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THIS engraving presents a portion of the forest from which Solomon took cedars for building the Temple. It has never recovered from the havoc of his forty-score thousand hewers. It now contains about four hundred trees, only seven of which are supposed to have been there when David sung of the Beauty of Lebanon. The largest of these trees stands on the left, and is forty-five feet in circumference. Being located at an elevation of six thousand feet above the sea, their growth is slow, measuring less than two feet when a hundred years old. These lofty evergreens are beautiful, majestic, fragrant, and so incorruptible, that some of the wood was found fresh in the temple of Utica, in Barbary, after the lapse of two thousand years!

In Scripture, these trees are made to symbolize the children of God. The righteous shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Rooted and grounded in Christ, the Rock of ages, they increase to the stature of perfect men, clothed with green foliage, even amid the snows and rude storms of life.

SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF MRS. GEORGE CHAMPION.

BY MRS. M. PEASE.

MRS. CHAMPION, formerly Miss Larned, was a native of Worcester County, Mass. Early in life, as it is believed, she became savingly interested in the redemption through Christ. Having from earliest childhood a great fondness for reading the Bible, she retained in her memory much of its contents, and drank deeply into its spirit.

She also possessed a playful humor, which rendered her an interesting and desirable companion. Her active mind, combined with a benevolent heart, induced her to improve every opportunity of making herself useful, especially in efforts to elevate those whose circumstances precluded the ordinary facilities of instruction. She was much interested in the aboriginal tribes of our country. Her soul longed to tell them of a Saviour's love. At length an opportunity was presented in which she might engage as teacher in a school connected with the Choctaw Mission.

During her course of preparation for the anticipated mission, her heart beat high with delight, while fancying herself encircled by those sons and daughters of the forest, and telling them the story of the cross. She had nearly completed the necessary arrangements for her western tour, when the rupture of a blood-vessel changed her purpose of going at the appointed time. Having, however, consecrated herself to the cause of missions, she felt assured that, if the Lord had anything for her to do in this work, he would, in due time, give her ability and provide her a field.

In a few months she became convalescent, and was soon in the enjoyment of her usual health and vigor.

The Rev. George Champion, who was one of a band of missionaries destined soon to embark for Southern Africa, providentially made her acquaintance. Although Mr. C. had inherited a large estate, still his ardent love to the cause led him to relinquish ease, luxury, and home, for toil and labor in a heathen land. He had made the preparations which seemed desirable for his departure, except to form an alliance with one whose heart glowed with a desire to assist in extending the conquests of the Redeemer.

Believing that Miss Larned possessed the requisite qualifications for a missionary's wife, a proposition to accompany him in this capacity

was made and accepted, and they embarked on their voyage across the Atlantic.

After a pleasant passage, they came in sight of Cape Town; "then," says their journal, "with eyes toward the land of the illfated African, whose dusky mountain ranges a kind Providence had at last allowed us to see, we sang,

O'er the gloomy hills of darkness,

Look, my soul, be still, and gaze.'

It was Africa we saw,

We

It was a moment of sweet reflection. could not doubt it. Our souls leaped for joy." They immediately commenced learning the Zula language.

The June following they were able to commence their tour toward their place of destination. When they arrived at Bethelsdorf, it was thought advisable for the females to remain, while the brethren pursued their journey to the territory governed by Dingaan, the scene of their contemplated labors.

After several weeks' slow travelling, over a rough and barren country, Mr. C. and his associates arrived at Dingaan's palace. They were received with kindness, and hastened to make him acquainted with the object of their visit, to which he raised some objections. His chiefs, however, who formed a sort of cabinet, proposed that the missionaries build a house at Port Natal, and make that their home, but have a school in the country.

To this proposal the king acceded. After some deliberations in reference to the future, they decided that it would be best for Mr. Champion to go to Port Natal and erect a temporary dwelling, which he accordingly did. To this place the residue of the company afterward followed.

An extract from Mrs. Champion's letters will give some idea of their mode of travelling thither:-"We commenced our journey," she says, "to Port Natal on this wise. Each had a wagon and twenty-four oxen; twelve or fourteen attached to the wagon at a time, as the case might require. Thus equipped, we went on our way at the rate of two or three miles per hour. Our journey of five or six hundred miles was performed in nine weeks, when I once more met my dear husband, and presented to him our infant son, whom he had never seen. We remained at Port Natal several months, and then bade adieu to that place, which I had hoped was to have been our con

tinued abode, and commenced a journey inland to the Zulus. After journeying ten days, we pitched our tent in a vale looking toward the north. Here we commenced building some rude houses of stones, sticks and mud, with a roof of grass; but as the rain often interrupted us, it was more than three months before we had a shelter from the storm."

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Their location at this time was at the foot of a woodless range African mountains, upon a small streamlet, in the midst of fertile native gardens and fine grass, variegated with clumps of the mymosa tree, which gave the country a beautiful appearance. Here they buried a son, which had also been added to their family.

Being now favorably located, they were anxious to enter upon their labors, but were prevented for some time on account of Dingaan's suspicions. They found him despotic, deceitful and jealous. At length, however, he allowed them to establish schools. Some children were placed under the care of Mrs. Champion, who instructed them in various useful branches.

Here, in addition to other trials, they were much annoyed by poisonous reptiles. To find a serpent coiled about their food or located in a basket of crackers, was no uncommon occurrence. Their sleeping apartments were often infested with them.

Yet, amid all the privations incident to a residence among these untutored beings, an extract from one of Mrs. C.'s letters will express her devotion to the work.

"My own dear M.,- I have often thought of you since leaving my native land, of the hours so delightfully passed at, of the day we parted, and of my anguish. Oh! M., these were but the beginnings of partings with me. Since then, to parents, to brothers, to sisters, to all, have I bidden adieu. That hour wrung my heart with anguish, while, at the same time, it was inspired with joy unspeakable and full of glory! It was a strange, sad hour, a tumult within; yet all was serene. As the recollection comes over my mind, tears fill my eyes. But think you I regret it? Not unless I have forgotten Jesus, Him who died on Calvary, Him who bore my sins in his own body on the tree! No; I regret it not! Again and again would I separate those ties if duty called, and bid adieu to all I held dear, and go out 'not knowing whither I went.' It is a blessed cause. The poor heathen! their wretchedness exceeds belief!"

A good beginning had been made in the missionary work. Some

tracts had been printed in the Zula language. Congregations began to be gathered. There was also a commencement made in various departments of education. But the storm of war burst suddenly upon them, and compelled the missionaries to retire beyond the contending armies. Their flight was, however, rendered extremely perilous, as it depended mostly on concealment, while the enemies' forces were sweeping through the country. Refuge in a swamp seemed the only possible place of safety. Mrs. Champion concealed herself by standing in a clump of bushes, so thickly studded with thorns as nearly to preclude all movement, the water and mud being nearly waistdeep. In this position she remained almost a whole day. After being released, she was so much exhausted, and she found her health undermined to such a degree, as to render her incapable of engaging in missionary labor again without such a restoration as her experience taught her not to expect while she remained in Africa. After the lapse of a few months, Mr. C. and family left the continent, and returned to New England.

Mr. Champion, feeling desirous to be a constant laborer in the cause which he had espoused, located himself in a feeble parish in Massachusetts, and sustained, at his own expense, the ministry among them.

After laboring there two years, his health began to decline. By the advice of physicians, he sought refuge in one of the Southern States, hoping that its bland and balmy atmosphere might restore him to health, and thus enable him to return to his chosen field in Africa, where he and Mrs. Champion wished to labor and to die.

Arrangements were made for Mrs. C. and her three children to remain at home during his temporary absence. Shortly after his departure their infant daughter became seriously ill, and suddenly died. Hardly had the angel of death sheathed his weapon, when intelligence reached the smitten mother that her husband was fast sinking to the grave, with a request that she might accompany him speedily to the West Indies, that, if possible, his life might be prolonged. How did sorrow cluster about this household! The breathless form of the infant had not yet been committed to its last restingplace. The dear boys must now be sent to distant friends. A few days only could be allowed her, ere she must meet her husband in a southern port, whence they were to sail. But she did not sink or falter beneath this accumulated weight of affliction, still confidently

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