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MATTY'S BIBLE.

(Continued from p. 19.)

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ND how do you think she had spent her twopence after all? Well, in a week's schooling; only think of that, childrenyou who hail any excuse for shirking your lessons or stopping at home to play. She did not dare to beg the money of her step-mother to carry her education further; but she had a scheme in her head for the accomplishment of this very object which would cost nothing, and in which surely she need not fear much opposition. This was nothing less than to gain admittance to a Sunday School. It is true she did not see her way clear before her; Jenny and Jack had never desired anything of the kind, nor did they mix among young people who cared for such things; none of the family ever attended any place of worship, and Matty did not at all know what steps she ought to take. But Matty was not to be easily daunted.

One day she made her appearance in Mrs. Lane's shop, and timidly asked, 'Please, ma'am, may aw just speak a word wi' Sally?'

To be sure, my dear, to be sure;' and Mrs. Lane suffered Matty to pass behind the counter and to make her way into the little room at the back of the shop, where the invalid girl usually sat.

And here she was sitting, busy with some needlework, when Matty entered, and though the place was somewhat gloomy, her bright smile seemed to light it up and make all cheerful and pleasant.

'Sit down, lass,' she said kindly, and tell us what 'tis.'

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answered. 'Aw wants to read better nor aw do, and to make sure what 'tis things mean things in the Bible, you knows. Canst tell me the way childer gets into th Sunday Schools?'

"Oh! that's it, is it?' said Sarah, pleased with her visitor's errand. "Naught easier, I olez used to go to th' Sunday School. You've only to go along with t'other young 'uns, and say as you wants to be a scholar, and they'll take you all right. You might try St. Stephen's next Sunday; you know th' church a' th' top o' th' market hill. That's th' school as I'd used to go to, an' it's a good 'un, and so is th' preacher at th' church too. Be theer at nine, sharp.'

Matty was delighted to have everything made so clear and easy for her. All that was now wanted was Mrs. Gubbings' consent to the plan. This must be obtained, Matty knew; for, though free to employ her time as she liked on any other day in the week, on Sundays her step-mother expected her to be always within call, to answer the door or run an errand, or to make herself otherwise useful. Still Matty had not much fear of meeting with an actual refusal; Mrs. Gubbings had often impressed upon her that her services were of no value, 'not worth the salt to her porridge,' as she expressed it: so Matty plucked up her courage and resolved to make her request that very night. She was quite unprepared for the bitter disappointment that awaited her.

What's th' chilt got into her yedd now?' cried Mrs. Gubbings angrily. 'Sabbath School, for sure! Niver talk to me about 'em; aw hates sich-loike cant an' sneaking. Aw'm not a goin' for to 'av ony Methodies here, nor ony work o' that sart. Next we'll be 'aving th' minister and districters coomin' pokin' their noses in at th' door. No, I tells yer, aw'll 'av thee

bide a' whoam o' Sundays; thae'st gaddin' in the road to heaven. Truly our little about enoo t'other days, sure-ly.'

Notwithstanding this scolding, Matty ventured upon a few words of pleading. She might as well have been silent and bent to her fate at once. Mrs. Gubbings boxed her ears soundly, bidding her to hold her clatter' and to take herself off to bed.

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Matty could say with the Psalmist, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.'

'Oh! if the gen'leman could but know how happy this 'ere present o' hisn has made me, aw'm sartain sure as he'd be rare an' glad,' Matty would sometimes say to herself; and then, on her occasional visits. to Well's Dale Station, she would look out for the Valley Junction train, hoping her friend might be travelling that way again: but not once did she ever catch sight of him. (To be continued.)

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE EAST.

MONEY.

she had not frequented much of late, and PEOPLE did not always use money when

opening her Bible, set herself steadily to her reading, hoping so to forget her troubles and she did better than forget them she found, whilst following the story of Christ's sufferings, that she could think of her own disappointment and trials with something like resignation-with a tearful prayer that she might have the grace given her to follow the example of her dear Lord's patience; that she might learn to submit her will to God's will, for Matty saw plainly that it was God Who permitted her stepmother to cross her desire to attend the Sunday School; and since He permitted it, the trial must be for her good. And yet Matty had had no teacher but her Bible: the testimonies of God were her only counsellors; and in them she found her chief delight. Her life had once, as we know, been cheerless enough, and her way had lain all dark before her. She had had none to comfort her in her childish troubles; none to show her what she ought, or ought not, to do. Now her Bible was her friend, and her comforter in distress; her guide

they bought what they wanted, but they gave instead corn or salt, or even sheep and oxen. After a time they found that this was not a good plan, and those who bought anything gave instead some pieces of copper, silver, or gold. These pieces of metal had no mark set upon them like our coins, so that the seller did not count the money paid to him, but weighed it in scales or in a balance. It is said that the first money was stamped with the figure of a sheep or an ox, and was of the same value as the beast itself.

One coin used by the Romans was nearly as large as a brick, and was stamped with the picture of an ox. Small coins had other marks. All our money is stamped with the head of the King or Queen who reigned when it was coined, like that spoken of by our Saviour when He paid the tax that was due, and said that it was right to render unto Cæsar the things that were Cæsar's,' that is, the coins that bore Cæsar's image and superscription,' or name and titles, written round it.

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