'WATCH now, Mary,' said Robert, as he threw a stone into the pond, from the wooden bridge on which the brother and sister were standing, 'watch how the circles come after the splash; there they are, how they get larger and larger, till now, that one is large enough to go from shore to shore, and then the water looks the same as ever.' 'But that was a large stone you threw in, Robert,' said Mary. Try if a little one would do the same;' and she lifted a tiny stone, and watched once more, as the waters closed over it. Yes, there they were, smaller circles to begin with, and the water less troubled than when Robert showed his throwing powers, but ripple after ripple could be traced to the edge of the pond. There now,' said Robert, 'it is all the same again, just as if it had never been stirred-how deep and still it looks!'

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I dont know,' said Mary, 'about its being quite the same, before and after throwing; I am not so sure of that.'

'Of course the two stones are lying at the bottom, if that is all you mean,' said Robert; and he ran to the end of the bridge, giving himself no further concern in the matter.

Mary slowly followed. Her mother had been telling her only the night before, of the harm she had done in the nursery, by some unkind words she had spoken, and of the gloom it had shed over the little company that had been quite happy before. That stone, thought Mary, thrown into the water, is something like my provoking temper last night. I made Robert and Annie, and Willie, quite unhappy, though we went on playing our game all the same; but Mamma saw something was wrong when she came in, and spoke of it, when she bade me good night.

'What are you dreaming about?' shouted Robert. He had been amusing himself, jumping off the end of the bridge, then hanging on by a long branch of a large tree that bent over the pond; but he was an active boy, and wished to be 'getting on'

now, as he called it. 'You know, Mary,' he added, as his sister slowly walked along, Tom and Fanny are coming this afternoon; I have promised Fanny a fine time of it on our new swing, and Tom is to bring his large ship; I have rigged out our little boat, for a sail on the pond.'

'Oh, delightful!' said Mary, and she quickened her steps to join her brother, the walk ending in a race home.

In the afternoon, the expected visitors arrived. 'Here we are,' said Tom, 'I think we are up to time, but you may thank me for that. I thought Fanny was never to be ready; girls do take such a time. That sash of hers has been tied and loosed and tied again, half a dozen times before nurse would let her alone.' 'Oh! Tom, such nonsense,' said Fanny, 'but never mind, now we are here. Come along, I am ready for the swing, Robert, or any thing else you like,' she added hesitating, for she saw a slight frown gathering on her brother's face-dont you like it, Tom?'-' Oh! well enough,' replied he, rather sulkily, but it is always that swing you are after. Here have I lugged along this great big ship, and it seems there's to be no use for it after all; but of course, you always have your own way; come along to the swing then,' and with the air of a martyr he laid down his ship on the summer house table, round which they were standing.

Silence fell on the little group. Little Annie and Willie, who had been thinking all morning of the fun they were to have in the afternoon, looked half afraid of their visitor, and were preparing to steal away and leave their elders to settle the matter as they liked. Fanny felt ashamed and indignant at her brother's rudeness, and Robert did not know which of his guests he should try to please. Mary's thoughts went back to her morning stroll. That speech of Tom's, she said to herself, is like the throwing of a stone into the water, and of course it makes a disturbance all round. I'll try another and see if I can bring back good humour amongst us. Fanny,' said she, in a pleasant voice, what would you think of coming for a little while to my

room? I have got a beautiful new work-box for a birthday present; it only came last Wednesday, and I should like to show it you. Robert and Tom will be going down to the pond and getting the ships launched by the time we are ready-it takes a while to get all right.'

Oh yes, Fanny, do come' said little Annie, her face brightening, and I'll shew you my lovely new doll, its eyes open and shut; it is so pretty.''Well, remember,' said Robert, we must not stay too long at the pond, for I must keep my word to you, Fanny, and give you a real, right, good turn at the swing. What do you say to the plan, Tom? the sun is shining beautifully on the water just now, and the white sails will show off splendidly.'

Was not Tom in his heart thoroughly ashamed of his sulky conduct? but he put the best face upon things, and with an effort answered pleasantly enough, 'O yes, thank you, Mary;' then anxious to do something to make his unkind speech be forgotten, Willie,' he said, 'would you like to come with Robert and me? I dare say you would like it better than going with them.'

the

Willie felt two or three inches taller when he marched off with two 'big' boys, as he thought them. Mary saw complete success of her effort, and felt happy in having made others so. The afternoon passed most pleasantly; there was time for the swing after 'the regatta,' as Tom chose to call the pond expedition, and when he and Fanny left, they made their young friends promise that they would not be long of returning the visit.

That night, Mary, as she lay down in her little bed and talked a while with her mother, as she always did before falling asleep, could not but tell of the effort she had made to profit by the gentle reproof given her the night before, and her meditations at the pond in the morning.

'Yes, Mary, you are right,' said her mother, we all have "Influence," as we call it; some more, some less. Just as the stone cannot help the circles coming in the water, enlarging and widening as it spreads;

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so, even a child, by her words and conduct, cannot help doing good or doing harm all round; if she does not do the one she is certain to do the other. Each effort honestly made for the good of others gives you the power of doing more, and leads those around you to follow your example, so that no one can calculate how much happiness may spring from such an attempt. Our Saviour's words, 'Occupy till I come,' are for a child as well as for grown-up people; and they mean, amongst other things, that we should use every opportunity we have of making others happier and better. I shall be glad if this morning's walk and the afternoon's enjoyment have taught my little girl a lesson she will not soon forget.'

LITTLE JOHNNIE, AND WHAT HE BECAME.

K.

often put by young people, when a story has been told them by a friend or companion. To satisfy the minds of the many young readers of the Dayspring' on this point, I begin my little sketch, by saying that it is a true story; and further, that little Johnnie'-little no longer-is yet alive, and may himself read this short sketch of his interesting life.

Little Johnnie was born a good many years ago in one of the largest and busiest towns in Ayrshire. His parents, though not poor, yet moved in the humble ranks of life. But whilst they could not boast of worldly wealth, they rejoiced in the possession of heavenly treasure,-for God was their Father, Christ their Saviour, and heaven their eternal home.

When but a very little fellow, Johnnieor little Johnnie, as he was generally called-went to live in one of the quiet, beautiful towns, in the Firth of Clyde,his father requiring to go there in search of health, which had failed him when quite a young man. In that quiet little town Johnnie spent a good many years; learning at school what was to help him in

the future; and receiving from his father, who was his almost constant companion, much precious instruction concerning God and divine truth.

When but seven or eight years old, little Johnnie expressed a wish to be a minister; and on the Sabbath evenings he converted his father's arm-chair into a pulpit; and with his father for precentor, and his mother for congregation, he conducted service something like what he saw in church on the earlier part of the day. I do not know what his sermons were like, as none of them have been published; but they seemed to give the utmost satisfaction to both preacher and hearers. But as he grew older, he grew less inclined for the ministry; until at length he gave up all idea of it, and resolved to become a merchant.

When about eighteen years of age, he was sent to Edinburgh to act as assistant in a large warehouse there; and for some years he remained at his post learning and mastering all the details of the business. Among the large number of young men who were employed in the establishment, were several who cared very little for religion and religious people, and who were not at all backward in giving utterance to their opinions.

Johnnie-or John, as we shall now call him-tried at first to turn a deaf ear to their evil words; but finding he could not escape hearing what they said, he tried to argue the matter with them, and convince them that they were wrong. This, however, was no easy matter for so young and inexperienced a lad; and before long he was not only silent when they spoke, but even acquiesced in some of their false and irreligious opinions.

Little by little was he drawn away from the path of truth; but he was not allowed to leave it without many a struggle and many a tear. Every week brought him a letter from home, full of loving counsels and words and wishes; and as he there read how that morning and evening he was brought before God in prayer by his parents, who ceased not to ask that the

Lord would guide and keep him, he has burst into tears, and falling on his knees, has asked his father's God to be his God, and his mother's Saviour to be his Saviour; and has then gone off to his day's work, with its trials and temptations, resolved that he would boldly and faithfully walk in the way of God's commandments. But he trusted too much to his own strength and determination; therefore it is not to be wondered at that he was too weak to resist the wiles of the tempters by whom he was daily surrounded. Thus he was not long in their company until his good impressions and resolutions vanished, and he became as sceptical and indifferent as before.

For a time he maintained an outwardly religious character, he could not all at once become irreligious and profane.

Shortly after settling down in Edinburgh, he had become a Sabbath School teacher; and for a good while took a deep interest in that work; but now he felt it to be irksome and unpleasant, and accordingly found an excuse for giving it up.

He still, however, was pretty regular in his attendance at church on the Sabbath day; but by and by it also came to be neglected, and instead of going with the others to worship God, he frequently spent the day with ungodly companions in pleasure or idleness.

During the week he often spent his evenings at the theatre, and other places of giddy and sinful amusement, and was rapidly forgetting God. But God had not forgotten him; nor had his pious parents (who were quite ignorant of the sad change which had taken place in their son) ever forgot to bring him before the Lord in earnest prayer.

Still did their loving letters come to him with the greatest regularity; but instead of their contents bringing him to his knees, as they often did at first, they seemed to make him more hardened, more careless, more defiant, than before. He had deliberately put from him God; and would have been well pleased, had there been no God at all. He seemed like a piece of wreck tossed

about on the angry waves,-seeking rest, yet finding it not.

Being in a bookseller's shop one day, he met with two young men,-one of whom had been at school with him,-who were rejoicing in Jesus Christ their Saviour. They entered into conversation, which speedily took a religious turn; and on his old school-fellow asking him about his soul, he replied with words of ridicule and scorn. So amazed was the young man at the unexpected answer, that almost without knowing what he did, he struck John a smart blow on the cheek with his open hand, by way of rebuke for his unholy words. So unexpected was the blow, that John remained speechless for a few seconds; and when at length he did recover himself, without a word he left the shop, full of wrath at the insult he had received.

The young man who inflicted the blow has long since gone to his reward in heaven; but he never knew the result which that blow was to have, that it was to be a means of leading a soul to Jesus.

For a long time did the recollection of that supposed insult rankle in John's mindmaking him the more determinedly to oppose and neglect the cause of Christ, and the welfare of his precious soul.

God's time for arresting and saving this wandering sheep had now arrived; and the manner in which it was accomplished was strange and unexpected. Having occasion to visit a distant town on business, John determined to spend the first evening at the theatre, where a very celebrated actor was to perform. Whilst on his way to that scene of amusement and gaiety, he had to pass a church, into which many people were going to worship God. He stopped and hesitated. Shall I turn in here, or shall I go on? was a question which he asked himself more than once, ere he resumed his walk. No, he said at last; I shall go on and see the play. And accordingly he proceeded some distance, when he again stopped, and asked the same

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question as before. A great struggle was going on within his breast;-a mighty battle was being fought in that busy streeta battle all unknown to the many who passed him by. His father's prayers, his mother's love, the voice of conscience, and the Holy Spirit, all urged him to go back and spend his evening in the worship of God; whilst the devil, his evil heart, the thought of his ungodly companions, all urged him to go forward and enjoy himself amid the merriment and laughter of the theatre. After a stern, inward conflict, he resolved to go back; and retracing his steps, he quietly entered the (to him) strange church, took his seat, feeling almost ashamed at being there and dreading lest any of his companions should come to know of his strange adventure. But the Spirit of God was working that evening very mightily; and before the service was finished, poor John was in a state of great distress and alarm about his state as a sinner. So thoroughly was he convinced of sin, so earnestly did he long for salvation, that fearing lest if he returned home, all his good impressions would pass away, he wrote to his employers asking for a few days' leave of absence; and before these had expired, John was enabled to cast himself upon the sinner's Saviour, and was now rejoicing in Christ the

Lord.

On his return to Edinburgh, he sought out one or two Christian young men with whom he had before been acquainted. He informed them of the great change that had taken place in him; and asked their help, advice, and prayers, that so he might the better be enabled to be true to his God.

Nor was it long before his old companions knew of the change. The news that Johnnie was converted, spread rapidly amongst them; and when charged with it. he boldly replied that it was true, and lovingly and earnestly spoke to them about their souls, and urged them to give their hearts to Jesus. His words, however, were invariably met with ridicule; and many were the efforts put forth to entrap him

into evil, and get him to act in an inconsistent manner,

Often and often has he gone home to his lodgings with a heavy and sad heart. Again and again has he resolved not to speak to them any more about their souls. But the fire of Christ's love burned strong within him; and so soon as a fresh opportunity was afforded him, he began to speak about Jesus, and repentance and conversion, to all who would listen. Having so long been ashamed of Christ in the past, he was resolved, by God's grace, to confess and commend Christ everywhere; and in many ways and in different places he told out the simple story of the cross; and declared, with burning tongue and glistening eye, what great things the Lord had done for him. And the Lord prospered him. One and another and another were brought to trust in Jesus through his efforts; and many of these, like him, are this day telling out to others the good news of salvation. So greatly did the Lord bless his work, that acting on the advice of several Christian friends, he entered the University, in order to be trained for the work of the ministry.

For several years little Johnnie has been a minister of the gospel, and has been greatly used of God in leading both young and old to Jesus.

He blesses God for a praying father and mother; and attributes his conversion to their prayers and holy life.

He often speaks of the slap on the face received in the bookseller's shop, and says that it was about the first thing that really made him think of himself as a sinner while living far from God.

Very much more might be written about Johnnie; but what has been given will, I trust, be blessed to many of the young readers of the Dayspring.'

If you have parents who love Jesus, then thank God for them; ever obey them; and seek to make their hearts glad by giving yourselves to Jesus now in the days of your youth. By so doing you shall ensure happiness to yourselves in this world, and in the world above.

J. W.