WHAT A CHILD CAN DO FOR JESUS CHRIST. "And don't you think we ought to try to do something, mother? There is our neighbour Brand, who is quite as poor as father, and yet last year his Missionary-box contained rather a large sum of money." 66 Yes, but neighbour Brand has strong children who can work. But my dear child, what can you do?" 66 Mother," said Richard, and a blush came over his face, "Mother, I must do something. I don't think I shall live long, and at least I should like to show that I would do something if I could. Promise me that you will get a Missionary-box for me." "With all my heart, Riehard; only you must not be asking every one who comes to the house for the money. That would not look well, you know." "No, mother, I don't mean to do that; I should like to earn the money, and I have just been thinking whether I could not sell the little wooden knives and tooth-picks that I make; and if I were to cut out some paper ornaments that Mrs L. likes so much, perhaps I could sell some of them." 31 in earnest to do good; and Richard soon saw that he had not laboured in vain. At the next missionary meeting in the town, a poor woman with black ribbons on her bonnet, brought a missionary-box, handed it to the gentleman who was receiving the money, and said, "This is my son Richard Hansen's box, sir." "Richard Hansen," said the gentleman. "Is not that the little lame boy who lived in Castle Street?" "He is dead, sir," said the mother, and a stream of tears burst from her eyes. At this moment, another gentleman stepped up, told the story that you have just read, and then said that Richard, while he was working for the Missionary Society, was suddenly taken ill, and after eight days died. "The last time I saw him," the gentleman went on to say, "he was sitting up in bed, propped up by pillows, and still working away at his little wooden knives. When I asked him why he was tiring himself so? he answered, " 'My time is very short, and in the grave to which I am hastening there is Well done, Richard; I will give no more work. It is so kind of God to you some paper, and when father comes let me live long enough to show how home, you can ask him for some wood." much I wished to do something for the Eight days afterwards, Richard had souls of others if I could; and I have a whole heap of curious little knives, been praying that the little money that tooth-picks, and paper ornaments, and I have collected may help to lead some a card on them with the following poor heathens to know and love God." words written :-"To be sold, to raise He did not ask how much there was in money for the Missionary Society." In a short time, the kind women who came to see him had bought everything he had made, for they were glad to encourage the little boy who was so much the box; no feeling of pride at what he had done made him wish to see how much he had got. The box was opened, and nearly one pound was found in it. And now, dear readers, I don't mean to say that you should begin to cut out wooden knives. You need not imitate Richard; he did not imitate any body, but he thought of the plan himself; and if you really love Jesus Christ and the poor heathen, you will be able to find out some way of serving the Saviour and helping the Missionaries. And now. I'll tell you another story about the same subject. A girl only thirteen years old, who belonged to a mission-school in Ceylon, was converted to the Saviour. After some time she wished to go and see her mother, who was still a heathen, to talk with her about the salvation of her soul. When she came to the house, her mother, who was very pleased to see her, spread a mat on the ground for her to sit down upon, and said she would go and boil some rice for her; for in that country if a person wanted to show that he liked you very much, the first thing he would do, would be to give you something to eat. The daughter answered, "I am not hungry, and do not want anything to eat, but I do very much wish to talk "GOD is love; Can this be true? Yes, the Bible says it is. Children, let me ask of you, Have you ever thought of this,- GOD it was who sent His Son, His only Son, to bleed and die For sinners ruin'd and undone. Aloud the wounds of Jesus cry, That GOD IS LOVE! Price 6d. with you." 66 66 "Well," said the mother, you can do that when I have got the rice ready." The child again said that she was not hungry, but that, as her mother worshipped idols, and therefore might lose her soul, she wished to speak to her about Jesus Christ. The mother was not all pleased with what her daughter said, and as the child still wished to speak on this subject she threatened to beat her. Mother," replied the girl," "if you do beat me I must tell you about Jesus," and she began to cry. The mother's heart was softened; she sat down by her side, and her daughter talked to her and prayed with her: This dear girl was so anxious for her mother's salvation that she might have been heard all night long praying for her. The effect was that the mother gave up her gods, became a Christian, and was the means of persuading several others to give up idolworship too. Does not this story teach you that it is worth your while to take a little trouble to help in sending the gospel to the heathen?-Juv. Mis. Mag. Poetry. "GOD IS LOVE GOD delights to pardon sin, Grace and mercy to bestow; Little children, though unclean, Come to Him, and you shall know That GOD IS LOVE! Every poor repenting child, His arms are open to receive; To such He says, with accents mild, "Little sinners, now believe That GOD IS LOVE!" Anonymous. doz. or 8/6 8 100; 20 copies sent free by post for 10d., paid in advance. Published by GALL & INGLIS, 88 North Bridge, Edinburgh. HOULSTON & WRIGHT, London, 66 had an old black hood on her head, Humph! I don't know," said Nancy. which did not hide her tangled hair, Sarah offered her a fine rose, saying, and her bare feet were almost black" See how sweet it is.' with dirt. Her father was a drunkard, and her mother a sickly, thriftless woman. Nancy was now on her way to school. "There is a little child that needs a "Missionary," said Sarah's mother, who sat at the window. "Who, mother?" asked Sarah, running to look out. "Oh, Nancy !" 66 Yes,' "said her mother. "The poor girl needs the heart of a Missionary to love her and to do her good. And a child of pity, and sympathy, and self-denial, would, I think, be the best Missionary for her. Children like to learn of each other, and love springs up quick between them." 66 Why, she is a very hateful girl," said Sarah; "the worst in the school; nobody can go with her." I thought she was in great need," said her mother. "Could I do anything for her, do you suppose?" asked Sarah. "Any one who has the heart for it can do good." "I am sure I want to do good," said Sarah, as she ran for her sun-bonnet and books. She plucked a branch of roses as she passed through the gate, and then joined Nancy on her way to school. Nancy was pleased with it, for there are few children who do not like a sweet-smelling flower, and whose little hearts do not smile at the sight of one. "Your folks have got a great many roses, haven't they?" she said. "I wish ours had. Once I had a root, and father trod on it and broke it down." My mother 'll give you plenty of roots in the autumn, if you want them," said Sarah. 66 "Mother says it's of no use; nothing 'll grow for us. "You might have a root in a box, and put it in some place where it would not be disturbed. I'll give you a pretty rose-bush in a box next season, if you'll water it." "Guess I could do that," said Nancy smiling, and putting back her uncombed locks under her hood. A beautiful bright-feathered bird sung merrily on a tree by the roadside. "See that beautiful bird," exclaimed Sarah. "How lovely everything is !" "I'll make him fly," said Nancy with a roguish look, as she stooped to pick up a stone. "Oh don't," said Sarah; 66 you might kill him." "No, I won't, but I'll scare the rascal." "Oh don't. How can you make him afraid when he is so happy, and sings so sweetly for us? God takes care of every little bird." "How do you know?" said Nancy. falleth not to the ground without have told, Sarah tried to do Nancy Him." good, without embarrassing her and When Sarah entered the school-room, giving her pain, and it was not long she bade the teacher a pleasant "good morning," and Nancy had already felt enough of good influence to follow her example. "Good morning; I am glad to see you in good time," answered the teacher encouragingly, and Nancy felt a self-respect quite new to her. before she had a strong influence over her. Nancy was one of the poorest scholars in the school. She could not read at all, and was in the lowest class in spelling. She now took a start in learning; and when at her lesson, if she caught Sarah's eye fixed on her with interest, she tried her best. At noon she was at some of her old tricks, snatching the girls' bonnets, Sarah knew well that decency of throwing them in the dirt, and upset- looks, and kindness of manner, and diting their dinner-baskets, because they ligence in study, are but little in comwould not play with her; so Sarah left parison with true excellence of chaher own quiet play, and offered to see-racter and the conversion of the heart saw with her, to soothe and keep her to God, and Nancy was very ignorant out of mischief. The other girls won- of God and His requirements. dered at this, not knowing that Sarah had a good thing at heart for her. After school, she said to Nancy, "Come early to school to-morrow, won't you?" 66 "Why?" Nancy asked. "I shan't tell you now," said Sarah, laughing. Nancy's curiosity was excited, and she was early the next day. Sarah was watching for her at her own gate, and was glad to see that her feet had been half washed and her hair half combed. She had one of her own sunbonnets in readiness, and gave it to her, saying, "Your hood is too warm. Nancy smiled, and handed her a wild flower she had plucked by the way. She had not learned to say "Thank you" in words, still her heart could express the new and pleasant feelings of gratitude. And in such quiet little ways as we it Sarah wanted her to go to Sundayschool, but Nancy's mother said, was too long a walk there for her to go, and she hadn't clothes fit; besides, she wanted her to take care of the children, for Sunday was the only day she got; and more than all, 'twa'n't no use to go to Sunday-school." Sarah talked with her mother, and planned to have a little Sunday school of her own after chapel, and have Nancy come to it, and bring all her brothers and sisters alo g with her, so that her mother could not complain. Her own younger brothers and sisters were to make up the school. So Nancy began to learn of Jesus and His wonderful life, and her heart was melted within her at the story of His love and His death. "Oh, I love Him!" was her simple expression, as the tears rolled down her cheeks. Was not Sarah a Missionary child to the poor neglected Nancy? Are there |