The Angels and the Shepherds.

WHEN Mrs. Ross went into her room next morning, she found Ellen and Harry already on the sofa waiting for her.

"Oh, mamma," said Ellen, "I have thought of such a delightful plan. You know I am learning to write now, and I can print pretty well already, and I am going to choose a pretty verse every day out of our lesson, and print it neatly in the paper book Aunt Anne gave me. Will not that be nice?"

"Yes," said Mrs. Ross; "I am glad to hear of it, for you will learn the verses when you are writing them, and, I hope, think about them also. We shall find a pretty one to-day. Now, Harry, what is this picture?"

He looked at it well, and said, "It is the angels and the shepherds!"

shepherds?"

"To tell them about Jesus." "What kind of men would the shepherds be?"

"Good men, mamma.”

Yes, they were pious men, who read the Word of God, and hoped in his promises. Ellen, what was the great promise which God gave from the beginning, and repeated over and over again?” Ellen thought a little before she said, "It was that Jesus should come."

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Yes; and when you are older, I shall show you that promise in many places of the Bible where you have not read it yet. The good shepherds believed and hoped in it; and they knew from what God had said by the prophets, that it must be near the time then. Now, Ellen shall read the account of the angel's visit."

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon

them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid."—Luke ii. 8, 9.

"Why were the shepherds keeping watch in the cold, dark night?"

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"I do not know, mamma.'

They do not need to do that in our country; but in the Holy Land there are wild animals, and a great many wolves, and so the shepherds have to watch at night, unless the sheep are safe, shut up in the fold."

Mamma," said Harry, "why were the shepherds afraid when the angel came ?"

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"I suppose it would be the bright light that shone all of a sudden, and the glorious appearance of the angel. think we would be afraid at first, if a bright angel were coming in here, even though we were glad also. But Ellen shall read how sweetly the angel spoke to them."

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all

THE ANGELS AND THE SHEPHERDS.

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people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."-Luke ii. 10-12.

Oh, mamma, what a pretty verse; what sweet words-glad tidings of great joy!"

"Yes, dear Ellen; and see what comes after-for you and for all people. Does not that mean that it should be glad tidings for us to hear of Jesus, as well as for the shepherds? You know what good news means? It was good news to you and Harry when nurse told you that little Johnnie was born, and that you should have a baby brother to play with. And it was good news for us all when we heard the bells ringing because Sebastopol was taken, the strong city which our soldiers had been trying to take so long. But this should always be the best news for us-that Jesus came into the world to save sinners. We should never tire of hearing or speaking

about him. I once met with a gentleman who had travelled a great deal, and who told me about his visiting a very far away country, called New Zealand. It was not long before he went that the poor people there had first heard of Jesus, and those who believed loved him very much. When my friend landed, he was met by the good Missionary, whom he knew. He soon saw an old man go up to the Missionary, and point to him, and ask some question. His friend said, "This old chief is asking me if you you know the glad tidings!"

"Oh, mamma, did the gentleman know?"

"Yes, he did know and love the Lord, but he was very much struck by the question. And we should often ask ourselves, do we know it? has it been glad news to us? If papa were coming in just now, and telling us that a famous doctor had just come to town, who could cure the scarlet fever, should we care much about it?"

"No, I do not think so.