"Ha! art thou come to rend alive
What dead thou mightst devour?
And does thy savage fury grudge
My one remaining hour?"

Fear gave him back his wasted strength,
He took his aim too well-

The bullet bore the message home-
The injured mastiff fell.

His eye was dimmed, his voice was still,
And he tossed his head no more-

But his heart, though it ceased to throb with joy,
Was generous as before!

For round his willing neck he bore

A store of needful food,

That might support the traveller's strength
On the yet remaining road.

Enough of parting life remained

His errand to fulfil—
One painful, dying effort more
Might save the murderer still.

So he heeded not his aching wound
But crawled to the traveller's side,
Marked with a look the way he came,
Then shuddered, groaned, and died!

MISS FRY.

THE MEEK.

A MISSIONARY in Jamaica was questioning the little black boys on Matt. v., and asked, "Who are the meek?" A boy answered, "Those who give soft answers to rough questions."

THE WONderful wAYS OF GOD. A MINISTER, who has been dead some years, had been preaching, one evening, in a village at some distance from his home; when, on his return, he was stopped by a footpad, who presented a pistol, and demanded his money. The minister allowed him to take his watch and his money; and the thief, feeling some papers in his pocket, took them also away with him, saying, that for anything he knew, there might be bank notes among them. These papers were, however, manuscript sermons, written out at length in a fair and legible hand. Some months afterwards, a respectable-looking man called upon the same minister, recalled to his recollection the robbery, stated that he had been the robber, restored the watch and a sum of money equivalent to that which he had taken away, and stated the cause of his making restitution was, that, upon looking over the papers, he found a sermon on the words, "Thou shalt not steal." The singularity of this circumstance induced him to read it; and the impression produced by its warnings upon him was so powerful, that he abandoned his profligate courses, became an altered man, devoted himself to industrious labour, and took the earliest opportunity of restoring the property he had stolen.

"WONDERFULLER."

ONE day a little blue-eyed friend of mine was playing merrily in the parlour, seeming to have no thought beyond her pleasures, when a gentleman and lady in the room began to talk about the Bible. The gentleman thought that a great many things in that wise book were not meant to be understood exactly as they were written. For instance, that

the bunch of grapes that required the strength of two men to bring out of the "land flowing with milk and honey "" was really an entire vine. The lady agreed with him. My little four years old friend dropped her toys, and going to the lady, put her hand upon her arm, and looking at her with pitying eyes said:

"Aunty?"

"What, dear?" the lady answered.
"Do you know who made you?"
"Yes, God."

Then, summoning all her strength, in solemn tones the baby asked, "Do you think that it is any wonderfuller for God to make that big bunch of grapes than to make you?"-Little Corporal.

A WORD TO PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND CHILDREN respecting suNDAY SCHOOLS.

ON Parents much it doth depend,
How they to school their children send;
'Tis very sad to see them come

Some minutes after school's begun.

Sometimes they've almost sung the hymn
Before the children do come in;
And oft a Teacher is in prayer
Before the children all are there.

Perhaps some children by the way
Have lingered on the road to play ;
This brings a solemn fact to light,
Such do not in their schools delight.

'Tis also proper when they meet,

Each one should come as clean and neat
As circumstances will admit,

Before they for instruction sit.

Let Teachers, too, reminded be,
That children quite expect to see
Each one in time to meet them there,
For singing, reading, and for prayer.
'Tis well when each can feel and see
How punctual they ought to be ;
While we confess 'tis better still
To practice it with hearty will.
May Parents, Teachers, Children too,
Each strive their very best to do;
And after all, may each one own
All blessing comes from God alone.
T. Wells.

66

T. E., Salem.

THE CHRISTIAN NEGRO.

66

A GENTLEMAN, walking one day on his plantation in the West Indies, perceived some peas growing between the rows of sugar-canes that were quite ripe. Knowing that the slaves were short of food, from the little time allowed them to work in their patches of land, he called to one of them who was near, and asked him why he did not take those peas? They are not mine," answered the negro. Oh, fellow!" replied the master, you think everything yours that you can lay your hands on." No, massa," said the slave, "negro who prays no thieve!" The planter was struck with surprise. "What have I been about," he exclaimed, "not to let the missionaries come upon my estate?" So he sat down directly, and wrote to a missionary who lived near, and begged him to come and preach to his slaves as often as he pleased.

LITTLE WILLIE AND THE APPLE. LITTLE WILLIE stood under an apple tree old, The fruit was all shining with crimson and gold, Hanging temptingly low-how he longed for a bite, Though he knew, if he took one, it wouldn't be

right!

Said he," I don't see why my father should say,
'Don't touch the old apple-tree, Willie, to-day;'
I so
When I asked for just one, he should answer me

low,

'No.'

"He would never find out if I took but just one, There are hundreds and hundreds, and he wouldn't And they do look so good, shining out in the sun; So paltry a little red apple as this.”

miss

He stretched forth his hand, but a low, mournful

strain

Came wandering dreamily over his brain;
In his bosom a beautiful harp had long laid,
That the angel of conscience quite frequently

played.

And he

sang,

"Little Willie, beware, O! beware,

Your father has gone, but your Maker is there :
How sad you would feel if you heard the Lord say,
'This dear little boy stole an apple to-day !'"
Then Willie turned round, and as still as a mouse,
Crept slowly and carefully into the house;

pray, That the Lord would forgive him and please not to

"Little Willie almost stole an apple to-day."

say,