over a book while her mother and grandmother were working early and late at the numerous little garments which would get holes in them in spite of constant care. Accomplishments are well in their place, but domestic duties and comforts should not be neglected for them.

"Far better bring her up to scrub a floor well and cook a good dinner, wife. You'll be making a fine lady of her, and then what will be the good? She will marry someone in our own class at last, and then what good will it do her to know the French name for pudding, when she can't make one for her husband's dinner?” But Mrs. F was proud of her clever, pretty daughter, and encouraged rather than stopped her in the dangerous road in which she was treading. Grannie alone spoke plainly to Grace.

"Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever," she said, one night. "I've seen those words somewhere, dearie; there was a lot more, but I cannot remember them. I wish you would try to think of them sometimes. It is a comfort to me very often, when I hear of all the cleverness in the world, to think that 'the wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err' in the highway which God has made for us. God bless you! Good-night."

Those were the last words anyone heard from the good old lady. When Mrs. F went to call her in the morning, the spirit had fled to its Maker.

Weeks passed into months, and Gracie had got over her real sorrow, and had fallen into the old ways again.

There was only one pair of hands now to help mend and make, and yet Grace scarcely ever offered to help. She hated needlework, she said to herself, and made this her excuse for passing hours over her books. Now and then the remembrance of those words, "Be good, sweet maid," would come over her, and for a day she would help her mother a little, but with the setting sun would pass away all good resolutions, aud she would return to her selfish life with double zest.

Winter came, and work was slack and

provisions dear. James F― ventured to suggest that Grace should be earning some money now. But the indulgent mother, ever ready to excuse her pet, pleaded that the winter was a bad time to begin; besides, what could she do? She was not fit to be a servant, even if she knew how, and she had not learnt enough yet to be a teacher.

And so the time passed on till Christmas was at hand. The squire invited all the villagers to an entertainment at his house on Christmas Eve. There were to be some charades, and sober games for the elder people; a magic-lantern and romps for the children.

Gracie wondered whether she would be asked to take part in the charades. To her great delight, Miss V came to say they wanted her to help. They wanted a cottage scene with an old woman and her cat-would she take the part?

Without a moment's hesitation Grace and her mother consented; and, as soon as the young lady had gone, the dear old grandmother's things were taken out and tried on.

A sweetly touching picture it certainly was which greeted James F--'s eyes as he opened the cottage door. There stood Gracie in the old-fashioned dress and cape, leaning feebly forward on the crutch they had so often heard tapping on the floor, and under the pretty cap the face, softened now with the smile she could so well imitate—a scrap of the bright present in a framework of the past.

Suddenly the smile vanished and the lips quivered, then the crutch was thrown down, and Gracie buried her face in her hands and sobbed aloud.

What was it all about? Only the memory of that last night and of those last words, which came back in all their fulness, and touched the girl's heart as it had never been touched before.

"Oh, father, do forgive me! I'll give up going to the Grange, and try to be really like grandmother;" and she kept her word.

Happy indeed are they of whom it can be said, as of Mother Anne," She, being dead, yet speaketh."-Cottager and Artisan.

"THERE GO AM going to the sea-side!" will be the exclamation of many young folks during the coming months of July and August, which expression will probably arouse feelings of envy in the breasts of those boys and girls who have no such pleasure to anticipate; and truly it is a great pleasure, and one that we should like every boy and girl to enjoy.

Let us try and mention a few of the seaside attractions. There are the bright blue rolling waves to watch as they come and go. There are the numerous vessels with which the sea is studded to examine through a telescope or opera glass till they get out of sight. Then, when the tide is out, there is the run upon the sands without shoes and stockings, and little castles to build with wooden spades, to be washed away by the returning tide. Then there is the scramble over the rocks in search of seaweed and other curiosities. Then there are multitudes of pretty shells to collect; and last, but not least, is the pleasure of sailing miniature boats, which the young friend in our illustration is awaiting an opportunity to commence.

But are there no profitable lessons to be learnt in the midst of so much enjoyment? Oh, yes, many-very many; but we must content ourselves with referring only to the ships-not toy ones, but real oneswhich do business in deep waters; which plough the mighty ocean to its utmost limit, some for pleasure, but by far the greater portion to fulfil some important mission.

Ships, then, are on a voyage-some short and some long. So it is with the people, young and old, who live in this world, but none know how long or how short their voyage may be. The days of our life are three-score years and ten, the Scriptures tell us; but how few are spared to reach this limit! Many, like the little daughter of Jairus, die very young; but, if it be the Lord's will, we wish our readers a long and prosperous voyage over life's tempestuous sea.

THE SHIPS !"

Rocks, quicksands, whirlpools, &c., destroy many a gallant ship which starts out with sails set, flags flying, and everything taut and trim. So many a boy starts out from the home of his childhood to commence life's battle. He still feels the impress of his mother's parting kiss. He feels around him the influence of a father's prayers. His heart is warmed with the love of dear ones at home. He starts resolved to do what is right. He means to win his way in the world, and some day return to his home crowned with the honours of this life. But, alas ! before he has journeyed far, he gets drawn into some whirlpool with which this wicked world abounds. Bad companions draw him aside. The house of God becomes forsaken. The manly cigar (falsely so-called) is started; the sparkling glass is "looked upon when it is red;" the playhouse becomes his resort, and thus he goes step after step in the downward course, till he strikes upon the last fatal rock, or gets drawn into the centre of the whirlpool, and then goes down quick into the pit a wreck, both in body and soul.

"What a sad picture!" exclaims my young reader. Sad, indeed, it is, but none the less true. Would you escape such an end? Would you make a fair voyage, and reach a happy haven at last? Listen, then, to me, and I will tell you what you need.

Ships require a chart and a compassone to tell them the dangers of their voyage, and the other to show them the safe course to steer. God has given in the Bible a chart and a compass to every heaven-bound traveller. It is a lamp to his feet and a light to his path."

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"Here light, descending from above,
Directs his doubtful feet;
Here promises of heavenly love
His ardent wishes meet.'

We would earnestly recommend to all our young friends the diligent study of

God's Word, for "wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy Word." Without this no successful voyage can be made. You may be successful in obtaining the riches and honours of this world, but all of these will profit little if your soul be lost at last.

Ships need some power both to start and carry them on their journey. Many go by steam, but thousands are dependent (as all once were) on the fair wind of heaven to fill their sails and waft them on their voyage. So it is with all those who launch forth from this world and sail heavenward. They need God's Holy Spirit (which is compared to wind-John iii. 8) to blow upon them and move them on their course. Without this, none would ever start on such a voyage, much less steer clear of every danger, weather every storm, and get safe into port at last.

"Oh, may I reach the heavenly shore,

Where storms and waves distress no more!"

Is this your ardent desire also, my youthful companions? Then I counsel you to seek for this blessing, both in secret prayer and in perusing the Christian's chart, for "they that seek Me early shall find Me."

Ships carry their colours. They are very proud of them, as it shows to what nation they belong. Perhaps some who are seeking the Lord are surrounded by the ungodly, and they sneer at your religion, and sting you keenly with their taunts, so that you feel inclined to neglect your Bible, prayer, and the company of the godly, and are tempted to join your tormentors in their foolish and sinful ways. Seek strength, then, from God, that you may boldly show them under whose banner you desire to fight. Remember Christ has said, "He that confesseth Me before men, him will I confess before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever denieth Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven." EBENEZER.

B

A VERY KIND DOG.

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OXER was a moderate sized dog, with black smooth hair, a mark of white down his face and the under part of his neck, also tail and feet tipped with white; a high forehead, which those who have a knowledge of phrenology will remember shows he possessed a kind and amiable disposition; and, although he was kept chained to make him fierce as a house-guard, yet his whole behaviour to the inmates was kind and obedient, so that all felt attached to Boxer, and were pleased when an opportunity offered for him to enjoy some pleasure, which even animals can and do, in their way, appreciate, such as running in the meadows, or accompanying his master or any of the rest of us to town, and even then he did not take advantage, but would still do his duty, such as, if we were about to meet a person of rough appearance, if Boxer was running before us, he would return and walk by our side until we had passed them; and if at any time, when we were going from one shop to another, he happened to lose us, he did not delay to hasten home, crossing fields instead of taking the high road, so that, on our arrival, he would be found in his regular employ.

On one or two occasions he transgressed by leaving home for one, two, or three days; and, although on such occasions a punishment was determined upon by his master, yet such was his winning way of showing how pleased he was to see us all, that he always escaped it.

All I have spoken of him was his manner in general; but what I am about to relate was an act sufficient in itself to gain our warm esteem. We kept fowls, and, on one occasion, we had a hen which had a brood of only three chickens. Whether she felt mortified by having so small a family to run with we could not tell, but very soon she became so cross with them that she would neither find them worms in the day nor carefully pro

tect them at night, so that the poor little things had to roam about and do as best they could. We felt sorry for them, but could not think of any way to better their forlorn condition. But a bright thought (if dogs do think) seemed to come into Boxer's head, or perhaps I should rather say it was instinct. First, he showed his kindness by allowing the little forlorn chickens to feed out of his bowl; and, as kindness begets confidence, we soon had a proof of it by their sitting on his doorstep. Then we found on a fine day, when they liked to run in the orchard, the dog became very unhappy; and on a wet day, when they took advantage of his dry and warm apartments, he seemed all right; so we came by degrees to find that his conduct was not only a manifestation of kindness to them, but that they had so won his affections that his life was made happy or unhappy, according to these circumstances. They also slept with him at night, but my father, thinking it could not be healthy for them to sleep with the dog, determined he would put some short stakes in the ground, and place a stick on them for the chickens to rest upon in the usual way, just outside of Boxer's kennel. The chickens appeared satisfied with the new arrangement, and would, no doubt, have remained as they were placed; but Boxer acted as if quite indignant at the new plan, and though, as I said before, he was a very obedient dog, yet now he showed he had some self-will, for he came out of his kennel, stretched out his leg, and threw the chickens off their new resting-place, carried them into his house, and retired to rest, as if pleased that he for once could have his own way; and it was then thought best to leave them alone.

After a time they were grown large enough to be killed, but one hen was spared to Boxer, and she remained with him, but never seemed so lively as other fowls. At length poor Boxer died, and his successor, having an aversion to the feathered tribe, showed them no favour. A. P.

THE LORD WILL PROVIDE. IN the summer of 1851, great scarcity prevailed in many parts of Wurtemberg. Among others who suffered, a poor widow of Uha was in deep distress. She had already spent her last penny for food for herself and her children, and had nothing left wherewith to pay a small debt that lay heavy on her mind. There was nothing for it but to sell her cow, but with it her chief means of support would go. Full of care and anxiety on this account, she sat alone in her little room, pondering over her position, and praying to God for help in her time of need.

While thus occupied, her little boy came running in from the garden, exclaiming, "See these, mother; what are these? I found them in the garden, in a mole-hill."

What he had found were several ducats of very old coinage. They had doubtless been, at some time of war, hid in the ground at the foot of a tree, in the widow's garden, by someone who hoped thus to preserve the buried treasure till the war, and the fear of plundering bands, were over, but who had not lived to dig up his gold. Thus it had laid hidden till, when just at the right time, by means of the mole, the treasure was brought to light.

The poor widow's distress and want were relieved by the gold, and she was able to praise God who, according to His promise, ever helps His people in time of need, in answer to their cry.-From the German.