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the young birds that she might have hatched from those eggs would have cheered by-and-by some little sick brother elsewhere if you had let them alone.'

The thoughtful little Nelly put the thoughtless little Willie quite in a state of vexation, and he hurried in repentance away back into the wood to restore the nest and eggs to their injured owner; carefully leaving it just as he thought he found it. Often through the summer did he cautiously keek into the hidden place, but, alas! the eggs remained unhatched. The unhappy blackbird had forsaken the nest, and it seemed to remain there-perhaps by the will of God-as a reminder to Willie of his thoughtlessness, and it had the desired effect.

When heedless people rush at wrong,

Forbidden paths are sweet;

But stings are often left behind

To check their wayward feet.

J. M. N.

TWO KNIGHTS OF THE OLDEN TIME.

A STORY OF SINGLE COMBAT.

HE scene we look at is a striking one. Two armies, drawn up in battle array, covering the heights rising on either side of a valley.

From one of the camps a champion steps forth, and challenges the host on the other side to send forth a man to fight with him. And there is no knight to take up the gauntlet; but dismay and fear fall upon the people, because of the giant's words. As Goliath stands there in all the splendour of his great height and glittering armour, mocking the people of Israel, let us look at him for a little.

We know nothing of him until we meet him here.

We are not told how his childhood and youth were spent. We can fancy he must have been a pretty big baby. Then he would grow to be a big loafing boy-a sort of village curiosity. When

grown to be a young man, he would speak much of what he intended to do. Yet we never read of anything that he did. There was no deliverance wrought by him. Not even a lamb or a kid rescued from the jaws of the lion. Indeed, from his after history, we judge that he was only good for being looked at, and for boasting. Then he joined the army, and had fine armour in which to show off his enormous person. Thus he became a terror to those who mistake size for strength and power.

It is the time of Israel's shame and trouble.

Disobedience had done its deadly work. God had withdrawn Himself from Saul. So king and people stand afraid before the host of the Philistines. And not even before the host; that might be understood; but before this one man, and his braggart words I defy the armies of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.'

He knew well that there was no man of his inches among them. No one of all the servants of Saul could wear his armour. Even Saul, head and shoulders though he was above the people, dared not to meet Goliath in single combat. So it came to pass that day by day God's chosen people were the objects of his withering scorn and contempt.

His strength lay in his appearance, and the way he was armed. As to his fighting power we cannot judge. Perhaps he was like most boasters, a coward at heart. We can see he took good care that he was armed from head to foot; and that a man bearing a shield went before him, to bear the brunt of attack, if such came. We see that he dealt largely in scorn, and so judge that he had not a noble nature.

Our poet tells us—

'No knight of Arthur's noblest dealt in scorn: But if a man were halt or hunch'd, in him, By those whom God had made full limb'd and tall,

Scorn was allowed as part of his defect, And he was answered softly by the king and all his table.'

But here we find it in this giant, and it makes us suspicious of his prowess and his worth. How it burned against Israel! What were they, these servants of Saul?— cowards, slaves, trembling when he but looked at them! Yes, it was a sad sight. It is always sad when God's people are put to shame before the enemy. For we know the reason. Sin has unnerved them, and made them cowards. This weakens God's bravest, and makes them feeble. Even the loud voice and glittering armour of a giant will make them quail. Now we have to look at the second knight.

Had you been some summer day in the fields around Bethlehem, you would perhaps have heard the sound of a harp brought softly to your ears upon the gentle breeze. So sweet would it be, that you immediately desire to get nearer the player. After a climb among the hills, in some secluded nook, you find a shepherd lad playing and singing, as he keeps watch over his flock. He is a handsome youth, full of grace, with the noble expression of countenance that constant meditation upon lofty themes is sure to give. Still he is only a youth-not a warrior. He has no weapons, save his shepherd's staff and his sling.

We meet him next in the camp before Saul.

Saul, in a sort of amazed way, is clothing the young shepherd in armour, preparatory to his going forth to meet the giant. For at last, the gage of the Philistines has been lifted. David will give him battle.

Saul, glad to catch at any straw, so hopeless has he become, permits the boy to go forth, first clothing him as we have

seen.

But we feel sure there was much derisive laughter in Saul's camp as they saw David, hitherto accustomed to the loose, light dress of a peasant, essay to walk in the heavy armour. How awkward and ill at ease he would seem. We scarcely wonder that the craven hearted, envious ones round him laughed. The reproof that even his attempt to go administered to them, was deprived

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of much of its sharpness by the absurdity of his appearance. David, however, soon saw his mistake. He came very soon to understand that his strength lay in no manmade armour. The weapons of his warfare were not to be such as reason or common sense or prudence would suggest. They were to be in direct opposition to all man's ideas of the fitness of things-the opposite of all his adversary had on. They were to be even foolish in the eyes of the onlookers. With only a sling and a stone he goes forth to the conflict.

Very beautiful he must have looked. No glowering looks-no pride of self-no scorn of others. In the strength of a great faith in God-lightly, brightly—he hastes to meet Goliath.

From his lofty height the giant did not see him at first; or if he did, thought him going on some shepherd's errand. When the meaning of the youth's approach dawned on him, his rage knew no bounds. If ill words and abusive language could have frightened him, David would soon have fled the field.

What applause must have come from the Philistine host at the great words of their champion! How noble is David's reply to this torrent of abuse! In substance he says 'Not by might nor by power, but through God, I will do valiantly to-day; not for my own honour or glory, but to avenge the insult done to God and his people, I come to meet you.'

Then there is the swift run forward-the smooth stone slung; and lo! Goliath lies prone upon the earth! His sword for the first time is unsheathed and used to sever his head from his body.

And now it is Israel's hour of triumphnow is their turn to shout; as, by the simple faith and courage of a youth, God turned the captivity of His people.

MARGARET BLACK.

Bors in the school, as soldiers in the field, Have enemies to whom they must not yield: Let each fight manfully, and not give in, Till over all the victory he win.

-German Maxim.

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THE LAZY CORNER.

Recited by one of the boys at the Annual Soiree of a Country Sabbath School.

THERE is a place in ilka toun,

Weel kenn'd by a' the country roun', Whaur gathers every idle loon,

And it 's ca'd the Lazy Corner.

The Tippler comin' aff the spree,
The tradesman glad his wark to flee,
And the man wha has naething else to dae,
Gang to the Lazy Corner.

It's no a private place they choose,
Wha gather there to hear the news,
But the gable end o' ony hoose

Contents the Lazy Corner.

It's wonnerfu' the things they hear
Of a' that's happen'd, far and near-
Whether they're true's a sma' affair

T' the folks at the Lazy Corner.

The corner wi' ill news is rife-
Wha's sent to jail-wha 's threshed his wife-
Wha 's focht, and nearly took a life-
Is food for the Lazy Corner.

The clishmaclaivers o' the toun,
The gossip o' the country roun',
Tittle-tattle-that 's the soun'

Has charms for the Lazy Corner.

Oor Parliament gets some repose
Frae weary talk o' freens and foes,
But this Parliament can never close

That's held at the Lazy Corner.

Then, ilka body that gangs by
Maun stan' remarks-be 't lass or boy-
While winks, and nods, and glances sly

Mak' fun for the Lazy Corner.

Of course, it's richt that folk should talk-
But better, surely, tak a walk,
Or by the fireside ca the crack,

Than stan' at the Lazy Corner.

For in this busy life o' man,
Whase length can hardly reach a span,
It's surely wrang to idly stan'
At ony Lazy Corner.

R. L.

'CHINESE' GORDON.

HARLES G. GORDON is a soldier, and come of a race of soldiers. He was born at Woolwich 1833, so that he is now fifty-one years of age. He served in the Crimea and other places, but first came into public notice at the great Tai-Ping rebellion in China in 1863. A fanatical schoolmaster named Hung had attracted to his standard several hundred thousands of ferocious followers, and these speedily laid waste some of the fairest provinces of southern China. The regular troops despatched against them were defeated, and still the havoc went on.

At last the British Government were asked to appoint an officer to take command of the Chinese Imperialist forces, and they nominated Gordon. Here, then, we find our young officer of engineers with a small nucleus of 4000 men, seeking to stem this wide-spread rebellion. And he succeeded marvellously. Fort after fort was stormed, and city after city was taken, until at last the strength of the rebellion was broken and peace restored. In this war, which lasted nearly two years, Gordon was never defeated, and his army was named the ever-victorious.'

One secret of his success lay in his perfect coolness and bravery. He never carried a weapon himself, but merely a bamboo walking-stick, with which he headed his soldiers in their charges. No wonder his men called it Gordon's wand of victory.' It is related that once, as he was leading a storming party, his men wavered under a terrific fire, Gordon coolly turned round, stood still, and calmly lighted a cigar. He then waved his 'magic wand,' and his soldiers came on with a rush and carried the position.

The Emperor of China showered honours upon him, and presented him with a gold medal and £10,000. The honours he could not well decline, but the gold medal he afterwards sold in England, and gave the £10 he received for it as a subscription to the Manchester Cotton Famine Fund, while the £10,000 he divided among his