or running up the smooth bark of the stem, or clinging to some twig that sways to and fro in the breeze as firmly as if it was tied to it. It runs along the boughs of trees so quickly that one might almost mistake it for a blue mouse! It feeds chiefly upon insects, and does good service to the gardener by eating up the insects that crowd upon the trees and plants in the springtime, and which, if not destroyed, would make the fruit very scarce in autumn. An amusing story is told of a tamed Blue Tit. When let out of its cage in summer, it roosted upon the top ; but in winter, although in a warm room, it used to choose the hottest place in which it could remain in safety during the night-namely, under the fender. The cage of this clever little Tit was covered with close netting, which it several times cut through that it might escape into the room. It would then fly to the children, and seize hold of whatever they were eating at the time, and once it so teased the youngest child for a piece of apple that she was eating, that she began to cry, and ran out of the room. with many plates, on which there was here and there a piece of mouldy bread, a few artichokes, or a handful of bran ; but, for the most part, the plates were quite empty. The Queen said —“I was myself that beggar woman in disguise, wishing, in this time of distress, when the poor are in such great need, to prove the charity of my people. These two poor gardeners took me in and entertained me as best they could; hence they will now eat with me, and I will fix a pension for life on them. The rest of you will entertain yourselves with the same fare which you gave me, and which you will find on these plates. With this, remember that in the future world you will also one day be served as you served others." • What we give unto His poor, To our Lord Himself is given; We shall richly reap in Heaven." John NEWTON in bis old age wrote a letter to a friend, in which he said, “I have now almost reached my seventythird yearly milestone ; what dangers have I escaped or been brought through! If my heart would jump to be within three miles of you, why does it not jump from morning to night, to think that I am probably within three years of seeing the Lamb upon the throne, and joining in the praises of the blessed spirits of the redeemed, who behold Him without a veil or a cloud, and are filled with His glory and His love ?" THE BEGGAR WOMAN. ONCE, in a time of famine, an un known beggar woman, poor, but cleanly clad, went through à certain village a king alms. From some houses she was sent away with rough words; at others she received a very small gift; only one poor gardener, as she was very cold, invited her into his warm room, and his wife, who had just baked cakes, gave her a nice large piece. The next day all the people at whose door the beggar woman had called were invited to supper in the Queen's palace. When they came into the dining-room they beheld a small table laden with the richest food, and also a large table AGAINST earth's painful wounds There is a plant of power, And he shall healing find Who owns that little flower: Near Faith's peaceful garden It grows in holy sod, Seek for that little flower, "Tis called “ Trust in God." THE BIG TORCH AND THE LITTLE CANDLE. A FABLE. HROUGH the thick forests of the Western Ghauts a traveller was journeying in a palkee” borne by four earers, who were relieved every now and then by four more. The coffin-like conveyance was carried upon the head of the men, and it made one dizzy to see them winding their way, now up some steep ascent where the road was carried close to the edge of the mountain, and one looked down hundreds of feet below upon the tops of the forest trees; now down some narrow path, through steep ravines, and over the fragile bridges thrown across tiny streams, which in the rains would be changed into raging torrents, sweeping every obstacle before them. Our traveller was overtaken at length by the shades of night, and the junglet grew darker and gloomier, until the bearers could not see their way. Haltin at a bungalow: at the foot of a ghaut, they procured torches of wood, and by their flame they were enabled to proceed once more. Long ere this a little Taper had been burning inside the palkee, and the Traveller by its aid read his book far into the night, until sleep overcame him. The bearers still went on, and as the light of the flaming torches flashed upon the branches of the trees, or lighted up some dark nook in the for rest, the beasts of prey retreated further and further into the deep recesses of the jungle. One of the bearers coming close up to the palkee, the Candle was suddenly o by a hoarse voice from a large, smoking Torch. “Snuff me out, but you're a bright * The palkee, or palanquin, is a covered litter used by travellers in India. + Jungle or forest. : Public bungalows, or rest-houses, are built by Government for the accommodation of travellers. $ A ghaut is a mountain, or hill-pass. light anyhow ! you'll never set the there,” he said, “and there"- puffing forest on fire ;” and he went off into a out great jets of flame, until the tender rude guffaw that quite frightened the green leaves shrivelled and withered at little Taper. his scorching breath ; "it will be some It looked up at the brilliant speaker time before you can make such a blaze with great awe. in the world as that." “Oh, Torch Sahib,* I am not so large His boasting was interrupted by the as you : but I am as I was made, and master's voice,my master loves me." “Boy, why do the bearers carry that “Why, what good can such a little, great flaring, smoking Torch ? Order trumpery thing as you do, I should them to put it out at once." like to know ?” he said, with a puff of The next moment the useless brand smoke that nearly blew out the tiny was hissing and seething in the waters flame. of the deep lake that lay far, far below. “Oh, not much good, I fear, great The traveller, awakened, drew his sir ; but I stay quietly where I am friendly lamp close to him, and taking placed, and try to burn on steadily from under his pillow a favourite book without flaring or flickering. And you - it was a translation of some German see my master is very kind to me; he author — he began to read. The little puts me in this glass-house to shield me | Taper looked down upon the page, and from the rough wind, for he knows I its feeble, but steady light fell upon the am very weak and helpless." words,“I should thing you were ! Look “Better humbly burn to socket, * Sahib, the Ludian word for "Sir" or Master." Than flare up a useless rocket." L.G. LONDON : WILLIAM MACINTOSH 24 PATERNOSTER Row. A SON'S SELF-SACRIFICE. ABOUT fifty years ago enlistment was going on busily for recruits in Suffolk during the hot war-time. The recruiting sergeant, with his ca streaming with red, blue, white, . yellow ribbons, was parading the town with a file of men, a fife, and a drum. The war was a cruel one; men fell by thousands and tens of thousands, and the best blood of England was swallowed up by the thirsty earth. The cry was for more soldiers at any price; men were scarce, and the bounty was large. The officer in command of the recruiting party, who had been for some time at Ipswich, in Suffolk, received orders to join his regiment with all his fresh-caught men. On the evening before his departure a pleasant-lookin young man made his appearance, .# desired to be enlisted into his company. His air was that of one who had a noble heart and a well-cultivated mind, but his manner showed that his mind was ill at ease, and that he was in great trouble. The officer, who felt sorry for him, kindly asked the cause of his trouble. “I tremble,” said the young man, “lest you should deny my request.” Whilst he was speaking a sudden flow of tears stopped him. “I will accept your offer of enlisting most gladly,” said the officer; “but why should you think that I should refuse you?” “Because,” said the young man, “you may think that the bounty which I require is too high.” “How much do you demand 7" said the officer. “Ten guineas,” replied the young man; “ten guineas I must have; and, if you refuse me, I shall be truly wretched.” “Ten guineas is a large sum. Our bounty is only seven; but as you are a fine young fellow, and will no doubt make an excellent soldier—maybe, an officer—I will enlist you, and you shall have ten guineas. Here is the money : give me your name, place of abode, and your honour as a soldier that you will not desert, and I am satisfied.” The young man, overwhelmed with joy, accepted the money, and the conditions; but begged to be allowed to return home to perform a sacred duty, and promised to be back within an hour. The officer looked at him keenl as he made this request, but not wit distrust; after a short pause, he said, “Go ; keep your word with me; and return within the hour.” The young man departed. The officer, impressed by the apparent sincerity and the open countenance of theyoung man, was prompted to follow him at a distance. He saw him at once hasten to the town prison, where he knocked and was admitted. The officer quickened his pace, and when he came to the door of the prison he overheard the young man say to the jailor, “Here is the money for which my father is imprisoned. I put the money into our hands, and now you can release im.” “I can," said the jailor; and then the young man followed him into the prison. In a very few minutes the young man was seen leading out a venerable-looking, oisi gentleman. He was shedding tears of joy, and the young man's face was flushed with pleasure. But when in a few minutes the father learned that his son had enlisted himself for a soldier to save him, his heart sank within him, and his tears of joy were soon turned into tears of sorrow. The officer heard all that passed at the gateway of the prison. The son tried in vain to console his father by the assurance that the war would soon be over, and that, after a brush with the enemy, he should return with honour to his home. But sorrow is like the deaf adder, that refuses to |