neighbouring cell, Charney was able, through a microscope, to examine the beauties of his favourite! Love to those around the poor captive now filled his heart; his cherished plant told him not only of God's wisdom and power in the creation, but of the love He can put in the human breast; and when one of Picciola's treasured blossoms was sent to the daughter of his fellow prisoner, Charney felt how true it is, that it is more blessed to give than to receive.'

It would require a book, rather than a few pages in the Dayspring,' to tell you how, by a long chain of events, as it is called, the prison flower's history, and that of the lonely captive, were brought before the notice of the kind Empress Josephine, and Charney's release at length secured; for it was her chiefly, not Napoleon, that the Count had to thank. As he left the place where he had passed so many sad, dreary days, no wonder that he carried off in triumph, from the stony courtyard, the plant that had done so much for him. Picciola had taught the Count de Charney belief in God, love to his fellow creatures, trust in the kind Providence that watches over all, and hope for the future, when all this beautiful, yet sad, world shall have passed away.

Did not Picciola do her work, and teach the wise Philosopher?

CYPRUS.

IF any of our readers are in the habit of

reading the newspapers, they must have noticed a great deal lately about Cyprus. Perhaps the question has occurred, What is the meaning of all this? what have we to do with Cyprus?' Well, that is just what I am going to tell you. Most of you must have heard about the Empire of Turkey. The Turks are Mohammedans in religion, followers of the great false prophet Mahomet, who taught them to hate all who are not of that faith. Love your enemies' is a text which has no place in the Koran, the book which Mohammedans use instead of the Bible. Now, under the

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sway of the Sultan of Turkey are a great many people who belong to what is called the Greek Church, and these are very much oppressed by their rulers. A short time ago, Britain and Turkey signed a treaty, by which Britain gets the island of Cyprus and promises to help Turkey against her enemies, while Turkey has promised to govern her subjects better. That is why we have been hearing so much about Cyprus. Our close connection with that island will make us take much greater interest in its welfare for the future.

If you take an atlas, and turn to the map of Europe, you will find the island of Cyprus in the western part of the Mediterranean Sea, not far from the coast of Palestine. Its length is about 148 miles, and for two thirds of that distance it is about 40 miles broad. It has had many masters, and at one time was a well-peopled, prosperous island. The Cyprus of to-day, however, is a badly-governed, miserable island. Naturally fertile, the bad government of the Turks has led to its neglect, while the inhabitants, like most oppressed people, are poor and ignorant.

The Phoenecians, the great merchants of ancient times, were the earliest settlers in Cyprus. Next the Greeks got possession, followed by the Egyptians, Persians, and Romans. Then the Crusaders, under our own King Richard I., conquered it and held it for about three centuries. After a time, it fell into the hands of Turkey, and now the British flag floats over the Governor's house.

We hear of Cyprus several times in the 'Acts of the Apostles,' and some of the events which took place there are very interesting. If you turn to Acts xi. 19, you will get the first reference to Cyprus. There we learn that after the death of Stephen, a persecution arose which scattered the Christians abroad. Some of them, we read, 'travelled as far as Phenice and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. The enemies of Christianity thought that they could put it down by persecution, but here we learn that God made the persecution the very means of

welfare of an immortal soul. The Gospel triumphs! Paul, filled with the Holy Ghost,' struck the sorcerer blind, and the deputy doubted no longer, but believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.' There would be joy that day in heaven among the angels over the soul that had repented.

Again we read of another visit to Cyprus. In Acts xv. 39, we learn that Barnabas, along with John Mark, paid a second visit to his native country. Where was Paul? Alas, he and Barnabas had quarreled, and, taking different companions, had gone different roads. As Barnabas preached the Gospel to the islanders, -as he told them of Christ's love to the world, no doubt his last visit would recur to him with pain, when he thought of the different relation in which he stood to Paul. Then they were fellow-workers, now they had separated in anger. Let us learn from this, to keep our passions in check. When we are angry, we do not think how wrong it is to quarrel, but we will be sure to repent it afterwards. Life is far too short for us to have time to quarrel with each other.

Some time after this, a ship sailed past Cyprus. Perhaps no one noticed it, yet on board was the apostle Paul on his way to Rome (Acts xxvii. 4). No doubt he cast a last look at the fertile hills and luxuriant valleys. Well he might, for he was to see them no more. Paul only left Rome for

heaven. His work on earth was to end there.

Such are some of the events which have happened at Cyprus. Let us hope bright days are about to dawn for its inhabitants. Under British rule, may the fields again become covered with crops, and the hills with fruits. Above all, may the Gospel again thrive, showing to the disciples of Mahomet that there is a nobler religion still -the religion of Christ. God grant that righteousness, prosperity, and peace may prevail throughout the land.

'Come, blessed Lord, bid every shore
And answering island sing

The praises of Thy joyful name,
And own Thee as their King.'

J. M'M.

A SHIP ON FIRE.

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MISS MACPHERSON'S work and

labour of love among the homeless little wanderers in the streets and lanes of our cities, has made her name a household word on both sides of the Atlantic. Many years ago her touching stories of the little Match-sellers awakened much interest in these poor outcasts, and stirred many kind hearts to haste to their rescue. Since that

time thousands of neglected little ones have, through her influence and that of her friends, been rescued from the snares of Satan, and drawn into the fold of the good Shepherd. And she still carries on her noble mission.

Last May she crossed the ocean on her twenty-first voyage, taking with her fifty little ones to place in happy homes in Canada.

On Wednesday, the 8th of May, some friends met at St. Pancras, London, to commend Miss Macpherson and her little band to God, and to bid them good-bye. The children sang hymns and repeated verses which they had been taught at the Home: such as, God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life;' 'When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.'

Miss Macpherson was presented with a beautiful bouquet from the Flower Mission, encircled with the text, Under His wings shalt thou trust.'

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of whom have been taken to the County Infirmary. The vessel is on fire amidships, half of the watch in the forecastle and a number of the steerage passengers in the fore part being cut off from all help.

Much anxiety was felt regarding Miss Macpherson and her little band, till a telegram brought the good news that all were safe.

One of her party, a bright intelligent lad, thus described the accident in a letter to his mother:

'Neptune Hotel, Londonderry, May 11. 'Dear Mother,-Thank God we are safe in Ireland now. We had a dreadful shock on board the Sardinian yesterday about four o'clock. I was watching a man go down into the luggage department with a lantern, and he had not been down a minute before all round the lantern began to flare rapidly. In a moment I was blown on my back into the smoke and flames, and was struggling there for about a minute. It was pitch dark, and I was almost suffocated with smoke and flames, till at last I saw a little daylight come in through the flames, and I had the presence of mind to rush through them up on deck. I got a good deal of my hair singed, and my eyelashes were burnt off. My eyes are rather painful this morning, but nothing to speak of.

'I must tell you how God in His mercy saved us. We were stopping all day about half a mile off land, waiting for passengers. They heard the explosion on land, and soon sent small steamers from land to fetch the passengers off. They took us to Moville, and left us there for a little while, and then took us to the town of Derry. When we landed there we had kind friends come to meet us with oranges and biscuits, for we were very hungry. Then we went in 'buses to an hotel, where we had a nice supper, and got nice beds. A great part of the ship is burnt, and it is sinking fast; but, thank God, we are safe in Ireland now.

'I never was in such pain in my life as when I was in the flames struggling: it was a good thing God gave me such presence of mind to rush through; if I had not done this I should have been burnt to death. I am glad to tell you that they got our luggage out in time; if they had not we should have had to have gone back to England for more clothes and things for the boys. God always looks after his own people. Miss Macpherson prayed that we might have kind friends when we got to Derry, and we have got them. Your affectionate Son,

'ALFRED WALKER,'

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Miss Macpherson's own account of the scene is given in a letter to a friend. She says:

'On Friday afternoon we were all busy finishing our letters, and I intended to write one more and then go and spend an hour in the children's steerage, when presently there was a terrible sound heard as of a cannon, followed by a deadly stillness for two minutes; I rushed on deck and beheld a man jet black with soot, his hair burnt off, issuing from a gang-way near; then one of my own boys came, exclaiming, "Oh! Miss, I prayed to Jesus, and He saved Then the deck became a fearful scene of confusion of a still more serious character.

me.

"The scene of the disaster was very near to the children's sleeping berths; a very few yards off two women sat upon a box together, one was blown up into the air, the other driven she knew not whither; but late that night I came across her seeking a bed in Moville, and she told me that in those first terrible moments every sin she had ever committed came before her, and the one most awful was her having rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh! what our God can do in the twinkling of an eye !! by unbalancing a little breath of His own created air, then the stoutest hearted sinners quail.

'The brave passengers worked with a will, and, ere the dark came on, the beautiful Sardinian lay sunk in five fathoms of water to quell the smothering flames. Our song is overwhelming praise; we are full of gratitude and call upon all who love the cause of the destitute children to return hearty thanks to the loving Father. We commend ourselves and trust again to Him who has hitherto so wonderfully preserved us.

Surely none of these little ones, now safe in Canadian homes, will ever forget how wonderfully God preserved them on their voyage thither-how he saved them in the burning ship, and did not suffer the flames to injure one of them. Have we not been as wonderfully preserved?! We may never have been in a ship on fire, and may have no idea what such a scene is, but who kept us from such accidents? Who fed us and led us all our lives long?, Above all, who alone can save our souls from destruction? Let us all trust in God our Saviour, then, though fire or water should take away our lives, our souls will be safe in the arms of Jesus.