redeeming love shall swell from the lips of many of these scholars or be swept from their harp strings in a better world. SECOND SCENE.-It is with regret that we turn our attention to the second scene, which has a tendency to sadden the heart rather than to cheer it. At the outside of the schoolroom, near to the gates, stood several young persons, evidently scholars of the same school. A teacher appeared, and kindly requested them to come in, but they hesitated, and wished to stay outside until the conclusion of the prayer, The sadness which rested upon the teacher's countenance, strongly denoted the anxiety of his mind, as he thought that all the sweetness and melody of the singing inside apparently possessed no charms for the loiterers without. The teacher knew that, as the morning breeze is the most bracing to the body, as it emerges from the slumbers of the night, so, often the first part of our devotional exercises in a religious service is the most refreshing to the soul. He knew that the first acts of devotion in a Sabbath-school generally prepare the minds of the young for the reception of that truth which gives life, and that these acts neglected leave their minds in an unprepared state for instruction, and cause them to lose all relish for good, and often lead to the first step to ruin; because, by loitering, the scholar becomes exposed to the temptation presented by ungodly associates to desecrate the Sabbath day, which, if yielded to, brings that scholar from under the moral restraints of a Sabbathschool, and hurries him in reckless haste along the broad way which leads to destruction. Dear reader, let me entreat you to beware of the danger of loitering outside the Sabbath-school; such a practice is pregnant with awful consequences; it is highly injurious to your present and future interests in time, and to your wellbeing in eternity. When you leave home for school, go as direct as possible, and if sinners entice you from the path of duty do not consent to them. When at school, make your class the spiritual mart wherein you buy the truth;" make good bargains by improving your time, and grow rich in biblical knowledge, "and sell it not." Don't barter the truth away for a few earthly treasures, but treasure it up and make it as a well of water in your heart, springing up unto everlasting life. By so doing you will possess comfort and peace of mind, give joy and satisfaction to your teacher, and set a good example to others. J. C. "THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY." "WELL, my dear Helen," said Mr. M- to a little "I am sorry to find you so ill: are you in much sufferer, pain ? " "Yes; when I cough, or try to swallow, my throat hurts me very much." This was the constant complaint, and it was very evident that the poor, little, frail tabernacle could bear very little more shaking. The little sufferer knew well that the hour of her departure was at hand; but she had learned to place a firm and loving trust in her Saviour, so the prospect never gave her the least pain; indeed, she longed to depart, and anxiously asked when her heavenly Father would send for her. She listened with evident pleasure to the gentle voice and kind words of the visitor, as he reminded her of the love of her Saviour, and of the heaven which He had gone to prepare for her. She joined him in prayer, and desired him to visit her aga in. After his departure, her mother said to her, "You see my dear, Mr. M- told you the very same things that your father has so often told you." "O yes, mamma,' said the fading child, "he was sure to do that, because there is only one way." 66 Suppose," said her father, "that some one who did not know that one way asked you, what would you say?" With great firmness of manner, she instantly replied, "I would say, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."" Dear young reader, I have two questions to ask you. First: Are you eleven years old? This dear child had just passed her eleventh birthday. She was surrounded by those who loved her very dearly, but she died. Secondly: Have you found that one way which leads to heaven? Dear little Helen learned the way while she was in health, so when sickness overtook her she was prepared to enter into the mansion that Jesus had prepared for her. W. HOW TO DO GOOD. IF you will go with me into this little sitting-room, I will show you four little girls, sitting in a circle round their mother, sewing on frocks and aprons, while their little voices go chatter, chatter, or their mother tells them some story to keep them quiet. This good lady is, I think, one of the best mothers I ever saw. She is not rich. She has six children, and is obliged to work very hard for her family; but she says she should be very unhappy if she spent all her time in working for herself. She wishes, also, that her little girls should learn to deny themselves, and feel an interest in those who have not so comfortable a home, and good food and clothes as they. So one afternoon every two weeks she lets them spend in sewing for the poor coloured children who have no fathers and mothers, but are taken care of by kind ladies who provide for them a home, where a great many of them are received as into one family, and fed and clothed by strangers. Every few weeks the boys and girls whose skins God saw fit to make black, instead of white, are permitted to come and join this circle, and receive the gifts which are prepared for them. Each little girl has the privilege of presenting the clothes she has made, and also of giving a piece of cake or an apple, and she is a thousand times happier when she sees the black eyes of the orphan children sparkle with joy, and their bodies clothed with something she has made, than she would be had she thought only of making something fine for herself. One little girl goes often to the school where these orphans are gathered together, and assists in teaching them to read and spell; for though she is not much larger or older than they, she has had better opportunities of learning, and her childish manners and pleasant voice win their attention. In this way she is learning to be useful, and patient, and kind. There is nothing which soothes little children who have no fathers and mothers like kind words. When they find anyone to love them, it makes them so happy. For though they may have plenty of food and warm clothes, they still long for affection. I once saw many little girls together, and a lady was inquiring of each one about her mother. By and by one of them began to cry. "What is the matter ?" said the lady. "I haven't any mother," said the child, and she sobbed as if her heart would break. It was very beautiful then to see all the other girls gather around her to express their sympathy. One took her hand, and another kissed her cheek, and soon she forgot her sorrow and was merry again. When we are very happy ourselves, we sometimes forget that others are suffering, when we might by a little word, if nothing more, cause many hearts to beat for joy. "Oh! I didn't think," is the excuse little girls often make for some thoughtless word or deed, as if this were excuse sufficient; when this is the very thing they should do, THINK all the time how they might save suffering and cause happiness. I hope the children who read this will begin now to look around them in order to be kind to some orphan, or teach some ignorant person to read, or make clothing for the poor. You must not think, because you cannot do great things, that you can do no good. The pittance small, the one kind word May take the sting from poverty Or soothe the broken heart. Kind words and deeds bear the fruit which pleases Him who loved little children when he was on earth, and took them in his arms and blessed them. CHILDREN UNDERSTAND PEACE. WHILE visiting one of our infant schools a few days since, I inquired of the teacher if he had any idea of what the children think about war. He significantly replied that I might question his school, and learn the views of his scholars for myself. I commenced : "As I was coming here this morning, I saw, on the street below, a large brick building, of somewhat singular appearance; everything about it appeared neat and in order; the blinds were all closed, and a high fence surrounded it. Can any of you tell me what building that was ?" "That's the Quaker Meeting House," said half a dozen little fellows in the same breath. "But is there not a prettier name for them than that ?" "Yes," said one," they are called friends." "Because they know better." "But how came they to know better?" "They learned it in the Bible.” "Yes, but many people read the Bible and yet fight. Do you know that when armies and fleets meet to butcher each other, they have ministers on each side to pray for success in their work?" "I know it, but 'tis because they don't know any better." "It is not," said another, "because they don't know any better, but because they won't do better." "But does the Bible say that it is wrong to fight?" "It says what means the same, 'Love your enemies." " Said another, "It says in the 5th chapter of Matthew, 'Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.'" 66 But who are the peacemakers ?" "All who try to make every body love each other." "But why are they called the children of God?" "Because God loves them as a father does his children." Said another, "Because they love what he loves." One little flaxen-haired, rosy-cheeked fellow said, “My father is a captain, and he says I shall be a soldier. But if I am, I never will kill anybody; I should rather be killed." "But how fine a thing to have a red coat, and cap and sword, and be honoured as captains are!" The boy listened for a moment, and then said, "I can't help that; I would rather be shot than kill any body: for God says, "Thou shalt not kill,' and if we break his commandments, he will punish us." Reader, are you a teacher, or a parent? beware how you train up your children. Teach them while young that they are to love everybody as they do themselves. If parents and teachers would do their duty, and show their children what war really is, their children would hate it, and give up their childish weapons, and disband their little companies. It is high time for Christians to look at this subject, and cease from training their sons to be lovers of war. |