He was received by Ferdinand and Isabella with honours such as never before were paid to any but the highest nobles. With a warm simplicity, he told of all he had seen, and how he had found a people who seemed by their habits and dispositions waiting to receive Christianity.

When Columbus had ceased speaking, the king and queen fell on their knees, while the strains of We praise Thee, O God' burst with solemn gladness from the choir of the royal chapel.

After this, Columbus had still a long history, now slandered and disgraced, and now covered with honours. He returned to the new country. Because of some false representations he was brought back in irons to Spain. The captain of the ship would fain have relicved his prisoner. But Columbus would not permit him, preferring to wear his chains as the badge of what he suffered. He made one more voyage, and then came home to die; his health was broken by hardship, and his spirit saddened by ingratitudes.

Gently and trustfully he died among his own people on the 20th of May, 1506. He was buried at Vallodolid, with great splendour by the king-the king who had slighted his old age, and who sought thus to make vain amends. In 1796, his remains were carried to Cuba, where now they rest quietly in the Cathedral Church at Havanna.

'WEE JOHNNIE.'

H. W. H. W.

HAD never seen him, never spoken to him, and yet, as the 18th of each month came round, there were the 'Dayspring Bible Class Questions' sent in by Wee Johnnie,' with the utmost regularity, and all correctly answered. The fact that they were dated from the Edinburgh Hospital for Incurables, gave them always a touching interest, and set me to wondering who my youthful correspondent might be. A few days ago I addressed a brief note to the lady who had kindly written out the answers for him, intimating my purpose to send him a book at Christmas, in token

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of sympathy for the little invalid, and in appreciation of his loving study of the Word of God. When the lady called upon me, it was to intimate that wee Johnnie' had died a few days before my letter reached her. During this visit I gathered the following facts, which cannot fail to interest my youthful readers.

6

Wee Johnnie was a fatherless and motherless child, sent originally to the Ragged School. From this institution he was transferred to the Sick Children's Hospital, and after a year's sojourn there, to the Hospital for Incurables, where he died on Sabbath, Nov. 17, aged little more than eleven. Miss S. (a young lady who visits regularly the last-mentioned Hospital) had, about the beginning of this year, taken along to the sick child a copy of the 'Dayspring,' together with other periodicals which might be supposed to interest him. The Questions' seemed to have struck him as something that might wile away the weariness rising out of a hopeless disease-viz., partial paralysis and affection of the spine. Lying upon his back in his little cot, the answers were written on a slate, and were copied in ink by his kind friend, who charged herself with posting them. The pleasing excitement connected with finding out the answers, the hope that the end of the year would bring him the expected reward, and the loving interest taken in him by his visitor, all tended to keep the child anxiously at work. And while thus wiling away the weary hours, he was not unmindful of the needs of others. His little mission-box contained, at his death, four shillings and elevenpence, gathered by him for missionary purposes. But I shall best tell Johnnie's story by the following interesting letter, written in answer to Miss S.'s enquiries.

"The Hospital, Edinburgh. 'My dear Miss M. Shand,-In accordance with your request, I gave Mr Kay's kind letter to Nurse Stewart to read. She was delighted with it, and was so pleased with Mr K.'s thoughtful kindness for poor wee Johnnie. She has little to tell about Johnnie further than you already know. He took constant and delighted interest in writing out the Answers

to the Questions for the "Dayspring." He was, as you know, patient and gentle and obedient; though Nurse says he never shewed disobedience or an unruly will, except when she had to give him his medicine. Then he shut his mouth firmly, and refused to take any; but it always ended by his giving way to her persuasions, and manfully swallowing the dose with a gulp and a shiver! He was particularly careful in never allowing self-indulgence to overcome him by partaking of sweetmeats or fruits, or anything that Nurse said would do him harm! (The same can't always be said of many older invalids!) And he was always grateful for any little kindness done for him-dividing anything he got with little Davie, of whom he was very fond. His bearing towards "Davie" was more as if he had been an elder brother, or a very much older person than he was. His wisdom was far beyond his years --probably from the fact of his being so much in the society of grown up persons, and from reading " grown up" people's books. He was all along an immense favourite with everybody -his patient, pale face and wistful blue eyes were irresistible. He was particularly fond of music (the musical box afforded him much pleasure), and flowers gave him great delight; and nothing gave Johnnie more pleasure than to receive a new book. He bore all his pain very patiently, never once murmuring or being fretful. In the Red Home boys at Musselburgh he took special interest; said he would have liked to have been one of the number, they "looked so nice and happy in their Cartes!" He had very many friends in the country as well as in town. A little boyRobert Graham-at Rescobie School-house, wrote him frequent little letters during the summer, telling Johnnie of his rabbits and pigeons, and of how much he (Bobbie) wished Johnnie were able, like him, to enjoy all the fun and games. Johnnie liked having Robert's letters of "country life.'

Shortly before he died, Johnnie said, "Oh! Nurse, kiss me," and, "Oh, don't go awaydon't leave me.' ." He died peacefully, like an infant falling asleep-went home on a beautiful Sabbath morning to join the angels in singing the sweet name of Jesus.'

Israel's king, a shepherd boy

Gazing on the 'starry frame,' Tuned his harp in glad employ

To that great and glorious Name;
Fired with wonder, full of praise,
Framing his immortal lays,
'Babes and sucklings' caught the glow
From that minstrel long ago.
Little children of to-day,
Joyfully His grace adore,
Whom the sun and stars obey

In their cycles evermore.
Praise His wisdom, bless His love,
Shining all His works above;
Trust his mercy, stooping low
To redeem us long ago.

When awakes that happy time
Which the waiting church desires;
Children then of every clime

Still shall swell the choral choirs.
Higher yet their song shall float,
Sweeter than a seraph note;

While no change thy heart shall know, Gracious listener long ago.

Η

A NEW YEAR'S WISH.

J. K. MUIR.

OH may we one day sinless meet

In Jesu's righteousness complete! Read o'er the tale of time, and see, Each for himself, t'was well for me: Well, every cross and throbbing sorrow; Well, the conceal'd and dark to-morrow; Well, the wish thwarted, and the smart, The hopes deferred that wrung the heart; The blighted view, the failing stay That swept the reeds of earth away! Well, yes; oh well, if found at last Saved from the tempest's howling blast, Landed beyond the swelling tide, Saved in the cleft of Jesu's side.

A. R.

Why, and by whom, was the first temple destroyed? 2 Chron. 36. 11-21.

ANNOUNCEMENT.

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temple typify? 1 Cor. 3. 11. 1 Pet. 2. 5-8.
(1 Kings 5. 17, 18.)

What should be the chief theme of our songs
of praise? Psa. 118. 21-24; 98. 1-3.
What temple ought we all to be building?
Eph. 2. 20-22. 1 Cor. 3. 12-16.

Jan. 12.-THE DEDICATION. Ezra 6. 14-22. Memory verses: 19-22. Golden Text. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

Hag. 2. 9. What prophets encouraged the Jews to build the temple? Ezra 6. 14.

In what respect was the second temple more glorious than the first? Mal.3.1. Luke 2.46. What did the dedication of this house signify? 1 Kings 9. 3. (Rom. 12. 1.)

What may we learn from the rejoicing of the people at the dedication of the temple? Psa. 100. 2. Neh. 8. 10.

Neh. 2. 20.

Golden Text.-The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build. Who was Nehemiah? Neh. 1. 1-3, 11. What does the expression, we His servants, imply concerning Nehemiah and his com panions? Josh. 24. 24. Acts 27. 23. What work for God had they undertaken? Neh. 2. 5, 17, 18. (Psa. 51. 18.) Why did Nehemiah believe that God would prosper this work? Neh. 2. 4, 8. Psa. 37. 5. What did his confidence in God enable him to do? 1 Cor. 15. 58.

Bible Class was commenced, and during that time abundant evidence has been given that the spirit of healthy competition among the young has led to their better acquaintance with the Word of God. As month by month the Answers came in, they were found to possess all the fascination of a personal acquaintance with hundreds of young people, whose faces the Editor had never seen, but whom he could picture to himself in quiet nooks and corners of many Christian homes, searching the Scriptures. He could fancy the joy which spread over the countenance when the passage, long sought for, was at length discovered; or the look of puzzled perplexity when two or three passages seemed to meet the requirements of the Question.

In order to give variety to the work set before the youthful readers of the ' 'Dayspring,' it is deemed advisable to change the Bible Class into an Essay-Writing Class. A subject for Essay will be given out twice during the year, and a first and second prize will be awarded in July and December. In order that competitors may not be discouraged, it is resolved that the same competitor shall not receive a first prize more than once during the year. In the event of the competitor who has once secured a first prize being a second time successful, the name of such competitor shall be published in the 'Dayspring,' and a certificate of merit shall be awarded. In all cases, save that abovementioned, the prizes shall consist of BOOKS. The competitors must not be above 15 years of age. The subject of Essay for this half year is

'How can the young best advance the cause of "Total Abstinence" from Intoxicating Drink.'

The Essays, accompanied by a sealed note giving the name and address of the competitor, must be addressed to the Editor of the Dayspring,' 11 Teviot Row, Edinburgh, and reach him not later than the 31st of May, 1879.