Then seek the Lord betimes, and We would not call thee back, sweet boy, choose The paths of heavenly truth; The earth affords no lovelier sight Than a religious youth." J. HUTCHIN. LINES On the death of GEORGE MASON, of Coalville, one of my Sundayschool boys, who lately departed this life. WE Would not call thee back, sweet boy, No sorrow there can touch thy breast, To thee an angel's form is given, And angel's company. Ah, no! we would not call thee back Thou may'st not to this world return, 'Tis ours to follow thee: Soon shall our harps accord with thine, stroying the eggs of crocodiles | stantly crushes between its sharp and serpents, and thus prevent- teeth. It can suck eggs very ing the increase of these formi- quickly and cleverly, and disdable reptiles. The cunning and plays great activity in catching perseverance of the Ichneumon, birds and lizards. when in search of its food, are very great. And not only does HINTS FOR LITTLE FOLK. it destroy the eggs of reptiles, MY DEAR LITTLE FRIENDS,-I but all the smaller kinds of crea- should like you to read Exodus tures that fall in its way be- iv. 24, and the following remarks come victims to its destructive taken from Dr. Clarke. "The instinct. The facility with which meaning of the passage seems it destroys vermin, has caused it to be this. The son of Moses, to be kept in the houses of the Gershom, or Eliezer, had not inhabitants, where it answers all been circumcised, though it the purposes of a cat, and ac- would seem that God had ordered quires the same attachment to the father to do it; but as he had the house, which it never after- neglected this, therefore Jehovah wards leaves, showing no signs was about to have slain the of a wish to return to a wild child, because not in covenant state. The Ichneumon, when with him by circumcision; and about to capture a bird, is said thus he intended to have punishto use a most extraordinary ed the disobedience of the father stratagem, feigning death for the by the natural death of the son. purpose of throwing its victim Zipporah, getting acquainted off its guard. The body of the with the nature of the case, and Ichneumon is long, and so is its the danger to which her firstsnout, but its limbs are short, born was exposed, took a sharp and its tail is slender. It will stone, and cut off the foreskin of creep into very small holes in her son. By this act the dis. quest of prey, and it is some- pleasure of the Lord was turned times called by the name of a aside, and Zipporah considered creeper. Its length without the herself as now allied to the Lord tail, is about eighteen inches. (God), because of this circumIts prey is generally sought cision. According to the law, in the night, and it creeps (Gen. xvii. 15,) the uncircumstealthily along to avoid warning cised child was to be cut off its victim of its approach. It from his people. Moses, theredestroys serpents by creeping fore, for neglecting to circumcise behind them, and suddenly leaping on their heads, which it in the child, exposed him to this cutting off, and it was but barely prevented by the prompt obedience of Zipporah. The sharp stone mentioned verse 25, was probably a knife made of flint, for such were anciently used for every kind of operation about the human body, embalming, circamcision, &c. See note on Gen. i. 2." Exod. v. 14. It is said they (the officers) were beaten that is, Bas-ti-na-doed. "The manner of it is this: the culprit lies on his belly, his legs being turned up behind erect, and the executioner gives him so many blows on the soles of the feet with a stick. This is a very severe punishment, the sufferer not being able to walk for many weeks after, and some are lamed by it through the whole of their lives." Chapter vi. 16-28. It seems Levi lived longer than any of the sons of Jacob,-about twentyseven years after Joseph. This genealogy is important to show that in the fourth generation God brought out the children of Israel, as he had promised (Gen. xv. 16); for Moses was the son of Amram, the son of Rohath, the son of Levi, the son of Jacob. The whole, from verse 14th to the 27th, has no connexion with the subject suggested. But Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, sprang from the same mother; SO they are united in this genealogy. ALPHA. STOOP! A WORD TO BOYS. MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,It is said that when Benjamin Franklin was a young man he visited the Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather. After a short interview, the reverend gentleman showed him by a back way out of the house. As they were passing along a narrow passage, the doctor said to his young friend, "Stoop! stoop!" Not understanding clearly the meaning of the advice, he took another step or two, and brought his head violently against a beam that projected over the passage. 'My lad," said the doctor, "you are young, and the world is before you. Learn to stoop as you go through it, and you will save yourself many a hard thump." What a useful lesson is this! Don't forget it. When a person stands before you in a passion, foaming and scolding, although you know that he is both unreasonable and wrong, it would be a folly to scold in return, and talk as loudly as he does. This places two temporary madmen face to face. Stoop, keep calm, till his rage be blown over, and take care to throw in amid the pauses of the wind "soft words, which turn away wrath." When reproved for a fault, stoop. Say mildly, "I know I was wrong; forgive me." It will be no disgrace to you to do so, but by so doing you will be almost sure to succeed in stealing away the bitter feeling from the breast of the complainant. How much more easily and pleasantly many persons might get through life if they only knew how and when to stoop. But never stoop to a mean, unmanly, ungentlemanly, unChristian thing. Stoop to do good, and you imitate the blessed Saviour. But never be guilty of stooping to pick up anything that would rob you of your peace of mind, expose you to seorn, and for which you would be sorry, if not before, in the hour of death, and at the day of judgment. J. VAUGHAN. EPITAPH On Sylla's Tomb, inscribed at AN ancient Roman warrior once, No man had done so great." Those precepts which the Scriptures This warrior never knew,- [teach, But always to his enemies Be kind and loving too. May'st Thou, who gav'st this blest com- Who evil do to me: And may my life and conduct prove J. D. Missionary Matters. NEWCASTLE-UNDER-LYME evincing their satisfaction by OUR juvenile missionary meeting, their hearty and frequent cheers. the second in the year, was held We regret that the collection was on Christmas-day, and the pur- only £1 10s. 2d., but remempose of the school authorities is bering that this is the second to hold it annually on that day. collection in the year, and when The service of the meeting was added to the former one makes supplied by about thirty of the the year's contribution to the scholars, their superintendents, Australian Missions amount to and others; Mr. Alfred Brown £4 13s. 8d., the sum, we hope, presiding. Their addresses and will not be considered despicable; recitations were delivered with especially as this district shares good effect, the congregation in the prevalent distress, and is called upon to contribute to relieve that in Lancashire. You will be glad to hear that our school is doing well. At our quarterly meeting, held on Christmas-day, it was found that, as well as general good attendance, both financial and numerical prosperity was reported. A good work of conversion also is going on among the juveniles of the school. On October 19th, our former 5 o'clock scholars' prayer-meetings were resumed, which have been attended by more than a hundred of them. A few Sabbaths ago the question was put, "How many have been converted?" when about thirty juveniles held up their hands. Much good has thus been accomplished, both in the school and in the church. "wond'rous power of faithful prayer, What tongue can tell th' almighty grace!" We are glad to hear of the welfare of the missions, and hope the good work will increase speedily and extensively. R. CAPPER. HUNGERFORD. ON Christmas-day we held our juvenile missionary meeting at Hungerford, Newbury Circuit, when appropriate pieces were recited by the teachers and scholars, and a very gracious influence rested upon the large and attentive congregations. Recently several of the senior scholars have been converted, as have also a few young men and women, who have joined society, and become teachers in the school. O that they may be kept from all sin, and be rendered a blessing to the children! The following scholars, having been furnished with cards, collected in farthings the noble sum of £3 1s. 4 d., which will be duly forwarded to the General Missionary Treasurer for the Children's Mission:-J. Breadmore, 1,110; Miss Rosier, 570; Miss Phelps, 263; J. Rowe, 162; J. Edwards, 140; B. Bray, 136; H. Wooldridge, 118; Miss Brothers, 118; G. Phelps, 110; J. Cleaver, 83; Miss Wooldridge, 61; J. Hobbs, 39; Miss Brothers, 36; total, 2,946. About 50 adults and 64 children took tea. The latter were treated by the teachers and friends. I am happy to state that our school here is in a prosperous condition, which may be attributed, under God, to the indefatigable labours of the teachers, most of whom are converted to God. That all the teachers connected with our schools may possess this qualification, and be the means of leading the dear little ones to the Saviour, is the prayer of GEO. BLACKWELL. SHREWSBURY CIRCUIT. DEAR EDITOR,-We are happy to |