It's a good sign to see the colour of health in a man's face: it's a bad sign to see it all concentrated in his nose. It's a good sign to see an honest man wearing old clothes: it's a bad sign to see them filling holes in the windows. It's a good sign to see a woman dressed with taste and neatness; it's a bad sign to see her husband sued for her feathers and foolery, gems and jewellery.-Facts and Fancies. PETER'S EPISTLES. CANNIBALS CONVERTED. It is said that on the Fejee Islands, from 30,000 to 40,000 are daily brought under the direct teaching of Christianity, and into close contact with the word of God. The grass has grown over the ovens where human victims used to be prepared for food, and thousands assemble every Sabbath day to hear words whereby they may be saved. DR. WATTS. It was so natural for Dr. Watts, when a child, to speak in rhyme, that even at the very time he wished to avoid it he could not. His father was displeased at this propensity, and threatened to whip him if he did not leave off making verses. One day, when he was about to put his threat in execution, the child burst into tears, and, on his knees, said, I wonder, and have always wondered, that the Catholics, in prohibiting the Scriptures, do not except St. Peter's epistles. Was ever any Catholic forbidden to read the letters of a Pope? I believe not. But if good Catholics may, and should read the "Encyclical Letters" of the Popes, why not let them read the "General Epistles" of the first" Pray, father, do some pity take, of Popes-Peter? Why is it any more criminal to read the letters of Pope Peter than those of Pope Gregory? I cannot explain this!— Dr. Nevins. THE HIGHER JOY. We are told that the angelic choir chanted a morning psalm when the heavens and earth, at the fiat of the Almighty, sprang from the deep. Oh! I am sure the morning stars sing together, and all the sons of God begin to shout; yes, that a morning psalm resounds 'mid heaven's arches, when a poor sinner, through the new birth, becomes a child of God, a new citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem!-Tholuck. THE SCRIPTURES. The Scriptures have been translated into 148 languages and dialects, of which 121 had, prior to the formation of the "British and Foreign Bible Society," never appeared, and 25 of these languages existed without an alphabet, in an oral form. Upwards of 43,000,000 of these copies of God's word are circulated among not less than 600,000,000 of people. "What hath God wrought?" And I will no more verses make." ILLNESS. It appears that between the ages of 20 and 30, each person has, on an average, nearly 7 days' illness a year; at 40 it is increased to 8 days; at 45, to 9; at 50, to 114; at 55, to 14; at 60, to 183; at 65, to 27; at 70, to 433; and 75, to 66; and at 80, to 973. GEMS OF THOUGHT. For a man to be able to speak his best to the men of his time, he must have in him the life-blood of his time. Paul had that, and so had Luther and Latimer; and so all the best poets had-Chaucer, Shakespere, Spenser.-Mountford. That is true beauty which has not only a substance, but a spirit; a beauty that we must intimately know to justly appreciate.-Colton. Beauty is a transitory flower; even while it lasts it palls on the roving sense when held too near, or dwelling there too long.-Jeffrey. The vine bears three grapes; the first, of pleasure; the second, of drunkenness; the third, of repentance.—Anacharsis. Poetry. THE BIRTHDAYS OF THE DEAD. Why is affliction? To wean ARE all the memories of life Buried when life has filed? The birthdays of the dead? Of some beloved one's birth. The birthday feasts of childhood's age, Remind us of like youthful joys, For they with whom those days were spent Have done with all on earth ; Yet, as the days come round again, Once more we think of those we've lost, And, haply, still they keep in heaven Far off are they, but still towards them AFFLICTION. What is affliction? The rod, By a merciful Father given, To lead our earth-bound souls to God, To mansions purchased by the blood Of his only Son in heaven. When is affliction? "Tis found In sickness and cheerful health, When joy and peace in our homes abound, And troops of friends our path surround, In poverty or in wealth. Where is affliction? Where not? In the halls of the rich and proud, In the regal palace and humble cot, In earth's most distant and barren spot, In the forest and city crowd. Whence is affliction? See! 'Tis thy Father's gracious hand Our hearts from earthly love, To teach us on him alone to lean, And strive for joys as yet unseen, Prepared for us above. Then, mourner, weep no more! Thou shalt thy loved ones meet, When a few days or years are o'er, And with them worship and adore Around thy Saviour's feet. THY WILL BE DONE. SHOULD sorrow come with baneful breath, To crush our hopes and bid us think, We'll pray to Thee with eyes of faith, Oh, pass the cup-nor let us drink. But if thou, in thy sovereign will, Should bid us seek thee, like thy Son, We'll drink the cup of every ill, With him exclaim, "Thy will be done." Should death e'er cast his fatal dart Around our quiet, joyous home, Though call'd from long-loved friends to part, We'll yet exclaim, "Thy will be done." When to the bed of death we come, Our hearts by every sorrow riven, Still be our prayer, "Thy will be done," That we may drink with thee in hea ven. Without a fear we'll yield our breath, G. D. TWIGGS. WHAT IS HEAVEN? WHAT maketh heaven? "T is not the place: An aching heart might there be found, If unprepared by love and grace, Although with Eden's scenery round. What maketh heaven? Not company; For that might sound from seraph's harp, And sweetest tones those bowers fill, And yet one there enjoy no part. What maketh heaven? It is God's love, Diffused-transforming all the soul; A relish for the joys above, A peace beyond vile sin's control. Where this exists, no circumstance GOD The Children's Gallery. CALLING ELLEN WILSON had been reading the story of Samuel aloud to her mother, when the coming twilight forced her to close her book. So she sat awhile, with her little hand pressed in her mother's loving clasp, looking into the blazing wood fire. At last she said, " Mamma, I don't want to go and leave you, and live alone with a priest like Eli; but I do wish it was the fashion for God to call children now-a-days just as he did little Samuel." "Why, my dear, do you desire such a fashion?" "Because then I would know just how to be good, and what he wants me to do." "It is true that God does not speak with a voice which sounds in the ear, as the midnight voice did to Samuel, but I well remember that I received many solemn calls from God in my childhood; and I think if my Ellen would listen with all her heart, she would find that it is still the fashion' for God to call his children." "When did God ever call you, mamma?" "The first time, I remember, I was about five years old, and read the mention of William Baker's death in the Child's Book on the Soul.' Then something seemed to whisper, "Though you are young, you may die, too. Why do you not give your heart to Christ, and be prepared?' I felt very sober for a while, but it was a still small voice, and I soon drowned it in play. Then, again, CHILDREN. two or three years later, when I first saw a dead body from which the soul had gone. Then something seemed to say,' Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth; They that seek me early shall find me.' Then I listened and felt sober for a few days as before, but did not obey the voice, and it soon ceased." "Did you have any more calls, mamma?" "As I grew older the calls became faint and less frequent, and, but for God's goodness, might have ceased altogether; but, thanks to his mercy, the blessed voice came again, and as the words, 'Quench not the Spirit,' sounded from the preacher's lips, and were again repeated in my ears, as I tossed upon my bed at midnight, I saw my sins and danger, and Christ ready to forgive and save me. Then I said, 'Here am I,' and from that time resolved to love and obey Christ all my life. Then peace came into my soul, and I could sleep sweetly. From that hour I never have been troubled what to do, for I find God ever ready to tell me as plainly as he told Samuel. Ellen, have you never heard such a voice? And don't you think, if you listened attentively, you could tell what to do?" Ellen hung her head, for she had read the Bible, and knew her duty, and had heard God's voice more than once calling her to love and serve him. "Yes, mother, I think I have heard God call, though that is not not last long, for, to the delight of the pursued and the chagrin of the pursuer, the Wellington boot that the former wore slipped off, extricated the leg, and saved the life of poor Rogers. The dilemma, however, did not end here; for the elephant, finding himself baulked of his prey, after destroying the boot, took up his quarters beneath the branches, and kept its expected victim in the tree for twenty-four hours, when the tapyal, or country postman, happening to pass by, Rogers gave him notice of his position, and, on this being intimated to the nearest village, the elephant was frightened away by tomtoms and yellings. Had this occurred in a deserted part of the jungle, poor Rogers would have been starved to death in the tree. the kind of voice I meant. I always thought it would be easier to know what to do if God would speak in my ear just as he did to Samuel." "No, my dear, if you would not listen now, you would not under any circumstances. Childhood soon passes, and the noise and din of earthly care drown the calls of God, and they are often unheeded until it is too late. Christ loves children, he died for them, and when he was on earth blessed them, and said, 'Of such is the kingdom of heaven.' Now, next time you hear this voice, say, 'Here am I, for thou didst call me; and, trusting in Christ for help, try to obey his word. Sometimes he calls with a text of Scripture, sometimes by putting a serious thought into your mind, even amidst your play; to-night he calls my Ellen by the story of little Samuel." The tears ran down Ellen's face THE BOY THE FATHER OF at these few solemn words from her mother; and that evening, as she knelt in prayer, she asked that help from God's Spirit without which no child can truly obey God's voice. AUNT KATE. THE PERILS OF ELEPHANT HUNTING. MAJOR ROGERS, in sporting with a herd of these animals, had discharged his four guns, when an unseen elephant made a charge at him from the skirts of the jungle. There was no help for it except to run, and for one hundred yards the major kept just ahead, feeling at every step the animal's trunk trying to insinuate itself round his loins. A turn round a tree gave him a momentary advantage, which he made the most of by springing up into the branches. One foot higher and he would have been out of the elephant's reach, but before he had time to draw up his legs, the elephant had got him firmly clenched in the coils of his proboscis. Still Rogers pulled against him, thinking it better to have his leg wrenched from the socket than to fall back bodily into the animal's power. The struggle, however, did THE MAN. SOLOMON said, many centuries ago, "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right." Some people seem to think that children have no character at all. On the contrary, an observing eye sees in these young creatures the signs of what they are likely to be for life. When I see a boy in haste to spend every penny as soon as he gets it, I think it a sign that he will be a spendthrift. When I see a boy hoarding up his pennies, and unwilling to part with them for any good purpose, I think it a sign that he will be a miser. When I see a boy or girl always looking out for themselves, and disliking to share good things with others, I think it a sign that the child will grow up a very selfish person. When I see boys and girls often quarrelling, I think it a sign that they will be violent and hateful men and women. When I see a little boy willing to taste strong drink, I think it a sign that he will be a drunkard. When I see a boy who never prays, 1 God. SEEK RELIGION WHILE LET no one think that there is I think it a sign that he will be a profane and profligate man. When I see a child obedient to is parents, I think it a sign of great future blessings from Almighty When I see a boy fond of the Bible, and well acquainted with it, I hink it a sign that he will be a pious nd happy man. And though great changes some-tree, with a tall, heavy trunk, wideimes take place in the character, spreading branches, and great roots et, as a general rule, these signs do running deep into the ground? He might possibly do it; but it would be a work of great difficulty, and the tree would not be very likely to live. He would rather choose a young tree, which would be easily and safely transplanted. In like manner the difficulty of becoming religious increases as one grows lot fail. Godlike. MEEKNESS. older. ET all young persons who would row up to be men and women who vill be respected, valued, and loved, ultivate a spirit of meekness. Noody would think less of a boy or death-bed, who had been a disciple A woman of ninety lay on her irl who, instead of resenting an of Christ for half a century. Connjury, received it in a spirit of neekness; and those who had of versing with a friend, she said, "Tell ended them would not be likely to who is just on the borders of eternity, all the children that an old woman, njure them again. There is nothing is very much grieved that she did owardly in this, but something very not begin to love the Saviour when Jesus was not cowardly. When she was a child. Tell them, youth e saw at midnight a band of soldiers is the time to serve the Lord." oming, with torches and weapons, to ake him, he met them all calmly nd fearlessly; he did not hide himelf from them. The Saviour always net sorrow and trial with a more han manly heart; and yet he was o meek, so gentle in spirit, that for ll the injuries he received he not nly never gave an angry blow, but ever once spoke a harsh word. Even after his cruel murderers had ailed him to the cross, thrust a pear into his side, and stood before im mocking his bitter agony, he rayed, "Father, forgive them; for hey know not what they do." Let all who sometimes feel angry empers rise within their breasts ften read of the patience and meek ess of the Saviour, and remember hat he who said, "Suffer little chilren to come unto me," said also, Learn of me; for I am meek and wly in heart and ye shall find est to your souls." Oxford, May 12, 1857. A. THE BEES OF THE BIBLE. Be ye kindly affectioned one to another. Be sober, and watch unto prayer. Be content with such things as ye have. Be strong in the Lord. Be courteous. Be not wise in your own conceits. Be not unmindful to entertain strangers. Be not children in understanding. Be followers of God, as dear children. We really do not know that we could utter a better wish for our readers, than that each of their hearts might be made a hive for such |