The influence of Washington, who visited them more than once, provided for the widow friends who furnished her with constant and profitable employment; and her sons, when they had arrived at the proper age, they placed in respectable situations, where they were able not only to support themselves, but to render the remainder of their mother's life comfortable and happy.

Let the children who read this story remember, when they think of the great and benevolnt Washington, that he was not above entering the dwelling of poverty, and carrying joy and gladness to the hearts of its inmates. This is no fictitious tale, but is only one of a thousand incidents which might be related of him, and which stamp him as one of the most excellent of men.

JOE BLAKE'S TEMPTATION.

IT is needless to follow Joe and Elsie to know how well they were taught from God's Holy Word, but at the close of the school you might have seen two very bright, happy-looking children wending their way towards the old tenement, and when they rushed in with a New Testament which their teacher had given them, even Aunt Hannah's frostiness melted before their sunny smiles, for she was not naturally an ill-tempered person. She did not seem to notice them much, but couldn't help hearing their chat, as they sat looking at their books on an old lounge by the window.

"Well," she muttered, "it won't hurt 'em anyhow, and if they're only still and out of mischief, that's worth something."

Now, if the truth must be told, Joe, like most ys of his age, was a great teeze;" and if no

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way of bothering Aunt Hannah or Elsie suggested itself to his fertile brain, he was pretty sure to pounce upon the cat, and keep up a commotion in some way, so it was no wonder his aunt felt relieved.

From that time Joe began to improve; he was regular in his attendance at school; before this he had been very fond of playing truant and roving about the streets; now he was up early helping his aunt, and after school hours he ran errands for shopkeepers, and earned many a copper that was now carefully saved to buy comfortable clothing for the winter. Autumn faded, and winter came with its icy blasts, bringing privation and suffering to many a humble home; and Aunt Hannah, work hard as she would, saw pinching times.

One morning, after a particularly scanty breakfast, Joe proposed to his aunt to stay at home and try to find some work. He thought he could get some odd jobs and help a little; his aunt did not oppose him, so, taking his cap, he dashed down the street at a break-neck pace. As he reached the corner, he halted a moment to watch some boys that were hanging on behind a passing coach; the driver happening to spy them, cracked his whip backwards, and the boys ran off rubbing their heads.

"You got it that time, didn't you?" shouted Joe, as he turned to go up the street.

Just then he looked down and saw something black lying just off the pavement; he hit it with his foot first, and then, stooping down, saw it was a well-filled pocket-book. How his heart bounded as he slid it into his pocket and walked slowly on!

"What shall I do?" thought Joe; "some rich

man has lost it, and never will miss it; what lots of good it would do us, though; wouldn't we have good times! and nobody will know it!" And then came a second thought: "It is not mine, have I any right to keep it? God sees me too, and I never could look my teacher in the face again--never. I can't keep it," ejaculated Joe, earnestly. "But what shall I do? I can't show it to Aunt Hannah."

Joe thought a moment, his face brightened, and he ran on. Now, children that have always had enough of everything can scarcely form any idea of Joe's struggle. What would have been a simple act of justice in such an one, was perfect heroism in Joe. He found something to do, and before noon had earned enough to buy a loaf and a bit of meat; with these he ran off home, and, giving them to his aunt, slipped into his bedroom and safely hid his treasure, though not before he had discovered that it was well filled with bank-notes, and that, in one side, was a letter addressed to Simon Archer, No. 14, Street.

"There, that must be the man's name," thought Joe; "I'll ask my teacher what to do."

Full of this idea, he started off down the street, slowly for him, for he was thinking what to do next, when some one clapped him on the shoulder, and a pleasant voice said, "How are you getting on?" Joe looked up; it was his teacher.

"Oh, I am so glad to see you; I want to ask you what to do ;" and he told him all about his finding the pocket-book, and the name in it. He did not keep back anything, not even his temptation to keep it.

"Well, my boy, you've done nobly; now I would advise you to take it to this man, and see if it Jongs to him, and if not, I will advertise it for

you. Here is my address, if you wish to see me at any time, so good-bye for now."

It was late in the afternoon when Joe started for Mr. Archer's, as he knew most business men were not at home until then. He was not long in finding the place, and felt a little timid as he rang the bell.

"Can I see Mr. Archer ?" he asked of the servant.

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'What can you want with him, I'd like to know?" said the girl crossly, glancing down at his patched clothes.

"I want to speak with him, if you please," replied Joe, with some spirit.

"Well, I'll see."

Joe waited on the steps, and in a moment a pleasant, elderly-looking man came out, and inquired his errand.

"Have you lost anything, sir?" asked Joe, cautiously.

"Well, I should rather think I have; but what do you know about it, boy? Have you found a pocket-book?"

"Yes, sir, I have; will you please describe yours; I think this must be it," said Joe, grasping it tightly in his pocket.

"Come in, and we'll see about this: where did you find it? I want to know all about it."

Joe told his story in a straightforward, manly

way, and Mr. Archer listened in silence.

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Now, my boy, what sent you here? Was there a letter in it directed to Simon Archer, and a number of bank bills?”

"Yes, sir, it's all right," and Joe handed it over. Mr. Archer counted the money; not any gone: then he glanced at Joe's torn cap and patched clothes.

Well, I am glad to see you are an honest boy, and if you will come to my office in

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Street, I can give you a place where you can do better than you seem to be doing now; and here is something for your present wants" (handing him a piece of gold).

"Thank you, sir; I didn't expect any reward; I only did what I thought was right.”

"That's it; always stick to that, and you will be sure to prosper," said Mr. Archer, briskly. Now, my lad, I shall look for you in a day or two."

Joe carried a light heart home that night, and, when he told the story to his aunt and Elsie, they could hardly credit it; the gold was quite a little fortune to them. The result of it all was that Joe got a good situation, and is now in a fair way to make an active, upright business man. Aunt Hannah and Elsie are seeing brighter days, and it is well if they are all learning to put their trust in the Giver of all these mercies.Mothers' Friend.

BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN JANUARY.

143. January 7. Commit to memory texts on

haughtiness.