Such was the difference in the homes I saw. No doubt, there will be changes in most of them before I take my leave of earth. Some will have more sorrow, some more joy, than any previous year has brought them. Some will be poorer, some will be richer; but

'Tis not wealth will give you pleasure,
Unless you rightly use it;
What use to you a golden treasure
If you keep it to abuse it?
The joy of doing kindly deeds,

In the hope sad hearts to cheer,
The careful thought of others' needs,
Will give you a glad new year.

E. M. G.

55. LION HUNTING.

de-vours, eats up

ma-jes-tic, stately

haunts, places where they nim-ble, quick

The lion lives among the mountains and forests of Africa. No doubt it makes a very nice picture, but it is a terrible foe to meet. Some people call it a noble animal, a majestic brute, the 'king of the forest,' and a great many other names of that kind. I fancy they would not think so well of it if they were once within reach of its claws. It is often as fierce and

savage as any other animal we know, and but very few have ever been tamed.

The lion will sometimes leave his native haunts and enter villages, carrying off horses and cattle. It will sometimes attack men and women, and kill them. It is so strong and fierce, that the native people of those African villages are afraid of it and fly before it.

A traveller from the banks of the Nile has brought home strange tales about the cruelty of this animal. It will seize a man, and hurt him at first just a little. Then it will let him go for a short distance, and catch him again. In this way it will play with him, as a cat plays with a mouse, until it is tired, and then devours him. When a tract of country has been infested with lions for some time, the hunters go out into the forests to hunt them. If they can find the lair of the lion, and catch the young ones, they take them away, and lie in wait for the old ones.

This is a work of great danger, for the lion is exceedingly nimble. It will spring upon its victim like a cat. Its teeth and claws are very strong and sharp, and with them it tears its victim to pieces. If the lion is wounded, the pain makes it more savage and fierce. A friend of mine was once seized by the terrible strong claws of a lion. He expected every moment to be torn in pieces. His companions, who were not twenty yards from him, durst not fire for fear of killing him instead of the beast. In a moment, a native hit upon the plan of attracting the lion's attention by throwing a dog near it. Quick as thought this was done. While the lion turned for a second to the dog, a well-directed bullet pierced his skull, and he rolled over as dead as a

log of wood. The man's life was saved; but he had two ugly scars, which he wears to this day.

The celebrated traveller and missionary, Dr. Livingstone, was once caught by a wounded lion, and injured. The bones of his arm were broken, and he would have been killed if his friends had not rescued him just in time.

When the lion is surrounded, it faces the hunters boldly, and springs at one of them. Then is the moment for a sure and steady aim. A shot from a rifle in the head or heart will lay the lion low. If the hunter should miss his aim,-if he should break a leg, or inflict a flesh wound only, his life is not worth much, unless his companions can save him.

Lion hunters need to be men of great skill and courage. Generally they are. It is seldom they have need to fire twice at the same lion. Many of them take great pride in their work, and will boast how many lions they have shot. The natives rejoice greatly when the hunters return safely, bringing the skins of their foes with them.

56. MAGGIE'S DISAPPOINTMENT.

grad-u-al-ly, step by step neigh-bour, one who lives

near

fore-thought, thinking be- pru-dence, wisdom, caution

Maggie Miller was a tall, strong girl, with a kind heart and a good temper; but she was wanting in forethought and prudence. She was

a very useful girl in most respects, but she would have been more useful still if she had not had this fault. She could, and did, help her mother in the house and on the farm; but she never thought of the future, or prepared for the duties of to-morrow. Her mother often said to her, Maggie, Maggie, your head will never save your heels.'

She wanted to go with her mother to the market one Saturday. She knew her work must be done, and the breakfast prepared, before the train was due. Now, most girls would have worked hard on Friday night so as to have nothing to do, or very little indeed, on Saturday morning. But Maggie thought there would be 'plenty of time;' so she neglected her proper duties, and spent her time in needless work.

Saturday morning came. She rose early, and bustled about a long time. She polished the grate, and then lighted the fire. Perhaps it would be more correct to say she tried to light the fire; for the wood was wet,-she had forgotten to dry it the night before, so it smoked and hissed, and went out. Well, the clock was going on all the time, you know, and poor Maggie was in a sad way. Then the coals were wet, because they had been out in the rain all night. She could not find the bellows, for she had used them in the wash-house, and left them there without knowing.

So the time flew by, and her work was not done. Her mother had to wait some time for breakfast, and then run off at once to catch the train.

Of course, she went alone. When she was gone, Maggie sat down and cried for disappoint