means to write directly if you will like it. Write to me if you please, pray do, and tell me about Willy in heaven. I like to hear of that best. Papa put some verses in Ann's album-I meant to have writen them, but I have used all the paper. Good bye dear Mary. I am, your affectionate little girl,

CHARLOTTE RICHMOND."

THE CHILD'S DESIRE.

"And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."

I THINK When I read the sweet story of old,
How when Jesus was here among men,

He once called little children as lambs to his fold;

I should like to have been with them then.

I wish that his hands had been placed on my head,
That his arms had been thrown around me;

And that I might have seen his kind look, when he said, "Let the little ones come unto me."

Yet still to his footstool in faith I may go,
And there ask for a share of his love;
And I know if I earnestly seek him below,
I shall see him and hear him above-
In that beautiful place, he is gone to prepare,
For all those who are wash'd and forgiven;
And many dear children are gathering there,
"For of such is the kingdom of heaven."

Ja

THE ROSE.

"How fair is the rose; what a beautiful flower!"

THE rose is a universal favourite the palace and the cottage are alike adorned by its beauty. In both sacred and profane history the rose has been praised as one of the most lovely and fragrant flowering plants that adorn our world.

There is an almost infinite variety of roses-in colour, from the purest white to the deepest crimson— in the number of leaves, from single to one hundredand in blossoming, monthly and annual. What would our young readers think of five hundred varieties of roses? But in our country, where much attention has, of late years, been paid to the cultivation of the rose, there are at least five hundred, and some say nearly one thousand, varieties.

The ancients cultivated the rose; the Syrians, from time immemorial; the Hebrews, by King Solomon and others in Judea; the Greeks, the Isle of Rhodes, signifying the Isle of Roses; the Romans, who said to the Egyptians,-"Send us corn, Egyptians, and we will send you roses"; the Persians, who, above all other nations, have cultivated this lovely flower.

The first mention we find of roses in England is about six hundred years ago, by Chaucer, the poet. Rose-water is afterwards often mentioned in connection with courts and sovereigns. The musk-rose was brought from Italy about 250-the moss-rose from Holland about 150-and the China, or monthly rose, about sixty years ago.

The rose is often presented as a token of love and affection; and some plant them on graves in remembrance of the departed. I knew a sweet little girl who had a rose tree of her own, of which she was very fond. But she, like a young bud

"Nipt by the wind's untimely blast,"

sickened and died, and her sorrowing parents removed her favourite tree and planted it at the head of her grave, with other flowers. That pretty little grave I often pass, and it always reminds me of the once lovely and interesting child that sleeps below.

Have you a rose tree my young reader? If you have not, try if you cannot manage to raise one. There is something pleasing in the thought of having a little tree of one's own you know. When you get one, we need not tell you that you must take care of it, giving it water when needful. And you will, no doubt, as it grows and puts forth its green leaves, watch and see if there are any rose-buds appearing. If none should appear, you will be disappointed; but do not neglect your tree, for if it does not blossom one year it may another.

Young people are plants—that is, they are like plants. They require much cultivation and attention, and if they do not bud and blossom their parents and friends are disappointed; and more than you could be in not finding a rose-bud on your young tree. And what are the buds and blossoms young people should bear? Not the adorning of their persons in costly and gaudy apparel: no; but the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which, in the sight of God, is of great price. How delighted are all good fathers and mothers when they see their children displaying kindness towards each other, love to their parents, and piety towards God. These virtues are more to be admired in the young than personal beauty, or the gayest clothing. These will live when those shall fade away. Yea; like the rose, they will be fragrant after death. Say, then, my dear young friends, in the words of that beautiful rose-hymn,

"Then I'll not be proud of my youth or my beauty,
Since both of them wither and fade,

But gain a good name by well doing my duty:

This will scent like a rose when I'm dead."