YOKED TOGETHER.

49

And is it too strict a rule of judgment that the foremost desire will be chiefly sought, while to magnify paltry hindrances proves but the insignificance of professed esteem for the object in view?

Very soon after our marriage I was called much away from home, through my engagements in the surveys for several new lines of railway. It was the mania year of that gigantic system, and the toil, worry, and anxiety were excessive. But how lightened was the care, how smoothed the path, by the sympathizing gentleness of my true "help-meet." Yes,the sudden separation was distressing to both, but the remembrance of such a friend to refer to in the midst, and to return to in the end, was indeed like a harbour of refuge to the storm-driven mariner.

But that it would swell this little book beyond its limits, I could fain insert some of the letters received from her during this season; exhibiting as they do not only an unfolded heart of natural cheerfulness and frank willingness to "make the best of everything," but even "singing and making melody" under the exalting power of Divine grace.

A sharp trial it proved when we were called to leave England, and part with all the cherished

50

A HANDFUL OF CORN

friendships of the school, the Church, and the home. A tearful day was the 18th of July, 1847, when, gathered round the social tables, teachers and scholars joined in submissive prayer, and sang our hopes"To meet again and part no more."

Many times has the farewell watchword rebounded to our hearts while we have thought how far from fathoming its full meaning were we then!—

"Prove all things, hold fast that which is good."

How many things have we-have I, proved since then which we would never have chosen to attempt! And where had our steps wandered but for a solid good; and a real power given to hold fast thereby?

The bounds of our habitation are fixed, and in South Wales we were for a time located.

Our feet were no sooner set upon the shore than our first inquiry was, Where are the people of God with whom we can dwell and labour? Where is the Gospel, in its sovereign fulness and certain efficacy, preached and practised? And where can we be employed in the service of the Lord we love?

We were directed to a "very little flock" meeting for worship at " Black-Pil," a village on the seashore, some three miles from the town. It was a "branch

IN A DISTANT LAND.

51

church," one of several offsprings from a Welsh Church a few miles inland; but being situated on the shore, where the English language prevailed, the service was conducted in our own tongue, dyed and interspersed with the deep rich gutturals of the native brogue. These "branch" churches appear a profitable and favourite method of "planting the standard" in many of those benighted parts; some of the larger churches having as many as ten or twelve such stations. Those in union with each are esteemed to a great extent as members of the parent church; the pastor of which visits them in a circuit as frequently as possible, and meanwhile other gifted brethren are sent to preach the word among them.

Our first visit to Black-pil was upon 66 breaking bread day." There were but nine members present, who were seated round a small table in the brick-floor parlour of the mill in which the services were usually held.

I shall not soon forget the solemn force of the pastor's words, as he took the small loaf to break,"We are but eleven in number, yet if there be no Judas amongst us, we are as many as did eat of the first communion; for, though now we see Him not, the Lord is with us, if we be true Christians."

Many were the hours of real Christian gladness we spent with that small but united family, frequent the homely, hearty greetings, as we sat upon the rustic chair or three-legged stool, and shared the sweet back stone bread, while the racks, covering the low ceiling above, well stored with half-baked cakes of the same description, with here and there a flitch or ham-with dried herbs to relish, gave promise of abundance in store. Many also have been the seasons when our hearts have been "lifted up" by the stirring appeals of some fervent sound-lunged Welsh preacher, occasionally (as from very necessity, to find way for his thoughts) bursting into a torrent of Glamorgan eloquence, and closing with some sublime quotation from the Word, such as―

"I'r unig ddoeth Dduw, ein Hiachawdwr ni, y byddo gogoniant a mawredd, gallu ac awdurdod, yr awrhon ac yn dragywydd. Amen." (Jude 25.)

Often indeed have I seemed to catch the inspiration, while amid the deep and oft-repeated' Ah, Ah, amen,' of a native congregation, I have sought to tell (albeit only in tame English) of the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."

But I will let the occasional references in my dear wife's letters suffice for the present upon the interest

ing recollections of those days. I here insert a selection of the correspondence with her former scholars May many others read them as for themselves, they sprang from a loving heart, and by them she "being dead, yet speaketh."

TO E. D.

"My dear Elizabeth,

"Will you accept this small book, as a token of remembrance from one who wishes you well; from one who is desirous of seeing you walking in the fear of the Lord, adorning the doctrines of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ; growing wiser and wiser in those things which will make for your everlasting happiness.

"Remember, dear Elizabeth, you are born for eternity; and do what you will, you cannot divest yourself of an immortal existence; you must spend either a happy or a miserable eternity, You must be born again; the renewing of the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary. Oh, that this Blessed Spirit may convince you of sin, and lead you into all the truths of the Gospel, is the prayer of

"Your late affectionate Teacher."