ent child!

MARIAN'S BOOKSHELF.

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Some of the pleasantest times of my life ave been spent with such children.

66

Then, thirdly, I could use such a vessel for a noseay of flowers. Look at a cottage window in the nonth of May; you see a little brown jug filled with Cowslips, primroses, and blue-bells; or, if it be summer time, with jessamine, sweet briar, and woodbine. Were I a little jug, I think I should prefer this office to that of a daily trip to the public-house. And you observe the flowers set off the jug; they give it quite an air! It seems to be part and parcel of them, and it comes in with them for a share of our admiration. So it is with pious children; they are like vessels filled with fragrant flowers! The vessels themselves are 'earthen,' but the blossoms with which they are filled, the love, the joy, the peace, the meekness, the gentleness, the goodness,'-these are from above' -they are the fruit of the Spirit.'"

Marian's shelf is getting quite rich in good and beautiful books. One of the latest is about "the British Museum.' It has made her quite long to go to London and visit that wonderful collection. Young folks who have been there, or who mean to go, would find the volume a most useful companion. Here are the titles of the chapters:-" Philosophers' Recreations," an account of the Museum itself. "Seeing is Believing," an account of the Egyptian and other remains in the Museum, showing how they agree with Scripture History. "Secrets Revealed," a description of the Assyrian Sculptures. "Stamped History," a chapter in coins and medals, showing very clearly

* Pleasant Mornings at the British Museum; or, Memorials of by-gone Ages. Historical Department. Religious Tract Society.

and pleasingly what they teach us about old times. "The Sculptured Pediment," lessons from both the outside and the inside of the Museum, on the history of different nations, teaching how civilized tribes have become barbarians, and barbarians civilized; and very beautifully proving that the Gospel of Jesus is the only means of making nations wise, happy, great, and free. All young Missionary collectors should read this chapter. Lastly, " Moral Light," showing from the old manuscripts in the Museum how the thoughts of men have become wiser and grander from age to age, and how the Gospel of Jesus has taught mankind to think. The book is thus full of information; it is very interestingly written, and it is full of pictures. Marian hopes, and so do we, that there will soon be a companion volume about the other parts of the Museum, especially those comprising Natural History collections.

Another new book that our little friend likes very much is "Annie Foster."* It is a touching and beautiful story of a pious young lady at school, who was helped by God's grace to live a consistent, lovely life among her schoolfellows, and to do them great good. It is one of these books, of which we have now so many, which show how every body can be useful.

When Marian's father gave her "Annie Foster," he also put into her hand a little volume called “The Peasant Girl.”† “Give that,” he said, "to Nurse's daughter Ellen, when you see her." Marian was very glad to have this to do, for she was very fond of Nurse. Ellen was growing up to be a great girl-was able to be useful to the little ones at home: sometimes she

* Annie Foster, an American Tale. Society.

Religious Tract + By George F. Sargent. Religious Tract Society.

THE TWO ADVISERS.

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me for a day to take care of Marian's younger rother. Her mother thought of soon putting her out > service, and Marian's father thought the book would se very useful in showing how even a little cottage girl might grow up to be handy and industrious, repectable and trustworthy, pious and useful. Ellen, who was fond of reading, was much pleased with her present. It is, indeed, a most capital book for Sundaychool girls, and for others, especially in the country, who have to be useful at home, and are thinking of going out to service.

THERE was once a little girl, whose name was Kitty, and she had two advisers, who was always telling her what she had better do. One generally spoke the quickest, and that I shall call the first adviser: the other, who was modest, though very faithful, shall be called the second. Sometimes she minded one, and sometimes the other, and according as she heeded the one or the other, so she behaved.

Kitty slept in a little room near her mother's, and her mother usually waked her in the morning with Jump up, Kitty." Early one winter's morning, Jump up, Kitty," waked the child, and she lifted her head, and it looked early, and felt quite wintry. 'I would not get up," said the first adviser, who was always sure to be at hand; "be quiet in your snug little bed; it is very cold and early; stay where you

are warm.

"Kitty, it is time to be stirring," whispered the other, for they were always cross-counselling each other. "It is time to be stirring, Kitty; your morn

ing duties are waiting for you; up, up!" Kitty thought a moment, and then jumped up. She care fully dressed herself; then she shut the door and knel down to pray, thanking God for his kind care throug the night, and asking for help through the day. The she skipped out, crying joyfully, "Mamma, can I hel you? can I help you, dear mamma?" but her mamm had gone down stairs; so she sat down by the fire i her mother's chamber, and began to study her spellin lesson; and study Kitty did with all her might. Afte breakfast, she dusted the parlour, and fetched papa' boots, and hushed the baby, and did all she had to d with a sweet and willing spirit; and her mothe thought, as her little one went to school, "What comfort Kitty is to me." All the morning Kitty was hearkening to the second adviser.

I do not know how it was during the forenoon at school, but as Kitty was walking down the sunshiny side of the street, on her way to school in the afternoon, "It is too pleasant to be cooped up in a schoolroom," whispered the first adviser; "it is nice to walk, it is nice to play, to slide, or do something else." Kitty listened, and as she listened, she lagged and lagged more and more, until, in quite a discontented mood, she reached the school-room. School had begun, and she was tardy; this was quite provoking Kitty went to her seat, and sat down in rather a pettish manner. "Pleasanter to be walking than to be here," whispered the same adviser. Then she opened her desk, and screened by the cover from the teacher's eye, she began to whisper to one of the girls to go to walk after school; but the teacher saw it, and it grieved her. Then Kitty nibbled a cake. Then, when her class was called up, her lesson was not learned,

she missed, and she pouted, and the first adviser t saying, "It is too long a lesson by half;" and ty cried, and said she could not learn it. Alas! ty had not tried, and the teacher was sorely eved, and she said, "Kitty can be studious and od, but sometimes she is very troublesome."

Now, which adviser was the safest and best; the first the second? The first was called Feeling, and the cond Principle. Feeling seeks only to gratify for moment; Principle endeavours to do what is right. eling looks only at self; Principle has an eye on e comfort and interests of others as well as self. eeling is uncertain, unsteady, and not to be relied pon; Principle is true, straightforward, and trusty. Thich adviser is safest and best; and which do the tle girls follow who read this?

THE CACTUS.

"VERY prickly-very ugly!" is the decision our roung friends often make when they look at plants like his in the greenhouse. Perhaps they never saw one early so large as this. What would they say if they ound themselves in one of the forests of South America, surrounded by thousands and thousands of hese cacti, some of gigantic size, like this one, others smaller, some very tiny indeed, but all with beautiful flowers jutting out around the spines, dressing up the forest with loveliness, while humming birds by day, and fireflies by night, darted among them, and added to the beauty of the scene?

The cactus is not useless. Some kinds, in their native climate, contain a refreshing juice, almost like our English gooseberry,-how glad the thirsty traveller