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esmen are often just a set of grown up children, exactly like children I have been speaking of, with only this material erence, that instead of themselves fighting out the needless rrels they have raised, they sit in safety and look on, send out r innocent but servile subjects to battle, and then, after a te of blood and treasure, are glad to make peace on the boy's lition, 'If ye'll let us alane, we'll let ye alane.'

THE STORY OF LITTLE MARIA.

CHAPTER THIRD.-THE RECOVERY.

MONTH had elapsed since my leaving the cottage before I was to fulfil my promise of an early return. When my arrangeats were completed, however, I started with a glad heart, and not a little pleased to have as fine a day for the second visit hat which had attended me on the first. Then, as you may ember, there were sweet scents poured forth from field and den, while at this later period a new variety of charms eared on every hand. Flowers which were then in early bud e now fully in bloom; and a multitude of fragrant atoms ned to gush forth upon the senses from every field. Now, too, e were songs to be heard; birds on the wing, and others ched among the hedge-rows, all striving to make the air as et with their melody as the grain and the flowers were making veet with their pleasant scent. With such a rare display of 's free mercies, I could not help thinking of his goodness in iding for the enjoyment of his creatures, nor could I avoid idering how great is the blessing of having all our senses in use. A few days ago, I saw a gentleman who used formerly ake great delight in the beauties of nature; he loved to look the fruits and flowers of the earth, and would gaze for hours lovely prospect. But now, alas! he is quite blind, and can - remember such things as past joys and pleasures which may more return. So, too, with the sense of hearing. At this ent, while I am engaged in writing for the entertainment ny young readers, there is a little boy beside me busily ged in cutting a stick. To watch his movements, you would er imagine that there was any such misfortune in his case; yet it is true that the poor child has never heard the sound of d, nor ever listened with delight to a kind mother's voice. boy, he is deaf and mute! What a mercy to have our es spared to us, so that we may enjoy the sight of the blue and the rainbow, and listen to the waterfall or the sweet song he birds! Remember this, children, and oh! do not forget to k God that you are neither blind nor deaf.

fter a pleasant ride, I reached the cottage, and had the ort of receiving as warm a welcome as could be given or ed. Mr. Elwood expressed his acknowledgments, in which as joined by his wife; but nothing pleased me more than the le and affectionate earnestness of the little lady herself. In a words, she gave me to understand that she remembered my ness, and that she intended always to love me, and would der me among her chief friends. She also related the culars of the adventure, from which I gathered that it was ault neither of herself nor the pony that she was thrown, but esult of an accident that might have occurred to any rider any horse. It appeared that Robin and his young mistress passed down the road to a considerable distance, and had dy turned the bend which Mr. Elwood had spoken of as a of some danger. The road at this part ran for at least a in nearly a straight line, and Maria, confident that no danger I present itself, slackened the rein, and began to watch for the g where she was accustomed to water her horse as well as to est and refreshment for herself. She had arrived within a feet of this spot, at a point where a high stone wall and e-row bounded the road, and was just in the act of disting, when an immense black dog, whose thirst led him to spring, bounced over the fence, and landed almost on the 's back. At this unexpected arrival, Robin was much ed, and started back with such suddenness as to throw his with considerable violence to the ground. Here she lay senseless until she was raised and brought to consciousness e timely arrival of the farmer and myself. In a subsequent rsation with the little girl's father, I learned many cir

cumstances of great interest respecting her conduct during the period of her sickness. 'There she lay,' said her father, 'evidently suffering from weakness and her bruises, and yet allowing no sound of complaint to escape her lips. As she became better, she inquired of the doctor whether it would hurt her to read, and on receiving a favourable reply, she asked for her Testament, and during the rest of her confinement never suffered it to be taken from her side. Yes,' said her father, 'it was to me a sight worth the universe, to see that dear child, hour after hour, holding fast her guide-book, and from time to time glancing at some passage, as if she would gain further provision for her journey, and wished above all things to make sure of her way. 'Infidels,' added Mr. Elwood, 'may have their theories, and these may answer, or seem to answer, a purpose in the time of prosperity and in the day of health; but there is nothing but the Bible that will satisfy a rational creature, who feels himself drawing, step by step, each day nearer to the tomb. That child with her little Testament beside her upon the pillow, is to my mind an argument for religion beyond the craft of Satan or the devices of any of his followers among deluded men.'

I understood, moreover, that the little girl, upon her recovery, seemed very anxious to testify her gratitude to God, by engaging in some useful work; and hearing that the labours of a teacher in the neighbourhood had proved too arduous for her feeble strength, Maria determined to offer her services as an assistant, thinking herself competent to take charge of the younger children.

As soon, therefore, as her health permitted, Robin was again in demand, and the little lady was scen on many a fair day trotting along the road on her kind errand. The teacher was most grateful for the aid of our young acquaintance, and so much was she cheered and comforted by Maria's presence in the school, that she was heard to remark that she felt herself indebted almost for life itself to the kindness and sympathy of our friend. Nor was this merely a fancy for school-teaching, which was likely to wear off after a short period, and then pass entirely away, On the Contrary, she seemed moved to it by a steady principle, and, like every work to which we are led by principle, this duty became every day more agreeable, and in a short time nothing but a severe storm could keep Maria from the school. The children, too, became very fond of one who showed so deep an interest in their welfare, and hardly any sight could be prettier than that of the little girl when surrounded by a group of children, many of whom were as tall as herself. The progress of those to whom she devoted her attention, was rapid and satisfactory, so much so that our friend was able to enjoy the comfort of seeing about her many interesting children upon whom she had conferred a real good. How much better she felt for this effort than she would have done had her whole time been occupied in some childish employment, such as arranging a baby-house or dressing dolls! Children are too apt to think that because they are children, it is no matter in what way they spend their time; but certainly it is important to form good habits, and no habit is more desirable than that of keeping ourselves usefully employed. There are many persons, who, from the want of being well and carefully trained in this respect, grow up without being of the least use in the world, and, instead of a comfort, are indeed a charge and burthen to their friends. I wish my young readers to consider this, and to follow, as far as they are able, the example of little Maria. It is not likely that all will be able to employ themselves in the same way that she did, that is, in assisting a feeble but worthy schoolteacher; but, if they will look around them, and are really anxious for employment, I am very certain that some useful and agrecable occupation for their leisure moments may be found. Some little girls there are who sew very neatly, and others have been taught to knit; and it is not to be doubted that such persons can find plenty of work. What a comfort it would be to some poor mother to have a little lady look in, and offer to make a dress for one of her ragged children, and to find another ready to teach the girls of the family to knit and sew!

Maria was made very happy by having this occasional employment. Her father and mother united in giving their child a good education, and while nothing was neglected that was really useful they took care, that her time was not filled up by any frivolous pursuit. Her custom was to devote the early morning hours, under her father's direction, to such studies, as geography, history, and grammar, after which she walked in the garden with her mother, or, in rainy weather found some easy household work.

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This done, her mother kindly instructed her in the elements of music, or in drawing, in both of which she had made creditable progress. One thing quite remarkable in a child of her age, for she was at that time just entering her thirteenth year, was the pains she took to learn every branch thoroughly. She never desired to fly from one study to another, but was always anxious to spend the allotted portion of her day in its proper work. Often, however, her father would contrive to make a pleasant variety. Sometimes he would bring in a handful of shells, and ask the names of some, while he mentioned and explained to her the names of those with which she was not familiar. In a little time, the young student became well acquainted with the forms of several hundred shells. But her chief delight in the way of study was to start off with her father for a walk in the neighbouring woods. Here she seemed almost beside herself with joy. A hundred times her voice would be heard as she cried out, 'Oh, father, what is this? I am sure that I have found a new flower this time! Do come, father, and look at this lovely little thing.' To all such inquiries and exclamations of the eager child her father would make a kind and sympathizing reply. He, too, was a lover of nature, and great was his delight at observing in his daughter this growing fondness for the lovely works of God.

In such studies and pleasant rambles, Maria gathered a great amount of really useful knowledge, and yet was able to find time for her frequent visits to the village school. So much may be done by diligent attention, and by carefully allowing no moment to pass unimproved.

An event occurred a few months after her accident which afforded her an opportunity of profiting by her studies, as well as a chance of contributing largely to the pleasure of several excellent friends. The particulars of this concurrence must, however, be reserved for our next number.

(To be continued.)

REMARKS ON THE NEW ZEALANDERS.

New Zealand, which lies on the other side of the globe, nearly opposite to Great Britain, and whose inhabitants have their feet nearly opposite to ours, was first discovered by Tasman, in the year 1612. It was long supposed to be part of a southern continent; but was ascertained, by the celebrated Captain Cook, to consist of two large islands, divided from each other by a strait twelve or fifteen miles broad. The northern island is 600 miles long, by an average breadth of 150; and the southern nearly as large.

Their

These islands contain about a million of inhabitants, who are, in general, equal in strength to the largest men in Europe. colour is a light brown. Both the men and women have good features. Their dress consists of mats, made of a kind of flax, which grows in abundance in the island, and is of a very fine texture. These people are accustomed to mark, or tattoo their bodies, and particularly their faces.

They have various weapons of war, the principal of which arc lances, darts, and a kind of battle axe; but the use of fire arms is, unhappily, becoming pretty general, from their intercourse with Europeans. As by this means the horrors of war, that curse and plague of the human race, will be increased, it forms a loud call upon European Christians to send them the blessed gospel of peace, which teaches men to live and to love as brethren, and which, when it shall be universally known and received, will banish war from the world, by destroying those unholy principles in the depraved heart of man, from which it springs.

When a New Zealander dies, if he has been a person of rank, his friends put him in the earth for a few weeks or months, after which they take up his body, and scrape the decayed flesh off the bones, and collect them together; then the priest sets apart a number of men, whose duty it is to carry the bones to a cave at a distance. Every person who touches any part of the body is in a state of pollution, or, as they call it, tabooed, for a certain number of days. They have no places of worship, nor do they ever assemble together for religious purposes; but they have priests whose business it is to address their false gods in prayer for the welfare of the natives in their temporal affairs, for victory over their enemies, or for success in fishing and hunting. Thus do they live without knowing the only

true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent, and die as if there were no hereafter. What a dreadful thought! But more dreadful still to think that this is so with many called Christians. Reader, is it so with you?-Think!

These people are in a most savage state; they even eat human flesh. Their ideas about religion are as absurd as their practices are cruel and wicked. They think there are a great many gods, but they regard one as ruling over the rest. When sick they do not pray to their imaginary god, but utter the most dreadful curses to frighten him away, that they may get well. This is very sad, is it not? And yet some who call themselves Christians do what is quite as foolish and as wicked, when they drive God from their thoughts for fear of becoming gloomy. By doing so, they show that they know not him who is a God of love and mercy, and who has so loved sinners as to give his only begotten Son to die for their salvation. Reader, do you?

"One of our scholars, for instance," says a missionary who has lived there many years, "" was taken very ill. His poor ignorant father did not pray to the Supreme Being for the recovery of his son, for he was ignorant of Him, but he was uttering the most dreadful curses against his false god. When I asked him the reason, he replied, it was a good thing at New Zealand, he did it to frighten the Atua, or god, away, who would otherwise destroy his son. The boy had been out in the rain a whole day, and caught a severe cold; but the natives will not allow that heat or cold can hurt a man. They ascribe every pain they feel to the Atua, who, they say, is preying upon them. They consider their god as an invisible Anthropophagus, or man-eater, and regard him with a mixture of fear and hatred, betraying impatience and anger whenever they are visited with sickness.

"Pride and ignorance, cruelty and licentiousness, are some of the principal ingredients in a New Zealander's religion. He does not, so far as I can learn, bow down to a stock or a stone, but magnifies himself into a god. The chief and elders of the people are called Atuas, even while they are living. Our aged friend, Tiarrah, says that the god of thunder is in his forehead. Shunghee and Oheda tell me that they are possessed with gods of the sea. When the clouds are beautifully chequered, the Atua above, they think, is planting sweet potatoes. At the season when these are planted in the ground, the planters dress themselves in their best raiment, and say, that as Atuas on earth, they are imitating the Atua in heaven. The lands are, from that time, considered sacred, until the sweet potatoe crops are taken up. No person presumes to go upon them, except such as are consecrated for the purpose of weeding and inspecting them.”

BAPTISM OF NGAHUE A NEW ZEALAND
CHIEF.

SOME time since a chief in that spiritually dark part of the world New Zealand, was by means of the Church Missionary Society induced to believe the gospel and to receive the rite of baptism. The Church Missionary Intelligencer contains a pictorial illustration of the baptismal scene. Through the kindness of the Society, this engraving will appear in the January number of Pictorial Pages. It is large as well as beautiful, and will fill our two centre pages. Whilst the sight of it will be pleasing, it will at the same time be useful-prompting us to abound in the Divine work of spreading the gospel throughout the world, by shewing us that in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

Our January Number will also contain engravings and articles upon a variety of other useful and interesting subjects.

SIX LARGE BIBLE PRINTS. Engraved by Mr. G. Measom, from drawings on the wood by Mr. Gilbert.

We predict that these eloquent and splendid productions will be universal favourites.'-Berwick and Kelso Warder.

The privilege has been purchased of introducing the entire scries of the above beautiful and striking Prints into Pictorial Pages. The first of them, shewing the depth of degradation from which the Bible is able to rescue fallen man, will appear in an early number.

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it with his hand, nor a dog with

its mouth. Foxes, which are very cunning, finding they cannot bite the creature when thus rolled up, push it into a puddle or a pond. The animal finding itself in water, and afraid of being drowned, unfolds itself, and the moment it has so done, the fox seizes it by the soft inner part of its body and carries it away as its prey.

In the winter it lies motionless in a hole in the earth, well lined with grass and moss, and if discovered, makes itself look like a mass of leaves in which it rolls; and which, pierced with its prickles, become fastened to its back.

Some ignorant persons have sup

posed that the animal will go and suck the milk of cows; and dairy maids, when they have obtained less milk from the cow than usual, have laid the blame upon the hedgehog; but not justly, for its food is not cow's milk, but insects, snails, frogs, mice, and snakes.

Dr. Buckland placed a snake near one. The creature bit the snake and then rolled itself up that it might not be bitten in return. This it did many times, till the snake's back bone was broken in several places. It then drew the serpent into its mouth by the tail, and gradually ate it up as a man devours a radish.

The hedgehog is easily tamed, and is useful in houses to destroy beetles and other vermin.

We may get a practical hint from the little creature we have been considering: we may learn from it to seek that complete suit of spiritual armour, by placing which around us, we shall be defended against all the enemies of our souls. 'Put on,' says the Bible, the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,' that when tempted to sin you may firmly refuse. Especially taking the shield of faith-trusting in the power of God and the merits of Christ: and believing that the way of trans

gressors is hard-that it is an evil and a bitter thing to break God's commands-that that man is blessed, by whom temptation is resisted and overcome.

JOY ON THE BRINK OF ETERNITY.

OCTOR PAYSON when near his flight into the eternal world, full of heavenly joy dictated a letter to a beloved sister, of which the following is a sublime extract.

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Were I, dear sister, to adopt the figurative language of Bunyan, I might date this letter from the land of Beulah, of which I have been for some weeks a happy inhabitant. The celestial city is full in my view: its glories beam upon me; its breezes fan me; its odours are wafted to me; its sounds strike upon my cars, and its spirit is breathed into my heart. Nothing separates me from it, but the river of death, which now appears but as an insignificant rill that may be crossed at a single step whenever God shall give permission. The Sun of Righteousness has been gradually drawing nearer and nearer, appearing larger and brighter as he approached: and now he fills the whole hemisphere, pouring forth a flood of glory, in which I seem to float like an insect in the beams of the sun: exulting, yet almost trembling, while I gaze on this excessive brightness, and

MEDITATION.

wondering, with unutterable wonder, why God should deign thus to shine upon a sinful worm!

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MEDITATION.

It is unwise to occupy our minds about vain and trifling matters. The mill should not grind chaff but corn. It is yet worse to ponder on forbidden objects, the mill then grinds hemlock. Nothing will more repay careful consideration, than God's method of saving men by the mediation of Jesus Christ. Meditation on the great Gospel scheme, like the microscope applied to nature, will be continually bringing new beauties and glories into view.

Divine meditation has two great advantages, it tends both to enlighten the judgment and to warm the heart. During December, the month upon which we have now entered, whilst our daytime is shortening, our shadows are lengthening, and the year is closing, we should meditate upon death, which will soon overtake us; upon judgment which follows after death; and upon eternity to which both conduct. But, as when looking down a deep well we should grasp some post or standard, lest we fall in, so when pondering such momentous subjects we ought by faith to have hold of the Great Immanuel.

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W. S. LINDSAY. WILLIAM SHAW LINDSAY, was born in Ayr, in Scotland, in 1816, and was left an orphan when he was six years old. From that time, until he was fifteen, he was dependent upon friends for the merest subsistence. When he was fifteen he determined to make a start on his own account. He had, at that time, three shillings and sixpence, saved from gifts of half-pence. His intention, on starting, was to go to sea, where he had no doubt he should make his fortune.

Having worked his passage over to Liverpool, after several weeks of privation and distress, he was fortunate enough to be engaged as cabin boy on board the "Isabella" West Indiaman. By industry and perseverance he gradually rose in the profession until, when only in his 19th year, he was appointed to the command of the "Olive Branch," which command he held until 1840. In 1841 William retired from the sea, and was engaged in making Hartlepool an independent port, which result he finally achieved. In 1845 he removed to London, where he was successful in laying the foundation of a

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business of immense magnitude, and which fairly entitles him to take his position in the foremost rank of the first merchants in the world. In 1854 he was elected a member of Parliament for Tynemouth, and in 1859 he was returned for Sunderland; in addition to which he has been appointed a magistrate for Middlesex.

Can we now, in this hasty glance at the career of William Lindsay, realize the two extremes in the life of that extraordinary man? First, the poor orphan boy shovelling coals in the hold of the steamer-crossing the Irish Channel in lieu of payment of the passage-money. That is one extreme; now look at the other. Author, magistrate, member of Parliament, millionaire! Why it seems a fable-but it is true, nevertheless. And what are the means by which these two extremes have been bridged? It is the old watchword, "Labour."

William Lindsay furnishes to every desponding youth an extraordinary stimulus for effort and exertion. If he succeeded, surrounded by circumstances of such a discouraging character, what youth or man shall give up in despair

RESOLUTIONS OF PRESIDENT EDWARDS.

E concluded our December number with a reference to Meditation, as being especially suitable in the last month of the departing year. The new year having now commenced, the formation of resolutions how to act as its days and weeks roll on, seems highly proper. Much help in coming to right resolves may be obtained from the example of the eminent Jonathan Edwards, President of New Jersey College, U.S. He drew up for his own use, a series of resolutions amounting to seventy in number, from which the following are valuable and instructive extracts.

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RESOLVED,

1. That 1 will do whatsoever I think to be most to God's glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure ON THE WHOLE; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence; to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many, and how great

soever.

5. Never to lose one moment of time, but improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.

6. To live with all my might while I do live.

7. Never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

13. To be endeavouring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

20. To maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking. 28. To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and fre quently, as that I may find and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

36. Never to speak evil of any person, except some particular good call for it.

37. To inquire every night as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself; also at the end of every week, month, and

year.

46. Never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother.

55. To endeavour to my utmost to act as I can think I should do if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. 56. Never to give over nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

62. Never to do anything but duty, and then according to Eph. vi. 6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord and not to man; knowing that whatever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.'

Let us form and keep resolutions similar to the above, and real piety, usefulness, and joy, will attend us at every step.

SNOW-SKATING IN LAPLAND.

In this country skating is resorted to merely as an amusement. The variety known as 'figure skating,' is here much more common than the swift progress denominated running.' English skaters, nevertheless, have occasionally attained an extraordinary amount of speed, especially in the fenny districts of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. In the winter of 1838 two skaters went from

Ely to Cambridge and back, in all forty miles, in two hours and thirty minutes. In 1820 instances occurred of a mile being accomplished in very little more than two minutes. By one, two miles were run in three minutes and eight seconds, by another, a mile was skated in a minute and four seconds-a speed almost equal to that of the swiftest race-horse.

In some of the Northern countries of Europe, skating is practised, not as an amusement, but as a means of journeying from place to place.

In Holland when the canals are frozen over, the inhabitants, both male and female, mounted on skates glide along with great velocity, often carrying heavy burdens on their heads.

But one of the most remarkable kinds of skating is the snowskating of Lapland. A surface of snow is much more common there than one of ice, and the inhabitants provide accordingly. They put on the skate or snow shoe called a skie. This is a flat piece of wood, very narrow, six or seven feet in length, with a fastening for the foot in the middle. Sir Arthur de Capel Brooke gives a description of the use of these skates to the following effect:-After the snow has fallen a few days, the frost renders it firm enough to support a man's weight; the top of it becoming hard and glazed. The Laplander can now make his way in whatever direction he desires. He skims with equal ease and swiftness the white expanse of land, lake, and river. When he comes to a mountain he proceeds in a zigzag direction, and, however long and steep it may be, soon gains its summit. When descending, he puts himself into a crawling posture, his knees bent, his body inclined backward and pressing with a staff upon the snow to regulate his speed; when the slope is very steep his velocity resembles that of an arrow. Should a rock obstruct his path he instantly takes a bound and avoids it. Nothing stops him.

The power these snow-skaters possess of harassing an enemy in the field is said to be very great, for they can pass with safety over snow, much too soft to support either cavalry or infantry, while the rapidity with which they move prevents the artillery from taking any good aim at them with their guns.

Those who skate and slide, whether on snow or ice, and those who journey whether by land or water, would to do well often to utter the psalmist's cry, Hold thou me up and I shall be safe.'

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EMBLEM OF THE ATONEMENT.

'O JERUSALEM, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!'

On the latter part of the above verse are grounded the following touching lines,

Behold the hen that white with falling snows,
Around her brood her fostering pinions throws,
And combats in their aid the wintry skies,

Till pierced with cold she droops her head and dies!' Behold in the above display of instinctive love an emblem of Him who so loved our guilty race, as to let the storm of Divine anger against sin, fall upon Himself instead of upon us: who died the just for the unjust,' that we might have peace with God! Yes, behold Him till your eye affects your heart, and you exclaim, The love of Christ constraineth us, because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them and rose again.'

GOD IS LOVE.

No subject is so vast, so sublime, as that of the Divine goodness. The amiable Dr. Waugh, preaching upon that short but delightful text, God is love,' thus beautifully amplified the idea:

'All God's perfections and procedures are but so many modifications of his love. What is his omnipotence but the arm of his love? What his omniscience, but the medium through which He contemplates the objects of his love? What his wisdom, but the scheme of his love? What are the offers of the gospel, bat the invitations of his love? What are the threatenings of the law,

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