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'Now here is a frond of fern half curled,

And behind, in the hedge, a nest; There never, there never in all the world Was a place so delightful to rest.

'Here, put your feet on the green, green moss;

Moss is the daintiest cushion made, Where you can just see a sunbeam cross

The stream, through the dusk of the shade.

'And here is the wood-sorrel, dainty too; Like a queen of the woods she wears her pearl:

I would wear pearl like the wood-sorrelwould you?

If I were an empress, you an earl? I would wear splendid crimson trains

As bright as the wild geranium leaf; I would wash my robe in the summer rains, And deck it with gold of Autumn sheaf. I would take the blue forget-me-not,

And twist it for sapphires in my hair; For rubies I would have roses brought, They would be beautiful to wear.

'Ah me! my beautiful little stream! 'Twas surely in this very place you caught The minnow last summer that made you dream

All night, 'twas so large,-'twas a chief you thought.

'Maggie is stemming the burn with her fern; She does not know much in her three small years;

Maggie has plenty of time to learn.
Look at her now, I think she hears
The blackbird that owns the nest in the
hedge.

Did you count its eggs?-I think there were five:

If you come with me softly to the edge
Maybe we'll see if the birds are alive.'
O for the gladnesses of Spring!

All the world is singing a psalm,
That deep to the listeners heart will bring
Praise and glory and beauty and calm.

IT

QUITE TRUE.

H. W. H. W.

T is pleasant to read a story that is quite true. Then you can believe it, and then you can feel really sorry or glad. A few years ago a lady went to Lucknow to teach the Zenana ladies. Lucknow is a large city in the north of India. It is eleven miles long. The houses are much more thickly built together than in our country, so a great many people live there. Very few have ever heard of the name of Jesus, or of our loving heavenly Father. They worship images or pictures of such ugly gods with big heads and twelve arms sticking out. And some of them are very cruel gods; and so they kill their dear little babies, or drown them in the Ganges, to make their god pleased with them. They are always afraid of their gods, and think they will hurt them, and so they try to propitiate them, that means to put away their anger. They know nothing of the love of God our Father, who sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Many Missionaries have gone and told this to the men and the poorest women; but then the ladies and their children never can hear this good news, because they are shut up in their Zenanas, and dare not be seen by any man but their own husbands. Only You ladies can get into these Zenanas. shall hear Miss Hamilton's account of her first visit in Lucknow.

'I had waited in Lucknow for five months before I had an invitation to a Zenana home. Of course you cannot force yourself in. Ze

QUITE TRUE.

nana is a Persian word. "Zen" means "woman," and "na" home, or that part of the house where the ladies and children live. One morning I was sitting down to my breakfast about noon, with the jinmils (venitian blinds) drawn down to keep out the swarms of flies and the dust storms, when suddenly the jinmil was lifted up, and a little ugly old woman appeared. She was a strange figure, with ear-rings and nose-rings and toe-rings, and she began talking to me in three different languages all jumbled together. She talked in Hindi and Indu and Bengali. However, I made out that she was servant in a Zenana home, and came with an invitation for me to go and teach a young lady, and that she had been waiting five years for a teacher to come!

'I told the old woman, that the sun was too hot for me to go then, but if she would come again when the sun went down, I would go with her. You may wonder at my having breakfast so late, but I had been out in the city, since half-past five that morning.

The sun goes down much earlier in India than in this country; and about five o'clock the old servant came for me. We went down some very long streets, and then she opened a door and we went into a court-yard, with a high wall, then we went through two more doors and high walls, and there, standing by a purdah (curtain), stood a young girl, about fifteen years old. She was dressed gracefully with the sari round her, and none of the jewels they generally wear. She did not seem frightened, though it was the first time she had seen a white face-often both women and children would run away from me into the far corners of the room.

'The young lady said, "O Mem Sahib, 1 am so glad you are come; for five years I have been waiting for a teacher." She drew the purdah aside, and led me into an inner room; she had arranged it for her lesson. There was a mat and a charpoy (little bedstead) for me to sit on, and a book her father had given her. Just then I looked to the other side of the room, and there stood her mother; she looked very proud and very, very cross; she was one of the high born ladies, who would feel it quite a disgrace, for_a Christian to come into the same room. By her side stood two dear little girls; she took them with her to be close to the ugly picture of the god. Just then my pupil Thárku's father came in. The Baboo (gentleman) did not look cross at me at all, but said he was

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glad I was come, for he had taught his daughter all he could, but that she was unhappy, and wanted to learn more.

'It was very pleasant to teach my pupil, and to show her Bible pictures, and read to her Bible truths. I asked her if she would like to learn to work. The ladies do nothing all day long! One lady said, "O, I cant learn to work; it is not our custom; I sit here till I am tired, and then I sit over there."

'But Thárku was pleased to learn, and she worked a pair of slippers for her father. During eight months I came to teach her, her mother never spoke to me, but always looked cross. When she saw the slippers finished, she was so astonished! and by and by she let me 'speak to the dear little girls. Then I gave them lessons also; and I do think the love of Jesus is shining in the heart of the eldest.

"There is a great difference now in my pupil's room. The pictures of the ugly gods are taken down, and illuminated texts out of the Bible are there instead. I believe she really believes in the true God, but she has not courage to confess it. Her intense love for her father, and the fear that she would have to leave him if she became a Christian, prevents her being baptised. Thárku is praying most earnestly that her father and her mother may all learn the true way of salvation. And I hope many friends will remember poor Thárku's wish in their prayers.

But

'We tried very much to get some of the younger children to come from their homes to our Mission house for daily lessons. their parents made three conditions: first, the school should be held inside Zenana walls; next, that they should be taught by a Begum or native lady; and last of all, that the children should be carried to and from school in a cage! So we really had to send cages to bring the girls in, and, when in the cage, they were covered over with red cloth, for fear any one should peep at them. Ladies and children in England have no idea of the prison life their Indian sisters lead. The windows in the rooms are too high to let them look out, and very small, and with iron bars. Then, if a Zenana lady has to go any where, she is carried in a palki or box, and, though that is shut on all sides, she must have a scarlet cloth all over her head. So she never sees the streets or the country through which she rides. Once I was teaching my pupils about the river of life and the tree of life

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mentioned in Rev. xxii. One lady said, "What is a river like, Mem Sahib, for we have never seen one, or a tree."

'I told them there was a beautiful river in their own city, and some trees, and would it not be very nice to go and see them? With some difficulty we persuaded the Begum or Mother to give permission. A carriage was sent for, with close jinmils or blinds drawn down. For fear the ladies should be seen, some thick yellow curtains were also drawn. It was a trouble to get the poor ladies in the carriage; the coachman had to be sent away behind a wall till they were seated. Five ladies went, and I rode on horseback by them. When we came to a quiet place by the river, I said, "Now you must look at the river." So they just peeped through the blinds. And one of them said, "O teacher, the river is alive; it is moving! O how lovely the trees are!"

Is it not a prison life! And then there are darker chains on their hearts, for Satan binds every one born in this world. Only the Lord Jesus can undo these chains and set them free, to rejoice in the light of His love. Will you not pray for those teachers who go into these prison houses with the message of His glorious liberty? Do not forget our little sister Daisy; and let us pray that she may be a messenger to her own countrywomen, and teach them the glorious news that is Quite true.' Bewdly.

MARIA V. G. HAVERGAL.

THE CHILDREN'S SERVICE.

FAMILY WORSHIP.

The aim of this Series is to encourage the practice of Family Worship, and make its introduction easy in every household. The whole Series will contain services for a week. The service for each day includes praise, Scripture portion, and prayer. Where the first part cannot be sung, it can be read. The reading or delivery of any part should be slow and distinct, that all may hear, and that there may be time for thought. The whole service is so brief that even the busiest will be able to find time for it. If there is a time each day (such as a morning or evening meal) when all the members of the family are together, that time should, if possible, be selected. If not, the service can be used at different times by different portions of the family, or by individual members of it. Wherever it is possible the

children should take the different parts, and these are so brief that they can soon be committed to memory. The children will thus be early trained in this most important habit; and in proportion to the sincerity with which all join, the whole family will be benefited and blessedWhen thought desirable, a prayer for the various members of the family can be prepared in each house.. hold to suit its own circumstances, and introduced at the close of each prayer in the Series. Where there is singing, a hymn can (when time permits) be introduced after the prayer to close the service. These exercises will be found equally serviceable for Sabbath Schools. and classes. At the Children's Service in Gourock they (or others like them) are regularly introduced now as part of the service; sometimes one and sometimes three scholars standing on the platform, and leading in the different parts.

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The Scripture Portion.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt. v. 3-10.)

The Prayer.

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.

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'It is a very beautiful one. all love to tell the Old, Old Story, of Jesus and His love. Do you know why?'

'Because it is the best story ever was told.'

'Because it is the story that saves sinners,' Charley added.

'It is the best story; and Christ's people love to tell it, because it has saved them, and they wish it to save others. What command did Jesus give His disciples before He ascended to heaven?'

'He said unto them, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every

creature."

'What is the gospel? Willie.'

'It is the good tidings of great joy that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.'

'Yes; the story of Jesus and His love is the gospel; and to preach the gospel is just to tell that story-to proclaim

"That wonderful redemption,
God's remedy for sin."

'Jesus saves every one who comes to Him; but those who never heard of Jesus cannot believe on Him. Those who listen to the gospel, and believe in Jesus, are saved. The story of the cross is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. You have learned the answer to the question, How is the word made effectual to salvation? Repeat it, Nelly.'

The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto salvation.'

'Jesus Christ Himself preached many times at Jerusalem; but His sad complaint was, "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." Instead of believing in

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Jesus, the Jews hated Him, and delivered Him to Pilate.'

"They cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him, crucify Him!"'

'On the day of Pentecost Peter preached to the same Jews, and three thousand were converted. Why was this?'

'Because the Holy Spirit had come.'

'That is the reason. Peter told the story of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit made his preaching an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners. The Word and the Spirit are both needed to bring sinners to the Saviour. Read what Jesus says in John vi. 63.'

"It is the Spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

เ The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit; but it is a quickening, a life-giving sword. It gives life to the sinner, by killing the hatred and unbelief in his heart. One day a man filled his pockets with stones, and joined the crowds who had assembled to hear John Wesley preach the gospel. Before throwing the stones at the preacher, he thought he would listen a few minutes to hear what he had got to say. He did so, and the words he heard pierced his soul, and turned him to God. His enmity was slain by the sword of the Spirit. At the close of the service, the man came to Mr Wesley in deep anxiety, saying, "I came to break your head, but you have broken my heart." "The Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword."

'I read about a lady who went to one of Mr Moody's meetings just to mock and laugh at him. When she went in, Mr Sankey was singing "Almost persuaded." She could not forget the words, "Almost, but lost." Night and day she thought she heard "that" sad, sad, bitter wail, "Almost, but lost"; and she got no rest till she came to Jesus.

'That lady afterwards came and told her friends that she had been, not almost, but altogether, persuaded to be a Christian.

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JESUS LOVES MY CHILDREN.

When the Spirit converts a sinner, it is always by means of some portion of Scripture. Many a sinner has been drawn to Jesus by His own blessed words, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." And what does the Word of God do for the sinner after he is converted?'

'The answer says, building them up in holiness and comfort, &c.'

Those who have come to Jesus need to be built up, made strong in the Lord. Their life-work is to become like Jesus, and we can only learn of Him by studying His example in His Word. Read Col. ii. 6, 7.'

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him; rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.'

'The Word of God is not only the sword which pierces the heart of sinners, but also the food which nourishes and strengthens the new-born soul. "As new

born babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby." The work of the Christian ministry is rightly to Idivide the Word of truth. You know what Paul wrote to Timothy about the Scriptures?'

'I know, mamma,' said little Alice. 'He wrote, "From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation, through faith which is in Christ Jesus.""

'Yes. Timothy had been taught the holy Scriptures by his mother and his grandmother when he was a little boy; and, when he was a preacher of the gospel, Paul wrote, exhorting him to continue to study the Scriptures, that he might be a good minister of Jesus Christ.'

Some ministers do not preach what the Bible tells us, mamma,' said Charley.

'No, my dear. Christ Jesus Himself told us that false teachers would come, and that we may beware of such, we must diligently compare the instructions we hear with the Word of God. You remember

what the Jews of Berea were commended for doing. Acts xvii. 11.'

I have found the place, mamma,' and Nelly read, "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so."

'These Bereans listened to the preaching of Paul and Silas, and compared what they heard with the Scriptures, "Therefore many of them believed." The Holy Spirit blessed both the reading and the preaching of the Word to their conversion. And He does the same now.

"The Spirit breathes upon the word,
And brings the truth to sight;
Precepts and promises afford

A sanctifying light.

"A glory gilds the sacred page,
Majestic, like the sun;

It gives a light to every age,
It gives, but borrows none."

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JESUS LOVES MY CHILDREN.

YES, Jesus loves my children;

How sweet that thought to me! His love is even stronger

Than mine to them can be.

Yes, Jesus loves my children;

He loved them long ago,
And He Himself became a child,
The children's wants to know.
Yes, Jesus loved the children;

When others would have tried
To drive them from His presenco
He called them to His side.

And Jesus bless'd the children;

He bless'd them every one,
And said, 'Of such the kingdom,
Forbid them not to come."
Yes, Jesus loved the children;

He suffered and He died
That to earth's little weary ones
Heaven's gate might open wide.
I'll fear not for my children

Since Jesus loves them so;
He'll watch and guide each tiny step
Their little feet must go.

A. A.

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