66 What was the wrong you were tempted to do, Hattie ?" "Well, mother, Laura Powers spoke very unkindly to me at recess, because she lost her place in the class and I was at the head; she tried to make me angry, and I did get very angry. Then I thought of some hard speeches I wished to make to her. I should have liked to tell her about that time she wrote the dates in her history lesson down on the inside of her hand, and a good many more such tricks. But I didn't, mother. I am so glad I didn't! I was ashamed about it afterwards when I thought it over, and I prayed God to forgive me, mother, just as you taught me to do." There was a gentle arm slipped around the little girl's shoulders, and a mother's cheek bent down over her shining golden head. "I am glad, too, my darling. If there is anything we are ever glad for, it is that we left unsaid bitter words that rose up in our hearts. Always think, when you are tempted to say them, 'How glad I shall be by-and-by if I do not.' Jesus bore all his evil treatment meekly. He could pray for the forgiveness of his worst enemies. Try always to be like him, my darling, then you will be really happy, and fitting yourself for a home where all is happiness because all is love." DUMB, BUT ELOQUENT. THE following touching story of "a handsome English coachdog" and his drunken master, is vouched for by a good authority: 66 The man pursued his devious course, closely followed by his four-footed companion, until at length he approached the door of the saloon of the liquor shop, and was about to enter, when, to the surprise of all who had witnessed the affair, the dog jumped up, and catching the skirts of the man's coat, sought to prevent him from going in. The inebriated biped spoke in angry tones to the beast, but without avail, until a more thau ordinarily severe command induced him to relinquish his hold, and the man hastened inside, followed by his faithful companion and would-be protector. "Actuated simply by curiosity, we also went in, and as we gained a position near the bar, saw in close proximity thereto the beast and his master, the latter trying ROOM FOR ANOTHER. to reach the bar, and the former standing on his hind legs, with his fore-paws placed against the man's breast, vaiuly endeavouring. even at the eleventh hour, to prevent him from again indulging in the intoxicating cup. 66 To the credit of the bar-tender be it stated, that he refused to furnish the man with more liquor, and tears were drawn from eyes that were unused to the melting mood, as at each refusal the undoubtedly heart-stricken canine would bestow a look, intended doubtless to be one of gratitude, upon the dispenser of intoxicating drugs, and then turning, would, as it were, mutely beseech his liquor-loving master to abstain." IDLE WORDS. No one knows the effect of fugitive words. How well we remember conversations, heard years ago; casual remarks, dropped here and there, and forgotten the next moment by those who uttered them! So it is with us all. Impressions are given fast, but they may remain for ever. The molten lava the next hour hardens into rock. One thoughtless word at an untimely moment, a jest, or a laugh, may dissipate the impression of the most solemn religious service. A thousand such foolish and wrong things are said by us which we think of only for the instant. But others remember words which we forget, and will remember them when we are in our graves. And those random speeches, made in hot haste, or in mere folly, may leave a print on their characters, and affect all their future destiny. What an account for every thoughtless boy who thinks not of the ill he does, and that he is 223 66 The lesson for the day was recited, and then the teacher saidBoys, when the superintendent came with our new friend here, and asked if we had room for him, suppose each had answered, both by looks and words, 'No, he can't come here, we don't want him,' how do you think he would have felt ?" "I think he would have thought we were very rude and unkind, and never have wanted to come near to our Sabbath-school again," said Charles B. "He might have felt so, and I was glad to see you give him so cordial a welcome; but, though you are usually polite, I should not have been greatly surprised if you had acted differently. I remember you were very unkind to another who wished to enter our class." "Unkind? Why, teacher? Who was it wanted to come in and we would not gladly let him come ?" "I was not here," said Harry. Nor I, ""Nor I," cried several lads at once. "I'm afraid you were all here," continued the teacher. "I fear you all said by words and acts: No room in our class for you.' "I don't remember it," said Willy R. "I'm sure I'm always glad to see a new boy come. I like to have our class full. When was it? Who wanted to come?" "The same who has said 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock.' You have all answered, 'No room in my heart for him.' And yet, forgetful of this knocking, you ask, as will many at the last day, 'Lord, when saw we thee a stranger and took thee not in ?"" PIETY AT HOME. RELIGION is majestic in the State; it may be grand in the Churchin the Church building a great institution, in the State swaying the destinies of millions of men. But piety looks lovelier and sweeter at home; not arrayed in her court dress, nor set off in her Church regimentals, but dressed in her homely week-day, workday clothes. It is a little striking that the word "piety," which so often rings in the Christian Church, is mentioned only once in the English Bible, and then coupled with the admonition to show itself first at home. TO-MORROW. Poetry. A BRIGHT little boy with laughing face, Whose every motion was full of grace, Who knew no trouble, and feared no care, Was the light of our household-the youngest there. He was too young, this little elf. With troublesome questions to vex himself; But for many years a thought would arise, And bring a shade to the dancing eyes, He went to one whom he thought more wise Than any other beneath the skies ; "Mother," O word that makes the home!"Tell me when will to-morrow come?" "It is almost night," the mother said, "And time for my boy to be in bed: When you wake and it's day again, It will be to-morrow, my darling, then." The little boy slept through all the night, up But woke with the first red streaks of light; He pressed a kiss on his mother's brow, And whispered, "Is it to-morrow now ? " But it came again with the shades of night; "Will it be to-morrow when it is light?" From years to come he seemed care to borrow, He tried so hard to catch to-morrow You cannot catch it, my little Ted: Enjoy to-day," the mother said; "Some wait for to-morrow through Remarkable Persons. GEORGE WHITFIELD. THE device on George Whitfield's seal was a winged heart soaring above the globe, and the motto was Astra petamus-We seek the stars. The device and the motto were illustrated by his life. His spirit was ever soaring above, and his highest ambition was to people heaven with as many souls as possible. The city of Gloucester is memorable as the place where good Bishop Hooper laboured and suffered an agonizing martyrdom; also as the town where good Robert Raikes lived and originated the Sabbath school; and in this self-same town was born George Whitfield, at the Bell Inn. George, like other boys, had a depraved nature, which soon showed itself in sinful conduct. He says he hated instruction, and pilfered money from his mother's pocket, and sometimes roguishly spent the money which he received for the ale that he sold. Yet even then he felt at times the strivings of the Holy Spirit, exciting strong movings of heart towards God. His father died when George was very young, and his mother became married again to a man with whom she was not happy, and the poor children had but a hard lot. George had to leave school and assist in the house as a pot-lad, in his blue apron and sleeves, serving out drink in the bar-room, washing floors, and performing common drudgery. Yet, in the little leisure he had, this strange boy composed three sermons, and gave up his fondness for writing and acting dramatic pieces, in which he had formerly indulged, and in which, on one occasion, he had personified a woman and performed a play in girl's clothes. George would have liked to go to college, but had no means, and his mother could render him little or no help; but one day, a young man who was a "servitor" at Pembroke College, and, like the good lad Humphrey Prideaux, procured both nis living and his learning by the humble drudgery of serving rich students, called upon George's mother and told her, in the course of conversation, that after paying all his college expenses he had just one penny "Oh," said she, "this is just the place for my son." left. 66 So George, with the help of friends, returned to the free grammar school at Gloucester, and so diligently applied himself to his books, that at the age of eighteen he entered Oxford University as a "servitor." Now George worked hard both at his menial toil, to get money to live on, and at his books, to become wise and fit for usefulness. Moreover, he embraced religion so far as he understood it, and God prospered him. At Oxford he became acquainted with John and Charles Wesley, and the afterwards celebrated James |