satisfaction by her industry and good temper. You may conceive what was Mrs. Bowman's distress when one day Mary was sent home, without any warning, under the charge of having committed a theft. The poor girl was almost heartbroken, and could hardly give a connected account of what had happened: it appeared, however, that a valuable brooch had been taken from the toilet-table of one of the young ladies, and that Mary, who had gone into the room to make the bed, was the only person who had entered it from the time of its being quitted by the young lady up to the discovery of the loss. Both John and his wife who were Christian people, and bore an excellent character knew their child too well to suspect her of the theft, and they had been together to the squire's in the hope of setting matters right, and getting justice done to their child. Circumstances, however, were against her. Mrs. Hawkins and the young ladies did not say a single harsh or unkind word; but the loss of the brooch could only be explained on the supposition that Mary had taken it, and they had, therefore, felt bound to send her away.

It was about eight o'clock on a July evening. The last train for the night had started for the county town, when John Bowman, putting on his fustian jacket, and drawing his cap over his brows, set off for his cottage home. It was not with his usual lightness of heart that he plodded along the green lanes that led to his house, for it was not the customary group of cheerful faces that he was going to meet, but the downcast looks of his sorrowing daughter, and the indignant ones of her brothers and sisters, who felt that she had been falsely suspected. John had not

walked a couple of furlongs when he sat down upon a bank, and drew from bis pocket his well-worn Bible. Resting his elbows on his knees, he turned over the well-thumbed leaves until he found the chapter he wanted, and then read it silently. What he read I don't know; but the sad expression passed away from his face like a cloud shadow from a sunny landscape, and shutting the book with a cheerful smile, be arose to pursue his way.

It was growing dark; but as he was in the act of rising, his eye caught the glitter of something that lay half buried in a deep wheel-rut. He took it up, and saw that the glittering substance was the steel clasp of a large pocketbook: on opening it he found it not only heavy with gold, but stuffed with Bank of England notes to the value of over £200. John buttoned up the book safely in his pocket, and

made the best of his way back to the station, where the station-master was alone, waiting for the mail train. Together they examined the pocket-book, and counted over the money; then in one of the tucks they found a receipt for income-tax, which gave them the address of the owner. Without losing a moment the stationmaster telegraphed the news of the finding of the pocket-book to the address on the tax-paper, requesting an immediate reply. The reply, which came within an hour, was to the effect that Mr. Wilkins, the owner of the treasure, was absent on a journey; but that the information would be sent to him. So the pocket-book was packed in paper, sealed, and locked up for the present

Three days passed away without any further news of Mr. Wilkins; but on the afternoon of the fourth a middle-aged gentleman alighted from a first-class carriage, and at once requested to see the station-master. He was shown into the office, and the next moment there was a shouting for John Bowman; and John was shown in after him. In John's presence the pocket-book was produced, the seals broken, and the contents being found untouched, the whole was restored to the owner.

"And now, my honest fellow," said Mr. Wilkins, "what am I to do for you? You might have taken all this money, and yet you have not touched a coin. Come, how much will you have? Shall I give you the gold? I can afford it."

"No, sir," said John; "it might do me no

good; and I do not want to be rewarded for what ought not to be considered extraordinary."

"You take very high ground, my man," said the gentleman; "but suppose I don't choose to accept your service for nothing, what then? If you won't have money, you must just choose something else."

Then it flashed into John's mind that he would tell this strange gentleman his trouble, and perhaps he might help him. So at once, without hesitation, in a plain and simple manner, he told the story of his daughter's disgrace and dismissal from service, and of all the misery which had been caused in his humble home; and he ended by saying, that though he

could not receive money

for being honest, he would be grateful all his life if the gentleman would see justice done to bis daugh

ter.

"Make your mind easy,' said Mr. Wilkins, "I'll not quit the neighbourhood, you may be sure, till the truth

is known with regard to the theft. In the meanwhile

you keep silence, and leave everything to me."

Mr. Wilkins immediately called on Squire Hawkins,

and after a long consultation with him, all neces sary steps were taken.

It was agreed to call in the police. Two detectives were sent for, and were not long in coming, to search the rooms and boxes of all the servants. There was quite a hueand-cry, and an uproar of indignation on the part of some of them, and especially of the cook; but the result was that the missing brooch was found in cook's chamber, and the wretched woman, in her terror, confessed the theft.

There was quite a jubilee in Bowman's cottage that night. All the gloom that had gathered over the family

was scattered at once, and their joy knew no bounds. When John came in, he gathered them all around him, and seating himself in the midst, took out his Bible. His heart was full as he read solemnly a psalm of praise to the God of Israel for his mercies and deliverance. Then he sank on his knees, and as they all knelt around him, gave utterance to their united gratitude and trust in God who had not forgotten them in their trouble, but had caused their uprightness to appear before

men.

Mary went back to her situation next day. Nor was that the only return the Bowmans reaped from their father's integrity. warehouse of Wilkins and Son, general merchants, there are now three lads, all in a fair way to rise, and all three sons of John Bowman the railway porter.

"Well, I should think it time for some of us to be getting religious."

"If feel that way, suppose you we have a prayer-meeting in your house," said the man, who had no other idea in his mind than to turn prayer and prayer-meetings into ridicule.

"Yes, we will have a prayermeeting, we will have a prayermeeting," chimed in many voices.

And a prayer- meeting was agreed upon, and the time was fixed. They got a man to lead the meeting-the only man living in the neighbourhood who had ever been a professor of religion. He was a notorious backslider, and of course answered their purpose all the better for that.

The time came for meeting, and all assembled. The backslider undertook to lead the meeting, but broke down in his prayer, and could not go on. They tried to sing but could not. They determined, however, not to give up. They appointed another prayermeeting on the next Sunday, at five o'clock in the evening. They sent to a Christian man, living three miles off, saying, "that there was to be a prayer-meeting at Hell-Corner on next Sabbath afternoon, and that they wanted him to come down and conduct it." The

good man was afraid to go. He thought it was either a hoax or a

"Go by all means, and I will go with you," said the neighbour. So on the next Sunday afternoon they went to the prayermeeting at Hell-Corner. All were assembled, apparently prepared to give solemn attention to the service.

The good man who had thus come to conduct the meeting, had not been there many minutes before he felt, to use his own words, that the Spirit of the Lord was there. Four or five of the wretched, hardened men who had come to mock were convinced of their sin. Another meeting was held. "These prayer-meetings are continued," said the good man, in relating the circumstances, "and many of those who were convicted of sin have since become praying men and women."

This remarkable case is a great proof of the forbearance, mercy, and love of God. Did he thus deal with people so far sunk in sin and enmity to him? Then let none say, let none say, "I am too bad for Rather take

God to pardon me." courage from it and say, "I, too, vile as I am, may be pardoned;" and cry to God, "Lord, have mercy upon me a sinner"; and trust in that word of grace, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

THE NUGGET OF GOLD.

IN the Great Exhibition this year was a statue representing "Aus

tralia:" it is a female figure, with her left arm raised high above her head, and in the hand is a nugget of gold. As I looked upon it, I thought of the time when the news first came to England that gold was discovered in Australia. What a sensation it created! Thousands of people left friends, country, and quiet and quiet occupations, to rush across the vast ocean, and scramble for the treasure of that distant land.

The whole face of the country was quickly changed by the multitudes; railroads were made, towns were built; and land which had never been disturbed, was dug up and searched, and sifted, and ground, and washed, by hands that had never handled a spade before. I remember reading a letter from a gentleman, which said that he had dug so eagerly, and so long, that the skin of his hands came off upon the shovel!

Let us for a moment compare this labour and thirst for gold, which at best can only be enjoyed in this short life, with the cold and listless desires of men after the riches that never perish--the neverfading, everlasting treasures of heaven which Jesus died to purchase for a sinful world. How great is the contrast between the thirst for gold and the thirst for God. In vain the Holy Spirit tells us, thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God" (Prov. ii, 3-5).

"If

"How much better is it to get wisdom than gold”! (Prov. xvi. 16).

have wished it not to go. Hear now this parable :--

"There was a good shepherd, and in bis sheepfold he had pleasant food prepared for his sheep; he put the door of the fold wide open, but the sheep would not go in; he waited long; then tried to drive them in; but they turned back from the open door: he then took a lamb from the flock, and carried it in; and behold! the old ones followed in after.

"The good shepherd is Christ; the open sheepfold, heaven; the lamb, your child.

"Because you, parents, will not go in, the Lord takes the lamb first, so that you may follow after."*

THE OLD GIRAFFE AND HER
DAUGHTER.

MOTHER," said a young giraffe," I hope

my legs won't grow like yours." "Why not, my child ?"

"Because yours are too long: they are awkard."

"Who said so?" asked the mother, as she quietly cropped the topmost shoots of an acacia.

"The hunters, mother. I heard them the day I was hiding from them, and you were flying over the plain. They said your skin was more beautiful than the leopard's; they praised your large, bright, soft eyes; they spoke of your graceful neck; they said you would be perfect if it were not for your long legs."

"If you live to have legs as long as mine, and the hunters give you cause to make use of them," said the sage parent, "you will know which to value most, those charms which entice enemies to ruin you, or those means which have

GARDEN VEGETABLES.

CABBAGES.

HERE are few vegetables more useful to the

THERE

"cottager" than early cabbages. Of cabbages there are a great variety; and almost every place has its favourites. They may be divided into three classes, viz., Spring, Summer, and Cattle cabbages.

For Spring use, the seed should be sown the last week in July or first in August; and when sufficiently grown, the plants should be put in rows two feet apart and eighteen inches from each other. Some persons who are fond of open-headed cabbages, called in London Colewarts, are in the habit of planting young cabbages in rows a foot apart, and nine inches from plant to plant. During the winter they pull every other row, and every other plant out of the remaining row. Before the frost comes on, the rows should be banked up like potatoes, by which they will be protected from the weather, and also nourished during the winter. For Spring use Sutton's Champion is a valuable cabbage; and Sprotsbro' certainly is second to none for early growth and good flavour. Wheeler's Imperial I have found a useful cabbage, though it is not so early.

Drumhead, or Cattle cabbages, are generally sown about the same time as Spring cabbages, and transplanted into beds, in rows nine inches apart, and nine inches from plant to plant, where they are allowed to stand during the winter. It is a common practice in some parts, to plant them between the potato rows, between every other ridge, and six feet apart. In this way a great weight of food is grown by cottagers, who use these cabbages chiefly for their cows and pigs.

As to cabbages for Summer and Autumn, a quarter of an ounce of Wheeler's Imperial, Sutton's Champion, Sprotsbro', or any other early cabbage, sown in March and May, will furnish a large garden with plants. The earliest sown will serve to transplant into the early potato rows, and the latter into the other potato rows or spare plots of ground as they become vacant. A cottager should never allow any portion of his garden to lie uncropped. His spare cabbages or potatoes are always good to sell, if near a market.

Red cabbages are sown in August; pricked into beds, and transplanted where they are to stand, in the following Spring. A white cabbage, when pickled, is equally as good as a red one.

From the German.