Aunt Mary laughed. "When we've been in the wrong," she said, "the best way is to own it frankly. That puts us back into the right better than anything else can. Don't be afraid of Lizzie. I dare say she'll ask you to forgive her for having to forgive you. It's a way we poor women have! And you will forgive her for it, won't you? It's not an unpardonable sin! Ah, my dear boy, never shrink from unsaying a hard word. There comes a time when it is too late to do

so when its poison has spread through the whole soul, and household love lies slain."

"O don't, please, auntie," cried the lad. "I'm off this moment to look up sis."

"That's right," said the old lady; "and don't forget that you've got to help little sis to keep the whole house, and, above all, your own souls and your love for each other, as you would like them to be, if your spiritual vision was opened, and you saw your mother standing in your midst."

MUSICAL MISSIONS. ANY of us have no doubt remarked, as we pass through the London streets and alleys, the fondness of the poor children for music. We have ourselves attended concerts and meetings for the benefit, and we believe the amusement, of old and young in poverty-stricken neighbourhoods. The mission we have now to speak of was held in the north of London; the previous one was in the south. It is curious that the weather on these occasions should intensify the contrast between the warm and lighted room and the wet and windy street. It generally is so, and this is an inducement to the poor to enter, to hear, and to be taught. To this northern mission children had gathered in goodly number, not very young children, but girls, poor hard-working maidens, come for a treat." They certainly enjoyed themselves. Under the guidance of a lady and a Bible-reader, the girls united in singing hymns, and it is by cultivating the taste for music amongst these little maids-of-allwork that the lady referred to seeks to save them, and to improve both mental and bodily health. Some can understand a little music, and the theory of the kind instructress is simple but very practical. She knows music and singing constitute a common ground on which rich and poor may meet without fear or favour, and so during the winter these meetings have gone on and prospered. Some come to learn in the evenings, some in the daytime. "The songs they like best are gay and simple tunes," and the kind missionary says she often hears in courts and alleys the children's voices singing their favourite tunes. So far this musical mission has proved itself a success; so much so that more space is required. A bandmaster was lately engaged, and many boys would gladly remain at night away from contaminating influences if room were only available. We understand that particulars may be obtained at 19, Compton Terrace, N., if any of our readers desire to assist Mrs. Hughes in her beneficent work.

for healing?" "Yes, certainly I would," was his confident reply; and though, being of a cautious temperament, he wished to think over the fact that Jesus can equally heal now, there was eventually every reason to believe that when he finally quitted the hospital his cure had impressed him, and that he recognised the power of Him who is mighty to

save.

A GLIMPSE OF A GOOD WORK.

Of the multitudes who pass annually up the hill to Wimbledon Common to enjoy the refreshing sights and sounds of the open heath, few, we venture to say, bestow a thought upon the Home so near them, at Melrose Hall. Within the walls of this Institution are many who never get more than a glimpse of the outer world, who pass their lives in hopeless retirement. The incurable diseases with which it has pleased Providence to afflict them are borne with a patience and long-suffering resignation which are very touching. It were well with some of us in the full enjoyment of earthly blessings if we could emulate the patience of these poor afflicted ones. And yet the prevailing aspect of all is cheerfulness. A visitor is welcomed, and when the kind and charitable ladies come in and sing to them or play for their entertainment we can fancy how pleased they are--for it is as a remembrance of happier days, and breaks the monotony of their lives. How many who pass and who can play and sing, and who perhaps do so for their living, would pay a visit to the Home and entertain for one half hour the appreciative audience which they would command? What a pleasure it is to noble natures to bestow a gift or to share the possession of something with a poorer neighbour. Here is an opportunity! Silver and gold are not wanted so much as human sympathy. A few songs, a little music, are all that is required; a very small use of the talents so bountifully bestowed by Providence will make two hundred people happy. Is it not worth a short journey to Putney for this? Will any who read this do so, and tell us their experience?

THE TRIUMPH OF A TEXT.

Amongst the various reports of Societies sent to us we notice in one a very interesting case which again, if proof were needed, tends to prove the way in which God opens the eyes of the spiritually blind. At a hospital in the outskirts of London, we read,.was a man who was handed a text by a mission visitor. He took it carelessly, and remarked, “Well, if I'm lost, I must be lost;" he couldn't help it, and this indifference for a time continued. After a few visits, however, his attention was fixed by a text (Matt. viii. 3, 4) concerning the leper. This led to the question being put to him, the patient, still suffering, "If the Lord were now on earth, would you not go to Him

LITTLE BOYS IN KENT.

Seventeen years ago a party of charitable ladies and gentlemen met at Tottenham to found a Home for little boys. Since that time some hundreds of little ones have been rescued, and sent forth to fight life's battle with success. To-day in many lands, in many homes of their own, these former waifs and strays are living in grace and in Christian charity. At Farningham the good work is still carried on. Month by month the homeless are rescued, cared for, taught, and sent out into the world; while the annual meetings of the Old Boys testify to their gratitude and to the interest they still take in their former Home. There are some things wanting in this Little

Boys' Home; wants easily supplied if the public would look to it. Games will wear out, and good books will tear. A few sets of chess or of draughts would be a real addition to the play-room. We are gratified to learn that from time to time domestic servants send their vails thither, and the gift is, as it should be, very highly prized when it appears. Shall we be less appreciative? Some of us have little boys of our own; shall we not try to make the homeless ones happy too? We do not fear for the reply.

THE HORRORS OF OPIUM-TRADING. Few people in England are aware of the effects of opium. Unfortunately we are too well acquainted with the effects of strong drink, and we do all in our power to stop the great consumption of intoxicating liquors. But while thus looking at home we are unconsciously permitting a great and crying evil to exist abroad. Opium is far more terrible in its effects than is any other intoxicant (we use the term in its original sense-a poison), and yet we who are willing to send out missionaries to convert the Chinese, put a terrible poison to their lips. This act alone has been a great hindrance to the spread of Christianity in the Empire. The Bishop of Victoria (Hongkong) testifies to the fact. Frequently he has been preaching and has been stopped by the question, "Are you an Englishman? Is not that the country opium comes from? Go back and stop it, and then we will talk about Christianity!" Other instances might be quoted of the evils wrought by the extensive sale of opium, but we can readily understand how the Chinese regard its introduction; and shall we, a Christian nation, put a stop to the teaching of the Gospel, and to the spread of Christianity for "a mess of pottage," at the expense of many immortal souls? There can be no doubt of the great evil wrought directly and indirectly by the too unguarded sale of opium. We can all do a little to help and endeavour to redress a crying evil, and we should bestir ourselves at once.

IS IT TRUE?

Is it true, we ask in the name of humanity, that the Canal Boats' Act, for which we are indebted to Mr. George Smith, is to a great extent a dead letter? Is it true that the inspections are not carried out in a proper manner, and that the growing indifference of those who have this important duty is tending to this result? If so, though we cannot imagine that such should be the case, it is a scandal upon our civilisation. No one can note the state in which the canal population lives without feeling certain that Mr. Smith's Act was humane and beneficial. Would it not be possible to have Mr. Smith himself to superintend the working of his Act? and perhaps some member of the House of Commons may be found to recognise the claims of the poor canal population during the recess, and when the agitation about the Irish malcontents has

in a measure subsided. We commend this suggestion to our readers who are interested in the spiritual well-being of the floating population whose welfare we seek.

FLOWERS AND TEXTS.

On Sunday last we were visiting a lady, herself an invalid, who employed much of her time in writing texts for her sister to arrange and place with the little bouquets she made up for the hospitals. We told her how interested we were about these flower missions, and some very encouraging reports of cases have reached us. Instances of real conversion, in which sceptical men have been induced to think about God, and subsequently to attend a meeting, could be related. One apparently hopeless case is mentioned, where the man, after reading the text, and gazing at the flowers that brightened up the room, said to his wife-" They seem the right sort of people at that place; why don't you go to the meeting?" She went; and he now attends with her, joyful in his new-found hope of everlasting life.

WORK IN THE PUBLIC-HOUSES.

Six years ago a young tract distributor conceived the idea that public-houses should not be passed by. Was it any use to enter such places? Yes, he thought; there the sinner will be found. He at once acted upon the idea, and in defiance of all insult and remark, carried it out faithfully. From this begin. ning a very useful Society, called the "Society for Propagating the Gospel in Public-houses," has been established. The result is encouraging. Instead of insulting the visitor, the people ask for tracts. Audiences in the tap-rooms listen attentively to the Scripture readers, and cards condemnatory of the use of bad language are hung up, and studied by those using the rooms. In some instances most unexpected help has arisen. For instance, on one occasion when admission had been refused, the visitors made a second attempt, and were again repulsed, but to the surprise of the callers, a man who was drinking a glass of beer told the publican that if he would not permit the gentlemen to distribute their tracts he and his mates would have no more beer there. This settled the question, and the way was opened. This good work is not confined to London; all over the country the missionaries go and "preach the Gospel to every creature." The work is, no doubt, arduous, and the difficulties to be met with are great and numerous, but it is all the more to the credit of the earnest men who have undertaken to execute such a work that they have, in the true apostolic spirit, performed it in the face of so many dangers and difficulties. Such workers as these deserve all the encouragement we can give them, and any one who will communicate with the Secretary, Mr. R. T. Smith, 3, Grosvenor Terrace, Upham Park Road, Turnham Green, London, will be told in what form their assistance is most needed,

A BRAVE RESCUE.

We have already mentioned the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Public-houses, and since writing that paragraph we have seen a case reported which illustrates in a forcible manner the necessity of such an organisation. A gentleman passing a public-house saw two women fighting, and in defiance of the taunts of the bystanders and some friendly warnings he separated these viragos and raised one of the poor creatures, whose face was streaming with blood-a sorry sight in a Christian metropolis. Upbraiding the publican for his cool indifference to the consequences which his dealings had led to, this true Samaritan led the poor woman away. She then told him that at one time she had been a diligent Sunday-school attendant, but drink had been her ruin. He handed her to the care of a trustworthy woman, and after a few days he visited, fed, and prayed with the women. Nor did his practical philanthropy stop here. He induced the recovered woman to seek her missing child, and she was also rescued from a life of sin. At length he obtained admission to Homes for both mother and daughter, who are now we believe doing well. Such diligence and energy in a holy cause thus displayed by that good man deserves record in this register of good deeds.

THE CHURCHES IN NEW YORK.

A very interesting and welcome return has been compiled by the Secretary of City Missions in New York, the contents of which are really instructive. He divides the city into wards, and subsequently summarises the whole, which summary is worth attention. There are 489 chapels, churches, and missions of all denominations, accommodating 375,000 people. Of these 396 are Protestant, with sittings for 275,000 persons. But there is not sufficient room provided even then, for we learn that a deficiency exists to the amount of 125,000 sittings, of which 25,000 are required for our Protestant brethren. The regularly incorporated Protestant churches number 278, and the total of communicants is 80,000, representing a population of between 300,000 and 400,000 Protestants. The average attendance in these churches is 150,000, the total of church-goers being reckoned at 250,000.

day, her fingers are generally busy in winter-time, employed in the preparation of stuffed birds, and in summer-time on her couch, amongst the bee-hives. Her whole heart is in missionary and such work. She trims hats, and sells them; she arranges birds with great taste, mounting them in groups and pairs, in miniature groves and on twigs and branches, in life-like attitudes. The specimens thus set up are described by an eye-witness as very pretty and effective. They sell readily, and the money thus realised is sent to the various charities or missions. Here is an opening for kind hands and loving hearts -a door through which even the sad and suffering may enter and do good, though they may now fancy themselves shut out from a life of usefulness in the world.

AN OLD PERSIAN FABLE.

There still lives in Persia a name almost more renowned amongst the people of that land than the name of Shakespeare in our own. From the Shah on his throne down to the humblest Durwesh by the roadside, the name of Sheikh Saadi of Sheeraz has now, for nearly seven hundred years, been in the mouths of all. He has been their chief monitor and instructor; indeed, it is not too much to say that the extraordinary popularity of his chief work, entitled the "Gulistan," or "Rose Garden," has gone far to maintain, in Persia, whatever of honesty and morality and humanity that, amidst the much that has been barbarous and debasing, has there been still found to exist.

It is a collection of poetry, prose, proverbs, fables, and apologues, so full of point and humour as to constitute one of the richest mosaics of Persian literary art and skill.

The author, not troubled, as Asiatics seldom are, with any excess of modesty, thus predicts the popularity and permanency of his book. Comparing it with the rose garden of the horticulturist, he declares, "I present here not only a garden of roses which will delight the beholder, but which will be impervious to the tyranny of autumnal blasts; for if a rose will continue in bloom for five or six days, see here a rose-bed which shall endure for ever."

Dividing his subjects into chapters, on the one on the benefits of good society he illustrates his subject by the apologue of "The Rose and Clay." This has been happily turned into English verse, with a very profitable improvement, by the late Archdeacon Hone.

We now present it, both the fable and the Christian moral, to our readers.

I.

A Persian fable says, One day
A wanderer found a lump of clay
So redolent of sweet perfume
Its odour scented all the room.

127. In what way may Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple be looked upon as an universal prayer?

128. Where was the Tabernacle of Moses placed during the life of David?

129. What altar was placed before the Tabernacle? 130. Who is the first Assyrian king mentioned in the Bible?

131. How many fables are recorded in the Bible? 132. Quote a passage which shows the state of thorough subjection to which Hazael king of Syria reduced Israel.

133. What queen put to death a large number of her grand-children?

134. What distinguished foreigner was a friend of Jehu king of Israel?

135. What gate of the Temple is mentioned in the Book of Kings which is not named elsewhere in the Bible?

136. What mention is made of Jonah the prophet, in the book of Kings?

137. What high priest made an altar to idols and placed it in the Temple?

138. In what way did Solomon know that God had accepted the Temple as His habitation?

139. How many of the Jews were employed as labourers in the building of the first Temple?

140. Who arranged the musical portion of the service of the Temple?

141. In what words does St. Paul warn people against excitement in religious services?

142. What people were brought to the knowledge of the truth of Christianity by the godly lives of the people of Thessalonica ?

143. How do we know that a special dress was used in the worship of Baal?

144. In what words does St. Paul enforce the duty of contentment?

145. What great act of dishonesty is recorded against the priests in the reign of Jehoash king of Judah ?

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON PAGE 576. 112. He caused an iron axe-head to swim (2 Kings vi. 6).

113. In My Father's house are many mansions; il it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" (John xiv. 2).

114. Shishak, king of Egypt during the reign of Rehoboam (1 Kings xiv. 25, 26).

115. The city of Jezreel--the heads of the seventy sons of Ahab (2 Kings x. 8).

116. Millo or "the house of Millo" was built by king Solomon, and Jehoash king of Judah was slain there by his servants (1 Kings ix. 24, and 2 Kings xii. 20).

117. The fortress of Selah or Petra, the capital of the kingdom (2 Kings xiv. 7).

118. Shallum, who slew the last king of the descendants of Jehu (2 Kings xv. 13).

119. Halah and Habor, by the river of Gozan (2 Kings xvii. 6).

120. A brazen platform was erected by Solomon at the opening of the Temple (2 Chron. vi. 13).

121. Amaziah king of Judah (2 Chron. xxv. 16). 122. He says, "If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle (1 Cor. xiv. 8)?

123. St. Paul, when he says, "And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light" (2 Cor. xi. 14).

124. "Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving" (1 Tim. iv. 4).

125. "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me in that day; and not to me only, but unto all them who love His appearing " (2 Tim. iv. 8.

126. "They have shut up the doors of the porch (of the Temple) and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense, nor offered burnt offerings in the Holy place unto the God of Israel" (2 Chron. xxix. 7).