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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:11:01 -0700 |
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diff --git a/38745-h/38745-h.htm b/38745-h/38745-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..02e1240 --- /dev/null +++ b/38745-h/38745-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,30871 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Little Gleaner, by Various. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + margin: 3em auto 3em auto; + height: 0px; + border-width: 1px 0 0 0; + border-style: solid; + border-color: #dcdcdc; + width: 500px; + clear: both; +} + + +table { + margin-left: 1em; + margin-right: auto; +} + +table.toc { + margin: auto; + width: 50%; +} + +td.c1 { + text-align: right; + vertical-align: top; + padding-right: 1em; +} + +td.c2 { + text-align: left; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 2em; + text-indent: -2em; + padding-right: 1em; + vertical-align: top; +} + +td.c3 { + text-align: right; + padding-left: 1em; + vertical-align: bottom; +} + +td { padding: 0em 1em; } +th { padding: 0em 1em; } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + color: #999; +} /* page numbers */ + + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .gap { margin-top: 1em; } + +/* Images */ + .figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + + .bord img { + padding: 1px; + border: 1px solid black; +} + +p.caption { + margin-top: 0; + font-size: 70%; + text-align: left; +} + +/* Transcriber Notes */ +div.tn { + background-color: #EEE; + border: dashed 1px; + color: #000; + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + margin-top: 5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + padding: 1em; +} + +/* Footnotes */ +div.fn { + background-color: #EEE; + border: dashed 1px; + color: #000; + margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + margin-top: 5em; + margin-bottom: 5em; + padding: 1em; +} + + .footnote { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 0.9em; +} + + .footnote .label { + position: absolute; + right: 84%; + text-align: right; +} + + .fnanchor { + vertical-align: super; + font-size: .8em; + text-decoration: none; +} + + .signature { + text-align: right; + margin-right: 5%; +} + +/* INDEX */ +ul.index { list-style-type: none; + width: 20em; + margin: 2em auto; +} + +ul.index2 { list-style-type: none; } + +li.pad { padding-top: 2.0%; } + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Little Gleaner, Vol. X., by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Little Gleaner, Vol. X. + A Monthly Magazine for the Young + +Author: Various + +Release Date: February 1, 2012 [EBook #38745] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LITTLE GLEANER, VOL. X. *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hope, Delphine Lettau, Clive Pickton, +Julia Neufeld and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team +at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 363px;"><br /><br /> +<img src="images/img001.jpg" width="363" height="500" alt=" HOP PICKING" title="HOP PICKING" /> +<span class="caption"> HOP PICKING (<i>See page 274.</i>)</span><br /><br /> +</div> + +<p class="center"><big>THE</big></p> +<h1><span class="smcap">Little Gleaner.</span></h1> + +<p class="center">A</p> + +<h3>Monthly Magazine for the Young.</h3> + +<div class="center">VOL. X., NEW SERIES.<br /> +1888.<br /><br /><br /> + +LONDON:<br /> +HOULSTON AND SONS, 7, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, E.C.;<br /> +AND E. WILMSHURST, BOOKSELLER, BLACKHEATH, S.E.<br /><br /><br /> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> + +LONDON:<br /> +PRINTED BY W. H. AND L. COLLINGRIDGE,<br /> +148 AND 149, ALDERSGATE STREET, E.C. +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 389px;"> +<img src="images/img004.jpg" width="389" height="500" alt="COME TO THE CANAL." (See page 4.)" title="COME TO THE CANAL" /> +<span class="caption"><i>Engraved by S. W. Partridge & Co.</i><br /> + +"WELL, THEN, COME TO THE CANAL."<br /> (<i>See page 4.</i>)</span> +</div> + + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE EDITOR'S NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS TO HIS YOUNG FRIENDS.</h2> + + +<p>Dear young friends,—We +wish you each and all a very +Happy New Year, and, above all +things else, that it may prove to many +of you a year of grace—that is, we pray +that the rich saving grace of God may +be put in the hearts of many of our +readers who hitherto have not called +upon Him for mercy.</p> + +<p>How many who began the year 1887 in +health are now laid in the grave! Some, +no doubt, who read this address will be +thinking of others who read last year's, +and who were interested in <span class="smcap">The Little +Gleaner</span>, watching for its appearance +month by month, but who now have +passed away, and will no more read it, +nor walk and talk with them again.</p> + +<p>The other month, a wrapper in which a +<span class="smcap">Gleaner</span> had been enclosed by some +friend to a person in Ireland was sent to +us bearing this solemn mark, "<i>Dead</i>." +This told us that the person to whom +the <span class="smcap">Gleaner</span> had been sent had become +the prey of death, and would never read +another.</p> + +<p>Oh, how solemn that word looked and +sounded to us—"<i>dead</i>!" and the thought +rushed into our mind, "How did he die? +Where is he? If he died in Christ, it is +well with him, for all who thus die are +eternally at rest, free from sin, care, +pain, and sorrow. Yea, they are 'for +ever with the Lord.'"</p> + +<p>Dear reader, how is it with you? You +are spared, while some have been called +from time into eternity. We hope you +feel this to be a mercy, and we now +ask, Have you ever been led to the +throne of grace, concerned about sin and +salvation? Has the cry ever gone from +your heart to the Lord, "God be merciful +to me a sinner"? If not, oh, that, as +this year begins to pass away, the Spirit +may cause your heart to feel the guilt +of your sin, and lead you, a poor, burdened, +contrite one, to the feet of Him +who died on the cross, and whose blood +cleanses those who are thus brought +unto Him from all sin. Then you shall +prove that He is "mighty to save"—yea, +"able to save all those to the uttermost +that come unto God by Him."</p> + +<p>We believe that many who will read +these words have proved the ability of +Christ Jesus to save, and that others are +seeking Him, and longing to know that +their sins are forgiven. We rejoice over +them, and pray that many more may be +brought to walk the same way, for it is +the way from sin, death, and hell, and +the way to Christ, peace, and heaven. +All who walk therein belong to the flock +of the Good Shepherd; and we can say +to each one who has thus fled to Him for +refuge, "He careth for you." His love +is stronger than death, and knows no +change, for He is "the same yesterday, +and to-day, and for ever."</p> + +<p>Dear young friends, there is a reality +in the religion of Jesus, and we pray that, +in this truth-despising day, you may feel +the power of grace, and, by the work of +the Spirit in your hearts, be so grounded +in the truth that you may turn with contempt +from all those who, while they +profess to preach, have not the knowledge +of God and His truth in them; +and, although they are anxious to discredit +the Word of God, and set aside +the atonement of Christ, yet they do not +know what to substitute for them. All +who follow such leaders are certainly +being led on "the down grade," and even +the leaders themselves confess that they +do not know where they shall be landed. +Some have already been landed in +Socinianism, and others in infidelity. +Therefore, we say to all our readers, +Abide by and hold fast the Word of God, +Cleave to those who preach the pure and +simple truths of the Gospel of Christ, as +recorded in the Scriptures, and may the +Lord bless you with faith to receive them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +in your heart. Then you shall "know +the truth, and the truth shall make +you free."</p> + +<p>Dear young friends, we seek your +good, therefore we thus write, hoping +that our word of warning may not be in +vain, but that some may be put on their +guard against preachers and teachers +who have nothing but the shifting sands +of science for a foundation, which must +all be swept away, and those who build +thereon must perish in the ruin.</p> + +<p>Oh, may we be found on the Rock, +Christ, living and dying, and be enabled +to declare before all these deceivers, "I +know whom I have believed, and am +persuaded that He is able to keep that +which I have committed unto Him +against that day."</p> + +<p>Children, do not forget the Bible. +Obey, honour, and love your parents. +Avoid bad company, bad and foolish +books, and evil habits. These things +will bring shame and misery to those +who follow them, therefore shun them +all.</p> + +<p>We still ask your help in spreading the +<span class="smcap">Gleaner</span> and the <span class="smcap">Sower</span>. May the +Lord make them useful, and bless you +with His covenant blessing, is the desire +of</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">The Editor.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A TOUCHING INCIDENT.</h2> + + +<p>A very touching incident occurred +lately at Governeur Hospital, New +York City.</p> + +<p>Little Annie Ashpurvis was sent by her +parents to the cellar for some firewood. +The child, who was but six years old, +took a lighted lamp in her hand, and +while descending the stairs, her foot +slipped, and she fell, breaking the lamp, +the flames of the burning fluid soon +enveloping her entire body. As soon as +the surgeon was called, the little sufferer +was driven in an ambulance to the +hospital. The child was put on a sofa +cot, and the surgeon did all he could to +alleviate her suffering, but it was impossible +to save her life. Under the influence +of a narcotic, she soon fell asleep. Thus +she lay slowly breathing for some hours. +Her face was so swollen that she could +not open her eyes. About half-past two +in the morning she showed signs of returning +consciousness. The watchful +nurse asked her if she would take a +drink. She distinctly answered, "Yes." +In a moment the house surgeon was +beside her cot. He felt the pulse, but +shook his head, and turned to go away. +As he did so, the little creature moved +her body. She turned half around. +The dim light of the candle shone on the +blackened face. The swollen lips pursed +out, and in a clear, sweet voice, the dying +child began to sing, "Nearer, my God, to +Thee." The doctor and the nurse stood +transfixed. The other patients in the +silent, darkened ward leaned on their +elbows and drank in the sweet melody. +The first verse completed, she gradually +sank back on her pillow. Her strength +began to fail, and with it her voice, and +only the humming, like distant music, +of the air of the hymn could be heard. +How sweet, yet weird, that humming +sounded! The candle lent its meagre +light, and the big clock in the corner told +out its seconds, as the sweet little soul +passed out to its Maker. The humming +ceased. All was over. The doctor +turned away with his handkerchief raised +to his eyes. The nurse gazed into the +flame of the candle, and heaved a sigh. +She seemed to read the little one's death +there.</p> + +<p>When the remains were buried, the +coffin was strewn with flowers, offerings +of her little schoolmates, with whom the +dead child had been a great favourite.— +<i>Evangelist</i>. +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Self-denial.</span>—There never did, and +never will, exist anything permanent, and +noble, and excellent in a character which +was a stranger to the exercise of resolute +self-denial.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> +<h2>"ONLY ONCE."</h2> + + +<p>"Stop a minute, James. We're +making up a skating party to go +down the river to-night. We shall +build a fire on the island, and have a +grand time. Come, go with us."</p> + +<p>"No, George, I can't. Father says I +must skate on the canal. It isn't so +wide, nor quite so good skating, I know, +but it's safe."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense! The ice is at least two +inches thick anywhere, even in the thinnest +places."</p> + +<p>"No matter. I can't skate on the +river."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, come to the canal. You +can skate out to the fork, where it joins +the river, and see us all. Will you do +that?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"All right. Be there at seven."</p> + +<p>James was ready with his skates at +the time appointed, and about to leave +the house.</p> + +<p>"Where now, James?" asked his +father.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to skate awhile on the +canal, father."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's a bright evening, but +don't stay late, and don't go on the +river."</p> + +<p>Just then James's little sister, Marion, +who was ready to go to bed, shouted +after him, "Stop, James! Give me a +kiss," and holding up her rosebud +mouth, in a plump face, from which +the laughing eyes were shining, she received +his good-night kiss, and he went +out. As he passed the window, he saw, +through the half-drawn curtains, little +Marion by her mother, with the Bible. +The father had laid his Book down, and +they sat reverently listening while his +petition went up to heaven. It was a +beautiful picture. Poor Jamie! With +what different feelings would he have +looked upon it, had he then known what +was to happen within the next two +hours!</p> + +<p>He crossed the field before the house, +and was soon on the canal, and gliding +swiftly towards the river, from which the +sound of merry voices already reached +his ear; and as he wheeled splendidly, +just at the entrance of the canal, the +boys saw him, and came bearing down +upon him like a fleet of swift ships before +the wind.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah, James!" cried a dozen of +them, as they joined company on the +canal.</p> + +<p>There they amused themselves awhile, +racing, skating backward, and cutting +all sorts of fanciful figures upon the ice, +until George gave the word, "Now for +the island!" and with loud shouts they +shot out together upon the river, all but +James.</p> + +<p>"I must leave you now," he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, James, don't!" cried several at +once.</p> + +<p>"Now, see here, James," said George; +"what's the use of being so set? Go +down with us this time."</p> + +<p>"Father said, 'Don't go on the +river.'"</p> + +<p>"Well, as to that, you've been on the +river two or three times. Look at your +marks."</p> + +<p>James now saw that, in the excitement +of their sport, he had repeatedly +rushed out of the canal quite across +the channel of the river. He wanted to +go with the boys. He didn't really think +there was much danger, and the discovery +that he had already unwittingly +broken his father's command, did not +help him in his hour of weakness and +temptation. The boys all clamoured +for him to join them. James slowly +glided out of the canal, stood still a +moment, and the tempter prevailed.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll go down this once—mind +you, only once," and he darted like an +arrow to the front, for he was the best +skater in the company, and soon was +far in advance of the rest.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span>Alas! none of the boys knew of the +murderous "breathing-hole" which had +opened that day in the ice in the channel, +and now lay right in James's path, +waiting to receive him; and the first +notice they had of its existence was a +despairing cry of terror from him as he +plunged in.</p> + +<p>All was confusion among the boys; +but George, more self-possessed than +the others, hurried to the shore, and, +shouting cheerily, "Hold on, Jamie! +I'll help you out," broke off the limb of +a tree, as large and long as he could +handle, brought it on, and tried, by +carefully creeping towards James, to +put it within his reach. But the current +was strong; the water was bitterly +cold; and James, who had been urging +his friend to make haste, now began to +lose his strength and become benumbed, +and before the limb came within his +grasp, he said, faintly, "Oh, George, I +can't hold on any longer! Ask father—to +forgive——" and went down with the +tide.</p> + +<p>An hour later, the men at the mill +below, who had broken the ice above the +barred outlet of the dam, and were +watching and waiting in expectation +of their mournful work, lifted James's +body out of the water, and tenderly +carried it to his home.</p> + +<p>Boys, I have seldom told you a more +sad story. Oh, that I could now impress +upon your young hearts the lesson +of obedience to parents so deeply that +it shall never be forgotten! If you are +ever tempted to disregard a kind father's +commands, or his advice, even though +it be "only once," may you have +strength to resist the temptation. Remember +Jamie. It is true that disobedience +to parents is not always—nor +indeed often—followed so speedily +by such sad consequences, but we know +that the smile of God for this life will +rest upon those children who obey their +parents.</p> + +<p>"Honour thy father and mother" is +the first commandment with promise.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>LINES ON THE NEW YEAR.</h2> + + +<p> +In some simple words of rhyme<br /> +Read, and mark the flight of time;<br /> +Seasons come and disappear,<br /> +As we pass from year to year.<br /> +<br /> +All things ever on the move,<br /> +Whether them we hate or love;<br /> +'Tis a changing scene below—<br /> +This we own, for this we know.<br /> +<br /> +Blest are they—and only they—<br /> +Who are in the "narrow way";<br /> +Seeking Jesus' blessed face;<br /> +Longing much to know His grace.<br /> +<br /> +Mourning over inward sin;<br /> +Panting only Him to win<br /> +Who for sin and sinners died,<br /> +When on Calvary crucified.<br /> +<br /> +Do I, who these lines now read,<br /> +Of redemption feel my need?<br /> +Do I really long to know<br /> +That His blood for me did flow?<br /> +<br /> +Do my heart and mouth confess<br /> +I am all unrighteousness?<br /> +Do I pray indeed to see<br /> +Christ my Righteousness to be?<br /> +<br /> +Do I feel I cannot die<br /> +Till He does His blood apply?<br /> +And my doubting soul assure<br /> +I shall to the end endure?<br /> +<br /> +If 'tis so, I know full well<br /> +I shall surely with Him dwell,<br /> +And shall, in His house on high,<br /> +Shout His praise beyond the sky.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;" class="smcap">A. Hammond</span>.<br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p>Supposing all the great points of +atheism were formed into a kind of +creed, I would fain ask whether it would +not require an infinitely greater measure +of faith than any set of articles which +they so violently oppose?—<i>Addison.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE CHARCOAL BURNER'S STAR.</h2> + + +<p>In one of the Protestant cantons +of Switzerland dwelt a lady of +fortune, in a handsome mansion, +surrounded with extensive grounds. +These were laid out with the greatest +taste, so as to command at every +convenient point a favourable view of the +romantic and interesting country that +rose on all sides round the lovely and +fertile plain in which it was situated.</p> + +<p>Madame de Blénal was a widow +who had, at an early age, married a +gentleman of property in the canton +who, like herself, was a humble follower +and sincere lover of the Redeemer, but +who, after a year or two of as perfect +happiness as this world can be expected +to afford, died in faith, looking forward +with assured hope to the promises made +by the Lord Jesus to all who truly believe +in Him.</p> + +<p>With a heart prepared by faith to +submit to the decrees of Providence, +whether for this world's good or ill, +Madame de Blénal, though she deeply +felt the blow which her Heavenly Father +had inflicted upon her, soothed her grief +with the reflection that her husband was +now at peace, and removed from the +troubles which beset every sojourner in +this mortal world. Too fondly attached +to his memory ever to enter a second +time into married life, she applied herself +entirely to the cultivation of a treasure +he had left behind, in the person of a +little boy named Alfred, whom she +endeavoured prayerfully to bring up "in +the nurture and admonition of the Lord." +Neither did she neglect to enrich his +mind with such knowledge as might +enable him to manage the earthly +inheritance which was hereafter to belong +to him, if it pleased God that he should +live to arrive at the age of manhood.</p> + +<p>At the time of which we are writing, +Madame de Blénal had just resigned to +him the management of the property +which he inherited from his father, reserving +to herself only the portion which +she had brought with her when she +married. Still, as, in his own opinion +as well as hers, he was yet too young to +think of taking a wife, Madame de Blénal +remained the mistress of his household, +while he applied himself to studying the +nature of the duties that had devolved +upon him, and to endeavouring to acquire +personal experience in the management +of his estate, as well as to improve the +characters and condition of his tenants +and labourers.</p> + +<p>It happened one day, towards the end +of summer, that a party who were friends +of her son's, together with some older +ones of her own, had been dining at her +house, and the whole party had retired +after dinner, to take their coffee in an +open part of the grounds which commanded +the best view both of the plain +and of the mountains beyond it. The +former was already involved in the shades +of evening, which, gradually ascending +the latter, soon reached the glaciers in +the distance, and converted the roseate +tint with which the last beams of the +departing sun had invested them into +that cold, lurid hue that heralds in the +approaching night. The stars now began +to appear, one by one, in the clear +blue sky, and led the thoughts of many, if +not all, of the party from Nature up to +Nature's God. Some of the younger ones, +however, began to amuse themselves by +counting them, as they came into view; +and one or two, rather vain of their +knowledge of astronomy, informed the +others of their names. Suddenly Alfred +exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"I can see one which is not to be +found in the lists furnished by any +astronomer, and yet it is by far the most +brilliant."</p> + +<p>His friends thought that he was jesting, +but yet attempted to discover it in +the sky.</p> + +<p>"You are all looking too high," he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +said, laughing, and pointed to a distant +mountain, where the fire of a charcoal +burner had just made its appearance.</p> + +<p>The party gazed attentively for some +time, when one of the ladies said, with a +sigh—</p> + +<p>"Poor man! How much he is to be +pitied, sitting all alone up there!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps, madame, he is not so +solitary as you imagine. The mountaineers +of these parts seldom leave their +village homes for the summer season +without taking a Bible with them, so that +I trust it may be said of this one, even if +his solitude is not sometimes broken by +a passing visit from a goatherd, that he +is never quite alone, for God is always +near them that fear Him."</p> + +<p>"That is a blessed thing indeed," +said the lady; "but is he not in danger +from the wolves?"</p> + +<p>"No, madame. First of all, the wolves +are not so numerous about here as many +persons think; and, even where they are +more abundant, there are few, at this +season, so pressed by hunger as to +have the courage to attack a man; and +besides, the fire itself would keep them +at a distance. They have an instinctive +dread of it."</p> + +<p>"So far so good, Mr. Alfred. Still, +if I were in the place of this man, I +should not be quite at ease. I should +every moment be expecting the approach +of robbers."</p> + +<p>"Robbers, madame, are very considerate +people. They do not like to lose +either their time or their labour. Now, +what could they find worth stealing from +this poor charcoal burner?"</p> + +<p>"What? Why, his money, to be +sure!"</p> + +<p>"His money? If he happens to have +any. He does not carry it with him into +the forest, where he has no use for it, +but leaves it at home with his wife."</p> + +<p>"A very good husband! But his +watch?"</p> + +<p>"An article quite useless to him. He +marks the time by the sun and stars; or, +if the weather is cloudy, most of the +mountain châlets are furnished with a +small wooden clock, which holds out no +great temptation to men whose thoughts +are fixed upon the well-stored purses of +travellers."</p> + +<p>"You have an answer for everything, +Mr. Alfred. Do you know the man?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot say that I do, madame. We +have few, if any, charcoal burners in our +domain. That mountain is at some distance, +and he belongs most probably to +another village. But I have had occasion +to observe the habits of these +mountaineers, and have acquired a tolerable +knowledge of them generally."</p> + +<p>"And what can he possibly be doing +at this hour, in that wild place?"</p> + +<p>"Precisely what we are doing ourselves—he +is watching his fire."</p> + +<p>After many other conjectures had +been hazarded as to the way in which +the charcoal burner was passing his +time, Madame de Blénal said—</p> + +<p>"A truce with these idle fancies. Our +pastors in this canton are not idle, and our +peasantry are generally well instructed +in their Christian duties, so I trust that +he is better employed than any of you +suppose. Perhaps, at this moment, he +is sitting with the Bible on his knee, +reading of the mercies of Jesus, meditating +upon them as he watches his +fire, and lifting up his heart in prayer to +Him who alone is able to inspire it with +holy thoughts and divine affections."</p> + +<p>"However," said the lady who had +first begun the conversation, "I should +really like to know what he is about. I +wish some one could tell us who has +actually seen him."</p> + +<p>"I can easily satisfy your curiosity, +madame," said young Alfred. "I have +nothing to do but to mount my horse and +gallop to the foot of the mountain. It +will not be more than an hour's ride. I +will then engage a guide to take me to +the charcoal burner's hut, and, without +losing a moment, I will find out what he +was doing at nightfall."</p> + +<p>"Are you not afraid of your son's undertaking +such an enterprise at this late<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +hour?" asked a young lady of Madame +de Blénal.</p> + +<p>Madame de Blénal smiled, and replied, +"No, mademoiselle. My son is well +acquainted with the road. We are not +infested with robbers in this canton, and, +as the object of his pursuit is perfectly +innocent, I can confide him to the protection +of Him on whom I know his +own trust is constantly fixed. Go, then, +Alfred, but exercise your usual prudence, +and do not heedlessly expose yourself to +danger."</p> + +<p>An old lady who had not yet spoken, +but who knew how to "speak a word in +season," then remarked, "Place, each +of you, a small sum of money in Alfred's +hands. If he finds the charcoal burner +worthily employed, let him bestow it +upon him. If otherwise, as some of +you have supposed may be the case, let +him bring it back, and restore to each +one what he has contributed."</p> + +<p>Every one readily agreed to the proposal. +Each drew out his purse, and +Alfred received a very respectable sum. +He was leaving the party, when some +one asked how soon they might expect +him back?</p> + +<p>"By midnight," he replied.</p> + +<p>"And where shall we meet?"</p> + +<p>"Here," said Madame de Blénal. +"We will return into the house when +Alfred is gone, for the air is getting +cold, and it will not be prudent to sit +here any longer."</p> + +<p>Alfred then set out; and as soon as +the sound of his horse's hoofs was +heard, the young men pulled out their +watches, that the precise length of his +absence might be ascertained when he +returned.</p> + +<p>We will now leave Madame de Blénal +to order supper for her party, and the +remainder to amuse themselves with +conversation, music, and such resources +as her house afforded, while we accompany +Alfred on his nocturnal excursion.</p> + +<p>The moon had just begun to rise in +full splendour above the mountains as +he started, and to spread her silver light +over the plain. This, together with the +increasing freshness of the air, infused +spirits into the rider as well as his horse. +Notwithstanding, however, the knowledge +which both of them possessed of +the road they had to traverse, they +scarcely reached the foot of the mountain +within the time upon which Alfred +had calculated. Here were situated +two or three picturesque cottages, inhabited +by guides, one of whom was +known to Alfred by name. Him therefore +he sought out, and engaged to +conduct him to the object of his journey. +The man was rather surprised at a +summons so late in the evening, and +asked the traveller whether he had +not better wait at his cottage till daybreak.</p> + +<p>"No," replied Alfred; "I only wish +to go as far as the charcoal burner's hut, +whose fire can be seen for some miles +off, and I must return to where I came +from before midnight."</p> + +<p>"Ah! my friend Gervais. I know him +well, sir. But it is a good way up the +mountain, and if you have far to ride +back, you will hardly keep to the time +you have mentioned."</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said the young man; +"I must go on now. Where can I put +my horse?"</p> + +<p>"Here in this shed, sir. There is a +bit of hay and some beans, with which +he can amuse himself while we are +gone."</p> + +<p>The path was not steep, for it was cut +in a zig-zag form, sometimes leading +over pastures, and sometimes through +woods so thick that the moonlight +could not penetrate them; but the guide +was provided with a torch of pine, to +prevent the danger of a false step. For +the first part of the journey they travelled +on in silence, the guide amusing himself +with forming conjectures as to the object +of Alfred's visit to the charcoal burner +after night had set in. "Can it be," he +said to himself, "a relation from the +Indies, or from Algeria? I never heard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +that Gervais had any relations in those +parts. Or a creditor? No, that cannot +be, for my honest friend, I am sure, does +not owe any one a single penny. Or has +he gained a prize in the lottery? He +would consider it a sin to risk the +smallest fraction upon such a hazard. +Ah! perhaps some one has left him a +legacy. So much the better, if it is so. +I shall be well paid for the trouble I have +had. He is too good a fellow not to reward +me to the utmost of his power."</p> + +<p>Thus it was that the guide employed +himself in vain conjectures. When the +uncertain light by which they travelled, +whether of the moon or of the torch, fell +sufficiently clear upon Alfred's features, +he examined them attentively, as if he +could have read his secret in them. +His curiosity made him not less impatient +to reach the charcoal furnace than the +young man himself. At length, by a +sudden turn of the path, it appeared at +once before them. The wood, heaped in +the form of a cone, and covered with a +thick coating of earth, was burning +slowly, openings being made at different +heights on the mound, to give a +passage to the flames, and to afford a +proper proportion of atmospheric air, to +keep them alive.</p> + +<p>Alfred, though born in the neighbourhood, +had never before visited a charcoal +furnace; but, new as the sight was +to him, he did not pause long to observe +it. His attention was arrested by the +hut which stood near, built something +in the form of a tent, and composed of +planks leaning on both sides against a +cross-beam, which rested on two others +placed one at each end of the building. +This kind of hut is common to most of +the charcoal burners of these mountains, +where they make their dwelling during +the whole of the summer months, having +no other bed than dried leaves—no other +apparent occupation than cutting and +piling up the wood, and watching their +fires. One moment only Alfred stopped +to gaze upon this humble dwelling, compared +with which the châlets of the cowherds +were almost splendid mansions; +the next instant, his attention was +arrested by something far more interesting. +A chorus of youthful voices burst +upon his ears, accompanied by one deep, +clear bass, which was powerful enough +to support and regulate the trebles. +They were singing the following hymn, +to a beautiful Swiss air, well known to +Alfred as one used in the churches of +that Protestant canton—</p> + +<p> +"Look to Jesus, weary wanderer,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sinful, wretched as thou art;</span><br /> +He is precious; thou shalt know it;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Only trust His loving heart.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Trust it wholly; it was broken<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That thine own might be at peace;</span><br /> +Every sin its streams atone for;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">He can bid all anguish cease.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Now He reigns above the heavens,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And shall reign for evermore;</span><br /> +But His mighty arm is guarding<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Those for whom He died before.</span><br /> +<br /> +"He shall come again in glory;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">All creation shall bow down;</span><br /> +Those who seek not His salvation<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Must endure His awful frown.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Wait upon Him, then, His people;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Let Him be your constant strength;</span><br /> +Lean upon Him daily, hourly;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ye shall reign with Him at length.</span><br /> +<br /> +"May the Spirit of adoption,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Which our Heavenly Father gives,</span><br /> +Help us all and each to please Him<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">More each moment of our lives."</span> +</p> +<p class="center">(<i>To be continued</i>.) +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Envy</span> shoots at others and wounds +itself.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap"><br />We</span> should often have reason to be +ashamed of our most brilliant actions, if +the world could see the motives from +which they spring.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> +<h2>SCRIPTURE ENIGMA.</h2> + +<h3>A PARABLE FROM A FARMER'S SON TO ALL GLEANERS.</h3> + + +<p>I was born in a house where there +were many fields attached—in +fact, it was called a farm-house, +so, from a boy, I well knew what +a "gleaner" meant. I have seen all sizes +in a field, picking up corn. But gleaning +is not so general as it used to be. One +reason is, many farmers are too covetous +to leave much in their fields for gleaners. +Another is, many persons are too proud +to be gleaners. But still there are many +who are entitled to the character of +"gleaner."</p> + +<p>Now, gleaners, let us come a little +closer. First, there must be the person +known as the farmer; secondly, there +must be the fields. These fields must be +sown with corn. It must ripen, be cut +and carried. Then is the time for the +gleaner to take his or her part. The +gleaners must have a will, and patience +to wait. They need eyes, hands, and +feet.</p> + +<p>At the time the farmer's son is writing +this, gleaning is over. It is winter. But +he can tell gleaners of a farm containing +sixty-six fields, some much larger than +others, but all the fields grow the best +corn that can be found at any market in +the world. There is not one whole grass +field found on the farm. There are a +number of young and old people live near +this farm, but they do not want to be +gleaners. They look over the gates +sometimes, but, having eyes so much +like the mole, they either do not take +that to be corn which is really so, or else +they pursue other things they feel are so +much better than gleaning in any of +these fields; and not being very poor, but +having enough gold to buy a few oxen, +they tell some of the farmer's workmen +they prefer <i>buying</i> or <i>taking</i> to gleaning, +so they wish them "good morning"; but +they are very polite to the men they join +in conversation with. Then there are +other people near these fields who say +they hate the great farmer. In fact, they +are so evil-disposed that they talk freely +of hating the fields and the corn too; and +there is not one workman on the estate +they will give a good word to. This the +farmer's son can vouch for truth; and he +has a good many brothers belonging to +his family, who could be called as witnesses +if there was any need.</p> + +<p>But we must not overlook others who +live near the farm. Most of them dwell +in a very low-built house; there is no upstairs. +They live on the ground floor, and +not far from the spot where they dwell, +some of the labourers on the farm live, +and they join in conversation occasionally. +But these poor people who dwell +in the low-built cottages are shy, and +think they take a liberty even in saying +a few words to these labourers; and as +for talking freely to the great farmer, +they dare not. If he passes, they only +bow before him and look on the ground. +You would almost wonder how they are +kept alive. They are nearly always +hungry, but, now and then, they get just +enough to keep them alive.</p> + +<p>When the "season" comes round, +those that observe may soon find these +are the old-fashioned gleaners. They possess +willing legs, eyes, and hands. They +use their legs by starting from their poor +home; and, after walking some distance, +the road brings them to this farm of sixty-six +fields. These fields are all numbered. +Some look at one field, and some at +another, but the hedges are all good. No +one can get through them, and a high +gate is at each entrance. One of the +gleaners looked with a very wishful eye +over the gate of the eighth field, and she +desired to be among the gleaners, but +there was a notice that "trespassers will +be prosecuted." How earnestly the +gleaner uses his eyes, and looks through +the bars of the gate; but there are no +ears of corn to be seen at present by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +him, so he cannot use his hands, though +they are both ready to pick up; and the +thought comes, "No doubt there will +soon be plenty of corn seen, and, if I +might, would I not pick up? I feel I +would glean beside any gleaner. If he +could pick faster than I, he would +have to be very nimble. I do not know +that the great landowner and farmer +would allow me to go into his field. But, +though my hands now hang down, and I +cannot use them, I will go home and +wait, and come again. If I cannot get +admission to one field, I may to another. +I should be happy if I could glean in the +smallest field on the farm. Perhaps, +when I come again, that notice-board +may be taken down. If so, I think I shall +venture into No. 8 or 17; but should I +not have nerve enough, I shall humbly +ask one of the labourers, and if he says +he does not know, I will, if an opportunity +occurs, bow myself to the earth +and ask the great owner. I have been +told by some that he often appears as if +he could not condescend to speak to +those that live in such a low house, yet, +if you press your suit, he will speak in +the kindest manner, and ask what you +really want."</p> + +<p>The farmer's son noticed, as this +gleaner returned to his humble home, +one of the labourers greeted him with a +"Good evening," and asked him why he +looked so sad? He replied, "I have +been a long journey to glean on the farm +owned by your master, and I looked at +the eighth field, but could not see that +there were any ears of corn for me to +pick up; and besides, I noticed a board, +that 'trespassers will be prosecuted,' and +thoughts would keep coming in my mind +as I returned, that possibly I should never +be admitted into any of the fields as a +gleaner." The labourer said, "You must +not faint, but, as soon as the sun rises in +the morning, try and find the forty-second +field, and most probably you will find +the gate open. If, as you enter, the first +part of the field looks bare, walk to +almost the middle, and I think you will +find some gleanings to pick up." He +returned thanks, bowed, and they +parted.</p> + +<p>The next morning, as soon as the sun +was up, he arose and did as he was bid. +After reaching the field, he found the +part where the ears of corn lay, and he +picked up as many as he needed. On +his return, he met several other gleaners +who were seeking a field to glean in. +He bade them go to the same one where +he had picked up an armful, and there +they would find the result of perseverance.</p> + +<p>The parable is closed for this time. +Will any reader, under twelve years of +age, expound it? Who are the farmer +and the son? Who are the labourers +and gleaners? What are the sixty-six +fields? And what are the names of +those specially referred to? Search from +Genesis to Revelation.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +Your true friend,<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Farmer's Son</span><br /> +(<i>Over fifteen years old</i>). +</div> + +<p>[A volume, "The Loss of All Things +for Christ," will be given for the best +answer. The writer must be under +twelve.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN JANUARY.</h2> + + +<p> +Jan. 1. Commit to memory 1 Chrn. v. 10.<br /> +Jan. 8. Commit to memory Psa. cxi. 10.<br /> +Jan. 15. Commit to memory Prov. viii. 10.<br /> +Jan. 22. Commit to memory Prov. viii. 32.<br /> +Jan. 29. Commit to memory John iv. 10.<br /> +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">What</span> the world calls virtue is a +name and a dream without Christ. The +foundation of all human excellence must +be laid deep in the blood of the +Redeemer's cross and in the power of +His resurrection.—<i>Robertson.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> +<h2>AN OLD QUILT AND ITS STORY.</h2> + + +<p>Among all the beautiful needlework +exhibited in the "Woman's +Industry Department" of the recent +Edinburgh Exhibition, many must +have observed a bed-quilt worked in a +quaint conventional pattern, on a white +linen ground, which bore a label to the +effect that it was "designed and commenced +by a Countess of Aberdeen towards +the middle of the last century, +and recently completed by a crofter +woman in Aberdeenshire."</p> + +<p>Could the quilt tell its own tale, its history, +no doubt, would be most pathetic +and interesting; but we will try, with the +knowledge we have, to lightly sketch +that history.</p> + +<p>The Countess who commenced it was +Anne, daughter of Alexander, second +Duke of Gordon. The third wife of +William, Earl of Aberdeen, she was still +a young woman when, by his death in +1745, she was left a widow. Quitting +Haddo, the home of her married life, +she went with her young family to reside +in the fine old historic castle of Fyvie, a +few miles distant, which, with her dower, +had been bought by the Earl as her jointure +house. The Countess seems to have +been gifted with artistic tastes, as she +left in Haddo many evidences of her +skill and industry—several sets of beautifully-worked +curtains, with long-forgotten +curious stitches, producing varied +and admirable effects. But the bright, +pretty industry of the Countess was +checked. Sickness, to be followed by +death, entered her home.</p> + +<p>We may fancy that by her husband's +sick-bed the first beginning of this quilt +was made—how, in the intervals of +watching the invalid, a few sprays and +scrolls were delicately traced. But the +summons had gone forth, and, as death +approached, the work, which had been +in part the occupation of happier days, +and a resource in affliction, was thrown +aside.</p> + +<p>When the widowed Countess had +settled in a new home, and again faced +the ordinary duties of life, we need not +wonder that she thought no more of the +discarded work left at Haddo House, but +set herself to design afresh and embroider +the curtains which have ever +since (until recently) adorned a bed-room +in Fyvie Castle.</p> + +<p>Into these no doubt was woven many +a thought for the Jacobite cause, and +many an anxiety for dear ones, as her +own family, the ducal house of Gordon, +had been keen supporters of the Stuarts, +and it is said that the Countess came +out on the road-side, near Fyvie Castle, +with her children, to see the Duke of +Cumberland's troops pass on their way +to Culloden to put down the Scotch rebellion, +and boldly avowed to him her +sympathy with his foe.</p> + +<p>But what of the work the Countess left +at Haddo House? As to it, our history +is silent for more than a hundred years. +It has lain folded by the fingers of the +busy worker that have long been still. +Sorrow and joy have come by turns to +the house—birth and death. Children +have prattled, and statesmen have discussed +the affairs of nations. Those +who have made history have come and +gone; philanthropy and romance have +alike been woven into the family story; +but the piece of discarded broderie has +been unheeded.</p> + +<p>At length the present Countess of +Aberdeen, whose name will ever be +associated with earnest desire and effort +for the good of others, and whose taste +and love of the beautiful led to her interest +in such work, unfolding the long-forgotten +quilt, conceived the idea of +having it completed, if possible. To +whom, however, could the beautiful +work be entrusted to be finished, by deft +fingers and graceful appreciation?</p> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13"> </a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 373px;"> +<img src="images/img016.jpg" width="373" height="500" alt="INTERIOR OF A CROFTER'S COTTAGE." title="INTERIOR OF A CROFTER'S COTTAGE." /> +<span class="caption">INTERIOR OF A CROFTER'S COTTAGE.</span> +</div> + +<p>We now turn to another scene. About +five-and-twenty years ago, on the top of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +a bare hill in Fyvie, Aberdeenshire, stood +a cottage, tenanted by a crofter named +Sandieson, with his wife and family. +Though at a comparatively high elevation, +the land around was all cultivated, +but, arid and stony as the soil was, it +seemed as if cultivation were one long +struggle against Nature, rather than +aided by it. Life was hard; still, contentment +sweetened the peasant's lot, +and they got on pretty well till sickness +during three successive winters told +hardly on his means. Father, mother, +and children all worked; still the wolf +was at the door. Bed clothing was +scant, and money to buy still scantier. +A mother's love and care quickened +thought.</p> + +<p>The woman, as she tells her story, bethought +herself what she could do for +bedding for a covering against cold. +Scraps she had, bits of old clothes and +stockings, and tacked them together, +fold upon fold, to attain a certain thickness; +then, buying a pennyworth of log-wood, +and with it dyeing what had once +been a tartan shawl, but which had long +lost all its colour, she spread it over her +scraps for a cover. But, alas! the holes +were but too apparent.</p> + +<p>Necessity again quickened invention. +She selected some of the better pieces of +the old garments, cut them into the +shape of leaves and birds, and laid them +on the holes, adding one or two more +for uniformity, and then, with a darning +needle and "fingering" wool, she veined +the leaves and made effective marking +on the birds.</p> + +<p>Such was her first attempt at fancy +work. An admiring neighbour asked +her to do a similar quilt for her, offering +some scraps of new material. Another +commission followed, this time with the +offer of green wool for leaves. But one +cold, hard green did not please the +worker, now growing daily more experienced +and critical, so a visit was made +to the little country town a few miles +distant, in search of greater variety in +greens and browns, the appreciation of +Nature's varied tints becoming daily +stronger and clearer.</p> + +<p>About this time, a lady to whom the +woman had taken some work, on sight +gave her a quantity of old floss silks. +The possession of these was a new power +to her, and from that time she rapidly +acquired a skill in shading leaves and +flowers with a beauty which it is impossible +to describe.</p> + +<p>A farmer from a little distance, having +heard of her work, went to see her. After +looking at what, to him, seemed so marvellous, +he turned to her, and said, +"Well, well, it's wonderful! But you +will have to do no more rough work to +keep your hands fit for this; and how +will that do with the croft?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, sir," was her reply, "it +would never do. But I assure you this +is not my only work, for I have just +finished building a hundred and thirty-four +yards of a stone dyke with my own +hands. My husband had work elsewhere, +which he could not afford to miss. +The cattle were straying where they +should not, so I have just built it myself, +the children helping me by handing up +the smaller stones."</p> + +<p>After gaining some experience, Mrs. +Sandieson gave up the earlier style of +work with which she had begun, and +devoted herself almost entirely to embroidery +in silks. She has trained a +daughter, who lives with her, to work as +well as herself, and no description can +do justice to the beauty of their finer +work. Their designs are, with very few +exceptions, their own, and many of their +pieces are singularly beautiful. They +have even copied the plate representing +a peacock on a branch of a tree, from +Gould's "Asiatic Birds," and no one +but those who have seen it, could believe +in the wondrous working of the bird, +and in the feathers of the neck, with the +faint change of tint where it catches the +light as the bird turns its head. It is +marvellous!</p> + +<p>But copying flowers from nature is +what they chiefly do, and their careful<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +observation and fidelity in representation +are very characteristic in their work. +Trails of thunbergia, scarlet tropæolum, +apple blossom, cherry, and bramble; +willow, with its catkins, a little titmouse +on the branch; snowberry, with a robin +perched on it; the red and white lapageria, +eucalyptus, pepper tree, and +others are some of their subjects. And +this is what the crofter's wife, who commenced +with the old dyed shawl for a +foundation, has, totally unaided, taught +herself and her daughter to accomplish; +and this is the crofter's wife who, one +hundred and forty years afterwards, was +employed by Lady Aberdeen to finish +the quilt which the Countess of 1745 +had commenced. Is there not a little +pathos in the history of a piece of work +begun and completed in such different +circumstances?</p> + +<p>The work of these peasant-artists, +mother and daughter, is now very well +known among ladies in Aberdeenshire, +and has lately been brought under the +notice of Her Majesty, who condescended +to purchase largely of it; but the writer +believes the quilt shown by Lady Aberdeen, +in Edinburgh, to be the only +specimen that has been exhibited publicly.—<i>Ladies' +Treasury.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>WONDERFUL GRACE.</h2> + + +<p>John Dickson, a farmer in the +parish of Ratho, near Edinburgh, +was long a stranger to the riches +of divine grace. He paid no regard to +the sacred ordinances, or, if ever on the +Lord's Day he entered the house of God, +it was more for a desire of ridiculing +than profiting by what he heard. The +Word preached did not profit him, not +being mixed with faith.</p> + +<p>In this dreadful situation was he +when his wife died, after bringing into +the world an infant daughter. The good +providence of that gracious God who +calleth the weak things of this world to +confound the strong had ordained that +the nurse of this child should be a +woman of exemplary faith, who walked +in the Spirit, being sanctified by the +Holy Ghost. The carnal mind of the +father still continued at enmity with +God; but he was, ere long, to be brought +to a full conviction of his own unworthiness, +and a delightful experience of the +riches of redeeming love.</p> + +<p>The child, being now about twenty +months old, and beginning to prattle a +few words, was one day sent for by her +father, who was sitting after dinner with +some of his profane acquaintances. To +his great astonishment the child repeated, +two or three times, in its infant +tones, "Oh, the grace of God!" These +words made a deep impression upon the +father. He began to reflect upon his +sins, and the power of that grace which +cleanseth from sin, so long the subject +of his impious ridicule. The Holy Ghost +had opened his heart, and now brought +him, like a sheep that had been astray, +into the fold of divine love. Since that +time he has walked as becometh one +called in the Lord, bringing forth fruit +meet for repentance. The words which, +through the grace of God, became the +happy instrument of his conversion were +the customary ejaculation of the godly +nurse, and had thus been learned by the +infant. So truly was the Scripture verified +that "out of the mouths of babes +and sucklings the Lord hath ordained +praise."</p> + +<div class="signature">R.</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Endeavour</span> to be always patient of +the faults and imperfections of others, +for thou hast many faults and imperfections +of thy own that require a reciprocation +of forbearance. If thou art not +able to make thyself that which thou +wishest to be, how canst thou expect +to mould another in conformity to thy +will?—<i>Thomas à Kempis.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> +<h2>MY STAGE-COACH COMPANION.</h2> + + +<p>It was on a dull, chilly morning, I +remember, that I left my country +home by the coach which was +to convey me to London. I was then +about twenty years of age. I had never +before been very far, or very long absent +from my father's house; and my young +mind was filled with thoughts of the +pleasures in store for me in a long visit +I was about to pay to my London relations.</p> + +<p>Among the enjoyments I most reckoned +on, apart from the society of my aunt +and cousins, were those of the theatre, +balls, and evening parties. Very different +engagements these, from the domestic +duties and rural recreations to which I +had been accustomed in a retired country +residence.</p> + +<p>Thoughts like these had softened the +pain of separation from my kind and +indulgent parents; but there were tears +in my eyes on bidding them farewell, and +I was glad to let fall my veil, to hide them +from the only passenger in the coach.</p> + +<p>This passenger was a gentleman of +middle age, well wrapped up in a greatcoat +of rather formal cut, and with a +clerical-looking hat on his head. He +had a pleasant, though a rather serious +expression of countenance, as he lifted +his eyes from the book he was reading. +It was not long before he shut up the +book, and made some remarks about the +weather and the scenery. A short +silence followed, which was broken by +my fellow-traveller saying that he had +just been passing a few weeks in a +watering-place which I knew to be a +fashionable one.</p> + +<p>"I have never been there," I said. +"I suppose it is a very gay place, sir?"</p> + +<p>"It is a fine town, and the country +around it is very beautiful," said the +gentleman.</p> + +<p>This was not the answer I expected, +and I varied my question by referring to +the visitors and places of amusement, +particularly mentioning the theatre and +the public assemblies.</p> + +<p>The stranger smiled pleasantly, and +said, "I saw only the outside of the +theatre; but during my stay there I was +present at several public assemblies."</p> + +<p>"How very enchanting they must +be!" I remarked, with youthful ardour.</p> + +<p>"I am not sure that 'enchanting' is +quite the right word," he said, looking +thoughtful; "but they were very delightful, +certainly."</p> + +<p>"They were crowded, I suppose, +sir?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, generally," he said, and added +that, at the last of these public assemblies, +there were present more than a +thousand people.</p> + +<p>This seemed to me to be a great +number, and to need a large assembly +room to hold them. I made some +remark which led him to say that no +doubt there were many varieties of +character present, and of different +degrees in life. "But," he added, "I +have reason to know that many honourable +personages were to be met with +there, and even the King Himself was +there."</p> + +<p>"The King, sir? I did not know that +the King ever visited ——"; and I +began to feel incredulous. I was not +so ignorant as not to know that King +George the Fourth, in whose reign we +were then living, had for some time +almost secluded himself from his subjects, +and resided generally at Windsor.</p> + +<p>"I see," continued the stranger, +speaking more earnestly and seriously +than before, "that you do not quite +understand me; and I apprehend that +we have each been using the same words +to express a different set of ideas on +which our minds have been fixed."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand you, sir," I said, +rather coldly.</p> + +<p>"Permit me, madam, to explain. I +am a minister of the Gospel. The public<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +assemblies of which I have been speaking +are the assembling together of those +who meet for God's worship and service; +the honourable persons to whom I referred +are those whom the Bible calls the +children of God; and the King whom I +believe to have been present at these +assemblies is He who is 'King of kings +and Lord of lords,' who Himself has +told us that, where two or three are +gathered together in His name, there +He is in the midst of them."</p> + +<p>There was such kindness and courtesy +and respect in the gentleman's manner, +that I could not feel vexed at his having +spoken in a sort of parable, so I smiled, +and said, "I had no idea that you were +a minister, sir."</p> + +<p>"I am glad that you are not angry +with me, young lady," said he, "for +having wilfully misinterpreted your +questions. You know it is 'out of the +abundance of the heart' that 'the mouth +speaketh'; and when you got into the +coach I was engaged in thought, studying +a subject which I hope to speak +about next Sunday; and, singularly, +this subject is so far like that which has +engaged a few minutes of our conversation, +as that it refers to an assembly, +though one of a very superior character +to any the world has ever seen or +known."</p> + +<p>"May I ask, sir, what assembly it is +you mean?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied he; and taking +from his pocket a New Testament, he +opened it and read, "Ye are come unto +Mount Sion, and unto the city of the +living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and +to an innumerable company of angels, +to the general assembly and Church of +the First-born which are written in +heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and +to the spirits of just men made perfect, +and to Jesus, the Mediator of the new +covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, +that speaketh better things than that of +Abel."</p> + +<p>Having read this, my fellow-traveller +again put up his Book, and there was a +short silence between us, until he said, +"That is the text, madam. Do you +think it possible for any preacher to do +justice to it?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know indeed, sir," I said; +and I added (what I truly thought) that +the words struck me as being very +beautiful.</p> + +<p>"They are indeed beautiful, and magnificent, +and solemn," he said; and he +continued to remark that they were +highly calculated to arouse in the mind +emotions of no ordinary nature. Did I +not think so?</p> + +<p>I hesitated what to reply, for I shrank +from expressing sentiments which I did +not really feel. Doubtless he saw my +embarrassment, and, instead of pressing +for an answer, he asked me if he might +mention a few of the thoughts which had +passed through his mind, as he had +pondered over the passage. I said, if he +pleased to do so, I should be glad to hear +him, and accordingly he went on—</p> + +<p>"I suppose that the words I have read +referred not so much to the future, as to +the present position or condition of those +to whom they were addressed, and that +they may be applied also to certain +characters at the present time. I have +no doubt, madam, that you understand +of what characters I speak?"</p> + +<p>"I could not misunderstand you," I +said. "Of course you mean Christians?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; of all true Christians it may be +said that they are come to Mount Sion. +All who truly believe in Christ live under +a dispensation of mercy. They are even +now 'fellow-citizens with the saints, and +of the household of God.' Their names +are enrolled in the Lamb's book of life; +angels are their invisible attendants; +they are united in spirit to 'Jesus, the +Mediator of the new covenant'; they +are admitted into the gracious presence +of the Father, 'the Judge of all,' so as +to find access at every hour to God +within the veil; and they have even now +received the atonement, 'the blood of +sprinkling,' by which their polluted +consciences are cleansed and purified.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +These are great and exalted privileges, +are they not?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," I said, feeling as I said +it how incapable I was of appreciating +them. The stranger did not notice my +hesitation, however, but went on with +still more animation—</p> + +<p>"I cannot help thinking that more +than I have mentioned is implied in the +words which you justly think so beautiful, +and that the writer had in his mind +the future as well as the present life. +The final and everlasting <i>residence</i> of +all believers, after all the cares and toils +of their earthly pilgrimage are past, is +to be Mount Sion, the city of the living +God, the heavenly Jerusalem; part of +their <i>employment</i> will be holy and devout +adoration; their <i>society</i>, myriads of +angels and a vast assembly of the perfected +spirits of the just; the <i>chief source +of their happiness</i> will be the presence +of 'the Judge of all,' in 'Jesus the +Mediator'; and the cause of all this +blessedness is indicated in the closing +words—'the blood of sprinkling,' or the +atonement of Jesus."</p> + +<p>I was interested, and wished he would +continue. Probably he could see that +I was not unwilling to listen, for, after +the pause of a minute or two, he began +to expatiate a little on some of the +ideas he had already expressed. He +spoke of the unbroken repose and perfect +security of the city of God, and then of +the happy employments of the great +assembly in heaven. Here he drew a +contrast between the amusements of +the world and the enjoyments of the +heavenly state, and added that, to +worldly and unsanctified minds, these +enjoyments had no attractions.</p> + +<p>"Those who live only for this life," +he said, "cannot conceive of any +pleasure to be found in heavenly adoration +and praise. Accustomed to account +the Sabbath of the Lord a weariness, and +devotional services irksome and tedious, +it cannot appear to them desirable to +enter upon a state of existence in which +the worship of the Almighty is one of +the choicest occupations of its inhabitants. +Nor can we wonder," continued +my companion, "that it should be thus, +so long as the heart remains at enmity +with God, while the affections are earthly +and sensual, and where there is no fear +of God, no love to God, no delight in +God, no earnest desire to serve and +honour Him. Am I not right?" the +stranger asked, fixing his eyes upon +me.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I think you are," I replied, +faintly; and, after some further conversation +on the same subjects, my fellow-traveller +told me that he was going only +to the end of the present stage. "There +we shall part," he said, "and possibly +we shall not meet again in this world; +but if, by divine grace, we should be +fellow-heirs of the same glorious inheritance, +we <i>shall</i> meet in that general +assembly."</p> + +<p>These were almost the last words he +spoke, for, in a few minutes, the coach +stopped, and the stranger, alighting +and bidding me farewell, disappeared.</p> + +<p>Many years passed away, and I was +a happy wife and mother. My husband +was a true and earnest Christian; and I—yes +(and therein was my happiness), I, +too, was a believer in Christ. My +Christian life had been, in some respects, +an eventful one. My first steps in it had +been beset with difficulties and no +ordinary opposition; but patience was +given me to endure; strength, to overcome; +and, blessed be God, my heart's +desire and prayer to Him on behalf of +some very dear to me had, I trust, been +heard and answered.</p> + +<p>My conversion was in part, at least, +the result of the stage-coach conversation +I have recorded. God, in His +infinite mercy, by means of the words of +a stranger, called me to consideration. +The Holy Spirit showed me my miserable +condition, as being "a lover of pleasures +more than a lover of God." Through a +long, dark passage of soul-distress and +great conflict I was led into the light +and faith of the glorious Gospel—from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +the thunders of Sinai to "Mount Sion, the +city of the living God; to Jesus, the +Mediator of the new covenant, and to +the blood of sprinkling."</p> + +<p>One thing troubled me—or, if not +troubled exactly, left within me an unsatisfied +desire. For years I had longed +to see, to meet once more, the stranger +who had so kindly and so wisely invited +my attention to religion. I wished to +hear his voice again, and to tell him +what the Lord had done for my soul. +Sometimes, indeed, I recalled his parting +words with something like awe, though +yet with a thrill of pleasurable assurance—"Possibly +we shall not meet again in +this world; but if, by divine grace, we +should be fellow-heirs of the same +glorious inheritance, we shall meet in +that general assembly."</p> + +<p>"Annie," said my husband one day—he +had an open letter in his hand—"a +visitor is coming, whom I shall be very +glad for you to know—my old friend +and pastor, Mr. J——"; and he put +the letter into my hands. It was a short +note, merely stating that, finding he +should be at a certain time within easy +reach of my husband's home, the writer +would, if he might, avail himself of the +opportunity of renewing the personal +intercourse which time and distance had +so long interrupted.</p> + +<p>A few days later, a chaise drove to +our door, and my husband, eager to welcome +his old friend, met him in the hall, +where I also was waiting to receive him. +He was an elderly man, but with a firm +step, a strong frame, a pleasant smile, +a kindly voice, and a benevolent countenance.</p> + +<p>"Annie, my dear, this is——"</p> + +<p>I cannot go on to describe a scene in +which I became all at once and unexpectedly +so personally interested. In +my husband's friend I recognized, at a +single glance, my stage-coach companion, +though he had no recollection +of me.</p> + +<p>It was a happy meeting—the faint +foreshadowing, it may be, of such meetings +innumerable in that general +assembly in the heavenly Jerusalem +above, when they who have sown, and +those who have reaped, shall rejoice +together with "joy unspeakable and full +of glory."—<i>A Tract issued by the Religious +Tract Society.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>Page 275.</i>)</p> + + +<p> +"<i>I am the Rose of Sharon.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Song<br /> +of Solomon</span> ii. 1.<br /> +<br /> +I ssachar Genesis xxxv. 23.<br /> +<br /> +A biram Numbers xxvi. 9.<br /> +M icah Judges xvii. 1.<br /> +<br /> +T irzah 1 Kings xvi. 6.<br /> +H oreb Exodus iii. 1.<br /> +E bal Joshua viii. 30.<br /> +<br /> +R ehoboam 1 Kings xi. 43.<br /> +O g Numbers xxi. 33.<br /> +S hammah 1 Samuel xvii. 13.<br /> +E dom 2 Samuel viii. 14.<br /> +<br /> +O nan Genesis xlvi. 12.<br /> +F elix Acts xxiv. 25.<br /> +<br /> +S imon Mark iii. 18.<br /> +H adadezer 2 Samuel viii. 3.<br /> +A maziah Amos vii. 10.<br /> +R aven Leviticus xi. 15.<br /> +O bed-edom 2 Samuel vi. 11.<br /> +N adab Numbers iii. 4.<br /> +</p> + +<p><span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Ada Willerton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">(Aged 9 years).</span><br /> +<i>Corby, Grantham.</i> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">I have</span> found, by a strict and diligent +observation, that a due observance of the +duty of Sunday has ever had joined to +it a blessing upon the rest of my time.—<i>Sir +Matthew Hale.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p> +<h2>OUR BIBLE CLASS.</h2> + +<h3>THE CROSS OF CHRIST.</h3> + + +<p>The "cross of Christ" is mentioned +by the Apostle Paul in his +Epistles to different Churches, +but we may confidently say that +the wooden gibbet upon which the Saviour +suffered was never loved or reverenced +by that honoured servant of the Lord, +or the people to whom he wrote.</p> + +<p>The brazen serpent, that divinely appointed +means of Israel's cure, was +broken in pieces by good Hezekiah, +who contemptuously called it a bit of +brass, because the Israelites worshipped +it; and their idolatry is described as a +base crime in 2 Kings xviii. 4, although +it was a figure of Him that was to come; +and Jesus Himself declared, "As Moses +lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, +even so must the Son of Man be lifted +up, that whosoever believeth in Him +should not perish, but have eternal life" +(John iii. 14, 15); and the "true cross," +if it now existed, would only be a bit of +wood—a thing in itself worthless—and +the adoration of it would be nothing +better than idolatry.</p> + +<p>"Christ and Him crucified" is the +sinner's hope, the believer's joy, and this +is what we are to understand by the +apostolic mention of the cross of Jesus.</p> + +<p>The cross was the sign, the illustration, +of His sufferings and death. Crucifixion +was most painful and most +shameful, and both these facts appear in +Hebrews xii. 2. He "endured the cross, +despising the shame." With the hands +and feet nailed to the cross, and the +weight of the body borne by those pierced +hands, the sufferer, who generally was +first cruelly scourged, expired after long, +lingering torture; and it was a shameful +death, to which only the lowest and worst +of men were supposed to be sentenced. +Yet Jesus, the High and Holy One, +"humbled Himself unto death, even the +death of the cross."</p> + +<p>But there was deep spiritual meaning +in all this. "Tribulation and anguish" +(Rom. ii. 9), sorrow and death, are sin's +reward. "Dying, thou shalt die" (Gen. +ii. 17, margin) is the divine sentence +upon every transgressor, and "sin is a +reproach to any people" (Prov. xiv. 34). +"Shame and everlasting contempt" will +be the sinner's recompense. And Jesus +was His people's Surety and Substitute. +He stood for them; He took their place. +The Just One suffered for the unjust. +The King of Glory bore reproach and +shame for the sake of the sinners He +eternally loved, that whosoever believeth +in Him should have everlasting +life, glory, and joy (Dan. xii. 2).</p> + +<p>"The death of the cross," as Jesus +suffered it, involved the shedding of +blood, and "the blood is the life." "He +poured out His soul unto death." "He +gave His life a ransom for many," because +"without shedding of blood there +is no remission," no forgiveness of sin.</p> + +<p>But crucifixion, unlike many violent +deaths, did not divide or dismember the +body. In stoning, the back was often +broken; by other modes of execution, +the head was cut off, the neck broken, +or the body otherwise mutilated. The +legs of the crucified might be broken +to hasten death, but this was no necessary +part of the sentence; and concerning +Jesus it was prophesied, "None of +His bones shall be broken" (Psa. xxxiv. +20; John xix. 36). And this also was +fraught with deep spiritual meaning. +That bruised and torn, yet perfect body +which hung on the cross, and was laid +in the grave, was but a picture of that +holy soul, that perfect spirit, which He +yielded up to God. How clear was His +memory! That the Scripture might be +fulfilled, He said, "I thirst." How perfect +His love! He prayed for His executioners; +He remembered Mary. How +full His knowledge of His people, and +how perfect His confidence in Himself! +He blessed the penitent thief, and assured +him of a home with Himself in +heaven.</p> + +<p>Oh, wondrous Sufferer! almighty Saviour! +None ever died as Jesus died,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +bearing sin and guilt away, and overcoming +death, while He laid down His +sacred life.</p> + +<p>The cross of Christ has a mighty influence +upon all who believe on His +name. Paul said, with holy earnestness, +"God forbid that I should glory +in anything but the cross of our Lord +Jesus Christ, by which the world is +crucified unto me, and I unto the world" +(Gal. vi. 14). Once, as a Pharisee, he +loved the world—the religious world—the +esteem of men, the applause of his +fellow-Pharisees; but now they hated +and persecuted him, and he despised +their favour. So, if we are led to behold +by faith Jesus crucified for us, the sins, +the pleasures, and the friendships of the +world will lose their power and attractions, +and the love of Christ will constrain +us to live to Him who died and +rose again for us.</p> + +<p>We find that, when the Apostles were +first beaten and threatened for preaching +the Gospel, "they departed from +the presence of the council, rejoicing +that they were counted worthy to suffer +shame for His sake" (Acts v. 40, 41). +They knew that Jesus loved and gave +Himself for them, and they, out of love +to their Saviour, were willing to lay down +their lives for His sake, or to live despised +and hated by the world.</p> + +<p>Before He died, Christ said, "If any +man will come after Me, let him deny +himself, and take up his cross, and follow +Me." He foresaw His own sufferings +from the first, but the joy that was +set before Him animated Him all the +while, and, as His people's Leader, He +says, "Follow Me, and enter at last into +My joy." But Jesus never said, "Take +up My cross." Oh, no! His cross He +alone could bear! His saving sufferings +He only could endure! It is our +own cross that we are called to bear as +His followers, and His love will +strengthen and support us.</p> + +<p>Oh, that we may indeed know Him +as our once crucified, but now exalted +Saviour, and follow Him through all +life's changes to the bright home whither +He has gone, living henceforth to Him, +and Him alone.</p> + +<p>Our next subject will be, Psalm xxxii.</p> + +<div class="signature">Your loving friend,<br /> +H. S. L. +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PRIZE ESSAY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">How to Live Well.</span></h3> + + +<p>We cannot live well without we acknowledge +God in all our ways. +A Christian cannot exist without +prayer. Thus, in 1 Thessalonians v. 17, +it says, "Pray without ceasing," which +shows us that we cannot live well without +prayer. To live well also means that +we should obey and honour our parents, +as enjoined in Ephesians vi. 1, 2, and +make ourselves useful to those that surround +us. And, in 2 Thessalonians iii. +13, it says, "Brethren, be not weary in +well doing." Jesus Christ has also set +a pattern, for He was always doing good. +He even came into this world to die for +sinners. As Jane Taylor says—</p> + +<p> +"Jesus, who lived above the sky,<br /> +Came down to be a Man, and die;<br /> +And in the Bible we may see<br /> +How very good He used to be.<br /> +<br /> +"And so He died; and this is why<br /> +He came to be a Man, and die:<br /> +The Bible says He came from heaven<br /> +That sinners' sins might be forgiven."<br /> +</p> + +<p>If we are taught to live a Christian +life—to trust in, and fear God—He will +be sure to provide for our every want.</p> + +<p>To live well is to try and always do the +things that are just, treating people with +respect, and to love those who hate us, +and those who despitefully use us, for +Jesus Christ's sake. He says, in John xv. +20, "Remember the word that I said unto +you, The servant is not greater than his +lord. If they have persecuted Me, they +will also persecute you; if they have +kept My sayings, they will keep yours +also." If we wish to live well, we must +seek God in little things as well as in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +larger things; for He takes account of +the thoughts, words, and actions of men, +which are to be revealed at the last day.</p> + +<p>Living well also means that we should +do those things that are pleasing in +God's sight; for if we love and serve +Him truly, we shall be happy here and +in the life to come, for the righteous +Christ will gather as His jewels at the +great judgment day, and they will be +happy for evermore in that beautiful +heaven which Jesus has prepared for +those who love Him, and do His will; +for Jesus says, in John xiv. 3, "If I go +to prepare a place for you, I will come +again, and receive you unto Myself; +that where I am, there ye may be also."</p> + +<p>To live well is to live as expecting every +day to be our last, and to be looking for +that time when the trump of the archangel +shall sound, and all the dead arise +from their graves. We do not know the +day, nor the hour, when the Son of Man +shall come to judge the quick and the +dead, for it says, in Matthew xxiv. 36, +"But of that day and hour knoweth no +man, no, not the angels in heaven, but +My Father only."</p> + +<p>Newton expresses in the following +verse some good thoughts upon the right +way to learn how to live, and that is, by +seeking God's direction—</p> + +<p> +"Show me what I have to do;<br /> +Every hour my strength renew;<br /> +Let me live a life of faith;<br /> +Let me die Thy people's death."<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Lilly Rush</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">(Aged 13 years).</span> +<br /> +<i>Red House, Thornham,<br /> +near Eye, Suffolk.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>[There have been several creditable +Essays sent, but none that have reached +the desired mark. We may mention +those by Ernest Sawyer, Margaret +Creasey, E. B. Knocker, Jane Bell, +Maria Reeder, E. T. Mann, Edith Hirst, +Ella Saunders, W. B. Beckwith (aged +11 years), A. Pease, Sarah Hicks, and +Jesse Hammond. The age of the writer +must always be given.]</p> + +<p>[The writer of the above Essay receives +a copy of <span class="smcap">The Little Gleaner</span> +(cloth).</p> + +<p>The subject for March will be, "Self-Help," +and a kind friend has promised +a copy of "From the Loom to a Lawyer's +Gown; or, Self-Help that was not all for +Self," for the best Essay. We hope we +shall have some good Essays on the +subject. All competitors must give a +guarantee that they are under fifteen +years of age, and that the Essay is +their own composition, or the papers +will be passed over, as the Editor +cannot undertake to write for this necessary +information. Papers must be sent +direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, 117, +High Street, Hastings, by the first of +February.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A CHILD'S PRAYER.</h2> + +<h3>SUITABLE FOR THE NEW YEAR.</h3> + + +<p> +Oh, blessed Jesus, care for me,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And wash me in Thy blood;</span><br /> +Teach me to ever look to Thee,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And help me to be good.</span><br /> +<br /> +Give me Thy Holy Spirit, Lord,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And teach me how to pray;</span><br /> +Oh, let me understand Thy Word,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And take my sins away.</span><br /> +<br /> +Whene'er I'm tempted to do wrong,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oh, let me think of Thee;</span><br /> +Help me to always guard my tongue,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When naughty I would be.</span><br /> +<br /> +Teach me to tread the narrow way,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Which all Thy saints have trod;</span><br /> +And guard and guide me every day;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Be Thou my Lord and God.</span><br /> +<br /> +Help me to trust in Thee alone,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And not have fear of men;</span><br /> +To seek Thy will before my own,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For Jesus' sake. Amen.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Jane Bell</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">(Aged 14 years).</span><br /> +<i>Sleaford.</i> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> +<h2>Interesting Items.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Rarely-blooming Flower.</span>—In one of +the conservatories at Hamilton Palace gardens +there is a fine specimen of the <i>Angeavia variegata</i> +in full bloom. The tradition is, that the plant +only flowers once in a hundred years.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Steam</span> heating and electric lighting of trains +is receiving very close attention from a number +of the leading railway managers in the United +States. On some roads the change has been +decided upon, and cars are being reconstructed +on the new plans as rapidly as possible.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Pilots' Pay.</span>—From London to Gravesend +the pilot's fee may range from 18s. to £7 18s., +and from Gravesend to the Nore from £1 12s. +to £7 8s.; and while a vessel drawing less than +seven feet of water is piloted from the Downs +to the Isle of Wight for £3 4s., one that draws +twenty-five feet will cost for the same distance, +either way, as much as £14 6s.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Romanism</span> in America is throwing off its +sheep's clothing, and revealing its wolfish +nature. The following is an extract from +one of its journals, the <i>Western Watchman</i>—"Protestantism! +We would draw and quarter +it. We would impale it and hang it up for +crows' nests. We would tear it with pincers, +and fire it with hot irons. We would fill it +with molten lead, and sink it in hell fire a hundred +fathoms deep." Only the genius that +invented the multiform cruelties of the Inquisition +could express itself in such an infernally +varied vocabulary of torture.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Warrant for Bunyan's last Imprisonment.</span>—Among +the Chauncy collection of autographs +recently dispersed by Messrs. Sotheby, +there lay, hidden and unnoticed, the original +warrant under which Bunyan was apprehended +for that third and final imprisonment of some +six months' duration, during which, according +to his latest biographer, he wrote the first part +of "The Pilgrim's Progress." It fills a half-sheet +of foolscap, and is dated March 4th, +1674-5, under the hands and seals of twelve +justices, six of them, either then or in the Parliament +of 1678, members for county or borough, +and three of whom had originally committed +him for the previous twelve years' imprisonment.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Composition During Sleep.</span>—Lord Thurlow +told his nephew that, when young, he read +much at night, and that once, while at college, +having been unable to complete a particular line +in a Latin poem he was composing, it rested so +on his mind that he dreamed of it, completed it +in his sleep, wrote it out next morning, and +received many compliments on its classical and +felicitous turn. In my own experience, I have +imagined myself, during sleep, to be listening +to instrumental music quite new to me, and +have been able to reproduce the melody next +day; and I have now in my possession a MS. +copy of a Dead March composed by the author, +from whom I had it, in a dream.—<i>Correspondent +of "Notes and Queries.</i>"</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Dangers of Eating Orange Peel.</span>—It +is a very bad habit to eat orange peel. Nor +is the juvenile habit of eating apples with the +peel on to be recommended either. Parents who +do not care as yet to correct these evil propensities +will perhaps be more inclined to do so +when they hear that the little black specks +which may be found on the skins of oranges +and apples that have been kept some time are +clusters of fungi, precisely similar to those +to which whooping-cough is attributed. Dr. +Tschamer, of Graz, who has made the discovery, +scraped some of these black specks off an orange, +and introduced them into his lungs by a strong +inspiration. Next day he was troubled with +violent tickling in the throat, which by the end +of the week had developed into an acute attack +of whooping-cough.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Brave Child.</span>—One day recently at Sandown, +while a gentleman was showing his little +girl how Lion, a splendid St. Bernard dog, and +a great favourite in the family, caught pieces +of biscuit in his mouth, the poor child stole up +to put her arm round the dog's neck. Unhappily +Lion was so engrossed, he never heard the fairy +footstep. Taking the little face for a dainty +morsel intended for him, he sharply closed his +large teeth in the tender cheek and nostril. +Elsie bravely struggled to conceal the blood +which fast flowed from the wound, and assured +her mother without a tear that she was "far +more frightened than hurt." Lion, who had +been taught to apologise for wrong-doing by +standing up, at once assumed that plaintive +attitude, while Elsie entreated his master not +to punish him, as she knew "it was all a mistake." +The little face is still strapped up, but +as the dog was perfectly healthy, the only fear +entertained is that a permanent mark may be +left there. One lasting impression was certainly +made. The self-control and calmness of the +mother, who saw the sharp, sudden bite inflicted +on her only child, and the unflinching +courage displayed by Elsie while she pleaded +for the dumb friend who had so unwittingly +injured her, will never be forgotten by Lion's +master or any one who witnessed the unfortunate +incident.—<i>Lady's Pictorial.</i></p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span><span class="smcap">The General and the Sparrow.</span>—General +Robert E. Lee was one of the bravest soldiers +and ablest leaders of the Southern States armies +in the great American Civil War. Along with +an almost culpable indifference to danger he +joined an intense love for animals and a deep +feeling for the helpless, as the following story +will show. He was once visiting a battery near +Richmond, in Virginia, when the soldiers (with +whom he was immensely popular) crowded +round him, and thus offered a good target for +the enemy's fire. Lee at once bade them retire +to the rear, out of reach of harm. The men did +so, but—as if unaware of the risk he ran—he +walked across the yard, and picked up some +object from the ground, and put it on a tree +branch above his head. It was afterwards +found that this object was an unfledged +sparrow, which had fallen out of its nest, +and which the general had restored to its home +at such imminent danger to himself.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The End of a Dog's Quarrel.</span>—One day, a +fine Newfoundland dog and a mastiff had a +sharp discussion over a bone, and warred away +as angrily as two boys. They were fighting on +a bridge, and before they knew it, over they +went into the water. The banks were so high +that they were forced to swim some distance +before they came to a landing-place. It was +very easy for the Newfoundlander. He was as +much at home in the water as a seal. But not +so poor Bruce. He struggled and tried to swim, +but made little headway. The Newfoundland +dog quickly reached the land, and then turned +to look at his old enemy. He saw plainly that +his strength was fast failing, and that he was +likely to drown, so what should the noble +fellow do but plunge in, seize him gently by the +collar, and, keeping his nose above water, tow +him safely into port. It was funny to see these +dogs look at each other as they shook their wet +coats. Their glance said as plainly as words, +"We'll never quarrel any more."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> following tragical story of a pen is +deeply interesting, since to an instrument in +itself so humble the death of a little Liverpool +schoolboy is due. The lad, sitting at his desk +at St. Anthony's School, saw on the floor a +piece of paper which he wished to pick up. To +leave his right hand free he put his pen in his +breast pocket. He was sitting at the end of a +bench, from which, in stooping, he fell to the +floor. The weight of his body fell on the point +of the pen. The nib pierced the poor little +fellow's heart. Amid the silent work of the +writing lesson his cry of agony rang out with +startling effect, and a whole town, hearing of +a boy's death from such a cause, shares the +painful surprise of the school-room. The one +ray of relief in this painful story shines over +the grief-stricken home. The public sympathy +directed to this house, finds it inhabited by a +struggling widow, with four young children still +surviving. A subscription is forthwith got up +for her benefit, and the son's death is likely to +be the means of saving the mother from destitution.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Manchester Ship Canal will be a stone-banked +stream, 25 feet in depth, and at least +120 feet in width, supplied with numerous docks, +crossed by lofty bridges for trains, and swing-bridges +for road traffic, and forming a waterway +in which the biggest steamships and sailing +vessels will be able to pass one another at a fair +speed. It will be wider and deeper than the +Suez Canal, and will depend for its construction +chiefly on the huge steam excavators, which are +a kind of cross between cranes and the dredgers +we see in rivers and harbours, and which remove +a cubic yard of soil at a time. It will enable +Manchester to send her calicoes direct to all +quarters of the globe, and will tap the chemical +region of Runcorn, and the salt districts of +Cheshire, saving the present cost of transhipment +of a million tons per annum of the latter +condiment. Nearly 20,000 men will find employment +for the next four years in the construction +of this big canal for the passage of +ocean ships between Liverpool and Manchester. +The first sod has been quietly cut with a navvy's +spade by Lord Egerton of Tatton, the chairman +of the company, in the presence of twenty +directors and a few shareholders, at Eastham, +where the canal will lead out of the Mersey.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Hanover Baptist Sunday School, Tunbridge +Wells.</span>—The half-yearly meeting of the +above school was held on Wednesday, October +26th. The meeting was presided over by +the Superintendent, who in a few opening remarks +urged the parents to try and send their +children to school in time, and in the morning +as well as the afternoon; after which the +children recited their various pieces to the +Pastor, Mr. Newton. Mr. Botten then proceeded +to give away the rewards, which he said +he hoped they would prize, and lend to their +brothers and sisters to read if they wanted +them; and he hoped they would never read the +pernicious books and periodicals that found +such favour amongst boys in our day, but, if +they were offered a book to read, to show it to +father and mother, and, if they did not mind +their reading it, then all right. In conclusion, +he wished the teachers God-speed in the work. +Mr. Saltmarsh and Mr. House also gave parcels +of books away, and a pleasant meeting was +brought to a close by singing the hymn, +"Around the throne of God in heaven," Mr. +Newton concluding with prayer. Each child +received a bun on departing.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +W. L. W. +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 387px;"> +<img src="images/img028.jpg" width="387" height="500" alt=""PAPER, SIR?" (See page 26.)" title="PAPER, SIR?" /> +<span class="caption">"PAPER, SIR?" (<i>See page 26.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> +<h2>WHAT A TRACT MAY DO.</h2> + + +<p>Often, as we journey from place +to place by rail, we notice with +peculiar interest the newsboys at +the different stations as they politely inquire, +"Paper, sir?" and, as we think +what advantages they have of reading +the different kinds of papers and books +which pass through their hands, we +wonder, as we look upon them, what +kind of reading they prefer, good or +bad; and, from the appearance of many, +we fear it is the latter. We know that +many young people of both sexes prefer +light, foolish, and fictitious books, over +which they spend a lot of their precious +time, reading made-up tales—things +that never occurred—and we say, What +a pity that they should thus waste their +time in doing worse than nothing, when +they might be storing their minds with +useful knowledge!</p> + +<p>We hope our young friend in the illustration +is not one of these, for, as we +look upon his open and pleasant countenance, +we are inclined to believe he is +not, in mind, of such a low order; and, +while he may have to carry books and +papers which we should advise him +never to read, we can but reflect as to +the power for good of such an agency, +if used for the spread of pure Scriptural +truth. Oh, that it were so! Who can +tell, if good books and tracts were thus +scattered, what good might result therefrom?</p> + +<p>We have read with pleasure, and here +give to our readers, the following narrative, +showing the way the Lord sometimes +signally blesses even the giving of +a tract to a stranger, and may many be +encouraged to "go and do likewise":—</p> + +<p>Roger M—— was one of a family +resident in the town of D——, where his +first days were spent, without anything +remarkable taking place to distinguish +his boyhood from that of many around +him. It was, however, his privilege, +though unvalued at the time, to receive +religious training in a Sabbath School. +It is not known that at this period any +particular progress was made by him in +any department of useful or of religious +knowledge. Indeed, his after-course +would rather prove that, like many who +have enjoyed similar advantages, he +grew up only to show that, by nature, he +possessed a heart averse from God, and +prone to depart from Him.</p> + +<p>In the course of time Roger M—— +was placed with a respectable tradesman +of his native town, with a fair +prospect of becoming acquainted with a +business in which he might have obtained +an honest livelihood; but he turned his +back on his friends and prospects, and +enlisted in the marines. From his own +lips the subsequent account of himself +was derived.</p> + +<p>Year after year passed on, and though +often engaged in scenes of carnage and +bloodshed, he was yet wonderfully preserved +both from wounds and death. At +length, just on the eve of the battle of +Waterloo, he was drafted from his ship +to take a part in that fearful and eventful +conflict. Amidst wounds and slaughter, +and disabled and dying comrades, he +stood unscathed; and after the peace +which followed on that memorable victory, +he was discharged from the service, +and took up his residence in the +city of E——. Here, however, he only +lived to prove how ineffectual, of themselves, +are the most terrible scenes +savingly to touch the rebellious heart of +man, or even to awaken the mind to any +just sense of the amazing goodness and +long-suffering of God, independently of +the grace and influence of the Holy +Spirit. He spent his days in a life of +dissipation and drunkenness, unmoved +by any reflection on the past, or by any +regard for the future. Yet was there +mercy in store for Roger M——. God's +ways are not as our ways, neither His +thoughts as our thoughts.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>Returning home one evening in a state +of intoxication, a lady placed in his +hand a religious tract, which, by the +mercy of God, he carried home, and the +next morning read. It is not easy to +describe the state of feeling that arose +in his heart from its perusal. His own +account of that moment was deeply +affecting. Conviction of sin, remorse, +alarm of conscience, strong desire after +peace and pardon, the cry of the jailor, +"What must I do to be saved?"—all, +in tumultuous conflict, agitated his +spirit. Day after day, week after week, +he sought relief to his mind, and direction +to his anxious heart, by entering +various places of worship in the city. At +length in a little chapel he found that +which his soul longed for. The word of +peace, the glad tidings of salvation +through the blood of Christ, came home +with power to his heart, and he obtained +peace through believing.</p> + +<p>Having become "a new creature in +Christ Jesus," he next lived a new life, +and rendered up himself a living sacrifice +to the great Redeemer. As Roger +M—— had pursued a course of sin unto +death, so now he pursued a course of +obedience unto righteousness, the end of +which is eternal life. A new life had +opened upon him, and as a soldier of +the cross he served Jesus Christ, his new +Captain, with humble zeal and holy joy.</p> + +<p>In the last interview which the writer +had with him, his expressions of overwhelming +love to Jesus were most fervent. +Tears of gratitude rolled down his +thin, furrowed cheeks as, with emphasis, +and a feeling most touching, he acknowledged +the debt of love which he owed +to his beloved Lord. Never did the +writer witness so strong an exhibition of +heartfelt, deep, religious feeling. Roger +could speak of nothing but the unmerited +and wonderful love of his Lord and +Saviour, and of His amazing goodness +in sparing and saving so vile a transgressor.</p> + +<p>When the burst of feeling had a little +subsided, he expressed a strong desire +to see his former teacher, then an aged +Christian. An interview was sought for +him, that he might express his gratitude +to his instructor in the days of his youth, +and thank him for all the good counsels +which had then been given him. Here, +again, the sobs and tears of the humble +child of God burst forth anew, and the +friend who accompanied him was obliged +to shorten the interview, from fear of the +consequences to both the old men. The +scene will never be obliterated from the +memory of him who pens this recital, +nor the conviction, moreover, of the +deep-seated piety and gratitude of the +penitent veteran.</p> + +<p>One thing amongst others which Roger +confessed was this—that, in the midst of +the conflicts in which he had been engaged, +the lessons and truths presented +to him in the Sabbath School were constantly +rushing into his mind with indescribable +freshness, producing a conflict +there, compared with which that without +was as nothing. Yet, strange to say, +this resulted in no real conviction or +conversion when the danger was past. +It was not till the little messenger of +mercy had reached his hand, and its +truths, by divine mercy, touched his +heart, that he became a contrite sinner +and humble suppliant at the feet of Jesus, +and at length was brought to know that, +"being justified by faith," he had +"peace with God through our Lord +Jesus Christ" (Rom. v. 1).</p> + +<p>One point in the character of this converted +sinner remains to be mentioned—that, +although latterly so afflicted by +entire deafness as to require communication +by means of writing, yet was he constant +in his attendance at the house of +God, where, as one of the true circumcision, +he doubtless "worshipped God in +the spirit, rejoiced in Christ Jesus, and +had no confidence in the flesh" (Phil. +iii. 3).</p> + +<p>He has long since gone to the unseen +world to be with Jesus, "which is far +better."</p> + +<p>This narrative affords no small encouragement<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +to those who distribute, even +under unpromising circumstances, those +leaves which are intended for the healing +of the soul. "Cast thy bread upon the +waters: for thou shalt find it after many +days." "In the morning sow thy seed, +and in the evening withhold not thine +hand; for thou knowest not whether +shall prosper, either this or that, or +whether they both shall be alike good" +(Eccles. xi. 6).</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ANSWER TO SCRIPTURE ENIGMA.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>Page 10.</i>)</p> + + +<p>The Farmer is the Lord. "I am +the true Vine, and My Father is +the Husbandman," said the Son, +Jesus (John xv. i). The farm +is the Bible, and the sixty-six fields are +the books thereof. The Bible is sown +all over with spiritual food, which is the +Word of God, for His people. Those +people who seek after the Lord must +have a will to come, and patience to wait +for an answer. There are some people +who have the Bible, but have no desire +after the Lord; but they find other things +they think better of than seeking after +the Lord. There are some people who +say they hate the Lord, and the Bible, +and there is not a minister that they will +say a good word to. This, Jesus and +His servants can vouch for a truth. The +people who live in those low-built houses +are those who are humble in the sight of +the Lord; and not far from where they +dwell the ministers live, and they think +it a great liberty to speak a few words to +the ministers, and, as for the Lord, they +often feel they dare not attempt to speak +to Him. But the Lord says, in Luke xii. +32, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your +Father's good pleasure to give you the +kingdom." You would almost wonder +how these people exist; but they get a +little help from the Lord now and then, +which keeps them alive.</p> + +<p>And then it is said, one came to the +Bible, and looked in the Book of Ruth, +but could not gather anything; and +Christians cannot gather anything from +God's Word unless God opens it to +them; and if they do not get good out +of one part of the Bible they go to +another, and would be glad to glean +in either field of Ruth or Esther. In the +end, the labourer directed the gleaner +to the forty-second field, and he gathered +handfuls (Luke xi. 9-13), and then he +told others where to go to find plenty of +food.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Mary Willerton</span><br /> +(Aged 11 years).</div> + +<p><i>Corby, Grantham.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>[This is the most correct answer received +up to the time of going to press.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span>]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BE GENTLE.</h2> + + +<p> +There is a plant that in its cell<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">All trembling seems to stand,</span><br /> +And bends its stalk and folds its leaves<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">From each approaching hand.</span><br /> +<br /> +And thus there is a conscious nerve<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Within the human breast,</span><br /> +That from the rash and careless hand<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shrinks and retires distressed.</span><br /> +<br /> +The pressure rude, the touch severe,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Will raise within the mind</span><br /> +A nameless thrill, a secret tear,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A torture undefined.</span><br /> +<br /> +Oh, you whose nature is so formed<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Each thought refined to know,</span><br /> +Repress the word, the glance, that wakes<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That trembling nerve to woe!</span><br /> +<br /> +And be it still your joy to raise<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The trembler from the shade;</span><br /> +To bind the broken, and to heal<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The wound you never made.</span><br /> +<br /> +Whene'er you see the feeling mind,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oh, let this care begin!</span><br /> +And though the cell be e'er so low,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Respect the guest within.—L. H.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> +<h2>A BIBLICAL DISCOVERY.</h2> + + +<p>Bible students will gladly read +the account of a remarkable and +interesting discovery sent to the +Council of the Egypt Exploration Fund +by their explorer, Mr. Flinders Petrie. +He has apparently found the remains of +a royal palace, mentioned in the Bible +as "Tahpanhes," and referred to by the +Father of History in his record of the +adventures of the first Greek colonists +who, six hundred years before the Christian +era, settled in a corner of the northeastern +Delta of Egypt.</p> + +<p>These early Greeks conveyed to their +countrymen the wisdom of the Egyptians; +and the science, art, and literature of the +older civilization was filtered through +the artistic Greek intellect to the western +world.</p> + +<p>Students of Egyptian and Greek history +will take deep interest in this discovery. +But the finding of the remains +of this royal palace appeals to a more +numerous and humbler class of students.</p> + +<p>In the book of Jeremiah the Prophet, +from chapter thirty-seven to chapter +forty-seven, the reader will find a graphic +record of the events that preceded, accompanied, +and followed the destruction +of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. +A great portion of the action of this +story took place in the country in which +Mr. Petrie and his Arab labourers have +been at work for some time past.</p> + +<p>After the tumults that followed the +departure from Jerusalem of Nebuchadnezzar +with the captive Jews to Babylon, +it was decided by Johanan, against the +advice and the prophecy of Jeremiah, to +fly into Egypt, the land of King Zedekiah's +old ally. The princesses, and the +captains, and Jeremiah, were taken across +the frontier by Johanan, and hospitably +received by Pharaoh Hophra, who installed +his guests in the royal residence +in Tahpanhes. Jeremiah could not rest +even in the stronghold thus provided for +himself and his countrymen by the kindness +of Hophra, and in the court-yard or +square of the royal palace of Tahpanhes +he made a remarkable prophecy. Taking +great stones in his hands, and burying +them in the pavement, the Prophet declared +that in that very spot King Nebuchadnezzar +would spread his pavilion +when he came, with his destroying army, +to punish the Jews, and to execute vengeance +on their Egyptian allies.</p> + +<p>The prophecy, there is every reason to +believe, was fulfilled. The Babylonish +conqueror invaded Egypt, and burnt +Pharaoh's house at Tahpanhes. Centuries +have passed. The sand of the +desert, and the mud of old Nile, have +swept over the site of the remarkable +prophecy, and about 2,500 years after +the death of the Prophet, an Englishman +rolls away the encrustations of time. +He discovers the basement floor of the +old citadel—half prison and half palace. +From the ruins he extracts slabs of fine +limestone covered with hieroglyphic inscriptions, +figures of captives delicately +sculptured and painted, iron and bronze +tools. In the kitchen he finds pokers, +and spits, and broken bottles. The room +of the little scullery maid is found almost +intact. It contains a recess with a sink +and a bench for the ancient pots and +pans.</p> + +<p>Mr. Petrie's communication, which +can be had from the Secretary of the +Egypt Exploration Fund, throws a strong +light on the wondrous story in the grand +old Book which has been for centuries a +household treasure in English homes, +and will be read with delight by all +lovers of the Bible.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Every</span> season of life has its appropriate +duties.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Through</span> all our troubles, the tangled +skein is in the hands of One who sees the +end from the beginning. He shall yet +unravel all.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE CHARCOAL BURNER'S STAR.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>Concluded from page 9.</i>)</p> + + +<p>Alfred was struck mute with +surprise. Even the guide seemed +astonished at this unexpected +welcome to the hut.</p> + +<p>It was not until a minute or two after +the voices had ceased that they ventured +to approach the entrance. When they +did, they saw the charcoal burner standing +at the end of a rude table, formed of +one broad deal plank, supported by four +legs, along one side of which were +ranged three boys between twelve and +fourteen years old. Books and paper, +with an inkstand and pens, were lying +on the table. It was a forest school.</p> + +<p>The intruders again paused at a sight +as unexpected as had been the melody +they had just heard. But their footsteps +had caught the ears of those within the +hut.</p> + +<p>"Who goes there?" asked the man, +in a calm voice.</p> + +<p>"Friends," replied both Alfred and +the guide, and the latter added—</p> + +<p>"Good evening, Gervais. It is only +your friend Michel. I have brought you +a gentleman who is very anxious to see +you."</p> + +<p>"What is your pleasure with me, +sir?" asked the charcoal burner, taking +off his woollen cap.</p> + +<p>"First, to wish you a good evening, +Monsieur Gervais; and next, to apologize +for my visit."</p> + +<p>"Is there anything you wish to say in +private?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing very important; but——"</p> + +<p>"These boys are in your way?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, pray do not let me interrupt +you! My business here is not of sufficient +consequence."</p> + +<p>"We have done, sir. Indeed, our +evening studies, and more particularly +our Scripture readings, have been prolonged +rather beyond our usual hour. +We have only one more duty to fulfil, +which we never omit. You will excuse +it, sir."</p> + +<p>Without waiting for a reply, Gervais +assumed a serious air. The boys knelt +down before the wooden bench on which +they had been sitting. Alfred, and even +the guide, followed their example, and the +woodman offered up a brief, but solemn +evening prayer; after which he pressed +affectionately the hands of the young +herdsmen, and dismissed them with a +kind remembrance to their employers.</p> + +<p>"Good-night, Monsieur Gervais!" +said the boys cheerfully, and in an instant +they were all leaping up the heights +beyond the fir trees, which soon hid them +from the sight of those who remained +behind.</p> + +<p>"I expected to find you alone, +Monsieur Gervais," said Alfred, "and I +wished to put a question to you which is +now very plainly answered by the scene +I have just witnessed. Two hours ago, I +was with a party of friends in the plain +below, at some distance from this mountain. +At nightfall, when we saw the +light of your furnace beginning to shine, +we said among ourselves, as we looked, +with no small degree of interest, upon +this earthly star, as it seemed to us, +'What can the man be doing who is +watching by the side of this fire?' You +see, sir, that I am young, and you know +that, at my age, good-humoured frolics +are not uncommon. 'I will soon know,' +I said. Well, I mounted my horse +immediately, and rode at full speed to +the foot of the mountain. And now that +I am here, I find that I have reason to +rejoice in my freak, Monsieur Gervais, +since it has made me the witness of a +most interesting scene. These pens and +paper, and these books—this one in +particular—afford sufficient evidence of +the manner in which you have passed +the evening. Here, to my surprise, I +have found, at this late hour, in the deep +recesses of the woods, on a wild and +lofty mountain, a school for useful learning +in general, but more especially, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +the closing of the scene has informed me, +for the most important of all knowledge—that +of the Creator who made, of the +Son who redeemed, and of the Holy +Spirit who sanctifies us. You pass your +evenings in pointing out to these boys, +who might otherwise be running wild +along the mountains and through the +forests, like the beasts that perish, the +only way that leads to everlasting life. +May I ask if you have any particular +interest in them? Are they your children, +or are they employed by you in your +business?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," said the charcoal burner; +"I am neither their father nor their +master. Alas! they have but one Father, +which is in heaven. They are orphans, +sir, and are employed by the herdsmen. +They remain here for several months in +the year, to assist in tending their cattle +and their goats, which are kept during +the summer in the mountain pastures. +They are therefore serving an apprenticeship +to the line of life for which they +are destined. But there are other things +which are needful for them, as well as +learning to look after cows, and sheep, +and goats; and one thing more needful +than all the rest, which they might learn +to neglect, were they left to themselves, +without some one to lead them in the +right path, and to speak to them of the +faith and love of the Lord Jesus. It is +true they are here far removed from the +temptations which they would meet with +in towns, and even in villages; but +Satan has his snares in all parts—in +the wilderness, where he dared to tempt +the Son of God Himself, as well as in the +city, where, they say, his traps are set +so thickly that it is impossible to avoid +them, unless the light of God's Holy +Spirit is shining on our path. But even +here, had he no other means of leading +them astray, they might fall, by his devices, +into the worst of sins—the forgetfulness +of God, and all they owe to Him. +The condition, then, of these poor boys +has interested me very greatly. I have +prevailed upon their masters to let them +come to me for two hours every evening, +as soon as the cows and goats are milked, +and the sheep are in the folds, when I +endeavour, with God's help, to teach +them to read and write, and cast up an +account; but, above all, to seek to find +out the Lord in His holy Word, and to +pray to Him. For myself, too, it is a +profitable as well as a cheerful occupation +in this solitude. I wish, indeed, +that I were able to have them longer with +me each day, but that our labours will +not allow of. On Sundays, indeed, they +have rather less to do, and we take +advantage of this to devote more time to +the service of God."</p> + +<p>"<i>Rather</i> less to do on Sundays!" +said Alfred. "Is the Lord's Day, then, +made only partially a day of rest?"</p> + +<p>"Sir," replied Gervais, "there are +works of <i>absolute necessity</i> which require +our attention, here in the mountains, +nearly as much on the Lord's Day as on +the other days of the week. We do not +cut wood on the Sabbath Day, but my +fire must not be allowed to go out. It +must be kept constantly burning till the +operation is complete. So far, indeed, +it affords a lesson of holy instruction to +my young pupils as well as myself, and +shows us the necessity of the flame of +Christian love, and faith, and hope being +kept alive in our hearts, even when pursuing +our daily occupations. Then those +who have the charge of cattle and sheep +must attend to their wants, or the poor +creatures would suffer sadly by their +neglect. It takes up a large portion of +the day to milk the cows and the goats, +and I dare say you can understand that, +to say nothing of the loss their owners +would incur were this omitted, the poor +beasts themselves would suffer bitterly +from bodily pain and disease."</p> + +<p>"I ought to have thought of this, as I +am myself learning to be a farmer," +observed Alfred. "But do you not draw +any spiritual improvement for your +scholars from this?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, sir! I show them how Jesus, +the Good Shepherd, is constantly feeding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +and caring for <i>His</i> flock, watching over +them, and keeping the young lambs +from going astray; carrying them in +His bosom, and giving them the bread +of life to eat, and the waters of everlasting +comfort to drink."</p> + +<p>"And are your kind instructions confined +to these three boys?"</p> + +<p>"Not altogether, sir. Most of their +masters, when their necessary work is +done, come with such of their servants +as can be spared, on the evening of the +Lord's Day; and, as we have no pastor +up here to teach us in the way of holiness, +we join together in prayer. We +sing 'psalms, and hymns, and spiritual +songs,' and we 'search the Scriptures,' +and nourish our souls with the holy Word +of God. Most of them, I assure you, sir, +are very seriously disposed, and love to +hear me talk to them of the Lord Jesus, +and tell them of all He has done to save +sinners, to take away their sin, to give +them repentance, and everlasting life +after death."</p> + +<p>"And it is thus you have been passing +your time," exclaimed Alfred, "when +some of my thoughtless young friends +below fancied you might be drinking or +smoking while you were watching your +fire. Happy man! These solitudes are +no solitudes to you. How far more profitably, +how far more pleasantly, are you +employed than the greater number of +those who live in the world! I must +entreat you to pardon my having intruded +upon you, I am ashamed to say, from a +motive of mere curiosity. But see how +God often causes even our follies and +weaknesses to turn out to our profit. I +have learned a lesson that I trust, by +His grace, I shall never forget. It has +taught me that every godly man has a +part assigned to him for others as well +as for himself, to show forth the great +salvation that Christ brought upon earth. +You are diligently fulfilling your part. +You have prayed for work, and our great +Master has mercifully provided it for +you. You are laying up treasure for +yourself in heaven, while many of those +who would be inclined to pity your +worldly position are wasting their lives +in idleness and sin, neglecting the work +they might do, and burying in the earth +the talent committed to their charge. +Numbers there are in the world who are +attempting to secure to themselves a +memorial among posterity, by erecting +hospitals and schools, while you are +consecrating this little hovel to God in a +way that might never have been known +in this world, but which will not be forgotten +by the Lord 'in the day when He +maketh up His jewels.'"</p> + +<p>As he said this, Alfred cast his eyes +round the hut, and fixed them upon an +open chest which stood in one corner, +supported upon one or two short beams +of wood, to preserve the contents from +the damp.</p> + +<p>"You are not unprovided with books, +I see, besides those that lie on the table."</p> + +<p>"We have indeed a little library there, +sir," replied Gervais. "It is very small, +but quite equal to our wants. You would +find there 'The Histories of the Old and +New Testaments,' 'The Imitation of +Jesus Christ,' 'The History of France,' +'Robinson Crusoe,' and a few others. +Would you like to look at the writing +of these boys, sir?"</p> + +<p>Alfred examined some copy-books +lying on the table, and could not help +expressing his surprise at the progress +the lads appeared to have made in three +short months. Then, looking at his +watch, he said—</p> + +<p>"I fear I have overstayed my time, but +before I go I have yet a duty to perform. +While I congratulate you most sincerely +on the success with which God seems to +have blessed your endeavours in behalf +of these destitute youths, I must add +that the interest which the idea of your +isolated situation excited among the +party I left in the plain below was such +that they said I ought not, without some +good reason, to intrude upon you, and +desired me to bring this little offering to +you, begging of you to accept it, in token +of their good-will."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>Vainly, however, did the young man +press the offering upon the charcoal +burner. He absolutely refused it.</p> + +<p>"Money!" said he; "for what? +From whom does it come? Excuse me, +sir, but you must recollect that you are +quite a stranger to me. I do not even +know your name."</p> + +<p>Alfred looked greatly disappointed, +but replied that his name was Alfred de +Blénal.</p> + +<p>"What! the son of Madame de Blénal, +of ——?"</p> + +<p>"The same."</p> + +<p>"You are no longer a stranger, sir. +Your excellent mother's piety and benevolence +are well known to all the country +around. Well, sir, as you seem distressed +by my refusal, I will accept your liberal +offer, but not for myself. I will only take +it as trustee for these three boys, to be +applied to their future maintenance, till +they are able to support themselves."</p> + +<p>"Excellent man!" replied Alfred, +deeply affected. "This sum will hardly +be sufficient for your benevolent purpose, +and it will give us pleasure to make it +up to such an amount as may be +required. I have promised to return to +the persons who are expecting me by +midnight, and I fear they will be uneasy +at my prolonged absence. Take it, then, +Monsieur Gervais, and whenever you +require a little more money for the good +works you may find occasion to perform +in your neighbourhood, do not fail to put +me under contribution. I shall tell my +friends all I have seen and heard, and be +assured that they will envy me my good +fortune. Farewell, and remember that, +by applying to me when you want anything, +either for yourself or others, you +will only prove that I have inspired you +with sentiments of esteem and friendship."</p> + +<p>Saying this, Alfred gave the charcoal +burner a cordial embrace, and +departed.</p> + +<p>The thoughts of Michel, the guide, as +he descended the mountain, were very +different from those with which he had +gone up. He was an altered man from +that night.</p> + +<p>Midnight had passed. The supper was +waiting at Madame de Blénal's. The +guests were beginning to be impatient, +some from hunger, some from curiosity, +but more from anxiety. Had he miscalculated +the distance? Had he mistaken +the way? Had he met with an accident? +The former conjectures were spoken +aloud; the latter was only whispered +by some who were not within Madame +de Blénal's hearing. She herself remained +silent, but perfectly calm. We +do not say that the mother's heart was +free from anxiety, but there was a +remedy within it which served as a preventive +against all idle and unnecessary +fears. The eye of God was upon her son, +and she knew that his own trust was +fixed upon His saving arm. She knew, +too, that, although full of the spirit and +buoyancy of youth, he would avoid the +sin of running into needless danger. If +an accident had detained him, it was +permitted as a trial of her faith, and she +was prepared to submit.</p> + +<p>The impatience of the party was just +beginning to reach its height, when the +sound of a horse's hoofs was heard. +Every eye was turned to the door, which +was soon opened, and Alfred stood before +them, smiling, cheerful, and uninjured, +though in a condition that at first occasioned +some alarm, but soon excited a +burst of laughter.</p> + +<p>"Here is ocular proof," cried one, +"that he has seen the charcoal burner."</p> + +<p>"And been at close quarters with +him," said another. "He is covered +with soot."</p> + +<p>"Why, Mr. Alfred," said a young +lady, "one would think you had embraced +him!"</p> + +<p>"I have, mademoiselle, and I am not +ashamed of owning it. Had you seen +what I have, you would have done the +same, without considering your dress."</p> + +<p>"Why, what have you seen?" was +asked by more than one.</p> + +<p>"I have found a preacher of righteousness,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +'a teacher of babes,' in the forest—one +who is an example to us all—and I +have learned that, whatever our station +in life may be, we may do good service +to our Lord."</p> + +<p>Alfred then gave a full detail of his +adventure.</p> + +<p>"So then," said the old lady who had +decided the question about the money, +"while we were indulging in foolish +conjectures, and idly jesting about this +worthy man, he was engaged in the pious +task of teaching young boys to read God's +holy Word, and the eye of that God +was upon us all. My dear young friends, +this is a lesson which I trust you will +never forget. I see by your looks that +it has produced its effect, and given birth +to serious thoughts in your hearts. God +has caused your inconsiderate frolic to +turn out well, and I suspect that this will +be a happy day for the pupils of Gervais. +The orphans will not want protectors. +Now let us go to supper. Our friend +Alfred must be hungry after his ride, and +he has well earned his meal."</p> + +<p>These words, together with the circumstances +that gave rise to them, +made a deep and salutary impression +upon the hearers. The supper passed +cheerfully, and the conversation turned +upon what could best be done for the +charcoal burner and the poor orphans. +Many plans were proposed, and at last +one was suggested which met with +general approbation.</p> + +<p>The young men, in consequence, all +visited the mountain forest and the hut, +which, under their exertions and superintendence, +soon disappeared, and a +comfortable châlet rose in its place, in +which Gervais continued for many summers +to pursue his useful labours, and +more than one or two successive generations +of boys owed their teaching to +him, and their establishment in the world +to the care of the patrons whom Alfred's +visit had, by God's mercy, raised up for +them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT.</h2> + + +<p>In a conversation with the late +Richard de Courcy, John Berridge +observed that he had, for +many years, been preaching up +self, but not Christ Jesus the Lord:—</p> + +<p>I was a length of time in Arminian +fetters. John and Charles Wesley got +me into their cradle, and the devil kept +rocking; but the Holy Spirit, in a most +remarkable manner, delivered me from +the sleep of sin by slaying the legality +of my heart. I used to lament the unprofitableness +of my preaching, and +though I was a dealer in fire and brimstone, +I could make no impression on my +hearers.</p> + +<p>One day, my man Thomas was sawing +a sturdy piece of oak, and, as I was +standing by him, he threw down his saw, +and turning to me, said, "Master, I must +give this job up; it is so knotty." I +took up the saw, and said, "Tom, let +me try"; and to work I went, and, being +of muscular strength, I soon overcame +the difficulty.</p> + +<p>It occurred to me, when leaving the +field, that my preaching resembled Tom's +sawing, and these words were impressed +on my mind—"Who art thou, O great +mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt +become a plain." I returned to my +chamber, and poured out my heart to the +Lord. A conviction arose in my mind +that the work that God alone can perform +I looked for the creature to produce. +On reflection, I found the drift of +my preaching for twenty years had been +to tell the sinner to put the key into the +lock of the door, so as to open it. I +never thought of my Beloved putting His +hand by the hole of the door, nor of +applying to Him who has the keys of +David, who "openeth, and no man +shutteth; and shutteth, and no man +openeth."</p> + +<p>On the Sunday following, I took my +text from Isaiah—"Ye also made a ditch +between two walls, for the water of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +old pool; but ye have not looked unto +the Maker thereof, neither had respect +unto Him."</p> + +<p>From that time God the Holy Ghost +has given me better tools for my workmanship. +In addressing those whose +hearts are unrenewed and unchanged, I +make no propositions or calls. I cry +aloud, and lift up my voice, and show +my people their transgressions and their +sins. I then turn from the unconverted, +and implore my Master to take the work +in hand, to convince of sin, and to lead +them to Christ. With uplifted eyes and +outstretched arms I cry, "Lay hold of +these rebels, O Lord, as the angel did +of lingering Lot, and overcome them by +Thy omnipotent power, so as to lay down +their arms to come in, that Thy house +may be filled." John Berridge can do +nothing but say, "Awake, O arm of the +Lord!" This is my province; a step +further I cannot, I dare not, go.</p> + +<p>For the last twelve years the Lord has, +in a most wonderful manner, displayed +the riches of His grace in giving me +innumerable seals to my ministry, both +in town and country—trophies of mercy, +as studs in the Mediatorial crown of my +dear Redeemer.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Old Everton.</span> +</div> + +<p>[Oh, that there were more such +preachers in the present day!]</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p> +When bold, presumptuous men stand up,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And fain would make believe</span><br /> +That they are teachers sent of God,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And thus poor souls deceive,</span><br /> +<br /> +They should, by every God-taught soul,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Be faithfully withstood,</span><br /> +If aught they bring to us as truth<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But Jesus and His blood.</span><br /> +<br /> +Such men as these the Word declares<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shall come, and shall deceive;</span><br /> +But sinners, truly born of God,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Will not such men receive.</span><br /> +<br /> +If possible, we know they would<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Deceive Thine own elect;</span><br /> +But, bless Thy precious name, dear Lord,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thou wilt Thine own protect.</span><br /> +<br /> +How solemn is the thought to me—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Such men may think they're right,</span><br /> +Yet their profession will, if left,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">End in eternal night!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Depart, ye cursèd!" will be said<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">By lips that cannot lie;</span><br /> +"Since you have hated Me and Mine,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Your doom is now to die.</span><br /> +<br /> +"You see, though now it is too late,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The oil-less lamp won't do;</span><br /> +The door against you now is shut;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">There is no passing through."</span><br /> +<br /> +My soul, reflect! How stands the case<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With me, a helpless sinner?</span><br /> +I cannot hope to win the race;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But Jesus is my Winner.</span><br /> +<br /> +I never should have sought to Thee,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dear Lord, Thou knowest well,</span><br /> +If Thou hadst not first callèd me,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And plucked my feet from hell.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;">B. W.</span><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN FEBRUARY.</h2> + + +<p> +Feb. 5. Commit to memory Ruth ii. 7.<br /> +Feb. 12. Commit to memory Ruth ii. 8.<br /> +Feb. 19. Commit to memory Ruth ii. 9.<br /> +Feb. 26. Commit to memory Ruth ii. 10.<br /> +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Put</span> heart in your work, whatever it is. +If it be the lowliest, simplest little task, +it will be ennobled by your doing it well +and cheerfully, and taking real pleasure +in it.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> +<h2>"THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS."</h2> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Zechariah</span> iv. 10.)</p> + + +<p>The second temple was much +smaller than, and very inferior +to, the first, and from it were +wanting the ark, the Shechinah +glory, the sacred fire, and the Urim and +Thummim. Hence we read that, when +it was erected and dedicated, the older +men that had seen the former temple +wept (Ezra iii. 12). Compared with +that, the second temple saw but a +"day of small things" (Hag. ii. 3).</p> + +<p>And thus do we sometimes speak of +the days of childhood and youth, and +rightly so. Young people are small in +stature and little in ability. Their +minds are not much cultivated at +present, their faculties undeveloped. +Their views of things are narrow and +circumscribed. They have seen and +know but little of the world, or, indeed, +of anything at all. But children are not +to be despised on that account. We +who are older must not think depreciatingly +of them, nor should the young +depreciate themselves—their abilities, +their time, their opportunities. Do not +waste your precious moments, for yours +is a golden age, which will quickly pass +away, and can never return.</p> + +<p>Do not imagine that you are too +young to exert any influence over others +for good or harm. You may, and do, +influence not only your companions, but +many older people also. As children +and youths are old enough to sin, they +are old enough also to be impressed by +the Spirit of God—yea, even savingly +converted, if God so will it.</p> + +<p>Not long ago, a very little boy, dying, +was heard to say, "Oh, Lord Jesus, +please make room for a little boy!" +and I doubt not, his prayer was as real +and as acceptable to God as was that +of the dying malefactor, "Lord, remember +me," &c. Another dear little fellow +said, "If I ever get to heaven, I'll go +straight up to Jesus, throw my arms +around His neck, and say, 'I'm come! +I'm come!'"</p> + +<p>Very little things are not without their +importance or value. The earth is +nourished all summer by tiny dew-drops. +The greatest mountains, even huge +Chimilari, towering five and a half miles +into the clouds, and all the other peaks +in the Himalaya and Andes ranges, are +formed of tiny molecules of earthy +matter.</p> + +<p>Take a lesson from the coral formations. +These are the work of a very +little creature called a <i>polype</i>, or sea-anemone. +Recent research has led to +the discovery of much that is highly +interesting respecting these little creatures. +One polype, fixing its minute +body to the rocky bottom of the sea, +discharges a chalky secretion, which +gradually grows up a branched trunk. +The end of each branch is terminated +by another polype; and thus it divides +and multiplies itself, until a huge mass +of red coral is formed. The more +common white coral is similarly produced.</p> + +<p>Beware of what are called "little sins." +Do not think them mere trifles. Bad in +themselves, they likewise extend and +grow into habits. These, once acquired, +will hold you down with the force of a +mighty chain.</p> + +<p>Of late years vine-stocks have been +imported from America into France and +Italy. Upon these a tiny insect, called +<i>phylloxera</i>, has been found—so small +that thirty-three of them placed lengthwise +would not measure more than an +inch; and yet so destructive have these +tiny things proved, and so rapidly have +they been known to spread, that they +have been the destruction of more than a +million acres of vines.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37"> </a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 374px;"> +<img src="images/img040.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="HARD LIFE" title="HARD LIFE" /> +<span class="caption">"HER FATHER'S BAD WAYS MADE HER LIFE HARD." (<i>See page 38.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<p>One has well observed that "a great +sin committed once shows where the +devil has been; but petty sins, nourished<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +into a habit, show where the devil +lives."</p> + + + +<p>One of the discoveries of modern +medical science is, that the disease +known as cholera may be produced +by a microscopic insect (the <i>Conina +Bacillus</i>) being taken into the stomach +inadvertently with our food. This +minute creature propagates with enormous +rapidity in the blood, until that +terrible malady is the result. Thus +many great things are developed from +the very smallest—not only great evils, +but great blessings also.</p> + +<p>In doing good, we must not despise +"the day of small things." The beginnings, +though imperfect and weak, are +not without their own peculiar value, and +ultimately they lead on to excellence.</p> + +<p>Travellers on the continent are often +struck by the contrast exhibited between +two paintings which are shown in the +museum at Rotterdam. The one is +exceedingly poor—a mere daub. The +most enthusiastic connoisseur cannot +discover in it any mark of genius. The +other painting is a grand work of art, +almost priceless in value. Yet, strange +to say, the same painter executed both—the +celebrated Rembrandt. The first +illustrates the commencement of his +career as an artist; the other is a +masterpiece, while many years of earnest, +patient toil intervened.</p> + +<p>There must be a beginning to all +things, and many dear Sabbath scholars +have been instrumental of good to their +parents and friends. I will mention one +instance of this, selected from scores +which have come under notice at different +times.</p> + +<p>In a miserable home there once resided +a drunken father, with one girl, his only +child. Of course, he took no particular +interest in her welfare, either body or +soul. But some kind friend got her to +attend a Sabbath School. There she +was brought to know and love the +Saviour, and often during the week, +while attending to the house, she was +known to sing the sweet hymns she had +learned. This was her only comfort, +for her father's bad ways made her life +hard.</p> + +<p>One day, when she was thus occupied, +her father was in another room, +sleeping off his drunkenness. On awaking, +he heard the little maid singing—</p> + +<p> +"There is a happy land,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Far, far away."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>The Lord was pleased to use these +words for another awakening. The +grace of God touched his heart, and he +said to himself, "Yes, it must be far +away for her, poor thing; it cannot be +here with me." That thought came +from God. It melted his frozen heart, +brought him to his knees, caused him to +utter strong cries for mercy, led him to +ask his little daughter to explain the way +of salvation, and ultimately he was +enabled to rejoice in pardoning mercy.</p> + +<p>Dear young Gleaners, may the Lord +thus be pleased to bless the reading of +the <span class="smcap">Little Gleaner</span>, and the instruction +imparted in the Sabbath School, first +to your own soul, and then make you a +similarly honoured instrument of good +to others.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">A. E. Realff</span>.</div> +<p><i>Dunstable.</i> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">God</span> never wrought miracles to convince +atheism, because His ordinary +works convince it.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A sunny</span>, happy face naturally, is +worth a world of recipes upon cheerfulness. +Only let one possessing it come +into a room where there are a number of +melancholy souls, and see how soon the +magnetic influence begins to relax the +lines of care around the mouth and eyes +of the burdened ones, and the light of +forgotten smiles to illumine the dark +faces! The very breath of summer has +blown through the room, bringing the +breath of meadow sweets on its wings.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> +<h2>HOW A GREAT MISTAKE WAS DISCOVERED.</h2> + +<h3>A TRUE INCIDENT.</h3> + + +<p>My grandmother was always looked +upon by those who knew her as +a good Churchwoman, a dutiful +wife, an affectionate mother, and a good +neighbour. She attended the services +and partook of the Sacrament regularly, +visited the sick, gave alms to the poor, +and was generally regarded as a very +religious, upright, consistent, and exemplary +person. Yet, notwithstanding this +outward goodness, her mind was not at +rest. Her religion yielded no joy, her +service brought no satisfaction. Nor +could it be otherwise, for, instead of it +being the spontaneous outflow of a heart +constrained by love, it was as a task imposed—a +duty performed in the hope of +pleasing God, and meriting His favour, +and in this way obtaining peace and rest +to her soul.</p> + +<p>Poor grandmother! These were +"deadly doings"; but she knew it not, +for her eyes were blinded by the god of +this world (Satan), and her unsuccessful +attempts to procure peace by these means +often left her depressed in spirit and cast +down in mind. But God had better things +in store for her, although it was by no +ordinary means that He was pleased to +make known to her His more excellent +way.</p> + +<p>One Sunday, she went to church as +usual, and took part in the singing and +prayers, which were performed in the +same mechanical order as at other times. +It was not until the text was read out +that her attention was particularly +aroused; but this so arrested her that it +all seemed to be intended for herself. +The words, "Ye must be born again," +uttered by the lips of an unconverted +preacher, were made the message of God +to her soul, but not as yet the message of +peace. Her conscience was troubled, +and as the words of the text were revolved +in her mind, and the necessity of the new +birth laid hold upon her heart, she +trembled in her seat, and all her fancied +goodness fled away; for here was +Nicodemus, a good man, a teacher of +religion, a pattern of morality, being told +by the Lord Jesus that he must be "born +again," or he could not enter heaven. +She could see now that her almsgiving +and church-going would not satisfy the +righteous claims of a just and holy God.</p> + +<p>She had made a most blessed discovery—that +she was a lost sinner, "having no +hope, and without God in the world." +She returned home in great distress of +mind, and so continued until the next +day. These painful exercises then showed +no signs of abatement, for the words of +the text kept ringing in her ears; so, on +the morrow, as early as convenient, she +sought an interview with the clergyman, +in the hope that he might be able to +minister relief to her troubled heart.</p> + +<p>But "woe unto you, ye blind guides!" +The only counsel he could give was, to +remind her of her good deeds, her consistent +life, her regular attendance at +church, &c., urging her to be calm and +to banish from her mind these distressing +thoughts, as there was not the slightest +foundation for her fears. But this only +increased her trouble, and she cried out, +in great anguish of soul, "Tell me how I +can be 'born again'! Tell me over again +what you were telling the people yesterday." +As she earnestly entreated him +thus, he became greatly perplexed, for, +alas! the sermon he had preached the +day previous was borrowed, and had since +been returned to its owner; so, in much +confusion, he had to confess his +inability to help her; but said he, "You +must get into cheerful company, read +lively books [at the same time offering to +lend her some of Shakespeare's plays], +and these impressions will soon wear off." +But the solemn words from John iii. 7<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +were fastened in her mind by the +"Master of Assemblies," to bring forth +their fruit in due season.</p> + +<p>My grandmother left the minister in +great despair, which continued and increased +to such an extent that eventually +it became necessary to remove her to an +asylum, and her cries of distress were +heartrending, her incessant and unchanging +cry being, "I must be 'born +again'! Tell me how I must be 'born +again'!" But strange as it may appear, +this was God's way of bringing her both +mental and spiritual relief. A Christian +lady who visited the asylum became +acquainted with her case, and learning +that there were times when grandmother +was quieter and more herself, +she resolved, if possible, to enlist the +co-operation of a godly minister of her +acquaintance; and having made it a +matter of prayer, the way was soon open +for him to see her, and the visit was +made with the happiest results.</p> + +<p>As the glorious Gospel message was +set before her, in simple and earnest +language, she listened with rapt attention, +and drank in the blessed truth +which was soon to become the power of +God unto her salvation. After this visit +she was a little restless at times, but as +the truth entered her soul, and she was +enabled by "precious faith" to lay hold +upon Christ, her fears all vanished, and +she gradually became more calm and +peaceful. She was led to see that peace +was made for her by the "blood of the +cross," and not by her works; and, +"being justified by faith, she had peace +with God, through our Lord Jesus +Christ."</p> + +<p>She had now known and experienced +the blessed change so long sought, and +which might have been set forth at her +first awakening had a wise counsellor +been at hand. The change wrought in +her soul was very real, and acted so +beneficially upon her mind that shortly +afterwards she was able to return to her +home and friends, to tell "what great +things the Lord had done unto her." +The remainder of her life was one of +settled peace and joy, fruitful in good +works, and abounding in thanksgiving +and praise to God.</p> + +<p>Dear reader, how is it with you? Have +you experienced this great change? +Remember, nothing but reality will do for +God and eternity. Neither education, +morality, reformation, nor religious profession, +can take the place of the new +birth. "They that are in the flesh cannot +please God." There must be a new +life and a new power communicated, in +which to love and serve God; and this +can only be "by the washing of regeneration +and renewing of the Holy Ghost." +"Except a man be born again, he cannot +see the kingdom of God" (John iii. 3).—<i>Selected.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE ENEMIES OF GOD AND +OF HIS PEOPLE SCATTERED.</h2> + + +<p>As the anniversary of the defeat of +the Spanish Armada is to be celebrated +this year, the following +anecdote may not be uninteresting to +our readers, as showing a like providence +in the case of New England +Christians.</p> + +<p>Dr. Wisner remarks that the destruction +of the French armament, under the +Duc D'Auville, should be remembered +with gratitude and admiration by every +inhabitant of America. This fleet consisted +of forty ships of war, and was +destined for the destruction of New +England. It sailed from Chebucto, in +Nova Scotia, for that purpose. In the +meantime the godly people, apprized of +their danger, had appointed a season of +fasting and prayer to be observed in all +their churches.</p> + +<p>While Mr. Prince was officiating in +Old South Church, Boston, on the fast +day, and praying most fervently that the +dreaded calamity might be averted, a +sudden gust of wind arose (the day till +then had bean perfectly calm)—so violent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +as to cause a loud clattering of the windows. +The pastor paused in his prayer, +and, looking round upon the congregation +with a countenance of hope, he +again commenced, and, with great +ardour, supplicated the Almighty to +cause that wind to frustrate the object +of their enemies.</p> + +<p>A tempest ensued, in which the +greater part of the French fleet was +wrecked. The Duc D'Auville, the principal +general, and his second in command, +both committed suicide. Many +died from disease, and thousands found +a watery grave.</p> + +<p>A late President remarks—"I am +bound, as an inhabitant of New England, +to declare, were there no other +instance than the above to be found, the +blessings communicated on the occasion +now referred to would furnish ample +proof, concerning answers to prayer, to +every sober and intelligent man."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A HINT TO PARENTS.</h2> + + +<p>In writing upon the education of +the young, a thoughtful writer +has made the following observations:—</p> + +<p>"The little triumphs and successes of +the young mind should never be lightly +passed over without a token of just and +fitting praise from the lips of its parents. +The love of approbation is one of the +strongest incentives to improvement and +industry which the Creator has implanted +in the human mind. In the child, this +feeling is very predominant; and, if disappointed +of its justly-earned tribute, +will be checked, and the child disheartened +and mortified.</p> + +<p>"Benjamin West relates that he owed +his success in life to the fond kiss of +delighted approval bestowed on him by +his mother, on his bringing her a rude +production of his pencil when quite a +little boy. 'That kiss,' said the great +artist, 'made me a painter.'</p> + +<p>"Praise, then, when merited, should +never be withheld. It is the chief—indeed, +generally the only—recompense to +which children look; and it is a bitter +and injudicious cruelty to deprive them +of it. The approval and the censure of +its parents and teachers should, in this +sense, be the guiding stars of a child's +existence. But care should be taken +that neither should be bestowed carelessly +or with partiality, so as to induce +vanity, or, on the other hand, bitterness +of feeling."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + + +<p>An Apostle employed as a messenger.</p> + +<p>The son of Zephaniah.</p> + +<p>A disciple called "the chamberlain +of the city."</p> + +<p>A place whence gold was brought to +the temple.</p> + +<p>An idol of Damascus.</p> + +<p>He who arrested a prophet that was +put into a dungeon.</p> + +<p>Who said, "The Lord is good, a +Stronghold in the day of trouble," &c.?</p> + +<p>A disciple who dwelt at Troas.</p> + +<p>A sorcerer struck blind.</p> + +<p>The name given to the sockets for +fastening the stones in the ephod.</p> + +<p>That without which it is impossible to +please God.</p> + +<p>The place where one was struck dead +for touching the ark.</p> + +<p>Aaron's wife.</p> + +<p>The Syriac name for "Father."</p> + +<p>The Epistle where the words are—"Ye +are not your own," &c.</p> + +<p>The place to which Samson gave a +name, where he quenched his thirst +after slaying the Philistines.</p> + +<p><br />Total—one of the titles of Christ, used +prophetically.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Low</span> expense is the highway to +fortune.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE SIXTH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS GATHERING OF EBENEZER +SUNDAY SCHOOL, HASTINGS.</h2> + + +<p>Year succeeds year and marks +the flight of time, and, in its +flight, leaves the impress of +many changes, proving to every +thoughtful mind that "here we have +no continuing city." But, amid the +changes of life, the Lord encourages +His people to wait upon Him; and none +need to do so more than they who are +engaged in the work of spreading His +truth, whether among old or young; and +when the spirit of prayer is kept alive in +their midst, they are not without testimony +that "the Lord is with them." +These thoughts were in the minds of +some who witnessed the assembling of +the scholars of this school on December +27th, and they marvelled how any God-fearing +man or woman can feel indifferent +to the welfare of the young, or +look on unmoved as they assemble together. +To some of us these gatherings +are as "the solemn assembly." We see +an eager, expectant throng, seeking for +that which shall please them—for the +most part, seemingly unconscious, for +the time at least, that they have immortal +souls that must live in eternal happiness +or eternal misery, and, therefore, +without a knowledge of their state before +God. We see our own children, +and yearn over them in prayer before +God, and, like Ezra, we would "afflict +ourselves before God" to seek a right +way for ourselves and our little ones.</p> + +<p>The scholars assembled in the chapel, +as usual, at half-past two, when the +proceedings were opened by a short +address from our Pastor and President, +Mr. T. Hull. Many friends encouraged +us by their presence, though the severe +weather considerably influenced their +number.</p> + +<p>As soon as a hymn had been sung, +Mr. Hull read and expounded the first +Psalm, showing the character of that +man whom God had pronounced blessed. +He then earnestly besought the Lord's +blessing, and followed it by a few words +on the preciousness of truth.</p> + +<p>The report was then read by the +Secretary, Mr. Ellis, and again proved +to be of a most interesting and encouraging +character. The steady increase +that marked the earlier years of +this school has been continuous, the +number on the register now being 250, +showing an increase of sixteen during +the year. The average attendance has +been 153 in the morning, and 194 in the +afternoon, as compared with 135 and 169 +in 1886. The highest single attendance +was 223. Two scholars have been lost +by death, and one teacher by removal.</p> + +<p>We give an extract from the report, +as expressing the earnest feeling of +those engaged in the work—"To record +an increase in numbers is pleasing, +as showing outward success; but the +success we desire is, that our scholars +may be brought to a knowledge of the +Lord, that God's truth may be established +in their hearts, and that many that +meet with us now may bless the Lord +for the instrumentality of Ebenezer +Sunday School."</p> + +<p>The financial statement showed a +balance in hand of £5 16s. 7d. This +would be to December 1st, the date to +which the accounts are made up, and, +therefore, leaves the expenses of this +day, with the prizes, to be met by the +balance in hand, which, of course, is +quite inadequate. But the executive +feel sure that the same kind thoughtfulness +that has put them beyond anxiety +in the past will not be wanting in the +future. The expenses of the year have +been £34 11s. 4d.; the income £32 10s., +which, added to the balance brought +forward from last year, makes £40 8s.</p> + +<p>Several addresses were next given, +and listened to with marked attention. +The Superintendent, Mr. J. Trimming,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +spoke of his own feeling in the work, +and how earnestly he looked for the +blessing of the Lord; the anxiety he felt +for the young, and the vast importance +of putting a right value on the Word of +God.</p> + +<p>Mr. R. Funnell, who is in his seventy-eighth +year, was most enthusiastically +received. He is a pattern of diligence +and earnestness in everything connected +with the welfare of this school and +Church. He very nicely used the illustration +of Elijah gathering the people on +Mount Carmel, as showing his thoughts +on Sunday School work. Though we +may build altars, yet, if no living fire +comes down from heaven, no saving work +will be accomplished.</p> + +<p>Mr. Poole enforced the importance of +taking heed to both what we read and +what we hear, and to treasure up the +Word, that it might be of profit.</p> + +<p>Mr. Ellis, the Secretary, followed +with a few affectionate and earnest +words, at the close of which, Mr. Hull +proceeded to distribute the prizes—the +most interesting event of the afternoon. +Before distributing to the scholars, Mr. +Hull called on three teachers, namely, +Miss P. Funnell, Miss M. Funnell, and +Mr. Jesse Vine, to receive a present +from their respective classes—a proceeding +most heartily received by the whole +school. And now, class after class filed +past the President to receive the book +prize awarded to them; and though the +list was long, and the recipients many, +he had a kindly word for all. Mr. Hull +does not spare himself on these occasions, +and by his pithy remarks and enforcement +of precepts, suggested by the +proceedings, contributes in no small +degree to the success of the gathering.</p> + +<p>Tea was now announced, the arrangements +for which—both for scholars +and friends—were excellent, and most +heartily did the assembly respond to the +invitation.</p> + +<p>At the close of the tea, the scholars +again took their places in the chapel, +and proceeded to carry out a plan +wholly devised and arranged by the +Superintendent. In introducing the +subject, Mr. Trimming spoke of the +importance of the study of the Word +of God—a study which he had reason to +fear was sadly neglected; and with a +view to show the Word of God as a harmonious +whole, and to bring into prominence +the Book of Proverbs, he had +prepared a subject, or a series of subjects, +which he called, "The Crown of +Glory." He read Proverbs iv. 7-9, as +the basis of his plan. In a crown there +are precious stones, the precious stones +in this crown being—first, the fear of +the Lord; secondly, repentance; thirdly, +seeking God; fourthly, shunning evil; +fifthly, obedience to instruction; sixthly, +waiting upon God; seventhly, acknowledging +God's sovereignty; eighthly, +truthfulness and honesty; ninthly, +guards for the temper; tenthly, guards +for the tongue; eleventhly, God's power +over all hearts; twelfthly, true friendship.</p> + +<p>To illustrate and bring out into bold +relief each of these precious stones, each +class had prepared portions of Scripture, +hymns, or poems to recite as each subject +was announced. It must have repaid +the Superintendent for all the +trouble he had taken, and given the +friends much pleasure to hear the manner +in which the different classes acquitted +themselves, the Young Men's Bible +Class especially. Throughout the entire +proceedings, hymns, specially selected +for the occasion, were nicely sung +by the scholars, and contributed much +to the heartiness of the gathering.</p> + +<p>The school-room was decorated in the +usual manner, namely, with garments +destined for distribution among the deserving +poor. These garments have +been made, as in former years, by the +scholars and friends—in fact, the School +Dorcas is now an established institution, +and shows what may be done by +kind hearts and nimble fingers.</p> + +<p>The meeting was brought to a close, +shortly before nine o'clock, with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> +usual acknowledgments, the singing of +"Shall we meet beyond the river?" +and prayer, every one feeling that +another pleasant and profitable meeting +had been held.</p> + +<div class="signature">C. E.</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>OUR BIBLE CLASS.</h2> + +<p class="center">PSALM XXXII.</p> + + +<p>With our Bibles open before us, +dear young friends, we will try +to make a few comments on +this portion of Scripture. But +let us first turn to Psalm li., for there is +the sad confession of sin which went +before this joyful song of "Blessed is he +whose transgression is forgiven." This +first verse is a shout of joy and gratitude. +Oh, the happiness—the indescribable +happiness—of the forgiven sinner!</p> + +<p>Four words are used to describe +wrong-doing and guilt: <i>transgression</i>, +or trespass—a venturing on forbidden +ground; <i>sin</i>—a failing, or falling short +of goodness; <i>iniquity</i> (second verse), +wilfulness, rebellion; and <i>guile</i>—deceit +and falsehood.</p> + +<p>And here are four pictures of God's +saving love. <i>Forgive</i> means "forth give." +Pardon flows forth freely and fully from +the heart of God to all who truly confess +their sins and entreat His mercy. Sin is +<i>covered</i>, for Christ is the <i>Propitiation</i> +for His people's sins, and these two +words carry us back to the tabernacle's +most holy place, and bring to view the +covering, or lid, of the ark, the mercy-seat, +sprinkled with atoning blood and +bright with the divine glory. Jesus has +died, and His blood cleanseth from all +sin. To Him David looked, and was +saved, and faith now looks back to His +perfect Sacrifice, and rejoices in Him +alone.</p> + +<p>Then iniquity is not imputed to the +pardoned one, for "it is God that justifieth." +"Impute" or "reckon" reminds +us of an account book, with its columns +of debt and credit entries. God will not +charge His children with iniquity, for +Jesus paid their debts, and Christ's +goodness and merits are reckoned in +their favour, and they shall receive all +blessings for His sake.</p> + +<p>And then these blessed ones are <i>made</i> +as well as "reckoned" righteous. In +their "spirit there is no guile." They, +through God's Spirit, become honest +and sincere. Oh, how blessed are these +forgiven ones!</p> + +<p>Then David, for the sake of contrast, +presents another picture—his own attempts +at covering his sin. What +clumsy, miserable failures! He tried +to cover one stain by another blot, +and then threw the cloak of falsehood +over all. But the weary months passed +on, and brought him no relief from the +unspeakable wretchedness that filled his +heart and wore out his body by day and +by night, till Nathan, the prophet, was +sent by God to reprove him, and then, +with a full heart, David acknowledged +all, and received the free pardon of his +Heavenly Father.</p> + +<p>Now, David would be useful to others, +and warn sinners against the evil ways +they are pursuing (see ver. 10, first +clause), and would encourage all who +are seeking the Lord to hope in His +mercy, who had been so merciful to him. +God had often been his Hiding-place +(ver. 7) when he fled from Saul into rocks +and caves of the earth. His sure defence +was the Lord Himself. He preserved +him from death; and now he had afresh +experienced His loving-kindness. And +as we read this verse, are we not reminded +of the sweet lines—</p> + +<p> +"Rock of Ages, cleft for me,<br /> +Let me hide myself in Thee"?<br /> +</p> + +<p>The Lord Himself is the great Instructor +and Leader of His people, and +He guides them with His eye always +upon them, watching and protecting the +objects of His care (ver. 8). But David +would tenderly exhort all who heard, +and still hear him, to dread sin, and be +afraid of all wayward, self-willed feelings.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +"Be ye not as the horse, or the +mule, that have no understanding" of +their owners' will sometimes, but will, if +possible, get their own way, and need to +be steered and restrained. "I have +been like them," David seems to say, +"and I was allowed to take my own +course; and oh, how fearfully I went +astray! Be warned by my fall, and +learn, with me, to pray, 'Hold Thou me +up, and I shall be safe.'"</p> + +<p>"Many sorrows shall be to the wicked, +but they that trust in the Lord," though +they are weak, and foolish, and imperfect, +"shall be compassed about with +mercy." Therefore, "be glad in the +Lord, ye righteous: and shout for joy, +all ye that are upright in heart," for +He is good and faithful, and will preserve +you; He is gracious, and will forgive; +He is holy and almighty, and He +will cleanse you from all unrighteousness, +and fill and crown you with His +glory for ever.</p> + +<p>May we be kept by the power and providence +of God from falling into sin and +evil, but since we have sinned and come +short of His glory—since we need pardon +and cleansing—may we be led to pray, +with David, "Wash me, and I shall +be whiter than snow. Create in me a +clean heart, O God, and renew a right +spirit within me." Like him, may we +know the joys of divine forgiveness, and +then be helped to show forth our Saviour's +praise, not only by our words, but in our +lives, by walking in the way of His commandments, +and "cleaving to Him with +purpose of heart."</p> + +<p>Our next subject will be, John xvii. 22.</p> + +<div class="signature">Your loving friend,<br /> +H. S. L. +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Do</span> those things that you judge to be +good, although, after you have done +them, you may be disesteemed, being +regardless of the praise or blame of the +vulgar.—<i>Pythagoras.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PRIZE ESSAY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">What Kind of Service is Most +Acceptable to God?</span></h3> + + +<p>God accepts that service which is +prompted entirely out of love to +Him with greater pleasure than +any other. If we obey our parents +and serve God only with a view of being +praised by men, He does not accept our +service, and we may be compared with +the scribes and Pharisees washing the +outside of the platter and of the cup, +but leaving the inside unclean. Jesus +says, "Woe unto you, scribes and +Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean +the outside of the cup and of the platter, +but within they are full of extortion and +excess" (Matt. xxiii. 25). Jesus means +by this that the scribes and Pharisees +gave heed to all the outward ceremonies +of religion, and were, to all appearance, +good and upright; but they did not +really love God in their hearts. God +looks upon the motive which prompts +any little kindness to any one. He does +not look so much at the action. He +says, even a cup of cold water, if given +for Jesus' sake, will be remembered and +rewarded (Matt. x. 42; Mark ix. 41). +Jesus says that even the widow who put +her farthing into the treasury, gave more +than the scribes and Pharisees, who put +in large sums of money. He means by +this that the widow put in all she had. +She must have had great love to God to +give her last farthing for the use of God's +house, and the Pharisees were really +prompted to put in their large sums of +money because of the praise of man. In +obeying our parents, and in whatever +we do, we should do it as unto the +Lord.</p> + +<p>Paul says, "Not with eye-service, as +men pleasers; but as the servants of +Christ, doing the will of God from the +heart; with good will doing service as +to the Lord, and not to men" (Eph. vi. +6, 7).</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +"Only a kindly action,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Done to a child of God;</span><br /> +Not done to cause attraction,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But as unto Christ the Lord."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>When Mary poured the precious box +of ointment on Jesus' head, and anointed +His feet, and wiped them with her hair, +she did it out of love to Him, and Jesus +accepted her service; and when some +were angry at what they termed the +woman's waste of ointment, Jesus reproved +them, and said, "She hath done +what she could."</p> + +<p>Oh, that we may have our sins forgiven +through the blood of Jesus, and be +enabled to serve Him acceptably, so +that we may have the joy of hearing +Him say, at the last day, "Come, thou +blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom +prepared for you from the foundation +of the world" (Matt. xxv. 34).</p> + +<p> +"Search me, O God, is my desire,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nor let me from Thy ways depart;</span><br /> +To love and serve Thee I aspire,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Enriched with Mary's better part."</span><br /> +</p> + +<div class="signature"><span class="smcap">Mabel Ellen Denly</span><br /> +(Aged 11 years). +</div> + +<p><i>197, High Street, Hounslow.</i></p> + +<p>[We have received several good Essays +this month, especially those from E. B. +Knocker, Jane Bell, Margaret Creasey, +L. Rush, and P. Rackham. We hope +all of them, as well as the very young +friend who wrote the above, will feel +encouraged to persevere.]</p> + + +<p>[The writer of the above Essay receives +a copy of <span class="smcap">The Sower</span> for 1887.</p> + +<p>The subject for April will be, "Who +are they that will Stand Perfect in the +Day of Judgment?" and the prize to +be given for the best Essay on that +subject, a copy of "The Life of John +Newton." All competitors must give a +guarantee that they are under fifteen +years of age, and that the Essay is +their own composition, or the papers +will be passed over, as the Editor +cannot undertake to write for this necessary +information. Papers must be sent +direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, 117, +High Street, Hastings, by the first of +March.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>"LET NO MAN DESPISE THEE."</h2> + + +<p>Does the injunction to Timothy and +Titus respectively—"Let no man +less despise thy youth," and "Let no +man despise thee"—give any sanction +to self-assertiveness? Let it not be +thought so. Am I eccentric for the sake +of eccentricity, or for the sake of attracting +notoriety? Am I tenacious of my +own rights, while sublimely indifferent +to the rights of others? Do I try to +pass myself off for better, wiser, richer, +or nobler than I am? Then I deserve to +be despised. But if, in the vindication +of unpalatable truth, or in the steadfast +and unostentatious discharge of duty, I +encounter scorn, be scorn my portion. +The sum of the matter seems to me to be +this—While, on the one hand, I must +be willing, for conscience' sake, to endure +reproach, opposition, buffeting, and +contempt, I must be equally concerned, +on the other, to avoid every questionable +act or thing that, with any show of +reason, may cause me to be despised, +and may thus materially mar my influence +for good.</p> + +<p>Herein does the poet of the "Night +Thoughts" hit the mark—"Revere thyself, +and yet thyself despise." Let self +be "of no reputation," but, at the same +time, do thou faithfully and prayerfully +pursue intrinsic worth, and let not "a +good name" be of no account in thy +regard.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Thomson Sharp.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Egotism</span> and self-assertion are unamiable +traits.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span></p> +<h2>Interesting Items.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A correspondent</span> of the <i>Echo</i> calls attention +to the fact that, at Dr. Lee's church, in the +New Cut, on Sunday night, January 1st, the <i>Te +Deum</i> was sung in thanksgiving for the Papal +Jubilee, and wishes to know what is to prevent +it. "Nothing," replies the editor.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">According</span> to the <i>Charity Record</i>, the amount +of money bequeathed in great sums for charitable +purposes during the year just closed was +more than £700,000; and if bequests under +£1,000 be added, the total would at least reach +£1,000,000. This is exclusive of the money +given to several religious and book-publishing +societies.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Thieving Elephant.</span>—The contents of a +clothes-chest, belonging to one of the people +recently employed in the carnival in the +Waverley Market, Edinburgh, disappeared in a +rather amusing fashion. The chest had been +lying near the performing elephants, and in the +morning it was observed that one of these +animals was particularly lively, and apparently +in the very highest spirits. Later on, the owner +of the chest discovered that the whole of the +contents had been abstracted. Subsequent +examination satisfied the searchers that one of +the animals was responsible for the disappearance +of the wardrobe, and as none of the articles +could be discovered hidden away in its vicinity, +the only conclusion that could be come to was, +that the mischievous animal had swallowed the +whole lot—boots, brushes, trousers, shirts, and +several other articles of wearing apparel.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Baku Naphtha Springs.</span>—Although +within the last two years intelligence has +frequently reached Europe of extraordinary +outbursts of mineral oil on the Apsheron peninsula, +near Baku, nothing has yet equalled the +astonishing outbreak which the Northern Telegraph +Agency telegraphed a few days ago. +Their telegram was to the effect that, near the +petroleum works of a certain M. Arafeloff, a +fountain of oil was throwing out over 2,400 tons +daily, that this had been continuing without +intermission for four weeks, and that more than +the half of this enormous output was going to +waste. It is to this loss of the oil that attention +is now being directed. Not only at Arafeloff's +fountain, but at almost every large fountain in +the Balakhan-Sabuntchin district, the waste of +this most valuable product has been enormous. +Millions of poods of oil have been lost owing +to the inefficient way in which it is reservoired +and stored. It is now understood that the +Government will take immediate steps to +prevent this ruinous waste, and to compel the +owners of oil-springs to adopt more scientific +methods of boring, collecting, and storing.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">An Irish Cabin Paved with Gold.</span>—The +<i>Irish Ecclesiastical Gazette</i> of December 31st +contains the following:—"A few weeks ago, the +writer was in a bank office in a country town +in the south of Ireland, when a very common-looking, +roughly-dressed man passed out after +a conference with the manager. The latter +said, 'Did you see that man? Well, some time +ago, there was a run on the Bank of Ireland +here, and he withdrew (receiving it in gold) +£700 which he had there on deposit. That sum +he informs me he still has at home, "under the +kitchen flure." He has also more than £400 +on deposit here with us.' Is it not hard to know +'what is truth' in Ireland? Here you have the +floor of an Irish cabin literally paved with gold +at a time when the payment of rent is impossible. +It may be said that this is an exceptional case, +but we believe such cases are not at all so rare +as some suppose."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Roman correspondent of <i>Le Paris</i> of +January 5th states that, at Florence, Mr. Gladstone +was heard to express a desire to see Leo +XIII. This being repeated at the Vatican, the +Pope sent word to Mr. Gladstone that nothing +would delight him more than to have a visit +from him. It is therefore arranged, says the +correspondent of the <i>Paris</i>, that he is to go to +Rome, and when he calls at the Vatican, is to be +received according to the ceremonial adopted +there when non-Catholic visitors are admitted +to audiences. The correspondent thinks that +anxiety about the Irish question moved Mr. +Gladstone to manifest the desire above mentioned, +and that the Pope's celerity in reciprocating +it sprung from the same cause. The +Pope has been urged to stand out against the +Land League; but, feeling what a momentous +thing it would be to do this, he is, we are told, +delighted to talk over the matter with Mr. +Gladstone. Thus we see Salisbury and Co. and +Gladstone and Co. are in perfect agreement as +to giving their power to the Pope. It is only a +keen competition between them as to which +shall be first, and do it most effectually. Since +Salisbury and Co. have encouraged the Queen +to despise her coronation oath, we need no +longer wonder that they are so quiet about Mr. +Bradlaugh. Perhaps Lord R. Churchill's expressions +on the subject were anticipatory of +the whole matter. We find that neither party +is worthy of being entrusted with our Protestant +interests.</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span><span class="smcap">Nine</span> hundred thousand dog licenses were +issued for the past year. The duty amounted +to £340,000.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Christmas at the London Post Office</span>.—From +statistics it would seem that never before +have the Post Office officials had their energies +so severely taxed as on Christmas Eve last, +during which day no fewer than 15,000,000 +letters and newspapers were forwarded to their +destination. In all some 3,000 supernumerary +men were engaged, these being in addition to +the regular staff. At Coldbath Fields, where +the Parcel Post is now conducted, some 65,000 +inland and 5,000 foreign parcels were disposed +of during the day, for the conveyance of which +to the various railway termini more than 800 +vans were brought into requisition.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">An Atlantic Wave</span>.—An immense wave recently +fell upon the steamship <i>Umbria</i> with a +deafening roar when a thousand miles from +Queenstown, bringing the ship to a standstill, +and causing much damage to the decks. Stout +brass rods, an inch in diameter, that formed +the railing about the bridge, were twisted +and bent like straws. An eye-witness, +who has made thirteen ocean voyages, thus +describes the occurrence:—"The look-out +saw the wave coming, and the course of +the vessel was altered so that she met it +obliquely, while the speed of the engines was +slackened. As I saw the huge wave, it looked +like a black mass of water with white waves on +the top, and it rolled higher and higher as it +neared the vessel. When it struck her she +shivered from stem to stern, and the combing +of the wave fell with the weight of tons on the +deck. The wood cover of the forward hatch +was splintered in pieces, while the water poured +in torrents into the hold, but the bulkheads +were closed. The bridge was broken, and the +iron stanchions were twisted with enormous +force, while the turtle-back was flattened by +the tremendous weight of the water. There +was also a panic among the passengers, most +of whom were sleeping in their berths. When +the force of the wave was felt, they thought the +ship was going to the bottom, and many in their +night-clothes rushed into the main dining-room. +Of course the danger was past, as the wave +rolled by, and the excitement subsided."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Zion Sunday School, Herden Bridge, +Yorkshire</span>.—The friends, teachers, and +scholars connected with the above place celebrated +their annual Christmas tea festival +on Christmas Eve, December 24th, 1887. +The school-room was very tastefully decorated +with evergreens and mottoes in touch with the +season; also the tables, so richly laden with +all sorts of nice and dainty things, had not +escaped the eye of the decorators, for at intervals +luxuriant exotics were placed, thereby contributing +a very pleasing appearance. The +children's features were lightened up with the +thought of their happy treat; also the older +people seemed to wear pleasant countenances, +and apparently enjoyed the time, notwithstanding +their thoughts were in a much loftier +strain. The tea was served by the young ladies +of the place to about one hundred and forty. +After tea, a public meeting was held in the +chapel, presided over by Mr. John Smith, of +Halifax. The meeting was opened by singing +a Christmas hymn, after which Mr. T. Barritt, +senior deacon, offered prayer. Mr. E. Hargreaves +presented the prizes to the scholars for +good attendance. Addresses were also delivered +by Messrs. T. Smith, Jos. Smith, and T. Barritt. +Hymns were sung. The report was read by the +Secretary, which showed an increase of eight +during the year, the present number on the +books being eighty-two. Recitations were +given by the scholars, and a very good meeting +was brought to a close a little after nine +o'clock.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Albert Street Chapel Sunday School, +Oxford</span>.—The prizes were distributed to the +scholars on Tuesday, December 27th, 1887. +The meeting was opened by singing, "I thank +the goodness and the grace"; this was followed +by prayer. Owing to the indisposition of Mr. +Newton, the friends, teachers, and scholars +were greatly disappointed in not having the +usual address they look forward to every year +from the Superintendent. There were twenty-eight +boys and girls who said pieces, and they, +one and all, deserve great commendation for +the capital way in which they recited. One +girl, aged twelve, rehearsed the story of +"Giving Away a Child," in prose, from Volume +IX. of the <span class="smcap">Little Gleaner</span>. Another scholar, +aged twelve, repeated in a very perfect manner +a lengthy piece containing seventy-nine verses, +entitled "The Little Pilgrim." This too was +taken from an early volume of the <span class="smcap">Little +Gleaner</span>. A boy, aged eleven, rehearsed very +nicely a difficult piece called "The Two +Brothers, and what Echo said to them," and +he imitated the echo capitally. Then followed, +perhaps, the greatest attraction of the evening, +namely, the distribution of the prizes. The first +prize in the boys' class was awarded to William +Tombs, and in the girls' class to Elizabeth +Leech. As usual, a prize was given for the best +essay—the subject, "The History of Joseph." +This prize was awarded to a boy, who received +a nicely-bound book, entitled "Pebbles from +the Brook." The meeting was closed with +prayer.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +M. S. P.</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 374px;"> +<img src="images/img052.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="CARING FOR THE LITTLE ONES" title="CARING FOR THE LITTLE ONES" /> +<span class="caption">CARING FOR THE LITTLE ONES</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> +<h2>CARING FOR THE LITTLE ONES.</h2> + + +<p>The faithful guardians of our cities +have many and varied duties to +perform, but perhaps in none of +them does the kindness of their hearts +shine forth as it does in their tenderness +to little ones who have lost themselves +in the winding streets of a great city. In +wet or wintry weather they treat them +tenderly, and take them home, or to the +warm fire at the nearest station, till +their parents claim them. This incident +may well call to mind the kindness of +Jesus to the little ones when on earth, +as we read—"And they brought young +children to Him, that He should touch +them: and His disciples rebuked those +that brought them. But when Jesus +saw it, He was much displeased, and +said unto them, Suffer the little children +to come unto Me, and forbid them not: +for of such is the kingdom of God. And +He took them up in His arms, put His +hands upon them, and blessed them" +(Mark x. 13, 14, 16).</p> + +<p> +The mothers came, in days of old,<br /> +To Jesus, that He might enfold<br /> +Within His arms their children dear,<br /> +And then His kindness did appear.<br /> +<br /> +Disciples thought it waste of time;<br /> +Rebuked, as though it was a crime;<br /> +But it was ne'er the Saviour's way<br /> +To turn poor coming ones away.<br /> +<br /> +Therefore the Lord was much displeased,<br /> +And thus the happy moment seized;<br /> +Them in His arms did take and bear,<br /> +Showing His love and kindly care.<br /> +<br /> +His loving voice could never say—<br /> +"Oh, take these little ones away!"<br /> +And though the parents' hearts might fear,<br /> +He loved to see them coming near.<br /> +<br /> +His blessed words, "Forbid them not,"<br /> +Are with much heavenly comfort fraught;<br /> +And "Suffer them to come to Me,"<br /> +Gives forth a welcome kind and free.<br /> +<br /> +In Him sweet rays of mercy shine—<br /> +So tender, harmless, yet divine;<br /> +Upon them He His hands doth place,<br /> +And blesses them in truth and grace.<br /> +<br /> +Displeased with what His servants did,<br /> +And having their unkindness chid,<br /> +He makes His pleasure shine so bright,<br /> +Causing the mothers much delight.<br /> +<br /> +Oh, tell it out, to heal the smart<br /> +Of many an anxious parent's heart—<br /> +He hears the sigh, He sees the tear,<br /> +And each poor pleader welcomes near.<br /> +<br /> +Oh, tell it out, that children dear<br /> +May seek His face, and never fear,<br /> +That He will hear their feeble prayer,<br /> +And give them in His love to share.<br /> +<br /> +He speaks of heaven and glorious things,<br /> +And is so meek, though King of kings;<br /> +Of children says, to cheer and please,<br /> +"The kingdom is of such as these."<br /> +<br /> +Oh, eyes that saw with kindly look!<br /> +Oh, arms that thus the children took!<br /> +Oh, hands, parental-like, thus laid!<br /> +Oh, words to bless, what grace displayed!<br /> +<br /> +Lord, fix our youthful eyes on Thee;<br /> +Grant us Thy love and grace to see;<br /> +Cause us to love Thy blessed name,<br /> +And tune our tongues to speak Thy fame.<br /> +<br /> +The proud, the lofty, all defiled,<br /> +Must be made as a little child;<br /> +Must all their sins and vileness own,<br /> +And seek for mercy at Thy throne.<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a><br /> +<br /> +Oh, Saviour, may Thy love so free<br /> +Encourage souls to come to Thee;<br /> +And may they, finding all they need,<br /> +Confess that they are blest indeed.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;">B. B.</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> biggest lies are told for the least +cause.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> +<h2>A BUDDING OF HOPE.</h2> + + +<p>Dear young readers of the <span class="smcap">Little +Gleaner</span>, how very true and +solemn are the words of the poet—</p> + +<p> +"The moment when our lives begin<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">We all begin to die."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>And at what age death may take us +none of us can say. From among the +large number who read the <span class="smcap">Gleaner</span>, +we every now and again hear of one +being taken away by death.</p> + +<p>Lizzie Winchester, of Cross-in-Hand, +was a constant reader of the <span class="smcap">Gleaner</span>, +and of other good books, but not to the +neglecting of her Bible. She was a +scholar in the Sunday School at Ebenezer +Chapel, Heathfield, where she was +always very quiet and attentive, and she +was also very fond of her teacher. When +she left school, she regularly attended +chapel with her sisters, sitting where +she could see the school children, and +would complain when she got home if +she saw any that did not behave themselves +properly. She had a great reverence +for the house of God and for the +servants of God. She had but few companions, +but was much beloved for her +little acts of kindness in sending to one +and another small presents. Some little +time before her death she sent "The +Sack and its Treasure" to a young +friend at Eastbourne, as a birthday present; +and who can say how much real +good may result from such little gifts as +that? I should not think that any one +could point out a flaw in her moral +character. But this was not grace; and +although she needed no outward reformation, +yet if the heart be not changed, +there can be no entering into the kingdom +of God.</p> + +<p>The last time that she walked to chapel, +a distance of three miles—making six +miles both ways—was on August 21st. +It was not then known that anything was +the matter with her. First her throat +was sore, and she felt poorly, but she +still kept about. On Wednesday, September +14th, she was out, and gathered +half a gallon of blackberries. She was +up on Thursday and Friday, and put her +clothes on on Saturday, but could not +get down stairs. Towards night she was +much worse, and it was found that her +affliction was diabetes.</p> + +<p>On Sunday she was very ill, and the +doctor said she could not last long. +Her Sunday School teacher, Miss C——, +was sent for, and when she arrived, she +saw that Lizzie was sinking fast, and +found that she could say but little.</p> + +<p>I am not going to set her up, and +positively say she was a partaker of +grace, for the very few words she uttered +are not of themselves sufficient evidence +for that. About five o'clock, during her +mother's absence, she said, in a very +low tone of voice, "I hope Jesus will +heal my soul," or, "Perhaps Jesus will +heal my soul." Miss C—— could not +distinguish the words so as to be sure +which.</p> + +<p>Early on Monday morning, the 19th +of September, 1887, she died. Had she +lived till the 26th, she would have been +eighteen years of age. Just as she departed +there was a beautiful smile came +over her countenance; and as Miss +C—— afterwards went with several +friends to see the corpse, these words +came into her mind as if some one had +spoken them to her—</p> + +<p> +"Not a wave of trouble rolls<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Across her peaceful breast."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Mr. Mockford buried her on the following +Saturday; and, among other +things, he spoke from these words—"If +the tree fall toward the south, or toward +the north, in the place where the tree +falleth there it shall be." He spoke of +the departed as being toward the south—toward +the house of God, the people<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> +of God, and the ways and Word of God; +and as she was so far joined to the +living, there was hope that she would be +found among that people at the resurrection +morning.</p> + +<p>On Sunday morning in the school, +one of the teachers read that chapter +where the same words stand, and, though +not at the funeral, some very similar remarks +were made, and the same hope +concerning the departed was expressed. +I am sure of this—that, if she had that +good thing in her heart toward the Lord +God of Israel, namely, faith toward +Jesus and His blood, she is now joining</p> + +<p> +"The host of virgin saints<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Made to salvation wise."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>The question may arise, "Why say +anything about her, since there is no +more ground for hope than this?"</p> + +<p>It is to the living I want to say a few +words, hoping the Lord will make use of +this feeble account to lead the young +readers of the <span class="smcap">Little Gleaner</span> to consider +how matters stand with them before +God and for eternity.</p> + +<p> +"Reflect, young friend, I humbly crave,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thy sins, how high they mount!</span><br /> +What are thy hopes beyond the grave?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">How stands that dark account?"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Oh, how solemn your case, if you are +in an unpardoned state! Death may +come upon you speedily, and then what +will you do? All who die without repentance +and forgiveness must hear that +solemn word from the lips of Christ, +"Depart from Me!" Are you blessed +with a good hope, through grace? Then +you certainly have something to be +thankful to God for. Or are you in some +doubt as to whether you have a living +hope in Christ? And do you fear that, +if called to die, you could say no more +than Lizzie Winchester did? Then +my prayer for such an one is, that the +Lord may stir you up to real, earnest, +wrestling prayer and importunity respecting +your salvation.</p> + +<p> +"If hellish foes beset thee round,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And would thy way withstand,</span><br /> +On Jesus call, nor yield thy ground,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And He will help command."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>It is no small mercy, reader, if your +moral character will compare with +Lizzie Winchester's. She was a model +in this respect, and I hope you may be +found in every way as consistent as she +was, and, above all, may you be found +in Christ Jesus, living and dying.</p> + +<p>I had thought of saying more, but, as +I wish to be brief, I will conclude by +telling you that, notwithstanding her +reservedness, several friends, with myself, +had a good hope of Lizzie. We do +trust she is now</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 7em;">"completely blest;</span><br /> +Has done with sin, and care, and woe,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And entered Jesus' rest."</span><br /> +</p> +<div class="signature"> +W. L. +</div> + +<p>[We hope our readers will bear in +mind the motive our friend has in writing, +and we in giving, this brief account +of Lizzie Winchester; and may the Holy +Spirit cause the reading of it to make +them feel the importance of the new +birth, and stir them up to seek clear and +certain evidences of their salvation, so +that, when they come to die, they may +be able to confess, "I know whom I +have believed, and am persuaded that +He is able to keep that which I have +committed unto Him."—<span class="smcap">Ed</span>.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN MARCH.</h2> + + +<p> +Mar. 4. Commit to memory Heb. xi. 23.<br /> +Mar. 11. Commit to memory Heb. xi. 24.<br /> +Mar. 18. Commit to memory Heb. xi. 25.<br /> +Mar. 25. Commit to memory Heb. xi. 26.<br /><br /> +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> first character of right childhood +is, that it is modest.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span></p> +<h2>"THERE IS NO REST IN HELL!"</h2> + +<h3>AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE.</h3> + + +<p>Dear Reader,—The following +account being "an authenticated +fact," it is put before you with +the hope that you may be thereby led to +solemnly consider the subject of a future +state. God's truth does not require fiction +to make it effectual; therefore, the +net of truth should only be weighted +with words of truth.</p> + +<p>The awful, but true, narrative now put +before you takes us back for something +like a century, to the city of Glasgow, +where, at that time, was a club of gentlemen +of the first rank in that city. +They met professedly for card-playing; +but the members were distinguished by +such a fearless excess of profligacy as to +obtain for it the name of "The Hell Club."</p> + +<p>Besides their nightly or weekly meetings, +they held a grand annual festival, +at which each member endeavoured to +"outdo all his former outdoings" in +drunkenness, blasphemy, and licentiousness. +Of all who shone on these occasions, +none shone half so brilliantly as +Archibald Boyle. Educated by a fond +and foolishly indulgent mother, he was +early allowed to meet in society with +members of "The Hell Club."</p> + +<p>One night, on retiring to sleep, after +returning from one of the annual meetings +of the club, Boyle dreamt that he +was still riding, as usual, upon his +famous black horse, towards his own +house—then a country seat embowered +by ancient trees, and situated upon a +hill now built over by the most fashionable +part of Glasgow—and that he was +suddenly accosted by some one, whose +personal appearance he could not, in the +gloom of night, distinctly discern, but +who, seizing the reins, said, in a voice +apparently accustomed to command, +"You must go with me." "And who +are you?" exclaimed Boyle, with a +volley of blasphemous execrations, while +he struggled to disengage his reins from +the intruder's grasp. "That you will +see by-and-bye," replied the same voice, +in a cold, sneering tone, that thrilled +through his very heart. Boyle plunged +his spurs into the panting sides of his +steed. The noble animal reared, and +then darted forward with a speed which +nearly deprived his rider of breath. But +in vain—in vain! Fleeter than the wind +he flew, the mysterious, half-seen guide +still in front of him! Agonized by he +knew not what of indescribable horror +and awe, Boyle again furiously spurred +the gallant horse. It fiercely reared +and plunged. He lost his seat, and expected +at the moment to feel himself +dashed to the earth. But not so, for he +continued to fall—fall—fall—it appeared +to himself with an ever-increasing velocity. +At length this terrific rapidity of +motion abated, and, to his amazement +and horror, he perceived that this mysterious +attendant was close by his side. +"Where," he exclaimed, in the frantic +energy of despair, "where are you taking +me? Where am I? Where am I +going?" "To hell!" replied the same +iron voice, and from the depths below +the sound so familiar to his lips was +suddenly re-echoed—"To hell!"</p> + +<p>Onward, onward they hurried in darkness, +rendered more horrible still by the +conscious presence of his spectral conductor. +At length a glimmering light +appeared in the distance, and soon increased +to a blaze. But, as they approached +it, in addition to the hideously +discordant groans and yells of agony +and despair, his ears were assailed with +what seemed to be the echoes of frantic +revelry.</p> + +<p>Boyle at length perceived that he was +surrounded by those whom he had known +on earth, but were some time dead, each +one of them betraying his agony at the +bitter recollections of the vain pursuits +that had engrossed his time here.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>Suddenly observing that his unearthly +conductor had disappeared, he felt so +relieved by his absence that he ventured +to address his former friend, Mrs. D——, +whom he saw sitting with eyes fixed in +intense earnestness, as she was wont +on earth, apparently absorbed at her +favourite game of loo. "Ha! Mrs. +D——! Delighted to see you! D'ye +know a fellow told me to-night he was +bringing me to hell! Ha! ha! If this +be hell," said he, scoffingly, "what a +—— pleasant place it must be! Ha! +ha! Come now, my good Mrs. D——, +for auld lang syne, do just stop for a +moment, rest, and"—"show me +through the pleasures of hell," he was +going, with reckless profanity, to add; +but, with a shriek that seemed to cleave +through his very soul, she exclaimed, +"<i>Rest!</i> There is no rest in hell!" and +from the interminable vaults, voices, as +loud as thunder, repeated the awful, the +heart-withering sound, "<i>There is no +rest in hell!</i>" and he who, in his vision, +walked among them in a mortal frame +of flesh and blood, felt how inexpressibly +more horrible such sounds could be than +ever was the wildest shriek of agony on +earth.</p> + +<p>He saw Maxwell, the former companion +of his own boyish profligacy, +and said, "Stop, Harry! stop! Speak +to me! Oh, rest one moment!" Scarce +had the words been breathed from his +faltering lips, when again his terror-stricken +ear was stunned with the same +wild yell of agony, re-echoed by ten +thousand thousand voices—"<i>There is +no rest in hell!</i>"</p> + +<p>All at once he perceived that his unearthly +conductor was once more by +his side. "Take me," shrieked Boyle, +"take me from this place! By the +living God, whose name I have so often +outraged, I adjure thee! Take me from +this place!"</p> + +<p>"Canst thou still name His name?" +said the fiend, with a hideous sneer. +"Go, then; but, in a year and a day, +<i>we</i> meet, to part no more!"</p> + +<p>Boyle awoke; and he felt as if the +last words of the fiend were traced in +letters of living fire upon his heart and +brain. Unable, from actual bodily ailment, +to leave his bed for several days, +the horrid vision had full time to take +effect upon his mind; and many were +the pangs of tardy remorse and ill-defined +terror that beset his vice-stained +soul, as he lay in darkness and seclusion—to +him so very unusual. He resolved, +utterly and for ever, to forsake +"The Hell Club." Above all, he determined +that nothing on earth should +tempt him to join the next annual +festival.</p> + +<p>The companions of his licentiousness +bound themselves by an oath never to +desist till they had discovered what was +the matter with him, and had cured him +of <i>playing the Methodist;</i> for their +alarm as to losing "the life of the +Club" had been wrought up to the +highest pitch by one of their number +declaring that, on unexpectedly entering +Boyle's room, he detected him in +the act of hastily hiding a Book, which +he actually believed was the Bible.</p> + +<p>Alas! alas! poor Boyle! Like many +a youth, he was ashamed to avow his +convictions, and his endless ruin followed.</p> + +<p>From the annual meeting he shrank +with an instinctive horror, and made +up his mind <i>utterly to avoid it</i>. Well +aware of this resolve, his tempters determined +he should have no choice. +How potent, how active, is the spirit +of evil! How feeble is <i>unassisted</i>, +<i>Christless</i>, <i>unprayerful</i> man! Boyle +found himself, he could not tell how, +seated at that table on that very day, +where he had sworn to himself a thousand +and a thousand times nothing on +earth should make him sit.</p> + +<p>His ears tingled, and his eyes swam, +as he listened to the opening sentence of +the president's address—"Gentlemen, +this is leap year; therefore, it is <i>a year +and a day</i> since our last annual meeting."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>Every nerve in Boyle's body twanged +in agony at the ominous, the well-remembered +words. His first impulse was +to rise and fly; but then—the sneers! +the sneers!</p> + +<p>How many in this world, as well as +poor Boyle, have dreaded a sneer, and +dared the wrath of an almighty and +eternal God, rather than encounter the +sarcastic curl of a fellow-creature's lip!</p> + +<p>The night was gloomy, with frequent +and fitful gusts of chill and howling +wind, as Boyle, with fevered nerves and +a reeling brain, mounted his horse to +return home.</p> + +<p>The following morning, the well-known +black steed was found, with saddle and +bridle on, quietly grazing on the road-side, +about half-way to Boyle's country-house, +and a few yards from it lay the +stiffened corpse of its master.</p> + +<p>Reader, the dream is horrible—truly +horrible—yet not half so horrible as the +reality. Ah! no. No dream can picture +the full, long misery of "the worm +that dieth not," "the fire that is never +quenched," the woe that never ends.</p> + +<p>Oh, reader, if, under the poison of +infidelity, you have been led to doubt the +existence of hell, I pray God you may +believe the awful reality ere you are in +it!</p> + +<p>If God did not punish sin, His indifference +to it would encourage it. If +God did not punish sin, where were His +holy abhorrence of it? If God did not +punish sin, His kingdom would be a +moral chaos. But His Word declares +that "we must all appear before the +judgment-seat of Christ, that every one +may receive the things done in his body, +according to that he hath done, whether +it be good or bad" (2 Cor. v. 10).</p> + +<p>Reader, as in the days of Noah, so +now. Death threatens all who are out +of Christ, and, therefore, in their sins. +There was then only one place of +safety; there is only one place of safety +now—that is, in the Ark, Christ. "<span class="smcap">Ye +must be born again</span>." The horror +you have felt in reading this dream +will be no benefit to you if it is not +made, in the hands of the Spirit, the +means of your flying to Christ for refuge.</p> + +<p>Oh, that in some hearts, the reading of +this sad narrative may prove the means +of producing the earnest cry, "Deliver +me from going down to the pit!" and +"What must I do to be saved?" To +such God's free invitation to the heavy-laden +sinner to come to Christ for rest +is given, and Jesus Himself declares, +"Him that cometh to Me, I will in no +wise cast out" (John vi. 37).</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE SCOTCH THISTLE.</h2> + + +<p>Why the Scots chose the thistle for +a national insignia is told in this +legend. It was at the time of +an invasion, when the destinies +of Scotland hung upon the result of a +battle soon to come. The invaders knew +that the Scots were desperate, and +availed themselves of a dark, stormy +night, and planned to fall upon the +Scottish army on every side at the same +moment. Had they been suffered to +execute their plan undetected, they would +certainly have succeeded in destroying +the Scots; but a simple accident betrayed +them. When near the Scottish +camp, the foremost of the invaders removed +the heavy shoes from their feet, +so that their steps might not be heard, +and thus stealthily advancing barefooted, +a heavy, quick-tempered soldier trod +squarely upon a huge thistle, the sharp +point of which gave such sudden and +exquisite pain that he cried out with a +bitter curse. His cry aroused the outlying +Scots, and apprized them of their +danger, and meeting the foe widely +divided for the purpose of encompassing +the camp, they were enabled easily to +overcome them with great slaughter. +When the Scots discovered that it was +to a thistle that they owed their victory, +they adopted the prickly plant as their +national emblem.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> +<h2>COUSIN SUSAN'S NOTE-BOOK JOTTINGS ON THE LIFE AND +WORK OF FATHER CHINIQUY.</h2> + +<h3>"BELOVED, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT."</h3> + + +<p>We have often wondered why any +one should believe that a bit of +consecrated bread was the true +body and soul of the Lord Jesus, +and that, as such, it should be reverenced +and adored. But our surprise abates, +though our sorrow increases, when we +trace the steps by which a Roman +Catholic reaches that point of folly and +superstition, as the interesting narrative +of Father Chiniquy brings them to our +view.</p> + +<p>When he was eleven or twelve years +old, he met with a class of lads about the +same age, to be prepared for his first +communion; and there he was taught +that, just as his mother punished him +more seldom and less severely than his +father for his faults, and just as his +mother often interceded for him and +saved him from punishment altogether, +so Mary was more pitiful, more tender, +than Jesus, and when He was righteously +angry, His mother—the mother of all +who pray to her—turned away His +anger, and averted the strokes He was +about to inflict on the sinner.</p> + +<p>The thought of <i>this</i> Christ—terrible, +angry, unapproachable—was dark and +chilling in the extreme. He seemed a +Being to be feared, but not beloved.</p> + +<p>And then the false Church presented +another Christ to view—a god made with +hands, not of wood or stone, but of +wheaten flour. The priest's servant girl +or attendant takes the dough, bakes it +between two heated irons, on which are +graven the letters, I. H. S., and the +figure of a cross. These wafers, about +four or five inches large, when well +baked, are cut with a pair of scissors +into smaller ones, about one inch in +size, and then the priest, taking them to +the altar, and pronouncing Latin words +for "This is My body," is supposed to +turn each of these into the Christ who +lived and loved and suffered here, a +gentle, tender, loving Saviour; and the +poor deluded creatures who tremble +before Christ in heaven, bow down and +adore, when they do not eat, the paltry +wafer which the priest has blessed.</p> + +<p>Chiniquy himself passed whole hours, +in biting wintry weather, in a church +never warmed by a fire, worshipping +this wafer god. He was yearning for +divine sympathy and love, and hoped he +had it then.</p> + +<p>And yet, though he tried to "believe +a lie" so earnestly, his faith was often +shaken by what he saw and heard.</p> + +<p>In a company of priests, a strange +story was told of a drunken curate and +his deacon, who, called to go a long +journey in snowy weather, to carry the +sacred wafer to a sick person, had a +dispute with a traveller as to which +should lead his horses into the deep +snow, the cleared path being too narrow +for the vehicles to pass each other. A +terrible fight took place. The priest's +horses took fright and returned home, +breaking the sleigh all to pieces, and +the little silk bag containing their +"god" was lost in the snow. It was +carefully sought in vain, and not till +the month of June was it found, and then +the wafer inside the little silver box had +melted away! And the priests laughed +boisterously when they heard it. Did +they believe what they taught the +people?</p> + +<p>At another time, a blind priest had +been adoring the bit of bread he had +just consecrated, but when he went to +eat it, it was gone. In alarm, he sent +for Chiniquy, who was hearing confessions +not far away, and as it could nowhere +be found, he knew that a rat had +taken it, for the rats were both numerous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +and bold in that place. The old priest +was inconsolable, though he blessed +another piece and then concluded his +devotions. But his lamentations were so +deep and long that Chiniquy at last lost +patience, and said a word or two which +greatly shocked the superstitious priest, +who severely rebuked him, and ordered +him for a penance to kneel every day before +the fourteen images representing +"the way of the cross," and say a penitential +psalm before each for nine days, +and on no account to tell the story of the +rat to any one. He complied with these +requests, and received a very gracious +absolution. But on the sixth day he +pierced the skin of his knees while kneeling, +and the blood flowed freely, causing +him great pain whenever he knelt or +walked, and all because he for a moment +had doubted the right of Rome to call +that a god which a priest could professedly +create and a rat destroy!</p> + +<p>Alas! for those who follow such pernicious +teachings! Let us pity and pray +for them, and more than ever cleave to +that Gospel which tells us that "there +is only one name given under heaven +by which we must be saved"—"one +Mediator between God and men, the +Man Christ Jesus," who lives in glory, +no more to suffer or die, but who is +"Jesus of Nazareth" (Acts xxii. 8), +still tender and loving as when He dwelt +below, while He is eternally mighty to +"save to the uttermost all that come unto +God by Him."</p> + +<p>Oh, that all our hope and confidence +may rest on Him—entirely on Him +alone!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE DIRGE OF AN ENGLISHWOMAN.</h2> + +<p> +And ought the Queen of England's land<br /> +A gift to send by Norfolk's hand<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To the old Pope of Rome,</span><br /> +His Jubilee to celebrate,<br /> +With Popish pomp, in grandest state,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In his Italian home?</span><br /> +<br /> +Chalice and basin, richly made<br /> +Of shining gold; to him conveyed<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">By one of his trained band.</span><br /> +He used them both at his High Mass,<br /> +And proud of such a gift he was<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">From our dear native land.</span><br /> +<br /> +Our own Victoria should be free,<br /> +True to "the rights" she swore when she<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sat in the abbey old;</span><br /> +And crown was placed upon her head,<br /> +And coronation oath she said<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Over God's Word, we're told.</span><br /> +<br /> +Up, English men and women all!<br /> +To the red beast<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> ne'er bow at all,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But leave him to his fate;</span><br /> +For Babylon will surely fall,<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a><br /> +And with her, nations great and small,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Who follow in her wake.</span><br /> +<br /> +In days of yore she sat a queen,<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a><br /> +On seven hills,<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> so vile, unclean,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And shed the blood of saints.</span><br /> +"Come out of her, My people"<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> all,<br /> +Nor of her plagues receive at all,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or listen to her plaints.</span><br /> +<br /> +The Ritualists are helping fast<br /> +To bring us now, as in times past,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Beneath the sway of Rome.</span><br /> +You silly men and (silly) women<a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a> all,<br /> +Oh, why take heed to them at all<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Who creep into the home?<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Alas! alas! for England's Queen,<br /> +And English nation too, I ween,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If e'er the Pope gets sway!</span><br /> +True Christians ne'er will bend the knee<br /> +To kiss Pope's toe so impiously,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nor pence to Peter pay.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;">N. P. W.</span><br /> + +<i>Southsea.</i> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Nothing</span> doth more hurt in a State +than that cunning men pass for wise.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> +<h2>EXPERIENCES IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN.</h2> + + +<p>Captain Adams, of the whaling +steamer <i>Maud</i>, which lately +arrived at Dundee from Davis +Straits, has related a few interesting +incidents of his voyage.</p> + +<p>When in Exeter Sound, Captain Adams +was informed, by a native, of an island +which was a favourite resort of the walrus, +and where the animals could be often +found asleep. He accordingly determined +to try and secure an old specimen, +and sent out four boats, with twenty-four +men, to effect a capture. On arriving at +the island, a large number of walrus were +seen basking on the shore, and a landing +was attempted, with the result that +the colony soon showed their tusks, and +made a deliberate attack on the boats. +Ten of the foremost animals had to be +shot to prevent mischief, and after a +severe struggle a female walrus was +lassoed. A number of small ropes were +then fastened about it, and the huge +animal was, after immense labour, +hoisted into an empty boat, to which it +had to be secured, to prevent it smashing +the planks. On being towed to the ship, +the boat and the walrus were hoisted on +board, and suitable quarters were then +found for it. It is fully eighteen months +old, and Captain Adams is hopeful that +it will survive. A young live bear has +also been brought home.</p> + +<p>One of the noteworthy incidents of the +voyage was the landing of Urio Etawango +(the Esquimaux whom Captain Adams +had staying in Dundee over last winter) +at Durban, the residence of his tribe. +For several days previous to the arrival +of the <i>Maud</i> off Durban, Urio was moody +and disconsolate, but he did not reveal +his mind, so that the crew were ignorant +of his thoughts. The conjecture was, +that he was sorry to return to the rude +life of an Inuit, after his experience of +civilized life. When the ship first arrived +off Durban, there was a long stretch of +ice running out from the land, and Urio +and one of the officers travelled about +fifteen miles, and lighted a fire as a signal +to the tribe of his return. The signal +was soon recognized, and ere long the +whole tribe were seen making their way +over the ice. Meantime Urio had returned +to the ship, and he was taking a +nap in his berth when the news was +communicated to him of the arrival of +the tribe, with his wife and child amongst +them. The Inuits are a very impassive +race, and it was amusing to see the cool +way in which Urio and his wife shook +hands, as though they had been parted +twelve days instead of twelve months. +Urio showed more affection towards his +child, with whom he rubbed cheeks in +the manner peculiar to the Inuits. But +if the young wife was undemonstrative at +meeting with her husband, she got into +transports of joy at the sight of the +numerous presents which friends of her +husband in Dundee had sent out to her. +One of these was a pretty melodion, and +the young woman's eyes sparkled when +she beheld it. To the astonishment of +the ship's company, she lifted the instrument +and played "There is nae luck +aboot the hoose," finishing with "The +Keel Row." It was subsequently ascertained +that she had learned to play +several tunes on the concertina whilst +resident at the American settlements on +Cumberland Gulf. When the other +presents were laid out, the delight of +Urio and his wife and friends was unbounded. +Several of the gaudy petticoats +were seized, and the women put +them on above their sealskin dresses, +being so fond of display that the most +showy articles are always worn outermost. +Owing to the distance of the ship +from the shore, only a few of the lighter +presents were removed at that time, but +a month later the ship got near the land, +when the remainder of the articles were +put ashore and taken possession of by +Urio.</p> + +<p>Captain Adams gives the Esquimaux +chief the character of an honest, hard-working,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +warm-hearted fellow. He +proved a good sailor, was beloved by all +the crew, and he was a dead shot while +seal-hunting. It is evident that his experience +of civilized life has given him +a distaste for his former mode of life, for +he pleaded with Captain Adams to +promise to take himself and his wife and +child to Scotland next year.</p> + +<p>Captain Adams is of opinion that the +whaling at Davis Straits and Greenland +is virtually exhausted. He saw only +seventeen whales throughout the season.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>SINGULAR CAUSE OF DEATH.</h2> + + +<p>On Friday, January 13th, Mr. +Wynne E. Baxter held an inquiry +at the London Hospital, Whitechapel, +respecting the death of Moses +Raphael, aged thirty-two years, a commercial +traveller, lately residing at +Bromley-by-Bow, who died on the previous +day in the above hospital. About +six weeks previously he complained of +pains in his head and also of shivers, +and eventually it was decided to remove +him to the hospital. Until the last +few weeks the deceased had been in +apparently good health. He was a +wonderful brain-worker, and had kept a +set of books most accurately.</p> + +<p>Henry Muir Doyle, house-surgeon, +stated that the deceased, on his admission, +appeared drowsy, and complained +of a pain in his head. He continued +in that state till the 10th, but at times +appeared quite clear-headed and rational. +On the 10th, symptoms of +apoplexy appeared, and deceased expired +at twelve o'clock the same night. +Witness said that, since death, he had +made a most searching examination of +the head and brain. On opening the +former, he discovered an abscess in the +brain. It was about the size of a turkey's +egg, and had evidently been there +some time. On removing the abscess, +a penholder and nib were found protruding +from the top of the right orbital +plate. This had produced the abscess, +and the abscess had caused death. +The holder and nib must have entered +the brain by way of the right eye, or +through the right part of the nose. It +was probable that they had been in there +for a considerable time, as the bone had +grown over them, and it was with difficulty +they were separated. He had +examined the eye, but had failed to +detect any injury. It was, however, +quite possible for such a thing to enter +beneath the lid of the open eye, and the +wound to heal up, showing no signs of +the entry.</p> + +<p>The widow of the deceased man was +called in, and said that her husband +never mentioned to her anything about +being hurt by a pen.</p> + +<p>The coroner said that the case was +the most extraordinary that had ever +come before him.—<i>Times.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>Page 41.</i>)</p> + + +<p>"<i>The Prince of Peace.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Isaiah</span> ix. 6.</p> + +<p> +T ychicus Colossians iv. 7.<br /> +H en Zechariah vi. 14.<br /> +E rastus Romans xvi. 23.<br /> +<br /> +P arvaim 2 Chronicles iii. 6.<br /> +R immon Joshua xv. 32.<br /> +I rijah Jeremiah xxxvii. 14.<br /> +N ahum Nahum i. 7.<br /> +C arpus 2 Timothy iv. 13.<br /> +E lymas Acts xiii. 11.<br /> +<br /> +O uches Exodus xxviii. 11.<br /> +F aith Hebrews xi. 6.<br /> +<br /> +P erez-uzzah 2 Samuel vi. 8.<br /> +E lisheba Exodus vi. 23.<br /> +A bba Romans viii. 15.<br /> +C orinthians 1 Corinthians vi. 19.<br /> +E n-hakkore Judges xv. 19.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;" class="smcap">John West</span><br /> +<br /> +<i>Biggleswade.</i> (Aged 9 years). +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> +<h2>SOMETHING ABOUT FOXES.</h2> + + +<p>That always entertaining writer +about birds and animals, J. G. +Wood, has a pleasant paper on +"Foxes" in the <i>Child's Pictorial</i>. The +author of "Homes without Hands" +says:—</p> + +<p>Many foxes have been known to climb +trees, and hide among the branches, +where no dog could smell them. Only +a few months before these lines were +written, the East Kent foxhounds met +near Dover. The master of the hunt had +been told that foxes had been seen to +run up a tree, which was pointed out. A +man was sent up the tree, and out came +a fox, which was hidden among some +ivy about twenty feet from the ground. +The animal was chased, but after a while +the scent failed and the fox escaped. The +hunt then returned to the tree, and again +sent a man up it. Presently a second +fox came tumbling out of the ivy, but mistook +his distance, and jumped into the +middle of the hounds, which tore it to +pieces before it could recover from the +fall. The man continued to search the +tree, and a third fox leaped out, and was +killed close to the South Foreland.</p> + +<p>In December, 1885, a fox was found +near Oswestry, and after being chased +for some time, it ran up a tree, to the +height of at least forty feet, and hid itself +among the ivy with which the tree was +clothed. It was soon turned out of its +shelter, and, after running for about half +an hour, got away from the hounds, probably +by some equally clever trick.</p> + +<p>There are foxes known which have +been hunted for several seasons and +never taken; and those who have seen +them run, say that the animals do not +seem in the least afraid of the hounds, +but trot on quite gently for some time, +knowing that, in the end, they will give +their enemies the slip.</p> + +<p>Mr. Webster relates an amusing story +about a cunning old American fox. It +had been chased over and over again, +and always escaped near the same place, +namely, a wooden fence outside a plantation, +which led into a thick forest. +Hounds were brought from great distances +in order to catch this fox, but +never succeeded. The fox always made +its bed in the middle of a large field, +and did not try to hide, but gave the +hounds a good run, and then disappeared +at the fence.</p> + +<p>Now, in America there are no hedges, +the fields being divided by railed fences. +Westward, where wood is almost valueless, +the "snake" fence is used, but in the +more cultivated parts the fence is made +by fixing two strong stakes in the ground, +so as to cross each other like the letter +X, and nailing them together where +they cross. Long poles are then laid +on the crossed stakes, so that the fence +can be made to any height which is most +convenient, the poles being seldom +nailed, but held in their place by their +own weight.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61"> </a></span></p> +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/img064.jpg" width="500" height="373" alt="FOX AND RABBIT" title="FOX AND RABBIT" /> +<span class="caption">THE FOX SEES THE EAR, THE RABBIT SEES THE TAIL.</span> +</div> + +<p>Now, foxes often run along a fence, or +the top of a wall, as far as the end. +Then they go back for some distance on +their own track, and leap off the wall +as far as they can, so as to mislead the +hounds. Knowing this trick, Mr. +Webber took the hounds all round the +fence and the plantation, but could find +no signs of the fox. At last he determined +to hide himself near the place, +when the hounds were again set on the +fox, and try to discover the trick. After +a while the fox came quite slowly until +he reached the fence. Then he jumped +on the top rail, and ran along it for +about two hundred yards, until he came +opposite a dead tree, nearly sixteen feet +from the fence. He paused for a moment, +and, with a tremendous jump, +leaped upon a tree, alighting on a large +knot on the side of the trunk. Then he +ran up the trunk, which was slightly +sloping, and entered a hollow at the top,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +he lay hid, no one even suspecting that +he could leap from a fence to the tree, +much less run up it. This feat was the +more wonderful, because ivy does not +grow out of doors in America, so that +there seemed to be no foot-hold. Indeed, +had it not been for the knot, the fox +could not have climbed the tree.</p> + + + +<p>Mr. Webber was so pleased with the +cleverness of the fox that he would not +betray the trick, but amused himself on +many occasions by watching the fox +baffle the hounds.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the mother fox chooses a +hollow tree, instead of a burrow, for her +nursery.</p> + +<p>In April, 1868, a strange discovery +was made in Warwickshire, seven dead +cubs having been found in the top of a +pollard oak. It was clear that the +mother had been killed, and that the +poor little cubs had died of hunger.</p> + +<p>The cubs, when very young, are odd-looking +little creatures—not in the least +like their parents. They are pale brown +in colour, have short, snub noses, like +those of pug dogs, and little, short, +pointed tails, not at all like the beautiful +"brushes" into which they will grow +in course of time.</p> + +<p>The courage of the fox is wonderful. +A fox was on one occasion sent to Mr. +Bartlett for the purpose of being stuffed. +It had only three feet, and, on opening +it, Mr. Bartlett found the missing foot +in its stomach! The animal had clearly +been taken in a trap, and had freed +itself by biting off the foot by which it +was caught. We can understand why +it should bite off the foot by which it was +detained, but why it should eat its own +foot seems rather puzzling. I am inclined +to think that it did so by mere +instinct, which made it eat any morsel +of bleeding flesh that came between its +jaws.</p> + +<p>[If foxes are only fit to be hunted +down, why are they preserved for that +cruelty?—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span>]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ONE POOR STONE.</h2> + + +<p>Two masons were working together +on the rear wall of a +church, when one stopped the +other just as he was putting a +stone in its place.</p> + +<p>"Don't put in that stone," he said; +"it is flakey, and will soon fall to pieces."</p> + +<p>"I know it isn't a very good one, but +it is so handy, and just fits here. Nobody +will see it up here, and it is too much +trouble to get another."</p> + +<p>"Don't put it in. Take time to send +for another. That stone won't stand the +weather, and when it falls the whole +building will be damaged."</p> + +<p>"I guess not. It won't hurt us, so +here goes."</p> + +<p>Then he lifted the stone into its place, +poor, and loose-grained, and flakey as +it was, covered it over with mortar, and +went on with his work. Nobody could +see the stone, and none knew of its +worthlessness but the two masons, and +the church was finished and accepted.</p> + +<p>But time and the weather did their +work, and soon it began to flake and +crumble. Every rain-storm and every +hot, sultry day helped its decay, and it +soon crumbled away. But that was not +all, nor the worst. The loss of the stone +weakened the wall, and soon a great +beam which it should have supported +sunk into the cavity, a crack appeared +in the roof, and the rain soon made sad +havoc with ceiling and fresco; so a new +roof and ceiling, and expensive repairs, +were the result of one poor stone being +put in the place of a good one.</p> + +<p>Each one of us, young or old, is building +a structure for himself. The structure +is our character, and every act of +our lives is a stone in the building. Don't +work in poor stones. Every mean action, +every wrong act or impure word, will +show itself in your after life, though it +may pass unnoticed at first. Let every +act and word of every day be pure and +right, and your character will stand the +test of any time.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> +<h2>A MORNING'S WALK IN A COUNTRY LANE.</h2> + + +<p>It is pleasing, during the bright +summer time, to rise early and, if +our lot is so cast, to stroll into the +country lanes and breathe the pure air +of heaven, inhale the sweet scent of +the hay, and gaze upon God's beautiful +creation around us, and, if possible, +learn some of the many lessons which +even a tiny flower or a feeble insect may +be able to teach us.</p> + +<p>One Monday morning during the last +summer, when staying in Hampshire, +we had such a walk, the memory of +which, and its profitable lessons, are +still fresh upon our minds.</p> + +<p>Leaving the town where we were staying, +we quickly found ourselves between +the hedgerows, and our first impulse was +to turn at once into the green fields, but +another feeling led us to keep to the +lane.</p> + +<p>Was that change of plan the result +of chance? Nay; the great Ruler of +all things, who guides the flight of a +sparrow, as surely orders the footsteps +of His children.</p> + +<p>John Knox had a usual seat at his +table, with his back to the window. A +sudden impulse led him to take another +seat. That night the assassin's bullet +came through the window, and but for +an overruling Providence, Knox would +have lost his life.</p> + +<p>How many such instances might be +related, which shows that even more +surely than the smallest wheel of some +vast machinery is as readily controlled +as the largest, so surely does Infinite +Wisdom control all the great machinery +of life, from its most momentous events +down to the smallest circumstance, +such as the movement of a leaf. "If +a pestilence stalk through our land, +we say, 'The Lord hath done it.' Is +it not also His doings when an aphis +creepeth on a rosebud? If an avalanche +fall from the Alps, we tremble at the +will of Providence. Is not that will also +concerned when the sere leaf falls from +the poplar?"</p> + +<p>Pursuing our walk, we soon found that +we were in the most delightful of country +lanes, with high hedgerows and +overhanging trees, that formed a most +delightful shade from the fierce burning +sun, which, even at that early hour, was +almost unbearable. What must be the +sufferings of a traveller in the desert, +with the fierce orb of day beating down +upon his head, as mile after mile he +traverses the burning sand without shade +or water? How grateful to him must be +"the shadow of a great rock in a weary +land," or some delightful Elim, with its +seventy shady palms, and its twelve refreshing +wells of water!</p> + +<p>But there is yet another person to +whom a shade is more delightful than +even this desert traveller, and that is, a +poor sinner upon whom is beating down +the threatened wrath of an offended +God.</p> + +<p>When Thomas Bilney, as a young +man, was feeling this, he endeavoured +for a long time to find a shelter in some +of the foolish and deceptive lies of the +Romish Church. He gave his money +for Masses and performed his penances +till his purse was empty, and his body +reduced to great weakness, and yet no +shelter could he find in these from the +wrath of God. At length he purchased +a Greek Testament, and there he found +the blessed shade, for with delight he +read therein, "This is a faithful saying, +and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ +Jesus came into the world to save sinners, +of whom I am chief." Well might he +exclaim, as he sat down under the +shadow of the cross, with great delight, +"Oh, blessed saying of St. Paul! +Oh, blessed saying of St. Paul!"</p> + +<p>Dear young reader, have you felt your +need of this precious shade?</p> + +<p>Presently we noticed in the hedge a +rose-bush, a large portion of which was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +hanging down broken—doubtless the +work of some thoughtless person, who +had plucked the flowers in such a reckless +manner as to leave a sad memento +of his thoughtless action. But people +who live in glass houses must be careful +what stones they throw at others. That +little boy, for instance, was just as +thoughtless who played with his ball in +so careless a manner as to break two +windows in one week. That little girl, +too, was equally thoughtless who, when +left at home to take care of baby, carelessly +left it on the bed while she went +up the street to see some dancing dogs, +and who found, on her return, that the +baby had fallen on the floor, and had so +injured its head as to nearly result in +its death.</p> + +<p>Ah! and how many are now in our +workhouses or prisons who would have +to confess they were brought there because +they did <i>not think</i> what trouble +their thoughtless actions would bring +upon them! Yea, we fear that there are +many among the lost who would have to +make the same sad confession. May +the Lord cause each of our young +readers to think of what will be the +sad consequence of seeking only after +earthly pleasure. It will be worse than +a destroyed rose-bush. It may be destroyed +health—destroyed reputation—destroyed +prospects in life—yea, and, if +grace prevent not, destroyed happiness +for ever.</p> + +<p>As we proceeded further up the lane, +we noticed that the hedges on both sides +were blooming with wild roses, which +were truly charming to behold. Our +first thought on seeing them was of the +dear ones at home (many miles away), +and how we should like to transport +them to this shady bower, to enjoy what +we were beholding. But, as this desire +was impracticable, the next thought was, +to gather some of these roses and take +them home, that they, too, might, in +some measure, share in our pleasure. +Henceforth our endeavours to please +others made our walk doubly pleasant.</p> + +<p>A selfish person, young or old, can +never be happy. But find one who tries +to share his pleasures or comforts with +others, and he is surely happy—like +the little girl who stretched her small +cloak round her young brother to shelter +him from the wintry blast, although, +strictly speaking, the cloak was scarcely +big enough for herself. And how happy +was that little girl who nursed a sick +cat in the garret, and shared her meals +with it, till pussy was quite well again!</p> + +<p>Boys and girls, share your pleasures +with others.</p> + +<p>The next thought was, to look after the +little roses, knowing they would last +longer than the big ones.</p> + +<p>Yes, fellow-teachers, look after the +little rosebuds just blooming into life. +Who can tell but what the Master may +use you to gather them from the world, +that they may, by His grace, be prepared +for His mansion above?</p> + +<p><i>But the thorns!</i> Not a single little +rosebud without a thorn, yet so beautiful +in other respects. Before Adam's +fall, roses grew in Eden without thorns. +Thorns are a badge of the curse, and +even the smallest child has the thorn of +sin. And how often we see it manifest! +The thorn of pride, the thorn of self-will, +the thorn of temper, the thorn of deceit.</p> + +<p>But, dear young friends, are these +thorns a trouble to you? Would you +like their power destroyed, and guilt +pardoned? Listen, then, to God's way +of salvation.</p> + +<p>As we gathered the roses, the thorns +pricked our hands. But never mind +that. We love them too much to mind a +few pricks.</p> + +<p>Have you ever thought how the +thorns (as long as your finger) were +plaited into a crown, and pierced the +head of Jesus? Yes, He loved His +children so much that He willingly endured +even the "nails," as well as the +thorns, that they might be for ever saved +from the wrath to come.</p> + +<p>A child once cried for fear when a +wasp was near, but his mother said,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +"Don't fear, my child! It has left its +sting in my hand. It won't hurt you."</p> + +<p>Yes, Jesus has been pricked and stung +by sin that His people may for ever be +delivered from its fatal power.</p> + +<p>May you, dear young friends, from a +living faith, be enabled to commit your +soul into His keeping who is able to +"save unto the uttermost all that come +unto God through Him."</p> + +<p>But how easily many of the roses +scattered! We only touched the branch, +and they were gone. Such is life! We +may be in full bloom one day, but in a +moment we may be carried into eternity. +"We all do fade as a leaf." The +longest life is but brief. Then well +may we pray—</p> + +<p> +"Prepare me, gracious God,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To stand before Thy face;</span><br /> +Thy Spirit must the work perform,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For it is all of grace."</span> +</p> +<div class="signature"><span class="smcap">Ebenezer.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>"KEEP THE STAR IN SIGHT."</h2> + + +<p>On a wild spot on the coast of Cornwall +I fell in with Will Treherne. +He was as sound an "old salt" +as ever manned a lifeboat or went aloft +in a gale of wind. He was getting an +old man when I used to see him sitting +on the beach, when his day's work was +done, smoking his pipe and gazing at +the evening star. He told us boys stirring +stories of sea life and adventure. One +evening he narrated the following:—</p> + +<p>"Thirty years ago, in just such a +night as this, the wind whistling as it +does now, with the sea rising, and with +as crazy a craft as seamen ever sailed +in, I found myself drifting along a dangerous +coast.</p> + +<p>"Our captain was an experienced one, +and, when he saw what weather we were +threatened with, he took his place at the +wheel, and did his best to keep our +courage up. He was in terribly poor +health, but his spirits rose above his +bodily weakness, and he gave his orders +with a pluck and decision that made men +of every one of us.</p> + +<p>"'Will Treherne,' he cried, 'stand by +me if you can be spared. My strength is +going. Do you see that star right +ahead?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, sir.'</p> + +<p>"'If my strength should fail, steer +right ahead for that, and you are safe. +And oh, remember, Will, that there is +another Star you must always keep in +view if you are to get safely into port at +last.'</p> + +<p>"I knew what he meant. He was +pointing me to the Lord Jesus Christ, for +he was as good a Christian as he was a +captain, and he never lost a chance of +saying a word that might steady us +youngsters, and make us think of our +souls. I have heard many a sermon since +that night in the storm, when he told me +to keep the star ahead, but none took +more hold on me than that one that +night, when I lost my truest and best +friend."</p> + +<p>"Did you lose him that night?" I +asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes, my lad," the sailor answered, +sadly. "His hour was come. When +he could stand the gale no longer, he +shouted as loud as he could, 'Keep the +star in sight, my lads; keep the star in +sight!' Then he was helped down to +the cabin, and I never saw him alive +again. I was lashed to the wheel, and +though the spray well-nigh blinded me, +yet I managed to keep the star in sight, +as the first officer gave his orders for the +working of the ship.</p> + +<p>"After two hours of steering through a +narrow and dangerous channel, we found +ourselves in a friendly sea. The star had +guided us right.</p> + +<p>"When the ship was in safety, and my +turn of work was over, I went down to +the captain's cabin. A flag was thrown +over his body, but his manly, resolute +face, which even death had not much +altered, was visible. I knelt down there +and prayed God to guide me through the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +storms of life; and I believe I can say +that, from that night, in spite of my +faults and failings, I have kept the Star +in sight. Now you will know why I am +such a star-gazer; and if I may give you +a bit of counsel, my lad, let me advise +you to seek grace to begin and steer +your course by the Star of Bethlehem; +and, if your eye is fixed on that Star, +you will come safely through the dangers +of life into the port of peace at last."—<i>Chatterbox.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ANSWER OF GEORGE III. TO LORD GRENVILLE,</h2> + +<h3> +WHEN APPLIED TO ON THE ROMAN<br /> +CATHOLIC BILL, MARCH, 1807. +</h3> + + +<p><span class="smcap">My Lord</span>,—I am one of those that +respect an oath. I have firmness sufficient +to quit my throne and retire to a +cottage, or to place my neck upon a +block on a scaffold, if my people require +it; but I have not resolution enough to +break an oath—an oath I took in the +most solemn manner at my coronation.</p> + +<p>[God grant that the legislators of the +present day may feel speedily the justice +and wisdom of the noble sentiment +of this illustrious monarch.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE LATE PRINCE CONSORT'S OPINION OF POPERY.</h2> + + +<p>"It is an open secret," says the <i>Christian</i>, +"that the Queen insists on exercising +her right of private judgment on +all ecclesiastical affairs in which she has +to act. Before giving her assent to the +selection of a golden Mass bowl as her +Jubilee present to the Pope of Rome, the +fact possibly escaped Her Majesty's +memory that the late Prince Consort's +opinion of Romanism was summed up +in Adam Smith's statement, as follows—'The +greatest conspiracy ever hatched +against human liberty, civil and religious, +is the Roman Catholic Church.' +This quotation appears on the title-page +of the 'Prince Consort's Speeches,' +edited by His Royal Highness himself."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A BIBLE WITH PINS IN IT.</h2> + + +<p>It was an old Bible, a family Bible, +a well-worn Bible—the Bible of +an old lady who had read it, and +walked by it, and fed on it, and prayed +over it for a long lifetime. As she grew +older and older, her sight began to fail, +and she found it hard to find her favourite +verses. But she could not live without +them, so what did she do? She stuck a +pin in them, one by one; and after her +death they counted 168.</p> + +<p>When people went to see her, she +would open her Bible, and feeling over +the page after her pin, would say, "Read +there," or "Read here"; and she knew +pretty well what verse was stuck by that +pin, and what by this pin. She could +indeed say of her precious Bible, "I love +Thy commandments above gold; yea, +above fine gold; they are sweeter to me +than honey and the honey-comb."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + + +<p> +The father of a blind man.<br /> +An ancient musical instrument.<br /> +A measure of time.<br /> +An immense fish.<br /> +A non-believer.<br /> +A foreign language.<br /> +A relation of Jacob.<br /> +An animal.<br /> +One of Joseph's sons.<br /> +A domestic animal.<br /> +A very valuable stone.<br /> +A particular time in the day.<br /> +Another word for a letter.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Joseph Smith</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">(Aged 12 years).</span> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> +<h2>THRILLING SCENES AT THE FORTH BRIDGE WORKS.</h2> + + +<p>Two more fatal accidents were, +some time since, reported from +the Forth Bridge works, making +thirty-four since the work began. +One of the engineers of the bridge, Mr. +Benjamin Baker, recently gave a lecture +in Dundee, descriptive of the work, in +the course of which he gave the following +account of the dangers of the +undertaking:—</p> + +<p>Much of the work, he said, required +men of exceptional hardiness, courage, +and presence of mind. In August last, +six men were standing on a few planks +hanging by iron hooks, at a height of +about 140 feet above sea level. One of the +hooks gave way without any warning, +and in a fraction of a second the planks +slipped away from under the men's feet. +Short as the time was, with the lightning +quickness of thought, three of the six +men saved themselves by springing at +and clutching hold of pieces of the steel +work. Another man plunged headlong +down twice the height of the Tay bridge +into the water. His hardiness was such +that the terrible flight through mid-air +and shock on striking the water—a shock +which he had seen break planks like +matches—did not incapacitate him from +grasping the rope which was cast to him, +or from resuming work after he had recovered +from the immediate effects of +the shock.</p> + +<p>As regards courage, two of the men +were left hanging by the arms with +a clean drop of 140 feet below them. +Although presumably unnerved by seeing +their comrades take that terrible +flight, the first man reached by the +rescue party said, "I can hold on. Go +to the other man; he is dazed." Such +workmen upheld the best traditions of +their fellow-craftsmen in the past.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>OUR BIBLE CLASS.</h2> + +<p class="center">"<i>And the glory which Thou gavest +Me I have given them; that they may +be one, even as We are One.</i>"—<span class="smcap">John</span> +xvii. 22.</p> + + +<p>"The glory of the Lord endureth +for ever"; and in this sublime +prayer Jesus speaks of the glory +that He had with His Father before the +world began, and asks that He may +be glorified in finishing His saving +work.</p> + +<p>But what is the "glory" spoken of in +our text? Two thoughts must guide us +to its meaning—first, the Father had +given it to His Son; secondly, Jesus +had given it to His disciples.</p> + +<p>Christ is God, and, as God, is, and +ever must be, glorious. But this glory +was <i>not given</i> Him; it was <i>His own</i>. +Christ is the one Mediator between God +and men—the only Way to heaven and +happiness—the all-sufficient and only +Saviour of sinners, who redeemed them +by His blood, and saves them by His +life. But His glory, as Mediator and +Saviour, He will not give to another. +He received it, and is crowned with it, +<i>alone</i>.</p> + +<p>Yet He says, "I have given My disciples"—"the +men Thou gavest out of +the world"—"the glory Thou hast +given Me." He is the Truth. His words +were always divinely full of heavenly +meaning. Let us try by other Scriptures +to understand this one.</p> + +<p>In Isaiah xl. 10, we read, "Behold, +the Lord God will come with strong +hand"—or will come as a Mighty One—"behold, +His reward is with Him, +and the recompense of His work [see +margin] is before Him." In Hebrews +xii. 2, we are told that, "for the joy that +was set before Him, He endured the +cross, despising the shame, and is set +down," now and for ever, "at the right +hand of God." This recompense, this +joy, is Christ's glory. And what is it? +In one word, it is <i>salvation</i>—the satisfaction,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +the honour, and delight, of +rescuing, and eternally enriching, the +people whom He loved from eternity, +and will for ever love. As Cowper +sweetly sings—</p> + +<p> +"Of all the crowns Jehovah wears,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Salvation is His dearest claim;</span><br /> +That gracious sound well-pleased He hears,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And owns Emmanuel for His name."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>In this—His joy, His glory—He makes +His people share here in this world, and +in this present time—</p> + +<p> +"Before they reach the heavenly fields,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or tread the golden streets."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>They are interested in His salvation, +and on this word we may reflect a little, +for "interest" has a two-fold meaning. +It means, benefit or profit; and it also +means, friendly, loving concern for a +person or an object. If I am interested +in a paying business, I share in its +profits, and am benefited by it; but I +am interested in many things that bring +me no money, and I gladly give them +all the help I can, because I long for +their success and prosperity.</p> + +<p>And in this double way believers are +interested in Christ's salvation. They +are for ever benefited by it. His death +secures their endless life; His sorrow +yields them joy and peace; and His +poverty has made them rich for evermore. +"Thanks be unto God for His +unspeakable gift," is the glad cry of all +who know that this precious salvation is +their own.</p> + +<p>Then comes the other form of interest—loving, +prayerful desire that Christ +may be glorified; that "the kingdom of +God may come"; that sinners may be +brought to the Saviour. The burdened +heart, longing for peace, may be too full +of its own sorrows to think much of +others; but the forgiven child of God, +rejoicing in Jesus as his own dear, +almighty Friend, says, or desires to +say—</p> + +<p> +"Now will I tell to sinners round<br /> +What a dear Saviour I have found;<br /> +I'll point to His redeeming blood,<br /> +And say, 'Behold the way to God!'"<br /> +</p> + +<p>Thus the apostles laboured to carry +the Gospel wherever they could travel, +though, by so doing, they were exposed +to persecution, suffering, and death. +But they longed to spread the joyful +news abroad, and to be the means of +leading their hearers to Jesus; and +when they "saw the grace of God," they +were glad with an unspeakable joy. +And, so far as we are animated with +Christ's spirit, we, too, shall seek after +the same blessed results.</p> + +<p>And Jesus has given His glory to His +people that they may all be united +together, even as He and His Father +are One—one in heart, and mind, and +aims.</p> + +<p>We hear a great deal just now about +the "unity of Christendom," or the +"Christian world," and some would like +to blend the Greek and Roman with +the English Church. Now, what sort of +union would that be? Others do not go +quite so far, and yet they would unite +together a variety of creeds and people +by dropping every important difference, +and giving up whatever was not generally +acceptable. But let us never forget +that there can be no Christian union +without Christ; no holy unity unless +founded on God's Word. Gas jets +affixed in a certain way to our ceilings +are called "sun-lights." They are only +artificial lights, after all; and whatever +name it may assume, unless Christ is +the Centre of unity, the union is not +Christian, for "if any one have not the +Spirit of Christ, he is none of His." But +union to and in Christ is very real and +true even now, and those who follow +Jesus can hold sweet intercourse together +in this world. "Grace be with +all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ +in sincerity."</p> + +<p>We are, at best, imperfect in the +present state. We know but in part.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +Our love is often cold, and sin still dwells +in the heart; but in the glory that is yet +to come, we, if we are His, shall know, +even as we have been known of Him. +Perfect love will cast out all distance and +coldness, and perfect holiness will possess +every saved one.</p> + +<p>"Beloved," wrote the same Apostle +who recorded the Saviour's prayer, +"now are we the sons of God, and it +doth not yet appear what we shall be; +but we know that, when He shall appear, +we shall be like Him, for we shall +see Him as He is." May this glorious +prospect be ours, through His grace.</p> + +<p>Our next subject will be, Matthew vi. +22, 23—<i>Mental Eyes: Darkened and +Illuminated</i>.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +Yours affectionately, +<br /> +H. S. L. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A WORD TO SELF-SEEKERS.</h2> + + +<p> +I would not lead the selfish life<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That never seeks to throw</span><br /> +A pleasant ray of happiness<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">On other people's woe.</span><br /> +<br /> +I scorn the folks who will not strive<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To lessen want and care;</span><br /> +Nor lend a helping hand to those<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Who have so much to bear.</span><br /> +<br /> +Is there not misery enough<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">On this terrestrial ball</span><br /> +To spring some sympathetic chord<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Within the hearts of all?</span><br /> +<br /> +Oh, ye who only seek your own—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Who hold yourselves so dear</span><br /> +That ye can never give the sad<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">One simple word of cheer—</span><br /> +<br /> +Believe me, if ye wish to spend<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A life of happy ease,</span><br /> +Seek not your own, but how ye may<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Your weary brothers please.</span><br /> +<br /> +And He who marks each gentle deed<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of loving sympathy,</span><br /> +May whisper His approving word—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Ye did it unto Me."</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Carrie Light.</span><br /> +<i>Brighton.</i> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PRIZE ESSAY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Self-Help.</span></h3> + + +<p>There are six important heads +which this subject may be placed +under, viz., Industry, Patience, +Perseverance, Cheerfulness, Courage, +and Prudence.</p> + +<p><i>Industry.</i>—This is a very important +thing in life, and you will never be any +good to the world without you possess it. +There have been men who, by their +patient industry, have done their country +a great deal of good by inventing +engines and machines to mitigate the +labours of men; and some of these men +have been mobbed and nearly killed by +their townsmen, who thought their work +would be taken away instead of enlarged, +and very often their inventions +have been broken to pieces.</p> + +<p>Solomon, in the Book of Ecclesiastes +ix. 10, says, "Whatsoever thy hand +findeth to do, do it with thy might"; +and in Proverbs vi. 6—"Go to the ant, +thou sluggard; consider her ways and +be wise."</p> + +<p><i>Patience.</i>—Patience is a very needful +thing to self-help, for without it you will +not be able to do anything that requires +time and trouble. You have need of +patience when you are waiting for a +thing which you are in great haste to +obtain.</p> + +<p>David says, in Psalm xxxvii. 7, "Rest +in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him."</p> + +<p><i>Perseverance.</i>—There are some people +who, if they start a certain thing, have +not the necessary perseverance to finish +it; while others, who persevere, succeed. +Great men you read of in history would +never have been so distinguished had it +not been for their perseverance. Bernard +Palissy, who discovered the white +enamel for pottery, had a great many +trials to bear, and was years before he +perfected it; but he persevered, and at +last succeeded.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>Oh, that we may be taught to trust in +Christ, and pray, with the poet—</p> + +<p> +"Lord, hast Thou made me know Thy ways?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Conduct me in Thy fear;</span><br /> +And grant me such supplies of grace<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That I may persevere."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><i>Cheerfulness.</i>—This is a very essential +thing to self-help. If you have a +task, and you have somebody to cheer +you up, your task feels lighter, and the +time passes better. People who are +dull, and not cheerful, find the time pass +slower, and the work seems heavier. +There have been men who have been +cheerful even when they have been in +great difficulties.</p> + +<p>Christ said to the man sick of the +palsy, "Son, be of good cheer; thy sins +be forgiven thee."</p> + +<p><i>Courage.</i>—Moral courage is one of +the most important features in this subject. +You will be more likely to succeed +if you are bold and courageous. It is +right to be courageous in a good cause, +but not in a wrong one. It is real +courage, when wicked persons try to +entice you to drinking, gambling, and +other vices, if you boldly answer, "No."</p> + +<p>Solomon says, in the Book of Proverbs +xxviii. 1—"The wicked flee when no +man pursueth, but the righteous are +as bold as a lion."</p> + +<p><i>Prudence, or Foresight.</i>—It is wise +to consider what the consequences of +your actions will be. Some people do +not stop to do so, and thus run needlessly +into danger. You cannot rightly +practise self-help without you are prudent. +It is very imprudent to risk life +or anything unnecessarily, or to leave +things to the last minute or two. If you +are imprudent, you will regret it in after +life.</p> + +<p>In Proverbs xvi. 21, it says, "The wise +in heart shall be called prudent."</p> + +<p>Self-help is not a spiritual thing, but +a temporal one; but you cannot truly +succeed in these things without God's +help and blessing. May we, in the +things of daily life, and especially in +spiritual things, be led to say, like David, +in Psalm cxxi., "I will lift up mine +eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh +my help. My help cometh from the +Lord, which made heaven and earth," +remembering that He does not approve +selfish living, but says, "To do good +and to communicate, forget not."—(<i>Abridged.</i>)</p> + +<div class="signature"><span class="smcap">F. E. H. Andrews</span><br /> +(Aged 13 years 5 months).</div> + +<p>1, <i>Tavistock Terrace,<br /> +Upper Holloway, London, N.</i> +</p> + +<p>[Lilly Rush, W. E. Cray (age not given), +A. M. Cray, E. B. West, A. Pease, +and Margaret Creasey have sent fair +Essays, especially the first-named, and +we hope they will still persevere.]</p> + +<p>[The writer of the above Essay receives +a copy of "From the Loom to a Lawyer's +Gown; or, Self-Help that was not +all for Self," presented by a friend who +reads the <span class="smcap">Gleaner</span>.</p> + +<p>The subject for May will be, "How +to be Useful in the World," and the +prize to be given for the best Essay +on that subject, a copy of "Notable +Workers in Humble Life." All competitors +must give a guarantee that they +are under fifteen years of age, and +that the Essay is their own composition, +or the papers will be passed +over, as the Editor cannot undertake +to write for this necessary information. +Papers must be sent direct to the Editor, +Mr. T. Hull, 117, High Street, Hastings, +by the first of April.]</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> good mother is worth a hundred +schoolmasters. In the home, she is the +"loadstone to all hearts, and loadstar +to all eyes." Imitation of her is constant—imitation +which Bacon likens to +"a globe of precepts." But example is +far more than precept. In its instruction +is action.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> +<h2>Interesting Items.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Elephant's Strength.</span>—The ordinary +strength of an elephant is calculated as equal to +that of 147 men.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Fight among Lions.</span>—A fearful struggle +took place recently between eight lions in a +cage at the menagerie at Liverpool Exhibition. +One lion, valued at £150, was killed.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> red-wood forests of California, Oregon, +and Washington Territory are, perhaps, the +most wonderful of the world. The average +yield per acre is 100,000 feet lumber, or +64,000,000 feet to the square mile.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Sir John Coode's</span> scheme for the protection +of the foreshore at Hastings, by means of two +stone groynes and an extended breastwork at +the east end of the town, was completed last +August. The total cost has been £30,000. Sir +John remarked that the beach was accumulating +at the rate of 40,000 to 50,000 tons per +annum.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Extraordinary Case of Strangulation.</span>—An +extraordinary case has occurred at Howick, +near Preston. A little boy named Fisher, the +son of a farmer, was climbing an apple tree, +when he slipped between two branches. His +jacket turned up fast round his neck, and as +he could not get a button undone, he was +strangled.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Monster Dogfish.</span>—A gigantic dogfish, +weighing ten cwt., has been hauled ashore by +a fisherman at Mazargues, in the Department +of the Bouches-du-Rhone. The animal made a +desperate struggle on the bank, and its head +had to be battered in with a club before it +could be mastered. A monster of a similar kind, +some time ago, ate up a boatman and his boy, +whose boat had been capsized in the river.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> has been calculated that, after Prince von +Bismarck's recent great speech, 1,218 telegrams, +containing 194,296 words, were despatched +to 326 different places on the world's +surface. Two hundred and thirty-five telegraph +clerks were employed at sixty Hughes' apparatus, +155 Morse's, and seven Estienne's, to +carry out the work; and the number of words +in the Chancellor's speech is computed at +10,997.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Peculiar Case.</span>—Captain Russell has had +under treatment a valuable and favourite cat, +belonging to a resident of Spittlegate, Grantham. +The poor animal was taken with a choking +sensation about three weeks ago, and, as it +could not eat, soon grew very thin, and appeared +to be going "the way of all flesh." After vain +attempts at restoration, pussy was taken to the +afore-named veterinary surgeon, who prescribed +for her. She was fed with a spoon for +some days, and at length a substance was discovered +to be forming by the side of the neck. +Supposing it to be a boil, he lanced it, and +found it to contain a piece of metal, which he +at once extracted, in the shape of a sewing-needle +with a piece of cotton attached. The cat +is now recovered, and but little the worse for +the painful operation.—<i>Grantham Journal.</i></p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Emperor of China, who is about to be +married, is doing the thing handsomely. His +wedding gifts to his young bride include a gold +seal richly inlaid with jewels, the handle being +formed by two gold dragons; ten piebald horses +with complete trappings; ten gilt helmets and +cuirasses: 1,000 pieces of satin of the first +quality, and 200 pieces of cotton material; 200 +ounces of gold; 10,000 ounces of silver; one +gold tea service, and one silver tea service; +twenty horses with complete trappings, and +twenty without. The parents of the lady +receive also 100 ounces of gold; one gold tea +set; 5,000 taels of silver; one silver tea set; +500 pieces of silk; 1,000 pieces of cotton material; +six horses, completely harnessed; a helmet +and cuirass; a bow and a quiver, with arrows; +each parent one Court dress for summer, and +one for winter, one every-day dress, and a sable +coat. The brothers and servants of the bride +also receive rich and costly presents.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">From Dover to Calais in Twenty-five +Minutes.</span>—A novel ship has recently been invented +by Mr. Thomas Hitt, of Brandon, Suffolk. +She is somewhat of a semi-twin type, +one-third wider than the ordinary sailing ship, +but not so wide as a paddle-steamer. Between +the supposed divided halves, which ascend to +about eighteen inches above the water-line, is +a wheel-race, extending from bow to stern. +In the centre of this wheel-race a pit is formed, +into which the lower part of the periphery of +the wheel descends. The wheel, when rotating, +drives the water through the race, and out at +the stern, with great velocity. The maximum +result of experiments indicates that a ship of +500 tons, with a wheel of 50 feet diameter, +making 50 revolutions per minute, will attain +a speed of 56 knots an hour, after allowing +one-fourth for slip and other contingencies. +Although the wheel is described as making 50 +revolutions per minute, it may reach 100, more +or less. This excess of power may be utilized +for the production and storage of electricity, +to be used either for illuminating purposes, or +for propelling the ship when becalmed.</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span><span class="smcap">A Faithful Mastiff.</span>—John Templeton is a +blacksmith, who owns a fine specimen of the +English mastiff. Recently Mr. Templeton was +working at his forge, putting a new steel in +the point of a pick. The steel was slightly +burned in the heating, and, instead of welding, +flew into half-a-dozen pieces. One piece struck +the blacksmith above the right eye with such +force as to fasten itself in firmly. He staggered +and fell backwards. How long he was +unconscious he does not know, but when he +revived, the dog lay in the middle of the shop, +crying almost like a human being, and rubbing +his jaws in the dust of the floor. The piece of +steel which had struck Mr. Templeton lay a +short distance from the dog. The faithful +animal had seized the hot steel with his teeth, +and drew it from the frontal bone of Mr. +Templeton's head. The dog's mouth was +badly burned.—<i>Albany Journal.</i></p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Discoveries at Pompeii.</span>—A Naples +correspondent says—"The waxed tablets found, +together with silver vases, &c., at Pompeii, all +belong to one woman, Decidia Margaris, and +are contracts precisely similar to those found +twelve years ago belonging to one Lucio Cecilio +Giocondo; but unlike those, which were +enclosed in a strong iron box, and had undergone +a process of carbonization which preserved +their legibility for eighteen centuries, the present +ones were only folded, together with the +vases, in a thick cloth, which the rain-water had +penetrated, reducing the wood to pulp, and +wearing away the wax on which the characters +are impressed, so that only some fragments preserved +the writing; and a few days after the +discovery these too were lost, the wax separating +from the wooden tablets and breaking up +into minute particles. There remains now only +one tablet, which has been naturally preserved +by being impregnated with oxide of copper. It +is the contract for the sale of young slaves to +Decidia Margaris."—<i>Daily News.</i></p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Genuine Fast of Twenty Days.</span>—An +extraordinary case of prolonged fasting is reported +in connection with the severe weather. +On December 22nd, 1887, a peasant woman +from Opergrabern, near Vienna, went to receive +some money that was owing to her at a small +village a few miles distant. The amount was not +paid, and the woman had only four kreutzers +in her pocket, with which she bought two rolls of +bread. On the way home she was caught in a +heavy snow-storm, and took shelter in a small +hut in a vineyard. The storm continuing, she +decided to spend the night where she was, and +divested herself of some of her upper garments +to wrap up her feet. The next morning, when +she awoke, she could not rise, being partially +paralyzed by the cold. Her cries for help were +unheard, and it was only on the 11th of January +she was found by a woodcutter's wife, having +been twenty days without food. She was in a +precarious condition, but there is some hope of +her recovery.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Youthful Heroines.</span>—The Royal Humane +Society have awarded their highest honour—a +silver medal—to a young lady named Fanny +Rowe, only fifteen years of age, daughter of +the Rev. J. G. Rowe, vicar of Topcroft, Bungay, +for saving the life of a lad named Franchs, at +Neuchatel, under circumstances of great gallantry. +The lad was playing by the jetty with +his brother, when he fell into deep water. His +brother jumped in to save him, but, not being +able to swim, was soon in difficulties. A +number of men ran about crying out "Who +can swim?" but no one attempted a rescue +until Miss Rowe came up, kicked off her shoes, +but otherwise fully dressed, without a moment's +hesitation rushed into the water, swam to the +place, dived, and caught the younger brother, +but could not keep hold of him, his hair being +so short. She dived again and caught him, this +time by the ear, and brought him to the jetty, +where he was lifted out, and then she returned +and saved the elder brother. The bronze medal +was also unanimously bestowed upon Miss M. +Strachy, aged seventeen, daughter of Her +Majesty's Consul at Dresden, for saving Miss +Taylor at Sandy Island, Heligoland.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Zion Chapel, Folkestone.</span>—The New Year's +Meeting of the Sunday School took place on +January 16th. After doing justice to the tea, +the children and friends met in the chapel, +where Mr. Weeks, of Tenterden, opened the +meeting with the reading of the fifty-fifth +chapter of Isaiah and prayer. Some of the +children repeated the Epistle of James, having +learned various portions of it. Mr. Brown, of +Tadworth, spoke on the beginnings of true +religion, using the alphabet—A for attention to +various good things, and not to wickedness; +B for the Bible; C for conviction, which he +described as a sure and certain knowledge of +our sinful state, not fancies floating in the +mind, and he illustrated it by a condemned +convict's knowledge of his own sad case. Mr. +Weeks then sought to encourage the children +in the ways of obedience to parents and storing +Scripture in the memory, of which latter no +enemy could rob them. He also spoke to the +teachers and friends, giving a word of encouragement. +Mr. Smith spoke of the need of +Jesus Christ being formed in the heart as the +only hope for lost sinners, after which the +yearly prizes were handed to their respective +owners, also the gifts of clothing by an old +friend of the children. A few words of prayer +closed a happy meeting.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +E. M.</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 391px;"> +<img src="images/img076.jpg" width="391" height="500" alt="(See page 74.)" title="(See page 74.)" /> +<span class="caption">"ARE YOU SURE THAT NOTHING IS LEFT UNDONE?" (<i>See page 74.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span></p> +<h2>AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF A BARRISTER.</h2> + + +<p>I was engaged in my study one +morning, when a client of mine, +a Mr. B——, was introduced. +He was in a state of great excitement, +having heard that the Lord +Chancellor was to pronounce judgment +on his case that day.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure," he inquired, "that +nothing is left undone? If judgment is +given against me, I am a ruined man. +All my hopes are centred in its results. +On the issue hang the prospects of my +darling wife and children. Oh, tell me, +can anything further be done to, if +possible, ensure success?"</p> + +<p>I endeavoured to calm him by saying +that we were fully prepared, and that +counsel's opinion was in his favour. +This assurance having appeased him a +little, he left me, appointing to meet +again in an hour at the court. The +Chancellor had just taken his seat as I +entered, and was proceeding to give +judgment in my client's case.</p> + +<p>Casting my eyes around, I observed +poor Mr. B—— seated on a bench, immediately +opposite his lordship. He did +not recognize me, for his entire attention +was riveted on the oracle from +whence was to proceed the eagerly +wished for, but dreaded decision. To +look upon that man was painful indeed; +and although many years of professional +experience had familiarized me to such +scenes, yet I could not behold him without +emotion, and trembled to think of the +awful effect an adverse decision would +have on a mind so sensitive as his, and +wrought to the highest degree of painful +suspense. My fears were but too soon +realized. After an elaborate and carefully +considered review of the case, a +final decree was awarded against my +client. Never shall I forget the agony +of despair depicted on his countenance +at that moment as, rushing from the +court, he hissed into my ear the fearful +words, "Oh, I am undone!"</p> + +<p>It was a damp November day on +which the circumstance above narrated +occurred. Wending my way homewards +through Chancery Lane, the words of my +unfortunate client recurred to me. "Will +<i>my</i> case be called on to-day?" thought +I; "and is nothing left undone to ensure +me a favourable decree at the hands of +that eternal Judge before whom I must +stand, sooner or later?"</p> + +<p>Dear reader, you and I have both a +case of vital importance, the judgment +of which will be eternal happiness or +eternal misery. If we have no Friend +at court, no skilful Advocate to plead, +anything of our own—any pleadings +based upon our own works or performances—will +most assuredly fail. A form +without the power will not stand the test +of that tremendous, awful day. All false +coverings will then be stripped off. +Naked, ruined, and undone for ever must +we be unless found clothed with the +righteousness of Jesus Christ, the God-Man. +The lines of one of our poets have +aptly described the case—</p> + +<p> +"A debtor to Jehovah's law,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">My soul by nature stood,</span><br /> +And Justice was about to draw<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">His sword to shed my blood.</span><br /> +<br /> +"'Stand forth! Stand forth!' he sternly cried,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'And pay me what you owe!'</span><br /> +"'Tis done,' said Jesus, 'for I died;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Loose him, and let him go!'"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>What a solemn consideration it is +that I who write and you who read will +stand in one case or the other—"Loose +him, and let him go!" or, "Bind him +hand and foot, and cast him into outer +darkness!" I ask myself—and may I +ask you—Does it cause you any searchings +of heart, any anxious thoughts, any +tossings to and fro upon your bed? +"How stands the case, my soul, with +thee?" Are matters right between God<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +and thy soul? Have I any reason to +hope that I shall be acquitted? Or are +you, Gallio-like, caring for none of these +things, "dancing the hellward road +apace"? This we are sure of—that the +judgment of God will be according to +truth, and those who die in their sins, +destitute of an interest and hope in +Christ, will have to confess that the +Judge of all the earth has done right. +Your debts are great—too great for you +ever to pay. Are you trying to wipe off +part of the score, endeavouring to do +your best, and trusting Jesus Christ to +make up the rest? Hopeless case, +for—</p> + +<p> +"Could thy zeal no respite know,<br /> +Could thy tears for ever flow,<br /> +All for sin could not atone;<br /> +Christ must save, and Christ alone."<br /> +</p> + +<p>But if, from a sense of your true state +and condition, your entirely bankrupt +state, with no hope or help in yourself, +you have fallen down at Jesus' feet, +crying, "Lord, save, or I perish!" you +are on safe ground. Thy Surety paid +for thee; and thou shalt know it in His +own time, to the joy of thy heart.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">A Barrister.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>MODES OF TRAVEL IN PERSIA.</h2> + + +<p>There are two modes of travel in +Persia, caravan and chappah. +The former is slow, at the pace +which loaded mules can follow, +say twenty-five miles a day. To travel +in caravan means not to go with a large +company, but in this leisurely manner. +Hence our word "caravan," because +large trains in the East must necessarily +travel in caravan style.</p> + +<p>Chappah travelling, on the other +hand, means rapid going, at an average +of eighty to a hundred and fifty miles +per diem. This can only be done by +riding at a steady gallop—horses rarely +trot in the East—and changing horses +at short intervals. The post carriers +invariably travel chappah.</p> + +<p>The method of measuring distances +in Persia is by farsakhs, a farsakh representing +four miles. Post stations are +placed four farsakhs, or sixteen miles +apart, and more rarely five farsakhs. +Fresh relays of horses are kept in readiness +at these stations. The post carriers, +accompanied by a single attendant, +both heavily armed, and wielding a +fierce whip of hide, carry the mail in +saddle bags. On arriving at a station +they dismount, take a hasty cup of tea +which is in readiness, and a few pulls +at the kalian, or water-pipe. Then the +horses are led out, and the postman +starts for another sixteen-mile gallop +over the mountain and plain, through +forest and waste. These postmen are, +so far as I could learn, very faithful and +courageous, as they must need be, for +they are sometimes attacked and killed, +especially when it had leaked out that +they are carrying money. Thus they go +through Persia, and through life, on +horseback. In summer, they have to +rest during the heat of the day, but, +summer and winter, they gallop all +night, and practically have no rest until +the end of the journey. The post rider +from Teheran to Bushire goes nearly +seven hundred miles before he can take +a solid sleep.—<i>S. G. W. Benjamin.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE VALUE OF WORK.</h2> + + +<p>Earn your own bread, and see how +sweet it will be! Work, and see how +well you will be! Work, and see how +cheerful you will be! Work, and see +how independent you will be! Work, +and see how happy your family will be! +Work, and, instead of repining at Providence, +you may, perhaps, find yourself +offering up thanks for all the numerous +blessings you enjoy.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> +<h2>COUSIN SUSAN'S NOTE-BOOK JOTTINGS ON THE LIFE AND +WORK OF FATHER CHINIQUY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Cow, the Sucking Pig, and Purgatory.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">"<i>The tree is known by its fruit.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Matthew</span> xii. 33.</p> + + +<p>Mr. Chiniquy died very suddenly, +when his little son +Charlie was only twelve years +old. The boy had been fetched home +from the house of a relative who lived at +a distance, and where he had attended +a good school, kept by a Protestant +gentleman. He had gone through +various lessons with his father, and +delighted him with the progress he had +made. They had read the fifteenth +chapter of Luke, and retired to rest +full of joy; but before the next day +dawned, the boy awoke to his mother's +heartrending cry, "Oh, my dear child, +you have no more a father! He is +dead!"</p> + +<p>Poor child! He felt he could not believe +it. He ran to his father's bed, +kissed him, pressed his hands, and +prayed that he might live. But it was +too true. The breath had fled, and only +a lifeless corpse remained.</p> + +<p>After such overwhelming sorrow, surely +they needed the tenderest sympathy; but +only a few days elapsed before the parish +priest (who had, years before, tried to get +their Bible away) called on them, and, +after a few cold words, he said that something +was owing for the prayers that had +been offered for the departed, and he +would be glad to receive it! Poor Mrs. +Chiniquy assured him that, although her +husband had received a considerable income +as a notary, yet their expenses had +been so heavy that he had left her little +besides debts. The house he had had +built, and the piece of land he purchased +not long ago, were only half paid for, +"and I fear," said she, "I shall lose +them both. I hope, sir," she added, +"that you are not the man to take away +from us our last piece of bread."</p> + +<p>"But, madam," was the cruel answer, +"the money for the masses offered for +the rest of your husband's soul must be +paid!"</p> + +<p>For some time the widow sat shedding +silent tears. At length she raised +her tearful eyes, and said, "Sir, you see +that cow in the meadow? Her milk, +and the butter made from it, form the +principal part of my children's food. I +hope you will not take her away from us. +If, however, such a sacrifice must be +made to deliver my poor husband's soul +from purgatory, take her as the payment +of the masses to be offered to extinguish +those devouring flames."</p> + +<p>"Very well, madam," said the priest, +rising, and walking out.</p> + +<p>They anxiously watched to see what +he would do; and, to their horror, he +went straight to the meadow and drove +away their useful and cherished favourite. +Poor Mrs. Chiniquy nearly fainted; and +when able to speak, she said—</p> + +<p>"Dear child, if ever you become a +priest, never be so hard-hearted towards +poor widows as are the priests of to-day."</p> + +<p>Those words were never forgotten, as +our next story will show.</p> + +<p>Many years had passed. The child +had become a man and a priest, when +he was invited to preach a course of +three sermons in the church of a rich +curate. On the second day, walking +with him to the parsonage, a very poor, +ragged, and miserable man took off his +hat, and tremblingly addressed the +curate, saying—</p> + +<p>"You know, sir, that my poor wife +died, and was buried ten days ago; but +I was too poor to have a funeral service +sung for her, and I fear she is in purgatory. +Almost every night I see her in my +dreams in burning flames, and she cries<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +to me to help her. Will you be so kind +as to sing that high mass for her?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," answered the curate. +"Your wife is suffering in purgatory. +Give me five dollars, and I will sing the +mass to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>The poor man replied that his wife +had long been ill, and he was too distressed +to pay the money, and begged +that five low masses might be said for +her. The priest told him he must pay +five shillings for them, but the wretched +man declared he had no money, and that +he and his children were starving.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said the curate, "I saw +two beautiful sucking pigs before your +house this morning. Give me one of +them."</p> + +<p>"Those pigs, sir," said the man, +"were given me by a charitable neighbour, +that I might raise them for my +children's food next winter. They will +surely starve if I give my pigs away."</p> + +<p>Chiniquy could not wait to hear the +conclusion of the shameful bargain. He +hurried away to his room, refused to +take tea, and spent a sleepless night +wondering whether the Church of Rome +could be the Church of Christ. Next +morning, he gave five dollars to the +poor man, and went breakfastless to +church.</p> + +<p>After preaching, he was led by the +curate to his dining-room. The long +fast had made him very hungry, and the +foremost dish was a delicious sucking +pig. He had cut a piece, and was just +about to eat, when the scene of yesterday +flashed across his mind, and he inquired, +"Was this <i>that</i> sucking pig?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied the curate, with a +hearty laugh, "it is just that. If we +cannot take the poor woman's soul out +of purgatory, we will, at all events, eat +a fine sucking pig."</p> + +<p>The priestly guests all joined in the +laugh except Chiniquy, who, with a burst +of righteous indignation, pushed his +plate away, and in a few thrilling words +told them what he thought of the whole +proceeding. Of course they were very +angry; but the sucking pig was untouched +by any one.</p> + +<p>Thus were Chiniquy's eyes gradually +opened, and he "saw men as trees walking," +until the final touch gave him to +"see all things clearly."</p> + +<p>Lord, open Thou our eyes, and give +us clearer and yet clearer light, that we +not only may forsake every evil way, but +may follow Thee with full purpose of +heart.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS.</h2> + + +<p> +What is earth, sexton? A place to dig graves.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, rich man? A place to work slaves.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, grey-beard? A place to grow old.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, miser? A place to dig gold.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, schoolboy? A place for my play.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, maiden? A place to be gay.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, seamstress? A place where I weep.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, sluggard? A good place to sleep.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, soldier? A place for a battle.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, herdsman? A place to raise cattle.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, widow? A place of true sorrow.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, tradesman? I'll tell you to-morrow.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, sick man? 'Tis nothing to me.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, sailor? My home is the sea.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, statesman? A place to win fame.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, author? I'll write there my name.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, monarch? For my realm 'tis given.<br /> +<br /> +What is earth, Christian? The gateway of heaven.<br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> +<h2>SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LORD'S GRACIOUS DEALINGS WITH MARY STUBBS,</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">WHO DIED AT GODMANCHESTER, DECEMBER 19TH, 1887, AGED TWENTY-FOUR +YEARS.</span></h3> + + +<p>We cannot say when, or by what +means, the Lord first implanted +the seed of eternal life in our +sister's soul; but as in nature, +so in grace—there is first the dropping +of the seed, then the blade and the ear, +and after that, the full corn in the ear; +the full corn in many, as in our sister's +case, not appearing until they are laid +down by a fatal disease.</p> + +<p>By letters which I received from her +the last few years, I had a hope the seed +was sown from the love which she manifested +to the truth and people of God. +At the same time, many of her words and +actions manifested much impatience, +showing that she was a child of fallen +Adam, and that she was under another +influence than the Holy Spirit of God. +This was a trial to us, giving us many +errands to the throne of grace, not knowing +what the end might be; and not only +was it a grief to us, but also to herself.</p> + +<p>Some months ago, writing to me, she +said, "I feel so very unhappy. I wish I +had never been born, for I do not feel +fit to live, nor yet fit to die."</p> + +<p>Her sister, with whom she lived, says, +"Once or twice before her last affliction +have we found her weeping, after she +returned from the house of God—once +especially, when Mr. Oldfield spoke +from the words, 'Thou shalt preserve +me from trouble,' at which time she +seemed sorely tried; and referring to it +on her dying bed, said, 'Satan did +tempt me so then; but what a mercy God +preserved me! I felt that, if I had died +then, I must have been lost.'"</p> + +<p>At another time she found her in great +distress, and, inquiring the cause, she +said, "I feel so ill! I do not think I +shall live long, and I know I am not +prepared to die."</p> + +<p>About three weeks after this, she went +to St. Ives' anniversary, and heard Mr. +Hull preach from the text, "In this place +will I give you peace." The words +seemed to have an abiding-place in her +heart, and proved a promise to her in +her affliction. They were as "bread +cast upon the waters, found and enjoyed +after many days." When she returned +from St. Ives, she looked quite ill, and +said, "It seems as though I am not to +go anywhere and enjoy myself."</p> + +<p>A few weeks after this, she took to her +room, which she never left again. But, +as her bodily strength decreased, she +became more and more anxious about +eternal things, and said to her sister and +one of the members, who were sitting +with her, "I do not think I shall get +better. If I was sure I should go to +heaven, I should not mind dying; but I +keep thinking of all my past sins, and +all that I have done and said. Do you +think the Lord will forgive?" and with +great earnestness she exclaimed, "Oh, +do tell me—do you think He will forgive +all my sins, and take me to heaven?" +They told her they felt sure, if the Lord +had made her sins a burden to her, and +enabled her to beg of Him to cleanse +her in His precious blood, He would, in +His own time, answer her petitions, +and they encouraged her to give Him +no rest until He spoke home peace and +pardon to her soul.</p> + +<p>On Saturday, November 12th, Mr. +Oldfield called to see her. She asked +him if he thought the Lord would forgive +her. He assured her that, if the Lord +had made her long for His pardoning +love, He would appear for her. He had +sweet liberty in prayer on her behalf, +and, having read at her request the +twenty-seventh Psalm, he inquired if she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +had any favourite hymns. She replied, +"Yes—'There is a fountain filled with +blood.'" He remarked, "The dying +thief felt he needed that fountain, and +so do you and I, Mary." She answered, +"Yes, we do."</p> + +<p>In the evening, two of her sisters +came to see her, and she exclaimed, +"What! are you both come so far to +see me? I am not worthy," and burst +into tears.</p> + +<p>On Sunday, November 13th, she said +but little during the day, but still kept +begging of the Lord to forgive her all +her sins, and take her to heaven; and in +the evening He answered her prayer, +and sweetly spoke home peace and pardon +to her heart. She exclaimed, +"Jesus has pardoned all my sins! Yes, +yes, He has told me so! I am so +happy! Oh, so happy! Jesus! Jesus! +Thou art precious to my soul! Oh, +come and take me! I long to be with +You, dear Jesus!" and, with solemn +sweetness, she added, "'Yea, though I +walk through the valley of the shadow +of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou +art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they +comfort me.'</p> + +<p> +"Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Unworthy though I be,</span><br /> +For me a rich, a free reward,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A golden harp for me.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"Jesus is 'the Chiefest among ten +thousand, and the altogether lovely.'" +Thus she laid, blessing and praising +His dear name till she was completely +exhausted.</p> + +<p>Early the next morning she said, "I +am still on this bed of affliction. The +Lord has spared me one more day, but +I hope He will soon come and fetch me. +I do so long to go, but</p> + +<p> +"I must wait a little longer,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Till His appointed time,</span><br /> +And glory in the knowledge<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That such a home is mine.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"Yes, 'that such a home is mine!' I +shall wear a white robe there, and sing +'Hallelujah! Hallelujah!'</p> + +<p> +"Yes, loudest of the crowd I'll sing,<br /> +Whilst heaven's resounding mansions ring<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With shouts of sovereign grace."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>On Monday, November 14th, I and +my brother visited her for the first time. +She was at first overcome, but soon revived, +and said, "I am so pleased to see +you both. I asked the Lord to spare +me to see you all before I died. How +kind He is to hear me!"</p> + +<p>I spent, altogether, the greatest part +of four days with her, and those will be +reckoned amongst the happiest days of +my life, though mixed with sorrow at the +thought of losing one made doubly dear +by the sweet manifestation of the spirit +of Christ in her. We could but look on +and say, "What hath God wrought!" +she herself saying, "I am not the one I +was once, but am a new creature in Christ +Jesus, for the Lord has heard my prayers, +and forgiven all my sins, and now I know +I am going to heaven," her countenance +at the same time beaming with joy.</p> + +<p>On Tuesday, November 15th, she +asked her eldest brother to read to her—</p> + +<p> +"When languor and disease invade<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">This trembling house of clay,</span><br /> +'Tis sweet to look beyond our cage,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And long to fly away,"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>which she much enjoyed.</p> + +<p>On Wednesday, November 16th, she +said to me, "Oh, Joseph, I feel Jesus is +all around me, and I know He is soon +coming to take me home. I am so happy, +and waiting to go to my home of eternal +rest."</p> + +<p>Turning to those present, she said, +"You do not mind parting with me, now +you know I am going to heaven, do +you?" and, seeing us in tears, she said, +"I cannot think what you have to +grieve about. If I were not going to +heaven, then you might grieve."</p> + +<p>At times she seemed completely lost<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +to all around, and was in sweet communion +with God, and laid blessing and +praising His dear name. The following +are only a few of the sweet words that +fell from her lips—"Oh, Jesus, I am so +happy! Thou art precious to my soul. +I long to be with Thee, dear Jesus—not +that I wish to leave my brothers and +sisters, only to come to Thee. I can +leave everything to come to Thee, dear +Jesus. Come and fetch me. Fetch me +soon, if it is Thy will; but if I must wait +a little longer, give me patience to wait +Thy time."</p> + +<p>At other times, she would repeat with +sweet feeling her favourite hymns and +chapters, amongst which were, Psalms +xxiii., xxvii., and ciii.; and hymns, "How +sweet the name of Jesus sounds," "There +is a fountain filled with blood," and +"Father, whate'er of earthly bliss." +The last verse of the latter seemed particularly +precious to her—</p> + +<p> +"Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">My life and death attend;</span><br /> +Thy presence through my journey shine,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And crown my journey's end."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>One morning, she wished her books, +&c., brought to her, that she might give +us each a parting gift, saying, "Keep +them in remembrance of me, when I am +gone to heaven to be with Jesus."</p> + +<p>On Wednesday, November 16th, in the +evening, Mr. Oldfield again saw her. +She spoke very freely to him, and said, +"Won't it be nice to depart and be with +Jesus?—much better than remaining +here. I think He will soon come and +fetch me. He has pardoned all my sins. +Yes, He told me so." He read John x. +at her wish, and spoke in prayer, which +she much enjoyed and spoke of afterwards.</p> + +<p>When I was about to leave her, she +said, "I want you all to sing, 'How +sweet the name of Jesus sounds,'" which +we did, she joining with all the strength +she had, her face being radiant with joy.</p> + +<p>Another morning she awoke, and commenced +singing several sweet hymns. +Truly she experienced the words of +Isaiah, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect +peace whose mind is stayed on +Thee."</p> + +<p>One Sunday she said, "How I should +love to get to chapel! If I ever went +again, I should like to be baptized; but +I do not think I shall have strength to go +any more. No; Jesus is going to take +me to Himself. How kind of Him! +Don't you think so? I do."</p> + +<p>On November 26th, being her eldest +sister's birthday, she wished us to get +a card for her. One being selected with +the words, "The Lord will bless His +people with peace," she said, "Yes, that +is the peace Mr. Hull spoke of at St. +Ives, and God has given me that peace."</p> + +<p>In presenting the card, she said to her +sister, "Take it from me. It will be the +last present I shall give you on your +birthday. Before another I shall be in +heaven.</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I shall soon be landed<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">On yonder shores of bliss;</span><br /> +There, with my powers expanded,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shall dwell where Jesus is."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>During the night she remarked, "How +good Jesus is in taking me away so +gently! I thought, after all I have done +and said, I should suffer much more. +My sufferings are nothing to what Christ +suffered on the cross."</p> + +<p>The next day Mr. Oldfield came, and +she wished him to read Psalm ciii.—"Bless +the Lord, O my soul"—and the +hymn commencing, "My hope is built +on nothing less." He commented on +the last verse, and spoke of the robe +prepared for her, and the glory that +awaited her in heaven.</p> + +<p>On Monday, November 28th, with +deep feeling, she said—</p> + +<p> +"E'er since by faith I saw the stream<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thy flowing wounds supply,</span><br /> +Redeeming love has been my theme,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And shall be till I die."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>One day, her doctor said he thought +her a little better. When she was told, +she burst into tears, and said, "Oh, I +do not want to get better! Dear Jesus, +do come and take me!</p> + +<p> +"Weary of earth, myself, and sin,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dear Jesus, set me free!</span><br /> +And to Thy glory take me in,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For there I long to be."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Another time she said, "I think I +shall soon reach my journey's end now. +Won't it be nice when my last day +comes? I did not think I should be +taken first, but I do now. I wonder who +will be the next? Jesus knows. I should +like to have on my tombstone, 'To depart +and be with Christ is far better,' and I +hope Mr. Oldfield will bury me; but it +little matters about my body. I shall be +singing in heaven when they are putting +my poor body in the grave."</p> + +<p>The last time Mr. Oldfield visited her +she could say but very little to him, her +cough being so incessant. He read +Psalms cxv. and cxvi., and remarked, +"The heathen have no God to cry to +in their affliction, but you have. What +a mercy!</p> + +<p> +"When your poor, lisping, stammering tongue<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lies silent in the grave,</span><br /> +Then, in a nobler, sweeter song,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">You'll sing His power to save.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"You have had a foretaste of heaven +here, haven't you?" She answered, +"Yes, I have."</p> + +<p>At times her sufferings seemed more +than she knew how to bear, and caused +her to become impatient; but afterwards +she would express much sorrow +for it, and beg earnestly of the Lord to +forgive her, and enable her to bear all +He should see fit to lay upon her, adding, +"My sufferings are nothing to what +Christ suffered."</p> + +<p>On Sunday, December 18th, she said +but little during the day, but in the evening +she wished the hundredth Psalm to +be read, and the hymn, "Oh, bless the +Lord, my soul."</p> + +<p>Between eleven and twelve o'clock at +night she said to her sisters, "I think I +shall go to-night. Yes, I feel sure I +shall." They asked her if she still felt +happy, and if Jesus was precious. She +answered, "Yes! yes!</p> + +<p> +"My hope is built on nothing less<br /> +Than Jesus' blood and righteousness."<br /> +</p> + +<p>Turning to them, she said, "Good-bye, +good-bye. Say 'Good-bye' to all for +me. I am going home! home! home! +I am going home!"</p> + +<p>She then fell asleep, to awake in a +happier world, "where the inhabitant +shall no more say, I am sick; and where +they that dwell therein shall be forgiven +their iniquity."</p> + +<p>She was interred at Godmanchester on +December 26th, 1887, many of the friends +and scholars of the Sunday School being +present.</p> + +<p>Truly, "the memory of the just is +blessed."</p> + +<div class="signature"> +J. S. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN APRIL.</h2> + + +<p> +April 1. Commit to memory Psa. xciv. 1.<br /> +<br /> +April 8. Commit to memory Psa. xciv. 2.<br /> +<br /> +April 15. Commit to memory Psa. xciv. 21.<br /> +<br /> +April 22. Commit to memory Psa. xciv. 22.<br /> +<br /> +April 29. Commit to memory Psa. xciv. 23.<br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">A Chinaman</span> applied for membership +in a San Francisco Baptist Church. In +answer to the question, "How he found +Jesus?" he is reported to have answered, +"I no find Jesus at all; He find me." +There is a great deal of theology as well +as evidence of religion in his answer.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p> +<h2>A FAMOUS DOG.</h2> + + +<p>In 1779, a young dog, who apparently +had no master, came, no +one knew how, to Caen, France, +and met there a regiment of +grenadiers starting for Italy. Urged +on, apparently by destiny, he followed +them. He was, to all appearance, a +common street cur, dirty and ugly, but +he had such a bright expression and +seemed so intelligent that they did not +hesitate to take him.</p> + +<p>His new companions forced him to act +as sentinel, to obey orders, to keep step, +to become accustomed to the sound of +fire-arms, to obey roll call, and all other +duties the soldiers were called upon to +perform. He received and ate his +rations with them, and lived in every +respect as his regiment was commanded +to do.</p> + +<p>In going to Italy, Moustache crossed +St. Bernard, at the cost of unknown +hardships, and encamped with the regiment +above Alexandria. It was here +that he was to accomplish his first great +feat of arms. A detachment of Austrians, +hidden in the Valley of Balbo, +advanced in the night to surprise the +grenadiers, and was heard by this vigilant +dog as he was making his rounds. +The soldiers were awakened by his barking. +In a moment every one was on +foot, and the enemy dislodged. To +reward Moustache, the colonel had his +name inscribed on the regimental roll, +and ordered that he should have every +day the ration of a soldier. He ordered +that there should be put on his neck a +collar bearing the name of the regiment, +and the barber was ordered to wash and +comb him every week.</p> + +<p>Some time afterwards there was a +slight engagement, and Moustache conducted +himself very bravely. He here +received his first wound—a bayonet +thrust in the shoulder. It must be said +here that Moustache was never wounded +except in front.</p> + +<p>About this time he quarrelled with the +grenadiers and deserted, because they +had left him tied in the garrison. +Taking refuge with a company of chasseurs, +he saw a disguised Austrian spy +enter the French camp. Moustache, +forgetting the insult he had received, +welcomed the stranger by springing at +his throat with much fierceness. This +action astonished all at first, but they +had time for reflection, and then remembered +the sagacity of the faithful dog. +The stranger was arrested, searched, +and found to be a spy.</p> + +<p>Moustache continued the series of his +exploits. At the battle of Austerlitz, +seeing the colour-bearer surrounded by +enemies, he flew to his rescue, defended +him as well as he could, and when the +soldier fell, pierced with bullets, enveloped +in his colours, Moustache, seizing +with his teeth that part of the glorious +flag which he could get, fairly flew past +the enemy, and brought back to his +company the blood-stained remnants. +It must be said here that a charge of +musketry had taken off one of his legs. +This saving of the flag brought him +merited honour. They took off the +collar he wore, and Marshal Lannes +ordered that they should put on him a red +ribbon, with a copper medal, bearing +this inscription on one side—"He lost a +leg at the battle of Austerlitz, and saved +the colours of his regiment." On the +other side it read—"Moustache should +be loved and honoured as a brave French +dog."</p> + +<p>As it was easy to recognise him by +his ribbon and medal, they decided that, +in whatever regiment he should present +himself, he should receive the portion of +a soldier.</p> + +<p>He took part yet in several battles, +and among others that of Essling (1809). +He made with the dragoons two campaigns, +and the brave dog fought every +time he had the opportunity. He always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +walked in front on the alert, barking +when he heard any noise, and could +not find out the cause. In the Sierra +Morena mountains, he brought back to +camp the horse of a dragoon who had +been killed. It is said that at several +times he showed this same act of intelligence.</p> + +<p>He made his last campaign with the +artillery, and was killed at the battle of +Badajoz, on March 11th, 1811, at the age +of twelve years. They buried him on +the spot where he fell, with his medal +and his ribbon. On the stone which +served as his monument they wrote—"Here +lies Moustache." These simple +words are more eloquent than the most +pompous epitaph.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>FLESH-EATING PLANTS.</h2> + + +<p>It is said that there are about a +hundred kinds of flesh-eating +plants all the world over, and of +these, three—the sundew, butterwort, +and bladderwort—grow in this +country.</p> + +<p>The member of this species best +known to British botanists is the sundew. +The leaves of this plant resemble +in shape a flat spoon, and the surface of +their blades is covered with stout, erect, +hair-like objects, each with a roundish +head, which is surrounded with a sticky +fluid. Flies are the usual prey of the +sundew. When one of these insects +touches the blade of a leaf of the plant, +the sticky points detain it, and the edges +of the blade begin bending towards the +centre, and continue to so fold themselves +until the fly is entirely enveloped +by them. After remaining in this position +for many hours, or even days, the +leaf gradually resumes its original +shape, and an examination will show +that nothing remains of the fly but the +hard parts—as the wings, outer skin, +&c. The rest of the insect has been +dissolved in the sticky secretions, and +absorbed by the plant.</p> + +<p>Several of these plants have been +placed near one another, and some have +been covered by fine gauze, so that no +flies could be caught by their leaves. +The superiority of the plants that have +been left in their natural state has +clearly proved that a supply of animal +food is not only advantageous, but +almost necessary to them. (See Psalm +civ. 24.)</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>"DRAW ME."</h2> + + +<p>"<i>No man can come to Me except the +Father, which hath sent Me, draw +him.</i>"—<span class="smcap">John</span> vi. 44.</p> + +<p>"<i>Him that cometh to Me I will in +no wise cast out.</i>"—<span class="smcap">John</span> vi. 37.</p> + +<p>"<i>I am the Door.</i>"—<span class="smcap">John</span> x. 9.</p> + +<p>"<i>Draw me, we will run after Thee.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Solomon's +Song</span> i. 4.</p> + +<p> +Oh, draw me, Holy Father,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For in Thy Word I read</span><br /> +That they who go to Jesus<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With all their guilt and need,</span><br /> +Are certainly attracted<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">By Thy almighty power,</span><br /> +To find a happy entrance<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Through heaven's Living Door.</span><br /> +<br /> +The world, which once did furnish<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The trifles I desired,</span><br /> +Now gives no satisfaction;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">There's something else required:</span><br /> +The devil would allure me<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With charms by him designed</span><br /> +To cry, "Peace! peace!" but cannot<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Relieve my troubled mind.</span><br /> +<br /> +I see no place of refuge<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To which I may retreat;</span><br /> +No home, or kindly shelter,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To rest my weary feet.</span><br /> +Where shall I go? where <i>can</i> I?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Dear Saviour, hear my plea—</span><br /> +"Draw me, and I'll run gladly;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yes, draw me unto Thee."</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">A. B.</span> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> +<h2>A BRAVE RESCUE.</h2> + + +<p>It is only within the last few weeks +that particulars have been published +in the Swiss papers of a +brave rescue effected on Mount St. +Bernard on the night of the last Sunday +in November.</p> + +<p>While a violent snow-storm was in +progress, Grand, the manager of the +hospice, noticed that his own special +dog that was alone with him in his room +became very restless, and made signs +to him to go out. He took the lantern +and fog-horn, and went out on the mountain, +the dog leading him. In a very +short time he heard a call and groaning, +and, helped by the dog, dug out of the +snow an Italian, whom he carried on his +back into the hospice.</p> + +<p>The rescued man stated that his +father, two brothers, and another Italian, +all journeying home with him over the +pass, lay buried in the snow. He had +pushed on to obtain help, but had been +overpowered by the storm. Grand made +ready and went out again. This second +search was more tedious, and led him +further away, but at last the barking +of the dog announced a discovery. It +was the Italian stranger who was now +saved and carried up to the hospice. A +third time Grand and his dog sallied out +into the tempest, and after a quarter of +an hour's search found the others, near +where the second man had been discovered. +They were quite buried under +the snow, and almost insensible. He +took the most feeble on his shoulders, +and with difficulty conducted the others +to the hospice. It was now past midnight, +and his toilsome task had occupied +Grand over four hours, in a blinding +snow-storm.</p> + +<p>A recent telegram from Geneva states +that two avalanches have fallen on the +above famous hospice of St. Bernard. +The church has been almost entirely +buried in snow. No loss of life is reported.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE MUMMY OF SESOSTRIS.</h2> + + +<p>A new Egyptian labyrinth was +some time ago discovered at a +place named Deyr-el-Baharee by +M. Maspero, an orientalist of French +nationality, who found in one of the +underground galleries, hollowed through +a mountain of granite, three sarcophagi +of the Mosaic period. They resembled +somewhat our modern coffins, except +that they were much larger and rather +clumsier in shape. But they were beautifully +adorned with images of Egyptian +gods and sacred animals, painted in +colours that were still of admirable +freshness, on a dark-brown ground. +They bore numerous inscriptions in +hieroglyphics and the demotic character, +wherefrom the clue was obtained as +to their identity.</p> + +<p>The sarcophagi, with their contents, +were transported down the Nile to Boulag, +at the gates of Cairo, and were +opened in the presence of the Khedive +and several pashas. The coil of thick +cloth in which the first mummy lay was +ripped open; then a narrow linen band +of about eight inches in breadth, that +went round and round the body several +hundred times from head to foot, was +unwound; after that, a second winding +sheet of the finest linen was with great +care cut open with scissors. At last a +head appeared, totally unlike that of +any modern human being. The description +of it is given by M. Maspero in his +report:—</p> + +<p>"The head is long and small in proportion +to the body. The crown is +utterly bald; the hair is scanty about +the temples, but grows in thick, lank +tufts on the nape. It was white before +death, but has been stained light yellow +by the sweet essences with which the +body was embalmed. The ears were +almost round, standing out from the +head, and are pierced like those of a +woman. The mouth is small, and bordered +with thick, fleshy lips, behind<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85"> </a></span> +which is a row of white teeth that were +kept clean with evident care. Whiskers +and beard are thin. They were shaved +during lifetime, but grew in the last illness, +or may-be after death. The low +forehead is narrow, and the brow prominent, +and covered with white hairs. The +eyes are small, and set close to one +another; the nose long, thin, aquiline, +and slightly flattened at the tip by the +pressure of the bandages. The temple +is hollow, the cheek-bones are prominent, +the jaw is strong, and the chin +very underhung. The face of the +mummy is certainly not an intelligent +one, and almost appears bestial; but it +has an unmistakable look of pride, doggedness, +and majesty."</p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 393px;"> +<img src="images/img088.jpg" width="393" height="500" alt="RESCUE BY DOGS OF ST. BERNARD." title="RESCUE BY DOGS OF ST. BERNARD." /> +<span class="caption">RESCUE BY DOGS OF ST. BERNARD.</span> +</div> + +<p>As regards the body, it is that of an +aged man, who was singularly vigorous +and robust, and must have lived to +nearly a hundred years of age.</p> + +<p>From the inscriptions on the coffin, it +appeared that the body it held had +reigned over Egypt for sixty-seven years, +during which time the country had +attained the pinnacle of national greatness. +The Hebrews groaned under his +oppression, and hundreds of thousands, +while employed to build the city of +Ramesis, had died under the taskmasters' +lash. This mummy was the greatest +among the Pharaohs—Sesostris. He +was found in a wonderful state of preservation, +after having remained in that +coffin for thirty-five centuries.</p> + +<p>The second mummy proved to be that +of Rameses III.</p> + +<p>The third mummy became putrid from +exposure to air, and was accordingly +buried by M. Maspero. It turned out +to be that of a queen named Nofritari, +of the eighteenth dynasty.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">When</span> thy hand hath done a good +act, ask thy heart whether it is well +done.—<i>Fuller.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>"THIS IS THE WAY; WALK YE IN IT."</h2> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Psalm</span> cxix. 9.)</p> + + +<p> +Wherewith shall the inquiring youth<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Attempt to cleanse his way?</span><br /> +This question asked the lips of Truth,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And many since that day.</span><br /> +<br /> +The answer's ready for the meek,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And easy to be found;</span><br /> +No far-fetched knowledge need you seek<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">On false, on foreign ground.</span><br /> +<br /> +Take heed unto your steps, dear friend,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The Bible does declare;</span><br /> +May you unto God's Word attend<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With energy and prayer.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Take heed unto thyself," wrote Paul,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"And to the doctrines, too";</span><br /> +Young Timothy obeyed the call,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And God's salvation knew.</span><br /> +<br /> +Friend, you may study well the law,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And try to do your best;</span><br /> +Remember, you will have to know<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">This lesson with the rest.</span><br /> +<br /> +But if you find yourself at last<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A guiltier sinner still,</span><br /> +The Gospel is revealed for such—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Come, whosoever will."</span><br /> +<br /> +Yes, there the secret is made known—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The remedy you need—</span><br /> +The precious blood of Christ alone<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Can cleanse thought, word, and deed.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;">M. E. S.</span><br /> +<i>Corby.</i> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2>"THOU, GOD, SEEST ME!"</h2> + + +<p>"George," said a big boy, winking +hard at his curly-headed little comrade, +"you may pick me some of those +apples. Your father has fallen asleep +over his book in the study." George +raised his fearless, honest eyes to the +older lad's face, and replied, "My +Father is father's Father too, and He +neither slumbers nor sleeps" (Psa. cxxi. +4). George's Father was the all-seeing +God.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> +<h2>A VISIT TO THE IDRIAN MINES.</h2> + + +<p>After passing through several +parts of the Alps, and having +visited Germany, I thought I +could not return home without +visiting those dreadful subterraneous +caverns, where thousands are condemned +to reside, shut out from all +hopes of ever seeing the cheerful light +of the sun, and obliged to toil out a +miserable life under the whips of imperious +task-masters.</p> + +<p>Imagine to yourself a hole in the +side of a mountain, about five yards +over. Down this you are lowered in a +kind of bucket to a depth of more than +one hundred fathoms, the prospect growing +still more gloomy, yet still widening +as you descend. At length, after swinging +in terrible suspense for some time in +this precarious situation, you reach the +bottom, and tread on the ground, which, +by its hollow sound under your feet, and +the reverberations of the echo, seems +thundering at every step you take. In +this gloomy and frightful solitude you +are enlightened by the feeble gleam of +lamps, here and there dispersed, so as +that the wretched inhabitants of these +mansions can go from one place to +another without a guide; though I +could scarcely discern, for some time, +anything—not even the person who came +to show me these scenes of horror.</p> + +<p>From this description, I suppose you +have but a disagreeable idea of the +place; yet let me assure you that it is +a palace, if the habitation be compared +with the inhabitants. Such wretches my +eyes never yet beheld. The blackness +of their visages only serves to cover a +horrid paleness, caused by the noxious +qualities of the mineral they are employed +in procuring.</p> + +<p>As they, in general, consist of malefactors, +condemned for life to this task, +they are fed at the public expense; but +seldom consume much provision, as +they lose their appetites in a short time, +and commonly, in about two years, expire, +through a total contraction of all +the joints.</p> + +<p>In this horrid mansion I walked after +my guide for some time, pondering on +the strange tyranny and avarice of mankind, +when I was accosted by a voice +behind me, calling me by name, and +inquiring after my health with the most +cordial affection. I turned, and saw a +creature all black and hideous, who approached +me, and, with a piteous accent, +said, "Ah! Everard, do you not know +me?" What was my surprise when, +through the veil of this wretchedness, I +discovered the features of a dear old +friend. I flew to him with affection, and, +after a tear of condolence, asked him +how he came there. To this he replied +that, having fought a duel with an +officer of the Austrian Infantry, against +the Emperor's command, and having +left him for dead, he was obliged to flee +into the forests of Istria, where he was +first taken, and afterwards sheltered by +some banditti, who had long infested +that quarter. With these he lived nine +months, till, by a close investiture of the +place in which they were concealed, and +after a very obstinate resistance, in +which the greater part of them were +killed, he was taken, and carried to +Vienna, in order to be broken alive upon +the wheel. However, upon arriving at +the capital, he was quickly known, and +several of the associates of his accusation +and danger witnessing his innocence, +his punishment of the rack was +changed into that of perpetual banishment +and labour in the mines of Idria.</p> + +<p>As my old friend was giving me this +account, a young woman came up to him +who at once I perceived to be born for +a better fortune. The dreadful situation +of this place was not able to destroy +her beauty; and, even in this scene of +wretchedness, she seemed to have charms +sufficient to grace the most brilliant<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +assembly. This lady was, in fact, +daughter to one of the first families in +Germany; and having tried every means +to procure her husband's pardon without +effect, was at last resolved to share his +miseries, as she could not relieve them. +She accordingly descended with him +into these mansions, whence few of the +living return, despising the splendour +of opulence, and contented with the +consciousness of her own constancy.</p> + +<p>I was afterwards spectator of the most +affecting scene I ever beheld. In the +course of some days after my visiting +the gloomy mansion I have represented +to you, a person came post from Vienna +to the Idrian bottom, who was followed +by a second, and he by a third. The +first inquiry was after my unfortunate +friend, and I, happening to overhear +the demand, gave them the first intelligence. +Two of these were the brother and +cousin of the lady; the third was an +intimate acquaintance and fellow-soldier +of my friend. They came with his +pardon, which had been procured by the +general with whom the duel had been +fought, and who was perfectly cured of +his wounds. I led him, with all the +expedition of joy, down to this dreary +abode, presented to him his friends, and +informed him of the happy change of +his circumstances. It would be impossible +to describe the joy that brightened +upon his grief-worn countenance, nor +were the young lady's emotions less vivid +at seeing her friends, and hearing of her +husband's liberty.</p> + +<p>Some hours were employed in mending +the appearance of this faithful couple; +nor could I, without a tear, behold my +friend taking leave of the former wretched +companions of his toil. To one he left +his mattock, to another his working +clothes, and to a third such utensils as +were necessary for him in that situation. +We soon emerged from the mine, where +he once again revisited the light of the +sun, that he had totally despaired of ever +seeing again. A post-chaise and four +were ready the next morning to take +them to Vienna, where, I am since informed +by a letter from himself, they are +returned. The Emperor has again taken +him into favour, his fortune and rank are +restored, and he and his fair partner +have now the pleasing satisfaction of +feeling happiness with double relish, as +they once knew what it was to be miserable.—<i>Selected.</i></p> + +<p>["What a happy deliverance!" say +you. Ah! but it is only a faint emblem +of that deliverance which Jesus wrought. +These people were delivered from sufferings +which would only have been for a +short time, but Jesus died to deliver His +people from the wrath to come—the fire +that shall not be quenched.</p> + +<p>Reader, have you been brought to +Him? Can you say, "He loved me, +and gave Himself for me"? or are you +without hope of eternal life? Oh, that +you may seek to win Christ, and be found +in Him!—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span>]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>Page 66.</i>)</p> + + +<p> +"<i>Thy will be done.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Matthew</span> +xxvi. 42.<br /> +<br /> +T imæus Mark x. 46.<br /> +H arp Genesis iv. 21.<br /> +Y ear Leviticus xxv. 4.<br /> +<br /> +W hale Job vii. 12.<br /> +I nfidel 2 Corinthians vi. 15.<br /> +L atin Luke xxiii. 38.<br /> +L aban Genesis xxix. 10.<br /> +<br /> +B ehemoth Job xl. 15.<br /> +E phraim Genesis xli. 52.<br /> +<br /> +D og Exodus xi. 7.<br /> +O nyx Genesis ii. 12.<br /> +N oon Solomon's Song i. 7.<br /> +E pistle 2 Corinthians iii. 1.<br /> +<br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Harry Frederick Forfeitt</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">(Aged 10 years).</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><i>Thong, near Gravesend.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span></p> +<h2>AN ENCOURAGING SUNDAY SCHOOL GATHERING.</h2> + + +<p>The twelfth annual meeting of the +Sunday School, Devonshire Road +Chapel, Greenwich, was held on +February 8th. The singing of a +hymn was followed by the reading of +Psalm xix. by Mr. Boorne, the Pastor, +and prayer by Mr. Joseph Whittome.</p> + +<p>Mr. Boorne, in his remarks, referred +to Pharaoh's desire to keep the children +in Egypt, even if the God of Israel compelled +him to let their parents go. But +they also had to come out from bondage.</p> + +<p>He said a phrase was sometimes used +to hinder the planting of Sunday Schools, +namely, "that they are often only a +nursery for the Church." His opinion +was, that a Sunday School might be put +to a much worse use. He thought it a +good and desirable thing when it was +so; and scholars taught of God, as well +as by their teachers, passed from the +Sunday School into the Church.</p> + +<p>The Secretary and Acting-Superintendent, +Mr. Samuel Boorne, then read +the report. He noted four encouraging +facts. The increase of numbers—twenty +new scholars, making 140 in all. That +the infant class, the <i>feeder</i> of the school, +was increasing. The manifest interest +taken in their school by many of the +scholars, for, though it was twelve +years old, some of the original scholars +were still connected with the Bible +Classes. Her Majesty's Jubilee year +was commemorated by the gift to each +child of an ornamental card, on which +was printed the Coronation Oath, taken +by Her Majesty on her accession, to preserve +the Protestant liberties of her +country. It was put into a gilt frame, +and was much appreciated by the +scholars. The collecting cards for the +Aged Pilgrims' Friend Society, issued +this year <i>by request</i>, and always a +voluntary effort on the part of the +children, resulted in £6 10s.</p> + +<p>Mr. Marshall, of Clifton, then interested +many by his pleasant and solemn +remarks. The <i>possibilities</i> for the future +represented by such a gathering of boys +and girls formed a fitting theme. He +hoped there were none present who +would be the means of breaking their +parents' hearts. A page from the life of +a youth who really did do it, and who +traced the beginning of his evil doings +to <i>drink</i>, was pointed and solemn, Mr. +Marshall saying it was his conviction +that children should never be allowed to +acquire a taste for so dangerous a luxury. +He said he was a total abstainer himself, +and did not think—and probably the +audience agreed with him—he looked +any the worse for it.</p> + +<p>His concluding words will be remembered. +After fifty years' experience of +the love and ways of God, he testified to +young and old that there was no happiness +in anything but the knowledge of +God in Christ. It surpasses and eclipses +all. "He will do everything for those +who are His."</p> + +<p>He then addressed a few words to the +teachers, advising them to stick to the +Word of God. The Holy Spirit was able +to teach even children. He once baptized +a girl of fourteen, of whom he could say +he <i>knew</i> she was a vessel of mercy; and +why should he keep her out of the +privileges of the Lord's people? He +would not hesitate to baptize a child of +ten if he or she gave sufficient evidence +that they knew something of their own +sinfulness, and something of the Lord +Jesus. "Can any man forbid water, +that these should not be baptized, which +have received the Holy Ghost as well as +we?"</p> + +<p>Mr. Wilmshurst then began his address +by reminding his young friends of +the many happy Sundays they had spent +together. What pleasant gatherings they +were! He had not forgotten them, if +they had. But now he wished to speak +of a most <i>remarkable</i> gathering of +people. He referred to the four hundred<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +men who gathered to David in the cave +Adullam (1 Sam. xxii. 1, 2). The remarkable +points were these:—</p> + +<p>First, they were all remarkably <i>poor</i>—"in +debt"—and bankrupts in those +days were liable to be taken for bondmen, +or slaves (see 2 Kings iv. 1). We are +all in debt to God, and have "nothing +to pay." We add to it hourly, and unless +the heavy debt is paid by us (which +is <i>impossible</i>), or by Another, we shall +be shut up for ever in prison with Satan +and his angels.</p> + +<p>Secondly, these men were remarkably +<i>discontented</i>—discontented with Saul, +the reigning king, his service, and his +rewards; and they came to David, an +uncrowned king, with no apparent advantage +to offer them. True type of +those who, like Moses in a similar case, +have "<i>chosen</i> rather to suffer affliction +with the people of God, than to enjoy the +pleasures of sin for a season."</p> + +<p>Thirdly, they were in remarkable +<i>distress</i>. So are all those who come to +King Jesus—a distress which others +cannot understand, and often cannot +account for. "What must I do to be +saved?" is a strange trouble to many.</p> + +<p>Fourthly, they had remarkable <i>desires</i>. +They wished to find David, to dwell with +him, and have him for their leader and +captain. And David himself was a +fugitive, hunted by Saul—poor, powerless, +and hidden away in a cave in a +mountain, where, probably, it was very +difficult to find him. So there are some +(only a few compared with the number of +the people of the land, like David's four +hundred) whose hearts are set on finding +Jesus. They wish to be near Him +always. He (like David) is difficult to +find. He must be usually searched for +"as for hid treasures" (Prov. ii. 4), but +when found, He becomes their Captain.</p> + +<p>Fifthly, these men had a remarkable +<i>reception</i>. They had no good characters—nothing +to recommend them—but they +were received. So Jesus also "receiveth +sinners and eateth with them." As the +Pharisees despised Jesus for keeping +such company, so Saul and his servants +despised David. Jesus says, "Him +that <i>cometh to Me</i> I will in no wise cast +out."</p> + +<p>The reception of the four hundred +was also remarkable because they were +<i>uninvited</i>. But here the type fails. +Jesus <i>has</i> invited those who "come" to +Him (see Matt. xi. 28).</p> + +<p>Sixthly, the men made remarkable +<i>soldiers</i>. Their doings are recorded in +2 Samuel xxiii., and the doings and +victories of the good soldiers of Jesus +Christ are to be found in Hebrews xi. +David's soldiers did not live <i>idle</i> lives in +the cave, nor do Christ's soldiers have +peace always. They have to "fight the +good fight of faith" with "the sword of +the Spirit, which is the Word of God," +and the bow of <i>prayer</i>. They fight, +however, with their Captain's eye upon +them (see Psa. xxxiv. 15).</p> + +<p>Lastly, they were remarkably <i>rewarded</i>. +When David came to the throne, they +were put in positions of honour. The +visible reward of Christ's followers is +yet to come (Dan. vii. 22, 27; Matt. +xix. 28; Luke xxii. 29, 30). He has +promised also to give them "manifold +more in <i>this present time</i>," as well as +"life everlasting" (Luke xviii. 28-30).</p> + +<p>The prizes were then distributed by +the Pastor, and after a concluding word +of prayer, this encouraging meeting was +brought to a close.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +E. M. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE WISE AND FOOLISH BUILDERS.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Matthew</span> vii. 24-29.)</p> + + +<p> +This is a wilderness of sand,<br /> +With driving winds on every hand;<br /> +How many build their houses here,<br /> +Nor seem the coming storm to fear!<br /> +<br /> +There is a sure Foundation-Stone;<br /> +May I be builded thereupon!<br /> +Then shall I stand the last dread shock,<br /> +Safe on the Everlasting Rock. +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span></p> +<h2>BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + + +<p>The name of a river.</p> + +<p>A place where all Jews were commanded +to depart from.</p> + +<p>A king to whom the children of Israel +sent a present.</p> + +<p>What did Abimelech take with him +when he went up Mount Zalmon?</p> + +<p>What did the Lord say the strong +shall be as?</p> + +<p>A mighty man of valour.</p> + +<p>One of David's children.</p> + +<p>Name one of Jacob's sons.</p> + +<p>A brother of Tubal.</p> + +<p>One of the cities which the children of +Reuben built.</p> + +<p>A mountain.</p> + +<p>What did Jesus say a disciple should +be called?</p> + +<p>That which was to be burned always.</p> + +<p>A place where David dwelt.</p> + +<p>One of the cities which the children of +Gad built.</p> + +<p>Of what tribe was Hiram?</p> + +<p>What did the Lord say should not +cease while the earth remaineth?</p> + +<p>The name of a thing declared to be a +mocker (spell it backwards).</p> + +<p>One who slew, in the valley of salt, +eighteen thousand.</p> + +<p>That which remains to the people of +God.</p> + +<p>A place where the children of Israel +provoked the Lord to wrath.</p> + +<p>A wicked king.</p> + +<p>The place where the father of Gideon +dwelt.</p> + +<p>One whom the Lord blessed.</p> + +<p>A bird that found no rest save in one +place.</p> + +<p><br />The initials and finals will form a +prayer.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Alice Cole.</span><br /> +<i>Basingstoke.</i> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> law of love requires us to sacrifice +our own comfort to promote the +happiness of others.—<i>Albert Barnes.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>OUR BIBLE CLASS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Mental Eyes: Darkened and +Illuminated.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Matthew</span> vi. 22, 23.)</p> + + +<p>Light sometimes means that +which <i>gives</i>, sometimes that +which <i>receives</i> or <i>reflects</i>, light; +as the sun is the light of the +world, and the windows through which +he shines are the lights of the room and +the house. Our eyes are the lights, or +windows, of our body. Through them we +look out upon the world around us; and +light, knowledge, and pleasure come in +to us from what we see, as well as what +we hear.</p> + +<p>Jesus here refers to the eyes of the +mind—the understanding. How often, +when a difficult matter has been explained, +we say, "Oh, yes; I see it +all now!" and yet the eyes behold no +new object. We mean that we now +<i>understand</i> what puzzled us so much +before.</p> + +<p>Thus, in these two verses we are told +about <i>minds</i> that are darkened, and +also about <i>understandings</i> that are enlightened +with the light of life.</p> + +<p>"If the light that is in thee be darkness, +how great is that darkness!" If +the windows are bricked up, no ray of +light can force an entrance, even at +noonday, into the darkened rooms; or, +if the casements are thickly curtained, +or closely shuttered, how dark the house +must be! So sin of some kind—pride, +prejudice, or superstition—darkens the +sinner's understanding, shuts out the +light of heavenly truth, and lulls him to +sleep in the arms of the wicked one—the +sleep of death.</p> + +<p>People often tell us that we can do +something to enlighten our own understanding. +We can unfasten the shutters, +or draw back the curtains, and let in +the light. Alas! unless the grace of +God has reached us in its almighty +power, we do not <i>want</i> the light. Our +deeds are evil, and the light that makes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +them manifest is hateful (see John iii. +18, 19). The thief, the murderer, the +coiner of bad money, and all who are +knowingly guilty of wrong-doing, love +darkness, secresy, and concealment +"rather than light"; and this is our +"condemnation," as fallen creatures—we +love the darkness, and we shun +God's holy light. "Having the understanding +darkened, being alienated [or +estranged] from the life of God through +the ignorance that is in them, because +of the hardness of their heart" (Eph. +iv. 18). Such was <i>our</i> state by nature. +What are our feelings now?</p> + +<p>Saul of Tarsus, as a Pharisee, was +learned, intelligent, and moral; but how +dark, how blind, he was in those days! +Jesus, God's beloved Son, was the Object +of his hatred. The altogether Lovely +One had no beauty at all for him, and +the children of God he viewed as enemies +whom he felt bound to conquer and destroy. +How great his darkness was—the +darkness of prejudice and pride!</p> + +<p>Chiniquy, the Romish priest, of whom +some of us have heard so much, was +blinded by <i>superstition</i> for many a year, +and even the light of the Bible, as he +read and studied it, could not remove +that darkness till God Himself said, +"Let there be light," and made the +night of superstitious error flee away.</p> + +<p>Then minds are blinded as was +Balaam's of old, and the Pharisees, to +whom Christ said, "If ye were blind"—that +is, if they had not heard His words, +and seen His works (see John xv. 22, +24)—"ye had not had sin"—you would +have been <i>comparatively</i> free from +blame—"but now ye say, We see; +therefore your sin remaineth."</p> + +<p>They hated the light they had, and +closed their eyes against it. As the +proverb says, "None are so blind as +those who will not see."</p> + +<p>But "God, who commanded light to +shine out of darkness [at the world's +creation], hath shined in our hearts," +wrote the Apostle Paul (2 Cor. iv. 6), +"to give the light of the knowledge of +the glory of God in the face of Jesus +Christ."</p> + +<p>The once blinded Pharisee could see +now, and how different were all his feelings! +His own righteousness was cast +away. Jesus was precious to his heart, +and Christians were his "own company," +his beloved friends.</p> + +<p>No darkness is too dense, no barrier +too strong, for almighty grace to remove. +Has the Sun of Righteousness arisen in +our hearts? How may we know? Jesus +tells us (John iii. 21)—"He that doeth +truth cometh to the light." God is +Light, and His Word is a light that +makes all things manifest. It shows +sin, how black it is. It reveals the +hollowness of the world, the glory of +Christ. It points out our dangers, our +disease, our wants, and our foes; while +it sets forth the remedy of all our ills, +the great Refuge and Deliverer who can +save unto the uttermost all who confide +in Him.</p> + +<p>Do we try ourselves by the Scriptures? +Abraham compared himself to "dust +and ashes"—worthless. Job said, "I +have heard of Thee by the hearing of +the ear, but now mine eye seeth Thee, +wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in +dust and ashes" (Job xlii. 5, 6). David, +king of Israel, said, "I am poor, and +needy." Are we anything like these +saints of God? God says, He "will +give strength to those who have no +might," will "fill the hungry with good +things," and for His own name's sake +will bless those who feel themselves unworthy +of His favour. Do these promises +suit us? Are we glad that God's +mercy is so free? And do we, like the +Psalmist, "esteem <i>all</i> His precepts +concerning all things to be right, and +hate every false way"? (Psa. cxix. 128.) +If so, we are children of the light, and, +while we examine ourselves, we shall +pray God to search and try us, and lead +us in His everlasting way.</p> + +<p>Jesus said, "He that followeth Me +shall not walk in darkness" (John viii. +12), yet they who fear the Lord, and obey<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +His beloved Servant, may, for a time, +have no bright shinings on their pathway +(Isa. l. 10), just as sometimes a +change of wind, or some other cause, +may make a sudden darkness overspread +the sky. But day-darkness generally +passes off again before long. So "light +is sown for the righteous," and the glad +harvest shall certainly be reaped, for +"the path of the just is as the shining +light, which shineth more and more unto +the perfect day" (Prov. iv. 18). The +morning twilight in nature may be dim +and clouded, but when once the sun has +risen, the light grows clearer and brighter +till noon is reached; but then it begins +to decline, and evening gradually comes +on. But the spiritual day <i>ends</i> in noontide +glory, the <i>everlasting ending</i> of all +sorrow, sin, and fear; and to His people +the Saviour says, "Thy sun shall no +more go down, for the Lord shall be thy +everlasting Light, and the days of thy +mourning shall be ended" (Isa. lx. 20).</p> + +<p>May He "open our eyes, that we may +behold wondrous things out of His law." +May the "Sun of Righteousness arise +upon us, with healing in His wings," +that "in His light we may see light," +and follow Him who has "redeemed us +from all evil" to the realms of endless +day.</p> + +<p>Our next subject will be, <i>God's Independence +of All, and His Declared +Need of Some of His Creatures</i>. Compare +Psalm l. 12, with Matthew xxi. 3, +and other passages.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +Yours affectionately,<br /> +H. S. L. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN.</h2> + + +<p> +The Word of God records a potent test<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">By which a true possessor may be known—</span><br /> +<br /> +The <i>Pharisee</i> will smite his fellow's breast;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The grace-taught <i>publican</i> will smite his own.</span><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PRIZE ESSAY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Who are they that will Stand +Perfect in the Day of Judgment?</span></h3> + + +<p>Those who will stand perfect in +the day of judgment are those +who, by the grace of God, have +been enabled to trust in, and +wait on, the Lord for salvation from sin +and its consequences; for, by the Holy +Spirit working in them, they see their +sin, and feel the anger of God.</p> + +<p>"The heart is deceitful above all +things, and desperately wicked: who +can know it?" (Jer. xvii. 9); and, when +we see and feel a little of our wickedness, +we despair, and Satan begins to +torment us, and say, "You are too +wicked to go to heaven." But Jesus +says, "Him that cometh to Me I will in +no wise cast out" (John vi. 37); "Come +unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy +laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. +xi. 28).</p> + +<p>Jesus says "heavy laden," showing +that, no matter how wicked, how laden, +His word to all those who are weary of +sin, and "heavy laden" with sorrow for +sin, is, "Come, and I will give you rest"—rest +from Satan and his temptations, +rest from the world and all its busy +cares.</p> + +<p>His rest is so different from all other, +for He says, in John xiv. 27, "Peace I +leave with you; My peace I give unto +you: not as the world giveth, give I unto +you. Let not your heart be troubled, +neither let it be afraid."</p> + +<p>Those who will stand perfect are +those who have been chosen by God as +vessels of mercy, for Peter says, "Elect +according to the foreknowledge of God +the Father, through sanctification of the +Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of +the blood of Jesus Christ."</p> + +<p>Then, when sprinkled by the blood of +Jesus Christ, they are perfectly free from +sin; as the hymn says—</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"There is a fountain filled with blood,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Drawn from Immanuel's veins;</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And sinners plunged beneath that flood</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Lose all their guilty stains."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>And this is how God's people stand +before Him—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Dear, dying Lamb, Thy precious blood</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Shall never lose its power</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Till all the ransomed Church of God</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Be saved to sin no more."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>And when the final judgment is pronounced, +those whose names are not +recorded in the book of life will hear +those awful words, "Depart from Me, ye +cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for +the devil and his angels" (Matt. xxv. 41). +But if our names are written in God's +book of life, how sweet to hear, "Come, +ye blessed of My Father, inherit the +kingdom prepared for you from the foundation +of the world" (Matt. xxv. 34).</p> + +<p>Oh, that we may be found at God's +right hand, perfect in Christ's righteousness, +singing and praising God through +all eternity! "Unto Him that loved us, +and washed us from our sins in His own +blood, and hath made us kings and +priests unto God and His Father: to +Him be glory and dominion for ever and +ever. Amen" (Rev. i. 5, 6).</p> + +<p> +"But can I bear the piercing thought—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'What if my name should be left out</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When Thou for them shalt call?'</span><br /> +<br /> +"Let me among thy saints be found<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Whene'er the archangel's trump shall sound,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">To see Thy smiling face:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Then loudest of the crowd I'll sing,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">While heaven's resounding mansions ring</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">With shouts of sovereign grace."</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Grace Annie Osmotherly</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">(Aged 12 years).</span><br /> +<br /> +<i>45, Cutmore Street,<br /> +Gravesend, Kent.</i> +</p> + +<p>[We have received many tolerably +good Essays for this month, among which +the following claim special notice—E. +B. Knocker; Lilly Rush; Margaret +Creasey; J. E. Wright; P. Rackham; +Jane Bell; Florrie Rush; Claude Rush +(aged 10 years); Laura Creasey; E. +Wightman; E. B. West; D. Newbury; +B. M. Dennis; A. M. Cray; W. E. +Cray, &c.]</p> + +<p>[The writer of the above Essay receives +a copy of "The Life of John +Newton."</p> + +<p>The subject for June will be, "What +Marks do the Lambs of Jesus Christ +Bear?" and the prize to be given for +the best Essay on that subject, a copy +of "The Dairyman's Daughter." All +competitors must give a guarantee that +they are under fifteen years of age, and +that the Essay is their own composition, +or the papers will be passed over, as the +Editor cannot undertake to write for this +necessary information. Papers must be +sent direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, +117, High Street, Hastings, by the first +of May.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>KINDNESS TO ANIMALS.</h2> + + +<p>The following lines are printed on a +board over a watering-trough in Holloway, +Bath:—</p> + +<p> +A man of kindness to his beast is kind,<br /> +But brutish actions show a brutish mind.<br /> +Remember, He who made thee made the brute;<br /> +Who gave thee speech and reason, made him mute.<br /> +He can't complain, but God's all-seeing eye<br /> +Beholds thy cruelty and hears his cry.<br /> +He was designed thy servant—not thy drudge.<br /> +Remember his Creator is thy Judge.<br /> +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">He</span> acts but a fool's part who aims at +heaven, but lives at random.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> +<h2>Interesting Items.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Deepest Running Stream.</span>—The deepest +running stream that is known is the +Niagara river, just under the suspension bridge, +where it is seven hundred feet deep by actual +measurement.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Sabbath-Breaking.</span>—On Sunday afternoon, +March 4th, at Sheffield, a little boy, whose +name was Thomas Haigh, was drowned in a +dam, caused by the breaking of the ice. He +was sent to the Sunday School by his parents. +Instead of going there, however, he and another +boy went to what is known as the Little +London dam. The ice was not safe, but they +ventured on it, and ultimately both fell in. +Haigh was drowned, and his body has not yet +been discovered; the other escaped. Children, +beware of disobedience and Sabbath-breaking.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Great Snowstorm in New York.</span>—Every +one declares it to be the worst storm they have +ever known. Saturday, March 10th, was a +balmy, spring day. On Sunday evening some +cold rain fell, changing at midnight into a +freezing sleet. On Monday there was a veritable +Dakota blizzard. The air was filled with +snow flying before the wind at the rate of +sixty miles an hour. It was impossible in the +street to keep the eyes open, and almost impossible +to walk. Those who did venture out of +doors were to be seen clinging to trees for support +against the gale, or turning breezy corners +upon their hands and knees. Vehicular traffic +was totally suspended. Huge snow-ploughs, +drawn along the tramways by a score of horses, +had to be abandoned in the streets. The tram-car +drivers unhitched their teams of three +horses, and left the cars wherever they happened +to be. Unbroken drifts, as high as the +hips, or even in some cases up to the shoulders, +filled nine-tenths of the shop doors along +Broadway. The storm is believed to be without +a parallel. It extended all along the +Hudson River and around New York.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Death of the Emperor William of Germany.</span>—Berlin +has been a city of mourning, +and Germany a nation of grief, in consequence +of the death of the Emperor William, who +closed his long, eventful, and successful life in +his palace there, Unter den Linden, about half-past +eight a.m., March 9th. Just before he died, +when Dr. Kogel, the Court chaplain, repeated +to the Emperor the words of the Psalmist—"Yea, +though I walk through the valley of the +shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou +art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort +me," the Emperor observed, "That is +beautiful." His last words are said to have +been those with which he replied to a question +from his daughter, the Grand Duchess of Baden, +as to whether he was tired, and would like to +rest. "I have no time at present to be tired," +responded His Majesty. Sometimes, when his +thoughts were wandering, the dying monarch +would think of his afflicted son and successor +far away on the Mediterranean shore, and +murmur, "Fritz, lieber Fritz." The Emperor +was a man who acknowledged God, and God +prospered his work, as in the case of the Franco-Prussian +war, for instance, although many of +his enemies sneered at that acknowledgment. +A special funeral service was held on Saturday, +the 10th ult., in the mortuary chamber of the +late Emperor, at which the Dowager Empress, +the Grand Duke and Duchess of Baden, the +Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden, and +other Royal personages were present. The deceased +monarch lay in the same position as that +in which he expired, having a crucifix on the +breast, and holding an ivory cross in the right +hand. [What Popery!]</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Berlin Telegraph Office.</span>—Friday, +March 9th, will long be remembered as the +busiest day on record at the Central Telegraph +Office of Berlin. The pressure was great on +Thursday, when 29,878 telegrams, aggregating +799,926 words, had to be sent off. But this record, +was eclipsed by the following day, no +fewer than 36,615 telegrams, containing together +1,115,551 words, being despatched to +all parts of the globe, and in different languages. +All the Government telegraphists fit +for duty had to be called in to meet the pressure, +and all the available instruments were +worked. It was a fortunate circumstance that +the Berlin Bourse was closed, as this enabled +the authorities to make use of the instruments +there for the work. During the busiest hours +of the day, no less than 346 telegraphists were +at work at the same time in the great instrument +room of the Central Telegraph Office, and +230 instruments were operated.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Epping Baptist Sunday School.</span>—On +Wednesday, February 1st, a lecture was delivered +by Mr. William Hazelton, of College +Park, Lewisham, entitled, "Wit and its Uses." +The lecture was listened to with great interest. +Pieces were sung by the teachers and scholars, +conducted by Mr. G. Nokes. The chair was +taken by Mr. C. Cottis. There was a good +attendance, and collections amounted to over +two pounds. On Tuesday, February 14th, the +children, with their teachers and friends, had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +their annual tea, after which short addresses +were given by the teachers, and recitations and +singing by the children. The prizes, consisting +of books, were then distributed by the Superintendent, +Mr. William Cottis; and singing the +Doxology and prayer brought a very pleasant +meeting to a close.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Siddal, Halifax.</span>—On Shrove Tuesday, the +annual tea in connection with the Strict Baptist +Sunday School took place, when about 160 +sat down to tea. The meeting was presided +over by the respected minister, Mr. D. Smith, +who gave a short address on "Stealing." A +few suitable recitations by the young children +followed. Mr. H. E. Greenwood gave a short +address on "Prizes," and said how necessary +it was for young people to have something to aim +at, and also on the value of a good name. Mr. +James Moss, Superintendent of Hebden Bridge +Sunday School, exhorted the children to obedience +to their parents, and related instances +where disobedience had been punished in a +remarkable way. Mr. Thos. Smith, Mr. Jos. +Smith, and Mr. M. H. Robinson also gave short +addresses. Mr. John Smith presented the certificates +for attendance and good conduct, and +gave excellent counsel to the recipients. After +the singing of the Doxology, a very encouraging +meeting was brought to a close.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Southsea.—Salem Street Sunday School.</span>—The +annual distribution of prizes took place +on Sunday, February 12th, 1888. After the opening +services, Mr. Lowe spoke to the scholars +respecting regularity and punctuality, trying to +impress on their minds that these things would +be a good recommendation for their future life. +He also gave a hint that teachers should set the +example. He then spoke of love as being the +mainspring to win the affections of the scholars, +for if love will not, the reverse will not do so. +He also spoke affectionately to the young men +present. He felt surprised that they came so +regularly to school. He was brought up to the +Sunday School, but as he grew older, he left +and sought worldly amusements; but, as he remarked, +being a vessel of mercy, God sought +him out in His own time. He felt there was +nothing in the school to attract young men, but +if they were seeking the one thing needful, they +would not desire such amusements as those by +which many congregations seek to draw the +minds of youth. Mr. Hitchens, the Superintendent, +then remarked that it was twenty +years since he first became connected with the +school, and that he had seen many changes +during that period; but still he could say, +"having obtained help of God, he had continued +until the present day." Then came the +distribution of prizes. One received a book +about the sagacity of animals, and his teacher +also gave him a Bible for his good attendance +and punctuality, as he did not remember him +being away once through the year. The service +was ended by singing and prayer.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">E. A. Hitchens.</span> +</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Cirencester.—Park Street Chapel Sunday +School.</span>—Dear Mr. Editor,—I am one of +the readers of the <span class="smcap">Little Gleaner</span>. We take +a lot of them in our Sunday School, and the +girls and boys like them very much. I have +been pleased to read about the treats which +have been given at other Sunday Schools, and +thinking other children like reading about such +things too, I send you an account of our Christmas +treat, held on January 26th. If you think +it worth putting in the <span class="smcap">Little Gleaner</span>, I +shall be very pleased to see it there. Ours is +not a very large school, there being only about +fifty; but I think it is very nice to go there. +Mr. Barnard tells us that some of the ministers +who give us an address tell him that ours is a +very nice school, for they go to some schools +where the children are not so nicely behaved +and attentive as we are; but I expect we are +not any better than we should be. But I must +tell you about our winter treat. We have a +summer outing as well. About last October, +some of the lady teachers and friends who +attend our chapel, knowing that the poorer +children of our school would be glad of some +warm clothes for the winter, got some money +together and bought flannel, serge, and stockings, +and had a sewing meeting every week, and +made shirts, dresses, flannel petticoats, and +skirts; and by Christmas time they had a big +box full of all these sorts of things, which were +brought and given away at our treat. The +children began tea at four o'clock, after singing +grace. We had a beautiful tea, and we each +had an orange given us; and then, after the +visitors (and we had a chapel full) had had their +tea, we sang a hymn, and then our minister, +Mr. Barnard, gave a nice, interesting address. +Several of us recited pieces, and after some +more singing and one or two other friends had +spoken to us, the best part of the evening came +for us children, for Mr. Barnard gave us our +prizes—some beautiful books. Mine was a lovely +one. Then the big box was opened, and the +garments were distributed; and after a vote of +thanks to the ladies, and to Mr. Barnard for +presiding, the meeting was closed with prayer. +I enjoyed myself very much, and I think every +one else did. I have not had much practice in +writing letters, as I am only a little girl, ten +years old, but I have sent you the best account +I can of our treat. I remain, your young friend, +<span class="smcap">Mercy Risely</span>. P.S.—Perhaps you don't know +me, but I have seen you ever so many times at +our chapel.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 383px;"> +<img src="images/img100.jpg" width="383" height="500" alt="THE CAPTAIN (See page 98.)" title="THE CAPTAIN (See page 98.)" /> +<span class="caption">"THE CAPTAIN NEVER SAW ANY ONE LOOK HAPPIER." (<i>See page 98.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE JESUIT AND THE BIBLE.</h2> + + +<p>There were not many passengers +on board the vessel in which I +was going to Belgium, which +rendered our intercourse more intimate. +While I was conversing with two elderly +persons from Holland, I saw a respectable +looking young man, passing backwards +and forwards, who seemed to +listen to what I said. In the afternoon, +as I was seated among some bales of +goods, the same young man placed himself +beside me, and made some remark +as to the fineness of the weather.</p> + +<p>"Yes," I answered, "it is a proof of +the goodness of God to us; but to be +sensible of His goodness is a far greater +blessing. Has not a Christian double +cause for happiness, since all he receives +comes from the hand of his +Father?"</p> + +<p>He answered, "The captain and I +were just now speaking about you. The +captain said he never saw any one look +happier, and he thought you must have +some especial cause for it. I wish, sir, +I frankly confess, to be told what your +secret is; for, in truth, I am not free +from anxiety."</p> + +<p>He then proceeded to relate how he +had gone from place to place, in order +to practise his profession as a painter, +and yet all his calculations had been +disappointed. He was a native of Belgium, +and a Roman Catholic. "But," +he added, with a sort of contempt, "all +my religion has given me no consolation. +What do you think is the use of +all these rites and ceremonies? They +are wearisome, and that is all."</p> + +<p>"My secret," I answered, "which is +not one in reality, is of a very different +character. The Bible, sir, by the mercy +of God, has rendered me happy, not +only for this world, but, above all, for +eternity. Perhaps you never read it?"</p> + +<p>"The Bible, sir? Do you not know +it is denied, and even forbidden, to us +Catholics? I have heard, indeed, that +some priests allow their parishioners to +read it, but they are very few; and the +truth is that, if any of us were to read +the Bible, he would be forced to do +penance, and to give the Book up to our +priest. I have never read it, I own."</p> + +<p>"Here is a part of it," I said, producing +my New Testament. "This is +the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ."</p> + +<p>"The Gospel!" said the young man, +with surprise. "Is it all contained in +that small Book? I should never have +supposed it."</p> + +<p>"This small Book," I said, "contains, +in our language, all that God has +said to us by Jesus Christ, and costs +only one franc" (tenpence).</p> + +<p>"Only one franc! Is it possible? I +will have one, and read it, you may be +sure. I promise you, as soon as we +arrive at Brussels, the first thing I do +will be to get that Book."</p> + +<p>"But, sir, you say that your priest +will not allow you to read it?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir; our Church does not permit +us to do so. But if you wish to know +my own views, I must say I feel sure +that we are prevented from reading the +Bible only because it is exactly the reverse +of what our priests tell us. They +say that the Bible is obscure, and not +easy to be understood, and that, if they +comprehend it, it is different with the +common people. But I do not believe +this, especially after something that +happened to one of my friends, which I +will tell you.</p> + +<p>"You know, perhaps, that Belgium +is full of Jesuits, and the people dislike +them. A certain abbé, who was +only a Jesuit in disguise, was confessor +to a friend of mine, who, like many +others, had been guilty of some imprudence, +and he confessed it to this same +priest, who imposed rather a heavy +penance on him, particularly requiring +him to make a rich offering to Our Lady +[the Virgin Mary]. Well, on his way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +home, my friend met one of the colporteurs, +who sell Bibles and other religious +books. He bought one, and began to +read it, and the result was, that he discovered, +as he told me, that he must +seek the forgiveness of his sins from +God, through the Saviour, and that to +make an offering to the Virgin for his +faults was at once to lose his pains, his +money, and his soul.</p> + +<p>"Three months had passed, when the +priest met my friend, and asked if he +had done all he was directed, and +especially, if he had made the offering. +My friend answered, 'I have got a Book +which has shown me that God alone +forgives sin, and that to give money +for a fault is to mock the Holy Spirit.' +'That is the Bible,' exclaimed the +Jesuit. 'Wretched man, from whom +did you get it? Unless you give it up +to me this very day, woe be unto you!' +My friend refused, and there is no sort +of annoyance or vexation which the +priest has not made him suffer. However, +he was firm. But hitherto, I +confess, I cared very little about the +matter."</p> + +<p>"Then," said I, "you remain in +ignorance as to whether God loves you +or not?"</p> + +<p>"I am not worse than others," he +replied; "and since God is good, I do +not suppose He hates me."</p> + +<p>I explained, with all simplicity and +freedom, the glorious doctrine of the +salvation of God in Christ, and I saw +that no thirsty traveller hastens to +springs in the wilderness more eagerly +than this young man seemed to turn +and hearken to the record of divine love. +At length, with much earnestness, he +cried out, "Sir, how wonderful is the +love of God to man! We did not deserve +that He should give His Son to +die for us. This was surpassing love. +The thought of it overpowers me."</p> + +<p>"Will you not, then," I said, "read +the Bible, which tells us this glorious +news?"</p> + +<p>"Be assured that I will read it," he +answered. "In less than a week I will +have one like that which belongs to my +friend. It is twice as thick as that lady's +work-box, but this one Book contains all +that God has said to man; and the print +is so clear."</p> + +<p>"But if some Jesuit should see your +Book, he may take it from you."</p> + +<p>"Shall I tell you what I will do, if +any one of them meddles with me?" he +said. "I will read some of its excellent +contents to him, and ask him what he +thinks of them. Then I am sure he +will not come again, unless he takes a +liking to them; and then he will not +hurt me."</p> + +<div class="signature">C. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A DIVINE PROVIDENCE.</h2> + + +<p>The late Mr. Edward Parsons, of +Leeds, frequently supplied the +pulpit of the Tabernacle, Tottenham +Court Road, London.</p> + +<p>Walking out one Monday morning, he +was accosted by a stranger, who expressed +a wish to accompany him. On +arriving at a certain house he said, +"This is my home, sir. Will you walk in +and rest yourself?"</p> + +<p>Having done so, his host told him he +had a design in thus treating him, and +then related the following remarkable +facts:—</p> + +<p>Many years before, himself and wife +had come from Scotland to London, +where, as a mechanic, he had for a time +full employment; but when his work +became slack, he was obliged to part +with some of his furniture and take a +smaller house. His circumstances growing +worse, his health also failing, he was +obliged to part with more of his furniture, +until he found himself, wife, and +family driven to reside in a wretched +cellar in St. Giles'.</p> + +<p>One day, being without food, or the +means of obtaining any, he resolved the +next morning to drown himself in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +New River, and accordingly started to +carry out his terrible intention.</p> + +<p>It was the Sabbath morning, and as +he passed through Tottenham Court +Road, on his way to the New River, a +little before seven o'clock, he observed a +throng of people entering the Tabernacle. +In a sullen mood he joined these +early worshippers.</p> + +<p>Mr. Parsons was in the pulpit, and +gave out his text, which was—"When +the poor and needy seek water, and there +is none, and their tongue faileth for +thirst, I, the Lord, will hear them; I, +the God of Jacob, will not forsake them" +(Isa. xli. 17).</p> + +<p>It seemed so truly for him that the +poor, starving man could not help remaining +through the sermon.</p> + +<p>At its close Mr. Parsons inquired, +"Have you put the God of Jacob to the +test?" The poor man at once said to +himself, "I have not put the God of +Jacob to the test"; and consequently, +with a half-resolution to do so, he returned +to the miserable cellar.</p> + +<p>There sat his wretched wife, and there +were his starving children, crying for +the food he could not supply. A short +period of pensive sadness, and then he +said to his wife, "I think we might read +a chapter."</p> + +<p>Poor woman! The remark opened up +the well-spring of her heart, and she +burst into tears. The thought of her +early religious training at once rushed +on her mind. She looked for their Bible, +but it had been pawned. She, however, +found part of an old copy, out of which +her husband read a chapter.</p> + +<p>"We have not put the God of Jacob +to the test. Shall we pray?" said he. +This more surprised the poor wife, +but at once they knelt down, and did +then "put the God of Jacob to the test."</p> + +<p>Still the whole day passed without +their being supplied with food. The +next morning, however, the postman, +who very seldom entered that poverty-stricken +street, brought the man a letter +from a former fellow-workman who had +heard of his ill-health and loss of work. +The letter contained information concerning +a large firm in London which +had an extensive contract, and was requiring +a number of hands, and advised +that he should apply to it for employment. +It also contained a one-pound +note as a loan, which he immediately +employed in obtaining food for his family +and in delivering his best coat from the +pawnbroker's.</p> + +<p>He then applied to the firm named, +and obtained employment, and, being a +clever workman, his services were secured +for a permanency. At length he +was appointed foreman, and, after a +few years, was made a partner in the +business, and eventually, his former +master retiring, he gave up the business +to him.</p> + +<p>With grateful acknowledgments to the +Lord, he then told Mr. Parsons that he +had also been enabled to "put the God +of Jacob to the test" with reference +to the wants of his soul—that he had +been led by divine grace to seek and +find salvation; so that he could set to +his seal that God was true, and that, +"when the poor and needy seek water, +and there is none, and their tongue +faileth for thirst, the Lord will hear +them; the God of Jacob will not forsake +them."</p> + +<div class="signature"> +R. F. R. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>TWO WAYS OF DESCENDING.</h2> + + +<p>There are two ways of coming down +stairs—one is, to fall from the top to the +bottom; and the other is, to come down +step by step; but both will take you to +the bottom. So also there are two ways +of reaching hell—one is, to fall into it by +the committal of one great and terrible +sin (comparatively few do this). The +other is only too general—to go downward +by the steps of <i>little</i> sins. Beware +of the treachery of <i>little</i> sins.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">E. Barne.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> +<h2>COUSIN SUSAN'S NOTE-BOOK JOTTINGS ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF FATHER CHINIQUY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Doubly Freed and Doubly Enriched.</span></h3> + +<p>"<i>Godliness is profitable unto all +things, having promise of the life +that now is, and of that also which +is to come.</i>"—1 <span class="smcap">Timothy</span> iv. 8.</p> + + +<p>When some notorious Canadian +robbers were arrested, Chiniquy +was chosen by several as their +confessor, and he constantly +attended the prison, instructing them, +and trying to teach them how to die.</p> + +<p>But, after all his efforts, a terrible fear +that they were not converted <i>would</i> come +over his mind, and doubts of the real +efficacy of Popish ceremonies to prepare +a sinner to meet God troubled him so +much, that he made a final attempt to +rescue the doomed men after sentence +of death was passed upon some of them. +His tears and prayers were successful, +and the Governor of Canada changed +the death-doom to life-long exile in +Botany Bay. They, with a number of +other prisoners, were therefore transported +to the penal settlement, and +good Father Chiniquy gave each penitent +he visited a New Testament when +he took leave of them.</p> + +<p>Forty years passed away, and Mr. +Chiniquy, the Presbyterian minister, was +lecturing on "Romanism," in Australia, +when he saw an elegant carriage driven +up to the house at which he was staying, +and a venerable gentleman, alighting +from it, knocked at the door. He went +himself to open it, to save trouble, and +the stranger asked, was Father Chiniquy +there, and might he see him privately?</p> + +<p>"As I am Father Chiniquy," was the +reply, "I can at once answer that I shall +feel much pleasure in granting your request."</p> + +<p>He led the way upstairs, and, when +alone, the stranger asked—</p> + +<p>"Do you remember the thieves who +were sentenced to death in Quebec, in +1837? Well, dear Father Chiniquy, I +was one of those criminals.... My +name was A——. God has blessed me +in many ways, but it is to you, under +Him, that I owe my life, and all the +privileges of my present existence.... +I come to bless and thank you for what +you have done for me;" and, with tears +of joy and gratitude, he threw himself +into his benefactor's arms.</p> + +<p>They knelt together to thank God for +His mercy, and then the visitor continued +his wonderful story.</p> + +<p>He said, "After you had given us +your last benediction, when on board the +ship that was to take us to Botany Bay, +the first thing I did was, to open the New +Testament you had given me.... It +was the first time I had had that Book +in my hands. You were the only priest +in Canada who would put it in the hands +of the common people....</p> + +<p>"The only good I derived from the +first reading was, that I clearly saw why +the priests of Rome fear and hate that +Book. In vain I looked for Mass, indulgences, +purgatory, confession, the worship +of Mary, &c., ... and for some +weeks I became more of a sceptic than +anything else.</p> + +<p>"But, if my first reading did me little +or no good, I cannot say the same of the +second. I remembered, when handing +us the Book, you told us to read it with +prayer to God for light to understand it. +I was tired of my former wicked life. I +felt the need of a change.</p> + +<p>"You often, when speaking to us, +used the words of the Saviour, 'Come +unto Me, all ye who are weary and heavy-laden, +and I will give you rest'; but, +like all the other priests, you mixed with +them the invocation of Mary, confidence<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +in signs of the cross, and confession, so +that your sublime appeals to the words +of Christ were drowned by absurd and +impious superstitions.</p> + +<p>"One morning, after a sleepless night, +and feeling so pressed down with the +weight of my sins, I opened my Gospel +Book, after praying for light and guidance, +and my eyes fell on the words, +'The Lamb of God, that takes away the +sin of the world.' These words fell on +my poor guilty soul with a divine power. +I spent the day in crying to the Lamb of +God to take away my sins. Before the +day was over I felt and knew that my +cries had been heard. The Lamb of +God had taken away my sins. He had +changed my heart, and made quite a new +man of me.</p> + +<p>"From that day the reading of the +Gospel was to my soul what bread is to +the poor, hungry man, and what pure +and refreshing waters are to the thirsty +traveller. My unspeakable joy was, to +read the Holy Book, and speak to my +companions in chains of the dear +Saviour's love for poor sinners; and, +thanks be to God, a good number have +found Him altogether precious, and have +been sincerely converted in the dark +holes of that convict ship.</p> + +<p>"When at work in Sydney with the +other culprits, I felt my chains to be +light when I was sure the heavy chains +of sin were gone; and, though working +hard beneath a burning sun from morning +till night, my heart was full of joy +when I was sure my Saviour had prepared +a throne for me in His heavenly +kingdom.</p> + +<p>"About a year afterwards, a minister +of the Gospel and another gentleman +came to me and told me I was pardoned, +at the same time handing me a +document signed by the Governor, and a +hundred dollars, adding, 'Go and be a +faithful follower of the Lord Jesus, and +God Almighty will bless you in all your +ways.'</p> + +<p>"All this seemed like a dream, but it +was a reality, and I spent several days +and nights weeping for joy, and blessing +the God of my salvation.</p> + +<p>"Some years after that, we heard of +the gold mines, and I started, in company +with several others; but I separated +from the others, for I wanted to be alone, +and pray to my God as I walked along.</p> + +<p>"After a long march, I came to a +beautiful spot between three small hills, +whence a brook was running to the plain +below. I sat down to eat my dinner, +and, while doing so, my eyes fell on a +stone by the brook about the size of a +goose's egg. The rays of the sun shone +on it like a mirror. I picked it up, and +found it was nearly all gold of the purest +kind....</p> + +<p>"With the money I gained from that +place I afterwards bought a piece of +land, and became one of the wealthy +men of Australia. I married and +settled here; ... and it is to you, after +God, I owe my life and all the privileges +I now enjoy."</p> + +<p>They wept and praised God together +in the beautiful language of the 103rd +Psalm. Both could say, with a full +heart, "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and +all that is within me, bless His holy +name."</p> + +<p>The next day Pastor Chiniquy dined +at the house of his unexpected visitor, +and felt warmly interested in the family +and all that he saw and heard, and the +two separated, not expecting to meet +again on earth, but confidently hoping +to meet around the throne of God, to +praise the wonders of redeeming love for +ever.</p> + +<p>May we also be glad, and rejoice in +His salvation, and join to sing the +heavenly song with heart and voice, even +now—</p> + +<p> +"Till sweeter notes our bosoms swell,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">In yonder world above."</span><br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Wise</span> work is cheerful as a child's +work is.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> +<h2>A BROTHER'S DREAM.</h2> + +<p>"<i>God speaketh ... in a dream, +in a vision of the night, when deep +sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings +on the bed; then He openeth +the ears of men, and sealeth their +instruction.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Job</span> xxxiii. 14-16.</p> + + +<p>Superstition attaches much +importance to the night wanderings +of a disturbed mind, and +augurs good or ill, according to the +nature of the dreamy imaginings. +Thousands have dreamed themselves to +ruin, by following the empty speculations +of a fervid imagination, and neglecting +the path of prudent industry.</p> + +<p>The text above does not teach that +God speaketh in <i>all</i> dreams, but that +He is pleased <i>sometimes</i> (and the writer +believes very occasionally) to communicate +instruction by such means. He +that made the soul can approach it by +any avenue He pleases, and is shut out +from none.</p> + +<p>Winters and summers, as many as +fourteen, have rolled over my head since +the night made memorable by "a +brother's dream." Thirteen years have +likewise passed since my arms were +placed beneath this dying brother—since +the glad angels conveyed his sweet +spirit to the paradise of God.</p> + +<p>Oh, the heavenly smile—oh, the +beaming eye he cast upon me—as he +gently subsided into endless rest! Never +shall I forget that scene. Never will be +erased from memory's tablet that chamber, +and all that there I felt, and saw, +and heard.</p> + +<p> +"Friend after friend departs;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Who has not lost a friend?"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Come, then, all sympathizing hearts; +come, ye who know what sorrow is; +come, all who</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">"feel an aching void,</span><br /> +The world can never fill,"<br /> +</p> + +<p>and listen to "a brother's dream."</p> + +<p>Brought up to attend public worship, +and under religious instruction, the +period when spiritual life first animated +his soul is not known to any survivors; +nor, also, what were the peculiar exercises +of his mind during the first year or +two of his Christian life.</p> + +<p>Up to the time of his dream, he was +associated with many of those whose +religion consists chiefly in name and +show, carnal excitement, and flesh-pleasing +formality; and, being of a very +cheerful disposition, and generally beloved +by all who knew him, it needed +no small effort—nothing short of divine +power—to sever the confederacy.</p> + +<p>As will always be the case where the +life of God is, his soul began to languish +and starve under the "Yea and nay," +"Do and live," orations to which he +from time to time listened. He could +not feed on husks. Distressed, hungry, +and thirsty, his soul at last fainted. +Then he cried unto God in his trouble. +Full of vexation and perplexity, not +knowing where to go or what to do, he +dreamed.</p> + +<p>He saw, as he thought, an old +woman with a cross-handled basket +crying her saleables. "Who wants to +buy any religion? Who wants to buy +any religion?" she repeated again and +again. Gladly, <i>eagerly</i> he vociferated, +"I do! I do!"</p> + +<p>He bought a large supply. It consisted +of a great number of props, which +supported him all around, and on each +prop was written something which he +was to do—some deed or good work he +was to perform.</p> + +<p>Almost as soon as he was in possession +of his purchased religion, he saw, +at a great distance, a fire raging, which +soon increased, so that it seemed to compass +the whole sensible horizon. But +what was more fearful, it burned still +nearer and nearer to the spot where he +stood, consuming everything as it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +approached. Alarmed, amazed, terrified, +his horror was increased as he +beheld his props already on fire.</p> + +<p>Everything had been destroyed as the +burning ocean approached, and could +he escape? Alone and helpless, how +could deliverance be effected? Power +and hope were alike gone, and into the +infinite fire he was just sinking, when, +lo! the mighty Jesus, before unseen, +stretched out His gracious arm, and with +words of promise, instantaneously performed, +said, "I'll hold you up!"</p> + +<p>Forthwith the fire was quenched, and +he sang delivering grace.</p> + +<p>These solemn scenes, so visibly portrayed +in his imagination while asleep, +became a subject of serious consideration +when awake. Who could explain +the matter to him?</p> + +<p>Not long he lacked a teacher. The +Gracious Interpreter sent a messenger +to blow the Gospel trumpet in the neighbourhood. +He went; he heard. Oh, +what a sermon! Never had such statements +fallen upon his ears; never had +such light shone into his mind. And +what a text!—"The hail shall sweep +away your refuge of lies, and the waters +shall overflow the hiding-place."</p> + +<p>One after another, the preacher described +the vain hopes on which he had +rested, and showed their frailty and +destruction, in the way he had felt. And +then his refuge, his hiding-place, his +<i>props</i>, away, away they go, just as he +saw, exactly as he felt. In short, the +preacher's sermon was a map of the +path—a verbal unfolding of the secrets +of his heart.</p> + +<p>What was the consequence? The +meshes of the devil's fishing-net were +broken; free-will, creature-dependency, +were gone; and hope—Gospel hope—"good +hope through grace"—filled his +anxious bosom. He had been down in +the horrible pit; he had been sinking in +the miry clay. Now he is brought to the +verge of deliverance. Now he sees, he +hopes in, the boundless prospects of +covenant grace.</p> + +<p>Not many miles distant in another +direction, lived and preached a servant +of the Lord, lately taken to his everlasting +home. He bent his steps to hear +the words of truth and grace from his +lips. "Wonderful! Astonishing! Was +it an angel I heard before—one who had +assumed a bodily shape, to bear those +joyful tidings to my soul, and now appears +again with other features and with +another voice? No; he was a man; +and this is a human voice I hear. But +how astonishing! He seems to know +all the other told me, and to begin where +the other left off. Their sermons seem +like two following pages of a book, in +which I read the secrets of my life, and +behold in legible lines those things I +never breathed to human friends. 'This +is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous +in my eyes.'"</p> + +<p>It <i>was</i> the Lord's doing; for not only +was his whole Christian pathway mapped +out, but his soul sweetly delivered from +legal entanglements, from slavish fear +and anxious doubt, and brought into +that liberty with which God makes His +people free. He was made "wise unto +salvation, through faith in Jesus +Christ." Moreover, by continuance in +that Word, he gave unequivocal demonstration +that he was a disciple indeed; +one who was a learner and follower of +Jesus; and so, knowing "the truth as it +is in Jesus," he rejoiced in hope of the +glory of God. Nor did he have long to +wait, for, sinking under the merciless +hand of pale consumption, in a little +more than a year he was suddenly removed +to that land of peace and love +where</p> + +<p> +"Jesus sheds the brightest beams<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of His o'erflowing grace."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Reader, the dream was instructive to +the dear departed; but was it given for +him alone? It can no longer benefit +him, for with him all is reality—no +shadowy emblem, but everything substantial. +May not we therefore derive +instruction?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>Let us look at some of its prominences. +Standing out with towering +majesty and grandeur, like a cloud-capped +mountain, appears</p> + +<p><i>Divine sovereignty</i>—the sovereign +mercy of the Lord, who "hath mercy on +whom He will have mercy." You will not +see this through reason's misty glass +(which perverts and confuses all things +beheld through it), no more than the +loftiest eminence is discernible in the +darkness of midnight. But in the light +of God's truth it is clearly visible. There +are many with whom he was associated +when he "sought the living among the +dead"—when he was entangled in the +carnal schemes of a false religion—who +remain where he could not stay, and +seem contented, too. There have been +but comparatively very few brought +to seek what he sought, and to know +what he was taught. "Who hath +saved us, and called us with an holy +calling, not according to our works, +but according to His own purpose and +grace, which was given us in Christ +Jesus before the world began."</p> + +<p>We also discover <i>the danger of false +religion</i>. Behold that burning flame! +Thus burns God's wrath against sin. +No human efforts can quench it or +check its progress. All creature performances, +like the <span class="smcap">PROPS</span>, will be consumed +by it. The best of human works +are but as stubble to the fire of wrath +divine. Indeed, when God tells of that +dreadful day which shall burn as an +oven, the self-righteous, or proud, are +put before "those that do wickedly," as +objects of God's displeasure, and doomed +to that dreadful burning.</p> + +<p>Oh, could I make my words thunder +and lightning, to peal and flash this +solemn truth from hill to hill and from +vale to vale!</p> + +<p>All false religion begins on the outside, +and attempts to alter principles by +renovating practice; but all true religion +commences within. The Spirit +produces a change in the practice by +implanting new life and holy principles. +"Ye must be born again." Religion is +not a new patch on an old garment, but +a new fabric entirely. "If any man be +in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature."</p> + +<p>We see, likewise, the trouble and +anxiety which are felt when one is +soundly convinced of his sinful life and +state. Salvation is then a matter of life +and death. "Life, life, eternal life!" +is the earnest cry. Conviction of sin, +when it merely penetrates the skin, is +soon soothed and forgotten; but when +the arrows from the bow of God's Word +pierce the heart, no hand can withdraw +them but His who directed them, and no +balm can heal those painful wounds but +that administered by Jehovah-Jesus.</p> + +<p>It may be seen also that, till He who +is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life," +was proclaimed to his eager soul, he +found no solid satisfaction, no stable +peace.</p> + +<p> +"In vain the trembling conscience seeks<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Some solid ground to rest upon;</span><br /> +With long despair the spirit breaks,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Till we apply to Christ alone."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>He is the only Antidote to our sin, +ruin, and disease; and He is freely set +forth in the Gospel as the gracious, +willing, almighty, and everlasting +Saviour of the lost and undone. Until +we are brought sensibly to feel our sin +and destitution, we are ready and willing +to try everything but that which +God has provided; but when we are +brought before His infinite holiness, and +see the "filthy garments" in which we +are clad, no arm is long and powerful +enough to reach our case but His, who +is "able to save them to the uttermost +that come unto God by Him." The +blessed Spirit will always glorify Jesus +by His teaching, and will lead the soul +to Him as the All in all of salvation.</p> + +<p>Here are exhibited, likewise, the gracious +operations of His power and wisdom +who says, "The ransomed of the +Lord shall return and come to Zion, with +songs and everlasting joy upon their +heads." Had his soul's salvation rested<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +on his believing, as some would tell us, +he had not have been where he is. +Grace begins, grace carries on, grace +performs, and finally completes, the +grand work of eternal redemption.</p> + +<p>In this brief narrative appears, moreover, +the peace and joy a knowledge of +sin forgiven and peace secured produces +in the soul. Oh, the blissful +truth, "Redemption through His +blood, the forgiveness of sins, according +to the riches of His grace." +To taste this, to know this, exceeds +ten thousand worlds of sordid treasure—transcends +the highest delights of +this terrestrial sphere. How did his +happy soul rejoice "with joy unspeakable +and full of glory"!</p> + +<p>But he has long entered his rest. +He has forgotten to mourn, and loudly +sings the praises of the Lamb.</p> + +<p>Where is my reader? Is he pursuing +the wind, and hunting after the shadowy +trifles of earth? Is he attempting by +creature works to make his peace with +God?</p> + +<p>Doomed to total disappointment and +eternal condemnation are all those who +die in such hostility to the way of peace +and Heaven's declared will! Oh, delusion! +worse than madness! "He +that <i>believeth not</i> shall be damned!" +No salvation but by a living faith in the +Lamb of God and His all-perfect work.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PROMPT KINDNESS.</h2> + + +<p>The fact that we are too apt to +suppress our kindest emotions +for loved ones, and withhold our +words of approbation, is but too frequently +apparent. This is often done +with the best intent, fearing that more +cordial expression and warmer approval +may savour of flattery, and very frequently +it is the outcome of pure carelessness +or indifference. In this connection +it is well to consider the words +of Horace Mann. Says he:—</p> + +<p>"Do not keep the alabaster boxes of +your love and tenderness sealed up until +your friends are dead. Fill their lives +with sweetness. Speak approving, cheering +words while their hearts can be +thrilled and made happier by them. The +kind things you mean to say when they +are gone, say before they go. The +flowers you mean to send for their coffins, +send to brighten their homes before +they leave them. If my friends have +alabaster boxes laid away, full of fragrant +perfumes of sympathy and affection, +which they mean to break over my +dead body, I would rather they bring +them out in my weary and troubled +hours, and open them, that I may be refreshed +and cheered by them while I +need them. I would rather have a plain +coffin without flowers, a funeral without +eulogy, than life without the sweetness +of love and tenderness and sympathy. +Let us learn to anoint our friends beforehand +for their burial. Post-mortem +kindness does not cheer the burdened +spirit. Flowers on the coffin cast no +fragrance backward over the weary +way."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + + +<p>An unknown king.</p> + +<p>A place from which the Canaanites +were not driven.</p> + +<p>One of the dukes of Edom.</p> + +<p>A Shuhite.</p> + +<p>A place built by the sons of Elpaal.</p> + +<p>Where were they once who are now +made nigh to God?</p> + +<p>The Hebrew name for "pavement."</p> + +<p>A name which means "the tower."</p> + +<p>Something which God used to give +a sign to encourage a king.</p> + +<p><br />The initials and finals form two titles +of Christ.<br /><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 17em;">Clara Ellis</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 17em;">(Aged 14 years).</span> +</p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span></p> +<h2>A FUGITIVE IN THE HIMALAYA MOUNTAINS.</h2> + + +<p>In the summer of 1852 Colonel +B——, on an excursion to the +snowy range of the Himalayas, +had proceeded into the mountains +some twenty miles beyond any +known habitation of civilized man, when +the natives told him that, in a village +near by, a white man was living in concealment.</p> + +<p>Incredible as it appeared, Colonel +B—— followed his guides to a little +native hut with mud walls and roof of +grass. Taking a peep in at the low +entrance, sure enough, there he spied +an elderly person with a white face, but +in the most shabby dress of the natives, +who, on catching a glance of the intruder, +rushed into a dark corner of his +miserable hovel, out of which the most +earnest entreaties and assurances of +good intentions scarcely brought him.</p> + +<p>He was the son of an English gentleman +who, like thousands of the high-bred +youths of England, had come to +India to procure a title to a Government +pension, and, after remaining here +ten or twenty years, return home and +live in ease. Like not a few who come +to this land, supposing he could scarcely +avoid becoming rich, he had run recklessly +into debt, until he was threatened +with a term of years in close confinement +unless he should immediately +cancel his liabilities, to do which he +was totally incapable. He fled beyond +the limits of the British territory to the +place where Colonel B—— found him, +where he had subsisted for some fifteen +years, in the manner of the wild natives +around him, not excepting their revolting +vices.</p> + +<p>Colonel B—— told him of a debt he +owed, which, if not discharged, might +consign him to chains and darkness, +not for a term of years, but for eternity; +begged him earnestly to seek to +escape that everlasting imprisonment in +the dungeons of the unutterably miserable; +prayed with him, and gave him a +few tracts, which, like many good men, +Colonel B—— is in the habit of taking +with him wherever he goes.</p> + +<p>Two years after, he again visited him, +and found that the seed he had been +permitted to sow was springing up. On +reading the tract, "<i>It is the Last Time</i>," +he could have no peace of mind until he +found assurance of his greatest debt +being cancelled by the blood of Christ.</p> + +<p>His brother, who was receiving a +large salary in India, was delighted to +be permitted to meet his earthly liabilities, +and requested him to return to +England and live the remainder of his +days in comfortable ease. But no; he +said he had opposed and reviled the +Christian religion in India, and here he +wished to do what he could to counteract +his past evil influence.</p> + +<p>He is now at S——, daily assisting a +missionary in proclaiming to the heathen +the only way of eternal life. May He +whose grace has raised him thus far out +of the loathsome den, lead him still onward, +and make him an eminent aid and +ornament to the faith which he so long +despised and reproached.</p> + +<p>In what various ways does God enable +him to do good whose heart is set upon +it! The author of that tract probably +never thought of its floating over the +waves fifteen thousand miles, fluttering +on the breeze another thousand miles +into the heart of a heathen country, +amidst the bears and wolves and wild +men of the Himalayas, lighting upon a +poor degraded immortal, "twice dead +and plucked up by the roots," and +proving him a son and heir of the Lord +God Almighty, a being to reign on the +throne of the universe for ever with the +King of kings. "O the depth of the +riches both of the wisdom and knowledge +of God!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span></p> +<h2>A FEW WORDS FROM THE DUMB.</h2> + + +<p>It is the glory of Englishmen to +stand up for the defenceless, and +to scorn the cowardly oppression +of the weak. Surely, then, those who +own and those who use ponies and +donkeys will be willing to give a fair +hearing to a pleader for the helpless, +dumb creatures.</p> + +<p>If they could speak for themselves, +would they not say—"Give us some rest +one day in the week, and we will do all +the more for you the other six, and last +the longer for it. You yourself work the +better, and live the longer, for one day's +rest.</p> + +<p>"Don't beat our sore sides so hard +and so often, and we shall be stronger +and better servants to you. You know +how oppression only makes <i>you</i> set up +your back, but you will do anything for +a kind master.</p> + +<p>"Don't ride and race us about till we +are ready to drop, and our wind is almost +broken, and we are reeking with +heat and rough usage.</p> + +<p>"Pray let us have a little more water +when we stand weary and thirsty, with +our poor dry tongues unable to ask for +it. <i>You</i> have felt the suffering of thirst.</p> + +<p>"And for pity's sake," the ponies +would say, "loosen this torturing bearing-rein. +We toss and shake our heads, +or we try to keep them still, and nothing +gives us a moment's ease. You, master, +would suffer severely if <i>your</i> head were +held in such a position, and we could do +more work, and much better, without it.</p> + +<p>"Please remember that we can always +hear your voice, and shall understand +what you want us to do so much more +quickly, if you speak to us quietly, than +if you roar at us, and drag our tender, +worn mouths about. We get so puzzled +and frightened when you're in a rage +with us, that we only flounder and plunge, +and make you more and more angry.</p> + +<p>"Our last entreaty is that, when we +get old and past our work, you will not +let our poor, wasted bodies stagger along +under some load, when our lives have +been spent in your service, but that you +will reward us by having us immediately +put out of our pain."</p> + +<p>Think how much you owe to mercy +yourself, and remember, "The merciful +man doeth good to his beast."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ONE LINK GONE.</h2> + + +<p> +Take the pillows from the cradle<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Where the little sufferer lay;</span><br /> +Draw the curtain, close the shutters,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shut out every beam of day.</span><br /> +<br /> +Spread the pall upon the table;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Place the lifeless body there;</span><br /> +Back from off the marble features<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lay the auburn curls with care.</span><br /> +<br /> +With its little blue-veined fingers<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Crossed upon its painless breast,</span><br /> +Free from care, and pain, and anguish,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Let the infant beauty rest.</span><br /> +<br /> +Smooth its little shroud about it;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Pick its toys from off the floor;</span><br /> +They, with all their sparkling beauty,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Ne'er can charm their owner more.</span><br /> +<br /> +Take the little shoes and stockings<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">From the doting mother's sight;</span><br /> +Pattering feet no more will need them,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In and out with such delight.</span><br /> +<br /> +Parents faint and worn with watching<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Through the long, dark night of grief,</span><br /> +Dry your tears, and soothe your sighing;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gain a respite of relief.</span><br /> +<br /> +Mother's care no more is needed<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To allay the rising moan;</span><br /> +And though you perchance may leave it,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">It can never be alone.</span><br /> +<br /> +Thus a golden link is broken<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In a chain of earthly bliss—</span><br /> +Thus the distance shorter making<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'Twixt another world and this.</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 381px;"> +<img src="images/img112.jpg" width="381" height="500" alt="KINDNESS TO ANIMALS. (See page 108.)" title="KINDNESS TO ANIMALS. (See page 108.)" /> +<span class="caption">KINDNESS TO ANIMALS. (<i>See page 108.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span></p> +<h2>A GATHERED ONE.</h2> + +<h3>A SHORT ACCOUNT OF EMMA BEESLEY, OF LEICESTER, WHO DIED ON LORD'S +DAY MORNING, JANUARY 1ST, 1888, AGED TWENTY-ONE YEARS.</h3> + + +<p>Our earliest recollection of Emma +was as a child in our Sunday +School, which she was led, in a +very marked way, to attend. Her sister +was persuaded by a companion to go +with her to our school just for one afternoon, +and she was so interested that she +became a regular scholar. Emma was +at that time attending a school in connection +with a General Baptist cause, +but hearing her sister speak in such +high terms of the school at Zion Chapel, +she was soon persuaded to go with her. +Like her sister, she felt so at home that +she also became a scholar. They each +became so very much attached to both +school and chapel, that they had no +desire whatever to leave it; and we have +good reason to believe the Word was +made a blessing, and that the seed of +divine grace was sown in each of their +hearts by God the Eternal Spirit.</p> + +<p>Emma was of a very quiet turn of mind, +and for the last two years was the subject +of great soul-trouble. All who knew her +could testify to the deep sense she had +of her sinnership before God. Her great +fear was, that she was too great a sinner +for the Lord to look upon; but her whole +desire was, to be found right with Him.</p> + +<p>To a friend she said, "Oh, I should +not mind waiting, if only I knew I should +obtain the blessing; but I am so afraid +I shall never have what I am seeking +after."</p> + +<p>Her love for the house of God was so +great that no weather would prevent her +from attending the means. Being of a +delicate constitution, her mother often +reproved her for going so much; but she +could say, with the poet—</p> + +<p> +"I love to meet amongst them now,<br /> +Before Thy gracious feet to bow,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Though vilest of them all."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Truly, she prized the company of the +Lord's people, and looked upon them as +the excellent of the earth; and many +times has said, "I want the Lord to +assure me that I am one of His family, +redeemed by precious blood."</p> + +<p>For the most part she was very dark +in her mind, but had rays of light, being +often encouraged under the preached +Word.</p> + +<p>It was about a month before her last +illness that the Lord seemed to completely +wean her from the world. She +seemed like one that was indeed taking +the kingdom of heaven by violence. +The things that belonged to her soul's +happiness were eagerly sought after, +while the things of the world were only +a plague and a burden.</p> + +<p>She said to a friend, "Oh, how I long +for the Christmas holidays—not for the +mere holiday, but that I may get away +from my work, and be with the dear +people of God."</p> + +<p>About a fortnight before her illness, +our dear minister spoke from the words, +"My sheep hear My voice, and I know +them, and they follow Me." It seemed +to completely cut her up, as she feared +she was only a hypocrite, and not a +true follower, which caused her great +sorrow of heart. But during the week +the Lord was pleased to shine upon her +once more with these words—"I have +loved thee with an everlasting love; +therefore with loving-kindness have I +drawn thee." But the words were so +great she feared to take them, and yet +she could not put them away.</p> + +<p>On the following Sunday, our dear +pastor took for his text, "Even to Him +shall men come" (Isa. xlv. 24). That +day was indeed a Sabbath to her; for, +as the character was described, the +Lord sweetly made it plain to her that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +she was no longer to cut herself off, and +she felt sure that she was the character +described. She earnestly begged of the +Lord that day that Mr. Hazlerigg might +be led to take the same text in the evening. +To her great joy the same words +were again given out, and the sermon +was attended with the same sweetness +to her. She was indeed full. A friend +who walked with her from chapel said +afterwards, that she seemed in a most +heavenly frame of mind. She could do +nothing but speak of the favoured times +she had had in hearing.</p> + +<p>The next, and indeed the last, time +that she was permitted to meet with us +on earth, was at our prayer-meeting on +the Monday evening, and then she +seemed again to be much favoured.</p> + +<p>She was taken ill on the Wednesday +evening. On the following Friday, the +writer, being sent for, went and found +her very ill, but her mind seemed stayed +upon eternal things. I said, "Do you +think you shall get better, Emma?" to +which she replied, "I do not know. If +the complaint is not stayed, I must sink; +but I do not mind." I asked her if she +feared death. She replied, "No; I only +want the Lord to reveal Himself to me +more, and then I do not mind whether it +is life or death." She said, "I have +only one wish, and that is, that the +affliction may be sanctified." She said +that verse had been so blessed to her—</p> + +<p> +"Fenced with Jehovah's 'shalls' and 'wills,'<br /> +Firm as the everlasting hills."<br /> +</p> + +<p>I said, "Oh, Emma, how good of the +Lord to give you those words. He knows +how full of fears you are, and how Satan +would cast his 'buts' and 'ifs' at you; +but the Lord has given you those words +to quench Satan's darts with." I told +her I believed the Lord was either preparing +her for His Church below, or +His Church above. She smiled, and +said, "I hope it is so."</p> + +<p>A friend, to whom she was much +attached, called to see her, and said, +"Emma, should you like me to read to +you? I am afraid you are too ill." She +said, "Oh, do! I should so much like +you to do so." The twenty-third Psalm +was read, and a few words of prayer +offered; and to a friend, who afterwards +went in, she said how very much she +enjoyed it.</p> + +<p>We did indeed feel it good to be with +her; but the affliction was of such a +painful nature that she could not talk +much. The doctor said that all that +could be done for her was to keep her +very quiet, and give her support, so +that we often refrained from conversing +with her, hoping very much that it might +be the Lord's will to restore her.</p> + +<p>On Saturday morning our hopes were +raised very high. She was quiet in her +mind, Satan not being permitted to +harass her. Her only fear seemed to be +that she was ungrateful. She said, "I +have so many friends, and they are all +so kind." But we always found her to +be truly grateful for every little act of +kindness shown to her.</p> + +<p>Towards evening a change for the +worse took place. Convulsions seized +her, and, for about twelve hours, it was +most painful to witness her struggle with +the last enemy—so much so that her +dear sister, who was devoted to her, was +led to beg of the Lord to release her.</p> + +<p>About six o'clock on Lord's Day +morning her spirit took its flight, to be +"for ever with the Lord." Truly, we could +say it was her gain, though we felt the +loss most keenly. The Lord had been +so good in supporting her through her +painful affliction, that we felt we could +justly say, with the poet—</p> + +<p> +"Her mind was tranquil and serene;<br /> +No terror in her look was seen;<br /> +Her Saviour's smile dispelled the gloom,<br /> +And smoothed her passage to the tomb." +</p> +<div class="signature"><span class="smcap">C. Wardle.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> +<h2>PRAYER ANSWERED.</h2> + +<h3>A TRUE INCIDENT.</h3> + + +<p>On the summit of Washington +mountain, overlooking the Housatonic +Valley, stood a hut, the +home of John Barry, a poor charcoal-burner, +whose family consisted of his +wife and himself. His occupation brought +him in but few dollars, and when cold +weather came, he had managed to get +together only a small provision for the +winter.</p> + +<p>This fall, after a summer of hard +work, he fell sick, and was unable to +keep his fires going, so, when the snow +of December, 1874, fell, and the drifts +had shut off communication with the village +at the foot of the mountain, John +and his wife were in great straits. Their +entire stock of food consisted of only a +few pounds of salt pork and a bushel of +potatoes. Sugar, flour, coffee, and tea +had, early in December, given out, and +the chances for replenishing the larder +were slim indeed.</p> + +<p>The snowstorms came again, and the +drifts deepened. All the roads, even in +the valley, were impassable, and no one +thought of trying to open the mountain +highways, which even in summer were +only occasionally travelled, and none +gave the old man and his wife a thought.</p> + +<p>December 15th came, and with it the +heaviest fall of snow experienced in +Berkshire County in many years. The +food of the old couple on the mountain +was now reduced to a day's supply, but +John did not yet despair. He was a +Christian and a God-fearing man, and +His promises were remembered; and so, +when evening came, and the north-east +gale was blowing and the fierce snowstorm +was raging, John and his wife +were praying and asking for help.</p> + +<p>In Sheffield village, ten miles away, +lived Deacon Brown, a well-to-do farmer +of fifty years old, who was noted +for his consistent and godly deportment, +both as a man and a Christian. The +deacon and his wife had gone to bed +early, and, in spite of the storm raging +without, were sleeping soundly, when, +with a start, the deacon awoke, and +said to his wife, "Who spoke? Who's +there?"</p> + +<p>"Why," said the wife, "no one is +here but you and me. What is the +matter with you?"</p> + +<p>"I heard a voice," said the deacon, +"saying, 'Send food to John.'"</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" replied Mrs. Brown. +"You've been dreaming."</p> + +<p>The deacon laid his head on his pillow, +and was asleep in a minute. Soon +he started up again, and, waking his +wife, exclaimed—"There, I heard that +voice again—'Send food to John.'"</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said Mrs. Brown. +"Deacon, you are not well; your supper +has not agreed with you. Lie down and +try to sleep."</p> + +<p>Again the deacon closed his eyes, +and again came the voice—"Send food +to John." This time the deacon was +thoroughly awake. "Wife," said he, +"who do we know named John who +needs food?"</p> + +<p>"No one I remember," replied Mrs. +Brown, "unless it be John Barry, the +old charcoal-burner on the mountain."</p> + +<p>"That's it!" exclaimed the deacon. +"Now I remember, when I was at the +store in Sheffield the other day, Clark, +the merchant, speaking of John Barry, +said, 'I wonder if the old man is alive, +for it is six weeks since I saw him, and +he has not yet laid in his winter stock +of groceries.' It must be old John is +sick, and wanting food." So saying, +the good deacon arose and proceeded +to dress himself.</p> + +<p>"Come, wife," said he, "wake our +boy Willie, and tell him to feed the +horses and get ready to go with me;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +and do you pack up in the two largest +baskets you have, a good stock of food, +and get us an early breakfast, for I +am going up to the mountain to carry +the food I know John Barry needs."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Brown, accustomed to the sudden +impulses of her good husband, and believing +him to be always in the right, +cheerfully complied, and after a hot +breakfast, Deacon Brown and his son +Willie, a boy of nineteen, hitched up +the horses to the double sleigh, and +then, with a month's supply of food, and +a "Good-bye, mother," started at five +o'clock on that cold December morning +for a journey that almost any other +than Deacon Brown and his son would +not have dared to undertake.</p> + +<p>The north-east storm was still raging, +and the snow falling and drifting fast; +but on, on went the stout, well-fed team +on its errand of mercy, while the occupants +of the sleigh, wrapped up in +blankets and extra buffalo robes, urged +the horses through the drifts and in the +face of the storm. That ten miles' ride, +which required in the summer hardly an +hour or two, was not finished until the +deacon's watch showed that five hours +had passed.</p> + +<p>At last they drew up in front of the +hut where the poor trusting Christian +man and woman were on their knees +praying for help to Him who is always +the Hearer and Answerer of prayer; and +as the deacon reached the door, he heard +the voice of supplication, and then he +knew that the voice which awakened +him from sleep was sent from heaven.</p> + +<p>He knocked at the door. It was +opened; and we can imagine the joy of +the old couple when the generous supply +of food was carried in, and the +thanksgivings that were uttered by the +starving tenants of that mountain hut.</p> + +<p>"Call upon Me in the day of trouble, +and I will answer thee."—<i>Lantern.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Never</span> think that you can make yourself +great by making another less.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>Page 91.</i>)</p> + + +<p>"<i>Create in me a clean heart, O +God; renew a right spirit within +me.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Psalm</span> li. 10.</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td align="left">C</td><td align="left">heba</td><td align="left">R</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Ezekiel i. i.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">R</td><td align="left">om</td><td align="left">E</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Acts xviii. 2.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">E</td><td align="left">glo</td><td align="left">N</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Judges iii. 15.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">A</td><td align="left">x</td><td align="left">E</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Judges ix. 48.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">T</td><td align="left">o</td><td align="left">W</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Isaiah i. 31.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">E</td><td align="left">liad</td><td align="left">A</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">2 Chronicles xvii. 17.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">I</td><td align="left">bha</td><td align="left">R</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">2 Samuel v. 15.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">N</td><td align="left">aphtal</td><td align="left">I</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Genesis xxx. 8.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">M</td><td align="left">ago</td><td align="left">G</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">1 Chronicles i. 5.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">E</td><td align="left">leale</td><td align="left">H</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Numbers xxxii. 37.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">A</td><td align="left">rara</td><td align="left">T</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Genesis viii. 4.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">C</td><td align="left">epha</td><td align="left">S</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">John i. 42.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">L</td><td align="left">am</td><td align="left">P</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Exodus xxvii. 20.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">E</td><td align="left">nged</td><td align="left">I</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">1 Samuel xxiii. 29.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">A</td><td align="left">roe</td><td align="left">R</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Numbers xxxii. 34.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">N</td><td align="left">aphtal</td><td align="left">I</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">1 Kings vii. 14.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">H</td><td align="left">arves</td><td align="left">T</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Genesis viii. 22.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">E</td><td align="left">ni</td><td align="left">W</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Proverbs xx. 1.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">A</td><td align="left">bisha</td><td align="left">I</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">1 Chronicles xviii. 12.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">R</td><td align="left">es</td><td align="left">T</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Hebrews iv. 9.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">T</td><td align="left">abera</td><td align="left">H</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Deuteronomy ix. 22.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">O</td><td align="left">mr</td><td align="left">I</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">1 Kings xvi. 25.</td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">G</td><td align="left">ibeo</td><td align="left">N<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a></td><td>.</td><td align="left">1 Chronicles viii. 29.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">O</td><td>bed-edo</td><td align="left">M</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">2 Samuel vi. 11.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">D</td><td align="left">ov</td><td align="left">E</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Genesis viii. 9.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p> +<span class="smcap" style="margin-left: 15em;">Thomas Tyler</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 15em;"> (Aged 14 years).</span><br /> +<i>Potton</i>, <i>Beds</i>. +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>WISDOM.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Proverbs</span> iii. 13-15.)</p> + + +<p> +True wisdom doth my soul admire,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And would before fine gold prefer;</span><br /> +For all the things I could desire<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Are not to be compared with her.</span><br /> +<br /> +While earthly things fill earthly minds,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Attracted to their native clod,</span><br /> +Happy the man who wisdom finds,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And holds her in the fear of God!</span> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE CLEVER BOY AND THE ELECTRICAL MACHINE.</h2> + + +<p>An electrical machine was in the +window of a scientific instrument +maker's shop, and a youth stood +looking at it with eager eyes. +He was observing every part with intense +curiosity. At length, after a long, +absorbing gaze, a neighbouring clock +struck. He started like one awakened +from a sleep, and ran with all speed to +his master's workshop.</p> + +<p>The boy was the son of a working man—a +smith, and was intended also for a +working man, but not quite so laborious +a trade. Perhaps the boy was not strong +enough for his father's manly trade, so +he was apprenticed to a bookbinder in +Blandford Street, Marylebone. He was +a very diligent lad, fond of work in hours +of business, and fond of a book in hours +of leisure. His master noticed this, +and gave him leave to stay in the workshop +during the dinner-hour.</p> + +<p>Whilst his fellow-workers were drinking +and smoking, the orphan boy was +storing his mind with useful knowledge. +In particular he loved books on scientific +subjects. He liked to read about +the wonders of chemistry; still more +about electricity—that wonderful power +that flashes out of the thunder-cloud, +that dwells unseen in the dew-drop, +that, at a touch, thrills through the +startled nerves, and, like an invisible but +mighty spirit, pervades all things, from +the clouds of heaven to the clods of +earth.</p> + +<p>One day he found out the shop window +with the electrical machine, and at every +spare moment he haunted that window, +taking the shape and measure of every +knob, and wire, and wheel, and plate, +with earnest eyes. Then he resolved to +try and make one for himself; so by the +light of the early summer mornings, +he was up and working away at his +machine.</p> + +<p>In time he completed it, and found it +would act. He touched the knob, and +the shock that went through him was as +nothing compared with the joy that +throbbed through his heart at seeing his +work complete.</p> + +<p>He showed it to his master, who, being +a kind and sensible man, was pleased +and surprised at the ingenuity of the lad. +The master was fond of showing the +electrical apparatus of his industrious +apprentice to every person likely to be +interested in a clever youth. Amongst +them were some Fellows of the Royal +Society, who might, perhaps, have an +admission ticket to give.</p> + +<p>Some few years after, the lad, now a +young man, was again gazing with wide +open eyes, and laying up all he saw in +his mind. This time it was not through +a shop window that he looked. It was +from a seat in the Royal Society's lecture-room +that he witnessed Sir Humphrey +Davey making some beautiful +chemical experiments.</p> + +<p>The youth did not know which most +to admire—the beautiful apparatus, the +wonderful experiments, or the eloquent +lecture. All was so new to him—so interesting. +But the lecturer himself was, +above all the rest, the object of his +admiration. Our youth, having been a +reader, knew that Sir Humphrey Davey +was not born of rich parents, though his +kindred and his breeding were virtuous +and respectable. In the remote town of +Penzance, in Cornwall, from the most +western extremity in England, the great +man had come. He had taught himself +nearly all he knew; and now the youth +saw him standing before the mighty and +the noble of the land, the light of genius +in his flashing eyes, the words of wisdom +on his eloquent lips. "Oh, if I could +but follow the steps of such a master!" +was the involuntary wish of the youthful +hearer.</p> + +<p>This thought soon produced action. +Promptness was a leading part of the +young man's character, so he resolved to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +write to the great chemist, and state +that he wished to follow some other +trade than that to which he had been +apprenticed; that he loved science, +and would think himself happy to be +employed in any way in the laboratory +of so great a man. It was a bold step, +but the request, though urgent, was +full of the noble humility of real worth. +His letter was not neglected. Inquiries +were made. The good master had no +wish to prevent the youth entering on a +career for which his talents and studious +habits fitted him. The electrical apparatus +was another aid to him, so the +wish of his heart was granted. He +entered the laboratory of the great man, +and had ample opportunity to study and +to improve. There is no need to say he +did not waste his time or neglect his +opportunities.</p> + +<p>Sir Humphrey Davey died, leaving a +name dear to the philanthropist, as well +as the man of science; but his place +was not long vacant. Who filled it? +He whose youth we have feebly +sketched; he whose lectures at the +Royal Institution were listened to by +the Prince Consort and the Prince of +Wales—the celebrated and much-beloved +Professor Faraday.</p> + +<p>"Seest thou the man that is diligent +in business? he shall stand before +kings."</p> + +<p>Professor Faraday was not only one +of the greatest scientific authorities that +ever lived, but he was a companion of +humble-minded Christians. His weekdays +he devoted to science, but on the +Sunday he might be heard telling the +story of redeeming love to delighted +listeners.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Christ's</span> time was largely taken up +in making people happy. We do well +to remember that, and to do our best +in ministering to the happiness of all +around us.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>OUR BIBLE CLASS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">God's Independence of All, and +His Declared Need of Some of +His Creatures.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Psalm</span> l. 12, <span class="smcap">and Matthew</span> xxi. 1-3.)</p> + + +<p>That God is independent the Bible +everywhere declares. All beings +beside Himself are His creatures, +and He is Lord of all. He needs nothing, +for He possesses all things.</p> + +<p>No <i>supplies</i>, for, though He ordained +sacrifices and planned His temple, +heaven is His throne, and earth His +footstool, and His own hand gives life, +power, and sustenance to all (Acts xvii. +25).</p> + +<p>No <i>tribute</i>. The free-will offerings of +David and his people, for the building of +the temple, were a sweet sacrifice to +God; but David truly described matters +when he said, "Of <i>Thine own</i>, O Lord, +have we given unto Thee" (1 Chron. +xxix. 14).</p> + +<p>He needs <i>no information</i> or <i>guidance</i> +(see Isa. xl. 13-15). "Who +hath directed the Spirit of the Lord? +or being His counsellor, hath taught +Him?" The question is not asked +of angels, but of men; and "all nations +before Him are as a drop of a +bucket"—the little drips that fall from +it as it is drawn up from the well—while +"He taketh up the islands as a very +little thing"—a light thing, lifted easily +with the fingers.</p> + +<p>No creatures can give their Creator a +single new thought, or any help of any +kind (Rom. xi. 34-36). "For who +hath <i>known</i> the mind of the Lord?" +Who then could have been His counsellor? +Or who hath first given to Him? +This can never be, "for <i>of</i> Him, and +<i>through</i> Him, and <i>to</i> Him are all things, +to whom be glory for ever. Amen."</p> + +<p>Therefore He needs give no <i>explanations</i> +to any of His creatures. "Who +can say unto Him, What doest Thou?" +(Dan. iv. 35.) Thus God is above all, +and independent of all.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>Yet Jesus "needed" the ass and colt +(Matt. xxi.). We read of "coming to the +help of the Lord against the mighty" +(Judges v. 23); and Paul spoke about +"working together with God" in teaching +His people.</p> + +<p>The Bible is full of these contrasts. +God is so high, and yet so condescending; +full of majesty, yet "plenteous in +mercy to all who call upon Him."</p> + +<p>There is no contradiction in the contrast; +but God's needs are never necessities. +Our needs arise out of our <i>nature</i>. +We need food, clothing, and comforts, +friendship and sympathy; but all God's +needs come from His <i>will</i> and His <i>love</i>.</p> + +<p>How beautifully this appears in the +life of Jesus! He came to earth as a +little Infant, needing a mother's care. He +grew up in humble circumstances, and +when He went forth, at thirty years of +age, to preach the Gospel, "the Son of +Man had not where to lay His head." +He also needed the many ministries of +love His devoted followers rendered to +Him. And when He died, others must +provide the grave-clothes and the tomb, +for He had none of His own.</p> + +<p>"Though He was rich, yet for our +sakes He became poor, that we through +His poverty might be rich."</p> + +<p>"For our sakes!" This is the keynote +to all the needs of the Almighty.</p> + +<p>The Father of the Lord Jesus Christ +chose His people in His Son before the +foundation of the world, and the father +of a family needs his children because +they are his own, and he loves them.</p> + +<p>The shepherd needs his sheep to be +safe, and will not willingly lose them. +Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who bought +His sheep with His own life and blood, +and must needs gather and keep them +every one.</p> + +<p>The physician needs patients whose +healing shall proclaim his knowledge +and skill, and the Great Physician of +sin-sick hearts will glorify Himself by +bringing perfect health and cure to all +who are led to Him by the Holy Spirit.</p> + +<p>Do we feel our need of Him? Have +we discovered that we are fallen, lost, +guilty, and diseased? Then <i>He needs +us</i>, and has shown us our need, that He +may relieve, supply, and bless us with +His great salvation.</p> + +<p>In the same way He needs His people's +services for <i>their own</i> sakes.</p> + +<p>By fighting the Lord's battles of old, +His servants were interested in His +cause. By working with Him now, in +preaching, teaching, warning, and comforting +others, Christ's followers still are +honoured and blessed.</p> + +<p>When Saul of Tarsus, breathing out +slaughter and bitterness against the +sheep of Christ, was hastening like a +wolf to Damascus, Jesus stopped Him, +made him a new creature, and caused +him to utter that cry of anguish, "Lord, +what wilt Thou have me to do?" Like +the jailer's question, "What must I do +to be saved?" it came from a convinced +and burdened heart.</p> + +<p>Saul suddenly discovered that his life +had been one terrible mistake—that +Jesus of Nazareth was the Lord of +heaven—and tremblingly he wondered, +"Could there be pardon for such a rebel +as he now felt himself to be?"</p> + +<p>Could not the same almighty voice +have spoken peace to that troubled conscience? +Certainly; but Jesus required +Ananias to be His messenger to the +humbled Pharisee; and, after three +days of suspense and blindness, while +his tears had been his only food, Ananias +arrived with the message of peace.</p> + +<p>How tenderly it was given! He put +his hands on him, and said, "Brother +Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared +to thee by the way as thou camest, hath +sent me unto thee," and comfort, sight, +and joy followed, while the believing +penitent was baptized in the name of his +Lord.</p> + +<p>How gracious and wise was all this! +How closely it drew Ananias and Saul +together as brethren—children of the +same heavenly family. Paul always +lovingly remembered his first Christian +friend (Acts xxii. 12, 13), and we are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +sure that Ananias never forgot that +memorable day.</p> + +<p>And in the same way Christ still needs +the loving services of His people to one +another; and those who are taught and +helped, love their Christian helpers, +while the helpers feel a double love towards +those to whom they have been +made useful.</p> + +<p>Thus the great and glorious independent +and almighty King condescends to +make use of feeble worms. And which +should we most admire, His majesty, or +His tenderness? We cannot tell. He +is all-wise and all-powerful, and—</p> + +<p> +"With heaven and earth at His command,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">He waits to answer prayer."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Therefore, "blessed are they who hunger +and thirst after righteousness," for +the time is coming when "they shall +hunger no more, neither thirst, for the +Lamb in the midst of the throne" shall +fill them with all good, and there will +be no more "need" on either side. +Jesus shall see His people fully saved, +and "shall be satisfied"; and they, +"beholding His face in righteousness, +shall be gratefully satisfied, when they +awake, with His likeness" (Psa. xvii. +15).</p> + +<p>May this joy unspeakable be ours.</p> + +<p>Our next subject will be, <i>The Good +Shepherd Gathering His Sheep</i> (John +x. 16).</p> + +<div class="signature"> +Yours affectionately,<br /> +H. S. L. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN MAY.</h2> + + +<p>May 6. Commit to memory Rom. viii. 31.</p> + +<p>May 13. Commit to memory Rom. viii. 32.</p> + +<p>May 20. Commit to memory Rom. viii. 33.</p> + +<p>May 27. Commit to memory Rom. viii. 34.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PRIZE ESSAY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">How to be Useful in the +World.</span></h3> + + +<p>There are five heads under which +this subject may be placed—Love, +Truthfulness, Obedience, +Cheerfulness, Peacemakers.</p> + +<p><i>Love.</i> If true love is inspired in our +hearts, our chief aim will consist in trying +to be a help to others, which is very +useful and needful, even in our own +homes. The power of love is of such +value, that those who know it esteem it +as a precious gem set in gold, for without +it, our life would be a path of misery +and woe—two of the most terrible burdens +in the world. Love is the true +spring of usefulness.</p> + +<p><i>Truthfulness</i> is always needful. He +who is tempted to tell a lie should consider +that he may be struck dead while +doing so; and then, where will his soul +awake? Truth <i>will</i> out, if it be a long +while hidden. It will stand like the +mountain against the roaring sea—nothing +can move it; for with it, is a +clear conscience in the sight of God. If +truth were spoken more freely and carefully, +we should be far happier. Its +preciousness cannot be sufficiently +prized.</p> + +<p><i>Obedience</i> is often the root of cheerfulness. +An obedient child has this +motto in view—"Thou, God, seest me." +Obedience is useful in preserving us +from many dangers, which our elders +can often foresee, and which might +prove the ruin of our immortal souls if +we were to be disobedient. Thus it +brings happiness into the homes and +hearts of children and parents, and so +produces cheerfulness.</p> + +<p><i>Cheerfulness</i> is sure to arise, in due +course, from godliness. If we have +trials, we should not give way to despair, +and make those about us unhappy; +but we should try to attend to +our work, and look at the brighter side +of our troubles, and encourage those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +whom we often find in greater difficulties +than ourselves; at the same time, not +forgetting to take our crosses to God. +We may cheer many a saddened heart +by cheerful words, and sometimes entice +the young revenger to forget and forgive.</p> + +<p><i>Peacemakers</i> are thus spoken of—"Blessed +are the peacemakers; for they +shall be called the children of God" +(Matt. v. 9). Christ teaches us this in +His sermon on the mount; and He also +set us the example. A little child may +be a peacemaker, if it is only to say a +word of love, and so stem the rising +tempest. In time, it may develop itself +more fully, and we may thus honour our +holy Master by treading in His footsteps, +and proving a help to all who know +it, in speaking His truth boldly and +sincerely.</p> + +<p>For an example of usefulness, we must +consider the precious Jesus, and pray +for grace to imitate Him in all His ways; +then we shall not willingly do wrong, +for He is superlatively good.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Margaret Creasey</span><br /> + +(Aged 14 years). +</div> +<p><i>Sydney House, Sleaford.</i> +</p> + +<p>[Our young friend tells us her age will +not admit of her writing the Essays in +future, but we hope she will not forget +us, and we pray that the Lord may give +her grace to live a useful and honourable +life as a disciple of Jesus.</p> + +<p>We have received several creditable +Essays this month, those from E. B. +Knocker, Jane Bell, Lilly Rush, Florrie +Rush, and W. E. Cray deserving special +mention as giving signs of approaching +success.]</p> + +<p>[The writer of the above Essay receives +a copy of "Notable Workers in +Humble Life."</p> + +<p>The subject for July will be, "The +Difference between 'Uncertain Riches' +and 'The True Riches'" (see Tim. vi. +17; Prov. xxiii. 5; Luke xvi. 11; Prov. +viii. 18, &c.); and the prize to be given +for the best Essay on that subject, a copy +of "The Story of the Spanish Armada." +All competitors must give a guarantee +that they are under fifteen years of age, +and that the Essay is their own composition, +or the papers will be passed over, +as the Editor cannot undertake to write +for this necessary information. Papers +must be sent direct to the Editor, Mr. +T. Hull, 117, High Street, Hastings, by +the first of June.]</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p>We insert the following to show what +even very young children can accomplish +by trying, and with a desire to encourage +our young friend and others +to <i>try again</i>:—</p> + +<h3><span class="smcap">How to be Useful in the World.</span></h3> + +<p>Little children can be useful in many +ways. First, learn to be useful at home. +Lay the meals, and do the dusting; go +on errands, and be kind to brothers and +sisters. Always speak the truth, and +obey your parents; and if you are sent +out on an errand, or with a message, +and any other little children try to persuade +you to go with them, mind and +obey your parents. Be gentle in your +manner and duties, and be careful with +little children, if you have to see to them, +and with your brothers and sisters, and +in all your duties. We should be very +careful to do what we are told to do, and +also very careful not to do what we are +told not to do. Be kind, not selfish; +dutiful to parents; and do little things +willingly; try and persevere at school; +be strictly honest, whatever occupation +you may be in; always be just, and if +you do this, people will feel they can +trust you; but if you do not, people will +say they cannot trust you. Set an example +not to be cruel to anything or any +body, but to be kind to all, and love and +obey your parents.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Mercy Phillips</span><br /> +(Aged 7 years, 10 months). +</div> +<p><i>Lindfield, Hayward's Heath.</i> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p> +<h2>Interesting Items.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Over</span> 10,000,000 eggs now arrive in New +York city weekly. One recent Canada train +had thirty-one cars, with 200,000 eggs in each. +The chief supply to the New York market comes +from Canada and Michigan.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">United States' Flour Exports.</span>—The United +States now manufacture yearly 70,000,000 +barrels of flour, and of this one-seventh part is +exported. The great bulk of this flour is sent +from eight Atlantic ports to Europe.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Among</span> the "fowls of the air" are three, the +eagle, swan, and raven, which live to the age +of one hundred years or more. The paroquet +and heron attain the goodly age of sixty years. +The sparrow-hawk, duck, and pelican may +live to be forty, while the peacock and linnet +reach the quarter century, and the canary +twenty-four years.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Sagacious Dog.</span>—Just recently a dog, of +the black and tan terrier species, entered the +Bolton Infirmary unobserved, and forced itself +upon the attention of the house-surgeon, who +found one of the animal's legs broken. With +the aid of nurses he set the limb, the dog meanwhile +licking the surgeon's hand. It refused to +leave the institution, and was installed as an +in-patient. How the dog got into the infirmary +is unknown.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">We</span> understand that the hall which, for the +last nearly sixty years, has been appropriated in +Glasgow to caricaturing religion, and where +mockery of the Sabbath, recitations, comic songs, +dancing, and all sorts of diabolical devices to +entrap weak souls, were revelled in, where +many Sabbaths Mrs. Besant and Mr. Bradlaugh +gave vent to their mockery and blasphemy of +God, is henceforth to be used for the worship +of the Almighty.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Origin of the Word "News."</span>—The word +"news" is not, as many may imagine, derived +from the adjective "new." In former years +(between 1595 and 1730) it was a prevalent +practice to put over the periodical publications +of the day the initial letters of the cardinal +points of the compass, thus—<span class="smcap">N E W S</span>, implying +that those papers contained intelligence from +the four quarters of the globe, and from this +practice is derived the term of "newspaper."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A telegram</span> states that the body of Alexander +the Great has been found among the sarcophagi +lately unearthed at Saida, in Syria. It is stated +that the body can be positively identified by its +inscription, and other particulars. Alexander +is known to have died at Babylon, and on his +death-bed he is stated to have told his sons to +convey his body to Alexandria, the city he had +founded at the mouth of the Nile. Although +the monarch did not live thirty-three years, or +reign thirteen, he did more than all before or +since his time.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Amongst</span> the most curious of recorded wills is +that of a Mr. Thomas Tuke, of Wath, near +Rotherham, who, dying in 1810, bequeathed a +penny to every child that should be present at +his funeral. Another provision of the will +ordered a shilling to be given to every poor +woman in Wath, whilst to his own daughter +he only bequeathed the pittance of four guineas +per annum. An old woman had for eleven +years attended him. To her he bequeathed the +munificent sum of one guinea only, for, as he +expressed it, "tucking him up in bed." A +further whimsy of the selfish humourist was a +bequest of forty dozen penny buns to be thrown +from the church tower at noon on Christmas +Day for ever.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> day, a gentleman's attention was attracted +by an unusual commotion in his stable, +where two carriage horses were kept. Looking +in, he saw that one of the animals had got out +of its loose box, and was helping itself to a +bucket of mash which the coachman had left +at the door. The other horse was neighing +loudly, evidently demanding a share in the +feast. What was the gentleman's surprise to +see the first horse fill its mouth with the mash, +and then push its nose through the bars of the +loose box, for its imprisoned companion to take +the relish from its mouth. This was repeated +several times. The horse which was thus fed +had often been seen to push over some of his +hay into his companion's rack, when that was +emptied first.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Submerged Forest.</span>—During the late +violent storms in the Channel, the sea washed +through a high and hard sand-bank near St. +Malo, nearly four metres thick, laying bare a +portion of an ancient forest which was already +passing into the condition of coal. This forest +at the beginning of our era covered an extensive +tract of the coast; but with the sinking of the +land it became submerged and covered up by +the drifting sand. Mont Saint Michel once +stood in the middle of it. The forest had quite +disappeared by the middle of the tenth century. +Occasionally, at very low tides after storms, +remains of it are disclosed, just as at present. +It is believed that, some centuries ago, the +highest tides rose about twelve metres above the +level of the lowest ebb. Now the high-water +level is 15.5 metres above the lowest.</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span><span class="smcap">Preaching</span> at Kensington the other week, +Cardinal Manning said that there are labouring +in London no less than 350 Roman Catholic +priests and 1,000 nuns.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Snake that Understood English.</span>—It is +related that some Americans recently going +through the Jardin des Plantes of Paris, stopped +to look at a big rattlesnake in a cage. It lay +motionless, apparently asleep, but when two of +the party who lingered behind began to speak +in English, it moved, lifted its head, and gave +every sign of interest. They told their companions +that the snake understood English. +The whole party then returned to the cage. +The snake was apparently asleep again. They +conversed in French, but the snake made no +movement. Then the ladies began to speak in +English. The snake started, lifted its head, and +showed the same alertness as before at the +sounds. The rattlesnake proved, on inquiry, +to have come from Virginia.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The South African Gold Fields.</span>—The +<i>Natal Mercury</i> says:—"The gold exports for +January, 1888, from Natal were £31,447, and +from the Cape £26,115, making a total of +£57,562. This is a capital opening for the first +month of the year, and if continued in the same +ratio, will mean the handsome total for the year +of £690,744. Glowing reports continue to come +in from the Waterfall, at the Kantoor. A +number of buildings are going up. Last week +a seven-ounce nugget was brought into Barberton. +Two Portuguese are said to be making, +on an average, four ounces per day, say £100 +per week, and their ground is described as a +regular 'bank.' Of course they and a few +others are exceptionally lucky ones; but all are +said to be making a good living."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">St. Patrick's Day in New York.</span>—The following +"open letter" has been addressed to the +Mayor of New York:—"69, Wall Street, New +York, March 19th, 1888.—My dear Sir,—While +coming from Washington yesterday on the +limited express, my eye caught the telegram +printed in a Washington paper announcing +your order forbidding the display of the Irish +flag from the City Hall on St. Patrick's Day. I +could not repress an audible and emphatic +'Amen,' quite to the surprise of the ladies and +gentlemen in the car. For many years I, in +company with thousands of Americans and +adopted citizens from England, France, and +Germany, have been outraged and scandalized +by this annual insult to our intelligence, our +pride of country, our religious belief. In the +minds of many others besides the writer, that +banner represents in a large degree the worst +elements in our body politic—ignorance, vice, +bigotry, and crime. It is displayed on the 17th +of March in nearly every rum shop, gambling +hell, and thieves' den in New York. It was +borne in the ranks of the murderous mob that +held possession of the city in the July riots of +'63. But, aside from this, no legal or other +right exists for the display of that flag or any +other, except the ones you indicate, from the +City Hall of the great metropolis of a land whose +people are by a large majority consistent Protestants, +on a day set apart to honour the +memory of a fabulous Roman Catholic saint. +Furthermore, this is literally a rum-sellers' and +a rum-drinkers' procession. The wholesale rum-seller +rides on horseback, the retail rum-seller +rides in a carriage, the drinkers walk, until +many of them, overcome by rum, fall in the +gutter, are gathered up by the police, cared for +in the station houses and the penitentiary, +cleaned, and clothed, and fed at the expense of +the long-suffering taxpayer. I respect the +honest, right-living Irishman or woman, Catholic +or Protestant, and would not deny them a +single right to which I, a native-born American +citizen, am entitled; but I enter my indignant +protest against the steadily increasing attacks +upon our most valued institutions by this largely +foreign-born and most turbulent portion of our +population. It is high time to call a halt and +compel obedience to decency and law. You +will certainly receive the heartfelt thanks and +unanimous support of every lover of our city, +our country, our institutions, our laws.—I am, +my dear sir, very respectfully yours, <span class="smcap">George +Shepard Page</span>. To his Honour A. S. Hewitt, +Mayor of the City of New York." [We say, +All due honour to the noble Mayor of New +York, for such a common-sense decision.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span>]</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Keeping Warm.</span>—It may not be generally +known that, when exposed to severe cold, a +feeling of warmth is readily created by repeatedly +filling the lungs to their utmost extent +in the following manner. Throw the shoulders +well back, and hold the head well up. Inflate +the lungs slowly, the air entering entirely +through the nose. When the lungs are completely +filled, hold the breath for ten seconds +or longer, and then expire it quickly through +the mouth. After repeating this exercise while +one is chilly, a feeling of warmth will be felt +over the entire body, and even in the feet and +hands. It is important to practise this exercise +many times each day, and especially when in +the open air. If the habit ever becomes universal, +then consumption and many other +diseases will rarely, if ever, be heard of. Not +only while practising the breathing exercise +must the clothing be loose over the chest, but +beginners will do well to remember, in having +their clothing fitted, to allow for the permanent +expansion of one, two, and even three inches, +which will eventually follow.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 382px;"> +<img src="images/img124.jpg" width="382" height="500" alt="LOST GIRL (See page 122.)" title="LOST GIRL (See page 122.)" /> +<span class="caption">"SHE NOW FELT THAT SHE HAD LOST HER WAY." (<i>See page 122.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span></p> +<h2>LOST AND FOUND.</h2> + +<h3>A TRUE STORY FOR THE LITTLE ONES.</h3> + + +<p>Little Janet Bruce lived in a +pretty village in Scotland. Near +to her home was a large wood. +If you were to go into it without a guide, +you might go on for miles before you +could find your way out of it. In some +places no path is to be seen, and tall +trees and creeping plants cast a deep +shadow over the ground.</p> + +<p>Janet was the only child of a poor +widow. Her father had come to the +village from a distant part of the country +in search of work; but he had not been +there long before he fell ill and died. It +was a sad loss to Janet and her mother, +but God, who looks in pity on the widow +and fatherless, raised up for them many +kind friends.</p> + +<p>It was one evening, late in the autumn, +that Janet sat at the door of her mother's +cottage. She had been told never to go +far away from the house, lest she should +be lost. But on this evening, as she +looked over the fields, she saw some +bright blue flowers near a bush; and as +she was very fond of making little nosegays +of wild blossoms, she thought she +should like to pluck them. When these +were gathered, there was still further +away a hedge with shining buds. "Oh," +said she, "I should like to have them to +put with my blue flowers." In a moment +she sprang towards them, when a little +bird was startled from its nest in the +hedge. "What a pretty creature!" she +cried. "How I should like to see where +it will fly to!" And so she ran towards +it, but the bird could fly much faster +than she could run. Soon it flew into +the wood, and Janet followed after it.</p> + +<p>Thus we see how one wrong step leads +to another. Dear children, beware of the +first temptation to acts of disobedience.</p> + +<p>It was a cool evening, and the wind +blew among the trees. A little rain had +begun to fall, and there were signs of a +stormy night. Where had little Janet +wandered to? and where could she find +a shelter should there be a storm?</p> + +<p>The sun now sank behind the hills, +and night came on. Then it was dark—quite +dark; and her young heart beat +quickly as the wind moaned among the +trees. She now felt that she had lost +her way, and then sat down to weep. +She thought what a naughty child she +had been in not obeying her mother.</p> + +<p>At last she cried herself to sleep. As +soon as the daylight came again, she +awoke, and felt very hungry. But there +was no nice breakfast ready for her, and +no loving mother to kiss her. She was +alone in that great wood.</p> + +<p>Janet thought that it was no use for +her to sit still, so she rose up, and +walked on, but not so fast as before, for +her feet were cold, her legs were stiff +from lying on the damp ground, and +she was weak from want of food. Yet +the more she went forward, the further +she was from home, for she was going +quite another way from that path which +led to her mother's cottage.</p> + +<p>After a time she came to a place +where she saw some dark-looking people +seated on the outside of a little tent or +camp. These were gipsies. At first +she was afraid; but what was a little +girl to do in that wide wood? So, thinking +that they might be kind to her, she +went to them, and told how she was +lost.</p> + +<p>They told Janet to sit down by their +fire, and then they gave her some food +out of a large iron kettle that hung from +three upright sticks. The poor girl +stopped with them all that day, and at +night she cried, and asked them to take +her home to her dear mother. But the +gipsies looked at one another, and then +spoke in a whisper, so that she might +not hear what they said.</p> + +<p>At last, the men and women took off +Janet's nice frock, and put on her an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +old ragged dress. They also rubbed +her face, neck, and hands with a dark +juice, and then they told her that she +must go with them, and she should be +in the place of one of their own little +girls who had died.</p> + +<p>The tent was now packed up, and +put into a little cart, and all went forward +into a part of the country Janet +had never seen before.</p> + +<p>Now, poor child, all days were alike +to her. She did not know Sunday from +any other day. She had no Sabbath +School to go to, nor any good books to +read. Instead of the sweet hymns she +used to hear sung, she now only heard +the vain and foolish songs of the gipsies. +The Bible, which her mother used to +read to her every night and morning, +was a Book unknown to these wild +people.</p> + +<p>In what state of mind was Janet's +mother all this time? The people of the +village, when they first heard of her loss, +went in search of the child. They took +with them lanterns, and torches, and tin +horns, to sound as a signal, should they +find the lost one. Onward they went; +some along the fields, and others into +the wood; but hour after hour passed +away, and the little girl was not found.</p> + +<p>Oh, what grief filled the widow's +heart! "My child has fallen into the +river, and is drowned," she cried; "or +has strayed into the woods, and will be +starved to death."</p> + +<p>When all the people had come back +with the sad tidings that no trace of +Janet could be found, she wept aloud.</p> + +<p>Nearly twelve months passed away, +but Janet was not happy with the +gipsies. "Take me to my mother," +she often said with tears. "Oh, do let me +go home again!" They tried to please +her with their wandering ways of life, +but she could find no pleasure in them. +She used to sit on the side of the road +wherever they went, and look on every +passer-by, to see if she could find any +one she knew. But no, all faces were +strange. She did not know that she was +many miles away from her mother's cottage.</p> + +<p>As time went on, the gipsies saw that +Janet became very pale and ill. She was +so weak that they thought she would +die. They then told her that, in a few +weeks, they would go back to the woods +where they first met with her, and that +she should again see her mother. How +did Janet count the days and hours till +the time came; and when they once +more reached the woods, she clapped +her hands for joy.</p> + +<p>It was again the autumn of the year, +and the reapers were at work in the +fields. They were very busy, for they +were afraid that a storm was coming on. +It was just such a cloudy evening as +that when Janet was lost. They had +cut down all the corn at the lower part +of one of the fields, and had just reached +a corner which lay against the entrance +to the wood, when who should they see +but a little gipsy girl. She ran as well +as she could, for she was very feeble, +towards them, crying, "I am Janet! +My name is Janet Bruce. Oh, carry me +home to my mother!"</p> + +<p>The reapers stopped in their work, +and one of them caught the girl up in +his arms, and looking for a moment in +her face, shouted out, "Yes, it is she! +It is Janet herself!" There could be no +mistake, for though she had grown +taller, and her dress was ragged, and +her face was brown, they knew her +again in a moment.</p> + +<p>The work of the day was soon over, +and a seat of boughs of trees was +quickly made, into which they put +Janet; then two of the strongest men +raised her upon their shoulders, and +carried her towards her own dear home. +Some went before—men, boys, and +women—and some followed after; and +as they went they sang aloud for joy.</p> + +<p>The glad tidings soon reached Janet's +cottage, and the mother rushed forward +to meet her child. But we cannot tell +you what were the feelings of the poor +widow as she clasped Janet once more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +in her arms. The gipsy dress was +taken off, and better clothes put on, and +like the father in the parable, the widow +said, "This my child was dead, and is +alive again; and was lost, and is +found."</p> + +<p>And so it is when a sinner is brought +by the Holy Spirit to return to God. +With shame and sorrow he says, +"Father, I have sinned." But God, +who is rich in mercy, is ready to forgive. +He will, for Christ's sake, hear prayer. +Through His precious blood He will +pardon sin. He will take off the ragged +garments of sin, and put on the white +robe of Jesus' righteousness, and receive +coming sinners as His children. Then +what sounds of joy are heard in heaven, +when those who were lost are brought +home to dwell for ever in their Father's +house!</p> + +<p>Dear child, through the fall you are +<i>lost</i>. Have you been truly brought as +a penitent to Christ? If so, you are +<i>found</i>.</p> + +<p>Do not forget this—all the while any +one knows not what it is to come to +Christ for mercy and pardon, he is lost. +But the moment a sinner is truly brought +to the cross of Christ for salvation, he +is found. Are you among the lost or +among the found?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE DEAR OLD TIMES.</h2> + + +<p>It is interesting to look over +household and personal accounts +of, say, a hundred and +fifty years ago. Some of these, +which deal with the expenses of Mr. +Gervase Scrope, and of his son Thomas, +both of Cockerington, Lincolnshire, lie +before me; and from them I find that +"my dark-coloured cloth suit, trimmed +with silver buttons and loops, was made +November 21st, 1730, and cost in all +£17 17s. 6d."</p> + +<p>This included two pairs of breeches. +The cloth for the suit cost 18s. a yard; +but Mr. Scrope had a cloak in 1732, the +cloth of which cost £1 2s. a yard. In +1729, however, he procured a cheap +knockabout suit of clothes for £9 0s. 6d.</p> + +<p>Economy seems to have been necessary, +for in 1731, "Tommy had a pair +of breeches made out of an old scarlet +riding-coat of mine."</p> + +<p>Boots and wigs were both dear; so +also were hats. The squire's window-tax +in 1748 amounted to £2 17s.</p> + +<p>Only in the matter of certain articles +of food were the old days cheaper than +the new. In 1754, eight lbs. of veal +cost 2s. 4d., or 3½d. per lb.; a tongue +cost 1s. 10d.; 31 lbs. of round and +rump of beef cost 12s., or about 4½d. per +lb.; a leg and saddle of mutton cost +4s. 7d.; a quarter of lamb cost 1s. 6d.; +22 lbs. of pork were bought for 5s. 6d.; +and rabbits ranged from 6d. to 1s. a +couple, according to size. But coffee +was 6s. a lb., and lump sugar was 10d. +Soap at this time cost 7s. 6d. a stone.</p> + +<p>Bread was sometimes cheap, but +whenever war broke out, the price +always went up to a terrible height, +and much misery and distress must have +resulted.</p> + +<p>In 1886, the average price of wheat in +England was 39s. 4d. per imperial quarter; +in 1810 it was 106s. 5d.; and in +1801 it was 119s. 6d.; or more than +three times as much as it was two years +ago. Those were indeed dear old times.—<i>Cassell's +Saturday Journal.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>POINTS TO BE AIMED AT.</h2> + + +<p> +P unctual be throughout the day;<br /> +O bedient to superiors;<br /> +I ndustrious in every way;<br /> +N ot haughty to inferiors:<br /> +T ruthful in word, and trim in dress;<br /> +S hun folly, and for wisdom press.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 12em;">J. B.</span><br /> +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">All</span> who now colour for show will +hereafter be shown in their true colours.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> +<h2>WHAT A PRIEST THOUGHT OF ROMAN CATHOLIC MIRACLES.</h2> + +<p>"<i>After the working of Satan with +all power, and signs, and lying wonders.</i>"—2 +<span class="smcap">Thessalonians</span> ii. 9.</p> + + +<p>In the autumn of 1836, the Marine +hospital of Quebec, in Canada, +was filled with patients suffering +from ship typhoid fever, and so +deadly was the disease that, by the following +spring, a number of the officials +and servants of the institution had also +been smitten, and died. Chiniquy had +hitherto been spared, although in constant +attendance on the patients, but in +May, 1837, he was attacked with the +fearful disease. His life was despaired +of, and the last Sacraments were administered +to him. He could not speak. +His tongue became like a piece of wood, +and all that could be given him was a +little cold water, dropped with much +difficulty through his teeth.</p> + +<p>On the thirteenth night of his illness, +he heard the doctors whisper, "He is +dead, or nearly so," and they left the +room. A deep horror seized him. An +icy wave seemed to creep over his whole +frame, and a terrible vision rose before +his mind. A pair of scales stood before +him. His sins were in one scale; his +good works and penances in the other; +and all his righteousness seemed but a +grain of sand compared with a mountain +load of guilt, and to God he dared not +cry for mercy. But he thought of two +saints—St. Anne, who was believed to +have cured hundreds of cripples, and +St. Philomene, who was just then the +favourite saint of Rome. To these he +cried, with all the earnestness of his +failing soul, and soon a bright vision +came before him of an aged, grave lady, +and a young and beautiful one, the +latter distinctly saying to him, "You +will be cured." The vision then disappeared, +but the fever had gone also. +The crisis was over. He was hungry, +and asked for food, which was at once +given him, and he ravenously ate the +dainties prepared, while the friendly +priests gathered round him joyfully, and +sang a hymn of praise.</p> + +<p>Of course they believed that the saints +had cured him, and the Roman Catholic +doctors shared their idea; but a Protestant +physician denied it altogether, and +in a kind manner he tried to prove that +no miracle had been wrought, but that +returning health came from natural +causes, by the will and blessing of God.</p> + +<p>Chiniquy was unwilling, however, to +change his mind on the subject, and, +true to the vow he made in the hour of +fear, he got a splendid picture painted, +at a cost of £50, representing his vision +as he lay seemingly on the bed of death.</p> + +<p>Three months later, he was in the +house of the curate of St. Anne, a cousin +of his, and he showed him the picture +he intended to exhibit in the church next +day. But, to his surprise and grief, his +older relative, instead of sharing his +belief, laughed heartily at his folly, asking +him how he, as a man of sense, +could possibly believe in such a miracle. +Chiniquy reminded him of all the +crutches hanging in St. Anne's Church, +belonging to the cripples she had cured, +which remark gave rise to another burst +of laughter on the curate's part. But, +sobering down, he seriously declared +that, having carefully watched these +so-called cures, he had found that +ninety-nine out of every hundred were +impostures, the hundredth one being an +honest belief, but a superstitious and +fancied one.</p> + +<p>These pretended cripples were nearly +always lazy beggars, who knew that +their seeming lameness would get them +pity and money, and, when tired of that +game, they would make a begging tour, +telling all their helpers that they were +going to the church of St. Anne, to pray +for the use of their legs.</p> + +<p>They at last arrive there, pay from one +to five dollars to have a mass said for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +them, and then, in the midst of the +ceremony, just as they receive the wafer, +there is a cry of joy. They are cured, +and they leave their crutches behind +as witnesses of their cure. They then +return, and tell all who will listen as +they go along, receiving fresh gifts from +them until they get home again, to +take a farm and settle down with their +dishonest gains.</p> + +<p>"Such," said the curate, "is the true +history of the ninety-nine miracles. In +the hundredth case the man is really +cured, because he was really afflicted; +but his nerves were wrought upon just +as I was once cured of a dreadful toothache +by seeing the dentist put his instrument +on the table. I took my hat +and left, and the dentist laughed +heartily every time he met me afterwards.</p> + +<p>"One of the weakest points of our +religion is the ridiculous miracles said +to be wrought by the relics and bones of +saints. For the most part, they are the +bones of chickens or sheep; and were I +a Pope, I would throw all these Pagan +mummeries to the bottom of the sea, +and would present to the eyes of sinners +nothing but 'Christ and Him crucified' +as the Object of their faith, just as the +Apostles of Jesus do in their Epistles!"</p> + +<p>They talked together in this strain till +two o'clock in the morning, and then +Chiniquy was too puzzled and sad to +sleep.</p> + +<p>Next morning, multitudes came to see +his picture, and hear about his cure, +which he long afterwards believed to be +a miracle. Soon after he had finally left +his priesthood, however, he again caught +the fever, while visiting a dying man, +and again on the thirteenth day the +malady took a favourable turn; but this +time he had felt happy in the prospect +of dying, and the vision he saw at the +crisis of the disease was not St. Anne, +or St. Philomene, but a dozen bishops, +dagger in hand, rushing on him to take +his life. He thought he turned on them +and slew them, and with this the fever +left him. He asked for food, and speedily +recovered, and then he knew that it was +the Lord who had forgiven all his iniquities, +who had also healed his diseases, +without the aid of any of the saints of +Rome, and the snare which had long held +him captive was broken. He no longer +sought the aid of departed saints in +heaven, any more than he thought of +again praying for souls in purgatorial +fires. The Word of God was henceforth +his only guide. May the religion +of the Bible only, be our religion also.—<i>Jottings +on "The Life and Work of +Father Chiniquy," by Cousin Susan.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>COUNTING THE COST.</h2> + + +<p>There are some curious stories +respecting Fra Rocco, the celebrated +preacher of Naples. On +one occasion, it is related, he preached +a penitential sermon, and introduced so +many illustrations of terror that he soon +brought his hearers to their knees. +While they were thus showing every +sign of contrition, he cried out—</p> + +<p>"Now, all of you who sincerely repent +of your sins, hold up your hands."</p> + +<p>Every man in the vast multitude immediately +stretched out both his hands.</p> + +<p>"Holy Archangel Michael," exclaimed +Rocco, "thou who with thine adamantine +sword standest at the right of the +judgment-seat of God, hew me off every +hand which has been raised hypocritically."</p> + +<p>In an instant every hand dropped, +and Rocco, of course, poured forth a +fresh torrent of eloquent invective against +their sins and their deceit.</p> + +<p>[True repentance is given by Jesus +Christ, the exalted Prince and Saviour. +All other is but mere show, and unavailing +before God.—<span class="smcap">Ed</span>.]</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">A heart</span> without a gift is better than +a gift without a heart.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> +<h2>JUVENILE GEMS.</h2> + + +<p>The subjects of these memoirs—Ann +Jane Woolford, George +Woolford, and Hephzibah Woolford—were +born in the beautiful +town of Cheltenham, August 20th, 1840, +January 28th, 1842, and February 14th, +1846.</p> + +<p>The names of their parents were +George and Ann Woolford, both members +of the Church assembling for worship +in Bethel Chapel, Cheltenham.</p> + +<p>In all, four children shared their affection, +interested their solicitudes, listened +to their counsels, and knelt at their +domestic altar.</p> + +<p>Upon three out of the four the grave +closed in comparative infancy; and, believing +the "kindness and love of God +our Saviour toward man" appeared to +them, the bereaved mother, partly to +indulge in a subject of mournful interest, +and partly to record the gracious dealings +of God, drew up, with her own hand, +the subjoined narrative:—</p> + + +<p class="center"> +<span class="smcap">George.</span> +</p> + +<p>"My eldest child, George Woolford, +was attacked by scarlatina on October +16th, 1851, from which he partially recovered, +but died the following month.</p> + +<p>"Perceiving his soul 'drawing nigh +unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers,' +I remarked, 'It will do you no +harm to think of death, seeing we must +all die.' With tears in his eyes he exclaimed, +'Oh, mother, I am afraid I +shall not go to heaven.' I asked <i>why</i> +he thus feared. His answer was, 'I am +afraid the Lord will not forgive me.' I +said, 'My dear, the Lord is ready to +forgive <i>all</i> who from their hearts are +sorry for their sins; and I hope the Holy +Ghost will enable you to pray for divine +forgiveness.' He seemed much affected +by these remarks, but said he was too +ill to talk or listen to me.</p> + +<p>"In great earnestness (and I believe +under divine influence) I entreated God +to grant me the great favour of informing +me whether my dear boy was interested +in the everlasting covenant, +which is 'ordered in all things, and +sure.'</p> + +<p>"About two or three days after, he +commenced a conversation by saying, +'Mother, I am afraid I shall not go to +heaven. I have been such a sinner. I +am afraid I am so great a sinner that +the Lord will not save me. I have done +so many things that are sinful, and they +come into my mind and make me grieve.' +I repeated several portions of the Holy +Scripture, to which he listened in great +earnestness, and then inquired, 'But, as +I have not long to live, will the Lord +forgive me after putting it off so long?' +I answered in the affirmative, and mentioned +the dying thief, assuring him the +Lord was as willing to pardon him as +He had been to pardon that malefactor. +This relieved his mind, and he asked for +his Testament to read.</p> + +<p>"A few days after, while I was gazing +intently on him, he meekly exclaimed, +'Do not look at me so, my dear mother. +It almost breaks my heart.' I said, 'My +dear boy, do you ever <i>pray</i>?' He answered, +'I <i>try</i> to do so; but do not +know that I pray <i>aright</i>.' I remarked, +'If it is from your heart, the Lord will +answer it in His own time, for the prayer +of necessity is that in which He delights.'</p> + +<p>"On the Lord's Day before his death +he appeared much better, ate a hearty +dinner, and remained up till between +four and five in the afternoon, when he +exclaimed, 'Oh, mother, I am afraid my +breath is getting bad again.' After +several hours of great suffering, he cried +out, 'Dear Lord, take me—do take me!' +Hearing him thus call upon the name of +the Lord, I approached him softly, and +in soothing terms expressed my gladness +at finding he was not afraid to die. +'No, dear mother,' he said, 'I am not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +afraid to die. I am happy now.' I +inquired, 'Do you love the Lord?' +'Oh, yes,' was his ready answer, and +immediately ejaculated, 'Dearest Lord, +take me—take me—take me!' a great +many times.</p> + +<p>"His pains becoming stronger, he +said, 'Dear mother, do pray the dear +Lord to take me!' I did so; and when +risen from my knees, he said, 'Thank +you, my dear mother. I hope the Lord +will answer your prayer,' and then +added, 'Oh, my dear, dear Lord, do +take me! Take me from this world +now. I do not want to live here. Take +me with my next breath. This moment, +dear Lord, take me.'</p> + +<p>"Observing the state of his mind, I +put this question to him—'My dear +boy, do you think the Lord has washed +you in His blood, and clothed you in +His precious righteousness?' 'Oh, +yes, I do, mother,' was his prompt reply.</p> + +<p>"His pains abating, he remarked, +'How kind the Lord is to me! I shall +never be able to praise Him enough.' +I said, 'My dear, you will have the +countless ages of eternity to praise +Him in.' He said, 'I want to go.' I +answered, 'Pray for patience, that you +may wait the Lord's time.' 'I am not +impatient, but my pains are great,' was +his meek reply, and he began entreating +the Lord to remove him from this sinful +world.</p> + +<p>"A short time after this, he exclaimed, +'Oh, that precious Book, the +Bible!' I answered, 'It is indeed a +precious Book. It tells us of a Saviour, +who washed you and me in His precious +blood!' He said, 'Yes'; and added, +'Pray for Him to take me soon. Do, +dear mother,' &c.</p> + +<p>"Expressing a desire to kiss my +hand, I gave him one. He held it very +tightly, and kissed it several times. I +asked him if he thought he had been a +little sinner or a great one. Surprised +by this question, and apparently hurt, +he replied, 'Oh, mother, a <i>great</i> one—a +<i>great</i> one.'</p> + +<p>"Overhearing a part of my conversation +with his aunt, he said, 'Oh, mother, +do not ask the Lord to let me live. I +want to die. I would not live half a +second.'</p> + +<p>"Shortly after, he repeated a similar +prayer, wished to see his father, kiss +him, and take his leave of him, which +he did in an affectionate manner. He +then inquired what o'clock it was, and +being disappointed, cried out in a tone +of thrilling solemnity, 'O Lord of +Hosts, come and take me!' Shortly +afterwards he exclaimed, lifting up his +eyes and hands to heaven, 'I think I +am dying. Pray again, dear mother, +that the Lord may take me.' Persuaded +of his interest in Christ, I was enabled +to resign him, and much as I loved him, +actually entreated the Lord to fetch him +away. When this was over, he said, +'Thank you, my dearest mother. I +hope the Lord will answer all your +prayers before long.'</p> + +<p>"At another time, he remarked, +'How good the Lord is to me, is He +not?' And again, 'My sufferings are +great, but they will soon be over, for I +shall soon be with the Lord'; and in a +manner I cannot describe, exclaimed, +'Oh, dear Lord Jesus Christ, and Holy +Ghost, come and take me.'</p> + +<p>"Not long after, he remarked, 'I +shall soon go now. Something has +broke in my head. You may send for +some one to lay me out.'</p> + +<p>"After a short interval he complained +of shortness of breath, and proceeded +to call upon the Lord in a sweet manner, +but in a short time suddenly exclaimed, +'Now I know I shall soon be gone, for +two things have broke within me. Does +not my voice get weaker?'</p> + +<p>"After giving directions about his +books, he again complained of his distresses, +and I remarked, 'The way to the +kingdom was through much tribulation.' +He requested that I would pray for +patience; and upon being reminded that +the Lord loved him too well to detain +him one moment beyond the appointed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +time, he said, 'Oh, why is He so long +in coming? Dear Lord, come <i>now</i>!'</p> + +<p>"Referring him to some of the Lord's +children who had suffered fire and sword, +but were now in glory, I added, 'You will +soon be with them, and have ten thousand +smiles from your Redeemer, with +love in every smile.' This seemed to +refresh his spirit, and I continued, 'One +moment with Christ will more than +recompense for all your pain.' He said, +'Oh, yes. Come, dear Lord, and take +me!'</p> + +<p>"Heart and flesh failing, his father +was called into his room. The patient +sufferer looked calmly at him, gently +moved to the other side of the chair, +said 'Mother!' and resting his head +on his arm, and with a pleasant countenance, +and without a groan, quietly fell +asleep in Christ, November 17th, 1851, +at five o'clock a.m."</p> + +<p>Thus died George Woolford, aged nine +years and nine months.</p> + +<p>"Those that sleep in Christ will God +bring with Him."</p> + +<p> +"'I take these little lambs,' said He,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">'And lay them in My breast;</span><br /> +Protection they shall find in Me;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In Me be ever blest.</span><br /> +<br /> +"'Death may the bands of life unloose,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But can't dissolve My love;</span><br /> +Millions of infant souls compose<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The family above.'</span><br /> +<br /> +"His words the happy parents hear,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And shout with joys divine—</span><br /> +'Dear Saviour, all we have and are<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shall be for ever Thine.'"</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p class="center"> +<span class="smcap">Hephzibah.</span> +</p> + +<p>"My dear Hephzibah was taken ill on +the fifth of November, and though I have +not many sayings of hers to record, I +nevertheless believe that there was 'some +good thing in her toward the Lord God +of Israel,' and therefore, in solemn pleasure, +rehearse the memorials of His +grace.</p> + +<p>"On the fourth day of her illness she +said, 'Mother, I am very ill, but I am +not afraid to die, mother. No; I should +like to die, and be with the Lord, for I do +love Him, mother, that I do, better than +every one besides.' 'But do you not love +your father and mother best?' I inquired. +Her answer was, 'I do love <i>you</i> both +very dearly, but I love the Lord <i>most</i>. +Ought I not to love Him most, mother?' +I said, 'Yes, my dear.' She replied, 'And +so I <i>do</i>. I want to go to heaven, to be +with Him. And I should like my dear +father, and mother, and Ann Jane, and +George, and Rhoda to go with me. +Would not that be happy, to meet and +never part again? There we should +have all we want.' I replied, 'Yes, my +dear, "for the Lamb which is in the +midst of the throne shall feed them, and +shall lead them unto living fountains of +water, and God shall wipe away all tears +from their eyes." "And there shall be +no night there."' 'Oh, will not that be +happy, mother?' she exclaimed. 'I want +to die, that I may see the Lord. He is +so good and kind to me.' I asked, +'Would you not like to get well again?' +and her reply was, 'I would rather die +and go to Jesus.'</p> + +<p>"The frequency of her expressed desires +to 'depart and be with Christ' +excited a trembling apprehension in my +mind of her speedy dissolution, an apprehension +fully verified by the event.</p> + +<p>"She now sunk into a state of unconsciousness, +in which she continued for +more than a week, suffering very much, +indicating the speedy disrupture of all +earthly ties, and inducing a perpetual +vigil.</p> + +<p>"To my surprise she suddenly rallied, +seemed to get better, and 'hope told a +flattering tale'; but it disappointed +us, and rendered the separation more +trying.</p> + +<p>"The sensitive vigilance of my child's +conscience was very remarkable. For +instance, when any little delicacy had +been declined, she remained inflexible, +remarking that to alter her decision<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +would be to 'tell a story,' which, she +said, 'would be very wicked.'</p> + +<p>"On the day she died, she said, +'Mother, I am very ill. I think I shall +die. My throat is so bad.' Shortly after, +she said, 'Mother,' and was silent. A +few minutes after that, she lifted up her +dear eyes and hands to heaven three +times, clasping her hands and letting +them down again.</p> + +<p>"None but a mother knows a mother's +heart. I saw the stroke, clasped my +loved Hephzibah, and impressed the +farewell kiss on her dying cheek. She +looked at me, gave up the ghost, and +was 'carried by the angels into Abraham's +bosom' on November 28th, 1851, +in the sixth year of her age."</p> + +<p> +"One gentle sigh their fetters breaks,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">We scarce can say, 'They're gone!'</span><br /> +Before the willing spirit takes<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Her mansion near the throne.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Faith strives, but all its efforts fail<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To trace her in her flight;</span><br /> +No eye can pierce within the veil<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Which hides that world of light.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Thus much (and this is all) we know—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">They are completely blest;</span><br /> +Have done with sin, and care, and woe,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And with their Saviour rest."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>[The memoir of the third child, Ann +Jane, will appear next month.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE BLIND TORTOISE IN THE WELL.</h2> + + +<p>A blind tortoise lived in a well. +Another tortoise, a native of the +ocean, in his inland travels happened +to tumble into this well. The +blind one asked of his new comrade +whence he came.</p> + +<p>"From the sea."</p> + +<p>Hearing of the sea, he of the well +swam round a little circle and asked—</p> + +<p>"Is the water of the ocean as large +as this?"</p> + +<p>"Larger," replied he of the sea.</p> + +<p>The well tortoise then swam two-thirds +of the well, and asked if the sea was as +big as that.</p> + +<p>"Much larger than that," said the +sea tortoise.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," asked the blind tortoise, +"is the sea as large as this whole well?"</p> + +<p>"Larger," said the sea tortoise.</p> + +<p>"If that is so," said the well tortoise, +"how big, then, is the sea?"</p> + +<p>The sea tortoise replied, "You having +never seen any other water than that of +your well, your capability of understanding +is small. As to the ocean, though +you spent many years in it, you would +never be able to explore the half of it, +nor to reach the limit, and it is utterly +impossible to compare it with this well +of yours."</p> + +<p>The well tortoise replied, "It is impossible +that there can be a larger water +than this well. You are simply praising +up your native place with vain words."</p> + +<p>How many people there are like the +tortoise in the well!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + + +<p> +Though 'tis not seen, yet it is known,<br /> +For oft it makes e'en strong men groan.<br /> +The proud and bold have shook with fear<br /> +When they have felt this strong one near.<br /> +Yea, monarchs have before it fell,<br /> +And feared that they should sink to hell.<br /> +But oft the sad have felt this power,<br /> +And found, in trouble's darkest hour,<br /> +Such friendly help that they have said<br /> +They never more should be afraid.<br /> +And such as felt condemned to die<br /> +Have been released and filled with joy.<br /> +Now, reader, search your Bible through,<br /> +And tell us where these things you view.<br /> +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> greatest happiness of the creature +is not to have the creature for his happiness.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span></p> +<h2>"THE SENSE AND SENSES OF ANIMALS."</h2> + + +<p>Sir John Lubbock, M.P., +some time since, delivered an +address in Queen Street Hall, +Edinburgh, to the members of the Edinburgh +Philosophical Institution, on +"The Sense and Senses of Animals." +In the course of his remarks the lecturer +said that one would gratefully admit that +the dog was a loyal, and true, and affectionate +friend, but when we came to consider +the nature of the animal, our +knowledge was very limited. That +arose a good deal from the fact that +people had tried rather to teach animals +than to learn from them. It had occurred +to him that some such method as that +which was followed in the case of deaf +mutes might prove instructive if adapted +to the case of dogs. He had tried with +a black poodle belonging to himself. +He then went on to relate several experiments +he had made with pieces of cardboards, +with different words marked +upon them. He had taken two pieces +of card, one blank, and the other with +the word "food" upon it. He had put +the latter on a saucer containing some +bread and milk, and the blank card he +put on an empty saucer. The dog was +not allowed to eat until it brought the +proper card to him. This experiment +was repeated over and over again, and +in about ten days the dog began to distinguish +the card with the letters on it +from the plain card. It took a longer +time to make the dog realize the difference +between different words.</p> + +<p>In order to try and discover whether +the dog could distinguish colours, he +prepared six cards, marking two of +them blue, two yellow, and two orange. +He put one of each on the floor, and +tried to get the dog to bring to him a +card with the same colour as one which +he showed the dog in his hand. After +trying this for three months, he found +that his experiment in this direction was +a failure.</p> + +<p>He had always felt a great longing to +know how the world appeared to the +lower animals. It was still a doubtful +point whether ants were able to hear. +From experiments which he had made, +he had come to the conclusion they had +not the power of addressing each other. +His impression on the whole was, that +bees and ants were not deaf, but that +they heard sounds so shrill as to be +beyond our hearing. There was no +doubt about insects seeing. He then +went on to relate several experiments he +had made with the view of discovering +whether different insects could distinguish +different colours, and had any +preference for particular colours. The +colours of objects must present a very +different impression upon insects to that +on human beings. The world to them +might be full of music which we could +not hear, colours which we could not see, +and sensations which we could not feel.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BEWARE OF THORNS.</h2> + + +<p> +A hand encased in leathern glove,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">One pensive autumn day,</span><br /> +Gathered some pretty wayside flowers,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To make a bright bouquet.</span><br /> +<br /> +With kind intent the flowers were culled,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To please a loved one's taste;</span><br /> +But ah! unconsciously, some thorns<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Were with the blossoms placed.</span><br /> +<br /> +The hand that grasped the welcome gift<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Soon felt the piercing smart,</span><br /> +And pain dispelled the grateful smile<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That rayed out from the heart.</span><br /> +<br /> +Would we to spirits bowed and sad<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Convey a transient joy?</span><br /> +Let not the lack of tender skill<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Our kindly deed alloy.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;">E. D.</span><br /> +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">If</span> you pursue sin for profit you will +never profit by your sin.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE COST OF A BROKEN SABBATH.</h2> + + +<p>A bright Sabbath morning in +August, a young minister was on +his road to a distant parish, where +he had engaged to take the services. He +overtook a group of lads, evidently bent +on an excursion of amusement. A boy, +coming from the opposite direction, was +being alternately persuaded and chaffed +to give up <i>for once</i> going to Sunday +School, and join the pleasure-party instead. +Just then an old man, of venerable +appearance, who had watched the +group from his garden, came forward +and addressed the boys in the following +words—</p> + +<p>"Lads, you may think lightly <i>now</i> of +what you are doing, but Sabbath-breaking +leads to ruin—has led to the gallows. +Ben"—turning to the boy on his way to +Sunday School—"don't be ashamed of +doing right. The Lord saith, 'Them +that honour Me I will honour, and they +that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.' +Ah! boys, be warned in time. +You cannot reckon <i>the cost of a broken +Sabbath</i>."</p> + +<p>Ben, strengthened thus, went on his +way, regardless of the jeers of the other +lads, who, turning over a stile, were +quickly out of sight and hearing.</p> + +<p>The minister also went on his way, +but the earnest tones and sad expression +of the aged man had made a deep impression +on him, and he pondered if +some personal experience lay behind that +solemn warning, "You cannot reckon +<i>the cost of a broken Sabbath</i>."</p> + +<p>The evening of that day found him +coming through the fields by a path +which led hard by the door of the cottage +of the old man. It had been pointed out +as shorter and pleasanter than the dusty +high road which he had travelled in the +morning. The day had been hot, and +an offer to go back to the rectory for +refreshment had been declined, as it +would lengthen the walk considerably; +but now, tired and thirsty, he resolved +to test the hospitality of the owner of the +cottage.</p> + +<p>The old man sat outside his doorway, +with his big Bible on a round table. +The wayfarer asked for a little water +to drink. He was courteously requested +to enter in and rest, and a draught of +milk proposed instead, unless he could +wait for a cup of tea. The kettle was +boiling in the back kitchen, and the +little table, covered with a snowy cloth, +was already set for a solitary meal, +which the visitor was invited to share. +He accepted the kindly offer, not sorry +to have an opportunity of converse with +one whose words had lingered with him +through the day.</p> + +<p>Having explained how he had been +occupied since passing in the early +morn, he remarked—</p> + +<p>"You live alone?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I am alone in the world, +but yet not alone, for the Saviour is often +with me in my humble dwelling, and I +hope in a little while He'll come and +take me to His home above."</p> + +<p>"That is a blessed hope to cheer and +make you patient to wait His time, my +friend," was the rejoinder. "Have you +been left long alone?"</p> + +<p>"The last went home twenty years +ago, come Michaelmas," said the aged +host. "It has been whiles a weary waiting-time, +but it's sinful to repine. His +time must be the right time."</p> + +<p>Whilst the old man went to fetch the +tea, the guest looked round and observed +some articles of carved wood—boxes, +flat rulers, and leaf-cutters—and was +struck with the frequent recurrence of +short words of Holy Writ on the Sabbath. +Some little books lay on the window-sill, +many of which were on the same subject.</p> + +<p>After impressively asking God's blessing, +and whilst partaking of the simple +meal, the visitor remarked—</p> + +<p>"I see the sanctity of the Lord's Day<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133"> </a></span> +is a strong point with you. I was struck +this morning with the expression you +used to those lads—'<i>the cost of a broken +Sabbath</i>.'"</p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 407px;"> +<img src="images/img136.jpg" width="407" height="500" alt="MAN WITH BIBLE (See page 132.)" title="MAN WITH BIBLE (See page 132.)" /> +<span class="caption">"THE OLD MAN SAT WITH HIS BIG BIBLE." (<i>See page 132.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<p>No response came for some minutes, +as if the host was debating some question +with himself; and so it proved, for +at last he raised his head and said, with +a vast depth of pathos in his tones—</p> + +<p>"None have had greater reason to +know the bitter cost, sir, than myself. It +is not often that I speak of the past, but +it may be the Lord has brought you here +for a purpose to-day, and you may be +able to use it as a warning to some +within your influence."</p> + +<p>"If your story will not be too painful +to you, my friend, I should indeed feel +grateful to you for it," was the response.</p> + +<p>"I do not belong to these parts, sir," +he began, "but I've been here over a +quarter of a century. I lived in a large +village in a midland county, where some +extensive mill-works were carried on, +and rose from a lad's tasks there to fill +the place of foreman. I married happily, +and had a home of comfort and +peace with a loving, godly wife. Four +children out of six born to us grew up—two +sons and two daughters—and after +the toil and din of the week, Sunday +was a day of quiet enjoyment, in the +midst of my family, spent in God's house +and our home, with the aid of books and +singing, for we all had fair voices. It +had never been counted a dull day by +the young folks. The lovely flowers and +birds, and the wonders of the book of +creation and the Book of grace, made +the day of holy rest seem all too short. +But our circle did not remain unbroken. +First, our eldest girl, poor Maggie, left +home to take a situation in a neighbouring +town, and soon after, our first-born, +David, who had never taken kindly to +mill-work, obtained employment in an +office in the same town, within five +minutes' walk of his sister. This seemed +well for both, being much attached to +each other. Ned and Mary still clung to +the old home, and the other two frequently +spent the Sabbath in our midst. David +almost always walked over in the early +morn, or late on Saturday night, returning, +if alone, on Monday morning, or, if +Maggie accompanied him, the same +evening, as she was not allowed out at +night. She could only, of course, take +turns with her fellow-servants; but, +unless weather prevented, we could +surely reckon on the flown birds coming, +when able, back to their nest on the +Sabbath.</p> + +<p>"But at last came just such a lovely +summer day as this has been. We lingered +before starting for church till long +after the bells had been chiming, but +neither of them came. We looked to +find them on our return, and dinner +waited long; but the night came, and +we had not heard or seen aught of either. +I overheard Ned in the garden speaking +to Mary—</p> + +<p>"'I shan't feel easy till I've run over +to the town to-morrow, after work-hours. +I hear there was to be a river excursion +from the town to-day—a steamer calling +for a lot of folks.'</p> + +<p>"'But, Ned, you don't believe Davie +or Maggie would go?' said Mary, half +reproachfully.</p> + +<p>"'I don't feel comfortable about it,' +replied her brother. 'Maggie could be +persuaded to go anywhere with David, +and he and I had a talk not long ago on +Sunday trips. He said folks could thus +get out into pure country air, for a few +pence, who were cooped up all the week +in the smoke of the town, and those who +desired it could go to a place of worship +even twice, and get tea, before they had +to start on the return voyage.'</p> + +<p>"The fear expressed was, alas! too +well grounded. David's master's son +was one of these habitual pleasure-seekers, +and had long tried to persuade +him to join him. He had also become +acquainted with Maggie, through meeting +her out with the children to whom +she was nursemaid, and often fell in with +her on the Sundays she spent in the +town. In vain had he tried to induce<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +her to join the steamer trip, till one day +he said—</p> + +<p>"'If David went, you could not scruple +about going under his care.'</p> + +<p>"'Oh, I'm safe enough not to go at +that rate,' was her reply.</p> + +<p>"But she was mistaken. David had +been persuaded to put his conscience to +sleep by the resolution that it should +only be <i>for once</i>, just to see for himself +how it worked really, for good or evil. +He was more than half inclined to retract +his consent, when he learnt that his +sister was to be of the party, but the +tempter having got his victims into the +net, did not let them off.</p> + +<p>"David and Maggie found a church +near the river, and went to morning +service. Their evil adviser accompanied +them on condition that the afternoon +should be spent in the woods.</p> + +<p>"It was not difficult to get separated in +the many paths, and when the steamer's +warning bell was heard, amid the hurried +rush onboard, David did not discover till +too late that, amongst several missing, +were Maggie, and also his master's son. +No entreaty could induce the captain to +put back.</p> + +<p>"Some fresh passengers had come +on board, showing views and engravings, +and David, glad to divert his attention +from self-reproach, amused his mind +with looking through their collection, +for he now repented bitterly that he had +ever come—still more that he had +brought his sister, and then allowed her +to slip out of his charge. One of the +new comers was especially friendly, explaining +the views to 'cheer up his +spirits.'</p> + +<p>"When within ten minutes of landing, +a boat came alongside with two or three +police in plain clothes, and soon arrested, +as well-known pickpockets, two of the +fresh passengers, whilst all were advised +to see what they had lost. Much of the +booty was found on the prisoners, but +not all, which led to a general search of +the passengers. On my poor son, in his +coat-pocket, was discovered the rest of +the missing plunder, which had doubtless +been slipped in by his friendly entertainer +when he saw the police on +board. David's protestations of innocence +were all unavailing. The contents +of his pockets were then and afterwards +deemed conclusive proof of his guilt. +All efforts to save him were in vain. He +never breathed free air again in this +life. His sentence placed him among +convicts at Portland, where his health +broke down under grief and disgrace. +The tidings of his death reached me +after I had moved here, in a kind letter +from the chaplain, sending this precious +relic [taking a well-worn Testament from +his breast], with its marked verses of +comfort and a few lines from my poor +boy—all I have left of him."</p> + +<p>A folded sheet of paper, yellow from +age and tender from frequent handling, +lay between the leaves of the little Book. +The old man handed both to his guest. +In the touching farewell to his father +were the words, "You and mother know +I've suffered innocently, and it's now +nearly over, and I shall soon be free +and with Jesus, whose precious blood +has cleansed me from all sin. But, dear +father, never cease to <i>warn</i> the young +of the fearful <i>cost of a broken Sabbath</i>."</p> + +<p>The aged man wiped away some falling +tears.</p> + +<p>"I shall see my boy soon," he continued. +"I've tried to keep his injunction, +and, by tract given or word spoken, +not to let a Sabbath go by without some +warning. His mother scarcely held up +her head after his trial, and did not survive +her first-born many weeks, and I +was left alone with our youngest—my +Mary. That broken Sabbath had lost +Maggie her place and character. The +doors were locked against her that +night, and no explanation would be +accepted next day. She wrote us word +she'd got another situation at a distance +through a friend. We never saw her +more in the old house, and lost all traces +of her. Our other boy, Ned, came to +us soon after his brother's trial, and, asking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +our consent and forgiveness for +going away, said he could not hold up +his head in the village, and must go to +sea. We let him go, hoping time and +change of scene would heal the wound, +and he'd come back to us to a fresh +home, for I felt like himself, that I could +not stay on in the factory, and resigned +my post and came here, hoping our +Davie might soon be free to join us +also; but the Lord set him free to go to +a better mansion in the skies.</p> + +<p>"Four years after we came here, I +had a letter from a neighbour who lived +hard by in the old place. What Mary +had often secretly feared, came to pass. +Maggie had come back, to find no +home left; but the widow over the way +had seen in the dusk a woman go and +return, repulsed from the old door, and +sit down to weep by the road-side. She +brought the wanderer to her own fireside. +I fetched her away, and we nursed +the poor, worn, wasted one tenderly, but +she had only come home with the prodigal's +cry, to die—'Father, I have sinned +against heaven, and before thee.'</p> + +<p>"That broken Sabbath was her first +step to ruin, but the blessed Lord, in +His rich mercy, and by the Holy Spirit's +gracious leadings, led her to the fountain +which makes crimson sins white as +snow, and she is gone before me too.</p> + +<p>"The doctor—a good, kind man—shook +his head, and bade me keep my +Mary in the fresh air, and give her plenty +of new milk. He feared she had taken +the seeds of disease in that long nursing, +and so it proved; but, with the +hopefulness of consumption, she did not +believe she was going to leave me desolate, +and I deceived myself, and hoped +against hope, as I looked on the sweet +face and lovely bloom as she lay on this +bench, enjoying the sight and breath of +the flowers.</p> + +<p>"By my carving, which went to a +London house, we were kept from want, +and Ned sent us home, with sailor generosity, +supplies of money.</p> + +<p>"'If he'd only come himself,' said +my Mary, 'it would be better than all +the gold.'</p> + +<p>"'Write and tell him so,' I said; and +so we both did, and I told him of the +fading away of his favourite sister, +hoping it would draw him back over the +sea, if anything would; but the brother +and sister were not to meet here again. +My Mary left me one early morn, as the +sun's first streaks were gilding the sky. +No answer came from my sailor son, +but the good pastor who had ministered +to us in our hours of sore need, came +one day, and gently told me, as I sat +alone, that his ship had gone down in +one of the wild Atlantic storms. My +boy is now safe in heaven, where there +is no more sea."</p> + +<p>The aged man ceased. His eye was +on the sunset cloud, but his heart was +in the spirit land. His guest, rising up +to depart, took tenderly the wrinkled +hand, and said, "The ransomed of the +Lord shall return and come to Zion, +with songs and everlasting joy upon +their heads: they shall obtain joy and +gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall +flee away."</p> + +<p>Then he hastened homewards, his +own heart full with this touching record +of <i>the cost of a broken Sabbath</i>.—<i>From +a Tract, published by S. W. +Partridge and Co.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A SOFT PILLOW.</h2> + + +<p>If the pillow be too hard, it is very unlikely +that the sleep should be sound. +Yet this mainly depends upon circumstances. +If the conscience is easy, the +pillow will be comfortable, even though +a block of stone. Jacob slept sweetly +at Bethel, when the Lord appeared to +him and told him that He was his God. +If, on the other hand, there is guilt on +the conscience, though the head is laid +on the softest down, the pillow will not +be altogether easy.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> +<h2>RECEIVING THE TRUTH.</h2> + + +<p>Mrs. Le Pla was a French lady, +who came over to England in the +younger part of her life, with +much of the vivacity for which the French +nation has been remarkable. She was +particularly under the eye of a grave, +Pharisaic lady, by whom she was persuaded +to go to church, but the dull +manner in which the clergyman performed +his office disgusted her so much, +that she withheld her attention, and fell +asleep. At this, her English friend was +exceedingly angry, and reproved her +sharply.</p> + +<p>On another Lord's Day her friend took +her to hear Dr. F——, but his excessive +action provoked her to such a degree +that she burst into a loud laugh, and +she was desired to walk out of the place +of worship, where she had certainly +shown too little regard for the Divine +Being and His worshippers.</p> + +<p>On returning home, she was very +properly and severely remonstrated with, +at which she was much hurt. She replied, +in broken English, "What can I +do, madam? I go to church to please +you, and there I fall asleep. I go to +meeting, and there I laugh; and to tell +you the truth, I begin to think my own +religion is not the right religion, for that +teaches me to worship images, and God +says, 'Thou shalt <i>not</i> make any graven +image.' If, therefore, madam, I go to +any place of worship, it shall be to hear +a Mr. Whitefield, for I have heard great +things of him."</p> + +<p>"Well," said her English friend, "we +will inquire where he preaches."</p> + +<p>The good man was then dead. The +ladies therefore went to the Tabernacle, +Moorfields. Mr. T. Knight was the +preacher, and the native of France, enraptured, +cried out—</p> + +<p>"This is the good and right doctrine! +Here I will attend."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the prudent, self-righteous +lady, "it is my opinion that they believe +in predestination here, and you cannot +think it right that God made any of His +creatures to be damned?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said Mrs. Le Pla; "but I +will certainly inquire for myself."</p> + +<p>The next opportunity was eagerly +embraced, and the zealous inquirer, +seating herself by a good old woman of +the congregation, whispered—</p> + +<p>"Pray, madam, do they believe in +predestination here?"</p> + +<p>"Why, predestination," said she, +"how can they avoid believing it? The +Bible is full of it."</p> + +<p>The querist was thunderstruck. She +hastened home.</p> + +<p>"Do they believe in predestination +there?"</p> + +<p>"An old lady told me they did," was +the reply. "But," said the French lady, +"I am determined to ask the minister +myself."</p> + +<p>Not long after, she had an interview +with Mr. Knight.</p> + +<p>"Pray, sir," said she, "will you allow +me to ask you a few questions?"</p> + +<p>"By all means," said the good man.</p> + +<p>"Then you must know," said Mrs. Le +Pla, "I was brought up a Roman +Catholic, and I think that is not the +right religion, because they worship +images, and I come to hear you with +pleasure, sir. But my friends tell me +you believe in predestination, and a good +old lady, one of your congregation, confirms +it. I have therefore taken the +liberty to ask yourself about it."</p> + +<p>Mr. Knight said to her, "Do not +believe what every old woman says to +you. Do you believe you are a sinner?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, sir!"</p> + +<p>"Do you feel the want of Jesus +Christ?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Then," said Mr. Knight, "continue +to hear the Word of God, and search +the Scriptures to see whether I preach +the truth or not."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>She took his advice, and some little +time after, he preached on the subject +of predestination, and desired his hearers +to compare what he had to say with +their Bibles. The French lady did so, +and was quite overcome with conviction +of the truth. The question now was +not with her, whether predestination was +a truth of God or not, but whether she +was one of the happy number appointed +to salvation.</p> + +<p>She afterwards became established in +the truth, was joined to Mr. Brewer's +Church, died in the Lord some years +since, and was interred in the adjoining +burying-ground.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>AN EVENING AT THE WEST END.</h2> + + +<p>On Monday evening, April 23rd, +1888, we were present at the +twenty-second Annual Meeting +of Gower Street Chapel Sunday School, +and, although the weather was most unfavourable, +the attendance was good, +which must have been very encouraging +to Mr. Cooper, the Superintendent, and +the teachers. The meeting was presided +over by the senior deacon, Mr. Link.</p> + +<p>The proceedings were opened by singing, +and the Chairman read the fourth +chapter of Malachi, after which Mr. +Gray engaged in prayer.</p> + +<p>Mr. Link, in the course of a few +weighty remarks, said that they were +gathered to thank the Lord for His +goodness. He felt that the children +were surrounded with many temptations +to ensnare them. He spoke of the +shortness of time, and the solemnity of +the day of judgment, and said that he +often meditated upon these things, and +thought about the Lord's servants and +people, whom he had loved because they +were the Lord's, and whom he hoped to +meet again when he had done with time +things.</p> + +<p>The report for the past year was then +read by Mr. Hale, the Secretary, from +which it appears that there are 222 +scholars on the books, which is a slight +decrease during the year. The library +numbers about 1,030 books. The report +of the Sick and Benevolent Society +was also read.</p> + +<p>Mr. Boorne, of Greenwich, in addressing +the teachers, referred to the works, +Word, and worship of God. He said +that the grass, moss, plants, trees, +flowers, and fruits showed the sovereignty +of God. Then there were the +various animals for the use and food of +mankind, and the internal treasures—metals, +oxides, salts, &c. God's wise +provision of the sea for cleansing and +purifying the earth—all declared the +sovereignty, wisdom, power, and goodness +of God.</p> + +<p> +"Great God, with wonder and with praise,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">On all Thy works I look;</span><br /> +But still Thy wisdom, power, and grace<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shine brightest in Thy Book."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>He then spoke of the Book of <i>revelation</i>, +the Bible, and the need that the +scholars should be taught the value of +it, and what it has cost to procure it to +us—what a privilege it is to be able to +read it, and of the mercy of understanding +it.</p> + +<p>He mentioned an instance of a Bible, +consisting of nine volumes, being sold +for £33 6s. 8d., in the thirteenth century, +which would represent about fifteen times +that sum now. To-day a Bible might +be bought for a few pence.</p> + +<p>He referred to the rigid laws of the +time of Henry V., to prevent any from +reading the Bible in the mother tongue; +yet still the Book lives.</p> + +<p>He referred to the vulgar idea of the +"three R's" in education, and said that +there were three R's which he wished +them to oppose in their teaching, namely, +<i>Romanism</i>, <i>Rationalism</i>, and <i>Ritualism</i>. +How many worshipped something +short of God in the setting up of candles,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +crucifixes, music, and other things. We +must "worship in spirit and in truth."</p> + +<p>He concluded by exhorting them not +to grow weary in well-doing, for their +labour would not be in vain in the Lord.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hazlerigg, of Leicester, said he +had the difficult task of speaking to the +children, and he wished to put before +them four prizes. But they were not +tangible—nothing to eat, nor yet anything +to see—yet all, he thought, might +have them, and he recommended them +all to aim at getting them.</p> + +<p>The first thing he wished them to prize +was, their Sunday School. He said it +should be the endeavour of all to keep +up the honour of the school, and, when +any were tempted to do wrong, their first +thought should be, "What would they +say at the Sunday School?" When he +was formerly in the army, they had what +was termed "<i>esprit de corps</i>," <i>i.e.</i>, a +pride in keeping up the character of the +regiment. He hoped none of his audience +would ever buy sweets on Sunday, or it +might be said, that "It is one of the +Gower Street Sunday School children."</p> + +<p>The second prize was, their Bibles. If +they prized and were led by their Bibles, +they would be good children. It would +make them submit to all lawful authority. +How different it would be if the command, +"Thou shalt love thy neighbour +as thyself," was better learnt and practised +than it is!</p> + +<p>In the third place, he wished them to +prize their chapel. He spoke of the +blessing attending the hearing of the +Word of God. He said that some children +go to school, and then slip off without +going to chapel. He hoped none of +those before him ever did that.</p> + +<p>Fourthly, he hoped they would prize +their Superintendent and their teachers. +What a labour of love and self-denial +was theirs! They liked the work, and +their desire was, the glory of God in the +children's good—in the salvation of their +souls, and their prosperity—and they +sought for this reward—the good of their +scholars.</p> + +<p>The "touchable" prizes for the past +year were then distributed by Mr. Hazlerigg, +and after Mr. Link had concluded +with prayer, the children each received +a bun and orange, the gift of Mr. Prior, +one of their teachers.</p> + +<p>For the sake of brevity, a vote of thanks +was proposed to the latter, associated +with the names of the visiting ministers +and the President, which was heartily responded +to. Mr. Hazlerigg replied for +all in a few witty words, which brought +the evening to a genial and timely close.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>RAGGED TOM.</h2> + + +<p>Tom was a poor, ragged boy. His +home was an old house in a +narrow court. A stool, a deal +table, an old bed in one corner, +and a bag of shavings in another, were +all the goods contained in the room +where Tom, with his father and mother, +lived.</p> + +<p>Tom's hands and face were generally +very dirty; his hair matted; his clothes +were in rags, and his feet were without +shoes. He often had nothing to eat, +and no fire to warm him, however cold +the day. Many were the blows and +kicks the poor boy received from the +rude men and lads who lived in the +court.</p> + +<p>It was well for him that a Ragged +School was established in the neighbourhood, +and he was invited to go. +He then learned that he had three +enemies of which he had not hitherto +thought much. These were dirt, ignorance, +and sin.</p> + +<p>He speedily vanquished the first at a +pump. The second he overcame by +patient effort at the school. Then Tom +became a respectable, happy, and useful +young man. Best of all, he sought +mercy and help from God, and lived +to prove that he had God's smile and +blessing.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> +<h2>OUR BIBLE CLASS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Good Shepherd Gathering +His Sheep.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">John</span> x. 16.)</p> + + +<p>In the city of Jerusalem, at the +Feast of Tabernacles, a few +months before His death, Jesus +set forth this beautiful parable +of the Good Shepherd. He had given +sight to a man who from his birth had +been blind. The Pharisees, as usual, +had shown their hatred of Him, and He +then described Himself as the true +Leader, beloved and honoured of all +believing, obedient souls, declaring that +His enemies did not believe Him, because +they were not His sheep.</p> + +<p>"My sheep hear My voice; I know +them, they follow Me, and I lay down +My life for them." "And other sheep +I have that are not of <i>this</i> [Israelite or +Jewish] fold; them also I must bring; +and they shall hear My voice, and there +shall be one fold and one Shepherd" +(John x. 16).</p> + +<p>The Jews who listened to those gracious +words were much divided in their +opinions about them, some declaring +that Jesus was mad; others, appealing +to the great miracle He had wrought in +opening the eyes of the blind; and three +months later, at another feast (see ver. +22), their controversy was renewed, and +Jesus concluded His striking allegory +by saying, "I and My Father are One, +and no power shall ever be able to snatch +My people from My hand or from His" +(ver. 29, 30).</p> + +<p>Returning to our text, we find Jesus +declaring that all His people are His +before they know or love Him.</p> + +<p>Up to that time the Jewish Church +had been the only earthly fold of believers +in the living God, and all the +Gentiles who were taught by the Holy +Spirit were led to unite with the house +of Israel or the people of Judah.</p> + +<p>God was Israel's Shepherd (Psa. lxxx. +1). He led His people "like a flock by +the hand of Moses and Aaron" (Psa. +lxxvii. 20). They were regarded as "the +sheep of His pasture" (Psa. c.), and +the world around them were strangers +and foreigners, "aliens from the commonwealth +of Israel, and strangers to the +covenant of promise."</p> + +<p>But among these outcasts Jesus had +many sheep. He gathered some in olden +times. He came to lay down His life for +a great multitude, to be drawn to Himself +from every kindred, and tribe, and +nation, and tongue. He spoke of them as +being already His own—"Other sheep I +have, and them also I must bring," or +lead. "The Son of Man came to seek and +to save that which was lost." "All we like +sheep have gone astray; we have turned +every one to his own way"; and He who +paid the ransom price of His wandering +flock, goes after every one for whom He +shed His blood.</p> + +<p> +"He finds them wandering far from God,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And brings them to His chosen fold."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"As many as are led by His Spirit"—the +Spirit of God—"they are the children +of God," the sheep of the Lord Jesus +Christ.</p> + +<p>He brings them to feel that they are +lost—that they are far off by wicked +works—that they are guilty, and weak, +and helpless—and thus they are drawn +to the Good Shepherd, who can and will +deliver them from all evil, and fill them +with all good.</p> + +<p>And having brought near, He leads in +green pastures, beside still waters; and +even when the way is less pleasant, He +always "leads in the way of righteousness, +in the midst of the paths of judgment" +(Prov. viii. 20).</p> + +<p>"They shall hear My voice," He said, +and it is by His voice—His Word spoken +to the heart—that He ever leads His +people. Three thousand heard it on +the day of Pentecost, and were pricked +in their heart. Wounded, and imploring +forgiving, healing grace, they heard<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +again with gladness, and followed their +Lord in baptism (Acts ii. 37-41).</p> + +<p>Lydia's heart was opened to receive +the glad tidings, and she followed the +Good Shepherd; and Jesus leads His +disciples all the way home. "In all thy +ways," the wise man says, "acknowledge +Him, and He shall direct thy +paths" (Prov. iii. 6). "These are they +that follow the Lamb whithersoever He +goeth" (Rev. xiv.).</p> + +<p>Happy are they who know the sound +of that heavenly voice! Have <i>we</i> heard +it? It may not be <i>recognized</i> at first, as +Samuel heard, but did not know <i>who</i> +called him, until his name had been +again and again repeated, and Eli had +"perceived that the Lord had called the +child." But as surely as He speaks, we +shall, sooner or later, <i>know</i> His voice, +and long and love to hear it.</p> + +<p>Then Jesus promises that all His +people, of all nations and all ages of +time, shall become one flock—one in +Jesus; one in heart, and mind, and +judgment—and the whole redeemed and +gathered flock shall at last dwell in one +fold—the fold of heavenly, eternal life +and glory.</p> + +<p> +"From sorrow, care, and pain,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And sin they shall be free,</span><br /> +And perfect love and friendship reign<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Through all eternity."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"And there shall be one Shepherd." +"Jesus only" shall be seen, acknowledged, +and followed. Now He is loved +and honoured as the great Chief Shepherd +of the sheep, and the ministers of +the Gospel are pastors, or shepherds, +serving under Him. Christ brings them +forth, gives them their work, and blesses +their careful labours. But He removes +them one by one. He alone abides for +evermore. And in the fold above, the +pastors appear no more as shepherds, +but as sheep, the redeemed and saved +people of the Lord.</p> + +<p>Yet, wonderful to relate, the one +divine Shepherd is called "the Lamb" +(Rev. vii. 9-17)—"the Lamb of God," +all-seeing and almighty, yet the Lamb +that once was slain.</p> + +<p> +"His life and blood the Shepherd paid,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A ransom for the flock."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>And this wonderful work is to be remembered +while the years of eternity +roll, therefore it is "the Lamb in the +midst of the throne that shall feed them, +and lead them to fountains of living +waters; and God shall wipe away tears +from all eyes."</p> + +<p>Shall we be among them? Let us +rather ask, Are we asking Him to be +our Leader now? Are we "hungering +and thirsting after righteousness" now? +And are we mourning over sin, and +after Him? If so, our Leader in this +world will be our Leader still.</p> + +<p> +"He that hath fed will feed;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">He that hath blessed will bless;</span><br /> +He that hath led will lead;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Can He do less?"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>And we shall hunger and thirst no +more in that blessed fold, where "in +His presence there is fulness of joy, and +at His right hand are pleasures for evermore." +This is the life He gives His +ransomed ones. May it be ours.</p> + +<p>Our next subject will be, <i>Elisha and +the Shunammite</i> (2 Kings iv. 8-37; +viii. 1-6).</p> + +<div class="signature"> +Yours affectionately,<br /> +H. S. L. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN JUNE.</h2> + + +<p> +June 3. Commit to memory Prov. x. 27,<br /> +June 10. Commit to memory Prov. x. 28.<br /> +June 17. Commit to memory Prov. x. 29.<br /> +June 24. Commit to memory Prov. x. 30.<br /> +</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">A sanctified</span> heart is better than a silvered tongue.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p> +<h2>PRIZE ESSAY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">What Marks do the Lambs of +Jesus Christ Bear?</span></h3> + + +<p>True Christians may be known +by their walk and conversation. +They are anointed ones, and +they walk in the narrow way, +following in Christ's footsteps. They +look unto Jesus, who is "the Author +and Finisher of their faith." They are a +despised or persecuted people, as true +Christians have been in all ages.</p> + +<p>The lambs of Christ have always a +great deal of trouble, and are tried and +tempted in many ways, but it is for a +token of their eternal salvation, if God +sanctifies the trouble. If their affliction +drives them to God, it is a sanctified +affliction, and is for their souls' good.</p> + +<p>An infallible mark of a regenerated +character is, when he begins to hate evil, +and where there is the Spirit's work, +there is the panting after God.</p> + +<p>A child of God looks within, and feels +that there is no putting away sin but by +the blood of Jesus Christ, and no pardon +for poor sinners but by His sacrifice.</p> + +<p>We cannot make ourselves clean, or +walk in the right way in our own +strength, but God will help us if we ask +Him in the right way.</p> + +<p>The lambs of Jesus Christ are "poor +in spirit" and "pure in heart." They +"hunger and thirst after righteousness." +Although they are often "persecuted +for righteousness' sake," yet +Christ's righteousness is imputed to +them, because He has atoned for their +sins. In speaking of truly good men, +Mr. Gadsby said—</p> + +<p> +"Life, light, and holiness divine<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">From Jesus they by faith receive;</span><br /> +The Spirit makes His graces shine,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And gives them power in Christ to live."</span> +</p> + +<div class="signature"><span class="smcap">Jane Bell</span><br /> +(Aged 14 years). +</div> +<p> +<i>Sydney House, Sleaford,<br /> +Lincolnshire.</i> +</p> + +<p>[Very creditable Essays have been +received from Eleanor Saunders, Lilly +Rush, A. Pease, W. E. Cray, and Laura +Creasey. We hope our young friends +will follow up the various subjects, as +the study of them may do them good.]</p> + +<p>[The writer of the above Essay receives +a copy of "The Dairyman's +Daughter."</p> + +<p>The subject for August will be, "Contrast +the Lesson Taught by the Conduct +of Solomon and of Rehoboam, at +the Commencement of their Reign"; +and the prize to be given for the best +Essay on that subject, a copy of "The +Life of George Whitfield." All competitors +must give a guarantee that they +are under fifteen years of age, and that +the Essay is their own composition, or +the papers will be passed over, as the +Editor cannot undertake to write for this +necessary information. Papers must be +sent direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, +117, High Street, Hastings, by the first +of July.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>Page 106.</i>)</p> + + +<p>"<i>Lamb of God.</i>"—<span class="smcap">John</span> i. 29. +"<i>Lord of all.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Acts</span> x. 36.</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="ENIGMA"> +<tr><td align="left">L</td><td align="left">emue</td><td align="left">L</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Proverbs xxxi. 1.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">A</td><td align="left">cch</td><td align="left">O</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Judges i. 31.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">M</td><td align="left">ibza</td><td align="left">R</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">1 Chronicles i. 53.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">B</td><td align="left">ilda</td><td align="left">D</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Job ii. 11.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">O</td><td align="left">n</td><td align="left">O</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">1 Chronicles viii. 12.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">F</td><td> ar of</td><td align="left">F</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">Ephesians ii. 13.</td></tr> +<tr><td> </td></tr> + +<tr><td align="left">G</td><td> abbath</td><td>A</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">John xix. 13.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">O</td><td align="left">phe</td><td align="left">L</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">2 Chronicles xxvii. 3.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">D</td><td align="left">ia</td><td align="left">L</td><td align="left">.</td><td align="left">2 Kings xx. 11.</td></tr> +</table></div> +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Clara Ellis</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">(Aged 14 years).</span> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Many</span> wish to be like Christ in <i>bliss</i> +who seek not to be like Him by <i>grace</i>.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p> +<h2>Interesting Items.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Dairying by a Duchess.</span>—The Duchess of +Hamilton has opened a shop in Ipswich for the +sale of butter, and is crowded with orders, at +1s. 7d. per pound.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Telegraphing</span> from a moving train has now +become a practical success in America, and the +messages have been successfully transmitted by +induction through twenty feet of air.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Powerful Pneumatic Gun.</span>—A pneumatic +gun, which is to throw a shell containing six +hundred pounds of dynamite four miles, is +being constructed for Italy in Philadelphia.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Queen has presented to St. George's +Chapel, Windsor Castle, a very handsome silver +gilt altar cross, in commemoration of her +Jubilee. The royal gift, which has, it is said, +cost about £300, was displayed upon the table +next the reredos for the first time on April 1st.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Brighton Hotel, on Coney Island, has +been successfully moved one hundred and +twenty feet further inland, in order to escape +the encroachments of the sea. The building +was raised in one mass and rested on trucks +made to run on rails. Six locomotives were +then attached to the cars, and dragged the hotel +for the distance named. It is intended to move +it still further.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Spanish</span> Protestant clergyman, Senor Vila, +has been condemned to imprisonment for two +years four months and one day, and to a fine of +two hundred and fifty francs and the costs, by +the Criminal Court at Malaga, for having discussed +and condemned the dogmas of the Roman +Catholic Church in a pamphlet which he published +in answer to the attacks of a Catholic +priest from Paris, who came to Malaga, and +published a pamphlet against the Protestant +religion.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Oldest and Youngest.</span>—The oldest +Cabinet Minister is Viscount Cranbrook, Lord +President of the Council, aged seventy-three; +the youngest is Mr. Balfour, Chief Secretary +for Ireland, aged thirty-nine. The oldest +member of the Privy Council is Viscount +Eversley, aged ninety-three, who is also the +oldest peer of the realm; the youngest member +is the Duke of Portland, aged thirty. The +youngest duke is H.R.H. the Duke of Albany, +aged three. The Right Hon. C. P. Villiers +(South Wolverhampton), aged eighty-six, is +the oldest member of the House of Commons; +and the youngest is Lord H. Cavendish-Bentinck, +aged twenty-four. Mr. Justice Manisty, +aged seventy-eight, is the oldest English judge; +and Mr. Justice Charles, aged forty-nine, is +the youngest. The oldest bishop is Dr. Durnford, +of Chichester, aged eighty-five; and the +youngest is Dr. John Wordsworth, of Salisbury, +aged forty-four.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Military Heroine.</span>—A handsome marble +memorial has been erected in the cemetery at +Southsea in honour of the late Mrs. Fox, whose +death was, by special order of the Duke of +Cambridge, signalized by a military funeral. +The inscription on the memorial is as follows:—"Sacred +to the memory of Mrs. George Fox, +wife of Quartermaster George Fox, 2nd Connaught +Rangers (94th Regiment), who died at +Cambridge Barracks, Portsmouth, on January +22nd, 1888, from the effects of wounds received +in the action of Bronker's Sprint, Transvaal. +For her heroic and unselfish conduct on that +occasion in nursing the wounded—desperately +wounded though she was herself—she was +decorated by Her Majesty with the Order of the +Royal Cross. This monument is erected to her +memory as a token of affection and esteem by +the officers (past and present), non-commissioned +officers, and men of the 2nd Connaught +Rangers. 'Well done, thou good and faithful +servant' (Matt. xxv. 21)." The inscription is +surmounted by the regimental crest—a crown, +an elephant, the word "Seringapatam"—and +"2nd Battalion the Connaught Rangers."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A return</span>, just prepared at the War Office, +of the religious profession of non-commissioned +officers and men of the British European troops +and Colonial Corps (exclusive of Indian troops), +shows that, at the beginning of the present year, +there were 158,414 Protestants of various denominations +on the roll books, of whom 132,537 +belonged to the Church of England, 15,072 +were Presbyterians, 9,437 Wesleyans, and +1,369 belonged to one or other of the smaller +Protestant bodies. The total number of Roman +Catholics was 40,775; and there were 274 who +were either Mahometans, Hindoos, or Jews; +while the religion of 1,044 was not reported. +The proportion of Church of England soldiers +per thousand (not reckoning the Colonial corps) +was 668; of Roman Catholics, 205; of Presbyterians, +76; of Wesleyans, 46; of men of the +smaller Protestant denominations, 5; there +being thus in all 795 Protestants per 1,000, to +205 Roman Catholics. The inquiry has not +been so complete in the line cavalry as in +other branches of the service, there being 675 +men out of 17,354 whose religious profession +has not been reported; whilst amongst the +129,599 men of the line infantry, only 272 were +not reported.</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span><span class="smcap">Watch Glasses.</span>—Of watch glasses, 50,000 +gross, or 7,200,000, are sold annually in the +United States. Most of these are imported +from England.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A memorial</span> window is to be placed in the +Bristol Royal Infirmary to commemorate the +heroic deed of a young surgeon, William Conner, +medical officer, who lost his life in a noble and +daring effort to save a poor patient who had +undergone the operation of tracheotomy while +suffering from diphtheria. A false membrane +having formed in the throat, and the patient +being in imminent danger of his life, young +Conner applied his lips to the throat tube, and +succeeded in removing the obstruction. The +window is in three panels, representing incidents +from the parable of the Good Samaritan, +and healing the sick, and it will be inscribed, +"To the glory of God, and in affectionate remembrance +of William Conner, who was born +May 7th, 1851, and died July 4th, 1887."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Great Log Raft.</span>—Not satisfied with the +former experiment and catastrophe, the Nova +Scotians are putting together another huge log +raft, to be floated to New York in July or +August of this year. This raft will be 650 feet +long, and will have six masts, and a great +spread of sail. Confidence seems to be placed +in the usual fine weather of July and August; +but storms are by no means unknown over the +course that the raft will traverse; and should +this huge area of floating timber encounter a +storm, the chains which will hold the logs +together will snap like packing-cord, and +leave the crew to shift for their lives in their +boats, or by endeavouring to cling to their logs. +These experiments, like attempts to swim the +rapids of Niagara, should be prevented by some +law or regulations, since the common sense of +those concerned is conspicuous by its absence. +It is quite possible that the raft may be +favoured by fine weather, and reach its destination +successfully; but it is true, nevertheless, +that the enterprise is hare-brained, and undertaken +at great risk of life and property.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Great Storm at Madagascar.</span>—Particulars +have been received, <i>viá</i> the Cape of Good +Hope, of a terrific hurricane which raged at +Tamatave on February 22nd, which will long +be remembered by the inhabitants as one of +the most disastrous storms that have visited +the island during this century. Eleven vessels +at anchor in the harbour were totally wrecked. +Some of them foundered at their anchors, +others parted their cables, and were driven on +the reefs. The damage done to the town was +very great. Not a house escaped more or less +destruction, numbers of them being utterly +swept away. The British Consulate, a large +new building, only erected some months ago +by the British Government, was almost totally +destroyed. Large fragments of this building +were carried by the wind for hundreds of yards, +and for acres around the ground presented an +extraordinary and melancholy spectacle, being +strewn with doors, windows, beams, and other +pieces of twisted wood and iron, besides clothes +and furniture. The Consul's wife, Mrs. Haggard +(the Consul himself was at Mauritius), +and those in the Consulate had a narrow +escape with their lives. Most of the trees +were blown down, and all were smashed to +pieces. Several lives were lost on shore in +addition to those drowned, but their numbers +were few in comparison to the almost incredible +damage done in so short a time, the +hurricane only lasting seven hours. A remarkable +circumstance in connection with the +hurricane is, that it was not felt forty miles to +the northward of Tamatave, nor its full +strength sixty miles south.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Chinese Almanack.</span>—The great value +which the Chinese attach to their almanack is +shown in many ways. Recently the Chinese +residents at Lhassa, in Thibet, implored the +Emperor to cause arrangements to be made +which would enable them to receive their +copies of the almanack at the earliest possible +date in each year. A writer in a recent issue +of the <i>Chinese Recorder</i> says that the most important +book to the Chinese is the almanack. +Its space is far too important to be occupied +with the matter which fills Western almanacks. +It contains astronomical information, which is +useful; but its great mission is to give full and +accurate information for selecting lucky places +for performing all the acts, great and small, of +every-day life. "And as every act of life, however +trivial, depends for its success on the time +in which, and the direction (<i>i.e.</i>, the point of +the compass) towards which it is done, it is of +the utmost importance that every one should +have correct information available at all times, +to enable him to so order his life as to avoid +bad luck and calamity, and secure good luck +and prosperity. Consequently, the almanack +is perhaps the most universally circulated book +in China." The writer speaks of it as a terrible +yoke of bondage. It is issued by the Government, +and the sale of all almanacks but the +authorized one is prohibited. Quite recently +the new Chinese Minister to Germany refused +to sail for his post on a day which the almanack +declared to be unlucky, and the departure of +the German mail steamer was consequently +deferred at the request of the German minister +to Pekin.—[What a pity but these poor deluded +creatures were blessed with Bible truth and +Jesus' grace!—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span>]<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 391px;"> +<img src="images/img148.jpg" width="391" height="500" alt="Horse (See page 146.)" title="Horse (See page 146.)" /> +<span class="caption">"A TROOP OF DRAGOONS CAME UP AT FULL GALLOP." (<i>See page 146.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE COVENANTER'S ESCAPE AND DEATH.</h2> + + +<p>On the 16th of April, 1685, Peden +made a narrow escape. Being +then at the house of John Nisbet, +of Hardhill, a little before nine o'clock +in the morning, a troop of dragoons +were observed by the servants, who were +working in the fields, coming up to the +house at full gallop, upon which the +servants ran to conceal themselves. +Peden, and those who were with him in +the house, had fled for shelter to a moss +nearly two miles distant from the place +where the servants were working.</p> + +<p>The way to this moss was by a very +steep ground, and at the edge of the +moss there was a morass about seven or +eight yards broad, and altogether the +place was well adapted for concealment, +as well as for protection from military +on horseback. Here, however, Peden +and his companions were discovered. +James, the son of John Nisbet, a young +man about sixteen years of age, had +been with the servants in the field when +the troop of dragoons came up, and in +his flight, being chased by some of the +party, made his way accidentally to where +Peden and about twenty more were lurking, +which occasioned their being discovered. +The whole party of dragoons +were quickly informed of the prize within +their reach, and about three hours +after, they were joined by another party +who aided them in the pursuit. Peden +and his friends, observing the enemy +dismounting their horses to take the +moss on their feet, for the purpose of +securing them, after some firing on both +sides without effect, drew off, and kept +in the midst of the moss. When the +dragoons, on seeing this, mounted their +horses again, and pursued by the side of +the moss, the Covenanters always kept +themselves on such ground as the horses +could not approach.</p> + +<p>They were pursued during the whole +of that day, and ran about thirty miles +without receiving any refreshment but +moss-water till night, when they got a +little milk. Peden then left his friends, +and went away by himself.</p> + +<p>During this year, and especially the +first part of it, great numbers of the persecuted +witnesses were murdered in the +fields. Peden, therefore, to escape the +hands of the military, after this wandered +from one lurking-place to another; and +from his minute acquaintance with all +the tracts and haunts of the desert, of +which he may be said for years to have +been an inhabitant, he succeeded in +eluding the enemy.</p> + +<p>In such circumstances, we need not +wonder that he was sometimes weary of +life, and envied his fellow-sufferers who +had gone to death before him, and were +eternally at rest. At length, Peden's +bodily infirmities increasing so much as +to render him unable to travel, being +almost worn out with fatigue, and +suffering from the many hardships he +had undergone, he arrived at his native +parish of Sorn. He came to his brother's +house, in the neighbourhood of which +he caused a cave to be dug, with a +willow bush covering its mouth. His +persecutors getting information where +he was, searched every part of the house +on many occasions.</p> + +<p>At last, one day, early in the morning, +leaving the cave, he came to the door of +the house. His brother's wife warned +him of his danger, advising him to +return to his place of concealment. +He told her it was needless to do that, +since it was discovered.</p> + +<p>"But," said he, "there is no matter, +for within forty-eight hours I will be beyond +the reach of all the devil's temptations, +and his instruments in hell and on +earth, and they shall trouble me no +more."</p> + +<p>He had not been in the house above +three hours when a party of soldiers +visited the cave, and not finding him +there, they searched first the barn, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +next the house, stabbing the beds, but +they did not enter the place where he +lay.</p> + +<p>Peden died on the 28th of January, +1686, being upwards of sixty years of +age, and was privately buried in the +church of Auchinleck, in the aisle of +David Boswell, Esq., of Auchinleck. +But his ashes were not allowed to +repose in peace. Though he had never +been condemned by any jury, yet the +enemy, being informed of his death and +burial, sent a troop of dragoons, who +pulled his corpse out of the grave after +it had lain about six weeks, and having +first broken the chest, exposed his +remains to contempt, and then carried +them to the gallows foot at Cumnock, +two miles distant, and there buried them. +The design of the soldiers in lifting the +body was to hang it in chains upon the +gallows at Cumnock, but this they were +prevented from doing. The Countess of +Dumfries and the Lady Affleck, shocked +at this barbarity, earnestly interceded +that the body might be again buried; +and when the savage commander of the +dragoons, determined to have it hung in +chains, proved unrelenting, they applied +to the Earl of Dumfries, a Privy Councillor, +then at home, who, yielding to +their request, went to the gibbet and +told Murray that it was erected for malefactors +and murderers, and not for such +men as Mr. Peden. The corpse was +accordingly reinterred at the foot of the +gibbet, now within the wall of the common +burial-ground of Cumnock parish, +and a suitable memorial erected over +the remains, on which was inscribed an +appropriate epitaph.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A DAY'S WORK.</h2> + + +<p>The amount of work some people +get through is simply enormous. +Few people are harder worked +than a London physician in +active practice. We know a doctor +who seldom gets more than four hours' +sleep out of the twenty-four. He says +that it is not that he couldn't do with +more, but it is as much as he can get. +Many busy men are constantly at work +of some kind or the other from eight in +the morning till past twelve at night. +Some, of course, break down, but others +can do this year after year, apparently +without any detriment to their health. +Instances are known of professional men +who have not slept for five days together, +and who have not been in bed for three +weeks at a time. These sound almost +like travellers' tales, but they are true, +although, of course, they are exceptional +cases. It is astonishing what interest +and energy will do in enabling a man to +dispense with rest. It has been said +that the twenty-four hours might be +advantageously divided into three equal +parts—eight hours for sleep, eight for +meals, exercise, recreation, &c., and +eight for mental work. Few men really +require more than eight hours' sleep, but +the majority of us have to do considerably +more than eight hours' work in the +day. It is not so much that a man +wishes for the work, as that it is forced +upon him. He, perhaps, is the only +person who can perform a certain duty, +and when, as is often the case, it is a +question of life and death, it is almost +impossible to refuse. Many people can +never force themselves to do more than a +certain amount of mental work; they get +nervous and headachy, and then it is all +over with them. Forced work, as a rule, +tells on a man much more rapidly than +purely voluntary work, for in the former +case it is usually associated with anxiety. +Real overwork gives rise to loss of +memory, a general sense of fatigue, and +particularly of discomfort about the head, +poorness of appetite, lowness of spirits, +and other similar symptoms. It is worry +that injures more than real work. Some +people are so happily constituted that +they never worry much about anything, +whilst others are in a fever of anxiety +on every trivial occasion.—<i>The Family +Physician.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> +<h2>JUVENILE GEMS.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>Concluded from page 130.</i>)</p> + + +<p class="center"><br /> +<span class="smcap">Ann Jane.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>My dear Ann Jane was an affectionate +child, but naturally timid, and +frequently expressed a hope that +she should not be taken ill. Yet she +too was destined to be borne far, far +away.</p> + +<p>On November 12th, 1851, it pleased +God to indicate His intentions by placing +upon her His afflicting hand. But +He who "mingles mercy with His +might," set His bow in the cloud, +answered in the secret place of thunder, +and revealed His love in the bosom of +the storm.</p> + +<p>Ann Jane gave pleasing proofs of a +work of grace in her soul, the progress +of which was visible to by-standers and +friends.</p> + +<p>A short time after the attack, she +expressed a wish to die; and upon being +asked why, she answered, "Because I +believe I shall go to heaven. I believe +the dear Lord has pardoned my sins." +She would often say, "Pray for me, my +dear mother, and I will pray for you, +and myself too"; and would then address +herself to God in a sweet, devout +manner.</p> + +<p>Observing me to be in great trouble, +she thus spoke to me—"Do pray the +dear Lord to take me to Himself." I +answered, "How can I do so, seeing I +cannot give you up?" She replied, "Oh, +mother, put your trust in the Lord. He +will provide. Do ask Him to take me +out of this world. Oh, mother, there is +nothing here worth living for"; and engaging +sweetly in prayer, uttered, with +many other sentences, the following—"Pardon +all our sins, dear and precious +Lord—past sins, present sins, and sins +to come. Wash us in Thy precious blood, +for Thou knowest how sinful we are, and +Thou rememberest we are but dust. Oh, +make us love Thee more! Thy love is +an everlasting love. Take us, dear +Lord, take us to Thyself, and then we +shall love and serve Thee better."</p> + +<p>The second Lord's Day of her affliction, +she inquired what day it was. I +informed her, and asked, "Would you +not like to spend a Sabbath in heaven?" +"Oh, yes, mother!" was the rejoinder. +"That would be a Sabbath of Sabbaths."</p> + +<p>With pleasure I remember some particular +times when my precious child +seemed almost overpowered by the sweetness +and glories of Immanuel, who is +"God with us," not only in our nature, +but in our condition. At these times, +with uplifted hands, she would exclaim, +"Oh, my precious Jesus! Oh, my precious +Christ!"</p> + +<p>One day she said, "Mother, my pains +are very great. Can you do anything to +give me relief?" What an appeal to +maternal tenderness! What a moment +of agonizing weakness! I reminded her +of the divine sufficiency, and she poured +out a copious argumentative prayer, not +like the prayer of a child, pleading the +Lord's own Word, and the merits of +Christ, as the only ground of her expectation. +"I know," she would say, "I +am not worthy. I am a guilty sinner. +Oh, wash me in Thy precious blood! Give +me patience to endure my pains, and to +wait all Thy will; and take me to be +where Thou art, for ever and ever. +Amen."</p> + +<p>Seeing me weep very much, on one +occasion, she exclaimed, "My precious +mother, I do love you! Why do you +grieve about me? I am not afraid to +die. I want to go to my precious Lord, +and be with Him for ever." I said, "My +dear child, why do you believe you shall +go to heaven? Do you think you have +<i>merited</i> it?" "Oh, no, mother," was +her immediate reply. "I am a guilty +sinner. It is through the Lord Jesus,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +and for His sake, that I hope to be +saved. Do you not think, dear mother, +He will pardon me?" I said, "Yes, if +you feel your need of Him." She +answered, "I believe He has pardoned +me."</p> + +<p>After the prayer previously mentioned, +and partly recorded, she said, "How +good the Lord is to me! Oh, my precious +Jesus," &c. "Oh, mother," she said, +in reply to a question, "I know I love +the Lord. Yes, I do; better than everything +else in the world."</p> + +<p>At another time she cried out, in a loud +impressive tone, "Oh, mother, what is +there in this world worth living for? It +is all stuff and vanity—it is, mother. Oh, +I do not want to live here! Pray the +dear Lord to take me to Himself. Oh, +how blessed to be with my precious Jesus +for ever!"</p> + +<p>When informed of the death and burial +of her brother, she appeared excited, +but at last said, "Dear boy! I hope I +shall soon be with him, and then we +shall meet to part no more." She then +asked me to pray again that God would +take her. How could I? "Nature has +soft but powerful bands," and the ligaments +were not yet severed. She seemed +my earthly all. Could I surrender her +to the arms of the destroyer? Could I +look up and say, "Thy will be done"? +What grace we need to glorify God in +the fires!</p> + +<p>Nine days after her illness she raised +herself up in her bed, and, looking at +her departing sister, said, "There is my +dying sister. Where is she going? +Where? Why, to the realms of bliss? +And who of us next? Why, myself, I +believe, mother. But I am not afraid of +death," &c.</p> + +<p>At another time she said, "Do read to +me, dear mother"; and upon my asking +her <i>where</i>, she replied, "Read about the +sufferings of Christ" I did so, and she +afterwards engaged in prayer.</p> + +<p>At another time the nurse heard her, +during the night, earnestly praying for +both her parents and herself.</p> + +<p>Once she requested me to read the +seventeenth chapter of John, remarking +at the time, "That is sweet reading." +After listening for a time she fell into a +short sleep, and I laid the Book down. +When she awoke she exclaimed, "Won't +you read to me, my dear mother?" I +said, "You dropped off into a sleep, my +dear." She then tried to read herself, +but failing, returned the Book, immediately +adding, "Give it me again +and let me kiss it, for I love it very +much."</p> + +<p>At different times she expressed +earnest desires to go to her brother and +sister, and for her father and mother +and sister to go also; and would try to +sing a part of that Sabbath School +hymn, chorusing—"Oh, that will be joyful," +&c.</p> + +<p>Two days before she died she exclaimed, +with sweet simplicity, "Suffer +the little children to come unto Me"; +and shortly after, "Precious Bible! what +a treasure," &c.</p> + +<p>The night on which she died, a +friend coming in, she seemed pleased, +remarking that I could then take some +rest. Shortly after this her voice began +to fail. She called for "Hephzibah," +looked at me wishfully, exclaimed, +"Mother," and talked earnestly for +some time; but her voice was "thick +in death," and language failed as an +interpreter of "the thoughts and intents +of the heart." In vain she laboured to +make me comprehend her ideas. The +bridge had been broken down; the fortress +was dismantled. Only a word or +two was distinct enough to be understood, +but from these I found her discourse +was of a spiritual nature. Overcome +by the scene, I burst into tears, +and said, "My dear child, how I wish I +could understand you! It almost breaks +my heart." At this she looked at me +so very affectionately, and exclaimed, +"Heaven! heaven! heaven!"</p> + +<p>She spoke not again, but for twelve +long hours "her spirit struggled with +her clay," when the conflict mercifully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +ceased, and all was peace, and righteousness, +and quietness, and assurance +for ever. She exchanged worlds on +December 14th, 1851, aged eleven years +and three months.</p> + +<p> +"May death conclude my toils and tears;<br /> +May death conclude my sins and fears;<br /> +May death, through Jesus, be my Friend;<br /> +May death be life when life shall end!"<br /> +</p> + +<p>Thus ends the interesting memoirs of +three happy children; and as reflection +should follow reading, we proceed from +narrative to reflections.</p> + + +<p class="center"> +<span class="smcap">Reflections.</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>1. From these memoirs we learn how +greatly the Lord sometimes tries the +righteous. In little more than a fortnight, +three out of four children were +borne to their long home. The father +had been previously afflicted with paralysis, +and was at that time unable to +follow his employment, having lamed +himself.</p> + +<p>2. We learn that human affliction +may consist with divine affection. Lazarus +sickened and died, though Jesus +loved him. "And what son is there +whom the Father chasteneth not?"</p> + +<p>3. We have another lesson upon the +inscrutable providence of God. "I beheld," +says Solomon, "all the works of +God, that a man cannot find out the +work that is done under the sun; because, +though a man labour to seek it +out, yet shall he not find it; yea, further, +though a wise man think to know +it, yet shall he not find it." No man +knoweth divine love or hatred by the +distributions of providential good and +evil.</p> + +<p>4. But if the events of life are so +complicated, and if no application, however +skilfully conducted, nor any human +capacity, whatever its range, can fathom +the "mysteries of God," then, how unseemly +is immoderate grief or unmeasured +joy! How premature our decisions, +and how utterly senseless all those +infidel cavils against a system which the +most enlightened, philosophical, and +Spirit-taught mind can neither understand +nor deal with!</p> + +<p>5. Nevertheless, we read that "the +righteous, and the wise, and their works, +are in the hand of God" (Eccles. ix. 1), +from which we conclude that the people +of God, wherever located, and however +circumstanced, are protected by His +power, sustained by His agency, supplied +by His mercy, are under His +special care, and safe in His approbation. +Let this suffice. We walk by +faith.</p> + +<p>6. We see here the sovereignty of +God, both in His providence and grace. +We read of one being taken and another +left; but here three are taken, and only +one left.</p> + +<p>7. Does not God, sometimes, put +peculiar honour upon His professing +people, however He sees fit to try them? +If He takes one of a Gentile city, He +takes two of a Christian family, and +brings them to Zion.</p> + +<p>8. We observe, too, the earliness and +efficacy of His work on the minds of +some, so that "out of the mouths of +babes and sucklings He perfects His +own praise."</p> + +<p>9. Attention, however, may be called +to the value of early and maternal +instruction. These children were instructed +for the most part by their +mother, who watched over them with +incessant care, keeping them separate +from the masses, and attending to their +education as an important duty.</p> + +<p> +"There is not a grand inspiring thought,<br /> +There is not a truth by wisdom taught,<br /> +There is not a feeling pure or high,<br /> +That may not be read in a mother's eye.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span>"There are teachings on earth, and sky, and air;<br /> +The heavens the glory of God declare;<br /> +But more loud than the voice beneath, above,<br /> +Is the voice that speaks through a mother's love."<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;">W. P.</span><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BROUGHT TO THE FOLD.</h2> + + +<p>Louisa Ann Jeeves, of Pewsey, +Wilts, died on March 24th, +1888, aged twenty-four years. +She sat under the truth until she was +about twenty, when she left the place for +a short time. But, when taken seriously +ill, it appears that the Lord laid the +weight of her sins upon her, and she +felt that she had slighted the means +of truth, which was a trouble to her. +The clergyman called, and wished to +administer the Sacrament to her, but +she refused, and told him she dare not, +for she had not felt the pardon of her +sins. From this time she sank very low, +and felt her sins to be a heavy burden. +She now eagerly read her Bible, in which +she marked many portions. Her bodily +sufferings were very great, but she bore +them without a murmur. Her sins, and +the state of her soul before God, seemed +always uppermost.</p> + +<p>I had known her from a child, and +hoped there was some good thing in +her; but when she left the place of truth, +I was afraid my hope was vain.</p> + +<p>I visited her often after my return to +Pewsey, and found her in great concern +about her soul. She said she knew that +nothing but an application of the blood +of Christ could suffice for her great sins, +and this she longed to feel. She asked +me to read and pray with her, which I +was enabled to do, believing the Lord +had given her true conviction of sin. +Each time I called she was greatly +distressed, and seemed without hope; +and this went on until the last week of +her life, when she begged me to stay +with her altogether, and whenever we +were alone she wished me to read and +pray. She would cry out in agony, +"Oh, what shall I do if I don't get to +heaven?"</p> + +<p>On the Tuesday, when she had been +greatly tried, this word was brought +with comfort to her mind, "I will never +leave thee, nor forsake thee." I said, +"If the Lord has given you those words, +He will, in His own time, bless you with +pardon and peace"; and, as she was +drawing near her end, I said, "When +He comes, if you are unable to speak, +raise your hand." But the next day the +Lord was pleased to bless her soul with +joy and peace. She called for her +mother, and when she came, she said, +her face at the time beaming with joy, +"Oh, mother, I am so happy! I am +going home to be with Jesus! He has +put away all my sins by His own precious +blood, and you will come, too." She +would have us sing some hymns, herself +joining in while able—among others, +"How sweet the name of Jesus +sounds," and "Rock of Ages." When +we had finished one she named another, +and said, "Beautiful! beautiful!"</p> + +<p>She gradually sank, but the fear of +death was taken away. She was quite +conscious to the last, and turned her +head to look at the clock several times. +The enemy of souls was not permitted +to harass her in her last hours, and just +before she breathed her last, she raised +her arms and clapped her hands three +times, evidently remembering what I +had said to her. It may be truly said, +she died in peace. She was a constant +reader of the <span class="smcap">Little Gleaner</span>.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +C. G. +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">To</span> lay the salve of our services upon +the wound of our sins is as if a man who +is stung by a wasp should wipe his face +with a nettle.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> +<h2>ROME PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES.</h2> + +<p>"<i>For My thoughts are not your +thoughts, neither are your ways My +ways, saith the Lord.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Isaiah</span> lv. 8.</p> + + +<p>Father Chiniquy had been +for some years lecturing on teetotalism, +in addition to his usual +priestly labours, and his success had +been so great that he had received the +title of "Apostle of Temperance" in +Canada, and the gift of a splendid +medal and crucifix from the Pope of +Rome; and his reputation as a popular +influential priest was therefore well +established, when he was requested to +become the leader of a great movement.</p> + +<p>Emigrants were constantly leaving +Europe and Canada for the United +States, and many of them became +connected, on their arrival there, with +Protestant associations. Some far-seeing +bishops consequently felt that, if +they could divert that tide to places +of their own choosing, under the +direction of their own loyal priests, a +splendid triumph would be gained for +Popery, and in the course of time they +would secretly, yet surely, rule the +United States of America.</p> + +<p>Some small colonies had been already +formed, and the whole of the Mississippi +valley and the adjoining country was so +fertile and rich, even in its wild state, +that Chiniquy's warmest hopes were +kindled, as he saw that beautiful land; +and, sitting down, he wrote a glowing +description of it, and invited intending +emigrants to come and see for themselves. +The result exceeded all anticipations. +In a very short time fifty families +arrived at the chosen spot, and pitched +their tents around his own. They soon +set to work to build small, strong wooden +houses under their priest's directions, +then a larger one for a parsonage and +school; and, as fresh emigrants were +continually arriving, they soon became +a flourishing, happy community, and +objects of the bitter jealousy of surrounding +priests. Many difficulties arose. +When his wooden church was just +finished, it was maliciously set on fire +the very night after the first services +were conducted in it. A new bishop +came into power, whose tyranny and +greediness were unbearable, and Father +Chiniquy appealed against him to +Napoleon, the French Emperor, and the +Pope, getting him at length removed +from the position he had so greatly +abused.</p> + +<p>But the crowning difficulty, which +was designed by God to be the crowning +blessing of His servant's life, was +yet to come, and thus it came to pass +that the Bible-loving priest forsook his +false position, and "came out of Babylon."</p> + +<p>When Rome's new doctrine, the perfect +holiness of the Virgin Mary, was +first published in 1854, a farmer called +on Chiniquy to ask him whether the +Scriptures taught such a thing, and he +honestly confessed that they did not, but +rather said the opposite, and that the +holy fathers had not believed or taught +it either, but it was with the greatest +pain that he, as a priest, said this.</p> + +<p>On another occasion, the immoral conduct +of a priest caused many to ask our +friend whether the Word of God really +forbade the ministers of Christ to marry, +and he replied, "I will put the Gospel +in your hands, that you may see for +yourselves what the Holy Book says +about these matters." He accordingly +ordered a large number of New Testaments, +which had been printed by the +sanction of one of their own archbishops, +and soon they were being eagerly read +and studied by his large congregation.</p> + +<p>And now the decisive hour drew near. +Another bishop, who had taken the +oppressor's place, kindly asked and +accepted Chiniquy's submission to his +authority. But, as that document contained +the words, "According to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +Word and commandments of God, as +we find them expressed in the Gospel of +Christ," the Jesuits found fault. The +bishop demanded the withdrawal of the +words, and upon his refusal to alter +them, angrily said, "If it be so, sir, you +are no longer a Roman Catholic priest." +"May God Almighty be for ever +blessed," was the brave reply, given in a +loud, determined voice.</p> + +<p>But the wrench was a terrible one, and +when alone in his hotel, the full consequences +of his words came forcibly +before him, and he felt alone and desolate. +But God, who had thus mysteriously +led him into liberty, did not forsake +him now. He spoke to his heart, +and confirmed him in the determination +he had made; and when all his sins +seemed like a mountain to rise before +him, Jesus appeared as his perfect, all-sufficient +Saviour, and the troubled +heart was filled with joy unspeakable, +so that he could and did exclaim, "O +magnify the Lord with me, and let us +exalt His name together!" as he hastened +home to tell his dear people all +that he had experienced of the wrath of +man and the love of God.</p> + +<p>May we, with him, be favoured to +"taste and see that the Lord is good," +and we also shall say, "O Lord God of +Hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth +in Thee!"—<i>Jottings on "The Life +and Work of Father Chiniquy," by +Cousin Susan.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>HOW TO SELECT A BOY.</h2> + + +<p>A gentleman advertised for a +boy, and nearly fifty applicants +presented themselves to him. +Out of the whole number he +selected one, and dismissed the rest.</p> + +<p>"I should like to know," said a friend, +"on what ground you selected that boy, +who had not a single recommendation."</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken," said the gentleman; +"he has a great many. He +wiped his feet when he came in, +and closed the door after him, showing +that he was careful. He gave his +seat instantly to that lame old man, +showing that he was thoughtful. He +took off his cap when he came in, +and answered my questions promptly, +showing that he was gentlemanly. He +picked up the book which I had purposely +laid on the floor, and replaced it +upon the table; and he waited quietly +for his turn, instead of pushing and +crowding, showing that he was honourable +and orderly. When I talked to him, +I noticed that his clothes were brushed, +his hair in order. When he wrote his +name, I noticed that his finger-nails +were clean. Don't you call those things +letters of recommendation? I do; and +I would give more for what I can tell +about a boy by using my eyes ten +minutes than all the letters he can bring +me."</p> + +<p>Little things show character, and frequently +determine a boy's whole career. +It is the boy who does the kind, polite, +and thoughtful acts unconsciously that +wins his way to employment and success. +And success does not mean wealth +and fame. A man is valued according +to his faithfulness and reliability, and +these chiefly determine the measure of +his true usefulness.</p> + +<p>It is not always those who are most +conspicuous in the eyes of the world +who are really the most useful. A man +who takes money at a ferry gate is seen +by thousands, but he only does what any +one of a thousand could do equally well; +while a thoughtful and conscientious +writer, who may be personally known to +very few, may have great influence for +good. True success means the development +of a character that is worthy of +example—a character that is honest to +every duty, faithful to every trust, and +that is unselfish enough to find time +for kindly acts that are not forced, but +the simple expression of a warm and +generous principle. True success is +fidelity to every relation in life.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span></p> +<h2>"NOTHING TO THANK GOD FOR."</h2> + + +<p>"Have you nothing to thank God +for?" asked the mother of a +little girl named Helen.</p> + +<p>"No," said Helen; "you and papa +give me everything."</p> + +<p>"Not for your pleasant home?" asked +mother.</p> + +<p>"It is my papa's house; he lets me +live in it."</p> + +<p>"Where did the wood come from to +build it?" asked mother.</p> + +<p>"From trees," answered Helen, "and +they growed in big forests."</p> + +<p>"Who planted the big forests? Who +gave rain to water them? Who gave +the sun to warm them? Who did not +allow the winter to blast them? Who +kept them growing from little trees to +trees big enough to build houses with? +Not papa, not man; it was God."</p> + +<p>Helen looked her mother in the eye, +and then said, "Papa bought nails to +make it with."</p> + +<p>"What are nails made of?" asked +mamma.</p> + +<p>"Iron," answered Helen; "and men +dig iron out of the ground."</p> + +<p>"Who put iron in the ground, and +kept it there safe till the men wanted +it?" asked mother. "It was God."</p> + +<p>"We got this carpet from men," said +Helen, drawing her small foot across it.</p> + +<p>"Where did the carpet-men get the +wool to make it from?" asked mother.</p> + +<p>"From farmers," answered Helen.</p> + +<p>"And where did the farmers get it?"</p> + +<p>"From sheep and lambs' backs," said +the little girl.</p> + +<p>"And who clothed the lambs in dresses +good enough for us? for your dress, I +see, is made of nothing but lambs' wool. +Where did the lambs get such good +stuff?"</p> + +<p>"God gave it to them, I suppose," +said the little girl. "It is you that +gives me bread, mother," said she +quickly.</p> + +<p>"But," said her mother, "the flour we +got from the shop, and the shopkeeper +bought it from the miller, and the miller +took the wheat from the farmer, and the +farmer had it from the ground, and the +ground grew it all itself."</p> + +<p>"No," cried Helen suddenly, "God +grew it. The sun and the rain, the +wind and the air, are His, and He sent +them to the corn-field. The earth is His +too. And so God is at the bottom of +everything, isn't He, mother?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said mother; "God is the +Origin of every good and perfect gift +which we enjoy."</p> + +<p>The little girl looked serious. She +looked thinking. "Then, mamma," +she said at last, "I can't make a prayer +long enough to thank God for everything."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that men," even as the creatures +of God, "would praise the Lord for His +goodness, and for His wonderful works +to the children of men!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A CINGALESE ROCK FORTRESS.</h2> + + +<p>For the first time for a number of +years the Sigiri Rock in Ceylon +has been scaled by a European, +the feat on this occasion being performed +by General Lennox, who commands +the troops in the island. It is +said, indeed, that only one European, +Mr. Creasy, ever succeeded in reaching +the summit. The rock is cylindrical in +shape, and the bulging sides render +the ascent very difficult and dangerous. +There are galleries all round, a groove +about four inches deep being cut in the +solid rock. This rises spirally, and in it +are fixed the foundation bricks, which +support a platform about six feet broad, +with a chunam-coated wall about nine +feet high. The whole structure follows +the curves and contours of the solid +rock, and is cunningly constructed so as +to make the most of any natural support +the formation can afford. In some places<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +the gallery has fallen completely away, +but it still exhibits flights of fine marble +steps. High up on the rock are several +figures of Buddha; but it is a mystery +how the artist got there, or how, being +there, he was able to carry on his work. +The fortifications consist of platforms, +one above the other, supported by massive +retaining walls, each commanding +the other.</p> + +<p>Owing to the falling away of the +gallery, the ascent in parts had to be +made up a perpendicular face of the +cliff, and General Lennox and four +natives were left to do the latter part of +the ascent alone. The top they found to +be a plateau about an acre in extent, in +which were two square tanks, with sides +thirty yards and fifteen feet respectively +in length, cut out of the solid rock. A +palace is believed to have existed on the +summit at one time, although time, +weather, and the jungle have obliterated +all traces of it. During the descent the +first comer had to guide the foot of the +next into a safe fissure, but all reached +the bottom safely after two and a half +hours.</p> + +<p>It is said that the amount of work +expended on the galleries is incredible, +and the writer of the account of the feat +doubts if all the machinery of modern +times could accomplish the stupendous +work that was achieved here in old days +by manual labour alone.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A QUEER FISHERMAN.</h2> + + +<p>Monkeys and apes are (remarks +a writer in <i>Harper's Young +People</i>) always amusing creatures, +and it is great fun to watch their +tricks. But there is one ape, a native of +the island of Java, who outdoes most of +his relatives in the way of being ridiculous, +especially when he amuses himself +as a fisherman. This ape is very fond of +shellfish, and there is a certain kind of +sand-crab that suits his palate exactly. +These crabs dig little homes for themselves +deep in the sand, and thither they +retire when they want a quiet rest, or +when any danger threatens. When all +is well, they spend their time sunning +themselves at the entrance of their holes, +or hopping along the water's edge in +search of food. The apes know their +ways, and while the crabs are looking +for a dinner they also are bent on obtaining +one for themselves. Apes, you know, +can move very quickly. They wait until +they see a party of crabs apparently unconscious +of danger, and busily engaged +in discussing a bit of seaweed, or devouring +the insects they are so fond of. +Moving stealthily forward, as close as +they dare, the ape gives a sudden leap, +and seizes as many as possible of the +poor, unsuspecting crabs, which are +speedily crunched into a shapeless mass +by his strong jaws, and devoured. But +the crabs are very active too, and it +often happens that they will take alarm +in time to scamper quickly to their +holes, and so cheat the ape out of his +anticipated meal. When this occurs, +the ape has recourse to a stratagem +which proves how intelligent he really +is, and which makes him appear, as I +have said, one of the most amusing and +ridiculous of creatures. The ape of +Java, unlike others of his species, possesses +a very long tail. He moves +quietly up to the hole into which he has +seen the crab disappear, thrusts his tail +into it, and awaits events. The crab, +indignant at such an intrusion, makes a +spirited attack, and fastens upon it. +This is precisely what the ape wants. +He gives a sudden spring forward. The +crab, having no time to collect his ideas, +is drawn to the surface, and in a moment +the ape has him in his claws. Poor +crab! victim of his anxiety to punish the +invasion of his home.</p> + +<p>One traveller tells us that "there is a +comical look of suspense on the ape's +face as he thrusts his tail into the hole, +and waits for the crab to seize it."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> +<h2>SAVED BY GRACE.</h2> + + +<p>Agreeably to your wishes, I +send you the following account of +W. B——, who had lived a dissolute +life for nearly forty years.</p> + +<p>He was notorious for drinking and +Sabbath-breaking, and his general deportment +was so abandoned that he was +wicked even to a proverb.</p> + +<p>On Saturday evening, March 4th, he +attended a funeral, and from the place +of interment he immediately betook himself +to a public house, where he became +so intoxicated that it was with some difficulty +he reached his own habitation. +No sooner was he laid down upon the +bed, and composed to sleep, than the +words of Eliphaz were verified in his experience—"In +thoughts from the visions +of the night, when deep sleep falleth +upon man, fear came upon me, and +trembling, which made all my bones to +shake," for he dreamed a frightful +dream. He thought he saw a serpent of +the hydra kind, with nine heads, ready +to seize him. Whatever way he turned, +a head presented itself, nor could he, by +all the methods he devised, extricate +himself from the baneful monster. He +awoke in great distress. Though it was +but a dream, it made a strong impression +upon his mind, and he was afraid it +portended some future evil.</p> + +<p>The next morning, one of the members +of our meeting, as he was going to +the house of God, observed him in a +pensive posture, and asked him if he +would go with him and hear a sermon +upon the old serpent. The sound of the +word <i>serpent</i> arrested his attention, and +excited his curiosity to hear what I had +to say upon such a subject. But for this +expression, probably the poor man had +remained unmoved. Why the person +used it he could not tell, nor why he +invited him to accompany him that +morning—a thing which he had never +done before. But He could tell who, +in the days of His flesh, "must needs +go through Samaria," and whose providences +are always in coincidence with +the purposes of His grace.</p> + +<p>As soon as prayer was ended, I +preached from Genesis iii. 13-15, "And +the Lord God said unto the woman, +What is this that thou hast done? And +the woman said, The serpent beguiled +me, and I did eat. And the Lord God +said unto the serpent, Because thou +hast done this, thou art cursed above all +cattle," &c.</p> + +<p>As I was explaining who that serpent +was, and the methods he took to beguile +sinners, the Lord opened the poor man's +eyes, and the Word had free course and +was glorified. From that moment he +gave every demonstration of a real +change of heart. About four or five +months he continued in the pangs of the +new birth. The anguish of his soul was +great indeed. He perceived the number +of his sins, and felt the weight of his +guilt. For some time he was tempted to +despair—I may say, to put an end to his +existence—but while he was musing on +his wretched condition, these words were +applied as a sovereign remedy to his +afflicted soul—"Believe on the Lord +Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." +This administered all the joy and comfort +he stood in need of. Now he was +enabled to believe that Christ was as +willing to forgive as He was mighty to +redeem. The burden of his guilt dropped +from his mind, as Pilgrim's did at the +sight of the cross, and immediately he +"rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full +of glory."</p> + +<p>I was with him a little while after, and +with a heart overflowing with gratitude +to God, he showed me the place of his +Bethel visit, where the Lord had opened +to him His bleeding heart, and manifested +His forgiving love. He seems to +be, as the Apostle expresses it, "a +living epistle of Christ, seen and read of +all men."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 403px;"> +<img src="images/img160.jpg" width="403" height="500" alt="IN A PENSIVE POSTURE. (See page 156.)" title="IN A PENSIVE POSTURE. (See page 156.)" /> +<span class="caption">"ONE OF THE MEMBERS OBSERVED HIM IN A PENSIVE POSTURE." (<i>See page 156.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> +<h2>TWO BRAVE CHILDREN.</h2> + + +<p>The sky at night in the vicinity of +Apple Creek, in Dakota, a few +weeks ago, was red all around +the horizon, and the people knew that +the prairie fires were burning. Every +evening, as darkness fell, the farmers +saw the glare becoming more and more +distinct, and during the day the smoke +increased until it was nearly suffocating.</p> + +<p>Not far from Apple Creek is the little +village of Sterling, and near Sterling +lived the Stevens family. Mr. Stevens +was away from home on the day that +the fire approached the house, and it so +happened that his wife was sick in bed. +Their children were a girl of eight years +and a boy of eleven. The boy had +heard that it was a good thing to +plough a furrow across the path of the +advancing flames, and about noon of +the day in question he tried to protect +the property in that manner. With the +two-horse team and plough he cut a +trench around the house and sheds, and +then another trench around the stacks +of unthreshed wheat. He was not +strong enough to plough the trench to +a great depth, but the wide line of damp +earth thrown up would be hard for the +flames to leap across, especially since +his little sister followed him around, +carrying away all trash that would add +to the fury of the flames.</p> + +<p>That night the fire was so near that +the poor woman thought of getting out +of bed, with the purpose of attempting +to escape, but she was too ill to try such +a thing. Moreover, she knew that if +her husband could reach the house he +would come, and she watched and +prayed as the light came to her room +from the crimson skies without.</p> + +<p>When the flames, running before the +wind, came down upon the Stevens' +place, they licked up the fences in an instant, +swept away the shocks of grain in +the fields, and then rolled suddenly up +to the furrows ploughed by the boy. The +wheat stacks fell a prey, and numberless +sparks were scattered around the house; +but the brave boy and his sister ran all +about, trampling out the fire wherever it +caught.</p> + +<p>The little workers were desperate, for +they knew that, should the house burn, +their poor mother would surely perish in +her bed. They fought with brooms, +shovels, and water. Wherever they +could they dug up fresh earth, and for +a quarter of an hour they did not pause +for a single moment. Once the house +caught, and the wood began to add its +crackling to the rush and roar of the +vast prairie fire; but the children +dashed bucket after bucket of water +upon the burning spot, and so put it +out. They carried the day. The great +fire swept past, and in its wake came +the father, half frantic with joy to find +that his little hero and heroine had +saved their mother's life.—<i>Examiner.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A HINT TO BOYS.</h2> + + +<p>If I were a boy again, and knew +what I know now, I would not +be quite so positive in my own +opinions as I used to be. Boys +generally think that they are very certain +about many things. A boy of fifteen is +a great deal more sure of what he thinks +he knows than is a man of fifty. You +ask the boy a question, and he will +answer you right off, up and down. He +knows all about it. Ask a man of large +experience and ripe wisdom the same +question, and he will say, "Well, there +is much to be said about it. I am inclined, +on the whole, to think so-and-so, +but other intelligent men think otherwise."</p> + +<p>When I was about eight years old, I +travelled from Central Massachusetts to +Western New York, crossing the river at +Albany, and going by canal to Syracuse. +On the canal-boat a kindly gentleman +was talking to me one day, and I mentioned +the fact that I had crossed the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +Connecticut River at Albany. How I +got it into my head that it was the +Connecticut River I do not know, for I +knew my geography very well then; but +in some unmistakable way I fixed it in +my mind that the river at Albany was +the Connecticut, and I called it so. +"Why," said the gentleman, "that is +the Hudson River." "Oh, no, sir," I +replied, politely but firmly. "You're +mistaken. That is the Connecticut +River." The gentleman smiled and said +no more. In this matter I was perfectly +sure that I was right, and so I thought +it my duty to correct the gentleman's +geography. I felt rather sorry for him +that he should be so ignorant.</p> + +<p>One day, a short time after I reached +home, I happened to be looking over +my route on the map, and lo! there was +Albany standing on the Hudson River, +a hundred miles from the Connecticut. +Then I did not feel half so sorry for the +gentleman's ignorance as I did for my +own. I never told anybody that story +until I wrote it down on these pages the +other day, but I have thought of it a +thousand times, and always with a blush +for my boldness. Nor was it the only +time that I was perfectly sure of things +that were not really so. It is hard for a +boy to learn that he may be mistaken; +but, unless he is a dunce, he learns it +after a while. The sooner he finds it out +the better for him.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +W. G. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>DIVINE GUIDANCE.</h2> + + +<p>In the life of Mary Pryor, well +known among the Quakers a +hundred years ago, the following +incident occurred on the occasion of her +visit to the Quakers in America.</p> + +<p>She visited several of the best ships +of the period, but did not feel easy to +take her passage in any of them. At +length, on sitting down in an inferior +vessel, called the <i>Fame</i>, she said she +felt "so comfortable" that she must go +in that ship. Her friends endeavoured +to dissuade her, one of them saying he +would not trust his dog in it. But having +sought the Lord's direction, she saw no +light on any change of plan, and she set +sail in the <i>Fame</i>. She was now sixty +years of age.</p> + +<p>The voyage occupied three months, +and was miserable in the extreme. The +old vessel sprang a leak, and for weeks +crew and passengers had to work at the +pumps to keep her afloat. At length, +when all prospect of rescue seemed +hopeless, and the men were on the point +of giving up in despair, Mrs. Pryor, who +had maintained her calmness and encouraged +the sailors all along, came out +of her cabin one morning, saying she +had good news, for she had seen in a +dream a vessel coming to their help that +very day. She had forgotten the name +of the ship, but if the female passengers +would mention their maiden names, it +would be recalled to her memory. One +of them said her name had been "Archibald." +"That," said Mrs. Pryor, "is +the name of the ship that will save us." +The men were cheered, and turned with +new energy to the pumps; and that +evening, just before the vessel foundered, +they were rescued by a small Halifax +schooner, named the <i>Archibald</i>.</p> + +<p>The crew and passengers attributed +their deliverance, under God, to the influence +of Mrs. Pryor; and here was the +explanation of the guidance she believed +herself to have received to sail in the +<i>Fame</i>, contrary to the wishes of her +friends.</p> + +<p>"The steps of a good man are ordered +by the Lord."—<i>Lantern.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">If</span> Christ be not a refiner's fire <i>in</i> you, +He will be a consuming fire <i>to</i> you.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">God</span> can give a pardon to the greatest +sin, but He cannot give a patronage to +the least sin.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span></p> +<h2>"JESUS LOVES ME!"</h2> + + +<p>A few years ago, a poor girl in +London, to whose soul the Spirit +had spoken peace through the +blood of Jesus, was very anxious to +impart the knowledge, and tell some +other soul of the dear Saviour she had +found. She was too poor and ragged to +take a class in a Sunday School. She +especially longed to tell children of +Jesus. She thought, if she could only +be instrumental in the winning of one +little child, how blessed it would be, so +she used to speak to any little child she +saw standing about in the street.</p> + +<p>One little boy, about seven years old, +often went to her to hear her joyful Gospel +tidings. One day she missed him, and +searched until she found him. Poor little +fellow! He was lying in great agony +upon a miserable bed of straw in a +wretched dwelling, and was quite +alone.</p> + +<p>The kind girl, full of pity for him, and +anxious to relieve him, called the attention +of neighbours to him, but they declined +to take any step in the matter. +At last she called a policeman. He made +the case known to the authorities, and +the little sufferer was taken to the workhouse +hospital. Here he remained in +great suffering, the doctors being unable +to do anything to relieve him.</p> + +<p>In training him for an acrobat, his +parents had treated him so severely, in +order to make his tender little limbs +supple, that there was not a bone in his +body seemingly in its proper place, and +his agony was most intense. Six doctors, +including Queen's physicians, had his +case under consideration, but their skill +could not avail. He was unable to lie +on his back or side. A frame was made +to support his head as he leaned forward. +His poor little hands were wrapped +in cotton-wool steeped in morphia, to +allay the pain.</p> + +<p>When he had been in the hospital +about four months, a lady went to see +him, from whom I heard this most +touching and true account. She said +she should never forget his face when +he raised his head to speak to her. +Such a beautiful face, with sweet blue +eyes and placid expression, met her +gaze. He so frequently said, "Thank +you." It was, "Thank you, I am not +suffering quite so much to-day"; or, +"Thank you. You are so kind."</p> + +<p>One day, she asked him if he loved +Jesus. He looked at her so reproachfully +that her heart smote her for having +asked such a question; then he said, +"Jesus loves me." She saw then the +meaning of his reproachful look. How +could she ask him whether <i>he</i> loved +Jesus when Jesus loved <i>him</i>? The +dear little sufferer had grasped the +secret of power. It was not <i>his</i> love +for Jesus, but the love of Jesus <i>to him</i>, +that was the solid rock on which he +stood.</p> + +<p>Another time he said, "Oh, I don't +mind bearing a little pain for Jesus. He +died for me."</p> + +<p>The language of some in the hospital +was very dreadful. Such blasphemy—such +cursing and swearing—even when +dying. But the clear voice of the young +sufferer often rose high above all others. +It distressed him beyond all measure, +and he called out, "Oh, don't, don't! +Jesus hears you." Rough men, touched +by the sight of his pain, would stand by +him, listening to his words, silenced by +his entreaties. Truly he was "out of +weakness made strong."</p> + +<p>Not long after the visit of the lady to +whom I have referred, God released the +loving little soul from its tenement of +suffering, and revealed to him, in the +"eternal weight of glory," how fully He +loved him. His brief tale of life on +earth, with its pain so bravely borne, and +its knowledge of love so faithfully testified, +is now changed for the song and +the crown, and the exceeding bliss of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +being for ever with Him who loves him, +"whom to know is life eternal," and +"in whose presence is fulness of joy."</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Nettie.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A RED SEA ROCK.</h2> + + +<p>A fourth, and happily a successful, +search by Her Majesty's +ships has just been made for a +reported rock towards the southern end +of the Red Sea, on which two steamships, +the <i>Avocet</i> and <i>Teddington</i>, are +supposed to have struck during the year +1887, both ships afterwards foundering.</p> + +<p>Owing to a considerable error in the +position given by the former vessel, the +first search was mainly over ground too +far to the westward, and operations were +suspended until more accurate information +could be obtained. The loss of the +second ship, in a position given five +miles north-east of the first, caused a +second and careful search to be made on +a more extended area, still with no indication. +A surveying vessel was then sent +two thousand miles in order to institute +a rigorous examination; but six weeks' +close search—though under great difficulties +of strong wind and heavy sea—bore +no fruit, and various theories were +started to account for the loss of the two +steamships.</p> + +<p>The fourth ship, Her Majesty's surveying +ship <i>Stork</i>, has been more successful. +Guided by some slight indication +afforded by an insignificant rise in the +sea bottom, the rock has been at last +found. It is a small coral patch, only +fifteen feet under the surface of the sea, +and stands in twenty-eight fathoms of +water, in latitude 14 deg. 22 min. 8 sec. +N., longitude 42 deg. 41 min. 32 sec. E. +It lies midway between the two best +positions that critical cross-examination +had finally settled as most probable for +the respective vessels that were lost. +Though it is between five and six miles +from the direct straight line of track, +the existence at times of strong currents +transverse to the axis of the Red Sea, +causes the danger presented by it to be +by no means insignificant, though it is a +matter for marvel that it has never been +struck before.</p> + +<p>The difficulty of finding such a small +rock may be appreciated from the fact +that one of the searching ships was at +anchor within four hundred yards of it, +with her boats sounding round her, +without its being perceived, though she +was driven from her anchorage by a gale +before the spot was passed over by the +boats.</p> + +<p>Seeing the enormous British trade, +valuable both in lives and property, +that passes down the Red Sea, it is a +matter of general congratulation that +the Admiralty refused to discontinue the +search until the last hope of finding a +rock was dispelled, and that the efforts +to discover it have at length been +crowned by success.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>KENILWORTH CASTLE.</h2> + + +<p>Willis, the American traveller, +in his "Famous Persons and +Famous Places," observes that, +when visiting Kenilworth, he noticed +with surprise that in one place the +swelling root of a creeper had lifted +one arch from its base, and the protruding +branch of a chance spring tree +(sown, perhaps, by a field-sparrow) had +unseated the keystone of the next. And +so perish castles and reputations—the +masonry of the human hand, and the +fabrics of human thought—not by the +strength which they feared, but by the +weakness of trifling things which they +despised.</p> + +<p>Little did John O'Gaunt think, when +these rudely-hewn blocks were heaved +into their seats by his herculean workmen, +that, after resisting fire and foe, +they would be sapped and overthrown +at last by a vine-tendril and a sparrow!</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE PRIEST AND THE LADY; OR, TRANSUBSTANTIATION EXPOSED.</h2> + + +<p> +A lady once, a Protestant, in ignorance was led<br /> +To think she might with comfort live, though to a Papist wed:<br /> +But Rome decrees no peace they'll have who marry heretics,<br /> +Until their households have been made submissive to her tricks.<br /> +<br /> +It sorely grieved this husband that his wife would not comply<br /> +To join the "mother Church" of Rome, and heresy deny:<br /> +Day after day he flattered her, but still she held it good<br /> +That man should never bow his knee to idols made of wood.<br /> +<br /> +The Mass, the priest, and miracles, were made but to deceive;<br /> +And transubstantiation, too, she never could believe.<br /> +He went unto his clergy, and told him his sad tale—<br /> +"My wife's an unbeliever, sir; try if you can prevail.<br /> +<br /> +"You say you can work miracles—she says it is absurd—<br /> +Convince her and convert her, and great is your reward."<br /> +The priest went with the gentleman—he thought to gain a prize—<br /> +He says, "I will convert your wife, and open quite her eyes."<br /> +<br /> +So when they came unto the house, "My dear," the husband cried,<br /> +"The priest is come to dine with us." "He's welcome," she replied.<br /> +The dinner being ended, the priest to teach began,<br /> +Explaining to the lady the sinful state of man.<br /> +<br /> +The kindness of the Saviour (which no one can deny),<br /> +Who gave Himself a Sacrifice, and once for sin did die.<br /> +"He by His priest still offers up Himself a Sacrifice."<br /> +The lady only answered this by expressing great surprise.<br /> +<br /> +"I will return to-morrow—prepare some bread and wine—<br /> +And then dispense the Sacrament to satisfy your mind."<br /> +"I'll bake the cake," the lady said. "You may," replied he,<br /> +"And when you see this miracle, convinced I'm sure you'll be."<br /> +<br /> +The priest returned accordingly—the bread and wine did bless—<br /> +The lady said, "Sir, is it changed?" His reverence answered, "Yes,<br /> +It's changèd now from bread and wine to real flesh and blood;<br /> +You may depend upon my word, that it is very God."<br /> +<br /> +Thus, having blessed the bread and wine, to eat he did prepare.<br /> +The lady said unto the priest, "I would have you take care;<br /> +For one half ounce of arsenic I have mixed in that cake,<br /> +But as you have its nature changed, it can no difference make."<br /> +<br /> +The priest stood all confused, and looked as pale as death;<br /> +The bread and wine fell from his hands, and he did gasp for breath.<br /> +"Bring me my horse!" his reverence cried; "this is a cursèd place!"<br /> +"Begone! begone!" the dame replied; "you are a cursèd race!"<br /> +<br /> +Her husband sat confounded, and not one word could say.<br /> +At last he spoke—"My dear," said he, "the priest has run away;<br /> +Such mummery and nonsense can never bear the light;<br /> +Apostate Rome I must denounce, and quit it I will quite."<br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Heresies</span> are views discordant to the +truths of God.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span></p> +<h2>STAND BACK.</h2> + + +<p>A gentleman spending his holidays +in Scotland was fishing for +trout. He had fishing-tackle +and appliances of the best description. +He threw out his bait all the morning, +but caught nothing. Towards afternoon +he espied a little ragged urchin, +with tackle of the most primitive order, +nipping the fish out of the water +with marvellous rapidity. Amazed, he +watched the lad for a while, and then +went and asked him if he could explain +the reason why he was so successful, in +spite of his meagre outfit, while the expensive +apparatus could catch nothing. +The boy promptly replied, "The fish +will no bite, sir, as lang as ye dinna +<i>keep yersel' oot of sight</i>."</p> + +<p>Well has it been said that "fishers of +men need not wonder at their want of +success, if they do not keep themselves +out of sight,' and uplift the brazen serpent +on the Gospel pole, while studiously +keeping themselves hidden behind the +pole."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>HIS TITLE DEEDS.</h2> + + +<p>The deacon of a Church lay dying. +He had been a successful merchant, +and he was about leaving +this world to give an account of his +stewardship. When he was near his +end, he asked his wife to bring him his +title-deeds. The lady went to his private +drawer, and drew out some musty papers +relating to his property, which she took +to him. As soon as he saw them, he +said—</p> + +<p>"No, no; that is not what I mean. +Bring me the New Testament."</p> + +<p>It was brought, and he had it opened +at Romans viii. 33—"Who shall lay anything +to the charge of God's elect?"</p> + +<p>He shortly after closed his eyes in +death, his finger continuing to rest on +the verse.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>OUR BIBLE CLASS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Elisha and the Shunammite.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">(2 <span class="smcap">Kings</span> iv. 8-37; viii. 1-6.)</p> + + +<p>As the Prophet Elisha carried God's +messages, and did His appointed +work among the Israelites, he +passed through Shunem.</p> + +<p>"A great woman," or, as we should +say, a rich, influential lady, lived there +with her husband and servants, and in +her heart "some good thing toward the +God of Israel was found," so when the +Prophet passed her door, she invited him +and his attendant to rest and refreshment; +and since he often came that way, +she induced her husband to have a room +built upon the wall of the house, which +she got furnished in a simple way, and +this was set apart for Elisha's special +use. His heart was deeply touched by +the kind sympathy so freely shown him, +and he offered to do anything she might +ask to show his gratitude. But the good +woman was not ambitious. "I dwell," +said she, "among mine own people. I +am well content with the blessings I +enjoy, and ask no more."</p> + +<p>This Shunammite was doing good not +for the sake of reward. She honoured +the Prophet because she perceived that +he was "a holy man of God"—a beautiful +proof that she also loved and served +the Lord, for "we know that we have +passed from death unto life, because we +love the brethren." In honouring His +Prophet she honoured God, and He has +said (and He is true), "Them that honour +Me I will honour."</p> + +<p>The Shunammite's honour belongs to +all who love God's people for His sake, +for Jesus also declared that "whosoever +shall give one of His little ones a cup of +cold water to quench his thirst, in the +name of a disciple, shall in no wise lose +his reward" (Matt. x. 41, 42).</p> + +<p>The loving services rendered to the +Saviour's friends—even to those who are +most closely connected with us, or who +often come in our way—are accepted by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +Jesus as done unto Himself. We may +not be able to accomplish great and +notable things, but, like this woman of +old, may we do good as we have opportunity, +and receive His word of acceptance, +like Mary, "She hath done what +she could."</p> + +<p>But the Shunammite was to be rewarded +in a very unexpected way. She +had no children, and Gehazi mentioned +this fact to his master, who, in the spirit +of prophecy, assured her that, in due +time, a son should be given her. Her +joy is described in her reply to Elisha. +The news seemed too good to be true. +But "God is able to do exceeding abundantly +above all that we ask or think." +The promised blessing came, and doubtless +the mother felt that her cup overflowed +with happiness.</p> + +<p>But earthly hopes are always insecure. +The child had grown; and at harvest-time +he went to the field with his father +and the reapers, when suddenly what +we should call a sunstroke fell upon him. +"My head! my head!" was all he could +say, and the father had him carried to +his mother. She tended him with loving +care, but at noon he died. She took the +lifeless form upstairs, and laid it on the +Prophet's bed, and then announced her +intention to go and find the man of God, +saying, "It shall be well," or "peace."</p> + +<p>Did she think her child would be restored +to life at the Prophet's word? +Perhaps so. She had received him at +first in a miraculous way, and by a +miracle he might be restored to her. +At all events, her words and conduct +illustrate the divine encouragement, +"Trust Him at all times, ye people; +pour out your heart before Him; God is +a Refuge for us."</p> + +<p>They saw her in the distance, and +Gehazi ran to meet her, with the question, +"Is it well with thee, thy husband, +and the child?" And she answered, +"Well." She would not tell the servant +her sorrow. She hastened on to his +master, and in her grief she caught hold +of his feet, as if to hold him fast. +Elisha, though a prophet, did not know +what had befallen her. Perfect knowledge +belongs to God alone, and He had +not revealed this matter to him yet. He +heard her story, and sent Gehazi with +all haste to lay his staff upon the face +of the child. But the mother refused +to leave Elisha, and they together followed +Gehazi, who, first reaching the +chamber of death, laid the Prophet's +rod upon the dead, but in vain. "There +was neither voice nor hearing." A +solemn picture of spiritual death—no +voice to cry to God; no ears to listen to +His Word. Are we alive or dead?</p> + +<p>Elisha next entered the chamber +alone, and, shutting the door, he prayed +to the Lord; and in the end, the child +was perfectly restored to life and health.</p> + +<p>And this wondrous miracle was no +doubt intended to foreshadow the general +resurrection of the last great day, and +to show that "with God all things are +possible."</p> + +<p>Here, too, we see a figure of "Him +that was to come." The Shunammite +prayed to God through Elisha, from +whose lips she had at first received the +promise; and in the name of Jesus we +are to seek all blessings from heaven.</p> + +<p> +"He ever lives to intercede<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Before His Father's face;</span><br /> +Give Him, my soul, thy cause to plead,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Nor doubt the Father's grace."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Time rolled on, and other sorrows +came upon the highly-favoured mother. +A terrible famine raged in Samaria, and +at Elisha's bidding she and her household +left the land of Israel for seven +years (see 2 Kings viii.); and then, peace +and plenty having been restored, she +returned and went to the king to ask for +her house and land in Shunem. Behold +here the wonder-working providence of +the Lord. At the very time of her visit, +Gehazi was telling the king of Elisha's +miracles, especially that of raising one +to life; and as the woman presented +her appeal, Gehazi, recognizing her, exclaimed,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +"My lord, this is the mother, +and this her son, whom Elisha restored +to life." Deeply interested at once in +her case, the king granted all her request +with the utmost readiness.</p> + +<p>So "all things work together for good +to them that love God," and Jesus always +sympathizes with His people's sorrows, +and helps and comforts them, so that +"they who wait for Him shall not be +ashamed." May we, in every time of +trial and difficulty—</p> + +<p> +"Wait for His seasonable aid,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And though it tarry, wait;</span><br /> +The promise may be long delayed,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But cannot come too late."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Our next subject will be, <i>The Parable +of the Labourers in the Vineyard</i> +(Matt. xx. 1-16).</p> + +<div class="signature"> +Your affectionate friend, +<br /> +<span class="smcap">H. S. Lawrence.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + +<h3>FOR THE LITTLE ONES.</h3> + + +<p> +One is in Adam, but not in Moses.<br /> +One is in Jesus, but not in Daniel.<br /> +One is in Peter, but not in Aaron.<br /> +One is in Eden, but not in Spirit.<br /> +One is in Pharaoh, but not in Matthew.<br /> +One is in Israel, but not in Abdon.<br /> +</p> + + +<p>My whole, when arranged, will be +found in the Book of Psalms.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Ethel Marsh</span><br /> +(Aged 11 years). +</div> +<p><i>Laxfield.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN JULY.</h2> + + +<p> +July 1. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 19.<br /> +July 8. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 20.<br /> +July 15. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 21.<br /> +July 22. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 22.<br /> +July 29. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 23.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PRIZE ESSAY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Difference between "Uncertain +Riches" and "The True +Riches."</span></h3> + + +<p>In Proverbs xxiii. 5, the wise +man says, "Riches certainly +make themselves wings; they +fly away as an eagle toward +heaven"; and in chapter viii. 18, he +says, "Riches and honour are with me; +yea, durable riches and righteousness."</p> + +<p>In these two verses may be seen one +difference between the "uncertain +riches" and the "true" ones. The +first passage of Scripture refers to the +uncertain or earthly riches, which "make +themselves wings" and "fly away." +The second riches spoken of are the +true ones, which Christ gives to His +people, and which are durable, inasmuch +as they last for ever and ever. +This verse is spoken by Christ under +the name of Wisdom.</p> + +<p>In Christ's parable about the rich +man and Lazarus (Luke xvi. 19-31), +both kinds of riches are spoken of. The +rich man had the uncertain riches in +abundance, and was selfish, and kept +them to himself, but the beggar, though +destitute of this world's goods, was one +of God's children, and had the true +riches.</p> + +<p>A man may be very rich, and be +looking forward to a long life in which +to enjoy his riches, like the rich man in +the parable (see Luke xii. 16), when he +may suddenly die, and then what good +can his wealth do him? What Paul +says in his first Epistle to Timothy is +quite true. He says, "We brought +nothing into this world, and it is certain +we can carry nothing out" (1 Tim. +vi. 7); and the Psalmist says, in Psalm +xlix. 16-18, "Be not thou afraid when +one is made rich, when the glory of his +house is increased; for when he dieth +he shall carry nothing away: his glory +shall not descend after him. Though +while he lived he blessed his soul."</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span>But it is not so with those who have +the true riches. They can never be disappointed +in having to part with them, +for, as before mentioned, they are everlasting. +Christ said, in His sermon on +the mount, "Lay not up for yourselves +treasures upon earth, where moth and +rust doth corrupt, and where thieves +break through and steal: but lay up for +yourselves treasures in heaven, where +neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and +where thieves do not break through nor +steal" (Matt. vi. 19, 20). Our riches +are, as we know from experience, never +really safe from harm and damage, as +articles of apparel, however costly they +may be, are, if very careful measures +are not used, subject to being eaten by +moths. Other things are spoiled by +rust gathering on them, whilst money is +never secure, because thieves may steal +it; and even in banks the managers or +clerks may be tempted to steal the money +entrusted to them, or the bank may fail. +Daniel Herbert says, in one of his +hymns—</p> + +<p> +"Should all the banks in Britain break,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The Bank of England smash,</span><br /> +Bring in your notes to Zion's bank;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">You're sure to get your cash."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>One of Christ's gifts to His people is +spoken of in 1 Peter i. 4. It is "an inheritance +incorruptible, and undefiled, +and that fadeth not away," reserved in +heaven for those who are "kept by the +power of God, through faith, unto salvation."</p> + +<p>Christ also gives His people "a crown +of glory, that fadeth not away" (see 1 +Peter v. 4). This crown is called, in +Timothy, "a crown of righteousness"; +and, in 1 Corinthians ix. 25, Paul calls +it an "incorruptible" one; and James +says, "Blessed is the man that endureth +temptation; for when he is tried, he +shall receive the crown of life, which the +Lord hath promised to them that love +Him" (James i. 12).</p> + +<p>In conclusion, we might compare the +two kinds of riches to the Lord's parable +about the wise man who built his house +upon a rock, and it stood firm, "for it +was founded upon a rock," and the +foolish one, who built his upon the sand, +and his house "fell, and great was the +fall of it." The first instance resembles +those who do not set their hopes on the +uncertain, but on the true riches; and +the second like those who think only of +earth, its uncertain pleasures and riches +(Matt. vii. 24-27).</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">E. B. Knocker</span><br /> +(Aged 14 years). +</div> +<p> +<i>South Hill House,<br /> +Tunbridge Wells.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>[Very good Essays have been received +from Nellie Nunn, Laura Creasey, +Eleanor Saunders, Jane Bell, W. E. +Cray, J. Rowbottom, Alice Creasey, +Rose Holloway, Annetta Hargreaves, +E. R. Harris, &c. Their efforts are +very encouraging.]</p> + +<p>[The writer of the above Essay receives +a copy of "The Story of the +Spanish Armada."</p> + +<p>The subject for September will be, +"The Blessings Conferred on England by +the Accession to the Throne of William +of Orange, and by the Protestant Succession +thereby Secured to Us"; and the +prize to be given for the best Essay on +that subject, a copy of "The Reformation +and its Heroes." All competitors +must give a guarantee that they are +under fifteen years of age, and that the +Essay is their own composition, or the +papers will be passed over, as the Editor +cannot undertake to write for this necessary +information. Papers must be sent +direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, 117, +High Street, Hastings, by the first of +August.]</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Erratum.</span>—Through an oversight, +the name of the sender of the Enigma +was given last month instead of the +sender of the answer. It should have +been—Nellie Nunn, aged twelve years.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span></p> +<h2>Interesting Items.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> number of Bibles printed during last +year in England alone amounted to nearly four +millions.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Birds' Nest in a Railway Truck.</span>—A +water wagtail's nest, containing four eggs, was +found at Norbiton Station amongst some coal in +a truck which arrived from Derbyshire, a few +weeks ago. The old birds had evidently come +too, for they were seen flying about the +station.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> death is announced of Mr. Norman +Macdonald, of Big Bras Dor, Cape Breton, at +the reputed age of 110 years. It is stated that +he was a survivor from Waterloo. He was a +man of great activity and endurance, and up to +about two years ago was able to work on his +farm at Cape Breton.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Quiet Rebuke.</span>—An old minister one Sunday, +at the close of the sermon, gave notice to +the congregation that in the course of the week +he expected to go on a mission to the heathen. +One of the deacons, in great agitation, exclaimed, +"Why, my dear sir, you have never +told us one word of this before! What shall +we do?" "Oh, brother," said the parson, "I +don't expect to go out of town."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> are more beggars in London this year +than I ever remember before—female beggars, +crossing sweeper beggars, and singing beggars. +And no wonder, if many of them earn +as much as one of the fraternity who was before +a suburban magistrate recently. This man +confessed to earning 5s., 10s., and 15s., and on +one occasion as much as £1 1s. 6d. He has +earned his living by begging for thirty years, +and made a very good living too. He was sent +to prison for fourteen days, and when out will +doubtless resume his lucrative profession.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Clerical Miser.</span>—The Rev. John Trueman, +of Daventry, possessed an income of about +four hundred pounds per annum clear; and, +by his self-denying management of it, he contrived +to amass fifty thousand pounds. There +were few things too mean for him to do in order +to save money. He would steal turnips out of +the fields as he passed along, on the pretence of +visiting the farmhouses, and then beg bits of +bacon to boil with them from the good wives in +the parish. Sometimes he would quarter himself, +without any invitation, in a farmhouse, +and in the room in which he slept, he has been +known to pull the worsted out of the corners of +the blankets, and take it away with him, in +order to darn his stockings.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> India we have a few peculiarities because +of the great heat. Our houses are, generally +speaking, on the open ground, no upstair rooms, +and the doors are left wide open. There was +an English mother who had the habit, when +probably half asleep, of handing out her baby +before daybreak to the ayah, to administer to +its wants and cares. One morning, this poor +mother, all but asleep, felt, as she thought, the +cold touch of the ayah (the native nurse), and +handed out the baby; but it was a wolf that +was there. We are asleep, my friends. That +mother lost her reason when the dear little +infant was thus destroyed; but in our sleep +and in our slumber we lose one child after +another by handing them over to Rome—to the +wolf that destroys them. Oh, let us awake!—<i>W. +Ayerst, M.A.</i></p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Steel Lace.</span>—A new branch of industry is +going to revolutionize the lace trade. A New +York dealer in laces is exhibiting a specimen of +lace of an extremely delicate pattern, and so +light that it can almost be blown away by a +breath of air. This lace is made of steel rolled +as fine as the point of a cambric needle. It is +not woven, but stamped out of a sheet of low +grade steel, so that it should not be too brittle. +It was turned out of a small Pittsburgh mill, +and sent to the dealer to show what could be +done in that line. In the course of time other +patterns will be made—heavier, perhaps, but +certainly more tenacious than this piece. There +is said to be no question as to its durability, +and its cheapness would make it the most saleable +of all laces in the market. It may create a +revolution in the lace market, if rust can be +guarded against.—<i>Iron.</i></p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Sulphur for Sore Throats.</span>—The value of +sulphur in throat difficulties is but little known +among families, though most physicians prescribe +it in some form. An ordinary sore throat +will be relieved by a gargle of sulphur and +water—one tablespoonful to a glass of water, +and use frequently. In every family the flour +of sulphur should be always kept ready for use, +and at the appearance of irritation or cankered +spots, a gargle should be given, or the powder +blown through a paper tube directly into the +throat. At different times we have seen the +throat trouble relieved in a few hours by the +simple use of this valuable remedy. A sore +throat is no trivial thing, and no time should be +lost in the matter. If, after discovering it in a +child, it does not improve in a few hours' time +after the use of sulphur, a reliable physician +should be called in without further delay.</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span><span class="smcap">The</span> Queen Regent of Spain opened the +International Exhibition at Barcelona on Sunday, +May 20th, in the presence of a distinguished +assemblage, including the Duke and Duchess +of Edinburgh, and Prince George of Wales. +Perhaps this was done as a set-off against our +Protestant commemorations.</p> + +<p> +Oh, England! England! blush with shame!<br /> +Thy princes stoop to foul thy name.<br /> +</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> present spring has been remarkable for +the number of rare birds that have appeared in +this country and on the Continent. These +include the golden oriole, pied flycatcher, +sand-grouse, dotterel, hoopoe, short-toed lark, +moustached grass-warbler, and rose-coloured +pastor. In spite of the Wild Birds' Protection +Act, many of these visitants are shot immediately +upon their arrival. It is only in rare +cases that the police interfere, even when the +killing of the birds is a matter of notoriety.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Hay Fever.</span>—Sir Morell Mackenzie has opportunely +published a lecture he delivered +some time ago at the London Hospital Medical +College on hay fever, which he defines to be a +peculiar affection of the mucous membrane of +the nose, eyes, and air passages, giving rise to +catarrh and asthma, almost invariably caused +by the action of the pollen of grasses and +flowers, and therefore prevalent only where +they are in blossom. With regard to the treatment +of this disease, Sir Morell Mackenzie +believes the first thing to do is, to remove the +patient from a district in which there is much +flowering grass, a sea voyage being probably +the most perfect satisfactory step that can be +taken. Patients unable to go to sea should +reside near the coast, while dwellers in towns +should avoid the country, and those who reside +in the country should make a temporary stay +in the centre of a large town.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Extraordinary Raffle for Bibles.</span>—A +curious custom was observed in the Parish +Church of St. Ives, Hunts, on May 23rd. Dr. +Robert Wilde, who died in August, 1678, +bequeathed £50, the yearly interest of which +was to be expended in the purchase of six +Bibles, not exceeding the price of 7s. 6d. each, +which should be "cast for dice" on the Communion +table every year by six boys and six +girls of the town. A piece of ground was bought +with the £50, and is now known as "Bible +Orchard." The legacy also provided for the +payment of ten shillings yearly to the vicar for +preaching a sermon on the occasion "commending +the excellency, the perfection, and divine +authority of the Holy Scriptures." This singular +custom has been regularly observed in +the church since the death of the testator, but +representations having been made to the Bishop +of the diocese, the practice of throwing the dice +on the Communion table was discontinued +some years ago, and the raffling now takes +place on a table erected at the chancel steps. +The highest throw this year (three times, with +three dice) was thirty-seven, by a little girl. +The vicar (the Rev. E. Tottenham) preached a +sermon from the words, "From a child thou +hast known the Holy Scriptures."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Antiquarian Discovery.</span>—During some excavations +on the premises of Messrs. Walker and +Sons, Otley, Yorkshire, a mass of human and +other bones, bears' claws, flint, charcoal, and +burnt slates or tiles, was turned up with the +subsoil, and among the <i>débris</i>, at a depth of +nearly eight feet from the modern soil level, six +copper and bronze coins and a lead seal were +found, several of the coins being in a good +state of preservation. Some of the letters on +the coins are worn, but it appears certain that +some of the coins are of great antiquity. The +seal is of more recent date. Seals like the +one found were attached to the Papal bulls, +and as this specimen has the usual aperture +through its diameter to allow of the connection +of the bull with the seal being made, there is +no doubt that this was so attached to a document +of this character. In years past the archbishops +had a palace at Otley, and it is conjectured +that this is one of the many seals used in +the manner indicated. The seal in question +bears authority from Pope Innocent IV., who +occupied the Papal chair from 1243 to 1254. +On the obverse are the Roman capitals "<span class="smcap">SPA., +SPE.</span>," standing respectively for St. Paul and +St. Peter. Immediately below are the heads of +those saints in relief, a cross in the middle +dividing them. On the reverse are the letters +"<span class="smcap">INNOCENTIVS PP IIII.</span>"</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Colchester.—St. John's Green Chapel +Sunday School.</span>—The anniversary services +in connection with this school were held on +Sunday and Monday, May 27th and 28th. The +sermons on the Sunday were preached by the +Minister, Mr. W. Brown. On the Monday, +the usual gathering of teachers, friends, and +scholars was well attended, when suited addresses +were given, and prizes awarded to +many of the scholars for regular and punctual +attendance. Sixteen gained prizes for good +essays on "The Life of Joseph." The balance +sheet for the last year showed the receipts to +be £18 14s. 1d., and the expenditure to be +£23 10s. 3d., leaving £4 16s. 2d. due to the +treasurer. The amount received on Sunday +and Monday was £11 6s. 9½d. There are now +187 scholars and 15 teachers in the school, 23 +scholars and three teachers being added during +the past year.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 375px;"> +<img src="images/img172.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="THE WOUNDED DRUMMER-BOY." title="THE WOUNDED DRUMMER-BOY." /> +<span class="caption">THE WOUNDED DRUMMER-BOY.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHARLIE COULSON, THE DRUMMER-BOY.</h2> + + +<p>During the American War, Dr. +Rossvally was surgeon in the +army, and after the battle of Gettisburg, +among hundreds of wounded +soldiers, a drummer-boy was found +entirely helpless on the field. The +case seemed almost too bad for treatment, +but as the lad opened his large +blue eyes, the doctor felt he could not +let him die there, so he ordered him +to be taken to the hospital, and found +that an arm and a leg required amputation. +The assistant-surgeon wished to +administer chloroform to the young sufferer, +but he refused, and when Dr. +Rossvally himself remonstrated with +him, he replied—</p> + +<p>"Doctor, one Sunday afternoon, in the +Sabbath School, when I was nine and a +half years old, I was brought to believe +in Christ. I learned to trust Him then. +I have been trusting Him ever since, and +I feel I can trust Him now. He will +support me while you amputate my arm +and leg."</p> + +<p>The Jewish doctor's heart was touched +in spite of himself, and he thereupon +asked Charlie a question he had never +asked a soldier before—would he like to +see the chaplain? "Oh, yes, sir!" was +the quick response; and after seeing +the minister, by whom he sent a loving +message to his mother and the superintendent +of his Sunday School, he told +the doctor he was ready for the operation, +promising that he would not even groan +if no chloroform were offered him. He +kept his promise, only putting the corner +of his pillow in his mouth during the +most painful part of the process, saying, +"Oh, Jesus, blessed Jesus, stand by me +now!"</p> + +<p>That night the doctor could not sleep. +Those soft blue eyes and that gentle +voice seemed to meet him continually, +and he could not help returning to the +hospital in the middle of the night to +inquire about the lad. He found him +sweetly sleeping, and one of the nurses +told him how two friends had visited +him, and had sung "Jesus, Lover of my +soul" by his bed-side, and Charlie had +joined in the sacred song.</p> + +<p>Five days afterwards, he felt he was +dying, and sending for the doctor, he +thanked him for all his kindness, and +begged him to remain and see him die, +trusting Jesus to the last moment of his +life. He tried to stay, but it was too +much for his Jewish feelings to see that +dying youth rejoicing in the love of the +Jesus whose very name he had been +taught to hate, and he hurriedly left the +room.</p> + +<p>Twenty minutes after, he was again +summoned to that bed, and, asking him +to take his hand, Charlie said, "Doctor, +I love you because you are a Jew. The +best Friend I have found in this world +was a Jew, Jesus Christ, to whom I want +to introduce you before I die; and will +you promise me, doctor, that what I am +about to say to you you will never forget?" +The doctor promised, and the +lad went on—"Five days ago, while you +amputated my arm and leg, I prayed the +Lord Jesus Christ to convert your soul."</p> + +<p>These words sank into the doctor's +heart. How could that sufferer, in the +midst of such intense pain, be thinking +only of his Saviour and an unconverted +soul? and he could only answer, "Well, +my dear boy, you will soon be all right." +With these words he left him, and a few +minutes later the youth fell asleep in +Jesus, at seventeen years of age.</p> + +<p>Dr. Rossvally followed him to the +grave, and for some months the impression +his patience and faith had made +upon him still remained. Gradually it +wore off, however; and for ten years +longer he remained a despiser of the +Saviour, when God, in mercy, sent +another message to His wandering child.</p> + +<p>At the close of the American War, Dr. +Rossvally had been made inspecting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +surgeon, with charge of the military hospital +in Texas. Returning one day from +an inspecting tour, he stopped at an +hotel in New York, and going to be +shaved, he found the barber's shop hung +around with beautifully framed Scripture +texts; and what was more, the barber +began to speak to him of Jesus in such +an attractive way, that Charlie Coulson's +happy death came vividly before +his mind. The doctor's mind was deeply +moved, and when he reached Washington, +where he resided, for the first time +in his life he went to hear an address in +a Christian place of worship, and he +could not restrain the tears that would +flow while he listened; and when the +service was ended, an elderly lady spoke +to him before he could escape. He told +her he would pray to his God—the God +of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—but not +to Jesus. "Bless your soul," was the +earnest answer, "your God of Abraham, +Isaac, and Jacob is my Christ, and your +Messiah!"</p> + +<p>He went home full of conflicting feelings, +and then for hours he wept and +prayed, while many prophecies concerning +the Messiah came to his mind, and +at length the conviction came that Jesus +was the Christ, that He was his Saviour, +and that God had forgiven him for the +sake of His beloved Son.</p> + +<p>He hastened to tell his wife of his +newly-found joy, but it only enraged her, +and leaving home, she went to her +parents' house, who forbade her to have +any further intercourse with her husband, +and took the two children under +their care. So true is it still that a Jew +must be prepared to forsake all when he +follows Jesus.</p> + +<p>He went away with a sad heart on his +next commission, but regularly wrote to +his wife, praying that she might read at +least one of his letters. For fifty-three +days each one was destroyed unopened, +but one night their daughter dreamed +that she saw her father die, and next +morning she determined to take his letter +in and read it. She did so, and after +a while showed it to her mother, who, +having secretly read it again and again, +was overcome with strange new feelings, +and she also was led to trust in that +long-despised but now precious name—Jesus, +the Son of God.</p> + +<p>Husband and wife were now united in +the Lord, and their daughter also became +a new creature. Their son, however, +long refused even to acknowledge +either of his parents, and his mother +died without seeing or hearing from +him, but it is hoped that her prayers for +him may be answered. Mrs. Rossvally's +end was peaceful and happy. Some +friends sang, "Jesus, Lover of my soul," +and when they reached the line, "Thou, +O Christ, art all I want," she said, "Yes, +this is all I want! Come, blessed Jesus, +and take me home!" and so she "fell +asleep."</p> + +<p>Dr. Rossvally still lives, and like a well-known +ancient trophy of divine grace, +preaches the faith he once laboured to +destroy, and "Christ and Him crucified" +is his hope and joy.</p> + +<p>Dear reader, whoever you may be, +may you reflect upon the fact that there +is salvation in none other than the +Lamb of God, who died to put sin away, +and ever lives to save all who come unto +God by Him. And may His Holy Spirit +impress the truth upon your heart, "He +that believeth on the Son of God hath +everlasting life, but he that believeth not +the Son shall not see life, but the wrath +of God abideth on him" (John iii. 36).—<i>From +a Tract, published at Leeds +by Dr. M. L. Rossvally, a converted +Jew.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">A worthy</span> Quaker thus wrote:—"I +expect to pass through this world but +once; if, therefore, there be any kindness +I can show, or any good thing +I can do to any fellow human being, +let me do it now. Let me not defer or +neglect it, for I shall not pass this way +again."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p> +<h2>MR. EDISON'S PHONOGRAPH.</h2> + +<h3><i>To the Editor of The Times.</i></h3> + + +<p>Sir,—At two o'clock this afternoon, +at the address below, I +had the honour to receive from +Mr. Edison his "perfected phonograph," +which, on the authority of Mr. +Edison's own statement, in his own +familiar voice, communicated to me by +the phonograph itself, "is the first +instrument of his latest model that has +been seen outside of his laboratory, or +has left his hands," and is consequently +the first to reach this country.</p> + +<p>At five minutes past two o'clock +precisely, I and my family were enjoying +the at once unprecedented and astounding +experience of listening to Mr. +Edison's own familiar and unmistakable +tones here in England—more than +three thousand miles from the place +where he had spoken, and exactly ten +days after, the voice having meanwhile +voyaged across the Atlantic Ocean.</p> + +<p>"His first phonogram," as Mr. Edison +calls it, tells me, among other +things, that this instrument contains +many modifications of those which, a +few weeks ago, were exhibited at the +Electrical Club in New York, and so +widely reported by the Press.</p> + +<p>In the several long phonogramic communications +to me (no single word of +which had to be repeated in order to +be clearly and easily understood by +every person present, including a child +of seven years old), Mr. Edison mentions +that he will send me phonograms by +every mail leaving New York, and requests +me to correspond with him exclusively +through the medium of the +phonograph, humorously remarking in +this connection upon the advantages he +will himself derive from the substitution +of phonograms for a style of writing not +always too legible.</p> + +<p>Next to the phonogram from Mr. +Edison himself, and before all the remainder +of the deeply interesting contents +of the "phonogramic cabinet" +sent me, is an exquisite poem entitled, +"The Phonograph's Salutation," composed +by the well-known and gifted +American poet and preacher, Horatio +Nelson Powers, D.D., of Piermont, on +the Hudson. This poem makes the +phonograph tell its own story of what it +is and what it does, in a style and with +a power that must add not a little to the +already high reputation of its author. +It was spoken by him into the phonograph, +so that we cannot fail to read it +as he would have it read—a privilege +of no small importance to both the poet +and those who hear him.</p> + +<p>Perhaps the highest justification of +the phonograph's description of its own +power in its "Salutation" is found in +the fact that to several members of my +family who are familiar with the Doctor's +style of oratory, from having sat under +his preaching in former years, the voice +of the author is perfectly recognizable, +even by my youngest child of seven +years, who had not heard the voice +since he was five years old.</p> + +<p>Besides the above, Mr. Edison has +sent for our amusement numerous +musical records of great interest and +beauty—pianoforte, cornet, and other +instruments, solos, duets, &c., many of +which, he tells me, have been very frequently +repeated—some, several hundred +times.</p> + +<p>Altogether, our experiences of the day +have been so delightful and unusual, +not to say supernatural, that it makes it +difficult to realize that we have not been +dreaming—so interesting withal as to +make it seem a duty, as it is a pleasure, +to communicate the above to your +widely-read paper, which I have so +frequently observed to chronicle the +works of the author of this unparalleled<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +triumph of mind over matter. All +honour to Edison!</p> + +<p>I have the honour to be, sir,</p> + +<div class="signature"> +Your obedient servant,<br /> +<span class="smcap">G. E. Gouraud.</span> +</div> + +<p><i>Little Menlo, Beulah Hill, Upper +Norwood, Surrey, June 26th, 1888</i>.</p> + +<p>P.S.—It may be interesting to add +that the above communication was +spoken by me into the phonograph, and +written from the phonograph's dictation +by a member of my family, who +had, of course, no previous experience +of the instrument.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE HOUSE UPON THE SAND.</h2> + + +<p>"Whilst we were conversing with +a man named Joachim," says +a missionary to Syria, "in +the city of Nazareth, a sudden +but violent storm arose, and terrific +peals of thunder rolled over our heads. +The brow of the hill whereon the city +was built was every moment gleaming +as the lightning flashed. The rain fell +in torrents, and in the course of an hour +a river flowed past the convent door, +along what lately was a dry and quiet +street. In the darkness of the night, +we heard loud shrieks for help. The +floods carried away baskets, logs of +wood, tables, and fruit-stands. At length +a general alarm was given. Two houses +built on the sand were undermined by +the water, and both fell together, while +the people in them escaped with difficulty. +It was impossible not to pity +these poor, houseless creatures, and, at +the same time, to thank God we were in +a secure building."</p> + +<p>The power and meaning of these words +spoken by our Lord was thus made plain—"Therefore +whosoever heareth these +sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will +liken him unto a wise man, which built +his house upon a rock; and the rain +descended, and the floods came, and the +winds blew, and beat upon that house; +and it fell not: for it was founded upon +a rock."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>UNSEEN PROTECTION.</h2> + + +<p>A lady was wakened up one +morning by a strange noise of +pecking at the window, and when +she got up, she saw a butterfly flying +backwards and forwards inside the window +in a great fright, because outside +there was a sparrow pecking at the +glass, wanting to reach the butterfly. +The butterfly did not see the glass, but +it saw the sparrow, and evidently expected +every moment to be caught. +Neither did the sparrow see the glass, +though it saw the butterfly, and made +sure of catching it. Yet, all the while, +the butterfly, because of that thin, invisible +sheet of glass, was actually as +safe as if it had been miles away from +the sparrow.</p> + +<p>Poor, fearful child of God, it is when +our Protector is out of sight that our +hearts fail us. Elisha's servant was in +great fear when he awoke in the morning, +and saw the city of Dothan encompassed +with horses, and chariots, and a +great host; but when his eyes were +opened, at the prayer of the prophet, his +fears vanished, for he beheld the mountain +full of horses and chariots of fire. +"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace +whose mind is stayed on Thee, because +he trusteth in Thee." "The Lord shall +preserve thy going out and thy coming +in from this time forth and even for +evermore."</p> + +<p> +"Though now unseen by outward sense,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Faith sees Him always near;</span><br /> +A Guide, a glory, a defence:<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Then what have you to fear?"</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">—<i>Waymarks for Pilgrims.</i></span> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> +<h2>ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>Page 130.</i>)</p> + + +<p>The omnipotence of God is, in +some measure, made known to +the heart of every individual on +the face of the earth. We cannot cast +our eyes around us without seeing, in +some way or other, the wonderful power +of God in the creating and ordering of +all things. Only what God has purposed +to do will take place; and, on the other +hand, whatever God has ordered He has +power to bring to pass, although to us +such things may seem utterly impossible, +"but with God all things are possible" +(Matt. xix. 26). If we look through the +Bible, the power of God prevails in every +book, chapter, and verse. Was it not +with a mighty hand that He brought the +Israelites up out of Egypt? and their +enemies, who were much stronger than +they, when they knew the Lord was on +Israel's side, feared greatly, and were +all overthrown and destroyed (Exod. xii. +33; Joshua x. 2). David, too, realized +that wonderful power. He says, "But +I will sing of Thy power; yea, I will sing +aloud of Thy mercy in the morning: for +Thou hast been my defence and refuge +in the day of my trouble" (Psa. lix. 16). +David was often brought very low (Psa. +xviii. 4, 5; cxvi. 3), but the Lord did +not suffer him to despair, for he was one +of His most precious jewels. Job, too, +felt, in a remarkable way, during his +affliction, the power of the Lord, and he +endeavoured to show and explain it to +his friends, but he had to finish up by +saying, "Lo, these are parts of His +ways, but how little a portion is heard of +Him!"</p> + +<p>The omnipotence of God is so vast +that it is quite impossible for us to +fathom it. Look at the history of Jehoshaphat. +He heard that a great army +was coming to fight against them, and +the army of Jehoshaphat, being so small, +he knew they must be defeated and slain. +But, in his extremity, he cried unto +the Lord, saying, "O Lord God of our +fathers, art not Thou God in heaven? +and rulest not Thou over all the kingdoms +of the heathen? and in Thine hand +is there not power and might, so that +none is able to withstand Thee?" (2 +Chron. xx. 6.) Was any able to withstand +the Lord? No! Read the twenty-seventh +verse—"Then they returned, +every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and +Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to +go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the +Lord had made them to rejoice over their +enemies." Before, they felt condemned +to die, but now they were released, and +filled with joy.</p> + +<p>Such are the numerous instances in +which the Lord, in His power, has raised +up the cast down, relieved the oppressed, +and comforted mourners, and such as +are of a sad heart.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Agnes Willerton.</span> +</div> +<p><i>Corby, Grantham.</i> +</p> + +<p>[This is the best answer we have received, +therefore we give it as embodying +the secret of the Enigma.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span>]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + + +<p>A giant.</p> + +<p>One of David's wives.</p> + +<p>A disease.</p> + +<p>A piece of money.</p> + +<p>A prophetess.</p> + +<p>A garment worn by the priests.</p> + +<p>A judge.</p> + +<p>A brother of David.</p> + +<p>A king of Judah.</p> + +<p>A brook.</p> + +<p>A colour.</p> + +<p>The name by which the penitent +Israelites were to address God.</p> + +<p>A son of Jacob.</p> + +<p>The mother of a friend of Paul's.</p> + + +<p><br />The initials form something which the +Saviour said.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Harry F. Forfeitt</span><br /> +(Aged 10 years). +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p> +<h2>ONE "WHOSE HEART THE LORD OPENED."</h2> + + +<p>Carrie Foord, the subject of +this memoir, was born at Tunbridge, +in Kent, on 27th September, +1867. At the age of six years she +lost her mother, and at eight her father, +leaving her sister Kate and herself to +the care of their stepmother, who was +in every way most kind to them, +which kindness they returned with +much affection. It was Mrs. Foord's +wish to keep a home for them to grow +up together. Man proposes and God +disposes. The home had to be given +up, Kate going to her grandfather's, +and Carrie, in the providence of God, +brought to live with us at Hailsham, +much against her inclination, as she +neither liked us nor our religion. This +continued for some time, but</p> + +<p> +"God moves in a mysterious way<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">His wonders to perform."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>She was brought, through divine +grace, to see her state as a sinner in the +sight of God by hearing the third verse +of the 666th hymn of Gadsby's Selection +given out one evening, as she took her +seat in the chapel. The arrow of conviction +went home to her heart. Well +do I remember, on her return, finding +her alone, and crying. Putting her arms +round my neck, she said, "What shall I +do? I am such a sinner! I'm so +wicked!" although at the time I did +not know what had caused her distress.</p> + +<p>At another time she was much impressed +by a sermon our dear Pastor, +Mr. Nunn, preached from Hebrews xiii. +14—"For here we have no continuing +city, but we seek one to come." +From this time she became an earnest +seeker, very regular in her attendance +at the house of God, nothing but duty +keeping her away. Ultimately she was +baptized, and became a very useful +teacher in the Sabbath School, where +she was much loved.</p> + +<p>Early in 1886 she caught a severe +cold, which settled on her lungs, causing +the rupture of a blood-vessel. Some +scattered sayings, spoken at different +times during her illness, were recorded, +of which the following are a few:—</p> + +<p>"Oh, I do wish he did not think so +well of me, and call me good!" alluding +to a remark of a very dear friend. "He +does not know how wicked I am, or he +would never say I was good. What a +mercy I was ever brought here, under +the sound of the Gospel! But then, God +is not confined to places, is He, auntie? +If I am His child, He would be sure to +reveal Himself to me, in His own good +time; but I do thank Him for bringing +me here. My dear uncle, how kind he +is! How earnestly he has prayed for me, +and our dear Pastor too! I believe their +prayers have been answered. What a +mercy!"</p> + +<p>After a bad fit of bleeding, I said, +"Did you think, dear, you should die, +when bringing up the blood?" She +said, "No, auntie; I never once thought +I should." Our hopes were raised as +she got better so quickly, and we thought +it might have been only a lodgment. +She frequently said, "I don't mind if it +is not my lungs." But when she grew +rapidly worse, and we called in another +doctor, he only confirmed what our own +doctor had said—that her case was +hopeless. After they were gone, she +said, "What did they say, auntie?" I +told her it was the lung. She very quietly +remarked, "People often live a long +time with their right lung gone, don't +they?" I said, "Yes," not having the +heart to tell her, in her case, it would +not be long.</p> + +<p>One day, turning over the leaves of a +hymn-book, I came to the one on the +safety of believers, which I read. The +first verse is—</p> + +<p> +"There is a safe and secret place,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Beneath the wings divine,</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span>Reserved for all the heirs of grace;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Oh, be that refuge mine!"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>She said, "I do like that hymn so much, +auntie. I have had such sweet times in +my little room. Often when you have +sent me up to study for my class, I have +had such sweet enjoyment that I could +not study."</p> + +<p>On awaking one night, she said, "Oh, +auntie, I have had some beautiful +words come with such power, and I keep +saying them—'Thou art Mine, as the +apple of Mine eye.'" I said, "You +could not have a more precious portion. +That will do to go to sleep on, won't it?" +She said, "Oh, yes!" and soon fell into +a peaceful slumber.</p> + +<p>One night she said, "Auntie, do you +ever feel your prayers to be very formal, +as if it was merely a habit, and no heart +in it?" I said, "Yes, dear; too often." +She said, "Do you?" "Oh, yes," I +said; "I wish I did not."</p> + +<p>One morning, going into her room, +she said to me, "I have had a nice time. +The sun shone brightly in at the window, +and those words came, 'So shall the +Sun of Righteousness arise with healing +in His wings.'"</p> + +<p>One day she said, "I used to cry so +when I was at Gravesend. Do you +know what for?" I said, "No; why +did you?" She said, "Because I was +coming here. I did dislike coming so, +and for a long time after I was here I +would go and pray, as I thought, very +earnestly that mother would send a +letter to fetch me away; but that letter +never came. No, it never came; and +what a mercy it did not! God knew +what was best for me. How we can look +back and say, 'All was for the best.'"</p> + +<p>We felt that we should like her to +know the state of health she was in, but +felt quite unfit to tell her. During a +visit, a friend asked her if she wished to +get better? On referring to me, after +they were gone, she said, "Is it wrong, +auntie? Don't you think it is natural +for me to wish so, who am young?" I +said, "Yes, dear, quite natural." She +said, "But I know the Lord will do what +He thinks best."</p> + +<p>Previous to her nineteenth birthday +(September 27th) she had a return of +the bleeding, which again confined her +to her bed for a time. We all felt her +end might be very near, and would perhaps +come suddenly by the rupture of +another blood-vessel; therefore we were +very anxious she should know what a +precarious state she was in. It was, +therefore, quite a relief when she said +one day, "Auntie, I did not think at one +time I should be alive now. I did not +think I should live to see my birthday." +I said, "I am very glad to hear you say +this. I quite thought you were under +the impression you would get better. +What were your feelings when you +thought this?" "Oh," she said, "I +felt I could leave it all in the Lord's +hands. He would do what was best." +There was a sweet resignation to His +will at this time; but, after a little while, +her bodily strength increasing, she was +gradually buoyed up with a hope that +she might get better. Knowing from the +faithfulness of our doctor that her case +was hopeless, we could not participate +in that hope. She was most honest in +her principles, and could not bear to +deceive any one.</p> + +<p>One day, as we were sitting alone, she +said, "Oh, auntie, you never thought I +could deceive you or uncle, did you? +But I did." I said, "I am glad you +have spoken of this, dear, although I +think in your case it was different from +many" (knowing that what she alluded to +was a private matter). "At any rate, you +have our pardon." She said, "What +stings of conscience I have had through +it! It has quite taken away any feeling +of pleasure I may have had; and yet my +will was so strong to have my own way, +I could not give it up.<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a> I have not deceived<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +you in anything else, auntie. You +believe me, don't you?" I said, "Indeed +I do."</p> + +<p>A very dear friend calling to see her +one afternoon, who had not seen her +since she was called by divine grace, +said in the course of conversation, +"Well, my dear, there are times and +seasons, I have no doubt, when you can +say you would not have it otherwise, but +that it was good for you to be afflicted?" +She turned very red, paused, then said +with her usual candour, "I cannot say +that, Miss G——." After her departure, +she said, "Auntie, I wish to be submissive +to the will of the Lord, but I felt I +could not say that I have ever had a +time when I would not have it otherwise."</p> + +<p>A friend calling one evening, spoke in +a very solemn manner of those who had +a false enjoyment, and put some close +questions to her. She said little, but +after he was gone seemed much put out, +and said, "I know I cannot talk like +those he visits. I expect he thinks there +is nothing in me. What do you say, +auntie?" I said, "He was certainly +very searching, my dear, but I don't +think you understood him. He is so +afraid of any one resting on a wrong +foundation, and knowing what a very +delicate state of health you were in, he +was anxious to know if you were resting +on Christ, and Christ alone, for salvation." +"Well," she said, "I felt dumb. +I expect he thinks very badly of me."</p> + +<p>Her strength seemed to go daily. As +Christmas drew near, she said, "Auntie, +let everything go on the same as it has +done other years. Make no difference +for me. Invite your friends for the day +as usual." But we felt it a very solemn +time, and hard work to put on the appearance +of cheerfulness, feeling sure, +ere another Christmas came, her place +would be vacant, and she in eternity.</p> + +<p>Her dear little cousin was a great +sufferer at times all through her illness, +and it became apparent that she, too, +was fast hastening home. I said to +Carrie one day, "I used to feel, dear, +that I should have you to leave to see +after our dear Flo, if we were taken, +but it seems the Lord's will to take you, +and I sometimes think she won't be +long." She answered, "No, I don't +think she will; but she will be safe whenever +she goes."</p> + +<p>We could have but few quiet times +together after this, through the serious +illness and death of her dear cousin, but +she was wonderfully buoyed up at this +time with the assurance that nothing +was too hard for the Lord, and apparently +rested upon it, for when I was +alluding to her sad state of health, she +said, "I know I am beyond the power +of earthly physicians to cure, auntie; +but, you know, nothing is too hard for +the Lord."</p> + +<p>After the death of her cousin, she was +most anxious to have her mourning +made, which we felt sorry for, as it +seemed such a clinging to life; but we +found it was only a natural desire to +show her love for her dear little cousin. +At any rate, the wish gradually left her, +and all things of an earthly nature lost +their charm.</p> + +<p>One day she said, "I have no wish to +join in anything now. I don't feel to +want to go and witness anything. That +is a blessing the Lord only can give, +isn't it?" I said, "Yes," knowing +what great delight she used to take in +many things, and how active she had +been, especially in anything connected +with the chapel or Sabbath School.</p> + +<p>After this darkness set in. The Word +of God was as a sealed Book, and she +had no spiritual enjoyment, which she +much deplored; also, the visits of our +dear Pastor and her uncle failed to give +any comfort.</p> + +<p>One day, after a doze in the easy +chair, she said, "Was it not strange? +It seemed as if, when I was sleeping, a +little boy came to me, and said, 'The +Lord hath not forgotten thee, so live in +peace.' It did seem so strange to see +the little boy come up and say this.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span> +What do you think of it?" I said, "I +cannot tell."</p> + +<p>She grew rapidly worse, and our dear +nurse thought it advisable to ask the +doctor to call, as he had not been for a +few days. He came, and said she might +be gone in twenty-four hours, or might +linger a few days, but the beginning of +the end had taken place. Our dear +Pastor went and spoke a few words to +her ere he left, and said, "Ah! dear, it +is well with you," and other words of +comfort. But after he was gone she +was much cast down, and said, "Oh, +why did he say that? I don't feel it +will be well." Then, after a little while, +she said, "Do you think I am much +worse?" "Yes, dear," I replied. "Do +you think I shall die?" I said, "I fear +you will." Then she said, "Oh, auntie, +what trouble I am in! I fear I have +deceived you and myself, and that I +shall go to hell." I replied, "But, my +dear, you have had some sweet promises +applied with power, haven't you?" +"Oh, I've thought so, but if I have been +deceiving myself?" I said, "You have +had a desire after these things, have +you not?" "Oh, yes!" she replied. +"Then," I said, "I feel assured, my +dear, you would not have had a real +desire if you were a deceiver." She +said, "Auntie, what shall I do? I feel I +can't die like this; but I can't do anything, +can I?" Wringing her hands in +agony of mind, she cried, "Do, please, +Lord, come! Do come! Oh, dear Lord +Jesus, do please come!" She continued +in much distress, until I felt quite unequal +to talk to her, and said, "My +dear, shall I send for some one?" She +replied, "Oh, no, auntie; don't send for +any one. The Lord must do it all" +(laying great stress on the <i>all</i>); "but do +pray for me, that He will appear." Her +distress of mind was very great. No +words or texts of Scripture named gave +her any comfort. I left the room for a +short time, leaving her in the care of +our dear nurse (of whom she was very +fond), and on my return, found she had +had a nice sleep. Going up to her, she +said, "How can I thank you enough?" +I said, "Don't say a word about that, +dear. My earnest desire is, that you +may get a word from the Lord." Her +countenance looked so placid, and she +said, "I have, auntie." I said, "Is +Jesus precious to you as your Saviour? +Can you trust Him?" She replied, +"Yes. These words came—'Fear not; I +will be with you,' and I think He will. +Yes, His promises stand good. 'He'll +never, no, never, no, never forsake.'" +She then dozed again. I saw her lips +moving, and caught the words, "With +Christ in the vessel I smile at the storm," +having evidently been repeating that +beautiful hymn of Newton's, "Begone +unbelief, my Saviour is near."</p> + +<p>After this she had a little time of +peace. The next morning, on being +asked if the Lord had again given her +comfort, "Yes," she said; "He has +promised that, when through fiery trials +He'll cause me to go, He will be with +me."</p> + +<p>Darkness again took possession of +her mind, and she was often saying, +"Oh, to be a castaway!" She said she +would like her uncle to come, which he +did. On his approaching the bed, she +said, "Oh, uncle, what will become of +me if I am a deceiver? I shall be lost!" +He took her hand, and said, "Jesus +came to save the lost, so you see, dear, +you are one. 'The whole need not a physician, +but those who are sick.'" After +a few words, he engaged in prayer. She +then dozed, and was never again so +harassed by the enemy of souls.</p> + +<p>On Friday morning she was much +favoured with the Lord's presence, and +longed to "depart and be with Christ," +saying repeatedly, "Do, dear Lord +Jesus, take me to-day! I do so want +to go!" I said, "We must wait His +time." "Yes," she replied—</p> + +<p> +"Till He bids, I cannot die;<br /> +Not a single shaft can hit<br /> +Till the God of love sees fit." +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span>Her throat and breathing at this time +were very bad, and she asked the doctor +when he came if he could relieve her at +all. He said he was afraid he could +not, but it would not be long. After he +was gone she again said, "I do so hope +the Lord will take me to-day. Do come, +Lord Jesus; do come! Oh, how I long +to go! What a glorious meeting it will +be for me, if I am right!" Then clasping +her dear hands together, she said, +with such a sweet smile as nurse and I +shall never forget, "Oh, blissful home! +What a glorious meeting! I shall see +Christ in all His beauty!"</p> + +<p>In the afternoon her breathing altered, +and she seemed gently passing away. +Looking up so sweetly, she said, "Am I +dying, auntie?" I answered, "Yes, +dear; it won't be long now. You want to +go, don't you?" "Oh, yes," she replied. +Her difficulty of breathing returned, and +she suffered much through the night. +In the morning she said, "You thought +me dying yesterday, and the doctor +too; but the dear Lord did not, did +He? It was not His time." She continued +very ill through the day—scarcely +able to speak. Towards night she +slightly rallied, and looking up at the +clock, said, "Oh, the night!" She had +often during her illness dreaded the +nights. I said, "You know that beautiful +hymn, dear—'Sun of my soul'?" +She took it up, and said—</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 8em;">"Thou Saviour dear,</span><br /> +It is not night if Thou be near;<br /> +Oh, may no earth-born cloud arise,<br /> +To hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes,"<br /> +</p> + +<p>after which she did not say any more +about the night.</p> + +<p>Her dear Pastor and others bade her +"good-bye," but her breathing was too +bad for her to speak, until about two +o'clock, when she startled the dear +friend who was sitting up and myself +by turning round, calmly putting her +hand in mine, and, with a kiss, said, +"Good-bye." Then turning to Mrs. +T——, she did the same to her, and then +very quietly remarked, "You don't hear +it now, auntie?"—alluding to the rattles. +I said, "No; the conflict will soon be +over, darling." Still, it was not yet +ended—not until a quarter to four on +the 8th of May, 1887, was her soul permitted +to "depart and be with Christ," +whom she had longed to see in all His +beauty.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>LITTLE BY LITTLE.</h2> + + +<p> +One step and then another,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And the longest walk is ended;</span><br /> +One stitch and then another,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And the largest rent is mended;</span><br /> +One brick upon another,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And the highest wall is made;</span><br /> +One flake upon another,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And the deepest snow is laid.</span><br /> +<br /> +So the little coral-workers,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">By their slow but constant motion,</span><br /> +Have built those pretty islands<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In the distant, dark blue ocean;</span><br /> +And the noblest undertakings<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Man's wisdom hath conceived,</span><br /> +By oft-repeated efforts<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Have been patiently achieved.</span><br /> +<br /> +Then do not look disheartened<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">O'er the work you have to do,</span><br /> +And say that such a mighty task<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">You never can get through;</span><br /> +But just endeavour, day by day,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Another point to gain,</span><br /> +And soon the mountain which you feared<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Will prove to be a plain.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Rome was not builded in a day,"<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The ancient proverb teaches;</span><br /> +And Nature, by her trees and flowers,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The same sweet sermon preaches.</span><br /> +Think not of far-off duties,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But of duties which are near;</span><br /> +And having once begun to work,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Resolve to persevere.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">C. Swain.</span> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p> +<h2>FLYING FOXES.</h2> + + +<p>Among the many anomalies presented +by Nature, that of a flying +mammal has seemed strikingly +incongruous, and has always left an impression +on the popular mind generally +the reverse of the truth. The fox-bats +are an example in point. Superstition +has gathered about these strange creatures +the wildest fears; and their uncouth +and weird looks have strengthened a +foolish credence in the stories of the +vampire. They, it was declared, settled +at night upon the wearied sleeper, and +sucked his life-blood, or with a malicious +bite involved the souls of the virtuous +in the terrors of their own lost estate.</p> + +<p>The examinations of the naturalist +long ago put to flight these romantic +tales; but in their haunts, among the +woods of Southern Asia, in Africa, +Australia, Java, and Sumatra, their black +swarms and flying movements yet cause +dread and disgust.</p> + +<p>The flying foxes are ranged under the +order of the <i>Cheiroptera</i>, or hand-winged +mammals, and are grouped together +in the sub-section of the fruit-eating +bats, as distinguished from those +feeding mostly upon insects.</p> + +<p>Their depredations upon orchards and +vineyards are notorious. Sailing through +the air at sundown, and guided by an +acute sense of smell, they will enter the +plantations containing some plant upon +which the fruit has reached maturity, +and, covering it in crowds, will revel in +the delicious repast, leaving the tree or +vine at dawn stripped of all its precious +wealth. They fly rapidly, but never at +any great height, and sometimes will +traverse considerable spaces, migrating +from island to island over intervening +arms of the ocean. On the ground they +are agile and curiously active. They +climb trees with ease, and during the +day hang by their hind limbs, their wing +membrane wrapped around them, from +the loftier boughs. So densely are they +sometimes congregated that the tree +seems a solid mass of black, motionless +bags.</p> + +<p>The species is distributed over East +India, and finds also a favourable habitation +in Madagascar. It lives in immense +colonies, and its swarms have been compared +with those of gnats, while the +branches they infest sometimes break +down with their great weight. They +feed on dates, bananas, the guava fruit, +and also eat insects, the young and eggs +of birds, and apparently at times snakes. +Their flesh is edible, and esteemed immensely +by natives, who catch them in +nets in the trees, and kill them on the +ground.</p> + +<p>In flight, they can be brought down by +a blow delivered on the expanded arms, +covered with the flying membrane (patagium), +as these are very weak.</p> + +<p>This species is seen more often in captivity +than any other; and Brehm, from +whose admirable Thierleben these notes +are taken, speaks with characteristic +enthusiasm of his observations made +upon one. The "fox" slept nearly all +day, though regularly he devoted some +time to the cleansing and preparation of +his "flying machine," and occasionally +bestirred himself for the enjoyment of a +cherry or a sip of milk. At the approach +of night he became restless and excited, +stretched his wings, and vainly attempted +to escape. He displayed temper, and +would bite sharply any one whose familiarities +he resented. The combats of +these animals with one another are very +relentless, and generally terminate with +the death of one or both contestants.</p> + +<p>The head in these bats is long and +pointed, the ears moderately large, the +nose without the appendages seen in the +insectivorous bats, and the jaws armed +with incisors, canines, and molar teeth. +They form in their habitat interesting +spectacles; and their whirring progress +through the air at night, or the pendent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181"> </a></span> +throngs they present by day, alike astonish +the visitor to Ceylon and India. +The bats are naturally regarded as one +of the most distinctly marked groups of +animals; and among them the flying-foxes +(<i>Pteropidæ</i>) are easily identified. +They have long been known in literature, +and the ancient Herodotus spoke of them +in Arabia, and said that the inhabitants +protected themselves against them in +dresses of leather. Later classic authors +referred to them, and many naturalists +have in the East carefully observed their +habits.</p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 387px;"> +<img src="images/img184.jpg" width="387" height="500" alt="FLYING FOXES." title="FLYING FOXES." /> +<span class="caption">FLYING FOXES.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>KILLED BY LIGHTNING.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Dear Mr. Editor</span>,—As a warning +to any of our young friends who, when +they leave home to take part in the +battle of life, may be thrown amongst +revilers and blasphemers, I will relate a +sad occurrence which took place in the +next village to this on Monday, June +25th, 1888.</p> + +<p>A club is held in the village of Birdham, +where this took place, and on the +evening previous, being the Sabbath +evening, the stall-keepers, swinging +boat proprietors, &c., were drinking at +the village inn, and one of the company, +a young man of twenty, was swearing +and flourishing his hands over his head, +saying he did not care for any one. +God might strike him blind if He +liked.</p> + +<p>The next day, about noon, a heavy +thunderstorm burst over the village. +This young man had gone into the field +with the horse, a little boy being beside +him, when a flash of lightning darted +down, cut his hat to pieces, and left him +a corpse. One ear was split, and one +hand and the face were black.</p> + +<p>Thus it was not long before God dealt +with this young mocker in a manner +more awful than he probably expected. +This was so sad that it impressed many +with solemn thoughts, and led to the +following similar sad story being again +related.</p> + +<p>Some years since, in the next village, +Earnley, a man being accused of taking +some money, declared that, if he had it, +he hoped his legs and arms might be +burned off. A storm arose, the lightning +darted athwart the heavens, fell on the +barn wherein he was, burned the barn, +and his body was afterwards found with +legs and arms burned off.</p> + +<p>This was related to me by a woman +named Shepherd, now living within a +short distance of where the barn stood, +and who saw it on fire.</p> + +<p>Still another sad tale. On Sunday +last, four young men left Bognor for +Selsey—a few miles' trip by boat on the +sea. At Selsey they took too much +drink, and, on their return, the boat +capsized, and they were in the water +for an hour crying for help; but although +many heard them one and two miles +away—it being a still night—no one +seems to have known whence the sounds +came. Thus all four Sabbath-breakers +perished. One of the poor fellows wore +the knees of his trousers quite away in +his attempts to climb on the overturned +boat.</p> + +<div class="signature">A. E. P. +</div> +<p><i>Sidlesham.</i> +</p> + +<p>P.S.—Selsey also joins this village. +I saw the boat rowing towards it about +half-past four.</p> + +<p>["The wages of sin is death." +Reader, how are you living? How shall +you die, and where shall you go? Remember +that all who are out of Christ +are exposed to the wrath of God, while +all who, by faith, flee to Him for mercy, +are saved from the wrath to come. Beware +of mocking God, of despising His +Word, and of desecrating His day. +"The way of transgressors is hard," +but "whoso confesseth and forsaketh +his sin shall find mercy."—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span>]</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p>The highest visible form of Christian +life is self-denial for the good of others.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span></p> +<h2>AN AGED PILGRIM'S HISTORY.</h2> + + +<p>An aged pilgrim of seventy-two +years, recently made a pensioner +of our Society, has lately come +under our notice, and as an +example of courageous faith, it may interest +our readers and others to know +something of this poor old man.</p> + +<p>Having faithfully served our country +for fourteen years as a soldier in the +14th Light Dragoons, and having been +severely wounded during the Crimean +War, in which he served in all the +special engagements, he was paid off +as unfit for further service, receiving a +pension for only ten years, as he was +unable to complete the full term of service +(twenty-one years) which would +have entitled him to a pension for +life.</p> + +<p>After leaving the army he worked as +a labourer, whenever he could find employment, +and was brought to a saving +knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ +about twenty years ago, after which he +was soon engaged in carrying heavy +loads at Cotton's Wharf, in Tooley +Street, London.</p> + +<p>After seventeen years of this work, he +one day, unhappily, stumbled whilst +carrying a load, and fell backwards +some distance, the back of his head +being split open. This brought about +paralysis on the left side, and some two +years afterwards it resulted in the loss +of his sight. For three years he has +been stone blind, and has suffered at +times most acutely from pain in the +head; but his indomitable energy, and +strong faith in his "dear Heavenly +Father," have kept him from falling to +the level of a pauper; and rather than +gravitate to the condition of an inmate +of one of our Unions, he has bravely endeavoured +to make a living by playing a +musical instrument in the streets.</p> + +<p>To add to his affliction, his wife, in +1883, was run over in the streets of +London, and died in an hospital under +amputation of both legs. Thus, left +without relation or friend, this poor +blind man had to face this cold and unheeding +world alone; and yet he is +never alone, for his faith is so bright +that he goes out, walking long distances, +trusting to God to preserve him +in his way.</p> + +<p>On one occasion, he was taken by a +constable before the Lord Mayor of +London, charged with playing an instrument +in the streets, and having been +questioned as to what he did, answered +that he played a small instrument by +which to keep himself. The Lord Mayor +asked him to play a tune, which he accordingly +did, and he at once took the +part of this aged pilgrim, gave him five +shillings, and reprimanded the constable +for arresting the poor old man, and told +him to look after those who were doing +really wrong things in the streets, and +not to bring poor, helpless men to him +like that. This poor man, hearing the +severe words addressed to the constable +by his lordship, immediately began to +beg that no punishment might be meted +out, quietly remarking, "My lord, very +likely he is a young constable, and has +not quite learnt his duties. Don't punish +him; don't punish him." Thus did he +show the true Christian spirit of love for +his enemies.</p> + +<p>To illustrate the marvellous energy of +will and courage of heart in this old +veteran, on one occasion he was badly +bitten by a ferocious dog, which left a +terrible wound on his leg. No sooner +had it got well enough for him to crawl, +than he walked four miles in awful +agony to see one of his friends, taking +four and a half hours over the journey. +Such men are worthy of our support.</p> + +<p>Our readers may ask, "How is it that +Government does not look after this old +soldier?" But it is explained when we +learn that he married "off the strength," +<i>i.e.</i>, without leave, and so is now left to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span> +do the best he can, unaided by his +country.</p> + +<p>From town to town this poor man, +literally a pilgrim, wanders, seeking the +"wherewithal" to keep body and soul +together. Often would he have been +starved, but for friends whom the good +Lord has raised up for him in the most +unexpected ways.</p> + +<p>Wherever he goes he carries the +savour of Christ with him, and boldly +witnesses for his Saviour, abominating +the awful language and behaviour which +he has to put up with in the houses +where he lodges for the night; and has +even been pushed and struck because +he has spoken out against the evil by +which he was surrounded. Thus actually +from day to day dependent upon +his "Father in heaven" for his "daily +bread," he lives by faith; and thank +God we know that, not having "his +portion in this life," there awaits him in +due time the sweet rest of heaven, +where he shall be for ever "comforted" +and owned in his Father's kingdom.—H. +J. K., in <i>Quarterly Record of the +Aged Pilgrims' Friend Society</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A MODEL PRAYER-MEETING.</h2> + + +<p>It was a cheerful chapel above +ground, filled with seats, wide +enough apart to kneel down between +them, if one wanted to do +so, well warmed and well ventilated.</p> + +<p>At the time fixed for the meeting, +first of all came Brother <i>Punctuality</i>. +His watch and actions are always regulated +to the minute by the town clock. +Once he and the minister came together. +They waited one minute for others who +came not, and then each prayed, talked, +and sang. They spent fifteen minutes +thus, and then left.</p> + +<p>On their way home they met the rest +coming, who said, "Why, are we not to +have a meeting?" "Oh, <i>we</i> have had +one," was the reply. That cured all, +except the most incorrigible, of their +delay. Some people are chronically +tardy. You can never change them. +They are always too late for work, too +late for dinner, too late for church. +What a mercy if they are not at last +among those who come when the door is +shut! They disturb the devotions of +others. Not so Brother Punctuality; +only he has one troublesome fault. When +the hour is done he opens that inevitable +hunting-watch of his, and snaps it to +with such a nervous jerk that it says +very plainly to all, "Now, shut up and +go home." This is bad enough in ordinary +and dull times, but when hearts +are warm, and prayers are strong, and +the current of love flows fully, let there +then at least be a little more latitude.</p> + +<p>Congenial with this brother is Brother +<i>Promptitude</i>. When the leader opens +the meeting, he is always ready to rise. +He shudders at these pauses. They are +to him as ice-cakes clogging the current +of love, hindering the wheels of prayer. +Yet he would not rush things. I have +known him to count <i>seven</i>, the mystic +number of the Scripture, and then, if no +one rose to speak or pray, he did. He +is thus a minute man, ready for action in +a minute, and hating to lose the minutes. +Slower natures than his complain that +he does not give them time to think. No +matter; they may learn at last not to be +so slow.</p> + +<p>In the other seat sits Brother <i>Brevity</i>. +He has something to say, and having +said it he sits down. When some overstocked +divine or some thin-laid layman +drags wearily along with a chain of dull +platitudes, he is very twitchy, wondering +why people will waste so much good +breath and use so many poor words in +saying nothing.</p> + +<p>Brother <i>Pointedness</i> deeply sympathises +with him. He wants to see +people take good aim at the mark, and +hit it—not try to see how near they can +come and not do it.</p> + +<p>Brother <i>Round-the-Circle</i> greatly +distresses him, who, if he has a fact,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +an incident, or an illustration, has so +many minor details to dwell upon that +he smothers the infant-truth under his +mass of old clothes.—<i>Selected.</i></p> + +<p>[Perhaps this curious sketch may +yield useful hints to some who read it.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span>]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>GENEROSITY AND LOVE.</h2> + + +<p>The late Duke of Portland was a +nobleman who contrived to pass +through life without much noise, +but reaped happiness and respect +in abundance, and, while gratifying +his taste for rural occupation, conferred +the most lasting benefits on the country. +The following, among many stories, is +told of him:—</p> + +<p>The duke discovered that one of his +tenants, a small farmer, was falling, year +after year, into arrears of rent. The +steward wished to know what was to be +done. The duke rode to the farm, saw +that it was rapidly deteriorating, and the +man, who was really an experienced and +industrious farmer, totally unable to +manage it, from poverty. In fact, all +that was on the farm was not enough to +pay the arrears.</p> + +<p>"John," said the duke, as the farmer +came to meet him, as he rode up to the +house, "I want to look over the farm a +little."</p> + +<p>As they went along, "Really," said +he, "everything is in very bad case. +This won't do. I see you are quite under +it. All your stock and crops won't pay +the rent in arrear. I will tell you what +I must do. I must take the farm into +my own hands. You shall look after it +for me, and I will pay you your wages."</p> + +<p>Of course, there was no saying nay. +The poor man bowed assent.</p> + +<p>Presently there came a reinforcement +of stock, then loads of manure, at the +proper time seed, and wood from the +plantations for repairing gates and +buildings. The duke rode over frequently. +The man exerted himself, and +seemed really quite relieved from a load +of care by the change. Things speedily +assumed a new aspect. The crops and +stock flourished; fences and out-buildings +were put into good order. In two +or three rent-days it was seen by the +steward's books that the farm was making +its way. The duke on his next visit +said—</p> + +<p>"Well, John, I think the farm does +very well now. We will change again. +You shall once more be tenant, and, as +you now have your head fairly above +water, I hope you will be able to keep it +there."</p> + +<p>The duke rode off at his usual rapid +rate. The man stood in astonishment; +but a happy fellow he was when, on +applying to the steward, he found that +he was actually re-entered as tenant to +the farm, just as it stood in its restored +condition. We will venture to say, however, +that the duke himself was the happier +man of the two.</p> + +<p>He that doeth good enriches his own +heart with unspeakable blessings.</p> + +<p> +"Better a fountain in the heart<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Than a fountain by the way."</span><br /> +</p> +<div class="signature">W. H. +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>Page 165.</i>)</p> + + +<p>"<i>Praise.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Psalm</span> cl. 1.</p> + +<p> +P is in Peter, but not in Aaron.<br /> +R is in Pharaoh, but not in Matthew.<br /> +A is in Adam, but not in Moses.<br /> +I is in Israel, but not in Abdon.<br /> +S is in Jesus, but not in Daniel.<br /> +E is in Eden, but not in Spirit. +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Joseph Hugh Willerton</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;">(Aged 6 years).</span> +</p> + +<p><i>Corby, Grantham.</i></p> + +<p>[A correct answer has also been received +from Maggie Nunn, aged nine +years.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span>]</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> +<h2>ZOAR CHAPEL SUNDAY SCHOOL, HAND CROSS.</h2> + + +<p>The Sunday School children of +the above place of worship met +together for their annual meeting +on Sunday afternoon, May 20th, +when our kind friend, Mr. Daw, of +Hailsham, presided.</p> + +<p>The service commenced by our old +friend, Mr. Izard, giving out Hymn 59, +Clifton Hymnal, after which Mr. Daw +commenced by saying, as there were a +goodly number of friends present, as +well as children, he would try to make +it as much like an ordinary service as +possible. He then read 1 Samuel iii., +then engaged in prayer, after which +Hymn 212 was sung, the last line of the +chorus being, "What can we give in +exchange for the soul?"</p> + +<p>He said that, when he was about one +year old in divine things, he thought, if +that text was written up on his house in +big letters, so as people could see it as +they passed by, it would convert them, +and he actually went out one day to see +if there was a place where it might be +put up. That was when he had been +quickened into life about one year. He +said he did not feel very old now. He +remembered asking some little girls if +they could tell him how old he was, and +one little girl said thirteen; and he +thought she was very near right, for he +felt sure he was not more than fourteen +now.</p> + +<p>He then said he should preach a short +sermon from 1 Samuel iii., and the last +clause of the eighth verse—"And Eli +perceived that the Lord had called the +child." He said he had tried to preach +to children before, but this was to be a +special trial, so we should see how he +got on.</p> + +<p>He said, in referring to the Lord +calling Samuel, that his mother Hannah +was of a sorrowful spirit, and prayed and +made vows to the Lord that, if He would +give her a man-child, she would give him +to the Lord all the days of his life; and +the Lord granted her request, and she +called his name Samuel, because she had +asked him of the Lord. So when Samuel +was very young, she took him up to the +temple; and one night, when he lay +asleep, the Lord called him, and Samuel +thought it was Eli that called him. But +Eli said, "I called thee not; go and lie +down again." But the Lord called him +the second and third time, then "Eli +perceived that the Lord had called the +child."</p> + +<p>The Lord called David to be king—the +most unlikely one of the lot, for all his +brothers passed before Samuel first. +Great, strong men they were, to all appearance—far +before David. But no; +David, the shepherd boy, was chosen to +be king, for God often "chooses the +foolish things to confound the wise."</p> + +<p>He said he used to be a teacher in the +Sunday School, and he often wished he +was one now, for he thought he liked +talking to children best; and when the +Lord called him out to preach, one of +his greatest trials was, to give up the +Sunday School, for he thought out of his +class the Lord had called four boys and +four girls.</p> + +<p>Some boys and girls, after they have +been to a Sunday School a few times, +will return home and tell a fine tale to +their mother, and say, "I shall not go +to that school any more." "Oh, why +not?" "Because they don't give such +good treats and prizes as they do at +other schools." But their mothers never +ought to encourage that.</p> + +<p>He once saw a girl at Polegate Station, +and he thought, "That girl is going off +to service." He was sure of it; and +whenever he saw a girl at the station, +with a box or two and a parcel, going off +to service for the first time, he generally +said to himself, "That girl will have a +good cry to-night, when she gets into +bed." So when he saw this girl, he +thought he would write her a letter; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> +he did so—that being five years ago—and +he saw her only last week, when she +said she had cause to thank him for that +letter, and he quite hoped that letter +was the means used by the Lord in calling +her.</p> + +<p>Then he said he wanted to say a word +to parents and teachers. He did not +know who he had before him, because +he did not live in the neighbourhood. If +he did, he should know more about +them, and if the children did not come +to school pretty regularly, he should often +call on them to know the reason. He +said he did not wish to offend them, but +he often thought that parents sent their +children to school, and never went to +the house of God themselves.</p> + +<p>And as to teachers—what a self-denying +work theirs was! If there were +any that needed sympathy, it was the +teachers; and if they could not get it +from the parents, they would draw it +from some other source, for we read, +"Cast thy bread upon the waters, for +thou shalt find it after many days" +(Eccles. xi. 1).</p> + +<p>The children then repeated several +hymns and passages of Scripture, which +they had learned for the occasion, after +which Mr. Daw proceeded to distribute +the prizes—which consisted of Bibles, +hymn-books, and other good books—those +receiving the best who had the +most marks for attendance and good behaviour. +In presenting a nice Bible to +a little girl, he made the remark, "I +have a Bible in my pocket which is not +quite so good-looking as yours, but I +prize it beyond any Bibles here, because +it was given to me by a girl that is now +in heaven; and there are marks in it, +against various portions of Scripture, +which had been blessed to her through +my ministry." As they came forward to +receive their prizes, he addressed each +one in a very affectionate manner. He, +indeed, had a kind word for all. He also +wished each one to learn a hymn, which +he named. After singing another hymn, +Mr. Daw concluded with prayer.</p> + +<p> +"Am I called, and can it be?<br /> +Has my Saviour chosen me?<br /> +Vilest of the vile am I;<br /> +Can I lift my thoughts so high?"</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">A Reader.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ZION CHAPEL, TROWBRIDGE.</h2> + + +<p>The sixtieth anniversary of the +Sabbath School in connection +with this place was held on Sunday, +June 24th. Special sermons were +preached by Mr. B. C. Turner, of Southport, +and the scholars sang specially-selected +hymns in the evening, at which +service the chapel was crowded.</p> + +<p>The text in the morning was Ruth +iii. 1, and in the evening Mr. Turner +spoke from Ecclesiastes xi. 6, "In the +morning sow thy seed, and in the evening +withhold not thine hand." In discoursing +from these words, he spoke many +encouraging words to the teachers and +parents, and gave good advice to the +children.</p> + +<p>After the sermon, three girls and four +boys were promoted to the Senior Bible +Classes, each of whom was presented +with a handsomely-bound Bible, and Mr. +Turner spoke a few appropriate words +to them.</p> + +<p>The collections at the two services +amounted to £15 1s. 3d. The school +now numbers 240 scholars, forty teachers, +and two superintendents.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN AUGUST.</h2> + + +<p> +Aug. 5. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 1.<br /> +Aug. 12. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 14.<br /> +Aug. 19. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 25.<br /> +Aug. 26. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 18.<br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">What</span> could Jesus do more than die +for us? and what can we do less than +live to Him?</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p> +<h2>OUR BIBLE CLASS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Parable of the Labourers +in the Vineyard.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Matthew</span> xx. 1-16.)</p> + + +<p>Jesus had left Galilee for the last +time, and He and His disciples +were on their way to Jerusalem, +where He would be condemned to die. +They had rested in a house on the road, +and He had embraced and blessed the +little children that were brought to receive +His gracious touch. He had been +met by a rich young man as He resumed +His journey—one who wanted eternal +life, but sorrowfully left the only Giver +of that blessing because he could not +bear to give up his wealth to follow the +meek and lowly Saviour; and as the +youth turned away, Jesus had said to +the disciples, "Children, how hard is it +for them that trust in riches to enter +into the kingdom of God" (Mark x. +24). A conversation followed (Matt. xix.), +in the course of which Peter asked, +"What reward shall we have, who have +forsaken all, and followed Thee?" to +which question the Saviour replied by a +promise and a parable—the promise +that all His followers should gain a hundred-fold +by their losses for His sake, +and inherit everlasting life; but He +added, "Many that are first shall be +last; and the last shall be first," to +illustrate which fact, He told them a +parable. "For the kingdom of heaven +is like unto a householder, who went out +early in the morning to hire labourers +into his vineyard." With those whom +he first engaged, a penny a day was the +wages agreed upon, and they went at +once to work. A penny a day, young +friends, was not such a little as it seems +to us. It meant about eightpence halfpenny +in our money, and would buy a +great deal more than we can get for +eightpence halfpenny now. You could +live, in a careful way, at "an inn" for a +great deal less than a penny a day; +and when the good Samaritan took the +wounded Jew to one of these humble +places of rest and refreshment, he gave +the innkeeper "two pence" to take care +of his guest, and provide for him, and +promised to pay any more expense +should it be incurred.</p> + +<p>The terms were very fair and liberal +for a full day's work; but more hands +were needed, and the master went out +again at nine o'clock in the morning, +then at noon, at three in the afternoon, +and yet again at the eleventh hour, five +p.m.; and finding still some unemployed, +he asked, "Why stand ye here +all the day idle?" "Because," said +they, "no man hath hired us." "Go +ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever +is right, that shall ye receive." +Such were the terms on which all except +the earliest labourers were hired.</p> + +<p>The working day of twelve hours is +ended; the men are called to receive +payment; but, strange to say, the latest +comers are first called, and each one +receives the full amount—one penny. +The whole-day workers are now dissatisfied. +They have got all they were +promised, but why should those latecomers +have as much as themselves, +who had been working all the time? +"Friend," said the good man of the +house to one of the complainers, "I do +thee no wrong. Didst thou not agree +with me for a penny? Is it not lawful +for me to do what I will with mine own? +Is thine eye evil, or envious, because I +am good?" "So," said the Lord Jesus, +"in My kingdom the last shall be first, +and the first last." And has not He, +who is your Lord and Master, a right to +do what He will with His own?</p> + +<p>The disciples were thinking that Jesus +would reign on earth, and make the Jews +a free, prosperous nation, and they, as +His first followers, wanted to be great +men in His kingdom (see verses 20, 21 +of this chapter). Christ, on the other +hand, was thinking of a spiritual, +heavenly kingdom, where He would +reign for ever, ruling His people's hearts +by love. In this kingdom God has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +always blessed His servants according +to His own good pleasure.</p> + +<p>Abraham, Isaac, David, and a host +of others who served the Lord for many +years, looked forward to dwelling with +Him in blessedness for ever. The dying +thief, whose day of life was spent in +worse than idleness, in the service of +sin and Satan, received, in answer to his +earnest prayer, the wonderful assurance, +"Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt +thou be with Me in paradise."</p> + +<p>Prophets laboured, and Apostles +reaped the fruit of those labours (John +iv. 37, 38). John the Baptist was great +and honoured as the herald of Jesus, +yet the least one in Christ's kingdom is +equal with, and in some respects even +greater, than he (Matt. xi. 11).</p> + +<p>The Gentiles, in time past, were not +a saved people; but now multitudes of +them have been gathered to Jesus, and +become the people of God, while the +Jews (God's ancient people) have to a +great extent despised the Gospel, and +been shut out from its blessings; so the +last have been first, and the first have +become last.</p> + +<p>Among the twelve Apostles, Andrew +first found Jesus, and brought Peter, his +brother, to Him; but Peter afterwards +became far more noted than Andrew, +especially on the Day of Pentecost, and +in his Epistles; while Paul, the very last +of all, the persecutor of Christians, became +the first and greatest of the apostolic +witnesses of Jesus. And Paul took +no credit to himself for this. "Not I, +but the grace of God which was with +me," he delighted to say was the cause +of all the good works done; and when he +joyfully looked forward to the crown of +righteousness laid up for him, he gladly +adds, "and not for me only, but also +for all them that love His appearing."</p> + +<p>This parable is quite different from the +one in Matthew xxi., where faithful and +unfaithful servants are contrasted. All +the labourers in this vineyard worked. +None are accused of laziness or unfaithfulness. +None are blamed for the way +in which their work was done. Those +who laboured longest were still well +paid, while the late comers were rewarded +by sheer generosity. So, in the +kingdom of God's grace, each favoured +servant of the Lord "knows in all his +heart and soul that not one thing has +failed of all the good things the Lord +his God promised him." He never gives +less than He said He would. He often +gives more than we either ask or think.</p> + +<p>Does the end of the day in this parable +mean the evening of life, or the end +of the world? And did Jesus represent +the feelings of some of His people when +dying, or at the last day? Oh, no! I +do not for one moment think so. But +you know we sometimes show a pouting, +cross little child a picture of one like +itself, to let it see how ugly it looks; +and in the same way Jesus, by this +parable, taught His disciples and us +that when we are jealous and envious of +others, we are finding fault with God's +kindness and bounty.</p> + +<p>And let us remember that, whether we +are rich or poor—whether our labours in +Christ's cause seem very successful or +not—yet, if we have been called to serve +Him at all, the highest honour has been +put upon us. Far better to be employed +in His vineyard than to be loitering outside; +infinitely preferable to be "a doorkeeper +in His house, than to dwell in the +tents of wickedness." His "ways are +ways of pleasantness," and "in keeping +His commandments there is great reward."</p> + +<p>May we be His servants, loving and +faithful, and receive at last that great +reward which none but Jesus can deserve, +"the free gift of God, eternal +life," through Jesus Christ our Lord and +Saviour; and our song of humble gratitude +will be, "Not unto us, O Lord, not +unto us, but unto Thy name be glory, +for Thy mercy and truth's sake. Amen."</p> + +<p>Our next subject will be, <i>Ananias +and Sapphira</i> (Acts v.).</p> + +<div class="signature"> +Your affectionate friend,<br /> +H. S. L. +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> +<h2>PRIZE ESSAY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Contrast the Lesson Taught by +the Conduct of Solomon and of +Rehoboam, at the Commencement +of their Reign.</span></h3> + + +<p>The chief lesson taught by the +conduct of Solomon at the commencement +of his reign is, humility. +We know this by his choice +when God asked him, in a dream, +"What shall I give thee?" He made +answer that the people he had to rule +were as the dust of the earth for multitude, +and that he had no more power to +act as a king than a child. He therefore +wished for wisdom to help him to do +right, and for God to be with him, as He +had been with his father David.</p> + +<p>This incident shows the gracious +nature of Solomon's character; and the +reward that God gave him ought to +make us remember that "he that +humbleth himself shall be exalted."</p> + +<p>With Rehoboam it was different. +The lesson taught is, that his conduct +should be shunned by all. Shortly after +he was made king, those who had lived +the greater part of Solomon's reign +came and asked him if he would be kind +to them, and ease the servitude that his +father had put upon them. He sought +to man instead of to God, and chose +the counsel of foolish young men. After +the people had been kept waiting three +days, he told them that he would add to +the yoke that they formerly had borne, +and as his father had "chastised them +with whips," so would he "with scorpions." +At the time that Rehoboam +made that rough and haughty answer, +he probably had forgotten that the majority +of the people had most power, but +so it was here, for ten of the twelve +tribes revolted.</p> + +<p>The first lesson taught by Solomon, +and the second taught by Rehoboam, +contrast deeply with each other. The +first, if imitated by every one, would +work a wonderful change in the world. +There would be fewer quarrels, fewer +wars, and, in a word, less sin. The +second is the cause of many evils with +which the earth abounds. The former +the Lord is delighted with; the latter is +an abomination. If Jesus Christ was +once "made lower than the angels" for +our sakes, surely we ought to put away +all haughtiness, and remember that we +are on a level with our fellow-creatures +by creation, and that all who are saved +are saved by free grace, through faith in +Christ.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">William Ernest Cray</span><br /> +(Aged 11 years). +</div> +<p> +<i>Pearl Cottage, Carlyle Road,</i><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;"><i>Forton, Gosport, Hants.</i></span><br /> +</p> + +<p>[Good Essays have been received +from Jane Bell, Laura Creasey, E. B. +Knocker, Alice Creasey, B. Stroud, +Annie Judd, Alice Pease, G. A. Osmotherly, +E. Saunders, M. E. Denly.]</p> + +<p>[The writer of the above Essay receives +a copy of "The Life of George +Whitfield."</p> + +<p>The subject for October will be, +"Charity," as commended in the Scriptures; +and the prize to be given for the +best Essay on that subject, a copy of +Foxe's "Book of Martyrs." All competitors +must give a guarantee that +they are under fifteen years of age, and +that the Essay is their own composition, +or the papers will be passed over, as the +Editor cannot undertake to write for this +necessary information. Papers must be +sent direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, +117, High Street, Hastings, by the first +of September.]</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> cross is the distinct announcement +to us of that wonderful law, that +"through much tribulation we must enter +into the kingdom of heaven." Perfection +through suffering—that is the doctrine +of the cross. There is love in that +law.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span></p> +<h2>Interesting Items.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">On</span> July 15th, after two sermons by Mr. Hull, +at Rochdale Road, Manchester, £44 9s. 5½d. was +collected for the Sunday School there.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Sale of Pictures.</span>—The <i>Chester Chronicle</i> +states authoritatively that Lord Tollemache has +sold two of his pictures by Sir Joshua Reynolds +for £15,000 each, and one by Gainsborough for +£14,000.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> addition to the present from a London +banker of 10,000 books, a lady in the City has +sent a van load, about one and a half tons, to the +Mariners' Mission, Burdett Road, London, E., +for free distribution among sailors and others.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Low Rental for Land.</span>—Eight hundred +acres of arable land in the Isle of Sheppey, well +known for its productive nature, have just been +let to a new tenant at the unprecedentedly low +price of 1s. 2d. an acre. The tithe on the land +is 12s. an acre.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">On</span> June 1st, 1883, a toad was placed in a +cavity hollowed in a large stone, and the opening +was sealed up with cement. On the 1st of +June, this year, the stone was broken open, and +the toad was found alive, and strangely enough, +it had grown considerably.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. John White</span>, of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, +erected a highly horrible scarecrow in a +field. Three weeks afterwards he went to inquire +after its health, and found that a robin had +built her nest in one of the pockets, and a tomtit +had utilized a sleeve for the same purpose.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Maiden Session.</span>—There were no prisoners +for trial at Cambridgeshire Quarter Sessions, +July 13th, 1888. Mr. Sperling, the chairman, +who was presented with a pair of white gloves, +said that, during an experience of over thirty +years, he did not remember a previous maiden +session.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Dundee sealing steamer <i>Esquimaux</i> +arrived the other week at St. John's, Newfoundland, +from seal fishing, with a catch of +23,000 seals. The <i>Aurora</i>, another Dundee +vessel, followed, with a cargo of 25,000 seals. +The seal fishing off the Newfoundland coast has +this season been a great success.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Artificial Ivory.</span>—A substance resembling +ivory of creamy whiteness and great hardness +is made from good potatoes washed in diluted +sulphuric acid, then boiled in the same solution +until they become solid and dense. They are +then washed free from the acid and slowly +dried. This ivory can be dyed, and turned, and +made useful in many ways.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Dr. Gordon Stables</span>, the well-known author, +spends the summer in going about the country +in a caravan. His handsome home on wheels +is called "The Wanderer." It is drawn by +two capital carriage horses, and is fitted in most +luxurious fashion. He takes a man-servant +with him, and has a tricycle attached to the +vehicle. He stops at night by the roadside.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">New Gold Field.</span>—A rich gold field has been +discovered between the two rivers, Lava and +Papanahoni, in Surinam. It is an open question +whether this district of 20,000 to 25,000 square +kilometres belongs to France or Holland. M. +Condreau, the French traveller, who has been +closely investigating the district, considers that +it will be as productive as the gold-fields of +Australia and California.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Mr. George Le Fèvre</span>, of the Huguenot +Church at Canterbury Cathedral, writes thus—"A +large and valuable oil painting of a scene +in the history of the Huguenots has been presented +to the French Church. The subject is +exceedingly appropriate this year, being the +tercentenary celebration of the defeat of the +Spanish invasion of England. The picture has +been hung up in that part of the Crypt known +as the Chantry of the Black Prince, and has +been much admired by tourists, who are now +visiting in considerable numbers."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">By</span> the steamship <i>Oonah</i>, which is the latest +addition to the fleet of the Tasmanian Steam +Navigation Company, there arrived at Melbourne +on Saturday, April 28th, from Tasmania, +the largest shipment of fruit for the +London market which has left the Australian +colonies—about 13,000 bushels of choice apples. +The fruit will be transhipped into the cool +chamber of the P. and O. mail boat <i>Oceana</i>, +leaving on the 4th of May, and will be followed +by another shipment by the <i>Britannia</i>, leaving +on the 18th of May. This, we understand, closes +the operations of the shippers for this season. +Should the outcome of these shipments be as +encouraging as the telegraphic news already +received seems to indicate, there is every +prospect of a very large export trade in this +industry being established. We are informed +that the parcel now arrived could have been +very much increased had there been more room +in the cool chamber of the <i>Oceana</i>. No doubt +next season all the boats of the P. and O. and +Orient Companies will make arrangements to +take fruit, so that shipments can be forwarded +every week.—<i>Launceston (Tasmania) Examiner, +May 2nd.</i></p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span><span class="smcap">Further</span> particulars of the floods in Mexico +show them to have been of a most serious +character. It is stated that, in the town of +Silao, where the river overflowed its banks on +the 18th of June, 1,500 persons perished. At +Leon, over 2,200 houses were destroyed. In +some districts it is declared that bodies were +floating about on the waters as thickly as driftwood.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Dread of Comets.</span>—A story is related showing +the dread with which comets were regarded +in the early part of the last century. A renowned +astronomer predicted that a comet +would appear on Wednesday, October 14th, +1712, and that the world would be destroyed by +fire on the Friday following. The astronomer +was correct, so far as the comet was concerned. +A number of persons got into the boats and +barges on the Thames, thinking the water the +safest place. A captain of a Dutch ship threw +all his powder into the river, that his ship +might not be endangered. A number of clergymen, +it is said, were ferried over to Lambeth, +to request that proper prayers might be prepared, +there being none suitable in the Church +service. Sir Gilbert Heathcote, at that time +head director of the Bank, issued orders to all +the fire offices in London, requiring them to +keep a good look-out, and to have a particular +eye on the Bank of England.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Millionaire Inventor.</span>—We have more +than once pointed out how simple inventions +(observes a writer in <i>Invention</i>) often realize +large sums for the fortunate inventor. Here is +another illustration. The discovery of the +perforated substance used for bottoming chairs +and for other purposes has made its inventor a +millionaire. George Yeaton, the inventor in +question, was a poor Yankee cane-seater in +Vermont. He first distinguished himself by +inventing a machine for weaving cane, but he +made no money out of it, as some one stole his +idea, and had the process patented. After a +number of years experimenting, Yeaton at last +hit upon this invention, which consists of a +number of thin layers of boards of different +degrees of hardness glued together to give +pliability. Yeaton went through a number of +bitterly contested law-suits before he got his +invention patented. He was wise in not paying +others to manufacture his device. He formed +a company, and to-day he has a plant valued at +half a million dollars, and is in the receipt of a +princely annual revenue derived from this +invention.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Fastest Train in the World.</span>—The +fastest train in the world is without doubt the +"Flying Dutchman," which for many years +has succeeded in knocking off the seventy-eight +miles between London and Swindon in an hour +and twenty-seven minutes. This is at the rate +of fifty-three miles an hour. Exeter is 194 miles +from Paddington, and is reached in four and a +quarter hours, or an average pace throughout, +including stoppages, of forty-five miles and a +half per hour. The Prince of Wales has +made some remarkably quick journeys on +the Great Western. Not very long ago +the North Western took him from Manchester +to London in three hours and fifty-five +minutes, but the Great Western had previously +beaten this by conveying him from +London to Swansea (216 miles) in three hours +and fifty-three minutes, the average speed +throughout that remarkable journey being +almost fifty-six miles an hour. English trains +are much quicker than those of the Continent. +The speed of the American expresses is from +thirty-five to forty miles an hour. The Chemin +de fer du Nord runs its expresses at an average +of thirty-seven, and the Paris and Mediterranean +at thirty-four miles an hour. Some +of the German expresses cover thirty-six miles +an hour.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Terrible Situation.</span>—Mr. Ballou, in his +recent wanderings under the Southern Cross, +has found one more unpleasant item for reptile +literature. In Sydney he heard the following +snake story, the facts of which occurred not +long before, near the town of Parramatta. +In the family of a settler, who resided some half +a league from the town, there was an invalid +daughter, she being of an extremely nervous +temperament. She was sleeping, one summer +afternoon, in a hammock swung between two +supporting standards in the shade of the piazza, +when she was suddenly awakened by feeling +something cold and moist clinging about her +throat. She put her hand to the spot, and +clasped the body of a snake just at the back of +its head, and, with a horrified cry, wrenched +with all her strength to pull it away. This was +the first instinctive action of the moment, but +so great was her terror that she speedily lost +all consciousness of the situation. Her hand, +however, still grasped the snake where she had +first seized upon it, and with such a convulsive +force that the creature was rendered powerless. +The cry of the terrified girl brought the father +from within the house, who instantly came to +her relief; but in the fit which her fright had +induced, her hand slowly contracted about the +creature's throat with a force which she could +not possibly have exerted when awake, and +before her fingers were unclasped, by the aid +of a bit of hammock cord, the reptile was +completely strangled. Fortunately, the creature +had not bitten the girl before she seized it, +and after that it was unable to do so. It is +said to have been four feet long, and of a +poisonous species.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 388px;"> +<img src="images/img196.jpg" width="388" height="500" alt="READING THE BIBLE (See page 194.)" title="READING THE BIBLE (See page 194.)" /> +<span class="caption">"I GAVE MYSELF UP TO READING THE BIBLE." (<i>See page 194.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> +<h2>LETTER BY A DYING SOLDIER.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">My dear wife</span>,—Before these +lines reach you, grim death will +have swept me off the stage of +time. No more shalt thou repose in +these arms; no more shall these eyes +behold thy lovely person, or gaze with +delight on thee or my dear infants.</p> + +<p>Yesterday we had a bloody and obstinate +fight, in which we had great numbers +killed and wounded. I received +one ball in my leg, another in my breast. +I am now so weak with the loss of blood +that I can hardly write these few lines +as the last tribute of my unchanging +love to thee. The surgeons inform me +that three hours will be the utmost I can +survive. Alas! too true was the dire +presage in my mind that we should +never meet again on this side eternity.</p> + +<p>On our passage here, I gave myself up +to reading the Bible, it being the only +Book I was possessed of. The Almighty +was pleased to draw my heart to Him by +the sweet attractions of His grace, and +at the same time to enlighten my mind.</p> + +<p>There is in the regiment a corporal +who is a Christian. I had no knowledge +of him till one night when I had been +earnest in prayer to God to guide me in +the way of peace. During my sleep I +dreamed of this same man, and was +directed to him by name, Samuel Pierce. +The dream made so strong an impression +on my mind that the next morning I +inquired if there was such a person in +the regiment, and was greatly astonished +to find him. I told him my dream, with +which he was much pleased. We soon +contracted a strong friendship, and he +was pleased to explain to me the amazing +love of God in giving His Son Jesus +Christ to bleed and die for sinners. He +unfolded to me the mysteries of salvation, +the nature of the new birth, and the +great necessity of holiness of heart and +life. In short, he became my spiritual +father, and to him, under God, I owe +much that I am now acquainted with.</p> + +<p>Soon after we landed, God was pleased +to speak peace to my soul. Oh, the +bliss, the unutterable joy, that I then felt, +through the blood of the Lamb! How +I longed to tell the whole world what +Jesus had done for me! But how did I +long for thee, my love, to taste and know +the love of God in Christ Jesus! I +would have given the world to have been +with thee, to have told thee of "the pearl +of great price." And as we shall never +meet more in this vale of tears, this is my +dying wish and advice—read the Bible +and good books, frequent the preaching +of the Gospel, and the Lord will guide +thee in His way. And oh, endeavour to +bring up the dear little ones in the fear +of God. Oh, never fix thine heart upon +the vain and unsubstantial things of +this world! Heaven and the love of +God are the only things that demand our +hearts, or are worthy of engrossing them. +I have been a worthless husband to +thee, and a vile rebel against my God. +"God be merciful to me a sinner!" I +die in peace. I die in a full assurance +of eternal glory. A few moments and +my soul shall be ranged in the "general +assembly of the Church of the First-born +who are written in heaven."</p> + +<p>And now, my dear infants, the God +who blessed Jacob and Joseph will +bless you. Seek Him, and He will be +found of you. Call upon Him, and He +will hear and bless you. Learn, then, +my dear children, when you grow up, to +seek for permanent happiness in God +through a crucified Redeemer.</p> + +<p> +"The world recedes, it disappears;<br /> +Heaven opens on my eyes, my ears<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With sounds seraphic ring.</span><br /> +Lend, lend your wings; I mount, I fly!<br /> +'O grave, where is thy victory?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">O death, where is thy sting?'"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Dear wife, more would I say, but life +ebbs out apace. Bright angels stand +around the gory turf on which I lie,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +ready to escort me to the arms of Jesus. +Bending saints reveal my shining crown, +and beckon me away. Yea, methinks +my Jesus bids me come. Adieu, adieu!</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">John Randon.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A HOPEFUL CASE.</h2> + + +<p>Being called to preach the Word +in a parish where there is no resident +minister, it frequently falls +to my lot to visit those who are afflicted.</p> + +<p>A singular instance, both of ignorance +and mercy, appeared in the character of +a person almost unknown to me till the +following circumstance took place.</p> + +<p>A poor woman, about the middle of +August last, was taken very ill with +pleurisy, and was much alarmed. This +being the Sabbath evening, she sent for +one of the people who usually attend my +preaching to come and read with her. +He accordingly went, and she was much +pleased with what he read. Before he +left her, she solicited him to ask me to +come and see her. Being out preaching, +upon my return home I met this person, +who told me the request of the poor +woman. I immediately went, and found +her in a helpless, miserable state, both +as to body and soul. Her husband being +gone to harvest, she was left without +money to procure any of the comforts of +life. The marks of poverty appeared in +every part of the habitation, and the +poor creature laid stretched out upon a +bed of sorrow, being in a languishing +state through the violence of the fever.</p> + +<p>After condoling with her for a few +minutes upon her external situation, I +began to converse with her pretty freely +upon the more important affairs belonging +to her never-dying soul. The first +topic of conversation was upon man as +a sinful creature, and the enmity of the +heart in the unconverted. I endeavoured +to show that, although some might be +a little more refined as to gross acts of +immorality, yet by nature we "are all +the children of wrath even as others." +I next spoke of salvation by Jesus +Christ, that it was all of grace.</p> + +<p>The woman listened to every word I +uttered. The tears began to trickle +down her cheeks, and at last she said, +"I know nothing of the Man of whom +you have been speaking," immediately +adding, "I was never brought up in the +way of religion—never taught to know a +letter of a book, nor yet attend any place +of worship." After I had engaged in +prayer with her, I left her.</p> + +<p>The next day I made her another visit, +and found the fever increased, the cough +very troublesome, and the pain in her +side very acute. I began to discourse +upon the suitableness, the ability, and +willingness of Jesus to save perishing +sinners, and then she put this question—"And +do you think, sir, He will save such +a wretch as I am?" I observed, "The +promise runs thus, 'Him that cometh +unto Me I will in no wise cast out,'" &c.</p> + +<p>Her knowledge of divine things rapidly +increased, and her earnest devotions +seemed now to be the perpetual breathings +of her soul.</p> + +<p>The third visit I made her, she lamented +her former state of ignorance +and sin, and expressed great fears lest +her sins should be too enormous to be +forgiven.</p> + +<p>The poor woman continued in this +state about six weeks, soliciting the +company of all Christian friends to converse +and pray with her.</p> + +<p>The last visit I made to her produced +a very affecting scene, both to her and +me. I talked to her as one actually +dying, and prayed for her as one who +must soon appear before the Judge of all +the earth. While I was engaged in +prayer, she repeated the words after me +in the most affecting manner, and after +I had finished supplicating the Father of +mercies, she added, "Oh, Lord, hear! +Oh, Lord, forgive such a wretch as I +am!" A few hours after this, she +breathed her last, without either sigh or +groan.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851.</h2> + + +<p>Of late years we have had in +Britain almost a surfeit of exhibitions, +of one sort or another, chief +among which have been the splendid +series which so many witnessed at South +Kensington, and which have given to +many of the inhabitants of these isles a +far better ideal of the empire's resources +than otherwise they would have had, besides +having contributed not a little to +the stimulation of commerce, while furnishing +agreeable entertainment to the +sightseer. That the day of the exhibition, +as we understand the word, as an +educational and profit-raising medium, +is not yet gone, is proved by the holding +of the Irish, Italian, and Anglo-Danish +Exhibitions in London this year, and the +popularity of the more general display +at Glasgow, not to speak of minor shows +which have found favour elsewhere.</p> + +<p>The forerunner of all these magnificent +spectacles was the Great Exhibition of +1851, held in Hyde Park, on the initiative +of the late Prince Consort, who borrowed +the idea from the State-supported Expositions +at Paris. The Prince proposed +that an exhibition of colossal proportions +should be held in London, in a building +specially designed for the purpose, and +that it should be open to competitors +from all nations, so as to form a veritable +"world's fair." The scheme was entered +into with alacrity by the public. All +sorts of representative men cordially +supported the Prince. A big banquet +was given by the Lord Mayor of London +in the Mansion House, on March 21st, +1850, to the municipal magnates of the +kingdom, at which the success of the +undertaking was practically assured; +and later on a similar feast was given in +the ancient city of York, at which the +Prince again eloquently and effectively +pleaded for the accomplishment of the +task to which he had set his hand. A +Royal Commission was appointed to +manage the undertaking. Hyde Park +was fixed upon as the most appropriate +site for the building, and Sir Joseph +Paxton, though not an architect, was +honoured with instructions to design +the fabric—that magnificent Crystal +Palace, which was subsequently removed +to a permanent and commanding +position at Sydenham, and which is +familiar to every London resident and +visitor. It was formed chiefly of iron +and glass, being 1,848 feet long, 408 feet +broad, and 66 feet high; crossed by a +transept 108 feet high, and also 408 feet +in length, for the purpose of enclosing +and encasing a group of noble elms. +Within, the nave presented a clear, unobstructive +avenue, from one end of the +building to the other, 72 feet in span, and +64 feet in height. The wings, exterior to +the centre or nave on each side, had +also galleries the same height, the wings +themselves being broken up into a series +of courts each 48 feet wide. The number +of columns used in the entire edifice was +3,230. There were 34 miles of gutter for +carrying off the rain-water to the columns, +which were hollow, and served as water-pipes; +202 miles of sash-bars, and +900,000 superficial feet of glass, weighing +upwards of 400 tons. The building +covered about 18 acres of ground, and, +with the galleries, gave an exhibition +surface of 21 acres, with eight miles of +tables for laying out goods. The building +cost £176,000; and though the plan +was not accepted until the 26th of July, +and the first column not fixed until two +months later, the edifice was virtually +completed by the 1st of the following +January, on which date it was delivered +over to the Exhibition Commissioners to +be fitted up for its destined purpose. +The Crystal Palace excited universal +admiration for its wonderful combination +of vastness and beauty, and when it was +fully furnished, and opened to the public, +on the 1st of May, 1851, the visitor felt +as if he had entered a fairy-like scene<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> +of enchantment, a gathering-ground of +grace, brightness, and delight.</p> + +<p>It was a splendid sunny morning, and +the assembled multitude was brilliant +in the extreme. The Queen, accompanied +by the Prince Consort, walked in +procession through the immense aggregation +of treasures, followed by an +imposing array of eminent British and +foreign notabilities. It has been truly +said that within the giant palace of +glass were then massed representatives +of all the people and productions of the +earth—a grand presentment of wealth, +intelligence, and enterprise. There were +over 17,000 exhibitors, some 3,000 of +whom received medals of merit. The +Exhibition remained open until the 15th +of October, altogether 144 days, during +which it was visited by 6,170,000 persons. +The greatest number present in +any one day was 109,760, on October +8th. On one occasion 93,000 were within +the palace at the same moment, which +surpassed, it is said, in magnitude, any +number ever assembled together under +one roof in the world's history. The +charges of admission to the Great Exhibition +were practically the same as those +obtained at the recent South Kensington +"shows," and the whole affair was so +well managed and successful in every +point that at its close a surplus of +£150,000 remained, after paying all expenses.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>FACTS ABOUT OCEAN STEAMSHIPS.</h2> + + +<p>Mr. John Burns contributed to +a recent number of <i>Good Words</i> +a paper entitled "Something +about the Cunard Line," which contains +some interesting facts with regard to the +equipment and working of ocean steamships. +Taking the <i>Etruria</i> as a sample +of the present vessels of the Cunard +fleet, he states that her consumption of +coal is 300 tons per day, or twelve tons +per hour, or 466 lbs. per minute. For a +single passage across the Atlantic +(which takes seven days) she requires +the following provisions—12,550 lbs. +fresh beef, 760 lbs. corned beef, 5 320 lbs. +mutton, 850 lbs. lamb, 350 lbs. veal, 350 +lbs. pork, 2,000 lbs. fresh fish, 600 fowls, +300 chickens, 100 ducks, 50 geese, 80 +turkeys, 200 brace grouse, 15 tons potatoes, +30 hampers vegetables, 220 quarts +ice-cream, 1,000 quarts milk, and 11,500 +eggs. The groceries for the double +voyage include 650 lbs. tea, 1,200 lbs. +coffee, 1,000 lbs. white sugar, 2,880 lbs. +moist sugar, 750 lbs. pulverized sugar, +1,500 lbs. cheese, 2,000 lbs. butter, 3,500 +lbs. ham, and 1,000 lbs. bacon. The +quantities of wines, spirits, beer, &c., +put on board for consumption on the +double voyage comprise—1,100 bottles +of champagne, 850 bottles of claret, +6,000 bottles of ale, 2,500 bottles of +porter, 4,500 bottles of mineral water, +650 bottles of various spirits. Crockery +is broken very extensively, being at the +rate of 900 plates, 280 cups, 438 saucers, +1,213 tumblers, 200 wine glasses, 27 +decanters, and 63 water bottles in a +single voyage.</p> + +<p>The Cunard ships, it is further stated, +traverse yearly a distance equal to five +times that between the earth and the +moon.</p> + +<p>In the course of a year the fleet consumes +4,656 sheep, 1,800 lambs, and +2,474 oxen, besides 831,603 eggs; and +among other articles of consumption are +1½ tons of mustard, 1¾ tons of pepper, +7,216 bottles pickles, 8,000 tins sardines, +15 tons marmalade, 22 tons raisins, currants, +and figs, and so on through a long +list, finishing with 930 tons potatoes, +24,075 fowls, 4,230 ducks, 2,200 turkeys, +2,200 geese, 31,312 tablets Pears' soap, +3,484 lbs. Windsor soap, 10 tons yellow +soap. The coal burned during the year +amounts to 356,764 tons, which, if built +as a wall four feet high and one foot +thick, would reach from Land's End to +John o' Groats.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> +<h2>ORPHAN BESS.</h2> + + +<p>I am sure that most of our young +friends know the meaning of the +word "orphan"; and perhaps +among the numerous readers of the +<span class="smcap">Little Gleaner</span> are some that are +orphans themselves. But if some of the +younger ones do not understand what is +meant by the word, we must tell them +that, when children have lost both +parents by death, we call them orphans. +Very sad indeed it is to lose both father +and mother while young, for no earthly +friend can really fill their place. It is of +such a child that I am writing a few +words, and I trust that our little readers +will indeed feel thankful to God if He +has spared them both parents, and +granted them happy and comfortable +homes.</p> + +<p>It is more than ten years ago since I +first saw her whom I now call Orphan +Bess, and her baby sister. The first +great shadow had then fallen upon her +home, and I had to attend the funeral. +This was in March, 1878. A very pale, +fragile child our little maid was then, and +her baby sister was more delicate still. +She then sat on the floor, wondering at +the tears of her mother, frightened at +the strange faces and people that came +to bear her father away, and trying to +still the baby, which was wailing in the +saddest tones. Oh, how unfit to be +thrown on the world—the cold, rough +world—without the strong arm of the +father, and only the mother to shield! +But a Greater Arm than the earthly +father supported and maintained, and +they were not left alone.</p> + +<p>A few months later the baby died, and +Bess and the mother were left again.</p> + +<p>Years rolled on, and the mother and +child struggled on together, and the +promise of Him who cares for the widow +and fatherless was proved faithful and +true in their needs.</p> + +<p>But a darker cloud than ever now came, +when the mother laid down and died. +Ten years had rolled away, and in March, +1888, this great blow came upon Bess. +These years had made a great change +in our little maid, and when we saw +her on the day of the funeral she seemed +much altered—still pale and thin, small +and fragile, and very deaf. I have seen +many affecting sights and many sorrowful +cases in my journey through life, +but as we stood around the grave of the +departed mother and father of Bess, in +St. Thomas's churchyard, at Woolwich, +on the 17th of March, 1888, I saw the +saddest sight of all. The open grave, +containing the remains of the father; the +coffin ready to be lowered into it, containing +the dead mother; and the pale, +thin, deaf orphan, standing alone in the +world. The blinding snow fell around, +and the wind blew piercingly through +the graveyard. A large crowd of strange +faces, and the chief object of interest +the orphan child. What wonder, then, +that the child, frightened and trembling, +should turn her face away from the coffin +and crowd, and hide her sobs in the +dress of a kind woman near? Alone in +the world now, yet not alone.</p> + +<p>The hymn commencing, "For ever +with the Lord," is sung softly, and as the +strains are heard, we remember that +"the Lord liveth." Though father and +mother are dead, yet "the Lord liveth," +who has promised to look to the orphan, +and whose eyes are ever upon the needy. +What a position to occupy! No father, +no mother, no home, unable to hear, a +helpless orphan girl cast upon the world! +The words of the poet came into my +mind at the moment—</p> + +<p> +"What is home without a mother?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">What are all the joys we meet,</span><br /> +When her gentle smile no longer<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Greets the coming of our feet?"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>I have omitted one matter, and that is, +Bessie's mother was my sister; and the +thought came with power into my mind,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +while I stood at the grave, that while +the Lord blessed me with ability and +strength, we could share our bread with +Bess sooner than see her want.</p> + +<p>Father and mother may die, and they +must die, but there is One that cannot +alter and that cannot fail.</p> + +<p>I trust our young friends who read +these few lines are interested in our little +maid; and if any are living in St. +Leonards or Hastings, they may sometimes +see a thin, pale girl of twelve +years, small for her age, with dark hair, +cut short, sharp nose, and keen grey +eyes. This is Orphan Bess. Not without +friends now, for the Lord has already +raised up kind friends and strong arms +to help her, and made room for her in +many hearts. May the Lord show her +further favour by granting her His grace +is our sincere prayer, comfort her on +earth "as a mother comforteth her +children," and be her everlasting Portion +in heaven.</p> + +<p>Gleaners, you that have fathers and +mothers, remember they are your best +earthly friends, and think of desolate +Bess. Gleaners that are orphans, remember +"the Lord liveth," and that He +careth for you.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +J. D. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>"MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB."</h2> + + +<p>The well-known verses beginning, +"Mary had a little lamb," were +founded on actual circumstances, +and the heroine, Mary, is still living. +About seventy years ago she was a little +girl, the daughter of a farmer in Worcester +County, Massachusetts, United +States.</p> + +<p>One spring, the farmer brought a feeble +lamb into the house, and Mary adopted +it as her especial pet. It became so +fond of her that it would follow her +everywhere.</p> + +<p>One day, it followed her to the village +school, and, not knowing what else to +do with it, she put it under her desk and +covered it with her shawl. There it +stayed until Mary was called up to the +teacher's desk to say her lesson, and +then the lamb walked quietly after her, +and the other children burst out laughing, +so the teacher had to shut up the +little girl's pet in the wood-shed until +school was over.</p> + +<p>Soon after this, a young student, +named John Rollstone, wrote a little +rhyme about Mary and her lamb, and +presented it to her. The lamb grew to +be a sheep, and lived for many years, +and when at last it died, Mary grieved +so much for it that her mother took +some of its wool, which was "as white +as snow," and knitted a pair of stockings +for her to wear in remembrance of +her darling.</p> + +<p>Some years after the lamb's death, +Mrs. Sarah Hall, a celebrated woman, +who wrote many books, composed some +verses about Mary's lamb, and added +them to those written by John Rollstone, +making the complete rhyme as we know +it.</p> + +<p>Mary took such good care of the +stockings made from her lamb's fleece +that, when she was a grown-up woman, +she was able to give one of them to a +bazaar in Boston. As soon as the fact +became known that the stocking was +made from the fleece of "Mary's little +lamb," every one wanted a piece of it; +so the stocking was ravelled out, and +the yarn cut into short pieces. Each +piece was tied to a card on which +"Mary" wrote her full name, and these +cards sold so well that they brought the +large sum of £28 towards the bazaar +fund.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lord</span>, I have tried how this thing and +that thing will fit my spirit. I can find +nothing to rest on, for nothing here hath +any rest itself. O Centre and Source of +light and strength—O Fulness of all +things—I come to Thee!—<i>Arthur H. +Hallam.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> +<h2>UNDER THE LONDON +STREETS.</h2> + + +<p>It is true that there are tubes beneath +the London streets, but +with one exception, they are not +used for the transmission of +letters, but for telegrams only. This +exception is a tube between Euston +Station and the General Post Office, +through which a few day mail-bags to +and from towns on the London and +North-Western are sent. The Post +Office authorities find that these tubes +are quicker than carts, but their speed is +not so great as is usually supposed. +From seventeen to thirty-five miles an +hour is the average, but with more +powerful engines it is believed that +eighty miles an hour could be attained. +The longest tube in London is two miles +three hundred and thirty-nine yards in +length. Originally there were only +seventeen pneumatic tubes in operation, +the longest being that which went to +Fenchurch Street, namely, nine hundred +and eighty yards. The second in length +was that to Leadenhall Street—six hundred +and fifty-nine yards. The diameter +of the tubes varies from one and a half +inches to two and a quarter inches. The +telegrams are placed in little leather +cases, called "carriers." The time taken +in transmission to Fenchurch Street is, +by atmospheric pressure, one minute +five seconds; by suction the speed is +somewhat slower—one minute twenty +seconds.</p> + +<p>The steam engine used at the General +Post Office is forty horse power. For +sending one of the carriers from forty to +fifty yards not more than four or five +seconds is necessary. The most complete +tubes in London are those under +the streets between Temple Bar and the +General Post Office, a distance of 1,333 +yards. The tubes form what may be +called a pneumatic railway, with an up +and down line. In these tubes telegrams +are sent which sometimes are not sent +by electricity at all. Thus, if any one +wishes to wire from Cheapside to the +Temple, his message is placed in a carrier +and sent under the streets.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>SYMPATHY.</h2> + +<p>"<i>Rejoice with them that do rejoice, +and weep with them that weep.</i>"</p> + + +<p> +When childhood's joyous voice resounds<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">With innocent delight,</span><br /> +Check not the infant mirth, nor put<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Those happy smiles to flight.</span><br /> +<br /> +Add to the joy while it remains,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For on in riper years</span><br /> +Those eyes, now beaming with delight,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">May be suffused with tears.</span><br /> +<br /> +When on the ocean's stormy deep<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The voyagers are tossed,</span><br /> +And seem, in that one stormy hour,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To think all hope is lost—</span><br /> +<br /> +If they secure the haven reach,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And lose their fears and cares,</span><br /> +While they rejoice their homes to gain,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Mingle thy joy with theirs.</span><br /> +<br /> +And is thy neighbour mourning now<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The loss of kindred dear?</span><br /> +Then give thy sympathy, and drop<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Upon the grave a tear.</span><br /> +<br /> +Or knowest thou an orphan, left<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To tread this world alone?</span><br /> +Speak words of comfort, lend thine aid,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or take the wanderer home.</span><br /> +<br /> +Tell of the loveliness and bloom<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of Nature to the blind;</span><br /> +Tell of the joys of heaven, and thus<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Shed light upon the mind.</span><br /> +<br /> +Then sympathize with every one,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And the commandment keep—</span><br /> +"Rejoice with them that do rejoice,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And weep with them that weep."</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;">M. E. C.</span> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> + +<h2>FORWARD INTO LIGHT AND LIBERTY.</h2> + +<h3>"<span class="smcap">Jesus Only.</span>"</h3> + + +<p>When Father Chiniquy reached +his much-loved people, after he +had left the Church of Rome, it +was on a Sabbath morning, and +they were assembled for worship. The +bishop had telegraphed to them to turn +away their priest, but when they saw +him, they received him joyfully, and +crowded round him to know what the +bishop had really said. Entering the +chapel, he told his large congregation +how and why he was a priest no longer, +assuring them that he would leave them, +but not until they bade him depart. All +were deeply affected, but no one spoke, +and when he again appealed to them to +bravely rise and tell him to go away, he +saw their countenances beam with love +and joy more eloquent than words; and +when he offered to remain with them—the +free Christian minister of a Christian +people, united by the love of God and +His Word—they all arose in token of +their approval, and a thousand people +left the Church of Rome on that eventful +day. And still the movement spread, +till nearly all who had loved and followed +him as he had gradually taught them +the truths of the Gospel, followed him +seeking the full light and liberty of God's +Word, leading him, and all who heard +of it, to exclaim, "This is the Lord's +doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes."</p> + +<p>As might have been expected, they +did not see everything at once. There +was a splendid group of statues, representing +the Virgin Mary learning to +read at the feet of her mother, and +before these statues both priest and +people had often prayed. Chiniquy +longed to remove them, with the pictures +and crosses which hung on the walls of +the chapel, but was afraid to do it too +quickly. One Sunday, however, after +preaching from the text, "Thou shalt +not make to thyself any graven image," +he remained behind to pray, and, looking +up at the images, he said, "My +good ladies, you must come down from +that high position. God Almighty alone +is worshipped here now. Your reign +has come to an end." A thin, strong, +silken cord secured them on their +pedestals. He cut the cord, and, as he +expected, the very next Sunday, when +the people knelt to pray, the images +gave a couple of jerks, and then fell +down, and were smashed to fragments +on the floor, the people laughing, and +saying to one another, "How foolish to +pray to these idols to protect us, when +they cannot take care of themselves!" +The other images, crosses, and pictures +were soon cleared away.</p> + +<p>The most of the people soon learned +to reject purgatory, but some still clung +to their old belief, and Chiniquy would +not too suddenly disturb it. When "All +Souls' Day" came round, and collections +were usually made for those in purgatory, +two boxes were provided—a white +one to receive contributions for the +widows and the fatherless children, and +a black one for offerings for the dead. +But those who put money into the black +one were asked kindly to say how their +gifts could be conveyed to their dead +friends, as in every case he had yet +heard of, the priests had kept them for +their own bread and butter. A general +smile followed that announcement, and +thirty-five dollars were put into the +white box for the living, and nothing at +all into the black one for the dead.</p> + +<p>So, one by one, all the false doctrines +of Rome were renounced, and a few +months after, six thousand were banded +together under the name of "Christian +Catholics."</p> + +<p>Rome, however, would not thus easily +lose so many of its children, and another +bishop thought he would try to win them +back again. He appointed a day to +visit them, with a number of priests, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +found a strong, large platform prepared +for his reception, and a great number of +people assembled together to see and +hear. As he approached, the American +flag was hoisted over the chapel, and +the people shouted, "Hurrah for the flag +of the free and the brave!" This +alarmed the priestly visitors, but Chiniquy +hastened to assure them that they +would not be injured, but they, on the +contrary, would be received in the most +courteous way.</p> + +<p>The bishop then alighted from his +carriage, the priests gathered round +him, and his grand vicar told the people +to kneel down and receive their bishop's +benediction. No one moved. He repeated +his request still more loudly, +when some one answered, "Do you not +know, sir, that we no longer bend the +knee to any man? It is only before God +we kneel"; and all the people said, +"Amen."</p> + +<p>Forbidding their own beloved Pastor +Chiniquy to speak, the bishop then tremblingly +addressed the crowd. He was +evidently staggered by the people's +courage. Having abused the "wicked, +rebellious priest" who had led them away +from Rome, he concluded by begging +them to return to their holy Mother +Church, and asked who would guide +them in the ways of God if they forsook +the Church of their fathers? After a +solemn silence, an old farmer, raising +his Bible over his head, exclaimed, +"This Bible is all we want to guide us +in the ways of God. We do not want +anything but the pure Word of God to +teach us what we must do to be saved. +As for you, sir, you had better go away, +and never come here any more."</p> + +<p>The bishop having failed to gain the +people, tried to forcibly prevent Chiniquy +from speaking. This was too much for +the congregation, and it was only for +his sake, and at his urgent request, that +they allowed the unwelcome visitors to +depart unmolested. They retired, defeated +and annoyed, and the bishop soon +afterwards became a lunatic.</p> + +<p>Thus God preserved His servant and +His people in the hour of trial, and +though many other difficulties arose, His +Word continued to accomplish His purposes +of love and grace; and like another +Luther, Pastor Chiniquy, though often +in peril and doomed to death, has lived +on to a ripe old age, covered and +shielded by the shadow of the Almighty. +There may we also live and rest.—<i>Jottings +on</i> "<i>The Life and Work of +Father Chiniquy</i>," <i>by Cousin Susan</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>RARE AND COSTLY BIBLES.</h2> + + +<p>The special feature at the recent +sale of the Earl of Crawford's +library was the disposal of old +and rare editions of the Bible in +various languages. The most important +lots were as follows:—</p> + +<p>The "Bishops'" Bible, a revision of +the "Great Bible" undertaken by Archbishop +Parker and eight other bishops, +black letter, folio, 1568. It is sometimes +called the "Treacle" Bible, from the +words, "Is there no <i>tryacle</i> [instead of +'balm'] in Gilead?" £70 [sold to] +(Quaritch). Second edition of the German +Bible, <i>circa</i> 1466, £86 (Quaritch); +first edition of Luther's Bible, £51 +(Quaritch); the Mazarin Bible, or the +Gutenberg Bible—the first edition of the +Bible, and the earliest book printed with +movable metal types; a rare and much-sought +book, two volumes, printed +by Gutenberg and Füst about 1450, +£2,650. This book was put up at £695, +for which price this particular copy was +sold thirty years ago. The book will +remain in this country. Sir John +Thorold's copy, a few years ago, fetched +£3,900. Another Latin Bible, two +volumes, first edition, with a date beautifully +printed upon vellum, folio, 1462, +£1,025 (Quaritch); Biblia Slavonica, the +Ostrog edition, 1581, £73 (Quaritch); the +Virginian Bible, by John Eliot, with +Psalms in metre, two volumes in one,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> +quarto, 1685 and 1680, £40 (Quaritch); +first edition of the Welsh Bible, from +the Wepre Hall Library, 1588, £60 +(Quaritch); Block Book, Apocalypsis +Sancti Johannis, forty-eight leaves +printed from wooden blocks, in colours, +and the xylographic text in brown ink, +bound up with other matter in the old +oak boards, folio, <i>circa</i> 1430. This rare +and curious volume is generally considered +as being the second attempt in +xylographic printing, the priority being +given to the Ars Memorandi. Block +books are supposed to have preceded +by nearly twenty-five years the discovery +of printing with metal types, and the +workmanship is attributed to the press +of Laurence Coster at Harlem. This +specimen was put up at £100, and after +a keen competition between Mr. Ellis +and Mr. Quaritch, it was secured by +the latter for £500. The day's sale +realized upwards of £7,000.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A NEW TELEPHONE.</h2> + + +<p>The <i>Times</i> Paris correspondent +describes some telephone experiments +between Paris and Brussels +with a new apparatus known as the +"microtelephone push-button," which +he believes to be the most perfect yet +produced. As its name indicates, it +has the form of an ordinary electric +push-button. When the button has been +pushed in, and has made a sound at the +other extremity, it is taken out, and is +found to be attached to a long electric +wire. There is thus exposed the telephonic +plate, which is extremely sensitive, +so that when it is necessary to speak +at short distances, it is not necessary to +come close to the instrument. For communications +in the same street, or the +same house, the operator places the +upper part near himself, and without +changing his position he can speak with +the correspondent at the opposite extremity. +He is not obliged to put his +ear to the part which contains the button +and brings back the reply. Thus, for +short distances, those who make use of +this apparatus speak in their ordinary +tone, without changing their customary +attitudes. They may sit or walk about, +and speak just as if those they are addressing +were present. When great distances +intervene, in which the speakers +and hearers are separated by two hundred +miles, it is necessary to come +nearer to the apparatus, but without +being obliged to speak quite close to it. +What makes this apparatus the most +successful of telephonic instruments is, +that it can be made for half-a-crown, +that is to say, for not more than the +price of the ordinary push-button. As +it can be fitted to the electric wire of the +ordinary ringing apparatus, it follows +that it introduces a complete change in +our ordinary modes of intercourse. The +railway companies are making experiments +with this apparatus as a means of +communication between compartments +of carriages, and it is being fitted up on +trial in hotels. The inventor is Dr. +Cornelius Herz.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>"ASK ON."</h2> + +<p class="center">(1 <span class="smcap">Kings</span> ii. 20; <span class="smcap">John</span> xiv. 13.)</p> + + +<p> +I hear "a voice from heaven"—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I hear my Sovereign say—</span><br /> +"Ask on" (He speaks to me);<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"I will not say thee nay."</span><br /> +<br /> +I would not doubt His word,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">For truth in Him abides;</span><br /> +I would not doubt His power;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In Him the Godhead hides.</span><br /> +<br /> +And since I know He gave<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Himself, Himself, to move</span><br /> +Jehovah's curse from me,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I would not doubt His love.</span><br /> +<br /> +And so I'll breathe my wish<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To Christ, my King, to-day;</span><br /> +And rest me on His word—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"I will not say thee nay."</span><br /><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Isa.</span> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> +<h2>"IS NOT A MAN BETTER THAN AN EGG?"</h2> + + +<p>"Bacon! bacon! bacon! always +bacon! Why don't we have eggs +sometimes, like we used to?" +was the discontented question of a little +boy, one morning, as he surveyed a +rasher of bacon on his plate.</p> + +<p>"May you never get anything worse +to eat, my boy, than this nice streaky +bacon," remarked his father, looking up +from his newspaper.</p> + +<p>"Little boys should eat what is put +before them, and be thankful that they +have food to eat," observed a severe-looking +maiden aunt.</p> + +<p>"Ralph is not very well to-day," said +his sister Nellie, in a low tone. "His +appetite has not been so good lately as +it used to be. He never seems to get +on with bacon; and there have been very +few eggs brought in for some time. Do +you think the fowls have left off laying, +papa?"</p> + +<p>"Hardly, my dear; this is just the +time of year they lay most freely. I +suspect they are hiding them, and +making nests for themselves in some +secret place."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> suspect, John, that the stable-boy +takes them. It is not at all likely that +fourteen or fifteen fowls would hide their +eggs, whatever one might do," said the +severe aunt.</p> + +<p>"Hens choose curious places to lay +their eggs in sometimes," said Mr. +Thorn,<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a> laughing. "I remember one fine +Spanish bird that invariably laid hers on +the top of a wall."</p> + +<p>"What a queer place, papa! Did +not the eggs get broken?"</p> + +<p>"They did, my dear, to the great distress +of the poor fowl, who no doubt +wished to make a nest in that strange, +out-of-the-way place. I used to listen +for her cackling, in order, if possible, to +save the egg; but it always tumbled off +the wall before I could get to it. Another, +a Cochin-china fowl, laid hers on a heap +of stones, and——"</p> + +<p>"Those must have been very badly +managed fowls, John," interrupted Miss +Thorn. "Now, yours, on the contrary, +are well cared for, and properly housed."</p> + +<p>This was quite true, for Mr. Thorn's +fowl-house was large and airy, and well +supplied with every necessary convenience. +Indeed, so true a fancier was +he, that his extensive fowl-house was +partitioned off, so that his Brahmas, +Cochin-chinas, Houdans, and other +breeds should be in no danger of mixing.</p> + +<p>It was Mr. Thorn's custom always to +collect his eggs himself, the first thing +after breakfast; and he never allowed +any one to go into the fowl-house on +any pretence whatever, unless in his +company. Owing to this precaution the +fowls were all very tame, while some +would testify their pleased sense of his +presence by stretching out their necks +and uttering a little note of welcome. +He was the more surprised, therefore, on +the morning on which our story begins, +to notice that all the fowls were in a +state of intense excitement. To his +astonishment, he found some of the doors +communicating with the various sections +of the house wide open, and the cocks, +that he had supposed were safely +guarded from each other, fighting together +fiercely. Evidently his sister was +right. Some other hand had collected +the eggs.</p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 364px;"> +<img src="images/img208.jpg" width="364" height="500" alt="ABOUT MR. THORN'S EGGS" title="ABOUT MR. THORN'S EGGS" /> +<span class="caption">"WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MR. THORN'S EGGS?" (<i>See</i></span> +</div> + +<p>As he was coming out, after having +with some difficulty restored order, his +little boy came running up to him, with +his bag of books on his back, on his way +to school, saying eagerly—</p> + +<p>"I don't want to be dainty, papa, only +it is tiresome to have nothing but bacon, +when there are such lots of eggs."</p> + +<p>"How do you know there are lots of +eggs, my boy?"</p> + +<p>"Because I hear the hens cackling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205"> </a></span> +every day, papa. This morning there +was such a noise before I got up."</p> + +<p>"Where did the noise come from, +Ralph?"</p> + +<p>"From the hen-house, papa."</p> + +<p>"Are you quite sure, Ralph?"</p> + +<p>"Quite, papa! Oh, I know they don't +lay anywhere else, for I have looked so +often to see if any of them laid their +eggs in the garden. I looked this +morning before breakfast."</p> + +<p>"Very well, my boy; run off to school +now. Perhaps we may find out soon +where the hens do lay their eggs; but +you had better not say anything about it +to your schoolfellows."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>"I tell you what it is, Bob—I don't +believe you come honestly by that money. +You never do any work to speak of, and +yet every now and then you bring in a +lot of money," said a pale-looking young +woman to her husband, one morning, as +he slouched in to breakfast, and threw a +handful of silver on the table.</p> + +<p>"A deal you know about it, Jane! If +I get odd jobs that bring me in an odd +shilling or two, what business is it of +yours, I should like to know? If you +and the little 'un have enough to eat, +that's all you need trouble about."</p> + +<p>"'Taint no concern of mine, Bob, and +yet I can't help feeling a bit uncomfortable +when I hear folks say that Mr. +Thorn gets no eggs now."</p> + +<p>"What do you know about Mr. +Thorn's eggs?" asked her husband, +roughly.</p> + +<p>"Well, that gossiping Mrs. Smith +told me that Mr. Thorn said as how his +hens had taken to hiding their eggs of +late. She said he thought they had nests +somewhere, but he couldn't find them, +and then she looked at them eggs I was +frying for dinner so suspicious-like that +I got quite red, for fear you had taken +'em."</p> + +<p>Bob made no reply, but ate his breakfast +in sullen silence. As he went out, +his wife called after him—</p> + +<p>"You try to get a reg'lar job, Bob, +and don't go loafing about."</p> + +<p>That evening Bob came in earlier than +usual, and going up to his wife, who +was rocking the cradle, said in a husky +voice—</p> + +<p>"Jane, my gal, I'm goin' to turn over +a new leaf."</p> + +<p>"Bless the man!" exclaimed Jane in +alarm, as she saw unwonted tears in her +husband's eyes. "Are you took bad, +Bob?"</p> + +<p>"No, Jane," he replied gently; "but +I've been bad. Listen, old gal, and I'll +tell you all about it. You were right +when you said the money I brought you +lately weren't all honestly come by."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bob!"</p> + +<p>"Hush, my gal; don't interrupt me. +It's hard on a fellow to have such a tale +to tell. You know, Jennie, how long +I've been out of reg'lar work, and how +hard I tried to get some of the farmers +round to take me on; but they all said +they had nothing for me to do. Well, +when you was took bad, I got desperate +like; and one mornin', when I was doin' +an odd job o' digging in Mr. Thorn's +garden, I heard his hens a-cackling; +and as I knowed when he collected the +eggs, I got up early next day, and +managed to slip in afore he was about; +and as I wasn't found out, I did it again +and again; and as I had nothing to do +after the diggin', I walked to Market +Littleton and sold 'em; and so I did +many a time. Well, this morning I met +Mr. Thorn in the village. I tried to +skulk out of his way, but he walked up +quite friendly-like, and says he, 'I wish +I had known you were so fond of eggs. +I'd have given you some,' says he, 'and +welcome.' Well, I tried to brave it out, +and swore I knew nought of his eggs, +but he went on quite friendly in his +funny way. 'Bob,' says he, 'you shall +have as many as you like, only let me +have the pleasure of getting them for +you. It's a pity for you to get up so +early, and have all the trouble of getting +over the fence, and opening the door<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +with a bit of wire, when I could send +them to you without any fuss.' Well, +Jane, I went down on my knees then, +and I said, 'If you'll forgive me this +time, sir, I'll never do it again; only +don't send me to jail. 'Twould break my +gal's heart, it would'; and then he puts +half-a-crown into my hand, and he goes +with me to a friend of his, and gets me +taken on with the horses."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Bob, how could you?" said Jane, +crying; "and Mr. Thorn such a nice, +kind-spoken gentleman! And oh, if anybody +else knows, you'll get the name of +a thief!"</p> + +<p>"No one else does know, my gal, and +I am sure that Mr. Thorn will keep it +close. He said he 'spected me the day +afore yesterday, when he seed me at +Market Littleton sellin' some eggs, and +says he, 'I didn't like to 'spect you, +Bob; but after my 'spicions was roused, +I watched yesterday mornin' and this +mornin';' and as I was a-coming out of +the hen-house this mornin', he seed me, +and says he, ''Tis an ill deed that has +to be done in the dark, Bob.'"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p>A night or two afterwards, as Bob was +passing a building where services were +being held, he fancied that he heard +Mr. Thorn's voice, and he went into +the porch to listen. Yes, it was John +Thorn's voice. He was praying, and it +seemed to Bob that he was praying for +him. He prayed for those who were +sorely tempted, and who had no strength +to resist—who had never savingly heard +the voice of the Lord, and who never +used His name but in oaths. "That's +me," said poor Bob, with a groan. After +the prayer, the hymn, "Just as I am," +was sung, and then a short address was +given by the preacher.</p> + +<p>"Needy sinners, come just as you +are," said the preacher. "Jesus died +for sinners. Come with all your sins +upon you. Don't try to wash off some +of the biggest ones; you will only make +the dirty stains worse. Come just as +you are. You perhaps think of others—your +old companions who will laugh at +you, and so you are ashamed. Were +you ashamed of that mean act you did +in the dark the other morning?"</p> + +<p>"He knows all about it," thought +Bob, and he covered his face with his +hands. At that moment of supreme +misery, some one touched him on the +shoulder, and looking up in terror, Bob +saw the man whom he had robbed gazing +down upon him, with his kind eyes +full of pity and compassion for the poor +sorrow-stricken man.</p> + +<p>"You've bin and told him," hissed +Bob.</p> + +<p>"My poor fellow, I have told him +nothing. God forbid that I should tell +any one of the sin which you have confessed +to me. Come in, Bob."</p> + +<p>"I am so bad and so dirty."</p> + +<p>"Your clothes are dirty, Bob," replied +Mr. Thorn, glancing at Bob's +soiled and shabby garments. "I wonder +that you go on wearing them. They +are too dirty to be washed."</p> + +<p>"Too dirty to be washed, sir!" exclaimed +Bob in amazement. "I have +no others to change with, or my gal +would very soon have them in the wash-tub."</p> + +<p>"Very true, Bob. You have no clothes +to change with, but if I gave you a clean +coat, you would soon put it on, aye?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, Mr. Thorn."</p> + +<p>"Then, if you by faith come to Christ, +in your filthy rags, just as you are, He +will wash you in the fountain of His +blood, and will cover you with the robe +of His righteousness."</p> + +<p>And Bob came. He felt his guilt and +misery, and like a little child he asked +for mercy. Need we say he found it? +We do not pretend to fix the exact day +and hour of his conversion, but this we +know—the once dishonest man is now, +and has been for years, a man of the +strictest probity; the blasphemer now +worships the Saviour whom once he +despised; and among that little band of +Christians in L——, there is none more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +devoted to his Master's service, none +more loving and gentle to wife and +children, and to all within the sphere of +his influence, than Bob.</p> + +<p>"And under God, I owe it all to Mr. +Thorn," he would say. "Had he, a +professing Christian, sent me to prison +then, could I have believed what he said +of God's mercy? Mr. Thorn was to +me the living witness of God's mercy in +Christ."</p> + +<p>"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, +your Heavenly Father will also +forgive you."</p> + +<p> +"Just as I am, without one plea,<br /> +But that Thy blood was shed for me,<br /> +And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">O Lamb of God, I come!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Just as I am, and waiting not<br /> +To rid my soul of one dark blot,<br /> +To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">O Lamb of God, I come!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Just as I am Thou wilt receive;<br /> +Wilt strengthen, pardon, cleanse, relieve;<br /> +Because Thy promise I believe;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">O Lamb of God, I come!</span><br /> +<br /> +"Just as I am—Thy love unknown<br /> +Has broken every barrier down;<br /> +Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">O Lamb of God, I come!"</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 5em;">—<i>From a Tract.</i></span><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Success.</span>—There is a glare about +success which is apt to dazzle men's +eyes. When we see a man rising in the +world, a foolish high opinion is formed +of his merits. It is said, "What a +wonderful man this must be to rise so +rapidly!" forgetting that straw, dust, +and feathers—things without value or +weight—rise the soonest and easiest. +It is not always the good and great man +who rises rapidly into wealth and notice.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A GOOD EXAMPLE.</h2> + + +<p>The following notice, headed, "To +the Workmen of Stoke Works," +was recently issued by Mr. J. +Corbett, M.P.:—</p> + +<p>"It has been to me a matter of great +pain and regret to receive from time to +time complaints from grocers, bakers, +and other tradesmen, that the men employed +at the works ask for credit, and +then refuse to pay their lawful debts, +thereby bringing a bad name upon the +works, and no good repute upon me as +an employer. Now, considering that +the men employed here obtain higher +wages than at any other salt works in +England, and receive their wages weekly, +I consider such conduct simply disgraceful, +particularly when evidence is brought +before me that the money which should +go to pay tradesmen for provisions for +the wife and family is expended in drink, +too often leading to drunkenness. I +contend that workmen who receive their +wages weekly should never get into +debt, and tradesmen ought to know that +if men who regularly have their wages +every Saturday cannot pay one week, +they are in no better position to pay the +week after. I am determined to try to +remove this stigma from Stoke Works, +and hereby give notice that any man or +men who expend their wages in drinking +or otherwise, instead of paying their +lawful debts, are no men for these works; +and I do hope that any such men will +take advice intended with the best feelings +for their good and the comfort of +their families. A copy of this notice +will be sent to the tradesmen of Stoke +Prior, Bromsgrove, Droitwich, and other +places. This is, of course, only intended +to apply to those men who are guilty +of the conduct herein complained of.—(Signed) +<span class="smcap">John Corbett</span>, Stoke Prior +Salt Works."</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is better to be nobly remembered +than nobly born.—<i>Ruskin.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE DUTCH AND THEIR COUNTRY.</h2> + + +<p>The enemies with which they had +to contend were three—the sea, +the lakes, the rivers. They dried +up the lakes, imprisoned the +rivers, drove back the sea.</p> + +<p>In order to drain the lakes they made +use of the air. The lakes and ponds +were surrounded by dams, the dams by +canals. An army of windmills put pumps +in motion, which turned the water into +the canals, which conducted it to the +rivers and to the sea. Thus vast spaces +of land buried under water were transformed +as if by enchantment into fertile, +smiling plains, populated by villages. +From 1500 to 1858 the amount of land +reclaimed was 355 miles.</p> + +<p>By the substitution of steam instead +of windmills, the great lake of Haarlem +was dried, the furious tempests of which +threatened the cities of Haarlem, +Amsterdam, and Leyden with destruction; +and the Dutch, in 1883, seriously +contemplated the prodigious undertaking +of reclaiming the land buried +under the Zuyder Zee.</p> + +<p>The rivers did not cost much less +labour than the lakes, but the most tremendous +struggle was with the ocean. +A great part of Holland is below sea-level, +and the land has to be defended by +dykes. If these wonderful bulwarks of +earth and of wood and granite were not +there as monuments to attest the courage +and perseverance of the Dutch, no one +would believe that the hand of man, even +in the course of centuries, could accomplish +so great a work.</p> + +<p>Holland is an impregnable fortress. +The mills are the towers of its immense +bastions, the cataracts the gates, the +islands the advanced forts; and she +shows to her enemy, the sea, only the +belfries and roofs of the edifices.</p> + +<p>Holland is a fortress, and the Dutch, +like people in a fortress, stand on a perpetual +war-footing with the sea. An +army of engineers, dependent on the +Minister of the Interior, spy upon the +enemy continually, watch over the state +of the internal waters, provide for ruptures +in the embankments, advise and +direct new works of defence to strengthen +and support the old.</p> + +<p>The danger is constant, the sentinels +ever at their posts. At the first assault +of the sea they give the cry of alarm, and +Holland sends arms, materials, and +money. Even when there is not a great +battle raging, there is always a slow, +silent struggle. The innumerable mills +are never quiet, always pumping the rain-water +into the canals. Every day the +cataracts of the canals and rivers shut +their huge gates against the rising tide, +which struggles to precipitate itself into +the heart of the country.</p> + +<p>But Holland has done more than +defend herself from the sea, and master +it. The waters were her scourge, but +she has made them her defence. When +a foreign army invaded her territory, she +opened her sluice-gates, unchained the +sea and the waves, and let them loose on +the enemy, defending internal cities with +a fleet. The water was her poverty; she +made it her wealth.</p> + +<p>"Nature," says a Dutch poet, "refused +all her gifts to Holland. Men had +to do everything in spite of Nature."</p> + +<p>It is enough to look at the monuments +of the great struggle with the sea to +understand that the distinctive characteristics +of this people must be firmness +and patience, accompanied by a calm +and never-failing courage.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">You</span> can outlive a slander in half the +time you can out-argue it.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> soul that cannot entirely trust +God, whether man be pleased or displeased, +can never long be true to Him; +for, while you are eyeing man, you are +losing sight of God and stabbing religion +at the very heart.—<i>Manton.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> +<h2>SUNDAY SCHOOL INTELLIGENCE.</h2> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Clifton Sunday School +Anniversary.</span></p> + +<p>Special services in the above +place, on behalf of the Sunday +School, were held on Sunday, +July 22nd.</p> + +<p>Two sermons were preached, in the +morning and evening, by the Pastor, Mr. +Frederick Marshall; also an address was +given by him in the afternoon. Text in +the morning, Deuteronomy vi. 6, 7. He +spoke of the good of Sunday Schools in +the cases of many that have left them +and gone out into the world to earn their +living. It was his prayer that the Lord +would bless the labours of the brethren +and sisters in the good work, and that +they might not be weary in well-doing, +for they have the promise, "they shall +reap if they faint not." He could rest +assured that what was taught in the +school was according to the Scriptures. +He warned the young people to flee from +temptations and from the appearance of +evil, and directed them to diligently +search the Scriptures, and take them +for a guide.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, in the presence of a +goodly number of parents, teachers, and +scholars, he spoke from the little word +"One." He said that there must be a +oneness between teachers and scholars, +or the school could not succeed. He +also said that each boy and girl, as well +as the teacher, had his or her individual +duty to do, and he said that they all +ought to try to do that duty well, out of +school as well as in.</p> + +<p>In the evening, the text was Romans +xvi. 26. The sermon was listened to +very attentively by a good congregation. +Suitable pieces for the occasion were +sung by the children.</p> + +<p>On the following Thursday the children +had their annual treat. On account of +the previous wet weather, it was feared +that not a very enjoyable day was in +store; but He who is still the Answerer +of prayer was pleased to stay the rain, +so that a very pleasant day was spent +by all present.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">A Scholar.</span><br /><br /> +</div> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Providence Chapel Sunday +School, Burwash.</span></p> + +<p>The first public meeting took place on +Wednesday, August 8th. The meeting +was opened at two p.m. by singing, and +then the Superintendent read Proverbs +iv. 1-13, and spoke in prayer. The +children then amused themselves for a +time in the adjoining field. They were +called in again at four o'clock, and after +reading and prayer, eight of the senior +scholars recited from fifteen to thirty +verses each of Scripture, and some +hymns, for which they were presented, +six with the Clifton Hymnal, one with +"The Sack and its Treasure," and the +other with "The Morte Stone," kindly +presented by Mr. J. Wilmshurst, of Cranbrook. +Three of the junior scholars +also said a few verses, for which they +were presented, two with a New Testament, +and one with the Psalms.</p> + +<p>At five o'clock about thirty persons +sat down to tea, most of whom were +children.</p> + +<p>In the evening Mr. J. Jarvis, of Mayfield, +preached a very impressive and +encouraging sermon from Hebrews xii. +24.</p> + +<p>The Sunday School was opened on the +last Lord's Day in April with three +scholars. It now has eighteen, and we +trust that the Lord will still prosper the +good work.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">S. H. Jarvis.</span><br /><br /> +</div> + + +<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Carmel Chapel, Fleckney.</span></p> + +<p>The anniversary of the Sabbath School +in connection with the above place of +worship was held on Sunday, July 29th, +when two sermons were preached by +Mr. Read, who has now preached on +these occasions for thirteen years. Both<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +school-rooms and chapel were crowded. +Special hymns were sung by the scholars, +and at the close of the sermon in +the evening, twelve handsomely-bound +Bibles were presented to six girls and +six boys, it being a custom to give one +to each scholar at the age of sixteen. +Mr. Read spoke very appropriate words +as he presented the Bible to each +scholar.</p> + +<p>Collections were made at the close of +each service, amounting in the whole +to £16.</p> + +<p>The school, which now numbers 190 +scholars, was commenced about thirty +years since, when our esteemed Superintendent, +Mr. J. Garner, was the only +teacher, with five scholars.</p> + +<p>The preaching of the truth of God in +our village was begun by our beloved +minister, Mr. Deacon, thirty-four years +ago, in a cottage, which has given rise +to the building of two chapels, and it is +thought that the present one, which has +only been built ten years, will have to +be enlarged. We are constrained to say, +with one of old, "What hath God +wrought?"</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">A Reader.</span> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>"A SOFT ANSWER."</h2> + +<p>A person went to the late Mr. Longden, +of Sheffield, one day, and said, "I +have something against you, and I am +come to tell you of it." "Do walk in, +sir," he replied. "You are my best +friend. If I could but engage my friends +to be faithful with me, I should be sure +to prosper. But, if you please, we will +both kneel down, in the first place, and +ask the blessing of God upon our interview." +After they rose from their knees, +Mr. Longden said, "Now, my brother, +I will thank you to tell me what it is that +you had against me." "Oh," said the +man, "I really don't know what it is. +It is all gone; and I believe I was in the +wrong."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>OUR BIBLE CLASS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Ananias and Sapphira.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Acts</span> v. 1-16.)</p> + + +<p>In the second chapter of Acts we +learn how the Holy Spirit was, +on the Day of Pentecost, just +after Christ's ascension, poured +out upon the apostles, how they preached +the Gospel in languages they had never +learned before, and how three thousand +of their hearers were led to confess their +sins and believe on the Lord Jesus +Christ. These were baptized according +to His commandment, and added to the +company of disciples at Jerusalem, partaking +of the Lord's Supper as He had +bidden them, and continuing in fellowship +and prayer. But besides all this, +they made a rule for themselves which +Jesus had not actually laid down for +them. The richer members gave up +their money and goods, and all shared +alike. Thus beautifully did they obey +the spirit of His new commandment, +"Love one another, even as I have +loved you" (John xv. 12).</p> + +<p>But this happy state of things did not +long continue. Satan and sin soon interrupted +its trustful, unselfish course, +and we never find again that they that +believed had all things common, after +the events recorded in Acts v.</p> + +<p>A man named Ananias and his wife +Sapphira joined the Church, and seeing +that others parted with their possessions, +they also sold a piece of land, and laid +a portion of the price at the apostles' +feet, pretending that they had given +up the whole of the money received. +Peter, being divinely inspired, detected +the falsehood, and Ananias fell down +dead at his feet, was carried from the +place of meeting, and buried immediately. +Sapphira, ignorant of the +dreadful fact, came to a later service, +and repeating the lie to Peter, she also +was struck with death in a moment, and +was borne to her husband's grave.</p> + +<p>His seems to have been an <i>acted</i>, hers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> +a <i>spoken</i> lie. In each case the falsehood +was partly true, but the intention +was to deceive, and this is the very +essence of a lie. It was hypocrisy. They +"played a part," like actors on the +stage. They pretended to be different +people from what they really were, and +they wanted to be thought of as loving, +sincere, and generous Christians, while +they were false-hearted and hollow all +the time.</p> + +<p>May we never try to deceive others, to +make a false impression—to seem better +than we are. God sees and knows us +altogether. May it be our chief desire +to have our hearts and lives right with +Him.</p> + +<p>But why did such a terrible doom fall +upon these two false ones at the very beginning +of the Christian era? In the +olden time God's judgments fell upon +transgressors in a sudden and fearful +way, but under the gracious reign of +Jesus we might scarcely have looked for +such a display of wrath. Yet, though +"God is love," He is also "a consuming +fire," and there is not all that difference +between the old dispensation and the +present one which might at first appear. +David was forgiven ages before, and +these sinners were destroyed in Gospel +times. Then, "God was greatly to be +feared in the assembly of His saints," +and still He must "be had in reverence +of all them that are about Him."</p> + +<p>But what were the effects of this awful +occurrence? "Great fear came upon +the Church, and upon all who heard +these things." This is just what we +should have expected. "And of the +rest" (of those who were not true and +whole-hearted) "no one dared to join +that company." So much the better, +just as the disciples were better off without +Judas Iscariot. A decaying corpse +in the house injures the health of the +living inmates, and false professors have +never done good, but rather harm, to the +true Church of God.</p> + +<p>Yet another result followed which we +might not have hoped for—a large +increase of believing converts. "Multitudes +of men and women, believing on +the Lord, were the more added to the +Church." "The more." Yes, for this +very reason—they saw and felt that +"the Lord was there," and loving Him, +they wished to dwell in His presence, +and enjoy His protection and care.</p> + +<p>Oh, how important motives are! A +thief in the company of innocent people +may, like them, offer to be searched, in +order to avoid suspicion, as Judas +asked, "Lord, is it I?" when all the +disciples had first put the question to +Jesus, but he could not thus escape the +searching eyes that read his heart, or +the words of condemnation that fell +upon his ears. Are we willing to be +searched and tried by God?</p> + +<p>But, if we do desire to belong to Jesus, +and follow Him, need we, should we, +hesitate to unite with, or remain among, +His people? Oh, no! Though He is +angry with the wicked every day, and +terrible to the hypocrites, He is gracious +and full of compassion to all who seek +His grace. "Will He plead against me +with His great strength? No, but He +will put strength in me," said Job (chap. +xxiii. 6). And while He burns up all +who rebel against Him, as the fire +consumes briars and thorns, they who +would be at peace with Him shall find +peace by His own strength (Isa. xxvii. +4, 5) and love.</p> + +<p>Yes, and not only so—it is a blessing +for us that He does know us altogether. +We are sometimes afraid to confess +some secret fault to an earthly friend, +lest we should be loved less when the +wrong thing is known; and if we could +hide ourselves from God, how we might +shrink from telling Him some of our +thoughts and feelings, and this secrecy +might ruin and destroy us. But He does +know all, and knowing, loves His children +still, so that we may pour out all our +heart before Him; and while it will be an +unspeakable relief to us, it will be no +news to Him. A sense of our own unworthiness +will only precede the joyous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +assurance of pardon and blessing. +Peter once said, "Depart from me, for +I am a sinful man, O Lord!" and Isaiah +cried, "Woe is me, for I am undone" +(Isa. vi. 5); but Peter's fear gave place +to the clinging words of love—"Lord, to +whom shall we go [but unto Thee], for +Thou hast the words of eternal life?" +(John vi. 68); while Isaiah's cry of sorrow +changed to the gladsome song, +"Behold, God is my salvation; I will +trust, and not be afraid" (Isa. xii. 2).</p> + +<p>Oh, that we may be helped to cast +ourselves by faith and prayer entirely +upon Him, and, like Peter, say, "Lord, +Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest +that I love Thee." Amen.</p> + +<p>Our next subject will be, <i>The Good +Shepherd, His Lambs and Sheep</i> (Isa. +xl. 11).</p> + +<div class="signature"> +Yours affectionately,<br /> +H. S. L. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + + +<p> +An officer of Pharaoh.<br /> +A city built by Cain.<br /> +A son of Solomon.<br /> +A precious stone.<br /> +The mount where Joshua built an altar.<br /> +A queen of the Ethiopians.<br /> +The land of Haran's nativity.<br /> +One of the seven Churches of Asia.<br /> +A duke of Edom.<br /> +One whom the Lord raised up to<br /> +deliver Israel.<br /> +A daughter of Zelophehad.<br /> +<br /> +The initials of the words do show<br /> +What Christ on earth had to pass through;<br /> +And all His people may prepare,<br /> +While in this world, to have their share.<br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 15em;" class="smcap">Thomas Tyler</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;">(Aged 13 years).</span><br /> +<br /> +<i>Potton, Beds.</i><br /><br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Adversity</span> borrows its sharpest sting +from our impatience.—<i>Bishop Horne.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PRIZE ESSAY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Blessings Conferred on England +by the Accession to the +Throne of William of Orange, +and by the Protestant Succession +thereby Secured to Us.</span></h3> + + +<p>The blessings conferred on England +by the accession of William +of Orange ought long to be +remembered by all those who love to +worship God in the way their conscience +tells them is right.</p> + +<p>He came to England at a time in its +history when it was especially in need +of help. He restored liberty, both civil +and religious, and backed up Protestantism. +The Protestant people were +greatly burdened by the cruelties of +James II., who, it is said, had a mind +more devoted to the infliction of pain +than had been since the Romans conquered +England. Here he persecuted +those who held fast to the "common +prayer," and in Scotland put to death as +many as would not adopt it. He had +two women tied to stakes and drowned +in the Solway Firth, because they would +not repeat the Apostles' Creed.</p> + +<p>By these incidents of his cruelty, we +plainly see the great blessing of liberty +which God, through William III., bestowed +on England, and the great blessing +which Protestantism is to the land.</p> + +<p>James having thus shown himself to +the people, and his cruelties being so +great, it is naturally to be expected that +they would readily accept this new +sovereign, who was a good man, and +who had supported the Protestants of +Holland all his life. He had a right to +the crown by his marriage to Mary, the +daughter of James II.</p> + +<p>England received a great blessing in +the year 1701, the Act of Settlement +being passed by the consent of William +and his Parliament, which shut out from +the English throne all persons who were +Roman Catholics, or persons married to +Roman Catholics.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>The successor to him was Queen Anne +of Denmark, and when she died, leaving +no child, another agreement was formed, +placing the crown on Sophia, Dowager-Electress +of Hanover, and her posterity, +if they were Protestants. Since this Act +was passed there has been no Roman +Catholic on the throne. If it had not +been passed, several Romanist sovereigns +might have reigned.</p> + +<p>The Protestant religion is a great +blessing, and the main cause of the +prosperity of our nation. Romanism +greatly impoverishes all countries which +are its victims, such as Ireland, where +Popery predominates. Never has the +accession to the throne of a Protestant +king been more needful than it was +then.</p> + +<p>It is since then that England has won +a name as a great nation and a brave +people. If Protestantism is such a +standing religion, which "has been +through the water, and not been overflowed," +and "through the fire without +being burned," surely we ought to +labour hard for the overthrow of that +false religion which is the main curse +of many nations in the world. By the +important incidents we plainly see +God's overruling providence guarding +us and our religion, and, as Wickliffe +said, after one of his trials, so say we +again with still greater force, "The +truth shall prevail."</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">William Ernest Cray</span><br /> +(Aged 11 years). +</div> +<p> +<i>Pearl Cottage</i>, <i>Carlyle Road</i>,<br /> +<i>Forton</i>, <i>Gosport</i>, <i>Hants.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>[We are sorry that no more of our +young friends have sent Essays for this +month, but our young friend has thereby +the advantage of taking a second +prize.]</p> + +<p>[The writer of the above Essay receives +a copy of "The Reformation +and its Heroes."</p> + +<p>The subject for November will be, +"Lessons to be Derived from the History +of Daniel," and the prize to be given +for the best Essay on that subject, a +copy of "Cowper's Poems." All competitors +must give a guarantee that +they are under fifteen years of age, and +that the Essay is their own composition, +or the papers will be passed over, as the +Editor cannot undertake to write for this +necessary information. Papers must be +sent direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, +117, High Street, Hastings, by the first +of October.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>"THE NAILS ARE GONE, BUT THE MARKS ARE LEFT."</h2> + + +<p>A little boy, whose father desired to +see him a good child, was told one day +that a nail should be driven into a post +whenever he should do an act that was +wrong; and when he should do a good +deed, he might pull one out.</p> + +<p>The little fellow tried to be good, and, +though there were a number of nails +driven into the post, after a while not +one remained.</p> + +<p>How happy must Benny have been +when he saw the last nail disappear +from the post!</p> + +<p>His father was greatly pleased, and +was congratulating his son, when he was +surprised to see that he was weeping; +and very touching was the remark he +made—"Ah! the nails are all gone, but +the marks are left!" Was not this +contrition?</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER.</h2> + + +<p> +Sept. 2. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 12.<br /> +Sept. 9. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 20.<br /> +Sept. 16. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 13.<br /> +Sept. 23. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 14.<br /> +Sept. 30. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 17.<br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span></p> +<h2>Interesting Items.</h2> + + +<p>"<span class="smcap">God</span> save the Queen" is now sung in +eighteen languages.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> cost of making a bank-note for any +amount is less than one halfpenny.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Eight</span> million baskets of peaches are expected +from Delaware and Maryland this +season.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Pool of Bethesda has, according to the +quarterly statement of the Palestine Exploration +Fund, been authoritatively discovered.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the whole sky an eye of average power +will see about 6,000 stars. With a telescope +this number is greatly increased, and the most +powerful telescopes show more than 60,000,000. +Of this number, not one out of each hundred +has ever been catalogued.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> oldest newspaper in the whole wide +world is the <i>King Pau</i>, or <i>Capital Sheet</i>, published +in Pekin. It first appeared <span class="smcap">A.D.</span> 911, but +came out only at irregular intervals. Since the +year 1351, however, it has been published +weekly and of uniform size. Now it appears +in three editions daily.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">On</span> an average each Englishman writes forty +letters a year, each Scotchman thirty, and each +Irishman sixteen. The average Italian only +posts six, and the American twenty-one. It +must be remembered that in the country letter-writing +is a rare pursuit, and that the bulk of +letters are written by business men.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> tomato is, perhaps, used more as a relish +than for its nutritive value. Uncooked, it +forms the prince of salads, and it is one of the +most appetising, palatable, and popular vegetables +we have. Violent heat destroys the +delicious flavour of this half fruit, half vegetable, +so when you cook them, be most careful +to use only moderate heat.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Saving the Buffalo.</span>—The buffaloes on the +American prairies were thought to be nearly +extinct, thanks to the reckless destruction of +big game in recent years; but a happy find has +been made of a herd nearly one hundred strong +in a remote and uninhabited part of Texas. To +prevent any danger of their annihilation, an +expedition of trained huntsmen is being sent to +Texas to drive the buffaloes into a given enclosure, +where the breed will be carefully preserved.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Thirteen</span> thousand boxes gone astray, thirteen +thousand umbrellas left in railway carriages, +sixty-seven thousand different items of +property lost on the railways of the United +Kingdom during the single month of August, +1887! The railway companies are not responsible +for this property, but to their credit be it +said, they afford every facility for its recovery.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Popery in Portugal.</span>—A correspondent in +Oporto describes the Romish ceremony of +washing an image of Christ in Lisbon, and +adds—"If those who are drifting Romewards +could only see the depths of greed, hypocrisy, +and deceit to which the Church descends in +these countries where she holds sway, and how +immorality, infidelity, and spiritual darkness +rule among the people, from high to low, they +would surely hesitate to introduce Popish mummeries +into free England."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">To Cure Feathers.</span>—The following recipe +gained a premium from the Society of Arts. +Mix a quantity of lime-water in the proportion +of one pound of quicklime to a gallon of water, +mixing well, and pouring off the clean lime-water +for use as soon as the undissolved lime +is precipitated. Put the feathers in a tub, +adding enough of the clean lime-water to +cover them to a depth of three inches. Stir +them about until well moistened, when they +will sink. Leave for three or four days, and +then pour the whole through a sieve to get +rid of the foul water. Wash well in clean +water, and dry upon nets in a room where the +air can be admitted. Cabbage nets will do +well, the feathers falling through the meshes as +they dry. About three weeks will finish the +feathers, which will only need beating afterwards +to get rid of the dust.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Curious Custom at a City Church.</span>—The +following extract from the last will and testament +of Peter Symondes, mercer, dated April +24th, 1586, refers to a curious custom still observed +on Good Friday at All Hallows Church, +Lombard Street:—"The parson and churchwardens +shall every year, upon the same Good +Fryday, divide the same raisons into threescore +parts in papers, and when the children of +Christ's Hospital shall come upon Good Fryday +as aforesaid, then the said parson and churchwardens +shall give unto every child a part of +that so appointed; and although this gift may +be thought very frivolous, yet, my mind and +meaning being hidden, may, notwithstanding, +be performed, praying God to make all those +children happy members of this Commonwealth. +Amen." Under directions in the +same will, each of the sixty boys also receives +a new penny. An Easter card is also given by +the churchwardens from the parish funds.</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span><span class="smcap">The Earwig.</span>—The old-fashioned idea of the +much-dreaded earwig is little more than a fallacy. +The original English word "ear" signified +an undeveloped flower-bud, especially among +corn, and "wic" commonly stood for a hiding-place; +so that familiar insect (formerly written +"ear-wig"), through seeking its favourite dwelling +beneath the closely-shielded bud "ears," has +been universally accredited with propensities so +deadly injurious to mankind of which it naturally +stands wholly innocent. In this manner +popular superstition has often thrown a mantle +of evil and dread upon surrounding objects, +harmless in themselves; and so long as the vulgar +lend credence to ill-founded traditions without +instituting intelligent inquiry, so long must +such discrepancies continue to hold sway over +the public mind.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Sheep-Shearing by Machinery.</span>—A public +trial of Mr. P. W. Wolseley's "Patent Sheep-Shearing +Machine" was recently made in the +presence of a number of gentlemen interested +in sheep-breeding and wool-growing. The result—says +<i>The Australasian</i>—was a complete +success. The first test was upon a crossbred +sheep with an average fleece. The animal was +closely shorn in four and a half minutes. The +second animal was shorn in the ordinary way, +and then operated upon by the machine, with +the result that, in addition to the cut of the +old-fashioned shears, nine and a half ounces of +wool were obtained. It is claimed for the invention +that it works faster than hand labour, +leaves no second cut, does not injure the skin +in the slightest degree, and can be so regulated +that the fleece can be removed of any length +desired.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Monster Trout.</span>—A monster trout was +captured the last week in July in the river +Itchen, at Winchester, weighing 16 lbs. 2 ozs., +and measuring 32 inches in length and 21 inches +in circumference. The bait was a live minnow, +and he was not landed till two hours after he +was hooked. He had haunted the stream for +years, was almost as well known in the city as +Queen Anne's statue in the High Street, and +had acquired quite a reputation for the number +of rods he had broken, and the quantity of fishing +tackle he had carried away. His captor +was a labourer named Turpin, who disposed of +him for £1 to a fishmonger, on whose slab it +attracted almost as many visitors as a monarch +lying in state. He was in splendid condition, +and has now gone into the hands of a taxidermist +for preservation.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A rather</span> curious episode in natural history +occurred the other day on board the French +steamboat <i>Abd-el-Kader</i>, during the passage +from Marseilles to Algiers. Just as the vessel +was about two hours out, the skies became quite +black with swallows. It was then about six +o'clock in the evening. The birds alighted in +thousands on the sails, ropes, and yards of the +<i>Abd-el-Kader</i>. After a perky survey of the +deck from their eminences aloft, they descended +coolly on deck, hopped about among the sailors +and passengers, and eventually found their +way into the cabins, both fore and aft. The +birds were evidently fatigued, after a long +flight, and allowed themselves to be caught by +the people of the ship, who gave them a welcome +reception, and provided them with food, +which they enjoyed heartily. The little winged +strangers remained all night on the vessel, and +in the morning, at seven o'clock, the head look-out +bird had, no doubt, sighted the Balearic +Isles, for the whole flock made for land, after +having spent a comfortable and refreshing +night on board ship.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Facts about London.</span>—London is the greatest +city the world ever saw. It has an influence +with all parts of the world, represented by the +yearly delivery in its postal districts of 295 +millions of letters; it covers within the fifteen +miles' radius of Charing Cross nearly 700 square +miles; it numbers within these boundaries four +million two hundred thousand of inhabitants; +it contains more country-born persons than the +counties of Devon and Gloucester combined, or +37 per cent. of its population; has, on an average, +four fires every day amongst its 500,000 +houses; has a birth in it every four minutes; +has a death in it every six minutes; has 230 +persons every day and 84,000 annually added to +its population; has nine accidents every day in +its 7,000 miles of streets; has 55 miles of new +streets opened, and 17,000 new houses built in +it every year; has a vast network of 2,184 +miles of sewers and pipes for its drainage, and +2,000 miles for its gas supply of 55,000 lamps; +has 1,000 ships and 9,000 sailors in its port every +day; has upwards of 89,000 persons annually +taken into custody by the police; has more than +one-third of all the crime in the country committed +in it; has 25,000 persons living in its +common lodging houses; has 43,286 persons +annually arrested as drunk and disorderly. It +is further estimated that it comprises 100,000 +foreigners from every quarter of the globe. It +contains more Roman Catholics than Rome +itself; it contains more Jews than the whole of +Palestine; it contains more Irish than Belfast; +it contains more Scotchmen than Aberdeen; it +contains more Welshmen than Cardiff; it has as +many beershops and gin-palaces, the frontages +of which would, if placed side by side, stretch +from Charing Cross to Chichester, a distance of +62 miles. It has nearly as many paupers as +would occupy every house in Brighton.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 397px;"> +<img src="images/img220.jpg" width="397" height="500" alt=""WHO SHALL HAVE IT?" (See page 218.)" title=""WHO SHALL HAVE IT?" (See page 218.)" /> +<span class="caption">"WHO SHALL HAVE IT?" (<i>See page 218.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span></p> +<h2>LITTLE SCOTCH GRANITE.</h2> + + +<p>Burt and Johnnie Lee were delighted +when their Scotch cousin +came to live with them. He was +little, but very bright and full of fun. He +could tell curious things about his home +in Scotland, and his voyage across the +ocean. He was as far advanced in his +studies as they were, and the first day +he went to school they thought him remarkably +good. He wasted no time in +play when he should have been studying, +and he advanced finely.</p> + +<p>At night, before the close of the +school, the teacher called the roll, and +the boys began to answer, "Ten." When +Willie understood that he was to say +ten if he had not whispered during the +day, he replied, "I have whispered."</p> + +<p>"More than once?" asked the teacher.</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," answered Willie.</p> + +<p>"As many as ten times?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe I have," faltered Willie.</p> + +<p>"Then I shall mark you zero," said +the teacher, sternly; "and that is a +great disgrace."</p> + +<p>"Why, I did not see you whisper +once," said Johnnie, that night after +school.</p> + +<p>"Well, I did," said Willie, "I saw +others doing it, and so I asked to borrow +a book; then I lent a slate pencil, and +asked a boy for a knife, and did several +such things. I supposed it was allowed."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but we all do it," said Burt, reddening. +"There isn't any sense in the +old rule; and nobody could keep it; nobody +does."</p> + +<p>"I will, or else I will say I haven't," +said Willie. "Do you suppose I would +tell ten lies in one heap?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we don't call them lies," muttered +Johnnie. "There wouldn't be a +credit among us at night, if we were so +strict."</p> + +<p>"What of that if you told the truth?" +laughed Willie, bravely.</p> + +<p>In a short time the boys all saw how it +was with him. He studied hard, played +with all his might in play time; but, according +to his account, he lost more +credits than any of the rest. After some +weeks, the boys answered "Nine" and +"Eight" oftener than they used to. +Yet the school-room seemed to have +grown quieter. Sometimes, when Willie +Grant's mark was even lower than usual, +the teacher would smile peculiarly, but +said no more of disgrace. Willie never +preached at them or told tales; but +somehow it made the boys ashamed of +themselves, just the seeing that this +sturdy blue-eyed boy must tell the truth. +It was putting the clean cloth by the +half-soiled one, you see; and they felt +like cheats and story-tellers. They +talked him all over, and loved him, if +they did nickname him "Scotch Granite," +he was so firm about a promise.</p> + +<p>Well, at the end of the term, Willie's +name was very low down on the credit +list. When it was read, he had hard +work not to cry; for he was very sensitive, +and he had tried hard to be perfect. +But the very last thing that day was +a speech by the teacher, who told of +once seeing a man muffled up in a cloak. +He was passing him without a look, +when he was told the man was General +——, the great hero.</p> + +<p>"The signs of his rank were hidden, +but the hero was there just the same," +said the teacher. "And now, boys, you +will see what I mean when I give a little +gold medal to the most faithful boy—the +one really the most conscientiously +perfect in his deportment among you. +Who shall have it?"</p> + +<p>"Little Scotch Granite!" shouted +forty boys at once; for the child whose +name was so "low" on the credit list +had made truth noble in their eyes. +"A poor man is better than a liar."—<i>The +Lantern.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE HYACINTH.</h2> + + +<p>The sweet-scented pink hyacinth +which had been brought me was +beautiful indeed. It had not yet +reached maturity, nor as yet +shown all its resources of vigour and of +beauty, but we took great pleasure in +watching its gradual unfolding. Some +of its beautiful double bells did, in fact, +come out, and gave forth their delicious +perfume. But one day there came a +stop to its development, which made us +anxious. Some of the blossoms faded +before they had fully displayed their +lovely hues, and the buds remained +stationary in their leaves. Water, sunshine, +soft spring air, were not lacking +to them. The earth in the flower-pot +was good, and there was sufficient space +for the roots to expand, but it was +speedily evident that the plant was dying. +"At all events," I said, "I'll save the +bulb." So saying, I raised the plant +out of the base, using great precaution, +that I might not break the beautiful +white-red threads, which I shook, in +order to loosen them from the earth. +They had become wound together, and +formed a sort of nest, in which crawled, +twisting themselves as they went along, +as many as eight worms.</p> + +<p>It was certainly not to be wondered +at that, with eight worms at the root, +the poor flower should not have been +able to thrive. I removed the enemy at +once, and planted the hyacinth again +under more favourable conditions; but +it is to be feared that the sap had been +too much impoverished for it ever to +thrive again.</p> + +<p>I seemed to see a parable in the history +of my plant, and I could not avoid +sighing. Why did I sigh? Because I +have known so many young men and +women who have disappointed the hopes +felt about them in their childhood. The +careful culture these young people have +had from tender and anxious parents +has not succeeded. These promising +plants have been blighted because some +gnawing worm, which their friends had +not remarked, was at the root. It was +vanity—the desire to shine—it was deceit—untruthfulness—it +was pride—rebellion +of the will against all authority—it +was covetousness—it was selfishness—it +was——But why should I continue +the melancholy enumeration? It +is God who alone knows the secret +enemies of our happiness. "The heart +is deceitful above all things, and desperately +wicked," says the voice of +Scripture; "who can know it?" "Out +of the heart come evil thoughts," says +Christ; therefore how needful for all of +us is the prayer, "Create in me a clean +heart, O God!" and how cheering the +promise, "I will give you a new heart, +and I will put a new spirit within you."</p> + +<div class="signature"> +J. Y. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>WORDS AND DEEDS.</h2> + + +<p>One of our party greatly needed +some elder-flower water for her +face, upon which the sun was +working great mischief. It was in the +Italian town of Varallo, and not a word +of Italian did I know. I entered a +chemist's shop, and surveyed his drawers +and bottles, but the result was nil. +Bright thought—I would go down by the +river, and walk until I could gather a +bunch of elder-flowers, for the tree was +then in bloom. Happily the search was +successful. The flowers were exhibited +to the druggist; the extract was procured.</p> + +<p>When you cannot tell in so many +words what true religion is, exhibit it by +your actions. Show by your life what +grace can do. There is no language in +the world so eloquent as a godly life. +Men may doubt what you say, but they +will believe what you do.—<i>C. H. Spurgeon.</i></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is a great shame to a man to have +a poor heart and a rich purse.—<i>Chaucer.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> +<h2>DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH.</h2> + +<p>"<i>He overthrew those cities, and all +the plain, and all the inhabitants of +the cities, and that which grew upon +the ground.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Genesis</span> xix. 25.</p> + + +<p>The following extract from "Word +Pictures from the Bible," by +G. H. Taylor, furnishes a good +specimen of pictorial teaching, +and will serve to illustrate the lesson on +the above subject:—</p> + +<p>In the southern part of Palestine, +and about thirty miles south-east from +Jerusalem, stands the Dead Sea. It is +a lake of about forty miles in length, +with an average breadth of ten miles. +On the east and the west, steep, rugged, +and barren mountains of limestone rise +up to the height of two thousand feet, and +enclose the waters as in a huge cauldron. +A death-like stillness prevails all around, +unbroken save by the scream of the wild +fowl on the bosom of the lake, or the +footstep of some daring and solitary +traveller. Its shores are deserted. No +human habitation exists within miles. +Even the wandering Arab approaches +it with superstitious dread. Nothing +can exceed the gloomy grandeur of its +scenery. Rocks piled upon rocks, like +ruin upon ruin, look down from the east +and the west, and are reflected in its +sluggish waters. In its immediate +vicinity all vegetation languishes and +dies, and the shores are covered as +with a coat of salt. In the waters themselves +no living thing exists. Everything +contributes to the ideas of solitude, +silence, sterility, mystery, ruin, and +death.</p> + +<p>Now there was a time when the Sea +did not exist—when the ground which +it now covers formed part of a lovely, +extensive, and fertile plain. So lovely +was this plain that it was likened to the +garden of paradise, on account of its +fertility. Everything which was pleasant +to the eye and good for food grew there. +There was one valley in this plain which +was beautiful beyond all others; it was +the vale of Siddim. In this vale were +built the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, +Admah and Zeboim, and some others. +Now, the fertility of the ground caused the +inhabitants of these places to be very +rich and very idle. They forgot the +goodness of God in placing them in such +a lovely spot; and instead of thanking +Him for His kindness towards them, they +gave way to such a beastliness and licentiousness +of conduct as one cannot think +of without shuddering. Their very name +lives to our times to designate all that is +filthy and abominable in the conduct of +men. They were not only licentious, they +were proud; not only proud, they were +greedy and uncharitable. Although they +possessed in such abundance all that was +necessary for the happiness and sustenance +of man, yet would they not give +anything to assist the poor and the needy. +The Prophet Ezekiel says, "Behold this +was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom; +pride, fulness of bread, and abundance +of idleness, was in her and in her +daughters; neither did she strengthen +the hand of the poor and needy, but was +haughty, and committed abomination +before Me." All the worst of sins in the +greatest excess were to be found among +these inhabitants of the cities of the +plain.</p> + +<p>At this time there was living among +them a man of the name of Lot, the +nephew of Abraham. One evening, as +Lot sat in the gate of Sodom, two +angels, in the form of men, appeared +unto him. "And Lot, seeing them, rose +up to meet them; and he bowed himself +with his face toward the ground; and he +said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I +pray you, into your servant's house, and +tarry all night, and wash your feet, and +ye shall rise up early, and go on your +ways. And they said, Nay; but we will +abide in the street all night." They did<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> +not wish to enter; but Lot pressed them, +and they went in, and he gave them some +refreshment. That very night the angels +communicate to Lot the intelligence that +the Lord had sent them to destroy Sodom +and Gomorrah, and all the cities of the +plain, for the sins of the people had +become so great that they were an +abomination in the land. And the angels +said unto Lot, "Hast thou here any +besides? son-in-law, and thy sons, and +thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast +in the city, bring them out of this place." +This awful news must have made Lot +very anxious for the safety of his family, +and accordingly he goes out and tells his +relations, and bids them get up and +leave the place, for the Lord is about +to destroy the city. "But he seemed as +one that mocked, unto his sons-in-law." +Lot entreats them like a kind father who +desires the safety of his children; but +they only mock him in return—"Why +should to-morrow differ from other days? +Who ever saw it rain fire, or whence +should the brimstone come? Or, if such +showers must fall, how shall nothing +burn but this valley?" "And when the +morning arose, then the angels hastened +Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and +thy two daughters, which are here; lest +thou be consumed in the iniquity of +the city." How destruction hunts the +wicked! As soon as it is morning, +Lot is told to hurry out of the guilty +city, lest he should be consumed in its +iniquity. Lot looks upon it, and thinks, +perhaps, of his property which he must +leave to perish. He looks, and lingers; +but the angels "laid hold upon his hand, +and upon the hand of his wife, and +upon the hand of his two daughters; the +Lord being merciful unto him: and they +brought him forth, and set him without +the city." No sooner are they beyond +the walls of the city than the angels say +unto him, "Escape for thy life; look not +behind thee, neither stay thou in all the +plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou +be consumed." The command terrifies +Lot. "Escape to the mountain—to a +wild, barren, desert spot, where I cannot +find food to eat, and where the wild beasts +may destroy me? I cannot escape to the +mountain, lest some evil take me, and +I die. Behold now, this city is near +to flee unto, and it is a little one. Oh, +let me escape thither, (is it not a little +one?) and my soul shall live." The +prayer of Lot is graciously accepted. +"See, I have accepted thee concerning +this thing also, that I will not overthrow +this city, for the which thou hast spoken. +Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot +do anything till thou be come thither. +Therefore the name of the city was called +Zoar." As Lot enters the little city of +Zoar the sun is shining. Everything was +as usual. The sun is shining upon the +cities and the beautiful vale of Siddim. +The inhabitants, heedless and careless +as before, are wantoning and revelling. +Suddenly the windows of heaven are +opened, and floods of fiery rain pour down +upon the guilty cities and all within +them. The ground takes fire; the wicked +inhabitants fly, shrieking, from place to +place, but all too late. The swift devouring +flames follow them, and in a short +time the cities, the people, all that was +fair to look upon in the vale of Siddim, +even the solid earth itself, are in a blaze! +Presently a noise like that of thunder is +heard. The earth, like some huge animal, +opens wide its mouth; the cities sink into +its jaws and are swallowed up; floods of +water, filled with sulphur, rush over the +place where they stood, and nothing is +seen but a thick cloud of smoke rising +from the water. That water is the Dead +Sea.</p> + +<p>These were not all the horrors of that +dreadful day. Lot escaped into Zoar, +but his wife, who was behind him, +looked back, and she became a pillar of +salt. The angel had told them not to +look back. God was at that time showing +her the greatest mercy, yet, contrary +to His commands, she looked back, and +became a pillar of salt. It may be that +the swift flames overtook her as she +loitered, or that God, offended at such<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +ungrateful disobedience, punished her +on the spot by immediately turning her +into a pillar of salt. It matters not to +us which way it was. In either case it +was the result of disobedience.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE BIBLE AND ITS CLAIMS.</h2> + + +<p>I do not know whether you have +seen Mr. Smiles' life of our late +friend George Moore, but in it +we read that, at a certain dinner-party, +a learned man remarked that it +would not be easy to find a person of +intelligence who believed in the inspiration +of the Bible. In an instant George +Moore's voice was heard across the +table saying boldly, "I do, for one." +Nothing more was said. My dear friend +had a strong way of speaking, as I well +remember, for we have upon occasions +vied with each other in shouting when +we were together at his Cumberland +home. I think I can hear his emphatic +"I do, for one." Let us not be backward +to take the old-fashioned and unpopular +side, and say outright, "I do, for one." +Where are we, if our Bibles are gone? +Where are we if taught to distrust +them? If we are left in doubt as to +what part is inspired and what is not, +we are as badly off as if we had no Bible +at all. I hold no theory of inspiration. +I accept the inspiration of the Scriptures +as a fact. Those who thus view the +Scriptures need not be ashamed of their +company, for some of the best and most +learned of men have been of the same +mind. Locke, the great philosopher, +spent the last fourteen years of his life +in the study of the Bible, and when asked +what was the shortest way for a young +gentleman to understand the Christian +religion, he bade him read the Bible, +remarking, "Therein are contained the +words of eternal life. It has God for its +Author, salvation for its end, and truth, +without any admixture of error, for its +matter." There are those on the side of +God's Word whom you need not be +ashamed of in the matter of intelligence +and learning; and if it were not so, it +should not discourage you, when you +remember that the Lord has "hid these +things from the wise and prudent, and +revealed them unto babes." We believe, +with the Apostle, that "the foolishness +of God is wiser than men." It is +better to believe what comes out of +God's mouth, and be called a fool, than +to believe what comes out of the mouths +of philosophers, and be therefore esteemed +a wise man.—<i>C. H. Spurgeon.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>MANKIND'S MISTAKES.</h2> + + +<p>It is a mistake to labour when you are +not in a fit condition to do so.</p> + +<p>To think that the more a person eats +the healthier and stronger he will become.</p> + +<p>To go to bed at midnight and rise at +daybreak, and imagine that every hour +taken from sleep is an hour gained.</p> + +<p>To imagine that if a little work or +exercise is good, violent or prolonged +exercise is better.</p> + +<p>To conclude that the smallest room in +the house is large enough to sleep in.</p> + +<p>To eat as if you had only a minute to +finish the meal in, or to eat without an +appetite, or continue after it has been +satisfied, merely to gratify the taste.</p> + +<p>To believe that children can do as +much work as grown people, and that +the more hours they study the more they +learn.</p> + +<p>To imagine that whatever remedy +causes one to feel immediately better +(as alcoholic stimulants) is good for the +system, without regard to its after effects.</p> + +<p>To take off proper clothing out of +season, simply because you have become +heated.</p> + +<p>To think that any nostrum or patent +medicine is a specific for all the diseases +flesh is heir to.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> +<h2>POSTAL SERVICE STATISTICS</h2> + + +<p>The Right Hon. H. C. Raikes, her +Majesty's Postmaster-General, +has issued the thirty-fourth +annual report on the working of +the postal services in the United Kingdom +for the year ended March 31st last. +The record starts with a table, the figures +of which convey some notion of the magnitude +of the task undertaken. It is +estimated that during the year the number +of letters entrusted to the department +for delivery was 1,512,200,000, in +addition to 188,800,000 post-cards, +389,500,000 book packets and circulars, +152,300,000 newspapers, and 36,732,000 +parcels, making a gross total of +2,279,532,000. Compared with the previous +year these figures show an increase +of 3.6 per cent. in letters, 4.8 in post-cards, +5.6 in book packets and circulars, +0.8 in newspapers, and 11.8 in parcels, +the increase in the total being 3.9. It is +calculated that the average number of +letters addressed to each person was 41, +of postcards 5, of book packets and +circulars 10, of newspapers 4, of parcels +1; or a grand average of 61. The distribution +of these figures over given areas +was marked by the usual disproportion. +Of the total delivery about 85 per cent. +was in England and Wales (28 per cent. +being in the London postal district), 9.0 +per cent. was in Scotland, and 6.0 per +cent. in Ireland. The total number of +letters registered was 10,814,722, being +an increase of 0.3 per cent.</p> + +<p>The constantly growing work of the +department necessitates an increase in +the numerical strength of the staff. The +Postmaster-General shows that the permanent +establishment consists of about +56,460 persons, being an increase of +1,609 over last year. Of the 3,872 females +employed, 751 are engaged as clerks in +the central offices in London, Dublin, +and Edinburgh, and 3,121 as telegraphists, +counter-women, sorters, &c., +throughout the kingdom. In addition +to this staff about 48,900 supernumeraries +are employed in the country to +assist in the general work of the Post +Office. Of these 16,000 are females.</p> + +<p>The Parcel Post continues to be much +used for the transmission of flowers, +game, &c. It is calculated that over +12,000 parcels, containing upwards of +45,000 grouse, were received in London +last autumn, and in the month of March +vegetables in considerable quantities +arrived in parcels from Algiers, while it +was also noticed that in one week 3,787 +parcels containing hats were posted in +London alone. As an illustration of the +use made of this service by certain firms, +it may be mentioned that two firms in +London each posted 70,000 parcels at +one time, while a third posted 5,000 +parcels. The total postage paid on these +parcels amounted to £1,875.</p> + +<p>The "Dead Letter" department, as it +is popularly known, has been called upon +to deal with 13,436,600 letters, newspapers, +postcards, packets, and parcels. +These figures mark a decrease of 785,387, +which is attributed firstly to the absence +of a general election, and secondly to the +progress of education, "which causes +letter writers to exercise more care and +accuracy in addressing letters." The +report continues:—</p> + +<p>"Of the total number received 412,122 +were unreturnable; 175,408 were registered +or contained enclosures of value, +and 25,726 were wholly unaddressed. +Of these unaddressed letters 1,553 contained +money and cheques, &c., amounting +to £7,111. The careless and insecure +manner in which the public send +articles through the post is shown by the +facts that no less than 24,727 articles of +all sorts, including 289 coins, were received, +having escaped from their covers +or wrappers, and that the addresses had +become detached, through insufficient +fastening, from 4,578 parcels, many of +which contained matter of a perishable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span> +nature, which was thus lost to the +owners.</p> + +<p>"During the year ended December +31st, 1887, the deposits in the Post Office +Savings Bank numbered 6,916,327; the +amount being £16,535,932, as compared +with 6,562,395 deposits, amounting to +£15,696,852 the year before, being an +increase of 353,932 in number and +£839,080 in amount. The sum credited +to depositors for interest was £1,244,074, +an increase of £74,484 over the previous +year. The total amount standing to the +credit of depositors at the end of the +year was £53,974,065, being an increase +of £3,099,727 over last year. This total +is exclusive of the sum of £3,345,106 +Government Stock held by depositors. +The number of new accounts opened +during the year was 794,592 as compared +with 758,270 in 1886; and the accounts +closed were 574,252 as compared with +562,499."</p> + +<p>Dealing with the Telegraph business, +it is shown that the number of messages +forwarded during the year was 53,403,425, +being an increase of 3,159,786. A reminiscence +of the Queen's Jubilee is fittingly +recorded. The events connected with +the celebration caused an immense increase +in telegraph work in London, +amounting to nearly 60 per cent. over +the ordinary average, and on the day +preceding the Jubilee ceremony no less +than 30,597 local messages were transmitted +through the central station, the +total number of messages dealt with on +that day in the Central Office being +124,291.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> most valuable, pure, useful, and +durable of all metals, is tried gold; so +is tried faith, among all the Christian +virtues.—<i>Jackson.</i></p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is not enough in this world to +"mean well." We ought to do well. +Thoughtfulness, therefore, becomes a +duty, and gratitude one of the graces.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>NATURE HER OWN SURGEON.</h2> + + +<p>Equally worthy of admiration, +and all but equally complex, is +the process by which Nature +repairs a fractured limb, especially when +the injury is such that the broken ends +of bone cannot be brought exactly into +their proper positions. It is remarkable, +too, how she adapts her process to the +different habits of her patients. In the +case of a simple fracture, if the parts +that have been disjoined are set close +together in their normal line—if it be the +leg of a dog, for example—there is first a +hard sheath, called a "callus," formed +round the fracture, and this "callus" +permits a restricted use of the injured +limb, even before the two parts have +grown together. It is, however, only a +temporary provision, necessitated by the +natural restlessness of the lower animals. +After the fracture has completely healed +the "callus" gradually disappears. A +human case is treated differently. Here, +unless it be a broken rib (which requires +the provision in consequence of its incessant +motion in respiration), the healing +takes place ordinarily without the formation +of any <i>outer</i> "callus." Sometimes +the broken ends cannot be—or at all +events are not—brought into their proper +relative positions. Is it possible, it may +be asked, that Nature can provide the +means for meeting such an emergency, +when, that is to say, the two portions of +bone to be joined are all awry, and something +quite new—in fact, a kind of bridge, +and a bridge not merely serving the purpose +of a solid connection between opposite +banks, but like the bridges which +carry the appliances of modern civilization, +connecting the nerves, which answer +to the telegraph wires, and the veins and +arteries corresponding to our water and +other conduits, has to be constructed? +Nature's engineering is equal even to +this task.—<i>Quiver.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> +<h2>ABOUT SWEARING.</h2> + +<h3>A CHAT WITH MY BOYS.</h3> + + +<p>Some boys seem to think that it is +manly to swear. Passing along +the street, one is shocked to hear +oaths from well-dressed, intelligent boys, +who evidently belong to cultivated Christian +families. I am going to tell the +boys a true story about swearing, which +I trust will influence them to break themselves +of this ungentlemanly and wicked +habit.</p> + +<p>"When I was a young lad," said a +gentleman, "I learned to swear. I had +a good Christian mother, and she had +taught me what a heinous sin it is to use +the name of God in vain. But I heard +other boys swearing, and I thought it +was very manly to swear as they did, and +I tried it too. At first the words of an +oath came stumbling along, and I felt +all the time I was using them that God +would strike me dead. But after a while +I could swear as easily and fearlessly as +some of my companions. But I never +swore before my mother. I used the +Lord's name in vain so often that it +seemed as if He had forsaken me, and +left me to my sins. I became wicked +and reckless.</p> + +<p>"When I was fifteen years old I went +to sea. My mother reluctantly gave her +consent, only because she knew that I +would go without it if she did not. My +father was dead, and I was her only son. +I had no idea then what my mother's +feelings must have been; now I realize +what she must have suffered in parting +with me.</p> + +<p>"When I went to sea I swore in the +worst manner. In fact, I scarcely spoke +a word that was not accompanied by an +oath. After a three years' voyage I +came home. My mother met me with +great kindness and affection. She had +prepared a most tempting supper for me. +My trunk was being brought into the +door, when a misunderstanding between +myself and the man who had brought it, +about the pay, aroused my anger, and, +forgetting where I was, I swore as only +a rough seaman can swear. When oath +after oath had passed my lips, I chanced +to look at my mother, who stood near +me in the hall. Her face was as white +as the face of the dead, and an indescribable +expression upon it that I can +never, never forget. I saw that she +was falling, and I put my arm around +her to support her. She shrank away +from my touch, and fell senseless to the +floor. I paid the man the price he +demanded, closed the door, lifted my +mother up, and laid her on the lounge. +I thought I had killed her. Oh, the +feelings of remorse that filled my heart +at that moment! But she opened her +eyes, and seeing me standing before her, +said, 'Oh, my son, you have broken my +heart!' I assured her with tears and +kisses that I would never swear again, +but the habit had taken such strong +hold on me that I found myself swearing +unconsciously many times a day. My +mother did not enjoy the long-anticipated +visit of her only son. Her spirit +seemed crushed, and I know she felt +that she had lost her boy, and a reckless, +wicked man had come home in his +stead. With many tears and kind +words of pleading she bade me 'good-bye' +when, in a few weeks after, I started +on my second sea voyage. At the first +port at which we stopped after leaving +home, I received a letter from my aunt, +containing the sad news of my dear +mother's death. Instantly that mother's +face, as it appeared to me on the evening +I returned home, was before me. I +threw myself on my knees in my cabin, +and pleaded for forgiveness. I resolved +with God's help to lead a different life. +But habits of sin, that begin in cobwebs, +end in iron chains. It was not easy +to break away from them. But every +time I began to use an oath, my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +mother's face, as it looked that night, +came before me. I shall never forget it +to my dying day. With God's help, I +have overcome that terrible sin. I +would give everything I possess could +I only speak to her once more, and tell +her my sorrow and remorse. But she is +silent in the grave."</p> + +<p>When the gentleman had finished his +sad story, he said, "When you are +writing something for the children, tell +the boys this story I have told you, and +tell them always to remember that a +sinful habit may begin as a cobweb, +but it will end as an iron chain about +their souls."—<i>Baptist.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE WORD WITH POWER.</h2> + + +<p> +"Jesus, who lived above the sky,<br /> +Came down to be a man and die.<br /> +And those kind hands that did such good,<br /> +They nailed them to a cross of wood.<br /> +And, out of pity, Jesus said,<br /> +He'd bear the punishment instead."<br /> +</p> + +<p>An aged woman sat alone by the +fireside, when Mr. —— came in, +and simply exclaimed, as he +looked out at the window, "The +Lord said, 'I came not to call the +righteous, but sinners to repentance' +(Mark ii. 17). 'Not the righteous.' +What a mercy that is." No more was +said, and Mr. —— left the room, but at +night, when in bed, the aged one said +to her sister, who occupied the same +room with her, "Mr. —— came into the +room below, and, as if speaking to himself, +uttered these words, 'I came not +to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. +Not the righteous. What a +mercy that is!' and he went out, and +said no more, but they made the tears +roll down my face. There is hope for +me."</p> + +<p>"A word in season" the Lord alone +can give to be effectual. Then, "how +good it is." Bless His holy name, He +shall have all the praise, for ever and +ever.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +D. F.<br /> +</div> + +<p> +<i>August, 1888.</i> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST.</h2> + + +<p> +A fountain fulness still remains<br /> +Of pardoning blood from Jesus' veins,<br /> +Though millions have its virtues tried,<br /> +And from its riches been supplied.<br /> +<br /> +And yet it ever is the same<br /> +To all that come in Jesus' name;<br /> +Not one that to it shall repair<br /> +Will ever perish in despair.<br /> +<br /> +It makes the filthy sinner clean,<br /> +Though vile as I or Magdalene;<br /> +Here David lost his crimson sin,<br /> +And thousands more as well as him.<br /> +<br /> +Manasseh here lost all his crimes,<br /> +And now in glory brightly shines;<br /> +Also dear Paul, of sinners chief,<br /> +From this dear fountain got relief,<br /> +<br /> +And writes so sweetly of its power<br /> +To save e'en to a dying hour;<br /> +Yea, all the while he travelled here,<br /> +This fountain was to him most dear.<br /> +<br /> +No savèd sinner ever knew<br /> +Better than Paul what blood can do,<br /> +For he himself its power had tested,<br /> +And on its efficacy rested.<br /> +<br /> +And all the hosts around the throne<br /> +Bear witness to what blood has done;<br /> +Their holy joy and heavenly bliss<br /> +Is concentrated all in this.<br /> +<br /> +Oh, may this joy and peace be mine<br /> +When called to leave the things of time!<br /> +To sing of Jesus' love and blood,<br /> +And dwell for ever with my God.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 15em;">B. W.</span> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span></p> +<h2>LITTLE HELPS BY LARGE HEARTS.</h2> + + +<p>A friend had been sitting a little +while by the bed-side of a poor +woman—rendered utterly helpless +from paralysis—reading the Scriptures +to her, when the door was gently +opened, and three neatly-dressed little +girls entered the room, each carrying a +small basket. One of them approached +the bed, and after a few simple and kind +inquiries, held up the little basket she +had in her hand, saying, "My mother +sent you this, and hopes soon to come +and see you." The poor woman thanked +the child gratefully, and said, "Put it +away, my dear, for me."</p> + +<p>The little girl seemed quite used to +the employment. She went over to a +cupboard, emptied carefully the contents +of her basket, and with a modest +"Good-bye," the three children withdrew.</p> + +<p>The poor woman then gave an explanation +to the friend who was present. +"These little girls," she said, "are the +children of a very respectable butcher, +and every Saturday afternoon their +mother employs them to carry about to +poor people scraps of meat and bones. +They are nice children, and take quite a +pleasure in doing it, and they have given +me, and many others, many a good dinner."</p> + +<p>Now, who can calculate the amount of +good resulting from the thoughtful +charity of this mother? We read thus +of God's redeemed people—"their works +do follow them"—not to heaven for +recompense, as some vainly imagine, +but on the earth. Continually we see +the truth of this in the effects produced, +after the lapse of years, from works done +by those whose bones have long been +turned to dust. Who can tell the influence +this weekly act may have upon +these three children, if spared to grow +up to womanhood? And thus, when +their mother's place knows her no more, +her "works will follow her."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE PENNY PIECE.</h2> + + +<p>I give the following from the +lips of one who was well acquainted +with the facts:—</p> + +<p>A frost had been raging for +thirteen weeks. The consequence was +that out-door labourers, for the most +part, were stopped in their employment. +Among these was a poor gardener who +had a wife and five or six children. He +was at length reduced to great straits. +He had spent all but his last penny, +and had not the slightest prospect of +more.</p> + +<p>Passing down a certain street one day, +he happened to see a poor man standing +in the lobby of a church or chapel. His +heart yearned over him, and he thought, +"How I should like to help him; but I +have only a penny left for myself and +family." Still, he felt that he could not +resist the inclination. He instantly +turned round, stepped back, and gave +the man his last penny. Immediately +there came a peculiar light and gladness +into his soul. Instead of being +burdened by his destitution, he was relieved +by it. He was rich in his poverty.</p> + +<p>That very night the long frost broke, +and in the morning he resumed his +work. He had not been long in the +garden before his employer appeared. +Addressing him, he said, "I am sure +you must have felt the effects of this +long frost very much. Here is a sovereign +for you." The poor gardener felt +amazed, and, to use his own words, it +was as though the Lord said to him, +"Here's a sovereign for the penny you +lent Me last night."</p> + +<p>Reader, it is written, "He that giveth +to the poor lendeth unto the Lord"; and +again, "There is that scattereth, and +yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth +more than is meet, but it tendeth +to poverty."</p> + +<div class="signature"> +O. J. +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Bad</span> men excuse their faults; good +men will leave them.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> +<h2>A BRAND PLUCKED OUT OF THE FIRE.</h2> + + +<p>While occasionally serving a +destitute Church, between three +and four months ago, I was requested +to visit a dying woman. +I found her in the most distracting +agony of bodily pain, but rejoicing at +the same time in the consolations of the +Gospel. My visits afforded me much +pleasure and edification. Being informed +that she had been once a most abandoned +character, I solicited a friend to collect +from her own mouth the history of her +life, and since her death have been +favoured with a very interesting and circumstantial +account of this monument of +mercy.</p> + +<p>When young she was deprived of both +father and mother, but by friends was introduced +into a genteel family, where +after some time she fell into shameful +sin. Her friends abandoned her in her +disgrace, but after she had endured much +suffering, privation, and want, they were +persuaded to receive her once more, and +at length provided another eligible situation +for her. Thus restored, she might +have lived in respect, but a particular +circumstance which should operate as a +warning, especially to servants, led her +into a more dreadful course of iniquity +than ever she had been guilty of before.<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a> +On the Lord's Day, instead of going to +any place of worship, she contracted the +habit of spending those sacred hours at +the house of an acquaintance. Here she +formed her most fatal connections, and +to this sin of Sabbath-breaking she +especially attributed her ruin. A bad +man persuaded her to accompany him +to London. Here for some years she +lived a most profligate life, the circumstances +of which cannot be detailed here, +further than that sin which brings its own +reward found her deserted, and in the +Lock Hospital. After a dreadful operation +she somewhat recovered, and went +out, but only to follow her old sinful +course. She was scarcely known to be +sober for six years together. Her +wretched course of life was a continual +burden to her. She often prayed, if such +an one could be said to pray, that God +would deliver her from it, and accompanied +her prayers with resolves to forsake +it; but all her resolutions were +ineffectual till God's time of deliverance +was come. At length she determined +to return into the country again. She +met with many distressing circumstances +by the way, and upon her arrival, her +friends would not receive her. She was +therefore obliged to apply to the parish, +being incapable of getting her living +through her disordered state of body. +The overseers provided her a room in a +house with another woman, where, soon +after she arrived, her complaint assumed +an alarming nature, and threatened +speedy dissolution. In the awful prospect +of death she was seized with the +most distracting horrors. Calling to the +woman with whom she lived, she cried, +"I shall soon be gone, and hell will be my +doom!" The woman told her she was +mad, but she replied, with earnestness, +"I am not. I know it will, for I am not +prepared to die"; and immediately +asked her if she knew where any minister +lived? She had heard some whom they +called "Methodists" while in the hospital +at London. Even then she could not +laugh at them as many of her unfortunate +companions did, but was often much +affected by their prayers and sermons, +and looked upon them as men living in +the fear of God. The recollection of this +suggested the eager inquiry after them +now. But the woman said, "They cannot +save your soul."</p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 376px;"> +<img src="images/img232.jpg" width="376" height="500" alt="SERIOUS FEMALE (See page 230.)" title="SERIOUS FEMALE (See page 230.)" /> +<span class="caption">"SHE PROCURED A LODGING WITH A SERIOUS FEMALE." (<i>See page 230.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<p>"I know they cannot," she replied,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229"> </a></span> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span>"but they can pray with me and for me +to One who can. Go instantly and fetch +one, for I am going to hell."</p> + +<p>The woman still continued to laugh at +her, and told the neighbours she was +deranged. One of them, however, more +compassionate than the rest, coming in, +said she knew a good man who lived +near. He was not a minister, but she +would go and fetch him.</p> + +<p>"Make him promise to come," said +the poor creature, "before you leave +him, and then, if he be a good man, he +will come." While the person was gone, +she cried to the Lord to send him.</p> + +<p>He came and found her in the greatest +agonies of mind. She told him that she +was the vilest sinner that ever lived, +described the course of life she had led, +and concluded by saying she saw hell +before her eyes, and that she should be +lost for ever. He pointed out the way of +salvation by Christ, told her it was free +for the vilest, spoke of the encouragement +there was for the chief of sinners +who came to Him, prayed with her, +and left her a little more composed. +She made him promise to come the next +day, which he did twice. In a short +time after, her sorrow was turned into +gladness, and she was enabled to +rejoice in Christ as her Saviour, whilst +the young man who visited her was +reading the verse—</p> + +<p> +"Look as when Thy grace beheld<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The harlot in distress;</span><br /> +Dried her tears, her pardon sealed,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And bade her go in peace.</span><br /> +Foul like her, and self-abhorred,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I at Thy feet for mercy groan;</span><br /> +Turn and look upon me, Lord,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And break my heart of stone."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Soon after this, God removed the +violence of her complaint, and thereby +gave her an opportunity of proving the +reality of her conversion. As soon +as possible she went to the meeting, +but oh, the persecution she now met +with from her former companions! She +was obliged to remove from place to +place to escape their violence. They +pelted her with stones, broke her windows, +&c., because, as they said, she +was a hypocrite. But she was enabled +to endure it with patience, and after a +time procured a lodging with a serious +female. Now she seemed almost in +heaven. She could now go in and out, +none daring to make her afraid, and +could meditate in peace on the gracious +dealings of God with her soul. She +became a member of the Church in +which she continued as long as she +lived. She seemed to grow daily in an +affecting discovery of the evil of sin and +of her own vileness, and was often quite +overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness +of God, both with respect to her +temporal and spiritual concerns. She +was frequently enabled to rejoice in the +Lord with exceeding joy, though labouring +under the most dreadful pain, being +literally full of wounds, the sad fruit of +her former life. She occasionally experienced +great conflicts with Satan, +but the Lord graciously interposed, and +brought her off more than conqueror. +Several months before her death she +was grievously afflicted, but in general +very comfortable. On the Saturday +preceding her dissolution, a friend +called to see her, and inquired after the +state of her mind. She said she was +happy in God, longed to depart, and +could scarcely contain herself. She was +so filled with love to her blessed Lord, +for His unbounded goodness to her. On +the Monday, the person with whom she +lodged said she was very comfortable +in her mind. Her spirit soared beyond +the fear of death; but through extreme +weakness she could not speak much, +and on Tuesday she departed, we trust, +to sing the praises of that miraculous +grace which snatched her as a brand +from the burning.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">Conduct</span> is the great profession. +What a man does tells us what he is.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span></p> +<h2>ADMIRAL PYE AND THE INQUISITORS.</h2> + + +<p>Admiral Pye having been on a +visit to Southampton, and the +gentleman under whose roof he +resided observing an unusual intimacy +between him and his secretary, inquired +into the degree of their relationship. +The admiral informed him that they +were not related, but their intimacy +arose from a singular circumstance, +which, by his permission, he would +relate.</p> + +<p>The admiral said, when he was a +captain he was cruising in the Mediterranean. +While on that station he received +a letter from shore, stating that +the unhappy author of the letter was by +birth an Englishman; that, having been on +a voyage to Spain, he was enticed while +there to become a Papist, and, in process +of time, was made a member of the +Inquisition; that there he beheld the +abominable wickedness and barbarities +of the inquisitors.</p> + +<p>His heart recoiled at having embraced +a religion so horribly cruel and so repugnant +to the nature of God, that he was +stung with remorse to think that, if his +parents knew <i>what</i> and <i>where</i> he was, +their hearts would break with grief; +that he was resolved to escape, if he +(the captain) would send a boat on shore +at such a time and place, but begged +secrecy, since, if his intentions were +discovered, he should be immediately +assassinated.</p> + +<p>The captain returned for answer that +he could not with propriety send a boat, +but if he could devise any means to +come on board, he would receive him as +a British subject, and protect him. He +did so; but being missed, there was +soon raised a hue and cry, and he was +followed to the ship.</p> + +<p>A holy inquisitor demanded him, but +he was refused; another, in the name +of his Holiness the Pope, claimed him, +but the captain did not know him, or +any other master, but his own sovereign, +King George. At length a third +holy brother approached. The young +man recognized him at a distance, and, +in terror, ran to the captain, entreating +him not to be deceived by him, for he was +the most false, wicked, and cruel monster +in all the Inquisition. He was introduced, +the young man being present, +and, to obtain his object, began with the +bitterest accusations against him; then +he turned to the most fulsome flatteries +of the captain; and, lastly, offered him +a sum of money to resign him. The +captain treated him with apparent attention, +said his offer was very handsome, +and, if what he affirmed were true, the +person in question was unworthy of the +English name or of his protection.</p> + +<p>The holy brother was elated; he +thought his errand was accomplished. +While drawing his purse-strings, the +captain inquired what punishment would +be inflicted upon him. He replied that +it was uncertain; but as his offences +were atrocious, it was likely that his +punishment would be exemplary. The +captain asked if he thought he would +be burned in a dry pan. He replied, +that must be determined by the Holy +Inquisition, but it was not improbable.</p> + +<p>The captain then ordered the great +copper to be heated, but no water to be +put in. All this while the young man +stood trembling, his cheeks resembling +death; he expected to become an unhappy +victim to avarice and superstition.</p> + +<p>The cook soon announced that the +orders were executed. "Then I command +you to take this fellow," pointing +to the inquisitor, "and fry him alive in +the copper." This unexpected command +thunderstruck the holy father. +Alarmed for himself, he rose to be gone. +The cook began to bundle him away. +"Oh, good captain! good captain! +spare me, spare me!" "Have him +away," replied the captain. "Oh, no,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +my good captain!" "Have him away. +I'll teach him to attempt to bribe a +British commander to sacrifice the life +of an Englishman to gratify a herd of +bloody men." Down the inquisitor fell +upon his knees, offering him all his +money, and promising never to return if +he would let him begone. When the +captain had sufficiently alarmed him, +he dismissed him, warning him never to +come again on such an errand.</p> + +<p>What must have been the reverse of +feelings in the young man to find himself +thus happily delivered. He fell +upon his knees, in a flood of tears, before +the captain, and poured a thousand +blessings upon his brave and noble +deliverer.</p> + +<p>"This," said the admiral to the gentleman, +"is the circumstance that began +our acquaintance. I took him to +be my servant; he served me from affection; +mutual attachment ensued, and it +has inviolably subsisted and increased +to this day."—<i>From Cyclopædia of +Moral and Religious Anecdotes, with +Introductory Essay by Dr. Cheever.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CHILD HEROISM.</h2> + + +<p>"Mother, just look what I've come +upon! I found the small board +at the back loose, and beneath it, +this."</p> + +<p>Thus spoke Julia White, who was engaged +in scrubbing out the single cupboard +of their one room, and as she +uttered the words she held up a paper +with two sovereigns wrapped in it.</p> + +<p>"Why are you so prying, child?" said +the mother. "You would have been so +much better without the knowledge of +my secret. Now, if your father should +come home tipsy to-night, you will be +forced to tell him where the money is, +and I shall lose the whole of it. +Wherever to hide it away from you, I +don't know."</p> + +<p>Poor Julia looked frightened enough, +for she was only eleven years of age, and +her dread of her father, who frequently +showed himself a ferocious ruffian, was +extreme; but there was no help for the +case now. The mother had to leave in +little more than an hour to watch a +patient to whom she was night nurse, +and there was no time to find another +hiding-place. To carry the money with +her where she was going would scarcely +have been safe, so, after seeing little +Nancy, with the baby, safely returned, +and giving the latter its meal at her +breast, the good, hard-working woman +departed to fulfil her engagement.</p> + +<p>The children left alone, the terror of +the elder one could not escape the +notice of the younger, although she was +only a little over seven; and she at +length said—</p> + +<p>"What can be the matter with you, +Julia?"</p> + +<p>"I know where mother's money is, +and am afraid father will come home +and want it."</p> + +<p>"Tell him you know nothing about it. +He always believes you."</p> + +<p>"Nancy!"</p> + +<p>She had been rightly taught by a good +mother, and young as she was, realized +that this was not the course to take, +so, kneeling by the side of her child +sister, she offered the following simple, +but heartfelt, prayer—</p> + +<p>"Dear Jesus, please don't let father +come home to-night and want mother's +money; but if he should do so, please +help me not to tell him where it is."</p> + +<p>The strength she had thus gained was +soon put to a cruel test, for into the +neat, cleanly room there quickly rushed +the brute who represented all that she +had ever known of father. The scene +that ensued was of a character not unfrequent +in low London districts, but +none the less worthy of record. Poor +little Nancy, dreading what might follow, +caught up the baby, and fled with it into +a corner of the room, as the safest place +of refuge, for we ought to have stated<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +that the ruffian had locked the door +upon his entrance. Catching his eldest +daughter's arm, he said, in not an over +loud voice—</p> + +<p>"Get me your mother's money."</p> + +<p>Meeting with no reply from the white-faced +girl, he next said—</p> + +<p>"Do you know where it is?"</p> + +<p>But still there was no answer. What +followed seems dreadful to relate, suiting +better with the nature of South Sea or +African cannibals than with the natives +of Christian England. First twisting the +girl's arm round, and causing her dreadful +pain, he next bestowed upon her with +his brute strength a succession of awful +blows; but, though she could not keep +back her cries, she did not yield to him +in the least.</p> + +<p>Wearied at length, he flung her from +him on to the wall, and during the ensuing +five minutes, with bursts of terrible +oaths, threatened that, if she did not +acquaint him with her secret, he would +kill her; but, mercifully, the neighbours +were enabled at the end of this time to +break into the room, or there is no telling +what mischief might have followed.</p> + +<p>But we cannot finish without describing +the heroism of poor little Nancy, +which almost equalled that of her sister. +Dodging from side to side during the +struggle, now in this corner and now +in that, and shielding the baby with her +youthful person, she, with wonderful +activity and courage, kept it from harm.</p> + +<p>It seems something like divine retribution +that this dreadful father this +very evening received a terrible beating +in the public-house, and his system being +unhealthy, as the result of drinking +habits, he died in hospital of his injuries.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">S. Dennis.</span><br /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> is a pre-established harmony +between the voice of the Shepherd and +the heart of the sheep. "If ye abide in +Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall +ask what ye will and it shall be done +unto you."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>LITTLE KINDNESSES.</h2> + + +<p>For the intercourse of social life, it +is by little acts of watchful kindness +recurring daily and hourly—and +opportunities of doing kindnesses, +if sought for, are for ever starting +up—it is by words, by tones, by +gestures, by looks, that affection is won +and preserved. He who neglects these +trifles, yet boasts that, whenever a great +sacrifice is called for, he shall be ready +to make it, will rarely be loved. The +likelihood is, he will not make it, and if +he does, it will be much rather for his +own sake than for his neighbour's. +Many persons, indeed, are said to be +penny wise and pound foolish; but they +who are penny foolish will hardly be +pound wise, although selfish vanity may +now and then for a moment get the +better of selfish indolence, for Wisdom +will always have a microscope in her +hand.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A DRUNKARD'S WILL.</h2> + + +<p>I leave to society a ruined character, +a wretched example, and a memory that +will soon rot. I leave to my parents, +during the rest of their lives, as much +sorrow as humanity in a feeble and +declining state can sustain. I leave to +my brothers and sisters as much mortification +and injury as I could bring on +them. I leave my wife a broken heart, +a life of wretchedness and shame, to +weep over my premature death. I give +and bequeath to each of my children, +poverty, ignorance, and low character, +and the remembrance that their father +was a monster.</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">We</span> may as well attempt to bring +pleasure out of pain as to unite indulgence +in sin with the enjoyment of +happiness.—<i>Hodge.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE LAND OF THE GIANTS.</h2> + +<p>"<i>And we took all his cities at that +time: there was not a city which we +took not from them," &c.</i>—<span class="smcap">Deut.</span> iii. +4, 5.</p> + + +<p>Sixty cities in one small province! +Can it be true? Has not the +copyist erred in his arithmetic? +Should it not be sixteen, or six? Does +it not appear improbable? The province +mentioned, Argob, is not more +than thirty miles by twenty; and that +within so limited a space there should +be sixty cities, "besides unwalled towns +a great many," can scarcely be accepted +literally.</p> + +<p>Now, it is a great blessing, for the confirmation +of our faith in the truth of the +Bible, and the silencing of those who +delighted in making others to be of a +doubtful mind, that the literal truth of +the statement is fully established—not +by a comparison of parallel passages; +not by a new translation of the text; +not by the testimony of ancient historians; +but by the remains of the cities +themselves. There are they in Argob, +the oldest specimens of domestic architecture +in the whole world.</p> + +<p>English travellers have visited the +wild land of the giants; they have penetrated +into the rocky recesses of Argob; +they have slept in the deserted homes of +the Rephaim; and have come back to +tell us that the stones reared by those +ancient idolaters bear witness to the +truth of the living God.</p> + +<p>The Rev. J. L. Porter spent a considerable +time in exploring the cities of +Bashan. At Burak he lodged in a city +of several hundred houses, all deserted, +but all in good repair, though built two +or three thousand years ago. The walls +of these houses were five feet thick, +formed of large blocks of hewn stone, +put together without lime or cement of +any kind. The roofs were formed of long +blocks of the same black basalt, +measuring twelve feet in length, +eighteen inches in breadth, and six +inches in thickness. The doors were +stone slabs hung upon pivots formed of +projecting parts of the slabs, working +in sockets in the lintel and threshold; +the windows were guarded with stone +shutters—everything was of stone, as if +the builders had designed each edifice +to last for ever.</p> + +<p>The cities have endured, but the inhabitants +have fled. You pass the +ruined gateway where stern warriors +kept watch, and from whose towers the +watchmen swept the country and signalled +the coming of the foe. All is +hushed. Rank weeds and grass, brambles +and creeping plants, have overgrown +the well-made roads; and in the massive +houses, where once on a time happy +groups assembled, and children shouted +with joy, the fox and the jackal make +their dwelling, while owls and daws take +possession of the roof. Here is a city +that must at one period have contained +at least twenty thousand inhabitants. +Once its streets were noisy and bustling, +and the dealers made their shrewd bargains +in the markets, while the grandees +dwelt in their stone palaces, haughty of +spirit, as if the slaves who waited on +them were of another flesh than theirs. +Here dwelt the giants, and after them +Jews, and Greeks, and Romans, Saracens +and Turks, each leaving memorials +of their presence; but all gone—the +whole abandoned to the wild birds and +the beasts of prey. There are palaces +with thorns and thistles growing in the +chief room; there are temples with +branches of trees shooting through the +gaping walls; there are tombs festooned +with the rich luxuriance of nature; there +is everything to tell of desolation and +decay.</p> + +<p>You remember that we read in Joshua +that the kingdom of Og, the giant, included +all Bashan unto Salcah; and +the Israelites took and occupied the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +whole land, from Mount Hermon unto +Salcah. This is the frontier city of +Bashan, and is one of the most remarkable +in Palestine. There are about five +hundred houses still remaining, a number +of square towers, a few mosques, +and a great old castle on the top of a +hill. But the city, held at first by the +giants, and at last by the Turks, has +long been deserted, and the tread of +horses on the paved street disturbs only +a fox in its den or a wild bird in its +nest. The castle hill is about three +hundred feet in height, the base encircled +by a moat. The building itself appears +to have been of Jewish foundation, +though it is probable that the site was +occupied by a still older fortress. There +is Roman masonry in the work, and the +Saracens have added to the beauty, if +not to the strength, of the structure; but +though the exterior wall remains, the +interior is choked with rubbish. The +summit of the castle commands an extensive +prospect—a varied, romantic, +but wild scene of rugged rocks and +luxuriant verdure, comprising no less +than thirty deserted cities. On the right +stretches Moab, on the left Arabia; behind, +in terraced slopes, the hills of +Bashan—a sad and solemn scene of +utter desolation.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + + +<p>A son of Gideon.</p> + +<p>A king of Moab.</p> + +<p>An untruthful woman.</p> + +<p>A man slain by God.</p> + +<p>The son of a persecuted woman.</p> + +<p>What did the Israelites once desire?</p> + +<p>A God-fearing man.</p> + +<p>An officer of a king.</p> + +<p>One of the Apostles.</p> + + +<p><br />The initials will form a passage of +Scripture.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Alfred Clapson</span> +<br /> +(Aged 10 years). +</div> +<p><i>Reigate.</i> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>OUR BIBLE CLASS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Good Shepherd, His Lambs +and Sheep.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Isaiah</span> xl. 11.)</p> + + +<p>We know that Jesus is the Person +of whom our text speaks, because +His herald and forerunner is +described in the third verse, and John +the Baptist applied the prophecy to +himself, when the Pharisees wanted to +know who he really was—"The voice of +one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye +the way of the Lord."</p> + +<p>He came to teach the necessity of repentance, +to reprove the pride of the +Pharisee, bringing low the hills and +mountains of their self-esteem; while +the despised tax-gatherers and soldiers +were taught how to rise, by the grace +of God, to the position of honourable +and useful members of society, and thus +the valleys were exalted (Luke iii. +6-14). God, according to His promise, +sent His Prophet to turn the hearts of +the people in some measure before Jesus +Himself appeared (Mal. iv. 5, 6).</p> + +<p>And then, though in a human form, +the "Lord God came with strong hand," +"mighty to save." His "reward was +with Him, and the recompense of His +work was before Him," and He did then, +and does still, "feed His people like a +shepherd." It was the Lord God who +came among men; but how did He +come? Not with earthly pomp and glory, +and His heavenly majesty was but dimly +seen.</p> + +<p>I thought of this on July 17th last, +when the Prince of Wales went with the +Princess to open the Great Northern +Hospital at Upper Holloway, London. +The Royal party were attired in deep +mourning, on account of the recent +death of the Emperor Frederick of Germany, +and so quietly did their carriage +pass along that many scarcely recognized +them, and nearly all who were looking +expectantly for the Prince's coming were +greatly disappointed at the absence of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> +a showy retinue. Yet he fulfilled all that +he promised, and more, for he, with his +wife and daughters, visited all the +patients in the hospital, speaking kindly +words, and doubtless giving real pleasure +to those afflicted ones.</p> + +<p>So, when that infinitely greater One, the +Prince of Peace, came, He did all that +had been predicted of Him; and though +even His own disciples expected grandeur +which they did not find, and for a +while were grieved and perplexed, yet +when, by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, +they better understood His mission, they +perceived that He had finished His +work most gloriously, and had "done all +things well."</p> + +<p>The Shepherd of Israel, then, is the +Lord God, of whom David sang, "The +Lord" (Jehovah) "is my Shepherd: I +shall not want," which Jesus followed +up by saying, "I am the Good Shepherd, +and am come that My sheep might have +life, and have more abundantly all the +blessings My people enjoyed before I +came into this world" (see John x.).</p> + +<p>"He shall feed His flock like a +Shepherd." Jesus here appears as a +King as well as a Shepherd, for good +kings care for and defend their subjects, +but none can do as He does, who is +"over all, blessed for evermore." All +other shepherds must lead their sheep +into green pastures, or procure them +food in some other way, but Jesus +supplies His people from Himself. All +the fulness of love, grace, and blessing +are His own, and as the poet sings—</p> + +<p> +"On a dying Christ I feed;<br /> +This is meat and drink indeed."<br /> +</p> + +<p>Christ once crucified for the redemption +of His loved ones, but now alive for +evermore, is the life and joy of all who +believe on His name.</p> + +<p>And these sheep are divided into two +classes—lambs, and their parents. +Those who are young, inexperienced, +and weak, like Christ's followers were +when He was on earth, how gently He +"carried" them, guarding, supporting, +and instructing so gradually until they +became able to lead others in the ways +of God. And still He tends His feeble +ones with special care. He is kind and +full of compassion, and they who most +need His protection are most sure to +have it, for He fully knows the need.</p> + +<p>But the older sheep need the +shepherd's consideration as much as +the lambs of the flock. Those who have +young ones to nourish and care for +must be gently led.</p> + +<p>The Apostle Paul said that "the care +of all the Churches of Christ pressed +daily upon him" (2 Cor. xi. 28), yet +he could tell how the Lord comforted +both himself and his fellow-workers in +all their trials, so that they were enabled +to comfort others; and speaking from +his own experience, he could encourage +his friends to "cast all their care upon +Him" who ever cares for all His people.</p> + +<p>And it is Jesus only who can really +lead and feed His flock. Ministers of the +Gospel are called "pastors," "shepherds." +As Christ's servants, they may +be, and often are, the means of leading +their hearers into green pastures, and of +restoring the wandering and the weak; +yet every true pastor is a sheep after all, +and all spiritual, heavenly power and +blessing must proceed from Him alone.</p> + +<p>I was much interested, some time ago, +in a pretty little poem, illustrated by the +picture of a splendid ram, standing +beside his wounded little one, calling +loudly for the help he could not render; +and the shepherd, hearing his cries, +hastened to the spot, and carried the +helpless little thing to the fold. And +methought, "Is not this a beautiful +parable for us?" If we are longing to +help and heal the feeble, the straying, +and the sin-sick, and feel how little +we can do, let us seek to follow this +sheep's example, and call upon our +Shepherd—</p> + +<p> +"Whose ears attend the softest call,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Whose eyes can never sleep."</span></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span>He is the Good Shepherd, for He gave +His life for the sheep; the Chief Shepherd, +possessing all the amiable and +winning attractions that charm and +draw the heart; and the Great Shepherd, +almighty and unchanging, "able to save +to the uttermost all who come unto God +by Him."</p> + +<p>Oh, that we all may know His love, +which never can be fully known on +earth, and enjoy the sweet privilege of +commending all our loved ones to His +gracious care, assured that He is able +to do all that His heart desireth, and +that—</p> + +<p> +"With heaven and earth at His command,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">He waits to answer prayer."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Our next subject will be, <i>The Glory +of Christ, as described by Himself in +John xvii</i>.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +Yours affectionately,<br /> +H. S. L. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE POWER OF KINDNESS.</h2> + + +<p>Elihu Burritt, speaking of the power +of kindness, says, "There is no power +of love so hard to get and keep as a +kind voice. A kind hand is deaf and +dumb. It may be rough in flesh and +blood, yet do the work of a soft heart, +and do it with a soft touch. But there +is no one thing that love so much needs +as a sweet voice to tell what it means +and feels; and it is hard to get and keep +it in the right tone."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN OCTOBER.</h2> + + +<p> +Oct. 7. Commit to memory Rom. ix. 25.<br /> +Oct. 14. Commit to memory Rom. ix. 26.<br /> +Oct. 21. Commit to memory Rom. ix. 27.<br /> +Oct. 28. Commit to memory Rom. ix. 28.<br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PRIZE ESSAY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Charity.</span></h3> + + +<p>Paul says (1 Cor. xiii. 4) that +"charity suffereth long, and is +kind; charity envieth not; charity +vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up"; +and in the thirteenth verse, "And now +abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; +but the greatest of these is charity."</p> + +<p>Now, this shows that charity is a +very great and good thing, and that we +ought to desire to have charity above all +things. "If we have not charity, we +are nothing."</p> + +<p>Charity means "love," and that is the +greatest of all good gifts. Love supplies +all other wants, however hard they may +be; and so, if we have not it, we are +not by any means complete, for "above +all these things put on charity, which is +the bond of perfectness" (Col. iii. 14). +This teaches us that charity is perfect +above all things, and that we are to +"love our enemies, and pray for those +that despitefully use us"; also, we are +exhorted to "let brotherly love continue."</p> + +<p> +"Brethren, let us walk together<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In the bonds of love and peace;</span><br /> +Can it be a question whether<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Brethren should from conflict cease?</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">'Tis in union,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hope, and joy, and love increase."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>There would be fewer quarrels and +less sin if every one had charity. +"Charity," or love, "covers a multitude +of sins." "Flee also youthful lusts: +but follow righteousness, faith, charity, +peace, with them that call on the Lord +out of a pure heart" (2 Tim. ii. 22).</p> + +<p>In 1 Corinthians xvi. 14, it says, "Let +all your things be done with charity," +which means that all our actions are to +be done in love. "God is love." Jesus +had charity or love when He was on +earth. His love knew no bounds. +When God sent His only Son Jesus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +Christ down into the world, it was done +thoroughly out of love to sinful man.</p> + +<p>Jesus Himself was full of love, for He +prayed for His persecutors when He was +on the cross, and said, "Father, forgive +them, for they know not what they do."</p> + +<p> +"High beyond imagination<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Is the love of God to man;</span><br /> +Far too deep for human reason;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fathom that it never can:</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Love eternal</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Richly dwells in Christ the Lamb."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>"If God so loved us, ought we not to +love one another?"</p> + +<p>Charity is being kind and loving to +one another, and helping one another +when we can. If we are not kind and +gentle to them, we have not charity, +and do not love each other. When +people do ever such great things, if they +do it for self-praise, and not for love, it +does not profit them anything. If we +love our neighbours as ourselves, we +shall never do them any ill, but rather +"kill them by kindness," even if they are +inclined to resent our charity, or love.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Jessie Martha Collins</span><br /> +(Aged 11 years). +</div> + +<p> +<i>19, Platt Street, Pancras Road,<br /> +London, N. W.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>[Very good Essays have been sent by +Ada Dudley Mote, E. B. Knocker, A. J. +Wells, H. F. Forfeitt, K. E. Thomas, +W. E. Cray, C. Bowman, B. E. J. +Noakes, A. Judd, C. Lack, Winnie +Langman, and F. Lawrence.]</p> + +<p>[The writer of the above Essay receives +a copy of Foxe's "Book of +Martyrs."</p> + +<p>The subject for December will be, +"The Disobedience of our First Parents +and its Results"; and the prize to be +given for the best Essay on that subject, +a copy of "The Loss of All Things for +Christ." All competitors must give a +guarantee that they are under fifteen +years of age, and that the Essay is their +own composition, or the papers will be +passed over, as the Editor cannot undertake +to write for this necessary information. +Papers must be sent direct to the +Editor, Mr. T. Hull, 117, High Street, +Hastings, before the twentieth of October, +in order that the Volume may be completed +for binding.]</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>Page 213</i>)</p> + + +<p>"<i>Persecution.</i>"—2 <span class="smcap">Timothy</span> iii. 12.</p> + +<p> +P otiphar Genesis xxxvii. 36.<br /> +E noch Genesis iv. 17.<br /> +R ehoboam 1 Kings xi. 43.<br /> +S apphire Ezekiel i. 26.<br /> +E bal Joshua viii. 30.<br /> +C andace Acts viii. 27.<br /> +U r Genesis xi. 28.<br /> +T hyatira Revelation i. 11.<br /> +I ram Genesis xxxvi. 43.<br /> +O thniel Judges iii. 9.<br /> +N oah Numbers xxvii. 1.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Minnie Legg</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">(Aged 12 years).</span> +<i>Edinburgh.</i> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>AN OLD CLOCK'S ADVICE.</h2> + + +<p>A correspondent says that in his +great-grandfather's house, as he has +heard his mother tell, there was a clock +on which was the following inscription—</p> + +<p> +"Here I stand both day and night,<br /> +To tell the time with all my might;<br /> +Do thou example take by me,<br /> +And serve thy God as I serve thee."<br /> +</p> + +<p>The old clock remained in the family +for many years, but the time of which it +told so faithfully at last conquered it, as +it conquers all things on earth.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> +<h2>Interesting Items.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> National Sunday League lament a deficit +of £110 as a result of the band performances in +the three parks.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> oldest and biggest tree in the world is +at Mascoli, near Mount Etna. The trunk is +seventy yards round, and a flock of sheep can +take refuge in it.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Jerusalem</span> is rapidly becoming again a veritable +city of the Jews. In 1880 there were +probably not more than 5,000 Jews there; now +there are more than 30,000.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> "threepenny-bit" may well be regarded +as the "church coin." At the collection at Dr. +Parker's Sunday evening meeting in Queen +Anne Street Church, Dunfermline, there were +no fewer than 1,400 threepenny pieces.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Phonography</span>, as a system of shorthand, is +the best, simplest, soundest, and most scientific +of any in existence. Ninety-nine out of every +hundred shorthand writers use it, and none +other should be learned.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> buttercup blooms in unwonted places. +A horse belonging to a farmer near Belford was +having an old shoe removed, when a buttercup +was found to have taken root between the hoof +and the shoe, near the toe. It was in full +bloom.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">This</span> is the day of rapid travelling. A through +railway service has been organised to run from +Charing Cross to Constantinople in seventy-six +hours. Thus, in three days and a half, one will +pass from the city of the Queen to the city of +the Sultan.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> England and Wales the receipts for first-class +railway season tickets last year amounted +to £720,862, for second-class season tickets the +receipts amounted to £665,203, and for those of +the third-class (including workmen's weekly +tickets) the amount was £358,142.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Among</span> the rarities in Dr. Williams' library +in Grafton Street, London, is a tiny shorthand +Bible, exquisitely written, which is said to have +belonged to an apprentice, who, suspicious of +James II.'s intentions regarding Protestantism, +wrote the whole for himself, fearing that he +might be deprived of his printed copy.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Drs. Chauvel</span> and Nimier now announce +that, in future warfare with the Lebel rifle, the +surgeons will not be perplexed by having to +extract balls from wounded soldiers. These +projectiles pass through the body, bones, and +all, even when fired at a distance of from 1,800 +to 2,000 metres (1,980 to 2,200 yards).</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Fortunate Cobbler.</span>—It is announced +that a Blackburn cobbler has just come in for a +windfall in the shape of property valued at +£40,000. He saw an advertisement some time +ago with regard to some property in America, +to which he has proved himself sole heir. He +has left for the New World to take possession +of his unexpected wealth.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">One</span> day last August a boy, nine years old, +went to a school treat, and ran in several races. +On returning home he complained of headache, +and next morning was seized with pains and +became insensible, dying an hour afterwards. +The post-mortem examination showed that +death was the result of syncope, brought on +by fatigue and excitement.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A statement</span> was made at the Spanish +Armada Convention at Exeter Hall, recently, +to the effect that, during 1878, "in the poor +country of Ireland there had been bequeathed +to the Roman Catholic Church no less than +£750,000 for masses for the souls of the departed." +Doubtless Mr. Isaacs had proof of +this, for he referred to it as "an ascertained +fact."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A papyrus</span> of extraordinary beauty and +completeness, of the fourteenth century before +our era, has been added to the British Museum. +It contains certain chapters of the "Book of +Death," carefully copied out by a scribe of +Thebes. Its remarkable feature are the illustrations. +The colouring of these is as vivid as +if the work had been done yesterday, instead of +more than thirty centuries ago.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">An</span> interesting discovery has just been made +by Dr. Tschakort, Professor of Church History +in the University of Konigsberg, who has found +in the library there numerous manuscript sermons +and commentaries by Luther, hitherto +absolutely unknown. They were written in +the years 1519 to 1521—that is, at the very +culminating period of Luther's work as a Church +Reformer, after the burning of the Papal bull, +and before the Diet of Worms.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Strange</span> stories occasionally come from the +Black Country, but few are stranger than that +which is related of a man living at Bilston. A +collier lost his eyesight in December through +the explosion of a blasting cartridge, and the +other week, as he was being led home from a +neighbouring village by a brother, a terrific +thunderstorm commenced. Simultaneously +with a flash of lightning, he experienced a +piercing sensation from the eye to the back of +the head and his sight was instantly restored.</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span><span class="smcap">Mildewed</span> linen may be restored by soaping +the spots, and while wet covering them with +powdered chalk.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Dead Sea, at its northern end, is but +thirteen feet in depth, but at the southern end +it is thirteen hundred.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Chiswick Cemetery.</span>—The Home Secretary +has ordered that a large tract of ground +which has been recently acquired and added +to the Chiswick Cemetery should be set aside +for the use of the Roman Catholics of the +district.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Catholic</span> total abstinence society has been +brought into court in Philadelphia under the +laws against gambling. They pleaded that a +benevolent enterprise such as theirs, though +using lotteries, could not be regarded as a +swindling speculation. "If such things are +allowed to be carried on by professedly good +people," said Judge Biddle, "it is inconsistent +to call upon us to convict other people." The +relation between the grab-bag and the gaming-table +is not inconceivable.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">On</span> June 8th last, a correspondent at Shepherd's +Bush despatched a post-card from London, +<i>viâ</i> the Brindisi and Suez Canal route, to +Hong Kong, with the request that it might be +forwarded to the addressee <i>viâ</i> San Francisco +and New York. The card was duly received +by the original sender a short time ago, +the time taken in its transit round the world +being exactly seventy days, which is about forty +days less than the time taken ten years ago. +The card was franked for 3½d.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Thanksgiving Day.</span>—Dr. Franklin says +that, in a time of great despondency among the +first settlers of New England, it was proposed +in one of their public assemblies to proclaim a +fast. An old farmer arose, spoke of their provoking +Heaven with their complaints, reviewed +their mercies, showed that they had much to +be thankful for, and moved that, instead of +appointing a day of fasting, they should appoint +a day of thanksgiving. This was accordingly +done, and the custom has continued ever since.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Diphtheria.</span>—An American medical journal +gives the following remedy for diphtheria, and +says that where it has been applied promptly, it +has never been known to fail. It is simply as +follows:—"At the first indication of diphtheria +in the throat of the child, make the room +clean. Then take a tin cup and pour into it a +quantity of tar and turpentine, equal parts. +Then hold the cup over a fire so as to fill the +room with the fumes. The patient, on inhaling +the fumes, will fall asleep, and, when it +awakes, it will cough up and spit out all the +membranous matter, and diphtheria will pass +off. The fumes of the tar and turpentine loose +the matter in the throat, thus affording the +relief that has baffled the skill of physicians." +As the remedy is so simple, parents would do +well to cut this out and preserve it.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">An</span> extraordinary affray took place at Manchester +on Sunday, July 8th. The members of +several prominent Orange lodges in the city +were proceeding to a church, where special +services were to be held, when they encountered +in a narrow thoroughfare, inhabited +chiefly by Irish Roman Catholics, a band of +men and women, who rushed upon them with +hatchets, knives, pokers, and bottles. Two +men were seriously injured, and, but for the +timely arrival of thirty policemen, the affray +would probably have had a fatal termination.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">How the Collie Reached his Home.</span>—The +following is a true story about a collie who +took a hansom. He was lost in Oxford Street, +London, so, after having spent some time in +looking for him, his mistress went home, and +what was her surprise, when she arrived, to see +him in the hall. The butler told her the story, +and it was this. After the dog had been lost, +he saw an empty hansom, which he got into; +and the cabby could not get him out, for he +showed his teeth. He called a policeman, who +could not move him either, but with some +difficulty they read the name and address on his +collar, and settled that it would be best to drive +him to his home. They shut the doors, and +drove him home. When he arrived, the cabby +rang the bell, and asked for his fare (which he +of course got), and then the butler opened the +doors, and the dog jumped out as if nothing +had happened.—From <i>Little Folks' Magazine</i> +for August.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Walking from Edinburgh to London.</span>—Mr. +Ross Fraser, who, accompanied by a collie +dog, started from Edinburgh on August 15th to +walk to London in eight days, an average of +about fifty miles per day, arrived in London on +Sunday evening about eight o'clock. The +pedestrian was awaited by a large concourse of +people at Shoreditch Church, and heartily +greeted. The route taken was from Edinburgh +viâ Berwick, Newcastle, Durham, Darlington, +Northallerton, Boroughbridge, Wetherby, +Doncaster, Retford, Newark, Grantham, Stamford, +Huntingdon, Royston, Ware, and Edmonton. +Mr. Fraser seemed somewhat footsore on +his arrival, but the dog appeared in no way the +worse for the journey. The walk has not been +accomplished in the time originally laid down, +as Mr. Fraser's feet gave way owing to the +unsuitability of his boots for the task he had +taken upon himself. After a rest on this side +of Berwick he resumed his walk, and finished +the journey in excellent health.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 375px;"> +<img src="images/img244.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="WILLIAM, PRINCE OF ORANGE." title="WILLIAM, PRINCE OF ORANGE." /> +<span class="caption">WILLIAM, PRINCE OF ORANGE.</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span></p> +<h2>GREAT EVENTS.</h2> + + +<p>The great events which occurred +in August, 1588, and November, +1688, are worthy of our remembrance +and grateful acknowledgment before +God, therefore we bring before our +young readers, in a special way, the +subjects of the Spanish Armada and the +accession of William of Orange, which +are of the greatest importance to all +true Englishmen.</p> + +<p>The following extracts, taken from an +address, by Lord Robert Montagu, at a +commemoration meeting at Leicester, +will give our young readers an interesting +and truthful account of the great +historical facts referred to, in a very concise +form.</p> + +<p>He said there had been many commemoration +meetings throughout the +country, and why did they hold them? +What were those meetings? Well, if he +were asked that question, he should say +that that meeting was a protest, and it +was a commemoration. It was a protest +against a conspiracy which had +extended throughout the country, and +had lasted a great number of years—a +conspiracy to introduce one Romanizing +practice after another into the worship +of the Church of England, and endeavouring +to assimilate, by all means possible, +the Church of England to the Church of +Rome. It was a protest against an +attempt to reduce this country again, and +bring it under the domination of Rome. +It was a protest against the attempts +that all Governments in recent years +had had in hand, and made—no matter +whether Liberal, Whig, or Conservative—to +establish diplomatic relations with +Rome. It was, lastly, a protest against +an attempt, now a few centuries old, to +ruin the backbone of Protestantism in +Ireland—he meant the Protestant landlords, +who were the chief friends of the +union between England and Ireland. On +all those points they protested.</p> + +<p>But then that meeting was also a +commemoration. Commemorations, it +was true, might be good, or they might +be bad. No one would ever think of +merely commemorating bloodshed and +slaughter, but they often commemorated +the deeds of daring and prowess on the +part of their ancestors, and they did so +in the hope that others would follow their +example. He knew not whether that +kind of thing was good, because such +commemorations tended to increase and +foster national pride; but there was one +kind of commemoration which was absolutely +and naturally good—he meant the +commemoration of the signal mercies +which God had vouchsafed to the land. +In doing so, they were merely taking the +advice of King David, who, speaking +of his own people, said, "They remembered +not the mercy of the Lord, and +so they provoked Him at the Red Sea." +And so also the Apostle said, "We have +received mercies, and therefore we faint +not." Therefore, what he (the speaker) +proposed to do that evening was to ask +them to consider the mercies God had +shown to this country—great and signal +mercies—in the year 1588, in the year +1688, and in the year 1788; and, in doing +so, he hoped he should be able to bring +this thought into their minds—that, having +received mercies, they should "faint +not."</p> + +<p>Now, first, with regard to 1588, the +commemoration of the Spanish Armada—the +invincible Armada, as it used to be +called. They would remember, doubtless, +from reading history, that King +Philip of Spain was one of the most +powerful monarchs that ever existed. +The historian, Macaulay, had told them +that on his empire the sun never set. +King Philip counted upwards of one +hundred millions of subjects, and he was +by far the wealthiest sovereign that had +existed since the days of Darius, and he +was also a cruel and bloodthirsty sovereign. +They knew how many thousands<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +he killed in the Netherlands; how many +poor Protestants he had slaughtered +there. He had burnt at the stake every +one he could in his dominions who dared +to study the Bible.</p> + +<p>Well, he it was whom the Pope commissioned +to make a crusade against +this country, to conquer it, and reduce +it, so that it might again come under the +domination of Rome. He was like Pharaoh +of old; he had let the children of +Israel go, and he repented himself of +having done so, and sent an army to +bring them back to the slavery of Egypt; +and so the Pope, not having an army of +his own, told Philip, who had the most +powerful army and navy in the world, to +pursue those English who had escaped +from the tyranny of Rome and become +Protestants, and to bring them back +again under the domination of the Pope; +and the Pope, in order to encourage the +monarch, promised him certain indulgences +and two hundred thousand golden +crowns as payment at the beginning of +the expedition, and the payment of +another two hundred thousand golden +crowns as soon as he set foot in England. +And the Pope also, in order to +make the task easier, set the Jesuits in +this country to stir up disaffection in +England and Scotland, and with the +same object sent a special messenger to +Ireland in order to cause a rebellion +there, and so call off the forces of England.</p> + +<p>Philip at once sent to the Duke of +Parma, his governor in Belgium, instructions +to prepare an army and fleet +to co-operate with the Spanish force as +soon as the Armada should arrive in the +English Channel. The Armada consisted +of 136 galleons, and forty smaller +vessels, manned by twenty thousand +marines; and there was also something +else sent. What was that something +else? The Chief Inquisitor, and 150 +other inquisitors—Dominican monks—to +act together, and to use every possible +engine of torture, and in that way to +convert the people of England to Rome. +Besides these, Philip sent the very pick +of his army, thirty-one thousand men +and four thousand officers, over-land to +Dunkerque to assist them in England +as soon as he arrived. Here was the +invincible Armada, and it was thought +that such an Armada could not be withstood +by that little puny England, for +England was then but a small State, and +had no colonies. The whole population +of England then was not much larger +than the population of London at the +present time. Now, as for the Royal +Navy, it consisted of twenty-eight ships; +and how were they to cope with the 176 +ships which composed the Spanish Armada? +Why, it was impossible, unless +the hand of God should come down to +protect the Protestantism of England.</p> + +<p>Well, on the 30th of July, the Armada +appeared off Plymouth, and Drake and +Frobisher, and Seymour and Hawkins, +and Lord Howard, High Admiral of +England—who was not a Catholic, whatever +might be said to the contrary, but +a Protestant—determined to oppose the +Armada.</p> + +<p>It was on Sunday, the 7th of August, +that the Armada anchored in the roadstead +of Dunkerque, and there waited +for Parma's fleet. In the night, a light +southerly wind sprung up, and eight +ships were selected from the crowd of +volunteer vessels that followed the fleet; +their masts were smeared with pitch, +and their hulls filled with powder and all +kinds of explosive and combustible materials. +These ships were set fire to, and +sent down on to the Armada. What +the Spaniards ought to have done, and +what could have been very easily done, +would have been to cut their cables and +allowed the fire-ships to pass them; but +the Spaniards seemed to have lost their +presence of mind.</p> + +<p>However, at length they cut their +cables and ran into the North Sea; but +the English followed them, and there +was a tremendous battle. The Spanish +ships were so full of soldiers and sailors +that every English shot told ten-fold.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> +Five thousand of the Spanish were killed +and not one hundred English wounded. +A hasty council of officers was held on +the Duke Medina's ship as to whether +they should return to their anchorage off +Dunkerque, or go back to Spain by way +of the Orkneys, and they determined, +like craven cowards, to run round by the +north of Scotland and Ireland, and so on +to the coast of Spain, because they dared +not face the English in the Straits of +Dover. Admiral Seymour watched them. +They could not all pursue the Armada. +A small squadron only went, and when +they came to the Firth of Forth, Seymour +ran short of ammunition. Now what he +wanted to show them was, that it was +not Seymour that was protecting England, +but the Almighty Himself. Seymour +had no sooner put into harbour +than a hurricane rose up, and subsequently +the shores of Ireland were strewn +with the bodies of the dead, and the +wreckage of the galleons. Only a few +reached Spain to give mournful tidings +of the disaster, and then it was found +that there was not a family in Spain +that was not in mourning for the loss of +relatives. As the Egyptians were overthrown +in the Red Sea, so the Spaniards +were overthrown in the North Sea; and +it was God that did all. Queen Elizabeth +and the English people knew that +well, for Queen Elizabeth struck a medal +in commemoration of the event, and the +motto on the medal was, "God blew +upon them with His winds, and scattered +them." She took no credit to herself, +no credit to her navy, no credit to the +English people; for it was God who did +it all. From that day the power of Spain +had dwindled and waned, until Spain +had sunk to a fifth-rate power, and nobody +thought of Spain in the councils of +Europe. But what was the case with little +England, then with hardly any colonies? +God said, "Thou hast been faithful in +little things; be thou ruler over ten +great cities"; and now we had ten great +colonies.</p> + +<p>And now they would pass away from +that subject, and see what happened at +the end of the next hundred years—in +1688. He must first remind them what +was the state of things in 1687. There +was then a Roman Catholic king upon +the throne of England. He was not +only a Roman Catholic, but was an +avowed and sworn Jesuit—James II. +There was then, also, a conspiracy all +over England—favoured by some of +the bishops and many of the clergy—to +introduce the ritual of Rome into the +English Church. There was then, as +there is now, attempts to open up diplomatic +relations between the throne and +the Vatican. There was then an attempt +to ruin the landlords of Ireland, +so as to get rid of Protestantism, and +separate Ireland from England. To +whom did England look at that time +for help? There was then no great Protestant +Germany; but there was a small +State, smaller than England—he meant +Holland—but it was not similarly yoked. +It was here that the hand of God first +began to show itself in the year 1685. +On account of the action of Louis XIV., +who was the mainstay of Roman Catholicism +in Europe, all the best soldiers, +generals, and artisans in Paris left +France and went to Holland. In +England James II. gradually deposed +Protestants and substituted Roman +Catholics in all positions of importance +and influence. The people, becoming +alarmed, sought the aid of William, +Prince of Orange, who had married a +member of the English Royal family; +and on the 1st of November, 1688, +William sailed on his mission to this +country. A strong wind was blowing, +which took him gaily on his journey; +and that wind not only sent him gaily on +his mission, but prevented Lord Dartmouth, +who was on the Thames, from +getting out. God was determined to +show that success had not been arrived +at by man; and on November 6th, in a +fog, William and his friends arrived at a +distance beyond Torbay. When the fog +lifted, and the sunshine beamed forth,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> +William gaily sailed into Torbay. Then +there were two days of calm weather, +during which William landed his army +and his stores, and James's forces could +not attack, owing to the stillness of the +wind. Still James might have struck a +blow, as his troops had converged at +Salisbury; but God struck fear into his +heart. He dressed himself as a fisherman, +got into a fishing-boat, and went +to France. But our forefathers did not +say to William, "Please take the crown +and govern." They said, "We have +certain rights; will you promise always +to observe those rights? If so, you may +sit upon the throne." And William +promised that he would do so, and, as +they knew, they had now the Act of +Rights. One of the clauses of that Act +was that, if the sovereign became a +Roman Catholic, the throne should be +instantly vacated. It was settled that +no communion should be held with +Rome; that was to say, that no diplomacy +should exist between England and +Rome. That Act was passed, and remained +the same to this day. He would +read them what Lord Macaulay said of +the two events to which he referred:—</p> + +<p>"The weather had indeed served the +Protestant cause so well that some men +(<i>e.g.</i>, Bishop Burnet), of more piety than +judgment, fully believed the ordinary +laws of nature to have been suspended +for the preservation of the liberty or religion +of England. Exactly a hundred +years before, they said, the Armada, +invincible by man, had been scattered +by the wrath of God. Civil freedom and +divine truth were again in jeopardy; and +again the obedient elements had fought +for the good cause. The wind had blown +strong from the east while the Prince +wished to sail down the channel, had +turned to the south when he wished to +enter Torbay, had sunk to a calm during +the disembarkation, and, as soon as +the disembarkation was completed, had +risen to a storm, and had met the pursuers +in the face. Nor did men omit to +remark that, by an extraordinary coincidence, +the Prince had reached our +shores on a day on which the Church of +England commemorated, by prayers and +thanksgiving, the wonderful escape of +the Royal House, and of the three +Estates, from the blackest plot ever designed +by Papists."</p> + +<p>Now they had seen God's mercy in +1588 and in 1688, and now let them turn +to 1788. It was not so striking, he would +allow, as the other events, but it was not +less real. And why was it not so striking? +In former days men knew very +well what the Government did, as there +was no secrecy about it. In these days +nobody knew what were the views +and the intentions of the Government. +It was all done underhanded, secretly, +and no one knew anything about it. +They gathered a little from the newspapers +and tried to put it together as +well as they could; consequently, that +system having been in vogue in 1788, +they did not know exactly what took +place.</p> + +<p>In the year 1787, Charles Edward +Catesby was a pretender to the throne, +and the Pope was again anxious to bring +England under him, and he made secret +allies of all the Roman Catholics to put +this Charles on the throne of England. +A body was to land in Scotland, and +£20,000 was to be given to the Highlanders +to rise in rebellion. The French +had an army ready, and they were to +land on the south coast of England and +march to London, so as to prevent the +troops going forth to put down Edward.</p> + +<p>In that same year the Prince Regent +did that thing which, according to the +Act of William, made him vacate the +throne for ever. He married a Roman +Catholic in 1787. Notwithstanding the +fact that he tried to keep it a secret at +first, it afterwards leaked out through +the indiscretion of a member of the +House of Commons. Pitt said at first +that the Prince Regent had denied it +stoutly; but there were those present in +the Roman Catholic Church at the time +he was married; and when it was proved,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> +Pitt then said the Act of Parliament prevented +any one of the Royal family being +married without the consent of Parliament, +and argued that the Prince was +not married. He married a German +princess, and put her away, and came +to the throne as George IV.</p> + +<p>Then came 1788, when God struck that +Charles with death; and then an alliance +was made between Protestant England +and Russia to support each other against +any Roman Catholic emperor. This was +not so striking a display of God's mercy +as was shown in the case of the Armada; +but in them all they saw the hand of +God. They saw great mercy in 1588, in +1688, and in 1788, for the protection of +Protestantism; and what cared they +whether in 1888 ministers should try to +bring them under the domination of +Rome? They knew that God was a +tower of strength, and that they could +rely on Him. Let them think and meditate +on His mercies, and then they would +not fail.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE FISH THAT SWALLOWED JONAH.</h2> + +<p>"<i>Now the Lord had prepared a +great fish to swallow up Jonah. And +Jonah was in the belly of the fish three +days and three nights.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Jonah</span> i. 17.</p> + + +<p>Upon the question as to what was +the fish that swallowed Jonah, +Dr. Raleigh remarks ("The +Story of Jonah," p. 148):—</p> + +<p>"The Bible does not say that a whale +was the prophet's jailer. The infidel has +said that, and then has enjoyed the easy +triumph of proving the natural impossibility +of it. Jonah says 'a great fish' +swallowed him. Our Lord uses a phrase +exactly similar. He uses a generic term, +which includes the whale, but is never +applied to the whale particularly. The +dolphin, the seal, the whale, the shark, +are all included in the term that is used, +and there is strong probability in the +supposition that the white shark is the +creature designated as the 'great fish.' +Sharks abounded in the Mediterranean +at that time. They have been found +there ever since, and are found there +still. In length some of them have attained +to thirty feet and upwards, of +capacity in other ways sufficient to incarcerate +Samson of Zorah, or Goliath +of Gath, as well as the probably attenuated +prophet of Gath-hepher.</p> + +<p>"It is related that a horse was found +in the stomach of a shark, and there are +many instances of men being swallowed +alive—not fabulous and doubtful stories, +but instances well authenticated. One, +of a soldier in full armour. One, of a +sailor who fell overboard, and, was swallowed +in the very sight of his comrades. +The captain seized a gun, shot the fish +in a sensitive part, which then cast out +the sailor into the sea, who was taken +up, amazed and terrified, but little hurt.</p> + +<p>"Every one knows that the shark is a +most voracious creature. Its teeth are +only incisive. It has no power of holding. +It can snap and sever limbs, or +trunk, or head, sheer and certainly as +though its jaws were a guillotine. But +in that case it secures only what is +within the jaws. The rest is apt to be +lost. Its habit, therefore, is to swallow +the prey alive, that it may lose nothing. +Thus God made the voracity of the fish +the means of protection and safety to +His servant."</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Heart-work</span> must be God's work. +Only the great Heart-maker can be the +great Heart-breaker. If I love Him, my +heart will be filled with His spirit, and +obedient to His commands.—<i>Baxter.</i></p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> great design, both in judgments +and mercies, is to convince us that <i>there +is none like the Lord our God</i>; none +so wise, so mighty, so good; no enemy +so formidable, no friend so desirable, so +valuable.—<i>Matthew Henry.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span></p> +<h2>TALKING WITH A MAN SEVEN THOUSAND MILES OFF!</h2> + + +<p>The longest wire in the world +extends from 18, Old Broad +Street, London, E.C., to 29, +Cable Street, Calcutta, over +seven thousand miles. A telegraphic +expert, who visited the London end of +the wire, says:—</p> + +<p>We have often heard of the wonderful +line between this country and Teheran, +the capital of Persia, a distance of three +thousand eight hundred miles, but we +scarcely realized the fact that good +signals were obtainable through so great +a length of wire until recently, when we +availed ourselves of an invitation from +Mr. W. Andrews, the managing director +of the Indo-European Telegraph Company, +to make a visit of inspection.</p> + +<p>It was between seven and eight o'clock +when we reached the office. In the +basement of an unpretentious building +in Old Broad Street we were shown the +Morse printer in connection with the +main line from London to Teheran.</p> + +<p>The courteous clerk in charge of the +wire, Mr. Blagrove, informed us that we +were through to Emden, and with the +same ease with which one "wires" +from the City to the West End, we asked +a few questions of the telegraphist in the +German town.</p> + +<p>When we had finished with Emden, +we spoke with the same facility to the +gentleman on duty at Odessa. This did +not satisfy us, and in a few seconds we +were through to the Persian capital, +Teheran.</p> + +<p>There were no messages about, the +time was favourable, and the <i>employés</i> of +the various countries seemed anxious to +give us an opportunity of testing the +capacity of this wonderful wire. T.H.N. +(Teheran) said, "Call Kurrachee," and +in less time than it takes to write these +words we gained the attention of the +Indian town. The signals were good, +and our speed must have equalled +fifteen words a minute.</p> + +<p>The operator at Kurrachee, when he +learnt that London was speaking to him, +thought it would be a good opportunity +to put us through to Agra, and to our +astonishment the signals did not fail, +and we chatted pleasantly for a few +minutes with Mr. Malcolm Khan, the +clerk on duty.</p> + +<p>To make this trial of telegraphy complete, +Agra switched us on to another +line, and we were soon talking to a +native telegraphist at the Indian Government +Cable Station, Calcutta.</p> + +<p>At first the gentleman at the other end +of the wire could not believe that he was +really in direct communication with the +English capital, and he exclaimed, in +Morse language, "Are you really London?"</p> + +<p>Truly this was a great achievement. +Metallic communication, without a +break, from 18, Old Broad Street, London, +to the telegraph office in Calcutta! +Seven thousand miles of wire! The +signals were excellent, and the speed +attained was no fewer than twelve, perhaps +fourteen, words per minute.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>Page 235.</i>)</p> + + +<p>"<i>Jesus wept.</i>"—<span class="smcap">John</span> xi. 35.</p> + +<p> +J otham Judges ix. 5.<br /> +E glon Judges iii. 14.<br /> +S apphira Acts v. 1, 2.<br /> +U zzah 2 Samuel vi. 7.<br /> +S amuel 1 Samuel i. 14.<br /> +<br /> +W ater Exodus xvii. 3.<br /> +E noch Hebrews xi. 5.<br /> +P otiphar Genesis xxxix. 1.<br /> +T homas Acts i. 13.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Ruth Crowhurst</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">(Aged 9 years).</span> +<br /> +<i>Hastings.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span></p> +<h2>MEMOIRS OF ELLEN AND HENRY HOAD.</h2> + +<p> +"Around the throne of God in heaven<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Thousands of children stand;</span><br /> +Children whose sins are all forgiven—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">A holy, happy band."</span><br /> +</p> + + +<p>Of the truth of these lines there can +be no doubt in the minds of God's +people, and a very blessed truth +it is. There is a heaven of joy and love, +and in this heaven there is the throne of +God, and many dear children are standing +around this throne, singing praises +unto God and the Lamb. Their sins +forgiven, their sorrows gone, their sufferings +ended, death past, joy, and peace, +and glory eternal now begun, who is +there that could not desire to be with +them, and to be as they are? Among +this happy band we hope the two young +ones—brother and sister—Ellen and +Henry, whose names are at the top of +this page, are now standing; and to +give some reason of this hope is now +our object in writing these few lines.</p> + +<p>Many, alas! have hopes of salvation +and heaven for which their life and +testimony can afford no solid ground for +them to rest upon, and whose hope will +one day make them ashamed, and, like +the flickering lamps of the foolish virgins, +will go out when the Bridegroom +comes.</p> + +<p>Ellen and Henry were the children of +praying parents, and, both of them being +members of the Church at Bodle Street, +their children attended the Sabbath +School connected with that cause. The +mother died in 1882, of consumption, +and some of the children soon manifested +symptoms of the same disease. +An elder sister kept house, and as the +younger ones grew up, they had to go +out to earn their bread.</p> + +<p>Ellen was sent to service soon after +she was twelve years old, and not living +far from the school, she was permitted +still to attend; and certainly she was a +girl that needed no constraint in this +matter, for if her duties kept her on Sundays +until too late for the lessons, she +would even then take her seat with the +class while she listened to the sermon.</p> + +<p>How often children manifest a dislike +to the house of God, and how soon there +is an enmity appearing against good +things! To many, attendance both at +school and the house of God is a burden, +and when they grow older they cast off +all restraint and run wildly into sin. +To such, parental control is hateful; +the wise counsels of father and mother +are scorned; the family altar, if possible, +avoided; and their inward idea is +that, when they leave home, they shall +then go on as they like, and have their +fill of pleasure. If any such children are +reading these lines, let them pause and +tremble, for there is an Eye watching +their every thought, and an Almighty +Arm that can reach them; and, sooner +or later, there will be a bringing into +judgment, and who can say how soon?</p> + +<p>But certainly, with Ellen, it was her +delight to go to the house of God. The +writer has met her many times on Sunday +mornings on her way, her face +bright and happy, a stronger bond than +duty binding her close to God's people.</p> + +<p>In the autumn of 1887, the fatal languor +that often accompanies consumption +appeared in Ellen, and, though she bore +up bravely for a little time, she had at +length to leave her place and go home. +Going home to die seems hard for young +ones like Ellen to think of, yet there is +no staying the Hand that strikes. The +summons must be obeyed. In such a case +the great question arises, "Are we ready, +or are we not?" Ellen's earthly home +had no mother to welcome the child, or +to soothe her in her dying hours; and +no one can truly fill the mother's place +at such a time. But it was not to be +long. Soon she was beyond the reach +of mortal aid, and want, pain, and care +had passed away for ever.</p> + +<p>The father gives the following particulars<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> +of what he witnessed in Ellen, and +it is well indeed when parents can give +such testimonies of their children:—</p> + +<p>"She was a very dutiful girl, and very +quiet—so much so, that I seldom had to +rebuke her; always very attentive at +school, and, when out at service, she +would attend the house of God if possible. +All this was very good; but I +wanted something further, and when +she first came home ill, I wanted it made +manifest that the Lord had begun a work +of grace in her soul, and that she had +been truly 'born again.'</p> + +<p>"One morning, as I went home from +chapel, Ellen said to me, 'Father, Mr. +D—— has been to see me.' I then +asked her, 'Did he talk to you? and did +you like what he said?' She answered, +'Yes, very much, and I should like for +him to come again.' Then, bursting +into tears, she said, 'I should so like to +be able to answer him better, but I cannot. +I should so much like to go to +chapel again.' And when her sister +asked her if she thought she should get +better, she said she did not know, but +should so like to go to school once more.</p> + +<p>"The night before she died, I saw a +great change in her, and I asked her if +she ever prayed to the Lord for mercy. +'Yes,' she said, 'sometimes I wake up +in the night and pray to Him. I should +not mind death if I knew my sins were +pardoned. There is nothing to stop here +for if I knew this.'"</p> + +<p>The writer has seen her weep much, +when speaking to her of the certainty of +death and the judgment, the sufferings +of Jesus, and the abundance of pardon +through His blood. Can there be a +more touching sight than to see a child +fourteen years old weeping and praying +in sincerity for mercy, as a guilty sinner +before God?</p> + +<p>Ellen died so suddenly that nothing +further was gathered from her lips, but +we believe her end was peace. She +quietly passed away on February 10th, +1888, aged fourteen years.</p> + +<p>In connection with her and her prayers +and tears, these lines seem very sweet to +me—</p> + +<p> +"Did ever mourner plead with Thee,<br /> +And Thou reject that mourner's plea?<br /> +Does not Thy Word of truth remain,<br /> +That none shall seek Thy face in vain?"<br /> +</p> + +<p>Henry was two years older than his +sister Ellen, and, like her, had to commence +work early, and bear the yoke in +his youth. He had been a regular +attendant at the Sabbath School, and +was truly a promising boy. Quiet and +serious he went on his way, and read his +Bible, which, through faith in Christ +Jesus, is able to make wise unto salvation. +He was, in the leadings of Providence, +called to labour at a place where +he had some work to do on Sunday +mornings, and it was noticed that he +seemed put out in his mind if he was +ever prevented from attending school.</p> + +<p>In the spring of 1888 the same disease +that cut down his mother and sister +appeared in Henry, and he had to leave +his place and go home. The teachers +of the school and the friends around +could see his days on earth must now be +very few, and that he too, like Ellen, had +come home to die. Yet he went to +school a few times after this, and in +May went to Hailsham to spend a few +days with some friends. Here we had +an opportunity of observing him closely, +but he was scarcely able to say a word +about himself. He was failing fast at +this time, and truly it was sorrowful to +see how feebly he moved about. When +visiting the field on Whit Monday, +where the Sunday School children were +having their treat, what a contrast we +beheld between the bright, healthy, +happy children, and the poor, pale, +languid, dying boy looking on!</p> + +<p>Soon after this he went back home, +and went out but little afterwards. He +gradually wasted in body and strength, +and could no longer attend the school, +though living but a few yards from it.</p> + +<p>And now came the time of testing the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> +matter, whether there was anything of +the work of the Holy Spirit in him, or +whether it consisted in merely coming +and going to and from the house of God.</p> + +<p>Let our readers reflect, this time of +testing is coming to every one of us, and +we shall soon be brought where our +young friend was—to lie down and die, +and thus appear before God.</p> + +<p>We will now give some particulars of +his last words and exercises, and thus +let our readers think for themselves +what ground we have for our hope that +this dear young lad is now in heaven.</p> + +<p>His father writes thus of his concern—"I +had watched him for some time, +thinking I could see some signs of +concern, and that he was different from +what he had been. I was almost sure he +had been at times trying to pray, but he +would not let me see him if he could +help it. According as his illness came +on he took more to his Bible and hymn-book, +and they were his daily and hourly +companions. The friends in the school +were much concerned about him, and +talked to him about his soul, but could +not get anything from him. Yet he +seemed to like to hear them, so I asked +him if he did not enjoy what they said. +He said 'Yes,' but did not wish to say +anything wrong, though he hoped that +some of the things spoken were the +workings of his mind. I was very much +concerned about him myself, and my +desire was, that the Lord would make it +manifest that He had a favour toward +him. Once, when about my work, I +could not help asking the Lord for this, +when these words came with some sweetness, +'At evening time it shall be +light'; then I had a hope that the +Lord would appear for him. Soon after +this he had these words come with some +power, 'When thou passest through the +waters I will be with thee; and through +the rivers, they shall not overflow thee'; +and then he expressed the hope that +the Lord would be with him in the river +of death.</p> + +<p>"When he was confined to his bed +he seemed very restless, and being in +great exercise of mind, he folded his +hands, and we could see his lips move, +but could not hear the words.</p> + +<p>"Once, when I came home late from +my work, and went into his bed-room, he +called me to him and said, 'I have had a +blessed afternoon, for the Lord has been +with me, and I can leave you all now, +and everything of earth; and I believe +that I shall go to heaven. I have prayed +for you all.' I told him I was very glad—more +so than if any one had given me +gold, and asked him how it came to +pass—whether it was by any word coming +with power or otherwise? He said, 'No, +but it was a sweet, humbling influence +which so softened my heart, and drew +my affections to the Lord Jesus. It +enables me to bear my sufferings better, +and I lie more comfortable.'</p> + +<p>"A great change was seen in him after +this. His mind seemed much brighter, +and he laid more calm and quiet. I told +him that he perhaps might feel after this +comfort some distress of mind again, +and he said, 'I have been in distress of +mind, father, and the Lord has blessed +me.' This was about a week before he +died. We thought he would have been +taken away sooner, and he felt so himself, +for soon after his deliverance he +called us all around him, and shook +hands with us all, and gave each one +something to keep in remembrance of +him. I asked him then if he felt the +Lord was with him. He said, 'Yes, I +fancy I can see Him coming.' But he +recovered from this, and I then said to +him, 'The Lord did not come as soon as +you expected?' and he answered, 'No; +but I must wait the Lord's time.'</p> + +<p>"He asked once that I would pray to +the Lord to come and take him, and +then asked his sisters to sing the hymn +commencing, 'How sweet the name of +Jesus sounds.' He then said, 'Oh, +now I could sing!' I asked him if he +could sing that hymn. He said, 'Yes, +if I had breath.' Mr. Reed asked him +if he could say that Jesus had done<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> +all things well. He answered, 'Yes, +I have said so, and I can say it again.' +He was then asked what his hopes for +eternity were. He soon replied, +'Nothing but the blood and righteousness +of the Lord Jesus Christ.'</p> + +<p>"Speaking to one of his sisters, he +said, 'I hope that you pray to the Lord +to be your Saviour, and that you read +your Bible. Once I did not like reading +it, and when father made me come in +to read, it almost made me cry, but +now it is the best treasure I have on +earth.'</p> + +<p>"I asked him if he had anything +to tell Mr. Daw, 'Yes,' he replied, 'the +first Sunday after uncle was buried, +June 24th, 1888, when he was preaching +from this, "I know that my Redeemer +liveth," I felt blessed then, and the tears +ran down my face, but the feeling was +soon gone.'</p> + +<p>"The hymn commencing—</p> + +<p> +"Awake, ye saints, and sweetly sing<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The ascended Saviour's love,</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>was very much blessed to him, and he +asked for it to be sung when he was +once suffering much for want of breath; +then he said, 'I feel as though I could +jump into the arms of Jesus.'</p> + +<p>"About half-an-hour before he died he +cried out, 'Oh, what a mighty Saviour! +I shall soon be before the throne, and sing +the praises of the Lamb. Don't sorrow.' +I said, 'Not for you,' and he replied, +'No.'</p> + +<p>"One remarking how ill he seemed, +he said, 'I hope I shall soon be better.' +'When you get to heaven,' I whispered, +and he said, 'Yes.'</p> + +<p>"At another time a remark was made +about his pillow being hard. He said, +'It will be soft in heaven.'</p> + +<p>"The last audible words from his lips +were, 'Rest, father!' and so he died on +the 22nd day of August, 1888, aged +sixteen years."</p> + +<p>Here the father's narrative ends, and +truly we can hope that he went right to +heaven, and that for him to die was gain. +Brother and sister now lie side by side +in the pleasant burial-ground at Bodle +Street, awaiting the resurrection morning. +Can we not, to close these few +lines, also say the last verse of the +hymn of which we have given the first—</p> + +<p> +"On earth they sought the Saviour's grace,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">On earth they loved His name,</span><br /> +So now they see His blessed face,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And stand before the Lamb"?</span> +</p> + +<div class="signature"> +J. D. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>DENIED, YET ANSWERED.</h2> + + +<p>When Augustine, in his home at +Carthage, resolved to visit Rome, +his mother wished either to prevent +him from going, or to go +with him. He would listen to neither +proposal, and resorted to a trick to carry +out his plan. One evening he went to +the sea-shore, and his mother followed. +There were two chapels dedicated to the +memory of the martyr Cyprian, and he +pressed her to spend one evening in the +church of the martyr, while he would +accompany a friend on board a ship, +there to say farewell. While she was +there in tears, praying and wrestling +with God to prevent the voyage, Augustine +sailed for Italy, and his deceived +mother next morning found herself alone. +In quiet resignation she returned to the +city, and continued to pray for the salvation +of her son. Though meaning well, +yet she erred in her prayers, for the journey +of Augustine was the means of his +salvation. The denial of the prayer was, +in fact, the answering of it. Instead of the +husk, God granted rather the substance +of her petition in the conversion of her +son. "Therefore," said he, "O God, +Thou hadst regard to the aim and +essence of her desires, and didst not do +what she then prayed for, that Thou +mightest do for me what she continually +implored."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span></p> +<h2>HONOURING THE LORD'S DAY.</h2> + + +<p>The following interesting incident +was related to the writer by a +gentleman, who had the narrative +from the merchant himself +to whom it occurred.</p> + +<p>When a youth, the latter obtained a +situation in a provision store in one of +the great mercantile cities of the United +States. On the first Saturday evening, +he was told by his employer that he +would be expected to be at his business +post the next day, the same as usual. +On the lad respectfully replying that he +could not do so, as he had always been +taught by his friends to honour the +Lord's Day, he was bluntly told that, if +he would not do what he was asked, he +might come on Monday morning and +get his wages, as there would be no +further occasion for his services.</p> + +<p>We may imagine how such a notice +was calculated to discourage the youth; +nevertheless he kept to his resolution, +and, after a Sabbath spent in a right +manner, proceeded on the Monday to +get his discharge.</p> + +<p>It was his duty to open the store, and +as he was on his way to it, he noticed +a man, as the morning was dark, trying +to make out the inscriptions over the +warehouse doors.</p> + +<p>Asking him what he wanted, the man +replied that he was a ship-captain, and +was looking for a provision store in +order to get supplies for his vessel, +which was coming down the river with +the tide. The youth willingly, forgetting +his employer's unkind threat of +dismissal, at once told the stranger that +if he would go with him to his master's +premises, he would be sure to find there +the articles he was in search of.</p> + +<p>On getting to the stores, the captain +selected a large supply of provisions, for +which he paid well. In short, it was +an excellent commercial transaction. +When he came to pay the money, the +chief clerk, who had now made his +appearance, made out the account, and +saw that the notes given in payment +were those of good banks—a point of no +small importance in those days of +unsound American currency. By this +time, too, the stranger's ship had +arrived at the wharf attached to the +store, and the goods were placed on +board of it, when it proceeded on its +voyage.</p> + +<p>At a later hour the youth's employer +came to business, and the clerk told +him that the new lad had been doing an +excellent stroke of business before others +were astir that morning.</p> + +<p>"A very good price, too, he has got +for the goods," said the master, as he +looked at the invoice. "But," he +continued, "depend upon it, he has +been taken in, and got bad notes."</p> + +<p>"No," replied the clerk; "that's all +right. I attended to that myself."</p> + +<p>Presently the youth came up to his +employer's desk.</p> + +<p>"Well," said he, good-humouredly, +"what do you want?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, sir, you told me I was to come +to you to-day, and get my wages and +my dismissal."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense!" rejoined the master; +"go to your work, and let me hear no +more of that."</p> + +<p>So to work he went, and kept his +situation, and a good conscience. +When our informant heard the anecdote +from him, he had become a successful +trader, God having blessed his youthful +conscientiousness.</p> + +<p>This incident reminds us of another +of somewhat the same character, which +was told us by a gentleman, now dead, +who at the time held a very important +position on the staff of one of our great +religious societies.</p> + +<p>"When I was a youth," so his narrative +ran, "I was sent by my friends to +one of the principal towns in an island +in the West Indies, to be apprenticed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253"> </a></span> +as an articled clerk to a firm of solicitors +there. My connections at home, although +not Evangelical Christians, +respected religion, and when I left, they +counselled me to be always particular in +observing the Lord's Day and reverencing +it.</p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 375px;"> +<img src="images/img256.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="OLD and YOUNG MAN (See page 252.)" title="OLD and YOUNG MAN (See page 252.)" /> +<span class="caption">"WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT?" (<i>See page 252.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<p>"On getting to my new situation, the +managing clerk, at the close of the first +week, told me that I should be expected +to put in my appearance at the office on +Sunday. I told him that I had been +always taught not to do any work on +that day, and that I meant to go to +church. To church I accordingly went. +On the Monday, when I returned to the +office, one of the partners, a lively little +man, looked hard at me, but said +nothing. The next Sunday and the +next I pursued the same course, without +any objection being made to it. There +were other articled clerks in the office, +and they, seeing what I did, gradually +did the same, without any opposition +from the principals. In course of time, +some of the partners ceased to come, +until at last the little man I have named +was the only one who came, and that +for an hour or two. Even this in time +ceased, and the office was shut up on +the Sunday. Then, more curious still, +the other solicitors in the town followed +the example that our office had set, till, +ere long, no business at all was done on +the Lord's Day by any solicitor in the +place."</p> + +<p>A third anecdote connected with the +Lord's Day may here also appropriately +be given. The incident occurred to +the grandfather of the gentleman who +narrated it to us.</p> + +<p>The late Lord L—— was well known +as a brave warrior during the Peninsular +War. His lordship, on his return to +Scotland, was anxious to have some +timber on his estate cut down, that he +might discharge certain pressing debts. +Without giving any notice of his intention, +he called one Sunday morning upon +my friend's grandfather, just as he was +preparing to go with his family to +church, and asked him to walk with him +over the estate, that they might together +see what timber was fit for cutting.</p> + +<p>The grandfather respectfully replied +that that day he had another Master +whom he must serve, but that he would +be ready at any hour on a working day +to be promptly at his lordship's service. +His lordship merely said, "Very well," +and named another day, when the agent +attended him, and did the work that +was wanted of him, apparently to his +lordship's satisfaction.</p> + +<p>The matter seemed to have blown +over, when shortly afterwards the agent, +who had been many years in his lordship's +service, received a notice that he +was wanted to meet Lord L—— at the +office of his man of business on a particular +day, and in a neighbouring town. +The request was an unusual one, and +much surmising took place among his +friends as to what could be the meaning +of it.</p> + +<p>"Depend upon it," said some, who +pretended to see farther than others, +"his lordship, though he said nothing +at the time, has taken offence at your +refusal to work for him on Sunday, and, +now that the business is finished, intends +to give you notice of dismissal."</p> + +<p>The day came, and the agent kept the +appointment, when, to his joyful surprise, +instead of giving a notice of dismissal, +his lordship told him, with +expressions of esteem, that he desired to +show his sense of the conscientious manner +in which he had so long discharged +his duties, and that he had asked him to +attend in order that he might settle a +pension upon him.</p> + +<p>The reader may imagine his happiness +when he found all his fears at an end, +and had this proof of the approbation of +his conduct by a divine and an earthly +master. The worthy man lived long to +enjoy Lord L——'s bounty, having died +at the age of 102. On the anniversary +of his hundredth birthday, some of his +neighbours, by whom he was much +respected, entertained him at a public<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +dinner, and gave him a Bible, accompanied +with the hope that he might have +to the end of his pilgrimage the guidance +of Him who had guided him "a +hundred years."—H. M., in <i>Friendly +Greetings</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>LITTLE JOHNNIE.</h2> + + +<p> +Shall I vex your patience, Johnnie,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If I write again?</span><br /> +Would you rather I should leave you<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Brooding o'er your pain?</span><br /> +<br /> +Does your little heart grow tired<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of the outside noise?</span><br /> +Will you never tell your sorrows?<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Must you hide your joys?</span><br /> +<br /> +Then I'll go to Jesus, Johnnie—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Go to Him, and say—</span><br /> +"There's a weary child, Lord Jesus,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Needs Thy love to-day.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Listen to his father's praying;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">See his mother's tears;</span><br /> +Speak, oh, speak to little Johnnie!<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Speak, and hush our fears.</span><br /> +<br /> +"He was born a wretched sinner;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Does he know it, Lord?</span><br /> +Thou hast promises for sinners,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In Thy precious Word.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Speak, oh, speak to little Johnnie,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">That our aching hearts</span><br /> +May be comforted about him<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">When his soul departs.</span><br /> +<br /> +"We have told him of Thy mercy,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Told him of Thy wrath;</span><br /> +Told him of the untold terrors<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of the second death.</span><br /> +<br /> +"But the voice that wakes an echo<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">In the silent one,</span><br /> +And the hand that opens heaven,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Jesus, are Thine own.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Lord, we cannot help repeating,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Speak to him to-day;</span><br /> +Hope, nor prayer, nor mercy cometh<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">To the mouldering clay.</span><br /> +<br /> +"Now the heart and flesh are failing,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Now the need is true,</span><br /> +Hell beneath, and heaven above him,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Stoop, Lord, lift him through."</span><br /> +<br /> +I have said all this to Jesus,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Johnnie dear, for you;</span><br /> +Tell your mother if He answers;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">She is praying too.</span><br /> +<br /> +Oh, if you but hear Him whisper,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Guilty sinner, come!"</span><br /> +Break away to Jesus, Johnnie;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">He will take you home.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">M. A. Chaplin.</span><br /> +<br /> +<i>Galleywood, Chelmsford.</i><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + + +<p>A king of Israel.</p> + +<p>A king of Moab.</p> + +<p>Absalom's general.</p> + +<p>The son of Ham.</p> + +<p>A river.</p> + +<p>A son of Jacob.</p> + +<p>A king of Israel.</p> + +<p>A priest.</p> + +<p>Abram's brother.</p> + +<p>A precious stone.</p> + +<p>A king of Bashan.</p> + +<p>Something sent to various kings by God.</p> + +<p>A servant of Ahab.</p> + +<p>An animal mentioned in the Bible.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Winnie Langman</span><br /> + +<span style="margin-left: 10em;">(Aged 10 years).</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><i>Battersea.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN NOVEMBER.</h2> + + +<p> +Nov. 4. Commit to memory Ps. cxxvii. i.<br /> +Nov. 11. Commit to memory Ps. cxxvii. 2.<br /> +Nov. 18. Commit to memory Ps. cxxv. 2.<br /> +Nov. 25. Commit to memory Ps. cxxv. 3. +</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span></p> +<h2>BRIMSTONE OR SULPHUR.</h2> + +<p>"<i>The Lord rained upon Sodom and +upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Genesis</span> +xix. 24.</p> + + +<p>Sulphur is one of the most +inflammable substances known, +and will melt in fire but not in +water. The meaning of the word "sulphur" +is, the burning or fiery stone. This +substance is obtained in most parts of +the world, but is very abundant in volcanic +regions. It doubtless helps to feed +those terrific fires of the earth which +occasionally burst forth in all their fury, +pouring liquid lava upon the valleys beneath, +and overwhelming cities in destruction. +The smoke which issues from +the craters of volcanoes is impregnated +with sulphur; indeed, this substance is +often found encrusted round the mouths +of these burning mountains.</p> + +<p>Italy and Sicily produce the best +sulphur in a native state, and in very +large quantity. This is imported into +England, is refined, and in its respective +processes produces the roll brimstone, +rock brimstone, and flowers of sulphur, +all so well known in commerce. Sulphur +also exists in some of our mineral +springs, as that of Harrogate, in Yorkshire. +It is found in the combination +of several metallic ores, such as pyrites +or sulphuret of iron, and sulphurets of +zinc, copper, and lead. In some of its +forms it exists in some plants. This +may be proved by leaving a silver spoon +in mustard; the colour of the spoon will +soon be changed to a blackish tinge. +It is the presence of this principle in +assafœtida which causes it to smell so +disagreeably. Silver put into the same +pocket with sulphur soon loses its +brightness.</p> + +<p>Sulphur is applied to a variety of purposes. +It is largely used in the manufacture +of sulphuric acid, and forms +about a tenth component part in the +manufacture of English gunpowder. As +a medicine it is very useful.</p> + +<p>There appears to be an allusion to +its appropriation for gunpowder in +Revelation ix. 17, 18. Many eminent +expositors of the Revelation agree +in supposing that the flashes of fire, +attended by smoke and brimstone, +"whereby men were killed," which +seemed to proceed from the mouths of +the horses, were really the flashes of +artillery. The heads of the horses alone +would be seen through the sulphureous +smoke, while in reality the flashes and +smoke proceeded from the cannon. The +whole appears imagery of a battle scene, +and is thought to refer to the Turks, who +first turned to account the invention of +gunpowder in carrying on their wars.</p> + +<p>"The Lord rained upon Sodom and +Gomorrah brimstone and fire" (or burning +brimstone). As these cities were +situated in the vale of Siddim, which, as +the sacred writer informs us, was full of +bitumen pits, many learned men are of +opinion that it does not detract from the +supernatural character of this awful +visitation to suppose that the wonder-working +God saw fit to employ natural +agencies in effecting the purposes of +His will; and it is thought that, as +sulphur exists in the neighbouring hills, +it might have been ignited by lightning, +and poured down like rain upon the +vale below. The quantity of pitch already +existing in the vale would be set on fire, +and thus the cities would be destroyed, +and the character of the valleys thereby +changed.</p> + +<p>Be this as it may, the statement of the +sacred writer is clear, and we may safely +interpret it as implying a shower of inflamed +sulphur or nitre. At the same +time, it is evident that the whole plain +underwent a simultaneous convulsion, +which seems referable to the consequences +of bituminous explosion. In +accordance with this view, we find the +materials, as it were, of this awful visitation +near at hand, for, at the present<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> +day, sulphur is found on the shores of +the Dead Sea, which occupies the site of +the cities of the plain; and the Arabs +obtain enough from the cliffs to make +their own gunpowder. Irby and Mangles +collected on the southern coasts lumps +of fine sulphur, from the size of a nutmeg +up to that of a small hen's egg, which it +was evident from their situation had +been brought down from the neighbouring +hills by the rain.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +H. H. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>A BIRTHDAY WISH.</h2> + + +<p> +Life is before you, friend of mine;<br /> +What it may bring we cannot divine;<br /> +The path outspread is all untrod;<br /> +Unknown are its windings to all but God.<br /> +<br /> +The sun will shine with its gladsome ray,<br /> +And sometimes clouds overshadow the day;<br /> +Your heart may be lifted with joy untold;<br /> +But remember the same is not yours to hold.<br /> +<br /> +At your bidding it comes not, nor does it stay;<br /> +But when One speaks it flies away;<br /> +And why is this? That One is Love,<br /> +And seeks to lead your heart above.<br /> +<br /> +Were earthly happiness all your own,<br /> +You never would wish a heavenly throne;<br /> +So joys are given, they come, and end,<br /> +As seemeth best to our Lord and Friend.<br /> +<br /> +Then let us entrust them to His care,<br /> +And of thinking them ours to keep, beware;<br /> +Let us seek in the gift the Giver to see,<br /> +And trust to His love and wise decree.<br /> +<br /> +Should sorrow and sadness our path attend,<br /> +And dark seem the way to our journey's end,<br /> +Let us look above to the Hand that guides,<br /> +And trust His love whatever betides.<br /> +<br /> +No sorrow is sent with purposeless aim,<br /> +But each has its destined end to gain;<br /> +He loves us so dearly, and shed His blood<br /> +To lead us up to the throne of God.<br /> +<br /> +And think you that He would afflict His child<br /> +With needless pains in this desert wild?<br /> +No; though all that's sent we can't understand,<br /> +Let us never distrust the guiding Hand.<br /> +<br /> +His wisdom is perfect, His love divine,<br /> +And changeth not with the flight of time;<br /> +To the trustful heart that resteth in Him<br /> +He has promised joys that never shall dim.<br /> +<br /> +A quiet peace surrounds its path,<br /> +Surpassing all that the worldling hath;<br /> +May this be yours in that winding way;<br /> +May it lead you up to the "perfect day."<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Lewarn Clayton.</span><br /> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>INSECURITY OF PALESTINE.</h2> + +<p>"<i>They that sow in tears shall reap in +joy.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Psalm</span> cxxvi. 5.</p> + + +<p>The farmer in Palestine had frequently +to sow with an armed +man attending him, to prevent +his being robbed of his seed. A similar +state of danger appears still to prevail. +Tristram, in his "Land of Israel," +says:—</p> + +<p>"In descending the hill from Bethany +we saw an illustration of the wretched +insecurity of the country, in a drove of +donkeys laden with firewood for Jerusalem. +Each ass was attended by a +man armed to the teeth with pistols, +sword, and a long gun; and in one +little valley—the only one beyond +Bethany where there was any cultivation—each +ploughman was holding his +firelock in one hand while he guided +the plough with the other."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span></p> +<h2>A HEROIC SCOTCH STUDENT.</h2> + + +<p>"A ship ashore! A ship ashore!" +was the cry which rang through +the streets of St. Andrew's, Scotland, +one fearful winter's day some +years ago. This thrilling cry roused +every inhabitant. Citizens, University +students, and sailors, rushed with pale +faces and rapid steps along the street +towards a bay to the eastward of the +town. Standing on the shore, the +crowd was terror-stricken and paralyzed +through beholding a vessel stranded on +a sand-bank but a few rods from the +beach. She was shrouded in surfy mist; +the waves dashed furiously against her, +and broke over her decks with irresistible +fury. Yet, through the thick +air and the driving sleet, the people on +the shore could now and then catch +glimpses of the doomed crew clinging, +with the clutch of despair, to the rigging +of the wreck. There were many bold, +brave men in that sympathizing crowd +of spectators, but none who dared to +venture through the mighty surges to +save those ill-fated sailors. It seemed, +indeed, to the stoutest heart, too mighty +a task for mortal man to attempt. All +could sympathize with the wretched +ones; none but God, they thought, +could save them.</p> + +<p>But there was one heroic soul in that +eager, wistful crowd who thought that +man, with God's help, might snatch +those perishing men from the door of +doom. He was a young man—a University +student—strong in body, but still +stronger in spirit. "Bring me a rope," +he cried; "I will try to save them." A +strong rope was brought, and fastened +about his waist. Followed by the prayers +of many and the good wishes of all, this +chivalric youth struggled, with desperate +courage, through the terrific surf +into the deep water beyond. Then, with +the strength of a young giant, guided +by the skill of the experienced swimmer, +he slowly worked his way towards the +vessel's side. He had nearly reached it +when his friends, alarmed by the length +of time and slowness of his progress, +began pulling him back. Then his +courage rose to the sublimest height of +self-sacrifice. He forgot himself. He +would save the men clinging in desperation +to yon vessel's shrouds, or perish in +the attempt. Grasping the knife that +he carried between his teeth, he cut the +rope by which his kind-hearted friends +were drawing him to shore and safety. +He buffeted the rough waves successfully. +He reached the breaker-swept +deck of the stranded sloop. After a +word of cheer to the crew, he took a +fresh rope, plunged anew into the surging +waters, and swam back to the beach. +But four days of starvation, unrest, and +exposure had robbed those poor creatures +on board the wreck of both courage +and strength. Not one of them dared +attempt to escape by means of the rope. +What! then must they perish? Nay, +not yet. The brave student will risk his +life again in their behalf. Many speak +harshly of their lack of pluck. He pities +their weakness; he rushes into the surf +once more, struggles through the crested +waves, boards the sloop, and brings off +a man to the shore. Six times he makes +the perilous trip, and saves a human life +each time. The seventh time his charge +is a boy, so weak and helpless that he +loses his hold upon him twice, and +twice he dives for him into the seething +depths and brings him up. Finally, he +reaches the beach with a limp, corpselike +lad—the last of the rescued crew.</p> + +<p>The crowd, which had hitherto +watched the gallant young hero's movements +with breathless stillness, now +break forth into a loud, triumphal cheer, +which neither the roar of the wind nor +the thunder of the waves can drown—they +recognize the presence of a genuine +hero.</p> + +<p>The name of this noble young scion of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span> +true chivalry was John Honey, one of the +college friends of the celebrated Dr. +Chalmers. His efforts on that memorable +day cost him his life—not directly, +however, for he lived a few years, but +the seeds of a mortal malady were sown +by his humane exertions on that grandest +day of his life.—<i>Great Thoughts.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>DUTIES OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS.</h2> + + +<p>It is the duty of brothers and sisters +to take a delight in each others' +society, and readily to share their +comforts with each other. The kindness +of the heart beams in a sister's smile, +and speaks in a brother's praise. The +heart must be sadly corrupted, if the remembrance +of the scenes that passed +under a father's roof ceases to interest. +It is the duty of brothers and sisters to +admonish one another for their faults. +There are failings in the temper and defects +in the manners which are concealed +with care from the eyes of the world, but +which are apparent amidst the freedom +of domestic life. If follies are not +checked at home, or by strangers, they +will grow into habits. The indolence +from which the young were never roused +has kept them all their after days in +poverty, and the pride which was never +repressed has rendered them odious. +Never let affection make you blind to +the deformity of sin.</p> + +<p>It is the duty of brothers and sisters +to sympathize tenderly with each other. +The heart is so framed that it requires +the aid and comfort of sympathy. How +soothing to a sufferer's heart are the +attentions of a sister, and the word +spoken by a brother in season! Let +sisters consider how much the persuasive +language of mildness and affection +is adapted to transform the roughest +and most impetuous temper into meekness +and wisdom, and that their remarks +may direct a brother's attention to sentiments +full of beauty and feeling, which +he has overlooked.</p> + +<p>Brothers and sisters should vie with +each other in promoting the comfort of +their parents. Every one should cultivate +respect for their parents' authority, +compassion for their infirmities, attention +to their wishes, and be solicitous to +give them all necessary aid, and reverence, +and love, undiminished as they +witness the decline of their faculties. +How delightful it is to hear parents say +of their children, "I cannot tell which is +the kindest to me." What peace such +children are preparing for themselves +when their parents shall have passed +away!—<i>Portia.</i></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE CHILD AND THE EMPEROR.</h2> + + +<p>It is related of the late Emperor +of Germany that, when passing +through a pretty country village +once, he stopped to visit the village +school. Taking up an orange, he +said to the children—</p> + +<p>"To what kingdom does this belong?"</p> + +<p>"To the vegetable kingdom," answered +a little girl.</p> + +<p>"And this?" continued the Emperor, +holding out a gold coin, which he had +taken from his pocket.</p> + +<p>"To the mineral kingdom," was the +answer.</p> + +<p>"And to what kingdom do I belong?" +he said, expecting the little girl would +answer with her former promptitude, +"To the animal kingdom." But after a +pause and many blushes, she replied—</p> + +<p>"To God's kingdom, sire."</p> + +<p>Thereupon the Emperor, greatly +moved, and with a tear in his eye and +much solemnity in his tone, replied—</p> + +<p>"God grant, my child, that I may be +counted worthy of that kingdom."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span></p> +<h2>OUR BIBLE CLASS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Glory of Christ.</span></h3> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">John</span> xvii)</p> + + +<p>In the large, upper room of that +house at Jerusalem, where Jesus +had eaten the Passover with His +disciples, and instituted His own new +feast, "The Lord's Supper," He had +been speaking, and they hearing, most +wonderful truths. "Arise, let us go +hence," He had said (John xiv. 31). +Yet He arose not, and they lingered +still, held fast in solemn wonder while +He spoke the parable of the vine, and +warned and encouraged them concerning +their future course when He had left +them. And then, having assured them +that He had overcome the world, and +bidden them rejoice in Him, He lifted +up His eyes to heaven, and prayed for +Himself, for them, and for all His people +to the end of time.</p> + +<p>A wondrous prayer! He was just +about to enter into His deepest sufferings; +yet He says not a word of pain or +sorrow. "The glory that should follow," +"the joy that was set before Him," +fill His heart and tongue, and all His +prayer breathes of that reward—that +crown of all His labours—the everlasting +life of all His beloved ones.</p> + +<p>He thought of His ancient glory, "the +glory which I had with Thee before the +world was" (ver. 5); and that glory was +connected with His dear people, as we +read in Proverbs viii. 23, where Christ, +speaking as Wisdom, says, "I was set +up from everlasting, from the beginning, +or ever the earth was"; and "Then I +was beside Jehovah, as One brought up +with Him: I was daily <i>His</i> delight, and +<i>My</i> delights were with the sons of men" +(ver. 30, 31).</p> + +<p>"The sons of men," as yet unborn; +but "His gracious eye surveyed them" +as they should in future days appear, +and He was then their "Elder Brother," +"the First-born among many brethren," +and in His image Adam was formed as +a man, "a little lower than the angels, +crowned with glory and honour," and +the lord of God's earthly creation (Psa. +viii.). And Jesus looked on to the +glorious time when all His people, +though they have fallen, and become +sinners, shall be purified and fully saved, +and be "presented to God without spot, +or wrinkle, or any such thing." It <i>was</i> +His glory, before time, to think of this; +it <i>shall</i> be His glory, when time is +ended, to see all His desires fulfilled, +and all His wishes accomplished.</p> + +<p>Next, Jesus thought and spoke of +"the glory His Father had given Him" +(ver. 24)—given Him in the world, in +the sight of His people. In Revelation +xiii. 8, He is called "the Lamb that +hath been slain from the foundation +of the world"—slain in pictures and +shadows; "the firstling of the flock" +that Abel offered; the paschal lamb, +and all the numberless sacrifices slain +of old by God's command, pointed +always to the Lamb of God; and He was +glorified when His people, in by-gone +times, like Abraham, "saw His day," +His coming, and His work, and were +glad in His salvation.</p> + +<p>And Jesus prayed that all whom His +Father had given Him might behold +His glory. When? Not only in heaven, +but here. As we read in Paul's wondrous +description of this sight, "we all, with +unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror +the glory of the Lord" (2 Cor. iii.), do +not simply gaze upon it as on a lovely +picture, but are transformed as we gaze—are +changed, until we become like our +Lord, and bear His image, and reflect +His glory, as the face of Moses shone +when he came down from God on Mount +Sinai, and he did not know it until he +found the Israelites could not look at +him unless he veiled his face, for true +holiness makes us humble and lowly, +and</p> + +<p> +"The more His glories strike our eyes,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The humbler we shall lie;</span><br /> +Thus while we sink, our joys shall rise<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Immeasurably high."</span>, +</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> +And if now we see Him thus by faith, +we shall see Him as He is, and be like +Him for ever.</p> + +<p> +"Oh, that with yonder sacred throng<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">We at His feet may fall;</span><br /> +Join in the everlasting song,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And crown Him Lord of all."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>But the prayer of Jesus began with +the earnest request for another kind of +glory—"Father, the hour is come; +glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may +glorify Thee." "The hour" for which +I came into the world—"the hour" of +deepest woe, yet most glorious victory. +Glorify Thy Son by strengthening and +sustaining Him, that He may glorify +Thee by accomplishing Thy will, and +destroying the works of the devil.</p> + +<p>Was not the prayer answered? Hear +the dying Saviour cry, with a loud voice, +on Calvary, "It is finished!" and we +behold Him gloriously conquering in the +very moment of His death, and departing +to receive the Victor's crown, and +the grateful worship of all the redeemed, +as they sing, "Worthy the Lamb that +was slain!"</p> + +<p>Lastly, Jesus says of all His glory, "I +have given it to My people, My followers, +My friends" (ver. 22). "My glory, My +joy, I share with them." He is "anointed +with the oil of gladness above His +fellows" (Psa. xlv. 7); but to every +"good and faithful servant" He will +say, "Enter thou into the joy of thy +Lord."</p> + +<p>Is His joy, His glory, ours? Do we +delight in His salvation? Do we desire +to follow Him, and, like Him, do good +to others? Do we long to see God's +kingdom come, and His will done on +earth as it is done in heaven? If so, He +has given us a share in His glory, and +we shall meet with all His saints around +His throne on high—</p> + +<p> +"And with one heart, and voice, and soul<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Sing His redeeming grace."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Then will His glory be complete. Oh, +that we may behold and enjoy it, too! +Amen.</p> + +<p>Our next subject will be, <i>Gleanings +from the Book of Ruth</i>.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +Yours affectionately,<br /> +H. S. L. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE PITCAIRN ISLANDERS +AND THE QUEEN.</h2> + + +<p>Captain John Lewthwaite, of Maryport, +has just returned to England, +bringing with him a present for the +Queen from the inhabitants of Pitcairn +Island. Captain Lewthwaite is master +of the <i>Cairmont</i>, of Glasgow, and on +his homeward voyage from Vancouver +Island he called at Pitcairn. He found +that the descendants of the mutineers of +the <i>Bounty</i> had received papers containing +particulars of the Queen's +Jubilee. They said they were anxious +to make Her Majesty a Jubilee present, +and in the absence of anything more +valuable they decided to send some +straw hats of their manufacture. They +also sent other goods made of straw, +which they manipulate with a great deal +of skill. The presents were handed to +Captain Lewthwaite by M'Avoy, the +Governor of the island, and grandson of +one of the mutineers. The box containing +the presents has been lodged with +the Vicar of Peckham Rye, who acts as +agent for the islanders, to forward to +the Queen.</p> + +<p>There are now one hundred and twelve +persons on the island, two-thirds being +women. They use no strong drink, +tobacco, or money. Some time ago a +harmonium was taken out to them, and +Captain Lewthwaite says one woman +plays it remarkably well.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="smcap">A man</span> that cannot mind his own +business is not to be trusted with the +king's.—<i>Saville.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span></p> +<h2>PRIZE ESSAY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Lessons to be Derived from the +History of Daniel.</span></h3> + + +<p>The principal lessons to be derived +from the history of Daniel are—faith, +moral courage, patience, +perseverance, and the value of prayer. +Daniel's faith was steadfast in God, for, +in spite of all opposition, he stood firm +to his purpose. This also shows his +moral courage, in standing alone before +his God when all others were against +him. He truly manifested the feeling, +"Though He slay me, yet will I trust in +Him." Envied and persecuted by many, +he knew that God was for him if men +were against him. It is a dreadful sin +to conspire against a child of God, for +Christ will say to such in the day of +judgment, "Depart from Me, ye cursed." +And again (Mark ix. 42) He said, "Whosoever +shall offend one of these little +ones that believe in Me, it is better for +him that a millstone were hanged about +his neck, and he were cast into the sea." +Daniel knew, too, the efficacy of prayer, +for he was taught by God Himself; and +where God gives faith and a true spirit, +He is sure to call it into exercise. Daniel +possessed an excellent spirit, and was +preferred by King Darius, who did not +worship the true God, and was prevailed +upon to establish an idolatrous decree. +But Daniel openly prayed to God. This +showed his confidence in Jehovah's +omnipotence and faithfulness, and he +was enabled to leave all in His hands, +feeling sure that all things would work +together for his good. It has been +wisely said that "not one spark of real +saving faith can be kindled in our hearts +but by God Himself," and if He does this, +He will give us the supply we so much +need. As a weak limb often grows +strong by exercise, so will our faith, if it +be of God, be strengthened by the very +effort we make in stretching it out towards +things unseen. Daniel's chastening +afterwards yielded "the peaceable +fruit of righteousness" when the angel +Gabriel was sent to tell him he was +greatly beloved, and that he should +"stand in his lot at the end of his days." +Oh, what comfort this message must +have brought to poor Daniel! Happy +shall we be if the Lord speaks thus to +our hearts.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">Laura Creasey</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;">(Aged 14 years).</span> +</div> +<p><i>Sydney House, Sleaford,<br /> +Lincolnshire.</i><br /> +</p> + +<p>[Good Essays have been received from +Charles Southon, Kate M. Bond, Alice +J. Wells, E. W. Cray, Martha Ramsay, +Sarah Hicks, E. B. Knocker, and E. R. +Harris.]</p> + +<p>[The writer of the above Essay receives +a copy of "Cowper's Poems."</p> + +<p>The subject for January will be, +"What is the Most Desirable Thing to +Possess in the Spring-time of Life?" +and the prize to be given for the best +Essay on that subject, a copy of "The +Life of Whitfield." All competitors +must give a guarantee that they are +under fifteen years of age, and that the +Essay is their own composition, or the +papers will be passed over, as the Editor +cannot undertake to write for this necessary +information. Papers must be sent +direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, 117, +High Street, Hastings, by the first of +December.]</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="smcap">Deeper</span> than the love of home, deeper +than the love of kindred, deeper than +rest and recreation, deeper than the love +of life, is the love of Jesus.—<i>Hamilton.</i></p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Nothing</span> is easier than fault-finding. +No talent, no self-denial, no brains, no +character is required to set up in the +grumbling business. But those who are +moved by a genuine desire to do good +and benefit their fellows have little time +for murmuring or complaint.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span></p> +<h2>Interesting Items.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> length of the Thames from source to +mouth is 220 miles.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> greatest height yet reached in a balloon +is seven miles and a quarter.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> 1707 it took two days and a half to get to +Oxford, a distance of fifty-five miles.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> number of Bibles sold by the British +Bible Society up to 1881 was 100,035,933.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Two</span> millions and a half is the number of persons +who are said to be slaves to Sabbath toil +in America, and they generally receive no more +than six days' wages for seven days' work.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Anna Swan</span>, the Nova Scotia giantess, who, +with her husband, Captain Bates, the Kentucky +giant, was an earnest member of the Baptist +Church, is dead. She was seven feet nine +inches in height.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A great</span> improvement in Sunday observance +in the army and navy has, it is said, taken place. +But there are old officers, like the gallant +admiral, who deplore the fact that "the service +is going to the dogs," because there is not so +much pipeclay used on a Sunday as there was +when they joined the service.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Lord Sudeley</span>, of Toddington, near Cheltenham, +has the following fruit trees planted +in his grounds—Gooseberry trees, 93,000; +plum trees, 20,083; black currant trees, +167,000; apple trees, 2,919; pear trees, 852; +damson trees, 8,845; cherry trees, 532; red +currant trees, 10,000; raspberry trees, 25,000; +cob nut, 100; strawberries (acres), 52. In +addition, 100 Scotch firs and 10,000 poplar trees.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Hampton Court Vine.</span>—This noble vine +is more than a hundred and fifty years old, and +nearly as many feet in length; its stem is +thirty-two inches in circumference. In a good +season it will yield more than two thousand +bunches of fine grapes, weighing on an average +seventeen ounces each bunch, or, in the whole, +nearly one ton. They are of the finest black +Hamburg kind, and are said to be reserved +chiefly for the Queen's table.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Running Away with a Ritualistic Crucifix.</span>—It +is stated that a crucifix adorns the +eastern end of Bourn church. Many of the +parishioners are opposed to certain Ritualistic +practices, and have shown their disapproval by +leaving during divine service. During the week +the church is left open, and on Monday, September +17th, a young lady entered and took +away the crucifix. The lady, having secured +the crucifix, proceeded to Bytham Station, and +thence to Essendine. Arrived there, she went +into a friend's house and had a cup of tea. In +the meantime, the Vicar and the young lady's +brother started in pursuit, discovered the missing +ornament, and brought it safely back and +replaced it in the church. The event has created +great excitement in the village, and we understand +that legal proceedings will be taken.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Wolves and Telegraph Lines.</span>—It is believed +in Norway that wolves are frightened +away by telegraph lines. While a vote was +pending on a grant to a new line, a member of +the Storthing remarked that, while his constituents +had no direct interest in it, they +would support the grant because the wires +would drive away the wolves. It is stated as +a remarkable fact that since the first telegraph +line was established, twenty years ago, wolves +have never appeared in its neighbourhood. +Wolves, it is known, will not enter a roped +enclosure.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">In</span> connection with the Mission to Deep Sea +Fishermen, a hospital ship was launched from +the yard of Messrs. Fellows and Son, of Great +Yarmouth, on September 29th. She is 100 feet +in length, and of 152 tons register. She is to be +fitted up as a hospital ship, for the treatment +of accident and illness among the fishermen of +the North Sea. She is named the <i>Queen Victoria</i>, +and Her Majesty, who takes much interest in +the Mission, subscribed £50 towards the cost of +the vessel. The launch was witnessed by a +large number of people. The <i>Queen Victoria</i> +is the same type of vessel as those already in +the Mission service.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A New Alpine Railway.</span>—A railway from +Visp to Zermatt is about to be built, an undertaking +that has for a long time been considered +impracticable. From the year 1891 travellers +will be able to reach the El Dorado of Alpine +tourists in about two hours and a half from the +main line in the Rhone Valley, and step out of +the railway carriage almost at the foot of the +mighty Matterhorn. The line is already marked +out, and follows pretty closely the present bridle +path. It is to be narrow gauge, without cogwheels, +and will cross the Visp torrent five +times. The curves will be rather sharp, and +there are to be six small tunnels. The capital +for building the line is said to amount to six +million francs, and work is to be commenced +this autumn. The length will be twenty-eight +miles, and as Zermatt is 3,160 feet higher than +the starting point, the incline will be over two +per cent.</p> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span><span class="smcap">An Ancient Document.</span>—According to a +telegram received from Lloyds' Signal Station +at St. Catherine's Point, Isle of Wight, a letter, +supposed to have been written 103 years ago, +was picked up on the beach, at Rock End, on +October 3rd. The following is a copy of the +document:—"Office of Ordnance, 11th July, +1785. Gentlemen,—His Majesty's ship the +<i>Trusty</i>, being ordered to be paid off at Portsmouth, +you are, by the Board's directions, to +cause her powder to be taken on shore, and +lodged in His Majesty's magazine, under your +charge.—I am, gentlemen, your humble servant, +<span class="smcap">Aug. Rogers</span>, Secretary. Respective Officers, +Prondy's Hard, W. A." There is a memo, on +the back of the letter—"11th July, 1785. Aug. +Rogers, Esq. <i>Trusty</i> paid off."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> number of preserves in Austria alone, +not counting those in Hungary, is stated at +15,764. and on these there were shot, in 1887, 32 +bears, 113 wolves, 24 lynxes, 9,490 stags, 60,252 +roebucks, 7,709 chamois, 2,998 wild boars, +26,411 foxes, 9,729 polecats, 1,055 otters, 2,672 +badgers, 333 marmots, and no fewer than +1,439,134 hares. Wild rabbits are scarce in this +country, and are not counted in the general +record, but 27,797 were shot in Bohemia, +where there are most warrens. The totals for +feathered game are—4,498 grouse, 1,300 wild +geese, 102,748 pheasants, 1,336,934 partridges, +34,448 quails, 12,652 woodcock, 7,614 snipe, and +28,914 wild ducks. The birds of prey shot were +561 eagles, 38,610 owls, 1,365 horned owls, and +106,353 hawks, kestrels, kites, and vultures.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Rabbit Pest in New Zealand.</span>—The +United States Consul at Auckland, in a recent +report, describes the extent to which New +Zealand has been economically injured by rabbits, +and the cost incurred in endeavouring to +exterminate them. Nothing, he says, could so +overrun a country since the locusts in Egypt. +The rabbits have so eaten out the ranges that +the capacity for maintaining sheep has greatly +lessened, and the flocks have fallen off in +numbers. At the Stock Conference of 1886, it +was stated that rabbits reduced by a third the +feeding capacity of land, and the weight of +fleeces had decreased by 1 lb. to 1½ lb. each. +The number of lambs decreased from thirty to +forty per cent., while the death-rate increased +from three to thirteen per cent. Since 1882, +when the Rabbit Act became law, Government +has expended £7,000 on Crown lands alone, and +it is estimated that during the last eight years +private persons have spent £2,400,000 in extirpating +rabbits. The methods generally in +favour were fencing, poisoned grain (generally +phosphorized oats), and ferrets, weasels, and +stoats. Large numbers of men have been hired +from time to time to make war upon the rabbits, +and it is said that these "rabbiters" +encourage the vermin in every way, and have +been caught killing the stoats and ferrets. +The bonus system has been found objectionable +and expensive. Notwithstanding all that has +been done, in some localities the rabbits have +continually increased, and the damage has continued. +It is hoped, however, that as the +country becomes more populous, and the large +tracts of land are occupied and cultivated, the +numerous herds of rabbits which now roam over +the land will disappear.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">One Thousand Men Drowned.</span>—It is reported +from China that the whole of the new +embankment of the Yellow River, which was +commenced last autumn at the spot where the +old embankment gave way, has been completely +swept away by the summer floods. It +is said to have cost about £2,000,000 sterling +(9,000,000 taels). As the floods rose, it was +seen that the strain was becoming dangerous, +and Li Hang-tsao, the high official in charge of +the work, was sent for in hot haste, but before +he could arrive the whole bank went down +before the flood, and of the eight thousand feet +of river wall lately completed, not an inch remains, +and the waters are pouring unchecked +through the immense gap into the Honan +province. From eight hundred to one thousand +labourers, who were on the bank, were also +swept away and drowned. It is reported from +Peking that all the officials concerned are being +severely punished.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A Shark Story.</span>—Sir,—The following story +may be of some interest to many readers of your +valuable paper. The sailing-ship <i>Grassendale</i> +(registered 1,800 tons, and classed A1 at Lloyds'), +with a crew of about thirty-five hands, on its +voyage from Sydney to San Francisco, met with +great numbers of sharks, about twenty of which +the crew killed. One shark, in particular, had +a quantity of young ones with her. By some +means the little ones were frightened, and +swam into its mouth. Naturally the crew were +curious, and tried to hook it, which they +eventually did. When they cut it open on deck, +imagine their surprise to find no less than forty-two +little sharks, measuring from twelve to +fifteen inches in length, all alive, and capable of +swimming as well as ever—a most remarkable +incident, not heard of before, even in America, +being, to all appearances, a shark's wonderful +way to shelter their young. This information +the writer has received this week direct from +his brother, who is chief officer of the said ship, +and he can, therefore, vouch for its truth.—Yours +truly, <span class="smcap">H. H. White</span>. Rye, October 10th, +1888.—<i>South Eastern Advertiser.</i><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265"> </a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter bord" style="width: 369px;"> +<img src="images/img268.jpg" width="369" height="500" alt="READING THE BIBLE (See page 266.)" title="READING THE BIBLE (See page 266.)" /> +<span class="caption">"IT WAS AGREED THAT SOME ONE SHOULD READ THE BIBLE TO HER." (<i>See page 266.</i>)</span> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span></p> + +<h2>THE BLIND WIDOW.</h2> + +<p>"<i>Cast thy bread upon the waters: +for thou shalt find it after many +days.</i>"—<span class="smcap">Ecclesiastes</span> xi. 1.</p> + + +<p>Recollecting the feelings of +discouragement and sadness +which often oppressed my mind +during the first months of our employment +as district visitors and Sunday +School teachers in a retired village, and +the many instances affording cause for +joy and thankfulness which occurred +during the latter years of our residence +there, I am led to record one of them, +with the hope of encouraging my fellow-labourers +in this interesting occupation.</p> + +<p>One of the first cases which came +under my own observation was that of a +blind, aged widow, who lived a few steps +from the church. Her husband, who +had been dead at this time about seven +years, had led an ungodly life, and had +fallen a victim to the habit of intemperance. +She was left with one son, who +was a lad at the time of his father's +death, and was soon after bound as a +parish apprentice to a good neighbour, +a blacksmith, with whom he afterwards +lived as servant. I think he was a good +boy. He had remembered and taken +pleasure in what he had learned at the +Sunday and National School. He was +constant in his attendance at public +worship, and showed much dutiful +affection and attention to his widowed +mother. In his spare hours he took +care of her little garden, drew water, +and tended the nursery of beautiful +geraniums which adorned her windows; +and when he could, he would come +and read aloud to her on Sundays out +of the Bible or some good book. All +the poor widow's happiness centred in +Henry. It was her delight to do all she +could for him; and many a time have +I seen her, blind as she was, bestowing +her cheerful labour in making his +shirts as white as snow. She had one +other son, older than Henry, who had +accompanied an uncle to the West +Indies, and as she had never heard of +them since, she thought they had very +likely both of them died in that climate, +so unhealthy to English constitutions.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Worthington was, I think, +naturally an amiable woman. Many +sorrows had subdued and broken her +spirits, for she had once lived near +London in very good circumstances. +Though in some degree acquainted with +the leading doctrines of Scripture, and +believing them to be true, she was, it +seemed, quite destitute of any hope +towards God, or true faith in our Lord +Jesus Christ, as her Saviour and her +Friend. To use her own words, "she +had long ago given up herself for lost." +When I asked what led her to do so, she +replied that she knew she had not led +a good life, and that some neighbours +had told her it was no use for such a person +as she was to think of going to +heaven. In this sad state she was +lingering on in a painful earthly existence, +without one hope of anything +better beyond it.</p> + +<p>There was a kind woman who lived +in the next house who, when able, would +lead her to church and back again. +There she paid attention, and thus had +many interesting Scripture histories +stored in her memory, for she had never +learned to read.</p> + +<p>At length, with her own consent, it +was agreed that some one should +read the Bible to her every forenoon. +She listened with earnest attention +and much interest, and at length +found, to her great joy, that she was +not excluded from hope in the mercy +of that gracious God and Saviour whose +loving-kindness and tender mercy towards +a lost and fallen race it reveals and +declares. She discovered with delight +that she was one of those very characters +that had moved His heart to pity, and +for whose redemption and happiness He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> +had sent His only-begotten Son into the +world, and spared Him not, "but delivered +Him up for us all," that He might +make satisfaction for fallen sinners, and +lead such back as reconciled children to +their Father and God. She received the +gracious message with a sense of her +own extreme need of its blessings, and +welcomed it with her whole heart, as +sent to her by the God of love.</p> + +<p>I think the first word of promise which +was fixed in her mind was the engagement +which God makes, in Luke xi., to +give the Holy Spirit to them that ask +Him. She felt that her mind was dark, +and her heart cold and dead towards +God. She wished it were otherwise, and +prayed for the Holy Spirit. It was delightful +to observe the heavenly light +dawn in her once benighted soul, and +to behold the altered state of all within. +Humility, thankfulness, hope, and love +all appeared in their loveliness, and in +various ways did she give incontestable +evidence that old things had passed +away, and that all things had become +new.</p> + +<p>I remember calling one morning, and +finding her much out of spirits. On inquiring +the cause, I found that, it being +the wake season, some of her former +friends and acquaintances had visited +her. It was their conversation which +had grieved her, consisting very much +of scandal and detraction, and she was +greatly distressed at being obliged to +hear it, and felt that she had done wrong +by listening to it, so truly had her mind +become conformed to the principles of +the Gospel of peace.</p> + +<p>Before her change of heart she was +much disposed to murmur, but when +enabled to apprehend the love of God to +her, her spirit was filled with gratitude +to Him for all His undeserved mercies; +and however depressed her circumstances +on earth might be, she had the +comfortable hope of eternal bliss in that +world where all tears will be for ever +wiped away, and there will be no more +want and pain, for "the Lamb which +is in the midst of the throne shall feed +them, and shall lead them unto living +fountains of waters" (Rev. vii. 17).</p> + +<p>One morning, to my great sorrow, I +found her very ill. She was suffering +from an attack of paralysis, which took +away the use of her left side, and very +much affected her speech. She was +suddenly rendered almost helpless. At +first she was greatly distressed, knowing +that her own means were insufficient to +pay any one to help her, and that the +only alternative was a removal to the +workhouse, a prospect which to her mind +was full of terror and disgrace. It became, +however, quite needful, for there +was no prospect of amendment; and +in about a fortnight she was obliged to +quit a home endeared to her by a long +residence, and the honourable independence +with which she had occupied it, +for though often obliged to take only +bread for her breakfast and supper, she +invariably paid her quarter's rent. Her +faith in Christ, however, soon gained the +ascendancy over her natural regret and +sorrow, and she received this painful +dispensation as her Heavenly Father's +will, and submitted to it with quietness.</p> + +<p>The workhouse was about nine miles +from our village. It was a well-conducted +one, and favoured with the visits +of some Christian friends and a good +clergyman. The matron was a kind +person, and treated our blind friend with +much consideration. Her son visited +her as often as he could, and paid her +every dutiful attention, so that her home +there was, I think, more comfortable +than the one she had left. I never saw +her afterwards, but I occasionally heard +of her. She was almost entirely confined +to her bed, but quite able to enjoy and +profit by the kind visits and Christian +conversation of some persons who visited +the workhouse. She found her God was +present with her there, and He fulfilled +to her that beautiful promise made to +His people of old—"Even to your old +age I am He; and even to hoar hairs<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> +will I carry you; I have made, and I +will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver +you" (Isa. xlvi. 4).</p> + +<div class="signature"> +A. E. H. +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF A +SHIPWRECKED CREW.</h2> + + +<p>Two seamen, named John G. +Crone and James R. Wilson, +late of the Scotch barque <i>Henry +James</i>, arrived a short time ago at the +Liverpool Sailors' Home, and gave information +of the loss of that vessel, +through which they underwent an extraordinary +experience.</p> + +<p>The <i>Henry James</i> struck a coral +reef near the island of Palmyra, in the +Pacific Ocean, and became a wreck. In +an hour the crew had to abandon her, +experiencing the greatest difficulty in +getting away. The shipwrecked people +only saved what they stood in, even the +ship's papers and the captain's instruments +being lost. They were in a sad +plight. One boat containing provisions +was swamped and the food lost. The +captain nearly lost his life by being +thrown into the sea. Fortunately a box +of matches was got ashore dry, and with +these a fire was lighted.</p> + +<p>The island of Palmyra was found to be +uninhabited, but a search next day revealed +a number of small huts made of +boards and leaves. The island is about +nine hundred miles from Samoa. The +mate, who had saved his sextant, volunteered +to go in a small boat to Samoa to +seek for aid, and a boat was accordingly +manned, the mate having for his companions +the boatswain and three seamen. +These poor fellows were three weeks in +the open boat, in a tropical climate, and +their sufferings were very severe. They +traversed about thirteen hundred miles, +and some days before arrival their food +and water gave out. Their sufferings were +then terrible, and when they reached Apia, +their condition plainly showed what they +had passed through. Had their voyage +been lengthened but a couple of days, it +is likely all would have either gone mad +or perished from starvation. The shipwrecked +people on the island were in +the meantime living on wild birds, birds' +eggs, and on cocoa-nuts. They had +no arms with them, and the only means +of catching the birds was by sticks, the +men having to get within reach of the +birds before they could be caught. In +the first days the only water the people +had was what they caught by spreading +out the leaves of trees. The matches at +last got wet, and the poor people could +not make their accustomed fire. A +powerful telescope glass then furnished +a burning glass, and enabled them to +get fires once more. Altogether they +were on the island six weeks. At the +end of this time the mail steamer +<i>Mariposa</i> called at the island, and +rescued the people from their island imprisonment. +The party included two +ladies (passengers) and six children.</p> + +<p>The Board of Trade have awarded a +piece of plate to Captain Hayward, of +the <i>Mariposa</i>; a gold medal to Mr. Hart, +first officer; and a silver medal and a +sum of £2 each to seamen Barpark, +Erving, Allan, and Driscoll, in connection +with the rescue of the castaways. +Captain Hayward, who was bound to +San Francisco with mails and passengers, +voluntarily incurred the risk of a heavy +fine for breach of contract, and set off +with the above-named crew in an open +boat, and rescued the unfortunate +people.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH +SUNDAY IN DECEMBER.</h2> + + +<p> +Dec. 2. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 2.<br /> +Dec. 9. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 4.<br /> +Dec. 16. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 10.<br /> +Dec. 23. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 12.<br /> +Dec. 30. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 14.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[269]</a></span></p> +<h2>HE WENT WRONG, BUT HE FOUND MERCY.</h2> + +<p>On Sunday afternoon, August 26th, +1888, Mr. Carr, of Leicester, gave +an interesting address to the +scholars attending the Zion Sunday +School, Trowbridge. After singing and +prayer, Mr. Carr took "The Prodigal +Son" as his subject, which he explained +in a most interesting manner. He said:—</p> + +<p>"Once upon a time there were two +brothers. One of them ran away, but he +got into no end of trouble. But while he +was so wretched, something occurred +with him, and by-and-bye he was brought +back in peace to his father's house, and +was happy for ever afterward.</p> + +<p>"Most of you know that this is the +outline of the parable of 'The Prodigal +Son,' and I am going to try and tell you +the details of it. I shall divide it into +four parts. The first one is <i>Ruin</i>; the +second, <i>Repentance</i>; the third, <i>Return</i>; +the fourth, <i>Reception</i>. He was +ruined. By grace he repented, returned +to his father, and was joyfully received +by him.</p> + +<p>"First, then, <i>Ruin</i>. Now, there are +steps leading to ruin. You find the +prodigal was happy at home at first. +Like Adam, in the garden of Eden, God +gave him a great many good gifts, as +He has given you. He has given us +life, hearing, eyesight, and intellect. +The prodigal had a large portion of +good gifts, but what did he do? He +wandered away from his father, and went +into a far country. Do you like to be +away from home? Remember this—if +you do, it is the first step to your ruin, +as it was with the prodigal. He took +his journey into a far country, where he +was far away from his father; and so we, +in our natural state, are far away from +God. Do you ever think what a dreadful +thing it is to be far away from God? +The prodigal wanted to be far from Him. +But when there, at a distance from his +father, he had no God to go to in his +troubles. He doubtless did not like the +text, 'Thou God seest me.' If you are +like this, remember that every sin you +commit is written in His remembrance +book. But the prodigal made up his +mind not to trouble about that. Have +you thus done so? If so, you will have +to trouble about it some day. There is +a day coming when we shall all have to +stand before God, and it is a dreadful +subject for those to think of who, like +the prodigal, are now at a distance from +God. Therefore, we see that <i>Distance</i> +is the first step.</p> + +<p>"The next one is <i>Dissipation</i>. He +wasted his substance—put his gifts to a +wrong use. Have we wasted the good +things which God has given us? If so, +it is the road to ruin.</p> + +<p>"After he had thus wasted his substance +by riotous living and falling into +bad company, there came another step, +namely, <i>Destitution</i>, which we all have +come to spiritually, and ere long we who +have life, health, bright eyes, rosy +cheeks, and busy hands, shall be going +to the grave. By-and-bye we shall have +spent it all, and we shall be nothing but +a heap of dust and ashes.</p> + +<p>"But you find that, when he had spent +all, there arose a mighty famine, and he +began to be in want. He then fell into +disgrace, and went to a citizen of that +country to see if he could help him. He +went into the fields to feed swine, and he +had not a friend to speak to—none to +help him. The hand of God had gone +out against him, and all his friends forsook +him.</p> + +<p>"That is just the state of the ungodly. +But when he was in the very +heat of this ruin, something happened to +him. He was brought to <i>Repentance</i>. +What was his first step to repentance? +He was brought to himself—that is, a +right understanding was given to him. +What had the prodigal a right understanding +about? About himself. Sin +had made a madman of him, but now he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[270]</a></span> +began to consider the extent of his +misery. How many of you have considered +what you are in the sight of God? +You may be dead before next Sunday. +Where would you be? In heaven or in +hell? The prodigal began to consider +what his sin had done for him. He said, +'How many hired servants of my father +have bread enough and to spare, and I +perish with hunger!' He knew he was +perishing; and we are, if Christ has not +saved us.</p> + +<p>"The first step was, a right understanding. +Now comes the second step, +knowledge of the extent of his misery, +thirdly, a felt sense that he was perishing; +then, fourthly, a wise resolution—'I +will arise, and go to my father.' +He had been trying to make himself +more respectable, but found he could not, +but that he must go to his father just as +he was. Thus he was brought to himself. +Grace did this, and if grace works +in us there will be a willingness to go +to God. Either you want to be near to +God, or, like the prodigal, you want to +shun the very thoughts of God. We are +either on the road to ruin or salvation. +What did the prodigal say to his father? +'Father, I have sinned.' He knew he +was a sinner, and that he had sinned, +and he confessed his unworthiness. He +said, 'I am no more worthy to be called +thy son; make me as one of thy hired +servants.' He was brought to repentance, +and he made up his mind to return +to his father. But his father was a long +way off—too far for him to see him. But +his father saw him while he was yet a +great way off, and had compassion on +him. He did not say, 'I see that +naughty boy that wandered from me, +and got into so much trouble and sin, +and now I will punish him.' But he +had compassion on him, and did not say +a word about his wicked ways. 'He +ran.' Now, look, here was the prodigal +creeping to his father, but the father +'ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed +him.' No doubt he had a dirty face, +but the father did not wait till his face +was clean. Just as we are as sinners, +so the prodigal here was in all his rags. +He said to his father, 'But, father, I +am a vile sinner. I have sinned against +heaven and in thy sight.' Thus he told +his father just what he was.</p> + +<p>"Now then comes the fourth part—<i>his +reception by his father</i>. When his +father met him he took no notice of his +sins, did not answer him a word, but he +said to his servants, 'Bring forth the +best robe.' That was the robe of +righteousness. Here were manifested +the riches of divine grace. The prodigal +had nothing but sin and grief, but now +his father gave him a better robe than +he ever had before. His first robe was +not the best. It was one of creature-righteousness, +but now he had lost it; +and when he was brought back by grace +he had a better robe given him. A robe +of righteousness is better than one of +creature-righteousness. The best robe +was brought forth, and a ring was put +on his finger. A ring is something +which has no beginning nor end, and +the ring is a most blessed emblem of +eternity. It has neither beginning nor +end. And a ring denotes love—love +of the giver to the receiver. This ring +denotes a Father's eternal love. His +father loved him, all the time the prodigal +was sinning against him, with an eternal +love. And they put shoes on his feet—shoes +of the preparation of the Gospel. +They were shoes that would wear well. +The saints have a rough road to travel, +and therefore they need shoes of iron +and brass. Then the fatted calf was +brought and killed, and they had a great +feast and were merry, and we do not +read that they ever left off. There is no +end to the rejoicings over repenting, returning +sinners. Oh, that we all may +know what it is to be redeemed by grace! +This parable teaches us man's ruin, +Christ's redemption, and a Father's +eternal love."</p> + +<div class="signature"> +M. G.</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[271]</a></span></p> +<h2>JOHNNIE'S CHRISTMAS.</h2> + +<p>[This, and three other pieces of poetry, +including the one given last month, were +written for a boy who recently died. +After long and severe suffering he was +seized with a fit. He held up both arms, +and, as the struggles ceased, he looked +up and said, "Come! Come!" His +mother asked him if he thought he +should go to heaven. He replied, "I'm +sure of it. Jesus told me He would take +me, and He wouldn't have said it if He +didn't mean it."—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span>]</p> + + +<p> +Hang out the toys for the little ones;<br /> +Pile up the raisins, and take out the stones;<br /> +But nut, and pudding, and Christmas tree,<br /> +Says little Johnnie, are not for me.<br /> +<br /> +If the children frolic I have to start,<br /> +With a bitter pain at my silent heart;<br /> +And my throbbing head is afraid to move<br /> +At sound of the voices which most I love.<br /> +<br /> +It is nice to feel, though sitting here,<br /> +That mother is with me, and baby dear,<br /> +For some of my little friends have lain<br /> +On a hospital bed, in lonely pain.<br /> +<br /> +Oh, God, my Friend, Thou art surely kind,<br /> +And we, poor sinners, are weak and blind;<br /> +Little we think, and little know,<br /> +Of the love that suffered for human woe.<br /> +<br /> +We hail Thy birth with a gladsome song,<br /> +But Thou hadst sorrow life's journey long;<br /> +And Thou hadst power Thyself to free,<br /> +Yet chose to suffer for things like me.<br /> +<br /> +Oh, come to my heart this Christmas Day!<br /> +I am weak and weary, and far away;<br /> +Since help and mercy are Thy delight,<br /> +Oh, come to my father's house to-night!<br /> +<br /> +Bring rest for my mother, and joy for me;<br /> +My head will not throb as I listen to Thee;<br /> +And my heart, though too weak for a footfall below,<br /> +Will bound, without aching, Thy coming to know.<br /> +<br /> +Thou callest the children, and I am a child;<br /> +Thou callest the guilty, and I am defiled;<br /> +They gather about Thee in joyful array;<br /> +Oh, put me among them, Lord Jesus, to-day!<br /> +<br /> +Put one of my hands in that right hand of Thine,<br /> +And hold out Thy wounds to Thy Father divine;<br /> +He would not, He could not, say nay unto Thee,<br /> +And I should for ever Thy diadem be.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">M. A. CHAPLIN.</span><br /><br /> +<i>Galleywood, Chelmsford.</i> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>Page 255.</i>)</p> + + +<p>"<i>Peace be unto you.</i>"—<span class="smcap">John</span> xx. 19.</p> + +<p> +P ekah 2 Kings xv. 25.<br /> +E glon Judges iii. 14.<br /> +A masa 2 Samuel xvii. 25.<br /> +C ush 1 Chronicles i. 8.<br /> +E uphrates Deuteronomy i. 7.<br /> +<br /> +B enjamin Genesis xxxv. 24.<br /> +E lah 1 Kings xvi. 8.<br /> +<br /> +U rijah 2 Kings xvi. 10.<br /> +N ahor Genesis xi. 26.<br /> +T opaz Exodus xxxix. 10.<br /> +O g Psalm cxxxvi. 20.<br /> +<br /> +Y oke Jeremiah xxvii. 8.<br /> +O badiah 1 Kings xviii. 3.<br /> +U nicorn Numbers xxiii. 22.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Ann Pickworth</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 13em;">(Aged 11 years).</span><br /> +</p> + +<p><i>Sydney House, Sleaford.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[272]</a></span></p> +<h2>BUNYAN'S DEATH.</h2> + + +<p>It was on the 31st of August, +1688, that John Bunyan left the +Valley of the Shadow of Death, +Doubting Castle, Vanity Fair, +and all those other stages of the progress +of a soul in its efforts to find rest and +peace, to cross the dark river that, in +his immortal dream, flowed under the +walls of the Celestial City. This is how +Mr. Froude describes the closing scene +of his great life:—</p> + +<p>"His end was characteristic. It was +brought on by exposure when he was +engaged in an act of charity. A quarrel +had broken out in a family at Reading +with which Bunyan had some acquaintance. +A father had taken offence at his +son, and threatened to disinherit him. +Bunyan undertook a journey on horseback +from Bedford to Reading, in the +hope of reconciling them. He succeeded, +but at the cost of his life. Returning by +London, he was overtaken on the road +by a storm of rain, and was wetted +through before he could find shelter. +The chill, falling on a constitution already +weakened by illness, brought on +fever. He was able to reach the house +of Mr. Strudwick, one of his London +friends, but he never left his bed afterwards. +In ten days he was dead."</p> + +<p>Mr. Froude thinks that the exact date +is uncertain; but Southey and other +biographers generally fix it upon the +31st of August. He was buried in a +vault belonging to the Strudwick family, +in the famous old Nonconformist burial +ground of Bunhill Fields, where his +monument—restored of late years by +admiring and appreciative friends—may +be seen any day by the passer-by, +on which runs this inscription—"Mr. +John Bunyan, Author of 'The Pilgrim's +Progress,' ob. 31st August, 1688, æt. +60."</p> + +<p>John Bunyan wrote sixty books, and +lived sixty years. His chief work, "The +Pilgrim's Progress," has been translated +into seventy-two distinct languages and +dialects, and thus has had a wider circulation +and been more read than any +book next to the Scriptures. More than +fifty years ago Macaulay spoke of it as +"the only book of its kind that possesses +a strong human interest—that, while +other allegories only amuse the fancy, +this has been read by thousands with +tears." What was true then is no less +true now.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF +THE SEA.</h2> + + +<p>A Queenstown correspondent +telegraphs that the National +Line steamer <i>Spain</i>, from New +York, which arrived at Queenstown +recently, brings intelligence that +an aged gentleman, named Murtagh, +residing in Brooklyn, received a letter +on October 11th, from one of the uninhabited +islands of the South Sea group, +Ojee, written by a friend of his, named +Captain Green, who was supposed to +have been lost at sea in 1858, in a vessel +commanded by him, called the <i>Confederation</i>. +She sailed from New York, +in February of that year, for Australia, +and not having been heard of afterwards, +it was presumed that she had foundered +with all on board, numbering sixteen, including +two women. The letter, written +on a soiled leaf of a ship's log, was dated +July, 1887, and had been put aboard a +whaling barque which passed near the +island about that time. The writer observes +that no doubt all hands aboard +the <i>Confederation</i> had been given up +as lost. He then relates how the vessel +foundered in a gale after being nine +weeks at sea, and how her crew, including +himself and two women, having +taken to the boats, after forty days, +landed on the coral reefs of the Island +of Ojee, there being no signs of habitation, +but an abundance of game, fish, +fruits, and water. No vessel came near +the place until one evening in December,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[273]</a></span> +1862, when eight of the crew put off in a +boat to intercept her. The weather being +very stormy, they never returned to the +island, and Captain Green thinks they +were lost. He further states that the +women became the wives of two of the +remaining castaways, and that although +there had been several deaths on the +island, the population at the time he +wrote consisted of twelve persons, who +felt quite contented. They were, however, +badly in need of clothing. During +thirty years, they had communicated +from the island with only three vessels, +and this letter had been four years written +and ready to be sent by some ship. Captain +Green adds that he is sixty-eight +years of age, and in good health.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>PLEADING.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<span class="smcap">Ruth</span> i. 16.)</p> + + +<p> +"Intreat me not to leave Thee," Lord;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">What is this world to me?</span><br /> +No happiness can it afford,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">O God, apart from Thee.</span><br /> +<br /> +Thou art the joy of my delights;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The Life of life to me;</span><br /> +The comfort of my darkest nights;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Yea, All in all to me.</span><br /> +<br /> +Dark were this world without Thee, Lord,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">But, lighted with Thy love,</span><br /> +Thy watchfulness, Thy tender care,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">More fully here I prove.</span><br /> +<br /> +More subject for my song above<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">I gather day by day;</span><br /> +Deeper experience of that love<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Which guides my pilgrim way.</span><br /> +<br /> +Oh, give me grace to serve Thee, Lord,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Each swiftly-passing day,</span><br /> +That I the approving word, "Well done,"<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">At last may hear Thee say.</span><br /> +<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">A Sower.</span> +</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>THE ANTI-ROMISH BOOK.</h2> + + +<p>During the reign of that Popish +King, James II., the law in Scotland +was, that no clergyman +might preach, and that no bookseller +might sell, any book that reflected on +the Romish Church.</p> + +<p>One of the Royal messengers entered +a bookseller's shop in Edinburgh.</p> + +<p>"Had he any books in stock written +against the Roman Catholic Church?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he had a Book that reflected +very severely indeed against that Church. +Might he sell it?"</p> + +<p>"Let me see it," said the messenger.</p> + +<p>The old bookseller went to his shelves +and took down a volume—a Book which +does certainly speak very emphatically +against Romanism—the Bible!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIBLE ENIGMA.</h2> + + +<p> +My 1, 11, 7, 6, 9, 5, a governor of the Jews.<br /> +My 2, 10, 5, 14, 6, the father of Joanna.<br /> +My 3, 13, a king of Bashan.<br /> +My 4, 6, 14, 10, 9, 11, a disobedient queen.<br /> +My 5, 8, 11, a priest.<br /> +My 6, 4, 11, 9, 10, the city of Hadad.<br /> +My 7, 3, 9, 6, 12, the brother of Timna.<br /> +My 8, 5, 4, 11, one of the twelve tribes.<br /> +My 9, 3, 7, 6, a son of Issachar.<br /> +My 10, 5, 12, the son of Zephaniah.<br /> +My 11, 14, 2, 6, 5, 8, the surname of Jacob.<br /> +My 12, 3, 1, 10, a city threatened with a plague.<br /> +My 13, 11, 10, 3, 12, a river of Eden.<br /> +My 14, 11, 4, 6, 12, a Jewish month.<br /> +</p> + +<p>My whole is a precept given by an +Apostle to a Christian Church.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;" class="smcap">Thomas Tyler</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 12em;">(Aged 13 years).</span> +</p> + +<p><i>Potton, Beds.</i></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[274]</a></span></p> +<h2>HOP PICKING.—THE LAST POLE.</h2> + +<h3>(<i>Frontispiece to Volume.</i>)</h3> + + +<p>The <span class="smcap">Little Gleaner</span> no doubt +is read and welcomed as well +by the aged and middle-aged as +the young, for whom it is especially intended. +In the southern counties, the +readers of the <span class="smcap">Little Gleaner</span>, of all +ages, are more or less familiar with "the +last pole." In the counties more north, +where we hope the <span class="smcap">Little Gleaner</span> +is read with equal interest, many dear +children have never seen that lovely +and charming sight of Nature in cultivation, +the hop garden. To us who, by +the hand of Providence, are located in +these hop-growing districts, the hop +gardens in the months of August and +September are always interesting, and +share largely in our love and admiration +for the products of Nature and industry +combined.</p> + +<p>For the information of those not so +familiar as ourselves with the hop plant +under cultivation, we would say that +many hundreds of poor people find employment +for a few weeks in the autumn +at hop picking, by which they are able +to earn a little money, which is useful in +helping them to pay their rent and provide +the necessaries of life. This time is +looked forward to, year by year, with +deep interest by such.</p> + +<p>Among the customs and ceremonies +of the hop gardens, at the time of picking, +or gathering, there is generally a +little ceremony in pulling and picking +the last pole. In September, 1886, the +writer of these lines was one of the +pickers in a very lovely hop garden in +Kent, and witnessed the pulling down of +many thousands of these heavily-laden +hop poles, in all their fresh and lively +beauty. But lo and behold! it came +not only to the last day, and the last hill +(or stool of three poles), but to the last +pole, which was selected beforehand, and +remained standing until all the others +were picked. Then comes the master +himself, and takes down this last pole, +amid the waving of hats, and shouts +of "Hurrah! Hurrah!" But was this +all? No, no! There were sad hearts +that sighed as they remembered the +days of adversity endured by them, and +as they wondered what was to be their +next employment, and how their table +was to be supplied during the coming +winter, should it not be their turn to be +gathered in like the poles that had +passed under their hands. But one +poor, trembling heart among the rest +could not help thinking of that last +great day, when the last stone of that +great temple not made with hands +should be carried up with shouts of +"Grace, grace unto it!" and the following +lines came softly into the mind—</p> + +<p> +"The moon and stars shall lose their light;<br /> +The sun shall sink in endless night;<br /> +Both heaven and earth shall pass away;<br /> +The works of Nature all decay.<br /> +<br /> +"But they who in the Lord confide,<br /> +And shelter in His wounded side,<br /> +Shall see the danger overpast,<br /> +Stand every storm, and live at last."<br /> +</p> + +<p>What! those poor bruised reeds who +fear that they shall never hold up their +heads again—shall they outlive the +moon? Shall they outshine the sun?</p> + +<p>However, let us return to our subject—the +last pole—and reflect.</p> + +<p> +"We, like the crowded poles, all stand,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And all are sure to fall;</span><br /> +The dog and hook<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a> are in God's hand,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And soon will reach us all."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Yes, my dear young readers, whatever +may be those delightsome games<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[275]</a></span> +of which you are so fond, the last game +will soon come. Yea, how soon will be +the end of all our earthly pleasures none +of us can tell. If we look forward to any +day or time of some kind of pleasure, +it may seem to approach us very slowly, +but how soon do we look behind us, and +say, "Alas! that too has gone, never, +never more to return."</p> + +<p>In like manner also we miss a dear +brother or dear sister, a friend, schoolmate, +or teacher; perhaps a dear, loving +mother or father. "Ah!" we say, "they +will never return again." Sometimes we +reflect with sorrow upon some unkind +words or actions towards them—some +pain and grief that we caused them. +Perhaps we were too proud or too stubborn +to ask their forgiveness while they +were with us, so we let the sun go down +upon our wrath, and now we can never +forgive ourselves. Though they are +gone, we see them still—</p> + +<p> +"We see their smiles, we see their tears;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">The grave can never hide them;</span><br /> +A few more days, or months, or years,<br /> +A few more sighs, a few more tears,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And we shall lie beside them."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Seeing that it is quite uncertain which +of us will be the next to have our earthly +ties cut, and all our bloom and beauty +stripped off, may I ask my dear young +friends what are their thoughts on the +subject? Whether it is passed over +with indifference, presuming you shall +be as well off in the end as other people, +or are there moments when thoughts +arise like these—"Oh, if death should +overtake me as I am—so careless, so +unconcerned, so thoughtless, and yet +unpardoned! Oh, if my name should +be left out—and how can I expect anything +else—so prayerless as I am, for +the most part, and my performance so +unlike prayer when I do make the +attempt? Oh, if I could but know that +the dear Lord had a favour towards me! +Why, if all the world were mine, I +would lay it all down this minute to be +sure that Jesus died for me"? And is +there sometimes a little thought stealing +from thine heart, and a tear like a +drop of the morning dew trickling from +thine eye, which says, "Oh, if ever I +should be able to say, 'Bless the Lord, +O my soul,' how I should leap for joy to +be thus quite sure of being the Lord's"? +Then, if this is your feeling after Christ +Jesus, I will tell you how it will be with +you some day. The Lord, who has said, +"Seek, and ye shall find," will give you +the desire of your heart, even pardon +and peace through faith in His blood, +and at last—</p> + +<p> +"When shivering in the arms of death,<br /> +When friends shall watch thy parting breath,<br /> +Though then thy lips can no more speak,<br /> +Though deathly paleness clads thy cheek,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Glory shall fill thy soul."</span> +</p> +<div class="signature"> +T. G.<br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>OUR BIBLE CLASS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Gleanings from the Book of +Ruth.</span></h3> + + +<p>The Book of Ruth is supposed to +have been written in the reign of +her great-grandson, perhaps by +his own pen. It is a beautifully interesting +story. As a fragment of history, it +is connected with the birth of David +and of David's Lord. As a record of +God's providence, it shows how "all +things work together for good to them +that love God, to them who are the +called according to His purpose."</p> + +<p>The two chief personages in this Book, +the hero and heroine of the narrative, +are Boaz, the near kinsman of Naomi, +"the mighty man of wealth" in Bethlehem, +and Ruth, the Moabitess, the +stranger and foreigner, who left her own +people and her father's false gods, and +came to put her trust beneath the +shadow of Jehovah's wings.</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[276]</a></span>We will look at the hero first, because, +though the Book is called by Ruth's +name, all her honour was derived from +her connection with Israel, the chosen +nation, to which Boaz naturally belonged, +and because, as we think of his +riches, his faithfulness, and his kindness, +we cannot help exclaiming, "Surely +a Greater than Boaz is here!" He +was the near kinsman of Naomi's husband, +and the same Hebrew word is +called "redeemer" (Job xix. 25). And +how often we speak of Jesus as "the +Redeemer," who "gave Himself a Ransom +for many." The ancient "goel," +or "near kinsman," had many important +rights and responsibilities. Abraham +was nearly related to Lot, and +when the latter was taken prisoner, his +uncle took all his servants with him and +went to the rescue, because he was his +near kinsman, and he redeemed him by +conquest, through the help of God, in +whom he trusted (Gen. xiv.).</p> + +<p>If a man of Israel died, leaving no +children to take his property, his "near +kinsman," if unmarried, was expected +to marry the widow, and the children +that they might have afterwards were to +be called by the name and take the lands +of the first husband.</p> + +<p>If a Hebrew became poor, and sold +his land—or, still worse, sold himself for +a slave—his kinsman was expected to +redeem him and his possessions if he +could (Lev. xxv. 25, 47-49).</p> + +<p>Thus Boaz, as Naomi's kinsman, redeemed +her inheritance, and married the +childless widow of her son Chilion, the +woman who was no longer to be called +a stranger and a foreigner, but a fellow-subject +of Israel's God and King.</p> + +<p>So Jesus—who redeemed His Church, +His bride, His people, and secured to +them the rich inheritance they had lost +by sin—was, and is, the Near Kinsman +of His beloved ones. They were, and +always will be, "a people near unto +Him" (Psa. cxlviii. 14). His own kindred +He called them when He came +to redeem them (Matt. xii. 50). His +Father loved them, and He loved them +also, and the kindness of God the +Saviour was shown when He came down +from heaven for their sakes. "Kindness!" +Sweet word! It means the act +of a kinsman, and God's kindness is +"loving-kindness," the sweetest description +we can possibly have of the tender +pity and grace of the Lord.</p> + +<p>But the kindness shown by Boaz was +only a dim shadow of the love of the +"Great Redeemer from above." He did +not make much sacrifice apparently +when he purchased Naomi's inheritance +and made Ruth his wife, but "ye know +the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, +though He was rich, yet for your sakes +He became poor, that ye through His +poverty might be rich."</p> + +<p>And more, far more, than this—He +suffered scorn, and shame, and death +itself—the bitterest of deaths. He gave +Himself—He laid down the life that was +so dear to Himself, so precious to His +Father—that He might redeem, buy them +back to God by His blood. He endured +their punishment, He paid their debts, +and then, since Satan had made them +his slaves, like Abraham, Jesus fought +for His kindred, only He fought alone. +He conquered the strong one, and set +the captives free, and Satan still must +yield up his prey at Christ's command. +The Redeemer ever proves Himself +"mighty to save" those for whom He +died.</p> + +<p>Then Ruth furnishes us with a striking +picture of one who is seeking Jesus.</p> + +<p>She was not a native of the promised +land—not born of Israelitish parents. +She reminds us of what Paul says—we +all are, as sinners, "children of disobedience," +"children of wrath," "far from +God by wicked works." But a change +came over her mind and spirit. "The +Lord opened her heart to attend unto +the things spoken" by Naomi. A new, +a heavenly light dawned upon her, and +she saw the evil of idolatry and sin—the +beauty of holiness and God—so that, like +Moses, she "chose rather to suffer affliction<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[277]</a></span> +with His people than to enjoy the +pleasures of sin for a season." She would +sooner "lodge" with Naomi in poverty, +than dwell in comfort among her former +companions; and before she thought of +being enriched and made happy by Boaz, +she had "chosen that good part" which +shall never be taken away from those +who seek and find it.</p> + +<p>The diligent shall be made prosperous, +and Ruth gleaned in the fields of Boaz +before she knew anything of the relationship +he bore to her late husband's +family. She was not ashamed to labour +as a poor and needy woman, and she +gained a good supply of corn from her +work by the special favour of Boaz.</p> + +<p>There is a remarkable little word +connected with her choice of that field. +It was her "hap" to light upon it—a +word not very often found in the Bible, +which always traces everything, great +or small, to the will and permission of +God. Yet this syllable of three letters +came "of purpose" into the record, and +teaches us that all the "accidents" of +our lives, pleasant as well as painful, +are directed and overruled by the Lord. +Things "come to pass," and we are +filled with wonder, but it is because +"He doeth all things well."</p> + +<p>About thirty years ago, one Sabbath +morning, a group of youths were starting +from Clerkenwell, intending to spend the +day gathering blackberries in Highgate +Woods. It so happened that a dispute +arose just outside the chapel where my +late dear Pastor preached, and one lad +refused to go any further with his companions. +To while away the time he +peeped into the chapel just as the hymn, +"When Thou, my righteous Judge, shalt +come," was being given out, and he +ventured to slip into a seat in the +gallery. He was so much impressed by +what he heard that he came again, was +savingly converted to God, was baptized, +and remained for many years an honourable +member of the Church. His "hap +was to light upon" a field of Gospel +corn, and he received a rich blessing, +but his steps, like Ruth's, were directed +by the Lord.<a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a></p> + +<p>And we learn the benefit of wise, +Christian counsel. Ruth needed Naomi +very much, poor and lonely though she +was. From her she learned the good +news of the rich man's kinship; from her +she received instructions how to act so +as to ensure his protection and care. +Her conduct, strange as it would be to-day, +was in those early times quite in +harmony with the behaviour of a virtuous, +modest woman, but it has its chief charm +when we see in it a picture of one who is +seeking Jesus.</p> + +<p>Some dear Christian friend, like +Naomi, encourages and instructs the +youthful seeker by telling of the love +and grace of the Saviour, and saying, as +a beloved minister once said to a young +person, "I cannot give you the blessing; +<i>He</i> can." Naomi wanted the help of +Boaz as well as Ruth, and all God's +people, old or young, strong or weak, +need and crave the loving care of Jesus, +but it is a privilege and joy to commend +one another to Him, and tell of His +goodness and grace "who is rich unto +all that call upon Him."</p> + +<p>In seeking Ruth's happiness Naomi +found her own great joy (see chap. iv. +14). In dutiful consideration for Naomi, +Ruth obtained a hundred-fold more than +she could ever have hoped to find, as +an honoured wife and mother favoured +with both earthly and heavenly prosperity. +Those who honour God He will +honour. Those who water others shall +be watered themselves. May we receive +from the Lord that spirit of love which +seeks the welfare of others, and the +glory of God, as well as our own happiness.</p> + +<p>Our next subject will be, Isaiah xxxv. +8—<i>The King's Highway, and its +Travellers.</i></p> + +<div class="signature"> +Your affectionate friend,<br /> +H. S. L. +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[278]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE EDITOR'S CLOSING ADDRESS TO HIS YOUNG FRIENDS.</h2> + + +<p>Dear young friends,—We +are nearing the close of another +year, and we may be nearer the +close of our mortal career than we think. +What a mercy if we belong to Christ! If +so, we are blessed indeed, for those who +are His are forgiven their iniquity, are +justified from all unrighteousness, are reconciled +to God, and made "accepted in +the Beloved." Oh, that you, dear reader, +may enjoy that blessed portion! Then, +come poverty or wealth, sickness or +health, life or death, all will be well with +you. All such are the children of God, +and none besides. To those who love +Him, He will say, "Come, ye blessed of +My Father"; but to those who are +"without Christ" He will say, "Depart, +ye cursed!" Which will be your +lot? God grant that you may be taught +to flee as sinners to Him who "died for +the ungodly," and who has said, "Him +that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast +out." We trust you will never find rest +and peace only in coming to Christ. If +our feeble labours in sending forth the +<span class="smcap">Gleaner</span> are but blessed to this end, +we shall be amply rewarded, and we +wish the Lord to have all the glory.</p> + +<p>Dear young friends, we do not ask you +to join the "Salvation Army," so called, +but we hope you may be an army yourselves, +seeking to spread abroad good +reading among both young and old; +and we believe that the <span class="smcap">Gleaner</span> and +<span class="smcap">Sower</span> will be found most acceptable +and adapted for such a purpose, therefore +we ask you to join the "Try Army," +and shall be glad to receive the names +of any who are willing to enlist, to whom +we will send sixteen Magazines, post +free, monthly, for one shilling and twopence. +The postage rate, however, will +not allow us to send a less number at a +reduction, but a larger number can be +sent in proportion, for schools. The +Almanacks are nicely got up, and will be +found useful to put on walls in bed-rooms, +&c. We hope that you will get orders +for as many as possible. We will send +fifteen for one shilling, post free; no less +number can be sent at a reduction. This +we do to encourage our readers to obtain +subscribers, and to spread abroad the +Magazines. The Yearly Volumes are +very nice books for presents. <span class="smcap">Gleaner</span>, +picture boards, very attractive, three +volumes, four shillings; <span class="smcap">Gleaner</span>, cloth, +also <span class="smcap">Sower</span>, cloth, three volumes, five +shillings, post free.</p> + +<p>Now, dear young friends, we hope you +will become a "Try Army," and that +we shall see pleasing results arise from +your efforts. We hope, too, if spared, +shortly to greet you again with "A Happy +New Year," and may the Lord bless you +each and all with the best of all blessings, +that we and you may rejoice together +in His mercy, and live to show +forth His praise.</p> + +<p>Trusting you will not forget us, and +that we may still be helped to pray and +labour for your good, we remain,</p> + +<div class="signature"> +Your affectionate friend,<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Editor.</span> +</div> + +<p>P.S.—Scatter abroad our <i>Friendly +Words</i>, 1s. 6d. per hundred, post free. +All are pleased to receive them.</p> + + +<p class="center">AN EXPLANATION.</p> + +<p>In inserting the article, "The Fish that +Swallowed Jonah," in last month's +<span class="smcap">Gleaner</span>, we had no idea of controverting +the testimony of Scripture, but +merely to show that the quibbles raised +by sceptics, as to the truth of a whale +being able to do so, are at least very +silly. God could very easily prepare a +whale for such a purpose. But, as +sharks are included in the term used in +the original by Christ, the word "fish," +as in Jonah, would be quite as correct.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">The Editor.</span></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[279]</a></span></p> +<h2>PRIZE ESSAY.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">The Disobedience of our First +Parents, and its Results.</span></h3> + + +<p>In the Bible it is said that Adam +was formed before Eve, and that +they were both placed in Eden, +where there was one tree of +which God said they might not eat. It +is also said that Adam was not deceived, +but the woman, being deceived, was first +in the transgression (1 Tim. ii. 13, 14).</p> + +<p>Probably the woman was by herself +when the tempter came to her in the +likeness of a serpent, and told her that +she would not die if she partook of the +fruit which God had commanded her not +to eat; but if they took of it they would +be as gods, knowing good and evil. +With this saying the tempter succeeded +in getting the woman to take the fruit +of the tree of which God told her not to +eat, for she looked upon it as "a tree +good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and +a tree to be desired to make one wise" +(Gen. iii. 6), and she wanted to be as +God. All this was instilled into the +heart of the woman by the tempter, and +God being left out of her thoughts, she +now takes of the fruit of the tree, eats of +it, and gives to her husband, and he also +eats of it.</p> + +<p>Such was the fact of disobedience, +which was most heinous in the sight of +God. Thus they both fell from that happy +state by this one act of disobedience, +and were no longer allowed to remain in +paradise. Their life was forfeited. Man +became dead in sin, and was placed at +a great distance from God, no more in +paradise, but under the power of the +prince and ruler of this world. The +result of this act of disobedience has +filled the earth with pride, self-will, and +violence; for all the vice and misery +that have ever been known in this world, +have been the result of disobedience. All +that descend from Adam are born in his +fallen image, are sinners against God, +and judgment has come upon all men +to condemnation. But "where sin +abounded, grace has much more +abounded," since Christ, the Seed of +the woman, has come, as God said, and +has bruised the serpent's head, that as +"sin has reigned unto death, even so +might grace reign, through righteousness, +unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ +our Lord" (Rom. v. 20, 21), who hath +abolished death, and "brought life and +immortality to light by the Gospel" (2 +Tim. i. 10); and by His act of obedience +unto death, even the death of the cross, +believers are made righteous in Him—"For +if by one man's offence death +reigned by one, much more they which +receive abundance of grace and of the +gift of righteousness shall reign in life +by One, Jesus Christ" (Rom. v. 17).</p> + +<div class="signature"> +<span class="smcap">James Herbert Collins</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 6em;">(Aged 11 years).</span> +</div> + +<p><i>Commissariat Office, Cork.</i></p> + +<p>[Very good Essays have also been +received from Ada Cannings, Leonard +Lucock, Bessie Hills, E. B. Knocker, +W. E. Cray, W. A. Tooke, and R. A. +Stevens.]</p> + +<p>[The writer of the above Essay +receives a copy of "The Loss of All +Things for Christ."</p> + +<p>The subject for February will be, "Why +was Saul Rejected of God?" and the +prize to be given for the best Essay on +that subject, a copy of "The Life of John +Newton." All competitors must give a +guarantee that they are under fifteen +years of age, and that the Essay is their +own composition, or the papers will be +passed over, as the Editor cannot undertake +to write for this necessary information. +Papers must be sent direct to the +Editor, Mr. T. Hull, 117, High Street, +Hastings, by the first of January.]</p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p> +<span class="smcap">IF</span> aught good thou canst not say<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Of thy brother, foe, or friend,</span><br /> +Take thou, then, the silent way,<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Lest in word thou shouldst offend.</span></p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[280]</a></span></p> +<h2>Interesting Items.</h2> + + +<p><span class="smcap">M. de Lesseps</span> declares that the Panama Canal +will be opened in July, 1890.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Since</span> the beginning of her reign, Queen Victoria +has been paid approximately £30,000,000 +by her subjects.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> daily consumption of needles in America +is said to be 4,200,000, most of which come from +Redditch, England.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> are 3,100 Smiths enrolled in the city +directory of Philadelphia. There are 250 John +Smiths and 310 William Smiths.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Capture of a Sword Fish.</span>—A specimen of +the sword fish was captured, a week or two +ago, in Long Reach, Milton Creek, Sittingbourne, +by a bargeman. The fish measured +5 ft. 2 in. from end of tail to tip of sword.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Caroline Herschel</span>, the accomplished partner of her +brother's astronomical labours, never could +remember the multiplication table, and always +had to carry a copy of it about with her.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">There</span> are now in the United Kingdom 1,350 +workmen's retail stores, with nearly one +million members, and a capital of £9,000,000, +besides some millions on deposit. The sales last +year to members were over £25,000,000, with +£3,000,000 profits.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Valuable Remedy for Erysipelas.</span>—One +handful of sage, two handfuls of elder leaves, +one ounce of alum. The whole of the foregoing +to be boiled in a quart of iron water from +the blacksmith's forge, until reduced to a pint. +To be used as a wash.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Thomas Emmitt</span>, a man employed on the +permanent way of the Lancashire and Yorkshire +Railway, has received intimation that a +gold medal will be presented to him for his +bravery in jumping on to a runaway engine at +Blackburn, and stopping it.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">It</span> is said that, in 1887, no fewer than 22,131 +human beings died from snake-bite in India, +and the number of cattle killed by snakes was +2,514; 417,596 snakes were destroyed, and +25,360 rupees were paid by the Government as +rewards for their destruction.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> question of the Sunday opening of +libraries is being excitedly agitated in Bolton. +A week or two ago Lord Hobhouse addressed a +meeting, presided over by the Vicar, in favour +of opening, and quoted a letter in support from +the Bishop of Manchester. The clergy of the +diocese have organized an opposition, the Vicar +standing alone in support of the opening, and +recently, at a large gathering, a resolution +against opening was carried with the wildest +enthusiasm, an amendment by a leading +Socialist being defeated.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> probabilities of there being large coal +deposits under London are discussed at considerable +length by a correspondent of the +<i>Times</i>. The speculations of geologists on the +subject have recently been much assisted by +several deep borings, the principal of which +have been those of Kentish Town.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">A boat</span> drifted from its moorings off Camia; +a fishing village nine miles from Boulogne, on +Tuesday evening, October 16th. An old fisherman, +named Charles Coffier, was the only person +on board, and he had nothing to eat for four +nights and three and a half days, when the +boat was driven by a breeze into Hastings.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The</span> Queen reads, or rather, has read to her, +the <i>Times</i> and the <i>Morning Post</i> every morning. +Copies are sent direct to her, printed on +specially thick paper. Her secretary goes +through them, marks with a blue pencil all the +important items, and these are then read to her +by the two ladies who officiate as readers.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Sunday School Anniversary, Milton +Street, Hollinwood, Lancashire.</span>—This was +held on October 14th, when two sermons were +preached, morning and evening, by Mr. D. +Smith, of Halifax, and an address was delivered +by Mr. J. Holgate, of Burnley, special +hymns being sung by the scholars. The congregations +were good, and the services were +much appreciated. The collections amounted +to £13 14s. 11d.</p> + +<div class="signature"> +C. H. W. +</div> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Roman Catholic Pilgrims in Westminster +Abbey.</span>—On Saturday, October 13th, the +"Feast of St. Edward, King and Confessor," was +celebrated in all the Roman Catholic churches +in London, and with more than ordinary pomp +at that of SS. Peter and Edward (which is +dedicated to his memory) in Palace Street, +Westminster, where a Pontifical High Mass +<i>coram episcopo</i> was sung by Dr. J. L. Patterson, +"Bishop of Emmaus." At the conclusion of +the Mass, the congregation, which included +several persons who had come from Preston and +other parts of Lancashire and different counties +of England for the occasion, formed a procession +and wended their way to the Abbey, where +they offered up prayers at the shrine of St. +Edward, King and Confessor. No opposition +was offered to the pilgrims and devotees by +the authorities of the Abbey. Where is our +Protestantism gone to?</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[281]</a></span><span class="smcap">Chinese</span> is spoken by 400,000,000, Hindostani +by something more than 100,000,000, English by +more than 100,000,000, Russian by more than +70,000,000, German by more than 58,000,000, +and French by about 40,000,000.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Will</span> Spain ever be tolerant? The Supreme +Court of Madrid has confirmed the decision of +a provincial tribunal condemning a Spanish +Protestant to five days' imprisonment, with a +fine of one pound and costs, for having persisted +in remaining with his hat on when he met a +Catholic procession.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">An Army of Spiders.</span>—A dangerous spider +that is found on the pampas of Central America, +and belonging to the Lycoss species, is thus +described in a letter:—"When a person passes +near, say within three or four feet of its lurking +place, it starts up and gives chase, and will often +follow for a distance of thirty or forty yards. +I came once very nearly getting bitten by one +of these savage creatures. Riding at an easy +trot over the dry grass, I suddenly observed a +spider pursuing me, leaping swiftly along and +keeping up with my beast. I aimed a blow +with my whip, and the point of the lash struck +the ground close to it, when it leaped upon and +ran up the lash, and was within three or four +inches of my hand, when I flung the whip from +me. The gauchos have a very quaint ballad +which tells that the city of Cordova was once +invaded by an army of monstrous spiders, and +that the townspeople went out with beating +drums and flags flying to repel the invasion, +and, after firing several volleys, they were +forced to return and fly for their lives."</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">The Whale Hunt at Spithead.</span>—The little +coast villages of Bembridge and Sea View, in +the Isle of Wight, were thrown into quite a +commotion on Friday, September 21st, by the +appearance of a huge whale, between thirty and +forty feet long, off the mouth of Brading Harbour. +It was observed to be swimming about +early in the morning, and the little steamer +<i>Island Queen</i>, which runs between Southsea and +Bembridge, had an unpleasant meeting with the +creature. Much to the alarm of the passengers, +the whale would "keep company," and for some +time it was dangerously close to the little vessel. +It furiously lashed the sea with its tail, and commenced +to "blow," the result being that the +captain, who was on the bridge, and many of +the passengers were deluged with water. No +harm, however, was done, and the steamer eventually +got clear, the whale swimming out to sea. +Later on it again put in an appearance, but by +this time the islanders were ready for it, and a +large number of fishing-boats, watermen, and +others put out. The creature was surrounded, and +was at length shot. It was then towed on to Sea +View beach, where it has been visited by some +hundreds of people. At high tide the whale was +partially covered. Its dimensions are as follow—length +of fish, 35 ft.; girth, 20 ft.; length of +mouth from point to top of jaw, 7 ft.; length of +fins, 4 ft. each; width of tail, 8 ft.; supposed +weight, 10 tons. Estimated value of a sperm +whale, £100. The whale has been purchased +by Mr. G. Drover, of Cowes.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Chimneys.</span>—In the year 1200 chimneys were +scarcely known in England. One only was +allowed in a religious house, one in a manor +house, and one in the great hall of a castle or +lord's house; but in other houses the smoke +found its way out as it could. The writers of +the fourteenth century seem to have considered +them as the newest invention of luxury. In +Henry VIII.'s reign the University of Oxford +had no fire allowed, for it is mentioned that +after the students had supped, having no fire in +the winter, they were obliged to take a good +run for half an hour to get heat in their feet +before they retired for the night. Holinshed, +in the reign of Elizabeth, describes the rudeness +of the preceding generation in the arts of life. +"There were," says he, "very few chimneys; +even in the capital towns the fire was laid to +the wall, and the smoke issued out at the door, +roof, or window. The houses were wattled +and plastered over with clay, and all the furniture +and utensils were of wood." In 1639 a +tax of two shillings was laid on chimneys.</p> + + +<p><span class="smcap">Behind the Scenes in the Post Office.</span>—"How +can one get admitted to the General Post +Office, and what departments are best worth +seeing there?" asks "A Country Cleric." +Admission to that remarkably interesting +building, the General Post Office, can be had +on application to the Secretary. A banker's +reference is necessary. The sight is one well +worth seeing, and should on no account be +missed by country visitors to London. Visitors +are admitted at six in the evening, and are +shown over the telegraph department. Here +may be seen the pneumatic tubes, through +which messages are received from many parts +of London. Into this office run wires from +Belfast, Edinburgh, and all parts of the United +Kingdom, and the whole system is explained by +an expert. Crossing the road one then enters +the Post Office itself. Here one sees the "blind +men," as they are called, at work deciphering +illegible addresses; and men and machines +stamping postmarks at the rate of from one +hundred to three hundred a minute. But in +order to see the Post Office properly, two or +three visits should be made. Not one person +in a hundred has any notion of the peculiar +experiences of a letter between the times of its +postage and receipt.</p> + +<hr style="width: 75%;" /> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[282]</a></span></p> +<p class="center">Published on the first of every Month. Price One Penny.</p> + +<h4> +THE LITTLE GLEANER. +</h4> + +<p>An Illustrated Monthly Magazine of Religious and General Instruction for Children.</p> + +<p>The Editor seeks as much as possible to make this Magazine both interesting and useful +to its readers, and hopes that all true friends of the young will try to secure for it a still wider +circulation.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p class="center"> +Published on the first of every Month. Price One Penny.</p> +<h4>THE SOWER</h4> + +<p>Is well adapted for general circulation, since it aims to spread abroad the pure truth of the +Gospel of Christ.</p> + +<p>Seeing how very industriously the abettors of error sow their tares, lovers of truth, with +equal or greater industry, should sow that truth which is "able to make wise unto salvation, +through faith which is in Christ Jesus."</p> + +<p>The Editor earnestly solicits all who desire the spread of Bible truth to help him in this +work by increasing the circulation of <span class="smcap">The Little Gleaner</span> and <span class="smcap">The Sower</span>.</p> + +<p class="center"> +Two, four, six, or more copies of the above Magazines post free of the <span class="smcap">Editor</span>,<br /> +117, High Street, Hastings.<br /> +<br /> +London: <span class="smcap">Houlston and Sons</span>, Paternoster Buildings.<br /> +</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<h4>FRIENDLY WORDS.</h4> + +<p>This is a little work of four pages, <span class="smcap">Gleaner</span> size, which we publish monthly, for the +purpose of supplying friends with a sheet of short readings, which will suit many who do not +care to read page after page of a magazine or lengthy tract. It has a front-page illustration, +which renders it very attractive in general distribution. We hope our friends will spread them +freely everywhere. "Wherever I distribute <span class="smcap">Friendly Words</span>, I find they are most heartily +welcomed and eagerly read. I hope they will be widely circulated, and that the Lord will +make them very useful among the masses.—L. T." "I am pleased to see how eagerly +<span class="smcap">Friendly Words</span> are received and read where I distribute them. I only wish that all who +desire the good of souls, would spread them abroad wherever they can do so.—S." Will other +friends kindly try this plan? They can have a good assortment at a small cost.</p> + +<p>Price 1s. 6d. per 100; 3d. per dozen (assorted packets at the same price). Post free from +the <span class="smcap">Editor</span>, 117, High Street, Hastings.</p> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h4>THE ANNUAL VOLUMES of "GLEANER" and "SOWER."</h4> + +<p>These Volumes are acknowledged to be most admirably adapted for Presents, where sound +and interesting books are desired.</p> + + +<div class="center"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="VOLUMES"> +<tr><td align="left">The <span class="smcap">Little Gleaner</span>, Boards, Illustrated</td><td align="left">1s. 6d., or six vols, for 8s.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">The <span class="smcap">Little Gleaner</span>, Cloth, do.</td><td align="left">2s.</td><td align="left">do.</td><td align="left">10s.</td></tr> +<tr><td align="left">The <span class="smcap">Sower</span>, Cloth, do.</td><td align="left">2s.</td><td align="left">do.</td><td align="left">10s.</td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p>Sent, at above prices, post free, if ordered of the Editor, Mr. <span class="smcap">Hull</span>, 117, High Street, Hastings.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<p class="center">Fact Superior to Fiction.</p> + +<h4>OUR YOUNG PEOPLE'S TREASURY.—Vols. I. and II.</h4> + +<p>These little Volumes contain a collection of interesting narratives, setting forth the good old +truths of the Gospel, and will, we believe, help to meet a want greatly felt in our families and +schools, as they supply sound Scriptural reading in an interesting form, without resorting to +fictitious tales. We earnestly commend them to all who seek the good of the rising race, as +books which may, with the Lord's blessing, be of great spiritual use among the young.</p> + +<p class="center">Price One Shilling each, or eight volumes for 6s. 6d., post free, if ordered of the Editor,<br /> +Mr. <span class="smcap">T. Hull</span>, 117, High Street, Hastings.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[283]</a></span></p> +<h2>INDEX.</h2> + + + + + + +<div> +<span style="margin-left: 7em;">PAGE</span><br /> +<br /> +About Swearing, <a href="#Page_225">225</a><br /> +<br /> +Admiral Pye and the Inquisitors, <a href="#Page_231">231</a><br /> +<br /> +Aged Pilgrim's History, An, <a href="#Page_183">183</a><br /> +<br /> +Answer of George III. to Lord Grenville, <a href="#Page_66">66</a><br /> +<br /> +Answers to Bible Enigmas, <a href="#Page_19">19</a>, <a href="#Page_28">28</a>, <a href="#Page_59">59</a>, <a href="#Page_88">88</a>, <a href="#Page_113">113</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_185">185</a>, <a href="#Page_238">238</a>, <a href="#Page_247">247</a>, <a href="#Page_271">271</a><br /> +<br /> +Anti-Romish Book, The, <a href="#Page_273">273</a><br /> +<br /> +"Ask On", <a href="#Page_203">203</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Be Gentle, <a href="#Page_28">28</a><br /> +<br /> +Beware of Thorns, <a href="#Page_131">131</a><br /> +<br /> +Bible and its Claims, The, <a href="#Page_222">222</a><br /> +<br /> +Bible Class, Our, <a href="#Page_20">20</a>, <a href="#Page_44">44</a>, <a href="#Page_67">67</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_115">115</a>, <a href="#Page_140">140</a>, <a href="#Page_163">163</a>, <a href="#Page_188">188</a>, <a href="#Page_211">211</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_260">260</a>, <a href="#Page_275">275</a><br /> +<br /> +Bible Enigmas, <a href="#Page_41">41</a>, <a href="#Page_66">66</a>, <a href="#Page_91">91</a>, <a href="#Page_106">106</a>, <a href="#Page_130">130</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_174">174</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_235">235</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_273">273</a><br /> +<br /> +Bible Subjects, <a href="#Page_11">11</a>, <a href="#Page_35">35</a>, <a href="#Page_52">52</a>, <a href="#Page_81">81</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_141">141</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_187">187</a>, <a href="#Page_214">214</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_255">255</a>, <a href="#Page_268">268</a><br /> +<br /> +Bible with Pins in it, A, <a href="#Page_66">66</a><br /> +<br /> +Biblical Discovery, <a href="#Page_29">29</a><br /> +<br /> +Birthday Wish, <a href="#Page_257">257</a><br /> +<br /> +Blind Tortoise in the Well, <a href="#Page_130">130</a><br /> +<br /> +Blind Widow, The, <a href="#Page_266">266</a><br /> +<br /> +Brand Plucked out of the Fire, A, <a href="#Page_228">228</a><br /> +<br /> +Brave Rescue, A, <a href="#Page_84">84</a><br /> +<br /> +Brimstone or Sulphur, <a href="#Page_256">256</a><br /> +<br /> +Brother's Dream, A, <a href="#Page_103">103</a><br /> +<br /> +Brought to the Fold, <a href="#Page_151">151</a><br /> +<br /> +Budding of Hope, A, <a href="#Page_51">51</a><br /> +<br /> +Bunyan's Death, <a href="#Page_272">272</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Caring for the Little Ones, <a href="#Page_50">50</a><br /> +<br /> +Charcoal Burner's Star, The, <a href="#Page_7">7</a>, <a href="#Page_30">30</a><br /> +<br /> +Charlie Coulson, the Drummer-Boy, <a href="#Page_170">170</a><br /> +<br /> +Child and the Emperor, The, <a href="#Page_259">259</a><br /> +<br /> +Child Heroism, <a href="#Page_232">232</a><br /> +<br /> +Child's Prayer, A, <a href="#Page_22">22</a><br /> +<br /> +Cingalese Rock Fortress, A, <a href="#Page_154">154</a><br /> +<br /> +Clever Boy and Electrical Machine, <a href="#Page_114">114</a><br /> +<br /> +Cost of a Broken Sabbath, <a href="#Page_132">132</a><br /> +<br /> +Counting the Cost, <a href="#Page_126">126</a><br /> +<br /> +Cousin Susan's Note-Book on Father Chiniquy, <a href="#Page_56">56</a>, <a href="#Page_76">76</a>, <a href="#Page_101">101</a>, <a href="#Page_152">152</a>, <a href="#Page_201">201</a><br /> +<br /> +Covenanter's Escape and Death, The, <a href="#Page_146">146</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Day's Work, A, <a href="#Page_147">147</a><br /> +<br /> +Dear Old Times, The, <a href="#Page_124">124</a><br /> +<br /> +Denied, yet Answered, <a href="#Page_251">251</a><br /> +<br /> +Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, <a href="#Page_220">220</a><br /> +<br /> +Dirge of an Englishwoman, The, <a href="#Page_57">57</a><br /> +<br /> +Divine Guidance, <a href="#Page_159">159</a><br /> +<br /> +Divine Providence, A, <a href="#Page_99">99</a><br /> +<br /> +"Draw Me", <a href="#Page_83">83</a><br /> +<br /> +Drunkard's Will, A, <a href="#Page_233">233</a><br /> +<br /> +Dutch and their Country, The, <a href="#Page_209">209</a><br /> +<br /> +Duties of Brothers and Sisters, <a href="#Page_259">259</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Edison's Phonograph, <a href="#Page_172">172</a><br /> +<br /> +Editor's Closing Address to his Young Friends, The, <a href="#Page_278">278</a><br /> +<br /> +Editor's New Year's Address, <a href="#Page_2">2</a><br /> +<br /> +Enemies of God and His People Scattered, <a href="#Page_40">40</a><br /> +<br /> +Experiences in the Arctic Ocean, <a href="#Page_58">58</a><br /> +<br /> +Explanation, An, <a href="#Page_278">278</a><br /> +<br /> +Extraordinary Story of the Sea, <a href="#Page_272">272</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Facts about Ocean Steamships, <a href="#Page_197">197</a><br /> +<br /> +Famous Dog, A, <a href="#Page_82">82</a><br /> +<br /> +Few Words from the Dumb, <a href="#Page_108">108</a><br /> +<br /> +Fish that Swallowed Jonah, The, <a href="#Page_246">246</a><br /> +<br /> +Flesh-Eating Plants, <a href="#Page_83">83</a><br /> +<br /> +Flying Foxes, <a href="#Page_180">180</a><br /> +<br /> +From Darkness to Light, <a href="#Page_34">34</a><br /> +<br /> +Fugitive in the Himalaya Mountains, A, <a href="#Page_107">107</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Generosity and Love, <a href="#Page_185">185</a><br /> +<br /> +Good Example, A, <a href="#Page_208">208</a><br /> +<br /> +Great Events, <a href="#Page_242">242</a><br /> +<br /> +Great Exhibition of 1851, <a href="#Page_196">196</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Heroic Scotch Student, A, <a href="#Page_258">258</a><br /> +<br /> +He Went Wrong, but He Found Mercy, <a href="#Page_269">269</a><br /> +<br /> +Hint to Boys, A, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Hint to Parents, A, <a href="#Page_41">41</a><br /> +<br /> +His Title-Deeds, <a href="#Page_163">163</a><br /> +<br /> +Honouring the Lord's Day, <a href="#Page_252">252</a><br /> +<br /> +Hopeful Case, A, <a href="#Page_195">195</a><br /> +<br /> +Hop-Picking.—The Last Pole, <a href="#Page_274">274</a><br /> +<br /> +House on the Sand, The, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<br /> +How a Great Mistake was Discovered, <a href="#Page_39">39</a><br /> +<br /> +How to Select a Boy, <a href="#Page_153">153</a><br /> +<br /> +Hyacinth, The, <a href="#Page_219">219</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Incident in the Life of a Barrister, <a href="#Page_74">74</a><br /> +<br /> +Insecurity of Palestine, <a href="#Page_257">257</a><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[284]</a></span><br /> +Interesting Items, <a href="#Page_23">23</a>, <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, <a href="#Page_71">71</a>, <a href="#Page_95">95</a>, <a href="#Page_119">119</a>, <a href="#Page_143">143</a>, <a href="#Page_167">167</a>, <a href="#Page_191">191</a>, <a href="#Page_215">215</a>, <a href="#Page_239">239</a>, <a href="#Page_263">263</a>, <a href="#Page_280">280</a><br /> +<br /> +"Is not a Man Better than an Egg?", <a href="#Page_204">204</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Jesuit and the Bible, The, <a href="#Page_98">98</a><br /> +<br /> +"Jesus Loves Me!", <a href="#Page_160">160</a><br /> +<br /> +Johnnie's Christmas, <a href="#Page_271">271</a><br /> +<br /> +Juvenile Gems, <a href="#Page_127">127</a>, <a href="#Page_148">148</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +"Keep the Star in Sight", <a href="#Page_65">65</a><br /> +<br /> +Kenilworth Castle, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +Killed by Lightning, <a href="#Page_182">182</a><br /> +<br /> +Kindness to Animals, <a href="#Page_94">94</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Land of Giants, The, <a href="#Page_234">234</a><br /> +<br /> +"Let No Man Despise Thee", <a href="#Page_46">46</a><br /> +<br /> +Letter by a Dying Soldier, <a href="#Page_194">194</a><br /> +<br /> +Lines on the New Year, <a href="#Page_5">5</a><br /> +<br /> +Little by Little, <a href="#Page_179">179</a><br /> +<br /> +Little Helps by Large Hearts, <a href="#Page_227">227</a><br /> +<br /> +Little Johnnie, <a href="#Page_255">255</a><br /> +<br /> +Little Kindnesses, <a href="#Page_233">233</a><br /> +<br /> +Little Scotch Granite, <a href="#Page_218">218</a><br /> +<br /> +Lost and Found, <a href="#Page_122">122</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Mankind's Mistakes, <a href="#Page_222">222</a><br /> +<br /> +"Mary had a Little Lamb", <a href="#Page_199">199</a><br /> +<br /> +Memoir of Carrie Foord, <a href="#Page_175">175</a><br /> +<br /> +Memoir of Ellen and Henry Hoad, <a href="#Page_248">248</a><br /> +<br /> +Memoir of Emma Beesley, <a href="#Page_110">110</a><br /> +<br /> +Memoir of Mary Stubbs, <a href="#Page_78">78</a><br /> +<br /> +Model Prayer-Meeting, A, <a href="#Page_184">184</a><br /> +<br /> +Modes of Travel in Persia, <a href="#Page_75">75</a><br /> +<br /> +Morning's Walk in a Country Lane, A, <a href="#Page_63">63</a><br /> +<br /> +Mummy of Sesostris, The, <a href="#Page_84">84</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Nails Gone, but Marks Left, <a href="#Page_214">214</a><br /> +<br /> +Nature her own Surgeon, <a href="#Page_224">224</a><br /> +<br /> +New Telephone, A, <a href="#Page_203">203</a><br /> +<br /> +"Nothing to Thank God For", <a href="#Page_154">154</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Old Clock's Advice, An, <a href="#Page_238">238</a><br /> +<br /> +Old Quilt and its Story, An, <a href="#Page_12">12</a><br /> +<br /> +One Link Gone, <a href="#Page_108">108</a><br /> +<br /> +One Poor Stone, <a href="#Page_62">62</a><br /> +<br /> +"Only Once", <a href="#Page_4">4</a><br /> +<br /> +Orphan Bess, <a href="#Page_198">198</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Penny Piece, The, <a href="#Page_227">227</a><br /> +<br /> +Pharisee and the Publican, <a href="#Page_93">93</a><br /> +<br /> +Pitcairn Islanders and the Queen, The, <a href="#Page_261">261</a><br /> +<br /> +Pleading, <a href="#Page_273">273</a><br /> +<br /> +Points to be Aimed At, <a href="#Page_124">124</a><br /> +<br /> +Postal Service Statistics, <a href="#Page_223">223</a><br /> +<br /> +Power of Kindness, <a href="#Page_237">237</a><br /> +<br /> +Prayer Answered, <a href="#Page_112">112</a><br /> +<br /> +Precious Blood of Christ, The, <a href="#Page_226">226</a><br /> +<br /> +Priest and the Lady, The, <a href="#Page_162">162</a><br /> +<br /> +Priest's Thoughts of Roman Catholic Miracles, <a href="#Page_125">125</a><br /> +<br /> +Prince Consort's Opinion of Popery, <a href="#Page_66">66</a><br /> +<br /> +Prize Essays, <a href="#Page_21">21</a>, <a href="#Page_45">45</a>, <a href="#Page_69">69</a>, <a href="#Page_93">93</a>, <a href="#Page_117">117</a>, <a href="#Page_142">142</a>, <a href="#Page_165">165</a>, <a href="#Page_190">190</a>, <a href="#Page_213">213</a>, <a href="#Page_237">237</a>, <a href="#Page_262">262</a>, <a href="#Page_279">279</a><br /> +<br /> +Prompt Kindness, <a href="#Page_106">106</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Queer Fisherman, A, <a href="#Page_155">155</a><br /> +<br /> +Questions with Answers, <a href="#Page_77">77</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Ragged Tom, <a href="#Page_139">139</a><br /> +<br /> +Rare and Costly Bibles, <a href="#Page_202">202</a><br /> +<br /> +Receiving the Truth, <a href="#Page_137">137</a><br /> +<br /> +Red Sea Rock, A, <a href="#Page_161">161</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Saved by Grace, <a href="#Page_156">156</a><br /> +<br /> +Scotch Thistle, The, <a href="#Page_55">55</a><br /> +<br /> +Scripture Enigma, <a href="#Page_10">10</a><br /> +<br /> +Sense and Senses of Animals, <a href="#Page_131">131</a><br /> +<br /> +Singular Cause of Death, <a href="#Page_59">59</a><br /> +<br /> +Soft Answer, A, <a href="#Page_211">211</a><br /> +<br /> +Soft Pillow, A, <a href="#Page_136">136</a><br /> +<br /> +Something about Foxes, <a href="#Page_60">60</a><br /> +<br /> +Stage-Coach Companion, My, <a href="#Page_16">16</a><br /> +<br /> +Stand Back, <a href="#Page_163">163</a><br /> +<br /> +Sunday School Meetings:—<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Burwash, Providence, <a href="#Page_210">210</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Clifton, <a href="#Page_210">210</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Fleckney, Carmel, <a href="#Page_210">210</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Gower Street, <a href="#Page_138">138</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Greenwich, Devonshire Road, <a href="#Page_89">89</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hand Cross, Zoar Chapel, <a href="#Page_186">186</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Hastings, Ebenezer, <a href="#Page_42">42</a></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Trowbridge, Zion, <a href="#Page_187">187</a></span><br /> +<br /> +Sympathy, <a href="#Page_200">200</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Talking With a Man Seven Thousand Miles Off, <a href="#Page_247">247</a><br /> +<br /> +Terrible Experience of a Shipwrecked Crew, <a href="#Page_268">268</a><br /> +<br /> +"The Day of Small Things", <a href="#Page_36">36</a><br /> +<br /> +"There is No Rest in Hell", <a href="#Page_53">53</a><br /> +<br /> +"This is the Way; Walk Ye in It", <a href="#Page_86">86</a><br /> +<br /> +"Thou God Seest Me", <a href="#Page_86">86</a><br /> +<br /> +Thrilling Scenes at the Forth Bridge Works, <a href="#Page_67">67</a><br /> +<br /> +Touching Incident, <a href="#Page_3">3</a><br /> +<br /> +Two Brave Children, <a href="#Page_158">158</a><br /> +<br /> +Two Ways of Descending, <a href="#Page_100">100</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Under the London Streets, <a href="#Page_200">200</a><br /> +<br /> +Unseen Protection, <a href="#Page_173">173</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +Value of Work, The, <a href="#Page_75">75</a><br /> +<br /> +Visit to the Idrian Mines, <a href="#Page_87">87</a><br /> +<br /> +<br /> +What a Tract may Do, <a href="#Page_26">26</a><br /> +<br /> +Wisdom, <a href="#Page_113">113</a><br /> +<br /> +Wise and Foolish Builders, <a href="#Page_90">90</a><br /> +<br /> +Wonderful Grace, <a href="#Page_15">15</a><br /> +<br /> +Words and Deeds, <a href="#Page_219">219</a><br /> +<br /> +Word to Self-Seekers, A, <a href="#Page_69">69</a><br /> +<br /> +Word with Power, The, <a href="#Page_226">226</a><br /> +</div> + + + + + + + +<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Throne of grace.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> Revelation xvii. 3.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> Revelation xiv. 8.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> Revelation xviii. 7.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> Revelation xvii. 9.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Revelation xviii. 4.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> 2 Timothy iii. 6.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> For a fuller account of Palissy, see <span class="smcap">Little +Gleaner</span> for July, 1879.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> "Gideon" was given by mistake, in the Enigma, +instead of "Gibeon."</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> We hope all our young readers will mark this +honest confession, which was produced by the fear of +God, and ever remember that deception is mean and +sinful.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> The real names are, of course, suppressed throughout.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> Young readers, mark this dreadful example of sin, +and may the Lord bless you with wisdom and strength +to resist such temptations to evil. If you would be +spared suffering and shame, and spare your best friends +much sorrow, be careful what company you keep, and +remember that God's eye is upon you.</p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> In hop gardens these are instruments used by those +who lift the poles.—<span class="smcap">Ed.</span></p></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> From the "Memoir of the late Mr. John Hazelton."</p></div> + +</div> + +<div class="tn"><h3>Transcriber's Note:</h3> +<p>1. Punctuation has been normalized. Inconsistent hyphenation and spellings have been left as printed.</p> + +<p>2. The illustration caption on page 204 is missing text following (see—<br /><br /> + + +"WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MR. THORN'S EGGS?" (see</p> + +<p>3. Page 231 "having been on a voyage to Spain"—missing word "on" was added.</p> + +<p>4. Some illustrations were originally located in the middle of paragraphs. +These have been adjusted to not interrupt the flow of reading. +In some cases this means that the page number that the illustration was originally on is not visible.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Little Gleaner, Vol. X., by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LITTLE GLEANER, VOL. 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