in, lift me in." When he seemed as if he was in, he lifted up both hands; and when he could no longer lift them up he asked his father and mother to hold them up, and then he cried "Victory! victory! vic"-with the last breath he drew upon earth. At seven o'clock on the Lord's-day, June, 18—, his happy spirit forsook its clay tenement, and arose, we trust, to join the church triumphant in the service and enjoyment of an eternal sabbath. His father and mother humbly fell on their knees, and ascribed all the glory to God for such a son; and prayed that God would give them grace to train up their remaining children in the way they should go, that their end might also be peace. Youthful reader! remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth. Seek the Lord while he may be found; look unto Jesus for pardon and salvation; and so honour him on earth, that you may reign with him in heaven for ever! Barton-under-Needwood. S. S. A BLOSSOM OF EARLY PIETY. WHEN the earth is full-dressed in its garments anew, But lovelier far are the blossoms of grace, We once had a blossom, but it faded soon, By faith we behold him transplanted above, GOD EVERYWHERE. WHITHER, ah! whither can I fly, If up to heaven I take my flight, Or if from thence my way I wend, If on the wings of morn I ride, Thou, Lord, art there! If on the arctic shores I land, Yet art Thou there! If to the caverns of the deep I dive, which richest treasures keep Where'er I be, where'er I go, If to the lands of endless snow, Or where the gentle zephyrs play, I find God near! Holbeach. Or if I think the gloom of night His eyes can pierce the deepest gloom, Then long as I shall sojourn here, A. H. Burnley. BEAUTIFUL THINGS. A PLEASANT look and cheerful mien. A platform broad enough for all. A christian with an earnest soul. A pastor in the widow's cot. A widow happy with her lot. A Bible on the table spread.' A father sitting at the head. J. B. ORIGINAL PIECES WRITTEN BY THE YOUNG. THE BIBLE. BEFORE the invention of printing, Bibles, and indeed all books, were very scarce. Bibles were not always printed, as they are now, but were written on rolls of parchment. The Jews called the scriptures the lesson; they divided it into three parts, the law, the prophets, and the psalms. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek. The first attempt at translating the bible into Saxon is generally ascribed to Cædmon, a monk, in the seventh century. In the eighth century Adhelm translated the Psalms, and about the same time the Venerable Bede translated the four Gospels. The Bible was not always divided into chapters and verses as it is now, but was divided about the year 1220 by Stephen Langton, archbishop of Canterbury. A bible then was very precious, costing upwards of a £100. In some places a bible was chained in some secure place in the church, so that the people might go and read it, without any fear of its being taken away. About the year 1378, Wickliffe translated the whole Bible into English; it did a great deal to enlighten the people's minds; but it could not circulate all over the land, as it is now, one of his New Testaments costing above £40. After the invention of printing Bibles became much cheaper. The Bible they had then was not the same translation as that we have now. The Bible in use now is a translation which was made in the time of James the First. He appointed fifty-four learned men to make a new translation. They were divided into six parties, each party having a separate portion to translate. After they had translated it, they met together; one of them read the new version, all the rest holding in their hands a copy of the old one. When any thing was observed the reader was stopped; when they had considered, and agreed on it, he went on. It was three years in completing; it began in 1607, and was finished in 1610. We should be thankful to God that we can now have a copy of the Bible for a few pence. We should remember that there are many people in distant lands who are now without the Bible, and we should try do all we can in order to send Bibles to them. Derby. J. T. A. TO MY FRIEND ON HER BIRTHDAY. JUST fifteen years have passed away, Since thy first happy natal day, When the tender beams of thy mother's eye, Kindly fell on thy infant face, Which lay enclosed in her warm embrace. It's incense wafted to the sky; |