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heart: “Friend,” said He, "wherefore art thou come?" Think you that the Saviour meant this epithet only by way of compliment? or do you not think that even then, if the recreant heart had been thrilled with real penitence, the merciful Lord would have accorded a hearty pardon? Look how it was with Balaam. "The inspiration of the Almighty had endued him with " a wonderful "understanding." He had evidently an enlightened conscience; there were with that man remarkable strivings by the Divine Spirit; he knew and approved the better course if he followed worse. Whatever is meant besides, manifestly the angelic agent was sent to throw obstacles in the way to ruin. Yet he pushed on, little by little, one step after another, till he had grieved the Spirit of God beyond recall. In savage despair of accomplishing the ruin of Israel any other way, he makes his abominable suggestion. Baal-peor accomplishes what all the magic, all the hostile forces of their enemies combined, all the strategy of their foes together could not effect; it brought on Israel the displeasure of their God. But Balaam, the son of Beor, is slain with the sword.

At last among the enemies of Jehovah avowedly and finally, in death clearly, as really he had been in life! Of how many may that be true who, equally with Balaam, fight their way through the region of mercy to the region of gloom and despair? Beware, beware, of quenching the Spirit of God; in all things seek to possess a conscience cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and instructed by His holy word; follow it; be true; forbear to tempt God; close in with the offers of His love; and of Him, " who is not a man that He should lie, or the son of man that He should repent," you will say, "This God is my God for ever and ever, He will be my guide even unto death."

HOW THE SEWING MACHINE WAS BOUGHT.

FOR THE YOUNG.

"PAPA," said little Susy Weston, | just your age. It is nearly a year climbing upon her father's knee, "what pleases you so much to-day? You have been smiling to yourself all dinner-time."

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since I first saw him. I was very
busy one afternoon last winter,
when I saw a little boy coming into
the warehouse, whose face attracted
my attention at once. It was not a
very handsome face, but it was
earnest and bright; a strong, good
face, if I ever saw one.
The boy
was poorly clad, but his clothes
were clean and whole.

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May I see the master?' he

asked.

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a fancy one, sir, but a good worker.'

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'Well, sir,' I said, "I can give you a good machine for five pounds.'

"Five pounds. Well, master,' said he, earnestly, 'can I work one out? I have every afternoon from half-past two till seven, and I can run errands or do any work about the warehouse. You see, sir, this is how it is. Father died two years ago, and mother, she wants me to stay at school for a year or two longer, but she has to work awfully hard to keep me there. Father was a bricklayer, and mother owns the little house he almost built himself, but that is all. She sews, sir, and she could make twice as much if she only had a machine. But we never can spare five pounds, sir, so I thought I would see if I could earn

one.

"But it would take you a long time,' I said: 'if I gave you half-acrown a week it would be forty weeks.'

"Will you give me that?' he said, his eyes fairly dancing. 'I can come all day Saturday.'

"Can you? Suppose we say four shillings, then ? and if you do well, you can have the machine a little less than the retail price.'

"You see, Susy, I was interested already in the boy, with his honest, frank face, and resolved, if he was faithful in his duties, to keep him along. So we made an agreement, he to give me all his spare time out of school, I to credit him each week with four shillings towards the purchase of a machine.

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Every day he came, punctual to the minute, rain or shine, and he was the most prompt and reliable errand - boy I ever employed.

country, when the door-bell rang, and in walked Harry Cummings, my errand-boy.

"I found this, sir,' he said, 'when I was sweeping out the warehouse,' and he handed me a roll of sovereigns I had thought was safe in my pocket. Please see if it is all right, sir,' he said, 'it was under the counter.'

"I counted the sovereigns, and then taking out one, said:

"I should have offered a reward for this, Harry, if you had not found it.'

"I am glad I saved you that, sir,' he answered. 'I'll bid you good-night.'

"But you have earned the reward,' I said, putting down the sovereign, will you take it or pass it to the machine money? '

"Mine! all that. Oh, sir, pass it to the machine. You see I'd have to tell mother where I got all that money, and the machine is to be a surprise.'

"I never spent a sovereign with so much pleasure in my life, Susy. This was a great lift for the machine, and this afternoon when Harry came, I told him to pick one out for his mother.

"We selected a first-rate one, handsome, too, and I promised him one of our best teachers should go to show his mother how to work upon it.

"When it was on the cart, ready to go, I invited myself to go with Harry and see it delivered. He had asked me to write a note telling his mother the price was honestly earned, and I told him I would tell her.

"So away we went, and when we reached the little house, the cart was just turning the corner of the street. Harry opened the door "Little by little the shillings rolled very softly, and the men lifted the up on the account, until one evening machine into the parlour. Then in the interim, I was here after Harry led me to a small sittingdinner, just before you and your room at the back of the house, where mother came home from the a pale woman in a widow's dress

was sitting sewing busily. rose and offered me a chair, and I told her I had come to see if I could obtain Harry's services in the warehouse at ten shillings a week. You should have seen the boy's eyes. "He can go to evening school,' I said, and I will see that he has some time to read and study. I cannot spare him now, having had his services so long.'

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She "So, Susy, now you know what pleased me so much to-day. Tomorrow Harry becomes my errandboy, and I know he will be a faithful one. There is the making of a noble man, Johnny, in the boy who can work steadily and faithfully for months for such an object as Harry had, never taking one penny from his hard-earned money for his own pleasure, never failing in his self-imposed duties. Harry is a boy, only twelve years old, but I honour him."

My afternoons and Saturdays, mother,' Harry said. 'I told you I was not in mischief, I was earning you a present. Come and see.' "And he danced fairly into the parlour, his mother and I following. "It's yours,' he said, dancing round the machine; all paid for. Ain't it beautiful?'

"His mother was as delighted as he expected, and that is saying a great deal.

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'Oh, sir,' she said to me, 'he's been a good son since his poor father died. Every morning, summer or winter, he's up and makes the fire while I'm dressing, and while I get breakfast he brings up all the coal for the day, so I don't have to go into the cellar; and every step he can save me he does. But how he ever made all the money to buy a machine out of school hours I cannot understand.'

"I got four shillings, mother, for errands, and extra when there was an odd job, and Mr. Weston gave me a sovereign.

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But, papa," said Susy, "you are rich; why didn't you give his mother a machine?"

"Because the pleasure would not have been so great to either Harry or his mother. Think how proud she will be of her good son every time she touches her machine, and how glad he will feel he persevered so well whenever he sees it. It is a little sunbeam in the dull routine of business for both of them, as well as for me."

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Any mother would be proud of such a son," said Mrs. Weston, gently, "and when he has a holiday you must let him spend it here. We will be glad to see him, will we not, children? "

There was a hearty "yes, ma," and then the brother and sister, thanking their father for the story, opened their school books and went busily to their duty for the evening, Johnny wondering a little if he 'No, you earned that as well as could ever have the self-denial, the rest,' I said, and his mother industry, and patience of Harry fairly broke down and cried when Cummings.

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I told her about the roll of money.

HE LEADETH ME.

I CERTAINLY need some one to lead teachers; and when I ceased to me. I am so poor, so blind, so have these I needed God's help as weak, so foolish that, if left to my- much as ever. It is not in man self, I must fatally err. For a long that walketh to direct his steps. We time I required the help of nurses have in our language hardly any and the guidance of parents and form of speech that expresses a

sadder state than when we say of a in faithfulness thou hast afflicted man, "He is left to himself." me." Lord, never leave me nor forsake me, lest I be undone.

Then He leads me always: in prosperity and in adversity, in joy Then He leadeth me so gently. and in sorrow, when alone and Even when all around is uproar when surrounded by others. If He and confusion, I am carried along left me even for an hour I should almost as if there was no commotion be undone. When I sleep, Thou, in the world. When God gives Lord, keepest vigil over me. When peace, who can make perturbation? I awake I am still with Thee. On The Lord is more true in His the land and on the sea I am kept friendship than a brother, more by the mighty power of God. pitiful than a father, more loving than a mother, more gentle than a woman. He doth not afflict willingly. Nor does the Lord ever lead me otherwise than wisely. He makes no mistakes. He knows the way I ought to go. He knows how much sweet and how much bitter are best for me. He understands me fully. He knows my spirit would fail before Him if I were dealt with severely. Oh, how He mingles mercy with judgment.

He leadeth me, and I will trust Him. He deserves my entire confidence. It is my sin and my folly that I am so slow of heart to repose confidence in Him. I will try to do better. Lord, give me the heritage of them that seek shelter under the shadow of Thy wings. Thou art my shield, my refuge, my strong rock, my God and Saviour.

He leadeth me, and I will follow Him. I will put my hand in His, and go wherever His prudence shall direct. Never yet has He brought me into needless trouble. When affliction has gained its end, relief in some form has come. I will mark His footsteps, and go right forward. He will guide me by His counsel, and afterwards receive me to glory. Oh, well; if glory is to follow sorrow and anguish I will say no more.

"The path of sorrow, and that path alone,

True, He leads me often in a mysterious way. I see not the end from the beginning. I cannot see afar off. If I perfectly comprehended all God's ways, I think I should be capable of guiding myself at least to some extent. When all His waves and billows go over me, how can I tell anything? Would Jacob, or Joseph, or Bunyan, or Rogers, have chosen the way the Lord led them? Have not the saints long been crying, "O Lord, how long? His footsteps are in the sea; clouds and darkness are I must be content that He should round about Him. He giveth have His way. My will is the will account of none of His matters. of a worm, a fool, a sinner. His judgments are a great deep. my will but thine be done, O God." But He never does wrong. He I care not what comes if the end be leadeth me in the paths of righteous- eternal life-everlasting repose in ness. Righteousness and judgment the bosom of God. Guide me on, are the habitation of His throne. In and up, and through, O Lord. Be review of all the past I can truly thou on my right hand and on my say, "Thou hast dealt well with left by day and by night. Strengthen thy servant, O Lord. I know that me with strength in my soul.

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Leads to the land where sorrows are unknown."

"Not

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