had, and many other particulars, said, the angry sun had chased must be reserved for the next them all away, or drawn them number, as I am afraid I have up aloft by his hot and scorchtrespassed too much on this. ing beams. His father tried to Now, I have been thinking that, comfort him, but in vain, the if every little boy or girl who little boy still continued to weep. reads this tale, would lend it to At length a cloud passed over, their schoolfellows or playfel- and on the cloud the beautiful lows, perhaps after reading the rainbow had cast its arch. first part they might be induced "There, see, my boy," said to have the next number, and the father, "all your dewby these means more subscribers drops are yonder, more glorious might be obtained for our little and more beautiful than they cheap publication, and which, were on earth. The sun has you know, would very much only taken them up to set them please our respected and be- there in greater brightness in loved editor. Come, now, who the sky." And it is thus, I have will try? Every one of you sometimes thought, with those lend this number to another, dear little ones whom God and endeavour to get another is often pleased to remove subscriber for it. Farewell, my dear little readers, till next month (God willing). London. FRANCIS WHITE. THE DEWDROPS, OR DE- LOST. from our affectionate embraces. When I saw the mother of a dear young girl so deeply distressed on account of her early and untimely grave, and when I beheld her affectionate teachers watching over her with such deep interest, and anxious to render to her all the assistance they could during the convulsive throes of expiring nature, then I remembered the little boy and the dewdrops; and, in my thoughts, I followed up her bright and happy spirit to heaven, transferred, as it was about to be by death, to shie THERE was once a little boy who, having been out at play very early in the morning, saw the dewdrops lay upon the grass, sparkling like so many beautiful gems, in the brightness of the rising sun; and, on returning shortly afterwards, he found there in greater loveliness and them all gone. He sat down, glory. and began to weep, because, he JOSIAH HOWARD. "THIS HAND NEVER STRUCK ME." Young reader, have you always been so gentle to your brothers and sisters that, were you to die, such a tribute as this could be paid to your memory? Could a WE recently heard the following most touching incident: A little boy had died. His body was laid out in a darkened, re-brother or sister take your hand, tired room, waiting to be laid were it cold in death, and say, away in the lone, cold grave. "This hand never struck me?"The Band of Hope Review. His afflicted mother and bereaved little sister went to look at the sweet face of the precious sleeper, for his face was beautiful even in death. As they stood gazing upon the form of one so cherished and beloved, the little girl asked to take hold of his hand. The mother at first did not think it best, but as her child repeated the request, and seemed very anxious about it, she took the cold, bloodless hand of the sleeping boy, and placed it in the hand of his weeping sister. THE LANGUAGE OF How eloquent of beautiful lessons all nature would be to us if we had but the eye and the ear to take them in! A bunch of flowers seems to bring one very near the hand that made them. They are the work of His fingers; and I cannot consider them without being joyfully assured of the glory The dear child looked at it a and loveliness of their Creator. moment, caressed it fondly, and It is written as plainly to me then looking up to her mother, in their delicate painting, and through tears-the tears of sweet breath, and curious strucaffection and love-she said, ture, as in the very pages of the "Mother, this little hand never Bible; though, no doubt, withstruck me!" out the Bible I could not read What could be more touching the flowers.-The Wide, Wide and lovely? World. OUR MISSIONS.-Our young friends are nobly exerting themselves. We hope they will never become weary of well doing. We go to press with this number too early to give a full report of all that has been done for the Australian fund. But several other schools have already reported their success. See the cover for this month. MISCELLANEA. JUVENILE MISSIONARY MEETINGS. BURY. Our second annual Mills. Missionary pieces were Juvenile Missionary Meeting took place on Lord's day, April 3, 1853, when our scholars and friends met in our chapel at halfpast two o'clock. Our highlyesteemed brother Wm. Kempster was called upon to preside. After the chairman had made some remarks about the operations of our missions, he called upon the writer to read the report. The meeting was addressed by the Rev. D. Round, Messrs. Edward and Thomas Kempster, when several very interesting pieces was recited by the children; and the meeting altogether was of a very interesting character. The collection, including cards, amounted to £3 11s. 9d., being an increase on last year. I may also state, that the challenge of the scholars of Brunswick School, London, has been accepted by our school, and the money will be ready by the 20th day of August. also sung by the children and the choir. From unanimous testimony it appears to have been one of the best meetings ever held in the Oldbury Chapel. At the close of the Dialogue, the whole congregation were in tears. The collection, including £4 10s., the proceeds of the children's cards and boxes, was £12. P. HEALEY. OLDBURY.-On Sunday afternoon, April 10th, the first Juvenile Missionary Meeting was held in the Oldbury Chapel; Mr. J. Sadler, on the motion of two of the boys, was called to preside. The speakers were, Mr. J. Lewis, Mr. J. Pardoe, and Mr. J. Nash. Two of the boys, J. Beech and J. Cliff, recited suitable pieces, and a Dialogue on Ireland and Canada was recited by Nancy Sadler and Joice On the afternoon of Sunday, May 1st, the Juvenile Meeting was held in the room at Great Bridge. In compliance with the special wish of the juveniles, our young friend, Mr. S. Sheward, presided. After addresses by brothers Finch, Cartwright, and Grundy, several pieces were recited, including the Dialogue on Ireland and Canada, which, from the earnest and appropriate manner in which it was recited, produced a powerful effect. Numbers were unable to get admission to the room, which is not large; and the collection was £1 9s. 4d., making, with the proceeds of cards, as the first missionary effort of a school scarcely a year old, £3 13s. 4d. G. GRUNDY. BARNSLEY.-On Monday evening, 17th April, 1853, the children of our Barnsley Sabbath-school assembled in the lower school-room, to signify their cordial approval of our noble misssionary cause by giving their pence according to their ability. The meeting was ad dressed by the Circuit Preacher, Chicken, and Messrs. Grant, and Messrs. Tattersal, J. Taylor, Kirman, and Pillmore. During and J. Rogers. The best feel- the meeting, suitable hymns ing prevailed, and the collection were sung, and several appro(including several sums collected priate pieces were recited by the by the children's cards) amount-scholars. The secretary's re M. M. ed to £1 13s., which, as a be- port showed that the sum of ginning, was well. It is hoped £3 9s. 1d. had been collected that other schools in the Circuit for our missions in Ireland and will try to imitate this example. Canada, and £1 towards sendIt is matter of thankfulness, ing a missionary to Australia: that though our circuit does not total, £4 9s. 1d., being about lead the van of missionary en- double the amount collected terprise, it is endeavouring to last year. The sum of 5s. had follow in the wake, as there was also been collected by the schoa considerable advance in its lars belonging to our School in contributions the last year. Dansom-lane. The collection at the close of the meeting was £1 17s. 1d., and which, added to the amounts above mentioned, makes the sum of £6 11s. 23d. for the year. Throughout, this meeting was conducted in a very animated manner, and was altogether the best we have yet had. May the God of Christian missions grant his blessing upon this and all kindred efforts! HULL. On Sabbath afternoon, 1st May, 1853, the scholars connected with our Sykes Street Sabbath school held their annual Juvenile Missionary Meeting. After singing and prayer, our esteemed superintendent minister, the Rev. W. Cocker, was called upon to take the chair. Addresses were then delivered by the Rev. J. M. THE EDITOR'S THOS. AGAR, Sec. DESK. QUERIES AND ANSWERS. QUERY 1.-ON BALAAM'S DEAR SIR,-Would you be so kind as to inform me, through the medium of your excellent little work THE JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR, concerning the following passage? In Numbers xxiv. 17, Balaam the prophet says, "I shall see him, but not now. I shall behold him, but not nigh." To whom does Balaam refer? JOHN TAYLOR. Barnsley, August 3, 1853. ANSWER. The prophecy refers, I believe, to the promised Saviour, who is spoken of under the name of "the Star of Jacob, and the sceptre." This glorious being Balaam would see, but not at that period. He would see him when his spirit left the world and entered into eternity; but he would not be nigh himthat is, would not be permitted to enter into his glory, and sit down on his throne, because he knew he was a bad man, a lover of the wages of unrighteousness. the Israelitish nation at that What an awful circumstance-period; who are called Ephraim, to utter a prediction of his own because the tribe of Ephraim eternal exclusion from Christ, was the largest and the most conwith the very same breath in siderable among them. These which he was expressing a pro- people were unstable and inconphecy of his coming as a Saviour sistent in their character. They for mankind! How true it is were neither one thing nor anthat gifts are not graces! "Many other-neither thoroughly relishall say unto me in that day, gious, nor wholly given up to Lord, have we not prophesied in wickedness-but half and half. thy name, and in thy name done Their principles were not fixed; many wonderful works? but I their souls were not decided and shall say unto them, Depart earnest; they mixed sinful pracfrom me, for I never knew you." tices with a religious profession and a partial attention to religious duties. They were thus unfinished, and imperfect in their conduct, like a half-baked cake; and as unacceptable to God as the half-baked loaf would be to the eater. Is my reader of this stamp? If he is, let him see to it that he repent and become decided for God, or he will perish. QUERY 2.-ON EPHRAIM AS A CAKE NOT TURNED. DEAR SIR,-I have read for some length of time, with great pleasure and profit, your JuveNILE INSTRUCTOR, and especially am I gratified by the answers and explanation of various texts of Scripture kindly given by you. Sir, I venture to ask you for an explanation of this passage of Scripture-Hosea vii. 8, "Ephraim is a cake not turned." By giving an explanation you will greatly oblige Darby Hand. JOB MULLET. ANSWER.-Cakes in ancient time were often baked on the hearth, which had been heated by hot ashes-a mode of baking which I have witnessed in Ire land. Cakes thus baked require turning upside down, in order that both sides may be baked alike. A cake that is not thus turned is but half baked-hard on one side and soft on the other, and, in such a state, not very acceptable to the eater. This fitly represents the state of QUERY 3.-ON THE SKINS WITH REV. SIR,-I find, in reading ANSWER. We have answered this question before, and can now only say that when man had fallen, and God had given him a promise of a Saviour, he appointed animals to be offered |