guide to the poor boy for some years; he was put to school, where he not only learned that honesty is the best policy, but that "godliness hath the promise of this life and that which is to come." He became a prudent and industrious young man, and as a reward for his good conduct he was presented with an outfit and a free passage to Australia.

Let us learn some lessons from this visit. 1st. Be grateful that you were not brought up a young thief or coiner. You might have been one, or both, for aught that you know.

2nd. Think with pity on the godless poor-the children of vice and crime, who are living, and sinning, and dying around us. They need missionaries as truly as the heathen abroad.

And, 3rd. See the need there is for active Christians amongst us; those who, like the Lord Jesus himself, will seek after the "lost sheep" who have wandered far from their Father's house, and know not the way to return.

Old Allan Gray would not like to exchange his opportunities of doing good for aught else he has on earth. Good bye.

WORK!

"Work while it is called to-day; for the night cometh when no man can work."

THERE is work to be done in this world of ours,

This world of sorrow and sin;

There is work for the hands, with their wonderful powers,

And work for the spirit within.

WORK!

There is work for the beggar, and work for the prince,
There is work for the old and the young;

The merchant with millions, the cripple with pence,
The learned with pen and with tongue.

The statesman, the newsboy, the preacher, the muse,
Physicians, and printers and all,

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May work with their head, or their hands, or their purse, In kitchen, or workshop, or hall.

There is work in the by-ways and alleys at home, Where suffering and want hold their throne; There's work far away, 'mid the thousands who roam, Where the blest lamp of life never shone.

There are tears to be dried, there are wounds to be heal'd, Earth's wrongs and oppressions redress'd;

Faint hearts to be cheer'd, proud brows made to yield,
And a sin-stricken world to be bless'd.

There are fatherless babes to be nurtured and fed,
And the brow of old age to be soothed;

The wayward and erring to Christ to be led,
And the pillow of pain to be smoothed.
Then rouse thee, my soul, to thy labour away,
Since life for this mission is given;
Like Jesus thy Master, while yet it is day,
Work the will of thy Father in heaven.
Go forth in the morning, at noon, and at night,
Seek the dwellings of age and of youth;

Error's weeds to uproot with the ploughshare of light,
And scatter the bright seeds of truth.

Bring hope to the fainting, and joy to the sad,

And Christ to the penitent soul;

Fill earth with rejoicings, bid deserts be glad,
And streams through the wilderness roll.

THE "NOT" FAMILY.

A LETTER TO MISS MARY CUNNINGHAME. FROM MRS. HALL, THE YOUNGER.

MY DEAR MARY,-I remember to have heard how amused, and, I am happy to add, how improved you were by a "Chapter on Misses," published in one of the early volumes of my little Annual. I am now about to introduce you to a family, not as interesting, perhaps, but quite as varied, as "The Misses."

The eldest of them is known but too intimately to many young folks of my acquaintance. Were I to draw a picture of this disagreeable person, I would pencil a dark, sulky-visaged boy, with overhanging brows, firmlycompressed lips, and forbidding aspect, ill-dressed, and ill-looking. His name is WILL NOT. Master Will is, believe me, a very dangerous companion; he is so fond of his own way, that he scorns advice, and pays no attention whatever to the counsel of those who are better informed. I shall never forget the distress he inflicted upon his mamma one day, when a most kind and benevolent man, Mr. Lovechild, attempted to teach him that pretty hymn of Dr. Watts's, commencing—

"Let dogs delight to bark and bite."

Instead of being grateful to the excellent gentleman, he pouted and flouted, knit his great eyebrows, clenched his teeth, and-would you, Mary, believe it possible?-refused to utter a single word. I am a great enemy to flogging; but if boys affect to possess no more intellect than donkeys, they must expect to be treated as donkeys; and I should scarcely grudge WILL NOT a sound whipping. This obstinacy rendered him, as you may suppose, ignorant and contemptible, while his manners are rude and abrupt in the extreme. He is sadly despised by sensible

THE "NOT" FAMILY.

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people, and shunned by all who value the kindly feelings of social life. I trust that you, my dear, have never formed, and never can form, acquaintance with so unamiable a character.

Nor should I wish you to know his sister either, though she is of a very different temper and disposition from her obstinate brother. A trembling, pale, delicate creature, full of fears and absurdities, anxious to do well, and yet getting into all sorts of awkward predicaments, from her excessive timidity. If she is directed to place a China vase on a shelf, she is sure to let it fall; if her parents wish her to try a new piece of music, or to copy a drawing, she always makes some provoking observation as to her inability, that must annoy those who are much better able to judge of her capacity than she can possibly be. Indeed, although there can be no doubt that her brother, WILL NOT, is the worst of the family, I have been often as much vexed with the nervous indecision of Miss CAN NOT, as with Master Will's obstinacy. You have often heard, my dear Mary, that to be useful is better than to be clever, though to be both is best. Now, CAN NOT, unless good education perfectly changes her habits, will never be either useful or clever. The other night, her cousin's cap caught fire, and, instead of throwing on her head the vase of water that stood upon the work-box, or, better still, snatching off the table-cover and smothering the flames with it, she stood still and screamed. Her poor cousin, consequently, was dreadfully burnt. And then CAN NOT said, "she was very sorry;" but sorrow is perfectly useless, unless when it tends to improvement. And I regret to say, that, as yet, she has not taken the necessary means to strengthen her character.

Another tormenting brat is Master DID NOT. I

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THE

"NOT" FAMILY.

would fain hope that he is afflicted with a defective memory: I say hope, because then allowances might be made for his inattention; but I am convinced in my own mind that his forgetfulnesses (as he calls them) are premeditated. Be this as it may, he is a very imp, with undefined features and inexpressive eyes; sluggish and awkward in his gait, and negligent in his dress; not of so overbearing a disposition as his elder brother, yet equally difficult to manage. I once knew a poor family starved to death by his carelessness. His mother had absolutely committed the charge of both food and money for their relief to this ungracious boy; yet his habitual negligence prevented his attending to her directions. It was hoped that this misfortune would have cured him of his bad habits, but I fear they have become too strongly rooted. DID NOT continued careless and negligent as ever

Displeased, my dear Mary, as I have reason to be, with these three persons, feel very differently towards their cousin, whom I recommend to your attention as a careful, amiable young lady, one who never offends by her flippancy, or injures by ill-natured observation. Her picture has been often painted, her finger resting on her sweet and silent lips, and her mild, dovelike eyes beaming with simplicity and truth. She walks with a sedate step, and is universally admitted into the best society, because every one is convinced that she is a lover of peace and a hater of scandal. Some giddy persons accuse her of being over-particular, and too silent in company; but opinions of the thoughtless are of no value, and I shall certainly take the earliest opportunity of introducing you to my especial favourite, Miss SAID NOT, who, with her sister MAY NOT, are greatly esteemed by all amiable people.