went on her last voyage to America. What first strikes the notice of a stranger is her enormous length; some idea of which may be formed when it is stated that she is above 100 feet longer than our firstrate line-of-battle ships. Their length is 205 feet; the "Great Britain" 322 feet. Her breadth is fifty feet. She will carry 3,500 tons. Her engines are 1,000 horse power: and 1,500 tons of iron were used in her construction.

This fine vessel performed several voyages to and from America in gallant style. On the 22nd Sept., 1846, she left Liverpool with 181 passengers. When in the Irish sea, between the Isle of Man and the coast of Ireland, through mistaking the land-lights, she ran on the sands in Dundrum Bay, near Belfast. There was some danger, but, providentially, no lives were lost, and all the passengers were safely landed. Among these were several ministers from America, who were returning from the great meeting of the Evangelical Alliance, which had been held in London. Several attempts have since been made to extricate her, but in vain. There now she sticks-fast in the sands--a wreck! This day (Nov. 28) we read in the London papers that the late gales made her position worse, throwing the waves with fearful fury over her. It is now proposed to take out her engines and masts, and remove them, with everything else that can be made available.

"What a pity!" our young friends will exclaim as they read these narratives-"one fine vessel lost, and another stranded!" Yes: it is a pity-a matter of regret; and yet it is no more than might be looked for. The ocean is a dangerous element to venture upon, and all the skill, and watchfulness, and energy of man cannot prevent such accidents from taking place. This is a world of change and uncertainty. Happy will they be, who, having passed through its troubled scenes under the guidance of the Heavenly

Pilot, find themselves safely landed in that peaceful region where there is no more sea."

66

"Thou art my pilot wise;
My compass is thy word:
My soul each storm defies,
While I have such a Lord!
I trust thy faithfulness and power
To save me in the trying hour.

Though rocks and quicksands deep
Through all my passage lie,
Yet Christ will safely keep
And guide me with his eye:
My anchor hope shall firm abide,
And I each boisterous storm outride.

By faith I see the land,-
The port of endless rest;
My soul, thy sails expand,
And fly to Jesus' breast:

O may I reach the heavenly shore

Where winds and waves distress no more!"

LAUNCHING INTO ETERNITY.-BY DR WATTS.
Ir was a brave attempt! adventurous he
Who in the first ship broke the unknown sea:
And leaving his dear native shores behind,
Trusted his life to the licentious wind.

I see the surging brine; the tempest raves:
He on the pine-plank rides across the waves,
Exulting on the edge of thousand gaping graves:
He steers the winged boat, and shifts the sails,
Conquers the flood and manages the gales.

Such is the soul that leaves this mortal land,
Fearless when the great Master gives command.
Death is the storm: she smiles to hear it roar,
And bids the tempest waft her from the shore:
Then with a skilful helm she sweeps the seas,
And manages the raging storm with ease;

(Her faith can govern death) she spreads her wings
Wide to the wind, and as she sails she sings,
And loses by degrees the sight of mortal things.
As the shores lessen, so her joys arise,

The waves roll gentler and the tempest dies:
Now vast Eternity fills all her sight,

She floats on the broad deep with infinite delight,
The seas for ever calm, the skies for ever bright.

TIME.

THE beginning of a New Year makes me anxious, my dear young friends, to address you for a few moments upon a very important subject; and if you will kindly favour me with your serious attention, I hope the observations I have to make will not only sink into your hearts, but be of lasting benefit to you.

You will perceive from the little word standing at the head of this, that the subject to which I refer is TIME! Time is precious-so precious that to waste the smallest portion thereof is very sinful. And yet how few of the young appear to lay this to heart. They look upon time as the gift of God, it is true; and almost every little boy and girl who has had anything like a religious education, is aware that this gift is valuable; but, alas! how careless and trifling they are, how forgetful of that world of spirits to which time is rapidly hurrying them, and how totally unprepared for the solemn realities which that world will certainly unfold to their view.

I hope that this is not your case. I hope that you not only look upon time as the gift of God, but that you are daily striving to employ it well. I hope that every day you live sees you grow wiser, and better, and happier. This is your privilege; and if you improve it not, great will be your responsibility and punishment.

These are strong expressions, but they are true. If you examine the word of God you will find them to be so. You will there see, that to waste time is to waste the most valuable thing you possess; to throw away something, for a few fragments of which, thousands of immortal spirits, now on the brink of eternity, would give all they have.

Whatever you do, then, value your time. Make

the most of every moment you possess. Rise up early in the morning, and, when bowing your knee to God, ask the grace of Him who said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven," and thanking your Heavenly Father for his watchful care over you during the night, take care to live that day in his fear. If you do this, O how happy you will be. Temptations may assail you, it is true, and floods of suffering may almost overwhelm you, but they cannot really harm you. There is One above who will have you continually in his keeping. Before his presence even the spirits of darkness tremble; and he will never permit the weakest of his youthful followers to fall a prey to their wicked and evil designs.

May the God of all grace apply these remarks to your hearts and consciences. Whether you regard them or not, they are important. Depend upon it, in eternity you will find they are. You are nearer that eternity now, than you were when you commenced reading these lines. Every beat of the pulse, and every throb of the heart, are but harbingers of the approach of our last enemy. And as we all feel these harbingers daily, so we ought to be daily increasing in ripeness for that world of spirits where death can never come. May God bless you, and so prepare you for himself, that when he sees fit to remove you hence, you may have an abundant entrance administered unto you into his everlasting kingdom!

Never forget then, my dear young readers, that the best use you can make of time is, to learn the fear of your Maker, and the love of that blessed Saviour who died for your sins; for they that believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

J. K.

A SHORT time ago an interesting little blind boy, twelve years of age, in Providence, Rhode Island, became the hopeful subject of converting grace, and after relating such a religious experience as drew tears from almost every eye, he was baptized, and received as a member of the church.

Immediately upon his conversion he became very desirous to learn to read the bible with raised letters, prepared for the use of the blind, and in a very short space of time he learned to run his fingers along the pages, and read with ease and propriety. The utmost object of his wishes seemed now to be, to possess a complete copy of the bible for the blind, which consists of several large volumes. His parents were unable to buy one, but his pastor obtained one from the society at Boston.

Not long after the little boy received the volumes, his pious mother saw him retire to his room where they were kept, and she crept softly to the door to see what he would do. And why do you think the dear little fellow went alone to his room? His mother saw him kneeling by the side of these precious volumes, and lifting up his little hands in prayer, to return thanks to God for this blessed gift of his holy word. He then rose from his knees, and taking up one of the volumes in his arms, he hugged and kissed it, and then laid it on one side, and proceeded to the next, and so on till he had in this simple but beautiful and expressive manner, signified his love for each of those blessed volumes, which, through the medium of touch, had spread before his mind the wonders and the glories of God's revelation to man.

What a beautiful comment is afforded by the above touching incident upon the words of David: "The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honey-comb.. From America.