SPICES OF THE SOUTH.

"Weary and sad, 'twas his to find The kindred fellowship of mind, (Foretaste of bliss above,

Flowing in streams of love,)

Which quickened glowing thoughts of home,

And told of pleasures yet to come;

Kept earnest hearts alive,

Nerving the weak to strive;

Made every soldier's armour bright,
That armour proof of heavenly light;
Recorded conflicts won,

And others scarce begun;

(For godly men are ne'er at ease,
When troubles pass, temptations seize.)
Oh, sympathy divine!

Treasure untold be mine;

Whilst yet upon the earth I stay,
Be mine to turn each night to day!"

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My thoughts revert with grateful remembrance to the "times and seasons," the paths and the places, where this fellowship was ours. The little mission stations in the villages, the schools I frequently visited, the friends with whom "we took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company," these all abide on memory's page.

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A CONSERVATORY.

But especially the report of the prosperity of that little cause at Black-pil, is as the singing of birds in spring.

During the time of our sojourn (though the congregation greatly increased, so that I have been obliged to stand in the doorway to preach, my hearers filling two rooms, while others stood listening at the open windows), there was not manifested any real vital good. True, a school was often urged, and subscriptions commenced, and contracts entered into to build a chapel, but months passed, and nothing was done.

Yet the spirit of hearing, and the earnest prayers sent up for a blessing, gave us hope when leaving that the word spoken would prove as "bread cast upon the waters." And so it truly proved, when, four months after, our hearts were gladdened by receiving the following letter from the deacon of the little flock, a man of genuine, unpolished simplicity :

"Norton, Jan. 28th, 1849, "Dear brother and sister in the Lord Jesus-With joy we received your long expected letter, and we were very glad to hear that all is well; above all that you are not idle in spreading Divine truths in the dark

and corruptible world. May the Lord of Hosts guide and protect you, and make you more precious to the Church of God day after day. It is a glorious time with us in Black-pil. Your and our prayers are answered. The same stones that are to build the Heavenly Jerusalem are coming to light from the quarry of the world. The pearls which Jesus bought with his own blood are tumbling into the church, where they are to be prepared by the Holy Spirit, ready to give the glory to him that bought them. Last Thursday night our hearts were lifted up by seeing three sinners asking the way to Zion, with all appearance that the Spirit was working deeply on their souls. Pray for them and us, dear brother in Christ. Their names are John and Philip (two young men very promising to bear the ark of God), and Jane- a young woman who did listen attentively to your preaching many times. There are two others under a deep conviction; one of them was thinking to join the Society last week, but her father and mother did resist her baptism, since which she is weeping day and night; may we think of her in our prayers. There is yet another seeking her place back amongst us, after being a lost sheep for a time.

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"I hoped when you left us that you and your dear Mrs. should not have three miles to go to the temple of God, but five yards—instead of that you have six miles. May the six miles be to you as six steps. We shall soon go the last journey on earth, and very soon take the long step from the flesh to the Spirit. Oh, may we all unite together there, on the right hand of the Father; perhaps we shall never meet here at all— it would be a pleasant moment if we did.

"Our best love to you and the family. All in Black-pil do love you, and send you joy. Be so kind as to send back.

"This from your true friend and brother,

"JOHN EVANS."

The blessings here recounted were, however, only the "droppings before the shower." In September the same year, we received a letter from another brother one raised up, I trust, to be an earnest useful servant of the Lord, and a "bearer of his ark" there. In this he says:

"You may be startled when I tell you that we have many members, but it is quite correct. I am happy to tell you that we have baptized five from Norton, and two we have received formerly members with Mr.

Pugh. We have had a few black clouds overshadowing us since you left, but not many, and I will proceed to tell you of the bright side, as it is so much larger than the dark. In my last I told you the attendance was very good, and I hoped some were about to follow their great Forerunner through the watery grave. So in less than a month after three young men and a young woman were immersed beneath the wave, in the presence of a great many witnesses; the following month there were five females immersed; the next month there was one; the next two; and last month there were nine buried with Christ in baptism. Last Sunday again there were six baptized. One who has joined us was so persecuted by her husband that she was obliged to go to Swansea to be baptized, and one other accompanied her, and now the number of our members is forty-eight! Truly we can say, 'The Lord hath done great things for us whereof we are glad,' and I have wished many times that you were in our midst now. We have meetings much oftener than formerly, and in different places around, for we have many enquirers. Shortly after the three young men were baptized we agreed to meet at Brother Evans's house