This child was blest with parents kind,
Who laboured to impress her mind,
To seek to know in days of youth
The God of grace, the God of truth.

Such was their object; to their pain,
Their efforts seemed to be in vain.
Sad proof she gave there dwelt within,
Though young, a heart inclined to sin.

One day, with hatred filled, she took
Into her hands the Holy Book,
Cast on the floor, and, in a rage,
Trampled upon the sacred page.

But One there was whose piercing eye
Did then that impious deed descry;
He of the action notice took,

And wrote it in His awful book.

Perhaps of it she thought no more ;
Time sped along just as before :
Perhaps she had the deed forgot,
But, if she had, the Lord had not.
Some time from this had passed away;
It came to pass, one pleasant day,
Of children young a joyous train
Unto her parents' dwelling came.

Their youthful tongues together chime,
In various ways they pass the time ;
Pleasant the moments glided by,
And brought the hour of parting nigh.

Of fireworks, beautiful to view-
But useless sights, and dangerous too—
It was designed a bright display
Should close the pleasures of the day.

But while they view the colours fair,
A loud explosion rends the air!
And consternation spreads around,
This little girl could not be found!
A sad occurrence then befel
The little one of whom I tell ;
They search, and soon the lost one find,
Beneath a shady hedge reclined.

One foot was mangled: filled with fear,
Her mother asked, "Which is it, dear?"
"Mamma, it is the foot," she said,
"Which did upon the Bible tread."

The answer proved, beyond a doubt,
Her sin at last had found her out;
And conscience in that hour had brought
To mind the wicked deed she wrought.
And she was in her youthful bloom
Destined to fill an early tomb;
Two years from that eventful day,
She lingered on, then passed away.
Yet, to console each sorrowing friend,
This hope was in her mournful end-
That, ere she slept beneath the ground,
Mercy was sought, and mercy found.
May this a warning be to all,

Both old and young, and great and small,
To treat with veneration due

The Word of God, the just and true.
Of trifling with its threats beware,
Nor ever mount the scorner's chair;
For those who do His wrath shall know,
And unto sure destruction go.

1866.

PROV. xiii. 13.

M. B.

the calf.

to memory texts on

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155. March 31. Commit to memory texts on the sheep.

THE PRAYING SOLDIER.

DURING the unhappy commotions in Ireland, a private soldier in the army of Lord Cornwallis was daily observed to be absent from his quarters, and from the company of his fellow soldiers. He began to be suspected of withdrawing himself for the purpose of holding intercourse with the rebels ; and on this suspicion, probably increased by the malice of his wicked comrades, he was tried by a courtmartial, and condemned to die. The marquis, hearing of this, wished to examine the minutes of the trial; and, not being satisfied, sent for the man to converse with him. Upon being interrogated, the prisoner solemnly disavowed every treasonable practice or intention, declared his sincere attachment to his sovereign, and his readiness to live and die in his service: he affirmed that the real cause of his frequent absence was, that he might obtain a place of retirement for the purpose of private prayer; for which his lordship knew he had no opportunity among his profane comrades, who

had become his enemies merely on account of his profession of religion. He said, he had made his defence on his trial; but the officers thought it so improbable that they paid no attention to it. The marquis, in order to satisfy himself as to the truth of his defence, observed that, if so, he must acquire some considerable aptness in this exercise. The poor man replied that as to ability he had nothing to boast of. The marquis then insisted on his kneeling down and praying aloud before him; he kneeled and poured forth his soul before God with such copiousness, fluency, and ardour, that the marquis took him by the hand, and said, he was satisfied that no man could pray in that manner who did not live in the habit of intercourse with his God. He not only revoked the sentence, but received him into his peculiar favour, placing him among his personal attendants.

If anyone were to call you the praying boy or the praying girl, would they be saying the truth about you?

Where God bestows the heart to pray, He will bestow the blessing sought. "Ask, and it shall be given you," is Jesu's faithful word.

INSTANCES OF TRUTHFULNESS.

A BOY was once amusing himself in bowling a stone-rather a common, but dangerous mode of amusement-and the stone striking against the side walk bounded into a window and broke a pane of glass. The man of the house instantly came out to find the cause, when he saw a boy standing and looking at the broken pane. The man asked him if he had done the mischief. "I did," answered the boy, "but I will pay for it ;" he then told him

how it occurred. The man was very much surprised at the honest boldness of the lad, and said, But you shall not pay for the window, for, as you have neither run away, nor told me a lie to save yourself, I will pay one-half of the expense;" and thus the boy was rewarded for speaking the truth.

Hegiage was a celebrated Arabian warrior, but very cruel. Among a number of prisoners whom he had condemned to death, was one who had a moment's audience with him just before the time of execution. "You ought, sir," he said, "to pardon me, because when Abdarrahman was cursing you, I told him he was wrong; and ever since then I have lost his friendship." Hegiage asked him if he had any witness of this; and the soldier referred him to another prisoner who was condemned to die. He was called into the presence of the warrior, and confirmed the statement. Hegiage then granted him pardon. He afterwards asked the witness if he had taken his part against Abdarrahman. Respecting the truth more than he feared death, he said, "No, I have not, because I didn't believe it to be my duty to do so." Hegiage was struck with the man's candour, and said to him, "Well, suppose I were to grant you your life and liberty, should you be still my enemy?" "No," said the prisoner. That's enough," said Hegiage, "your bare word is sufficient; you have given undoubted proof of your love of truth. Go, preserve the life that is less dear to you than honour and sincerity; your liberty is the just reward of your truthfulness."

The minister of the seminary at Clermont was seized by the populace at Autun in the time of religious persecution. The mayor, who it seems respected him, advised him not to take the oath required to the Roman religion, but to allow him to tell the people that he had taken it. "No," said