sometimes in a rickety attic. be little children, but it was larger growth came to listen. pointed for one class and one room, and that only once a day. And this enabled me to go over a large number in the course of a week.

The scholars were understood to soon found that children of a Half an hour was the time ap

"In one sense my task was unpleasant, the people were so poor, and I had neither food nor clothing, gold nor silver, to give them; but I could add, such as I have, give I thee'sympathy and effort. But though the condition of the places was as sad as the poverty of the people, I loved the work for the sake of the poor, and because I felt sure God's blessing attended my labours. And besides, I was taught much that has not been forgotten. This work, coming so soon after my own sad experience, and while I was yet suffering not a little, perhaps, made me feel more deeply for those I visited; hence I could not take it easy, as kind friends would sometimes suggest. I did my best for the spiritual welfare of the adults, as well as the children, not forgetting the physical and intellectual condition in which I found them."

66 TOO LITTLE ONCE MORE.

"Truly, if my family could have been supported by what I had for this work, I could have given my life to it; but that was impossible, the income thereby only being a very few shillings weekly."

In these words we see the bent of his mind-that he was not merely willing but very anxious to avail himself of every likely opportunity to labour for the happiness of his fellow-creatures. But they also tell us the reason why he wished to improve the comfort of his home while striving to be useful. Two offers of other work had come-the Editorship of a Scottish newspaper and a Reportership on a London newspaper-and fain would

"TOO LITTLE" ONCE MORE.

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he have tried, especially in the latter case, to benefit his position; but his friend, Dr Menzies, assured him he was yet too weak to venture from home and engage in such work. But about that time a kind-hearted friend-the Secretary to the Soldier's Friend Society-informed him that such services as he could render were wanted by that Society in the Castle of Edinburgh. "The very thing," he said to himself; and, acting on advice, he lost no time in forwarding an application for the vacant situation to the London Board. Among the testimonials which he enclosed was one from his minister, in which he stated that Mr Hillocks possessed the talent of exhibiting Divine Truth in a form fitted to interest, "and was otherwise peculiarly qualified to commend the Gospel ;" that he was a man of great energy and industry, ever anxious to discharge his duties faithfully." He also added that he "admired the resignation" which the applicant had "manifested under severe and accumulated afflictions."

66

66

The decision of the London Board was all that could be desired, and hopes were raised; but the Chaplain had yet to be satisfied. "This," he says, was the stumbling-block, the Chaplain would not be satisfied. A friend asked him why he did not accept of my services in the Scripture Readership, and the reply was, 'He is too little to speak to my tall men!' Eut certainly this was not the only reason. When I had the honour of a conversation with this man in high authority (he was not much taller than I was), he said, 'You are a Dissenter, I understand, and the question is, Are you a Dissenter on principle?' He emphasised the two last words. I am,' was the reply, and we parted. I asked myself the question- When shall the time come that those who have the will shall not have the power thus to manifest the worst form of Sectarianism ?""

WORDS OF CHEER.

But this disappointment was somewhat modified by the kindness of others and the words of cheer which came in letters sent to him from all parts of the United Kingdom. He says: “I can scarcely refrain from naming a few who wrote to me after reading Life Story.' The letters from the Duke of Argyle, the Right Hon. Lord Kinnaird, the late Sir George Ramsey, Sir John Ogilvey, George Kinloch, Robert Chambers, Duncan M‘Laren, M.P., Thomas Cooper, were kindly and encouraging, well calculated to keep hope alive. Go on in the strength of God'-' I commend you and yours to God'—' Excelsior is your motto, stick to it'-' God will make way for you and provide for your good wife and dear children.' Such were a few of the cheerful words sent to us. Often have I read the letters, and as often have I thanked God and the writers. But the letter which, at that time, increased and strengthened our hopes of being soon relieved from that rather severe pinching which accompanies a small income, was from the pen of Lord Brougham. He promised to do what he could to further my desires to get congenial work-when he saw Mr Hastings, then the Secretary of the Social Science Association. But this was not the way God was opening up for me.

Some time after this, and while preparations were making for the second edition, a very kind letter came from the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, showing that he had read the little book with the greatest care. The value of his generous and thoughtful expression of sympathy' and of 'admiration' was greatly enhanced by the questions he asked in relation to some of the incidents merely alluded to in the book. This gave me an opportunity of giving a full explanation, with which the great Statesman was 'perfectly satisfied."".

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CHAPTER XV.

A TRIBUTE-DEPARTED FRIENDS.

ALL this was encouraging, and he was grateful. This gratìtude he is not slow to express, as may be gathered from some of his brief sketches of those whose friendship he enjoyedsketches of the living as well as the dead; but we shall select four of those who have gone to their rest above. But while we confine ourselves to these, as showing his sincere attach ment, as well as his hearty appreciation of talent and goodness in others, it is well, also, to bear in mind that there are other friends still here below whose character and ability he admires and appreciates; such, for instance, as our esteemed friend, William Logan, of Glasgow, the editor of that most valuable work, 66 Words of comfort to parents bereaved of little children," and to whom Mr Hillocks appropriately dedicated his "Welfare of Children." Of Mr Logan it may well be said, as the Vicar of Wakefield said of Newberry, the bookseller, "he is a friend of all mankind,” particularly of struggling worth and genius. His paternal conduct to poor David Gray, the Poet of the Luggie, is itself enough to perpetualize his name. Having heard of Mr Hillocks as a speaker and writer on social subjects, viewed from the Christian standpoint, Mr Logan sent him a copy of his "Moral Statistics of Glasgow." This was the commencement of their friendship.

THOMAS LAMB.

In connection with the subject already referred to in Chapter IX., he thus speaks of Mr Lamb as one who had a considerable interest in him as in others of the same literary circles:

"Like many others, I owe much to the Dundee Literary Societies. They were to me valuable schools, in which I learned much that has been very useful to me in every walk of life wherein I have trodden-awakening that love of literature which has since grown with my years—preventing me from ever being alone if a book is in the way and I be able to think. But I would be very ungrateful if I could leave this subject without saying that not a little of our lasting pleasure and fruitful benefits are due to the thoughtful generosity of our fatherly friend, the late Thomas Lamb. Little did the good man think what a boon he was conferring on society, far beyond Dundee, when he was making it one of the chief objects of his life to encourage and guide the more intelligent young men in mutual advancement. The many travellers who have occasion to put up in Dundee especially that large and useful class known as the 'gentlemen of the road'—have reason to rejoice in the grand consummation of that noble enterprize—that useful monument of unaided industry and steady perseverance in Reform-street —known as Lamb's Temperance Hotel—an establishment true to its name; but none have more reason to express their gratitude to our late worthy citizen, Thomas Lamb, than the large number who, about the time to which I now refer, were members of the literary societies which found a home in 'The Halls of Lamb.' It is there, in the Murray-gate Rooms, our associations centre. It was there where our temperance and temperate landlord became and continued to be our patron, our counsellor, our father. And he was Mr Lamb throughout his worthy partner in life and their amiable daughter assisting him. Our