a medical missionary, who has lately joined our missionaries at Amoy. Dr. Carnegie, in a recent letter to Mr. George Barbour, says :-"Boa was asking Mrs. Carnegie if she knew you, and Mrs. Barbour, and Jessie Young, and her eyes filled with tears when she was told that you were all still interested in her. She might have been engaged to go to Mrs. Gingle, the Consul's lady, where she would have got higher wages, but she preferred being with us.”

It is very pleasing to hear that poor Boa is still as sincere and faithful a follower of Jesus as ever. Surely it was very noble of her to forego the temptation of high wages in the British Consul's service, and choose rather to go for less to the house of a poor missionary. "Thy people shall be my people." So says Boa. Oh that every one of our readers could say the same.

We hope you will pray for Dr. Carnegie, that God may spare him very long, and make him a blessing to the Chinese. It is expected that, like the late Dr. Young, he may enable many of the Chinese to give up opiumsmoking by the use of proper medicines, and thus prevent them perhaps from ruining both body and soul. Dr. Carnegie farther says:-"I just arrived here from Swatow in time to save the life of one of Mr. Douglas's native assistants. He had, through ignorance, swallowed a poisonous dose of Belladonna, and but for timely interference the consequences certainly would have been serious."

BEARS.

THE wild bear, when fully grown, is a very ferocious animal, and was formerly a great terror to the settlers in western countries. Yet it is wonderful what a power the human eye has even upon this savage creature. A friend

of mine was once walking through a western forest with his wife, when a sudden turn in the path brought to their view a huge black bear, coming directly towards them. The lady was so greatly terrified, she wished to flee; but the gentleman said their only safety was in going straight ahead, and looking the bear steadily in the eye. They did so, advancing slowly and firmly; and presently the animal's courage seemed to forsake him, and he skulked off into the woods. You may well suppose that the two pursued their walk with thankful hearts for their mer ciful deliverance.

Although so fierce when fully grown, the little cubs may be taken early; and if carefully trained, become as tame as a house-dog. It is not uncommon to see a tame bear occupying a corner of the hunter's cabin. They sometimes form very strong attachments for those about them, which continues as long as they live.

A nobleman in France had an old bear named Marco, which he kept in a little cabin built inside his barn. The winter of 1709 was a very severe one, and many poor people nearly froze to death. Some peasants were accustomed to come into the barn to sleep, and among them was a little child, who, seeing Marco had a snug nest, crept in to share it with him. Old Bruin was not accustomed to such liberties taken with his dignity, but he seemed to take the matter kindly; and instead of injuring the little intruder, he took him tenderly between his paws, and hugging him up to his shaggy breast, kept him warm and comfortable until morning. It was a nicer bed than he had slept in for many a night; and when evening came again, he returned to his new lodgings, where he found old Marco glad to see him, and again went to sleep in his great paws. While he slept the

A SOLDIERS' PRAYER-MEETING IN CORFU. 77

bear never stirred, lest he should disturb him; and after this he saved part of his supper for his hungry little friend, who was very thankful to the kind old bear. The friendship continued until the little boy's death, when Marco grieved for him a long time, scarcely taking any food.

The white bear lives in the cold northern regions, where vast numbers of them are found in proportion to the other animals of that locality. They are sometimes found floating on a fragment of ice a long distance from land; and then, if the boat of a poor Greenlander chances to come quite near, a bear will sometimes spring into it; and if the boat is not capsized, he sits down quietly like any other passenger, and allows himself to be rowed to land, when he walks off without stopping to pay his fare.

The study of natural history is a very interesting one, and we hope all our little readers will begin it very early. The more we know of the works of God, the more we shall learn of his great power and wisdom in creating and instructing the myriads of wondrous creatures he has made.

A SOLDIERS' PRAYER-MEETING IN

CORFU.

MANY of our readers are acquainted with the name of our missionary in the island of Corfu―the Rev. W. Charteris. He has been labouring in that island for about sixteen years, and therefore we are very glad to know that he is likely to visit this country before long. There are always several regiments of English soldiers in the island. Mr. Charteris has been of great use to some of them. Lately

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THE JUVENILE REPORTER.

there has been a very good work going on amongst them. Their prayer-meetings have been better attended, and great earnestness shown.

A special prayer-meeting was lately held by the soldiers, when one of the regiments was about to leave the island. Of this meeting our missionary says:-"A lady who attended told me afterwards that to her it was the most delightful evening ever she spent in Corfu.

We had a good number from the 14th Regiment, and they were joined by some seven or eight of the sailors of the ship St. Jean D'Acre, who are in the practice of holding a prayer-meeting on board when they can, and they also sometimes come ashore to meet with their brethren who attend our meeting here. I gave a short exposition of a chapter, and then asked Corporal Gordon to pray, which he did with much fervour, When he had closed, first one and then another of the sailors followed with a heartiness that was truly affecting. With what glowing grati. tude did they thank God that he had mercy upon them when they had no concern for their soul's salvation; with what earnestness did they plead for those about to leave, and for the whole garrison and fleet, asking that every barrack-room might become a place of prayer, and every ship a Bethel. The golden hour seemed to pass too swiftly; none were wearied. Tears of joy were shed, and I have reason to believe that impressions were deepened in hearts already seeking the Lord."

THE JUVENILE REPORTER.

WITH this Number comes the new collecting-card. It speaks for itself. The Reporter, if alive and well, will have something more to say about it next month.

THE JUVENILE REPORTER.

79

The Synod of our Church has just held its annual meeting at Sunderland. Ministers and elders from all parts of the country have met, and discussed and planned many things relating to the welfare of the Church, things connected with her Home Missions, Foreign Missions, Colleges, Schools, &c. May the Lord make all that was done result in our good and the glory of his own name.

The "May Meetings" in London are just coming on, and the Reporter will have perhaps a good deal to say about them next month.

The Reporter is sorry to learn that Mr. Jones, one of our missionaries in China, has been laid aside for some months by a singular misfortune. One morning there was a snake crawling about in his bedroom, and it sprang upon him before he was aware, and bit his foot, which has made him lame ever since. The Reporter thinks he would not like to exchange his bedroom for a Chinese one. At any rate, he would not care about having such a bedfellow. Just think of seeing, when you open your eyes in the morning, an ugly snake twisting around your bedpost!

Such are the dangers and troubles our dear friends have to encounter who "take their lives in their hands," and go with the message of life to the poor heathen. How very easy our part of the work is compared with theirs. How much need they have of our sympathy and prayers. Writing from a place called Anhai, our dear friend Mr. Douglas says :—

"Pray that this door may be wide and effectual; certainly there are many adversaries. I have seen more here than anywhere else in China of that spirit which broke out of old in the cry, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. Just substitute Kwanyin and Anhai for Diana and Ephesus. Great part of the people get their living by selling idolatrious articles, and by acting plays