stepped forward his foot knocked against something; he looked down and saw at his feet a bundle of dirty looking rags; he picked it up and found a living though almost unconscious child.

666 Take it in, take it in,' he exclaimed, and I will see if the mother is anywhere near.'

"For a long time they searched, but the wind had obliterated every trace of her footsteps, and they gave up in despair, hoping whoever had left the child had secured some sheltering place for the night. The baby seemed to be a fine healthy looking little fellow about a year old. I do not know whether he thought of his poor mother, or wondered why she had forsaken him; but food and warm clothing soon revived him, and he must soon have forgotten the perishing mother, whose weary feet and numb hands had brought and placed him under that kind roof.

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'Bright and early next morning the children were busy and delighted over their stockings; for Santa Claus had forgotten none, and all seemed to have what they most wanted. When they were at breakfast the kind old gentleman came in holding something very carefully in his arms. The baby did not look like a bundle of rags then, but laughed and crowed as happy as a prince.

"The children all crowded around admiring and wondering. Just then a servant came in. Sir,' she said, in a frightened way, a poor beggar woman has just been found frozen dead, under the front porch.'

"Yes, there she was, stiff and cold, as she had crawled out of the way the night before, with her poverty and misery, her only companions. Perhaps, she saw the light and heard the voices searching for her, and could not make herself known, or would rather die there, with her head resting against the cold stones of the porch, the drifting snow serving beneath and above for a bed-covering and shroud— she could not have had a colder one, nor a whiter and purer.

"The noble-hearted old gentleman brought the babe again in his arms in the evening, and said,

"If I cannot find this boy's father, he shall be my son'he looked at his wife- and there will be another little Walter in our home.'

"The tears came in her eyes, but she went and stood by her husband, kissed the baby, and said, while her voice trembled, 666 "Yes, another little Walter.'

"Kiss me, good night, my dears," said grandfather, wiping his own eyes, "and ask your mother to-morrow, why I call this day my birthday-and then you will learn why this story I have told you is a better and a truer one to me than anything I could have told you about Christmas trees, Santa Claus, little Gretchens with yellow hair, or even of the cows who they say this night grow thankful and reverential, as we all should, and bend their knees as the clock strikes twelve." Reader, remember the poor; this will help them and ensure both them and you a Happy Christmas.

"ONE SHALL BE TAKEN AND THE OTHER LEFT." HE history of our Miles Street School presents many a fulfilment of this principle of God's government amongst the young. It has been felt in all its terrible force, when receiving the narration of the facts attendant on the death of one of our youths, and the saving of another from the same fate, a few days aince.

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, a party left the railway station at Vauxhall for Kew, full of health and spirits, and with little thought but of personal enjoyment. The teacher of the elder lads had made up a party from his class, with his wife and several other friends, and it was intended to spend the time pleasantly, take tea together, and return again.

"ONE SHALL BE TAKEN AND THE OTHER LEFT." 317

After they had been upon the green for a little time, it was proposed to go upon the water, and three boats were procured, into which the party entered, and proceeded up the river. The youths spoke of bathing in the Thames, but the teacher warned them of their danger; by three, however, he was unheeded; they left the boats and landed upon a small island, where they left their clothes and started to swim across the river. They did it once, but with great effort, for the current was running strong at the time. On returning, they were carried down the river; one was caught in some mud, and found he could not swim. He called for help, and another tried to get towards him but failed. Amos, finding that he could not float, threw himself under the water facing the shore, and on grasping the gravel beach with his hands, drew himself inwards, when starting up, he found himself so far out of the water, as to get safely to the beach quite exhausted. The second youth, happily, was able to save himself; but the third, John, the leader and the most active of the party, failed to breast the tide; calling for help, which no one was at hand to give, he sank, and when an hour after his body was found, life was gone. It was thought that he had been seized by cramp. It was a sad scene for the party and the teacher, who had to hasten home to let his sorrowing parents know the fate of their son. It was a sad blow to the Christian man and his family, who could only say, "It is the hand of Providence that has struck the blow." In the school on the Sabbath, the awful event of the Saturday was improved by addresses to the scholars.

It was a source of great comfort to us, that while a teacher's son was taken from us, and the most promising youth among us removed, there was hope in his death. During a revival among our youth, he had taken his stand on the Lord's side, and though for a time the temptations around him had led him to neglect the house of God, yet again had he set out afresh to serve the Lord. On the last Sabbath he was at the school and the service, and on the Thursday evening at his

class, when he prayed earnestly. His teacher's testimony was encouraging; he declared that he thought that God in His providence had taken away the youth that was the most ready to meet Him, and he had no doubt that he was now in heaven.

The scene at the school on the Sabbath was a sorrowful one; numbers of our young people were in tears, and many of them inquiring their way to the better land. The awful lesson of life's uncertainty was taught the scholars, and some have resolved to give their hearts to God. It is hoped that the death of one so promising will be the life of many.

On other occasions, the same principle has been illustrated, "The one shall be taken and the other left." Some years since, a girl of the school, about thirteen years old, Clara H., was coming across Kennington Common, when, during a thunder-storm, the lightning's flash struck down one by the side of her, and left her unhurt.

Vauxhall.

W. M. S.

THE HEART'S DOOR.

'LL never forgive Fred!" said Dora angrily, as she came into the parlour, holding up before her mother the fragments of a little toy-a tiny sofa-a piece of the set of furniture her uncle had given her a few days before.

"Dora, my child!"

"Well, I mean just what I say!" continued the angry little girl. "Fred came rushing into summer-house just as he always does, and trod on it with his great boots; and when I spoke to him about it, he said he didn't care a bit, and wished he had broken the chairs too."

"Think before you say more my dear. Perhaps you vexed Frederick by your manner of speaking."

was.

"I only told him he was careless and stupid; and so he It's too bad. No, I will never forgive him ;" and as she turned over the pieces of the ruined toy in her hands her face grew dark with wicked feelings.

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Hark, Dora! listen: some one is knocking, I am sure.” Little Willie, a three-year old younger brother, stopped playing with his blocks on the floor, and looked at the door as if expecting a visitor.

"What do you mean, mamma? I do not hear any one," said Dora.

"Have you forgotten, my daughter, that there is a door to your heart? You have opened it once this morning, and let in an evil, hateful thing. No picture that could be made of it would be too dark to represent what is now in your heart." Dora hung her head; for she began to understand her mother. "And now, if you will listen, you will hear One, your best Friend, at that door. He is knocking gently. Dear little daughter let Him in. He has a message for you, and it is, If ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father which is in heaven, forgive your trespasses; and that word 'men' means everybody, even Freddy, who, you think, has offended you so much."

Dora's heart was softening. The tears came into her eyes. She opened the door of her heart a little way. Willie, who had been listening, came, and, putting his arm round her neck, kissed her, but said nothing. Her heart's door swung wide open now, and love entered.

'Yes, mother, I will forgive Freddy," sobbed Dora. "I was as much to blame as he; and I know I spoke spitefully, or he would have felt sorry when he did it."

"Then, my darling, thank that dear Friend who has found the into way heart with his love, and go now to Freddy, your and make it up with him."

Dora laid away the fragments of the sofa, and went out with sunshine in her face and joy in her heart; for its door was closed again, and her best Friend was within.