he became a total abstainer from intoxicating drink, although it was a hard struggle to conquer his appetite, but he still lives to thank God for his freedom.

And who was the tall black man?' asked Harry.

Can't you guess?'

Harry shook his head.

'Well then,' said the smith, it was nothing else than his own shadow!

James Hay came to see this, but he often said, 'shadow or no shadow, it brought me to my senses, and if such a thing never happened before, I can truly say it was a ghost which was the means of making me a teetotaller, which I wish every one else to be.'

But is the story true?' asked Harry Bain.

1.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.-Prov., 20, 1.

G

GOOD MANNERS.

D. C.

OOD Manners are the best ways of doing things. And as everybody ought not only to do the best things, but to do them in the best way, it follows that Bad Manners are, in so far, Bad Morals, which every Christian ought to seek to avoid.

2. The secret of Good Manners lies in having a regard for the feelings of others. Let a person be kindly, and thoughtful of other's welfare, and he will, to a certainty, become good-mannered. Evil is wrought from want of thought, as well as want of heart,' and the Good Samaritan stands to all time as an example of a Bible Gentle

man.

3. A large section of Good Manners

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regards language. Let that ever be quiet and modest, not boisterous or presuming. Rage not at all. Brag not at all. Swear not at all. And, above all, 'Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.'

4. A still larger section of Good Manners regards behaviour, such as crushing, and seeking the best place, to the injustice often of others. A railway station or a crowded meeting is a good place for studying variety of manners in this particular. Our Saviour spoke a word for Good Manners when he said- When thou art bidden to a feast, go and sit down in the lowest room, that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher.'

5. A graver section of Good Manners pertains to injuring or pilfering that which does not belong to us. This is what gives

We

our nation such a bad name abroad. can't keep our hands to ourselves. We would not do a great injury, perhaps, but we will do a small one. We would not count it right to steal money, but we don't see much harm in stealing almost anything else.

6. I would like especially to warn children against breaking branches of trees, stealing out of farmer's fields, plucking flowers without leave, and generally, working mischief, which may be sport to them, but is no sport to those who suffer from it.

7. A bad habit with many consists in defacing things by writing on them. But they have no right to do so. If they wish to write, let them write on what is their own. And above all, it is wrong to write corrupting things, which spread contagion as disease does.

8. It is a common breach of Good Manners to be ungrateful for benefits received to take all and give none-to act as if it were more blessed to receive than to give. Such persons are not in a good way; for the sin of ingratitude will spread from man to God, and he who is not grateful to his brother whom he hath seen, will hardly be grateful to God whom he hath not seen.

9. Might I impress on children the duty of thanking their benefactors-never to be

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greedy-and to repay as they can any kindness they may have received. Our Lord calls attention to this duty when He said- Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.'

10. A breach of Good Manners allied to this last consists in what is commonly called impudence-which is a deliberate setting aside all regard for our neighbour, and trampling on his feelings without scruple. A meek man, we are told, is pleasing to God, but an impudent man is the opposite of a meek man, and is very far indeed from the kingdom of heaven.

11. Might I request those that Smoke to see that they cultivate Good Manners in that indulgence? If they must smoke, let them not do so at the expense of other's comfort. It is a poor pleasure that is purchased by another's pain.

12. What is true of Smoking is still truer of Drinking. It is the cause of a deal of discomfort to others in many cases. Even the breath of a drinker is disagreeable, not to speak of having to listen to his talk, or suffer the consequences of his actions.

13. Would children take note of the following hints :-Remove your cap when you enter a house. Salute those you respect when you meet them. Shake hands quietly and cordially. Learn to say 'Sir'

or

'Ma'am' when answering questions. Add' If you please' when making a request. 'Beg pardon' when you fear you may have offended. Speak when spoken to. Look in the person's face when you are speaking. Call people by their proper names. Never

a

mock at any person's infirmity. Never be impudent. Be ready to oblige. Respect the old. Never laugh at a person's mistakes. Never spit in public. Don't talk much about yourself. Don't answer question put to others. Don't begin to talk before others are finished. And, generally, never do anything, if you can help it, which will give pain or annoyance to another.

14. While in church, would my readers observe the following hints? Never

whisper in church. Don't stare at strangers. Be ready to oblige others with a seat. Avoid coughing as much as possible. Don't indulge in eating sweetmeats to the annoyance of others. Join in the worship heartily.

Sit quietly. Attend seriously.

15. It is not difficult to learn Good Manners, and a modest, kindly person is never ill-mannered. For the secret of all good manners lies in the heart, and when that is right, the manners soon arrange themselves. It is in the not trying to be good-mannered where the fault lies. Many people never try it. They don't see it to be their duty to be unselfish, or grateful, or kindly, and so we have often good doctrine going along with bad manners as though they had nothing to say to each other. May each of us try to put the matter right in his own case, and true religion will be the gainer for it, as well as ourselves.

THE CHRISTMAS VISITOR.

W"

R. L.

HO is it? One can think of all sorts of things for Christmasbon-bons, story books, firtrees, presents of all sorts; but these are not visitors. Who is she, then? It may be an aunt from the country, or a sister home for the holidays; or grandmama from her quiet home, come to spend a pleasant time with her grandchildren. But we will try again-Who is he? Ah! now we have it. He is sometimes the postman who brings your cards and letters of greeting from absent friends and school-fellows; he is often the carrier laden with Christmas gifts from the country; he might be-stop! he is here; no need to go any farther, the visitor has come.

It was Christmas morning, and when Mabel came down to breakfast, she whispered confidentially to her father :

Father dear, I'm expecting somebody!' 'Indeed! and who may it be?' asked her father.

O! I have saved all things out of my presents for Jesus.'

Her father smiled; he saw she had put

'No, sir; I've not been sent; little Miss smiled, so I came in.'

But Mabel's father explained that they took him in for Jesus' sake, and could not let him go without telling him of Jesus and His love. By and by they got him a situation; and Mabel always calls him her 'Somebody.' He never forgets that Jesus sent him there that day.

·

But is not there another Christmas visitor? Yes; Jesus Himself. And He is not only a Christmas visitor; He is a friend for every day and hour-a Saviour for ever. We keep His birthday at Christmas; but if we love Him and serve Him we shall give Him the best of each and every day. I have a friend who gave his heart to Jesus on the 21st July, and he always calls that his birthday, because then he was born again.' You may make to-day your birthday if you come to Jesus NOW; let Him become to you not only a visitor, but a constant companion- A Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.' Jesus says, 'If a man love Me, he will keep my word; and My Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.' (John xiv. 23.) So that when you accept Jesus as your Saviour from sin and death, you have chosen a Friend for all time and eternity-a Guide who is 'the yesterday, and to-day, and for ever.'

WE

same

M. B. GERDS.

THE BENEDICTION.

E have now got to the last number of the year, and I am sure you will agree with me that no subject could be more appropriate than the one to which I now wish to call your attention, viz.:

This is a prayer

I.-FOR PRESERVATION.

The Lord bless thee.' You can bless God, by speaking well of Him, as the psalmist did when he sang, 'Bless the Lord, O my soul'; but God blesses you by doing well for you—'The Lord keep thee.' To keep means—

1. To preserve. A nurse is said to keep the children under her charge, because she sees that they do not run into danger. A shepherd is said to keep the sheep, because he sees that they do not wander. In the same way The Lord is thy keeper'; 'the Lord shall preserve thee from all danger.’

A

2. To maintain. A person is said to keep a servant, that is to maintain one. father is said to keep his children, that is to provide for them. In this sense also. the Lord keeps you. Who has supplied all your wants during the year now drawing to a close? Who is it that opens your eyes every morning, and every evening seals them in peaceful slumber? It is God, who satisfies the desires of every living thing.'

3. To retain that is, not to let a thing be lost, or allow another to get possession of it. But you cannot retain a thing which you never possessed. You must have it before you can keep it; so before God can keep you, He must get you to keep. Have you given yourself to Him? He says, 'My son, give Me thine heart'; and when once He gets it He will never let it be lost.

II. FOR PARDON.

The Lord make His face shine upon thee.' In ancient times, an eastern subject considered it the greatest honour he could enjoy to see the king's face. For the sovereign to show any special favour to any one was to make his face shine upon that one. Not to be allowed to see the king's face was a token of his anger, and a sign that the subject had fallen into disgrace.

Now we have greatly offended God; He is angry with us. This prayer, therefore, is just a prayer for pardon. And what is the plea on which we seek it?—Grace'The Lord be gracious unto thee.' Grace

The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee.' When you have displeased your father, you have seen his brows knit and a frown gather upon his face. This made you afraid; but when he began to smile upon you, your fears vanished, for you knew that his anger was over. So, as we have said already, God is angry with us, and we feel that He is, for we know that we have done those things which we ought not to have done; but our prayer asks Him to smile upon us again-to show us that He has forgiven us, and whenever we are sure of this we have peace, and we are no longer afraid of Him.

Now, I would turn this prayer into a New Year's wish for you-May the Lord bless thee,' &c. Of this I am certain, that if you give yourself to God, that He may Preserve you, Pardon you, and give you Peace, the year which is coming, if you are spared to see it, will be in the truest sense -A Happy New Year.

REVISING QUESTIONS

ON THE

G. D.

INTERNATIONAL SCHEME of LESSONS

These questions are not meant to be the sole questions put, but may serve as guiding the teacher over the main points of the lesson.

DEC. 2. DAVID'S ENEMY-SAUL. 1 Sam. xviii. 1-16.

1 Who was David's great friend?

2 What mark of their friendship is here mentioned? 3 What strong expression is used to express their friendship?

4 What song shews David's great popularity?

5 Who was envious at this?

6 What did Saul seek to do to David?

7 What office did he give him?

DEC. 9.

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DAVID'S FRIEND-JONATHAN. 1 Sam. xx. 32-42.

1 Who was heir to the crown after Saul's death? 2 Why then did not Jonathan hate David like his father?

3 What shews Jonathan's boldness in this story? 4 What sign had been agreed on if David's case was hopeless with Saul? v. 22.

5 Why did Jonathan wish to be alone with David? 6 What shews David's humility? v. 41.

7 Which of the two was most overcome?

8 What saying of Jonathan's shews his want of envy? 9 What were their parting words? (xxiii. 17.)

10 Whether was Jonathan or David the elder? 11 What was the secret of Jonathan's love for him? (xxiii. 16.)

12 Mention a circumstance to shew that David remembered Jonathan in after times. (2 Sam. ix. 1.) 13 Where was the last place the two friends met? (xxiii. 15.) 14 What was the end of Jonathan? (xxxi. 2.)

DEC. 16. DAVID SPARING HIS ENEMY. 1 Sam. xxiv. 1-17.

1 Where did the event mentioned in this lesson take place?

2 Near what sea is it? What is the meaning of the 3 Is the district hilly or level?

4 How many men had Saul with him?

5 Where did he go to rest at mid-day?

6 Who was in the farther end of the cave?

[name?

7 What did David do when Saul was sleeping?

8 What did his men wish him to do?

9 What kept David's hand back?

10 Did he tell Saul what he had done? 11 How did Saul feel?

12 Did Saul retain this kindly feeling for David? 13 What does this incident shew of David's character? 14 What is said in Scripture of vengeance? (Deut. xxxii. 35.)

15 What is said of our conduct towards our enemies? (Mat. v. 44.)

16 Mention another occasion on which David spared Saul's life? (xxvi. 9.)

DEC. 23. DEATH of SAUL and JONATHAN. 1 Sam. xxxi. 1-13.

1 Where did king Saul die?

2 In what part of Canaan is it?

3 Against whom was he fighting? 4 Who were slain before him?

5 Whom did he ask to kill him?

6 How was he slain?

7 What did his armour-bearer do when he saw the king dead?

8 What did the Philistines do with his head and 9 Where did they fasten his dead body to? [armour? 10 Who rescued the body? Why did they do so? xi. 1-11.

11 Was burning the dead a common practice with the 12 Where did they bury his bones? [Israelites?

13 Where did king David afterwards bury them? (2 Sam. xxi. 12-14)

14 What king of Scotland died on Flodden like Saul on Gilboa?

15 Mention three other persons in Scripture who took away their own lives. (Judges xvi. 80. 2 Sam. xvii. 23. Mat. xxvii. 5.)