ful reassurances, and of the history that reunited even upon earth the living and the dead; and of the broad benevolence and goodness that too many men have tried to tear to narrow shreds. Santa Claus and the Committee. Old Santa was busy as busy could be; "But lastly," he added, with sunniest smile, Bid them love Him and trust Him." Then he But he ran in for a moment to look at our tree, His budget of gifts, and was off to the city. And give a few hints to our Christmas com mittee, (Selected.) The Excellent Woman. (From Sermons by the Monday Club.) But the holiest of all woman's functions is maternity; and, as a mother, her mightiest influence is exerted. God has put highest honor and weightiest responsibility on woman in making her such. When the infant Moses was found, the daughter of Pharaoh said to his mother, "Take this child away, and nurse it for me." So, when God puts an infant in a mother's arms, He says to her, "Take this child, and nurse it for me.' Every mother should regard herself as a trainer of immortal Love, souls for God. In this work ceaseless Pa Said the mother of Washington, "A good boy generally makes a good man. George was always a good boy." So she aims to make her children good boys and girls, that they may become good men and women. And these im pressions are deep and lasting. The mother of John Newton often retired with him to her closet, put her hands on his head, and implored God's blessings on her son. He never could forget it. In after years of revelry and debauchery, he ever felt her hands upon his head. A few years ago a company of Indians were captured on the western frontier. Among them were a number of stolen children. They had been with the savages for years. Word was sent throughout the region, inviting all who had lost children to come and see if among the little captives they could recognize their own. A long way off was a woman who had been robbed of her darlings-a boy and girl. With mingled hope and fear she came; with throbbing heart she approached the group. They were strange to her. She came nearer, and, with her eyes filled with mother-love and earnestness, peered into their faces, one after another; but there was nothing in any that she could claim. Nor was there anything in her to light up their cold faces. With the dull pain of despair at her heart she was turning away, when she paused, choked back the tears, and, in soft, clear notes, began a simple song she used to sing to her little ones of Jesus and heaven. Not a line was completed before a boy and a girl sprang from the group, exclaiming, "Mamma! mamma!" and she folded her lost ones to her bosom. So lives a mother's early influence in the hearts of her children. Prayer among the Hebrews. and vain-glory—indeed, partly as their vehicle or their cover-we read of many and long prayers. Prayer formed not only part of the religion of the Pharisees and Scribes; it mingled with every relationship, and literally pervaded the every-day life of Israel. As a man rose in the morning, or laid down at night; as he went out, or came in; as he worshiped in the temple, or entered the synagogue; at every meal; in every domestic occurrence; in danger or deliverance, nay, almost for every act and event of life, there were prescribed formulas which the devout Jews had to repeat. Besides, since, every such berachah (or benediction) contained praise of the Divine name, it was considered an act of piety, and therefore entailing merit, to repeat as many as possible, till it was declared an evidence of special righteousness to say a hundred such berachah in the course of the day. The formalism and bondage which characterized all this were the fruits of Pharisaism. But the zeal for God which underlay it, the desire to serve Him, and even the many sublime sayings of the Rabbis in regard to prayer, were the outcome of the Old Testament dispensation, and of the many centuries of Divine teaching and training through which Israel had passed. For the Old Testament history had been full of prayer, and all its heroes men of prayer. It was the earliest sign of distinction between the races of Seth and Cain, in the days of Enos: "Then began men to call upon the name of Jehovah" (Gen. 4: 26). Enoch "walked with God;" Noah, and after him. all the Patriarchs, marked the place of their sojourn by each building an altar; Abraham plead with God; Eliezer "Though all other gates of heaven of Damascus sought His guidance and were closed, yet are those ever open by help; Isaac "entreated for his wife; which the sighs of the afflicted go in." Jacob had power with God and preThis beautiful Rabbinical saying is vailed; and Moses was pre-eminently a truly descriptive of Jewish views and man of prayer. The same characteristic feelings unto this day. Even in the appears in seasons of need or in hours most degenerate period of Isaiah and of danger in the history of Joshua, and Micah, the people were not remiss in of the later judges. Hannah asks her appearing" before God, "spreading child of the Lord; Samuel frequently forth their hands," "making many pray-prays; the Psalms of David; the reers," or crying unto Jehovah." The corded prayer of Solomon for himself same seeming inconsistency appears in at the beginning of his reign, and again New Testament times. Side by side at the dedication of the Temple; the with the mere outward service of the example of pious kings, of Daniel, and letter, with hypocrisy, self-righteousness,' of the prophets, all taught one and the same lesson. Every glorious event in the history of Israel was connected with the personal intervention of God, with His presence and help sought and obtained; and every calamity or humiliation called for fresh acknowledgment of Jehovah, and return to him. Great national experiences are not like isolated dogmas; they reach down to the roots of social life, and pervade it in all its branches. It was not otherwise in Israel, although Pharisaism made of the living God a sort of national Deity, bound to Israel for the fathers, and for their own sake; converted prayer partly into a necessary form, and partly into necessarily a merit; and made every Jewish petitioner a claimant, more or less entitled according to his position, his learning, or his religiousness.-Bible Educator, published by Cassell, Petter and Galpin. While thus engaged, a young Jewish student stopped and said: "Well, friend, you seem a merry fellow." Hans looked up and replied: "Merry! to be sure. I am right merry, my brother; and why should I not be so?" "All are not so," replied the student with a smile; "and your poverty might afford a sufficient excuse for sadness. I confess friend, I am surprised to see a poor man like you so cheerful." "Poor!" exclaimed Hans; "how knowest thou, friend, how my account stands with the bank? Poor, I am richer than thou knowest.” It may be so," said the student with a smile. "I must have heard of thy name in the Exchange, or of thy ships, but I have forgotten when." "Enough,' said Hans; "thou hast confessed thine ignorance of me ;" and then stopping his work, he said calmly and solemnly: Stranger, I am not poor; I am a King's son!" The Jewish student, with a smile, made a low bow, and went upon his way. 6. It was even so; though the world knew him not, no more than it knew his Elder Brother, that poor artizan was an adopted son of the Great King; his name was known among the courtiers of the palace of the Golden City, and his prayers and alms had come up as memorials to his honor. He had much wealth laid up where thieves could not break through and steal. He had his Father's will in his hand, which he read attentively from day to day, and thought often of his mansion, his crown, his titles, and his enduring possessions. Like Peter the Great working as an obscure mechanic, or Alfred the Mighty working as a menial in a miserable hovel, this cobbler was fulfilling the good pleasure of his Father till the time to receive his inheritance should come. Dr. Payson said that if Christians realized their relation to God as children, each could not avoid crying in the streets, I am a son of God! I am a son of God!" S Hans communed as a son with his heavenly Father, and sung because he was happy. A week passed away, the student came again to the cobbler's door, and making a low bow with his cap in his hand, he said: "Good evening to your royal highness." "Halt, friend," cried Hans, "I am glad to see you again. You left me abruptly the other evening. I suppose you thought me mad. I am no so. I tell you again I am a King's son. When you interrupted me I was singing a song about my kingdom. Would you like to hear it?" "Surely, if it please your royal highness," replied the Jew, doubting the cobbler's sanity. Hans sung a hymn on "Thy kingdom come," and then asked the student if he understood its meaning. His reply was a shake of the head. Upon which Hans began to pour out his soul in explanation of the kingdom of his Messiah, about the promise in Eden, its fulfillment in the coming, death, resurrection, and reign of Christ, of whose kingdom every subject was a son, and joint heir to all its riches and honors. The Jew sat as a child at his feet, gazing upon him with his full black eye, and so absorbed with all he heard, that he was only aroused as from a waking dream by Haus taking him by the arm, and saying: "Now thou seest I am a King's son, and why I am happy; for I know and love this Jesus, and all things comprised whatsoever things were costly, beautiful, sublime, and bliss-bestowing. So the Jewish student read, and weighed the evidences of the New Testament in comparison with the Old. He came to Hans and conversed about his doubts and discoveries and expectations; and the poor disciple became the teacher of the lettered student. The result was his conversion to the faith of Christ. He became the Rev. Mr. N―, for many years an eminent and successful misionary to his Jewish brethren in Siberia. are mine, whether life or death, things present or things to come; and young man," he asked with emphasis, "believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. For unless I mistake thy countenance greatly, thy fathers did; and thou, my son, believing in them, must also believe in Him whom they have foretold, and whom God hath sent to perform the mercy promised to thy fathers, and to rememher His holy covenant, the oath which He sware to thy father Abraham." Let every Christian remember his rank; see that he does not dishonor it; but in every way recommend it to the attention of the world.. It does not become a king's son to adopt the manners of a clown. The sons of God should be without reproach, and shine as lights in the world, putting always first the interests of their Father's house. He whose citizenship is in heaven's no The Jew was silent before the truth of God. Unutterable thoughts passed through his mind. From curiosity he was led to inquiry, and from inquiry to knowledge. Like Moses beholding the miracle of the burning bush, he felt that he must turn aside and examine. "Where," he asked, meekly, "can I learn more of this; for I see that thou believest and hast peace?" "From this book," said Hans, handing him ability, should be above the world's menBible. "Go home and read there about the kingdom, and return to me when thou hast studied the passages I shall point out to thee. I shall, like Moses, pray for thee and ask One to pray for thee whom thou knowest not, but who knoweth thee, and who is greater than Moses." The young Jew grasped the hand of the cobbler, made a respectful bow, and departed. He had seen something wonderful, and he resolved to know more about it. He had seen a man in humble life happier than any noble or king, and who appeared to have acquired the habits and manners of a new life. His religion seemed to have ennobled him, so that it touched his trade and made it honorable; touched his station in society, and rendered it not unworthy of one holding good rank in the household of God. It was evident that rank with God and wealth with Him did not depend upon externals; for the honorables of heaven were often poor, and yet might convey the greatest riches to others. This cobbler enjoyed all the privileges of his Father's house. The shadow of the throne was over him, he communed with the King, received the best society of the court, and was happy in its feasts, music, and emoluments. Proving that the life was more than meat, his calling dicity. It was an old saying in the primitive times of the Church: "I am a Christian, and such conduct is not permitted unto me;" and he who remembers God's words, "I will be a Father unto you," should so dignify his calling as to render it the greatest power on earth for the benefit of mankind. When God's children prove by works that their names are enrolled in the heraldry of the new Jerusalem, converts will be every where multiplied.-Rev. John Waugh. The Boy Who Kept His Word. One day I heard the softest little tapa-tap at the door, low as though made by a kitten's paw, and when I opened it, a beautiful little boy, with brown eyes, red lips, and rich olive complexion, stood there perspiring, and holding his old battered hat in his sunburnt hands. "Would you lend me a wheel-barrow to take some walnuts home? I will bring it right back this evening," said he respectfully, and he appeared like a dear little gentleman. "Be sure, my little man, I want to accommodate you," said I laying my on his moist brow, and turning his hand I felt a deep interest in the child, and resolved to watch him and do him all the good I could.-Exchange. In an article on "The Historic Build sweet face fairly up to view, "but how do I know that you are au honest little stranger? Your eyes and face look very honest, but sometimes a boy's acts belie his truthful face. Yes, I'll lend you the wheel-barrow, and take your A Glimpse of Washington's Boyhood. word for it that you'll bring it back this evening. But you look so tired and sweaty that I believe you'd like one of nice cookies, would you not?" "Yes, ma'am, thank you," said he; and then I put the sideboards on the wheel-barrow, and ran it out at the gate for him, and helped him lift a sack of nuts into it. In the evening, as we sat at tea, I heard the wheel-barrow coming up the dusty road with a creaking wheek, whack," and I felt rejoiced to know that my little stranger was a boy " my who could be trusted. "I did bring it home now, didn't I?" said he puffing along. "Thank you." said I. "It does me good to meet a boy who regards his word as something sacred, because I think an honest boy will make an honest man," and I shook hands with the little fellow, and told him to sit down and rest. He took off his hat, and sat down, saying, "I can't stay long, because I have to get the cow for mother, and we keep her in Mr. Irving's pasture." ings of America," in Potter's American Monthly for June, Dr. Lossing tells a delightful anecdote introducing us to the early boyhood of Washington and his friend Richard Henry Lee. The anecdote is told in connection with an account of Stratford House, the family seat of the Lee family, and is as follows: from the birth-place of Washington, weeks' difference between their ages. "Pa brought me two pretty books full of pictures he got them in Alexandria they have pictures of dogs and cats and tigers and elefants and ever so many pretty things cousin bids me send you one of them it has a picture of an elefant and a little indian boy on his back like uncle jo's sam pa says if I learn my tasks good he will let uncle jo bring me to see you will you ask your ma to let you come to see me. RICHARD HENRY LEE.' "To this note little Washington re I learned who the child was-that he was the new blacksmith's son, and that he had a little brother and sister at home, and that "Sissy Zoa" was the darlingest baby in the world. I talked to him about keeping his word always, regarding it as something sacred of building up a character for truthfulness; and for a few moments I talked little boy-talk as hard as I could. His big eyes watched me closely-he under-plied: stood and appropriated every word I said. I gave him a cookie to eat then, and one for after he got home, and one a piece for the little brother and sister, and told him to mind what his mother had said about getting the cow, and that I believed he was rested, and had better go now; but whenever he wanted any favors hereafter I would not be afraid to trust him. Oh, he walked off so royally! just as rich and honorable, and he took strides like a young Goliath! And I! I felt good to meet with a specimen of manly integrity in such a little lump of a boy. "DEAR DICKY I thank you very much for the pretty picture book you gave me. Sam asked me to show him the pictures and I showed him all the pictures in it; and I read to him how the tame Elephant took care of the master's little boy, and put him on his back and would not let anybody touch his master's son. I can read three or four pages sometimes without missing a word. Ma says I may go to see you and stay all day with you next week if it be not rainy. She says I may ride my pony Hero if Uncle Ben will go with me and lead Hero. I have a little piece of |