AN EXTRAORDINARY INSTANCE OF DIVINE INTERPOSITION. assembling. He found, to his great surprise, that there was a man preaching to a vast number of people, and he stopped till the service was ended. He observed that the people were very attentive to what the preacher said, and one man in particular attracted his notice. He had a little bible in his hand, and turned to every passage of scripture the minister quoted. Dr. Talbot wondered to see how ready he was for a man of his appearence, in turning to the places, and likewise noticed that his bible was full of dog's-ears, that is, the corners of the leaves turned down very thick. When the service was over, he walked his horse gently along, in order to observe the people, and the poor man whom he so particularly noticed, happened to walk by his side. The doctor entered into conversation with him, asked many questions concerning the meeting and the minister, and found the poor man to be more intelligent than he could have expected. He enquired also about himself, his employment, his family, his name, which he said was Caleb. After the doctor had satisfied his curiosity, he rode off, and thought no more about Caleb till the great frost came on, the following winter. He was one night in bed, but could not tell for certain whether he was asleep or awake, when he thought he heard a voic say, "Send provision to Caleb." He was a little startled at first, but concluding it to be a dream, endeavoured to compose himself to sleep. It was not long before he imagined he heard the same words repeated, but louder and stronger. He then awoke his wife, who was in a sound sleep, and told her what he had heard; but she persuaded him that it could be no other than a dream, and he soon fell asleep again. The doctor's mind, however, was so much impressed that he could not sleep. He turned and tossed himself about for some time, till at last he heard the voice so powerful, saying-"Get up and send provision to Caleb"that he could resist no longer, he got up, called his man, and bade him bring the horse. He then went to his larder, and stuffed a pair of panniers as full as he possibly could with whatever he could find, and having assisted the man to load the horse, bade him take that provision to Caleb. "Caleb ?" said the man; "what Caleb, sir?" "I know very little of him," said the doctor, "but his name is Caleb, he is a collier, and lives among the hills; let the horse go, and you will be sure to find him." The man seemed to be under the same influence as his master, which accounts for his telling Caleb—“ God sent it, I believe." THE BLIND SLAVE IN THE MINES. THE BLIND SLAVE IN THE MINES. Allow me here to refer to a case that lately fell under my observation, which illustrates more forcibly than I had ever conceived, the priceless value of the christian hope to the most unfortunate and degraded. I had descended a thousand feet beneath the earth's surface, in the coal pits of the Mid Lothian mines, in Virginia, and was wandering through their dark subterranean passages, when the voice of singing, at a little distance, broke upon my ear. It ceased upon our approach, and I caught only the concluding sentiment of the hymn. "I shall be in heaven in the morning." On advancing with our lamps, we found the passage closed by a door, in order to give a different direction to the currents of air for the purpose of ventilation, yet this door must be opened occasionally, to let the rail cars pass, loaded with coal. And to accomplish this, we found sitting by that door an aged blind slave, whose eyes had been entirely destroyed by a blast of gunpowder many years before, in that mine. There he sat on a seat cut in the coal, from sunrise to sunset, day after day; his sole business being to open and shut the door when he heard the rail cars approaching. We requested him to sing again the hymn whose last line we had heard. It was indeed lame in expression, and in the poetic measure very defective; being in fact, one of those productions which we found the pious slaves were in the habit of singing, in part, at least, impromptu. But each stanza closed with the sentiment "I shall be in heaven in the morning." It was sung with a clear and pleasant voice, and I could see the shrivelled, sightless eye-balls of the old man rolling in their sockets, as if his soul felt the inspiring sentiments; and really, the exhibition was one of the most affecting that I have ever witnessed. There he sat, an old man, whose earthly hopes, even at the best, must be very faint; and he was a slave-and he was blind-what could he hope for on earth? He was buried too, a thousand feet beneath the solid rocks. In the expressive language of Jonah, "He had gone down to the bottom of the mountains; the earth with her bars were about him for ever." There, from month to month, he sat in total darkO, how utterly cheerless his condition! And yet that blessed hope, a resurrection morning, was enough to infuse ness. THE BLIND SLAVE IN THE MINES. peace and joy into his soul. I had often listened to touching music. I had heard gigantic intellects pour forth enchanting eloquence; but never did music or eloquence exert such an overpowering influence upon my feelings, as did this scene. Never before did I so feel the mighty power of christian hope. ¦ Never before did I witness so grand an exhibition of sublimity. Oh, how comparatively insignificant did earth's mightiest warriors and statesinen, her princes and her emperors, and even her philosophers, without piety, appear. How powerless would all their pomp, and pageantry, and wisdom be, to sustain them, if called to change places with this poor slave! He had a principle within him superior to them all; and when the morning which he longs for shall come, how infinitely better than theirs, will his lot appear to an admiring universe! And that morning will ere long break in upon thy darkness, benighted old man. The light of the natural sun, and the face of this fair world will never, indeed, revisit thee; and the remnant of thy days must be spent in thy monotonous task, by the side of the wicket gate, deep in the caverns of the earth. But that bright and blessed hope of a resurrection morning shall not deceive thee. The Saviour, in whom thou dost trust, shall manifest himself to thee, even in thy deep darkness; and at the appointed hour, the chains of slavery shall drop off, and the double night that envelopes thee, shall vanish into the light, and the liberty, and the glory of heaven. And just in proportion to the depths of thy darkness and degradation now, shall be the brightness and the joy of that everlasting day. I would add, that on enquiry of the pious slaves engaged in these mines, I found that the blind old man had a fair reputation for piety, and that it was not till the loss of his eyes that he was led to accept of the Saviour. It may be that the destruction of his natural vision was the necessary means of opening the eye of faith within his soul, and though we should shudder at the thought of exchanging conditions with him on earth, yet who can say, his peculiar and deep tribulation here, may not prepare his soul for a distinction in glory which we might well covet? Oh, how much better to endure even his dark degradation and privations sustained by his hopes, than to partake of their fortune, who live in luxury or pleasure, or riot in wealth, or lord it over prostrate millions, or have Fame's trumpet sounding before them wherever they go: if with their good things here we must have their portion in eternity! POETRY. ANECDOTES, SELECTIONS, AND GEMS. Poetry. "LET ME GO." BY WILLIAM BAXTER. [Suppose it to be a Song of the Slave in the Mines.] LET me go; my soul is weary Of the chain which binds it here; Let my spirit bend its pinion, To a brighter holier sphere. Earth has now no friends who bless me With their fond and faithful love; But the bands of angels beckon Me to brighter climes above. Let me go; for earth has sorrow, Sin, and pain, and bitter tears; All its paths are dark and drearyAll its hopes are fraught with fears; Short-lived are its brightest flowers; Soon its cherished joys decay; Let me go; I fain would leave it For the realms of cloudless day. Let me go; my heart hath tasted Of my Saviour's wondrous grace; Let me go where I shall ever See and know him face to face; Let me go; the trees of heaven Rise before me, waving bright, Flash upon my opening sight. Now seem calling from the sky; 'Tis the welcome of the angels, Which e'en now are hovering nigh; Let me go; they wait to bear me To the mansions of the blest; Where the spirit worn and weary, Finds at last its long sought rest. Anecdotes, Selections, and Gems. A REMARKABLE CIRCUMSTANCE.-An individual by the name of S who formerly resided at S- but left the town about 9 twenty years ago, being then twelve years old, returned on Tuesday, January 11, 1848, and called upon Mr. F a neighbour of mine, and a member of the baptist church here, by whom he was cordially received, as Mr. F. had known him before he left the town. After being in Mr. F.'s house some time, religion became the topic of conversation; but S- would hear nothing of religion; he said he did not believe in it at all. At length Mr. F. reached the bible to try to convince him of his error, but S- said he did not believe a word of the bible, nor did he believe anything about the Saviour, neither did he believe there was any hell; he said he . wished he could believe it. Just at this time he rose from his seat, and then fell prostrate on his face. Mr. F. and another person that was in the house at the time raised him to his seat again; his eyes were turned up in his head, and large drops of perspiration stood upon his forehead: Mr. F. thought that he was dying, and sent for me, but I was from home. Mrs. C went in and saw him; he was just recovering; they told him it must be a fit, but he said he never had a fit in his life. He wept and sobbed for a length of time, and said he would never deny the bible again: now he believed it to be the word of God. Reach it here and let me 66 ANECDOTES, SELECTIONS, AND GEMS. kiss it. Oh, I felt the hand of God strike me on the back of the head when I rose from my seat; I saw a fire before my eyes, and I thought that I was dropping into hell now I believe there is a hell. Oh, do pray for me; I am a great sinner. I have spent a deal of my time abroad; I have learnt five languages; yes, and I have stood up there to silence the missionaries. I have turned many to infidelity. But if God spares me, you need not be surprised to hear of my returning to try to undo what I have done." He begged all in the house would pray for him, and they all kneeled down, and he, for the first time, prayed himself to that God whom he had so greatly offended; but he was almost choked with sobbing and crying. After prayer, he bade Mr. F. good night, and proceeded to his lodgings, from whence he started next morning to Mthe residence of his father. S J. C. [We give the above, with some slight corrections, as we received it from our correspondent, who is a most respectable christian man, of undoubted veracity, and agent for the sale of our magazines in the town in which the circumstance took place. We leave the reader to make his own reflections, only reminding all who may peruse it, that the Divine Being has not, as some would fain suppose, forsaken our world. Still, there is a God who judgeth in the earth.] THE HAPPY MAN was born in the city of Regeneration, in the parish of Repentance unto life. He was educated at the school of Obedience, and now lives in the plain of Perseverance; he works at the trade of Diligence, notwithstanding he has a large estate in the country of Christian Contentment, and many times does jobs of Self-denial. He wears the garment of Humility, and has a better suit to put on when he goes to court, called the Robe of Righteousness. He often walks in the valley of Self Abasement, and climbs the mountains of Spiritual-mindedness. He breakfasts every morning on Prayer, and sups on the same-he hath meat to eat which the world knoweth not of, and his drink is the sincere milk of the word. Thus happy he lives and happy he dies. Happy is he who has gospel submission in his will-due order in his affections-sound peace in his conscience—sanctifying grace in his soul -true dignity in his breast-real humility in his heart-the Redeemer's yoke on his neck-a vain world under his feet-and a crown of glory over his head. Happy the life, ard glorious the death, of such an one. In order to attain which, believe firmly, wait patiently, work abundantly, live holy, die daily, watch your heart, guide your senses, redeem your time, love Christ, and long for glory. A CHRISTIAN Preparing for DEATH.-In expectation of her decease, she selected the articles in which she wished to be interred, and upon which she wrote "These things, I, S— Wwish to be buried in. Farewell all! farewell world and sin for ever! Welcome joy and eternal felicity!" For those attending her funeral, she wrote-"Dear Friends, you are now come to |