Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

ADVICE THROUGH THE KEY-HOLE.

THERE was once a young shoemaker who became so much interested in politics, that his shop was filled with loungers talking and discussing and disputing about one thing and another from morning till night; and he found it often necessary to work till midnight to make up for the hours lost in talk during the day.

One night after his shutters were closed and he was busy on his bench, a boy passing along put his mouth to the key-hole, and mischievously called out, "Shoemaker, shoemaker, work by night, and run about by day." "Had a pistol been fired off at my ear," he said, "I could not have been more startled. I dropped my work, saying to myself, True, true; but you shall never have that to say of me again.' I never forgot it. To me it was the voice of God, and it has been a word in season throughout my life. I learned from it not to leave till to-morrow the work of to-day, or to be idle when I ought to be working. From that time I turned over a new leaf."

He did indeed-worked in working hours, left off idle talk and the society of idlers, and became in the end a physician of eminence.

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.

THE Hindus extend their hospitality to their enemies, saying, The tree does not withdraw its shade even from the wood-cutter."

NOTHING TO DO

If you would find the most wretched man or woman in your nighbourhood, look for the one who has nothing at all to do.

A RIGHT REASON FOR TROUBLE,

WE are not to be troubled for this, that we have no more from God; but we are to be troubled for this that we do no more for God.-Dyer.

MISSIONARY NOTES.
“Thy Kingdom Come.”

The London City Mission.

THE London City Mission held its meeting on the 7th of May. There was reported a decrease in the receipts of about £400, the total income having been £36,761, 16s. 9d., exclusive of the Disabled Missionaries Fund. The expenditure had exceeded the income by £1700. The increase of supernumeraries during the last three years had been only five, instead of forty-five, the number requisite to keep up with the growth of the population, and the progress of the society was not now nearly so rapid as at an earlier period. The Earl of Shaftesbury, the Rev. Emilius Bayley, the Rev. Henry Allon, and others, addressed the meeting,

The Livingstone Expedition.

ORDERS have been received for the recall of the Livingstone Expedition. The home authorities-while highly applauding the enterprise and zeal of Dr. Livingstone and all his officers, and while fully appreciating the interest of their geographical discoveries-do not think that these are practically of sufficient importance to justify the continuance of the heavy outlay required for them. They have accordingly ordered that the expedition shall return home as soon as possible, that the Pioneer steamer shall be given up to the admiral of the station, and that all the accounts shall be closed by the end of the year.

Mission in the Kuruman, South Africa.

LETTERS from Kuruman, where the venerable missionary of the London Society, Robert Moffat, is stationed, mention that the Rev. Mr. Thomas is still with the Matabele, where the mission, so far, has been very promising and flourishing, and has even gained the friendship of the powerful chief Moselekatse.

THANK GOD FOR HEALTH.

SEE that happy family, four boys and two girls, playing upon the green. Notice their rosy faces, and light footsteps. Listen to their joyous voices, and merry laugh. Perhaps their clothes are coarse and worn. Perhaps their dinner has been of the plainest kind. But one thing they have in abundance,-strong, joyous health.

Now turn into that cottage at the other end of the street. There lives a poor widow, left with five children. She makes a brave struggle for bread to her little ones— but often she gets little work, and often when she can get it, she has no strength to do it. That thin face and hollow cough tell that she is wasting away. And her eldest, a meek, patient boy, is confined to his bed by hopeless disease. Another is already threatened with his mother's consumption, and of the three others, scarcely one of them is well for a month together.

Dear reader, are you thankful for health? Look at the picture. Here is a rich boy, and a poor boy. The rich boy is pale and sick, and has been wheeled into his father's garden. The poor boy is strong and healthy. Would you envy the rich boy with all his riches? What are all riches if we have not health?

Be thankful for health. It is a talent from God. Are you using it for his service? or are you wasting it on the follies and weary pleasures of the world? Oh, seek to give the best and freshest of your days to God. Think not to offer him the dregs of your life. A dying king, who had worn himself out in the service of sin, was told that there was mercy still, if he would come to Jesus. "Do you think," was his sad answer, "do you think that God will accept of the devil's leavings?" There would have been mercy for him; but, ah! how sad to have such a thing to say!

[graphic]

"What are all riches if we have not health?

[ocr errors][merged small]

"WILL YOU BE THERE?"

1.-We know there's a bright and

glorious home, A - way in the heavens

high, Where all the re-deem'd shall with

« ZurückWeiter »