Dear young friends, we must not further detain you, excepting to thank all who have kindly helped us in this work of mercy, and to ask any who have not yet paid for a brick in these Homes to kindly do so, that the inhabitants may feel they are truly in FREE Homes.

BRIEF SKETCHES FROM THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JASON CALEB WRATTEN, WHO DIED TWENTY MINUTES AFTER MIDNIGHT OF LORD'S-DAY, May 26, 1872,

JASON CALEB WRATTEN was born of believing parents Nov. 24th, 1855. He was a child of many prayers, and as soon as he could read was a reader of the LITTLE GLEANER and other good books, and by a good mother taught to read the Bible, and revere the Lord's-day, and by restraint was kept from the practice of ungodliness, and was never allowed while at home to attend public amusements. When he first left home he was very strict in his attendance at the Sunday-school, Bible-class, &c., and kept up his attendance on the public ministry of the Word; but, gradually forming acquaintance with loose companions, he was drawn aside to take walks between the intervals of service as well as Sunday nights, which had a very corrupting effect upon his mind, and he found he had a nature that loved sin, although he knew the wages thereof is death. His sins were against the light he had, and the accusations of a horrified conscience. Like many more who have been favoured with godly parents, he proved that grace is not hereditary, only manifesting the principles of fallen nature, till it pleased the Lord to lay affliction upon him. This affliction came upon him through taking cold the year previous to

his death, when living with Mr. D--, grocer, Sutton-street, Brighton. This cold was the effect of getting wet, and very unwisely being allowed to go on without changing his clothes, which were left to dry on him the rest of the day till late at night.

On hearing of his having taken cold, his stepfather, W. C——————, went to Brighton to see him, in order to ascertain the state of his mind as to his future prospects in this world, as he was looking forward to the close of the term for which he had engaged in his present situation. As he had not been very willing to submit to the control of his step-father, it was proposed to him to take another situation in a higher class of business in Brighton, unless he would prefer the country; but to the surprise of his father, who entered into a lengthened conversation with the lad, there was a marked alteration in his manner. He paid the greatest respect to his father's advice, yet showed a determination to come home, repeating with great emphasis: "No, I shall come home, father! I do not wish you to get me another situation. I could easily do that myself; but, I tell you, father, I shall come home!"

In order to ascertain his real feelings, his father set before him some of the difficulties of home, stating that there must be subjection as well as perseverance in business. Well," he replied, "I mean to come home and have a try."

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With the understanding that no other place was to be sought for, they parted; but in a few weeks the poor boy came home, looking much worse than before. He stated he was only come to get some of father's medicine, but by close observation it was perceived that the cold had taken a deep hold upon his chest.

His father came to a positive decision that he

must not return to Brighton for the present, and the poor lad was as positive he must go; for he said his employer would expect him, and it would not do to disappoint his master like that. Though still forbidden to go, at least immediately, Jason persisted, saying: "I am not going to serve my master like that; I must go!" He was quieted at last by his father promising to write to his master, Mr. D- as well as to take the blame of his not going back. He thought, however, of returning as soon as he was a little better. This getting better was like taking one step up the hill and dropping back two; and, as one medicine after another was tried to no effect, we were recommended to try Congreve's Elixir, which also proved a failure.

After this, on reading the advice in Mr. C's printed publication, where he recommends Hastings as a change in such cases, we obtained a subscriber's order for him as an out-patient to the Infirmary. Here his hopes were greatly raised. What with change of air and scene, and the medical treatment of the Infirmary, he sent home most flattering tidings to his parents, saying how much better he felt.

Added to all this, he met with very kind friends in his uncle's family at Hastings, who treated him with every indulgence, and with some of whom he attended preaching, where he was told how he might obtain peace of mind. Jason, being now under deep exercises of spirit, with sharp pangs of remorse and cutting conviction as to his way of living in the past, the preaching he heard just suited his feelings. At this time he was striving to get peace by amendment of life, and under one sermon he was so comforted, that he thought he should soon be a happy Christian. Presently all began to fail: he was not so well in body, and still more wretched in mind.

Jason now began to correspond with his mother, and every letter betrayed more and more the tried state of his mind. This, too, in spite of his having attended as well the preaching of Mr. B., by which, according to his feelings, he was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse. In writing on this subject to his mother, he said in much simplicity: "I wish I could hear somebody pray like father!" and said he could not pray himself, his heart was too hard; and when he tried, he could not get the words out : he was often stopped by the words running in his mind: "The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination unto the Lord," &c., &c.

Shortly after this he came home, but went to Hastings to see the doctor, as long as he was able to do so. Being invited by his uncle again, on Good Friday last, to come and stay with them again, he told his mother he was quite decided to stay at home, he could not bear to leave.

His attachment to the "truths of the Gospel of Jesus" became now more evident, and he would read his Testament night and day. The fear of his father, too, seemed to abate, and he began to delight much more in his conversation, while he showed a great dislike to go to bed till after family prayer. He would often tell his mother something about the state of his mind, and would say, I do like father's prayers: I wish I could pray so for myself!"

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Meanwhile a greater attachment to the public ministry showed itself. On one occasion he seemed to get encouragement under Mr. Vine, at the Dicker, and would take great delight in speaking of him to others. But as the family more generally attended the ministry of Mr. Nunn, at Hailsham, and, moreover, he enjoyed the sermons and prayermeeting between the services, he ultimately was

quite at home there. He was very intent on going constantly, and was very loth to give up doing so, even after he was too weak to sit in the chapel in service-time, on account of his cough.

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When compelled to remain at home, Jason would say to his mother, I do not like you should stay at home for me; I do not like keeping you from the chapel, mother: Ebby will do to stay with me.” And for several Lord's Days this was carried out, instead of his mother being deprived of the privilege of attending public worship.

At length his voice failed him, so that he could only whisper, and his head became too weak to bear much reading. He said he read a little, and then thought it over; and sometimes he would be so engaged, that, when one spoke to him, or came into the room suddenly, he would seem to take no notice till afterwards. On some such occasions he would say, "I was only trying to say a few words:" though at the same time no words were heard. His words were his secret thoughts, and were doubtless registered in heaven by Him "which seeth in secret," and who ultimately "rewarded him openly" by giving him manifest answers to his prayers. He several times said he thought the Lord heard him; for, "since he had tried to say a few words to God, he had watched for an answer, and found it best to acknowledge God's hand in everything."

If he were going a little journey, he would say, "I asked the Lord to help me, and He did; and I have asked Him to enable me to take my food, and bless it to me, and He has."

One day he said to his father, "I say, father, has mother told you my foolish thought?" "What thought was that, Jason? we have so many of them." "Why, I thought the Lord would restore