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THE KARENS.

PERHAPS you remember reading the interesting account we gave you last year of God's work among the Karensa peculiar class of people who inhabit the jungles of Burmah. They lately lost one of their best missionaries, Mr. Vinton. The following extract from a letter written by poor Mrs. Vinton will show the affection of the Karens, and their gratitude to their departed friend:"It is sadly affecting to see the poor Karens come into town, and sit in the verandah, weeping for half-an-hour, before they can speak to tell how sad they feel at not meeting his smiling countenance, or hearing his cheerful voice; and then to see me robed in black, alone, without husband or child to lean upon; so that, from the moment of his death, I have been obliged to nerve up myself to act the comforter, rather than expect to be comforted. They greatly feared that the stroke would be too much for me, and that I should be obliged to go home (to America); and then that would prevent my son and daughter coming out. But I told them that I came to this country because I felt it impressed upon me as a solemn duty to come out here and labour for God and the heathen, in 1833; and I had always felt that I was in the path of duty, and that I should not dare to return unless I felt it equally impressed that it was duty; that I knew that it was the mind and wish of my husband that I should remain, and that our children should come out and fill our places. I wish you could have witnessed their joy as they heard this. They have gathered round me like the fondest of children, and say, 'Don't fear for support; we will divide the last quart of rice with you.'

"The villagers send in rice and eggs, fowls, plaintains, &c.; but the business men give me the assurance that when they sell their timber, bricks, &c., they will help me; but if I am in want they will borrow it for me, if I will let them know. So you see, that if I seek first the kingdom of God, instead of my own ease, I need not fear want. And who, I ask, would not feel it a great and

THE JUVENILE REPORter.

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glorious privilege to labour for such a people? After being absent from America a quarter of a century, I feel much more at home with these spiritual children than I should in America. I suppose my dear daughter is now on her way, and my son will return after he gets through college, two years hence. The Karens beg of me that I will send for him at once, to fill his father's place. They say they know him, and he them; that he will travel among them; will not feel above them; but, like his father, will always look kindly and speak pleasantly to them. Still I think it better for him to complete his college course ere he comes."

THE JUVENILE REPORTER.

THE Reporter has got his spirits up a little this monthto see such a good subscription list on the wrapper. Some of the cards represent a great amount of diligence and care. First and foremost on the list would he refer, as an example, to his young friends at Branton. Here is Isabella Arkle's card, of Hazelton Rigg-no, not card, but cards, for there are two, carefully stitched together, with the goodly sum of two pounds on them. And this is not the result of a windfall, for there are no fewer than sixty subscribers' names on them, showing a great amount of industry. Another double card from Ann Young, of Alnham, comes laden with a like amount; but with even a longer list of subscribers, there being no fewer than sixty-eight names upon it. Thank you, my good friends, for your diligence and zeal: may the God of the needy bless you, and may your good example be copied by those who are "standing all the day idle."

There are others, too, he would like to thank for their diligence during the year, but this would take up too much space were he to do it one by one. But there is less need of this as he knows that they do not labour for the praise of men, which is very hollow and short-lived at best.

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SABBATH LESSONS.

A week or two ago, there was a grand gathering of friends and neighbours, in connection with the Tarset Schools at Falstone. They met in Mr. Ridley's Keep, not far from Gote House. The reporter wasn't there; he wishes very much that he had been-if only to see the Keep-for whether it be a mill or a monastery, a cottage or a castle, he cannot tell, as he never heard of such a place before. The singing was good—rather shrill perhaps, the speeches were good, and the fruit was good, so was the meeting altogether-and the Reporter hopes the results of it all will be good-the "end everlasting life."—On the Tuesday after Christmas, about a hundred happy faces were to be seen in the schoolroom at Gateshead, which was decorated-like a little Crystal Palace-with evergreens and Chinese lanterns. Prizes, magic lanterns, and other good things followed, which will not be for gotten by many, till Christmas comes round again, There was also a joyous gathering at Trinity Church, Newcastle, on Christmas Day, and there were some who left the place scarcely able to say whether the cakes or the books were the best.

DIAMOND DUST.

He that repents of a good act turns good into evil. When we are weak we see what we are in ourselves; when we are strong we see what we are in God.

SABBATH LESSONS.

SUBJECT.

TO LEARN.

Question.

TO READ.

Feb. 6 Israel's abode in IX. & X.-Luke ii. 33-35.

Exod. v.

XI. & XII.-Ex. xiv. 27-30. Numb. xxviii.; He

Egypt.

13 Sacrifice.

20 Pentecost.

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XIV. Numb. xiv. 20-23.

ix. 13-25. Levit. xxiii.

Joshua xxiv.

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A LIFT AT THE STONE.

ABOUT twenty years ago, there dwelt in the town of Leicester a widow in very straitened circumstances, who possessed a liberal soul, and whose strange device to raise "a bit of money," as she termed it, for the missionaries, proved very successful; and yet, perhaps, it was one that would have entered very few heads but her own.

I well remember calling on the poor old dame after the annual missionary meeting was over, as she left before the audience had retired in order that she might escape observation. Her hand was in her pocket, and I saw that her heart was full, so I sat down beside her children; on which she immediately said, "If you please, ma'am, I am going to have a little bit of a lift at the stone.' It is only a little that such a one as I can do, but I wish to do all I can." So saying, she placed twenty-five shil lings in my hand. On the preceding Sunday she had heard a sermon from John xi. 39, 40, in which the MARCH, 1859.

D

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A LIFT AT THE STONE.

ignorance of the heathen, and the hindrances in the way of their conversion, were compared to the stone on the grave of Lazarus, which had to be removed by human effort before the Lord of life di-played his mighty power, and quickened the dead body within; and the congregation had been urged to put forth their best efforts to remove the ponderous stone.

Judging from the poor woman's appearance that she was not able to spare so large a sum, I said, "I can't take this. I am sure you can't spare it." She replied, with much feeling, "I could do very well with it all, ma'am ; but I dare not touch it: I promised it to God, and you must have it for the missionaries." Her remarks led me to inquire what she meant by promising it to God? In reply, she stated that she had attended a missionary meeting some months before, where mention had been made of a poor man, who, having no money to spare, had determined to give the produce of one of his pear trees to the funds of the society, and that the sale of the fruit had produced nearly two pounds. "I had no garden nor pear tree," she continued, "and so I could not help in that way; but I determined to contrive some plan for raising a bit of money. At length I thought that, as I had some knowledge of herbs, I could prepare some Hoarhound Lozenges, which would be serviceable to people having coughs and colds. So I purchased some brown sugar; and, having obtained three different kinds of herbs, I began my work. I solemnly promised that threepence out of every pound of sugar I boiled up should be put by for the Missionary Society. Her trade," she said, "had prospered wonderfully. Her lozenges had done a power of good to many people." She added, “I have boiled up one hundred pounds of sugar;" and, pointing to the money still in my hand, she exclaimed"There, ma'am, you have One Hundred Threepences! I promised it to God, and I dare not touch it; and I mean to go on with my work."

She did go on with her work, and for many succeeding years came with her "bit of money" to the treasurer, and had a fresh "lift at the stone.'

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