for me," are found again and again in the instances Scripture gives us of a life of real faith in God. “As for me,” says the Psalmist, surrounded by deceitful professors of religion, "I will call upon God." "As for me," he cries again, when oppressors are rising against him on every side, "I will sing of Thy power;" and when tempted by the invitations and bribes of evil-doers to cast in his lot with them, "As for me, I will walk in mine integrity."

"But," say some, "I don't dare to make a great profession of religion." Is it then in any rash spirit of independence, of daring self-reliance, that God's Word encourages us to take up this "As for me?" Nay; for we never find the brave words uttered by His servants of old save in connection with His promises of support, protection, comfort, boldly claimed as the personal portion of each of His true followers. "As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me; "As for me, Thou upholdest me in mine integrity." It is surely confession of God, not profession of self, which we have here.

But do not these words "As for me" speak of loneliness ? And we all dread to be lonely. Not so; for what saith the promise of God: "Come out, and be ye separate, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters." Was Abraham lonely when, leaving behind the land of his father's idolatry, he became the "friend of God?" Was he lonely who could say, "The Lord stood by me and strengthened me," in the hour when no man stood by, but all forsook him?

Nor is this all; every faithful confessor of Jesus can tell how there have gathered round him "brethren and sisters, mothers and children," in the family of faith; and how, through personal steadfastness to his Lord, he has won worldly-wavering hearts to His cause. For when "One shall say, I am the Lord's," and live accordingly, "another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel."

It is clear that nothing short of this "As for me," this individual "singular" allegiance, can be of any value in the eyes of our God. One by one, He calls us to give Him our hearts; each one wandering from the fold is missed. and followed; each sheep of the flock is known by name; each saint of the crowned and white-robed multitude whom no man can number will be singing, "He loved me, and gave Himself for me."

Now we are free to choose whether we will drift along with an ungodly world, content to lose the true Christian's blessedness, because we also escape his warfare, his sacrifices, and the world's sneering epithet "singular." But a day is fast coming when "each one of us will give account of himself to God;" when, alone, we shall stand or fall. And concerning that day, he only who has said with Joshua, "As for me, I will serve the Lord," can say, "As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; and when I wake after Thy likeness, I shall be satisfied with it." For is it not written that "Blessings unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills shall be on the head of him that was separate from his brethren "?

Rough Diamonds.

CHAPTER I.

A. J. T.

OME years ago, I had occasion to visit a small town in Northamptonshire.

At that time the

terminus of the line was Blisworth, so I was com

pelled to commit myself to the shaky old 'bus which had, for eighteen years, run between that and Towcester. Little wonder that I got so shaken, and had to hold on by both sides of this wonderful conveyance, hearing with horror the jerkings of the boxes overhead till I thought they must have come through. Little wonder, either, that

curling smoke of this small and rather desolate town came in sight. Small, indeed, for only some six thousand people lived at Towcester. Desolate, because the traveller might justly wonder, when passing through, whatever the attraction could be to induce people to live in such a wretched spot. Well, no matter what others might think-for I spent a very happy three months in Towcester, and found many things to attract my attention and please my fancy.

The greatest of these were "the navvies," for Towcester meant to have her railway; trade meant to have an increase, and the people to become more civilised; and so they had set to work with a will, and a line was in rapid progressior. between Blisworth and Towcester.

A large number of navvies were employed in the neighbourhood where I visited. Fine strong men, such as England alone can boast. Oh, why does not England think more of her stalwart children?—those poor outcasts who look on sin as if it were no sin, and take God's holy name in vain without seeming to know that for each word to which they give utterance God will call them to account.

James Dudley was one of these herculean men. Often, when I have gone down to watch the navvies at their work, my attention has been especially drawn to the strong man, as he struck his pickaxe into the ground and brought a mass of earth rolling down. His strong sinewy arms stuck to their work and never seemed to tire. While others would stop to rest, or, with some terrible oath, to curse their fellowworkers, Dudley's iron frame would labour on nor would he cease till some square yards of bank were levelled to the ground.

It was on a bright summer's day, early in the morning, that I went out alone, to visit the scene of so much industry. The navvies had a peculiar fascination for me; and few things pleased me better than to go and spend an hour amongst those rough fellow-creatures. Ay, rough indeed; but each had a soul-valuable as my own; and the God of heaven was as much their God as my God.

For some days I had only been a looker-on, speaking a cheering word here and there; but to-day I had set out with a better purpose. To-day I had determined to spread the knowledge of God; and my opportunity soon arrived.

I had been gazing a long time at Dudley, when a navvy who was working near let his pickaxe hit a side-stroke, and a large lump of hard earth fell on Dudley's feet. With a savage oath, he was about to turn and strike his neighbour, but I jumped forward and placed myself between the two.

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Friends," said I, this is but an accident-would you strike yon poor fellow for so small an offence?”

The man stared at me aghast, and many others ceased their labours to hear "what a lady was saying to a poor navvy." As none spoke, I took the opportunity of addressing them.

"I have watched you for some days, my men," I said; "and I mean to see a good deal of you yet, as I am staying in the neighbourhood."

"Yes, miss,” chimed in Dudley and one or two others; "we have often talked of the lady who could speak a kind and cheering word to a poor navvy; and we are very glad to see you."

“And I am glad to see you, my men," " said I; 66 but it pains me to hear you taking God's holy name in vain, and using such terrible words to each other, as if God had no place in your hearts."

Dudley bent his eyes to the ground; some smiled; some came nearer; but no word of insult was uttered by any. Think you I was afraid? No! reader. I was not afraid to go amongst these wretched men. The youngest beggar that ever asked for alms; the poorest wretch that has cast beseeching eyes on me and begged my help-none have been less feared than these poor labouring navvies.

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Dudley spoke first. 'Lady," he said, "it's little that we poor fellows know. There are none who care for us. We never hear of a God; we know nothing of heaven or hell, and swearing is as natural to us as the work we are doing."

"I know it; I know it," said I; "and yet, believe me, you have each of you a soul to save as much as I have."

I gazed on each one separately. Some fell away to their work again, and I did not bid them stay; but all did not go, so I spoke on to them.

"There want to be more ladies like you, miss,” said one of the group; "then we might be more careful; but what do rich folk care about the soul of a poor navvy?" And he fell out of the group also.

"Do any "Why

of

you know what prayer means?" I said.

began Dudley; but he stopped, and once more gazed on the ground.

"To pray is to speak with God," I continued ; " and I am going to speak with God about you. I am going to ask Him to teach you how to pray, and to give you strength to begin a new life—to cease from sin and all wickedness, and to learn to love Him."

'I thank you in the name of all us men here," said Dudley, looking up brightly. "If you will come among us sometimes, miss, and teach us how to pray, we will—any. how, I will," said he.

"And I," "And I," repeated one or two of the group.

"Thank you, my men. If it is possible, I shall come and see you every day. But you must cease your bad language, and let me see that you are willing to do what you can for Christ. And now, good-morning. Work hard, and do your duty manfully."

They fell off to their work, but I laid my hand on Dudley's arm. "What is your name?" said I.

"James Dudley; born near Market Weighton, in Yorkshire."

"Ah!" I exclaimed; "in Yorkshire? Then we may meet again. Take this, and remember, 'The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

Just then a shrill whistle rang through the air; every man stood to one side, and a small engine, drawing twelve trucks of soil after it, passed rapidly down the temporary