love, as if he felt confident I should not ask him for his hard-earned all, if I had not some reason for it, though he knew not why. Immediately after he resumed his play in the nursery with his younger brothers, seemingly thinking no more about it. An hour afterwards, at breakfast time, I gave him back his purse with two half-crowns in it, instead of oneand I took that opportunity of improving the circumstance. I thus taught my dear child the blessedness of having confidence in a Heavenly Father's love. For if God sees that we set our affections on some earthly source of comfort, He may think it needful to remove the idol, to exercise our graces, and to teach us to fix our affections on Himself. Often, in His providence, does He ask us for what we love, and in taking it from us, if we "endure the chastening," and have confidence in His paternal love, we shall willingly resign that of which he had before made us stewards, We shall feel assured that he intends our good; and we shall find a blessing here as well as hereafter. Children cannot be taught too early these lessons of faith in God's parental love.

"SEEK ME EARLY."

DEAR children, that word "early" was meant particularly for yourselves. Seeking Jesus Christ early means seeking Jesus Christ when you are quite young; and that is just what I want you all to do.

Seeking early is the safest way. Children may be young and healthy; but no children are too young and healthy to die. For death is very strong-he can soon make the healthiest of you pine away, and make your rosy cheeks pale and sickly. And death is very cruel-he does not mind whom he takes away out of families, and he will not wait for any one to get ready; he will take you just when he pleases. I think quite

as many young persons die as old ones. I see the names of quite as many young people as old on the gravestones. Children, you would not like to die without having sought the Lord at all. Oh! remember, seeking early is the safest way.

And then, beside this, seeking early is the happiest way. Surely, if it be pleasant to have Jesus Christ for a friend, the sooner you have him for a friend the better. You cannot think how happily a child's life goes on when his ways please the Lord. Everything seems bright and cheerful; lessons seem more easy, and play seems more pleasant; friends seem more kind, and trouble seems less troublesome; and everything in life seems more smooth. Dear children, I want you to enjoy all this. Then make haste and delay not to seek the Lord.

And, last of all, seeking early is the easiest way. When you and I have got a great deal of work to do, you know there is nothing like beginning in good time. Now this is just what you shouid do about your souls; you should begin in good time to seek Him who alone can save them. People that have got work to do that must be finished before dark, take care to get up early in the morning. So should you do, dear children, in working about your souls. You should seek the Lord in the morning of life, and get your work done before the night of death cometh, when none can work. Every year you put it off you will find it harder work, more to be done, and less time to do it. Every year you will find your hearts more stubborn-more unwilling to do what is right. Now they are like young trees, so soft and tender, that by the Lord's help you may bend them any way. In a few years they will be like strong thick trees, so tough and well-rooted, that nothing but a mighty wind can shake them. Dear children, begin to seek the Lord at once. I want you to have as few difficulties as possible in your journey to heaven.

THE DYING CHILD.

Consider these things-consider these things well; and begin early to seek the Lord. It is the safest way, the happiest way, the easiest way. Try to be like Obadiah, who feared the Lord from his youth. Try to be like our blessed Lord Jesus Christ himself, who grew up "in favour with God and man."

THE DYING CHILD.

BY HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSON.

(Translated by Mary Howitt.)

MOTHER, I'm tired, and I fain would be sleeping,
Let me repose upon thy bosom seek;

But promise me that thou will leave off weeping,
Because, thy tears fall hot upon my cheek.
Here it is cold: the tempest raveth madly;
But in my dreams all is wond'rous bright,
I see the angel children smiling gladly,

When from my weary eyes I shut out light.

Mother, one stands beside me now! and listen!
Dost thou not hear the music sweet accord?
See how the white wings beautifully glisten!
Surely those wings were given him by our Lord!
Green golden and red are floating around me:
They are the flowers the angel scattereth.
Shall I have also wings whilst life has bound me!
Or, mother, are they given alone in death!

Why dost thou clasp me as if I were going?

Why dost thou press thy cheek thus unto mine?
Thy cheek is hot, and yet thy tears are flowing;
I will, dear mother, will be always thine!

Do not sigh thus-it marreth my reposing;
And, if thou weep, then I must weep with thee.
Oh, I am tired-my weary eyes are closing:
-Look, mother, look, the angel kisseth me!

To Mrs. H

"WEEP NOT!"

on the Decease of her Son.

WEEP not for thy son, though he's gone to the grave, Though his mortal remains fast moulder to dust; For Christ the Redeemer, almighty to save,

Hath number'd his spirit with those of the just.

Weep not for thy son, bid thy tears quickly cease, For death's icy hand shall arrest him no more; But rejoice that he pass'd through Jordan in peace, And that now he's safe landed on Canaan's shore.

Weep not for thy son, thou shalt see him again,
Enrob'd with a garment that's spotless and white;
Thou shalt hear him adoring the Lamb that was slain,
With strains of perfection, in songs of delight.

Weep not for thy son, there approacheth a day,
When death shall conduct thee to mansions above;
When thy spirit made perfect, shall hasten away,
To feast with thy son at the banquet of love.

K. J.

ANGEL'S SERENADE.

"WHAT gentle music wakens me,
And murmurs in my ear?
O mother! see! who can it be,
At this late hour, so near?"

"I hear no sound, no form I see;
Sink to thy rest so mild;
No serenade come now to thee,
Thou poor and sickly child!"

"It was no music born of earth
That made my heart so light:
O mother! 'twas the angels' song
That summoned me-Good night!"

THE OLDEST TREE IN THE WORLD.

THIS tree is generally supposed to have been planted in the year of the birth of Jesus Christ, and, on this account, is treated with great reverence by the inhabitants of that part of Lombardy where it grows; but the Abbe Beleze informs us, that there is an ancient chronicle extant at Milan, which proves that it was a tree in the time of Julius Cæsar, B.C. 42. When