might have been heard, as she passed away from them. In her place, stood a dark spirit with lowering brow and fierce eyes, nor could the children see this form; yet well the mother knew, when she heard the sounds of contention and anger, that the deadly Spirit of Discord had entered her nest. And she could not leave her treasures in such dangerous hands. So she arose and entered the room where the little ones stood in the fury of passion, with raised and scowling brows. Gently she drew them towards her, and talked of Him who walked our earth in love, and in wondrous love laid down His life for us. And she told them how the Angel of Love had left them, and of the black spirit who had taken her place. And as she spoke, the little faces grew calm again; and the blue eyes glistened soft and tearful. When the dark spirit saw this, she quickly spread her wings; and where she had stood two gentle forms rested— sister angels, Repentance and Forgiveness. They stood with tearful eyes, and arms entwined, watching the children. And now the little ones, seeing their sin, ran to each other, and with kisses were reconciled. Then with shining wings came down that first fair angel, Love; and joining hands with the sister spirits, they folded the children in a guardian embrace. And the mother's heart was filled with peace and joy; for well she knew that while Repentance, Forgiveness, and Love, encircled her dear ones, the dark Spirit of Discord must fold her wings far away from them; and that, safe in that loving embrace, her darlings were shielded from evil and temptation. NEARER. ONE sweetly solemn thought Nearer my Father's house, Where the many mansions be; ENCOURAGEMENT TO GIVE. 11 Nearer the great white throne, Nearer the jasper sea; Where we lay our burdens down ENCOURAGEMENT TO GIVE. You have this encouragement to abound in good works— its full reward; "good measure, shaken together, pressed down, running over into your bosoms." You give money, God gives life; you, things uncertain, which you could not keep but by giving; God gives a habitation, mansions, a city which hath foundations, "the sure mercies of David." You lay out to your brother, God lays up for you; you give perishing things to your brother, God an abiding and abounding life to you; a cottage or a coat to your brother, God a kingdom and a crown to you; you, such things to your brother which neither you nor he can keep, God such things to you, which, when once laid hold of, you cannot lose. If you love God, imitate his example; be merciful, as He is merciful, If you love yourselves, do what the most covetous man would do-lay up for yourselves, not only for your heirs, your children-it may be for strangers, for enemies. Lay up that which you may lay hold on, that which will stay by you—a foundation. Lay up for the future that which time, which death, which rust, moth, thief, cannot take away-for life, which is worth more than wealth; for eternal life, which is more durable than wealth. If you do not thus lay up a foundation unto eternal 12 THE PASSIONATE BULL. and life, your thick clay will load you with many sorrows, drown you in destruction and perdition. You have your wealth for this end; you have your life and salvation with this homage and quit-rent upon it. If you do not give you shall not live; if you do not do good, you shall not receive good; if you do not lay out, you shall not lay up. Here is your option; keep your money, and perish with it; return it unto heaven, and be gainers by it. If you love God, or your neighbour, or yourselves, or your very riches themselves, do good, be rich in good works; you do not only comfort your brother, but you keep to your God; you save yourselves from sin; you lengthen your lives: : you preserve your estates unto eternity.-Bishop Reynolds. THE PASSIONATE BULL. THERE was a bull which belonged to a farmer who lived in Wales. He was very quarrelsome and ferocious, and no one dared to go into the field where he was kept. The field happened to be close by a railway, and nothing made him so angry as the trains which ran rapidly by. ften he would stand at the fence, bellowing at them with all his might. One day, as a train came past, he was more than usually savage, and broke through the fence. Away he dashed; but the train was too fast for him, and he only just touched the last carriage with his horn. Annoyed and sulky, he returned into the field, and gave way to his anger by trying to upset a telegraph post. Later in the day another train appeared. He saw it in the distance, and away he galloped over the field to meet it. Again he dashed through the fence, and this time met it full in view. The engine-driver blew his A MOTHER'S KISS. 13 whistle loudly, but all to no effect. With head down, tail in the air, and eyes closed, he madly charged the engine. Alas! rage, be it ever so great, will do nothing against a power greater than ourselves. The creature was caught by the buffer of the engine, and sent spinning through the fence back into his field. There he lay moaning most piteously, greatly hurt, while the train went on its way, nothing worse. I believe he never came near a train again. I thought, when I heard this, what a lesson it teaches to angry, passionate people. Are they not often like this bull, with his head down, and eyes shut, rushing violently at what will only injure them very much. In fact, when I was at school, I remember a boy, who, when he had worked himself up into a passion, would actually go and dash his head against the wall. You hurt yourselves more than any one else when you get into a passion. makes God displeased with you, and keeps your heart very unhappy. Other people look on, and think how foolish you are. It Reader, who was it that was meek and lowly? Are you like Him? A MOTHER'S KISS. A CHILD whose infancy was joy, Now romping through the garden green- He tripped one morn, and down he fell; A mother's kiss hath power to cure ; A mother's love still soothes the smart- My mother's hair is grey, and mine Has deeply marked my mother's cheeks; From infancy until to-day, In sickness, sorrow, and mistrust, No mother's kiss will make thee well. DIAMOND DUST. WHERE Providence calls you, the God of providence will be with and preserve you: "I will guide thee with mine eye." God's sons are all Christ's servants, and they serve him from love, cheerfully, and to the end of their days. |