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Page for the Young.

NURSE NORRIS;

OR, WHAT MAKES YOU SO HAPPY?

N the little white cottage at the foot of the hill, not far from the entrance to the squire's park, lived Nurse Norris. In the month of June, the front of her humble home was covered with the blossoms of two rose-trees, which climbed on each side of the door. A beehive was in her bit of a garden, a few chickens ran about the gate, a rabbit-hutch was against the wall, and a kitten was almost sure to.be seen sitting in the window when the sun shone through the little square panes of glass.

The history of Nurse Norris is soon told. In early life she was a nurse-girl in the family of the former squire of the village. After she had been married a few months her husband's health failed, and for many long years of sickness before his death she waited on him with the most loving care. She now returned as head-nurse to the mansion where she was in service when a girl. She nursed the squire in his last illness, and the squire's widow when she was laid down with a fever; and waited on their children's children in all their afflictions and sorrows.

As she grew old, the cottage and a small weekly sum of money were allowed to her by those she had served so well in her former days. But she could not be idle. The sick and the dying shared her attention still. If any one had broken an arm, or was laid down with a fever; if any child had the measles, or old person the ague, she was sure to be at hand ready to give her help, and to watch and wait whether by night or day. So we see that her days were spent in waiting on others, and she had well entitled herself to the title of "good Nurse Norris."

The kind old woman had for many years feared God. She was a lowly disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ; and it was her great delight to tread in his footsteps, and to do all the good she could in the village.

Though her face was plain and homely, it always bore a calm and peaceful look, that told of the cheerful state of her mind. Why you always seem happy, Nurse Norris," said Patty Peters to her, one day.

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"Yes, my little dear," she replied; "the God of all comfort is pleased to give me much comfort. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name."

"What is it that makes you so happy, Nurse Norris? You have not got bags of gold, nor do you ride in a carriage, nor live in a large house, nor wear fine clothes."

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But I have what God knows is best for me. A contented mind is a continual feast, Patty. I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content,' as the apostle Paul says.† I leave everything in the hands of the Lord. He takes care of the great world in which I live, and I know he will not forget a poor widow that trusts in him. Why should I doubt his word?

"But, nurse, suppose the squire who now lives in the park should die, and you should lose your weekly money, and be turned out of your cottage; or suppose you should fall very ill, and had no one near to attend on you, what would you do then?" "Why, dear Patty, I do not allow myself to suppose. I can. not believe that God will do anything with me but what will be for the best. It is this supposing that makes people so unhappy. Why not wait till the trouble comes? Have you not heard what the apostle says, 'We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.'§

"If loving God makes you so happy, Nurse Norris, I hope I shall love him, too."

"I trust you will, my darling. I wish all the children in the village to know that an old woman is very sorry that she did not give her heart to Jesus when she was quite a little child. She hopes that, through the grace of God, she was led to believe in Jesus for the pardon of sin when she was sixteen years old; but oh, that was too late; it was too late! Jesus must have the earliest and the best of our days. He is a precious, loving Saviour. I have found him to be so. His blood cleanses us from all sin; through his merits we are accepted before God; and by his Spirit we live a holy life here, and are made meet for heaven. Do not forget, Patty, to give yourself to Jesus in the days of your childhood.

For all who early seek his face,
Shall surely taste his love;
Jesus shall guide them by his grace,
To dwell with him above."

The body of Nurse Norris now lies in the graveyard; her soul And sometimes the is with the Saviour whom she loved. villagers still speak of her many acts of kindness, and how ready she was to deny herself that she might do good to others. So true it is that "the memory of the just is blessed."

If you should pass through the village in which she lived, you will still find Patty Peters there she is now quite a young woman; and if you ask her what she thinks of her dear old friend, she will tell you that she was one of the best and most loving creatures she ever knew; and that it was the kind words that the good nurse spake which first led her to think about the salvation of her soul. Young reader, will you think of them too?

SCRIPTURE ENIGMAS.

NO. XLVI.

Who was the first that wrought in iron and brass?
Who with King Ahab went in search of grass?
What was the god that guilty Israel served?
Whence did King Solomon his gold obtain?
Whose son's command was faithfully observed?
Who named her baby in her dying pain?
Whose house was blessed, because the ark was there?
Where roamed the Israelites in Moses' care?

In the initial letters find

On what our minds will often dwell With hopes or fears,-and little trust In Him, who "doeth all things well."

NO. XLVII.

Who wrote the words that Jeremiah spake?
Whom did an angel comforter awake?
Who, for her sin, her husband's doom did share?
Whence came a woman for a prince to plead?
Who from her father's house his idols bare?
For whom did Paul the apostle intercede?
Who dared a monarch's sin to reprimand?
Who routed armies with a feeble band?.

A precept David gave his son
In these initial letters find;
It bade him do his noble work
With brave and steady mind.

BIBLE QUESTIONS ON HUMAN CHARACTER.
NO. XX. TYRANNY.

1. Connect an act of tyranny with pride, weakness, covetousness, falsehood, and murder.

2. Which do you consider the most unreasonable case of tyranny mentioned in the Bible.

3. Name three rulers whose acts of tyranny were predicted by prophets.

4. What good king became a great tyrant in his latter years? 5. Name a wicked tyrant who repented of his sin and was forgiven.

6. Name the two most nearly corresponding acts of tyranny in the Old and New Testaments.

7. Name two acts of tyranny which were deeply regretted by the tyrants themselves.

8. Where is tyranny rebuked by an apostle?

9. Name two great acts of tyranny which David committed. 10. When was tyranny forbidden by Christ in the promotion of his kingdom?

THE" eldest son of the Church," as men were wont to style the monarch of France, has at length resolved to relinquish his anomalous position as the sole guardian, of the pope's temporal domain. Within two years, it is now officially stated, the French army will be withdrawn from Rome, and Italy will be left to the Italians. The king will defend the pope beyond, and the pope must defend himself within his own frontiers. Florence becomes the capital of the kingdom, instead of Turin, and thus Rome is ostensibly relinquished by the government of Victor Emmanuel. None, however, can doubt that its occupation as the chief city of the kingdom is only postponed till a more convenient season, and that the doom of the papacy, as a secular sovereignty, is now irrevocably sealed. Whether there is any connexion between the intelligence we now record and the fact we narrated last month of the abduction, in the interests of Romanism, of the child Cohen, we cannot say; but no impartial person can deny that "it is indeed a blind and benighted government which, when it had most need to conciliate its only protector, could not refrain from thwarting and denying him in the matter of a young kidnapped Jew." The priests still retain this poor boy in their keeping, though the mother is in a lunatic asylum and the father is overwhelmed with grief. Well may the Italian press Say, that the papacy is blinded by the wrath of God, and is hurrying fast to her destruction." Indeed fresh instances of a similar kind might be cited. A case of attempted perversion, under disgraceful circumstances, in which a young English lady, residing with her mother at Florence (the widow of a clergyman), well nigh became the victim of Jesuit cunning, has happily been frustrated. Throughout the country the priestly party are most active. One device resorted to on an extensive scale in Italy is the establishment of numerous church newspapers, "seven of which have lately been started in Florence alone," says a letter from that city, "to deceive the public. An original portrait of the Saviour is discovered in Rome, and at Chiancino, and in many a country district, Madonnas are shedding tears, and statues of Christ are restless in their niches. And most serious of all, a new Jesuit organization has spread its network over the nations of Europe, and is labouring with all the secresy and influence of the powers of darkness. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul -the Paolotti, as Italians call them are to be found everywhere, in the palace and the prison, in the courts of justice and the cabinet council, in the camp and the counting-house, the parliament and the press, the shop and the highest circles of society. Ladies are foremost in the work, and influential so-called liberal laymen join the intrigue, and give standing to the system. Tuscany is more warped and fettered than other provinces of Italy. Discontent is fostered among the people, disloyalty is taught in schools, even-handed justice is tampered with, and ecclesiastical treason is passed over. Anxiety is wide-spread as to the issue of this impending and severe conflict. The ministry pretend that they know the hidden movements of the foe, while the people proclaim that the government is not alive to the danger. Can you wonder that a free press speaks out unwelcome truths about Popery? Can you wouder that parliament pushes on the sale of Church lands, the seizure of monasteries, the legalising of civil marriages? Can you wonder that far and near the conviction is deepening that Rome must be still further shorn of her splendour, by the repeal of the first article of the constitution, which constitutes the Catholic church the church of the State, with ten thousand advantages?"

Turning to France, a fact meets us which shows that even in a land notorious for scepticism, avowed infidelity sometimes meets with an unexpected check. The French Academy-the highest literary institution in the land-awards prizes every year to the best works in philosophy, history, criticism, and other branches of learning, to obtain which authors are exceedingly ambitious. M. Taine, a writer of some ability, but an avowed atheist, has lately published a book upon English literature, which reveals on every page the grossest materialism. The genius of all the poets and philosophers of Great Britain, from Shakespeare and Bacon down to modern essayists, is explained, or rather tortured and mutilated, in such a way, that it becomes an argument in favour of unbelief. M. Taine has found many readers, and rendered proud by his success, he has petitioned for one of the prizes of the French Academy. The judges, in consequence of his opinions, were greatly embarrassed. After a long discussion, the majority decided that he should not receive the prize which he had asked for, because this mark of respect would, in this case, be a scandal and a disgrace. Hereupon the newspapers

of the infidel party raised the most violent clamour against the French Academy; but the secretary of that body, M. Villemaine, has replied to these attacks, showing that while authors are perfectly free to profess atheism, the French Academy also ought to be free to refuse them its distinctions.

A more refined infidelity, as our readers are aware, sometimes finds its way into the French Protestant pulpit; but here again it is satisfactory to notice that it is not allowed to proceed to any length unrebuked. M. Réville, a French pastor at Rotterdam, well known as a decided rationalist, being on a visit at Geneva asked to be allowed to preach in one of the churches in that city. He was willing-however unaccountable it may seem-to subscribe to the Genevan Confession of Faith, which lays down that the Bible is the only and infallible rule of reli, gious teaching. The "Venerable Company of the Pastors" of Geneva thereupon decided that M. Reville might preach. But the "Consistory," composed for the most part of laymen, was not so accommodating. It decided that the same man could not conscientiously reject the miracles of the gospel and admit the infallibility of Scripture. The pulpit was, therefore, refused him. Having lost his cause at Geneva, M. Réville betook himself to Paris, and one of the pastors proposed to let him preach in his place. But the Presbyterial Council followed the example of the Consistory at Geneva, and decided that M. Réville should not be permitted to preach.

From Germany it is gratifying to hear that what may be designated a real social manifestation of religious life is becoming more and more frequent. We refer to the various missionary meetings, which prove to the localities where they are held real popular religious festivals. "It is more particularly in country parishes," says a Frankfort letter, "that these assemblies assume a character at once picturesque and edifying. I lately attended one of these festivals. Imagine an immense old Benedictine convent, situated in the Grand Duchy of Hesse, amid the fertile lands of Wetteravia, and which is now a great farm-house. Notice had been given in the surrounding district that a missionary festival would take place there. From morning there were to be seen passing within the old walls of the convent peasants of both sexes, in their picturesque national costume, coming to take their place within an enclosure prepared in the open air, under the magnificent trees of a forest, which formed a noble cathedral. The singing of our beautiful German hymns, accompanied by wind instruments, which pious young men have learned to play expressly to enliven these festivals, sounded far away into the fields. These hymns, followed by prayers for the advancement of the kingdom of Jesus Christ, and various addresses, succeeded one another from ten in the morning to five in the afternoon. The only interruption was for an hour in the middle of the day, when the assembly dispersed to take some refreshment, to return to the meeting after dinner, when it formed a long procession, which advanced singing a hymn into the enclosure, where it was eager to hear the news relating to the evangelization of the world. There were to be seen the lords of the place,-a prince, a count, and their families, mingled among their peasantry, closing the pious procession. The pastors present at these festivals usually pass the rest of the day in fraternal conferences, or still continue to interest groups of country people, who wish to profit till the last moment by the presence of their guests. There are also collections made for the missionary work, and the results are often much superior to what are realized, taking all things into account, in great and wealthy places. When we recollect that this missionary spirit pervades more and more our Protestant population, and that these assemblies annually multiply in every district, we cannot doubt that there is there among unbelieving and indifferent multitudes a people of God who will always be the salt of.the earth.”

The recent measures adopted by the Turkish government against Protestant missions in Constantinople has not only been attended with immediate consequences of the most lamentablo kind, but is likely to operate with disastrous effect throughout the empire upon the work which was just beginning among the Turks; it will also impede evangelical effort among the other races. All missionary work among the Turks in Constantinople is for the present at an end; the services for Turks have been suspended, except that of the American board, and this is now attended only by Armenians; and the bigoted Romanists, Greeks, and Armenians, who now see that they can persecute and annoy native Protestants at their will, are armed with fresh courage to indulge their malignant passions against them, and to do their utmost to oppose the truth. The colporteurs of the Bible Society,

it appears, are still allowed to pursue their work, but to little purpose. Men say to them, "You wish to get us into prison, do you? Wait until those men are liberated: it will be time enough then to sell those Bibles." And no wonder; for it is certain that no Turk could now buy a Bible without being immediately reported to the police.

As to persons arrested at the time the Protestant establishments were closed, and said (whether correctly or not we cannot tell) to be two hundred in number, only some half dozen or less were personally known to the missionaries. These, with some others,-nine in all,-so-called Protestant Turks, were at first apprehended. "Of these," writes the Rev. G. F. Herrick, an American missionary, "Ahmed of Cæsarea has been longest known as a Christian, and firmest in the faith. He was baptized, together with his wife and their three children, in April, 1861, by the Rev. Dr. Schauffler, then in connexion with the American mission. Abdi Effendi, formerly an Imam, an old man, also baptized by Dr. Schauffler early in 1861, is another of those imprisoned. Ismail Effendi, a third, is comparatively a young man,is known to all the missionaries, English and American. He was baptized some five months ago by the Rev. E. Williams. One of the others was more recently baptized at the chapel of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Three of these men were released about five weeks ago, on confession of their faith in Mohammed and the Koran, which they had never really renounced; and three others, including the fourth one mentioned above, now, as I learn, confess their faith in Islamism, regularly perform their devotions according to custom, and are to be speedily released. Thus have the disciplinary and intimidating measures of the government, aided by that hope deferred that maketh the heart sick,'-hope of assistance from the acknowledged protector of Protestantism in Turkey, the British ambassador, quenched the as yet feeble light which Christianity had caused to shine in the minds of these men, and prematurely laid a heavy, crushing hand upon their new-forming, unfortified faith. Abdi and Ismail, who have adhered to their Christian confossion, but have been willing to make promises as to their future conduct, which they hoped would be effective to secure their release, when the reliance they had always been encouraged to place in Protestant ambassadors proved unavailing, were one week ago sent to Smyrna. One of the missionaries bade them farewell on board the steamer, and they appeared cheerful, and declared that they would ever adhere to their faith in Christ. Now, although we have been distinctly assured by Sir Henry that, in case any should be sent away from Constantinople, it would not be as exiles, and would be to a place where there is an English consul, we learn, on the best authority, that they are to be sent, one to Aidin and the other to Magnesia, both centres of Turkish fanaticism."

In travelling in Asia Minor, two agents of the Church Missionary Society visited Thyatira, and had an interview with Gheorghi, the head man of the Protestant Greeks. They give an interesting account of the origin of the Protestant movement in this place. "A young Armenian from Thyatira spent some time in Southern Russia, and when in the neighbourhood of the Caucasus he came in contact with the Protestants. On his return to Thyatira, Gheorghi became acquainted with him, and the two frequently conversed about the abuses prevailing in their respective churches. At first, Gheorghi used to defend his church, and became angry when pressed upon the subject. But by degrees both became more and more dissatisfied with their religious creeds, and throwing off outward restraints, professed infidelity. At this time one of the American missionaries visiting Thyatira gave a copy of the New Testament to Gheorghi's Armenian friend, whilst Gheorghi procured one for himself from Magnesia. The reading of this brought light to their minds, and the result was that they professed themselves Protestants. Gheorghi is now a sincere Christian. Several families joined the movement at that time, and persecution soon broke out. Some went back, others have remained steadfast; and there are now, I believe, six families who are visited from time to time by the American missionaries from Smyrna. Gheorghi expressed himself hopefully as to the prospects of missionary labour among the Turks, and lamented the apathy, and indeed the opposition which the so-called Christian and orthodox Greeks manifest when the claims of Evangelical religion are laid before them. There is a certain thoughtfulness and religious feeling in the Turk, especially when uncorrupted, which are favourable to the reception of the truth when prejudice has been overcome. Our intercourse with Gheorghi cheered us not a little. We saw him several times, and like him very much." One of the immediate results of the persecution to which we have referred above will be to check, and it may be extinguish, such movements as this. It may be remembered that the Nestorians at Oroomiah, in Persia, had succeeded in obtaining from the government the

appointment of an authorized official to protect them from persecution. Referring to his conduct, a missionary writes :-- Nejef Ali's mission here to protect our Nestorian Christians has proved a miserable and contemptible failure. Persian-like, he has proved treacherous, and in his turn become one of their greatest oppressors. He at first beat them in some instances, because they did not dare complain against their masters; and when, emboldened by him, they did venture to unbosom in confidence the story of their wrongs, he turned right about, and handed them over bodily to those same masters. Verily the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel." A faithful native helper, Deacon Joseph of Delgala, has been called to his eternal reward. He is spoken of as having been a man of well-balanced mind, fine scholarship, and solidity of Christian character.

From India we hear that in one of the southern districts in connexion with the Church Missionary Society, in which great mortality has prevailed in consequence of cholera, many of the heathen, who were for a time induced to join the missionaries, and put themselves under instruction, had left. Some of the native converts, on the other hand, exhibited the most steadfast adherence to the true faith on their death-beds, and under the most trying circumstance. Thus a native Christian named Vellian lost, within two days, his three children from the attacks of this fatal malady. Thrice, as one child after the other was attacked, did the heathen relatives urge the father to offer worship to the demons in order to save their lives. He firmly refused. Soon afterwards Vellian was himself attacked, and felt death approaching. The solicitations of his idolatrous friends were renewed. They besought him to consent to a devil-dance on his behalf, telling him that, though he had thrown away the lives of his children by his obstinacy, there was no occasion for him to throw away his own life also. "Let me alone," he replied: "I know it is God who gives life, and that it is he alone who takes it away." His last request was, "When my senses fail me, take care you do not get up any demonolatry for me, and say that I sanctioned it." Vellian had been only four years under instruction. In another case, the head man of a congregation of seventy souls, led astray by his wife (who had been a professed devil-dancer), was preparing to apostatize, and to take the people with him when he left the church. He formed the plan of seducing, coaxing, or compelling, as he might be able, all those who had come with him into the profession of Christianity to return with him into heathenism, and set to work to accomplish this wicked end. Two-thirds of the people secretly agreed with him, but, with horrible duplicity, continued regular in their attendance at church, until a fit opportunity arrived for open apostacy. The head man's next move was to get the support of the rich heathen of the neighbourhood, to give some importance and display to the intended demonstration. These at first hesitated, but afterwards complied, and all preparation was made for a grand devil-dance. Pots and chatties, as many as two men could carry; rice, sheep, and provision in abundance were prepared; and it was fully purposed to apostatize on the 12th of January; but the triumph of this wicked man was short. The very night on which he had completed his preparations he was taken ill of cholera. In his alarm he vowed twelve rupees to the demon, and had three fowls sacrificed by night,-one at the east end of the street, another at the west end, and a third was to have been sacrificed in another street facing north; but the man entrusted with this commission appropriated the fowl to his own use, and walked home with it. Eggs, too, were dashed to the ground at the feet of the sick man. Larger promises and costlier vows were made to the demons. All, however, was vain. The disease gained strength, and the sick man's hopes grew fainter. At last, when he felt that death drew near, he said to his wife and relatives who stood around him, "If you return to heathenism you will be all ruined: continue in the Vedam, and stand fast by the catechist;" and having said this, he expired.

A house of mercy for the reception of lepers has for some time been established, in connexion with the London Society's mission at Almorah. There has been a remarkable awakening amongst the poor outcasts sheltered there. Several of them have been baptized, and there are now thirteen more candidates awaiting the administration of the sacred rite.

From the capital of China, one of the American missionaries writes, stating that the field of labour there is opening beyond all his expectations, and that he has his chapel full, from day to day, of attentive listeners, with no opposition. Forty members were received at an out-station near Ningpo, during last year, not one of whom receives any support from the mission. They have a native pastor, supported in part by the Church. In all, there are about 200 members, 2 native pastors, and 4 licentiatesor probationers. The labours of the medical missionaries are operating most beneficially in securing for the brethren in general more respectful treatment than they would otherwise receive.