start early, so have the bird-pole and the rope ready.'

'Oh, father,' she said sadly, 'I'm sorry you're going: but you won't be late I hope, for it's a dangerous place.' And as she spoke the little girl drew out of the corner of the room a long rope, made of raw cow-hide cut into thongs and twisted together.

'No fear of the Stacks when I have such a trusty rope, daughter: it belonged to my grandfather, and I hope my grandson may use it yet.'

Alice was up next morning to see her father start. He set off with Andrew Jamieson in a small boat, which they usually hired for such expeditions, and soon arrived at the first of those lofty island-rocks near the shore called 'The Stacks.' It was often

difficult and dangerous to effect a landing,

but on this occasion the sea was calm. The boat was moored to a corner of rock, and the two men prepared for work. They were very successful in their perilous undertaking, and having stowed away a large number of birds in the boat, they proceeded to visit the other cliffs in the neighbourhood. But while they had been fowling there was a change in the weather, and the sky now looked dark and lowering.

'We shall have boisterous weather after this calm,' remarked Andy.

'Aye,' replied his comrade, I shouldn't be surprised if we had a brisk breeze soon: shall we try another stack to day or not?'

'Oh, yes! come on while we're about it, and don't let the other craggers get the start of us, and have the best birds. As to the gale, it won't come on till night.'

But he was mistaken, for as they neared one of the cliffs a sudden gust warned them of their danger.

(To be continued.)

GETTING READY FOR SUNDAY SCHOOL.

N every Sunday-school there are some children who are always in time and some who are always late, and sometimes the teachers reward those who are early and regular and punish the others; but I have often thought that the children do not deserve most of the praise or blame. Many of those who are late would be as early as the others if they had as good mothers; and before teachers are very severe on the late-comers, they ought to make sure that it is their own fault. If their mothers get them ready for school in good time, antl then they dawdle on the way, it is quite right that they should lose their marks' or tickets;' but if the mother gets up late on Sunday morning, and takes no trouble to see that the children get their breakfast in time, and does not help them to get dressed in their Sunday best,' as the good mother is doing in the picture, then I think that it is rather hard that the children should suffer for what is not their own fault.

This is one reason why good Sundayschool teachers will call at the homes of their scholars, that they may know whether it is the child's fault that it is late or not. A glance at the home and the mother will generally tell, without your asking many questions whether a child has a good chance of getting to school in time or not -whether it is likely that it gets help or hindrance in trying to be good and regular. If the home is neat, and the mother seems to take an interest in hearing how her little ones are going on, then you may guess that it is the child's own fault if it is late; but if the house is untidy, and the mother all

TIMOTHEUS AND PHILEMON.

T

(Continued from p. 251.) CHAP. IX.-THE FLIGHT.

HE greatest wish of the boys now was to visit their dear father in his prison. The soldier who guarded it was a Turk, but one who in his heart inclined towards the Christian religion, though from fear of the Pacha he concealed this feeling. The boys implored him to admit them to their father.

'I will grant it,' he said; but it must be done secretly. Come back to-night.'

He told them the hour when he would be on guard.

Both now went to the prison of their pious teacher. A Turkish soldier here kept watch before the door. They implored, with many entreaties and tears, to be admitted. But he repulsed them rudely and angrily. They next tried to see Elmine. They came before the door of her apartment, Two Turks, with drawn swords, were posted here. The boys timidly and modestly made their request. But one soldier said, harshly, Nothing of the kind! it is forbidden.' The other brandished his sword over their heads, exclaiming, 'Go,

or

They retreated in grief and terror. When night came they crept back to their father's dungeon. The prison was connected with the palace; a narrow passage led to it. The sentry lighted from a lamp which burned here a little lantern, which he gave to the boys, then he opened the door and let them in.

Their father sat in the dark dungeon, which was but faintly illumined by the

lantern. They both fell down on their knees before him, and wept as they thought of the death which awaited him.

But he said, 'Oh, my dearest children, be comforted. Whatever God has ordained for me will be fulfilled. Not a hair of my head can be hurt contrary to His will. May that will be done! If He has decided on my death, I rejoice that I shall thus be able to show forth my faith in His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, by the shedding of my blood.'

We, too, are quite ready for that,' said the boys. But why should you allow yourself to be executed by this cruel Pacha? These Turks have no right to make us slaves. Escape! You can do so easily. The soldier who guards you is a very lazy, sleepy Turk; instead of standing to keep watch, he has sat down upon the ground, and he will soon fall asleep. Then can we easily escape. We know a secret door which leads through the garden into the fields.'

The father consented to their plan. One of the boys crept to the door; he came back, and said in a whisper, The soldier is already asleep, and snoring loudly; let us escape !'

'So be it, in God's name!' said the father. 'I know the country. We have two high mountains to cross, then we come into large forests, and, with God's help, shall reach the Christian frontiers.'

They fled! The moon was shining brightly. They safely crossed the first mountain, where they often had to push through thick brushwood, or to climb over rocks. The Eastern horizon began to glow. Now with greater ease they passed on further, across the broad valley, and reached the second mountain. But now they heard the sound of a huntsman's horu, the hoofs of many horses, and the barking of dogs.

"That is a hunt,' said the boys. But the father replied, I fear those are the Pacha's people. They are his mounted horsemen, whom he has sent after us to capture us. We must hide ourselves till they have passed by.'

They discovered a cave under the mountain-side, whose entrance was grown over with bushes; they concealed themselves in it. The horsemen came down the valley nearer and nearer. The father knelt down in the cave and prayed,—

O thou gracious God! Oh, save these my children!'

He feared lest the Pacha should, in his fury, have the poor innocent boys murdered too. Both boys knelt down beside their father and prayed, with uplifted hands,— "O good God! save our dear father from such a cruel death; rather let us be executed. Take our life for his!'

-

Tears came into the father's eyes at the love of his children.

'I am

'Poor man as I am now,' he said, yet a happy father; certainly, I am happier than the Pacha-aye, indeed, than the Sultan himself!'

but water and coarse bad bread. So each now took a piece of nice white bread and an apple out of their pockets, and gave them to their father, saying, 'There, take that, dear father, and eat it.'

'Oh, my dear children,' said the father, much touched, rather eat it yourselves! I am not at all hungry.'

'Oh, do eat it,' said Timotheus; we have got some more. Look here!'

Then he put a piece of cake and a couple of apples down on the moss.

6

But the father said, Eat it, my children, eat it, and save what more you have. You are sure to need it greatly. We shall not come so soon to people who will give you a piece of bread.'

'Oh, father,' said Philemon, if you will not eat, neither can we;' and the boys placed the cake and the apples on one side.

'Well, then, we will eat together,' said the father; but first let us thank the good God for His gracious gifts.'

As they were eating the scanty meal the morning dawn shone into the cave.

Thank God!' said the boys: 'now we shall be able to go on further, too!'

Not yet,' said their father; 'we are not safe yet.'

He sat down on the moss in the cave; both boys sat beside him; all three now felt how tired they were after their long mountain climbing. The boys, too, suffered from hunger. Last night, and, indeed, during nearly all yesterday, they were so sad, that they could scarcely eat anything. But they had put some bread and fruit from their supper into their pockets to bring to their father in prison, for they knew that nothing was given him to eat

Philemon added, 'How can men, when they behold the beautiful morning dawn, look so unkindly after each other? How can they be so cruel as to shed the blood of their fellow-men?'

'Let us praise and thank God,' said the father, for creating the blessed morning light, and for now permitting His sun to rise upon the evil and the good. In this we will own His love, and try to imitate that love by loving our enemies!'

(To be continued.)