still able to send her children to school, and to give them all the advantages which her retired dwelling allowed.

It was during these first years of his mother’s lonely widowhood that the tenderness and the loveliness of her son’s character were brought out to view.  All that he could do to relieve her under her burden became his delight.  Though but a child, he was ready to make every sacrifice to promote her comfort and happiness, and to gratify and console his aged grandmother.  Attention to his mother’s wants from this time entered into all his plans of life.  Her interests and welfare were a part of his constant thoughts.  It seemed to be his highest earthly delight to increase her happiness and to relieve her trials.  He never forgot his mother.  He might be called “the boy who always loved his mother.”  Beautiful trait of character!  And God blessed him in his own character and life, according to his promise.  After he had gone from his native home to enter upon the business of life, this trait in his character was very constant and very remarkable.  At a subsequent period, when his younger brother was about leaving home to learn a trade, James wrote to him, “Mother informs me that you intend learning a trade.  I am very glad of it, because I know that it will be advantageous to you.  But before you leave home, I hope you will endeavor to leave our dear mother, and grandmother, and the rest of the family, as comfortable as possible.  The desire of mother that I should come home and in some measure supply your place, I should not hesitate to comply with, had I not been strongly impressed with the idea that I could render more substantial help by remaining here than by coming home.  But I hope before you leave home you will do everything you can for mother; and should you be near home, that you will often visit