features of dress, and next in what way they! They were all talking pleasantly together, shonld be altered to meet the deacon's | from Kline, the son of the rich and proud views of Christian consistency.

Hoffmeister, to the little blue-eyed Carl, the It was an unexpected course, and the only child of the poor baker. fault-finder at once objected. But the The school-house door opened, and minister insisted. “And now," said he, “I Master Friedrich himself appeared, and will put down each item which has been a cried in a cheery, hearty voice, matter of grievance.”

“Welcome, my children !!! "Well," said the deacon, " there is the “ Welcome, master !” cried they. hat. It used to have a respectable brim And now they entered and took their and a crown not too lofty, whereas now, it seats, and were quite still while the good rises like a hay-stack and has almost no master read a short chapter in the Book of brim."

books, and then reverently kneeling, prayed The minister, with a smile in the corner that the dear Saviour would guide them in of his mouth, had been sketching the rude his teachings, and bless them, and send his shape of a man on his paper, and topping Holy Spirit to watch over them all. it off with a hat of respectable brim and School began, the thumb-worn books height. "What next?” said he.

were brought out, the lazy boys began to “Then there is the coat. How absurd sigh and frown, and wish impatiently for and ridiculous it is ! It used to have a the recess, and wonder why Latin dictionbroad skirt and long waist, whereas now, aries were ever invented; when, as if by since city fashions have come, it has a swal magic, they found themselves listening to low tail, and the buttons are half way up the pleasant voice of Master Friedrich, and the back. What an ungodly look it has !". actually understanding their lessons_80

The short-waisted, swallow-tailed coat clear and simple were his explanations, and was duly chronicled, and its opposite, that the time for recess came, to their great which the deacon would recommend, put astonishment, long before they expected. upon the pen and ink sketch before him. When the studies were over, the master Some other things were suggested, and the drew from his desk a box, and whilst the

figure was complete. The minister hands children gathered around he opened it, and Te it over to the deacon, and asks if all is right? drew out charming little white and pink

The latter saw, at a glance, that the figure sea-shells, pretty pictures, and many other Ei resembled himself, though somewhat in beautiful things, which he gave to the chil. . caricature. “Did you mean this for me ?" | dren, with loving words. he inquired, his face somewhat flushed.

But the most lovely thing of all was a "I did. You have described your own little porcelain statuette of an angel. She dress, and I have put it on you. You are, stood--80 fair, so pure-with her small, after all, I am afraid, the proudest person white hands folded over her breast, and her in the parish. You wish every man to con eves uplifted, that the children gazed form to your style of dress. In one word, enchanted. you wish to set the fashions for the whole “O, the dear angel-- the beautiful angel!" congregation. If I preach on the subject cried they all. “Wilt thou give it to me, of pride and vanity next Sunday, you must Master Friedrich ?” not be surprised if you are hit as hard a But the good master smiled and said, blow as any of my hearers. But, my good

" The little angel is too lovely to be friend, let us look into our own hearts, and given to any boy who is not good and true see if there isn't something bigger than of heart. We shall presently see who shall à mote there. And let us all rend our deserve her. He who brings to me to. hearts and not our garments,' for man look morrow the brightest thing on the earth eth at the outward appearance, but God shall have the angel.” looketh at the heart."

At this the children looked at each other, as if wondering what the master might

mean. But he said no more, and they went THE LITTLE WHITE ANGEL. home thoughtful.

The next day, after the lessons (which FOR THE YOUNG.

had now become so pleasant) were finished, SOME children stood in a group about the children clustered around the master to the door of the village school-house one show him what they had brought. lovely summer day.

. Some of the smaller ones had picked up

sparkling stones on the road, and as they " Yes, dear master," answer
laid them in the sunlight, they were sure generous boy.
they must be something bright and pre-

The good master smiled thoughtfalls, cious.

and his eye rested for a moment lovingar Some had polished up a shilling till it upon Carl, then glancing around, 1% | 04 shone like a crown ; one brought a watch said,crystal which his father had given him, and “He who brings me the loveliest thing which he considered a wonder of trans on earth to-morrow shall have the angel, parent brightness; and Kline, the rich The children clapped their hands and Hoffmeister's son, had brought a paste departed satisfied. buckle, made to imitate diamonds, than

After school, the next day, Kline was the which, in his opinion, nothing could be

first to run up stairs to Master Friedriu, brighter.

and lay upon his desk what he consider All these things were placed on the the loveliest thing in the whole world, 2 master's desk, side by side. esk, side by side.

The shilling

The shilling | new soldier cap, with the long salam shone away famously, the pebbles and the feather and bright golden tassel. watch crystal did their best, but Kline's! Max came next, and placed beside the buckle was the bravest of all.

cap a small silver watch. his last birthday “Ah! mine is the brightest!" shouted gist, with a bright steel watch-chain at Kline, clapping his hands.

tached. Otto brought a great picture “But where is little Carl ?" said Master book, just sent him by his godmother; Friedrich ; "he ran out just now."

Rudolph, a tiny marble vase, richly sculpa “ All eyes were turned to the door, when tured; and so on, until a still more mo presently in rusked Carl, breathless. In ley collection than that before lay upon his hands, held up lovingly against his Master Friedrich's desk. neck, was a poor, little, snow-white dove. Then poor little Carl stepped modestly Some crimson drops upon the downy

up, and placed in the master's hand a pure breast showed that it was wounded.

white lily. "O, master,” cried Carl, “ I was look The rich perfume filled the room, and ing for something bright when I came upon bending over the flower, inhaling the dethis poor little white dove. Some cruel licious fragrance, the master softly said; boys were tormenting it, and I caught it up

“My children, the blessed Word of God quickly and ran here. O, I fear it will

says, 'Behold the lilies of the field; they

toil not, neither do they spin, yet Even as he spoke, the dore's soft eyes mon, in all his glory, was not arrayeu grew filmy, it nestled closer in Carl's neck,

one of these.' Carl has rightly chosen." then gave a faint cry, dropped its little

But murmurs arose ; the children were head and died.

not satisfied, and again they asked Carl sank on his knees beside the mas other trial. ter's desk, and from his eyes there fell upon the poor dove's broken wing two tears,

And, as before, good Master Friedrich

inquired, large and bright. The master took the dead dove from his

“What sayest thou, Carl?" and he an.

swered as before, with generous baste, hands, and laid it tenderly down on the “ Yes, dear master.” desk with the bright things; then raising Carl, he softly said, “ My children, there is

“Now, this is the last time," said the

master ; “ and he who brings to me the no brighter thing on earth than a tender, pitying tear."

best thing on earth shall have the angel."

“ The very best thing on earth is plans The boys were silent for a moment, for

cake," cried Kline, on the third day, as they felt that the master had decided that Carl had rightly won the angel. Then

walked up to the desk, bearing a large ca

richly frosted, with a wreath of sugar 1 Kline cried out, “My master, thou didst not fairly ex

round the edge. This he placed triu plain to us. I pray thee give us another

antly before the master, sure of the prize, trial.”

“Nay, thou art wrong this ti

Gothar what was “ Yes, dear master," said Max, “ give

said Max. " I asked my father what us another trial.”

the best thing on earth, and he goes “ What sayest thou, Carlp” said Master "Ah! but my father

| best thing was a good 8

die!”

roses

art wrong this time, Kline,"

earth, and he gave me this

Friedrich.

en guilder; the prize is mine."
4but my father said that the very

weg was a good glass of Rhenish

wine," cried Otto, " and I have brought a | verently laid it down with the rest, as he bottle of it thirty years old ; the prize is said, in a low, sweet voice, surely mine."

“My mother, dear master, says that So they went on till all had placed their God's precious Testament is far beyond all offering before the master.

earthly possessions." "And thou, Carl,” said he, “ what hast “'Tis thine, my Carl !” cried the mas. thou brought which thou thinkest the best ter, snatching the boy to his breast. “The - on earth pas

white angel is thine for there is nothing A crimson flush rose to the little boy's in the wide world half so precious as the forehead, and coming softly forward, he blessed words of Christ :"--and he placed took from his breast a small worn Testa the angel in the hands of the trembling boy. ment, pressed it to his lips, and then re

Gems from Golden Mines.

CAST THY BREAD ON THE thing which comforted her-it was that
WATERS.

her son died in peace, produced by senti

ments of piety which he had found in a little ONE engaged in Christian labour needs a

book he had brought back from the army, strong faith, which is never discouraged by

and in which he had advised her to seek her obstacles the most formidable, and a stead

consolation. She accordingly produced a fast patience, which is never weary of re

little book, which the colporteur recog. peating efforts which seem fruitless. The

nised as a New Testament. You may following incident may encourage some who

judge of the joy and emotion of the pious fear they have laboured in vain.

colporteur on opening the book, of which A colporteur of the Bible Society com

the first leaves had been torn away, as he municates a most striking instance of the

read on the cover-leaf, “Received at power of the word of God upon the mind.

the " the very day which he reThe colporteur was passing through the

membered so well; and on the first entire camp of the allies in the Crimea, when he

page, these words, “First despised, abused, was met by a young soldier, who asked

--then read, believed, and I have found him for a New Testament. His orders

salvation;" and underneath the signature of being to give the sacred volume, when it was

the young soldier. ascertained the soldier had not the means

It was the same Testament given that of paying, he at last gave him the book he

scoffing soldier ! seemed seriously to wish for. But no sooner was it in his hands, than the soldier began to laugh at the colporteur, saying his only intention was, to see whether he could

TELL YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Much of the want of faith in the pro“However,” he added, "since you gave mises of God comes from a neglect on the it to me, you will not get it back; it will part of Christians to bear witness to the do to light my pipe."

fulfilment of those promises in their own · Deeply afflicted at his profane lightness, experience. You have been in emergencies the colporteur addressed a few serious when it seemed as though an earthquake words to the young man before leaving were shaking your foundations from under him.

you, and you caught hold of some of the About a year after, the same colporteur promises of God, and they held you up and entered an inn far distant from the scene comforted you, and you have never borne of this occurrence. He found its owners in witness to their sustaining power in the great sorrow through the death of a young prayer-meetings, at the conference-meetings, soldier wounded in the Crimea, and who or elsewhere. There are hundreds of men had come home to die. He entered into whose life God has made significant and conversation with the bereaved parents, memorable, and they have never uttered when the mother told him there was one ' word about it to those around them, Man

get it.

lief;

274

and many a time God has brought you out | Unworthy even to approach so near, of great trouble, when you have made no 1 My soul lies trembling like a summer mention of his mercy and goodness to any

leaf; one. God's promises are not enough talked Yet, oh! forgive, I doubt not, though I of. If all the blessings that men are con

fear ; scious of having had in fulfilment of God's “Lord, i believe : help thou mine wu: promises should receive tongue, this city

belief." would be like the New Jerusalem for shout

| True, I am weak, ah! very weak, but then ings and praises. Too many witnesses of God's goodness in his promises are silent

I know the source whence I can draw it witnesses. Men do not enough speak out the testimonies that they might bear in

And though repulsed, I still can plead this matter. The reason that I love the

again, Methodists-good ones- is that they have

"Lord, I believe: help thou mine un

belief.” a tongue to their piety. They fulfil the command of God to be fervent in spirit. Oh! draw me nearer ; for, too far away, They do let their light shine. And if the The beamings of thy brightness are too wick is long and needs snuffing, it is better

brief; that it should be so than that there should While faith, though fainting, still hath be no light at all. Of one thing I am sure

strength to pray, -namely, that in the world there is far less “Lord, I believe: help thoa mine un faith in the promises of God than there

belief.” would be if Christians bore the testimony that they should of the fulfilment of those promises in respect to themselves.--H. W.

BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM Beecher.

WHAT I AM. I AM not what I ought to be! Ah! how imperfect and deficient! I am not wat wish to be! I abhor what is evil, and I

would cleave to what is good. I am 10. LORD, I BELIEVE.

what I hope to be! Soon, soon I shi

put off mortality, and with mortality all sin YES, I do feel, my God, that I am thine ; and imperfection. Yet, though I am not Thou art my joy-myself mine only what I ought to be, nor what I wish to be, grief;

nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, Hear my complaint, low bending at thy

am not what I once was— slate to see shrine

and Satan; and I can heartily join with the “Lord, I believe: help thou mine un

apostle, and acknowledge." By the grace of belief."

God I am what I am." -John Newton.

Our Missions.