other false system.' After being warned of the danger that might beset him in conseqeunce of his conversion, which, however, did not at all move him, he was, with the full consent of wife, son, and daughter, received by baptism into the Church of Christ. And so in one more great country, ground has been broken, and Christ has one native disciple. There is the handful of corn' in the land may the fruit thereof' yet shake like Leba non!'" ་ ABYSSINIA. "News has reached this country that the king of Abyssinia has, at the request of Mr Rassam, the Queen's envoy, set the prisoners free, and that they are returning with him. We hope to hear soon from our two missionaries of their state." LOSS OF THE MISSIONARY SHIP JOHN WESLEY. The missionary ship the "John Wesley," we regret to say, has become a total wreck in the Bay of Tonga. The occurrence took place in November last, as the ship was bringing several missionaries, some of whom were accompanied by their wives, to attend the district meeting at Nukualofa, the principal station in the island of Tongatabu. The "John Wesley," having left Haabai at about two o'clock in the afternoon, went close up to Nomuka, and shaped a course for Tonga. At ten that night the brig was put under easy canvas; at two in the morning the islands of Eua and Tonga were sighted about eighteen miles distant, when the ship was wore round with her head off the land, to wait for daylight to enter the harbour. The captain, who had succeeded the mate in the deck-watch, observed something under the lee quarter, just as the dawn was breaking, that at first sight appeared like a film of cloud, but which on nearer approach proved to be the reef. At the time this discovery was made, they were sufficiently distant from it to have escaped under ordinary circumstances. Yet, notwithstanding every effort was made to do this, all was unavailing. Borne along by the rushing current, they found themselves driven violently against the side of the reef, which at this spot was almost perpendicular. The brig was at this time drawing about thirteen feet of water, and the top of the reef was just level with her water-line. After bumping in this position for an hour, with the port side bilged, a huge wave bore the vessel right over the edge of the reef, and left her firmly fixed upon the coral rock. The water, which had well-nigh filled the ship, then escaped, and the passengers, thus miraculously preserved, passed through the low water to the ever island of Tau. Just prior to south of Tonga. The escape their deliverance the mission- of the passengers and crew aries had been holding a under these circumstances is prayer meeting in the cabin. probably one of the most exThe enormous wave which traordinary occurrences thus providentially preserved known in connection with the lives of the mission party the navigation of those disand crew was doubtless the tant islands. The "John result of an earthquake, un- Wesley" has been in conparalleled in its violence, with stant use for the last twenty which the group of islands years, and during that pewas visited on that morning. riod has performed a vast The earthquake was felt all amount of service for the misover the Tonga group, and an sion. She was insured, we American captain, just arrived believe, to a respectable at Birkenhead, reports having amount; but her total loss felt it at sea, accompanied will occasion for a time great with strange appearances, at a inconvenience.-The Methodistance of 400 miles to the dist Recorder. Spring Concert. HERE'S a concert, a concert of gladness and glee, In a grand vaulted hall, where there's room and to spare, With no gas-light to eat up the oxygen there. The musicians excel in their wonderful art, They have compass of voice, and the gamut by heart; These exquisite minstrels a fashion have set, Which they hope you'll comply with and may not regret. if you have a fine ear, It was learned at Heaven's gate with its rapturous lays, Selected. The Wrong Boat. GREAT crowd of other side stood another officer calling out, "New York and Harlem cars this way!" passengers came hastening down to the ferries as the train from Buffalo came into Albany. Right at the gateway through which they all passed stood an officer calling in a loud voice, 66 Passengers for Springfield take the upper ferry!" So the crowd divided, and by far the greater part went to the lower ferry, where a boat was just waiting to take them across to the trains going down the river to New York. But when the Springfield passengers looked for their boat there was none there. "We shall lose the train," said a lady in great excitement; "let us take the other boat; they land very near together." "I don't like to try it," said I; "we might lose a great deal more time than we should gain." Just as the bell struck on the ferry-boat the lady turned to a young man who was leaning against a lamp-post, and asked quickly: "Which boat do we take for the Springfield train?" "Either one," said he confidently, "it makes no diffe rence. So, with a feeling of great relief, she hurried on board the boat, and, I am sorry to say, I followed her. At the "Where is the Springfield train?" asked the lady. "Other depot, madam," said the man hurriedly; "better go back and take the upper ferry." "Dear me," said the lady, looking about her, "can't we there without going get Now the depots were really but a short distance apart, but they were built on piers, so that to get from one to the other you must go a long way around, and cross two bridges. For my part, I was satisfied to take the officer's advice and go back to Albany, and after a little delay I crossed the upper ferry to the Springfield depot. There would be no train for several hours, so I sat down to wait and think about my adventure. In thinking it all over I came to the following conclusions: If you want information on any subject, be sure and get that which is reliable; and if you know of any person whose business it is to know that very thing, and who has every opportunity to learn it correctly, that is the person whose judgment you should trust in the matter. The officer was put there by the railroad company on purpose to tell people which boat to take, and it certainly was very foolish in us to trust to the information of a loafer because it happened to suit us. But I have known people to act just as unwisely in graver matters. At every point in life where two ways meet-the right and the wrong-God has put his officers to cry aloud, "This is the way, walk ye in it;" but many of the travellers pass the wrong way because some evil counsellor says, " O! it makes no difference which road you take, they both come out pretty much alike." In the second place I concluded that two places may seem very near together and yet be so separated that they have not the least connection, just as my two depots were. There is one great aim for us all in this life-to glorify God and bless our fellowmen; and if we aim at anything else, no matter how near the right it may look to us now, by and by we shall find ourselves in the wrong harbour. And it does not help our case at all that we have gone in very good company, and with people that profess to know. And, finally, when my lady friend came into the depot, tired and out of breath with her long, weary walk, I concluded that if you have made a mistake and done a wrong or foolish thing, the very best way to get right is to turn square about and go back, and not try any round-about ways. Some people never will own that they have made a mistake, and if you show it to them ever so plainly, they will argue, and explain, and try to justify it, and do everything but come out frankly and say, "Yes, I was mistaken. I didn't act wisely. I didn't choose the best way." There is always hope for people that are willing to acknowledge that they have been wrong; but Solomon says of the other class, "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit; there is more hope of a fool than of him."-S. S. Advocate. The Lord is my Helper. DAUGHTER of the late Emperor of Russia died when about eighteen. She suffered great agony, so that there was only one position in which her pain seemed bearable. Her father held her in his arms for nine hours without intermission, till she breathed her last. So when we are in trouble the Lord holds us in his hands. "His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me." The Green Silk Purse, or "Try Love." T was New Year's Eve. Little Annie Lee, who had come with her brother Donald to spend a few weeks in the country with their grandmother, stood in the parlour window of the cottage. The last ray of wintry sunshine had disappeared from the whitened hill-top, and twilight was fast darkening into night. Still Annie stood in the window, and tried to knit. She was putting the finishing stitches to a green silk purse she wanted to give Uncle Alick to-morrow. All this was right and kind, but now came a little trial of temper. 66 'you will be able to do it after tea, when the candles have come." "No, grandmamma, I must finish it now; I have other things to do after tea," replied Annie, in rather a rude tone. When tea was on the table, Annie was once more desired to put her work aside. But self-will had grown strong, and Annie would not obey. With her back to the lighted candles and the tempting meal, she persisted in the attempt to finish the purse by day-light. After waiting some minutes, and more than once repeating the call, grand mother and Donald sat down, thinking how much pleasanter it would be if Annie were with them. Bad temper began now to be felt in the touch of her hand, as well as heard in the tone of her voice, and giving the silk one rough pull, snap went the thread, and the beads pattered on the floor; while, worst of all, several stitches slipped off the needles, and seemed hopelessly lost. Annie could have cried with vexation, but pride for the moment kept in the scalding tears; so, taking up a bedroom candle, she hastened to her own little room, where she might indulge her grief more freely. Here she remained for some hours, until a mingled feeling of cold and hunger began to creep over her. She was therefore pleased to hear the servants summoned to evening worship, and followed them into the parlour, glad at least of the warmth, if not exactly in a mood to join in the praise and prayer of that sweet service. Then, with rather a cross good-night to grandmother and Donald, she went to bed. What a pity that the very last record in that old year should have been a notice of self-will and disobedience! When Annie awoke, it was yet too dim for dressing; she lay some moments thinking, with some regret, over the |