My tears flowed; for little Arthur was a child I had dearly loved; but yet I knew not why I should mourn his early death.  The God who had watched over him here, was still watching over him, and we need not fear to trust that loving Friend.  Death is not terrible in itself; it is sin that makes it fearful.  If we were pure and holy, we should be happy here, or in another world, just where God thought best to place us; but we are sinful, and we need pardon and redemption from sin, before we can look calmly and fearlessly upon the grave.  Jesus Christ has told us how ready he is to forgive sin; how much he has suffered that we might be forgiven, and to every human being, even to the youngest who reads this page, he is saying, “Come unto me ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.”

THE SOUL’S RETURN.

    Return, my soul, unto thy rest,
      From vain pursuits and maddening cares;
    From lonely woes that wring thy breast,
      The world’s allurements, toils and snares.

    Return unto thy rest, my soul,
      From all the wanderings of thy thought;
    From sickness unto death made whole,
      Safe through a thousand perils brought.

    Then to thy rest, my soul, return,
      From passions every hour at strife;
    Sin’s works, and ways, and wages spurn,
      Lay hold upon eternal life.

    God is thy rest;—­with heart inclined
      To keep his word, that word believe;
    Christ is thy rest;—­with lowly mind,
      His light and easy yoke receive.

THE END.