A COWARD.

"A COWARD, Tom! That's what you are! Why don't you strike him, and not walk away so, and let him call you names? Catch me to take it so quietly! I would let him know who he had to fight. Oh, you are a coward!"

"Was Jesus Christ a coward, Jack? And what did He do when He was scourged, and struck in the face, and even spit upon? Did He strike back? Or, when He was reviled, did He do the same? No! we are told that He answered not a word; but when on the cross, in suffering and agony, He prayed God to forgive them! I have not done anything to offend Will, only refused to play truant with him, and advised him to go to school too, when he struck me, and because I did not strike back, he called me names."

What effect, do you think, my little reader, this good boy's conduct and words had upon the other two? I will tell you. Will walked up to Tom, and told him that he was sorry that he had struck him, and that he would go to school with him. Jack joined them, and said he had never thought before that Jesus had set an example not to fight; and that he would remember it; and that he would read his Bible more. Who knows how much more good this, by God's blessing, may do him.-British Ensign.

HE who has most of heart knows most of sorrow. TRUE FRIENDSHIP.-In order to deserve a true friend, we must learn first to be one.

KNOWLEDGE may slumber in the memory, but it never dies; it is like the dormouse in the ivied tower, that sleeps while winter lasts, but awakes with the warm breath of spring.

HOW QUEEN VICTORIA BRINGS UP HER

CHILDREN.

A YOUNG woman, who was formerly one of the housemaids at Windsor, and left her Majesty's service to marry, preserves a lively remembrance of the various incidents of her stay at the castle, and of the pranks of the little people, who are now growing up to do honour to their royal mother's training. Among other incidents of her residence at Windsor, Mary well remembers how, one morning she was busy cleaning the grate in Prince Albert's study, the bars of which she was in the act of blacking, when the door opened, and in tripped the Princess Royal and Princess Alice, in white morning frocks, their hair very smooth and nice, and their hands very clean, just ready for their morning lessons. Mary happened to be rather late that day, and was brushing away at lest the Prince should make his appearance before the grate with might and main, being rather fearful

she had done.

"Oh, Mary, Mary," cried the two children, coming up to her, "what are you doing?"

in a great hurry, for I'm afraid the Prince will be "I'm blacking the grate," replied Mary, "and I'm

coming before I've done."

"Oh, Mary, now, there's a good Mary, let us help you brush the grate," cried the two children, stooping down, one on each side of her, and trying to get "Give us the brushes, Mary,

hold of the brushes.

and the lead, and let us help you. It will be such

fun."

Mary begged them to go away, and not make her lose time; but somehow or other, though she did her best to keep her hold of the brushes, the little Princesses were too cunning for her, and tried to get

possession of them. No sooner had they done so than they dipped the brushes into the pot of black lead, and then, in a twinkling, smeared Mary's face all over with them, making her as black as a chimneysweep; which feat being accomplished, they scampered out of the room in the greatest possible state of delight, leaving the poor housemaid beside herself with terror, as the Queen, who is a very early riser, might very probably meet her, if she left the room, and what would her Majesty say at the sight of such a blackamoor ?

While the poor girl in her fright was hesitating to go or stay, afraid of coming upon the Queen if she left the study, and equally afraid of seeing Prince Albert enter if she remained, the two children ran off as fast as they could towards the school-room, tittering with exultation at the thought of their escapada, when they suddenly met their governess, Miss H—d, who stopped them, and asked them what they were doing in that particular passage at that hour?

"We are going to the school-room," answered the little Princesses.

66 Very good, but where are you coming from?" At this awkward question, the children, looking uncomfortably conscious, held down their heads, but said nothing.

At this moment, who should appear at the same doorway but her Majesty, who happened to be going to Prince Albert's study, supposing the Prince to be there, and wishing to speak to him.

"Why, what are the children doing here?" inquired the Queen, stopping at sight of the group.

"That, your Majesty," replied Miss Hd, "is just what I am trying to find out, but have not yet been able to discover."

"Where have you been?" asked the Queen of the

66

children, much surprised at their evident embarrassment, and looking more closely; and what are all those little black specks on your frocks and on your hands?" she continued, pursuing her investigation. "It is very evident that you have been up to some mischief," said her Majesty," and I insist upon your showing me at once where you have come from."

As her children have always seemed to know that their royal mamma is not to be trifled with, they immediately led the way to the study, though very reluctantly, and, in as great trepidation as was the poor housemaid herself, who heard what was going on, but could not escape, there being no other way from the study than the passage by which the Queen, led by the children, was advancing to the door, where one glance at the face of poor Mary, who was crying as she stood there trying to rub the lead off her face with her apron, revealed to the Queen the nature of the prank in which the little truants had been engaged.

"Don't cry, but go and wash your face," said the Queen, kindly to the frightened servant.

66

You

are not to blame because the Princesses have done wrong. You are two very naughty girls," she continued, turning to the children, as the housemaid left the room; you have spoiled Mary's clothes, and you will therefore give her a new gown, and cap, and collar, which you will pay for out of your own money. And as you have behaved very ill and very rudely to the poor girl in blacking her face, you will both of you beg pardon for what you have done."

The children's footman was accordingly dispatched forthwith into the town, with instructions to purchase a new gown, cap, and collar for Mary; and as soon as these were brought up to the school-room, the two little Princesses were sent by the Queen to carry

them to her, and to ask her pardon for the trick they had played upon her.

66

Here, Mary," they cried, as they presented her with the things, "here is a new cap for you, and a collar, and a dress; and we beg your pardon for putting the black lead on your face this morning."

And back they ran again to the school-room, declaring that they "did not in the least mind giving Mary the new cap, and collar, and dress, but they did not like to beg her pardon."

TO MY CHILD AT WITNEY.
My dear little Annie, my pet,

I write you a musical letter,
To say that I wish you may yet
Grow taller, and wiser, and better.
You roam in old favourite places,

And look for old playmates and friends,
But these may leave, or put on new faces,
Or seek for new objects or ends.

You find, perhaps, many things changed
Around the old "Isle of the Witan"-
New comers, or newly arranged,

While some of the old have been smitten.
And so you may ever expect it,

And find it at home or abroad;

This voice, if you do not neglect it,

Says nought can be trusted but God.

He only is faithful and true,

His mercy endureth for ever,

His love to His chosen is true;

And will He deceive thee? No, never.

The ancient name of Witney is WITAN-IGE, the Isle of the Witan, the Saxon Parliament or Synod of the Witty, or wise men of the realm. It is expressly named so in several old Saxon charters of King Edgar and King Edward the Confessor; and part of the present town stands on the mound (once an islet) within whose earthen ramparts the national Synods were held.