THE PUBLICAN'S PRAYER.

A HOTTENTOT of immoral character, being under deep conviction of sin, was anxious to know how to pray; he went to his master, a Dutchman, to consult with him, but received no encouragement. A sense of his own wickedness increased, and he had no one near him to direct him. Occasionally, however, he was admitted with the family at the time of prayer. The portion of Scripture which was one day read by the master, was the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican. While the prayer of the Pharisee was being read, the poor Hottentot thought within himself, “This is a good man; there is nothing for me." But when his master came to the prayer of the Publican-" God be merciful to me a sinner" "This suits me," he cried; "now I know how to pray!" With this prayer he immediately retired, and prayed night and day for two days, and then found peace. Full of joy and gratitude, he went into the fields, and as he had no one to whom he could speak, he exclaimed, "Ye hills, ye rocks, ye trees, ye rivers, hear what God has done for my soul!-he has been merciful to me a sinner."

THE HINDOO AND THE ENGINE.

A MISSIONARY was standing at the railway station at Madras, in India, just as a train was going off. He saw among the crowd an old native (a black man), a villager, one who had never seen a railway before, prostrate himself before the engine when the train began to move, as if in the act of worship. The missionary went up to him and touched him, and said, "What are you doing?' The old man replied, "Sir, it breathes, pants, and moves, and it can run very swiftly; it must be alive and powerful: I have therefore prayed to it." The missionary explained to the old man that it was only the work of man's hands, and tried to tell him about the God who made him, and had given such power and wisdom to

man.

Should not the children of England pity the ignorance of the heathen, and help the good missionaries who are sent to teach them?

LITTLE SINS.

LITTLE sins (suppose them so) are very dangerous. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump; a little staff may kill one; a little leak in a ship sinks it; a little flaw in a good cause mars it; so a little sin may at once bar the door of heaven, and open the gates of hell: though the scorpion be little, yet will it sting a lion to death; and so will the least sin, if not forgiven.

"FEED MY LAMBS."

UNDER Afric's burning sun
Countless little children live,
Who have never heard of God,
Or the joy his word can give.

And can we who know his love
Keep it to ourselves alone?

"Feed my lambs," is his command; We must help to make it known.

There is room enough for all
In his safe and happy fold,
Gladly little heathens come
Who of this sweet rest are told.

Gladly will they leave their gods,
Gods of stone, and wood, and clay;
From a human sacrifice

Turn with grief and shame away,

When they hear that Christ has died
That their guilty soula may live:
This is just the news they want,
This the food that we must give.
Then beneath the palm trees' shade,
On the "word of life" they'll feed;
Blessing those whose mercy gave
To the little lambs in need.

WELL-LIGHTED LANTERNS.

GROPING my way along as best I could, on a very dark night not long since, as I turned a corner of the street, I saw, but a short distance ahead of me, a well-lighted lantern. At first I could not see who was carrying it, but it proved to be a boy, who was whistling merrily as he walked along.

Now, that lantern was of much service to me. It threw its light back on the path for many yards. It showed me where to walk, and it showed me where not to walk, if I wished to keep out of the mire.

I felt thankful to the boy who was thus of so much use in lighting my way; while he knew nothing about the good he was doing. He went along, not thinking of me, hardly knowing that I was behind him; and yet he was rendering me a very kind service.

I could not help thinking what a happy thing it would be if all the boys and girls, and all the men and women, who have the privileges of the Gospel, were well-lighted Christian lanterns! How much good would they do which now is left undone! We are not so much lanterns in what we say, as in what we do. It is the quiet but real influence of a good example that is a light to lighten others.

A very young child may be a very useful lantern. A small lantern, well lighted, is of much service; while a very large lantern, without any light in it, is of no use. And who knows how many the light from his lantern will reach and benefit? Now, children, do not be dark lanterns, or such as give no light; but as you pass along through life, at home, or in school, or in the street, or wherever you are, show that you love the truth, and that you seek, by God's grace, to walk as you are taught in his holy word. Show this in your lives. Never be afraid to let others see that you love God, and desire to do what is right in his sight. If thus you live, many will be benefited, and will bless you. Some may follow in the path of your light whom you know not, nor ever shall know, until you meet them in the world of glory above. Let your light so shine before your fellows that they may see your good works, and "glorify your Father who is in heaven."

TIME.

TIME speeds away-away-away!
Another hour-another day-
Another month-another year—
Drop from us like the leaflets sear;
Drop like the life-blood from our hearts.
The rose-bloom from the cheek departs,
The tresses from the temple fall,
The eye grows dim and strange to all.

Time speeds away-away-away!
Like torrent in a stormy day,

He undermines the stately tower,

Uproots the tree, and snaps the flower,

And sweeps from our distracted breast

The friends that loved, the friends that blessed,
And leaves us weeping on the shore
To which they can return no more.
Time speeds away-away-away!
No eagle through the skies of day,
No wind along the hills can flee
So swiftly or so smooth as he.

Like fiery steed from stage to stage,
He bears us on from youth to age;

Then plunges in the fearful sea
Of fathomless eternity.