be sure ship had struck! The very thought of it made them tremble and hold their breath. And you may they were glad enough when they were safely by. 5. But look out! there is another danger just before them they are heading straight for a big black ledge on which the waves are beating with an awful roar! What is the pilot about? Is he going to run the ship upon that? No: the channel is so narrow that he has to run close by it. But look! just as the ship seems right upon it, and everybody expects she will strike, the pilot waves his hand to the man at the wheel, and shouts, "Starboard!" and away she flies the other side. 6. And so it is, all the way up to the anchorage, -first "starboard," and then "port," for these fatal rocks are in the way everywhere. But the pilot knows exactly where they are, and the captain and crew do exactly as he directs. If they did not, they would certainly strike upon some of those dangerous places. But they obey him, and are saved from shipwreck. 7. In the same way, when you take Jesus for your pilot, you must do exactly as he says. He knows the dangerous places; and if you will mind him, he will steer you safely by them all. Be sure and do exactly as he says. He will not be your guide if you do not. You must let him take the entire control, just as the pilot takes the ship. 8. Now, what is the very first direction he gives you? It is, that you leave off doing wrong. Every evil thing, whatever it is, and however much you may want to do it, you must leave it off; never do it again. Do you ever get angry? Your Pilot says you must not get angry again: that is a great black rock, very dangerous, and you must steer away from it. 9. Do you ever speak unkindly, or use wicked words? He says you must be careful not to do so in future these are dangerous rocks too. Do you ever deceive your teacher, or disobey your mother, or run away from school, or say that which is not true? Oh, what places of peril these are! Your Pilot warns you, "Keep off! keep off!" You must give up sinning, for it displeases the blessed Saviour. "starboard!" to the right craft, boat. THE And its blessed entrance strait: 2. The sunbeams of the morning Make the narrow path so fair ; tie they way 3. They pass o'er rugged mountains, 4. They do not greatly tremble When the shadows night foretell; strait, narrow. pilgrim, a traveler. 5. They know it leads to heaven, hon-or dar-ling LESSON XVIII. sandal, a shoe. THE PARENT AND CHILD. THE \HE same great and blessed Being who made the marriage relation and its law, made also the precious tie which unites the parent and the child. The Bible tells us that children are the gift of God, and that he commands the father and mother to train them up for him. 2. To do this, parents must require the obedience of their children. They must not only be kind and loving to their little ones, and strive to make them happy, but they must also be faithful and firm in requiring them to do right. 3. They must teach their children about God and his works; they must tell them of his goodness and mercy; of his displeasure against those who do wrong, and his blessing to those who love and obey him; and must train them by example as well as precept. 4. Every father and mother should strive to be themselves just what they wish their child to be. God holds them responsible for leading their children in the way to heaven. Each parent should try to be able to say at the last, "Here, Lord, am I, and the children thou hast given me." 5. Each child is also commanded to love and obey its father and mother. For this, God puts the helpless infant under the parents' care. Many sleepless nights and weary days are spent by them in caring for it; and they love their darling as no one else can do. Ought not the child, then, to love and obey them in return? 6. God's Word says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is right." "Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." What does God command the father and mother? What must they teach their children? What should the father and mother strive to be? What ought children to do in return? Repeat God's commands to children. LESSON XIX. prayer bright-ness trav-el-er breeze moun-tain dis-ci-ple chief jour-ney thank-ful-ness Af-ri-ca A FLOWER-SERMON. THERE was once a Scotch traveler who went to Africa, and spent much time in trying to find the spot where the river Niger begins its course. He had been long on his journey, had crossed sandy deserts and deep streams, and walked up and down mountain paths, until he was almost wearied out. 2. One day, finding no water to drink, no shady tree to shelter him from the burning sun, covered with dust, and too tired to take another step, he threw himself on the parched ground to die. Thoughts of his cool, green, mountain home came over him; the faces of his beloved friends in far-distant Scotland were all remembered; and his heart was filled with sorrow. 3. As he lay alone on the ground, with despair in his heart, he cast his sorrowful eyes around on the dry heath of the desert, and they rested on a tiny, bright flower of the moss, which preached him a little sermon, only one moment long; but that sermon put faith in his heart, strength into his limbs, and brightness into his eyes. 4. There, on the burning sand, God had planted this sweet blossom, unfolded, painted, and nourished it for the comfort of this poor traveler. This little |