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who don't pray ain't going to heaven. Pa, do you pray?"

This was more than her father could stand, and in a rough way he said:

"Well, you and your mother and your Aunt Sally may go your way, and I will go mine." "Pa," said the little creature, "which way are you going?"

The question pierced his heart. It flashed upon him that he was in the way of death. He started from his chair, and burst into tears. Within a few days he was a happy convert, and I believe will appear in heaven as a star of the little daughter's crown of rejoicing.

the rustling, and felt quite sure it could not be the wind alone; so he parted the long, leafy branches of the tree, and peeped beneath; and what did he find there? Three little boys; two were fast asleep in each other's arms; but the third was awake; and it was he who had stirred the mimosa leaves.

"What are you doing here, my children?" inquired the missionary.

"We are come here to sleep, teacher," said the boy.

come

"And why have you here to sleep? have you no home?"

"O yes; but if we sleep here, we are sure to be ready when

GOOD NEWS FROM A FAR the first school-bell rings in the

COUNTRY.

It was on a Sabbath evening, and a missionary was walking up and down the verandah at the front

morning."

66

'Do your parents know about your being here ?" continued the missionary.

"Mine do; but these little boys have no parents, they are orphans."

Now, the nights in the South Sea Islands are not cold and damp like ours; but the kind missionary of whom we write, looked around, and he felt a consciousness that a heavy rain was coming; so, rousing the hitherto unconscious sleepers, he led the three little fellows into the large

of his house, in an island of the South Seas. The sun was just setting behind the waves of the Southern Ocean, the labours of the day were over, and in the cool of the evening the missionary was lifting his heart to God in prayer, and asking a blessing on the people, the schools, and himself. All was hushed and still, except a rustling now and then in the leaves of a mimosa tree close by, which he fancied | porch of his house, where they was a breeze springing up, and so continued his lonely walk, until again and again he heard

might rest in safety; and O how the heart of that missionary rejoiced to know that they

to

"Hear of heaven and learn the way."

thus loved to come to school, over, and of the many who seldom or never come at all? And are there none of our young readers who feel self-reproved by this story, and who will try to show their teachers, next Sabbath morning, that they have profited by reading "good news from a far country ?"

And now, my dear children, suppose these little islanders could look from their distant homes, or they had the privilege of attending some of our English schools on a Sabbath morning, what would they think of the many late comers who walk idly into their places when half the business of the class is

Pickering.

R. CHARTER.

Poetry.

CONTRAST OF THE IDLE AND THE THRIFTY WIFE.

(Modernized from a rare old poem by Thomas Tusser, 1580.)

The idle wife lieth till nine of the clock,
The thrifty wife trieth to rise with the cock.

The idle wife trusteth to him, and to her,
The busy wife hasteth herself for to stir.

The idle wife one thing or other must crave,
The thrifty wife nothing but needful will have.

The idle wife moveth with gossips to spend,
The busy wife loveth the household to tend.

The idle wife bringeth a shilling to naught,

The thrifty wife singeth, her cupboard full fraught.

The idle wife rendeth and casteth aside,
The thrifty wife mendeth before it goes wide.

The idle wife craveth in secret to borrow,
The thrifty wife saveth to day, for to-morrow.

The idle wife pineth not having to eat,
The careful wife dineth with plenty of meat.
The idle wife letteth to Satan the store,
The busy wife getteth, and of little makes more.

British Workman.

I WAS A WANDERING SHEEP. (From the "Juvenile Instructor and Companion," 1856.)

I WAS a wandering sheep;

I did not love the fold;

I did not love my Shepherd's voice,
I would not be controll'd.

I was a wayward child;

I did not love my home;

I did not love my Father's voice;
I loved afar to roam.
The Shepherd sought His sheep;
The Father sought His child;
They follow'd me o'er vale and hill,
O'er desert waste and wild.
They found me nigh to death,
Famish'd, and faint, and lone;
They bound me with the cords of love,
They saved the wandering one.

They spoke in tender love,

They raised my drooping head; They gently clos'd my bleeding wounds,

My fainting soul they fed. They washed my filth away;

They made me clean and fair; They brought me to my home in peace, The long sought wanderer. Jesus my Shepherd is;

'Twas He that lov'd my soul; 'Twas he that washed me in his blood; 'Twas He that made me whole. 'Twas He that sought the lost,

That found the wandering sheep; "Twas He that brought me to the fold, 'Tis He that still does keep.

I was a wandering sheep;

I would not be controll'd;

But now I love my Shepherd's voice,
I love, I love the fold.
I was a wayward child,

I once preferred to roam;
But now I love my Father's voice,
I love, I love my home.

Sent by G. W. IIUNT, Doncaster.

REMEMBER ME.

WHEN Worldly cares my soul assail, Remember me.

When all my earthly comforts fail,

Remember me.

When doubts and fears disturb my breast,

And nought but grief's my constant guest,

When, Lord, I fly to thee for rest.

Remember me.

When Satan does my soul annoy,

Remember me.

And all his treach'rous arts employ,

Remember me.

When he would lead my soul astray, Tempt me to walk the downward way, When for Thy grace and strength I pray,

Remember me.

When on the bed of death I'm laid,

Remember me.

When none my sinking soul can aid,
Remember me.
Then when to Thee I lift mine eye,
And feebly for Thy mercy cry,
Listen to my expiring sigh,

Remember me.

When the last trump the earth shall shake,

Remember me. When from their graves the dead awake, Remember me.

When call'd to stand before Thy throne, When Thou Thy ransom'd ones shalt

own,

Then for Thy mercy's sake alone,

Remember me.

J. DORE.

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Youths' Department.

DRUSE MARRIAGE PROCESSION.

FEW Eastern customs are more remarkable than those relating to marriage, and a catalogue of them would be very interesting. But we must not attempt to give this at present. Many references to marriage ceremonies occur in Scripture. See Gen. xxiv., xxix.; Ps. xlv.; Is. lxi. 10; Jer. ii. 32; Matt. i. 9; xxii, &c. But we have now to speak of a marriage procession among the Druse inhabitants of Lebanon, as represented in the accompanying engraving.

The Druses occupy the southern slopes and valleys of Lebanon. They are a proud and vindictive people. Their young men marry at the age of sixteen or eighteen, and the girls at thirteen or fourteen; which according to English notions, is very early. Three days before that fixed on for the day of marriage, the bridegroom accompanied by companions of his own age, all well armed, proceeds to demand the bride from her father, who waits for his arrival fully armed, as if for battle. On the threshold of his own door he gives his sanction to the union and its conditions. The young man assumes the responsibility of support and provision. The young woman appears with her mother and female friends, and the question is put to her by the suitor. She accepts in set phrase, and presents a sabre to her lover. This being intended to show that he is to punish her severely if he find her unfaithful. On the wedding night the bridegroom is conducted to the room where the bride is waiting for him. She is adorned with a red veil, spangled with gold. The bridegroom removes the veil, and puts what is called a tantoor, or a horn, upon her head. This she is to wear through life, as a token of matronhood. While this ceremony is going on the women rush from the room, screeching, and making the most discordant noises possible. The house is at once in an uproar, and the most extravagant gesticulations, war dances, and other oriental amusements are resorted to. This horn or headdress is often referred to in the Sacred Scriptures, and it is usually regarded as an emblem of power or glory. See 1 Sam. ii. 1; Ps.lxxv. 5, 10; Ezek. xxix. 21; Job xvi. 15; Ps. Ixxv. 4; Ps. xviii. 2. Among some of the tribes of Mount Lebanon the women wear horns of silver, which denote they are married, as does the ring of gold on the finger among ourselves. But when men wear horns they

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