A CHILD'S VICTORY OVER DEATH. WHAT a blessing to any land are sabbath schools! Who can calculate the vast amount of happiness conferred upon the human family by this simple though powerful agency? Eternity alone will disclose the blessed results that have flowed, that are flowing, and shall continue to flow, from the combined exertions of those honoured individuals who consecrate their time and talents to this high and holy work. It was my privilege to be thus engaged for many years, and I can therefore sympathize with those who are thus employed; there will be much to grieve and dishearten a pious mind, but yet the encouragements to persevere are great and numerous. Allow me to give a brief sketch of a young and interesting disciple of the Lord Jesus. When on a visit to a friend in a neighbouring county, the request was made for me to visit a little girl who appeared to be in dying circumstances; it was delightful to see her placid countenance, though apparently quite sensible of the near approach of the last enemy. When the inquiry was put to her, "Would you not like to recover?" she meekly answered, "No;" and when pressed to give her reasons why she preferred death to life, the reply was strikingly impressive when given in all sincerity by one so young-"I fear I might sin against my Saviour." This dear child had attended a sabbath school in connection with a Wesleyan chapel in the town; and so attached was she to her teacher and her class, that when so weak as to be unable to walk the distance, she would be carried to her accustomed place, that she might listen to those glorious truths which proved such a solace to her spirit whilst labouring under protracted suffering, and which could confer true and substantial peace in the prospect of death itself. How remarkably was the power and efficacy of divine truth exemplified in the experience of this youthful disciple. She lingered a few weeks after the interview to which reference has been made, and died very happy. A short time before her death, pointing upwards, she exclaimed, "Angels wait for me;" and the last words she uttered were, "Victory! Victory! Victory!" Multitudes besides the subject of this imperfect sketch have had occasion to bless God for the establishment of sabbath schools. Let Teachers persevere. Ipswich. G. R. G. POETIC SELECTIONS. MY FATHER. My father raised his trembling hand, And laid it on my head: "God bless thee, O my son, my son," Most tenderly he said. He died, and left no gems or gold, But still I was his heir For that rich blessing which he gave Still, in my weary hours of toil It gladdens me in thought to feel FIRST FLOWERS. Young and happy while thou art, Not a furrow on thy brow, Not a sorrow in thy heart, Seek the Lord thy Saviour now. In its freshness bring the flower, While the dew upon it lies; In the cool and cloudless hour Of the morning sacrifice. Life will have its evil years, When its skies are overcast; All the present thronged with fears, And with vain regrets, the past: Let him tremble, who his heart In an hour like that would bring, Lest Jehovah say, "Depart! 'Tis a worn and worthless thing." MOTHER'S VOICE. My mother's voice! how oft doth creep Its cadence on my lonely hours, Like healing sent on wings of sleep, Or dew on the unconscious flowers. I might forget her melting prayer While pleasure's pulses madly fly; But in the still, unbroken air, Her gentle tones come stealing byAnd years of sin and manhood flee, And leave me at my mother's knee. A GOOD NAME. 'Tis a precious diadem; Don't despise it, FACTS FOR LITTLE FOLKS. BITE OF A DOG.-A boy died at Mottram, near Staly Bridge, last winter, after great suffering, from the bite of a dog, thirteen weeks before. The poor little fellow had from the first expressed a fear that he should die from the wound. Boys should be very careful to avoid having anything to do with dogs at all. If a dog that is mad should only lick a sore place on a boys' hand it would cause his death the same as if it had bitten him. LOVE TO ENEMIES.-When Dr. Duff read to a number of Hindoo youth for the first time the precept of the Saviour, “I say unto you, Love your enemies: bless them that curse you;" one of them could not restrain himself from speaking out his feelings "O, how beautiful!" For days and weeks he could not cease repeating, "Love your enemies; bless them that curse you." How beautiful! Surely this must be the truth." A DEAF AND DUMB BOY was asked in writing, "Who made the world?" He took up the chalk, and wrote underneath the question, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." When asked, "Why did Jesus Christ come into the world?" a smile of delight and gratitude rested on the countenance of the little fellow, as he wrote, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, That Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners." A third question was then proposed, eminently adapted to call his most powerful feelings into exercise: "Why were you born deaf and dumb, while I can hear and speak?" "Never," said an eye witness, "shall I forget the look of holy resignation and chastened sorrow which sat on his countenance as he took up the chalk and wrote, 'Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight."" |