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streets. I have dismissed him from the school, but allowed him to come again on his earnest entreaty and promise of good conduct. If I had struck that lad when he was so irritated, or spoken harshly to him, his fury would have been ungovernable, but he cannot stand a word of kindness.

to take a special interest. them visit the parents ocasionally in their dwellings; impress upon their minds the duty of attending to the interests of their children; let them see the children occasionally in school, and by a little attention shown them, they would not only be induced to attend more regularly, but also be encouraged to greater diligencethey would eventually feel grate-tablish them, you will never fill ful to their benefactors, a reciprocal interest would be thereby created, ‘blessing him who gives, as well as him who takes.' And surely the time would be well spent, and the labours well rewarded, if even one out of five was thereby rescued from vagrancy and ruin.

AN UNRULY SPIRIT.-While

FORGED TICKETS.-If you es

them. This is very pretty in theory, but what has been the result? Why, in the school, at Whitsuntide, when it was first opened, the crowd was so great seeking admission, that they were obliged to print tickets: they distributed these, to the amount of 200, to each boy. The next night, however, about 500 presented them

want

was actually found that these poor
children had got these tickets
and I am convinced we
forged to secure admission. Yes,
Ragged Parsons as well as Ragged
Schools. We must have places to
which the poor man is not ashamed
to come in his flannel jacket. It is
not fretted vaults or fretted domes
that are necessary, no, but where-
together in His name, there the
ever two or three are gathered
word of the Lord will have free
course and be glorified.

one of the visitors was at the Rag-selves, and all with tickets, and it ged School at -, a short time ago, a boy of about thirteen was seen to be extremely violent and refractory, and a teacher endeavoured to lead him to the bottom of the class, for inattention. He obstinately resisted, and stamped with rage. The master, observing the conflict, patted him gently on the head and cheek, and begged him to be a good boy. In a minute, before the master had quitted him, it came again to his turn to be asked by the teacher one of the arithmetical questions of the lesson, when he cheerfully and promptly cried out '48,' the proper answer. The crimson flush of anger had left his face; his countenance was as bright and placid as if the last moments had not witnessed the storm that agitated his passions, and he became at once quiet and docile. The visitor asked the master about him. He replied, "That boy is the most unmanageable in the school; he is clever, but very passionate, he has kicked my legs, (happily for me he has no shoes) he has pelted me with mud in the

THE RAGGED CLOTHED.-In connection with York Street Chapel, Walworth, there is a Ragged school. But such is the external change which has taken place in the scholars, that they put us in mind of the man who was a maniac, but was afterwards found sitting at the feet of Jesus, 'clothed and in his right mind.' These once boisterous, and half clothed, are now so orderly, and by the help of kind friends, well clothed, that they frequently are brought on the sabbath evening to worship God in his sanctuary.

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The Children's Box.

WINDSOR CASTLE.

TAKE the early morning train, young friends, from Paddington, for Slough, and go on to Windsor, where you will find the noble pile of buildings, (as above) which will fully repay all your trouble, when you have walked through the state rooms: these may be viewed on obtaining a ticket, which may be had in London or at Windsor. The round tower, the terrace, the quadrangle, the garden, the fountain, the chapel, the hundred steps, the long walk, and the parks, will afford a rich fund for a day's amusement; and then, reflection upon the history of the whole will be a source of instruction.

The writer has often visited Windsor castle-in the time of George IV, William IV, and queen Victoria. He still loves, when opportunity offers, to wander through the home park, where first of all he stood to gaze upon the noble building, and there to view the far famed Windsor castle. The flag floating in the breeze, on the lofty tower, denoting Her

Majesty is at home. The terrace all alive with the gay company; and the fountain in the midst sending up its pearly drops which glitter in the sunbeam. The band playing in delightful notes, and the sweet music borne by the silent breeze gently falling upon the ear-the hour of her majesty's dining. The sentinel pacing up and down, erect and gaily dressed, to guard the royal house. these things he beholds with mingled feelings. He considers the days of old, when England was infested with wild beasts, and cruel men, whose only delight was in eating, and drinking, and fighting. When kings did not reign quietly in their palaces; and men knew not peace, and is thankful for the change of scenes.

All

Windsor castle was built by William the Conqueror. Henry 1, enlarged it. The sovereigns of England continued to reside there until the reign of Edward III, who caused nearly the whole building to be pulled down and rebuilt; William, of Wykeham, superintended the new building. St. George's chapel was also added by Edward. He obtained workmen in the same way as he would have

raised an army, by assessing every county to send him a certain number. Other additions were made by Henry VIII and Edward VI. Queen Mary had the water brought to the fountain; and Elizabeth built the grand terrace on the north of the castle, which Charles 11 beautified and repaired in 1680. The castle was enlarged in 1824-8; and recently further additions have been made.

Should our young readers any of them visit Windsor, let them visit the state apartments, the terrace, and the chapel, and the statue at the top of the long walk. There will they see grandeur-gold and silver tables, crimson and golden chairs, glass chandeliers, cannon, arms, flags, and immense treasures: and there let them ponder, as they behold some decaying, and the others yet bright, that there is treasure in heaven, where moth nor rust doth corrupt, and thieves do not break through nor steal. As they behold the beautiful carved monuments of kings and queens, let them think of Him who has said, 'By me, kings reign and princes decree justice;' and learn to seek to wear the crown of righteousness which fadeth not away. J. C.

UNCLE HARRY'S LETTERS.

IS IT WORTH CLIMBING FOR? Dear Young Friends,-Uncle Harry, on a sunshiny morning, when the dew is yet hanging in pearly drops upon the flowers and verdure, delights to walk abroad, and to inhale the sweet morning air, and to pluck the violet full of odour sweet. How frequently have his ears been charmed with the harmonious notes of the choristers of the air-and his eyes gratified with their delightful plumage. And no less is he pleased to walk abroad into the fields of books-to cull the flowers of one author-dig up the gems

of another, of join in music which the poetry of a third inspires. He delights to descend with the mineralogist or geologist into the bowels of the earth, and to examine strata after strata, or the wealth which is contained beneath the earth's surface. He loves also to climb with the astronomer to the very sun, moon, and stars, and measure their diameters and circumference, and swiftness of motion. Yet, nevertheless, in all his walkings, talkings, and readings, he is desirous, first of all, to have the question at the head of this letter satisfactorily answered -'Is it worth climbing for?'

Now, my young friends, we are all climbers in one way or other-we have all some object at which we are aiming. The peasant boy may be climbing after a bird's nest, while the prince is climbing after a crown-indeed, there is such a variety of climbers, and many whom I have seen, that I must talk a little more particularly about them.

The little boy who struck his ball somewhat awkwardly, so that it fell on the roof of an old high barn, scrambled up the rugged door, clung by the holes in the brickwork, and reached the top of his barn; but he rubbed the skin off his fingers, and the blood was smeared over his hands, his clothes were torn, and he ran the risk of breaking his neck.

A man once climbed a greasy pole, so slippery that he kept taking sand from his pockets to rub upon it to prevent his sliding down. On the top of the pole there was placed a hat for whoever should reach the summit. The man reached the top, but had to tear the hat away, for it was nailed there.

Napoleon Bonaparte aspired to become the conqueror of all Europe--but ended his days in banishment on the Island of St. Helena. Alexander conquered

the world-but sat down and mourned because there was not another world to conquer.

Archimedes was so engrossed in the solution of a problem in geometry, that he knew not when Syracuse was taken. A certain captain was so engaged in the decoration of his cabin, that he continued painting the wooden walls with curious designs while the ship was going down.

Now, my young friends, let me remind you, that before performing any great work, it is well to sit down and count the cost-or, in other words, to ask-'Is it worth climbing for?' The little

boy who climbed for his ball at the expense of torn clothes and grazed fingers, and even at the risk of breaking his neck, was an emblem of many little boys and girls, who are all eager to obtain that which will prove not worth the pains they have taken to obtain it. How many young folks do I know who are climbing after baubles-things which, after all their trouble to obtain them, will only end in disappointment and vexation. Nothing earthly is worth climbing for.

'Aspire, young friends, on high to live For there is found your treasure! What's here would all your hopes

deceive

That only suits their measure.' Such treasure is worth climbing for.

How sad must have been the disappointment of the foolish man who climbed, with much exertion, the greasy pole, when he found that the hat was nailed to the top! He got the hat, but it was worthless. And it is no less true that, to obtain some distinction, young and old are too prone to walk in slippery paths, and to risk their very life for a moment's gratification. They act the part of the poor traveller who has been tempted to follow a bright light in the distance, and to his dismay,

when he has found himself on some wide moorland, far away from house or home, he discovers it to be the 'Will o' the wisp,' and that all his toil has been in vain. Worldly things make a great show, and are very attractive; and many foolish people are led to climb after them at all hazards-but, alas! they find, when they would grasp the prize, it is worthless. Rather, my young friends, list to the voice of Uncle Harry, and use your every effort, in reliance on Jesus, to obtain that which will never perish.

Oh, seek a higher good,

A treasure that's supreme,
A precious hope in Jesus' blood,
Nor dare this world esteem.

Kingdoms and thrones are not worth climbing for. Alexander and Napoleon found that they could not be held for ever. The one wept, unsatisfied even with the dominion of a world-while the other was banished to spend his days a miserable exile. But is there no kingdom worth climbing for? Aye, indeed there is, a kingdom prepared for those who love the Lord Jesus-a crown of glory awaits those who, through much tribulation, strive to enter this kingdom.

My young friends have much to conquer. Even if they should be rich and great in this world, unless they conquer themselves, their evil tempers and habits, they will be miserable in the extreme. To conquer oneself is worth climbing for-it is worth ascending the most rugged hill. It is worth every kind of selfdenial. He that ruleth his spirit is better than he which taketh a city.'

In conclusion, I wish you all to look at this question in a still more serious light. Are riches worth climbing for? What says the Saviour-'How hardly shall they who have riches enter into

the kingdom of heaven.' The riches of the world are of little value compared with heavenly things. 'There is that maketh himself rich and yet hath nothing.' A certain young man who had been heaping together riches, and lived a moral life, came to Jesus and asked what he should do to inherit eternal life. He was told to sell all that he had and give to the poor and follow Christ, and he should have treasure in heaven; but he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich. Another individual climbed after thirty pieces of silver, and the consequence was, he lost his soul. Another tried to gain favour in the presence of Ahasuerus, and by every means in his power climbed after honour. But the very means he used turned to his own ruin.

Nothing here is worth climbing for. Solomon says, 'I made me great works; I bridled me horses; I planted me vineyards; I made me gardens and orchards; and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits; I made me pools of water; I got me servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me. I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces.' Indeed, he tells us that he had everything he wished; but mark! what does he reply to the question, 'Is it worth climbing for?' 'Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.'

Thus you see that there have been many climbers after the things of this world; but all have only tended to prove that there is nothing on earth worth climbing for. Oh, my young readers,

what are you climbing for? Is it for riches, pleasure, honour, or possessions of earth? Are you aspiring to be great, noble, or mighty ? I entreat you, 'Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, but set your affection on things above.' Seek to climb the ladder Jacob saw by faith. Let your every energy be put forward in search of true happiness. Strive to enter in at the straight gate. Let nothing hinder you from following Jesus Christ. Pray for the spirit of the apostle who said-'For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of Jesus Christ our Lord.'

nor

There is a great city, having the glory of God, with light clear as jaspar stone, with a wall great and high, twelve gates, and an angel at each gate. In this city there is no temple, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. There is no need of the sun or of the moon, for the Sun of righteousness is the light of it. The inhabitants are such as have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. And there is no night there, no sorrow, no cry, no pain, because the former things are done away. There are many mansions. There are thrones, kingdoms, wealth, honor, happiness, and pleasures evermore. Is it worth climbing for -or rather, is it not? Oh yes, through evil report and good report, let every reader say, I will run the Christian race-I will fight the Christian fight-I will keep the Christian faith, looking unto Jesus,-this is worth striving for. This is the first step -the fear of the Lord.

Dearest youth, let go thy hold,

Grasp at earth, at air, no more!

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