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"Well,' this officer replied, 'I have been in many, and I never felt greater calm and peace.'

"I asked how that could be.

"Why,' was the reply, 'I never at any other time so much realized my being entirely in the hands of God. Some men take a little of this or that before such scenes, to give them a sort of Dutch courage; but I always found that the way of dealing with the thing was to get ten minutes' quiet prayer to God.'"-Sunday Scholar's Companion.

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KILLED IN HIS SIN.

MOTHER, let me go and see them fire the cannon?" said George to his mother. "Accidents so often happen, that I am afraid to allow you to go." "But other boys go, mother."

"No, I had rather not," said his mother.

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"Yes, my son, I know it; but other boys get hurt too, and I shall feel anxious about you."

George was the eldest son of his widowed mother, and it was not strange that she feared to have him exposed to danger. But, in spite of his mother's command, he resolved that he would go; so, while his mother was busy, he stole out, and ran to the common, intending to get back before his mother missed him.

Just as he arrived there, the men were loading the cannon for the last time. They wanted to make a very loud noise. To help in doing this, they put in turf and other things. Now, all is ready. The match is lighted; it is applied to the touch-hole. Bang goes the gun, with a tremendous explosion. It has burst. The fragments fly in every direction. George has just reached the ground. He is standing a good way off, yet he is the only one injured. A large piece of the cannon hits him! In an instant he is dead! Ah, how dreadful for his poor mother! But how still more dreadful for the poor boy! to be killed in the very act of breaking God's commandment !

MEAN CRUELTY.

A LADY wants some strawberries. There is a poor girl going by with a basketful on her head. She stops the girl and asks the price of her strawberries.

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'Sixpence a basket, ma'am," says the girl.

"I'll take six baskets if you'll let me have them for fourpence."

"Indeed, ma'am, that'll take away all my profit." Well, I won't give you a penny more.

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The big tears roll down the cheeks of the poor girl as she measures out the strawberries. She has a poor widowed mother, with a sick little baby brother, at home, who have nothing to depend on but what she makes by selling her berries. The shilling which the rich lady has wrung from her,-might I not say stolen from her?would have been, oh, such a help and comfort to them! And yet this lady will go out, by-and-by, and spend pounds on herself for things that she really does not need at all. This is cruel. It is mean. It is wicked. This is what the Bible calls oppressing the poor; and God threatens dreadful things against those who do it. That lady little thinks that she is breaking the eighth commandment. But she is; and when God comes to reckon with her, she will find it out.-The King's Highway.

GOD NOT IN THE HOUSE.

A SCOTTISH labourer went to work for a wealthy farmer. It was regarded as something of a favour to be employed by him, as he was a prompt and liberal paymaster, and had everything about his farm in order. The Scotchman remained with him only a few days. "You have left Mr. Runyan," said a neighbour. "Yes," was the reply.

"Was the work too hard?"

"No."

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Why did you leave then?"

"God was not in the house;" and he went on his way, leaving his questioner to ponder on the strange answer.

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Family worship was not known under Mr. Runyan's Toof; nor was there a single praying member in his family. The labourer did not like to live under such a roof. He did not like to be, even for a season, a member of such a family.

Of how many houses in our happy land can it be said in truth, God is not in the house! The house may be spacious, elegant, furnished with every comfort and convenience, but God is not in it. There are none in that house to thank him for the blessings bestowed upon them. There are none there to serve and honour him.

TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW.

HELL may be our home to-morrow, if Christ be not ours to-day.-Hewitson.

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A Strange Congregation, Old Calabar.

WHEN we were met, the assemblage presented rather a strange appearance. On my brother's right hand was seated the principal lady of the town, in her native dress, on his left hand were the Ibibio chiefs, with several of the town gentlemen; and round about were seated their retainers, earnest, active-looking, and armed to the teeth. In the centre was a fire, beside which sat two prisoners in chains; and, in evident expectation of some crumbs falling from such a collection of people, a number of chickens and a goat were moving about. The whole congregation numbered about sixty. It was very pleasing to see the earnestness with which every one seemed to listen to what was said. It was the first time that many of them had heard the gospel, and they seemed to wonder at the strange things that greeted their ears.-Rev. J. Baillie, U. P. Mission.

The First Convert at Tien-tsin.

AN American missonary writes from Tien-tsin, the new open port to the north of China ::

"Last Sabbath day the first Christian convert in Tientsin was baptized by Mr. Blodget, who was the first missionary to settle in this place. The subject is a poor blind man, who has been for some time in the hospital opened by the officers of the British expeditionary forces, for the afflicted Chinese. Before going to the hospital, he heard Mr. Blodget preach several times, and showed great readiness at answering questions. In visiting the hospital, Mr. Blodget always found Chang-li (which is the man's name) eager and attentive in listening, and ready and correct in replying to questions proposed. The first time he seemed affected was on hearing that beautiful hymn beginning,

"Alas! and did my Saviour bleed,

And did my Sovereign die?'

"So great was his emotion at the time, that his whole frame was convulsed, and he sank upon the ground. It was manifestly the truth which moved his heart. He committed this hymn to memory, and used often to repeat it in the hospital to the other patients. He said he never liked to repeat one particular verse before other persons, as it always affected him so much, and was the first that moved him so deeply.

"The verse runs,

"Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut his glories in,

When God, the mighty Maker, died

For man, the creature's sin.'

"Mr. Blodget became satisfied that the poor man was the subject of a real change of heart, and with due solemnity, in the presence of other missionaries and a Chinese congregation, administered the rite of baptism. We thank God for one snatched as a brand from the burning."

Hymns among the Hindoos.

MR. BALLANTINE writes that he had translated into Mahratta language several hymns, such as, "There is a

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happy land," ," "Will you go?" "I have a father in the promised land," "I was a wandering sheep," "I am a pilgrim," and "I am a stranger,' "Little travellers Zionward," "I want to be an Angel," "What's the News?" Many of these hymns are now being sung in Mahratta to the same tunes in which they are sung in English. "My daughter Annie," he says, "has taught the girls in her mother's school, and they have very sweet voices, and sing them very nicely. The Mission has just determined to print 1000 copies of these hymns, just as in the smallest hymn-book you sent, with the tunes inserted.-Letter from Bombay.

BOOKS.

OUTLINES OF Bible Geography, Physical and Political. By the Rev. W. G. Blaikie, A.M. Edinburgh and London: T. Nelson and Sons.

pages. Price 18. 3d.

Crown 8vo, cloth, with Maps, 90

For accuracy, ingenious clearness of arrangement, cheapness, and general excellence, this little volume is the best of the kind we have met with. Though confined within 90 pages, it contains a careful digest of the most trustworthy books upon the subject. We have tested many parts by our personal knowledge of Palestine, and find the book to contrast favourably with some others, which are superficial, and far from being correct. The two maps are admirable, and prepared with characteristic accuracy and beauty. The wonder is how all can be given for so low a price. We recommend this little manual to ministers, as well as to teachers and scholars. The subject is one, the importance of which has hitherto, we fear, been too little regarded, in the exposition of historical Scripture.

HINTS FOR READING THE BIBLE. By the Rev. Dr. Tweedie. Edinburgh: James Taylor. 4 pages, large type, 3d. per dozen.

Take heed how ye hear," but take heed also how ye read. The Bible is God's voice to us, speaking from heaven. These are some wise words which young and old would do well to keep in mind when they open their Bibles.

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