western country for the purpose of purchasing land, last autumn, and after paying out my money, was taken ill with a fever, of which I have been confined for several months. Three days ago," he continued, "I sat out to return, and am now within a day's journey of home, which I hope to reach to-day, though to own the truth, I have eaten nothing since yesterday morning." I put the piece of money in his hand, when turning to thank me, he burst into tears, and we parted.

I then went to the house of Mr. M—, where I had been but a few moments, when one of the members of his church came in to inform him that a female of his congregation, who had recently lost her husband, was in a suffering condition, and requesting his influence in raising a little sum to alleviate her necessities.

Mr. M. went to his desk, and taking out a five dollar note, handed it to the person, saying, "Take this and carry it to her, and tell her that I am engaged to-day, but to-morrow I will do something more effectual."

"And you would have me give you credit for this," said he, "on the treasurer's book?" "No," said Mr. M., “I will charge it to the Lord, who has ever been to me a good paymaster." From this remark our conversation turned on deeds of charity, and Mr. M. maintained that he had never in his life performed a deed of charity, for which he had not received at least four-fold from some unexpected

source.

"That may be," said I, "still the promised reward ought not to be the ruling motive." "True," said Mr. M., "still, as our Heavenly Father has held up the promise of a reward to stimulate us to deeds of charity, it is only an act of faith in us to look to him for the performance of his promise."

I then related to him the circumstance already mentioned, of dropping the piece of money, and of meeting so soon a deserving object of charity. "It was," said Mr. M. "a providential occurrence: There was a fellow creature in distress, and you were the means by which Jehovah chose to bring about his promise. There was a providence in your dropping the piece of money, as much as 11 those thoughts coming into your mind. It was providence also, who put it into your heart to bestow this little

sum upon him. Now, carefully observe the dealings of Providence for a few days to come, and see whether you do not receive at least four times the amount from some unexpected source."

This was on Thursday morning, and during the day, I set out for New-York. On Saturday following, I went on board of a sloop, bound, as I supposed for Albany; but after getting under way, I found I had made a mistake, and had gone aboard of a sloop belonging to Mount Pleasant; I was not aware when I went on shore that there were any people in the place of the religious denomination to which I belonged. At any rate, I determined to spend the coming Sabbath at this place, and after making myself known, was introduced to one of the deacons of Bchurch, by whom I was very hospitably entertained. I was invited to preach a part of the day, though their pastor was at home; and considered myself well paid for my poor services with the kind and hospitable treatment that I received. But on taking my leave of the interesting family with whom I had stopped, deacon M., on shaking hands with me as we parted, dropped something into my hand. I thanked hini, and when a few rods from the house looked at my present and found it to be a five dollar note. This, thought I, is the promised reward mentioned by Mr. M.; and on my way up the river 1 called on him again, and related to him the circumstance. He smiled as he replied, "You will now, I trust, believe me, when I tell you that God is a good paymaster, when he promises;" and then taking from his pocket book a hundred dollar bill, said "This I received yesterday, inclosed from a lady in Philadelphia, as a parting present, being about to sail for England; so you see I have been as richly paid for my five dollars, as you were for your twentyfive cents."

The Brewer's Sign.

A GENTLEMAN in Philadelphia told his son Philip to go to the corner of a street near their house, and tell him what name was on the sign of a brewery that was situated on that street. Philip went, and soon came back and told

his father that the name was SECKEL. He then directed his son Richard to go to another spot, and look at the same sign, and bring him word. He ran off, and on his return, said that Philip was very much mistaken, for the name was PEPPER. Both the boys insisted that they had looked at the same building; both said it was a new sign, with large letters, and neither could be mistaken. Well, Henry," said Mr. Baldwin to a third son, "do you go right opposite to the brewery, and see which of your brothers are right." Henry came back out of breath, and in the greatest astonishment declared that the name was neither Pepper nor Seckel, but SMITH. The boys were surprised. There was but one brewery in the street, and but one sign on it, and each said it was impossible he coul! be mistaken. Their father, at last, said, that the only way to decide the question was, for them all to go together and discover the truth.

Accordingly, the three boys accompanied their father, each very eager to show him that his brothers were wrong, and he right. Upon getting to the corner, the brewery was in sight, and upon looking up they all beheld, as plainly as could be, the name Seckel. "There,” said Philip, "did not I say so?" Richard and Henry were too much astonished to speak. Their father however, walked on with them towards the brewery, and when they came opposite to it, he told them to look up at the sign. They all did so, and exclamed as they now read it. Smith!" Henry was now greatly pleased to find he had not been entirely wrong, though he was very much puz zled. However they went on a few yards further, and then stopping once more, they all turned back to see the wonderful sign, and behold the name was plainly Pepper!

"Its

The boys were now more perplexed than ever, until their father showed them the whole history. Instead of the sign being composed of one board, as is usual, it had upon it slats so arranged and painted, that three different. names were read, according to the position in which the reader stood. One name was on the board, and this only was seen when looked upon from the opposite side of the street. Another name was painted on one side of the slats, and a third or the other, sc that the name was dif

ferent, according to the direction from which the sign was looked at.

Curious as it was, the thing was now very plain, and upon their reaching home, Mr. Baldwin said, "now, my sons, let me tell you why I sent you out to different points to look at this singular sign. It was to give you a caution against being too confident in what we suppose ourselves to know. Persons who speak very positively, and are ready to contradict without ceremony, are often ashamed by finding they have been entirely mistaken for want of more learning the truth. We are very apt to look at a subject hastily, and then conclude we know all about it. And so, in forming our opinions, we are in great danger of looking at one side only, and of adopting the opinion that we first hear, without taking the pains of careful examination. Had each of you examined the sign from all sides, you could not have been so certain that you were right."

"You may remember too," continued Mr. Baldwin, "that many things which appear very mysterious can be easily explained. You often hear accounts that would encourage foolish and superstitious notions, but which would not be wonderful if their real cause were known. The brewer's sign may be said to have deceived your very eyes; yet now it is perfectly plain to you. Examine a matter carefully and thoroughly before you give it up as beyond your comprehension.

Children's Prayers Answered.

As related by their Grandfather.

I HAD a son who was once the pride of my heart, and whom I fondly thought would be the solace of my deelining years. But he has for some time been addicted to the habit of intemperance, with its train of evils, which had well nigh brought my grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. About two months ago, his children, (of whom he has five,) were reading in the Herald, an account of a revival of religion written by Rev. Lewis Bates, in which he ol served that lisping infants, as well as gray headed

sinners, were converted. He told them also that Jesus was once himself a child, and that when he became a man he took little children in his arms and blessed them; and that he is now in heaven, and hears little children when they pray, and answers and blesses. "Then," said one of the children, "we will pray to Jesus to convert father, so that he may pray with us, and work and get bread and clothes for us, as grandpapa does." Early next morning they began to pray; when, in the midst of their exercises, their wretched father awoke from his fit ot intoxication, and heard his children praying most earnestly to Jesus, that he would convert his soul, and make him a good father; so that he might not come home, as he did last night.

Their words went like daggers to his heart, and he cried out in the bitterness of his soul, "Jesus have mercy upon me-God be merciful to me, the vilest of sinners." He immediately forsook his evil practices, set about the work of reformation in earnest, and is now an humble, penitent, praying soul. And I can say, as did one of old; "now, O Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation."

An Indian Commentary.

Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days.

SOME years ago one of the preachers of the Mohegan tribe of Indians, (a tribe situated on the Thames between Nerwich and New London, in Connecticu,) was preaching on the above text. To illustrate his subject and enforce the doctrine of charity, he brought forward a circumstance that transpired in his early days. To use his own language, he observed-" A certain man was going from Norwich to New London with a loaded team; or attempting to ascend the hill where Indian lives, he found his team could not draw his load, he came to Indian and got him to help him up with his oxen, after he had got up, he asked Indian what was to pay. Indian told him to do as much for somebody else. Some time afterward Indian wanted a canoe--he went up Shetuck river, found