1527. Value of Cultivation of some of them shorter than myself; Memory. The house of Dr. now, if I should die before I have Todd, author of "Addresses to learned the Word of God, what Children," was once destroyed by will become of me then, master ?" fire. One of his children, a little girl, had a library of 116 volumes, which was destroyed in the conflagration; and next day, while mourning over her loss, she suddenly jumped up, wiped away her tears, and running to her mother, said," Mother, I will not be sorry any more. I am glad I learnt so many hymns." 'There," said Dr. Todd, when narrating the story, though all things material shall be burnt up, the impressions on the living tablet of the mind will last for ever." 66 66 1528. "What Saith the Scriptures ?"-"A mother of a family,' writes the Rev. Adolphe Monod, "was married to an infidel who made jest of religion in the presence of his own children; yet she succeeded in bringing them all up in the fear of the Lord. I asked her one day how she preserved them from the influence of a father whose sentiments were so opposed to her own. This was her answer:- -"Because to 1530. Witnessing in a Child.A little girl, nine years of age, was a witness against a prisoner who was on his trial for a crime committed in her father's house. "Now, Emily," said the counsel for the prisoner, upon her being put in the witness box, "I desire to know if you understand the nature of an oath." "I don't know what you mean," was the simple answer. "There, your Honour," said the counsel, addressing the Court, "is there anything further necessary to show the force of my objection? This witness should be rejected. She does not know the nature of an oath." "Let us see," said the Judge. "Come here, my little girl." Assured by the kind tone and manner of the Judge, the child stepped toward him, and looked up confidingly in his face, with a calm, clear eye, and in a manner so artless and frank, that it went straight to the heart. "Did you ever take an oath?" inquired the Judge. The little girl stepped back with a look of horror, and the red blood mantled in a blush all over her face and neck, as she answered, "No, sir." She thought he meant to inquire if she had ever that," said the Judge, who saw his "I do not mean blasphemed. mistake. "I mean, were you ever a witness before? "No, sir; I was never in a court before," was the answer. He handed her a Bible, open. "Do you know that book?" She looked at it, and answered, "Yes, sir; it is the Bible." "Do you ever read it?" he asked. "Yes, sir, every evening." "Can you tell me what the Bible is?" inquired the Judge. “ 'It is the word of the great God," she answered. "Well, place your hand upon the Bible, and listen to what I say;" and he repeated slowly and solemnly the oath usually given to witnesses. "Now," the authority of a father I do not oppose the authority of a mother, but that of God. From their earliest years my children have always seen the Bible upon my table. This holy book has constituted the whole of their religious instruction. I was silent, that I might allow it to speak. Did they propose a question, did they commit a fault, did they perform a good action, I opened the Bible, and the Bible answered, reproved, or encouraged them. The constant reading of the Scriptures has wrought the prodigy which surprises you."" 1529. Wise Pupil.-Ben Syra, when a child, begged his preceptor to instruct him in the law of God; but he declined, saying that his scholar was as yet too young to be taught these sacred mysteries. "But, master," said the boy, "I have been in the burial-ground, and measured the graves, and find 66 66 said the Judge, "you have sworn 1531. Witty Truth. Jeremy Taylor, when a boy, was very remarkable for his talents and the free school at Cambridge, his knowledge. He was educated in native town, and at thirteen years of age he entered Caius College, of which he was soon chosen fellow. false witness against thy neigh- to preach, and afforded great At a very early period he began bour." "I learned that before I could read." "Has any one talked to you about your being witness in court here against this man?" inquired the Judge. "Yes, sir," she replied. "My mother heard they wanted me to be a witness, and last night she called me to her room, and asked me to tell her the ten commandments; and then we knelt down together, and she prayed that I might understand how wicked it was to bear false witness against my neighbour, and that God would help me, a little child, to tell the truth as it was before Him. And when I came up here with father, she kissed me and told me to remember the ninth commandment, and that God would hear every word that I said." "Do you believe this?" asked the Judge, while a tear glistened in his eye, and his lip quivered with emotion. "Yes, sir," said the child, with a voice that showed that her conviction of its truth was perfect. "God bless you, my child," said the Judge; "you have a good mother. This witness is competent," he continued. "Were I on trial for my life, and innocent of the charge against me, I would pray God for such a witness as this. Let her be examined.". She told her story with the simplicity of a child, as she was; but there was a directness about it that carried conviction of its truth to every heart. She was rigidly cross-examined. The counsel asked her many troublesome and awkward questions, but she varied from her first statements pleasure to the then Archbishop of Canterbury, who, however, declined to ordain him on account of his extreme youth. "But the youth," says one of his biographers, 66 don that fault, and promised, if he humbly begged his Grace to parlived, he would mend it." The Archbishop encouraged him to pursue his studies; and his subsequent career and great usefulness are matter of history. 1532. Youthful Perseverance.— A strange little boy was one day brought before the magistrate at the police office, New York, reported on the watch returns as being a lodger. This extraordinary child, ten years of age, was very thinly clad, and but four feet two inches high, of delicate make, and weak eyes. On being asked by the magistrate who he was, and whence he came, he gave the following account:-"My name is De Grass Griffin; I am ten years old; my father is a boatman in Killingworth, Connecticut; my mother left there last summer: she parted from my father; he don't take any care of me. About four weeks ago I started from Killingworth for Philadelphia, to see my mother; had not a cent when I started; walked part of the way, and rode part. My sister, who is a married woman, told me in what part of Philadelphia I would find my mother. When I got there, I found that she was dead; I remained there, going about the town, about a week; I then started to come back. A gentleman in history, that on the 1st of NovemPhiladelphia gave me a twenty- ber, 1813, when but two years and cent piece, an eleven-penny bit, five months old, he was deemed and a five-penny bit; I have the qualified to enter the second form twenty-cent piece yet. I got into of the principal national school of this town yesterday morning; had Tyrnau. Having attended the school nothing to eat all day yesterday, about ten months, on the 26th of till the evening, when I got some August, 1814, he was examined clams at a little stand near the with the rest of the pupils, and river. I calculate to start for bore away the highest prize from home this morning, and to get a seventy of his juvenile competitors, stage-driver to give me a ride." in reading and writing German, in Magistrate: "I will send you to Hungarian orthography, his catethe almshouse over the way, that chism and drawing. On the exayou may get your breakfast and mination of the 17th of March, 1815, be taken care of." Answer: " Very this child, who had then attained well, but I wish to start on." It the age of three years and three was truly astonishing to behold quarters, was again pronounced the such a child perform (in the greatest proficient among the one depth of winter) a journey of up- hundred and twenty-four pupils of wards of two hundred miles, with his form, in reading the German, such a trifle of money, without Hungarian, and Latin languages, warm clothing, and the snow on in arithmetic and his catechism. the road nearly as high as himself. This infant prodigy excited still His deportment was mannerly, his answers prompt, clear, and brief; he appeared to feel no want, asked for nothing, nor made any complaint; but had perfect confidence in his own powers and ability to get to the end of his journey on his twenty-cent fund. The decision and fortitude of this little destitute boy might furnish a profitable example to many an irresolute and desponding individual of riper years. 1533. Youthful Precocity. Sigismund Maximilian Wilhelm Otto von Praum, the son of a captain of cavalry in the Austrian service, was born at Tyrnau in Hungary, on the 1st of June, 1811. When but an infant, he showed a singular desire for instruction; and in his second year he had acquired such a readiness in the knowledge of his letters, in reading, and in deciphering prints of subjects from general and natural greater attention, from the extraordinary and more rapid progress he made in music. From his second year he had studied the violin with so much success, that after the examination of the 17th of March he astonished those who were assembled to hear him, namely, thé magistracy, all the teachers of the principal national schools, and a number of amateurs of music, with taking the leading part in a duet and trio of Pleyel's. This he repeated on the 13th of April following, at a party given by Prince Schwartzenberg, at Tyrnau, before a numerous circle of nobility. Nor was the progress he made in acquiring foreign languages, fencing and drawing, inferior to his. other advancements. During the summer of 1815, this boy gave a public concert at Vienna, where the astonishment and admiration of all present were unbounded: the produce of it he bestowed on the Invalid Fund. YOUTHFUL INFLUENCE. Psalm xxiii. 15; Prov. x. 1, xxix. 3; Eccles. xi. 9, 10; 1 Tim. iv. 12. 1536. Blessed Words. — A mother, with her three children, was clinging to the wreck of the steamer Bohemian, when the mother said she must let go and be drowned. Her little girl replied, "Hold on & little longer, mother! don't let 1534. Babe's Rebuke. Two in a meek voice, full of earnestyoung children, with their nurse, ness, "Sir, I hope it is because were sent to take an airing at the our Saviour has said, 'Blessed are sea-side. On the way, one of them the peacemakers.' fell down on his knees, and said to his nurse, "O Bell, I came away, and forgot to say my prayers." A young lady who saw him was conscience-struck, and thought, "Here is a babe rebuking me: when did I pray in all my life?" simple means was the instrument which the Father of spirits was pleased to use to awaken her from the sleep of sin. She remained with the nurse and children all the time they were bathing; when she returned home, she sent for a This Christian friend, that she might converse with him, and subsequently died with a firm trust in the Saviour. go now. Jesus walked on the water, and saved Peter, and perhaps He will save us." The little girl's words so strengthened her mother, that she held on a few moments more, when a boat was sent to them, which took them safely to shore. 1537. Child's Influence. In one of the Western States lived a little girl named Annie Gale. She 1535. Blessed are the Peacewas led to embrace Christ as her makers. A gentleman called in Saviour. The news of her conat a Sunday-school in Southwark. version soon spread through the As he was looking over one of the place. One day a friend called on classes, the teacher took him aside her father, and said, "It's all nonand said, "Sir, Lucy, whom you sense for your Annie to think she have just noticed, is one of the has been converted. She was just most extraordinary children I ever like a little angel always. I don't knew." "How so?" said he. believe in religion making her any "Why, sir, she is remarkably dili- better: she was good enough before. gent, gentle, and, above all, re- If Dan Hunter could be turned markably humble. She is very round and made a Christian of, forgiving to those who have injured I'd believe in it." Annie heard the her; and there never is a quarrel conversation, and her heart beat in the school but she interferes, and with pity for poor Dan. She knew is not satisfied until she has recon- him to be one of the worst and ciled the parties. I am almost vilest of characters. Impelled with afraid of loving her too much." love for his soul, she went to his After school the gentleman ad- wretched dwelling, and began to dressed her, "Lucy, I am pleased talk to him in tender tones about to hear you give satisfaction to Jesus, and God's love to the chief your teacher. What is it makes of sinners. After referring to her you so desirous to oblige your own conversion, she asked him if schoolfellows, and settle their dis- he was not a sinner, and if he did putes." She blushed, and hesi- not need the same Saviour whom tated some time, and at last said, she had found. Poor Dan's heart was touched; he wept, he fell upon his knees, and cried out, "Lord ha' mercy on the worst of sinners." God heard that earnest, penitent cry; and Annie left the old man praising the mercy which could save a wretch like him. It was Dan's business now to tell to all the story of God's love. He would say, "It's the same Gospel, the very same Gospel, that so blessed little Annie Gale. You wouldn't think it could be-such a dreadful sinner as I've been!-but the same good Lord who takes little children in His arms and blesses 'em, saves the chief of sinners too. It's true, 'Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out."'" presently thought, "I should like 66 1538. Drunkard's Child. A labouring man, who had given way to drink, had three children under seven years of age, and the family all slept in the same room. The man came home one night drunk; his wife remonstrated with him, and he struck her. The woman cried very much, and continued to cry after she got into bed; but a little creature, two or three years old, got up, and said, "Pray, father, do not beat poor mother." The father ordered her to get into bed again. The little creature presently arose, knelt down by the side of the bed, repeated the Lord's Prayer, and concluded in this simple language: -"Pray God, bless dear father and mother, and make father a good father. Amen." This went to the heart of the drunkard; the man covered his face with the bedclothes, and his first thoughts in the morning were thoughts of re-him to the house of God. The first gret that he should stand in need of such a remonstrance from such a young child, and it produced in him self-examination and amendment of life. The family afterwards became united to a Methodist chapel in the neighbourhood. invitation was followed up: he became a regular attendant upon the. means of grace. The work was deepened in his heart, and in due course he made known his case to the pastor whose ministry had been blessed to his conversion. It was soon perceived that he pos1539. Goodly Persuasion.-A sessed talents for usefulness, and Christian minister announced a they were, after due deliberation, public discourse to the young on called into exercise in Sundaya given day. One of his auditors school engagements. For several |