redemption and Christianization of Greece, and has excited the admiration of the whole Christian world.

BOASTING.

ANNA STRONG was a sad little boaster. Though she meant to speak the truth, she was so vain and thoughtless that no one could believe her.

She always wanted a long lesson; she would say "I can learn it all, it is not too hard for me;" though when her class was called out to recite, she was very often sent back to her seat to study.

If anything was to be done at home or at school, Anna would always say, "I know how, please let me do it;" even if it was a thing she could not do at all.

Miss Eaton was Anna's teacher. One day she wished some one to point to the names of the cities on a large map, so that all the girls in the class might know where to find them.

"O let me do it,” said Anna; "I know how as well as can be."

"Yes, you may do it," said Miss Eaton; but Anna could not point to a single name that her teacher called.

"You are like a silly little pigeon I used to hear about when I was a little girl," said the teacher.

A bright-eyed little girl, raising her right hand, said, "O please tell us about the pigeon."

"The story," replied Miss Eaton, "is that when the pigeon first came into the world, all the other birds came and offered to each build a nest.

"The cat-bird showed her its nest, all made of sticks and bark; and the sparrows showed her theirs, which were woven with moss and hair. But the pigeon, walking about in a very vain way, and turning her head from side to side,

said:

"I know how to build my nest as well as the best of you!" "Then the blackbird showed his nest, which was fastened to some reeds and swung over the water; and the turtledove said hers was easier to build than all, for it was quite flat, and made only of sticks laid together. But the pigeon turned her pretty head as before, and said, 'I know how!' "At last the birds left her. Then the pigeon found that she did not know how at all; and she went without a nest until a man took pity on her, and built a pigeon-house, and put some hay into it.

"Now, children, though the story of the pigeon is only a fable, and not true, yet you may learn from it a very useful lesson.

"Little boys and girls who are vain boasters are laughed at by others, and only deceive themselves. Like the silly pigeon, they say, 'I know how!' but they often find to their sorrow, when it is too late, that they do not.

"Remember, dear children, that when you once learn to do anything well, you will not need to boast of it."

(From an American Paper.)

SARAH JANE AND HER PRETTY LORD.

SARAH JANE was one of these drawing-room pets, which, though unable to read a single line, carried "The Bible" in its humble dress, into her nursery. Soon afterwards—the victim of scarlatina-she was removed from the nursery into the highest attic. From her sick-bed she sent for her favourite book, "The Bible," and turning away her eyes from the gaudy pages of earthly story books she fixed them upon Jesus alone, as she listened to the voice of her nurse reading and explaining these sacred stories, which are only to be found in the Scriptures. These were accompanied by sweet hymns played by various hands on the infant lyre.

The last forty-five fleeting months of Sarah Jane's life were spent in fellowship with Jesus. Her best-loved song began

"Here we suffer grief and pain,
Here we meet to part again," &c.

And of this song her best-beloved stanza was,

"Oh, how happy we shall be,
For our Saviour we shall see
Exalted on His throne;

Oh, that will be joyful," &c.

When the happy morning of Palm Sunday came-that long-desired, that ever to be remembered, that dark, bright morning this lovely, loving child lifted up her eyes, her bright blue, almost unearthly eyes, and gazing earnestly towards heaven, whispered, "Pretty Lord." This was the language of a babe, but it was the sentiment of an apostle. For John saith, "His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength." Again little Sarah Jane lisped, "Pretty Pretty." This lovely little one's everlasting song began, when she whispered, "Pretty Lord, Pretty, Pretty." All the songs of Heaven are modulations of the same glorious theme. "Thou (Jesus) art fairer than the children of men." Well might Sarah Jane's parents exclaim, "Fair, exceeding fair, didst thou appear to us, sweet fondling, in all the flower of thy babyhood-scarce four years; but fairer, fairer far, did the Lord Jesus appear to thee, in all the brightness of His glory, at the right hand of God; and fair, divinely fair, wilt thou be when thou comest with Him at the last day" amongst the white-robed innocents, who 'follow the lamb whithersoever He goeth.'" May each reader so live on earth that at last they may be found with Sarah Jane amongst the "hundred forty and four thousand" with the Lamb on Mount Zion, having their "Father's name written in their foreheads." H. PORTNALL.

Juvenile Biography.

BEATRICE JANE NOTT, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nott, of the Farlands, passed away from earth to heaven, December 23rd, 1868, after a short but severe illness. Why the young and beautiful should so soon be removed from this world, where innocence and virtue are needed as a reproof and rebuff to the advancing strides of iniquity, and even to remind us of the purity and holiness of heaven, is a mystery to us; but

"God is His own interpreter;

And he will make it plain."

"We see but dimly through the mists and vapours;

Amid these earthly damps,

What seem to us but sad funeral tapers,

May be heaven's distant lamps."

This we do know, that those who are removed in childhood are "taken away from the evil to come." And it may be, perhaps, that of all earth's tenantry there are none who have such kindred spirits to the angels as little children, and hence heaven may be their more congenial home. Heaven is the home of the child in age as well as the child in character, for Jesus said, "Suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The reaper, death, has no respect for age

"IIe reaps the bearded grain at a breath,

And the flowers that grow between."

The flower that has been taken from the Farlands "for the Lord of Paradise" was a sweet and beautiful one; but the best cannot be too beautiful to bloom in heaven. She was the oldest daughter, and was in her tenth year. She had a kind disposition and a thoughtful bearing. The tendencies of her mind were decidedly religious. For a long time it is believed she knew what it was to "have peace

with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;" and her desire and effort to do whatsoever thing was right, and to avoid whatsoever thing seemed wrong, was a proof of her union and fellowship with God. She had the advantage of truly pious parents, who regard it as one of their highest christian privileges to bring their children to Jesus. And as character is formed mainly on the principle of imitation, we believe that her frequent introductions into the presence of Jesus, by reading the scriptures with her, family prayer, and other means, had a great deal to do with the formation of her character. Having been presented to Him much in infancy and childhood, she seemed to have a great wish to be like him. She would often seek retirement for private prayer; and some months ago she voluntarily left the pew and went and knelt at the penitent form, not so much to seek salvation, perhaps, as to publicly acknowledge her need of it and her love to Christ. Her peace and joy were overflowing at this time. Her life was very much of a piece. Thoughtfulness and kindness were prominent traits of her character. Her late governess says, "I can only think of her staid and quiet bearing, of her unvarying assent to anything I said or proposed, and the source of strength I sometimes felt she was to me."

For some time previous to her death there were symptoms of depressed spirits, but her medical attendant said it was only the result of a disorganised stomach, which may soon be put right. There was nothing in her appearance or manner to create alarm till about a week before she died, when she was seized with a violent pain in her head and back, which terminated in death; her disease, according to medical opinion, being water on the brain. The greater part of these days of suffering she was delirious, but was quite sensible at intervals; during which periods she gave unmistakeable signs and evidences of her peace and trust in Christ Jesus. When asked if she loved Jesus, her emphatic reply was, "O yes!" And Jesus loves you ? "Yes! we love one another; He died for me." On another oc