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ROBERT'S WALK TO CHURCH..

ROBERT'S WALK TO CHURCH, AND

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WHAT CAME OF IT. ITTLE Robert Murray was on his way to church alone one Sabbath morning. Robert's father was not well, and his mother staid at home to take care of him; so Robert, who had but à few weeks before lost his only brother, had no one to accompany him that cold wet Sabbath morning. It was early in February, and the wind was blowing in angry gusts, so the little boy put down his umbrella; he did not mind the rain dashing against his cheeks, and his warm great-coat protected him well from the cold. The church bells were ringing prettily, and their sweet sound had wafted Robert's thoughts away to the city paved with gold, with gates of pearl, in which there is no temple; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. It was natural that Robert's thoughts should easily find their way there; for his little brother, who had but a few short weeks before walked by his side to church and school, was gone from him, and was now amongst those joyous thousands of little children

Around the throne of God in heaven,
Singing glory, glory, glory.' :

Little Robert, with thoughtful, happy countenance, hurried along the streets that were all a stir with church-goers. What stays his steps so suddenly? Only a little ragged boy' the passers-by say to themselves and pass on. Ah! but little Robert, who has just been musing on the children playing on the streets of the New Jerusalem and joining in the glad chorus of heaven, is not able to pass by the sorrowful little ragged boy with only a look of idle sympathy Love reigns in his heart. Christ's own blessed spirit moves him to tender pity for the little outcast one.

'Poor boy,' he said, 'what is the matter? Can I help you?'

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'I'm cold and hungry, and have no home go to, th they turned me out last night; I could na' pay my lodging and they would na' let me bide ony longer.'"

Robert asked not another question, but

told the boy to rise and come with him. With an enquiring surprised look into Robert's face he eagerly obeyed; he felt he had found a friend who would help him.

Robert quickly retraced his steps. He could not go into church and sit in his comfortably cushioned pew while the poor little boy sat shivering outside. He could not have listened to the preacher's message of love while the poor little boy sat lonely without one kind word to cheer his sorrowstricken heart.

But Robert was only nine years old; what could he do to help the little houseless, friendless boy that hundreds had looked on that morning and passed by without one single arm being stretched out to save-Christ's own people too amongst the number?

Little Robert did not speak much on his way home, for he was a quiet, shy boy, and sometimes did not find it easy to talk, even although it was only to a boy younger than himself. Besides, he was wondering what his mother would do for the poor little ragged boy. He was sure she would at least give him a warm breakfast and some warm clothes. But Robert was wishing for more than that for the poor boy.

'What is your name,' at last he ventured to ask?

'Edward Anderson, please, sir,' said the little fellow, and I'm willing to work if I could get any one to trust me, but I'm so ragged nobody will give me anything to do.'

'This is my house,' said Robert pausing at the steps that led to one of the doors of Queen's Terrace, wait there a moment till I tell my mother.'

Robert hurried to his parents to ask leave to bring in the poor boy to the warm kitchen fire; and mamma, I know you'll be kind to him, you always are; but this is such a pretty boy although he is so dirty.'

Permission was readily given, and Robert gladly led the way to the warmth of the kitchen, and saw little Edward seated on a stool near the fire.

Mrs Murray was soon by their side, and she smiled so kindly upon the little outcast

ROBERT'S WALK TO CHURCH.

that he felt no longer afraid. He did feel a little overawed as he followed Robert through the large wide lobby, and when he entered the kitchen his eyes took it all in at a glance, and he thought it wonderfully beautiful; he had never been in so grand a place before. But such feelings all vanished in the presence of the kind good lady who now ministered to his wants. A warm breakfast was placed before him, and Edward left in Robert's care till he had finished it. The poor boy never had enjoyed a meal so much before, although the tears ran down his cheeks when he answered Robert's questions about his life and prospects,

'I am a' right for to-day after a dinner like this; but to-morrow, -'here the little fellow fairly broke down. Nobody'll give me work, and its only matches and pins and laces that I sell. If any one would trust me to go errands, I'm honest although I am ragged and dirty.'

'I'm sure you are honest,' said Robert, reading instinctively the clear open eye of the boy, perhaps mamma will do something for you; I'll ask her. Come and sit near the fire. Take off your wet boots and I'll bring you a pair of mine, and stockings too;' and Robert placed a chair near the fender and ran off to his papa and mamma.

'Mamma,' he said very quietly, for his papa looked as if he had fallen asleep; 'I would so much like to do some good to that little boy; but although I gave him all my pocket-money, sixpence a week would do him no good; my old clothes would keep him warm; but he has no home to go to. If I could only give him a home. I can't, but you and papa could. O mamma, if you would only let him have George's place, and then perhaps he might learn the way to heaven too, and live there at last for ever and ever."

His father opened his eyes; he had been asleep, but his gentle child's voice roused him, and he heard the words, 'have George's place and learn the way to heaven.'

'My dear boy,' he said, stretching out his hand to Robert, let it even be as you wish; let me not be chargeable with the

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guilt of searing the generous sympathies of my guileless boy. Go and tell your little friend that he may call you brother, if he will only be good and obedient, and that your father will be a father to him, and that from your good dear mother he will have a mother's care. Am I wrong, my darling?' he added, looking round to his wife.

Wrong? No, my husband; my heart is very tender too since Christ has taken from us our little George; and when I think of him amidst the blessedness of heaven, gladly will I strive to take another little helpless one by the hand and lead him to the same beautiful home. Is not the little ragged outcast also a child of our Father in heaven, and shall we not love him for Jesus' sake?"

My dear, precious Mary,' was the fond rejoinder. Go, Robert, let it be your happiness to tell the little one that he has found a home; to you he owes it, my dear boy.'

Robert's face was radiant with delight, and with a grateful kiss to his parents, which spoke the thanks he could not utter in words, he bounded off to the kitchen to tell the good news to the poor boy.

Edward's eyes opened wider and wider, he could not comprehend it, it was too good to be true; the large tears trickled down his face. It's too much, too much,' he sobbed out; if your kind father could but get me some work to do that I might earn my bread, I would thank him for it with all my heart; but this that you tell me of, I'm not fit for it, oh no, no; it's kind, kind, but I'm no' like you.

'But you will grow like me,' said Robert interrupting him, and perhaps be far better than me some day. You would like to live here, wouldn't you?'

Yes,' said Edward, looking round the spacious kitchen, I never saw anything so nice as this room before, but, and he looked down dismally at his rags, and

O! we'll get them all off,' said Robert, papa will be asking to see you soon Come with me and I'll give you plenty of warm water and soap, and clothes too, and then I will take you to see papa

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ROBERT'S WALK TO CHURCH.

'But I am afraid of him.' 'But you need not be afraid, he is good and kind, and you will try to be good, wont you, Edward?'

I'll try; but I don't know anything. If you show me how to be good I'll learn.'

'Mamma and papa will teach you. Here is the bath room;' and Robert left his little friend, after giving him a plentiful supply of water and a pretty suit of clothes; but the poor little boy hardly knew how to proceed; he was almost stupefied by the wonderful change that had come over his life within the last short hour.

Robert however soon came to his aid, and with great pleasure did the kind little ministering child look upon the changed boy. Pretty he truly was, with large soft eyes; and nose, mouth and chin all worthy of the eyes that beamed above them.

'Now,' said little Robert, ‘papa told me to bring you to him; and don't be afraid of my dear, good, kind father; you will love him, I am sure.'

'Come to me, my dear boy,' said Mr Murray, stretching out his hand towards him. You have neither father nor mother, my poor, little one?'

No sir.'

'But you have a Father in heaven.' 'I don't know sir, I never heard.' 'Yes, yes; and He has sent you here. Robert will tell you of Him; how kind and how mighty, how wise and holy He is; and if we would ever enter His glorious home, we must be pure and holy, else we will be shut out for ever; and how much more dreadful to be shut out from that bright, peaceful, blessed home, than to wander homeless here,-out in the cold and rain, without shelter, food, or clothes.'

The tears rolled down the boy's cheeks. He looked up as if in a dim sort of way he understood his kind instructor's meaning.

'I will give you a home here, my boy; but it is only the great Father above who can give you an entrance to that better home that will be for ever; but gó, Robert, now, I am weary, and God bless you both.'

I cannot take up space to tell you how Edward grew up, rewarding his benefactors

for all their care and love by his obedience and truthfulness and gratitude. In his young life the lovely graces, wrought alone by God's spirit of holiness, soon began to appear; and with joy Mr and Mrs Murray acknowledged that if they had sown tenfold, they were reaping a harvest of ten hundredfold.

Their own son Robert died before he reached manhood; then how tenderly did Edward console their sorrowful hearts. Not long afterwards, Mr Murray also entered on his heavenly rest, and Mrs Murray, a widow and childless, had only Edward left to lean on and to love. She is now an old lady, and round about her cluster a pretty group of children with Edward's dark soft eyes. She loves them very tenderly, and the sound of their glad young voices is her sweetest earthly music. She is just at heaven's threshold, waiting for the opening of the door of her Father's house; and I think the glad 'hallelujahs' of heaven are already falling sweetly on her spirit.

'My darling mother,' Edward sometimes says, 'how bright will be your crown.'

And you, my son, will be its most precious gem, but I will cast it low at His feet. I am nothing, I have nothing worthy of His favour,-empty and sinful. Yet if Christ has clad me in His own righteousness, and made me comely through His comeliness put upon me, to Him is all the glory; to Him must be ascribed all the praise. And when I am gone you will take up the work I delighted most of all to do for Christ-consider the poor,-and teach your children to do the same. Let them feel that love is the fulfilling of the law; and let it be wide and free as God's own sun and rain; then down upon their own heads will come showers of blessings.'

Edward took Mrs Murray's hand and reverently kissed it.

'My more than mother,' he exclaimed, 'my life and fortune, which I owe to you and yours, shall, God helping me, be devoted to the help of those who are as I once was-helpless, friendless, destitute.'

A. C. W.

THE CHILD'S HYMN.

BIBLE QUESTIONS ATW

'I am but a little child. 1 Kings 3. 7.

FATHER! a little child like me,

With mind so slow to grasp a thought, And lip, that scarce could form a plea, How can I praise Thee as I ought!

How can I sing Thy being, Lord,

And know so feebly what Thou art, Save only as Thy works afford

An index to a loving heart!

Fain would I trace the boundless power,
And wisdom infinite displayed
In stars that light the lonely hour,

Or flowers that scent the forest shade.

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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.

JUNIOR DIVISION.

13. Which verse in the psalms tells us that even the wild beasts unconsciously pray to God?

14. Where do we find two consecutive verses in which Jesus tells us six times that prayer will be heard?

15. What good man's life was spared in answer to the prayers of believers ?

SENIOR DIVISION.

13. On what occasion did four companions agree to ask a special blessing from God!

14. On what occasion did a king and a prophet unite to pray for deliverance from an jenemy?

15. In which passage does Paul request believers to join with him in praying for three temporal things which he greatly desired?

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS IN MARCH 'DAYSPRING.',

JUNIOR DIVISION.

(7) Zechariah viii. 5; (8) Matthew xi. 16, 17; (9) Proverbs xx. 11.

SENIOR DIVISION.

(7) Psalm xc. 14; (8) Ecclesiates xi. 9; (9) 1 Timothy v. 6.

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: JAND R. PARLANE.

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L'asicy: J. AND R. PARLANE.

'What would Je sus do?'

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London: HOULSTON AND SONS, Paternoster Buildings.

The DAYSPRING can be had, post free, from the Publishers, as follows:
7 copies for 4d., or 12 copies monthly, for one year, 65,

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