verted?'

If they are asked to say why may not a Jew be converted as readily as a Gentile, they are at a loss for a reply-but yet they will ask the same question over and over again. They forget that the chief point for us to consider is this, Do the Jews receive the Lord Jesus as their Saviour, who is the only Refuge from the wrath to come? If they do not, then their claim on our Christian labours is as great at least as that of the Heathen."

"Oh! mamma," exclaimed Ellen, "the Jews have a much greater claim, for we owe to them the blessings of the Gospel."

"That is another matter to be considered, my dear child," said Mrs. Weston.

speaking of now, is the way in

look upon the duty of sending the

"What I am

which people

Gospel to the

Jews. They seem to act and to speak as if the harvest ought to come at once, and that there is to be no seed-time. They look for fruit in the work amongst the Jews, which they cannot think of expecting in the work amongst the Gentiles. They are dissatisfied if they do not see this, and at once cry out that all the labour is in vain."

"I remember, mamma," said little Rose, "that beautiful text you taught me,- In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall

prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good."

66

Yes, my dear, that text shows us that we are to go on doing the work. We are not to grow faint because we see not the fruit, but to know that in good time we shall reap if we faint not. But we have quite wandered from the point about which we had been speaking. And since it is getting late, we must wait for its continuation until another evening."

(To be continued.)

THE BANANA.

THE Banana is found in Palestine as well as in other parts of the world. Another kind of the same plant is called the Plantain.

These trees grow in very much the same manner as palm trees, shooting up in a straight trunk from the ground, and then throwing out their beautiful broad leaves. After the same manner, too, as the palm, from the top a short sprout springs which produces the blossom, and afterwards the bunch of fruit.

But there are several points in which the banana differs from the palm. Instead of the leaves being divided into distinct parts, they are perfect and whole when young. These tender

T

leaves are however broken and split by the breeze as they grow older.

The banana takes but a short time to grow. In one year the plant produces fruit, while many years must pass ere the date-palm is productive.

The banana, after throwing out its bunch of fruit, is cut down, while the date-palm lasts for very many years. But then there are young plants, or suckers, which are continually springing up from the root of the banana, which takes the place of the old plant.

The banana is generally eaten as a fruit, while the plantain is used as a vegetable. The former when ripe, is far more soft and digestible than the latter. The plantain is generally used before it is fully ripe, when it is roasted or boiled. It is one of the most satisfying kinds of food, and extremely nutritious.

THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT.

VERY few are aware that this nursery rhyme is an accommodated and altered translation of an ancient parabolical hymn, sung by the Jews at the Feast of the Passover, and commemorative of the principal events in the history of that people; yet such is actually the fact. The hymn itself is found in "Sepher Haggadah," fol. 23, 1831. It is translated from the Chaldee, and the interpretation is given by P. N. Lebeucht, Leipsig, 1731.

1. A kid, a kid, my father bought,
For two pieces of money :

A kid, a kid.

2. Then came the cat, and ate the kid,

That my father bought,

For two pieces of money:

A kid, a kid.

3. Then came the dog, and bit the cat, That ate the kid,

That my father bought,

For two pieces of money:

A kid, a kid.

4. Then came the staff, and beat the dog,

That bit the cat,

That ate the kid,

That my father bought,

For two pieces of money:

A kid, a kid.

5. Then came the fire, and burned the staff,

That beat the dog,

That bit the cat,

That ate the kid,

That my father bought,

For two pieces of money:

A kid, a kid.

6. Then came the water, and quenched the fire,

7. Then came the ox, and drank the water,

That quenched the fire,

That burned the staff,

That beat the dog,

That bit the cat,

That ate the kid,

That my father bought,

For two pieces of money:

A kid, a kid.