Thus I set pen to paper with delight,

*

And quickly had my thoughts in black and white.
For having now my method by the end,

Still as I pull'd, it came; and so I penn'd
It down until it came at last to be,

For length and breadth, the bigness which you see." By such a man-in such a place-under such circumstances was "The Pilgrim's Progress from this world to that which is to come" written a book, we have no hesitation in saying, which has never been equalled in any country or any age, and which will, we have no doubt, ere time shall end, be read with delight in every language of the earth.

THE BOY THE FATHER OF 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 wishing to taste strong drink I think it a sign that he will be a drunkard.

When I see a boy who never prays, I think it a sign that he will be a profane and profligate man.

When I see a child obedient to his parents, I think it a sign of great future blessings from Almighty God. When I see a boy fond of the Bible, and well acquainted with it, I think it a sign that he will be a pious and happy man.

And though great changes sometimes take place in the character, yet, as a general rule, these signs do Christian Mirror.

not fail.

THE COLLIER BOYS; OR, GOD HEARS

PRAYER.

"Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try."

Do you know what a coal mine is? It is a very deep place dug in the earth, where coals are found; so deep, that the light cannot reach it, and so dark, that you could not see the bottom; and here men and boys work, to dig out the coals which are in it. These mines are very dangerous places, because the air in them is sometimes very bad, and no fresh air can come in; and there are other dangers, some of which you shall hear about. How glad you should be that you are not obliged to work in such places, but may always have the beautiful light of heaven, and the pleasant fresh air. Do you thank God for these comforts? However, to begin our story. One day, in one of these dark mines, a great many men, and five boys, were employed at work. The men finished their work first, but the boys had a little more to do; so the men went on, and thought the boys would soon come after them. But in the mean time, a large body of water which had been in the mine for several years, and had been stopped up, suddenly escaped, and burst in, and filled up the only passage by which the little boys could get out of the mine.

Only think what a dreadful situation they were in!

THE COLLIER BOYS; OR, GOD HEARS PRAYER.

The water continued to rise. The poor boys tried to escape, but could not; and two of them were very nearly drowned in trying. The men could not see them, but they were dreadfully distressed; they knew it would take several days to pump the water out; and they were afraid that when they got the water out, (if the boys lived as long,) the bad air would come in, and then the poor boys must be stifled. The men went home; but think what a sad story they had to tell their mothers, and what they must have felt about their poor children, whom, I dare say, they were longing to see come home to them after their day's work. How true that word is,-"Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth."

Well: the people gathered in crowds round the pit, but none could help. Day after day passed. Those who knew most about the mines seemed to have the least hope. "I dare say," said one, 66 we shall see their funerals in a day or two." Oh how sad it was! At length, after waiting and waiting, on Wednesday morning I was told that by to-morrow evening the boys must be found, dead or alive. What a long time did it seem!

I stood that evening at my window, looking towards the place where the mine is situated, and longing to know the worst. I thought what a solemn thing it was that five young creatures, perhaps unthinking and unprepared, should be called away in such an awful manner to meet their God. At that moment there was a hasty run down the lane, and a loud ring at the bell. "Mother! mother!" said a boy's voice. "Mother, they are all alive!" said the boy, scarcely able to breathe; and Nanny, the poor woman who was whitewashing in the kitchen, burst into tears. I could stay in my house no longer. I went out, and soon found myself in the midst of a crowd of people, who were all expressing their joy to hear of the poor boys being found alive.

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But how had the poor boys felt in that awful prison? What did they do in that dark pit ? "The waters are rising," said one of them in his despair, "what shall we do now ?" "We will go and pray," answered some of the rest; and as well as they could, so they did, "and then," added the one who told me the story, "the waters abated." "They prayed to be delivered from the bad air, and the Lord was so well pleased," said the collier who told me, "that he caused a large piece of coal and clay to fall down, and it stopped up the passage, so that the foul air could not reach them." "And what did you say in prayer, my boy?" said a father. 'Lord, thou knowest how bad it is to go to work in the morning in health and strength, and to be carried home to father and mother dead." Poor boy! as he spoke, the remembrance of the agony he had endured so agitated him, that he could not go on, and with difficulty he restrained his tears. My dear children, this is prayer: telling God all you feel and all you want in the simplest words. Let us all try to come to the same conclusion to which an old man, to whom I talked on the subject, brought mę. He remarked many striking particulars, which made it quite like a miracle that the boys should be saved, and ended by saying, "to think that there was bad air enough in the place to kill all the horses in the world seemingly, and these boys were kept alive! "Tis no use," he added, "to say more about it; the Lord does hear prayer!"

And does God hear prayer? And will he answer? Have you, my young reader, ever tried? Would you not wish yourself to have one of God's answers to prayer? Then go to Him, and say, "O Lord, I am a sinful child; thou knowest how evil my heart is; forgive my sins, for Jesus Christ's sake, and oh give me thy Holy Spirit, to make me wise and happy!" If you ask thus with all your heart, you too shall be able to say, "The Lord does hear Prayer!" E.

THE LITTLE FISHES.

GOD had given to Mr. Fairbank wisdom to obtain wealth. But he was not like many who forget that they are only stewards of the gifts of God. He tried to remember this, and always felt it to be his first duty to give, as God had prospered him, to every good design for promoting the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ in the world. And so Mr. Fairbank was always found giving a very handsome sum to the