POETRY. THE LITTLE BOY THAT died. I AM alone in my chamber now, And the faggot's crack, and the clock's dull tick And over my soul, in its solitude, For my heart and my eyes are full when I think I went one night to my father's house I shall miss him when the flowers come And they will speak with a silent speech We shall go home to our Father's house- Where the hope of our souls shall have no blight, We shall roam o'er the banks of the river of grace, And one of the joys of our heaven shall be THE TREASURY. GOD'S DEALINGS.-In the history sperity of His children. We see it in of God's dealings with man, there is Job and in Naomi; but, above all, nothing more striking than His way in looking at Jesus cast out and of soverruling the most ruinous suffering on the cross we see the events for the blessing and pro-darkest of Satan's deeds made to accomplish his own overthrow, the triumph of Jesus, and the salvation of His elect. In the case of Moses how were the ways of God the very opposite of all that man could expect! How much more likely it would seem that, by remaining at Pharaoh's court, he could work out the deliverance of his people; and to look at him, cast out for forty years, feeding a stranger's sheep, all would think him lost to his people; yet, in all this, God, was working in him that discipline of heart which fitted him for another forty years' probation in the wilderness. When God took David from the sheepfold, we are expressly told it was to feed His people Israel to teach him that discipline of spirit which would keep him humble when exalted in due time. But what misinterpreters we are of God's gracious dealings! How many, like Naomi, misjudge God, and say, "He hath dealt very bitterly with me." How many think the God of love is dealing with them in judgment, when His object is only to bring light out of darkness, and prosperity out of ruin. We might learn from Naomi's history not to complain as she did, but to believe the Lord is very pitiful, and to feel satisfied with His ways, not judging by present appearances, but waiting to see the end, and resting ourselves on His word, and the revelation of Himself therein. EXPERIENCE.-I believe that every doctrine, as well as every word, of God is only effectually profitable as it is worked out by the trying providences of God in the soul's deep experience. Head-knowledge will not do. Hearing with the outward ear does but little for the soul-enables it to make no headway towards heaven, or unfolds to us the tenderness of Christ, or the real character of God. The truth as it is in Jesus is more known in one deep trial than a year of smooth sailing. Worldly prosperity is but indifferent soil for the Christian to grow in. It rather stunts the soul, and nothing but an Almighty arm can save from the sleep of death. DOING WITH OUR MIGHT.-On one occasion the late Rev. H. Blunt requested a lady, whom he thought qualified, to undertake some charge in district visiting. She answered him, rather declining the proposal, "My stay here will probably be too short for me to be of any use; I do not know that I shall be here three months." His answer was brief and solemn: "I do not know that I shall be here one!" He alluded to his life in this present world. She saw his meaning, and heartily embraced the work offered her to do. God's sight time has no remnants, no shreds, no patches to be thrown away; and the habit of the speedy and ready application of our faculties is one of the most important which can be formed. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might, for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest." (Eccl. ix. 10.) MONITORY MAXIMS. In To begin right is the way to end right. To see God's hand in the present, and to see the future in God's hand (1 Peter v. 7), is a cure for uneasi ness. GLEANINGS FOR THE YOUNG. ANSWER TO SCRIPTURE SCENES.-No. IX. 1 Kings xviii. 25-35. SCRIPTURE SCENES.-No. X. THE tents of a besieging army are pitched around a city seated on a hill. No traces of life are to be discerned within the camp, it appears to be totally deserted. Madly rushing from the gates of a city are a multitude of living spectres; famine and disease are painted on their haggard faces. One miserable wretch has been thrown down, and trampled to death by the crowd. (The answer will be given next month.) "FEED MY LAMBS." WORDS are easily spoken, and sometimes better forgotten; but there are some which, when treasured, make the hearer wise, both in the sight of God and man. Hearing that my neighbour, Mrs. was ill, I called upon her; she was sitting in an easy chair, a child of five years of age playing with a doll by her side. "Does this little one fatigue you?" I inquired. "No, Ma'am, she rather amuses me; her health is indifferent, and her parents, who keep an hotel in a crowded street, thinking country air might do her good, have placed her under my care; but Clara is a quiet child, and will not disturb us." Thus assured, I opened the Bible, but, after a little while, observing that the child laid aside her plaything, and was listening to our conversation, I adapted my language to her capacity, and, without appearing to attend to her, brought some simple truths before her infant mind. Upon parting she came towards me, and put her hand in mine. After I had left the room the nurse told me she asked many questions about God and the Bible. From this time Clara watched for my passing by the cottage, and, if she saw me from the garden-gate, would run across the road to meet me; she begged her nurse to show her where I lived, and asked if she might call to see me. When she c ⚫came I offered her some fruit and flowers; after accepting them she said, "I want something else." "What do you wish to have, my dear?" "A little book with God in it." I turned to her nurse for explanation, who replied, "She has had some amusing books given to her with pictures of dogs and horses; she brought them to me, saying, 'I want to read about God.' I provided the child with a book suited to her age, and taught her a short prayer, which henceforth she daily repeated." This happy choice strengthened with her growth. As she improved in health her parents were willing she should remain with her nurse, who gave her every opportunity of receiving religious instruction. Clara was remarkable for a loving spirit, and, as she showed a readiness to oblige, and was willing to give up her pleasure to the comfort of others, she became a general favourite, so that, when the time arrived for her returning to her home, many of her companions regretted her departure. As I kissed her I put a small Testament into her hand, begged her to read in it every day, to love her Saviour, and to go to church when she could. At this period she was nine years of age. Some months after her removal Mrs. C told me she had been to visit Clara: "How did you think she was in health?" I inquired. "Not so well, Ma'am, as when she left me; her cough has returned, and she is grown thinner with loss of appetite. I wished her to return with me, but her mother would not hear of another separation. Clara desired her love to you, and said she remembered your words, and read in the Testament every day. Dear child! She said, 'I keep it in my pocket, and then it is always ready.' She opened it, and showed me many passages which she had marked with the pencil you had given her. Her eldest sister, who politely accompanied me to the railway station, told me that Clara was, a dutiful little girl, but very queer in her ways; for, unlike other children, she is always anxious to go to church, and when she has no companion will rather go alone than stay away, and she often gets by herself to read. She surprised us all last Sunday: a gay gentleman entered our hotel at noon, and begged to partake of our family dinner; he was full of jokes, and, looking at Clara, said, "Pray, Miss, where have you been to-day?" The child with great gravity answered, "I have been to church, Sir; where I wish you had been, and many more beside." No, no," he replied, “you have been to a concert; I am sure you are fond of music." "I have joined the singing in God's house, Sir." "And what did you hear there beyond the singing? you cannot tell me that." "The clergyman," said Clara, “prayed us to accompany him with a pure heart and humble voice to the throne of the heavenly grace. Have you knelt there?" Was not this a strange speech for a child of her age?' Indeed it was,' I replied, but it showed much observation.' As I returned home I could not help thinking what a pity it was that this dear child should be thus situated; there is not one in the family that understands her." "It seems so," I replied, "to our finite capacities, but God best knows where his children are most likely to flourish, and places them according to His own wisdom." The ensuing winter set in with great severity, and Clara was among those invalids who suffered from its inclemency. Hearing of her dangerous illness, Mrs. C- hastened to see her, but was only permitted to do so on condition that she would not speak to her, as her mother said her child should not be disturbed in her last moments. After Mrs. C had given me this account, she added, "It was very painful, Ma'am, to see Clara in such weakness, and yet not allowed to say one word of comfort to her; the dear child looked earnestly at me, and made a sign that I should lie down on the bed beside her; her little Testament was placed |