well as others which he ought not, which he cannot, possess, if he be a real Christian. In fine, to adopt the language of a writer already quoted, "The stage is the puppet-show of life, the school of vice, the vortex of debauchery, the strong-hold of the god of this world, the vestibule of destruction. In other worldly amusements something is preserved in deference to the claims of innocence and modesty; but in this there is the least possible proportion of good, with the greatest possible amount of evil.. Snares are laid for the eye, the ear, the imagination, and the heart; the company, the spectators, the music, the sentiments, have all a simultaneous tendency: they seek to throw down the mounds of virtue and to lay waste the excellencies of human character." AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE. THE deceitfulness of sin, its hardening influence, and its tendency to plunge its victims in wretchedness, are among those things to which every mind assents, but which nevertheless too generally fail to produce any suitable impressions. The partiality of self-love naturally leads us to think of ourselves as having no cause for alarm from the snares by which others have been ruined; we pass on fearless of danger till we find ourselves entangled in the inextricable meshes of the net spread for our feet. Conscious of regarding with a feeling of deep abhorrence and detestation the course of iniquity in which some others have walked, we fail to appreciate the warning which their sad history conveys, and, becoming gradually familiarised with wickedness, we cease to regard it with horror and sink into those excesses and enormities which we once abhorred. How many a promising youth of either sex, if apprised of the extent to which in after life they would debase themselves by their profligacy and folly, would exclaim with a feeling of virtuous indignation, "What is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great thing?" But 66 who shall say, when first temptations win A yielding mind to some enchanted sin, What future crime, that once appeared too black May lead the heart to some tremendous doom, A faithful account of the wanderings of transgressors, with an exposure of the blandishments by which they are allured to misery, if not to final ruin, is calculated to place in the strongest point of view the danger to be apprehended from self-confidence and the necessity of living in the spirit of the psalmist's prayer, 'Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe." For this reason we hope the following narrative of one who is now under the care of the London Female Mission, while it tends to encourage Christian exertion on behalf of the most abandoned, will at the same time convey important and valuable instruction to the thoughtful reader. The subject of the narrative is the daughter of a Christian Minister, respect for whose feelings forbids our being more specific. We may however state that some of the principal facts have been corroborated by the testimony of a lady and gentleman who knew her in the bloom of youth, when she was a most beautiful woman, in face and figure, and who were shocked at the alteration which had taken place, no trace of beauty being left. At an early age she was married to a gentleman in the army, but after 18 months deserted him. He subsequently allowed her a handsome maintenance on condition that she would continue under the parental roof. "In August 1832 however," she writes, “I quitted my dear father and native land. During the latter part of the voyage I lived with the captain as his wife. On arriving in England, having letters of recommendation to several pious persons, among the rest I went to the Rev. Mr., who recommended me to board and lodge at a school in his neighbourhood, the owners of which were kind and pious people. Captain and Mrs. took me one night to Drury Lane Theatre, to see a play called King Richard the Third, which so delighted my wicked heart that used to pretend to those kind Christians under whose care I was placed that I was going to spend a few days at Deptford or Rotherhithe with some of the captains' wives with whom I became acquainted after my arrival in England, instead of which I went to an inn, and remained alone for several days, that I might have an opportunity of going to the play every evening. There I unfortunately became acquainted with Mr.who paid me every flattering attention, which led me to think I was under too much restraint at Camden Town. I therefore deserted those good friends, and took up my abode in Thornhaugh Street, Fitzroy Square. There (with shame I confess it) I lived in sin, going to all places of public amusement, until I brought on a severe illness, and also lost the use of my limbs, after which I applied to some kind friends, who recommended me to the Penitentiary, Pentonville, in which place I remained only three months. Alas! Satan was very busy. Because I had not sinned enough I must launch into it once again and fly in the face of that merciful God who had opened a way for my rescue. I once more frequented the theatres, and every sinful place of amusement I could think of. Thus did I go on for a few years, after which I went to Paris with Colonel of whom I had some knowledge when in I did not remain in France with him more than seven months. I then returned to London, entering into a sinful course of life (if possible) more strongly than ever, and to add to my former guilt I took to drinking very hard. But in all my sinful habits I often felt remorse and shame, and sometimes would try to obtain an honest livelihood by needlework. This I did for nearly two years, but, when work became scarce, instead of putting my trust in God and looking to him in prayer, I again followed a wicked course. I was once so reduced that Mr.advanced me a few shillings to buy fruit and sell it again in the streets; in that, however, I did not succeed. "For the last few years I have been a most wicked wretched sinner. I have given myself up to every thing that is bad. Previously to my admission into this asylum I lived with a man who had been a soldier, and who has a small pension. He keeps a house of ill-fame. Some of the furniture is mine, but I shall never see any of it again. What I procured by sin, LET IT GO. I lived with this man 19 months, experiencing the most brutal treatment. It was through his beating me so dreadfully that my face became disfigured in such a manner. But God is good. He who orders all things in wisdom allowed Satan to enter that man's breast, in order that he should use me in so cruel a manner that I should leave him; it was then that I began to reflect upon my past and present condition. I saw the dreadful state I was in and prayed to God that he would point out some way whereby I might extricate myself from what had for a long period been hateful to me. God did send me a friend in Mr. -, a pious gentleman, who referred me to this excellent institution, into which I have been admitted, and, while I bless and thank God for bringing me here, I hope to prove myself grateful; but I am not satisfied with myself. I feel that my unbelieving heart is very hard, and at times the devil tempts me to think my sins are too great to be pardoned. But our Saviour died for sinners such as I have been, the worst. I must look to God in prayer, for Jesus can pardon even me. On looking back I tremble to think upon what I have been, how I have gone from one sin to another in rapid succession. If I had been cut down in the midst and sent into everlasting punishment-how awful the thought! Again I bless God and those kind Christians who have admitted me here, within this house of mercy. And may he change this heart of mine, and make me a true follower of Christ. "I have now as in the sight of God, stated what has happened to me since quitting my dear father as far as I can remember, not without PAIN, SHAME, and CONFUSION." A short time since the venerable parent of this unhappy wanderer forwarded to her a remittance of ten pounds. She begged that half of this sum might be accepted for the use of the Mission, and, on being informed that her wish would be complied with, she expressed much satisfaction, and wrote to a friend in the following terms: 66 HONOURED SIR, I feel highly gratified and honoured by my triffe being accepted for the use of this institution, where I |