We are much too prone to confine idolatry to the millions of India, and to those nations upon whom the light of the Gospel has never shone, and to pity others, instead of examining ourselves, to see whether there is not some dear object which we love more than the God who created us, and who still preserves us from dangers seen and unseen. 0, let this duty not be neglected any longer; for although God is a merciful God, yet he has declared himself to be a jealous God, and as such will not have any rival: “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Commune with your own heart, and inquire whether, when you put that pretty frock on first, you did not allow it to occupy more of your thoughts than the God who gave it to you; or whether, when your papa presented these nice rabbits to you, when you were bounding over hill and dale in order to get the best food for them which you could procure, you did not love them more than their Creator. Now if you did, it was idolatry. It would be quite right to procure proper food for them; but on God must be placed the supreme affections. Think how wicked it must be to prefer a new frock or a pretty rabbit before the Lord of heaven; and pray that he will forgive you, and help you to do better for the future.

D. E. L.

THE LOST CHILD. On a calm, pleasant day in autumn, a steamboat left one of the watering villages on the Clyde,

to go up the river. The passengers on board were generally citizens of Glasgow, with their families, returning, after a short marine residence; or some of the poorer classes, who had taken advantage of the low fare, to enjoy a pleasuretrip down the river and back again. Every one was pleased with the short excursion: while the charming and ever-varying scenery, with the cool breeze of approaching evening, imparted a joyful feeling to the mind. Several vessels of various kinds were met on the Clyde ; but the greater number were small steamers, like the one we are describing, making their last trip for the day. When Dunbarton Castle was approached, much attention was paid by the company to that ancient fortress, and the deeds of Sir William

llace, the famous Chieftain of Scotland, were counted, with much enthusiasm, by some lovers their country's glory. About this time, a large Steamer bound for Belfast flew rapidly past. It was crowded with Irish peasants, returning to their native soil, after having been employed in scaping the harvest through Scotland. Every eye was turned to this vessel, as it dashed forward on course. At this moment a loud cry was heard some one on its deck; a great tumult was ed, and all the passengers were running to

The ship was stopped, and it was supat some one had fallen overboard. But tance between the two vessels was every nt increasing, and the people on board the steamer failed to discover the cause of the

from

one side. The ship was

commotion in the larger one. They next passed Dunglass, and the conspicuous monument erected to the memory of Henry Bell, who brought into practical operation the art of steam navigation. As they drew near Erskine ferry, a female passenger was observed looking around her with great alarm, and then she uttered a loud scream, “ My child! my child! where is my child?” She was a young woman carrying one child in her arms, and holding another in her hand. The passengers gathered around her to inquire when the child was lost. The Captain came forward also, and said, “My good woman, do not distress yourself: nothing could have happened to your child without our knowledge.” “0, Sir,” replied the mother, “ I missed it but a short time since; but I did'nt speak till I searched the deck for it. My child! where is my child?” As she spoke these words the poor woman looked anxiously around the passengers; but no one could give her the least information respecting the cause of her distress. Some one supposed it might have strayed down to the cabin or forecastle ; and these places were searched, but without effect. The child could not be found in the ship. Many were the conjectures as to the fate of the child; but all agreed, that it must have fallen overboard. One passenger said he remembered having once observed the gangwaydoor lying open, and that he had gone to close it, but thought nothing of the matter at the time, till the child being missed brought the circumstance to his recollection. The passengers and crew

proceeded to the gangway-door; and on examining it, they found that both the bolt, and the wood in which it acted, were so much worn, that when any force was applied to it the door burst open.

Here then was the real cause of the child's disappearance: it had leaned for support against the side of the ship, the gangway-door yielded behind it, and thus it had fallen into the water.

The state of the poor woman, when the certainty of her child's fate became known, is beyond description. When the defect in the gangway-door Was discovered, all her hope fled, her agonizing grief drew tears from almost every eye. She was the wife of a tradesman in Glasgow; and her

ildren having been attacked by measles, or ooping-cough, she had gone to take a trip down he Clyde and back again, to aid their recovery.

0! what will their father say?" was her constant cry: “ I took three children away, and take home out two. What will its father say?” The distress awaiting her husband, when the unwelcome news ould reach him, grieved her as much as her own oss; but again the mother's sorrow alone would prevail, and break forth afresh into weeping. The steamer reached Glasgow, and the poor woman th her two surviving children, went to commuate to her husband the sad intelligence of their ld's loss. We are not able to describe the eelings of the father, on hearing of the accident.

But some of our young readers will be ready to sk, "Was the poor child's body ever found in

the water; or will it remain there till that day

when the sea shall give up her dead?'” The child's body was found. The Captain of the large steamer, which passed them opposite to Dunbarton, saw the child drop into the river, from his stand on the paddle-box. He tried in vain to apprize those on board the other vessel of what had taken place, -his voice could not be heard. To stop the engine, lower a boat, and rescue the child, were but the work of a moment. The effort succeeded, and the child was saved. On recovering his recollection the little boy told his name and parents' residence, as also how he had fallen. The steamer stopped for a short time at Greenock to receive part of her cargo : while there, a person was engaged to conduct the child to Glasgow. The next morning the sorrowing parents received back again their lost child alive and well.

M. L.

AUNT ELIZA'S TRUE STORIES IN VERSE.

STORY THE SECOND.

THE MISSIONARY APPLE-TREE.

A Story for Clementia and Ann R.
“ Past joys we love to recollect;

And now we meet you here,
It seems quite natural to expect

The pleasure which last year
You often gave at our desire,
When seated round the cheering fire.