THE TAHITIAN CHILD.

TAHITI, or Otaheite, is one of the beautiful islands, encircled by coral reefs and adorned with breadfruit trees, which stud the great southern ocean. Soon after its discovery it was visited by protestant missionaries from England, who, after much labour and patience, succeeded, under divine blessing, in converting the natives to the faith of christianity. Their success excited the jealousy of the Roman Catholics, who sent out missionaries to turn them halfway back to paganism by their popish customs. But the people would not receive them, and desired them to leave the island. Offended at this, they quarrelled with the natives, and, the French government taking up their cause, the island was invaded by ships from France and subdued, and the Romish missionaries were thrust upon the people. Notwithstanding this, the Tahitians had "not so learned Christ" as to leave his pure worship to join in the mountebank mummeries of popery, and to this day the papists have not been able to make any progress. The natives love their bibles, and schools, and missionaries too well to be drawn aside by the trickery of jesuit priests. A young friend has sent us a copy of verses, which we give below, founded on a fact.

It should be further explained that the Queen and the chiefs were very rudely treated by the French, who pretend to be the most polite people in the world!

A LITTLE girl of nine years old,

In fair Tahiti's isle,

Paused on her homeward way to watch
The man of God awhile.

He raised himself from his employ-
His smile she lov'd to see-
"My little daughter," then he said,
"What may your errand be ?"

"I'm only come to look at you,"

The little girl replied.

"Look on then pray, and welcome too,"
The missionary cried.

She lingered, and again he spoke,

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My daughter, do you pray?"

"Oh yes," she said, "indeed I do,
Two or three times a-day."

"Where do you go, my little girl,

To speak to God in prayer ?" "I love to hide in yonder bush, And pray to Jesus there."

"And will you tell me what you say

When there alone you kneel ?"

"Oh! sir, I ask just what I need,
And say just what I feel.

I pray for blessings for myself;

A new and tender heart;

That God would bless our land and Queen, And heavenly grace impart.

I ask him next to bless our chiefs,

And make them holy too;
And of you, sir, I often think,
And often pray for you."

His heart was full, he mused awhile,
Then offer'd up a prayer,

That this dear lamb of Jesus' fold
His tend❜rest love might share.

Dear children! do you ever pray
Like this Tahitian child?
Is it your earnest wish to be

To Jesus reconciled?

Shall heathen children seek the Lord

And you neglect his grace? Oh! do not wait another day Before you seek his face.

He loves to see you bend the knee,

He listens to your prayer,

And says that all who seek shall find,
And life eternal share.

THE YOUNG KAREN CHIEF.

A YOUNG CHIEF among the Karen mountains, who had heard of the christian religion, wanted to know more of it. He had resolved to read the christian books. But who was to teach him? There were no schools there. The missionaries

were two

Oh, the

hundred and fifty miles off; but he did not mind the long journey; and so great was his desire, that he walked all the two hundred and fifty miles to learn to read! The missionary's wife taught him. Not once did he lift up his eyes from the alphabet till he had learned all the letters. delight that filled his heart when he was able to read the words! His eyes sparkled as the stars; and next he wished that all who lived in his village at home, and in the neighbouring villages, might learn, and he was determined to carry home with him a great many books for distribution among them. But as the Burman government did not wish the people to have anything to do with foreigners, the missionaries advised him not to take so many books home with him, lest he should get into trouble. He would not listen to their advice, but placed a number of tracts in a basket, and covered them over with plantain leaves.

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On the top he put some sugar, and he thought, Surely, no one will dream of there being books underneath." But as he was passing through the gate, one of the officers peeped into the basket and saw the books. Alas, for the young chief! He was thrown into prison, his feet were made fast in the stocks, and he was told that all the rest of his life he was to be a slave. His heart sank within him; and when he remembered his poor people among the mountains, he said, "Ah, who will tell them the good news that I was going to carry them?" But his friends applied to government for him, and he was set free. Still, before he could get home, he had to pass through the gate. What did he now? Again he said, "I will not go unless I can take the books with me." Again he hid them at the bottom of his basket, and this time he was successful. And now he is busy teaching his neighbours to read the blessed gospel of eternal life.

When English boys read this tale of the young Karen chief, we hope they will feel thankful for their own privileges, and be willing to spare a few of their pence to send bibles and good books to the heathen nations-millions of people in which are yet living and dying without any knowledge of God who made them, or Jesus Christ who died for them.