have sustained by neglecting a proper use of my favours. The request has every thing connected with it that is great and good, to invite your compliance. Your compliance is reasonable. It will prove your interest, it will be applauded by all wise men, and must meet with the approbation of your gracious God. To a compliance you are called by all that is lovely in holiness, desirable in happiness, consoling in death, terrible in hell, and inviting in heaven.-Treat my Successor graciously.

YOUR DEPARTED FRIEND, A FRAGMENT OF TIME, THE PAST YEAR.

London.

A GATHERER OF FRAGMENTS.

ΕΡΙΤΑΡΗ,

IN THE OLD CHURCH OF DONCASTER,

A REMARKABLE monument, of the altar form, is placed just behind the reading-desk, and called, "Robin of Doncaster." It bears the following inscription :

Howe Howe, who is heare,

I Robin of Doncaster, and Magaret my feare.
'That I spent, That I had:

That I gave, That I have:

That I left, That I lost. A. D. 1579.

Quoth Robertus Byrkes, who in this world did reign, Threescore years and seven, and yet lived not one.

Perhaps some of the writers for " THE YOUTH'S INSTRUCTER will explain the sentiments in this singular Epitaph, for the benefit of its juvenile readers.

JUVENTUS.

BRIEF ASTRONOMICAL NOTICES,

FOR JANUARY, 1830.

THE apparent motions of the heavenly bodies are the most obvious phenomena in nature; and as a knowledge of the return of the seasons must always have been necessary for the husbandman, the course of the Sun probably engaged the attention of mankind in the early ages of the world. The appearance and disappear. ance of the Moon, also, at stated times, and the utility attending the

knowledge of these circumstances, would necessarily excite an inquiry into the motions of that body. Attention to these things would naturally lead to the investigation of the motions of the other bodies in the heavens. Accordingly we find it recorded, that the science of Astronomy was cultivated by the immediate descendants of Adam; for Josephus states, that the sons of Seth employed themselves in the study of Astronomy; and that they wrote their observations upon two pillars, one of brick, and the other of stone, to preserve them against the destruction which Adam had foretold should happen to the earth. The same writer relates, that Abraham argued "the unity and power of God from the orderly course of things both at sea and land, in their times and seasons, and from his observations upon the motions and influences of the Sun, Moon, and stars; and that he read lectures in Astronomy and Arithmetic to the Egyptians, of which they understood nothing till Abraham brought them from Chaldea to Egypt; and from thence they passed to the Greeks."

THE SUN rises, on the 1st, at five minutes past eight, and sets at five minutes before four: on the 22d, he rises at forty-three miBetes past seven, and sets at seventeen minutes after four.

THE MOON Sets on the 1st at midnight, and on the 4th at halfpast two in the morning. The Moon is full on the 9th, at thirtytwo minutes after three in the morning. On the 10th she rises one minute before six; on the 13th, at ten minutes past nine; and on the 17th, at forty minutes before one, in the morning. The Moon changes on the 24th, at six minutes before five in the evening: on the 26th she sets at seven o'clock, and on the 28th, at half-past nine at night.

MERCURY is visible during the last week: he appears near the horizon, in the west, after sun-set.

VENUS exhibits a very beautiful appearance in the evenings, and is now visible in the day-time, to persons who have good sight. Venus is full south on the 5th, at eleven minutes past three, and on the 19th, at fifty-two minutes after two, in the afternoon.

MARS is seen in the mornings: he souths on the 13th at twenty minutes after eight, and on the 27th at fifty-six minutes past seven. JUPITER is visible at the end of the month; when he appears near the horizon, in the south-east, at day-break.

SATURN is now an interesting object. Rising soon after sun-set; and of course being above the horizon all the night through, he affords many opportunities of observing his curious Ring; which is visible through the medium of even a moderate telescope.

On the 6th, in the morning, the Moon eclipses that notable fixed star, in Taurus, called Aldebaran: the star immerges at the Moon's dark limb at thirty-seven minutes after three, and emerges from behind the bright edge at twenty-seven minutes after four.

On the 13th the Moon eclipses a small star in Leo: the immersion Takes place at three minutes past ten, and the emersion at two minutes before eleven o'clock, at night. A telescope of some sort will be necessary to see the star.

The science of Astronomy exhibits, in a very striking manner, the power and wisdom of God:

"Bright legions swarm unseen, and sing unheard
By mortal ear, the glorious Architect,

In this his universal temple, hung
With lustres, with innumerable lights,
That shed religion on the soul; at once,
The temple and the preacher! O how loud
It calls devotion! genuine growth of night.
Devotion! daughter of Astronomy!
An undevout Astronomer is mad,"
Greenwich.

Young.

W. ROGERSON.

JUVENILE BIOGRAPHY.

MEMOIR OF MARY ANN NIXON, OF WINDSOR; WITH A SHORT NOTICE OF THE DEATH OF HER SISTER AND FATHER.

MARY ANN NIXON was born at Leicester, November 12, 1808. In 1813, her parents removed to Windsor, where she terminated her mortal career. She was accustomed to attend the service of God in the Established church on one part of the Sabbath, and in the Methodist chapel on the other. From her infancy, she was remarkable for filial affection and obedience. Her conduct was strictly moral, circumspect, and prudent; and her manners were very pleasing. While at school, she was generally held forth as an example to the rest of the young females. She was frequently under that gracious influence of the Holy Spirit which is not uncommon to those who are trained up in the ordinances of God; yet she did not fully yield herself to God till she had arrived at the age of fourteen, when she was visited with a severe and protracted illness, which, it was feared, would terminate in death. In this affliction, she was deeply affected with a sense of her guilt and depravity; and sincerely concerned to obtain the favour of God, and a meetness for heaven. Previous to this period, she had great delight in novels, and perused them with avidity; but her taste now underwent a happy change. The Bible became her favourite book: she laid it under her pillow, that she might avail herself of every opportunity of looking into its sacred pages; and it was to her "sweeter than honey or the honeycomb." She was enabled to believe in Christ, as the "Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world;" obtained "the knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins;" and was blessed with the " Spirit of adoption," whereby she could cry, "Abba, Father." Being re conciled to God through faith in his Son, and having the love of God shed abroad in her heart by the Holy Ghost given unto her, she became exceedingly happy. It appeared as though the heavens were opened to her, and she saw their inhabitants, and their glories; and she spoke of them, and of the happiness which she possessed, with an energy and transport which astonished and

delighted all who heard her. When she had recovered from this illness she joined the Methodist society, and continued an exemplary member till death.

It seems, from a small journal in which she made occasional entries, that she did not retain the uninterrupted enjoyment of the happiness which she received at her conversion. Early in the year 1825, she represents herself as under a cloud, and expresses the feelings of a penitent sinner who is earnestly seeking salvation. She did not long remain in this state. Her spirit could not rest out of its element; and on February 1st she relates a glorious deliverance: "As I was musing on the death of a young friend who had died in the Lord, some lines written by a father on the death of his child were impressed on my mind; and while I was repeating them the Lord revealed himself to my soul. The cloud which had for some time hung over me seemed in an instant to disappear; my doubts were dispelled, unbelief gave way, and the Lord graciously spoke peace to me."

From this time Miss Nixon seems to have lived in intimate communion with God, and to have been wholly devoted to his service. Her path continued to shine brighter and brighter; she was favoured with larger measures of the Holy Spirit, and sunk deeper and rose higher in the enjoyment of divine things. A mind so habitually alive to God, and so deeply imbued with the Spirit of grace, would, of course, be willing to engage in any plan by which the happiness of men and the glory of God might be promoted. And hence, when the Methodist Missionary Society was formed at Windsor, Miss Nixon undertook a part of more than ordinary difficulty. She became a kind of pioneer in the work of benevolence, penetrating new and untried districts, and endeavouring to stimulate to benevolent acts those who were the most unlikely to be interested in such a cause. When she had persuaded any to become stated contributors, she transferred them to a regular collector, and tried to persuade others to follow. the example. Where she could not gain regular subscriptions, she did not fail generally to obtain occasional donations. There was nothing of obtrusive boldness in her. She was naturally diffident and retiring in her disposition, and the Christian graces of humility and modesty shone eminently in her but she had a zeal for the glory of God and the salvation of men, which raised her above herself, and which the cold receptions and discouraging repulses she sometimes met with could not quench. She was unwearied in the Mission cause; and in her death it has lost a most valuable friend. A person who occasionally attends the Methodist chapel met me in the street after her decease. He seemed to feel some degree of triumph in his ability to resist the appeals of those who are employed to solicit contributions for benevolent purposes. "None of them," said he, "can get any thing from ane. But she was always too powerful for me; could never escape out of her hands. She has obtained many a shilling from me." There was indeed such simplicity, innocence,

happiness, and loveliness in her countenance, and such an energy in her language, that when she was admitted to plead, it was almost impossible to deny her. Miss Nixon always took great delight in the Sunday School. She was a constant and regular teacher. To impart religious instruction to the rising generation was an element in which her soul delighted; and her prudent and pious conduct gained her the confidence of the children, and the esteem and affection of her fellow-teachers. In the Spring of 1827 Miss Nixon went to Leicester to learn, with a cousin, the dress-making business. New scenes bring new trials, and expose to new temptations; and sometimes we have the pain of witnessing the piety of youth yielding to their influence. But Miss Nixon's piety was of a firmer kind. She joined the Methodist society at Leicester; and found the ordinances of God, and the Christian communion with which she was favoured, eminently beneficial. She seems there to have made considerable progress in Christian experience, and to have attained that higher privilege of the children of God, which is sought and obtained by few, but which is essential to the full exemplification of Christianity,-the entire sanctification of the soul.

While at Leicester, Miss Nixon had the happiness of seeing her cousin converted to God, and join her in his service. She was also the instrument of restoring an uncle, who had been for some time in a backsliding state. Her affectionate and earnest entreaties prevailed with him to return again to God. An extract from his letter to her mother, after her death, will show how much he felt himself indebted to her, as a messenger of mercy to his soul:-" I shall," says he, "ever feel at a loss to express sufficiently my attachment and love to her; and should deem myself devoid of feeling, if I did not acknowledge the benefit I received from her, as a messenger sent by God for the salvation of my soul. O how many loving entreaties did she give me to turn again to God!"

Miss Nixon left Leicester in May, 1828, and came to reside with her parents at Windsor. While at Leicester, her unaffected piety and amiable manners commended her to the esteem of all who knew her. She had, indeed, so much of that which is lovely, praiseworthy, and of good report, about her, that she was always a favourite wherever she came. Her departure from Leicester was much regretted by a large circle of Christian associates. Her return to Windsor was hailed by her friends, and the Methodist society, with great pleasure. She recommenced her work in the Sunday-school; engaged in collecting for the Missions; and consented to become an agent of the Benevolent Society, as visiter of the sick. Her heart was full of good designs; and she wished her hands to be fully employed in works of piety and mercy.

From a child she was of a delicate constitution: but she seemed to have considerably improved in health, as well as in piety, while at Leicester. She had not, however, been long