THE JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR AND COMPANION. VOL. XX.-VOL. VIII., NEW SERIES. METHODIST NEW CONNEXION BOOK ROOM, 4, LONDON HOUSE YARD, ST. PAUL'S. 1869. PREFACE. GENTLE READER,-You have now in your hand the twentieth volume of the JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR. Its predecessor was the Sunday Scholars' Magazine, two volumes of which were under our management; so that your present Editor will have been at his post during twenty-two years, should Providence permit him to continue his labours in this department until June, 1870. Rarely indeed is so long a period of service in conducting the periodicals of a denomination permitted to any one individual. Here, then, we may well pause for serious reflection on our responsibilities, and grateful praise for rich favours and manifold mercies. Thankfully would we here raise our Ebenezer, and render praise to our Heavenly Father, for life prolonged and strength imparted, enabling us, during so long a period, to carry through the press every number of this periodical under our own personal supervision. Our fervent thanks are due also to those kind friends who have helped us by their valued contributions, and to many thousands of others who have encouraged us by promoting the circulation of this periodical. Christian parents, teachers, Sunday-scholars, and other young friends, we tender to you the expression of our gratitude. Our editorial labours, though mingled with anxiety, have yielded to ourselves unspeakable enjoyment, and your aid has been cheerfully and efficiently rendered; thereby securing a circulation in the ratio of its own sphere beyond that of all |