THE sad war which has been shedding so much blood, and filling New Zealand with alarm, has been happily brought to an end. The natives have been overcome by the British soldiers, and peace restored. The natives are likely long to remember for good the kindness shown by the British to the wounded New Zealanders, so different from what heathen warriors are accustomed to show to their enemies.

THE POISON-BUSH.

DURING a visit Dr. Hodge made, some years since, to the Bahama Islands, a shower of rain unexpectedly fell. Such an occurrence is very rare at those islands, except during the rainy season, and is regarded with great dread by the natives, who, as rapidly as possible, seek the nearest shelter.

On this occasion a little coloured boy was caught in the shower at a distance from home, and, having no place to go to for protection, crept under a bush that was near. Its foliage, however, was not dense enough to keep him from the rain, and he was wet by the water trickling through the leaves. Unfortunately for him, the bush was a poison-bush, and the water falling on the leaves caused the poison to strike into his limbs, so that in a short time he was dead.

After the shower he was found, and carried to his home. Dr. Hodge was requested to attend his funeral. The circumstances of his singular death excited the doctor's curiosity, and he wished to learn something more about the fatal poison-bush. An aged negro told him that it grew abundantly upon the island, but that by its side there always grew another bush, which was its antidote; and that if the little boy had known it, and had rubbed himself with the leaves of the healing bush, the poison would have done him no harm.

What an illustration is this of the sad fate of those who have been poisoned by sin and know not how to escape from its dreadful consequences! But for this fatal poison there is a sure remedy provided by the same God who placed the antidote beside the poison-bush. The cross of Christ is the tree of life. Let the suffering and the dying come to that, and they shall be saved, for "its leaves are for the healing of the nations."-Eliot.

“HE IS WILLING.”

WHO says he is not? He is a liar who says he is not, be he man or devil.

Never mind man; never mind the "Him that cometh to me I That is enough.

devil. Christ hath said, will in nowise cast out."

SIGNS OF LOVE TO CHRIST.

THEY that love Christ love to think of him; they love to hear of him; they love to read of him; they love to speak of, for, and to him; they love the presence of Christ; they love the yoke of Christ; they love the ministers of Christ; they love the name of Christ; they hate sin; they are pleased when Christ is pleased; they are grieved when Christ is grieved; they long to be with Christ; Christ's will is their will; Christ's dishonour is their affliction; Christ's cause is their care; Christ's ministers are their guides; Christ's saints are their companions; Christ's day is their delight; Christ's word is their rule; Christ's glory is their end.-British Messenger.

"BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!"

TRUE; but not better too late than never.

With heaven

or hell before a man, it is a fearful risk to trifle with a single hour. Now is late enough; next hour may be too late.

SATURDAY NIGHT.

A TEXT FOR OUR TEACHER.

August 1861.

Aug. 3. Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?-Job xxxvi. 22.

10.

I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.-John xii. 46.

17. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. -Matt. xxii. 9.

24. The night cometh.-John ix. 4.

31. In your patience possess ye your souls.Luke xxi. 19.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

BRIGHT August has come again, with its blithe holidays, its flowers, and games, and gooseberries, and country walks. We hope our young readers will be very happy. Whatever young people are doing-working or playingwe like to see them doing with all their might. It is no sin to play.

There are many boys and girls in Scotland to whom these will be the happiest holidays they ever spent. We mean those who since last August have been converted, and are now happy in the love of Jesus. It is a dull thing to play if we have a guilty conscience, and a heavy heart.

Be happy, but beware of bad companions and bad words, the foolish talking and jesting, which are not convenient.

And try to be useful. Speak kindly to boys and girls when you meet them. Give them a little tract, or try to bring them to the meeting or the Sabbath school. If you live in a village, try to find out the sick and the poor, and offer to read a chapter, or sing a hymn, or help them in any way you can, for Jesus' sake. You do not know how it would cheer the heart of a poor old Christian man or woman, who cannot move out of bed, to sing to them about "Rest for the Weary."

WHEN AM I HAPPIEST?

A LITTLE girl, five years old, once said to her mother, "Do you know when I feel the happiest ?"

Her mother answered, "I suppose when you are good." "No," said she; "but when I feel very sorry for having been naughty, and God has forgiven me.' How sweet it is to be forgiven!