AN IMPORTANT ERA. 109

Great tenderness was in his manner. It. touched
my poor, unhappy, struggling spirit, and I burst into
tears. Then he spoke many things, and, oh! how
wisely, for one who was a stranger! I felt that I had
found a friend. After many broken sentences, and
stammering attempts, and much encouragement from
him, I unbosomed my sorrow. How gentle and yet
how faithful he was! How he expressed for me what
I could not myself express! How searching and
appropriate were his admonitions !

It was my first interview with a clergyman, except
that, when a child, I had been called in with Jane and
Mary to see our village pastor on his parochial visit,
once a year; and that interview inspired me with a
love and veneration for the ministers of Christ, which
the pulpit. could never have done in.a like degree.
Oh, how blessed is the office! Standing in the place
of his divine Master, the weary and heavy laden, the
sinful and sorrowing, come to him for aid, instruction,
and sympathy; and how do they hang upon his words,

and hold fast his instructions! How they heed it by