TRY.

THERE was once upon a time a good little dwarf named Try, who was so powerful that he overcame almost everything he attempted; and yet he was so small and ill-favoured, that people laughed when they were told of his wondrous powers. But the tiny man was so kind at heart, and loved so much to serve his unfortunate and desponding brethren, that he would go and beg of those who knew him better to intercede for him, so that he might be allowed to help them out of their troubles; and when once he had made them happy by his noble deeds, they no longer despised him, or drove him from them with sneers, but loved him as their truest friend. Yet the only return this good dwarf sought for all his services was, that when they heard of any one who wanted a helping hand, they would say a word in his favour, and recommend them to-TRY.

A STORMY NIGHT!

How fearfully the storm is raging without. The gusty wind is making war with the trees of the forest, and tearing off the branches of the sturdy oak and the aged elm, which have withstood its blasts for more than a century. Black and heavy clouds are scudding along the moonless and starless sky, and pouring their torrents of mingled rain and snow upon the earth. While all within is bright, and warm, and cheerful, all without is gloomy and desolate. How such a night enhances the comforts of home. With what delightful feelings do we turn to the warm hearth, and the broad, bright, blazing fire. With what a consciousness of security we sit there and listen to the howling blast, and wintry rain. But while we are grateful to the God of heaven for surrounding us with these comforts, let us not be so selfish as

to forget those who are necessarily exposed to all the peltings of the pitiless storm. Let us think of the thousands who at this moment may be sending up their cries to heaven for succour and refuge. Let us think of those unhappy ones who, in the frail ship, are tossed about on the wide ocean-now reared mountains high on the foam-crested billow, and anon plunged down again as into the heart of the sea. They, perhaps, thought not of God in the hour of enjoyment and in the season of calm; but they are now crying unto him in the time of their need. Let us pray for them, not only that God would still the tempest and conduct them safe to their desired haven, but also that he would teach them the importance of having for a friend Him who is a refuge from the storm, as well as a shadow from the heat. And we should think of the benighted traveller, journeying alone, with no friendly star to guide him, and no kindly habitation to give him a welcome; and of the poor homeless wanderers, who, like the Son of Man, have not where to lay their head. We should pray for them too, that God would open the hearts of the affluent to relieve their distress, and also that he would feed them with the bread of life, and prepare them for a house not made with hands-eternal in the heavens.

There is a soft and downy bed,

"Tis fair as breath of even-
A couch for weary mortals spread,
Where they may rest the aching head,

And find repose in heaven.

Such a night as this, then, should teach us to be very grateful for the comforts we enjoy, and to think with deep commiseration on those of our fellow-creatures who are deprived of them. And should it not also remind us of that better land, where storms and tempests are things unheard of, where the sea-beaten mariner, and the toil-worn pilgrim may find repose from the stormy ocean, and the waste howling wilderness of life. There they may sit, safe from each blast

that blows, and recount all their dangers, and all their deliverances. How delightful, when storms are raging around us, to think that there is a country beyond their power, and that to this country we are all invited!

See the kind angels at the gates,
Inviting us to come;

There Jesus, the forerunner, waits

To welcome travellers home.

Leicester.

R. W.

A FATHER'S PRAYER.

'Twas on a dark and stormy night,
As wakeful on my bed I lay,

The wind rush'd past with fearful might-
I thought of children far away.

Upon the wide expanded sea,

Where gallant ships pursue their course,
Two sons have I, and dear to me;

Feel they this gale in all its force?

Thou that didst set the sea its bounds,
Defend from harm, each wayward boy;
And when the storm sends forth its sounds,
May they thy sheltering hand enjoy.
On rocks, and reefs, and dangerous sands,
Preserve their ship from being riven;
May they return from foreign lands

In peace, and gain their wish'd for haven.

Here in thy courts may they appear,
With grateful hearts, thy name to bless,
For thy protection year by year,

While on the watery wilderness.

Did children know the pain they give
To parents by their roving ways,
Like Ruth, they would resolve to live
Near those they love through all their days.

Gloucester.

H.

A MISSIONARY STATION.

CHILDREN who live in a country like England, can scarcely imagine the state in which some people live in other parts of the world. In no part, perhaps, are men sunk so low as in the South of Africa, where they run about quite naked, like the wild beasts around them, themselves as wild as they. Ignorant of all the arts of civilized life, they have no houses to dwell in -no furniture or cooking utensils-no clothing, except now and then the skin of a beast-and what is worse than all, they are without God in the world, having no idea of the Supreme Being who made heaven and earth, the sea and the dry land. They are not only miserable but wicked; doing things which they ought not; savage and ferocious, they prove the truth of that scripture" The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty."

Among these wild human beings,christian missionaries, out of love to Christ, have gone and taken up

their abode. Sometimes they have been ill-treated, and often have they been in great danger. But they have persevered, and great good has, in many instances, been done. Fixing on some spot where there was water, and land which would bear cultivation, they have erected dwellings, and taught the natives to do the same. They have also taught them the knowledge of God, and of Jesus the Saviour, by preaching the gospel to them as well as they could in their own language, and by forming schools for their children. They have also taught them how to cultivate the fruits of the earth, so that they may have good food to eat; and they have instructed them also in many other trades and arts of which they were before entirely ignorant.

The above is a picture of a missionary station. What a different scene must now be presented to the eye of the admiring traveller. Formerly, where savages lurked in ambush to molest him, or where the wild beast prowled on his path, he now beholds neat cottages, and busy workshops, and fruitful gardens, and a house for God, and a school-room, and all looks cheerful and happy. And best of all, on the sabbathday-they had no sabbath before, all days were then alike to them-crowds of them may be seen hastening to the house of prayer, to worship the Almighty Creator, and bless the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Truly, in these faithful missionaries, that scripture is fulfilled, "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose."-"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth glad tidings, that publisheth peace."

English children! out of gratitude to the God of all your privileges and mercies, do all you can, both now and when you grow up, to help christian missions— the noblest enterprise on earth.