into the middle of Africa, so that mis- | a man-for a slave, of course. sionaries night carry the gospel there. Now, it is true he had found such a pathway, the way by which he had come from Linyanti,-but it was so full of difficulties and dangers, that scarcely anybody but himself would have ventured on it. So he resolved to go back to Linyanti, and then try if he could find a better way than this by travel- | ling to the east coast. So, once more, he and his faithful Barotse are on their march through bogs, and rivers, and forests. In one place they were obliged to remain twenty-five nights on a plain, where the water was often flowing ankle deep. How could they sleep there? you may well ask. They did the best thing they could, which was to cast up mounds of earth, and sleep on the top of them. Dr Livingstone's health gave way again in this place, and no wonder. The only wonder is, that his courage never failed him. Some of the natives troubled them in the same way as before. When they reached the River Casai, they were not allowed to use the ferry-boats unless they would give a bullock, a gun, and When this was refused, they took away all the canoes secretly. But the Barotse had eyes as sharp as theirs. One of them watched one of the canoes, and when night came on, he and some of his companions stealthily crept along to the creek where the canoe was hid, and while the chief and his people were all sleeping in their tents, our travellers crossed the river, and before morning were far on their journey. You may fancy how mortified the chief was next morning, when he found that his victims were out of his reach, though his canoe was there safe enough. Soon after this, Dr Livingstone entered the Barotse country, where he says he felt at home, and was received with enthusiasm by the people of every village. When they reached Linyanti, they were welcomed as those alive from the dead." The Barotse had brought no money with them, they had parted with all their month's wages to buy food on their way home; and yet, says the Doctor, "I never heard a murmur." Indeed, they would have gone with him over the world without any pay. PRAY AND WORK. SEVERAL years ago, there lived in one of the large towns of America a poor old black woman, who had been very ill for nearly twenty years. At one time she had been a slave, and she was generally known by the La ne of Por Betty. At the time that the fact I am going to tell you happened, she was more than a hundred years old. An aged daughter lived with her, who, by God's blessing, was the means of making her comfortable in the close of her long life. In the same town there lived a rich and kind old gentleman, who, although he had a large business, and was much engaged, sometimes found a DR LIVINGSTONE AND THE RAGGED SCHOOL BOYS. spare hour to visit Poor Betty and ask how she was, and she was always very glad to see him step into her poor little cottage. One day, Mr B. took a friend with him to visit Poor Betty. As he entered the house, he said, “Ah! Betty, are you still alive?" 66 "Yes, thank God!" replied the poor old negress. 66 Betty," he continued, why do you suppose God keeps you so long in this world-poor, ill, and blind-while you might go to heaven and there enjoy so much happiness?" Betty answered directly, in her negro language, "Ah! massa, you don't understand. There are two great things for the church to do; one is to pray, the other is to work. Now, you see, 47 massa, God keeps me alive that I may pray for the church, and He keeps you alive that you may work for the church. Your large gifts do not help much, massa, without the prayers of Poor Betty.' 66 66 You are quite right, Betty," said Mr B. "Your prayers are of more use to the church than my money." This short but excellent reply was never forgotten by Mr B. and his friend. We ought to remember it too; and whether we can now do much or little, at any rate let us never forget that we can pray God to bless the labours of others, and He will hear us. Our prayers will not be in vain in the Lord. Juvenile Missionary Magazine, - DR LIVINGSTONE AND THE RAGGED SCHOOL BOYS. THE "Manchester Examiner" pub- as much astonished as myself, and you lishes the following letter to Dr Living- would admit that the offering is not stone from Mr Thornton, an officer of only spontaneous, but as magnificent the Stockport Ragged Schools :- as the one presented you at the Mansion House, My Dear Sir, I think it will give you pleasure to receive the enclosed thirty postage stamps. Mr Jackson, the master of our Stockport Ragged Industrial, told his pupils of your journeys and adventures, and the motives by which you were actuated. One of the lads said, Let's give him some money,' and, with one consent, they resolved to do so, and immediately commenced a subscription. Some gave all their money, and others, who had no penny, sold their marbles to obtain it. If you could see the lads, and knew who and what they are, you would be 66 Rejoicing in your honours as homage done to the cause of the Saviour, I am, dear sir, yours very respectfully, "JOHN THORNTON." To this letter Dr Livingstone thus replies : 66 My Dear Sir, I beg you will assure the boys who so generously expressed their approbation of my labours in Africa, that nothing has delighted me more since my return to England than their honest spontaneous deed. I give them all my warmest thanks from a heart overflowing with emotion, Jde of Africa, so that is a -for a slave, of use. When at aarry the gospel there. this was refused, they took away all the way by which be bad bad eyes as sharp as theirs. One of e he had found such a the conues secretly. But the Barotse from Lyanti,-bat it was so full then watched one of the canoes, and anydy but baself would have ves his companions stealthily crept along 10yanti, and then try if he ovald and while the chief and his people were d dangers, that scarely when night came on, he and some of So he resolved to go back to the creek where the canoe was hid, than this by travel Bahotse are on their march through fancy how mortified the chief was next bg, and rivers, and forests. In one wording, when he found that his vicplace they were obliged to remain tims were out of his reach, though his twenty-five slats on a plain, where canoe was there safe enough. How could they sleep there? you may ed the Barotse country, where he says well ask. They did the best thing they he felt at home, and wasreceived with encould, which was to cast up mounds of thusiasm by the people of every village. earth, and sleep on the top of them. the water was often flowing ankle deep. and wishing that God may abundantly bless them with his favour and love. I have very little time to write to any one, as I am engaged in the preparation of a narrative of my late explorations, and must keep my word with 113 poor native Africans who accompanied me from the centre of the country to the east coast, and now await the fulfilment of my promise at Teté. I ought to be back to them in April, but I fear, after all I can do, I must be about two months later than my appointed time. Were it not for this, I should try and visit the boys, and speak with them; but as this can scarcely be, I would just commend them all to the care of our blessed Lord Jesus, and ask them to try him as their friend and guide through life. They may make Him their confidant, for he listens to every A STARTLING QUESTION. sent were silent. At length the infidel said, that as the evening was far gone, they had better conclude it with prayer, and proposed that the native youth should pray. He did so; and as he poured out his heart to God, the infidel could not conceal his feelings. Tears started from his eyes, and he sobbed aloud. All present wept too; and the words, "What will you say, sir!" followed the infidel home, and did not leave him until he was brought to the Saviour.-Juvenile Missionary Maga HOPU, a young converted Sandwich Price 6d. doz., or 3/6 100; 20 copies sent free by post for 10d., paid in advance. Published by GALL & INGLIS, 38 North Bridge, Edinburgh; HOULSTON & WRIGHT, London. |