A BERGAMO, OR ANCIENT PERGAMOS. NCIENT Pergamos is the place where the faithful martyr Antipas shed his blood for the name of Jesus. It was a magnificent city, 64 miles north of Smyrna, and the capital of Mysia. Pergamos was celebrated for possessing a library of 200,000 volumes, at a time when books were written by the hand on rolls of parchment, and were consequently both rare and costly. But though one of her kings had collected this large library, this city was so sunk in idolatry and wickedness, that Jesus said Satan's seat was there. In the days of the apostles a church was planted in that stronghold of Satan's kingdom. It was one of the seven churches in Asia to which Jesus wrote letters by the hand of His apostle John. In His epistle to the church at Pergamos, Jesus takes notice of the many temptations with which it was surrounded, and commends this church for not having denied His name even though one of their number had been slain for witnessing a good confession. Nothing is told us concerning Antipas, excepting that he loved not his life unto the death. By recording his name in this epistle and giving him the honourable title, My faithful martyr, Jesus has exemplified the fulfilment of His own promise, 'Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father which is in heaven.' Bergamo, as the ancient Pergamos is now called, contains a population of about 15,000, of which the greater number are Mahommedans. There is still the remains of a Christian church at Bergamo, though little of Christianity but the name now exists. No faithful Antipas is now willing to give his life for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Ashamed of Jesus, that dear Friend THE OUR DARLING BOBBIE. A STORY FOR LITTLE CHILDREN. HE oft expressed wish of dear little Bobbie Willie to become a minister or missionary leads me, on the approach of the first anniversary of his death, to try and tell you his simple story, that though dead he may yet preach; that the influence of his child-like faith and love may be extended far beyond the little circle of those who knew him. How often since his death have I felt the full truth of these words: 'Except ye become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.' I will pass over his babyhood, that period when to most well-cared for and healthy children life is a pleasure; and what a source of joy they are to all around them! How beautifully the poet expresses this: 'A babe in a house is a wellspring of pleasure, A messenger of peace and love.' Bobbie Willie had a sister older than himself, and at the time that I begin to tell you about him he had also one younger. He dearly loved both, but his love to the baby sister was peculiarly tender. He longed for the time when she would be able to walk, that he might in reality become her protector. There was a big black dog in a woodyard near the house in which they lived, of which he was very much afraid; but his own fear vanished when he thought on his little sister. He said he would carry her across the road, and not allow the big black dog to touch her.' Little lamb, she was not to need his protection. Before she was a year old she caught a cold which settled in her lungs. When she had been about a week ill God gave her mamma another little baby. Oh how fondly and tenderly did Bobbie Willie take his little infant brother in his arms! Long and lovingly did he gaze at the sweet little babe, and how glad he was when the wee thing' opened its bright blue eyes and looked up into his face. Poor fond mother, she was soon to look upon death for the first time. The next morning the little infant fell asleep on his mamma's bosom never to waken to her again on this earth. 'It was an early hour, Sweet child, to fall asleep! Ere yet thy bud had shown its flow'r, In what brief span of time Thine was a blessed flight, Ere sorrow clouded, and ere sin could slay; A week after, on Bobbie Willie's third birth-day, baby was taken away to join her infant brother in the 'Home for little children Above the bright blue sky.' Sadly and quietly did the little ones go to kiss, for the last time, the cold forehead of their lovely little sister, as she lay in her little coffin. OUR DARLING BOBBIE. Unobserved by his mamma, Bobbie Willie had been watching by her bedside. When she turned and looked at him her heart sank; she could not help feeling he would not be long with her. He appeared like a little angel; the light which shone deep in his large, lovely, bright blue eyes seemed not of earth. Poor little lamb, fearing from his mamma looking so long and sadly at him without speaking that he had said something wrong, with a gentle tone he said, 'Well, mamma, if that is not the reason, then Bobbie Willie does not know it.' He was quite right. Was he not another bright example of the truth of that beautiful text, 'Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength?' A short time after, his much loved minister, on one of those visits so eagerly longed for and so much enjoyed both by children and parents, taught him and his little sister the lovely text, 'God is love.' Bobbie Willie thought much about it, and connected it with other texts in Scripture in quite a wonderful way for one so young. His faith and love were so great that they seemed to cast out all fear. If anything very sad was talked about he would throw over it that precious truth, God is love,' seemingly feeling sure that it would make all light and bright. เ 'Is this a call from God?' asked Bobbie Willie of his mamma one day when he was suffering from a bad cold. His fair curly head was pillowed on her bosom, and his eyes earnestly and lovingly fixed upon hers. 'Yes, darling, it is a call from God,' she replied, but mamma hopes and prays that her little boy may be long spared to her.' 'But I would like to go to heaven, mamma,' he said. His mamma could not help asking him, 'Are you not happy here?' 'Yes, I am very happy here, but I would like to go to heaven. You remember, mamma, that when baby went I said I was going next.' He was by no means a quiet or sad boy; on the contrary, he was a merry, romping little fellow, and enjoyed most heartily all 33 the pleasures of children. He was beloved by everybody; he was so happy, so unselfish, so loving, so gentle, and so kind, He and his little sister were very fond of singing. They could sing a good many psalm tunes, psalms, paraphrases, hymns, and an almost endless variety of nursery rhymes. Many a sweet little concert the two had together. Bobbie Willie's favourite psalms were All people that on earth do dwell;' and, 'I to the hills will lift mine eyes.' His two favourite hymns 'I want to be like Jesus;' and, The summer was passed very happily at coast and country. Few children could love the country more than Bobbie Willie did; often have I seen him in an ecstasy of delight when surrounded by the Highland hills, and heard him sing aloud in his childish glee, 'I canna leave the Highland hills, The Highland hills, the Highland hills, There are a great many more of his sweet little sayings and doings which I would like very much to tell you, but which I must omit as my time is limited. Shortly after his return home he took diptheria, and one short week of great suffering, borne with great patience, ended his brief pilgrimage on earth. My dear little ones, if you had seen him on his bed of suffering and death, so full of faith and joy, you could truly have said with Rev. Robert Murray M'Cheyne in his beautiful hymn— 'If this be called dying, "Tis pleasant to die.' One night, between the paroxysms of want of breath and pain, he twined his little arms round his mother's neck, and looking up so very lovingly into her facehis every look, and tone, and attitude bespeaking such fond love-he said, 'I ALWAY READY: A HYMN FOR THE YOUNG. At any time, they tell me, A sudden light may shine, And, through the heavenly portals, Appear our Lord divine. From Satan's power He saves me, And now when He shall come, We children who believe Him Shall reach our happy home. Perchance I may be playing The Lord His child may find. Perchance I may be learning Dear Lord, I wait Thy coming, So to Thine arms I flee, To fill my heart with Thee! JESSIE P. MONCRIEFF. OUR MISSIONARY PAGE. MY BROMANGA. Y dear young friends,-Mr Kay has asked me to send a copy of some letters I have just received from the natives of Eromanga. The one which appears in your little magazine this month is from Soso, the native who was with Mr Gordon when the cruel men came to kill him. It is a call from the poor Eromangans to the Christians in Britain to come over and help them. Will any of our young readers answer Soso's call? Perhaps some of you will say 'I am too young;' and that reminds me of an anecdote I heard some time since. missionary was addressing a Sabbath school; at the close of the meeting there was a collection, when a little fellow came forward and said, 'Please, sir, I'll put myself in the plate.' Now, are any of our young friends A BIBLE QUESTIONS. willing to put themselves in the plate? But if you cannot, or do not wish to go and teach the poor dark-hearted heathen about our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, you can all pray for them, and ask God to send forth labourers into His vineyard. And I trust that the little ones who read Soso's letter will remember to pray for him, and all who love the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as for those who do not know or love the Saviour on dark and bloodstained Eromanga. Your affectionate friend, SOSO'S LETTER. My love to you Mrs M'Nair. M. M'N. This is my word to you because I love you, and you lived sometime on Eromanga, and know our language well. I lived at Kusbei one year, and taught the young men, and women, and chiefs seven. Six (chiefs) remain at Kusbei (the Eromangan name is Unboldi). One is with me here now at Dillon's Bay. His name is Neth, and two boys with him. And I lived there and know their minds well, they are not like the men at Potuma. The people at Unboldi wish very much the word of Jehovah, because I taught them well; and they know the Holy Scriptures; and they wish a missionary to come and live with them. I am here at Dillon's Bay just now, and there is not one with them there. But I think you will come, you or some other missionaries. Come to this land! There are a great many people there, and their hearts are soft and tender. Just now there are two missionaries here at Dillon's Bay, Mr Robertson and Mrs Robertson, and they send their love to you. My words are ended. BIBLE QUESTIONS. 35 THREE Prizes, in each of the two divisions, are offered for the largest number of correct answers. The Prizes to be awarded in December 1873. The following are the conditions: 1. In the first, or Junior division, the questions for which will be printed first in order; competitors not to be above thirteen years of age. 2. In the second, or Senior division, competitors not to be above eighteen years of age; and in both divisions the answers must be honestly the work of the individuals competing. 8. All answers to be addressed, not later than the 18th of each month, to the Rev. JOHN KAY, Greenbank Cottage, Coatbridge. As a matter of convenience and economy the answers may be written on post cards. Be careful in all cases to give the name and address of the competitor. MARCH. JUNIOR DIVISION. 7. Which verse in the prophecy of Zechariah shows us that it is right for children to engage in healthful play? 8. What comparison used by Jesus shows that He notices how children behave while at play? 9. Which verse in Proverbs tells us how a child who serves God may be known from one who serves Satan? SENIOR DIVISION. 7. Which verse of a Psalm is a prayer for the assurance of God's love while we are young, in order that we may live happily all our days? 8. In what ironical words does Solomon admonish those young persons who make pleasure the chief end of life ? 9. In one verse from the New Testament describe the state of a person who lives for pleasure? ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS IN JAN. 'Dayspring.' JUNIOR DIVISION. (1) Mark xii. 42-44; (2) Acts x. 3, 4; (3) Exodus xxxvi. 6. SENIOR DIVISION. (1) Esther ix. 20, 21, 22; (2) Deuteronomy xv. 8, 11; (3) John xii. 4-6; xiii. 29. |