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THE camel has been called "the ship of the desert," and well does it deserve the name. What animal but the camel could cross the sandy, stony wastes, where there is neither lake, nor river, nor spring without drinking water for many days, and satisfied to feed on the dry, prickly plants, that even our patient, hardy, thistle-eating ass would refuse to touch 1 God has fitted the camel for the Desert, as he has fitted the reindeer for the snowy North.

There are two species of camel: the common camel has two humps on its back, and the dromedary has but one. The dromedary is the swifter, and is mostly used for riding. The baggage camel, when loaded with a weight of 600, 800, or even 1000 lbs., can travel from twenty to thirtyfive miles a day. The swift camel, used for riding, will carry its master with ease from sixty to ninety miles a day, or even more.

The camel patiently kneels to be loaded, or to permit the rider to mount. He needs no whip, no spur, but has a great delight in musical sounds; and when the driver wishes to cheer him on to a brisker pace, he sings some of the wild melodies of his country, and the delighted creature moves on more quickly to the music, patiently toiling on his way till the hour for rest arrives, when a few dates, or a few mouthfuls of barley-cake, may perhaps be given to him as a delicacy, and he is permitted to browse on the prickly plants that grow in the barren desert. His teeth are peculiarly formed, so as to bite and crush the thorns that are strong enough to pierce the boot of the traveller; while, at the same time, his delicate upper lip enables him to crop the most tender herbage.

Contented camel! fitted as he is to enjoy the best, yet content with the worst— satisfied with dry thorns when dates and tender herbs are not to be had. His foot is broad and expanded, and furnished with a sort of elastic cushion, that enables him to tread more lightly over the desert sands than any other animal.

The camel is the wealth of the Arabs: they eat its flesh and drink its milk; from its skin they make tents, saddles, harness, pitchers, shields, and many other articles; and its hair is woven into various materials for dress.

"For all these reasons the camel has been extensively employed in the East, and that at a very early .period. The merchants of those sultry lands subjected it to their service in long past ages. The picture is an old one—'A company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery, and balm, and myrrh, going to cany it down to Egypt' (Gen. xxxvii. 25). Individuals, too, used camels for a conveyance, sometimes in riding, sometimes in carrying private stores (Gen. xxiv. 64). So in 1 Kings x. 2 it is said of the queen of Sheba, 'She came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices.' 'So Hazael took forty camels' burden' (2 Kings viii. 9). Their possession was, in consequence, regarded as wealth. Job is said to have had 3,000 camels; and that Arabian clan, the Midianites, are spoken of as being, themselves and their camels, without number (Judges vii. 12). Camels were also made serviceable in war. They dragged the heavy and clumsy armaments of those times. Sometimes also they carried the warriors themselves (1 Sam. xxx. 17)."

THE STEPPING STONES.

A LITTLE girl was sent on an errand one day to a neighbouring village. She was to bring a flower-pot with a plant in it to the doctor's wife. Her path lay through beautiful fields. On her way she had to cross a wide but shallow stream. The bridge was a long way off, but there were firm, tried stepping-stones all the way over.

"Oh, I am afraid!" said the child to a lady who was passing.

"But you see the stones, my child; they go all the way across."

"The water is so wide!" she said tearfully, looking across the stream.

"Yes; but it is very shallow. See how easily I can cross it."

So, carefully picking her way, she went quite over and then returned.

Very timidly the little girl began to cross.

"Just one step at a time is all you have to take," said her kind guide.

So one step followed another — the first few were the hardest to take — and soon she was safe on the other shore, smiling at her fears.

"It was not so hard after all," she said, looking back on the watery way. "Just one step at a time brought us over."

"Remember this walk, dear, when you have other hard things to do. Go forward, and the way will look easier and easier. When troubles come, don't look at the waters before you, but at the stepping-stones Jesus places for your feet. The thing that we fear, very often does not come upon us; or if it does, Jesus sends all needful help and comforts. Here is a strong, firm steppingstone, that has often saved me from sinking —' As thy days, so shall thy strength be.'" There came many times in her after-life when Mary remembered that day's lesson, and it brought cheer and peace to her soul.

CIOME now, my children," said a kind 'mother, "and I will tell you a little story, to help you to understand the lesson of this evening—' Ood with us.'"

Far away in India, a Hindu had two little sons; the elder was nine and the younger seven years old. The cottage they lived in was by the side of a beautiful river, whose clear waters danced over a rocky bed; the banks were covered with tall stately trees and rich wild green underwood. Many a silvery fish swam in the crystal waters, and many a bright bird built its nest among those broad green leaves. Farther up the river, the palace of the great emperor of the country was erected, in the midst of the most beautiful gardens, and surrounded by all that power or money could procure: the emperor was very rich.

The two boys had often been told how great and grand he was—how many soldiers always went before him, how many horses, how many slaves, how much silver and gold he had. They knew, too, he had a little boy, his son, who was to be king, and who had even already a beautiful crown covered with diamonds, and a great many fine clothes covered with gold. These boys had heard their father speak about the emperor and his son, and they thought they would like very much to see them. But the palace was far away, and they were very poor, and they knew that soldiers stood at the gates of the palace to keep out all poor people.

One day, however, as the two brothers had wandered in their play a long way up the river's banks, they saw, over the trees in the distance, a glittering spire. It was one of the palace towers; and the elder

boy, taking his younger brother by the hand, thought he would try and reach it. It was a long road, and when they came near they found only a high wall, stretching round and round the grounds.

They looked in vain for a gate, through which they might see at least some of the beauty within. None could be found. The roots of a large tree, however, had broken down a part of the wall, and opened a small hole through which the boys could creep. They ventured to push through their heads, and were astonished at the wonders they saw;—flowers and trees, fountains and golden cages of birds, on every side. Quietly the boys crept in.

They had just gone on a short distance, when suddenly the sound of trumpets, the beat of drums, and the firing of guns, seemed approaching. They were terrified almost to death; they stood trembling, and then fell down among some long beautiful grass that waved at their feet. The younger boy began to cry bitterly.

The procession came on: it was the emperor and the prince going to their capital city. A band of horsemen rode first, then flags and music, horses and chariots; and the little strangers dared not raise their eyes. However, a black slave riding near heard a sob, and coming up saw the two brothers lying on the ground. He sprang down, seized them, and rudely shook them, when suddenly a voice asked, "What is that?"

"Two young rogues, please your highness," replied the attendant, making a low bow.

The prince stopped; for it was he. He was only a year or two older than the boys, and had a very kind heart. He spoke to 17

them, but the language of the court was unknown to them; and, besides, both were now speechless through fright, and could give no answer. He tried to soothe them: he led the little captives to a summer-house, and laboured to get them to tell their story, but in vain; they only saw his glittering robe, the waving feathers, and the sparkling gems that covered him, and his grandeur •overawed them—they sank on the ground.

At last he sent all his servants away, left the boys, shut the door, and, taking off his princely dress, commanded his attendants to bring him one like what the two poor boys had on. He put it on, and, dressed in plain, coarse clothes, like them, quietly opened the door and went in alone beside them; and stooping down he said, speaking in the language the labourers of the country used, "Come, what are you doing here?"

They looked up surprised: he cheered them, and they wiped their tears; he brought fruit, and they ate together: then they went down to the river and played and bathed in it—gradually their fears vanished. The prince asked them their story; and they, without knowing who he was, told all They thought he was a poor boy like themselves. They told him, too, how often in their cottage they had nothing to eat when their father was ill, and how they would like to go to school. So the day passed away, and the boys were very happy with their new companion.

At last he took hold of a hand of each, and led them through many beautiful walks to another pleasant arbour; and taking them in, they saw all the bright gems, his crown, and fine clothes lying on the floor. The prince put them on, and then, pointing to the palace, he said, "That is my home and my father's house: I am your prince. Now there is the road to your

own cottage. I will send my servant with you, and I will not forget you. When I am in the palace I will send you all you need at home: and if you do what is right, and are good, I will take you at last to live with me in my palace for ever."

The two brothers were very much astonished, but they were very glad too, and went home saying to each other, "The great prince just looked like one of us."

The prince did all he promised—he never forgot them, and took them at last to himself.

"Do you understand, my children 1" said the mother. "That good prince represents Jesus Christ. We were like the two poor children, so sinful, so weak, that we were afraid of God; so God laid his glory aside, and came to earth as a poor child, spoke to us in earth's language, and grew up a poor man, that even when he went back to heaven we might not fear but love him; tell him all our wants, and at last go to his Father's house. That is the reason Christ is called—God with us."

•I LOVE TO HEAR THE STORY."

I LOVE to hear the story
Which angel-voices tell,
How once the King of Glory

Came down on earth to dwell: I am both weak and sinful,

But this I surely know, The Lord came down to save me, Because he loved me so.

To sing his love and mercy

My sweetest songs I'll raise; And, though I cannot see him,

I know he hears my praise: For he has kindly promised

That I shall surely go To sing among his angels,

Because he loves me so.