gifts of tongues are not granted now as in the days of the apostles, yet certainly the Holy Spirit must give peculiar help to those who are labouring for Christ in this way. How difficult we often find it to learn a new language with all the help of grammars and dictionaries! Only think of having to make the grammar, when there was never a word in writing before, as the Moravians did in Greenland, and Eliot in America!"

"I never could, at least," said George.

"Do not say so," said his father. "Listen to what Eliot wrote at the end of his grammar, and let it be your

motto through life,- Prayer and pains, through faith in Christ Jesus, will do anything.""

"And did he make much progress in teaching the Indians?" asked Anne.

"He began to visit and address them in 1646; and God seemed at once to give him favour in their eyes, so that they listened attentively to his statements of divine truth, and asked most intelligent questions in return. He felt at once repaid for all his labour in studying their language, when he observed that 'a few words from the preacher were more regarded than many from the Indian interpreter;' and by this time he only required to 'borrow some small helps from him.' Soon he was able to preach with facility, and even to pray; which last was a peculiar cause of thankfulness, because the poor savages had asked 'if the white man's God could understand their prayers

in their own language?' Then the Holy Spirit opened their hearts to the truth, and many began to ask with tears, 'What must we do to be saved?'"

"And did many believe?"

"Yes; in the course of some years there were so many converts that at their own request ground was given them on which to build a village, where they might live together, in place of wandering about. The name given to the first Christian village was Noonanetum, or Rejoicing. Mr. Eliot and his friends took much pains to teach them useful occupations, as well as to instruct their minds. Then another tribe, at a greater distance, asked the preacher to come and speak to them; and he gladly obeyed the call. And so the good work went on, till after thirty years there were no fewer than fourteen villages of 'praying Indians' under the good missionary's care."

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Mamma, that was wonderful. How could he take charge of so many?"

"He never spared himself, and was able to undergo great fatigues and hardships, having naturally a strong constitution. Both he and his converts were often exposed to danger from the anger of the heathens around them; but God protected them. In course of time he taught a few of the most intelligent native Christians how to act as assistants to himself, and teachers to their countrymen, and wrote an Indian catechism and other

books for their use. In the year 1661 the complete New Testament, with references, was printed in the Indian language; and two years afterwards, the whole Bible. How diligently Eliot must have 'redeemed the time,' in order to accomplish so much work of every kind!"

"Was he ever married?"

"Yes; he married young, and had a large family. His wife was a truly pious person, and though her anxieties must often have been great, she seems never to have put any hindrances in the way of his labours. His children mostly died in youth; and his earnest desire to see his own sons missionaries to the Indians was not granted; at least, the eldest only lived to preach a few years. But the good old man used to say, 'I desired that my children should serve God on earth; but since he has chosen that it should be in heaven, I have nothing to say against it, his will be done!'"

"Did he live to be very old ?"

"Yes, to eighty-six; much longer than his early friends; and he used sometimes pleasantly to say that he feared they must be thinking he had missed the road to heaven when he was staying so long behind. He had great comfort latterly in a pious young minister who became his colleague at Roxbury. And to the last the aged believer was anxious to be doing some work for his Lord, teaching poor negro children in the house when he was no longer able to go out. His Indian churches were

much on his heart to the end. His last words were,

'Welcome joy!"

"And will uncle see the Indian villages, mamma,' asked Tommy, "when he goes to America next summer?" "Oh no, my love! Wars and troubles came, and long ago all Mr. Eliot's praying Indians died, and the villages were broken up, and now there are large busy towns of the white men where the wigwams used to be. But the Indian believers, we know, are happy with Jesus, and with their beloved teacher, in the heavenly home, and that is a pleasant thought."

“And did no other missionary go to the Red Indians afterwards?"

"I shall tell you about that next Sabbath evening, it is too late to talk more now."

II.

THE RED INDIANS-DAVID BRAINERD.

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OW, mamma," said Anne, as they sat round the table, "you are to tell us more to-night about the Red Indians, and the missionaries who came after Eliot."

"There were others among the good men who went to New England along with him, who were also earnest in their efforts for the good of the poor heathens; and were successful, too, although not so eminent as himself. If all the colonists who came in after years had acted in the spirit of the first settlers, how different the condition of the red men would have been ere now?"

"But who was the next great missionary ?"

"The one of whom we know most is David Brainerd. He was born about fifty years after Eliot died."

"Was he an Englishman?"

"He was born in New England, in a part of the colony now called Connecticut. But his family originally emigrated from England, like Eliot, for conscience' sake.”