'Why not? You say that you drink to forget sorrow; and surely I have sorrow forget."

"Woman! woman! you are not going to give that stuff to the children!" cried Tom, as she was passing the glass of liquor to them.

"Why not? Can children have a better example than their father's? Is not what is good for him good for them also? It will put them to sleep, and they will forget they are cold and hungry. Drink, my children; this is fire, and bed, and food, and clothing. Drink; you see how much good it does your father."

With seeming reluctance Mary suffered her husband to lead her home; and that night he prayed long and fervently that God would help him to break an evil habit, and keep a newly-formed but firm resolution.

His reformation was, by God's grace,

thorough; and Mrs. Truesdall is now one of the happiest of women, and remembers with melancholy pleasure her first and last visit to the public-house. -British Work

man.

THE NEW SCHOLAR AND HIS
TROUBLES.

ONE bright morning little Luther Hovey stood at the gate, waiting for the teacher of the school to come along, that he might go with her the first time. His primer was held tightly in his hand, his luncheon was stowed away in his pocket, and he was a proud and happy boy of five years. Miss Browning treated her new pupil kindly, and under her protection he got on bravely. But play-hour put a different face on school

life.

"Here's a new comer! He is so little that he couldn't come alone. Wonder how he could leave his mother!" shouted one of the larger boys, as he gave Luther's hair a sly pull. Many of the other boys were ready to join in teasing the defenceless child, until he grew very angry, and began to cry which only made them shout the more and torment the longer.

"I hate school! I'll never go again until I am big enough to fight the boys," he said wrathfully, after he reached home, and was telling his grievances to his mother.

"I would much rather fight against myself, and do as the Bible says-'heap coals of fire on their heads,' "" said Mrs. Hovey quietly.

"Does the Bible say that, ma? Then I'll go to-morrow, and take a shovelful."

The mother could scarcely restrain a smile at her little son's literal rendering of the precept; but she tried to, while she explained to him the real meaning.

"Treat them kindly, do good to them whenever you can, till you make them ashamed of their naughty actions. In this way you will burn them with coals of kindness, and at the same time fight against yourself; for you will fight against a heart which says, Pay them in their own coin.'" -American.

THE CURSE OF LIFE.

IDLENESS is the bane, the moth, the gangrene, the curse of life.-Ruskin.

"But we shall never quarrel at this rate!" cried the other, jumping up and licking his face.

"You old simpleton, don't you know that it takes two to make a quarrel any day?"

So they gave it up as a bad job, and never tried to play at this silly game again. I often think of this fable when I feel more inclined to be sulky than sweet.

"ALSO TO THE FROWARD."

IT is no great matter to live lovingly with good-natured and humble persons; but he who can do so with the froward, the wilful, and the ignorant, with the peevish and perverse, he only hath true charity. Always remember that our true, solid peace, the peace of God, consists rather in compliance with others than in being complied with; in suffering and forbearing, rather than in contention and victory.-Thomas à Kempis.

NOT EASY TO BE SIMPLE.

Ir takes all our learning to be simple.Archbishop Usher.

"POOR FELLOW."

A Deathbed in Dundee.

THE cry of "fire" made me run into the open mill gate, when I saw a man lying among the mud with his face scorched and black, his arms stretched out, and his hands nearly all red flesh. Some cloth was collected by several persons and laid below him, then we all ran to see what could be dóne for others. Amid shouts of joy, one after another got out of the burning place, and cabs having been called, sympathizing fellow-workers helped the sufferers in, and they were driven with all speed to the Infirmary. Many rumours are afloat, of some being still among the flames, yet the master and manager (who have been leading vigorously in the rescue) are quite confident that all are saved.

A melancholy spectacle is now before us in the Infirmary-several poor fellows with hands and faces nearly roasted; the active, hardy doctors pouring oil upon their wounds, and spreading cotton wadding over the sores; the kind ex-Provost and Mr A superintending, and saying a word of encouragement and comfort to all.

The other patients in the ward appear solemnized. Some are sitting up in bed with looks of sympathy and sorrow, others nearer the new-comers stretching their necks to see what is going on, the nurses ready to help. It is a scene not likely soon to be forgotten. After helping a little with a man who is being dressed, I cross the ward to see one of whom I am told the doctors have little hope. Poor fellow, his face and hands are covered with oiled wadding, with only a small opening at his nostrils to allow him to breathe. His teeth are chattering very violently, and his whole body shivering and trembling, so much that the very bed shakes under him. Much affected. I whisper, "Poor fellow!"

"Who's that? who's that?" he cries. "A friend," I reply. "You are very bad like."

No

"Oh no; the place just took fire. one is to blame. Oh, what am I to do?" "Dear friend, you must cry to God for mercy."

66

Oh, very well; tell me what to say?" "Repeat the words after me. "Very well, sir; quick-quick." Lifting my heart and hands to the prayerhearing God, I slowly and fervently pray, and he earnestly repeats sentence by sentence after me:- my God, have mercy upon me, a sinner; save my poor guilty soul for Jesus' sake. Support me in this awful trouble, and if it be Thy holy will spare my life; but if that is not Thy will, then, O my God, pardon all my sins, wash my soul in the Saviour's blood, and save me for Jesus' sake. Amen."

66

Good-bye, dear lad. Jesus alone can help and save you; put your trust in Him."

With a long heart sigh, his teeth still chattering and the bed shaking under his poor burned frame, he mutters, "Goodbye; thank you," as I leave him to see another patient. The case was hopeless from the first, and in a short time he passed away, and we committed his spirit to the kind Saviour, who is always waiting to be gracious, and ready to save all who come just as they are and put their trust in Him.

"TO-DAY, MAMMA,-TO-DAY!"

I KNOW a little girl called Jeanie-one of those rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed, happy little children that make old people feel young again, and cause gladness to come wherever they go. To me little Jeanie, though only three years old, often preaches a wordsermon! I fancy I hear one of my young readers asking how this can be. I will tell you. Whenever Jeanie's mother promises to take her some place, or to give her something, to-morrow, the little girl always cries, "To-day, mamma, to-day!

I only hope that as Jeanie grows up this word will remain with her; and that when she is older, and better able to understand the gospel of Jesus, how he died that children such as she might sing those praises they learned on earth around his throne in heaven-oh, I trust she will be led to know that the way into the kingdom is by taking Jesus as her guide and Saviour to-day!

"DID HE GET IN?"

A. B.

LITTLE Charlie R- had listened very attentively while his father read at family worship the third chapter of Revelation. But when he repeated that beautiful verse, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me," he could not wait until his father had finished, but ran up to him with the anxious inquiry, "Father, did he get in ?"-I would ask the same question of every child, Has the Saviour got into your heart? He has knocked again and again-is knocking now. Open your heart and bid him welcome, and this will be the happiest day of your life.

ALMOST SAVED.

BEWARE of perishing in the suburbs of the city of refuge.-Alleine.

MISSIONARY NOTES.

"Thy Kingdom Come."

Cocoa-nut Collections.

THE heartiness of the people of Vaitupu in the service of God is evinced by the liberality of their contributions. They had held their May anniversary, and had contributed towards the Society 31,173 cocoanuts in a state for making oil, in value about £30. They had also, during the year, made their teacher presents amounting in value to more than £30; and to the ship, on occasion of our visit, they gave 1045 taro, 2000 cocoa-nuts, four pigs, six fowls, &c., &c., and more fish than the captain could accept. In payment for books in the Samoan dialect, which the people had purchased during the year, the teacher handed me £23, 2s. 3d.-Rev. M. Powel.

A Negro School Examination. WHEN all the exercises were over, I asked the school what message I was to take from them to my friends in Scotland. There was a pause and a good deal of grinning and looking about one to the other.

"Send some message, won't you?" said the teacher.

"Tell 'em this is a good school," cried one. "Tell 'em we're going to be good citi. zens," said another.

"Tell de Scotch people," said a third, "we'se going to be like dem."

"And tell 'em," cried a bright-eyed, earnest little fellow, with bare black feet, and trousers that terminated raggedly at the knee; "tell 'em I'se gwine to be a teacher!" -Juvenile Missionary Magazine.

Beggar Priests in Mongolia.

THE beggar of Mongolia is the lama; he has special facilities for begging. A more meanlooking set of mendicants is nowhere to be seen. Meanness is stamped on their very faces. They seem not to have one single idea beyond, What shall we eat, what shall we drink, and from whom shall we beg a coat? These men nominally separate themselves from the world, that they may be free to think of higher things; in reality, they are so taken up with the LOWEST cares of this world that they have no room left for a higher thought.-Rev. J. Gilmour.

Missionary Marbles.

THERE was a little Welsh boy attended a missionary meeting a short time ago in Pembrokeshire. After giving in his card and collections, he had not a halfpenny of his own to put into the plate. His heart was so full of interest in the work, that he ran home to his mother, told her that he wanted to be a missionary, and asked her to give him something for the collection; but she was too poor to give him any money. He was disappointed, and cried; but a thought struck him. He collected all his marbles, went out and sold them for a penny, and then went to the meeting again and put it in the plate. It showed at least his love for the cause.

A Noble Raratongan.

ONE of the Raratongan teachers who fell on the Isle of Pines was Rangi. He was the only child of his widowed mother. When information reached us respecting her son's murder by the heathen, I well remember her heroic Christian devotedness. She wept, and wept much, as any mother would weep, but after the first burst of her distressed heart had been relieved, she tried to wipe away the tears as they involuntarily ran down her cheeks, and she said, "It is not wrong to weep, for he was my son; but I do not weep tears of sorrow for him. No; my Rangi is with Jesus: he has fought a good fight; he is now crowned by his King in glory. Oh, that I had another son! I would give him up to go and land among the heathen men who murdered my Rangi. They are dark, as we were before we understood the Word of God. I have not another son, but his cousin is with me. I will go home and talk to him, and pray that he may be raised up to teach the gospel to the men who have murdered my son."-Rev. W. Gill.

BOOKS.

LITTLE ROBERT: A True Story. Edinburgh: Andrew Elliot. 18mo. 16 pages. Price Twopence.

"DO NOT KEEP HIM WAITING: " Account of the Death of a Little Girl. London: Morgan and Scott. 8 pages. 24mo. Price One Penny. Two brief memorials of children, "early ripe, early gathered." Artlessly simple, the tory of "Little Robert" gives another bright uple of how the Holy Spirit can illumine

and renew the heart even of a little child. "What a terrible thing it would be to die and not to belong to Christ!" "Oh, papa, I think I never was so happy as I am to-day." It was Christ in his heart that made Robert so happy.

"Do not keep Him waiting," was the dying message to those around her of "Little Alice.' May it prove a message of blessing to many of our young readers at whose hearts Christ has long been knocking, but who are still keeping him waiting. What if he go away!

STEADFASTNESS.

"THE EVERGREEN." (See Frontispiece.) SURVIVING 'mid the wintry strife, When other leaves are shed, This plant still speaks to me of life, When all around seems dead : How pleasantly, 'mid such a scene, The eye rests on the Evergreen! When cold winds sweep around our homes, Its green and glistening grace Still lingers, when the winter comes With paleness on its face : Winter's adornments appear Aye beautiful throughout the year.

Their coral fruits, though warmth declines,
Mellowed by frosts, still grow,
'Mid ivy leaves or holly spines,

In coppice or hedge-row:
It needs an artist to portray
These blossoms of a flowerless day

So stand out from a world of sin,

As one amid its strife

Whose heart shows holiness within
And beauty in his life:

The fruits of grace ne'er pass away,—
That beauty turns not to decay.

Yet we have seen our hopes o'erthrown,
O'er losses left to grieve;

Their fruits and blossoming are gone,—
Such promises deceive:

Short summer-seasons warmed the soul,
But winter came to blight the whole.

A steadfast heart in evil times
Will make its life appear,
Will flourish under adverse climes,
Its leaf not wither here:
By faith well rooted in the Lord,
By daily study of his Word.

D. A. BEATTIE, Garvald.