many judicious teachers would have done under the same circumstances, he felt that in this expression of his kindness there was a temptation to commit sin, and determined that in future he would run the risk of giving a present to one who would not need it, rather than give what might appear to his scholars a reward for a lie. A BLACK GIRL ADDED TO THE CHURCH. THE sight of a dark complexion has long since ceased to be rare in a place of worship. Besides having churches of their own, you will, if you look well about you, find a few in a left hand gallery, or in some odd corner of many churches. The time is also happily long gone by, since New York state and city cleared themselves from the bondage and disgrace of slavery. In that unhappy time when old Katy Fergusson was yet a girl, she was converted under the teaching of the Rev. Dr. J. M. Mason. Her examination before the session, and the purpose of admitting her to communion, excited some murmuring, and much speculation amongst those whose skins God had made fair. For thus far could an evil habit of mind prevent even Christians from rejoicing, when, according to His promise, "Ethiopia stretched forth her hands to God." The good and resolute doctor took no notice of these murmurings, but, with the dignity which his commanding figure and grave deportment rendered so becoming, and with the solemnity which the occasion demanded, he passed down to Katy's distant seat, led her to the table in presence of his great congregation, and exclaimed, with deep emotion, If If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” There is neither Greek nor Jew, there is neither bond nor free." "Whosoever shall do the will of my Father, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Prejudice in her case was disarmed and abashed, and by-and-by Katy's freedom was purchased. She, like most of her tribe, is a capital cook. They have the knack of it, and can stand any amount of heat. She has made many wedding-cakes and weddingsuppers, and had many young women under her training as pastrycooks, to whom she has been made useful in spiritual things. In her house was held the first sabbath school of New York, and for forty years she had a weekly prayer meeting there.“ America as I Found It," by Mrs. Duncan. 66 66 SCRAPS FOR TEACHERS. A RESTLESS CHILD.-One sabbath day, in the house of God, the minister noticed the restlessness and anxiety of a little girl during the morning service. After the service, he addressed the teacher thus :- You have had a very unquiet class to-day, and one of the children I observed was particularly restless; why did you not keep her quiet?" "Oh, sir, you mean Sarah She has for these three months past set her heart upon bringing her father here, and this morning he had promised to come, and she was so anxious to see if she could find him among the congregation, until at length she came to me, and throwing her arms round my neck, sobbed out, 'Oh, teacher, teacher, there's my father!'" THE BIBLE IN THE FAMILY.-The mother of a family was married to an infidel, who made a jest of religion in the presence of his own children: yet she succeeded in bringing them all up in the fear of the Lord. She was asked how she had preserved them from the influence of a father whose sentiments were so openly opposed to her own. This was her answer: "Because to the authority of a father I did not oppose the authority of a mother, but that of God. From their earliest years my children have always seen the Bible upon my table. This holy book has constituted the whole of their religious instruction. Did they propose a question, did they perform any good action, I opened the Bible, and the Bible answered, reproved, or encouraged them. The constant reading of the scriptures has alone wrought the prodigy which surprises you." BAD BARGAINS. A teacher in a sabbath school once remarked that he who buys the truth makes a good bargain, and inquired if any scholar recollected an instance in scripture of a bad bargain. "I do," replied a boy; "Esau made a bad bargain when he sold his birthright for a mess of pottage." A second said, "Judas made a bad bargain when he sold his Lord for thirty pieces of silver." A third boy observed, "Our Lord tells us that he makes a bad bargain who, to gain the whole world, loses his own soul." A bad bargain, indeed! -The Christian Treasury. A STRANGE CHARGE-IS IT TRUE?-England is described as "a country which professes to be too religious to give education to its masses,-left to be reared in infamy till the day es-(which is so long in coming)—when sectarian pride is to give place to christian charity."-Household Words. comes JUBILEE HYMNS. HYMN 1.-THE BOND OF UNION. THERE is a bond in christian love. It binds us to the Lord. There is a bond in christian zeal, It renders help around; It gathers strength the more we feel, This cheers us on our way, There is a bond in christian faith, Our union here is power, [saith, Our hearts believe what scripture Faith cheers the darkest hour. There is a bond in christian joy, Then hope, and faith, and zeal, Resolve in one without alloy, Beneath the spirit's seal. There is a bond in holy prayer, When Christians lowly bend; The Spirit of our Lord is there, We meet him as our Friend. There is a bond encircling now; HYMN 2. O THOU, whose all-sustaining power, We lift our hearts to thee; And bless our Jubilee. Thy Spirit, like some genial shower, O Lord, we humbly pray; To bright meridian day. JOSEPH SOUL. May all the children of our care, Teach them to know thy ways! And thine shall be the praise. Then, when our earthly course is o'er, Take us to dwell with thee; W. H. G. HYMN 3.-PRAISE FOR THE PAST. GREAT God of sabbath schools draw | For health, and strength, and grace near, Our song of Jubilee attend; With holy love and godly fear We praise thee for the great success crown'd; received, Accept our heartfelt gratitude. In spreading the Redeemer's name, And if thou still wilt deign to bless, And goodness in ten thousand ways, Prosperity shall yet abound. For good in any form achieved, Our thankful hearts and grateful tears Unite to yield the sweetest praise. HYMN 4.-HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. How sweet and sacred is the cord More nurslings from the blight to keep, And harvests plentiful to reap. For duty let us take our stand, spend A Jubilee that ne'er shall end. REVIEW OF BOOKS. THE CHRONOLOGICAL NEW TESTAMENT. London: R. B. Blackader, Paternoster-row. This work is arranged upon a new plan, by which the ordinary English version is retained; but the divisions of chapters and verses, being entirely of human origin, are only used by way of reference, and are made subordinate to those of paragraphs and sections, having regard to the subject matter. These sections, by means of figures placed over each, may be read in chronological order, while an index at the end shows where any section is to be found. This plan enables the author to retain the order of the common version, thus affording a facility of reference to the student, and, at the same time, to indicate the chronological order by the figures annexed. Another feature of the work is the quotation of parallel passages, often in words at length, so that by glancing upon the margin you find what is "written in the prophets and in the psalms concerning" Jesus, and have light thrown upon the passage under consideration, by which the gospels, the acts, and the epistles mutually illustrate each other. By an ingenious arrangement, also, the attention of the reader is guided to self-application as he advances; twelve different letters being employed, the initials of words intended to suggest so many questions for self-examination and improvement, without at all swelling the size of the volume. With regard to the vexed questions of chronology it is impossible to follow the author in our brief space. Townsend, Kitto, and others have been laid under contribution, and are fully acknowledged in the preface. Some of the difficulties are removed, by assuming that similar occurrences took place at different periods of our Lord's ministry. Thus, the index gives, Jesus rejected by his townsmen, Luke iv. 16—30; and further on, Jesus re-visits Nazareth, and is again rejected, Matt. xiii. 54–58; Mark vi. 1-6. In the same way, Jesus keeps four passovers, is anointed three times, and cleanses the temple three times, &c. The work appears to be the result of considerable labour and care, and will be a useful aid in reading the New Testament The author promises us the Old Testament upon the same plan. We understand that the work is supplied to Sunday school teachers at a reduction of one-third from the retail price. THE CHILDREN OF THE BIBLE. Pp. 76. London: Religious Tract Society. This is a handsome book in a cover of green and gold, with woodcut illustrations and pretty coloured pictures. It is evidently intended for the children of the upper classes, many of whom, we fear, have less opportunity in our day of obtaining scriptural instruction than the lower classes. There is, possibly, quite as much neglect of the Bible among the rich as among the poor, and the difficulty of reaching the children of the former is very great. We think, then, the Tract Society does well to remember the wants of all classes. By means of this work pious ladies and gentlemen will be enabled to introduce "The Children of the Bible" to the children of the gentry and nobility—possibly, even to the palace itself, and we think the gift will be an acceptable one. The design of the work is thus set forth at the commencement: "In the houses of kings and nobles there is commonly a large room, called the picture gallery. Among the paintings hung on the wall are portraits of kings, queens, and other persons who were once famous in the world. When we look at these we should think what they once were, and whether their lives were pious |