"Well, Sir, what have you to say?

"That, perhaps, when I have learned my lessons each day, you will let me have a little time to gather plants."

"You are a silly, idle, I may say, impudent boy, to make any such request. I will tolerate no such thing you are to be a scholar, and not a gatherer of weeds."

"Did not Solomon gather weeds, father?" said one of the little girls. "I know it says he spake trees, 'from the cedar-tree that is in Lebanon, eran unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall.""

"You are a good girl to remember Scripture," the Pastor answered; "but it has nothing at all to do with your brother's conduct."

Then they had supper. Then they had family. prayer; after which they retired to rest.

Next day, when they were alone, the Pastor's wife called her son to her, and with her arm round his neck, and his head resting on her bosom, talked to him about his strange wandering habits, and asked him why he was so anxious to go on gathering plants.

"O, mother!" said the boy, his eyes brightening up with enthusiasm, "you don't know how I love them, and how my heart leaps up for joy when I see a strange wild flower growing in the crevice of the rock; how I examine its root, its stem, its petals, and how the tears rush into my eyes as I think of the goodness of the great God who made it and cares for it in the lonely wilderness. O, mother, these flowers are my friends; I know them from

one another, just as I know the difference between my two sisters; very like each other, but a distinction I can trace!"

"You are dreaming, my dear child," she said; "for if you really do experience some pleasure in finding these flowers, you must endure much pain in the search."

"Pain, mother," he said, "not I: the snow seems warmer, and the rough rocks smooth, and biting wind like summer, when there is a flower to be found. I would swim a river, climb a hill, descend a precipice-do anything to pluck a flower I had never seen before. But I am careful, mother, very careful, I assure you.”

"Well, if you will be very careful, I will speak to your father, and you shall have some little time each day to follow your inclination."

He kissed her over and over again, and she kissed him with tears in her eyes.

(To be continued.)

EFFECT OF A KIND WORD.

How strong is a kind word! It will do what the harsh word, or even blow, cannot do; it will subdue the stubborn will, relax the frown, and work wonders.

Even the dog, the cat, or the horse, though they do not know what you say, can tell when you speak a kind word to them.

A man was one day driving a cart along the street. The horse was drawing a heavy load, and

did not turn as the man wished him to do. The man was in an ill temper, and beat the horse. The horse reared and plunged, but he either did not or would not go the right way. Another man who was with the cart, went up to the horse and patted him on the neck, and called him kindly by his name. The horse turned his head, and fixed his large eyes on the man, as though he would say, "I will do anything for you, because you are kind me;" and bending his broad chest against the load he turned the cart down the narrow lane, and trotted on briskly, as though the load were a plaything.

O, how strong is a kind word!

THE SOLDIER AND THE OLD

MATCH-LOCK.

ABOUT the year 1366 gunpowder was first applied to the purpose of discharging balls and shot from those instruments of death called fire-arms. 1, first, the soldier fired his match-lock by means oft fire-match; and the picture on the opposite page shows how this was done. Then flint and steel were used to throw a spark into the touch-hole, to ignite the gunpowder. This was used a long time. Then what is called a "percussion-cap" has done away with the use of the steel and flint. These caps are tiny boxes or cells of copper, not so large as a pea. containing some chemical substance. These caps are so placed on the lock of the gun, that a sharp blow breaks them, and causes the chemical mixture in

emto set fire to the powder through the touch-hole. us have men gone on altering, and rendering re deadly, their weapons of warfare. Is it not y very sad to think of the countless numbers who e been sent out of time into eternity since firens were made? Little children, too, have been t. It is very naughty for any of them to meddle th such dangerous weapons; for they have neither e skill nor strength needed to use them safely. ad all ought earnestly to pray that the time may on come when war shall be no more; and such eapons shall never more be made to take away uman life.

HE HAS HIDDEN IT FROM OUR SIGHT.

'I WISH I knew all that would happen to me, said little Mary, as she was walking out in country with her mother. "It would be so

to know it all before it came!"

"Not so nice as you suppose, Mary," replied! mother: "on the contrary, I believe you wou find it to be a great affliction. It has pleased heavenly Father to keep us, for the most part ignorance of the future. In love and in wisdom has hidden it from our sight. He has done all th well, and His almighty will should be our will"

Though little Mary was accustomed to belie every word which came from the lips of her mothe yet in this instance it was not quite the case she could not help thinking that it would be a ve nice thing to know what was to happen. H mother, who guessed very correctly what w passing in her mind, went on with her for so time without speaking.

How very ignorant children are, for the wat experience! and how very necessary it is that should be guided by those who are older and visi than themselves! Truly does God's holy word. "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child" (Prov. xxii. 15.)

The sun shone, and the wind blew, as Mary an ́ her mother continued their walk. It was not long before they heard the song of the lark; and, lookin upwards, they saw it mounting the blue sky wi fluttering wings, and warbling so loudly, that Mar