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diff --git a/38745.txt b/38745.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7710bf3 --- /dev/null +++ b/38745.txt @@ -0,0 +1,20471 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + + + +[Illustration: HOP-PICKING. (_See page 274._)] + + + + + THE + + LITTLE GLEANER. + + A + + Monthly Magazine for the Young. + + VOL. X., NEW SERIES. + 1888. + + LONDON: + HOULSTON AND SONS, 7, PATERNOSTER BUILDINGS, E.C.; + AND E. WILMSHURST, BOOKSELLER, BLACKHEATH, S.E. + + + + + LONDON: + PRINTED BY W. H. AND L. COLLINGRIDGE, + 148 AND 149, ALDERSGATE STREET, E.C. + +[Illustration: _Engraved by S. W. Partridge & Co._ + +"WELL, THEN, COME TO THE CANAL." (_See page 4._)] + + + + +THE EDITOR'S NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS TO HIS YOUNG FRIENDS. + + +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. + +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 THE LITTLE GLEANER, +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. + +The other month, a wrapper in which a GLEANER had been enclosed by some +friend to a person in Ireland was sent to us bearing this solemn mark, +"_Dead_." This told us that the person to whom the GLEANER had been sent +had become the prey of death, and would never read another. + +Oh, how solemn that word looked and sounded to us--"_dead_!" 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.'" + +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." + +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." + +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 in your heart. Then you shall "know the truth, and the truth shall +make you free." + +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. + +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." + +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. + +We still ask your help in spreading the GLEANER and the SOWER. May the +Lord make them useful, and bless you with His covenant blessing, is the +desire of + + THE EDITOR. + + + + +A TOUCHING INCIDENT. + + +A very touching incident occurred lately at Governeur Hospital, New York +City. + +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. + +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.-- + + _Evangelist_. + + +SELF-DENIAL.--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. + + + + +"ONLY ONCE." + + +"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." + +"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." + +"Nonsense! The ice is at least two inches thick anywhere, even in the +thinnest places." + +"No matter. I can't skate on the river." + +"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?" + +"Yes." + +"All right. Be there at seven." + +James was ready with his skates at the time appointed, and about to +leave the house. + +"Where now, James?" asked his father. + +"I'm going to skate awhile on the canal, father." + +"Well, it's a bright evening, but don't stay late, and don't go on the +river." + +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! + +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. + +"Hurrah, James!" cried a dozen of them, as they joined company on the +canal. + +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. + +"I must leave you now," he said. + +"Oh, James, don't!" cried several at once. + +"Now, see here, James," said George; "what's the use of being so set? Go +down with us this time." + +"Father said, 'Don't go on the river.'" + +"Well, as to that, you've been on the river two or three times. Look at +your marks." + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Honour thy father and mother" is the first commandment with promise. + + + + +LINES ON THE NEW YEAR. + + +In some simple words of rhyme +Read, and mark the flight of time; +Seasons come and disappear, +As we pass from year to year. + +All things ever on the move, +Whether them we hate or love; +'Tis a changing scene below-- +This we own, for this we know. + +Blest are they--and only they-- +Who are in the "narrow way"; +Seeking Jesus' blessed face; +Longing much to know His grace. + +Mourning over inward sin; +Panting only Him to win +Who for sin and sinners died, +When on Calvary crucified. + +Do I, who these lines now read, +Of redemption feel my need? +Do I really long to know +That His blood for me did flow? + +Do my heart and mouth confess +I am all unrighteousness? +Do I pray indeed to see +Christ my Righteousness to be? + +Do I feel I cannot die +Till He does His blood apply? +And my doubting soul assure +I shall to the end endure? + +If 'tis so, I know full well +I shall surely with Him dwell, +And shall, in His house on high, +Shout His praise beyond the sky. + + A. HAMMOND. + + +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?--_Addison._ + + + + +THE CHARCOAL BURNER'S STAR. + + +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. + +Madame de Blenal 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. + +With a heart prepared by faith to submit to the decrees of Providence, +whether for this world's good or ill, Madame de Blenal, 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. + +At the time of which we are writing, Madame de Blenal 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 Blenal 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. + +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-- + +"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." + +His friends thought that he was jesting, but yet attempted to discover +it in the sky. + +"You are all looking too high," he said, laughing, and pointed to a +distant mountain, where the fire of a charcoal burner had just made its +appearance. + +The party gazed attentively for some time, when one of the ladies said, +with a sigh-- + +"Poor man! How much he is to be pitied, sitting all alone up there!" + +"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." + +"That is a blessed thing indeed," said the lady; "but is he not in +danger from the wolves?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"What? Why, his money, to be sure!" + +"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." + +"A very good husband! But his watch?" + +"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 chalets 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." + +"You have an answer for everything, Mr. Alfred. Do you know the man?" + +"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." + +"And what can he possibly be doing at this hour, in that wild place?" + +"Precisely what we are doing ourselves--he is watching his fire." + +After many other conjectures had been hazarded as to the way in which +the charcoal burner was passing his time, Madame de Blenal said-- + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Are you not afraid of your son's undertaking such an enterprise at this +late hour?" asked a young lady of Madame de Blenal. + +Madame de Blenal 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." + +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." + +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? + +"By midnight," he replied. + +"And where shall we meet?" + +"Here," said Madame de Blenal. "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." + +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. + +We will now leave Madame de Blenal 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. + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Never mind," said the young man; "I must go on now. Where can I put my +horse?" + +"Here in this shed, sir. There is a bit of hay and some beans, with +which he can amuse himself while we are gone." + +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 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." + +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. + +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 chalets 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-- + + "Look to Jesus, weary wanderer, + Sinful, wretched as thou art; + He is precious; thou shalt know it; + Only trust His loving heart. + + "Trust it wholly; it was broken + That thine own might be at peace; + Every sin its streams atone for; + He can bid all anguish cease. + + "Now He reigns above the heavens, + And shall reign for evermore; + But His mighty arm is guarding + Those for whom He died before. + + "He shall come again in glory; + All creation shall bow down; + Those who seek not His salvation + Must endure His awful frown. + + "Wait upon Him, then, His people; + Let Him be your constant strength; + Lean upon Him daily, hourly; + Ye shall reign with Him at length. + + "May the Spirit of adoption, + Which our Heavenly Father gives, + Help us all and each to please Him + More each moment of our lives." + + (_To be continued_.) + + + +ENVY shoots at others and wounds itself. + +WE should often have reason to be ashamed of our most brilliant actions, +if the world could see the motives from which they spring. + + + + +SCRIPTURE ENIGMA. + +A PARABLE FROM A FARMER'S SON TO ALL GLEANERS. + + +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." + +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. + +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 _buying_ or +_taking_ 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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + + Your true friend, + THE FARMER'S SON + (_Over fifteen years old_). + +[A volume, "The Loss of All Things for Christ," will be given for the +best answer. The writer must be under twelve.] + + + + +BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN JANUARY. + + +Jan. 1. Commit to memory 1 Chrn. v. 10. +Jan. 8. Commit to memory Psa. cxi. 10. +Jan. 15. Commit to memory Prov. viii. 10. +Jan. 22. Commit to memory Prov. viii. 32. +Jan. 29. Commit to memory John iv. 10. + + +WHAT 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.--_Robertson._ + + + + +AN OLD QUILT AND ITS STORY. + + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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? + +[Illustration: INTERIOR OF A CROFTER'S COTTAGE.] + +We now turn to another scene. About five-and-twenty years ago, on the +top of 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +"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." + +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! + +But copying flowers from nature is what they chiefly do, and their +careful observation and fidelity in representation are very +characteristic in their work. Trails of thunbergia, scarlet tropaeolum, +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? + +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.--_Ladies' +Treasury._ + + + + +WONDERFUL GRACE. + + +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. + +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. + +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." + + R. + + +ENDEAVOR 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?--_Thomas a Kempis._ + + + + +MY STAGE-COACH COMPANION. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"I have never been there," I said. "I suppose it is a very gay place, +sir?" + +"It is a fine town, and the country around it is very beautiful," said +the gentleman. + +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. + +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." + +"How very enchanting they must be!" I remarked, with youthful ardour. + +"I am not sure that 'enchanting' is quite the right word," he said, +looking thoughtful; "but they were very delightful, certainly." + +"They were crowded, I suppose, sir?" + +"Yes, generally," he said, and added that, at the last of these public +assemblies, there were present more than a thousand people. + +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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"I do not understand you, sir," I said, rather coldly. + +"Permit me, madam, to explain. I am a minister of the Gospel. The +public 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." + +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." + +"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." + +"May I ask, sir, what assembly it is you mean?" + +"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." + +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?" + +"I do not know indeed, sir," I said; and I added (what I truly thought) +that the words struck me as being very beautiful. + +"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? + +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-- + +"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?" + +"I could not misunderstand you," I said. "Of course you mean +Christians?" + +"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. These are great and +exalted privileges, are they not?" + +"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-- + +"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 _residence_ 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 _employment_ will +be holy and devout adoration; their _society_, myriads of angels and a +vast assembly of the perfected spirits of the just; the _chief source of +their happiness_ 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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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 _shall_ meet in that general assembly." + +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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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." + +"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. + +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. + +"Annie, my dear, this is----" + +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. + +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."--_A Tract issued by +the Religious Tract Society._ + + + + +ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA. + +(_Page 275._) + + +"_I am the Rose of Sharon._"--SONG +OF SOLOMON ii. 1. + +I ssachar Genesis xxxv. 23. + +A biram Numbers xxvi. 9. +M icah Judges xvii. 1. + +T irzah 1 Kings xvi. 6. +H oreb Exodus iii. 1. +E bal Joshua viii. 30. + +R ehoboam 1 Kings xi. 43. +O g Numbers xxi. 33. +S hammah 1 Samuel xvii. 13. +E dom 2 Samuel viii. 14. + +O nan Genesis xlvi. 12. +F elix Acts xxiv. 25. + +S imon Mark iii. 18. +H adadezer 2 Samuel viii. 3. +A maziah Amos vii. 10. +R aven Leviticus xi. 15. +O bed-edom 2 Samuel vi. 11. +N adab Numbers iii. 4. + + ADA WILLERTON + (Aged 9 years). + +_Corby, Grantham._ + + +I HAVE 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.--_Sir Matthew Hale._ + + + + +OUR BIBLE CLASS. + +THE CROSS OF CHRIST. + + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +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." + +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). + +"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. + +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. + +Oh, wondrous Sufferer! almighty Saviour! None ever died as Jesus died, +bearing sin and guilt away, and overcoming death, while He laid down His +sacred life. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Our next subject will be, Psalm xxxii. + + Your loving friend, + H. S. L. + + + + +PRIZE ESSAY. + +HOW TO LIVE WELL. + + +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-- + +"Jesus, who lived above the sky, +Came down to be a Man, and die; +And in the Bible we may see +How very good He used to be. + +"And so He died; and this is why +He came to be a Man, and die: +The Bible says He came from heaven +That sinners' sins might be forgiven." + +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. + +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 larger +things; for He takes account of the thoughts, words, and actions of men, +which are to be revealed at the last day. + +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." + +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." + +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-- + +"Show me what I have to do; +Every hour my strength renew; +Let me live a life of faith; +Let me die Thy people's death." + + LILLY RUSH + (Aged 13 years). + +_Red House, Thornham, +near Eye, Suffolk._ + +[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.] + +[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of THE LITTLE GLEANER +(cloth). + +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.] + + + + +A CHILD'S PRAYER. + +SUITABLE FOR THE NEW YEAR. + + +Oh, blessed Jesus, care for me, + And wash me in Thy blood; +Teach me to ever look to Thee, + And help me to be good. + +Give me Thy Holy Spirit, Lord, + And teach me how to pray; +Oh, let me understand Thy Word, + And take my sins away. + +Whene'er I'm tempted to do wrong, + Oh, let me think of Thee; +Help me to always guard my tongue, + When naughty I would be. + +Teach me to tread the narrow way, + Which all Thy saints have trod; +And guard and guide me every day; + Be Thou my Lord and God. + +Help me to trust in Thee alone, + And not have fear of men; +To seek Thy will before my own, + For Jesus' sake. Amen. + + JANE BELL + (Aged 14 years). + +_Sleaford._ + + + + +Interesting Items. + + +A RARELY-BLOOMING FLOWER.--In one of the conservatories at Hamilton +Palace gardens there is a fine specimen of the _Angeavia variegata_ in +full bloom. The tradition is, that the plant only flowers once in a +hundred years. + + +STEAM 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. + + +PILOTS' PAY.--From London to Gravesend the pilot's fee may range from +18s. to L7 18s., and from Gravesend to the Nore from L1 12s. to L7 8s.; +and while a vessel drawing less than seven feet of water is piloted from +the Downs to the Isle of Wight for L3 4s., one that draws twenty-five +feet will cost for the same distance, either way, as much as L14 6s. + + +ROMANISM 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 _Western Watchman_--"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. + + +THE WARRANT FOR BUNYAN'S LAST IMPRISONMENT.--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. + + +COMPOSITION DURING SLEEP.--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.--_Correspondent of "Notes +and Queries._" + + +THE DANGERS OF EATING ORANGE PEEL.--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. + + +A BRAVE CHILD.--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.--_Lady's Pictorial._ + + +THE GENERAL AND THE SPARROW.--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. + + +THE END OF A DOG'S QUARREL.--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." + + +THE 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. + + +THE 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. + + +HANOVER BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL, TUNBRIDGE WELLS.--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. + + W. L. W. + +[Illustration: "PAPER, SIR?" (_See page 26._)] + + + + +WHAT A TRACT MAY DO. + + +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! + +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? + +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":-- + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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). + +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). + +He has long since gone to the unseen world to be with Jesus, "which is +far better." + +This narrative affords no small encouragement 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). + + + + +ANSWER TO SCRIPTURE ENIGMA. + +(_Page 10._) + + +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. + +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. + + MARY WILLERTON + (Aged 11 years). + +_Corby, Grantham._ + +[This is the most correct answer received up to the time of going to +press.--ED.] + + + + + BE GENTLE. + + + There is a plant that in its cell + All trembling seems to stand, + And bends its stalk and folds its leaves + From each approaching hand. + + And thus there is a conscious nerve + Within the human breast, + That from the rash and careless hand + Shrinks and retires distressed. + + The pressure rude, the touch severe, + Will raise within the mind + A nameless thrill, a secret tear, + A torture undefined. + + Oh, you whose nature is so formed + Each thought refined to know, + Repress the word, the glance, that wakes + That trembling nerve to woe! + + And be it still your joy to raise + The trembler from the shade; + To bind the broken, and to heal + The wound you never made. + + Whene'er you see the feeling mind, + Oh, let this care begin! + And though the cell be e'er so low, + Respect the guest within.--L. H. + + + + +A BIBLICAL DISCOVERY. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + +EVERY season of life has its appropriate duties. + + +THROUGH all our troubles, the tangled skein is in the hands of One who +sees the end from the beginning. He shall yet unravel all. + + + + +THE CHARCOAL BURNER'S STAR. + +(_Concluded from page 9._) + + +Alfred was struck mute with surprise. Even the guide seemed astonished +at this unexpected welcome to the hut. + +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. + +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. + +"Who goes there?" asked the man, in a calm voice. + +"Friends," replied both Alfred and the guide, and the latter added-- + +"Good evening, Gervais. It is only your friend Michel. I have brought +you a gentleman who is very anxious to see you." + +"What is your pleasure with me, sir?" asked the charcoal burner, taking +off his woollen cap. + +"First, to wish you a good evening, Monsieur Gervais; and next, to +apologize for my visit." + +"Is there anything you wish to say in private?" + +"Nothing very important; but----" + +"These boys are in your way?" + +"Oh, pray do not let me interrupt you! My business here is not of +sufficient consequence." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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 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?" + +"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." + +"_Rather_ less to do on Sundays!" said Alfred. "Is the Lord's Day, then, +made only partially a day of rest?" + +"Sir," replied Gervais, "there are works of _absolute necessity_ 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." + +"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?" + +"Oh, yes, sir! I show them how Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is constantly +feeding and caring for _His_ 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." + +"And are your kind instructions confined to these three boys?" + +"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." + +"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.'" + +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. + +"You are not unprovided with books, I see, besides those that lie on the +table." + +"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?" + +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-- + +"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." + +Vainly, however, did the young man press the offering upon the charcoal +burner. He absolutely refused it. + +"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." + +Alfred looked greatly disappointed, but replied that his name was Alfred +de Blenal. + +"What! the son of Madame de Blenal, of ----?" + +"The same." + +"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." + +"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." + +Saying this, Alfred gave the charcoal burner a cordial embrace, and +departed. + +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. + +Midnight had passed. The supper was waiting at Madame de Blenal'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 Blenal'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. + +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. + +"Here is ocular proof," cried one, "that he has seen the charcoal +burner." + +"And been at close quarters with him," said another. "He is covered with +soot." + +"Why, Mr. Alfred," said a young lady, "one would think you had embraced +him!" + +"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." + +"Why, what have you seen?" was asked by more than one. + +"I have found a preacher of righteousness, '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." + +Alfred then gave a full detail of his adventure. + +"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." + +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. + +The young men, in consequence, all visited the mountain forest and the +hut, which, under their exertions and superintendence, soon disappeared, +and a comfortable chalet 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. + + + + +FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT. + + +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:-- + +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. + +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. + +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." + +On the Sunday following, I took my text from Isaiah--"Ye also made a +ditch between two walls, for the water of the old pool; but ye have not +looked unto the Maker thereof, neither had respect unto Him." + +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. + +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. + + OLD EVERTON. + +[Oh, that there were more such preachers in the present day!] + + + When bold, presumptuous men stand up, + And fain would make believe + That they are teachers sent of God, + And thus poor souls deceive, + + They should, by every God-taught soul, + Be faithfully withstood, + If aught they bring to us as truth + But Jesus and His blood. + + Such men as these the Word declares + Shall come, and shall deceive; + But sinners, truly born of God, + Will not such men receive. + + If possible, we know they would + Deceive Thine own elect; + But, bless Thy precious name, dear Lord, + Thou wilt Thine own protect. + + How solemn is the thought to me-- + Such men may think they're right, + Yet their profession will, if left, + End in eternal night! + + "Depart, ye cursed!" will be said + By lips that cannot lie; + "Since you have hated Me and Mine, + Your doom is now to die. + + "You see, though now it is too late, + The oil-less lamp won't do; + The door against you now is shut; + There is no passing through." + + My soul, reflect! How stands the case + With me, a helpless sinner? + I cannot hope to win the race; + But Jesus is my Winner. + + I never should have sought to Thee, + Dear Lord, Thou knowest well, + If Thou hadst not first called me, + And plucked my feet from hell. + + B. W. + + + + +BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN FEBRUARY. + + +Feb. 5. Commit to memory Ruth ii. 7. +Feb. 12. Commit to memory Ruth ii. 8. +Feb. 19. Commit to memory Ruth ii. 9. +Feb. 26. Commit to memory Ruth ii. 10. + + +PUT 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. + + + + +"THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS." + +(ZECHARIAH iv. 10.) + + +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). + +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. + +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. + +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!'" + +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. + +Take a lesson from the coral formations. These are the work of a very +little creature called a _polype_, 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. + +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. + +Of late years vine-stocks have been imported from America into France +and Italy. Upon these a tiny insect, called _phylloxera_, 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. + +One has well observed that "a great sin committed once shows where the +devil has been; but petty sins, nourished into a habit, show where the +devil lives." + +[Illustration: "HER FATHER'S BAD WAYS MADE HER LIFE HARD." (_See page +38._)] + +One of the discoveries of modern medical science is, that the disease +known as cholera may be produced by a microscopic insect (the _Conina +Bacillus_) 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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-- + +"There is a happy land, + Far, far away." + +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. + +Dear young Gleaners, may the Lord thus be pleased to bless the reading +of the LITTLE GLEANER, 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. + + A. E. REALFF. + +_Dunstable._ + + +GOD never wrought miracles to convince atheism, because His ordinary +works convince it. + + +A SUNNY, 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. + + + + +HOW A GREAT MISTAKE WAS DISCOVERED. + +A TRUE INCIDENT. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 were fastened in her mind by the "Master +of Assemblies," to bring forth their fruit in due season. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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).--_Selected._ + + + + +THE ENEMIES OF GOD AND OF HIS PEOPLE SCATTERED. + + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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." + + + + +A HINT TO PARENTS. + + +In writing upon the education of the young, a thoughtful writer has made +the following observations:-- + +"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. + +"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.' + +"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." + + + + +BIBLE ENIGMA. + + +An Apostle employed as a messenger. + +The son of Zephaniah. + +A disciple called "the chamberlain of the city." + +A place whence gold was brought to the temple. + +An idol of Damascus. + +He who arrested a prophet that was put into a dungeon. + +Who said, "The Lord is good, a Stronghold in the day of trouble," &c.? + +A disciple who dwelt at Troas. + +A sorcerer struck blind. + +The name given to the sockets for fastening the stones in the ephod. + +That without which it is impossible to please God. + +The place where one was struck dead for touching the ark. + +Aaron's wife. + +The Syriac name for "Father." + +The Epistle where the words are--"Ye are not your own," &c. + +The place to which Samson gave a name, where he quenched his thirst +after slaying the Philistines. + + +Total--one of the titles of Christ, used prophetically. + + +LOW expense is the highway to fortune. + + + + +THE SIXTH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS GATHERING OF EBENEZER SUNDAY SCHOOL, +HASTINGS. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +The financial statement showed a balance in hand of L5 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 L34 11s. 4d.; the income L32 10s., which, +added to the balance brought forward from last year, makes L40 8s. + +Several addresses were next given, and listened to with marked +attention. The Superintendent, Mr. J. Trimming, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The meeting was brought to a close, shortly before nine o'clock, with +the 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. + + C. E. + + + + +OUR BIBLE CLASS. + +PSALM XXXII. + + +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! + +Four words are used to describe wrong-doing and guilt: _transgression_, +or trespass--a venturing on forbidden ground; _sin_--a failing, or +falling short of goodness; _iniquity_ (second verse), wilfulness, +rebellion; and _guile_--deceit and falsehood. + +And here are four pictures of God's saving love. _Forgive_ 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 _covered_, +for Christ is the _Propitiation_ 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. + +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. + +And then these blessed ones are _made_ 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! + +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. + +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-- + + "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, + Let me hide myself in Thee"? + +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. "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.'" + +"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. + +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." + +Our next subject will be, John xvii. 22. + + Your loving friend, + H. S. L. + + +DO 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.--_Pythagoras._ + + + + +PRIZE ESSAY. + +WHAT KIND OF SERVICE IS MOST ACCEPTABLE TO GOD? + + +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. + +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). + +"Only a kindly action, + Done to a child of God; +Not done to cause attraction, + But as unto Christ the Lord." + +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." + +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). + + "Search me, O God, is my desire, + Nor let me from Thy ways depart; + To love and serve Thee I aspire, + Enriched with Mary's better part." + + MABEL ELLEN DENLY + (Aged 11 years). + + _197, High Street, Hounslow._ + +[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.] + + +[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of THE SOWER for 1887. + +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.] + + + + +"LET NO MAN DESPISE THEE." + + +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. + +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. + + THOMSON SHARP. + + +EGOTISM and self-assertion are unamiable traits. + + + + +Interesting Items. + + +A CORRESPONDENT of the _Echo_ calls attention to the fact that, at Dr. +Lee's church, in the New Cut, on Sunday night, January 1st, the _Te +Deum_ was sung in thanksgiving for the Papal Jubilee, and wishes to know +what is to prevent it. "Nothing," replies the editor. + + +ACCORDING to the _Charity Record_, the amount of money bequeathed in +great sums for charitable purposes during the year just closed was more +than L700,000; and if bequests under L1,000 be added, the total would at +least reach L1,000,000. This is exclusive of the money given to several +religious and book-publishing societies. + + +A THIEVING ELEPHANT.--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. + + +THE BAKU NAPHTHA SPRINGS.--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. + + +AN IRISH CABIN PAVED WITH GOLD.--The _Irish Ecclesiastical Gazette_ 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) L700 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 L400 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." + + +THE Roman correspondent of _Le Paris_ 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 _Paris_, 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. + + +NINE hundred thousand dog licenses were issued for the past year. The +duty amounted to L340,000. + + +CHRISTMAS AT THE LONDON POST OFFICE.--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. + + +AN ATLANTIC WAVE.--An immense wave recently fell upon the steamship +_Umbria_ 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." + + +ZION SUNDAY SCHOOL, HERDEN BRIDGE, YORKSHIRE.--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. + + +ALBERT STREET CHAPEL SUNDAY SCHOOL, OXFORD.--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 LITTLE GLEANER. 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 LITTLE GLEANER. 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. + + M. S. P. + +[Illustration: CARING FOR THE LITTLE ONES] + + + + +CARING FOR THE LITTLE ONES. + + +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). + + The mothers came, in days of old, + To Jesus, that He might enfold + Within His arms their children dear, + And then His kindness did appear. + + Disciples thought it waste of time; + Rebuked, as though it was a crime; + But it was ne'er the Saviour's way + To turn poor coming ones away. + + Therefore the Lord was much displeased, + And thus the happy moment seized; + Them in His arms did take and bear, + Showing His love and kindly care. + + His loving voice could never say-- + "Oh, take these little ones away!" + And though the parents' hearts might fear, + He loved to see them coming near. + + His blessed words, "Forbid them not," + Are with much heavenly comfort fraught; + And "Suffer them to come to Me," + Gives forth a welcome kind and free. + + In Him sweet rays of mercy shine-- + So tender, harmless, yet divine; + Upon them He His hands doth place, + And blesses them in truth and grace. + + Displeased with what His servants did, + And having their unkindness chid, + He makes His pleasure shine so bright, + Causing the mothers much delight. + + Oh, tell it out, to heal the smart + Of many an anxious parent's heart-- + He hears the sigh, He sees the tear, + And each poor pleader welcomes near. + + Oh, tell it out, that children dear + May seek His face, and never fear, + That He will hear their feeble prayer, + And give them in His love to share. + + He speaks of heaven and glorious things, + And is so meek, though King of kings; + Of children says, to cheer and please, + "The kingdom is of such as these." + + Oh, eyes that saw with kindly look! + Oh, arms that thus the children took! + Oh, hands, parental-like, thus laid! + Oh, words to bless, what grace displayed! + + Lord, fix our youthful eyes on Thee; + Grant us Thy love and grace to see; + Cause us to love Thy blessed name, + And tune our tongues to speak Thy fame. + + The proud, the lofty, all defiled, + Must be made as a little child; + Must all their sins and vileness own, + And seek for mercy at Thy throne.[1] + + [1] Throne of grace. + + Oh, Saviour, may Thy love so free + Encourage souls to come to Thee; + And may they, finding all they need, + Confess that they are blest indeed. + + B. B. + + +THE biggest lies are told for the least cause. + + + + +A BUDDING OF HOPE. + + +Dear young readers of the LITTLE GLEANER, how very true and solemn are +the words of the poet-- + +"The moment when our lives begin + We all begin to die." + +And at what age death may take us none of us can say. From among the +large number who read the GLEANER, we every now and again hear of one +being taken away by death. + +Lizzie Winchester, of Cross-in-Hand, was a constant reader of the +GLEANER, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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-- + + "Not a wave of trouble rolls + Across her peaceful breast." + +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 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. + +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 + + "The host of virgin saints + Made to salvation wise." + +The question may arise, "Why say anything about her, since there is no +more ground for hope than this?" + +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 LITTLE +GLEANER to consider how matters stand with them before God and for +eternity. + + "Reflect, young friend, I humbly crave, + Thy sins, how high they mount! + What are thy hopes beyond the grave? + How stands that dark account?" + +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. + + "If hellish foes beset thee round, + And would thy way withstand, + On Jesus call, nor yield thy ground, + And He will help command." + +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. + +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 + + "completely blest; + Has done with sin, and care, and woe, + And entered Jesus' rest." + + W. L. + +[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."--ED.] + + + + +BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN MARCH. + + +Mar. 4. Commit to memory Heb. xi. 23. +Mar. 11. Commit to memory Heb. xi. 24. +Mar. 18. Commit to memory Heb. xi. 25. +Mar. 25. Commit to memory Heb. xi. 26. + + +THE first character of right childhood is, that it is modest. + + + + +"THERE IS NO REST IN HELL!" + +AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE. + + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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!" + +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. + +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. + +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, "_Rest!_ There is no +rest in hell!" and from the interminable vaults, voices, as loud as +thunder, repeated the awful, the heart-withering sound, "_There is no +rest in hell!_" 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. + +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--"_There is no rest in hell!_" + +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!" + +"Canst thou still name His name?" said the fiend, with a hideous sneer. +"Go, then; but, in a year and a day, _we_ meet, to part no more!" + +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. + +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 _playing the Methodist;_ 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. + +Alas! alas! poor Boyle! Like many a youth, he was ashamed to avow his +convictions, and his endless ruin followed. + +From the annual meeting he shrank with an instinctive horror, and made +up his mind _utterly to avoid it_. 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 _unassisted_, _Christless_, +_unprayerful_ 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. + +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 _a year and a day_ since our last annual meeting." + +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! + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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). + +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. "YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN." 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. + +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). + + + + +THE SCOTCH THISTLE. + + +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. + + + + +COUSIN SUSAN'S NOTE-BOOK JOTTINGS ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF FATHER +CHINIQUY. + +"BELOVED, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT." + + +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. + +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. + +The thought of _this_ Christ--terrible, angry, unapproachable--was dark +and chilling in the extreme. He seemed a Being to be feared, but not +beloved. + +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. + +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. + +And yet, though he tried to "believe a lie" so earnestly, his faith was +often shaken by what he saw and heard. + +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? + +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 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! + +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." + +Oh, that all our hope and confidence may rest on Him--entirely on Him +alone! + + + + + THE DIRGE OF AN ENGLISHWOMAN. + + And ought the Queen of England's land + A gift to send by Norfolk's hand + To the old Pope of Rome, + His Jubilee to celebrate, + With Popish pomp, in grandest state, + In his Italian home? + + Chalice and basin, richly made + Of shining gold; to him conveyed + By one of his trained band. + He used them both at his High Mass, + And proud of such a gift he was + From our dear native land. + + Our own Victoria should be free, + True to "the rights" she swore when she + Sat in the abbey old; + And crown was placed upon her head, + And coronation oath she said + Over God's Word, we're told. + + Up, English men and women all! + To the red beast[2] ne'er bow at all, + But leave him to his fate; + For Babylon will surely fall,[3] + And with her, nations great and small, + Who follow in her wake. + + In days of yore she sat a queen,[4] + On seven hills,[5] so vile, unclean, + And shed the blood of saints. + "Come out of her, My people"[6] all, + Nor of her plagues receive at all, + Or listen to her plaints. + + The Ritualists are helping fast + To bring us now, as in times past, + Beneath the sway of Rome. + You silly men and (silly) women[7] all, + Oh, why take heed to them at all + Who creep into the home?[7] + + Alas! alas! for England's Queen, + And English nation too, I ween, + If e'er the Pope gets sway! + True Christians ne'er will bend the knee + To kiss Pope's toe so impiously, + Nor pence to Peter pay. + + N. P. W. + +_Southsea._ + + +NOTHING doth more hurt in a State than that cunning men pass for wise. + + + [2] Revelation xvii. 3. + + [3] Revelation xiv. 8. + + [4] Revelation xviii. 7. + + [5] Revelation xvii. 9. + + [6] Revelation xviii. 4. + + [7] 2 Timothy iii. 6. + + + + + +EXPERIENCES IN THE ARCTIC OCEAN. + + +Captain Adams, of the whaling steamer _Maud_, which lately arrived at +Dundee from Davis Straits, has related a few interesting incidents of +his voyage. + +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. + +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 _Maud_ 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. + +Captain Adams gives the Esquimaux chief the character of an honest, +hard-working, 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. + +Captain Adams is of opinion that the whaling at Davis Straits and +Greenland is virtually exhausted. He saw only seventeen whales +throughout the season. + + + + +SINGULAR CAUSE OF DEATH. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The coroner said that the case was the most extraordinary that had ever +come before him.--_Times._ + + + + +ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA. + +(_Page 41._) + + +"_The Prince of Peace._"--ISAIAH ix. 6. + +T ychicus Colossians iv. 7. +H en Zechariah vi. 14. +E rastus Romans xvi. 23. + +P arvaim 2 Chronicles iii. 6. +R immon Joshua xv. 32. +I rijah Jeremiah xxxvii. 14. +N ahum Nahum i. 7. +C arpus 2 Timothy iv. 13. +E lymas Acts xiii. 11. + +O uches Exodus xxviii. 11. +F aith Hebrews xi. 6. + +P erez-uzzah 2 Samuel vi. 8. +E lisheba Exodus vi. 23. +A bba Romans viii. 15. +C orinthians 1 Corinthians vi. 19. +E n-hakkore Judges xv. 19. + + JOHN WEST + (Aged 9 years). + +_Biggleswade._ + + + + +SOMETHING ABOUT FOXES. + + +That always entertaining writer about birds and animals, J. G. Wood, has +a pleasant paper on "Foxes" in the _Child's Pictorial_. The author of +"Homes without Hands" says:-- + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, nearly thirty feet from the +ground, where 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. + +[Illustration: THE FOX SEES THE EAR, THE RABBIT SEES THE TAIL.] + +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. + +Sometimes the mother fox chooses a hollow tree, instead of a burrow, for +her nursery. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +[If foxes are only fit to be hunted down, why are they preserved for +that cruelty?--ED.] + + + + +ONE POOR STONE. + + +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. + +"Don't put in that stone," he said; "it is flakey, and will soon fall to +pieces." + +"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." + +"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." + +"I guess not. It won't hurt us, so here goes." + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +A MORNING'S WALK IN A COUNTRY LANE. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +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! + +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. + +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!" + +Dear young reader, have you felt your need of this precious shade? + +Presently we noticed in the hedge a rose-bush, a large portion of which +was 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. + +Ah! and how many are now in our workhouses or prisons who would have to +confess they were brought there because they did _not think_ 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. + +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. + +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! + +Boys and girls, share your pleasures with others. + +The next thought was, to look after the little roses, knowing they would +last longer than the big ones. + +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? + +_But the thorns!_ 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. + +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. + +As we gathered the roses, the thorns pricked our hands. But never mind +that. We love them too much to mind a few pricks. + +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. + +A child once cried for fear when a wasp was near, but his mother said, +"Don't fear, my child! It has left its sting in my hand. It won't hurt +you." + +Yes, Jesus has been pricked and stung by sin that His people may for +ever be delivered from its fatal power. + +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." + +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-- + + "Prepare me, gracious God, + To stand before Thy face; + Thy Spirit must the work perform, + For it is all of grace." + + EBENEZER. + + + + +"KEEP THE STAR IN SIGHT." + + +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:-- + +"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. + +"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. + +"'Will Treherne,' he cried, 'stand by me if you can be spared. My +strength is going. Do you see that star right ahead?' + +"'Yes, sir.' + +"'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.' + +"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." + +"Did you lose him that night?" I asked. + +"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. + +"After two hours of steering through a narrow and dangerous channel, we +found ourselves in a friendly sea. The star had guided us right. + +"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 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."--_Chatterbox._ + + + + +ANSWER OF GEORGE III. TO LORD GRENVILLE, + +WHEN APPLIED TO ON THE ROMAN +CATHOLIC BILL, MARCH, 1807. + + +MY LORD,--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. + +[God grant that the legislators of the present day may feel speedily the +justice and wisdom of the noble sentiment of this illustrious monarch.] + + +THE LATE PRINCE CONSORT'S OPINION OF POPERY. + +"It is an open secret," says the _Christian_, "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." + + + + +A BIBLE WITH PINS IN IT. + + +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. + +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." + + + + + BIBLE ENIGMA. + + + The father of a blind man. + An ancient musical instrument. + A measure of time. + An immense fish. + A non-believer. + A foreign language. + A relation of Jacob. + An animal. + One of Joseph's sons. + A domestic animal. + A very valuable stone. + A particular time in the day. + Another word for a letter. + + JOSEPH SMITH + (Aged 12 years). + + + + +THRILLING SCENES AT THE FORTH BRIDGE WORKS. + + +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:-- + +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. + +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. + + + + +OUR BIBLE CLASS. + +"_And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be +one, even as We are One._"--JOHN xvii. 22. + + +"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. + +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. + +Christ is God, and, as God, is, and ever must be, glorious. But this +glory was _not given_ Him; it was _His own_. 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, _alone_. + +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. + +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 _salvation_--the +satisfaction, 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-- + + "Of all the crowns Jehovah wears, + Salvation is His dearest claim; + That gracious sound well-pleased He hears, + And owns Emmanuel for His name." + +In this--His joy, His glory--He makes His people share here in this +world, and in this present time-- + + "Before they reach the heavenly fields, + Or tread the golden streets." + +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. + +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. + +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-- + + "Now will I tell to sinners round + What a dear Saviour I have found; + I'll point to His redeeming blood, + And say, 'Behold the way to God!'" + +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. + +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. + +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." + +We are, at best, imperfect in the present state. We know but in part. +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. + +"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. + +Our next subject will be, Matthew vi. 22, 23--_Mental Eyes: Darkened and +Illuminated_. + + Yours affectionately, + H. S. L. + + + + + A WORD TO SELF-SEEKERS. + + + I would not lead the selfish life + That never seeks to throw + A pleasant ray of happiness + On other people's woe. + + I scorn the folks who will not strive + To lessen want and care; + Nor lend a helping hand to those + Who have so much to bear. + + Is there not misery enough + On this terrestrial ball + To spring some sympathetic chord + Within the hearts of all? + + Oh, ye who only seek your own-- + Who hold yourselves so dear + That ye can never give the sad + One simple word of cheer-- + + Believe me, if ye wish to spend + A life of happy ease, + Seek not your own, but how ye may + Your weary brothers please. + + And He who marks each gentle deed + Of loving sympathy, + May whisper His approving word-- + "Ye did it unto Me." + + CARRIE LIGHT. + +_Brighton._ + + + + +PRIZE ESSAY. + +SELF-HELP. + + +There are six important heads which this subject may be placed under, +viz., Industry, Patience, Perseverance, Cheerfulness, Courage, and +Prudence. + +_Industry._--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. + +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." + +_Patience._--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. + +David says, in Psalm xxxvii. 7, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently +for Him." + +_Perseverance._--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.[8] + + [8] For a fuller account of Palissy, see LITTLE GLEANER for July, 1879. + +Oh, that we may be taught to trust in Christ, and pray, with the poet-- + +"Lord, hast Thou made me know Thy ways? + Conduct me in Thy fear; +And grant me such supplies of grace + That I may persevere." + +_Cheerfulness._--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. + +Christ said to the man sick of the palsy, "Son, be of good cheer; thy +sins be forgiven thee." + +_Courage._--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." + +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." + +_Prudence, or Foresight._--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. + +In Proverbs xvi. 21, it says, "The wise in heart shall be called +prudent." + +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."--(_Abridged._) + + F. E. H. ANDREWS + (Aged 13 years 5 months). + +1, _Tavistock Terrace, +Upper Holloway, London, N._ + +[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.] + +[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 GLEANER. + +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.] + + +ONE 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. + + + + +Interesting Items. + + +THE ELEPHANT'S STRENGTH.--The ordinary strength of an elephant is +calculated as equal to that of 147 men. + + +A FIGHT AMONG LIONS.--A fearful struggle took place recently between +eight lions in a cage at the menagerie at Liverpool Exhibition. One +lion, valued at L150, was killed. + + +THE 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. + + +SIR JOHN COODE'S 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 L30,000. +Sir John remarked that the beach was accumulating at the rate of 40,000 +to 50,000 tons per annum. + + +EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF STRANGULATION.--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. + + +A MONSTER DOGFISH.--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. + + +IT 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. + + +A PECULIAR CASE.--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.--_Grantham Journal._ + + +THE 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. + + +FROM DOVER TO CALAIS IN TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES.--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. + + +A FAITHFUL MASTIFF.--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.--_Albany Journal._ + + +THE DISCOVERIES AT POMPEII.--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."--_Daily News._ + + +A GENUINE FAST OF TWENTY DAYS.--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. + + +YOUTHFUL HEROINES.--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. + + +ZION CHAPEL, FOLKESTONE.--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. + + E. M. + +[Illustration: "ARE YOU SURE THAT NOTHING IS LEFT UNDONE?" (_See page +74._)] + + + + +AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF A BARRISTER. + + +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. + +"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?" + +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. + +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!" + +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 _my_ 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?" + +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-- + + "A debtor to Jehovah's law, + My soul by nature stood, + And Justice was about to draw + His sword to shed my blood. + + "'Stand forth! Stand forth!' he sternly cried, + 'And pay me what you owe!' + "'Tis done,' said Jesus, 'for I died; + Loose him, and let him go!'" + +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 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-- + +"Could thy zeal no respite know, +Could thy tears for ever flow, +All for sin could not atone; +Christ must save, and Christ alone." + +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. + + A BARRISTER. + + + + +MODES OF TRAVEL IN PERSIA. + + +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. + +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. + +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.--_S. G. W. Benjamin._ + + + + +THE VALUE OF WORK. + + +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. + + + + +COUSIN SUSAN'S NOTE-BOOK JOTTINGS ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF FATHER +CHINIQUY. + +THE COW, THE SUCKING PIG, AND PURGATORY. + +"_The tree is known by its fruit._"--MATTHEW xii. 33. + + +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!" + +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. + +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." + +"But, madam," was the cruel answer, "the money for the masses offered +for the rest of your husband's soul must be paid!" + +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." + +"Very well, madam," said the priest, rising, and walking out. + +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-- + +"Dear child, if ever you become a priest, never be so hard-hearted +towards poor widows as are the priests of to-day." + +Those words were never forgotten, as our next story will show. + +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-- + +"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 to me to help her. Will you be so kind as to sing +that high mass for her?" + +"Of course," answered the curate. "Your wife is suffering in purgatory. +Give me five dollars, and I will sing the mass to-morrow morning." + +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. + +"Well, well," said the curate, "I saw two beautiful sucking pigs before +your house this morning. Give me one of them." + +"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." + +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. + +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 +_that_ sucking pig?" + +"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." + +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. + +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." + +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. + + + + +QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS. + + +What is earth, sexton? A place to dig graves. + +What is earth, rich man? A place to work slaves. + +What is earth, grey-beard? A place to grow old. + +What is earth, miser? A place to dig gold. + +What is earth, schoolboy? A place for my play. + +What is earth, maiden? A place to be gay. + +What is earth, seamstress? A place where I weep. + +What is earth, sluggard? A good place to sleep. + +What is earth, soldier? A place for a battle. + +What is earth, herdsman? A place to raise cattle. + +What is earth, widow? A place of true sorrow. + +What is earth, tradesman? I'll tell you to-morrow. + +What is earth, sick man? 'Tis nothing to me. + +What is earth, sailor? My home is the sea. + +What is earth, statesman? A place to win fame. + +What is earth, author? I'll write there my name. + +What is earth, monarch? For my realm 'tis given. + +What is earth, Christian? The gateway of heaven. + + + + + SOME ACCOUNT OF THE LORD'S GRACIOUS DEALINGS WITH + MARY STUBBS, + WHO DIED AT GODMANCHESTER, DECEMBER 19TH, 1887, AGED + TWENTY-FOUR YEARS. + + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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.'" + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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 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." + +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. + +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.' + + "Lord, I believe Thou hast prepared, + Unworthy though I be, + For me a rich, a free reward, + A golden harp for me. + +"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. + +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 + + "I must wait a little longer, + Till His appointed time, + And glory in the knowledge + That such a home is mine. + +"Yes, 'that such a home is mine!' I shall wear a white robe there, and +sing 'Hallelujah! Hallelujah!' + + "Yes, loudest of the crowd I'll sing, + Whilst heaven's resounding mansions ring + With shouts of sovereign grace." + +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!" + +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. + +On Tuesday, November 15th, she asked her eldest brother to read to her-- + + "When languor and disease invade + This trembling house of clay, + 'Tis sweet to look beyond our cage, + And long to fly away," + +which she much enjoyed. + +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." + +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." + +At times she seemed completely lost 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." + +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-- + + "Let the sweet hope that Thou art mine + My life and death attend; + Thy presence through my journey shine, + And crown my journey's end." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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." + +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. + + "Yes, I shall soon be landed + On yonder shores of bliss; + There, with my powers expanded, + Shall dwell where Jesus is." + +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." + +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. + +On Monday, November 28th, with deep feeling, she said-- + + "E'er since by faith I saw the stream + Thy flowing wounds supply, + Redeeming love has been my theme, + And shall be till I die." + +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! + + "Weary of earth, myself, and sin, + Dear Jesus, set me free! + And to Thy glory take me in, + For there I long to be." + +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." + +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! + + "When your poor, lisping, stammering tongue + Lies silent in the grave, + Then, in a nobler, sweeter song, + You'll sing His power to save. + +"You have had a foretaste of heaven here, haven't you?" She answered, +"Yes, I have." + +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." + +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." + +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! + + "My hope is built on nothing less + Than Jesus' blood and righteousness." + +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!" + +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." + +She was interred at Godmanchester on December 26th, 1887, many of the +friends and scholars of the Sunday School being present. + +Truly, "the memory of the just is blessed." + + J. S. + + + + +BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN APRIL. + + +April 1. Commit to memory Psa. xciv. 1. + +April 8. Commit to memory Psa. xciv. 2. + +April 15. Commit to memory Psa. xciv. 21. + +April 22. Commit to memory Psa. xciv. 22. + +April 29. Commit to memory Psa. xciv. 23. + + +A CHINAMAN 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. + + + + +A FAMOUS DOG. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + + + + +FLESH-EATING PLANTS. + + +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. + +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. + +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.) + + + + + "DRAW ME." + + "_No man can come to Me except the Father, which hath sent Me, draw + him._"--JOHN vi. 44. + + "_Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out._"--JOHN vi. 37. + + "_I am the Door._"--JOHN x. 9. + + "_Draw me, we will run after Thee._"--SOLOMON'S SONG i. 4. + + + Oh, draw me, Holy Father, + For in Thy Word I read + That they who go to Jesus + With all their guilt and need, + Are certainly attracted + By Thy almighty power, + To find a happy entrance + Through heaven's Living Door. + + The world, which once did furnish + The trifles I desired, + Now gives no satisfaction; + There's something else required: + The devil would allure me + With charms by him designed + To cry, "Peace! peace!" but cannot + Relieve my troubled mind. + + I see no place of refuge + To which I may retreat; + No home, or kindly shelter, + To rest my weary feet. + Where shall I go? where _can_ I? + Dear Saviour, hear my plea-- + "Draw me, and I'll run gladly; + Yes, draw me unto Thee." + + A. B. + + + + +A BRAVE RESCUE. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +THE MUMMY OF SESOSTRIS. + + +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. + +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:-- + +"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 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." + +[Illustration: RESCUE BY DOGS OF ST. BERNARD.] + +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. + +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. + +The second mummy proved to be that of Rameses III. + +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. + + +WHEN thy hand hath done a good act, ask thy heart whether it is well +done.--_Fuller._ + + + + + "THIS IS THE WAY; WALK YE IN IT." + + (PSALM cxix. 9.) + + + Wherewith shall the inquiring youth + Attempt to cleanse his way? + This question asked the lips of Truth, + And many since that day. + + The answer's ready for the meek, + And easy to be found; + No far-fetched knowledge need you seek + On false, on foreign ground. + + Take heed unto your steps, dear friend, + The Bible does declare; + May you unto God's Word attend + With energy and prayer. + + "Take heed unto thyself," wrote Paul, + "And to the doctrines, too"; + Young Timothy obeyed the call, + And God's salvation knew. + + Friend, you may study well the law, + And try to do your best; + Remember, you will have to know + This lesson with the rest. + + But if you find yourself at last + A guiltier sinner still, + The Gospel is revealed for such-- + "Come, whosoever will." + + Yes, there the secret is made known-- + The remedy you need-- + The precious blood of Christ alone + Can cleanse thought, word, and deed. + + M. E. S. + +_Corby._ + + + + +"THOU, GOD, SEEST ME!" + + +"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. + + + + +A VISIT TO THE IDRIAN MINES. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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.--_Selected._ + +["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. + +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!--ED.] + + + + +ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA. + +(_Page 66._) + + +"_Thy will be done._"--MATTHEW xxvi. 42. + +T imaeus Mark x. 46. +H arp Genesis iv. 21. +Y ear Leviticus xxv. 4. + +W hale Job vii. 12. +I nfidel 2 Corinthians vi. 15. +L atin Luke xxiii. 38. +L aban Genesis xxix. 10. + +B ehemoth Job xl. 15. +E phraim Genesis xli. 52. + +D og Exodus xi. 7. +O nyx Genesis ii. 12. +N oon Solomon's Song i. 7. +E pistle 2 Corinthians iii. 1. + + HARRY FREDERICK FORFEITT + (Aged 10 years). + +_Thong, near Gravesend._ + + + +AN ENCOURAGING SUNDAY SCHOOL GATHERING. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _feeder_ 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 _by request_, and always a voluntary +effort on the part of the children, resulted in L6 10s. + +Mr. Marshall, of Clifton, then interested many by his pleasant and +solemn remarks. The _possibilities_ 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 _drink_, 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. + +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." + +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 _knew_ 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?" + +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 _remarkable_ gathering of people. He referred to the +four hundred men who gathered to David in the cave Adullam (1 Sam. +xxii. 1, 2). The remarkable points were these:-- + +First, they were all remarkably _poor_--"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 +_impossible_), or by Another, we shall be shut up for ever in prison +with Satan and his angels. + +Secondly, these men were remarkably _discontented_--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 "_chosen_ rather +to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures +of sin for a season." + +Thirdly, they were in remarkable _distress_. 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. + +Fourthly, they had remarkable _desires_. 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. + +Fifthly, these men had a remarkable _reception_. 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 _cometh to Me_ I will in no wise cast out." + +The reception of the four hundred was also remarkable because they were +_uninvited_. But here the type fails. Jesus _has_ invited those who +"come" to Him (see Matt. xi. 28). + +Sixthly, the men made remarkable _soldiers_. 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 _idle_ 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 _prayer_. They +fight, however, with their Captain's eye upon them (see Psa. xxxiv. 15). + +Lastly, they were remarkably _rewarded_. 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 _this +present time_," as well as "life everlasting" (Luke xviii. 28-30). + +The prizes were then distributed by the Pastor, and after a concluding +word of prayer, this encouraging meeting was brought to a close. + + E. M. + + + + + THE WISE AND FOOLISH BUILDERS. + + (MATTHEW vii. 24-29.) + + + This is a wilderness of sand, + With driving winds on every hand; + How many build their houses here, + Nor seem the coming storm to fear! + + There is a sure Foundation-Stone; + May I be builded thereupon! + Then shall I stand the last dread shock, + Safe on the Everlasting Rock. + + + + +BIBLE ENIGMA. + + +The name of a river. + +A place where all Jews were commanded to depart from. + +A king to whom the children of Israel sent a present. + +What did Abimelech take with him when he went up Mount Zalmon? + +What did the Lord say the strong shall be as? + +A mighty man of valour. + +One of David's children. + +Name one of Jacob's sons. + +A brother of Tubal. + +One of the cities which the children of Reuben built. + +A mountain. + +What did Jesus say a disciple should be called? + +That which was to be burned always. + +A place where David dwelt. + +One of the cities which the children of Gad built. + +Of what tribe was Hiram? + +What did the Lord say should not cease while the earth remaineth? + +The name of a thing declared to be a mocker (spell it backwards). + +One who slew, in the valley of salt, eighteen thousand. + +That which remains to the people of God. + +A place where the children of Israel provoked the Lord to wrath. + +A wicked king. + +The place where the father of Gideon dwelt. + +One whom the Lord blessed. + +A bird that found no rest save in one place. + + +The initials and finals will form a prayer. + + ALICE COLE. + +_Basingstoke._ + + +THE law of love requires us to sacrifice our own comfort to promote the +happiness of others.--_Albert Barnes._ + + + + +OUR BIBLE CLASS. + +MENTAL EYES: DARKENED AND ILLUMINATED. + + (MATTHEW vi. 22, 23.) + + +Light sometimes means that which _gives_, sometimes that which +_receives_ or _reflects_, 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. + +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 +_understand_ what puzzled us so much before. + +Thus, in these two verses we are told about _minds_ that are darkened, +and also about _understandings_ that are enlightened with the light of +life. + +"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. + +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 _want_ the light. Our deeds are evil, and +the light that makes 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 _our_ state by nature. What are our +feelings now? + +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! + +Chiniquy, the Romish priest, of whom some of us have heard so much, was +blinded by _superstition_ 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. + +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 _comparatively_ free from blame--"but now ye +say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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 _all_ 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. + +Jesus said, "He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness" (John +viii. 12), yet they who fear the Lord, and obey 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 _ends_ in noontide glory, the +_everlasting ending_ 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). + +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. + +Our next subject will be, _God's Independence of All, and His Declared +Need of Some of His Creatures_. Compare Psalm l. 12, with Matthew xxi. +3, and other passages. + + Yours affectionately, + H. S. L. + + + THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN. + + The Word of God records a potent test + By which a true possessor may be known-- + + The _Pharisee_ will smite his fellow's breast; + The grace-taught _publican_ will smite his own. + + + + +PRIZE ESSAY. + +WHO ARE THEY THAT WILL STAND PERFECT IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT? + + +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. + +"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). + +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. + +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." + +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." + +Then, when sprinkled by the blood of Jesus Christ, they are perfectly +free from sin; as the hymn says-- + + "There is a fountain filled with blood, + Drawn from Immanuel's veins; + + And sinners plunged beneath that flood + Lose all their guilty stains." + + And this is how God's people stand before Him-- + + "Dear, dying Lamb, Thy precious blood + Shall never lose its power + Till all the ransomed Church of God + Be saved to sin no more." + +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). + +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). + +"But can I bear the piercing thought-- + 'What if my name should be left out + When Thou for them shalt call?' + +"Let me among thy saints be found + Whene'er the archangel's trump shall sound, + To see Thy smiling face: + Then loudest of the crowd I'll sing, + While heaven's resounding mansions ring + With shouts of sovereign grace." + + GRACE ANNIE OSMOTHERLY + (Aged 12 years). + +_45, Cutmore Street, +Gravesend, Kent._ + +[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.] + +[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "The Life of John +Newton." + +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.] + + + + +KINDNESS TO ANIMALS. + + +The following lines are printed on a board over a watering-trough in +Holloway, Bath:-- + +A man of kindness to his beast is kind, +But brutish actions show a brutish mind. +Remember, He who made thee made the brute; +Who gave thee speech and reason, made him mute. +He can't complain, but God's all-seeing eye +Beholds thy cruelty and hears his cry. +He was designed thy servant--not thy drudge. +Remember his Creator is thy Judge. + + +HE acts but a fool's part who aims at heaven, but lives at random. + + + + +Interesting Items. + + +THE DEEPEST RUNNING STREAM.--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. + + +SABBATH-BREAKING.--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. + + +GREAT SNOWSTORM IN NEW YORK.--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. + + +DEATH OF THE EMPEROR WILLIAM OF GERMANY.--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!] + + +THE BERLIN TELEGRAPH OFFICE.--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. + + +EPPING BAPTIST SUNDAY SCHOOL.--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 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. + + +SIDDAL, HALIFAX.--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. + + +SOUTHSEA.--SALEM STREET SUNDAY SCHOOL.--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. + + E. A. HITCHENS. + + +CIRENCESTER.--PARK STREET CHAPEL SUNDAY SCHOOL.--Dear Mr. Editor,--I am +one of the readers of the LITTLE GLEANER. 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 LITTLE GLEANER, 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, MERCY RISELY. +P.S.--Perhaps you don't know me, but I have seen you ever so many times +at our chapel. + +[Illustration: "THE CAPTAIN NEVER SAW ANY ONE LOOK HAPPIER." (_See page +98._)] + + + + +THE JESUIT AND THE BIBLE. + + +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. + +"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?" + +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." + +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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"Here is a part of it," I said, producing my New Testament. "This is the +Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." + +"The Gospel!" said the young man, with surprise. "Is it all contained in +that small Book? I should never have supposed it." + +"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). + +"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." + +"But, sir, you say that your priest will not allow you to read it?" + +"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. + +"You know, perhaps, that Belgium is full of Jesuits, and the people +dislike them. A certain abbe, 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 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. + +"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." + +"Then," said I, "you remain in ignorance as to whether God loves you or +not?" + +"I am not worse than others," he replied; "and since God is good, I do +not suppose He hates me." + +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." + +"Will you not, then," I said, "read the Bible, which tells us this +glorious news?" + +"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." + +"But if some Jesuit should see your Book, he may take it from you." + +"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." + + C. + + + + +A DIVINE PROVIDENCE. + + +The late Mr. Edward Parsons, of Leeds, frequently supplied the pulpit of +the Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road, London. + +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?" + +Having done so, his host told him he had a design in thus treating him, +and then related the following remarkable facts:-- + +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'. + +One day, being without food, or the means of obtaining any, he resolved +the next morning to drown himself in the New River, and accordingly +started to carry out his terrible intention. + +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. + +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). + +It seemed so truly for him that the poor, starving man could not help +remaining through the sermon. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + + R. F. R. + + + + +TWO WAYS OF DESCENDING. + + +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 _little_ sins. Beware of the treachery of +_little_ sins. + + E. BARNE. + + + + +COUSIN SUSAN'S NOTE-BOOK JOTTINGS ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF FATHER +CHINIQUY. + +DOUBLY FREED AND DOUBLY ENRICHED. + +"_Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life +that now is, and of that also which is to come._"--1 TIMOTHY iv. 8. + + +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. + +But, after all his efforts, a terrible fear that they were not converted +_would_ 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. + +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? + +"As I am Father Chiniquy," was the reply, "I can at once answer that I +shall feel much pleasure in granting your request." + +He led the way upstairs, and, when alone, the stranger asked-- + +"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. + +They knelt together to thank God for His mercy, and then the visitor +continued his wonderful story. + +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.... + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 in signs of the cross, and confession, +so that your sublime appeals to the words of Christ were drowned by +absurd and impious superstitions. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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.' + +"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. + +"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. + +"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.... + +"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." + +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." + +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. + +May we also be glad, and rejoice in His salvation, and join to sing the +heavenly song with heart and voice, even now-- + +"Till sweeter notes our bosoms swell, + In yonder world above." + + +WISE work is cheerful as a child's work is. + + + + +A BROTHER'S DREAM. + +"_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._"--JOB xxxiii. 14-16. + + +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. + +The text above does not teach that God speaketh in _all_ dreams, but +that He is pleased _sometimes_ (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. + +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. + +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. + + "Friend after friend departs; + Who has not lost a friend?" + +Come, then, all sympathizing hearts; come, ye who know what sorrow is; +come, all who + + "feel an aching void, + The world can never fill," + +and listen to "a brother's dream." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, _eagerly_ he +vociferated, "I do! I do!" + +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. + +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 approached. Alarmed, amazed, terrified, his +horror was increased as he beheld his props already on fire. + +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!" + +Forthwith the fire was quenched, and he sang delivering grace. + +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? + +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." + +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 _props_, 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. + +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. + +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.'" + +It _was_ 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 + + "Jesus sheds the brightest beams + Of His o'erflowing grace." + +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? + +Let us look at some of its prominences. Standing out with towering +majesty and grandeur, like a cloud-capped mountain, appears + +_Divine sovereignty_--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." + +We also discover _the danger of false religion_. 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 PROPS, +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. + +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! + +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." + +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. + +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. + + "In vain the trembling conscience seeks + Some solid ground to rest upon; + With long despair the spirit breaks, + Till we apply to Christ alone." + +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. + +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 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. + +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"! + +But he has long entered his rest. He has forgotten to mourn, and loudly +sings the praises of the Lamb. + +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? + +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 _believeth not_ shall +be damned!" No salvation but by a living faith in the Lamb of God and +His all-perfect work. + + + + +PROMPT KINDNESS. + + +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:-- + +"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." + + + + +BIBLE ENIGMA. + + +An unknown king. + +A place from which the Canaanites were not driven. + +One of the dukes of Edom. + +A Shuhite. + +A place built by the sons of Elpaal. + +Where were they once who are now made nigh to God? + +The Hebrew name for "pavement." + +A name which means "the tower." + +Something which God used to give a sign to encourage a king. + + +The initials and finals form two titles of Christ. + + CLARA ELLIS + (Aged 14 years). + + + + +A FUGITIVE IN THE HIMALAYA MOUNTAINS. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, "_It is +the Last Time_," he could have no peace of mind until he found assurance +of his greatest debt being cancelled by the blood of Christ. + +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. + +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. + +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!" + + + + +A FEW WORDS FROM THE DUMB. + + +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. + +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. + +"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 +_you_ set up your back, but you will do anything for a kind master. + +"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. + +"Pray let us have a little more water when we stand weary and thirsty, +with our poor dry tongues unable to ask for it. _You_ have felt the +suffering of thirst. + +"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 _your_ head were held in such a position, and we could do more work, +and much better, without it. + +"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. + +"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." + +Think how much you owe to mercy yourself, and remember, "The merciful +man doeth good to his beast." + + + + + ONE LINK GONE. + + + Take the pillows from the cradle + Where the little sufferer lay; + Draw the curtain, close the shutters, + Shut out every beam of day. + + Spread the pall upon the table; + Place the lifeless body there; + Back from off the marble features + Lay the auburn curls with care. + + With its little blue-veined fingers + Crossed upon its painless breast, + Free from care, and pain, and anguish, + Let the infant beauty rest. + + Smooth its little shroud about it; + Pick its toys from off the floor; + They, with all their sparkling beauty, + Ne'er can charm their owner more. + + Take the little shoes and stockings + From the doting mother's sight; + Pattering feet no more will need them, + In and out with such delight. + + Parents faint and worn with watching + Through the long, dark night of grief, + Dry your tears, and soothe your sighing; + Gain a respite of relief. + + Mother's care no more is needed + To allay the rising moan; + And though you perchance may leave it, + It can never be alone. + + Thus a golden link is broken + In a chain of earthly bliss-- + Thus the distance shorter making + 'Twixt another world and this. + +[Illustration: KINDNESS TO ANIMALS. (_See page 108._)] + + + + +A GATHERED ONE. + +A SHORT ACCOUNT OF EMMA BEESLEY, OF LEICESTER, WHO DIED ON LORD'S DAY +MORNING, JANUARY 1ST, 1888, AGED TWENTY-ONE YEARS. + + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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-- + + "I love to meet amongst them now, + Before Thy gracious feet to bow, + Though vilest of them all." + +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." + +For the most part she was very dark in her mind, but had rays of light, +being often encouraged under the preached Word. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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-- + + "Fenced with Jehovah's 'shalls' and 'wills,' + Firm as the everlasting hills." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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-- + + "Her mind was tranquil and serene; + No terror in her look was seen; + Her Saviour's smile dispelled the gloom, + And smoothed her passage to the tomb." + + C. WARDLE. + + + + +PRAYER ANSWERED. + +A TRUE INCIDENT. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +"Why," said the wife, "no one is here but you and me. What is the matter +with you?" + +"I heard a voice," said the deacon, "saying, 'Send food to John.'" + +"Nonsense!" replied Mrs. Brown. "You've been dreaming." + +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.'" + +"Well, well," said Mrs. Brown. "Deacon, you are not well; your supper +has not agreed with you. Lie down and try to sleep." + +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?" + +"No one I remember," replied Mrs. Brown, "unless it be John Barry, the +old charcoal-burner on the mountain." + +"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. + +"Come, wife," said he, "wake our boy Willie, and tell him to feed the +horses and get ready to go with me; 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Call upon Me in the day of trouble, and I will answer +thee."--_Lantern._ + + +NEVER think that you can make yourself great by making another less. + + + + +ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA. + +(_Page 91._) + + +"_Create in me a clean heart, O God; renew a right spirit within +me._"--PSALM li. 10. + +C heba R . Ezekiel i. i. +R om E . Acts xviii. 2. +E glo N . Judges iii. 15. +A x E . Judges ix. 48. +T o W . Isaiah i. 31. +E liad A . 2 Chronicles xvii. 17. +I bha R . 2 Samuel v. 15. +N aphtal I . Genesis xxx. 8. +M ago G . 1 Chronicles i. 5. +E leale H . Numbers xxxii. 37. +A rara T . Genesis viii. 4. +C epha S . John i. 42. +L am P . Exodus xxvii. 20. +E nged I . 1 Samuel xxiii. 29. +A roe R . Numbers xxxii. 34. +N aphtal I . 1 Kings vii. 14. +H arves T . Genesis viii. 22. +E ni W . Proverbs xx. 1. +A bisha I . 1 Chronicles xviii. 12. +R es T . Hebrews iv. 9. +T abera H . Deuteronomy ix. 22. +O mr I . 1 Kings xvi. 25. +G ibeo N[9] . 1 Chronicles viii. 29. +O bed-edo M . 2 Samuel vi. 11. +D ov E . Genesis viii. 9. + + THOMAS TYLER + (Aged 14 years). + +_Potton_, _Beds_. + + [9] "Gideon" was given by mistake, in the Enigma, instead of "Gibeon." + + + + + WISDOM. + + (PROVERBS iii. 13-15.) + + + True wisdom doth my soul admire, + And would before fine gold prefer; + For all the things I could desire + Are not to be compared with her. + + While earthly things fill earthly minds, + Attracted to their native clod, + Happy the man who wisdom finds, + And holds her in the fear of God! + + + + +THE CLEVER BOY AND THE ELECTRICAL MACHINE. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +This thought soon produced action. Promptness was a leading part of the +young man's character, so he resolved to 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. + +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. + +"Seest thou the man that is diligent in business? he shall stand before +kings." + +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. + + +CHRIST'S 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. + + + + +OUR BIBLE CLASS. + +GOD'S INDEPENDENCE OF ALL, AND HIS DECLARED NEED OF SOME OF HIS +CREATURES. + +(PSALM l. 12, AND MATTHEW xxi. 1-3.) + + +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. + +No _supplies_, 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). + +No _tribute_. 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 _Thine own_, O Lord, have we given +unto Thee" (1 Chron. xxix. 14). + +He needs _no information_ or _guidance_ (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. + +No creatures can give their Creator a single new thought, or any help of +any kind (Rom. xi. 34-36). "For who hath _known_ the mind of the Lord?" +Who then could have been His counsellor? Or who hath first given to Him? +This can never be, "for _of_ Him, and _through_ Him, and _to_ Him are +all things, to whom be glory for ever. Amen." + +Therefore He needs give no _explanations_ 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. + +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. + +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." + +There is no contradiction in the contrast; but God's needs are never +necessities. Our needs arise out of our _nature_. We need food, +clothing, and comforts, friendship and sympathy; but all God's needs +come from His _will_ and His _love_. + +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. + +"Though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that we through +His poverty might be rich." + +"For our sakes!" This is the keynote to all the needs of the Almighty. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Do we feel our need of Him? Have we discovered that we are fallen, lost, +guilty, and diseased? Then _He needs us_, and has shown us our need, +that He may relieve, supply, and bless us with His great salvation. + +In the same way He needs His people's services for _their own_ sakes. + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +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. + +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 sure that Ananias never forgot that memorable day. + +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. + +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-- + +"With heaven and earth at His command, + He waits to answer prayer." + +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). + +May this joy unspeakable be ours. + +Our next subject will be, _The Good Shepherd Gathering His Sheep_ (John +x. 16). + + Yours affectionately, + H. S. L. + + + + +BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN MAY. + + +May 6. Commit to memory Rom. viii. 31. + +May 13. Commit to memory Rom. viii. 32. + +May 20. Commit to memory Rom. viii. 33. + +May 27. Commit to memory Rom. viii. 34. + + + + +PRIZE ESSAY. + +HOW TO BE USEFUL IN THE WORLD. + + +There are five heads under which this subject may be placed--Love, +Truthfulness, Obedience, Cheerfulness, Peacemakers. + +_Love._ 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. + +_Truthfulness_ 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 _will_ 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. + +_Obedience_ 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. + +_Cheerfulness_ 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 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. + +_Peacemakers_ 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. + +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. + + MARGARET CREASEY + (Aged 14 years). + +_Sydney House, Sleaford._ + + +[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. + +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.] + + +[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "Notable Workers in +Humble Life." + +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.] + + +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 _try again_:-- + + +HOW TO BE USEFUL IN THE WORLD. + +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. + + MERCY PHILLIPS + (Aged 7 years, 10 months). + +_Lindfield, Hayward's Heath._ + + + + +Interesting Items. + + +OVER 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. + + +UNITED STATES' FLOUR EXPORTS.--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. + + +AMONG 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. + + +A SAGACIOUS DOG.--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. + + +WE 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. + + +ORIGIN OF THE WORD "NEWS."--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--N E W S, implying that those papers contained +intelligence from the four quarters of the globe, and from this practice +is derived the term of "newspaper." + + +A TELEGRAM 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. + + +AMONGST 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. + + +ONE 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. + + +A SUBMERGED FOREST.--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. + + +PREACHING 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. + + +A SNAKE THAT UNDERSTOOD ENGLISH.--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. + + +THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD FIELDS.--The _Natal Mercury_ says:--"The gold +exports for January, 1888, from Natal were L31,447, and from the Cape +L26,115, making a total of L57,562. 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 L690,744. 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 L100 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." + + +ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN NEW YORK.--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, +GEORGE SHEPARD PAGE. 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.--ED.] + + +KEEPING WARM.--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. + +[Illustration: "SHE NOW FELT THAT SHE HAD LOST HER WAY." (_See page +122._)] + + + + +LOST AND FOUND. + +A TRUE STORY FOR THE LITTLE ONES. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Thus we see how one wrong step leads to another. Dear children, beware +of the first temptation to acts of disobedience. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +At last, the men and women took off Janet's nice frock, and put on her +an 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +When all the people had come back with the sad tidings that no trace of +Janet could be found, she wept aloud. + +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. + +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. + +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!" + +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. + +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. + +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 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." + +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! + +Dear child, through the fall you are _lost_. Have you been truly brought +as a penitent to Christ? If so, you are _found_. + +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? + + + + +THE DEAR OLD TIMES. + + +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 L17 17s. 6d." + +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 L1 2s. +a yard. In 1729, however, he procured a cheap knockabout suit of clothes +for L9 0s. 6d. + +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." + +Boots and wigs were both dear; so also were hats. The squire's +window-tax in 1748 amounted to L2 17s. + +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 31/2d. per +lb.; a tongue cost 1s. 10d.; 31 lbs. of round and rump of beef cost +12s., or about 41/2d. 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. + +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. + +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.--_Cassell's Saturday Journal._ + + + + + POINTS TO BE AIMED AT. + + + P unctual be throughout the day; + O bedient to superiors; + I ndustrious in every way; + N ot haughty to inferiors: + T ruthful in word, and trim in dress; + S hun folly, and for wisdom press. + + J. B. + + +ALL who now colour for show will hereafter be shown in their true +colours. + + + + +WHAT A PRIEST THOUGHT OF ROMAN CATHOLIC MIRACLES. + +"_After the working of Satan with all power, and signs, and lying +wonders._"--2 THESSALONIANS ii. 9. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 L50, representing his vision as he lay seemingly +on the bed of death. + +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. + +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. + +They at last arrive there, pay from one to five dollars to have a mass +said for 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. + +"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. + +"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!" + +They talked together in this strain till two o'clock in the morning, and +then Chiniquy was too puzzled and sad to sleep. + +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.--_Jottings on "The Life and Work of +Father Chiniquy," by Cousin Susan._ + + + + +COUNTING THE COST. + + +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-- + +"Now, all of you who sincerely repent of your sins, hold up your hands." + +Every man in the vast multitude immediately stretched out both his +hands. + +"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." + +In an instant every hand dropped, and Rocco, of course, poured forth a +fresh torrent of eloquent invective against their sins and their deceit. + +[True repentance is given by Jesus Christ, the exalted Prince and +Saviour. All other is but mere show, and unavailing before God.--ED.] + + +A HEART without a gift is better than a gift without a heart. + + + + +JUVENILE GEMS. + + +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. + +The names of their parents were George and Ann Woolford, both members of +the Church assembling for worship in Bethel Chapel, Cheltenham. + +In all, four children shared their affection, interested their +solicitudes, listened to their counsels, and knelt at their domestic +altar. + +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:-- + + GEORGE. + +"My eldest child, George Woolford, was attacked by scarlatina on October +16th, 1851, from which he partially recovered, but died the following +month. + +"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 _why_ 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 _all_ 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. + +"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.' + +"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. + +"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 _pray_?' He answered, 'I _try_ +to do so; but do not know that I pray _aright_.' 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.' + +"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 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. + +"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.' + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 _great_ one--a _great_ one.' + +"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.' + +"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.' + +"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.' + +"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.' + +"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?' + +"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 time, he said, 'Oh, why is He so long in coming? +Dear Lord, come _now_!' + +"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!' + +"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." + +Thus died George Woolford, aged nine years and nine months. + +"Those that sleep in Christ will God bring with Him." + + "'I take these little lambs,' said He, + 'And lay them in My breast; + Protection they shall find in Me; + In Me be ever blest. + + "'Death may the bands of life unloose, + But can't dissolve My love; + Millions of infant souls compose + The family above.' + + "His words the happy parents hear, + And shout with joys divine-- + 'Dear Saviour, all we have and are + Shall be for ever Thine.'" + + + + + HEPHZIBAH. + +"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. + +"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 _you_ both very dearly, but I love the Lord +_most_. Ought I not to love Him most, mother?' I said, 'Yes, my dear.' +She replied, 'And so I _do_. 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.' + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 would be to 'tell a +story,' which, she said, 'would be very wicked.' + +"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. + +"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." + + "One gentle sigh their fetters breaks, + We scarce can say, 'They're gone!' + Before the willing spirit takes + Her mansion near the throne. + + "Faith strives, but all its efforts fail + To trace her in her flight; + No eye can pierce within the veil + Which hides that world of light. + + "Thus much (and this is all) we know-- + They are completely blest; + Have done with sin, and care, and woe, + And with their Saviour rest." + +[The memoir of the third child, Ann Jane, will appear next month.] + + + + +THE BLIND TORTOISE IN THE WELL. + + +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. + +"From the sea." + +Hearing of the sea, he of the well swam round a little circle and +asked-- + +"Is the water of the ocean as large as this?" + +"Larger," replied he of the sea. + +The well tortoise then swam two-thirds of the well, and asked if the sea +was as big as that. + +"Much larger than that," said the sea tortoise. + +"Well, then," asked the blind tortoise, "is the sea as large as this +whole well?" + +"Larger," said the sea tortoise. + +"If that is so," said the well tortoise, "how big, then, is the sea?" + +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." + +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." + +How many people there are like the tortoise in the well! + + + + +BIBLE ENIGMA. + + + Though 'tis not seen, yet it is known, + For oft it makes e'en strong men groan. + The proud and bold have shook with fear + When they have felt this strong one near. + Yea, monarchs have before it fell, + And feared that they should sink to hell. + But oft the sad have felt this power, + And found, in trouble's darkest hour, + Such friendly help that they have said + They never more should be afraid. + And such as felt condemned to die + Have been released and filled with joy. + Now, reader, search your Bible through, + And tell us where these things you view. + + +THE greatest happiness of the creature is not to have the creature for +his happiness. + + + + +"THE SENSE AND SENSES OF ANIMALS." + + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + + BEWARE OF THORNS. + + + A hand encased in leathern glove, + One pensive autumn day, + Gathered some pretty wayside flowers, + To make a bright bouquet. + + With kind intent the flowers were culled, + To please a loved one's taste; + But ah! unconsciously, some thorns + Were with the blossoms placed. + + The hand that grasped the welcome gift + Soon felt the piercing smart, + And pain dispelled the grateful smile + That rayed out from the heart. + + Would we to spirits bowed and sad + Convey a transient joy? + Let not the lack of tender skill + Our kindly deed alloy. + + E. D. + + +IF you pursue sin for profit you will never profit by your sin. + + + + +THE COST OF A BROKEN SABBATH. + + +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 _for once_ 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-- + +"Lads, you may think lightly _now_ 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 _the cost of a broken Sabbath_." + +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. + +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 _the cost of a broken Sabbath_." + +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. + +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. + +Having explained how he had been occupied since passing in the early +morn, he remarked-- + +"You live alone?" + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +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. + +After impressively asking God's blessing, and whilst partaking of the +simple meal, the visitor remarked-- + +"I see the sanctity of the Lord's Day is a strong point with you. I +was struck this morning with the expression you used to those +lads--'_the cost of a broken Sabbath_.'" + +[Illustration: "THE OLD MAN SAT WITH HIS BIG BIBLE." (_See page 132._)] + +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-- + +"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." + +"If your story will not be too painful to you, my friend, I should +indeed feel grateful to you for it," was the response. + +"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. + +"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-- + +"'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.' + +"'But, Ned, you don't believe Davie or Maggie would go?' said Mary, half +reproachfully. + +"'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.' + +"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 her to join the steamer trip, till one day he said-- + +"'If David went, you could not scruple about going under his care.' + +"'Oh, I'm safe enough not to go at that rate,' was her reply. + +"But she was mistaken. David had been persuaded to put his conscience to +sleep by the resolution that it should only be _for once_, 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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.' + +"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." + +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 +_warn_ the young of the fearful _cost of a broken Sabbath_." + +The aged man wiped away some falling tears. + +"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 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. + +"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.' + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"'If he'd only come himself,' said my Mary, 'it would be better than all +the gold.' + +"'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." + +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." + +Then he hastened homewards, his own heart full with this touching record +of _the cost of a broken Sabbath_.--_From a Tract, published by S. W. +Partridge and Co._ + + + + +A SOFT PILLOW. + + +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. + + + + +RECEIVING THE TRUTH. + + +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. + +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. + +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 _not_ 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." + +"Well," said her English friend, "we will inquire where he preaches." + +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-- + +"This is the good and right doctrine! Here I will attend." + +"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?" + +"Oh, no," said Mrs. Le Pla; "but I will certainly inquire for myself." + +The next opportunity was eagerly embraced, and the zealous inquirer, +seating herself by a good old woman of the congregation, whispered-- + +"Pray, madam, do they believe in predestination here?" + +"Why, predestination," said she, "how can they avoid believing it? The +Bible is full of it." + +The querist was thunderstruck. She hastened home. + +"Do they believe in predestination there?" + +"An old lady told me they did," was the reply. "But," said the French +lady, "I am determined to ask the minister myself." + +Not long after, she had an interview with Mr. Knight. + +"Pray, sir," said she, "will you allow me to ask you a few questions?" + +"By all means," said the good man. + +"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." + +Mr. Knight said to her, "Do not believe what every old woman says to +you. Do you believe you are a sinner?" + +"Oh, yes, sir!" + +"Do you feel the want of Jesus Christ?" + +"Oh, yes, sir." + +"Then," said Mr. Knight, "continue to hear the Word of God, and search +the Scriptures to see whether I preach the truth or not." + +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. + +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. + + + + +AN EVENING AT THE WEST END. + + +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. + +The proceedings were opened by singing, and the Chairman read the fourth +chapter of Malachi, after which Mr. Gray engaged in prayer. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + "Great God, with wonder and with praise, + On all Thy works I look; + But still Thy wisdom, power, and grace + Shine brightest in Thy Book." + +He then spoke of the Book of _revelation_, 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. + +He mentioned an instance of a Bible, consisting of nine volumes, being +sold for L33 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. + +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. + +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, _Romanism_, _Rationalism_, and _Ritualism_. How many +worshipped something short of God in the setting up of candles, +crucifixes, music, and other things. We must "worship in spirit and in +truth." + +He concluded by exhorting them not to grow weary in well-doing, for +their labour would not be in vain in the Lord. + +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. + +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 "_esprit de corps_," +_i.e._, 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." + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +RAGGED TOM. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +OUR BIBLE CLASS. + +THE GOOD SHEPHERD GATHERING HIS SHEEP. + +(JOHN x. 16.) + + +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. + +"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 _this_ +[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). + +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). + +Returning to our text, we find Jesus declaring that all His people are +His before they know or love Him. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +"He finds them wandering far from God, + And brings them to His chosen fold." + +"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. + +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. + +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). + +"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 again with gladness, +and followed their Lord in baptism (Acts ii. 37-41). + +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.). + +Happy are they who know the sound of that heavenly voice! Have _we_ +heard it? It may not be _recognized_ at first, as Samuel heard, but did +not know _who_ 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, _know_ His voice, +and long and love to hear it. + +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. + + "From sorrow, care, and pain, + And sin they shall be free, + And perfect love and friendship reign + Through all eternity." + +"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. + +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. + +"His life and blood the Shepherd paid, + A ransom for the flock." + +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." + +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. + + "He that hath fed will feed; + He that hath blessed will bless; + He that hath led will lead; + Can He do less?" + +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. + +Our next subject will be, _Elisha and the Shunammite_ (2 Kings iv. 8-37; +viii. 1-6). + + Yours affectionately, + H. S. L. + + + + +BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN JUNE. + + +June 3. Commit to memory Prov. x. 27, +June 10. Commit to memory Prov. x. 28. +June 17. Commit to memory Prov. x. 29. +June 24. Commit to memory Prov. x. 30. + + +A SANCTIFIED heart is better than a silvered tongue. + + + + +PRIZE ESSAY. + +WHAT MARKS DO THE LAMBS OF JESUS CHRIST BEAR? + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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-- + + "Life, light, and holiness divine + From Jesus they by faith receive; + The Spirit makes His graces shine, + And gives them power in Christ to live." + + JANE BELL + (Aged 14 years). + +_Sydney House, Sleaford, +Lincolnshire._ + +[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.] + +[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "The Dairyman's +Daughter." + +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.] + + + + +ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA. + +(_Page 106._) + + +"_Lamb of God._"--JOHN i. 29. "_Lord of all._"--ACTS x. 36. + +L emue L . Proverbs xxxi. 1. +A cch O . Judges i. 31. +M ibza R . 1 Chronicles i. 53. +B ilda D . Job ii. 11. + +O n O . 1 Chronicles viii. 12. +F ar of F . Ephesians ii. 13. + +G abbath A . John xix. 13. +O phe L . 2 Chronicles xxvii. 3. +D ia L . 2 Kings xx. 11. + + CLARA ELLIS + (Aged 14 years). + + +MANY wish to be like Christ in _bliss_ who seek not to be like Him by +_grace_. + + + + +Interesting Items. + + +DAIRYING BY A DUCHESS.--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. + + +TELEGRAPHING 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. + + +A POWERFUL PNEUMATIC GUN.--A pneumatic gun, which is to throw a shell +containing six hundred pounds of dynamite four miles, is being +constructed for Italy in Philadelphia. + + +THE 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 L300, was displayed upon +the table next the reredos for the first time on April 1st. + + +THE 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. + + +A SPANISH 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. + + +THE OLDEST AND YOUNGEST.--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. + + +A MILITARY HEROINE.--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." + + +A RETURN, 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. + + +WATCH GLASSES.--Of watch glasses, 50,000 gross, or 7,200,000, are sold +annually in the United States. Most of these are imported from England. + + +A MEMORIAL 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." + + +A GREAT LOG RAFT.--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. + + +GREAT STORM AT MADAGASCAR.--Particulars have been received, _via_ 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. + + +THE CHINESE ALMANACK.--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 +_Chinese Recorder_ 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.e._, 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!--ED.] + +[Illustration: "A TROOP OF DRAGOONS CAME UP AT FULL GALLOP." (_See page +146._)] + + + + +THE COVENANTER'S ESCAPE AND DEATH. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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 next the house, stabbing the beds, but they did not enter the +place where he lay. + +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. + + + + +A DAY'S WORK. + + +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.--_The Family +Physician._ + + + + +JUVENILE GEMS. + +(_Concluded from page 130._) + + + ANN JANE. + +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. + +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. + +Ann Jane gave pleasing proofs of a work of grace in her soul, the +progress of which was visible to by-standers and friends. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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!" + +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." + +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 _merited_ it?" "Oh, no, mother," was her immediate reply. +"I am a guilty sinner. It is through the Lord Jesus, 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." + +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." + +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!" + +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! + +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. + +At another time she said, "Do read to me, dear mother"; and upon my +asking her _where_, she replied, "Read about the sufferings of Christ" I +did so, and she afterwards engaged in prayer. + +At another time the nurse heard her, during the night, earnestly praying +for both her parents and herself. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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!" + +She spoke not again, but for twelve long hours "her spirit struggled +with her clay," when the conflict mercifully 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. + + "May death conclude my toils and tears; + May death conclude my sins and fears; + May death, through Jesus, be my Friend; + May death be life when life shall end!" + +Thus ends the interesting memoirs of three happy children; and as +reflection should follow reading, we proceed from narrative to +reflections. + + REFLECTIONS. + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + + "There is not a grand inspiring thought, + There is not a truth by wisdom taught, + There is not a feeling pure or high, + That may not be read in a mother's eye. + + "There are teachings on earth, and sky, and air; + The heavens the glory of God declare; + But more loud than the voice beneath, above, + Is the voice that speaks through a mother's love." + + W. P. + + + + +BROUGHT TO THE FOLD. + + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +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!" + +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 LITTLE GLEANER. + + C. G. + + +TO 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. + + + + +ROME PROPOSES, GOD DISPOSES. + +"_For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, +saith the Lord._"--ISAIAH lv. 8. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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!"--_Jottings on "The Life and Work of Father Chiniquy," +by Cousin Susan._ + + + + +HOW TO SELECT A BOY. + + +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. + +"I should like to know," said a friend, "on what ground you selected +that boy, who had not a single recommendation." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + + + + +"NOTHING TO THANK GOD FOR." + + +"Have you nothing to thank God for?" asked the mother of a little girl +named Helen. + +"No," said Helen; "you and papa give me everything." + +"Not for your pleasant home?" asked mother. + +"It is my papa's house; he lets me live in it." + +"Where did the wood come from to build it?" asked mother. + +"From trees," answered Helen, "and they growed in big forests." + +"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." + +Helen looked her mother in the eye, and then said, "Papa bought nails to +make it with." + +"What are nails made of?" asked mamma. + +"Iron," answered Helen; "and men dig iron out of the ground." + +"Who put iron in the ground, and kept it there safe till the men wanted +it?" asked mother. "It was God." + +"We got this carpet from men," said Helen, drawing her small foot across +it. + +"Where did the carpet-men get the wool to make it from?" asked mother. + +"From farmers," answered Helen. + +"And where did the farmers get it?" + +"From sheep and lambs' backs," said the little girl. + +"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?" + +"God gave it to them, I suppose," said the little girl. "It is you that +gives me bread, mother," said she quickly. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"Yes," said mother; "God is the Origin of every good and perfect gift +which we enjoy." + +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." + +"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!" + + + + +A CINGALESE ROCK FORTRESS. + + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +A QUEER FISHERMAN. + + +Monkeys and apes are (remarks a writer in _Harper's Young People_) +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. + +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." + + + + +SAVED BY GRACE. + + +Agreeably to your wishes, I send you the following account of W. B----, +who had lived a dissolute life for nearly forty years. + +He was notorious for drinking and Sabbath-breaking, and his general +deportment was so abandoned that he was wicked even to a proverb. + +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. + +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 _serpent_ 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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +[Illustration: "ONE OF THE MEMBERS OBSERVED HIM IN A PENSIVE POSTURE." +(_See page 156._)] + + + + +TWO BRAVE CHILDREN. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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.--_Examiner._ + + + + +A HINT TO BOYS. + + +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." + +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 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. + +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. + + W. G. + + + + +DIVINE GUIDANCE. + + +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. + +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 _Fame_, 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 _Fame_. She was now sixty years of age. + +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 _Archibald_. + +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 _Fame_, contrary to +the wishes of her friends. + +"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord."--_Lantern._ + + +IF Christ be not a refiner's fire _in_ you, He will be a consuming fire +_to_ you. + + +GOD can give a pardon to the greatest sin, but He cannot give a +patronage to the least sin. + + + + +"JESUS LOVES ME!" + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 _he_ loved Jesus when +Jesus loved _him_? The dear little sufferer had grasped the secret of +power. It was not _his_ love for Jesus, but the love of Jesus _to him_, +that was the solid rock on which he stood. + +Another time he said, "Oh, I don't mind bearing a little pain for Jesus. +He died for me." + +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." + +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 being for ever with +Him who loves him, "whom to know is life eternal," and "in whose +presence is fulness of joy." + + NETTIE. + + + + +A RED SEA ROCK. + + +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 _Avocet_ and _Teddington_, are +supposed to have struck during the year 1887, both ships afterwards +foundering. + +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. + +The fourth ship, Her Majesty's surveying ship _Stork_, 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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +KENILWORTH CASTLE. + + +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. + +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! + + + + +THE PRIEST AND THE LADY; OR, TRANSUBSTANTIATION EXPOSED. + + +A lady once, a Protestant, in ignorance was led +To think she might with comfort live, though to a Papist wed: +But Rome decrees no peace they'll have who marry heretics, +Until their households have been made submissive to her tricks. + +It sorely grieved this husband that his wife would not comply +To join the "mother Church" of Rome, and heresy deny: +Day after day he flattered her, but still she held it good +That man should never bow his knee to idols made of wood. + +The Mass, the priest, and miracles, were made but to deceive; +And transubstantiation, too, she never could believe. +He went unto his clergy, and told him his sad tale-- +"My wife's an unbeliever, sir; try if you can prevail. + +"You say you can work miracles--she says it is absurd-- +Convince her and convert her, and great is your reward." +The priest went with the gentleman--he thought to gain a prize-- +He says, "I will convert your wife, and open quite her eyes." + +So when they came unto the house, "My dear," the husband cried, +"The priest is come to dine with us." "He's welcome," she replied. +The dinner being ended, the priest to teach began, +Explaining to the lady the sinful state of man. + +The kindness of the Saviour (which no one can deny), +Who gave Himself a Sacrifice, and once for sin did die. +"He by His priest still offers up Himself a Sacrifice." +The lady only answered this by expressing great surprise. + +"I will return to-morrow--prepare some bread and wine-- +And then dispense the Sacrament to satisfy your mind." +"I'll bake the cake," the lady said. "You may," replied he, +"And when you see this miracle, convinced I'm sure you'll be." + +The priest returned accordingly--the bread and wine did bless-- +The lady said, "Sir, is it changed?" His reverence answered, "Yes, +It's changed now from bread and wine to real flesh and blood; +You may depend upon my word, that it is very God." + +Thus, having blessed the bread and wine, to eat he did prepare. +The lady said unto the priest, "I would have you take care; +For one half ounce of arsenic I have mixed in that cake, +But as you have its nature changed, it can no difference make." + +The priest stood all confused, and looked as pale as death; +The bread and wine fell from his hands, and he did gasp for breath. +"Bring me my horse!" his reverence cried; "this is a cursed place!" +"Begone! begone!" the dame replied; "you are a cursed race!" + +Her husband sat confounded, and not one word could say. +At last he spoke--"My dear," said he, "the priest has run away; +Such mummery and nonsense can never bear the light; +Apostate Rome I must denounce, and quit it I will quite." + + +HERESIES are views discordant to the truths of God. + + + + +STAND BACK. + + +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 _keep +yersel' oot of sight_." + +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." + + + + +HIS TITLE DEEDS. + + +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-- + +"No, no; that is not what I mean. Bring me the New Testament." + +It was brought, and he had it opened at Romans viii. 33--"Who shall lay +anything to the charge of God's elect?" + +He shortly after closed his eyes in death, his finger continuing to rest +on the verse. + + + + +OUR BIBLE CLASS. + +ELISHA AND THE SHUNAMMITE. + +(2 KINGS iv. 8-37; viii. 1-6.) + + +As the Prophet Elisha carried God's messages, and did His appointed work +among the Israelites, he passed through Shunem. + +"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." + +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." + +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). + +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 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." + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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? + +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. + +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." + +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. + + "He ever lives to intercede + Before His Father's face; + Give Him, my soul, thy cause to plead, + Nor doubt the Father's grace." + +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, "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. + +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-- + + "Wait for His seasonable aid, + And though it tarry, wait; + The promise may be long delayed, + But cannot come too late." + +Our next subject will be, _The Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard_ +(Matt. xx. 1-16). + + Your affectionate friend, + H. S. LAWRENCE. + + + + +BIBLE ENIGMA. + + FOR THE LITTLE ONES. + + + One is in Adam, but not in Moses. + One is in Jesus, but not in Daniel. + One is in Peter, but not in Aaron. + One is in Eden, but not in Spirit. + One is in Pharaoh, but not in Matthew. + One is in Israel, but not in Abdon. + + +My whole, when arranged, will be found in the Book of Psalms. + + ETHEL MARSH + (Aged 11 years). + +_Laxfield._ + + + + +BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN JULY. + + +July 1. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 19. +July 8. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 20. +July 15. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 21. +July 22. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 22. +July 29. Commit to memory Daniel ii. 23. + + + + +PRIZE ESSAY. + +THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN "UNCERTAIN RICHES" AND "THE TRUE RICHES." + + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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-- + + "Should all the banks in Britain break, + The Bank of England smash, + Bring in your notes to Zion's bank; + You're sure to get your cash." + +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." + +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). + +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). + + E. B. KNOCKER + (Aged 14 years). + +_South Hill House, +Tunbridge Wells._ + +[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.] + + +[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "The Story of the +Spanish Armada." + +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.] + + +ERRATUM.--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. + + + + +Interesting Items. + + +THE number of Bibles printed during last year in England alone amounted +to nearly four millions. + + +A BIRDS' NEST IN A RAILWAY TRUCK.--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. + + +THE 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. + + +A QUIET REBUKE.--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." + + +THERE 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 L1 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. + + +A CLERICAL MISER.--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. + + +IN 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!--_W. Ayerst, +M.A._ + + +STEEL LACE.--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.--_Iron._ + + +SULPHUR FOR SORE THROATS.--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. + + +THE 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. + + Oh, England! England! blush with shame! + Thy princes stoop to foul thy name. + + +THE 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. + + +HAY FEVER.--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. + + +EXTRAORDINARY RAFFLE FOR BIBLES.--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 L50, 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 L50, 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." + + +ANTIQUARIAN DISCOVERY.--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 _debris_, 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 "SPA., SPE.," 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 +"INNOCENTIVS PP IIII." + + +COLCHESTER.--ST. JOHN'S GREEN CHAPEL SUNDAY SCHOOL.--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 L18 14s. 1d., and the expenditure to be L23 10s. 3d., leaving L4 16s. +2d. due to the treasurer. The amount received on Sunday and Monday was +L11 6s. 91/2d. There are now 187 scholars and 15 teachers in the +school, 23 scholars and three teachers being added during the past +year. + +[Illustration: THE WOUNDED DRUMMER-BOY.] + + + + +CHARLIE COULSON, THE DRUMMER-BOY. + + +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-- + +"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." + +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!" + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +At the close of the American War, Dr. Rossvally had been made +inspecting 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!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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).--_From a Tract, published at Leeds by Dr. M. L. Rossvally, a +converted Jew._ + + +A WORTHY 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." + + + + +MR. EDISON'S PHONOGRAPH. + +_To the Editor of The Times._ + + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 triumph of mind over matter. +All honour to Edison! + +I have the honour to be, sir, + + Your obedient servant, + G. E. GOURAUD. + +_Little Menlo, Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, Surrey, June 26th, 1888_. + +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. + + + + +THE HOUSE UPON THE SAND. + + +"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." + +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." + + + + +UNSEEN PROTECTION. + + +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. + +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." + + "Though now unseen by outward sense, + Faith sees Him always near; + A Guide, a glory, a defence: + Then what have you to fear?" + + --_Waymarks for Pilgrims._ + + + + +ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA. + +(_Page 130._) + + +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!" + +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. + +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. + + AGNES WILLERTON. + +_Corby, Grantham._ + +[This is the best answer we have received, therefore we give it as +embodying the secret of the Enigma.--ED.] + + + + +BIBLE ENIGMA. + + +A giant. + +One of David's wives. + +A disease. + +A piece of money. + +A prophetess. + +A garment worn by the priests. + +A judge. + +A brother of David. + +A king of Judah. + +A brook. + +A colour. + +The name by which the penitent Israelites were to address God. + +A son of Jacob. + +The mother of a friend of Paul's. + + +The initials form something which the Saviour said. + + HARRY F. FORFEITT + (Aged 10 years). + + + + +ONE "WHOSE HEART THE LORD OPENED." + + +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 + + "God moves in a mysterious way + His wonders to perform." + +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. + +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. + +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:-- + +"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!" + +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. + +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-- + + "There is a safe and secret place, + Beneath the wings divine, + Reserved for all the heirs of grace; + Oh, be that refuge mine!" + +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." + +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. + +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." + +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.'" + +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.'" + +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." + +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. + +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.[10] I have not deceived you in anything +else, auntie. You believe me, don't you?" I said, "Indeed I do." + + [10] 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.--ED. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. What do you think +of it?" I said, "I cannot tell." + +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 _all_); "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." + +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." + +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. + +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-- + + "Till He bids, I cannot die; + Not a single shaft can hit + Till the God of love sees fit." + +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!" + +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-- + + "Thou Saviour dear, + It is not night if Thou be near; + Oh, may no earth-born cloud arise, + To hide Thee from Thy servant's eyes," + +after which she did not say any more about the night. + +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. + + + + + LITTLE BY LITTLE. + + + One step and then another, + And the longest walk is ended; + One stitch and then another, + And the largest rent is mended; + One brick upon another, + And the highest wall is made; + One flake upon another, + And the deepest snow is laid. + + So the little coral-workers, + By their slow but constant motion, + Have built those pretty islands + In the distant, dark blue ocean; + And the noblest undertakings + Man's wisdom hath conceived, + By oft-repeated efforts + Have been patiently achieved. + + Then do not look disheartened + O'er the work you have to do, + And say that such a mighty task + You never can get through; + But just endeavour, day by day, + Another point to gain, + And soon the mountain which you feared + Will prove to be a plain. + + "Rome was not builded in a day," + The ancient proverb teaches; + And Nature, by her trees and flowers, + The same sweet sermon preaches. + Think not of far-off duties, + But of duties which are near; + And having once begun to work, + Resolve to persevere. + + C. SWAIN. + + + + +FLYING FOXES. + + +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. + +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. + +The flying foxes are ranged under the order of the _Cheiroptera_, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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 (_Pteropidae_) 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. + +[Illustration: FLYING FOXES.] + + + + +KILLED BY LIGHTNING. + + +DEAR MR. EDITOR,--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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + A. E. P. + +_Sidlesham._ + +P.S.--Selsey also joins this village. I saw the boat rowing towards it +about half-past four. + +["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."--ED.] + + +THE highest visible form of Christian life is self-denial for the good +of others. + + + + +AN AGED PILGRIM'S HISTORY. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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.e._, without leave, and so is now left to do the best he +can, unaided by his country. + +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. + +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 _Quarterly Record of the Aged Pilgrims' Friend Society_. + + + + +A MODEL PRAYER-MEETING. + + +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. + +At the time fixed for the meeting, first of all came Brother +_Punctuality_. 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. + +On their way home they met the rest coming, who said, "Why, are we not +to have a meeting?" "Oh, _we_ 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. + +Congenial with this brother is Brother _Promptitude_. 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 _seven_, 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. + +In the other seat sits Brother _Brevity_. 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. + +Brother _Pointedness_ 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. + +Brother _Round-the-Circle_ greatly distresses him, who, if he has a +fact, 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.--_Selected._ + +[Perhaps this curious sketch may yield useful hints to some who read +it.--ED.] + + + + +GENEROSITY AND LOVE. + + +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:-- + +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. + +"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." + +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." + +Of course, there was no saying nay. The poor man bowed assent. + +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-- + +"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." + +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. + +He that doeth good enriches his own heart with unspeakable blessings. + +"Better a fountain in the heart + Than a fountain by the way." + + W. H. + + + + +ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA. + +(_Page 165._) + + + "_Praise._"--PSALM cl. 1. + + P is in Peter, but not in Aaron. + R is in Pharaoh, but not in Matthew. + A is in Adam, but not in Moses. + I is in Israel, but not in Abdon. + S is in Jesus, but not in Daniel. + E is in Eden, but not in Spirit. + + JOSEPH HUGH WILLERTON + (Aged 6 years). + +_Corby, Grantham._ + +[A correct answer has also been received from Maggie Nunn, aged nine +years.--ED.] + + + + +ZOAR CHAPEL SUNDAY SCHOOL, HAND CROSS. + + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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). + +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. + + "Am I called, and can it be? + Has my Saviour chosen me? + Vilest of the vile am I; + Can I lift my thoughts so high?" + + A READER. + + + + +ZION CHAPEL, TROWBRIDGE. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The collections at the two services amounted to L15 1s. 3d. The school +now numbers 240 scholars, forty teachers, and two superintendents. + + + + +BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN AUGUST. + + +Aug. 5. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 1. +Aug. 12. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 14. +Aug. 19. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 25. +Aug. 26. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 18. + + +WHAT could Jesus do more than die for us? and what can we do less than +live to Him? + + + + +OUR BIBLE CLASS. + +THE PARABLE OF THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD. + +(MATTHEW xx. 1-16.) + + +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. + +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. + +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? + +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 always blessed His servants +according to His own good pleasure. + +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." + +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). + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + +Our next subject will be, _Ananias and Sapphira_ (Acts v.). + + Your affectionate friend, + H. S. L. + + + + +PRIZE ESSAY. + +CONTRAST THE LESSON TAUGHT BY THE CONDUCT OF SOLOMON AND OF REHOBOAM, AT +THE COMMENCEMENT OF THEIR REIGN. + + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + + WILLIAM ERNEST CRAY + (Aged 11 years). + +_Pearl Cottage, Carlyle Road, + Forton, Gosport, Hants._ + +[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.] + +[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "The Life of George +Whitfield." + +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.] + + +THE 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. + + + + +Interesting Items. + + +ON July 15th, after two sermons by Mr. Hull, at Rochdale Road, +Manchester, L44 9s. 51/2d. was collected for the Sunday School there. + + +SALE OF PICTURES.--The _Chester Chronicle_ states authoritatively that +Lord Tollemache has sold two of his pictures by Sir Joshua Reynolds for +L15,000 each, and one by Gainsborough for L14,000. + + +IN 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. + + +LOW RENTAL FOR LAND.--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. + + +ON 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. + + +MR. JOHN WHITE, 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. + + +A MAIDEN SESSION.--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. + + +THE Dundee sealing steamer _Esquimaux_ arrived the other week at St. +John's, Newfoundland, from seal fishing, with a catch of 23,000 seals. +The _Aurora_, 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. + + +ARTIFICIAL IVORY.--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. + + +DR. GORDON STABLES, 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. + + +NEW GOLD FIELD.--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. + + +MR. GEORGE LE FEVRE, 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." + + +BY the steamship _Oonah_, 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 _Oceana_, leaving on the 4th of May, +and will be followed by another shipment by the _Britannia_, 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 _Oceana_. 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.--_Launceston (Tasmania) +Examiner, May 2nd._ + + +FURTHER 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. + + +DREAD OF COMETS.--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. + + +A MILLIONAIRE INVENTOR.--We have more than once pointed out how simple +inventions (observes a writer in _Invention_) 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. + + +THE FASTEST TRAIN IN THE WORLD.--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. + + +A TERRIBLE SITUATION.--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. + +[Illustration: "I GAVE MYSELF UP TO READING THE BIBLE." (_See page +194._)] + + + + +LETTER BY A DYING SOLDIER. + + +My dear wife,--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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + + "The world recedes, it disappears; + Heaven opens on my eyes, my ears + With sounds seraphic ring. + Lend, lend your wings; I mount, I fly! + 'O grave, where is thy victory? + O death, where is thy sting?'" + +Dear wife, more would I say, but life ebbs out apace. Bright angels +stand around the gory turf on which I lie, 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! + + JOHN RANDON. + + + + +A HOPEFUL CASE. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Her knowledge of divine things rapidly increased, and her earnest +devotions seemed now to be the perpetual breathings of her soul. + +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. + +The poor woman continued in this state about six weeks, soliciting the +company of all Christian friends to converse and pray with her. + +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. + + + + +THE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851. + + +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. + +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 L176,000; 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 of enchantment, a gathering-ground of grace, +brightness, and delight. + +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 L150,000 remained, after paying all expenses. + + + + +FACTS ABOUT OCEAN STEAMSHIPS. + + +Mr. John Burns contributed to a recent number of _Good Words_ 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 _Etruria_ 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. + +The Cunard ships, it is further stated, traverse yearly a distance equal +to five times that between the earth and the moon. + +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 11/2 tons of mustard, 13/4 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. + + + + +ORPHAN BESS. + + +I am sure that most of our young friends know the meaning of the word +"orphan"; and perhaps among the numerous readers of the LITTLE GLEANER +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. + +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. + +A few months later the baby died, and Bess and the mother were left +again. + +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. + +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. + +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-- + + "What is home without a mother? + What are all the joys we meet, + When her gentle smile no longer + Greets the coming of our feet?" + +I have omitted one matter, and that is, Bessie's mother was my sister; +and the thought came with power into my mind, 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. + +Father and mother may die, and they must die, but there is One that +cannot alter and that cannot fail. + +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. + +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. + + J. D. + + + + +"MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB." + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 L28 towards the bazaar fund. + + +LORD, 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!--_Arthur H. Hallam._ + + + + +UNDER THE LONDON STREETS. + + +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. + +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. + + + + + SYMPATHY. + + "_Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep._" + + + When childhood's joyous voice resounds + With innocent delight, + Check not the infant mirth, nor put + Those happy smiles to flight. + + Add to the joy while it remains, + For on in riper years + Those eyes, now beaming with delight, + May be suffused with tears. + + When on the ocean's stormy deep + The voyagers are tossed, + And seem, in that one stormy hour, + To think all hope is lost-- + + If they secure the haven reach, + And lose their fears and cares, + While they rejoice their homes to gain, + Mingle thy joy with theirs. + + And is thy neighbour mourning now + The loss of kindred dear? + Then give thy sympathy, and drop + Upon the grave a tear. + + Or knowest thou an orphan, left + To tread this world alone? + Speak words of comfort, lend thine aid, + Or take the wanderer home. + + Tell of the loveliness and bloom + Of Nature to the blind; + Tell of the joys of heaven, and thus + Shed light upon the mind. + + Then sympathize with every one, + And the commandment keep-- + "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, + And weep with them that weep." + + M. E. C. + + + + +FORWARD INTO LIGHT AND LIBERTY. + +"JESUS ONLY." + + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 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. + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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.--_Jottings on_ "_The Life and Work of Father +Chiniquy_," _by Cousin Susan_. + + + + +RARE AND COSTLY BIBLES. + + +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:-- + +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 +_tryacle_ [instead of 'balm'] in Gilead?" L70 [sold to] (Quaritch). +Second edition of the German Bible, _circa_ 1466, L86 (Quaritch); first +edition of Luther's Bible, L51 (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 Fuest about 1450, L2,650. This book was +put up at L695, 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 L3,900. Another Latin Bible, two volumes, +first edition, with a date beautifully printed upon vellum, folio, 1462, +L1,025 (Quaritch); Biblia Slavonica, the Ostrog edition, 1581, L73 +(Quaritch); the Virginian Bible, by John Eliot, with Psalms in metre, +two volumes in one, quarto, 1685 and 1680, L40 (Quaritch); first +edition of the Welsh Bible, from the Wepre Hall Library, 1588, L60 +(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, +_circa_ 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 L100, and after a keen competition between +Mr. Ellis and Mr. Quaritch, it was secured by the latter for L500. The +day's sale realized upwards of L7,000. + + + + +A NEW TELEPHONE. + + +The _Times_ 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. + + + + + "ASK ON." + + (1 KINGS ii. 20; JOHN xiv. 13.) + + + I hear "a voice from heaven"-- + I hear my Sovereign say-- + "Ask on" (He speaks to me); + "I will not say thee nay." + + I would not doubt His word, + For truth in Him abides; + I would not doubt His power; + In Him the Godhead hides. + + And since I know He gave + Himself, Himself, to move + Jehovah's curse from me, + I would not doubt His love. + + And so I'll breathe my wish + To Christ, my King, to-day; + And rest me on His word-- + "I will not say thee nay." + + ISA. + + + + +"IS NOT A MAN BETTER THAN AN EGG?" + + +"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. + +"May you never get anything worse to eat, my boy, than this nice streaky +bacon," remarked his father, looking up from his newspaper. + +"Little boys should eat what is put before them, and be thankful that +they have food to eat," observed a severe-looking maiden aunt. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"_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. + +"Hens choose curious places to lay their eggs in sometimes," said Mr. +Thorn,[11] laughing. "I remember one fine Spanish bird that invariably +laid hers on the top of a wall." + + [11] The real names are, of course, suppressed throughout. + +"What a queer place, papa! Did not the eggs get broken?" + +"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----" + +"Those must have been very badly managed fowls, John," interrupted Miss +Thorn. "Now, yours, on the contrary, are well cared for, and properly +housed." + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration: "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MR. THORN'S EGGS?"] + +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-- + +"I don't want to be dainty, papa, only it is tiresome to have nothing +but bacon, when there are such lots of eggs." + +"How do you know there are lots of eggs, my boy?" + +"Because I hear the hens cackling every day, papa. This morning there +was such a noise before I got up." + +"Where did the noise come from, Ralph?" + +"From the hen-house, papa." + +"Are you quite sure, Ralph?" + +"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." + +"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." + + * * * * * + +"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. + +"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." + +"'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." + +"What do you know about Mr. Thorn's eggs?" asked her husband, roughly. + +"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." + +Bob made no reply, but ate his breakfast in sullen silence. As he went +out, his wife called after him-- + +"You try to get a reg'lar job, Bob, and don't go loafing about." + +That evening Bob came in earlier than usual, and going up to his wife, +who was rocking the cradle, said in a husky voice-- + +"Jane, my gal, I'm goin' to turn over a new leaf." + +"Bless the man!" exclaimed Jane in alarm, as she saw unwonted tears in +her husband's eyes. "Are you took bad, Bob?" + +"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." + +"Oh, Bob!" + +"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 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." + +"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!" + +"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.'" + + * * * * * + +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. + +"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?" + +"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. + +"You've bin and told him," hissed Bob. + +"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." + +"I am so bad and so dirty." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"Yes, indeed, Mr. Thorn." + +"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." + +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 +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. + +"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." + +"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also +forgive you." + + "Just as I am, without one plea, + But that Thy blood was shed for me, + And that Thou bidst me come to Thee, + O Lamb of God, I come! + + "Just as I am, and waiting not + To rid my soul of one dark blot, + To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot, + O Lamb of God, I come! + + "Just as I am Thou wilt receive; + Wilt strengthen, pardon, cleanse, relieve; + Because Thy promise I believe; + O Lamb of God, I come! + + "Just as I am--Thy love unknown + Has broken every barrier down; + Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone, + O Lamb of God, I come!" + + --_From a Tract._ + + + + +SUCCESS.--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. + + + + +A GOOD EXAMPLE. + + +The following notice, headed, "To the Workmen of Stoke Works," was +recently issued by Mr. J. Corbett, M.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) JOHN CORBETT, Stoke Prior Salt +Works." + + +IT is better to be nobly remembered than nobly born.--_Ruskin._ + + + + +THE DUTCH AND THEIR COUNTRY. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Nature," says a Dutch poet, "refused all her gifts to Holland. Men had +to do everything in spite of Nature." + +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. + + +YOU can outlive a slander in half the time you can out-argue it. + + +THE 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.--_Manton._ + + + + +SUNDAY SCHOOL INTELLIGENCE. + + +CLIFTON SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY. + +Special services in the above place, on behalf of the Sunday School, +were held on Sunday, July 22nd. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + A SCHOLAR. + + +PROVIDENCE CHAPEL SUNDAY SCHOOL, BURWASH. + +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. + +At five o'clock about thirty persons sat down to tea, most of whom were +children. + +In the evening Mr. J. Jarvis, of Mayfield, preached a very impressive +and encouraging sermon from Hebrews xii. 24. + +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. + + S. H. JARVIS. + + +CARMEL CHAPEL, FLECKNEY. + +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 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. + +Collections were made at the close of each service, amounting in the +whole to L16. + +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. + +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?" + + A READER. + + + + +"A SOFT ANSWER." + + +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." + + + + +OUR BIBLE CLASS. + +ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA. + +(ACTS v. 1-16.) + + +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). + +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. + +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. + +His seems to have been an _acted_, hers a _spoken_ 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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 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). + +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. + +Our next subject will be, _The Good Shepherd, His Lambs and Sheep_ (Isa. +xl. 11). + + Yours affectionately, + H. S. L. + + + + +BIBLE ENIGMA. + + +An officer of Pharaoh. +A city built by Cain. +A son of Solomon. +A precious stone. +The mount where Joshua built an altar. +A queen of the Ethiopians. +The land of Haran's nativity. +One of the seven Churches of Asia. +A duke of Edom. +One whom the Lord raised up to +deliver Israel. +A daughter of Zelophehad. + +The initials of the words do show +What Christ on earth had to pass through; +And all His people may prepare, +While in this world, to have their share. + + THOMAS TYLER + (Aged 13 years). + +_Potton, Beds._ + + +ADVERSITY borrows its sharpest sting from our impatience.--_Bishop +Horne._ + + + + +PRIZE ESSAY. + + THE BLESSINGS CONFERRED ON ENGLAND BY THE ACCESSION TO THE THRONE + OF WILLIAM OF ORANGE, AND BY THE PROTESTANT SUCCESSION THEREBY + SECURED TO US. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + + WILLIAM ERNEST CRAY + (Aged 11 years). + +_Pearl Cottage_, _Carlyle Road_, +_Forton_, _Gosport_, _Hants._ + +[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.] + +[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "The Reformation and +its Heroes." + +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.] + + + + +"THE NAILS ARE GONE, BUT THE MARKS ARE LEFT." + + +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. + +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. + +How happy must Benny have been when he saw the last nail disappear from +the post! + +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? + + + + +BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN SEPTEMBER. + + +Sept. 2. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 12. +Sept. 9. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 20. +Sept. 16. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 13. +Sept. 23. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 14. +Sept. 30. Commit to memory Isa. viii. 17. + + + + +Interesting Items. + + +"GOD save the Queen" is now sung in eighteen languages. + + +THE cost of making a bank-note for any amount is less than one +halfpenny. + + +EIGHT million baskets of peaches are expected from Delaware and Maryland +this season. + + +THE Pool of Bethesda has, according to the quarterly statement of the +Palestine Exploration Fund, been authoritatively discovered. + + +IN 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. + + +THE oldest newspaper in the whole wide world is the _King Pau_, or +_Capital Sheet_, published in Pekin. It first appeared A.D. 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. + + +ON 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. + + +THE 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. + + +SAVING THE BUFFALO.--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. + + +THIRTEEN 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. + + +POPERY IN PORTUGAL.--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." + + +TO CURE FEATHERS.--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. + + +CURIOUS CUSTOM AT A CITY CHURCH.--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. + + +THE EARWIG.--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. + + +SHEEP-SHEARING BY MACHINERY.--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 _The Australasian_--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. + + +A MONSTER TROUT.--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 L1 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. + + +A RATHER curious episode in natural history occurred the other day on +board the French steamboat _Abd-el-Kader_, 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 _Abd-el-Kader_. 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. + + +FACTS ABOUT LONDON.--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. + +[Illustration: "WHO SHALL HAVE IT?" (_See page 218._)] + + + + +LITTLE SCOTCH GRANITE. + + +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. + +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." + +"More than once?" asked the teacher. + +"Yes, sir," answered Willie. + +"As many as ten times?" + +"Maybe I have," faltered Willie. + +"Then I shall mark you zero," said the teacher, sternly; "and that is a +great disgrace." + +"Why, I did not see you whisper once," said Johnnie, that night after +school. + +"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." + +"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." + +"I will, or else I will say I haven't," said Willie. "Do you suppose I +would tell ten lies in one heap?" + +"Oh, we don't call them lies," muttered Johnnie. "There wouldn't be a +credit among us at night, if we were so strict." + +"What of that if you told the truth?" laughed Willie, bravely. + +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. + +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. + +"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?" + +"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."--_The Lantern._ + + + + +THE HYACINTH. + + +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. + +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. + +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." + + J. Y. + + + + +WORDS AND DEEDS. + + +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. + +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.--_C. H. Spurgeon._ + + +IT is a great shame to a man to have a poor heart and a rich +purse.--_Chaucer._ + + + + +DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH. + +"_He overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants +of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground._"--GENESIS xix. 25. + + +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:-- + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 +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. + + + + +THE BIBLE AND ITS CLAIMS. + + +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.--_C. H. Spurgeon._ + + + + +MANKIND'S MISTAKES. + + +It is a mistake to labour when you are not in a fit condition to do so. + +To think that the more a person eats the healthier and stronger he will +become. + +To go to bed at midnight and rise at daybreak, and imagine that every +hour taken from sleep is an hour gained. + +To imagine that if a little work or exercise is good, violent or +prolonged exercise is better. + +To conclude that the smallest room in the house is large enough to sleep +in. + +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. + +To believe that children can do as much work as grown people, and that +the more hours they study the more they learn. + +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. + +To take off proper clothing out of season, simply because you have +become heated. + +To think that any nostrum or patent medicine is a specific for all the +diseases flesh is heir to. + + + + +POSTAL SERVICE STATISTICS + + +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. + +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. + +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 L1,875. + +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:-- + +"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 L7,111. 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 nature, +which was thus lost to the owners. + +"During the year ended December 31st, 1887, the deposits in the Post +Office Savings Bank numbered 6,916,327; the amount being L16,535,932, as +compared with 6,562,395 deposits, amounting to L15,696,852 the year +before, being an increase of 353,932 in number and L839,080 in amount. +The sum credited to depositors for interest was L1,244,074, an increase +of L74,484 over the previous year. The total amount standing to the +credit of depositors at the end of the year was L53,974,065, being an +increase of L3,099,727 over last year. This total is exclusive of the +sum of L3,345,106 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." + +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. + + +THE most valuable, pure, useful, and durable of all metals, is tried +gold; so is tried faith, among all the Christian virtues.--_Jackson._ + + +IT 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. + + + + +NATURE HER OWN SURGEON. + + +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 _outer_ "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.--_Quiver._ + + + + +ABOUT SWEARING. + +A CHAT WITH MY BOYS. + + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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." + +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."--_Baptist._ + + + + +THE WORD WITH POWER. + + + "Jesus, who lived above the sky, + Came down to be a man and die. + And those kind hands that did such good, + They nailed them to a cross of wood. + And, out of pity, Jesus said, + He'd bear the punishment instead." + +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." + +"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. + + D. F. + +_August, 1888._ + + + + + THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST. + + + A fountain fulness still remains + Of pardoning blood from Jesus' veins, + Though millions have its virtues tried, + And from its riches been supplied. + + And yet it ever is the same + To all that come in Jesus' name; + Not one that to it shall repair + Will ever perish in despair. + + It makes the filthy sinner clean, + Though vile as I or Magdalene; + Here David lost his crimson sin, + And thousands more as well as him. + + Manasseh here lost all his crimes, + And now in glory brightly shines; + Also dear Paul, of sinners chief, + From this dear fountain got relief, + + And writes so sweetly of its power + To save e'en to a dying hour; + Yea, all the while he travelled here, + This fountain was to him most dear. + + No saved sinner ever knew + Better than Paul what blood can do, + For he himself its power had tested, + And on its efficacy rested. + + And all the hosts around the throne + Bear witness to what blood has done; + Their holy joy and heavenly bliss + Is concentrated all in this. + + Oh, may this joy and peace be mine + When called to leave the things of time! + To sing of Jesus' love and blood, + And dwell for ever with my God. + + B. W. + + + + +LITTLE HELPS BY LARGE HEARTS. + + +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." + +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. + +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." + +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." + + + + +THE PENNY PIECE. + + +I give the following from the lips of one who was well acquainted with +the facts:-- + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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." + + O. J. + + +BAD men excuse their faults; good men will leave them. + + + + +A BRAND PLUCKED OUT OF THE FIRE. + + +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. + +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.[12] 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." + + [12] 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. + +[Illustration: "SHE PROCURED A LODGING WITH A SERIOUS FEMALE." (_See +page 230._)] + +"I know they cannot," she replied, "but they can pray with me and for +me to One who can. Go instantly and fetch one, for I am going to hell." + +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. + +"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. + +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-- + + "Look as when Thy grace beheld + The harlot in distress; + Dried her tears, her pardon sealed, + And bade her go in peace. + Foul like her, and self-abhorred, + I at Thy feet for mercy groan; + Turn and look upon me, Lord, + And break my heart of stone." + +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. + + +CONDUCT is the great profession. What a man does tells us what he is. + + + + +ADMIRAL PYE AND THE INQUISITORS. + + +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. + +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. + +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 _what_ and _where_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +"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."--_From Cyclopaedia of Moral and Religious +Anecdotes, with Introductory Essay by Dr. Cheever._ + + + + +CHILD HEROISM. + + +"Mother, just look what I've come upon! I found the small board at the +back loose, and beneath it, this." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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-- + +"What can be the matter with you, Julia?" + +"I know where mother's money is, and am afraid father will come home and +want it." + +"Tell him you know nothing about it. He always believes you." + +"Nancy!" + +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-- + +"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." + +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 that the ruffian had +locked the door upon his entrance. Catching his eldest daughter's arm, +he said, in not an over loud voice-- + +"Get me your mother's money." + +Meeting with no reply from the white-faced girl, he next said-- + +"Do you know where it is?" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + S. DENNIS. + + +THERE 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." + + + + +LITTLE KINDNESSES. + + +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. + + + + +A DRUNKARD'S WILL. + + +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. + + +WE may as well attempt to bring pleasure out of pain as to unite +indulgence in sin with the enjoyment of happiness.--_Hodge._ + + + + +THE LAND OF THE GIANTS. + +"_And we took all his cities at that time: there was not a city which we +took not from them," &c._--DEUT. iii. 4, 5. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + + + + +BIBLE ENIGMA. + + +A son of Gideon. + +A king of Moab. + +An untruthful woman. + +A man slain by God. + +The son of a persecuted woman. + +What did the Israelites once desire? + +A God-fearing man. + +An officer of a king. + +One of the Apostles. + + +The initials will form a passage of Scripture. + + ALFRED CLAPSON + (Aged 10 years). + +_Reigate._ + + + + +OUR BIBLE CLASS. + +THE GOOD SHEPHERD, HIS LAMBS AND SHEEP. + +(ISAIAH xl. 11.) + + +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." + +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). + +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. + +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 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. + +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." + +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.). + +"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-- + + "On a dying Christ I feed; + This is meat and drink indeed." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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-- + + "Whose ears attend the softest call, + Whose eyes can never sleep." + +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." + +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-- + + "With heaven and earth at His command, + He waits to answer prayer." + +Our next subject will be, _The Glory of Christ, as described by Himself +in John xvii_. + + Yours affectionately, + H. S. L. + + + + +THE POWER OF KINDNESS. + + +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." + + + + +BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN OCTOBER. + + +Oct. 7. Commit to memory Rom. ix. 25. +Oct. 14. Commit to memory Rom. ix. 26. +Oct. 21. Commit to memory Rom. ix. 27. +Oct. 28. Commit to memory Rom. ix. 28. + + + + +PRIZE ESSAY. + +CHARITY. + + +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." + +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." + +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." + + "Brethren, let us walk together + In the bonds of love and peace; + Can it be a question whether + Brethren should from conflict cease? + 'Tis in union, + Hope, and joy, and love increase." + +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). + +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 Christ down into the world, +it was done thoroughly out of love to sinful man. + +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." + + "High beyond imagination + Is the love of God to man; + Far too deep for human reason; + Fathom that it never can: + Love eternal + Richly dwells in Christ the Lamb." + +"If God so loved us, ought we not to love one another?" + +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. + + JESSIE MARTHA COLLINS + (Aged 11 years). + +_19, Platt Street, Pancras Road, +London, N. W._ + +[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.] + +[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of Foxe's "Book of +Martyrs." + +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.] + + + + +ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA. + +(_Page 213_) + + +"_Persecution._"--2 TIMOTHY iii. 12. + +P otiphar Genesis xxxvii. 36. +E noch Genesis iv. 17. +R ehoboam 1 Kings xi. 43. +S apphire Ezekiel i. 26. +E bal Joshua viii. 30. +C andace Acts viii. 27. +U r Genesis xi. 28. +T hyatira Revelation i. 11. +I ram Genesis xxxvi. 43. +O thniel Judges iii. 9. +N oah Numbers xxvii. 1. + + MINNIE LEGG + (Aged 12 years). + +_Edinburgh._ + + + + +AN OLD CLOCK'S ADVICE. + + +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-- + + "Here I stand both day and night, + To tell the time with all my might; + Do thou example take by me, + And serve thy God as I serve thee." + +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. + + + + +Interesting Items. + + +THE National Sunday League lament a deficit of L110 as a result of the +band performances in the three parks. + + +THE 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. + + +JERUSALEM 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. + + +THE "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. + + +PHONOGRAPHY, 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. + + +THE 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. + + +THIS 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. + + +IN England and Wales the receipts for first-class railway season tickets +last year amounted to L720,862, for second-class season tickets the +receipts amounted to L665,203, and for those of the third-class +(including workmen's weekly tickets) the amount was L358,142. + + +AMONG 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. + + +DRS. CHAUVEL 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). + + +A FORTUNATE COBBLER.--It is announced that a Blackburn cobbler has just +come in for a windfall in the shape of property valued at L40,000. 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. + + +ONE 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. + + +A STATEMENT 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 L750,000 for masses for the souls of the departed." Doubtless Mr. +Isaacs had proof of this, for he referred to it as "an ascertained +fact." + + +A PAPYRUS 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. + + +AN 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. + + +STRANGE 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. + + +MILDEWED linen may be restored by soaping the spots, and while wet +covering them with powdered chalk. + + +THE Dead Sea, at its northern end, is but thirteen feet in depth, but at +the southern end it is thirteen hundred. + + +CHISWICK CEMETERY.--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. + + +A CATHOLIC 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. + + +ON June 8th last, a correspondent at Shepherd's Bush despatched a +post-card from London, _via_ the Brindisi and Suez Canal route, to Hong +Kong, with the request that it might be forwarded to the addressee _via_ +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 31/2d. + + +A THANKSGIVING DAY.--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. + + +DIPHTHERIA.--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. + + +AN 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. + + +HOW THE COLLIE REACHED HIS HOME.--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 _Little Folks' Magazine_ for August. + + +WALKING FROM EDINBURGH TO LONDON.--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 via 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. + +[Illustration: WILLIAM, PRINCE OF ORANGE.] + + + + +GREAT EVENTS. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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, 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:-- + +"The weather had indeed served the Protestant cause so well that some +men (_e.g._, 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." + +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. + +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 L20,000 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. + +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, +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. + +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. + + + + +THE FISH THAT SWALLOWED JONAH. + +"_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._"--JONAH i. +17. + + +Upon the question as to what was the fish that swallowed Jonah, Dr. +Raleigh remarks ("The Story of Jonah," p. 148):-- + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + + +HEART-WORK 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.--_Baxter._ + + +THE great design, both in judgments and mercies, is to convince us that +_there is none like the Lord our God_; none so wise, so mighty, so good; +no enemy so formidable, no friend so desirable, so valuable.--_Matthew +Henry._ + + + + +TALKING WITH A MAN SEVEN THOUSAND MILES OFF! + + +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:-- + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +There were no messages about, the time was favourable, and the +_employes_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +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. + + + + +ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA. + +(_Page 235._) + + +"_Jesus wept._"--JOHN xi. 35. + +J otham Judges ix. 5. +E glon Judges iii. 14. +S apphira Acts v. 1, 2. +U zzah 2 Samuel vi. 7. +S amuel 1 Samuel i. 14. + +W ater Exodus xvii. 3. +E noch Hebrews xi. 5. +P otiphar Genesis xxxix. 1. +T homas Acts i. 13. + + RUTH CROWHURST + (Aged 9 years). + +_Hastings._ + + + + +MEMOIRS OF ELLEN AND HENRY HOAD. + + "Around the throne of God in heaven + Thousands of children stand; + Children whose sins are all forgiven-- + A holy, happy band." + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +The father gives the following particulars of what he witnessed in +Ellen, and it is well indeed when parents can give such testimonies of +their children:-- + +"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.' + +"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. + +"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.'" + +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? + +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. + +In connection with her and her prayers and tears, these lines seem very +sweet to me-- + + "Did ever mourner plead with Thee, + And Thou reject that mourner's plea? + Does not Thy Word of truth remain, + That none shall seek Thy face in vain?" + +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. + +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! + +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. + +And now came the time of testing the 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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.' + +"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.' + +"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 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.' + +"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.' + +"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.' + +"The hymn commencing-- + + "Awake, ye saints, and sweetly sing + The ascended Saviour's love, + +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.' + +"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.' + +"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.' + +"At another time a remark was made about his pillow being hard. He said, +'It will be soft in heaven.' + +"The last audible words from his lips were, 'Rest, father!' and so he +died on the 22nd day of August, 1888, aged sixteen years." + +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-- + + "On earth they sought the Saviour's grace, + On earth they loved His name, + So now they see His blessed face, + And stand before the Lamb"? + + J. D. + + + + +DENIED, YET ANSWERED. + + +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." + + + + +HONOURING THE LORD'S DAY. + + +The following interesting incident was related to the writer by a +gentleman, who had the narrative from the merchant himself to whom it +occurred. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"No," replied the clerk; "that's all right. I attended to that myself." + +Presently the youth came up to his employer's desk. + +"Well," said he, good-humouredly, "what do you want?" + +"Oh, sir, you told me I was to come to you to-day, and get my wages and +my dismissal." + +"Nonsense!" rejoined the master; "go to your work, and let me hear no +more of that." + +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. + +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. + +"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 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. + +[Illustration: "WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT?" (_See page 252._)] + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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 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 _Friendly Greetings_. + + + + + LITTLE JOHNNIE. + + + Shall I vex your patience, Johnnie, + If I write again? + Would you rather I should leave you + Brooding o'er your pain? + + Does your little heart grow tired + Of the outside noise? + Will you never tell your sorrows? + Must you hide your joys? + + Then I'll go to Jesus, Johnnie-- + Go to Him, and say-- + "There's a weary child, Lord Jesus, + Needs Thy love to-day. + + "Listen to his father's praying; + See his mother's tears; + Speak, oh, speak to little Johnnie! + Speak, and hush our fears. + + "He was born a wretched sinner; + Does he know it, Lord? + Thou hast promises for sinners, + In Thy precious Word. + + "Speak, oh, speak to little Johnnie, + That our aching hearts + May be comforted about him + When his soul departs. + + "We have told him of Thy mercy, + Told him of Thy wrath; + Told him of the untold terrors + Of the second death. + + "But the voice that wakes an echo + In the silent one, + And the hand that opens heaven, + Jesus, are Thine own. + + "Lord, we cannot help repeating, + Speak to him to-day; + Hope, nor prayer, nor mercy cometh + To the mouldering clay. + + "Now the heart and flesh are failing, + Now the need is true, + Hell beneath, and heaven above him, + Stoop, Lord, lift him through." + + I have said all this to Jesus, + Johnnie dear, for you; + Tell your mother if He answers; + She is praying too. + + Oh, if you but hear Him whisper, + "Guilty sinner, come!" + Break away to Jesus, Johnnie; + He will take you home. + + M. A. CHAPLIN. + +_Galleywood, Chelmsford._ + + + + +BIBLE ENIGMA. + + +A king of Israel. + +A king of Moab. + +Absalom's general. + +The son of Ham. + +A river. + +A son of Jacob. + +A king of Israel. + +A priest. + +Abram's brother. + +A precious stone. + +A king of Bashan. + +Something sent to various kings by God. + +A servant of Ahab. + +An animal mentioned in the Bible. + + WINNIE LANGMAN + (Aged 10 years). + +_Battersea._ + + + + +BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN NOVEMBER. + + +Nov. 4. Commit to memory Ps. cxxvii. i. +Nov. 11. Commit to memory Ps. cxxvii. 2. +Nov. 18. Commit to memory Ps. cxxv. 2. +Nov. 25. Commit to memory Ps. cxxv. 3. + + + + +BRIMSTONE OR SULPHUR. + +"_The Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and +fire._"--GENESIS xix. 24. + + +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. + +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 assafoetida +which causes it to smell so disagreeably. Silver put into the same +pocket with sulphur soon loses its brightness. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +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 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. + + H. H. + + + + + A BIRTHDAY WISH. + + + Life is before you, friend of mine; + What it may bring we cannot divine; + The path outspread is all untrod; + Unknown are its windings to all but God. + + The sun will shine with its gladsome ray, + And sometimes clouds overshadow the day; + Your heart may be lifted with joy untold; + But remember the same is not yours to hold. + + At your bidding it comes not, nor does it stay; + But when One speaks it flies away; + And why is this? That One is Love, + And seeks to lead your heart above. + + Were earthly happiness all your own, + You never would wish a heavenly throne; + So joys are given, they come, and end, + As seemeth best to our Lord and Friend. + + Then let us entrust them to His care, + And of thinking them ours to keep, beware; + Let us seek in the gift the Giver to see, + And trust to His love and wise decree. + + Should sorrow and sadness our path attend, + And dark seem the way to our journey's end, + Let us look above to the Hand that guides, + And trust His love whatever betides. + + No sorrow is sent with purposeless aim, + But each has its destined end to gain; + He loves us so dearly, and shed His blood + To lead us up to the throne of God. + + And think you that He would afflict His child + With needless pains in this desert wild? + No; though all that's sent we can't understand, + Let us never distrust the guiding Hand. + + His wisdom is perfect, His love divine, + And changeth not with the flight of time; + To the trustful heart that resteth in Him + He has promised joys that never shall dim. + + A quiet peace surrounds its path, + Surpassing all that the worldling hath; + May this be yours in that winding way; + May it lead you up to the "perfect day." + + LEWARN CLAYTON. + + + + +INSECURITY OF PALESTINE. + +"_They that sow in tears shall reap in joy._"--PSALM cxxvi. 5. + + +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:-- + +"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." + + + + +A HEROIC SCOTCH STUDENT. + + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +The name of this noble young scion of 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.--_Great Thoughts._ + + + + +DUTIES OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS. + + +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. + +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. + +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!--_Portia._ + + + + +THE CHILD AND THE EMPEROR. + + +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-- + +"To what kingdom does this belong?" + +"To the vegetable kingdom," answered a little girl. + +"And this?" continued the Emperor, holding out a gold coin, which he had +taken from his pocket. + +"To the mineral kingdom," was the answer. + +"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-- + +"To God's kingdom, sire." + +Thereupon the Emperor, greatly moved, and with a tear in his eye and +much solemnity in his tone, replied-- + +"God grant, my child, that I may be counted worthy of that kingdom." + + + + +OUR BIBLE CLASS. + +THE GLORY OF CHRIST. + +(JOHN xvii) + + +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. + +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. + +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 _His_ delight, and _My_ delights were with the +sons of men" (ver. 30, 31). + +"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 +_was_ His glory, before time, to think of this; it _shall_ be His glory, +when time is ended, to see all His desires fulfilled, and all His wishes +accomplished. + +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. + +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 + + "The more His glories strike our eyes, + The humbler we shall lie; + Thus while we sink, our joys shall rise + Immeasurably high." + And if now we see Him thus by faith, we shall see Him as He is, and be + like Him for ever. + + "Oh, that with yonder sacred throng + We at His feet may fall; + Join in the everlasting song, + And crown Him Lord of all." + +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. + +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!" + +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." + +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-- + +"And with one heart, and voice, and soul + Sing His redeeming grace." + +Then will His glory be complete. Oh, that we may behold and enjoy it, +too! Amen. + +Our next subject will be, _Gleanings from the Book of Ruth_. + + Yours affectionately, + H. S. L. + + + + +THE PITCAIRN ISLANDERS AND THE QUEEN. + + +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 _Cairmont_, of +Glasgow, and on his homeward voyage from Vancouver Island he called at +Pitcairn. He found that the descendants of the mutineers of the _Bounty_ +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. + +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. + + +A MAN that cannot mind his own business is not to be trusted with the +king's.--_Saville._ + + + + +PRIZE ESSAY. + +LESSONS TO BE DERIVED FROM THE HISTORY OF DANIEL. + + +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. + + LAURA CREASEY + (Aged 14 years). + +_Sydney House, Sleaford, +Lincolnshire._ + +[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.] + +[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "Cowper's Poems." + +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.] + + +DEEPER 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.--_Hamilton._ + + +NOTHING 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. + + + + +Interesting Items. + + +THE length of the Thames from source to mouth is 220 miles. + + +THE greatest height yet reached in a balloon is seven miles and a +quarter. + + +IN 1707 it took two days and a half to get to Oxford, a distance of +fifty-five miles. + + +THE number of Bibles sold by the British Bible Society up to 1881 was +100,035,933. + + +TWO 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. + + +ANNA SWAN, 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. + + +A GREAT 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. + + +LORD SUDELEY, 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. + + +THE HAMPTON COURT VINE.--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. + + +RUNNING AWAY WITH A RITUALISTIC CRUCIFIX.--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. + + +WOLVES AND TELEGRAPH LINES.--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. + + +IN 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 _Queen Victoria_, and Her Majesty, who takes much interest in +the Mission, subscribed L50 towards the cost of the vessel. The launch +was witnessed by a large number of people. The _Queen Victoria_ is the +same type of vessel as those already in the Mission service. + + +A NEW ALPINE RAILWAY.--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. + + +AN ANCIENT DOCUMENT.--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 _Trusty_, 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, AUG. ROGERS, Secretary. Respective +Officers, Prondy's Hard, W. A." There is a memo, on the back of the +letter--"11th July, 1785. Aug. Rogers, Esq. _Trusty_ paid off." + + +THE 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. + + +THE RABBIT PEST IN NEW ZEALAND.--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 11/2 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 L7,000 on Crown lands alone, and +it is estimated that during the last eight years private persons have +spent L2,400,000 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. + + +ONE THOUSAND MEN DROWNED.--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 L2,000,000 +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. + + +A SHARK STORY.--Sir,--The following story may be of some interest to +many readers of your valuable paper. The sailing-ship _Grassendale_ +(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, H. H. WHITE. Rye, October +10th, 1888.--_South Eastern Advertiser._ + +[Illustration: "IT WAS AGREED THAT SOME ONE SHOULD READ THE BIBLE TO +HER." (_See page 266._)] + + + + +THE BLIND WIDOW. + +"_Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many +days._"--ECCLESIASTES xi. 1. + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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). + +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. + +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 will I carry you; I +have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you" +(Isa. xlvi. 4). + + A. E. H. + + + + +TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF A SHIPWRECKED CREW. + + +Two seamen, named John G. Crone and James R. Wilson, late of the Scotch +barque _Henry James_, 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. + +The _Henry James_ 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. + +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 _Mariposa_ called at the +island, and rescued the people from their island imprisonment. The party +included two ladies (passengers) and six children. + +The Board of Trade have awarded a piece of plate to Captain Hayward, of +the _Mariposa_; a gold medal to Mr. Hart, first officer; and a silver +medal and a sum of L2 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. + + + + +BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN DECEMBER. + + +Dec. 2. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 2. +Dec. 9. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 4. +Dec. 16. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 10. +Dec. 23. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 12. +Dec. 30. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 14. + + + + +HE WENT WRONG, BUT HE FOUND MERCY. + + +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:-- + +"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. + +"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 _Ruin_; the second, +_Repentance_; the third, _Return_; the fourth, _Reception_. He was +ruined. By grace he repented, returned to his father, and was joyfully +received by him. + +"First, then, _Ruin_. 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 _Distance_ is the +first step. + +"The next one is _Dissipation_. 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. + +"After he had thus wasted his substance by riotous living and falling +into bad company, there came another step, namely, _Destitution_, 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. + +"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. + +"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 _Repentance_. +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 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. + +"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. + +"Now then comes the fourth part--_his reception by his father_. 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." + + M. G. + + + + +JOHNNIE'S CHRISTMAS. + +[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."--ED.] + + + Hang out the toys for the little ones; + Pile up the raisins, and take out the stones; + But nut, and pudding, and Christmas tree, + Says little Johnnie, are not for me. + + If the children frolic I have to start, + With a bitter pain at my silent heart; + And my throbbing head is afraid to move + At sound of the voices which most I love. + + It is nice to feel, though sitting here, + That mother is with me, and baby dear, + For some of my little friends have lain + On a hospital bed, in lonely pain. + + Oh, God, my Friend, Thou art surely kind, + And we, poor sinners, are weak and blind; + Little we think, and little know, + Of the love that suffered for human woe. + + We hail Thy birth with a gladsome song, + But Thou hadst sorrow life's journey long; + And Thou hadst power Thyself to free, + Yet chose to suffer for things like me. + + Oh, come to my heart this Christmas Day! + I am weak and weary, and far away; + Since help and mercy are Thy delight, + Oh, come to my father's house to-night! + + Bring rest for my mother, and joy for me; + My head will not throb as I listen to Thee; + And my heart, though too weak for a footfall below, + Will bound, without aching, Thy coming to know. + + Thou callest the children, and I am a child; + Thou callest the guilty, and I am defiled; + They gather about Thee in joyful array; + Oh, put me among them, Lord Jesus, to-day! + + Put one of my hands in that right hand of Thine, + And hold out Thy wounds to Thy Father divine; + He would not, He could not, say nay unto Thee, + And I should for ever Thy diadem be. + + M. A. CHAPLIN. + +_Galleywood, Chelmsford._ + + + + +ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA. + +(_Page 255._) + + +"_Peace be unto you._"--JOHN xx. 19. + +P ekah 2 Kings xv. 25. +E glon Judges iii. 14. +A masa 2 Samuel xvii. 25. +C ush 1 Chronicles i. 8. +E uphrates Deuteronomy i. 7. + +B enjamin Genesis xxxv. 24. +E lah 1 Kings xvi. 8. + +U rijah 2 Kings xvi. 10. +N ahor Genesis xi. 26. +T opaz Exodus xxxix. 10. +O g Psalm cxxxvi. 20. + +Y oke Jeremiah xxvii. 8. +O badiah 1 Kings xviii. 3. +U nicorn Numbers xxiii. 22. + + ANN PICKWORTH + (Aged 11 years). + +_Sydney House, Sleaford._ + + +BUNYAN'S DEATH. + + +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:-- + +"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." + +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, aet. 60." + +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. + + + + +EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF THE SEA. + + +A Queenstown correspondent telegraphs that the National Line steamer +_Spain_, 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 _Confederation_. 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 _Confederation_ 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, 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. + + + + + PLEADING. + + (RUTH i. 16.) + + + "Intreat me not to leave Thee," Lord; + What is this world to me? + No happiness can it afford, + O God, apart from Thee. + + Thou art the joy of my delights; + The Life of life to me; + The comfort of my darkest nights; + Yea, All in all to me. + + Dark were this world without Thee, Lord, + But, lighted with Thy love, + Thy watchfulness, Thy tender care, + More fully here I prove. + + More subject for my song above + I gather day by day; + Deeper experience of that love + Which guides my pilgrim way. + + Oh, give me grace to serve Thee, Lord, + Each swiftly-passing day, + That I the approving word, "Well done," + At last may hear Thee say. + + A SOWER. + + + + +THE ANTI-ROMISH BOOK. + + +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. + +One of the Royal messengers entered a bookseller's shop in Edinburgh. + +"Had he any books in stock written against the Roman Catholic Church?" + +"Yes, he had a Book that reflected very severely indeed against that +Church. Might he sell it?" + +"Let me see it," said the messenger. + +The old bookseller went to his shelves and took down a volume--a Book +which does certainly speak very emphatically against Romanism--the +Bible! + + + + +BIBLE ENIGMA. + + +My 1, 11, 7, 6, 9, 5, a governor of the Jews. +My 2, 10, 5, 14, 6, the father of Joanna. +My 3, 13, a king of Bashan. +My 4, 6, 14, 10, 9, 11, a disobedient queen. +My 5, 8, 11, a priest. +My 6, 4, 11, 9, 10, the city of Hadad. +My 7, 3, 9, 6, 12, the brother of Timna. +My 8, 5, 4, 11, one of the twelve tribes. +My 9, 3, 7, 6, a son of Issachar. +My 10, 5, 12, the son of Zephaniah. +My 11, 14, 2, 6, 5, 8, the surname of Jacob. +My 12, 3, 1, 10, a city threatened with a plague. +My 13, 11, 10, 3, 12, a river of Eden. +My 14, 11, 4, 6, 12, a Jewish month. + +My whole is a precept given by an Apostle to a Christian Church. + + THOMAS TYLER + (Aged 13 years). + +_Potton, Beds._ + + + + +HOP PICKING.--THE LAST POLE. + +(_Frontispiece to Volume._) + + +The LITTLE GLEANER 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 LITTLE GLEANER, of all ages, are +more or less familiar with "the last pole." In the counties more north, +where we hope the LITTLE GLEANER 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. + +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. + +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-- + + "The moon and stars shall lose their light; + The sun shall sink in endless night; + Both heaven and earth shall pass away; + The works of Nature all decay. + + "But they who in the Lord confide, + And shelter in His wounded side, + Shall see the danger overpast, + Stand every storm, and live at last." + +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? + +However, let us return to our subject--the last pole--and reflect. + + "We, like the crowded poles, all stand, + And all are sure to fall; + The dog and hook[13] are in God's hand, + And soon will reach us all." + + [13] In hop gardens these are instruments used by those who lift + the poles.--ED. + +Yes, my dear young readers, whatever may be those delightsome games 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." + +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-- + + "We see their smiles, we see their tears; + The grave can never hide them; + A few more days, or months, or years, + A few more sighs, a few more tears, + And we shall lie beside them." + +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-- + + "When shivering in the arms of death, + When friends shall watch thy parting breath, + Though then thy lips can no more speak, + Though deathly paleness clads thy cheek, + Glory shall fill thy soul." + + T. G. + + + + +OUR BIBLE CLASS. + +GLEANINGS FROM THE BOOK OF RUTH. + + +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." + +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. + +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.). + +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. + +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). + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +Then Ruth furnishes us with a striking picture of one who is seeking +Jesus. + +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 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. + +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. + +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." + +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.[14] + + [14] From the "Memoir of the late Mr. John Hazelton." + +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. + +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; _He_ 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." + +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. + +Our next subject will be, Isaiah xxxv. 8--_The King's Highway, and its +Travellers._ + + Your affectionate friend, + H. S. L. + + + + +THE EDITOR'S CLOSING ADDRESS TO HIS YOUNG FRIENDS. + + +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 +GLEANER are but blessed to this end, we shall be amply rewarded, and we +wish the Lord to have all the glory. + +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 +GLEANER and SOWER 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. GLEANER, picture +boards, very attractive, three volumes, four shillings; GLEANER, cloth, +also SOWER, cloth, three volumes, five shillings, post free. + +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. + +Trusting you will not forget us, and that we may still be helped to pray +and labour for your good, we remain, + + Your affectionate friend, + THE EDITOR. + +P.S.--Scatter abroad our _Friendly Words_, 1s. 6d. per hundred, post +free. All are pleased to receive them. + + +AN EXPLANATION. + +In inserting the article, "The Fish that Swallowed Jonah," in last +month's GLEANER, 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. + + THE EDITOR. + + + + +PRIZE ESSAY. + +THE DISOBEDIENCE OF OUR FIRST PARENTS, AND ITS RESULTS. + + +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). + +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. + +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). + + JAMES HERBERT COLLINS + (Aged 11 years). + +_Commissariat Office, Cork._ + +[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.] + +[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "The Loss of All +Things for Christ." + +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.] + + + IF aught good thou canst not say + Of thy brother, foe, or friend, + Take thou, then, the silent way, + Lest in word thou shouldst offend. + + + + +Interesting Items. + + +M. DE LESSEPS declares that the Panama Canal will be opened in July, +1890. + + +SINCE the beginning of her reign, Queen Victoria has been paid +approximately L30,000,000 by her subjects. + + +THE daily consumption of needles in America is said to be 4,200,000, +most of which come from Redditch, England. + + +THERE are 3,100 Smiths enrolled in the city directory of Philadelphia. +There are 250 John Smiths and 310 William Smiths. + + +CAPTURE OF A SWORD FISH.--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. + + +CAROLINE HERSCHEL, 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. + + +THERE are now in the United Kingdom 1,350 workmen's retail stores, +with nearly one million members, and a capital of L9,000,000, +besides some millions on deposit. The sales last year to members were +over L25,000,000, with L3,000,000 profits. + + +VALUABLE REMEDY FOR ERYSIPELAS.--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. + + +THOMAS EMMITT, 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. + + +IT 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. + + +THE 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. + + +THE probabilities of there being large coal deposits under London are +discussed at considerable length by a correspondent of the _Times_. 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. + + +A BOAT 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. + + +THE Queen reads, or rather, has read to her, the _Times_ and the +_Morning Post_ 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. + + +SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY, MILTON STREET, HOLLINWOOD, LANCASHIRE.--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 L13 14s. 11d. + + C. H. W. + + +ROMAN CATHOLIC PILGRIMS IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY.--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 _coram +episcopo_ 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? + + +CHINESE 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. + + +WILL 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. + + +AN ARMY OF SPIDERS.--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." + + +THE WHALE HUNT AT SPITHEAD.--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 _Island Queen_, 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, L100. +The whale has been purchased by Mr. G. Drover, of Cowes. + + +CHIMNEYS.--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. + + +BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE POST OFFICE.--"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. + + + + +Published on the first of every Month. Price One Penny. + + THE LITTLE GLEANER. + +An Illustrated Monthly Magazine of Religious and General Instruction for +Children. + +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. + + * * * * * + + Published on the first of every Month. Price One Penny. + + THE SOWER + +Is well adapted for general circulation, since it aims to spread abroad +the pure truth of the Gospel of Christ. + +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." + +The Editor earnestly solicits all who desire the spread of Bible truth +to help him in this work by increasing the circulation of THE LITTLE +GLEANER and THE SOWER. + + Two, four, six, or more copies of the above Magazines post free of + the EDITOR, + 117, High Street, Hastings. + London: HOULSTON AND SONS, Paternoster Buildings. + + * * * * * + + FRIENDLY WORDS. + +This is a little work of four pages, GLEANER 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 FRIENDLY +WORDS, 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 +FRIENDLY WORDS 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. + +Price 1s. 6d. per 100; 3d. per dozen (assorted packets at the same +price). Post free from the EDITOR, 117, High Street, Hastings. + + * * * * * + + THE ANNUAL VOLUMES of "GLEANER" and "SOWER." + + These Volumes are acknowledged to be most admirably adapted for + Presents, where sound and interesting books are desired. + +The LITTLE GLEANER, Boards, Illustrated 1s. 6d., or six vols, for 8s. +The LITTLE GLEANER, Cloth, do. 2s. do. 10s. +The SOWER, Cloth, do. 2s. do. 10s. + +Sent, at above prices, post free, if ordered of the Editor, Mr. HULL, +117, High Street, Hastings. + + * * * * * + + + Fact Superior to Fiction. + + OUR YOUNG PEOPLE'S TREASURY.--Vols. I. and II. + +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. + +Price One Shilling each, or eight volumes for 6s. 6d., post free, if + ordered of the Editor, Mr. T. HULL, 117, High Street, Hastings. + + + + +INDEX. + + + PAGE + + About Swearing, 225 + + Admiral Pye and the Inquisitors, 231 + + Aged Pilgrim's History, An, 183 + + Answer of George III. to Lord Grenville, 66 + + Answers to Bible Enigmas, 19, 28, 59, 88, 113, 142, 174, + 185, 238, 247, 271 + + Anti-Romish Book, The, 273 + + "Ask On", 203 + + + Be Gentle, 28 + + Beware of Thorns, 131 + + Bible and its Claims, The 222 + + Bible Class, Our, 20, 44, 67, 91, 115, 140, 163, 188, 211, 235, + 260, 275 + + Bible Enigmas, 41, 66, 91, 106, 130, 165, 174, 213, 235, 255, 273 + + Bible Subjects, 11, 35, 52, 81, 117, 141, 165, 187, 214, 237, + 255, 268 + + Bible with Pins in it, A, 66 + + Biblical Discovery, 29 + + Birthday Wish, 257 + + Blind Tortoise in the Well, 130 + + Blind Widow, The, 266 + + Brand Plucked out of the Fire, A, 228 + + Brave Rescue, A, 84 + + Brimstone or Sulphur, 256 + + Brother's Dream, A, 103 + + Brought to the Fold, 151 + + Budding of Hope, A, 51 + + Bunyan's Death, 272 + + + Caring for the Little Ones, 50 + + Charcoal Burner's Star, The, 7, 30 + + Charlie Coulson, the Drummer-Boy, 170 + + Child and the Emperor, The, 259 + + Child Heroism, 232 + + Child's Prayer, A, 22 + + Cingalese Rock Fortress, A, 154 + + Clever Boy and Electrical Machine, 114 + + Cost of a Broken Sabbath, 132 + + Counting the Cost, 126 + + Cousin Susan's Note-Book on Father Chiniquy, 56, 76, 101, 152, 201 + + Covenanter's Escape and Death, The, 146 + + + Day's Work, A, 147 + + Dear Old Times, The, 124 + + Denied, yet Answered, 251 + + Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, 220 + + Dirge of an Englishwoman, The, 57 + + Divine Guidance, 159 + + Divine Providence, A, 99 + + "Draw Me", 83 + + Drunkard's Will, A, 233 + + Dutch and their Country, The, 209 + + Duties of Brothers and Sisters, 259 + + + Edison's Phonograph, 172 + + Editor's Closing Address to his Young Friends, The, 278 + + Editor's New Year's Address, 2 + + Enemies of God and His People Scattered, 40 + + Experiences in the Arctic Ocean, 58 + + Explanation, An, 278 + + Extraordinary Story of the Sea, 272 + + + Facts about Ocean Steamships, 197 + + Famous Dog, A, 82 + + Few Words from the Dumb, 108 + + Fish that Swallowed Jonah, The, 246 + + Flesh-Eating Plants, 83 + + Flying Foxes, 180 + + From Darkness to Light, 34 + + Fugitive in the Himalaya Mountains, A, 107 + + + Generosity and Love, 185 + + Good Example, A, 208 + + Great Events, 242 + + Great Exhibition of 1851, 196 + + + Heroic Scotch Student, A, 258 + + He Went Wrong, but He Found Mercy, 269 + + Hint to Boys, A, 158 + + Hint to Parents, A, 41 + + His Title-Deeds, 163 + + Honouring the Lord's Day, 252 + + Hopeful Case, A, 195 + + Hop-Picking.--The Last Pole, 274 + + House on the Sand, The, 173 + + How a Great Mistake was Discovered, 39 + + How to Select a Boy, 153 + + Hyacinth, The, 219 + + + Incident in the Life of a Barrister, 74 + + Insecurity of Palestine, 257 + + Interesting Items, 23, 47, 71, 95, 119, 143, 167, 191, 215, + 239, 263, 280 + + "Is not a Man Better than an Egg?", 204 + + + Jesuit and the Bible, The, 98 + + "Jesus Loves Me!", 160 + + Johnnie's Christmas, 271 + + Juvenile Gems, 127, 148 + + + "Keep the Star in Sight", 65 + + Kenilworth Castle, 161 + + Killed by Lightning, 182 + + Kindness to Animals, 94 + + + Land of Giants, The, 234 + + "Let No Man Despise Thee", 46 + + Letter by a Dying Soldier, 194 + + Lines on the New Year, 5 + + Little by Little, 179 + + Little Helps by Large Hearts, 227 + + Little Johnnie, 255 + + Little Kindnesses, 233 + + Little Scotch Granite, 218 + + Lost and Found, 122 + + + Mankind's Mistakes, 222 + + "Mary had a Little Lamb", 199 + + Memoir of Carrie Foord, 175 + + Memoir of Ellen and Henry Hoad, 248 + + Memoir of Emma Beesley, 110 + + Memoir of Mary Stubbs, 78 + + Model Prayer-Meeting, A, 184 + + Modes of Travel in Persia, 75 + + Morning's Walk in a Country Lane, A, 63 + + Mummy of Sesostris, The, 84 + + + Nails Gone, but Marks Left, 214 + + Nature her own Surgeon, 224 + + New Telephone, A, 203 + + "Nothing to Thank God For", 154 + + + Old Clock's Advice, An, 238 + + Old Quilt and its Story, An, 12 + + One Link Gone, 108 + + One Poor Stone, 62 + + "Only Once", 4 + + Orphan Bess, 198 + + + Penny Piece, The, 227 + + Pharisee and the Publican, 93 + + Pitcairn Islanders and the Queen, The, 261 + + Pleading, 273 + + Points to be Aimed At, 124 + + Postal Service Statistics, 223 + + Power of Kindness, 237 + + Prayer Answered, 112 + + Precious Blood of Christ, The, 226 + + Priest and the Lady, The, 162 + + Priest's Thoughts of Roman Catholic Miracles, 125 + + Prince Consort's Opinion of Popery, 66 + + Prize Essays, 21, 45, 69, 93, 117, 142, 165, 190, 213, 237, + 262, 279 + + Prompt Kindness, 106 + + + Queer Fisherman, A, 155 + + Questions with Answers, 77 + + + Ragged Tom, 139 + + Rare and Costly Bibles, 202 + + Receiving the Truth, 137 + + Red Sea Rock, A, 161 + + + Saved by Grace, 156 + + Scotch Thistle, The, 55 + + Scripture Enigma, 10 + + Sense and Senses of Animals, 131 + + Singular Cause of Death, 59 + + Soft Answer, A, 211 + + Soft Pillow, A, 136 + + Something about Foxes, 60 + + Stage-Coach Companion, My, 16 + + Stand Back, 163 + + Sunday School Meetings:-- + Burwash, Providence, 210 + Clifton, 210 + Fleckney, Carmel, 210 + Gower Street, 138 + Greenwich, Devonshire Road, 89 + Hand Cross, Zoar Chapel, 186 + Hastings, Ebenezer, 42 + Trowbridge, Zion, 187 + + Sympathy, 200 + + + Talking With a Man Seven Thousand Miles Off, 247 + + Terrible Experience of a Shipwrecked Crew, 268 + + "The Day of Small Things", 36 + + "There is No Rest in Hell", 53 + + "This is the Way; Walk Ye in It", 86 + + "Thou God Seest Me", 86 + + Thrilling Scenes at the Forth Bridge Works, 67 + + Touching Incident, 3 + + Two Brave Children, 158 + + Two Ways of Descending, 100 + + + Under the London Streets, 200 + + Unseen Protection, 173 + + + Value of Work, The, 75 + + Visit to the Idrian Mines, 87 + + + What a Tract may Do, 26 + + Wisdom, 113 + + Wise and Foolish Builders, 90 + + Wonderful Grace, 15 + + Words and Deeds, 219 + + Word to Self-Seekers, A, 69 + + Word with Power, The, 226 + + +Transcriber's note: + +1. Punctuation has been normalized. Inconsistent + hyphenation and spellings have been left as printed. + +2. The illustration caption on page 204 is missing text following (see-- + + "WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT MR. THORN'S EGGS?" (see + +3. Page 231 "having been on a voyage to Spain"--missing word "on" + was added. + + + + + +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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