Among his school-fellows he was a great favourite in fact, he was the leader of his class. One of the gifts which made him so popular, was his power of telling stories. His companions used to meet together and wait for Davy's arrival. If a cart was at the place unused, Davy would get into it and delight his hearers with tales of wonders and horrors. The material for his narratives was got from books like the 'Arabian Nights,' and from old people who had a stock of stories. These Davy improved by his imaginative powers, and succeeded in charming his audiences.

When he began to make experiments in chemistry, his instruments were very few and simple. He had not the money to procure expensive articles. But with the means at his disposal he was able to cultivate and increase his taste for such studies; and although he had few advantages, his perseverance made his progress very rapid. Perseverance can conquer almost any

difficulties.

Davy, like all good men, showed a great love for his parents. His father died when forty-seven years old, leaving his wife to bring up five children. Humphry was the oldest, being sixteen years of age at that time. Seeing his mother's distress, he told her not to grieve, because he would 'Do all in his power for his brothers and sisters.'

Another event shows how cool and selfpossessed he was. A dog which seemed to be mad bit him in the leg. Knowing what an awful death such a bite sometimes causes, Davy cut out the part of flesh torn by the dog, and applied caustic to the wound. In this way his calmness probably saved his life, for otherwise the poison from the bite would likely have entered his blood.

The incident which led me to choose Davy as our example of a trustful boy, happened during his schooldays. The master was a good one, and showed by his conduct that he wished to treat the boys with kindness. He allowed them freely to use a particular room for play, and the scholars at last came to regard this room as their right. A poor man came to the

school one day asking help, and was found to be too ill to send away. The master put him into the play-room, and when the doctor visited him it was discovered that he was suffering from small-pox. Not wishing to alarm the boys, the master assembled them, and said that no one was to go near the room: he had a good reason for forbidding them, but as he could not tell them it just now, he hoped they would trust him. The boys were very curious to know the reason: some declared they had a right to the room, and were for forcing their way in. Davy opposed this. He said that their teacher had always been kind, and that they should trust him when he said he had a good reason for his command. By his firm stand, Davy won the day; and when the beggar recovered and the boys learned why they were excluded from the room, they felt the master was right, and that Davy had acted manfully in what he had done.

We have now reached the close of another year, and our series of Famous Boys' is at an end. Let us learn the lesson of great men's lives, and although we may not be great like them, we shall please our Father in heaven. Soon we

shall be starting on a fresh year; let us resolve to live in it with trust in our Master in heaven just as Davy trusted his master on earth. We know He loves us though at times He does not tell us why His treatment is sometimes hard to bear. Let us form the resolution which Davy wrote in a note-book :-'I have neither riches nor power, nor birth to recommend me; yet, if I live, I trust I shall not be of less service to mankind and to my friends than if I had been born with these advantages.' And in order that we may be able to do this, let us offer the prayer which our 'Famous Boy' in the November 'Dayspring,' John Kitto, offered exactly sixty years ago, on Jan. 1, 1821: Welcome, 1821! Though thy greeting is but rough (uncommonly cold), boding a year of as great events as thy predecessor, I pray God that, as I am conscious I have but ill performed my duty as an accountable being the preceding

year, and that my lot in life is but low, He will deign to look on the most humble of His creatures, and blot out of the book of His remembrance the sins I have committed heretofore; to endue me with fortitude to bear with resignation whatsoever misfortunes may yet assail me, and to enable me to resist temptation, the allurements of vice, and even my own thoughts when they lead to ill; and to enable me, if it be His pleasure, to drink the cup of misfortune to the very dregs, without repining; and, finally, through all my life to make me bear in mind that this life is but a probationary trial to fit us for a greater and a better state hereafter.'

J. M'M.

snows?

its daily gifts of love and hope-sometimes perhaps of sorrow? For who

knows how often its sorrows were the 'veiled angels' of God?

But only its happiness must fill our hearts as the Christmas time draws near. For Christmas commemorates that gift of God which is of all gifts the dearestthe gift of His great love.

'God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.'

So the people of all the Christian lands are glad at Christmas time. It is a time of gifts, and of love and good will.

It is especially a time to remember the poor with gifts. In the cold winter streets you pass them day by day, the poor, worn sad faces that have none to comfort them.

137

You are haunted by shrill little pitiful voices which you cannot turn into music, and by worn, pinched child lips which you cannot brighten to a smile.

I know how the first glimpses of bitter cold and want fall on the sensitive childheart that has never known either. I know the secret agony of tears which many a little one has shed because of some miserable starved face dumbly begging alms on the street. The little one wrapped from the cold had nothing to give but its sorrow.

Then give tenderness and pity if you have nothing else to give; do not fear to shed on the want-stricken face at least endearments from your eyes.

Never add the weight of a straw to one whom God has stricken by scorn or harshness or rudeness.

And if you have but a mite,give it with gentleness and courtesy-with the same sweet consideration you would give to one beloved.

For the poor have enough of sorrow, and the little poor children learn the hardness of life all too soon. And if you cannot give the help of the loaves and the fishes, perhaps you may at least shed some little trembling ray of possible love and loveliness from the kingdom of beauty and love.

God gives the violets and the roses, as well as the barley and the wheat, and touches our hearts as tenderly through the flowers as through the garnered grain.

But I only remind you of this to comfort you when you have nothing else to give; never to make you selfishly believe it is enough. Enough is a hard word which love can

never use.

'Love gives because it delights in giving. That is how God gives.'

So short a letter, and the last I shall write this year. Yet I think I have said nearly all. Little one, love and trust and may God bless us both and lead us safely home. Let us pray day by day, 'Keep us without sin, Jesus who died for us.'

'We do not ask Thy will to understand,
Our way to see;

Better in darkness just to feel Thy hand
And follow Thee.'

H. W. H. W.

138

EVE

WILLIE'S

PRAYER.

A little infant's earnest prayer
The Lord delights to hear;
And to the faintest whisper lends

A willing, gracious ear.

VERY day little Willie asks his mother to tell him a story from the Bible. One day not long ago, he took his usual place by his mother's sick-bed, with this request, made in his childish voice,

'Please, mother, tell me about little Samuel.'

His mother had been suffering from one of her bad headaches, ever since the morning, so that she was not able to kiss, or even to smile upon her dear little boy. She could only tell him in a faint voice, how badly her head ached, and beg him to go away.

Willie stood quite still for a few moments, and then said softly, 'Is the pain away now, mother?'

His mother opened her eyes, and answered, 'Yes, Willie; indeed the pain is quite away, but how came you to think it would be gone so soon?'

'Oh!' replied the dear child, smiling brightly, I was sure of it, because I asked God to take it away.'

'What did you say, Willie? I didn't hear you speak.'

'I just put my hands together, this way,' he answered, suiting the action to the word, 'and whispered as low as I could, "Please, God, make my dear mother's head better, for Christ's sake." I said it twice over, and I knew God would hear me, the same as He heard Hannah, though she did not speak out loud.'

Does any child think this story is too wonderful to be true?

To such I reply, it is quite true: the incident, just as I have related it, happened within the writer's own experience. And it is not at all wonderful; just look up your Bible (or if you are too young ask some one to do it for you). In its pages you will find many precious promises concerning prayer. I will write down a few of them here. This is what the apostle

James says: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.' And God speaks the following words, by the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, 'And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear.' And now listen to the words of Jesus-Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.' And besides these promises, the Bible contains many beautiful stories, proving God to be a hearer and answerer of prayer.

Dear readers of The Dayspring,' can you, like those faithful ones of old, or even like little Willie, take God at His word? He bids us call upon Him in the day of trouble. We tell our griefs to earthly friends, and although they may be powerless to relieve us, yet we feel their sympathy to be precious. How much better then must it be to take them to that strong heavenly Friend, who is able both to sympathize with, and help us! Jesus saysAll power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.' And there is nothing pleases Him more than to be asked to help us.

Perhaps some little reader may say,'Ah! but I am not good like little Willie; I am afraid God would not listen to me.'

Take courage, dear child; Willie is not good; like other children he has many, many faults.

But I will tell you how to pray, so that God will hear and answer you. First, you must consider, if what you are about to ask will be for God's glory and your own good. Second, you must be very earnest. Only think how earnestly Willie would ask God to help his beloved mother. Third, you must believe that God hears, and is willing to help you. Willie's faith was very strong; he felt not the slightest doubt, he knew that God would make his mother better.

And last, though not least, let all your requests be made in the name of Jesus, who hath said-'Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name He will give it you.'

One lays by His glory,
Stoops to die;

That is why the angels
Fill the sky

With their loud sweet singing;
Christ to die!

Nay, not tears, my darling,

Smile and pray!
"Twas the blessed Saviour
Came that day,

He who loves the children-
Smile and pray.

For He took them closely
In His arms;
Whom the dear Lord taketh
Know no harms;
Press thou closer, dear heart,
To His arms.

Do not fear to love Him,
List the bells!
Ringing through the valleys
Music tells

Earth the heavenly message,
List the bells.

High the lonely belfry,
Little one,

Keeps its Christmas music
Never done,

Till again He cometh,
Little one.

Why, my little trembler, Tremble so?

When He calleth softly
Thou wilt go

Glad as any birdling
Riseth so.

Sing to Christ the Saviour
Thy best song;
Pray that if He tarry
Very long,

He will keep both faultless—
Life and song.

139

H. W. H. W

PRIZE BIBLE QUESTIONS. IN the January number the result of this year's Competition in the Dayspring Bible Questions will be given, with names of the successful competitors. The editor is encouraged by the large number in his Dayspring Bible Class; and he trusts that those who have not been successful this year in obtaining a Prize will only be stimulated to greater diligence in the future. The study of God's Word is its own reward, and the persevering efforts of the boys and girls in searching the Scriptures will yet bear good fruit.

Arrangements are being made for a Com. petition during 1881, which will also be announced in the January Dayspring, and every effort will be made to render the magazine acceptable and useful to its many thousand readers.

Communications to be sent to the REV. JOHN KAY, 2 Cumin Place, Grange, Edinburgh.