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THE LITTTE CAROL-SINGERS.

could not baptize and preach, but by and by I hoped to send a missionary to do so. But if they died trusting in the Lord Jesus, like the thief on the cross, they would be saved without baptism. Then I returned home.

'After a year had passed, I thought I would go and see them again. This time I took with me two of the elder girls to help in teaching the children; I took also many books and tracts. The evening before we started, we had prayer together, and I asked the girls to choose a verse as a motto for our journey. One of them chose, "Sow beside all waters."

'We were to start at six o'clock in the morning. The Burmese are very indolent, and never in time. I always had to set the example of being first, and mounted my buffalo punctually. I was vexed to see that the girl who chose the text was not ready. When we were on our way I asked her how it was. She said, "O, mother, when I came down the steps our verse spoke to me. I saw the man we leave behind to take care of the house, and I knew he was wicked still, and beats his wife. I thought, sow now.' I said to him, 'do read, do think of the God that sees you, do leave off beating your wife.' He said, 'O she is woman, she must be beat.' 'Well, don't beat her till we come back.' And he did promise me.".

'And as we journeyed on, the dear girls did indeed "SOW beside all waters." They would go on fast to some wells, where many pilgrims were resting, and speak to them of Jesus, and give them tracts. Another time they saw in the distance a crowd of pilgrims who would pass along another turn in the road; and with whom we could not speak. They dropped tracts in the road for them, and one of the girls said, "I shall put some tracts up in the teak trees; they will see the white paper and wonder what it is."

I must tell you here, that two years after this a man from a far distant district called on me. He said, "I have a book that fell down from the sky from the true God; I have read it; I believe it; I come to know about Him."

'I said, "what do you mean? I have books too, but they did not fall from the sky."

"O, but this book did fall from the sky. I found it up in a teak tree when I was going a pilgrimage to worship Gudamah. I saw it; I read it. Did not the true God drop it there for me?"

'I told him how, long ago, the true God put true words into men's hearts, and told them

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what to write in His Book; and then how men, and boys and girls in my country gave money to have these books printed and sent out here. This man received instruction eagerly; he was baptized, and is now a rejoicing Christian. He gave me the tract he found in the teak tree-I hold it in my hand-the very one that the poor girl put there! because she wished to sow beside all waters; " and is not this "bread found after many days?""

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Dear children, ask the Holy Spirit to show you the dying love of Jesus. To show you His love in taking your sins, in taking your punishment, in taking your place, and dying instead of you. Ask Him to show you the living love of Jesus. Just look up at the blue sky, and think there the Lord Jesus is living and loving me. Yes, He lives that you may live also; He lives to intercede; He lives to send His Holy Spirit down to you; He lives to prepare a place; He lives to bring you safe home to see Him-your dying, living, loving Saviour.

MARIA V. G. HAVERGAL.

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Fading to ashes on the poor man's hearth.
'Twas one of those cold, snowy, bleak
Decembers

That to the rich and happy call for mirth;
But to the weary, desolate, careworn poor,
Bring want and hunger closer to the door.
The time of Jesu's birth was drawing nigh,
The time when angels visited the land,
When white-robed hosts, appearing in the sky,
Told of the blessings poured with lavish hand
From God our Father's ever boundless grace,
Showered upon us from His bright dwelling-
place.

The poor man to his little children spoke,
And to his whitefaced, weary, patient wife:
'Time was,' he said, long silence as he broke,
'When glad and happy seemed to me a life
When poor though I might be, and cold, and
lone,

I yet should have some loved ones all my own.

'And now I almost could have wished,' he said, "That you might leave this weary, earthly land, That Christ, who watches from His throne o'erhead,

Would reach to you in love a gentle hand,

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THE LITTLE CAROL-SINGERS.

And take you to His homestead in the sky, Where you wonld never faint, nor droop, nor die.'

But his wife spoke not, answered not a whit;
I think her spirit was so bowed with grief,
She could not do aught else than quiet sit
And bear her woe and weary for relief;
And those young children, their bright eyes
grown dim

Through many tears, in wonder looked at him.

But at the last, one of the children cried,
A thoughtful boy, who to his sister turned,
'I stood this morning a great house beside,
Bright, warm, and cheering there the firelight
burned,

And rosy little children round it drew;
Oh, I wished sorely I might feel it too.

But come, dear Ellie, to them let us sing,-
Sing those sweet carols that we know so well.
It may be they will listen; they may bring
Some help for all of us; yes, who can tell;
Come, then, and we will sing of Jesu's birth,
Who, long years past, at Christmas came on

earth.'

And so they stepped forth on the untrodden

snow,

And their young voices sounded sweet and glad;

Oh Song! thy wondrous power do we not know?

Gladdening the weary, comforting the sad, And shedding peace and love on many a heart, Light'ning its sorrow, bidding grief depart.

They sang about the happy Fatherland, Where sin, and pain, and grief for aye are o'er;

Where hunger, standing with uplifted hand, Should chill them with its presence never more;

They sang, yet still no kindly voice did greet,
As stepped the children down the snowy street.

But did they understand? Not all I know.
And yet in childhood's heart of tenderness
The words that are not comprehended glow
In fairy colours fit to warm and bless;
Well I recall those fancies sweet yet wild,
And not so long ago, I was myself a child.
In that great house the boy had seen before,
A young wife sat and listened to the strain,
And when the children's Christmas song was
o'er

She waited till the sounds began again,—
She leant her head reflecting on her hand
And heard them tell of yonder happy land.

And then she rose and to the window stepped And watched the falling snow so pure and white,

All seemed beneath its influence to have slept, For all was still and hushed-and then her sight

Fell on the carol-singers standing there, While round them blew the chill December

air.

She had two darlings of her own to love,
And to her mother's heart the pity flew ;
How would she feel, she thought, as with
quick move

She to the door unhesitating drew,

How would she feel, if in that bitter night, Her babes stood shiv'ring on the snow so white.

She led them to the blazing crackling fire, And bade them rest the while she brought them food;

And those poor children's spirits mounted higher

As they said smiling, 'Truly God is good,
And Christ has not forgot how once He came
A child Himself to save our souls from shame.'
They went home happy, and for many a day
The lady came to see and help them all,
Until the father, smiling oft, would say,
'Now shame it was that so my faith should
fall;'

And the poor mother raised her head and smiled,

Nor feared to look upon each palefaced child.

My tale is done. I pray you all who read
This ill told story of a thing most true,
To hasten to some weary ones who need
A part, at least, of all that you can do;
Teach them that in this world some still abide
Who will not pass by on the other side.

And know, that He who at this time came down

From His great Heaven to visit our poor earth,

Who left, for us, a Kingdom and a Crown, That He might bring us lost ones hope and

mirth;

He will behold, though our faith is so dim, And He will count it all as done indeed to Him.

KATIE THOMSON.

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'MAMMA;

what did

the doctor say?
Does he think
Lizzie is better
to-night?' said
Johnnie, as the
doctor left the
house one Sab-
bath evening.
'He says she
is a little better,
and he hopes she
is beginning to
recover though
still very ill,' re-
plied the anxious
mother. Little
Lizzie had fallen
the day before
and been so
severely hurt
her parents were
much alarmed on
her account.
Mamma could
not leave the
little sufferer
long enough to
give the boys
their usual
lesson that
evening, and as
soon as she had
answered their
eager enquiries
she returned to
watch over her
distressed little

SABBATH EVENINGS AT HOME-THE GOOD PHYSICIAN.

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one. Shortly after, their good pastor, having heard of the accident, called to enquire for the child, and to express his sympathy with her grieved parents. He was cordially welcomed by the boys, and soon heard from them all about how the accident had occurred, what a sad fright they had got when their little sister was carried into the house unconscious, and how quickly papa had gone

to bring the doctor. They told him too how very kind the good doctor had been, how long he had stayed beside Lizzie trying to make her better, how gently he had touched her, and how tenderly he had spoken to her.

'I think you like Dr. very much,' said the pastor, after he had heard all the boys had to tell him of his great skill and kindness.

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'Yes I do love him,' said Georgie, 'he is so wise and good. Mamma thinks Lizzie would have died if the doctor had not come very quickly.'

'I am glad you are not like some foolish children who do not like the good doctor, and never wish to see him. I once heard of a little boy who was seized with sudden illness. His parents immediately sent for the doctor, and he prescribed some medicine which he hoped would cure the disease. But the little boy cried, said he did not need medicine, and would not take it; and what do you think was the consequence?'

'Perhaps he got worse and died.'

'Yes; he got worse so rapidly that next time the doctor came he could do no more for him. It was very sad. But do you know, Georgie, that a great many persons treat the only Physician-who can always heal the same way in which that little boy treated the doctor? You know what Physician I mean?'

"You mean Jesus. Physician.'

He is the Great

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That reason keeps many persons away from Jesus. Sin is so deceitful a disease that many sinners are quite unconscious of their danger. Jesus said to the Pharisees, who thought themselves righteous, and despised others, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.' Papa does not send for the doctor when you are all well. It is only when you are ill that you need him. Though sinners always need Jesus they will not come to Him till the Holy Spirit makes them feel their disease. Others who know that they are not righteous do not wish to be made so, because they love sin. Would there be

any use of sending for the doctor unless you did what he bade you?'

'No, sir; I do not think the doctor would come to see us any more if we did not obey his orders.'

'And yet many who say they have come to Jesus will not do what He tells them, and so are not healed. Do you remember what the prophet Jeremiah asked the Jews, when he saw them all going on in sin? You might read the questions he put to them, Georgie. You will find them in Jer.

viii. 22.'

Georgie found the place, and read, 'Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?'

Can you answer these questions,

Johnnie?'

'I think I can. Jesus is the balm in Gilead and the physician there, and people are not healed because they will not come to Him and do what He commands.'

'Very well answered. Jesus is Himself both the healing balm and the kind physician. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.' And now, would you like me to read you a story of the Good Physician, and of some who did come to Him and were healed?'

O yes; please, sir, do,' both the boys replied; and they listened attentively while their friend and pastor read the account of Jairus coming to Jesus and beseeching Him to heal His little daughter, who was at the point of death; and of the poor woman who came to Jesus for healing after she had spent all her living on physicians. Then he pointed out to them the great difference between Jesus and all the other physicians whom this poor woman had consulted, and asked them if they knew why none of the others had healed her?'

Because they were not able,' they replied.

'That is a great difference between Jesus and every other physician. He is always able to heal. He can even raise the dead. Jairus' friends thought it was useless to apply to Jesus when his little daughter had died, but Jesus showed that He was all

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

powerful, that no case was too hard for Him. Do you know a beautiful hymn of Cowper's on the Lord the Healer? It begins,

"Heal us, Emmanuel, here we are,
Waiting to feel Thy touch;
Deep-wounded souls to Thee repair,
And, Saviour, we are such.”

'We have never learned that one, sir.'

'I am sure your mamma knows it and will find it for you, and perhaps you will learn it and repeat it to me next time I come to see you.'

Papa then came in, and was very glad to see the boys so much interested in the conversation of their minister; and soon they all joined with him in praying that the Great Physician would restore the suffering little one, if it was His holy will, and that He would give her patience and strength to bear whatever God appointed, that He would comfort her parents, and lead every one of the family to the Great Physician.

The good pastor left the house refreshed and strengthened. The attention the boys had paid to the short lesson he had given them had cheered and encouraged him, and that evening he resolved to devote more of his time to the young of his flock, and if possible to make a friend of each one of them.

OUR MISSIONARY PAGE.

THE NEW HEBRIDES MISSION.
(CONCLUDED.)

T was at this juncture that the 'Border Maid,' the missionary schooner of Bishop Selwyn arrived, bringing another Presbyterian missionary-the Rev. John Inglis, who had been previously labouring as a missionary in New Zealand-to labour with his wife on Aneityum. It was an interesting sight to behold the English Bishop, generously and gratuitously, taking a clergyman of the Reformed Presbyterian Church (the ecclesiastical descendants of the old Scottish covenanters) to a mission field. Arrangements were made with the London Missionary Society, and with the Church Missionary Society, by which the New Hebrides were allocated as a sphere of missionary labour for the Presbyterian Church.

The following list of missionaries at present

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labouring among the New Hebrides will prove interesting to our young readers: - Rev. Joseph Copeland (Fotuna); Rev. Dr. Geddie (Aneityum); Rev. J. Goodwill (Santo); Rev. J. Inglis (Aneityum); Rev. P. Milne (Nguna); Rev. Mr M'Donald (unallocated); Rev. Mr M'Kenzie (unallocated); Rev. Mr Murray (unallocated); Rev. Thomas Neilson (Tanna); Rev. J. G. Paton (Aniwa); Rev. Mr Robertson (unallocated); Rev. W. Watt (Tanna).

Each of the above-mentioned missionaries is married, and the ladies form not the least valuable portion of the mission staff. In addition to these European missionaries, there are upwards of thirty native teachers, acting as pioneers, and partly as assistants to the

missionaries.

Two of the islands (Aneityum and Aniwa) are now entirely Christian in their profession. The whole population of the first-mentioned island is under Christian instruction. Portions of the Scripture have been printed in the language of the island. The New Testament was in 1863 put into the hands of the people, and they have paid for the printing of it by the sale of arrowroot prepared by themselves. The Book of Psalms was printed in 1864, and this also has been paid for. The Old Testament from Genesis to Job is at present in the press, under the supervision of the Rev. Dr. Geddie. The Christian natives have sent forth teachers to other islands, and there are twenty-one of these evangelists from Aneityum at present employed.

The effect of Christianity on the morals of the people has been very striking. The natives are clothed, and in their right mind. War has ceased on Aneityum, and so have the vices and cruelties of their heathen state. Marriage is sacred, and infant life precious. Widows, instead of being as before strangled on the death of their husbands, are held in honour, and the needy supported. The voice of song and prayer to God rises from almost every home, and the house of God is filled with devout and well-conducted worshippers.

BIBLE QUESTIONS.

NOTICE TO COMPETITORS.—The names of the Successful Competitors will be announced in the January number of the 'Dayspring,' and an important arrangement stated regarding the New Series of Questions for 1873. Communications to be addressed to the Editor, REV. JOHN KAY, Greenbank Cottage, Coatbridge.

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