with the request that her name might not be mentioned. Liberality this indeed, out of deep poverty! With two guineas only, she gives one! How many, who have thousands, have never given so much, or think they have discharged all claims if they contribute a single sovereign during the course of the year! Shall not this guinea rise up as a testimony against those who, with large means, want what the widow had, the large heart; large, because opened by the grace of God to understand and embrace the love of Jesus?-Church Missionary Gleaner.

"I LONG TO SEE THE SUN."

THERE are salt mines at Williska, not far from Cracow, deep under ground. The miners there have their families with them, and sometimes it happens that their little children, having been born there, never see the light of day. By the feeble light of the miner's lamp they see such objects as a salt mine furnishes. On one occasion, a boy, who had been from his birth in the deep caverns, was visited by a traveller, who began to talk of what he had seen and enjoyed under the warmth and rays of the sun, describing the sky, and the fields, and rivers, and innumerable objects presented to the view of those who live above ground, where the sun shines.

The boy, whose name was Doerich, pointed the traveller to the vaulted galleries made of mineral salt, and to the dazzling splendour of the arches, from which the light of a thousand lamps was reflected, and asked, if that was not a scene as brilliant as he could wish to see? The traveller tapped him on the shoulder, and told him that the gloomiest day above ground was brighter far than the most brilliant light that ever met his eyes in that abode, and again told him of the sun in the firmament. From that hour Doerich's thoughts ran in a new channel. His former enjoyments grew wearisome, and he began to reckon the mine no better than a prison.

His lamps, and their bright lustre reflected from transparent salt columns, lost all their attraction. "I long to see the sun," was the burden of his reply to every one who spoke to him of his changed look. When his mother asked the reason of his altered demeanour, "I long to see the sun!" replied Doerich; nor would he rest till his eyes beheld what he longed for, namely, the sun and all that the

sun reveals as he shines over a gladdened world. Young readers, may not this teach us? It is thus that the soul feels when told from above of something better than the glittering lustre of this earth, which is grand and attractive to those only who never have known aught higher and more glorious.

The soul has discovered its native ignorance and degradation; it has heard of Christ-that better sun, and now the burden of its desire is, "I long to see the sun;" and not till it sees Christ, the Sun of righteousness, is it at rest. Have you, young reader, seen this sun? Will you not go down to the mine, and tell many a young Doerich that there is something far superior to his lamps, his idols, and poor earthly joys? Tell him, "You would think nothing of these any longer did you only see our sun." It is this that ministers are doing; help them by your prayers. It is this that missionaries are doing; help them by your prayers and your pence. It is this that Ragged School Teachers are doing, help them by your prayers, your pence, your personal assistance.-Ragged School Magazine.

THE LITTLE LAD WHO SOLD HIS KNIFE TO BUY A TESTAMENT.

ONE day last week, a member of the Committee of the Bolton Industrial Ragged School was walking in one of the streets of that large town, when a little ragged lad ran up to him, and walked by his side, looking up in his face to attract his notice. At last the gentleman said, "Who are you?" The boy replied, "Henry C- I am in the Ragged School, don't you recollect me?" "O yes; well, Henry, what are you learning at the Ragged School? The boy said: "I am learning arithmetic, sir, and reading in the New Testament. When I first went to the school I did not know a letter, and now, the master says, there is no one in the school, except Kay, who can read so well as me." And then the boy pulled out of the pocket of his ragged trousers a small, neat Testament. See, sir," said he, "I have got a Testament of my own.' "How did you obtain that?" "Why, sir, the master sent me an errand to Mr Topping's shop, and Mr Topping gave me three-halfpence; then I sold my knife, and with that money, together with what Mr Topping gave me, I bought this Testament. I did not want to part with my

knife, but I wanted a Testament of my own-and here it is! "

Who, to obtain a copy of the New Testament, has made a sacrifice equal to that which this once neglected outcast made to obtain one?

This poor lad bids fair to become a worthy member of society.-Ibid.

"HE COULD NOT BE HID."

"He could not be hid "-for the sinner would haste
Behind Him to weep at the Pharisee's feast-

To wipe with her hair. when she'd wash'd with her tears,
His feet, who had lov'd her, and silenced her fears.

"He could not be hid"-for the blind and the lame
His love and His pow'r would together proclaim;
The dumb would speak out, and the deaf would recal
The name of that Jesus-who healed them all.

"He could not be hid"-for around Him would press
The children of sorrow, of pain, and distress;
And faith, by the hem of His garment would prove
What virtue there issued from Him who is Love.

"He could not be hid "-for the Widow of Nain
Would point to the son, now restored her again;
Would say 'twas His love, His compassion and grace
Gave back that lost son to a mother's embrace.

"He could not be hid "-for the multitude fed
Would tell 'twas His bounty procured for us bread;
No hand could have multiplied thus sevenfold,
But His who provided the manna of old.

"He could not be hid"-for hark! hark! to that shout,
Hosanna! Hosanna! the children cry out,

And, O blessed for us, though some would have chid,
That Jesus the Saviour can never be hid.

A. A. W.

PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT,

WHO ALONE CAN REVEAL CHRIST TO THE SOUL.

COME, with heavenly inspiration,
Jesus in our souls reveal;

Manifest His great salvation,

As thine own our spirits seal;
Light divine on darkness shining,
Deign the light of truth to give ;
Every grace and joy combining,
May we to Thy glory live!

B

FIELD LANE RAGGED SCHOOL.

EING lately in London, we resolved to visit some of the Ragged Schools there; and having made our wish to do so known to a friend, he recommended us to go to one near Holborn Hill, called the Field Lane Ragged School and Night Refuge for the utterly destitute. As the name implies, the work carried on in this institution embraces more than that of an ordinary ragged school. We found, on inquiry, that besides day schools for infant boys and girls and evening classes for youths and adults, there are attached to it a refuge for the utterly destitute, with industrial classes for boys and girls, and mothers' meetings, and Bible classes, and prayer meetings, and a religious service on Sabbath, or Ragged Church. The evening we spent in the school, happened to be one of those devoted in part to the teaching of youths and adults to read and write, &c.; and in part to the benevolent work of helping the most ragged among them to mend their own clothes and shoes. While some were engaged in classes for reading and writing, others were busy, and with an eagerness and cheerful diligence that was quite refreshing to look at, hammering away at the work of patching up their very old and worn-out shoes; and others, in a gallery, squatted on the floor, doing the best they could to stitch together the poor tattered rags in which they were clothed. We wish our young readers could have seen them. It is impossible in any words to convey an impression of a scene so profoundly interesting. No work of Christian benevolence we ever witnessed seemed to us so divine-so Christ-like, as the aid, kind and sympathising and considerate, which these poor men and youths were receiving at Field Lane Ragged School that night.

But we wish to attempt to interest our young friends in the work, and especially to engage their prayers for a blessing on it, and on all concerned in it. We have therefore resolved to copy for them, on the other page, a picture of the refuge for the destitute, from which they may gather

VOL. V. No. XII

DECEMBER 185.