A rich merchant in North Ceylon, named Siva Sangu Chetty, was suddenly reduced to poverty; but by this plan he was restored to his former prosperity. Two money-brokers, also, who were sent to these parts by their employer, who lived on the opposite continent, lost one thousand rix-dollars entrusted to them. They therefore called those of their caste, profession, and country, to partake of a feast, at which repast the whole of their loss was made up. When a young man puts on the earrings or turban for the first time, a feast of the same description, and for the same purpose, is given, to enable him to meet the expense of the rings, and to 'assist him in the future pursuits of life. When a young woman also becomes marriageable, the female relations and acquaintances are called to perform a similar service, in order to enable her to purchase jewels, or to furnish a marriage portion. In having recourse to this custom, there is nothing that is considered mean; for parents who are respectable and wealthy often act in a similar manner. Here, then, we have another simple and interesting illustration of a most praiseworthy usage of ancient days.-Roberts's "Oriental Illustrations."

1 Kings xxii. 34.—“A CERTAIN MAN DREW A BOW AT A VENTURE. 1179. Influence of a Tract.-A society was some years ago established to distribute tracts by post in the higher circles. One of these tracts, entitled, "Prepare to meet thy God," was not long since enclosed in an envelope, and sent by post to a gentleman well known for his ungodly life and his reckless impiety.

He was in his study when he read this letter, among others. Prepare to meet thy God.' Who

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666 "What's that?" said he,

has had the impudence to send me this cant ?"

And with an imprecation on his unknown correspondent, he arose to put the paper in the fire.

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'No, I won't do that," he said to himself; on second thought, I know what I will do. I'll send it to my friend B-; it will be a good joke to hear what he'll say about it."

So saying, he enclosed the tract in a fresh cover, and in a feigned hand directed it to his boon companion.

Mr. B- was a man of his own stamp, and received the tract as his friend had done, with an oath at the Methodistical humbug, which his first impulse was to tear in pieces.

"I'll not tear it, either," said he to himself.

"Prepare to meet thy God" at once arrested his attention and smote his conscience. Like those of whom the poet says,

"They came to scoff,

And remained to pray;"

the arrow of conviction entered his heart as he read, and he was turned "from darkness to light, from the power of Satan unto God."

Almost his first thought was for his ungodly associates.

"Have I received such blessed light and truth, and shall I not strive to communicate it to others?"

. He again folded the tract, and enclosed and directed it to one of his companions in sin.

Wonderful to say, the little arrow hit the mark. His friend read. He also was converted, and both are now walking as the Lord's redeemed ones.

Ecclesiastes xi. 1.-"CAST THY BREAD UPON THE WATERS: FOR THOU SHALT FIND IT AFTER MANY DAYS."

1180. "The Dairyman's Daughter" in Turkey.-Dr. Blackwood records the following encouraging fact:- "That well-known tract The Dairyman's Daughter,' written in the Isle of Wight by the Rev. Legh Richmond,* found its way to Constantinople. There it was translated into the Armenian tongue by the Rev. Dr.. Goodell, an American missionary to Turkey. A copy of this version was carried to Nicomedia (or Ismid), and fell into the hands of a Vartabed, or preaching priest of the Armenian church. He, upon perusing it, was deeply affected by the picture it presented of simple and genuine Christianity, the result of faith in Jesus and the operation of the Holy Ghost, such as he supposed to have existed only amongst the primitive Christians. Comparing the spirit and principles of this sweet story with the condition of the corrupt and idolatrous Armenian church, he was led to the study of the New Testament; and the result was his own conversion by the Divine grace. He then communicated the knowledge of this wondrous tract, and his own blessed experience, to another Vartabed, with the same results in his case also. These two converted priests, expelled from their own corrupt communion, were the chief beginnings of the evangelical church now existing in

See article No. 16, Vol. I.

Nicomedia. That church has given origin to two others in the neighbourhood; and as the good influence extends itself widely in all directions, it is impossible to say how far throughout Turkey may yet be diffused the beneficial leaven of The Dairyman's Daughter.""

Isaiah lxi. 10.-"HE HATH CLOTHED ME WITH THE GARMENTS OF

SALVATION."

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1181. The Righteousness of Christ.-A poor girl in Scotland, living in a filthy court in the Cannongate (Edinburgh), was lying on a bed of sickness. A minister went to visit her. 'My dear little girl," said he, "I am sorry to see you in so wretched a condition." "Wretched, sir ?" she said; "oh, I am not wretched, I am very happy." "Happy! and lying here, and none to take care of you and help you! What makes you happy ?" "Jesus, sir, makes me happy. Why, don't you know, sir, He has dressed me for the grave ?" "Dressed you for the grave! why, what do you mean, dear child ?" "Oh, do you not remember, sir, that you told us the last time you preached to us, that Jesus dressed all His little lambs in beautiful robes of righteousness, and would take them safely through the gates of death into His heavenly home? Well, He has dressed me. Blessed Jesus! He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, and that makes me happy now."

Hebrews ii. 10.-"PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERINGS."

1182. Blessings come through Suffering.-In proportion as a horse is well trained and gentle, he had to suffer in being broken in. The white beautiful teeth of a little child, that look so much like ivory, cause much pain before they grow up in that regular row. A gentleman in Hartford (America) had a beautiful little daughter. But O how her parents grieved when they found that she was deaf and dumb, and could never speak or hear. She was bright and lovely, and no child among them all nestled so near a father's heart as little Alice; and so anxious was he for her, that he had no rest till the Deaf and Dumb Asylum was established, at which hundreds of such unfortunate children have been educated; so that all this great good may be said to have grown out of the sufferings of little Alice.-DR. TODD.