brilliant train, rejoicing in her heart at the triumph of her wrath for revenge, to the excited temperament, is as a cooling draught.

When the heralds opened the lists, the criminal appeared trembling, and the trumpets and kettle-drums sounded anew. But, behold, instead of the lion, there came forth a peaceful lamb, which advanced towards the fearful man with a trustful mien. The drums and trumpets were silent; but there arose a sweet melody from the harp and flute; the lamb pressed the feet of the trembling man, and gazed upon him.

Then the queen glanced towards her husband, and blushed. But the king spake, saying, “Your look bears witness that I have done justice; he who deceived you is himself deceived; and to you is given the magnanimous instead of the ignoble part. The flush of your cheek, which is more beautiful to me than the royal purple which graces your person, testifies my reward; for thus you assure me that you believe I have acted as the representative of the Most High."

Thereupon the trumpets proclaimed the end of the spectacle; and the people cried out, "Heaven bless our king and queen."

III.

FAITHFULNESS.

A heathen king commanded a pious bishop to be brought before him, and demanded that he should deny Christ, and sacrifice to the gods. But the bishop refused, saying, "My lord and king, that I will not."

Then was the king enraged, and said, "Knowest thou not that thy life is in my hand, and that I have power to slay thee? A glance of my eye, and it is done." "That I know," replied the bishop; "but, permit me a word: Suppose one of your faithful servants fell into the hands of your enemies, and they strove to make him renounce his allegiance, and betray you; finding, however, that he remained firm in his loyalty, they stript him and drove him away with scorn and reviling; say, sire, would not

you, when he came to you in such wise, dress him in your best, and reward him with honour for the shame which he had suffered for you?"

"Well," said the king, "but what meaneth all this, and wherefore is it spoken ?" "Behold," answered the bishop, "thou, too, canst strip me of this earthly guise; but, I have a Master who can re-clothe me. Should I, then, care for these earthly rags, and barter faith for them ?” And the king said, "Go: I give you your life."

LOOKING FOR A PLACE.

"WELL, Johnny, how have you succeeded to-day, my son ? "

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Nothing good, to-day, mother; I have been all over town almost, and no one would take me. The book stores, and dry goods' stores, and groceries, have plenty of boys already; but I think if you had been with me I would have stood a better chance."

"Why so, my son?"

"O, you look so thin and pale, mother, somebody would have felt sorry, and so have taken me-but nobody knew me, and nobody saw you."

A tear stole down the cheek of the little boy as he spoke, for he was almost discouraged—and when his mother saw the tear, not a few ran down hers also.

It was a cold, bleak night, and Johnny had been out all day looking for "a place." He had persevered, although constantly refused, till it was quite dark, and then gave up, thinking his mother must be very tired waiting for him.

His mother was a widow, and a very poor one. She had maintained herself by needlework, till a severe spell of sickness had confined her to her bed, and she was unable to do any more work.

She told her little son to sit down by the fire, while she prepared his supper. The fire and the supper were very scanty, but Johnny knew they were the best she could provide, and he felt that he would rather share such a fire

and such a supper with such a mother, than sit at the best filled table with anybody else, who did not love him as she did, and whom he did not love as he did her.

After a few moments of silence, the boy looked up into his mother's face with more than usual seriousness. "Mother," said he, "do you think it would be wrong to ask my new Sunday-school teacher about it on a Sabbath?"

"No, my son, not if you have no other opportunity; and I think he would be a very suitable person, too—at least, I should think he would be interested in getting you a good place."

"Well, to-morrow is Sunday, and when the class breaks up, I believe I will ask him."

After reading a portion of God's holy Word, the mother and her little boy kneeled down together in their loneliness, and prayed the Lord most earnestly to take care of them and provide for them. They were very poor-but they knew that God cared for the poor. They knew, also, that God would do what was best for them. O, it is a sweet thing to the soul, to be able to say sincerely, “Thy will be done."

"I feel happier now," said John. "I was so tired when I came in, that I felt quite cross, I know I did-did I not look so, mother?"

The mother's heart, also, was full, and she gave her boy one long, affectionate kiss, which was sweeter to him than many words.

Next morning was the Sabbath. Johnny's breakfast was more scanty than ever, but he said not a word about that, for he saw that his mother ate very little of it. But one or two sticks of wood were left outside the door where it was kept-and he knew that both food and fire might all be gone before night. They had had no money to buy any with for several days.

The sun was shining

The Sabbath-school bell rang. bright and clear-but the air was exceedingly cold. The child had no overcoat, and was still wearing part of his summer clothing. He was in his seat just as the superintendent and his teacher entered.

"Who is that little pale-faced boy in your class?" asked the superintendent of the teacher.

"His name is Jones-he lives in Stone-street, and I must visit him this week. He is very regular, and a well-behaved boy."

"I wish to know more about him, and will see him after school."

The superintendent did not forget him, and when the classes broke up, seeing him linger behind the other scholars, he went up, and took him by the hand kindly.

"You have been here to school several Sabbaths, have you not, my boy?" said he.

"Yes, sir, I came just a month ago to-day."

"Had you ever been to school before that time?" "Yes, sir; before mother was taken sick, I used to go to

street school, but that was a great way off; and when mother got better, and you opened this new school, she advised me to come here; it is so much nearer."

"Well, did I not see you yesterday, looking for a place in Water-street?"

"I was down there, sir, looking for a place."

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Why did you not take that place, which the gentleman had for you, in the large grocery store?"

"Do you mean the store where the great copper worm stood on the side walk?"

"Yes."

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Ah, sir, I did not know they sold rum there when I first went in, and when I saw what kind of a store it was, I was afraid."

"Have you a father?"

"No, sir, father is dead:" and the little boy hung down his head.

"What did your father do, my son--what business was he in ? "

"Sir, he once kept a large store like that," and the child shuddered when he answered.

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'Why did you not keep the piece of gold money that you found on the floor, as you were coming into the store?"

"Because it was not mine, sir; and I thought that the gentleman would find the owner sooner than I would."

"He did, my boy, it was mine. Did you get a place yesterday?"

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"No, sir, all the places were full, and nobody knew me." 'Well, my boy, you may go now-and tell your mother that you've got a place. Come to see me early in the morning-your teacher will tell you where I live."

Johnny went home with his heart and eyes so full, that he could hardly see the street or anything else as he went along. He knew that it would cheer his dear mother very much, and so it did. His superintendent procured a good place for him, and they were made quite comfortable and happy.

Surely this story carries its own moral.-Mother's Magazine.

ESCAPE FROM FIRE.

In some countries there are not unfrequently in hot and dry seasons great fires which destroy the dry grass, bushes, and trees. The following is an account of an escape from one of them, and is from an American publication—

The fires always run before the wind, with an advanced tongue or fork in two receding flanks, and in a high wind so rapidly do the dancing, curling, careering flames leap from point to point of the dry grass, that it is sometimes difficult for the swiftest horseman to escape. The sight, especially in the night, is always beautiful, and at times, grand beyond description. But after a while we become familiarized to it, and look upon it without emotion, as all of us learn to do upon the glorious sun, the most splendid object in nature.

At the time I refer to, I had been two or three days' drive to the town of C—, with my horse and buggy, and was on my return home. All day I had noticed signs indicating fire on the prairie-masses of smoke in the distance, lying like white clouds upon the horizon and a hazy atmosphere--but these gave me no trouble so long as