have become connected with it but for the local inconveniences of our situation. Our meetings are held once in a fortnight, and are attended with a degree of punctuality that reflects much credit on the members. Each meeting is opened and closed with prayer. Three questions (or sometimes only two), from Wilbur's Biblical Catechism, are then answered in the "word. which the Holy Ghost teacheth," by some member of each of the three classes into which the association is divided. These in their order form the ground of discussion for an hour and a half. I do not mean that this discussion is unbroken-for when essays, written by any of the members, or minor questions having a bearing upon some general question, are presented, they are read, or briefly answered, between the remarks made on the stated questions of the evening. Another exercise, which I have found useful, and which it is believed will become much more so, is the propounding of questions occasionally, to be answered by any member, on the discussions of a preceding meeting, e. g. The subject of divine inspiration, treated under the 5th question in the Text-book; the questions stated are, What is inspiration? Is there more than one kind of inspiration? Why are not the Apocryphal books to be received as inspired? &c. The obvious effects of a short recapitulation of this kind are, enliving the attention-fixing it more deeply on the main discussions of the evening, and impressing anew on the memory a train of thoughts that might otherwise be lost. In regard to the effects of this system of instruction, though it is not yet my privilege to record the triumphs of grace among this precious band of youth, with whom pass some of the most pleasant hours of my life, still it is allowed me to say, that they are more and more endeared to my heart, at every successive meeting— that their attention, respect, and affection indicate an increasing attachment on their part to the privileges of religious instruction, and inspire the strong hope, that ere long they will hear the voice of the Spirit as well as of the bride, saying, "Come." It is a pleasant circumstance, and should be recorded not for their honor only, but for the encouragement of similar works of love among the members of kindred associations, that, on the first day of the present year, a committee of this Bible-class presented their pastor with twenty dollars, to constitute him a life member of the Massachusetts Domestic Missionary Society. Such acts of beneficence speak well for Bible-classes. This plan of instruction was adopted among us with much fear and trembling. Local situation and established habits presented obstacles that seemed in prospect insurmountable. But through your instrumentality, Sir, we were induced to make the attempt, and such a measure of success has attended it, that we now feel ashamed of our former misgivings ;—and for my own part, aside of the claims of duty, I know not what consideration would induce me to forgo the pleasure of a semi-monthly meeting with our youth. What I have written, Sir, is in haste, aud with all the freedom of a private correspondence. You will forgive the egotistical style, and make what use of the communication you please. Your brother in the gospel. Braintree, Jan. 18th, 1824. R. S. STORRS. P. S. I ought to have mentioned that members of the class are in the habit of taking notes, more or less copious, every evening, and by this means are enabled to review the discussions that have taken place from time to time at their leisure. This I regard as an exercise of great importance. It not only renders them more attentive to what is said, but compels the instructer to adopt a clear method in the arrangement of his thoughts on the given subject, SELECT ANECDOTES. PERSEVERING INDUSTRY OF AN AFRICAN. YARO, before the American revolutionary war, was brought from Africa to the United States, and there sold as a slave, to a family who lived near Georgetown, on the banks of the Potomac. After many years of hard labour and faithful service, his master gave him his freedom as a reward. Yaro resolved to be independent; he toiled late and early, and in the course of a few years, amassed a hundred dollars; this sum, which he considered as a fortune, he placed in the hands of a merchant; but by whose death and insolvency it was lost, and the poor African found himself in the same situation as when he became free. This affected him much; his usual strength had abated, old age was approaching, but he still cherished the hope of independence. He worked all day at fixed wages, and in the evening he made nets, baskets, and other articles for sale. A few years elapsed, and he was again rich; another hundred dollars was the fruit of his toil. This amount he deposited in the hands of another merchant of Georgetown, but he also became bankrupt. Yaro was sad, but his courage and habits of industry suffered no change. He again resolved to be independent; he renewed his taste for daily labour, which he continued without relaxation for several years. He again found himself in possession of another and better fortune, of two hundred dollars; by the advice of a friend, who explained to him the nature of a bank, he purchased shares to this amount in that of Columbia, in his own name, the interest of which now affords him a comfortable support. Though more than eighty years old, he walks erect, is active, cheerful, and kind. His history is known to several respectable families, who treat him with attention. Fond of conversation, he often, in broken language, thus relates the story of his life. "Olda massa ben tink he got all de work out of a Yaro bone. He tell a Yaro, go free, Yaro; you been work nuff for me, go to work for you now: Tankee, massa, Yaro say, sure nuff Yaro go to work for he now; Yaro work a soon-a late-a hot-a cold-sometime he sweat, sometime he blow a finger. He got a fippenny bit-eighteen pennee-git him to massa to put by— put by a dollar till come to a heap. Oh, poor massa take sic, die-Yaro money gone-oh, Yaro, go to work again, get more dollars-work hard-more dollars-git him now to young massa, he young, he no die. Oh, young massa den broke-den go away-oh, oh, oh! Yaro old for true now. Must work again, worky, worky, get more dollars-git him dis time to all de massa-all de massa cant die, cant go away. Oh, Yaro, dollar breed now-every spring, every fall, Yaro get dollar-chicken now." FOLLY OF SLEEPING TOO LONG. His late majesty, George the Third, once ordered Mr. S. a tradesman of s some eminence in London, to wait upon him at Windsor Castle, at eight o'clock in the morning of a day appointed. Mr. S. was half an hour behind the time; and upon being announced, his majesty said, "Desire him to come at eight tomorrow morning." Mr. S. appeared the next day after the time, and received the same command. On the third morning he contrived to be punctual. Upon his entrance the king said, "Oh! the great Mr. S. What sleep do you take, Mr. S.?" "Why, please your majesty, I am a man of regular habits; I usually take eight hours." "Eight hours!" said the king, "that's too much, too much-six hours' sleep is enough for a man, seven for a woman, and eight for a fool, Mr. S., eight for a fool." For the Monitor.) Lines sung in the Chapel of Amherst College, March 5, 1823, on the death of Mr. NELSON NEWEL, a member of the Freshmen Class. T. P. J. Come, weeping minstrels, help us sing A mourful solemn lay; O Harp! breathe plaintive from each string, Virtue only never dies, Virtue blooms beyond the skies. The flower that bloom'd so sweetly here, The brightest prospects youth can rear Virtue only never dies, Virtue blooms beyond the skies. Our tribute be affection's tear, Thy virtues, Friend, make mem❜ry dear; Balmy winds sigh o'er his grave, Sigh through the willows which you wave. Fair, splendid shone thy morning sun, But rapid was its flight; Bright was its pathway while it shone, Balmy winds sigh o'er his grave, Sigh through the laurels which you wave. No costly statue do we raise, To blazon forth thy fame, And praising love thy name. Balmy winds sigh o'er his grave, Sigh through the cypress which you wave. While tossing on this billowy wave, Weeping minstrels, weep no more, O may this rainbow Hope be ours, Then we will quit these earthly bowers Friendship never, never dies, TO CORRESPONDENTS. W: Z***: Onesimus: M: B: Pater: G: and Iota have been received. The notice of our intention to publish a letter we had received on the subject of Plagiarism, having answered the purposes which the letter itself was intended to answer, we ahall omit it. |