lowed with another slight ceremony indicative of affection, but conducted with the minimum of resonance (just the least little smack) so as not to inform the children of our presence. After which preliminaries I peeped into the boys' room. There they sat, waist-deep in billows of bed-clothes,-Harry's brown head and Ernest's yellow one close together, and their eager eyes fixed on the stocking, out of the depths of which our naughty son was fishing treasures, with his nimble fingers for a hook, his whole arm for a line, and his bending body for a pole. lip, and beckoned me back to our observatory. The boys were sitting in the midst of their trophies, quiet from very fulness of joy. Suddenly Harry broke out: "Look here, Ern; I don't want the e things. Santa Claus has plenty of good children to give these things to; he can't waste them on naughty ones. You take them-and you'll let me play with them, won't you? You always do." "Now, you mustn't feel so, Harry," said gentle Ernest. "Look here; I'l tell you a secret. Santa Claus brings them; but other folks help, or at least they tell him what to fetch; and sometimes, I guess, when he says, 'I won't "Hallo! Ern, what's this? It feels round! it is round! It ain't an orange! Here she comes! Hooray-give anything to that naughty boy,' look here it's a ball! That's bully; we wanted a ball, didn't we?" "Yes," chimed Ernest; I like a ball better than anything. Two can play at ball. It takes two.' Meanwhile Harry had picked up the stocking again, and cried out, "There's something hard in the toe! It's your turn now, Ern; you pull it out." I pause to remark that the genuine handiwork of Santa Claus may be recognized in this: there is always a treasure in the toe of the stocking to be discovered, dug after, extricated, unrolled and rejoiced over, after everything else has been displayed. This is the last drop that makes the child's cup of joy overflow-the sweetest surprise of all. That something hard proved to be a jack-knife, over which the boys set up a perfect war-whoop of mutual congratulation. By this time I realized that something was wrong. Harry was not getting his "lesson at all. A swift glance at the fire-place told me that the empty stocking at the farther side had not been removed. I ran to examine it, and found to my consternation that the label bore the name of good little Ernest! In the confusion of the domestic preparation (and discussion) of the night before, I had pinned the wrong names to the stockings, and "the fat was all in the fire." Evidently my wife thought I had relented, or never meant to be severe, and that after she went to bed I had blessed both the boys alike. I was just about to try by an exclamation to straighten out matters, when she turned with her finger on her 6 they tease him till he says, Well, if you get the things, I'll put them into the stocking.' That must be the way, for I heard father say the other day, 'I'll get him a jack-knife;' and mother said Well, and I'll get him a ball;' that's a good thing for boys, though I never could see much fun in it myself.' And then I went into the room, and both of them said 'Sh-!' But mother told somebody else that he might buy something for Santa Claus to give you, and I shan't tell you who it was; but he bought a pop-gun, and I can't think what has become of it." "That was you, you splendid, dear, good brother," cried Harry, "and I'm never, never going to get angry with you again as long as I live. But I'l tell you something, somebody sent Santa Claus a little white slate for you, and, what do you think? I found it in the top of my stocking-I know it was my stocking, you see, because mother let me print my name on the paper, and said she would pin it to the stocking, so that Santa Claus shouldn't make any mistakes-and, wasn't it funny? He did make a mistake after all, and stuck your slate right in the top of it. So I just hid it in my night-gown to surprise you, and look a' there! That's a bully slate, Ern; it cost fifteen cents." "Why, that's your fifteen cents, Harry, that you saved up! Now that's splendid-but, I say, you'll never get a sled if you spend your money that way. You were going to get a sled, you know." "Never you mind the sled," replied Harry, a little embarrassed. "It takes too awful long to get sleds. I like slates on the whole ever so much better; and then you see, Ern, yesterday afternoon-you know-after that you know -after I struck you-I just begged mother to let me go down to Murray's for a minute; and she didn't ask me any questions (mother always knows what a fellow means,) and I made her promise she wouldn't tell anybody, not even father-that is, not till after this morning and I just legged it as tight as I could go, and got that slate, and mother gave it to Santa Claus-andand, look here, Ern, you do forgive me, don't you?" heads, instead of two, were knocked joyfully together over its contents. Harry was a little inclined to be silent in my presence at first, but he soon forgot himself, and great was his glee when out of the leg of Ernest's stocking came his pop-gun! "Santa Claus made such a funny mistake, didn't he?" cried the merry voices. My wife looked one of her looks at me. On the whole it was very good of her not to allude (as she never has done since) to my blunder in family government. She only said, "Yes, it was a funny mistake; but it is all right now." Of course I think my first plan was the right one, though I spoiled it by my carelessness about the labels. But, circumstances having put it beyond my power to carry it out consistently, and the children being so very jolly, and my wife so perfectly charming, I am resolved not to disturb the universal pleasure by any remnant of parental stern Eruest is no milk sop, as his reply showed. "Of course," said he, "a fellow ain't going to hate his own brother. What if a fellow did strike a fellow, if he didn't exactly mean to, and is real sorry? But there's no use talking of those things Christmas morning. Mother says everybody must be happyness. (To be candid, I forgot all about Christmas day." "That's so," assented Harry as if a great weight were off his heart-" but I say, Ern, you've got a stocking, too, and you've forgot all about it! Now that's just like you; you cared more for my stocking than you did for your own. 66 Well, it was such fun," said Ernest, "and besides, I've got my slate. But I'll just scud out and get my stocking now. Say, is the floor cold?" "Awful," replied Harry, with a shiver of remembrance, "you'd better put on your shoes." This delay was lucky for me. At the first allusion to that other stocking, I turned and saw that all the other gifts intended for it were lying on the table still, where they had been before. Santa Claus himself, with forty million stockings, more or less, to fill in one night, don't make better time than I did on that one; and I had just crammed the last package into it, and regained my place behind the door, when Ernest came in, clumping along in his untied shoes. We pounced on him from our hiding place with "A merry Christmas," at which Harry rushed in and "caught us" with his swift greeting. The other stocking was carried in festive procession back to the boy's room; and four it, and it only occurred to me after breakfast, during a furious game of ball with the boys, that I had better make this resolution.) Postscript.-Harry has disappeared for an hour, and his mother comes to me with a folded paper, saying, "This is a letter from a little boy who thought he could better write than speak what he had to say. The letter was printed (in very good style, too, I must say. I had no idea the boy could do so well. His mother says she taught him at odd times.) It runs as follows: "Dear Sr: I am very sorry for everything and I will try to be good. I thank you very much for my ball it is a bully ball if I am nauty again, pleas show me this leter. Your's respectfully Henry Clay Hopkins." That wife of mine, with tears of pleasure in her gentle eyes, and a touch of sweet mischief at the corner of her mouth, says, "Is there any answer?" "God bless you, my darling," says I (and shall say the same as long as I live,) " and bless the boys your love is educating. I trust Harry has received a good lesson; but I know I have. You have converted me to the Christmas plan of full and free forgiveness." "Is it not Christ's plan?" says she. Christian Union. The Sunday-School Department. A DESIRE has been frequently ex-is tall and manly, but young and tender pressed for the issue of a small paper in years. We wish to keep him a boy devoted to infant classes in our Sundayschools. The Board of Publication has concluded to meet this want, and hence has commenced to issue a small weekly sheet, entitled "Sunshine," at the following rates: Single copy for one year, 50 cents. Ten copies, $4; twenty-five copies, $9; fifty copies, $16; and one hundred copies, $30. These rates are cash in advance. Orders are to be sent to the Reformed Publication Board, 907 Arch street, Philadelphia. SET the children to work for Christ. Cultivate in them a habit of doing and giving something for the cause of Christ. If possible give them a chance in some way to earn the money which they give. Teach them self-denial; to do without this or that nice present in order that they may be able to give bread or clothing to some suffering poor. An exchange says: "A brother minister recently forwarded a donation from two young ladies to aid an important portion of Christ's work. He wrote in reference to the givers that when they were little children he came as pastor into the place where they lived. I induced them to plant a patch in the garden for money to give to Christ's service. This was continued from year to year, and now they have grown up, but they have got into the way of giving out of their own earnings, and we doubt not but that their interest has been secured for life.' And then he added: 'I am glad to think that I was enabled to start them on such a course. With the hearts of the children we secure a promise for future missions.' DOES your son mingle much in society? we asked of a certain Christian mother. "No, we do not wish to hurry him in that matter," she replied. "He in artless sport as long as possible." ALWAYS speak with politeness and deference to your parents and friends. where else except at home, but there Some children are polite and civil everythey are coarse and rude. Shameful! Nothing sits so gracefully upon children, nothing makes them so lovely, as an habitual respect and dutiful deportment towards their friends and superiors. It makes the plainest face beautiful, and gives to every common action a nameless, but peculiar charm. Verse 29. Tell what you know about John the Baptist. Was he the John who wrote this Gospel? What work had he to do? What did he exclaim when he saw Jesus coming to him? Was this before, or after, the Baptism of Jesus? Why does he call Jesus the Lamb of God? Mention places in which Christ is spoken of as a Lamb. Is. liii. 7; 1 Pet. i. 19: Rev. v. 6. What important place did the lamb fill in the Passover? Exod. xii. 3. Was the lamb used in other sacrifices? Exod. xxix. 38-41; Numb. xxix. 2, 13–40, &c. Who is the true Lamb, of whom this sacrificial lamb was a type? Could they take away sin? How does Christ take away the sin of the world? By His atoning sacritice on the Cross. 30. What else did John say? When had he used these words? Vers. 15, 27. See, also, Matt. iii. 11. Is it probable that he had said the same thing many times? 31. Repeat this verse. Does this mean that John was wholly unacquainted with Jesus? What does it mean? Was it necessary that he should know Him? Was it necessary that he should declare Him to the people? What does John declare to have been the object of His baptizing? 32, 33. What does John here relate? When and where had these things taken place? Does the Gospel of St. John contain any direct history of the Baptism of Jesus? Where do we find this history? Matt. iii. 13,-17; Mark i. 9-11; Luke iii. 21, 22. What remarkable thing did John see at the Baptism of Jesus? Of what had God appointed this to be a sign to him? What is meant by baptizing with the Holy Ghost? Did John, before baptizing Jesus, know that He was the Messiah? Did he know it afterwards? Did he declare it? 31. Whom did he declare Jesus to be? What is meant by the Son of God? Can there be any other Saviour than He? How then ought we to act towards Him? CATECHISM. 1. Lord's Day. Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death? Answer. That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ, who with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that, without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation: and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready henceforth to live unto Him. 2. How many things are necessary for thee to know, that thou, enjoying this comfort, mayest live and die happy? Three; the first, how great my sins and miseries are; the second, how I may be delivered from all my sins and miseries; the third, how I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance. 1. The Lord, who left the heav'ns 2. Glory to Thee for all The ransomed infant band, Who since that hour have heard Thy call, And reached the quiet land. COMMENTS.-The importance of the ministry of John the Baptist is shown by the circumstance of his being so conspicuous a figure in the beginning of each one of the four Gospels. His character, and his mission in relation to Jesus, are exceedingly interesting, important and instructive, as pointed out at some length in the Lessons for January, 1878. In the present passage, we have the direct, formal, official testimony of John in behalf of Jesus, as the Messiah and the Son of God. This testimony was an important fact in the history both of John and of Jesus. It was important for Jesus, because, while it was in His baptism that He was formally ordained and consecrated from above to His office and work as Messiah, this recognition and declaration of His character, by His appointed forerunner, marked the point of His actual entrance upon the work of His public ministry. Immediately after His baptism by John, he went into the wilderness; immediately after this testimony by John we find him beginning to gather disciples and perform miracles. It was important, likewise, for John, because it was the indispensable culmination and completion of his work as the herald of Christ. Until he had borne this testimony, his work was not done; immediately after the bearing of it, he begins to disappear, and presently has vanished entirely from the scene. runner. Hence, knowing that this testimony of the Baptist was now ready, He, under the guidance of the Spirit, and in order that all things might be fulfilled as appointed, comes back from the wilderness to John. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!" This exclamation, uttered by John when he saw Jesus coming to him, shows how deep was his insight, at least in certain prophetic moments, into the way of salvation. The language, and the truth which it expressed, came to John out of God's Word in the Old Testament, which was one of the chief sources of the light which he possessed both with respect to himself and with respect to Christ. As it was in what the prophet Isaiah had said (Isa. xl. 3) of the voice of one crying in the wilderness, that John had recognized the image of his own life, so it was no doubt the language of the same prophet concerning the suffering Lamb of God bearing the sins of men, that led him to think and speak of Christ as the Lamb of God. See Isa. liii. 4-7. This profound saying, which expresses the character of Christ, foreshadows His history, and implies the doctrine of His atoning sacrifice, is well worthy of consideration. That John, being, as we must suppose, especially at this solemn moment, under the illuminating influ29. The next day. That is, the day ence of the Holy Spirit, and being after the deputation of priests and Le- throughout under the guidance of the vites held their interview with John Holy Scriptures, could not have used (vers. 19-23). According to the most this expression in any other sense than natural interpretation of St. John's report as referring to the character of Christ as the visit of the priests and Levites to John a sacrifice for the sins of the world, the Baptist could not have taken place seems to admit of no doubt. That is, earlier than the fortieth day of the we cannot understand John to use the Temptation. On the day following, lamb as an image of meekness merely; then, Jesus Himself, having accom- or to indicate, by the application of the plished the Forty Days in the wilder- image to Christ, that He should be an ness, and having gained the victory over example in respect of the innocent and the Tempter, came immediately back to unresisting endurance of great suffering. John on the banks of the Jordau. This This, indeed, does lie in the expression; prompt return to John was no doubt the but, along with this, a great deal more. effect of the Spirit's guidance no less The lamb, as an image of Christ, is frethan the going into the wilderness had quently mentioned in the Old Testabeen. For the time had now arrived ment, but invariably in the character of for a recognition and declaration of the a sacrifice; and, in the New Testament, character of Jesus as the Son of God. Christ is often called "the Lamb," but But it was not for Jesus Himself to it is always as having been slain and stand forth and say "I am He;" that offered for us. This is the one distinwas the office of His appointed fore-guishing and unmistakable characteristic |