MISSIONS IN WEST AFRICA. dred legs. But my greatest enemies are the mosquitos; they are too fond of biting." 66 The cruelties practised by the chiefs are most horrible. My husband," says she, "told us a sad story. A : cruel chief once lived in a house we saw. One of his wives having committed a trifling offence, the rest of his wives were called out—at least many of them and had to stand in a circle; he then cut off the offender's head, and made them all drink of her blood. My hand trembles as I write of such cruelty; but I could tell you of far more barbarous acts. We went to the son's house the cruel father is dead. The son is not so bad. My husband pointed out a spot where an immense ditch had been dug, and kept open for dead bodies killed in this way. This cruel man was head chief-a perfect tyrant: no one could conquer him. His house was fortified. His own death was awful, like that of Herod, and more horrors than we have recorded in Scripture of Herod. But now the blessed gospel has entered this barbarous place, and what may it not effect? O God, send out Thy light and Thy truth!" Mrs H. has four native children under her care, and has both trouble and amusement with them : 66 Washing every morning, for instance, is passing strange to themonce or twice a week is the outside of what they think necessary; and why we want them ever to be quiet and silent is equally strange. They are beginning to comprehend that they must be at family prayers: nothing composes them so much as music. We 69 always sing a hymn, with the harmonium, at prayers, with which they are delighted. But though decidedly a care, and no slight trouble, I would not for any thing be without them: they will lose their wildness in time, and they are so affectionate. One child, whose name is Atrielle, the son of a great warrior, has a very high spirit, but a most loving heart. He often comes and throws his little arms round me- My mother thou art!' but he is extremely passionate too. The other day he was beating a boy bigger than himself tremendously: I interfered, and he lifted up his hand at me; then I had to punish him. He only said he would go home: I said, 'Very well, Atrielle, go: good bye for ever!' He burst into tears. Ono! O no! I will never leave my iya,' and was quite inconsolable till received into favour." The people are very indolent :— 6 "For instance, if a tree has fallen across their path, even a path that is traversed day after day, yet rather than two or three of them setting to work and moving it, they will go round the tree, or scramble over, at the risk of losing their load from their head. Overhanging branches, again. A man going before, had a cutlass in his hand. Stooping to get under, Cut it down,' says my husband. 'No, master, we can get under.' A man will be working for you: you send him with a load to Abbeokuta, for which he gets a certain sum: you need not expect him to come and work again for awhile; not that he wastes it, but he will lie down, sleep, or sit hugging his knees, and talking with his neighbours."-Abrid. from the Juvenile Instructor. HOW TO GIVE. A TEXT FOR A MISSIONARY MEETING. Ar a Missionary meeting_held among the negroes in the West Indies, these three resolutions were agreed upon :"1. We will all give something. "2. We will all give as God has enabled us. "3. We will all give willingly." As soon as the meeting was over, a leading negro took his seat at a table, with pen and ink, to put down what each came to give. Many came forward and gave, some more and some less. Amongst those that came was a rich old negro, almost as rich as all the others put together, and threw down upon the table a small silver coin. "Take dat back again," said the negro that received the money; "dat may be according to de first resolution, but it not according to de second." The rich old man accordingly took it TO OUR WE have received the following from a correspondent in England : "MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,-From time to time you hear of the heathen, and how the great work of making known to them Jesus Christ, as the only Saviour of the world, is progressing in many countries. You are often told how they throw away their idols to the moles and to the bats,' and embrace Christianity, bearing witness, by a holy and self-denying life, to the power of our divine religion. No doubt, you are much interested in up, and hobbled back to his seat again in a great rage. One after another came forward, and as almost all gave more than himself, he was fairly ashamed of himself, and again threw down a piece of money on the table, saying, " Dare, take dat." It was a valuable piece of gold, but it was given so ill-temperedly, that the negro answered again, "No, dat wont do yet; it may be according to de first and second resolutions, but it not according to de last ;" and he was obliged to take up his coin again. Still angry at himself and all the rest, he sat a long time, till nearly all were gone, and then came up to the table, and with a smile on his face, and very willingly, gave a large sum to the treasurer. Very well, said the negro, dat will do; dat according to all de resolutions." 66 READERS. 66 these touching accounts, and your young hearts would delight to help in the work, if but an opportunity presented itself. The writer of these few words loves the Missionary cause too; and if the following announcement will help any of you to carry out your perhaps long-cherished desires, she will rejoice. It is intended (D. V.), to send this month (September) a box of useful and ornamental needle-work to India for sale for this cause, and anything that friends may be disposed to send will thus be safely conveyed. CHILDREN, you felt and heard, a few days ago, a great storm. On a very dark, wild, and terrible night, a vessel was wrecked off Balbriggan. The people on shore thought all in the ship would be lost. The sailors let down the boat; it was a broken one. A foolish man said, "I will go into the boat." Down he jumped, and was lost. Then they put out another boat, but it could carry only twelve persons. A thirteenth came. 66 You cannot come in," they said. So he sat down very quietly; the waves were washing over him, the wind was roaring, and the ship every moment likely to go to the bottom, or be broken to pieces. The man was an old sailor, who had been in many a storm and dreadful battle. He seemed for a great while to hold fast something. What do you think it was? Money, was it? No. Clothes? No. Jewels? No. Diamonds? No. He had been in the north, and in the south-under a burning sun, and in icy plains. This old, withered, weatherbeaten sailor, calm and collected, held fast-what? The Bible. When the men saw him so quiet and contented, they said," Come in, come in." The old sailor, with his Bible, got in, and was brought to shore. The gentleman who saw him told me the story, and how he was brought safely to his house. There was he, calm and comfortable, reading his Bible, which he would not let go, because it told him of a Saviour, and taught him how to find Jesus, and, like the wise men, to worship Him, and present Him with gifts. BLESS, AND CURSE NOT. A YOUNG man in Dublin, a student, who had been converted by means of the handbills, was consequently cast off by his parents. Two Roman Catholic bishops waited on him in Dublin, and after striving in vain to gain him back to Popery, one of them stood up in the most dignified manner, and proceeded with the greatest austerity to curse him. His concluding words were, "The curse of a mother's broken heart be upon you! May God Almighty scald your heart on your dying bed, and command your soul to the lowest pit of hell!" The young man replied that such conduct only the more confirmed him in Protestantism-that he had then broken the apostolic precept, "Bless, and curse not"-"You have cursed me, I bless you;" and they parted.-Sketch of Church Missions in Ireland. AN Arab had lost his way in the desert, and was in danger of dying from hunger and thirst. After straying about for a long time, he found one ary found a man who was agonizing with death. Finding that he must die, he raised his eyes imploringly to the great golden pagoda near, and throwing himself vehemently forward, cried for help. 66 Pray to Christ," entreated the Missionary. "Too late! too late!" groaned the dying man; and as if he would still grasp something, he sprang towards his gods and died. The Missionary came too late. Oh dear children, if these poor heathen had heard the gospel as often as you have done, perhaps they might have repented, and it would not then have come too late. Oh remember the words of Jesus Christ, "Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you." Poetry. SOWING AND REAPING. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Who are sowing? who are sowing? Who are sowing? Those just leaving Who are sowing? Those expending Earth beyond, no thought extending, Who are sowing? who are sowing? Either for our bane or need. Soon will dawn the day of reaping- Price 6d. doz., or 3/6 100. Published by GALL & INGLIS, 38 North Bridge, Edinburgh. HOULSTON & STONEMAN, London. |