'Old Jonathan': or, The district and parish helper

THE WEEPER AND SLEEPER.

ESUS WEPT." What a scene is here!-Jesus weeping. Oh, lovely sight, heart-melting sight!-a weeping, loving Jesus. What a proof of His humanity! "Jesus wept" near the grave of one whom He called friend: "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth:" many shed tears by the graves of their departed friends. Jesus wept" when in company of the bereaved: tears are often shed in such company. "Jesus wept" near the dead body of one whom He loved many have shed tears near such. With Jesus's tearful eyes, He felt deep inward sighs; "He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled." What sympathizing love shone forth in His deep sighs and tearful eyes! Oh, the loving, feeling heart of Jesus! How true are His words!-"I am meek, and lowly in heart." What a proof His weeping gives of this! While Jesus was weeping at the grave, Lazarus was sleeping in it: a weeping Jesus and a sleeping Lazarus. This weeping One raised from the dead the sleeping one. "Jesus wept" while Lazarus slept. This blessed Jesus who shed tears has almighty power to allay His people's fears. By a grave He shed tears; on the cross He shed His precious blood. "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift."

F. F.

THE LITTLE TEMPTED ONE, AND HOW HE FELL.

THE Rev. S. Kilpin, when a boy of seven years old, was one day left in charge of his father's shop. A man passed by crying, "Little lambs, all white and clean, at one penny each!" In his eagerness to get one, he lost all self-command, and, taking a penny from the drawer, he bought one. His mother inquired how he came by the money. He evaded the question with something like a lie; in God's sight it was a lie, as he kept back the truth. The lamb was placed on the chimney-piece, and much admired. To little Samuel it was a source of the deepest anguish. Continually there sounded in his ears, "Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not lie." Guilt and darkness overcame his mind, and in sore agony of soul he went to a hay-loft, and there prayed and pleaded with groanings, which could not be uttered, for mercy and pardon; he entreated mercy for Jesus' sake. With joy and transport he left the loft, from a believing application of the text, "Thy sins which are many are forgiven thee." He went to his mother, told her what he had done, sought her forgiveness, and burnt the lamb, whilst she wept over the young penitent.

THE DYING GIRL.

JAFFA, or Joppa of the ancients, was originally the principal harbour of Judea. The town is approached on the land side through rich and extensive gardens and orchards, and is very picturesquely situated upon an eminence. There are no public buildings to engage the eye, and the interior of the city is wretched in the extreme. It was from Joppa that the prophet Jonah embarked when he was sent to preach to the Ninevites. Joppa is mentioned in the New Testament only in connexion with the visit of A LITTLE girl, when dying, was asked whither she the apostle Peter, who here raised Tabitha from the was going? "To heaven," said the child. what makes you wish to be there ?" said one. cause Christ is there." "But what," said a friend, "if Christ should leave heaven ?" "Then," said the child, "I will go with Him." Some time before her departure, she wished to have a golden crown when she died. 66 And what will you do," said one, "with the golden crown ?" "I will take and cast it at the feet of Christ."

dead, and lodged in the outskirts of the town with "Be-Simon the tanner, when favoured with the vision which taught him to call no man unclean.

THE THUNDER STORM DURING
SERVICE.

GODLY Minister being called upon, a few years since, to preach a sermon for the benefit of a Sunday school, in Northamptonshire, was led to enlarge much in his discourse, on the necessity of being clothed with the Redeemer's righteousness, as the only means by which men could be delivered from the wrath to come. While he was thus speaking, a violent storm of thunder and lightning came on, accompanied with hail and rain. The lightning struck a tree in the churchyard, shivered it to pieces, and drove a part of it through one of the win

dows. Alarmed at this circumstance, the congregation began to fly in all directions, seeking for refuge where it was least likely to be found. The minister, from this awful scene, took occasion to entreat them to remain in the house of God, reminding them that, if they were protected from their sins by the righteousness of Christ-let storms, lightning, or even death come-they were perfectly safe. In pursuing his discourse, his attention was attracted by one of the Sundayschool girls, who was standing near the pulpit, and who was so peculiarly affected as to excite the hope that he had been the instrument of communicating some substantial good to her soul. Thus impressed, he made a point of calling at her parents' house the next day, and, after the customary salutations, the mother told him that her child had met with a disappointment, as she expected to go to the fair that day, but a circumstance had occurred which would prevent her.

"What! my dear," said the minister, "are you fond of going to fairs ?"

The child immediately replied, "Oh, no, sir; I don't want to go to the fair; I now only want to be clothed in that robe of righteousness which you were speaking of yesterday-that I may see Jesus Christ."

Struck with this pleasing observation, the good man entered into conversation with the dear child, and found her mind so sensibly wrought upon, that he had every reason to believe a divine work was begun upon her heart. He left her, intending to repeat his visit the next day; but a messenger arrived to inform him that this dear child of God was called to her eternal rest, having been found dead in the garden.

INFIDEL AND PROPHECY.

LORD ROCHESTER was for many years of his life an avowed infidel, and a large portion of his time was spent in ridiculing the Bible. One of his biographers has described him as " a great wit, a great sinner, and a great penitent." Even this man was converted by the Holy Spirit in the use of His Word. Reading the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, he was convinced of the truth and inspiration of the Scriptures, the Deity of the Messiah, and the value of His atonement as a rock on which sinners may build their hopes of salvation.

HILE carefully avoiding the mistake of making play a lesson, some few toys, if well selected, may impart a vast amount of instruction, and that without the child having to undergo any undue mental strain. It would, of course, be undesirable to give a little boy or six years old a direct lesson on the principles of the bridge and the use of the keystone. Give him, however, a box of bricks capable of making a bridge with the centering, and show him how to put it together: he will puzzle over it for days, try every sort of arrangement, and unwittingly become gradually and practically acquainted with some important mechanical laws. Again, a little model of a steam-engine made to work by gas or spirit, which may be bought for a few shillings, is a most attractive toy. Children will watch it for hours. They see the water poured in; they remark that it is made to boil, and soon has to be replenished; they notice the action of the valves, the piston, the crank, and all the parts. When they come to study the theoretical laws of steam and machines, half the difficulty of their first lessons vanishes. If, during his play, the child is so fortunate as to have a really educated nurse or mother, herself acquainted with the outlines of such general knowledge, the child's play may be made, by simple toys, far more educational and interesting than any set lesson, and the result of the instruction far more fixed on his mind than the simplest theoretical idea could ever be by any number of repetitions and learnings by heart.

What is true concerning the box of bricks and the model engine is also true of a number of other toys; that is, they depend for their action on certain laws, with which, by a little skill, children may be made practically familiar without any undue taxing of their minds, and during the time they are engaged in play. Of these may be mentioned, the kite, magnetic fish; hydrostatic toys, with water-wells, fountains, &c.; pneumatic toys, such as pop-guns, &c.; tops of all sorts, the kaleidoscope, the magic wheel, &c. All these involve scientific laws which a child may understand familiarly with no more difficulty, if properly put before him, than he usually finds in learning to read.

Reading may be taught entirely by means of the various games and toys with letters and words which are in common use. These toys depend for their interest and attraction on the way they are put before children. With one teacher, they are little better than a dry spelling-book; whereas with another, the finding out of the different letters and the placing them together like a puzzle may interest a child for hours, during which the infant is learning to read and spell in the best possible manner, and in a way he is least likely to forget. The first four rules of arithmetic, again, may be taught almost entirely by means of cube bricks, and a great step made in the formidable multiplication table, before the child is wearied out with the monotonous repetition of what too often seems to him an endless and meaningless list of figures.

FREDERICK THE GREAT AND THE

SOLDIER.

SERGEANT of the name of Thomas,
who was very successful in training
his men, and whose whole deport-
ment pleased the great Frederick of
Prussia, was often noticed by him. He
inquired respecting the place of the
sergeant's birth, his parents, his re-
ligious creed, and the place of worship which he
frequented. On being informed that he was united
with the Moravians, and attended their chapel in
William Street, he exclaimed, "Oh, oh! you are a
fanatic, are you? Well, well, only take care to do
your duty, and improve your men." The King's
common salutation after this was, "Well, how do
you do? how are you going on in William Street?"
His Majesty at length, in conversation with Thomas's
colonel, mentioned his intention of promoting the
sergeant to an office in the commissariat department,
upon the death of an aged man who then filled it.
The colonel, in order to encourage Thomas, told him
of the King's design. Unhappily this had an in-
jurious effect upon the mind of the sergeant; for,
alas! such is the depravity of the human heart, that
few can endure the temptation of prosperity without
sustaining spiritual loss. Thomas began to forsake
the assemblies of his Christian brethren; and, when
reproved by his minister, he said "his heart was
with him, but he was afraid of offending the King."
The minister told him to take good heed that his
heart did not deceive him. Soon after the sergeant's
religious declension, he was again accosted by the
King with "Well, how do you do? how are your
friends in William Street?" "I do not know, please
your Majesty," was the reply. "Not know! not
know!" answered the King; "have you been ill?"
"No, please your Majesty," rejoined the sergeant,
"but I do not see it necessary to attend there so
often as I used to do." "Then you are not so great
a fanatic as I thought you," was the royal answer.
In a short time the aged officer died, and the colonel
waited upon his Majesty to inform him of the va-
cancy, and to remind him of his intention to raise
Sergeant Thomas to the situation. "No, no!" said
the King, "he shall not have it; he does not go so
often to William Street as he used to do." Surprised
at this peremptory refusal, the colonel withdrew,
and, on his return, found the sergeant waiting for the
confirmation of his appointment. "I do not know
what is the matter with the King to-day," said the
colonel," but he will not give you the situation. He
says you do not go so often to William Street as you
used to do. I do not know what he means, but I
suppose you do."

Cookery, as a regular subject of instruction in girls' schools, has hitherto been looked upon as one of those things which, though no doubt desirable, is unfortunately impossible. Toys, however, seem to prove that this is a mistake. Judging from the collection of cooking-stoves which Mr. Cremer has brought together in his International collection of toys in the Exhibition this year, it is clear that "pretending to cook" is largely played at by children of all countries. These stoves, though in miniature, are made large enough, and are so fitted for gas, as to be capable of dressing a small dinner.-Chambers's Journal.

WHATEVER profession of religion man assumes, if he doth not ascribe all to God, he is not a Christian, call him what you will.-Irons.

TRICKS OF TRADE.

A LINEN merchant in Coleraine offered the famous
Dr. Clarke, when a youth, a situation in his ware-
house, which was accepted by him with the consent
of his parents. Mr. B knew well that his
clerk was a religious man, but he was not sensible of
the extent of principle which actuated him. Some
differences arose at times about the way of conduct-
ing the business, which were settled pretty amicably.
But the time of the great Dublin market approached,
and Mr. B- was busy preparing for it. The
master and man were together in the folding-room,
when one of the pieces was found short of the re-
quired number of yards. "Come," says Mr. B-,
"it is but a trifle. We shall soon stretch it, and
make ont the yard. Come, Adam, take one end,
and pull against me." Adam had neither ears nor
heart for the proposal, and absolutely refused to do
what he thought a dishonest thing. A long argu.
ment and expostulation followed, in which the usages
of the trade were strongly and variously enforced;
but all in vain. Adam kept to his purpose, resolving
to suffer rather than sin. Mr. B was therefore
obliged to call for one of his men less scrupulous,
and Adam retired quietly to his desk. Soon after,
Mr. B, in the kindest manner, informed his
"young friend," as he always seemed proud to call
him, that it was very clear he was not fit for worldly
business, and wished him to look out for some employ
ment more congenial to his own mind: and with
what result he did so is well known.

THE OLD ARM-CHAIR.

I SEEM to see thee as thou stood,
In chimney-corner, firm and good,
With frame of oak, and seat of rush,
In winter evening's quiet hush:
A form beloved sat resting there,
For, oh, thou wast my father's chair!
Yet, not confined to him alone,
The household shared thee one by one;
So many years have passed since then
That memory reverts in vain
To find of what became thy fate,
In cottage low or hall of state.
Where'er we moved from place to place,
Thou always did the corner grace,
Familiar to my infant eyes;
And when to girlhood I did rise,
The service thou didst render then
Awakes my gratitude again.

With pain and sickness sore distressed,
I bied to thee for calm and rest;
With pillowed head full of alarms,
I sate 'tween thy capacious arms;
How oft thou soothed my aching brow!
Thou dear old friend, where art thou now?
And often since, when pain did rack,
How gladly would I have thee back!
Though comfortless by some be deemed,
To me none like thee ever seemed;
My joys and sorrows thou didst share,
My smiles and tears, thou old aria-chair.

Thine age, impossible to tell,
For, though I knew thee long and well,
I'm bound in truth and justice too
To say I never saw thee new,
While, all unlike each other friend,
I likewise never saw thy end.

For all those loved ones now are gone,
And I, the most unlikely one,
Am left a little while below,
Still on my pilgrimage to go'
Along the path my father trod,
Until I meet my father's God.

And then, ascending up to heaven,
According to the promise given,
My seat will be a throne on high,
To live and reign eternally,
With Him who died my soul to save,
Who died to ransom from the grave.

SIMPLICITY.

AN Indian and a white man, being at worship
together, were both brought under conviction by the
same sermon. The Indian was shortly after led to
rejoice in pardoning mercy. The white man, for a
long time, was under distress of mind, and at times
almost ready to despair; but at length he was also
brought to a comfortable experience of forgiving
love. Some time after, meeting his red brother, he
thus addressed him: "How is it that I should be so
long under conviction, when you found comfort so
soon?" "O, brother," replied the Indian, "me tell
you: there come along a rich prince; he promise to
give you a new coat. You look at your coat and say,
'I don't know; my coat pretty good, I believe it will
do a little longer.' He then offer me new coat; I
look on my old blanket: I say, "This good for nothing:'
I fling it right away, and accept the new coat. Just
so, brother, you try to keep your own righteousness
for some time, you loath to give it up; but I, poor
Indian, had none: therefore, I glad at once to receive
the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ."

TRUE WISDOM.

AN Italian Bishop struggled through great difficulties without repining or betraying the least impatience. One of his friends, who highly admired the virtues, which he thought it impossible to imitate, asked the prelate if he could communicate the secret of being always easy. "Yes," replied the old man, "I can teach you my secret with great facility; it consists in nothing more than making a right use of my eyes." His friend begged of him to explain himself. "Most willingly," returned the Bishop. "In whatever state I am, I first of all look up to Heaven, and remember that my principal business here is to get there; I then look down upon the earth, and call to mind how small a place I shall occupy in it when I die and am buried; I then look abroad into the world, and observe what multitudes there are who are in all respects more unhappy than myself. Thus I learn where true happiness is placed; where all our cares must end; and what little reason I have to repine or to complain."

A VISIT TO BUNHILL FIELDS'

BURYING-GROUND.

SECOND PAPER.

Y attention was next attracted
by the beautiful marble obelisk
erected to the memory of
Daniel Defoe. The inscription
on it runs thus:-

"Daniel Defoe, born 1661, died 1731. Author of Robin son Crusoe.' This monument is the result of an appeal in the Christian World newspaper, to the boys and girls of England, for funds to place a suitable memorial upon the grave of Daniel Defoe. It represents the united contributions of seventeen hundred persons, September, 1870." Seventeenhundred contributions! Some of them must have been small in amount, yet behold the result! Let us, then, learn not to despise the day of small things, in all our efforts for good. A sling and a stone, with faith in God, has killed a giant (1 Sam. xviii.).

"Little drops of water,

Little grains of sand, Make the mighty ocean And the beauteous land.. Little deeds of kindness, Little words of love, Make our earth an Eden,

Make the heaven above."

HOW A POOR MAN SAVED A POUND.

"SIR," said a poor labouring man to a minister, in a letter, "when you preached the missionary sermon last year, I was grieved that I had it not in my power to give what I wished. I thought and thought, and consulted my wife whether there was anything which we could spare, without injuring the poor children; but it seemed that we lived as near as possible in every respect, and had nothing but what was absolutely necessary. At last it came into my mind, Is that fourpence which goes every week for an ounce of tobacco absolutely necessary? I had been used to it so long, that I scarcely thought it possible to do without it; however, I resolved to try; so, instead of spending the fourpence, I. dropped it into a box. The first week I felt it sorely; but the second week it was easier; and in the course of a few weeks it was little or no sacrifice at all. When my children found what I was doing, they wished to contribute also; and if ever they got a penny or half-penny given to them, it was sure to find its way into the box, instead of the cake shop. On opening the box, I had the pleasure to find that our collected pence amounted to one pound, which I now enclose, and pray that the Lord may give his blessing with it."

GOOD WORKS.

OOD FRIDAY is a day set apart : by man from a very early date, to commemorate the sufferings and death of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It is a day, then, for solemn thought-thought upon sin and death, two subjects that must Sad ever go together. "In the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." "The wages of sin is death." "The soul

that sinneth, it shall die." Good Friday brings before men the exceeding sinfulness of sin that required such an atonement, even the death of Christ, to wash out its guilt. "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me;' but no other way was found to save ruined man. He (Jesus) saved others; but, in doing so, Himself He could not save. "I lay down my life for the sheep." Thus He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

What a suitable day is Good Friday for believers to gather round the table of the Lord! for Jesus, the same night that He was betrayed, took bread; "and when He had given thanks, He brake it," and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take, eat: this is my body,"which is given for you: "this do in remembrance

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth of me." And if He should vouchsafe to reveal me."-PHIL. iv. 13.

THROUGH Christ's blessing, the converted believer can act blessedly.

And, in the downward course, let us watch and strive Through His condescension, he can act condescendagainst the small beginnings of evil-for

"Our evil actions spring

From small and hidden seeds;

At first we think some wicked thing,
Then practice wicked deeds.

Cain once, perhaps, might start
At what he soon would be;
But they who trust an evil heart
May prove as vile as he."

Defoe wrote many satirical works, for one of which he was placed in the pillory, and suffered fine and imprisonment. He also wrote "The Plague of London," and his well-known work, 'Robinson Crusoe," appeared in 1719. What boy has not been pleased with the reading of that book? and, if it has infused into him a spirit of self-reliance, based upon a full trust in the providence of God, he has not read it in vain. But I wish to caution the young on

the subject of reading. Beware of spending too much time in the perusal of works of fiction, to the exclusion of more useful books; read not only for amusement, but for improvement; read not for to "kill time," but to make the most of every spare minute.

A good man (now deceased) well observed, "While we are young and strong, and in good health and spirits, history, and poetry, and fiction, all have their attractions; but when sickness comes, and the uneasiness of long confinement, they will not do. I have tried all, and come back to the Bible as the only book which leaves my mind comforted and peaceable, and which I can take up day after day without ever finding my pleasure in it diminished." This testimony is true.

I read, a few day ago, in a daily newspaper, a review of "The last Sunday novel, a great acquisition to some families," &c.! How sad to think that there are some who, instead of making the "Sabbath a delight," in using it for rest and worship, in teaching the young, or visiting the sick and the poor, require religious novels to pass the day away. But the Christian knows that

"A Sabbath well spent

Brings a week of content,

And health for the toils of the morrow;
But a Sabbath profaned,
Whatsoe'er may be gained,

Is a certain forerunner of sorrow."

R. W. J. SIN.-Between forty and fifty years ago, OLD JONATHAN saw the following in a shop-window in Southampton; nor has he ever forgotten the feelings that sight aroused:

"He that laughs at sin,
Laughs at his Maker's frown."

ingly.

Through His courage, he can act courageously.
Through His faith, he can act faithfully.
Through His forbearance, he can act forbearingly.
Through His grace, he can act graciously.
Through His Holy Spirit, he can act holily.
Through His humility, he can act humbly.
Through His love, he can act lovingly.
Through His longsuffering, he can act longsufferingly.
Through His mercy, he can act mercifully.
Through His patience, he can act patiently.
Through His pity, he can act pitifully.
Through His meekness, he can act meekly.
Through His Spirit, he can act spiritually.
Through His sympathy, he can act sympathizingly.
Through His obedience, he can act obediently.
Through His victories, he can act victoriously.
Through His peace, he can act peaceably.

Himself to the soul in breaking of bread and in prayer, so that the believer can take and eat in Him in his heart by faith with thanksgiving, he can remembrance that Christ died for him, and feed on then go on his way rejoicing.

"Oh, if this glimpse of love
Is so divinely sweet,
What will it be, O Lord, above,
Thy gladd'ning smile to meet!"

On Good Friday the Atonement is brought before the mind in bold relief. Man fell!-from -10). Jesus dies, and man, through faith in His that moment he has been afraid of God (Gen. iii. 8 blood, is reconciled to God (Eph. xi. 13-17). Man may well be alarmed when he thinks of, not only original sin, but of his actual sins; they are indeed more in number than the hairs of his head,"-sins of his youth, sins of his manhood; sins of his head, his heart, his eye, his hand, his feet; sins of omission, of ignorance and presumption; sins at home, sins abroad; sins of the shop, sins in the Church; sins of

Through His righteousness, He can act righteously. temper, sins of infirmity, sins in prayer, and his
Through His virtues, he can act virtuously.
Through His wisdom, he can act wisely.
Through His watchfulness, he can act watchfully.
Through His zeal, he can act zealously.

Reader, remember the words of the Lord Jesus to His disciples: "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke xvii. 10).

F. F.

RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM THEE."

A LITTLE boy, not five years old, had been well instructed by a kind aunt, who took care that he should early know the Scriptures. He was taken by her one day to the shop of a druggist, and there he observed an almond which had dropped from the counter on a seat just below it. He wished much to make it his own; but, knowing it was not right to take what belonged to another, he walked to the door of the shop; still, however, he could not help thinking of the almond; he returned and looked at it, touched it with his finger, and then went away again; but Satan, who is always ready to tempt children, as well as grown-up people, put it again into his head, how nice the almond would be; it was only one; it could never be missed. So he walked again towards the seat: but, calling to mind the command of God, was heard to say to himself, "Thou shalt not steal;" and, immediately going away from the place of temptation, he remained at the door of the shop until his aunt was ready to walk away with him.

very tears for sin requires washing." Who, then, can be saved? With man it is impossible; but with God all things are possible: for "the offering of Christ once made is that perfect redemption, proworld, both original and actual; and there is none pitiation, and satisfaction, for all the sins of the whole other satisfaction for sin, but that alone" (Art. xxxi.).

"When on the cross my Lord I see,
Bleeding to death for wretched me,
Satan and sin no more can move,
For I am all transformed to love.

His thorns and nails pierce through my heart;
In ev'ry groan I bear a part;

I view His wounds with streaming eyes;
But, see, He bows His head and dies!

Come, sinners, view the Lamb of God,
Wounded and dead, and bath'd in blood!
Behold His side, and venture near,
The well of endless life is here!"

Man of Sorrows the Man Christ Jesus.
On Good Friday we "Behold the Man!"-the
We see
with a loud voice, My God, my God, why hast
His heel bruised by Satan (Gen. iii. 15). "Jesus cried
Thou forsaken Me?" and He bowed His head, and
gave up the ghost. Thus is He able to save to the
saith to everyone who is cast down on account of his
uttermost all that come unto God by Him; and He
sins, "Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts
arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet.
be troubled. Oh, doubt not my love.
I have died that ye might live. Let not your heart
despair. Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends
No more

THE SURE TITLE.

ATHER FLYNN had been lecturing us on the greatness and power of the Church, and commanding us to leave the care of our souls entirely to the clergy, and to be satisfied that what

they told us, and nothing else, was right. There was a bold fellow present, one Phil Ryan, a decent farmer, with some small holdings in a place near us. When they were dismissed, all but me and two or three more that were in the priest's confidence, Phil came back, and making his best bow, said,

"Plase your reverence, I just forgot how I want to lodge a complaint against Mike Connor; he is so contrary, and scrupulous, and suspicious."

"Well, be short, man; it's little I'm likely to do in settling your differences; but I always held Mike to be a decenter fellow nor yourself," says Father Flynn.

"Well, then," says Phil, "to make short of it, yer honour, I want Mike to rint of me a snug cabin and a matter of two acres of good land, on a lease."

"Well ?"

"Mike is unreasonable, yer reverence, all out; he wants to see my title, to be sure it's good, and to examine all about the little property, which I take very unkind at his hand, seeing he has my word for it all."

"Why, man!" says the priest, who had a liking to Mike, "what's got into your head now? Do you suppose any but a natural would take your bare word in a matter where himself, his interest, and his comfort are all concerned? Go, give him the satisfaction he wants, and don't be setting yourself up in the place of law, justice, lease and all."

But Phil did not move. "Plase your reverence," says he, "I have the head landlord's authority to say that he executed the lease, putting me in possession of these premises, to let as I like: and why should any man stand doubting me, for want of proof?"

"Get along, sir," says Father Flynn to him. "Produce your lease, show him the title, satisfy the honest man's mind that his own will be good, or else he's a fool if he has anything to say to you or your holding. It's what

every tenant has a right to," says he again to us, "and ye know that, boys, very well."

But what a change came over Phil! He stood as bold as a lion, and as brisk-looking as a kid; and never moving his eyes from the priest's face, that grew all scarlet and blue as he spoke, he said,

out, he needn't want a shelter to go to; but the place that we're depending on your reverence to engage for us when we leave this world--”

Here the priest interrupted him with a worse word than I wish to write down; and, turning to us, he said,

"Boys, will you see your priest insulted by a swaddling apostate, that's sold himself to the devil and the Bible-men, for a few coins? My curse on ye, if ye don't stop his blasphemous mouth, and drive him out!"

"They needn't," says Phil, looking coolly at us; "I'm not going to trouble your reverence any further, as I've incensed you into my meaning about the everlasting habitation. I meant you no disrespect, sir; but a poor man's soul is precious, and I must have better warrant than the bare word of any living man, before I hazard it for ever."-Terence O'Grady, in the Protestant Magazine.

THE

BOOKSELLER AND SCEPTIC.

OBERT AITKIN, a bookseller of Philadelphia, was the first person who printed a Bible in that city. While he kept a bookstore, a person called on him and inquired if he had Paine's

"Age of Reason" for sale. He told him he had not; but, having entered into conversation with him, and found that he was an infidel, he told him he had a better book than Paine's "Age of Reason," which he usually sold for a dollar, but would lend it to him, if he would promise to read it; and, after he had actually read it, if he did not think it worth a dollar, he would take it again. The man consented; and Mr. Aitkin put a Bible into his hands. He smiled when he found what book he had engaged to read, but said he would perform his engagement. He did so ; and, when he had finished the perusal, he came back, and expressed the deepest gratitude for Mr. Aitkin's recommendation of the book, saying it had made him what he was not before-a happy man; for he had found in it the way of salvation through Christ.

Queen's Letter of Thanks.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, February 29, 1872.

The Queen is anxious, as on a previous occasion, to express publicly Her own personal very deep sense of the reception She and Her dear children met with on Tuesday, February 27th, from Millions of Her Subjects, on her way to and from St. Paul's.

"Words are too weak for the Queen to say how very deeply touched and gratified She has been by the immense enthusiasm and affection exhibited towards Her dear Son and Herself, from the highest down to the lowest, on the long progress through the Capital, and She would earnestly wish to convey Her warmest and most heartfelt thanks to the whole Nation for this great demonstration of loyalty.

"Why then, your reverence, will you plase show me your title to grant me an entrance into the kingdom of heaven, and satisfy me that if I take it at your hands I am safe in possession, let who may object to it ? "

The priest was mad! He made as if he would close in upon him to chastise him; but Phil was a powerful fellow, and not to be trifled with. He stood on his guard firmly, but not disrespectfully, and so

went on :

"It's but a cabin, sir, and a patch of ground, and the longest possession a man can have of it is but a few years. But in case he don't git it, there's scores of places just as good to the fore; or, if he's turned

AN ATTRACTIVE BOOK FOR A PRESENT. Price 1s. 6d., in an attractive Wrapper, printed in Colours. OLD JONATHAN VOLUME FOR 1871. Admirably adapted for Prizes and Rewards, either in Day or Sunday Schools.

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London: W. H. & L. COLLINGRIDGE, 117 to 120, Aldersgate St., E.C.

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THANKFULNESS.

As a poor man was sitting by his little fire one evening, with his wife and children, he said to them, "I have been thinking a great deal to-day about that part of Scripture, The Son of man had not where to lay His head.' How wonderful it is, that we, who are so sinful, unworthy, and helpless, should in this respect be more favoured than He was!" "It is wonderful indeed, father," said the eldest girl, "for, though our house is mean, and our provisions scanty, compared with those of many others, yet it seems that Jesus Christ was not so well provided for as we are. O that this thought may make us thankful for our many mercies!"

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THE DISTRICT AND PARISH HELPER.

FOR "THE STREETS AND LANES OF THE CITY-FOR THE HIGHWAYS AND HEDGES-TO BRING IN THE POOR, AND THE MAIMED, AND THE HALT, AND THE BLIND."-"YET THERE IS ROOM."-LUKE XIV. 21, 22. "THE PREACHER SOUGHT TO FIND OUT ACCEPTABLE WORDS."-ECCLES. XII. 10.

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