Often, when the little ones were thus employed, their mother would knit beside them, relating sweet Bible stories, or at times, quaint German legends. These children of poverty forgot their troubles then, especially when they heard of the loving Jesus who died for little children, and who was gone to 'prepare a home for them.'

One evening in autumn, the mother was called to the neighbouring village, and, commending her treasures to God, she left them, promising to return in a few hours. The two children seated themselves at the wood fire, and began to pour out their fancies to each other, as they could to none besides themselves. The wind moaned drearily. 'Hark!' said Carl, is the wild huntsman abroad to-night?' During the children's pause at the question, I must give my readers a sketch of the story to which he alluded.

A nobleman, it is said, in the days of yore, was very fond of hunting, and did not scruple to pursue his pleasure at the expense of duty and justice. One morning he set out as usual, notwithstanding it was that day which God has chosen for Himself. He was accompanied by two horsemen, the one on his right hand, beautiful as the morning, and mounted on a horse as white as snow; while the other on his left had a gloomy face, and a coal black charger. The former endeavoured to induce the hunter to change his course, and, obeying the call of the musical church bells, to join himself to the happy ‘multitude who kept holiday,' and worshipped their risen Lord. The nobleman, however, preferred the advice of the other horseman, who bade him follow his sport at all costs. As they pursued the game, they were now and then stopped by a barrier-once by a ripened corn field, again by a widow's herb plot. In both cases the lord disregarded the entreaties of one companion, and, encouraged by the other, dashed recklessly on, leaving desolation behind him. length, he reached the pastor's simple dwelling, and ere he had spoiled the trim garden with his horse's hoofs, the good

At

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man himself appeared, and warning him in God's name of punishment at hand, bade him evade it by throwing himself, repenting, on the mercy of God. One last appeal from the fair horseman, one last scoff from the other, and the choice was made. On, on he dashed, now with but one attendant; and, then and there, God's wrath overtook him. In mad terror his horse ran away, and, pursued instead of pursuing, the miserable sinner was obliged to traverse the woods seeking to escape the fiend who ! followed him, as he had urged him to the sin-now, the instrument of his punishment.

And still, the Germans say, you may hear the tread of his horse as the nightly chase continues.

This legend, though, of course, only a picture of the fatal consequences of neglecting to hear the Holy Spirit's voice, was considered a fact by Carl and Gretchen. 'I wonder,' said the latter after a silence, if the poor huntsman might not repent now. You know, mother says Jesus is always ready to hear poor sinners, and perhaps if this wicked man were told this he might seek to be forgiven.'

'Then,' said Carl, let us look for him and tell him so. The dear Christ wants to forgive people, and I think if we really love Him we must desire others to do so too.'

So these children of God went out into the darkness, as we should say, on an idle errand. God's ways are not our ways'; and when His people seek to do His work in His strength, though they may make mistakes in the doing, He will not let their efforts be fruitless.

The children had not stood long in the darkness, ere they heard the footfall of a horse, passing swiftly through the forest.

My readers will not think, like our little friends, that this was the wild

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horseman coming, so I will tell them who it was.

That day, a young man, bearing with him to a secure place his own and his sister's fortune, had yielded to a dark temptation and lost it all in a German gambling house. Wild with remorse, he fled away, intending to lead his horse to some precipice and there perish.

Suddenly two childish figures stood in his path, and two childish voices begged him to stay a moment. Then, in broken tones, the little ones spoke of Jesus, and the great good news, this man receiveth sinners.'

It seemed to Ernst von Bergen that God had sent his angels, and involuntarily he spoke his thoughts, can there be pardon for me?'

Then Gretchen said, clearly and fearlessly, "the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.”

These words were blessed by the Holy Ghost: Jesus smiled on the children whose effort, made with so little knowledge_but so much love, He had owned; and there was joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repented.'

Little reader, if you have found Jesus your loving Friend, will you not seek to tell His power and kindness to those who do not know His preciousness?

JESSIE P. MONCRIEFF.

OUR MISSIONARY PAGE.

THE BURMESE SCHOLARS.

OULD you like to hear about two scholars in Mrs Ingolls's school? This is what she said about them:

'One was a sweet girl, and I thought she would suit excellently for a teacher. Alas, her mother saw she would no longer bow down to her god, and she came and dragged her away from the school, and never let her return.

'I felt a great love for the poor child, and sometimes walked down the street where she lived, hoping to see her. But the mother would call her in and send the dogs after me, and they are very fierce and wild. One day I heard a loud screaming in that street; I

knew that some one was taken ill, for it is their custom to scream to frighten the evil spirits away. I went to see, and found this dear child was taken ill with fever. I went in; they were burning torches all round the poor hot child. I asked them to put them out and let her take some of my cooling medicines. But they would not let her. For three days I went in and out, and then I saw the poor child was dying.

"The mother screamed and tore her hair, and cried, "O, pray all of you to Gudamah. Pray that my child may not become a snake, a tiger, a monkey, a crow!' But the last breath came, and the poor mother was frantic. There was screaming and dancing round the poor body till the time came for it to be consumed. The mother put a torch to the pile of wood on which the body of the child was placed, screaming frantically that her child might not be a tiger or a monkey. Just then one of the women noticed when a hen was hatching some eggs, and one little chicken peeped out of the shell, she showed it to the mother, who said "O, is my child in this chicken, or is it one of those crows flying up there?" Poor, poor thing, she had no blessed hope of the life to come, or of the spirit flying away to be with Jesus. After the body was consumed, she rushed away into the jungle, and there she wandered about, miserable and distracted, for months.

'Now I want you to see a contrast. There was another dear little child in my school, who early tasted the love of Jesus. She was only seven years old. She would say to me, 'Teacher, are you going to speak to Jesus now? let me come too. And when I had done praying, the dear child would say a few words herself to the Saviour she loved so much. She was taken ill. I saw she was sick unto death, and I could not help crying. She tried to wipe my cheek, saying, "Are you crying because I am going to Jesus? Hav'n't we talked about going to Him in the beautiful place He is gone to prepare, and will you cry because Jesus calls me there?"

'The hour came that she was dying and could no longer speak. She was restless and seemed to want something. We brought her fruit and water, but no, it was not that. I noticed that she kept moving her fingers up and down on the sheet of the cot. Just then some of her school fellows came in, she smiled and kissed them, but still her fingers kept beating up and down. Children are quicker

in understanding one another, and they said, "O Teacher, it's singing she wants. We know the hymn she likes best, I think, when I read the sweet story of old.'

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'So the little boys and girls began singing it in their own tongue. Yes, it was singing she wanted, for the little fingers were still now, and she listened, smiling so happily. I said to the mother, "Your child is just going away, let us kneel and pray for her." The father and mother knelt on either side of the cot, each taking their child's hand. And as I prayed I saw the breath come and go for the last time. I said, "Your child is gone, she is with Jesus now." The mother's tears flowed fast and she kissed her darling, and the father knelt by his wife, and said, "I will comfort you, for Jesus comforts me."

'O, what a contrast to the wild screams of the other poor mother!

'And when the funeral day came, all was so quiet and orderly. The little body was laid in the grave and the last hymn sung. I then was astonished to hear that once heathen father praying aloud, calmly giving thanks to the Good Shepherd for taking his child home.'

How much Mrs Ingolls has done for the Lord Jesus in Burmah. Why does she do it? She loves Him. What are you doing for the Lord Jesus? Nothing? Then you do not love Him. When we love anyone, we like to show it.

Dear boys and girls, pray that the Holy Spirit may show you how much the Lord Jesus loved you, when He gave His life for you. Then ask Him, 'Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?" Ask Him to help you to be a little missionary at home. Tell what you hear at school. Ask your parents if you may have a missionary box, and put in it the pence that you spend on sweeties. Pray for Mrs Ingolls, and the many missionaries who are working for Jesus. Then you can lend the 'Dayspring' to some neighbour. Above all, give your heart to Him who loved you and gave Himself for you.

MARIA V. G. HAVERGAL.

BIBLE QUESTIONS.

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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.

3. 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.

FEBRUARY.

JUNIOR DIVISION.

4. What good man's childhood is described in the Old Testament, in words very like those used in Luke concerning the childhood of Jesus?

5. Of which of the judges of Israel when a child, is it said that, the Lord blessed him?

6. In what instance is the early death of a pious child mentioned as a favour bestowed on him by God?

SENIOR DIVISION.

4. Of what great man even in infancy is it said, the Lord loved him?

5. Name five occasions on which Jesus shewed His tender love for children?

6. What good man is described in three words, from which we learn that he had. followed the Lord from youth to old age?

THE ANSWERS

To January and February Bible Questions will be given in the March 'Dayspring.'

Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mark xvi. 15.

BIBLE QUESTIONS

For a Course of Lessons on the Old and New Testaments Parts I. & II. Old Testament, and Parts I. & II. Gospels 1d. each.

PAISLEY: J. AND R. PARLANE.