arms a few moments' rest, or putting some stitches in some torn clothing fresh from the mangle, while the busy housewife's hands, already trembling with fatigue, find change of work, and an anxious heart gathers to itself refreshment from the helpful sympathy thus kindly shown.

Thus ever the English girl, out of the abundance of her heart's love to the Master whom she seeks at all times to serve, lives a life of thought and care for others; ever realising, by the rich ingathering of joy to her own soul, the solemn truth that "he that watereth shall be watered also himself," and that it is always "more blessed to give than to receive."

THEIR SPECIAL WORK.

PART II.

ONE who made human nature his great study said: "The best missionaries to the young are the youthful. What age has gathered of experience it lacks of life-touching sympathy, which is another name for force, persuasion, and power." Perhaps there is no special work so congenial to the English girl, and so fruitful of happy results, as her labours in the Sundayschool or in Sunday afternoon classes at home. As in the "district," or in her visits to the sick and infirm, she accepts the work from the hands of her Lord and Master, seeking in it to minister unto Him of her substance-time, talents, loving impulses, and youthful hope and freshness. She is quite conscious of the fact that here, as in all other spheres of labour, her greatest power lies in her sympathy-the adaptation of herself to the special need of others; and knowing that much of the strength of her own heart-life is gathered at home amid the affection and ap

preciation of her friends, she seeks to bring into the lives of her Sunday scholars an atmosphere of kindliness and love. And it is in this way that she wins them to herself, and makes possible the glad reception of truths which go forth from her own heart into theirs.

When undertaking a class in the Sundayschool, the English girl feels that the set lesson, Sabbath by Sabbath, will form but a small part of her life-work among her scholars. She realises that never will she herself be separated from her teaching. She believes that in the far future of her "girls" histories, her life will remain with fuller memory and deeper meaning in their hearts than words which were spoken or than lessons taught. And in holding this to be a truth she recognises the great responsibility of her work, and the watchfulness and care which she feels to be necessary if she is to be "faithful in that which is least" will tend to strengthen and nourish her own spiritual growth and advancement.

Starting with this thought, that her life is as much a part of her teaching as her words, the English girl feels the great importance of little things. Her dress-the carefulness with which

she arranges it, the soft blending of colours, the avoidance of extravagance or of any undue conformity to fashion-all this becomes a matter for thoughtful consideration. If it be true that nothing is unmarked by, and, consequently, that nothing is without its influence upon her young pupils, then to dress with becoming care and consistency is plainly a duty. To be punctual in her class, to be true to the recognised importance of her work in never absenting herself without supplying a substitute, or sending an intimation of her enforced absence to the superintendent, and, through him, to her scholars, this, too, will come within the English girl's idea of faithfulness in the work she has undertaken.

And while it is to her sympathy that the English girl will owe her greatest power, it is to her earnestness that all success in this special work will be due. To have within her heart an intense yearning for the spiritual welfare of each individual member of her class, to feel this to be the one clear and definite aim of her teaching, will be for the English girl to be satisfied with nothing less than some visible proof that the longing of her own soul finds some response in the hearts of her scholars. It may be that her

lips will falter as she pleads with her young pupils for early decision, or for more entire consecration; it may be that she will speak with hesitation of her own heart struggles and convictions; but her earnestness, her intense desire to see them earnest too, will win their way and bring to pass an awakening to the need of thought, if nothing more. The English girl knows the Christian names of all her scholars, and they know that those names have been added one by one to her "Litany," that not only upon Sunday does she feel great interest in their welfare, but that, day by day, each one is remembered in prayer. And who shall limit the possibility of good accomplished in this assurance to the heart of the young girl struggling in a life of many trials and temptations to overcome evil with good? How often the thought, "Teacher prays for me," will be as a good angel to those who are in special need of sympathy and help; like a gentle influence, leading unconsciously to holier yearnings, and to the utterance of more earnest heart-cries to the God who heareth prayer in seasons of strong temptation or sorrow!

Nor does the English girl consider that her