slaves, and twenty-nine Creoles. Much was done by Mr. Waddell and Mr. Edgerly, of the Scotch mission, and by Captain Milbourne, of the Dove, in the service of the Baptist Mission, to try to persuade king Eyamba to prevent the sacrifice, but it could not be effected.-Rev. J. Clark.

THE FINE PRAYER.

THE celebrated Professor Francke, who founded the great Orphan Asylum in Halle, was walking one day in the fields with one of his colleagues. All at once the voice of a person praying drew their attention. They stopped, and on looking observed behind a bush two children on their knees, one of whom was praying fervently to God. The two professors listened, and were edified with the devotion which the young Christians seemed to possess. When the prayer was ended, the children rose. Well," said the one who had led the devotions, with a selfcomplacent air, "didn't I make a fine prayer?"

This last remark caused Francke and his companion a painful surprise. But, after a moment's reflection, one of them remarked: "This child has only shown openly what often passes in all our minds. How often, when God has disposed us to pray with some fervour in presence of our brethren, do we rise from our knees with a secret vanity; and if shame did not restrain us, we should ask with this child, "Have not I made a fine prayer?”

Not only in prayer do we find this miserable pride of our heart, but in our sermons too. Ask the most faithful preacher, if, after delivering an eloquent discourse, he had not often applauded himself, and been tempted to say to his hearers, "Have not I made a fine sermon?" O may the Lord deign to inspire us with more humility and self-renunciation !

ANCIENT TEETOTALERS. CYRUS, of Persia, when a young prince, visited his uncle, Cyaxares, and to show that there was no merit in being a good cup-bearer, took the cup from Sacas, who acted in that capacity.

Astyages, history informs us, admitted his skill, but laughingly observed,

"The young waiter has forgotten one thing."

"What have I forgotten ?" asked Cyrus.

"To taste the wine, before you handed it to me and your mother." "I did not forget that, but I did not choose to swallow poison."

"Poison!" exclaimed the king. "Yes, there must be poison in the cup, for they who drink of it sometimes grow giddy and sick, and fall down."

Then you never drink in your country!" inquired Astyages.

"Yes, but we only drink to satisfy thirst, and then a little water suffices."

This occurred nearly two thousand four hundred years ago, yet it is as true as if it were an event of yesterdaythat intoxicating drink is a poison. FORBEARANCE IN LOVE THE

BOND OF UNITY.

Ir there be one practical precept which we could wish to be printed in starry characters on the dark face of our mighty sky, written in sunbeams on the tablet of the earth, and uttered both night and day in voices from the heavens, that the attention of men might be irresistibly turned to it, and their hearts unavoidably impressed by it, this is the one-FORBEARING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE. This one short precept, universally obeyed, would set all right, and reduce all to order. It would not at once reconcile all minds, but it would harmonize all hearts. It would not amalgamate all churches into an external uniformity, but it would combine them all in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. It might not hush the voice of controversy, but it would take from it the harsh dissonance of human passion, and cause it to speak in the mellifluous tones of divine charity.-J. A. James.

RESIGNATION.

I AM now called to practice the lessons of patience, submission and hope, myself, which I have often proposed to others. If God is pleased for a season that I should be like the bush which Moses saw, covered with flames and not consumed, the event will be to Hig glory, and I doubt not for my good. I

am not my own. As a sinner I have no right to complain; as a believer I have no reason to complain; for He will choose better for me than I could if I might for myself. He has delivered, He does deliver, and I trust He will yet deliver. My whole history has been a series of marvellous mercies; how ungrateful should I be to distrust Him! yet thus I should do, were I left to myself; but He says, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." I build upon His promises; He has done, He does, He will do all things well.-John Newton.

EARLY ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC WORSHIP.

A woman regular in her attendance of public worship, who took care always to be in time, was asked how it was she could always come so early; she answered, very wisely, that it was part of her religion not to disturb the religion of others.

DEATH.

I am not afraid to look death in the face. I can say, Death! where is thy sting? Death cannot hurt me.-John Dodd.

HERE I come creeping, creeping every

where,

By the dusty road-side,

On the sunny hill-side,
Close by the noisy brook,
In every shady nook,

I come creeping, creeping everywhere.

Here I come creeping, smiling everywhere,
All around the open door,
Where sit the aged poor,
Here where the children play,
In the bright and merry May,

I come creeping, creeping everywhere.

Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere,

In the noisy city street

My pleasant face you'll meet,
Cheering the sick at heart,
Toiling his busy part,

Silently creeping, creeping everywhere.

Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere;

You cannot see me coming,

Nor hear my low, sweet humming;

For in the starry night,

And the glad morning light,

I come quietly creeping everywhere.
Here I come creeping, creeping every-
where;

More welcome than the flowers,
In summer's pleasant hours;
The gentle cow is glad,

And the merry bird not sad,

To see me creeping, creeping everywhere. Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere;

When you're number'd with the dead,
In your still and narrow bed,
In the happy spring I'll come,
And deck your silent home,

Creeping, silently creeping everywhere.

Here I come creeping, creeping everywhere ;

My humble song of praise
Most gratefully I raise

To Him at whose command
I beautify the land,

Creeping, silently creeping everywhere.

"MAMMA," said a very little girl to her mother one day, "shall you wear your new dress when you go to hea"No, my dear," replied her "What dress will you wear

ven?" mother.

then?" she asked again. "The robe of Christ's righteousness is the only garment which will be worn in heaven," answered her mother. The thoughtful little girl looked very in

quiringly in her mother's face for a moment, and then asked, all in the same breath, " What is that, mamma? have you got one? if not, where will you get it?" Her mother then told her little daughter, in as simple words as she could, that all mankind are sinners against God, and that, on this account, they would never be permitted to enter heaven, if Jesus, the Son of God, had not died to save them.

She told her, that Jesus Christ, who was both God and man, was perfectly holy, and never sinned-he was righteous; that he died for us, that we might be saved from sin and hell; and that all who love him, and try to be holy like him, are said to be "clothed in his righteousness." And, she added, none will go to heaven but those who trust in Christ; and those who trust or believe in him, have on the robe of his righteousness.

I do not know how much of all this conversation little Susan understood, but she was very serious for some time after it, and she remembered all about it as long as she lived; and there is reason to believe that when she died she had on this pure and spotless robe, which is the only thing which can admit any of us to heaven.

Now, my dear children. this little story is true; and I have told it to you for two reasons.

One is, that you may know how you can get to heaven; the other, and the one which I think you will understand the best, is, that you may see of how very little consequence it is what kind of clothes you have for your body while you live in this world. If you have fine dresses and beautiful garments now, you cannot take them with you to heaven. When you die you must lay them all aside, and then

you will feel how much more important it is that your soul should be covered with that robe of Christ's righteousness, than that your body should be adorned with all that could make it attractive to the eyes of others. And will you not, dear children, remember this now, every day? Instead of thinking and talking a great deal about your new clothes, and asking your parents to get you bright and gay dresses, will you not think a great deal about that "white robe" for your soul, and pray to the dear Saviour that he will give it to you? If you have this on, when you stand before the judgment-seat, he will know at once that you are his, and he will say then, as he did when he was upon earth, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

STORY OF A LITTLE HEATHEN BOY.

A

By the Hindu law, a boy is regarded as of age at seventeen. In England and in the United States he is of age at twenty-one Of course, under the former law, the father has a right to control his son till he is seventeen. native boy, named Rajavooloo, became a pupil in one of the missionary schools in India, under the care of the Rev. Mr. Anderson. The father, not being willing that his boy should be taught Christianity, attempted to take him away; but he was unwilling to go, and the missionaries would not force him At length the father applied to the court for help. The court required the missionaries to bring the boy forward, and show by what right they kept him from the custody of his father. The missionaries stated that he was a pupil in their school, and expressed a wish to stay. The father declared that the child was not of age, and ought, therefore, to be restored to his custody.

to go.

There was much contradictory evidence as to the age of the boy; but the court was satisfied that, even if he were under age, he had so much discretion, and had chosen so good a part for himself, that he ought not to be required to leave the school, and return to his heathen home.

The judge, addressing the boy, said, "Rajavooloo, come here, my boy. You are at liberty to choose where you will Come here to me."

go.

J. Where do you wish to go? Is it to your father, or to Mr. Anderson?

R. To Mr. Anderson.

J. Is that your desire ?

R. Yes.

Never be rude, mischievous, or boisterous, in the absence of your parents or teachers. Remember the eye of God is upon you. Read the 139th Psalm.

Never take liberties, or manifest

R. It is my own mind.

The judge then directed the sheriff to see that Rajavooloo was safely conducted to Mr. Anderson's school.

The multitude about the court-room was very large,-three or four thousand persons at least, a majority being heathen. The pressure of the crowd was severe. Many were curious to see the boy who had been delivered from the bondage of idolatry by the highest tribunal of the country. The Brahmins were much exasperated, and determined to rescue the boy at all hazards. For this purpose they filled every door at which he could be taken out. His friends concluded to keep him for a while within the court-room, in the hope that the excitement would subside, and the crowd would disperse. But it was in vain. Evening came on, and this increased the difficulty. At length a carriage was placed near an enclosure that communicated with the court-room, while another was stationed at the sheriff's office to serve as a decoy. This succeeded in distracting the attention of the crowd. The boy was hurried into the coach, the shutters closed all around, and the coachman directed to drive rapidly to the mission-house. But the multitude were soon after them. Headed by a number of Brahmins, they assaulted the coach with stones and other missiles, and attempted to seize the heads of the horses; but, by the skill of the driver,

or strangers are present. Some very bad children, on such occasions, not only disgrace themselves, but also dishonour their parents.

66

"My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother; for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck," Prov. i. 8, 9. "Honour thy father and thy mother, which is the first commandment with promise."

Resolve never to do anything when you are alone, that you would not do if your parents were present.

Never invite any one to visit you, without first consulting your parents or guardians. Children and youth should never assume the high responsibility of selecting either their books or associates; it is fearful! None but parents or guardians have a right to make the selection. "Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother; and all the people shall say, Amen."

Never be offended when corrected for your faults. Some little boys and girls are displeased when their faults are pointed out, and receive it unkindly. This is wrong. They should be very humble and thankful for some kind friend to correct their vicious habits, and teach them better manners. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise," Prov. xiii. 15.

Again: "Never be unemployed, never