MARIAN'S VISIT TO THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL.

73

in whom he had killed, should meet him in any rld again.

We are wiser than he was; but his words may ach us one thing that, perhaps, we do not think bout so much as we ought. The chief knew that f there were another world, the men whom he had lain would meet him there. We know that there is nother world, and it would do us good to remember hat our own sins committed on earth will come back o us, and make us miserable for ever, unless washed way by the precious blood of Jesus. The cruel avage warrior feared to think of judgment. Much more may many fear, who know the Gospel, but who will not come to Christ that they may have life.

MARIAN'S VISIT TO THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL. THE friends of little Marian will remember that as she was so fond of books herself, her father resolved to give her a high treat in taking her to a distribution of prizes, which he intended to make at the Sundayschool in the village where they lived.

Very long did the day seem in coming, but it came at last. Lessons in the morning were over in good time; how often Marian looked out of the window, quite sure that the beautiful sunshine could not last until the afternoon! But it did last, and soon after dinner Marian was ready for the lovely walk through the fields by her dear father's side.

As they went along they talked of the birds and the flowers, of the beautiful spring-time, of the goodness of God in making everything so bright and cheerful, and more than all the rest, as you may imagine, about

the Books which were going to be given away to th happy expectant scholars.

"Where did the books come from?" asked Marian "I chose them myself in London."

"How did you know which to choose?'

66 Oh, I had read most of them myself, and I looke over the others in the shop, so as to know what the were like."

"What, you read children's books, papa?"

"Oh yes, very often: don't you think I rea yours?"

"I never see you."

"No, my dear, but I always read them, or else your dear mother does, before we give them to you.”

"I suppose that is to see whether I can understand them?"

"Yes, partly; and to see whether the books teach what I think to be truth."

Marian had never thought much of any books teaching what was not true. She had sometimes been ready to say, like children not so well taught as she, of anything she read, "Oh, I am sure it is true, because it is in a book." Now she saw that this would not exactly do. Her father's words showed her that a thing might be printed in a book and yet not be right. This made her resolve to be careful in thinking about what she read. But she wondered very much how her father could ever find time to read so many children's books.

"Oh, sometimes," said he, "in the railway carriage, sometimes when you are asleep at night and all my day's work is done. I think it very important to take care what books children and young people have given

to them."

MARIAN'S VISIT TO THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL.

75

"Ah then, that is why you took away the book I as reading last week, which Ellen Hargreaves lent

le.

"6

'Yes, Marian-besides, you know I never allow ou to borrow books without my leave or your nother's. But as you ask me I will tell you why It was a pretty story, I

I put that book away.

know."

66

"Oh, that it was, papa. I did so want to finish it!" "Very likely, but as I read it I found it meant to show how goodness always made people happy, and wickedness miserable. Therefore, for the sake of being happy, we must be good; and that was all!"

"

"But, papa, is not goodness the way to be happy?' "O yes, my child: but there is another greater reason for being good. Don't you know what it is? Well, why are children told in the Bible to obey their

parents?"

“Because ‘it is right.””

·

"Ay, to be sure! Now, perhaps, you will not be able very well to understand me, but the reason why I did not like that book was, that the 'right' was quite left out. None of the 'good' little children in the story seemed ever to think of this. They seemed always to be thinking and saying to each other, If we do so and so, we shall have praise, or presents, and shall be very well satisfied with ourselves!' So, sure enough, you know the obedient little folks were taken out in carriages, and had books with pretty pictures, with cakes and toys, while the naughty ones had to stay at home, and go to bed without their suppers, and at the end of the book, all the good girls and boys grew up to be rich and prosperous, and the others if they did not change in time were poor and unhappy. Do you

think, Marian, it is well to say to people, You better be good, industrious, and obedient, that may come to live in a fine house, and have plenty money: and not be naughty or idle, for if you are, will have to spend your days in a cottage very mise ble, or perhaps come to a worse end than that.”

Marian looked very thoughtful; I think she did quite understand her father, but he went on.

"I want you always to recollect, my dear chil that the great reason for our doing right is becau it is right. Never mind what we get for it. Som idle people do get on, and even live in fine houses, be that does not make their idleness any better. Som very good people, too, are very poor, but that does no turn their goodness into an evil, does it?"

"No, papa."

"I heard a teacher the other day telling his scholars always to speak the truth, for fear they should go at last into the lake that burneth with brimstone and fire.' Was this the best reason?"

"I think it was a very good reason, papa."

"Yes, so it was, if the other and better reason was remembered. To tell the truth is RIGHT; it is the will of God. Ananias and Sapphira, you know, were struck dead for their falsehood, that was very terrible; but the telling of the lie was more terrible still, for it was WRONG. Yet I have known children who have been much more afraid of the punishment than the sin, and I often see books for children which teach them to feel so. That is one thing that makes me very careful in choosing books for your shelf, Marian, and that has made me as much so in selecting the rewards for to-day."

MARIAN'S VISIT TO THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL.

Oh, papa," here exclaimed Marian,

ber of children!"

77

"what a

hey were now within sight of the school-house, a tty little building on the hill-side. The doors were to be opened until Marian's father arrived, but the ole school seemed gathered in the field outside. me little girls were waiting very demurely in their it "bibs and tuckers," the elder young people stood atting in scattered groups, the boys were many of em enjoying a good game of romps; but as soon as ey saw their kind friend coming they set up a great out, and all the scholars came towards the door. hat a merry, happy company they seemed! The or was soon unlocked, and with a great deal of good atured pushing and laughing, the young folks took eir places. The large table at the top of the room as covered with a white cloth. Every one knew that omething very interesting was underneath.

(To be concluded next Month.)

A SCHOOL ON LEGS.

SUCH a school you never saw, and probably never efore heard of. This one is in Mosul. Do you know where Mosul is? It is on the Tigris, opposite to where Nineveh stood thousands of years ago, and where its palaces so long lay buried. The attention of the world is turned to the monuments which have been dug up from the ruins of Nineveh; the attention of heaven is turned to the monuments which they are recovering from Mosul. The monuments of Nineveh show what the city was in the days of its glory; the