that they are bairns. There was, first of all, the long drive through the moor in the delicious summer sunshine, where we thought we saw adders springing out of the heather, and certainly we did hear the wild scream of the curlew, as well as the curious low call of the plover; while, from the more cultivated meadow-land, larks were rising right up into the clear blue sky, ringing out their most melodious song. Then when we got to the end of the journey, and had received a pleasant welcome from friends now no more in this world, the long summer day seemed only too short in which to explore the wonders and delights of the farm steading. After the barn, the mill, and the different sheds had been duly visited, the horses, cows, dogs, cats, and poultry, came in for their share of attention, while the stack-yard was a playground that we never wearied of; and many a merry game at hide and seek we had there, as we chased each other round the stacks every now and again, coming to such unexpected meetings as to cause shouts of gay laughter.

On this particular visit, in some of our wanderings, little cousin John fell into a wet ditch, from which he came up with a due complement of mud. James G

our young host, himself a child of not over ten years, but looked up to by us young ones as a big boy, far from making fun of the accident, came forward so kindly, and having rubbed off the mud as well as he could, tried by gentle words to soothe the ruffled spirits of the younger boy; for you know it is not a pleasant thing to get tumbled in a ditch; and so we were all happy again. Long since, James Gwas called to leave his earthly home for a place in the many mansions of heaven; but this gentle deed of the kindly lad has outlived him, and is a fresh, green spot in the memory of his life.

And now, just one other advice in closing. We are to be kind to everybody; not only to the people we love, and who love us. There are no limitations in the grand commandment, Be ye kindly affectioned one towards another.' The rich

are to consider the poor, but the poor have also certain duties towards the rich; the weak are not without the strong, any more than the strong without the weak. Try then, my young friends, now in your early years, to be ministering children'; ever keeping in remembrance that in this we are not alone; the Master is with us, for we read that 'even Jesus pleased not himself.'

A. W.

THE GOLD PIECE AND THE HALFPENNY. (A FABLE.)

(Translated from 'Le Rayon de Soleil.")

ONCE

at the Mint where gold, silver, and copper coins are made-two new pieces lay side by side on the same table. The one was a beautiful gold piece, and the other a common copper halfpenny. Both of them shone in the sun. But the gold coin said to the halfpenny: 'Keep at a distance, I pray thee. Thou art only base metal, unworthy to reflect the rays of the sun. Thou wilt soon be all black; and if thou fallest on the ground, no one will take the trouble to pick thee up. As for myself, on the contrary, I am made of precious gold. I shall travel through the world in the company of princes; I shall attain to a high destiny. Who knows, but I may one day shine in the tiara of an Emperor !'

Now, what happened was precisely the opposite of what the proud coin predicted. For the gold piece fell into the hands of an old miser, who locked it up in an iron box, where, with hundreds more, it lay useless. And when the miserable proprietor became very old, he dug a deep hole in the earth, into which he put his treasure, in order that no one might be able to take it from him. The ambitious coin by this time must have become tarnished and mouldy, and probably no one will ever discover the place where it is hid.

But the good common halfpenny travelled through the world, and did much work. First, one employed in the Mint received it among his wages. He carried it straight home, and showed it to his little

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sister, who was so delighted with it that he made her a present of it. The child ran to the garden to her mother, and saw a poor lame beggar, who asked a morsel of bread. 'I have none,' said the child.

Please give me a halfpenny to buy some,' said the cripple.

The child gave him the halfpenny. The beggar went halting along to the baker's. At the very time when he reached the shop, one of his friends passed. This was a man in the dress of a colporteur. He gave pretty picture books to a little group of children, who in return dropped their halfpennies and pennies into. his money box.

"Where are you going thus furnished?' said the beggar to his friend.

'I am going a long journey to a foreign town. I am going to redeem my brother, who has fallen into the hands of the Turks, who have made him a slave. It will require a large sum, and this is why I am gathering pennies.'

"Take mine,' said the cripple; and he gave his halfpenny to the traveller. He would have gone away without getting anything to eat, if the kind baker, having heard all, had not given him the bread he was now unable to buy.

Now, the traveller went through the country, then he crossed the sea, and at last arrived among the Turks. After praying to God, he went to the palace of the Sultan, who kept his brother in slavery, and offered him the sum for his ransom. But the Sultan asked more.

'I have no more,' replied the traveller, 'except this halfpenny, which was given me out of pure compassion by a poor starving beggar. If you would be moved by the same pity as he was, you shall have this coin with pleasure.'

The Sultan took compassion on the man, and gave his brother his freedom. Then he put the money, including the halfpenny, into his pocket, and soon forgot all about it.

Now, after some time, the Emperor of Germany fought against the Sultan, who commanded his own troops, and fought

bravely without ever being wounded. One day, however, an arrow, sent with great force, struck his breast on the right side, but immediately rebounded without piercing his clothes. The Sultan was much surprised; and after the battle, he discovered that the large halfpenny in his pocket had received the arrow, and made it rebound. After this the Sultan prized the coin so much, that he had it attached, by a little gold chain, to the sheath of his sword.

Some time after the Sultan was made prisoner, and obliged to give up his sword to the Emperor, who thus became possessor of the halfpenny.

One day, at table, the Empress expressed a wish to see the sword of the Turk. It was brought; and as the Emperor was showing it to his wife, the large halfpenny came off, and fell into the goblet of wine, which he was about to drink. Before drinking it, he took out the halfpenny, and was surprised to see it covered with a green coating. Every one knew by this that there was poison in the goblet. A meanspirited servant had put poison in the Emperor's wine, hoping thus to kill him. The murderer was executed, but the halfpenny was enshrined in the crown of the empire.

Thus the poor copper piece delighted a child, procured bread for a poor man, delivered a brave man from slavery, protected a Sultan from being wounded, and preserved the life of an Emperor. Did it not deserve its reward?

M. T. S.

king of England, he saw that some

safe place of retreat would be of great value to him and his followers-a strong fortress in which they could resist any sudden attack of the Saxons. Choosing a site in the centre of London, on the north bank of the Thames, he built a square tower three stories high. The walls were thirteen feet thick, and there were four watchtowers at the top. On the flat roof between these turrets was a large cistern

This edifice, which is still known as the White Tower, was the beginning, and still is the centre building, of the Tower of London. William Rufus added various others, and surrounded the whole by a strong wall and a broad ditch, called a fosse, thus making it a place of great security. Many alterations and improvements have been made on this fortress since that time; and it has been used for various other purposes besides those for which it was originally

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designed. Each of the towers has a history of its own.

The Tower of London is still used as a secure receptacle for the most valuable possessions of the kings and queens of England. The Jewel House, a well guarded room in the tower, contains St. Edward's crown, made for the coronation of Charles II. and used for all the sovereigns since his time; the new state crown, made for the coronation of Queen Victoria, and valued at more than £100,000; the Royal Sceptre, Queen's Sceptre, and many other costly possessions. The famous Koh-i-noor, or mountain of light, the wonderful diamond which once belonged to Runjet Singh, chief of Lahore, and now belongs to Queen Victoria, is also kept in the Jewel Room.,

The Royal Armoury, in the tower, is a place of great interest. Many ancient suits of mail are to be seen there. One which is said to have been worn by Prince Edward, is gilt throughout, and differs from all the others in having coverings of mail even for the feet. This was rendered necessary by the eagerness of the Saracens to discover any unprotected part of body on which their lances might take effect.

Many of the kings of England have occasionally resided within the tower of London. But it is not as a palace, but as the state prison of England, that the deepest and most terrible interest belongs to the tower. Of the many illustrious persons who have been imprisoned there, we would only name Wallace, the Scottish Patriot, who was led from its walls to be cruelly executed; Chaucer, the father of English poetry, who was confined there for three years; Sir Walter Raleigh; Lord William Russel; and the youthful Lady Jane Grey, whose memory will ever be fondly cherished by British Protestants. When only sixteen years of age, this amiable; gentle and pidus girl, was persuaded, much against her own wish, to accept the crown of England, on the death of her cousin, Edward VI. Only nine days had she been queen, when she was imprisoned and condemned to die, and after seven months she was executed.

But Lady Jane Grey was a child of God, and while awaiting the sentence of death, the Lord was her strength, a strong tower in which she found safety.

In a letter to her father, written shortly before her death, she says, "To you, perhaps, it may seem woeful: yet to me there is nothing can be more welcome, than from this rule of misery to aspire to that heavenly throne with Christ my Saviour; in whose steadfast faith (if it may be lawful for the daughter so to write to the father) the Lord continue to keep you, so at last we may meet in heaven.'

The copy of the New Testament in Greek, which Lady Jane Grey read in the prison, is still preserved; and on a blank leaf at the end, these last words to her sister are written:

the

'I have here sent to you, my dear sister Catherine, a book, which, though it be not outwardly trimmed with gold or curious embroidery of the artfullest needles, yet, inwardly, is more worth than all the precious mines the vast world can boast of. It is the book, dear sister, of the law of the Lord, His Testament and last will, which he bequeathed to us wretches, which shall lead you to eternal joy.'

'Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit,' were the last words she uttered. Is not such faith in the Lord Jesus, a more precious possession than all the costly jewels which are treasured with such care in the Tower of London?

How precious is the Book divine,
By inspiration given!
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine
To guide our souls to heaven.

M. T. S.

It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts
In this dark vale of tears;
Life, light, and joy it still imparts

And quells our rising fears.

This lamp, through all the tedious night
Of life shall guide our way,
Till we behold the clearer light
Of an eternal day.