to be pitied and not laughed at, for they do not know any better. And when we remember that it may depend upon a shower or two whether they have food or not, we cannot wonder that they believe as they do, and are willing to trust in anything.

Some, however, know how foolish these things are, because they have been taught to pray to God for rain, and trust in Him, and we are still trying to teach others to do so. I would ask you, dear children, to remember how God blesses you when He sends the precious showers; and when you are tempted to murmur at the rain because it hinders your play or robs you of some expected pleasure, remember the children of South Africa, and ask God to bless them as He has blessed you, by sending showers to water the earth, and teaching you to know that it is He alone who has power to do so.

Onward! and Onward still!

ES, "Onward;" this has been the desire of the heart, and often the word upon the lips, of the captain, passengers, and crew of your good ship, the John Williams, and onward she has gone like a swift sea-bird, flying through stormy wind and pelting rains, but ever onward, until, reaching Raiatea, all could rejoice and thank God that the ship's proper island work was then begun. Oh, how gladdening was the sight of her white sails and floating ensign to all the islanders! What were the feelings of the missionary, our dear friend, Mr. Vivian, you shall learn from his own words. He says:

"A few minutes at my toilet prepared me for going on board; so I ran off to my little Chelmsford boat, which was ready for me at the wharf, and pulled towards the vessel. We reached her just as she rounded to to let go the anchor.

Handkerchiefs and hats were waving on the quarter-deck. My feelings at this moment may be imagined by those who know the isolation of missionary life in the South Seas, but by none else. It was an indescribable emotion. So far as I was aware there was not a creature on board which I knew or

had ever seen in my life. Yet as we approached the vessel, I became so excited that I wept, and laughed, waved my hat, talked Tahitian, and praised God in English, all in one breath. The ecstasy of feeling realised at this moment must, I imagine, be something like that which they experience whose spirits draw near the church of the first-born above, knowing none, I ut loving all.

"No sooner was the sound heard, 'Let go, than I was on deck, receiving a happy greeting from all the dear friends. As soon as the vessel was anchored all right, the captain and officers came and gave me a hearty welcome on board the new Mission Ship John Williams."

But while thankful that she has gone onward thus far, and is still going on to all the islands whither we have sent the Gospel, we want her to go "onward still," and take teachers to those islands which yet remain in heathen darkness. You know this is the will of our Lord: He says, "Onward.” “Go," "Go preach," "Go preach the Gospel," "Go preach the Gospel to every creature." This is what the Directors want to see done; and so they mean to try and send the Gospel by the hands of some of the native teachers in our South Sea College to the degraded people in the large islands of the New Hebrides, and it is hoped that your Ship will be able to take as many as thirty devoted native evangelists to begin this good work; but then it will cost a great deal; we want money, and we know we shall get it for God's cause. You will help, will you not? You help us a good deal all the year round; but now we want you once again to give us a new year's "long pull, strong pull, and a pull altogether." A card is prepared ready for you to collect a new year's offering. Will you ask your parents, superintendents, or minister, if they approve, to get a card for you, and begin at once? On the back of the card will be the following picture, representing the natives,

And on the other side as follows:

LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

A NEW YEAR'S JUVENILE OFFERING

To aid in sending the Missionary Ship to establish missions in some of the hitherto neglected islands of the South Seas. As it is now nearly 20 years since any large additional island has been thus occupied, the Directors desire to turn their attention to the New Hebrides, &c. and earnestly ask for help, that they may go " onward, and onward still."

N.B.-All Juvenile Collectors of 5s. and upwards, as a New Year's Gift will be entitled, on application, to a copy of the last edition of "Gems from the Coral Islands," a book full of wonderful incidents and pictures.

TWO KINDS HE one is returning evil for evil; the other is overcoming evil with good. Read the following anecdote, and judge which is the more honourable.

Two men, living in the southern part of Africa had a quarrel, and became bitter enemies to each other. After a while one of them found a little girl, belonging to his enemy, in the woods, at some distance from her father's house. He seized her and cut off both her hands; and, as he sent her home screaming with her bleeding wrists, he said to her, "I have had my revenge."

Years passed away. The little girl had grown up to be almost a young woman. One day there came to her father's door, a poor, worn-out, greyheaded old man, who asked for something to eat. She knew

him at once as the cruel man who had cut off her hands. She

OF REVENGE.

went into the hut, and ordered the servant to take him bread and milk, as much as he could eat, and sat down and watched him eat it.

When he had finished, she dropped the covering that hid her handless wrists from view, and holding them up before him, she exclaimed, "I have had my revenge!" repeating the very sentence he had uttered when he so cruelly maimed her. The man was overwhelmed with surprise and humiliation. The secret of it was, that, in the meantime, the girl had become a Christian, and had learned the meaning of the verse: "If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." How beautiful the conduct of this injured Christian girl appears, in contrast with that of her heathen enemy !