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Your most humble servant.

The day after the death of this lad, the soul of one of the inmates of our Home entered its eternal rest. The deceased was one of the oldest newspaper carriers in the city, and had passed through a chequered life, but it is unnecessary to say more than that his character had been undergoing a marked change for several months before he was taken ill. It had been his custom to spend Sunday afternoon in lecturing upon temperance in the market houses, and upon the wharves, but he relinquished this for "instruction in righteousness" at our Sabbath gatherings, at which he became a most regular attendant.

In the early stage of his disease, he was strongly advised to enter the hospital, to which he reluctantly consented, but, after remaining there a short time, he longed so for the companionship of the boys, that he returned, and was most faithfully attended by a medical gentleman, for whose unremitting care the Managers are under deep obligations.

In one of our conversations he alluded with much feeling to the account given of our blessed Saviour, in Isaiah Iiii., and frequently spoke of Christ as his only hope.

Two days before his death, as I was about to engage in prayer, I asked him what he would most like me to pray forwhat, above everything else, he most desired. "Pray that I may have a fuller assurance in Christ," was his reply. At our last prayer his request was, that God would take him to himself.

After taking leave of him, I turned when near the door for a parting look at my dying friend. As I stood sorrowing over his sufferings, his eye caught mine, and I raised my arm and pointed upwards, but said nothing. Immediately his face was radiant with a heavenly smile, and in a full, clear voice, he exclaimed, "I'M BEFORE YOU!"

This once poor, now rich, man has left a letter addressed to the Managers of the Society, expressive of his gratitude, and we feel more than ever encouraged to labour on in our Master's work, praying that "it may please HIM to bring into the way of truth all such as have erred and are deceived."

CHAPTER XII.

ELLARD'S ILLNESS AND DEATH.

On Sunday, the 6th of November, 1859, I noticed that Ellard was suffering from a severe cold. On Tuesday, the 8th, he complained of a pain in his breast, and sore throat. A medical gentleman, one of the Managers of the Society, called to see him, and kindly and faithfully attended him. On the 10th he was better, and on the 12th obtained the physician's consent to leave his bed, and return to his stand. Towards the close of the month, he was attacked with coughing spells morning and night, which continued to increase.

On the evening of 7th December, he entered the Home while I was there, and finding him so much worse, I took him to the physician, who prescribed for him. His cough was very troublesome the next day, and he complained of pains in his body. On the 9th, the physician having informed me of his dangerous state, I felt it my duty to acquaint him with it at once. The poor lad revolted at the thought of death, and irritably denounced the physician, and declared that he would go out the next day. But this was not to be. The hand that now held him, was the relentless hand of the angel of death. I felt most sensibly that much was to be done for his undying soul, and that there was but a brief and uncertain period in which to do it. When I first proposed to pray at his bedside, he assented in a manner that told of a severe struggle of mind. It was my blessed privilege to kneel at his side morning and evening, and he manifested an increased interest each time. On the 10th and 11th he seemed better, but was very ill on the 13th. I taught him a prayer, which he committed to memory, and repeated after me, as I presented it on his behalf at the throne of grace.

The Superintendent was kneeling at the other side of the dying lad, and when I had closed my prayer, he threw himself on the bed, and implored him to give his heart to the Saviour. Poor Ellard looked upon Mr. Sloan as his father, and was loved by him as an own child. The tears fell from the man of God as he pleaded, "O! John, will you not look to the Saviour? He loves you, and will forgive you all your sins, if you will only give your heart to him. Say John! will you not now look to Him ? Do, do! give yourself to Him." This is a most imperfect record of words; the emotions and the sacredness of that hallowed scene cannot be described.

Wednesday, 14th. At six o'clock this morning he was very low. Throughout the day he complained of inward pain, and had increased difficulty in breathing. The Superintendent, who spent the greater part of the time with him, carried him about the room in his arms. When not thus holding him, he was seated at his bedside, with the eyes of the poor sufferer fixed upon him. The dear boy thought that he was dying, and calling one of his companions present, to whom he had loaned money, he said, "I forgive you all you owe me, and tell .... and .... that I forgive them all they owe me." Shortly after, he said to Mr. Sloan, "O! how I would like to see all the boys; but if I cannot, just give them my respects." He also said, "I forgive all who owe me anything."