made him what he was. He had laid down his life to save the rest in that burning ship. This touching story puts us in mind of what sometimes happens in missionary life. A missionary, far from home, in an inhospitable and unhealthy clime, is bearing the burthen and heat of the day. Year by year, he toils for the good of the poor heathen around him. His strength is wasting; his health is sinking. Self-love whispers, "You ought to stop, and go home, or else you will soon die." With noble self-sacrifice, he refuses to listen. The ship, as it were, is burning under his feet; but he has the charge of souls, some perhaps inquiring the way of salvation; and if he leave them, there is no one to take his place. He clings to his post till he sinks and dies, but not before being the means, perhaps with his latest breath, of guiding many precious souls to the haven of rest in the faith and love of Jesus. A SOUL-WINNING PREACHER. IN Holstein the Home Mission work is prospering very satisfactorily. The agent of the Home Mission in that Duchy, Mr. Summer, has been called to his rest after a life of singular usefulness. He was a shoemaker by trade, but after the day's work was done, he had learned Greek and Hebrew for the sake of better understanding the Scriptures; and with the Bible in the original in his hands, he, on bended knee in the closet, studied theology. He travelled through the country gathering the good people together in school-rooms and private houses, where he expounded the Scripture with singular power. In one town which he visited some time ago, the authorities were petitioned to prevent him lecturing in the schoolroom. The magistrates summoned the pastor to hear his advice on the subject, and, when it was urged that it was very improper and irregular to allow a shoemaker to teach publicly, the good pastor replied, "I know little of what is proper in such matters, but I do know that this shoemaker has been the means of converting more souls to God than any pastor in the whole Duchy."-The Revival. ALL SORTS OF PEOPLE. THE extensive evangelizing operations amid all classes and sections of the community throughout London were spoken of. Every class was being met, and God was raising up preachers, and faithful, diligent workers, for each department of society. They had had meetings for the scavengers and dustmen, for the police, the barge and boatmen, the cabmen, the thieves, the fancy, the young men, the young women, the shoe-blacks, the sweeps, &c.; and now we have a meeting for gasmen and lamplighters. The addresses were interspersed with many practical illustrations, and with many very bright touches of the pure and simple gospel of Jesus.-Meeting in London, 10th February. KEEP THIS IN MIND. OUR idle days are the devil's busy ones.-Bishop Hall. April 5 12. 19. 26. SATURDAY NIGHT. A TEXT FOR OUR TEACHER. April 1862. Thanks be unto God, which always causeth In thee, O Lord, do I hope thou wilt MADAGASCAR AND ITS MARTYRS. ABOUT forty years ago, missionaries went to Madagascar, at that time a land of heathen darkness. For fifteen years they did much good; they preached Christ, and God blessed their preaching; and workmen from England taught the people many useful arts. All went on well till the good King Radama died. His wicked wife, Ranavalona, became queen. Like Saul of Tarsus, she hated Christ with a perfect hatred, and determined to root his name out of the land. The missionaries were driven forth. Before they left, they gave away as many Bibles and other books as they could. The people were sadly distressed. One poor man who had been long sick, got up from his bed and walked sixty miles to bid farewell to the missionaries, and to get a Bible. When he got it, he pressed it to his heart and cried, "This is my life! and I will take as much care of it as of my own life!" In 1839, a fearful persecution broke out against the Christians. But "the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew." In 1846, it began again more fiercely than ever. Many were burned, or speared to death, or devoured by dogs. Some were hung over a precipice by a rope, then the rope was cut, and they were dashed to pieces on the rocks, in the way represented in the picture. In 1853, the missionaries were allowed again to visit the island. They found that amid all the persecutions, instead of the thirty souls, who seemed all that appeared really converted when they left, there were about six thousand who were not ashamed of Jesus. So mightily had the word of God grown and prevailed. In August last, the wicked Queen died. Radama II., who has all along been a friend of the Christians, reigns in her stead. The country is now open everywhere to the gospel, and there is a prospect of happy days for that beautiful land. The missionaries have returned, and more are going out. There was an interesting meeting on Thursday evening, 4th March, in Queen Street Hall, Edinburgh, to take leave of Mr. Davidson, on his departure as a medical missionary to Madagascar, sent out by the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society. THE MUSTARD-POT. That A WHILE ago the writer was dining at the house of a friend, where, unfortunately, there was a spoiled child. Every whim had been studied, and the parents were powerless in the presence of a whimper. "Ma, shall I wear my best frock to-day?" "No, not to-day." brought a whimper, and the frock was produced. "Pa, shall I go into the garden ?" No, not now, for the paths are wet." Then there was the whimper, and she got her own way. This went on, until with her the whimper became the all-powerful thing. 66 On the dinner-table was a pot of mustard, and when she saw others helping themselves to the contents, she wanted some mustard too. Very properly she was refused; but her all-powerful whimper came to her help, and the parents were conquered. Of course she mixed it with her food, and of course it burned her tongue, and of course there was the loud scream, and of course there was the parent's trouble. That dining-room presented a scene that the writer will not soon forget. That little girl wanted some mustard, and when she got it, it burnt her tongue. My little reader, learn a lesson here. Do not desire everything you see; do not desire everything that is attractive to the eye. Allow those that love you to decide what is best for you; for if you get everything you want, depend upon it, you will get many things that will burn your tongue. Let those who have wise parents, be thankful and submissive; for the days will come when you will bless them for not allowing you to have all your own way.-T. R. |