The giving of flowers in our Hospitals and Infirmaries is but another expression of the brotherly kindness which led to the building of such homes for the sick. In heathen countries, old infirm people are left to die, and the sick, whether old or young, are neglected; but wherever the Gospel comes, it brings healing for the body as well as for the soul, and thinks nothing too mean or trifling if only it can raise the mind to the Giver of all good, leading us to loving thoughts of Him, or strengthening us against temptation to murmuring or discontent; for we are ever prone to both, and never so much so as in times of sorrow and weakness.

IN

It

N a remote field stood a large tulip tree of a century's growth. looked like the father of the surrounding forest. On the top of the tree, for years, an old eagle, commonly called the Fishing Eagle, had built her nest every year, and unmolested raised her young. What is remarkable, this tree stood full ten miles from the seashore. It had long been known as the Old Eagle Tree.' On a warm, sunny day, the workmen were hoeing corn in an adjoining field. At a certain hour of the day the old eagle was known to set off for the seaside, to gather food for her young. As she this day returned with a large fish in her claws, the workmen surrounded the tree, and by yelling and hooting, and throwing stones, so scared the poor bird, that she dropped the fish, and they carried it off in triumph. The men soon dispersed: but Joseph sat down under a bush near by to watch, and to bestow unavailing pity. The bird soon

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returned without food. The eaglets at once set up a cry for food; so shrill, so clear, and so clamorous, that the boy was greatly moved. The parent bird seemed to try to soothe them; but their appetites were too keen, and it was all in vain. She then perched herself on a limb near them, and looked down into the nest with a look that seemed to say, 'I know not what to do next.' But her indecision was momentary; again she poised herself, uttered one or two sharp notes, as if telling them to 'lie still,' balanced her body, spread her wings, and was away again for the sea. Joseph now determined to see the result. His eyes followed her till she grew small, smaller a mere speck in the sky; and then disappeared. She was gone nearly two hours, about double her usual time for a voyage, when she again returned on a slow, weary wing, flying uncommonly low, in order to have a heavier atmosphere to sustain her, with another fish in her talons. On nearing the field, she made a circuit around it to see if her enemies were again there. Finding the coast clear, she once more reached her tree drooping, faint, and weary. Again the eaglets set up their cry, which was soon hushed by the distribution of a dinner such as-save the cooking-a king might admire.

'Noble bird,' cried the boy in ecstasy and aloud, 'what a spirit! others can sing more sweetly and scream more loudlybut what other bird, when persecuted and robbed-when weary, discouraged, and so far from the sea, would do what thou hast done! I will learn a lesson from thee to-day. I will never forget hereafter that when the spirit is determined, it can do almost anything. Others would have drooped the head, and mourned over the cruelty of man, and sighed over the wants of the nestlings; but thou, by at once recovering the loss, hast forgotten all. I will learn of thee, noble bird! I will remember this. I will set my mark high. I will try to do something for Christ, looking unto Him as the Author and Finisher of my faith. I will never yield to discouragement.'

had their hair dressed in a particular manner, forming what was called a 'head ring;' and none of them were allowed to marry before this age, neither could they choose the wives they liked; but so many women were ordered by the king to marry a regiment of 'head rings,' and thereupon they had to submit.

At last Chaka was killed by his own brother, Dingaan, who also killed all his other brothers, except Panda, the father of Cetewayo. Dingaan himself was defeated and slain in a war with the Boers in 1840, and was succeeded on the throne by Panda, who died in 1872.

Cetewayo was then chosen king, and in order to make his throne more secure, he asked the English to 'recognize' his sovereignty. This they did, on condition that he should reign properly.

Cetewayo kept up all Chaka's rules about the army; and in other things he acted very tyrannically. In 1878, we went to war with him, and though his Zulus fought very bravely, we defeated them in the end, took their king captive, and divided his kingdom between thirteen chiefs, who promised to behave well.

Now, whether we did right in all this or not is a question that is much disputed. At all events, Cetewayo is now to be restored to his kingdom.

But, children, there is another King, whose right it is to reign over all nations. 'He shall speak peace to the heathen,' and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.' 'Righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins.' 'Mercy and truth shall go before His face.' Are you not glad that His kingdom is coming?

It comes very quietly. Close to the border of Zululand, the Gordon Mission was founded about ten years ago, where a few Scottish Christians are carrying out the commands: Preach the Gospel; heal the sick; feed my lambs.' And already a little church of Zulus is gathering around them, soon, let us hope, to spread far and wide.

Last May an interesting incident occurred there. On a Sabbath morning, eight travellers arrived from Natal and

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joined in their worship. These men were well-dressed, well-mounted, and welleducated. They were of the Swazi tribe, which dwells west of the Zulus. Thirty years ago, a missionary had been at work among them, whose labours were blessed.

But the king they had then was a persecutor. He put some of the Christians to death, while others followed the missionary, who was obliged to retire to Natal; and now some of those fugitives, leaving the comfortable homes they had made for themselves in the colony, were returning to their fatherland to preach the gospel to their heathen countrymen. One old man, named Daniel, had already gone, and this party of eight were following him, including one of his own sons, who had been a master carpenter in Natal.

Let us wish them God-speed on their errand of mercy! Let us hope, too, that the Norwegian and German missionaries, who were driven out of Zululand before and during the war, will get leave to prosecute their labours in peace, making known to the weary and heavy-laden that grace of God that bringeth salvation.

TOM'S DECISION.

the a

the summer of 1874, was a motherless boy who lived with his uncle and aunt. It was the anniversary of his mother's death, and as he was walking along the beach admiring the beautiful scenery, his aunt said to him, 'Tom, I wonder if mamma sees how happy we are? She would be pleased to see us enjoying ourselves in this lovely spot.'

Mr Moody conducted a meeting on the Esplanade the same evening, and Tom went with his aunt to hear him. In the course of his address Mr Moody paused and said, 'Perhaps there is some boy here whose sainted mother is looking down from heaven to see if her child will decide for Jesus.' Tom pressed his aunt's hand, saying, that's me.'

At the close of the meeting, Mr Moody

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intimated that he was going to the adjoining church, and would be glad to meet there with any who wished to become Christians. Tom said, 'I wish to go; will you come with me, auntie?' After addressing a few earnest words to those met together in the church, Mr Moody asked them, Will you give your heart to Jesus now?' and Tom was one of those who answered, I will.'

Tom did not forget his promise, but when he returned to his home in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, he expressed his desire to commemorate the Saviour's dying love, and asked his uncle and aunt if they thought that he was too young to become a member of the church. They replied, that if he loved the Lord Jesus sincerely, he was not too young to confess Him publicly, and encouraged him to do so. Accordingly, on the next Communion Sabbath, Tom, then fourteen years of age, sat down at the Lord's Table. And he remembered the vows that he had taken.

His love for God's Word and for His House, and his dutiful and consistent daily conduct, left no doubt as to the sincerity of the young disciple's Christian profession. He shewed his love to the Saviour by keeping His commandments.

It was well for Tom that he did not delay coming to Jesus and confessing Him before men, for his time on earth was to be but short. Two years later he was suddenly called away.

He was confined to bed for a few days, but no danger was apprehended till death was very near. When the doctor told his friends that he was dangerously ill, Tom thought that he was getting better, and spoke of going to Dunoon with his aunt, and having nice talks with her there. His aunt replied, Tom, perhaps you are going to a far more beautiful place than Dunoon, but I cannot go with you.' He seemed surprised and said, 'Do you think that I am dying?'"The doctor thinks so,' she said, 'you are not afraid, are you, Tom?' -'No, Auntie, not afraid; I can trust Jesus, but I did not think it was death.'

His father had been sent for, and when

he arrived and was told the dangerous nature of his boy's illness he was much agitated. Tom was so sorry to see his father's distress, that forgetting his own sufferings he said, 'O where is uncle? tell him to come and pray for papa.'

As soon as he was able to do so, his father read that beautiful chapter, John xiv., and Tom listened to it with intense delight.

After talking for a little about the many mansions in that beautiful home which he was so soon to enter, Tom named some friends, to each of whom he asked his aunt to give one of his books or some other little memorial of him. Then he said, 'Auntie, I am very tired, I would like to sleep for a little;' and, turning his face to the wall, he fell asleep, and while asleep he was taken to be with Christ which is far better.

Asleep in Jesus! O how sweet
To be for such a slumber meet,
With holy confidence to sing

That death hath lost his venomed sting.'
SO HE GIVETH HIS BELOVED sleep.

0

M. T. S.

THE FEATHERED PREACHER.

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall, on the ground without your Father.-Mat. x. 29.

OU all know the sparrow. You have all seen him hundreds of times. But perhaps you never looked at him in the same light that our Lord Jesus Christ looked at him, or learned the same lessons from him.

For the sparrow is a preacher in his own small way, and preaches a sermon which even Jesus Christ listened to while he was on earth. And next tirae you see a sparrow, instead of taking up a stone to throw at it, perhaps you will feel inclined to listen to its teaching and learn its lesson.

First of all then, see how the sparrow is dressed. The gentleman sparrow has a brown coat on his back, and a gray waistcoat in front, with a black cap and a black tie; while the lady sparrow is dressed in

cheerful about the chirrup of a sparrow. It always does its best, and is in no way stinted of it. Some birds are very shy of their song, but the sparrow is not in the

box chirruping away with all its might.

Three little boys were sitting together one day and talking over the bird they liked best, One said he liked the lark best,