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ment which are placed within your reach, you will be astonished and gratified at your own progress and success.

Remember, too, this most important truth that your whole future life, and what you may become, with God's blessing, depends far more than perhaps you have ever thought, upon the way which you spend the present time, the few first years of your opening manhood. For youth is the seed time. The young fellow who thinks it manly to smoke is slowly but surely stunting his growth and enfeebling his powers ; he who drinks is poisoning his lifeblood at its very fountain ; and what shall be said of the lad who is immoral in his tastes and habits, keeps low companions, and reads bad books ? God Himself shall give the answer. “Rejoice O young man in thy youth, and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes ; but know thou, that for all these things, God will bring thee into judgment” (Eccles. xi. 9).

Oh, dear young friend, I do beseech you, think of these things ! So many lads are entirely ruined for want of thought, and when I hear of a young life wasted, “ and gone to the bad," as you would say, and think of all that that young life might have been, and might have done in the service of God and man, I do indeed feel I could weep with your own mothers, bitter tears of shame and sorrow!

Lads don't like long sermons, but I must give you a short one in conclusion. Make the Bible your guide in everything. Above all, think very much of the Lord Jesus Christ, who knows from experience what a young man's trials and temptations are," for he was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Try to be like Him. Remember the little word now. “It is only three letters, but on these letters hang a whole eternity!” Now is God's time. It is the best time. It may be the only time. “Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. vi. 2).—Believe me, your sincere friend,

V. M. S.

AS BUSY AS A BEE. “As busy as a bee" is one of our most common expressions, but there are few people who know how much labour the sweet hoard of the hive represents. Every head of clover contains about sixty distinct flower-tubes, each of which holds a bit of sugar not exceeding the five-hundredth part of a grain. The, proboscis of the bee must therefore be inserted into five hundred clover-tubes before one grain of sugar can be obtained. There are over 7,000 grains in a pound, and as honey contains three fourths of its weight of dry sugar, each pound of honey represents 2,500,000 clover-tubes sucked by bees.

“How doth the little busy bee,

Improve each shining hour, &c.”

A THANK-OFFERING LIGHTHOUSE. In one of our new States, a wealthy man has built a mansion, on the top of which there is a revolving light. That light has a curious history. In that portion of the country at occasional seasons fierce and dangerous storms sweep over the land. The snow is driven with such force that it nearly blinds those who are unfortunate enough to be out in it. A young man was once caught in one of those terrible storms, and was about to sink on the earth and die, when he noticed a light in the distance in a little log cabin. He made his way to it, and found refuge till the storm was over. That young man is the proprietor of that fine mansion. He has become a wealthy man, and in gratitude to God for his safe deliverance from that fearful death, he has erected on the top of his mansion a “revolving light,” in the hope that it will be the means of saving the life of any one who may be caught in the fierce storms which sweep over that region. I think that is true gratitude. Don't you?

Dear friends, if you have got a blessing from the precious light of the gospel, go and light up some one else. The light of a match would burn all London. A cow kicking over a lamp in Chicago caused the destruction of that magnificent city. And so you can do great things if you like; and no matter what is accomplished, if you do it with a right motive, it will be equally acceptable to the Master.-D. I., Moody.

KEEPING HIS PROMISE. Two gentlemen, a Mr. C. and his friend, were travelling home one evening when a young sailor entered the compartment. Said the friend to Mr. C., “ This young fellow will be raising a cloud just now; we had better get out of this, or tell him the next is a smoking compartment.”

“Stop a bit,” said Mr. C., “Let us ask him first.” (Mr. C. being the father of five lads of his own, ranging from ten years old Joey to the young man of three and twenty, looked with kindly interest on the bright-faced intelligent youth, thinking how often he had been weary months away from home and friends, perhaps yearning for the dear faces, now come home to see them). Turning to him, Mr. C. said, “Do you smoke?”

“No, sir, never," was the reply.
Are you an abstainer, also ? for the two generally go together.”

Yes, sir, I am, and have been ever since I was a little chap, and kept it during eight years' service on ship-board.”

"Who persuaded you in the first place, and through whose influence have you kept it during all that time ?”.

“My Sunday school teacher, sir. He got me to join our Band of Hope, and asked me to promise never to smoke. Long as I have left his class he has never lost sight of me, and his letters follow and find me in many foreign ports.”

Sunday school teachers, there is encouragement for you. Your self-denial and faithfulness are not lost, though you may think so. A letter from “ teacher” is prized and read over and over again, when words are impossible.

Sailors, you know how dear those white-winged messengers from across the sea are to you. How eagerly longed for; how dearly prized. For the sake of those at home, mother, sister, wife, teachers, keep to your promise. Do nothing of which they need to be ashamed.-Sent by Miss A. Farmer, Worcester.

SAVED FROM AN INACCESSIBLE ROCK. HUMANITY REWARDED.—The Board of Trade have awarded a binocular glass to Captain Antonio Goncalves, of the Portuguese fishing vessel “ Dous Amigos," of Peniche, in acknowledgment of his kindness and humanity to a Lascar seaman

NEW YORK PORT SOCIETY.

269

belonging to the steamship “El Dorado,” of Glasgow, which was wrecked off the Farrilhôes Islands, near Peniche, on the 11th of February last. All the crew and passengers of the “El Dorado” were rescued by the crews of two other British vessels, except the seaman referred to, who was supposed to be drowned. Later in the day, however, he was observed by the crew of the “ Dous Amigos" clinging to the summit of the almost inaccessible rock, and from this dangerous position he was rescued at great risk by a boat from that vessel. The Board of Trade have also awarded sums of money to the crew of the “Dous Amigos" in recognition of their services on this occasion.— Times, April 28th.

THE SAILOR'S WIFE.
I have the dearest wife you know, And every day while I'm away

Yo, ho, lads, ho ! Yo, ho, yo, ho! She'll watch for me,
She prays for me where'er I go,

And pray so low while tempests blow Yo, ho, lads, ho! Yo, ho!

For Jack at sea,
See there she stands and waves her Yo, ho, lads, ho! Yo, ho !

hand
Don't you see.

The sailor's wife the sailor's star shall be,

Yo, ho, we go, across the sea;
The sailor's wife the sailor's star shall be,

The sailor's wife his star shall be.

NEVER MIND. “ Johnny, don't you think you have got as much as you can carry ?” said Frank to his brother, who was standing with open arms receiving the bundles his father placed upon them.

“Never mind,” said Johnny, in a burst of childlike trust, “Father knows how much I can carry.". Your Heavenly Father knows how much you can carry.

GALLANTRY REWARDED. “ The King of the Netherlands has awarded to Mr. H. Baxter, master of the Grimsby smack “General Wolseley," and four of the crew, a bronze medal each for gallant conduct in saving the lives of the crew of the Dutch lugger “Maartje" under perilous circumstances in the North Sea. On the face of the medal there is a portrait of His Majesty, and on the reverse side the motto “ For saving human lives.” Mr. Baxter has also been presented with a diploma by the Netherlands Government."

Thank God saving life is going on all the time both around our coast, and far out upon the sea.-ED.

NEW YORK PORT SOCIETY. ANOTHER extract from Chaplain Murphy's Report. Daily Religious Services. A religious service, continuing one hour, has been held at half-past nine every morning, and at half-past seven every evening during the year. After these services the missionaries and workers spend a couple of hours in the inquiry-rooms with these men, imparting, one by one, earnest spiritual and Biblical instruction. We not only try to lead these men to Christ, but build them up in the word of God.

Inquiry-room Work. It is now eight years since we commenced this personal hand-to-hand work in the inquiry-rooms, and have continued it every day since, which has proved a most efficient means of leading these men to surrender

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their hearts to Christ; here have they bended their knees in prayer for the first time, and called on the name of God for pardon and salvation. Scores and scores of these men have gone out of these rooms new creatures in Christ Jesus, and are now living earnest Christian lives, as we know from letters received from many of them constantly from all parts of the globe. We can hardly expect that all of this large number of sailors who express hope that they have become Christians are truly regenerated by the Holy Spirit. The parable of the sower doubtless represents many of them.”

OLD SPRUCE BOXES. BOATSWAIN had an infinite disdain for those cheap Canadian ships which he termed old spruce boxes. “We have been a 150 odd days from Frisco, why I have made the passage right to Havre, in just over 90 days. We were eight months at Frisco patching up the old thing, and waiting for cargo.” Had three captains on the round voyage, and I guess this old man (the old man is a pet name for captain), will leave her.

Days and nights at the pump. Its no joke after reefing top sails, or other heavy work, to find, she has gained on you two or three feet (i.e. leaked), and spell and spell the whole watch till the pump sucks, on the outward bound passage for days and nights, it was either pump or sink.

LONDONDERRY.

To the Editor of the Chart and Compass. DEAR MR. MATTHEWS, I am happy to be able to state that the work is progressing favourably at this port. The difficulty referred to on a former occasion, and which has not been met and overcome for so far, has not been allowed to interfere with the practical working of the mission in the least degree. It was just what we might expect from the half-heartedness of some in connection with the movement. The prejudice is so strong in ordinary circles against Jack that it requires Christians to investigate the work in all its bearings in order fully to realise the importance of this most important work. We have had the Royal visit recently, and, following on the heels of that, the Royal show-both of which received a warm and enthusiastic support in both time and money, but when the Lord's work requires one hour, time then becomes too precious and men have node to give. However, if we have only faith in God, every mountain is sure to become a plain as we approach it. But, now, a word about the work itself. During the past few weeks we had a larger number of foreigners at the port than on any previous occasion. One thing in connection with the work to be deeply lamented by every Christian, is the fact that scarcely a large steamer calls at our port from any of the shipping centres of England, but has some on board whose minds are being poisoned by the infidel press of that country. However, in the midst of all this, the Lord is vindicating His own word and manifesting His power in the salvation of souls. Many interesting incidents in connection with the work might be given, but one will suffice. About six months ago an officer on board ship was induced to attend our meetings, when he was awakened to a sense of his sin and danger, his convictions deepening in the meantime, till at last he settled down almost in a state of blank despair ; when, about three weeks ago being at port, he again attended the meeting, tbe Lord blessed the word to his soul and he was enabled to receive and rest upon Christ for salvation, and left rejoicing in the free gift of eternal life.--Yours in Him, Londonderry.

S. M'COMB.

HAMBURG REVIEW. In taking a retrospective view of the last year, during which time I have filled the post of Sailors' Missionary at Hamburg, I have great cause for thankfulness to God for all His goodness to me, and feel that I have been Divinely guided in accepting the post. Arriving here on April 11th, 1884, with my family strangers in a strange land, we were, as soon as our arrival was made known, made heartily welcome, by both British residents and seafaring friends, and that kindness has been increasingly shown ever since.

I have found the field much larger than the one I occupied for over nine years in Genoa and very different in its character, and one in which I felt I needed much more of Divine Spirit and guidance to enable me to carry on this great work in the manner it should be. It is with a feeling of insufficiency and weakness that I endeavour to draw up a review of my year's work, a consciousness of many mistakes and much left undone that might have been done, but, withal, with heartfelt thankfulness to Almighty God for what He has done for me and by me. I have kept generally to the groove that my predecessor ran in as regards days and hours of service, knowing that his long experience taught him what was best.

WORK DONE. There have been 253 meetings held in the Institute chiefly of a religious nature, with the aggregate attendance of 7,307 seamen, besides a large number of friends from shore. I have paid 1950 visits to ships, and have distributed about 6,600 tracts, old magazines, &c.

SUNDAY WORK. The Sunday Services have been well attended and the attendance continues steadily to increase, the attention paid to Divine things has been deep and sincere. The prayer meetings after the services have been seasons of great spiritual blessing, on nearly every occasion, more or less, men testify their desire for Christ by lifting up the hand or otherwise, and many have told me privately of blessings received at these meetings. It is with thankfulness that I state my firm belief that many souls have been converted to God, backsliders reclaimed and weak Christians quickened, strengthened, built up in our holy faith, and made bold to testify for Christ, to God be the glory.

WEEK-NIGHT WORK. The Thursday evening Bible readings, and Saturday night prayer meetings have not been attended so well as I could wish, but still on the whole they have been very encouraging.

TEMPERANCE WORK. In connection with the Monday evening entertainments I have established a temperance and blue ribbon movement, and 120 sailors have signed the pledge and donned the blue. The Good Templar Lodge is also in a very flourishing condition about 140 having been initiated into the order during the year, many of them, of course, having been first blue ribbon men.

SHIP VISITING. I have endeavoured to visit the steamers at the quays during a part of each day. The receptions I have almost invariably received from captains, officers and crews, have been most encouraging, the sailors and firemen generally getting a seat for me while I read to them or distribute my tracts, &c. When weather has permitted I have visited the shipping in the river twice a week, but have always felt how inadequate were the efforts of one man to reach the great number of ships and steamers scattered over such a vast extent of river. After being in my boat for five or six hours, I have gone ashore knowing that not a quarter of the British and American ships had been visited, to say nothing of the great number

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