while! I want to help you so much, and I won't keep company with any bad boys." With such pleading, George won his mother's consent. Every night he brought home to his mother the sum he had realized from his sales. True, it was but small, but trifling as it was, the widow felt that it was not to be despised; and she saw in it an earnest of what George would accomplish when a few more years had left their impress upon him. Mrs. Bailey contrived to keep the wolf from the door, and was rejoicing that she had succeeded so well, and had been able to keep a home and have all her little ones with her. She arose one morning, feeling exceedingly thankful that she had been so highly favoured, and went about her work with unusual alacrity. Before noon, her youngest child, little Mary, complained of headache, and before night she had a high fever. The next day, the unmistakable symptoms of scarlet fever showed themselves, and made the mother's heart ache with the dismal prospect before her. Her little one must now take up her time and energies. Her needle must lie idly by, and next week her rent was due. How should she meet it? Besides all this, she must depend upon her own care to save the life of her child, for she could not pay for the services of a physician, and then her other three children were exposed to the same fearful malady. On the day that her rent became due, she had just eight shillings; she needed eight more to meet the demand of her landlord, and where to procure them she did not know. George arose from his slumbers that morning to find his mother weeping bitterly. His first thought was that his little sister Mary was dead, but when he saw that she was still alive, he said, "Mother, why do you weep? Do you think Mary will die ?" "I do not think she will," replied his mother. "What troubles you so much, then, mother?" anxiously inquired George. one of "Because," replied his mother, "to-day is rent-day, and all I have is eight shillings, and I cannot earn much while Mary is sick." "Mother," said George, the verses in my Sabbath-school lesson last Sunday, was: All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.' Let us ask God for what we want, and He will give it to us. I will try what I can do to-day, and I will pray to God to help; and do you pray, too, mother, and I think I shall bring home to-night all the money we need." "I will pray, George, for your success, and hope the Lord will provide as He has promised." "Never fear, mother. I know He will; and now I must have something to eat, and then to work. Keep up good courage, mother dear, I will bring you the needed supply to-night." George sold more papers than usual that day, and several persons gave him sixpences and refused to take the change. Toward evening, he entered the omnibus mentioned at the commencement of this story, where the gentleman gave him the half-crown which called up that look of gratitude, and, at the same time, a feeling of thankfulness to the great Jehovah, who could make even a man that had been drinking the means of answering the prayer of one of His children. When George reached home, he found that his profits amounted to ten shillings. The eight shillings would pay the rent, and the rest would enable them to live through the next day. That night they offered up a sacrifice of prayer and thanksgiving, and resolved that they would never again doubt the goodness of God. Little Mary was soon convalescent, and the rest of the family escaped the contagion. Surely, it was a trial of their faith, which grew stronger and brighter with the experience through which it had passed. "I have been young," says the Psalmist, "and now am old; but I never saw the righteous forsaken, though his seed beg bread." THE MARTYR'S MOTHER. [IN Volume XX. of the "Ante-Nicene Christian Library," published by Messrs. Clark, of Edinburgh, is found, among "Ancient Syriac Documents," an account of the martyrdom by fire of Habib, a deacon of the Church at Edessa, who suffered about A.D. 314. As the martyr went forth to the place of execution, "his mother," says the historian, "clad in white, went forth with him." In a metrical homily on Habib's death, composed by Mar Jacob, Bishop of Sarug, who flourished at the beginning of the 6th century, and which is contained in the same collection, these few words are expanded into the lines which it has been here attempted to put into English verse. The metre is an imitation of that of the original. B. P. PRATTEN.] Why goes the mother forth in festive garments gay ?- The Love Supreme came down, in heavenly armour dight, The mother's breaking heart yearned o'er her offspring dear: With looks elate and glad she joins the martyr-train 66 Yea, second of the name, Shamuna "* They bind him to the stake, the wreathed flames arise; * A celebrated martyr of Edessa. Another eye within did gaze on things unseen: To her the martyr-pile was as it had not been. On gems of fire she looked, from crown of martyr flashing; And on the Son of God, who clothes their limbs with light; On these the mother looked, unwitting of the flame: PICKINGS FROM MY PORTFOLIO. WHEN the Lord called in the care, and anxiety, and desire of His people from the kingdom of the present world, as wholly unworthy of their pursuit, He did not leave them without another kingdom, on which these affections might be worthily employed, which He nameth the kingdom of heaven-that is, the kingdom to come, whereof we are heirs, and to the inheritance of which we shall be raised up to enter along with our risen Lord. This kingdom we cannot presently possess, save in faith and hope, because it is not seen, and because it is yet future. And for this inheritance it is that we continue strangers and pilgrims in the present evil world, patiently looking for a city whose builder and whose maker is God. And why should I, who am promised the inheritance of the earth, strive for one of its fields, or care for one of its clayey mansions? And why should I, who shall see God, and see Him as He is no despised man in weeds of sorrow, but a King in His beauty-care for the fear and favour of the great ones and beautiful ones of the earth? And shall I, who am the son of the King of kings, and heir-apparent to a crown of glory, to "an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away," care for worldly distinctions or courtly preferments, or aught appertaining to the rebel and corrupt vice-sovereignties of the earth? Thus it is the believer, embodying to himself that future reign of glory which awaiteth him, seeketh earnestly to be possessed of it in the good time and pleasure of the Lord, and in the faith thereof is content to pass all unnoticed, all despised and trodden on, through the valley of humility and sorrow which his Lord walked in before him. One present possession only he desireth-the righteousness of that kingdom, which is its earnest, and the seal of admission to its glory.—Edward Irving. "I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE." In these words the English language fails to give the full meaning of the Greek. It implies, "Never, no, never; no, nor ever!" This world is a world of "leaving, parting, separation, failure and disappointment." Think of finding something that will never leave nor fail. Grasp this promise, "I will never leave thee," and store it in your heart; you will want it one day. The hour will come when you will find nothing so comforting or cheering as a sense of God's companion 66 ship. Stick to that word "never." It is worth its weight in gold. Cling to it as a drowning man clings to a rope. Grasp it firmly, as a soldier, attacked on all sides, grasps his sword. "Never!" Though your heart faints, and you are sick of self failures and infirmities-even then the promise will not fail. Never!" Though the devil whispers, "I shall have you at last; your faith will fail, and you will be mine". -even then God will keep His word. "Never!" When the cold chill of death creeps on, and friends can do no more, and you are starting on that journey from which there is no returneven then Christ will not forsake you. "Never!" When the day of judgment comes, and the books are opened, and eternity is beginningeven then the promise will bear all your weight: Christ will not let go His hold on your soul.-Rev. J. C. Ryle. As sure as God liveth, as sure as the Holy One of Israel is the Lord of Hosts, the Almighty, right is might, and ever was, and ever shall be. Holiness is might; meekness is might; patience is might; humility is might; self-denial and selfsacrifice are might; faith is might; love is might; every gift of the Spirit is might. The cross was two pieces of dead wood, and a helpless unresisting Man was nailed to it; yet it was mightier than the world, and triumphed, and will ever triumph, over it. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but no pure, holy deed, or word, or thought. On the other hand, might, that which the children of earth call so-the strong wind, the earthquake, the fire-perishes through its own violence, selfexhausted and self-consumed; as our age of the world as been allowed to witness in the most signal example. For many of us remember, and they who do not have heard from their fathers, how the mightiest man on earth—he who had girt himself with all might except that of the right-burst like a tempest cloud, burnt himself out like a conflagration, and only left the scars of his ravages to mark where he had been. Who among you can look into an infant's face, and not see a power in it mightier than all the armies of Napoleon P-Archdeacon Hare. Joy is the happiness of love; it is love exulting; it is love aware of its own felicity, and rioting in riches which it has no fear of exhausting; it is love taking a look at its treasure, and surrendering itself to bliss without foreboding. Gentleness is love in society; it is love holding intercourse with those around it. It is that cordiality of aspect, and that soul of speech, which assure us that kind and earnest hearts may still be met with here below. It is that quiet influence which, like the scented flame of an alabaster lamp, fills many a home with light and warmth and fragrance altogether. It is the carpet, soft and deep, which, whilst it diffuses a look of ample comfort, deadens many a creaking sound. It is the curtain, which from many a beloved form wards off at once the summer's glow and the winter's wind. It is the pillow on which sickness lays its head, and forgets half its misery, and to which death comes in a balmier dream. It is considerateness. It is tenderness of feeling. It is warmth of affection. promptitude of sympathy; love in all its depths, and all its delicacy. It is everything included in that matchless grace, the gentleness of Christ.-Hamilton. It is It is MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. THERE has just come to hand a very interesting piece of information from India. The Rev. Goolzar Shah, whom so many of our readers saw during his short visit to this country, has been delivering to his fellowChristians, a lecture on "Christian Life in England." The thing itself is so novel, that we cannot help re 'where was altogether kind and 'cordial. Mr. Shah had the pleasure of 'finding a new host to receive and 'entertain him every day of his 'sojourn. And it was in the English 'homes in particular, supplemented, 'doubtless, by his observations at 'the churches and missionary meet producing it as given in the Bengalings, that he formed his idea of Christian Herald; a paper which, probably, not half-a-dozen of our readers are likely to see, or even to hear of. 'Christian Life in England. His 'impression, we are glad to observe, 'was peculiarly favourable. Indeed, 'it is a great relief to learn that, 'amidst a great deal of anti-Christian 'influence, alike as regards belief 'and conduct, triumphantly reported 'to obtain in England, there are not 'wanting felt demonstrations of the 'power of the gospel, destined one 'day to inaugurate a glorious and 'ever-abiding revival. 'Mr. Shah was struck with the 'missionary zeal of the household of 'faith in England. This holy ardour 'characterised men, women, and 'children all alike. The attendance at meetings convened for missionary 'purposes, was sensibly large, pre'senting in this respect a significant 'contrast to the state of things in In'dia. All present appeared intensely 'anxious for the evangelization 'of our country; some breaking 'forth in fervent prayers for India's 'conversion, others eliciting by 'searching questions the hopes that 'attract, and the checks that repel, 'the Indian evangelist, and others, 'again, earnestly seeking informa 'tion as to the quantity and quality 'of the work achieved by preachers 'of the gospel in this land. Their 'contributions towards the main'tenance of missionary schemes were |