A person that tells lies cannot be trusted. He is like a rotten bridge over which no one will venture to cross, or like a leaky, boat in which nobody will venture to sail, or like a rickety house in which nobody will venture to stay. And as you would never speak of such a bridge, or boat, or house, as being worthy of being called 'good,' so you would never speak of a person known to tell lies as having a good name. You need to be truthful, always doing what the judge calls upon a witness to do, when in the witness-box, 'to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.' And I have put this first, because I dont know anything more important. As a minister once said, a person that is not truthful, is a person that has no back-bone in his character; and you know that if you had no back-bone in your body, you would be of little use in the world.

Honesty is the next thing that should go into the mortar, for that too is essential to a good name. You cant have a good name if you are known to pilfer or take little things that dont belong to you. You will lose the confidence of your friends and neighbours, and once this is lost, it is difficult to regain it. All that bag of money, sir! would you trust your servant with that? Ay, and far more, said the master; because for twenty years he has been a faithful servant to me, and I have never lost a penny by him.' You see the servant had a good name for honesty and therefore he was trusted.

name.

And then, purity goes next into the mortar. For anybody given to intemperate or unclean habits cannot have a good He may be kind in his sober and sane moments, and even so far truthful and honest, but if he be drunken and licentious, that spoils everything else. And so will the want of charity or generosity. That needs to go into the mortar too. For a churlish, close-handed, hard-hearted person, that grips and keeps all to himself, cannot expect to have a good name. He will be regarded as a miserable miser. And perhaps you have read these lines, which well describe such a man-

"The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living shall forfeit fair renown,
And doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonoured, and unsung.'

And then, activity, in doing good, is also necessary; for a lazy boy or girl, if they continue so, will be comparatively useless in the world, when they grow up to be men and women. And to crown all, there is piety, or serving and loving God and His Son Jesus Christ, and seeking to honour and serve Him as the Holy Spirit helps.

All these things are what may be called the essentials, or the chief ingredients in the making up of a good name. And just as the apothecary may take a long time to compound a precious ointment or medicine, so it may take you a long time to make for yourselves a good name; and when it is made you need to be very watchful lest any moment, by some unguarded word or deed, you may lose it. Once I heard the story of a mason who had taken a long, long time to chisel and polish an ornament, a stone that was to occupy a prominent place in a palace. He had got it all finished, and O how glad he was! But it so happened that just as he was hoisting it up-up-up into its place, by some neglect the stone got away from its holding and down it came with an awful crash, when it was shivered to pieces! And so, I thought, isn't that how sometimes people lose their good name, that may have taken long years to make-how by some rash word immoral deed they spoiled it all in a moment? Therefore take care to keep your good name, once you have got it made.

or

How

For a good name pleases God. pleased He was and is with the name of Jesus, because it was and is the symbol of all moral excellence. It is, when mentioned, like ointment poured forth. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And in so far as we trust the Saviour and cultivate a character like His, we please God. Enoch walked with God. He bore a good name, and this testimony has been given concerning him, that he 'pleased

God.' And shouldn't you and I seek to earn such a blessed reputation?

Tell

But more a good name secures the confidence and love of those around us. me, said a gentleman one day to a little girl-tell me, how it is that everybody likes you? I dont know, said the girl, except it be that I like everybody. Having all the qualities in her character to which I have referred, and thus having a good name, she won the esteem and love of all around.

And then, a good name gives weight and influence to the person possessing_it. You remember the man in the Old Testament that was one day felling a tree, when suddenly the head of his axe flew off and fell into the river. Well, what was the use of the haft, after that, without the head? and what is the use of a man if he has no good character? It is that which makes his words and actions tell for good.

And then, last of all, a good name is sure to obtain for us success in life. So it did in the case of Joseph, and in the case of David, and in the case of Daniel. You cant get on without a good name. People who seek servants always seek those who possess a good character; therefore, for all those reasons my earnest advice to you is, Seek and keep a good name.

He that steals my purse steals trash, 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;

But he that robs me of my good name, Filches from me that which not enriches him, And leaves me poor indeed.'

As she lay with hair dishevelled, And her face upon the ground, A more forlorn looking object

On the earth could not be found.

57

And he's struck my darling mother,
Though so patient and so meek;
Oh, I oft have kissed the bruises
He has left upon her cheek.
'Then he turned upon us children—
For our lives we had to run:
But I know he will be sorry
When he sees what he has done.

For our mother often tells us
That strong drink is all the cause;
And I know when father's sober
He's the kindest ever was.

'When he comes from work, I meet him,
With my little brother Jim,
And on his shoulder, high, high, up,
Father proudly carries him.

'Then, dear mother comes forth smiling,
With our baby,—and I think,
We would always be so happy
If it was not for the drink.'

As the artless little maiden,
Sobbing, told her tale of woe,
I was powerless to assist her,

And I grieved it should be so.
O, be on your guard, dear children,

Let the temperance cause be thine.
Who hath woe and strife and sorrow?
They who tarry at the wine.

Wine is treacherous, and a mocker,
A delusion and a snare;
To its false allurements yield not,
Of its blandishments beware.

Every year the fell destroyer

Hurries thousands to their doom, To the drunkard's awful portionDeath eternal's rayless gloom.

A. M.

58

GLIMPSES OF THE NEW HEBRIDES.

WHEN

ARROWROOT.

HEN the people of Aneityum abandoned their own heathen customs and embraced the gospel, they at once became anxious to carry the good news to the dark islands around, and many of them devoted their lives to this good work. The missionaries on all the other islands testify to the invaluable aid given them by Aneityumese teachers.

Besides sending teachers to other islands, the people of Aneityum wished to send contributions to the missionary and Bible societies in our own land. They wished to express their gratitude to those from whom they had received the Gospel. But how could they do this? They had no money. What could they send? Arrowroot grew wild on the island, and the missionaries suggested to the natives that were they to cultivate it they might have something valuable to contribute. Accordingly, in September 1859, the natives made plantations of arrowroot in various parts of the island, and in the month of June, 1860, the first crop was ripe and the process of preparing the arrowroot commenced near the different streams.

Mr Copeland (now on Futuna), thus describes the work. He says:—

The labour attending the manufacture of this article is by no means trifling. When dug out of the earth it is like large white potatoes. These are gathered into baskets, and taken to the place where they are to be reduced. The bulk of arrowroot, when prepared, is very small as compared with that of the tubers. One person can carry all the arrowroot contained in many baskets of the raw material. Arrived at the stream with all the necessary apparatus for drawing water, grating, straining, collecting, &c., the process is commenced by washing well the tubers and carefully removing all the rind. This done, they are grated down to a pulp. In this form it is put into a cloth, where it is pressed by the hand, copious streams of water being meanwhile poured upon it. The arrowroot powder passes through the cloth with the water into a large wooden vessel below, and the fibre that does not pass through is cast away. The powder thus obtained requires to be washed repeatedly, and the water removed so long as it is turbid. When it has been sufficiently washed it is taken out of the vessel, spread upon a mat or cloth, and put in the sun to dry, a part of the process which sometimes occupies several days. When dry, it has then to pass through a flour sieve, and all the lumps are carefully pounded. When sifted, it is ready for being put into bags or casks, which brings the description of the preparation of this article of food to a close. Like most other things, it may be spoiled in the making. When it is being dried, it may get specks of dust. If not washed sufficiently often, it will be both black and bitter; and if not exposed long enough to the sun, it will want the crispness and not emit the crackling sound emitted by good arrowroot when pressed in the hand. Shortly after the first crop of arrowroot had been prepared, two missionary meetings were held, one on either side of the island, at which the bags of arrowroot were placed in view of all the people, and the amount contributed by each district was stated. Over 5,500 lbs. was brought, being 1 lbs. for every one, young and old, of the population.'

Ever since that time, the Aneityumese have continued to cultivate arrowroot, that they may be able to contribute to the spread of the Gospel. Many cargoes of this arrowroot, which is of the best quality, genuine and unadulterated, have been brought to this country and sold for missionary purposes. In 1879 the cost of printing an edition of the Bible in the language of Aneityum was paid with arrowroot contributed by the natives.

Last year another cargo was sent as a contribution to the jubilee missionary fund. In a letter to a friend, dated August 16th, 1880, Mrs. Robertson, of Eromanga, writes:

'Our worshipping people are this year making an effort to prepare arrowroot to assist in purchasing the Word of God in their own tongue. They have all worked at it willingly and cheerfully, and we expect, when finished, there will be five casks to dispose of. This is the first arrowroot they have made for this purpose; but two years ago they made a collection of articles which amounted, when disposed of, to about £23. Those of them who had money gave it; some brought fowls, others bows, arrows, clubs, tomahawks, &c. So you will see from this that our Eromangans are trying to assist themselves. They are also willing to go out as teachers or helps to the heathen on their own island, or with other missionaries. In this respect our poor Eromangans are an example to Christians in enlightened lands, who have known the Word of God from infancy; but how few there are who respond to the Saviour's command, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

May we not hope that many of our young readers will be stirred up by the example of these islanders to take a deeper interest in missions.

TRUE BRAVERY.

M. T. S.

"Sow your seed early, and it will bear fruit in
due season."

ABOUT thirty years ago there was a

merry, kind-hearted, and clever boy to be found among the Eton scholars. He was a very great favourite, and often chosen to be the leader in cricket or boating, or any other amusement, as his merry and obliging disposition, as well as his integrity and strong sense of honour, fitted him well for such a post. His influence with his companions was considerable, and he used it to the best of his ability, having learned in early life, by the teaching of his mother, that even a child is known by his deeds, and, however humble our position here on earth, we can still find some work to do for Christ.

A bad habit was prevailing at this time

59

in the school, namely, the singing of profane and vulgar songs. Very often had he tried to stop it, but in vain; so, one day when they began their singing again, in spite of the scornful remarks of the elder boys, who thought that Patteson took a great deal too much liberty in trying to interfere with them, he got up and left the room. He did not like to do this at all, and sadly thought that his popularity, which he valued highly, would suddenly come to an end; but still he knew that the Master he served would not approve those songs, and that a faithful servant ought to follow his Lord on all occasions. The result of his behaviour was, however, altogether different to what he expected. His friends, rather than give up his participation in their amusements, gave up the habit he so much disliked, and, in his presence at least, those songs were never heard again. The life of Patteson was well worthy of its beginning. The boy, who in 1845 refused to join or to participate in the singing of profane songs, became a missionary and went to Milanesia, where he was made a Bishop, and where he suffered death for Christ's sake in 1871; bearing witness that God does not forsake those who trust in Him, if they have but courage enough to declare themselves on the Lord's side. B. J. P.

PRIZE ESSAYS.

THREE Prizes are offered for the best Essays on 'JAMES RENWICK, THE LAST OF THE SCOTTISH MARTYRS.' Competitors to be under 16 years of age. MSS., accompanied with a sealed envelope, to be sent to the Rev. JOHN KAY, 2 Cumin Place, Grange, Edinburgh, by the 1st of August, 1881.

PRIZE BIBLE QUESTIONS. THREE Prizes are offered for the largest number of correct answers to the Questions during 1881. The Competition is limited to those under 14 years of age. The answers to be sent to the Rev. JOHN KAY, 2 Cumin Place, Grange, Edinburgh, by the 25th of each month.

13 What warrior provided a place of safety for his parents, when he himself was exposed to great danger?

14 What son of godly parents, when a young man, went far astray, but was afterwards brought back to the God of his father?

15 What heathen king's crown was placed on David's head?