"Gentlemen, I hope you will not take it amiss; but I cannot break my rule. You will allow how important

"Pooh, pooh!" exclaimed the Squire, interrupting him. "We don't want any preaching; we want some more beer, and you had better let us have it without loss of time."

"Indeed, sir, I cannot draw any more. I am very sorry to disappoint you, and to disobey you, but I must do so in this case."

"Man! do you know who you are talking to? Why, here's a fellow in the presence of

"Gentlemen, I know you well," said the landlord, who readily construed the looks and words of his guests; "you are the parties who are to grant my licence next September." "Ah! but we won't. No beer, no licence! master landlord."

"Whatever rules you may have for ordinary persons," said a lawyer, in a milder tone, "you should remember that we have a right to claim an exception."

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True, true," added a gentleman, who ought to have worn a coat of another shape and colour: "you plead conscience for your refusal; but a rightly-informed conscience, my good sir, would acknowledge and yield to the opinions of its betters; and I say, 'Render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's.'

"Gentlemen," replied the landlord, "I cannot draw any more beer; my rule, once broken, must be given up for ever. Every one will have a reason that he deems sufficient to justify an exception in his own case, and the result would bring my house to a scene of riot and intemperance. I hope you will forgive me, but I stand firm: there are other houses near where you will be gladly supplied, if you want more than you have had here."

"Impudent fellow!" cried the Squire, "to dare to dictate to her Majesty's justices !"

"What a disloyal fellow!" shouted another. "These conseientious rascals are always traitors. Eh, master, did you

never hear of wolves in sheep's clothing?"

At last, silence obtained, one more effort was made against the integrity of the good man.

"We give you another opportunity," said the Squire, "of mending your first thoughts: "draw us one more quart of beer-only one-and we will part friends."

"Gentlemen, my first and last thoughts are the same," said the landlord, with quiet determination. "I am quite resolved not to violate the rule of my house."

"Then mind, man-no beer, no licence."

"

"Surely, gentlemen, you would not punish me for "Pooh, pooh! no more stuff about conscience; if you are resolved, so are we. After September your house shall be sober enough!"

Bowing respectfully, the landlord, in a firm tone and resolute manner, replied, "God will provide," and left the room.

The horses were ordered, and the sportsmen mounted them, and, admiring the courage and principle of the landlord, they galloped away, wishing long life and prosperity to the man whom they had been persecuting.

The licence was granted, with assurances of approbation and protection from the whole Bench, when September came; and the story was repeated till it became well known in the neighbourhood round. The good man lived to experience the value of his own maxim. He enlarged his house; he brought up twelve children, educated and provided for them all, and the blessing of the Master whom he honoured was with him. He built a chapel for Divine worship at his own expense, and died at a good old age, amid the tears and blessings of all his family.

This simple narrative is a fact, and from it we may learn one or two lessons. It shows that a man need not forsake his calling (provided it be a lawful and respectable one) when he becomes a Christian, but that he may glorify God more acceptably by remaining in it, and by resisting the temptations which the world, the flesh, and the devil are sure to put in his path, whatever that path may be. God's grace alone can be his sufficiency, and it is promised to

him who seeks for it, without respect of place or circumstance.

Another lesson may be learnt from the narrative-that though sometimes God may try the faith of His servants by the temporary loss of friends or position through their decision for Him, yet that His word, "Them that honour Me I will honour," is sure, and the respect even of the world is not to be gained by sacrifice of principle; neither does the respect due to God's law necessitate any want of respect or propriety of conduct towards the "powers that be" in this world. The landlord, while standing firm in his decision against the wills of his superiors in position, never for one moment betrayed any irritation or self-will, which would have lowered his character in the eyes of those who were secretly admiring him. While firm, he was humble; while resolved, he was respectful: thus uniting, as we are all told to do," the gentleness of the dove with the wisdom of the serpent."

Now-Then!

"Now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered. Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.”— Mal. iii. 15-18; iv. I.

THINGS are not as they seem, for now we call

T

The proud, the rich, the gay, the happy ones
Of earth; and oft perhaps we think it strange

That those who serve the Lord who rules o'er all
Should lowly be; despised, and sorely tried.

It would be strange if this world were our all!
'Tis but the Christian's school, and not his home.
Should he not tread the path his Saviour trod?
Hard lessons he must learn to shine above.
The world is not his rest; briers and thorns
Around his path are set to keep him in
The narrow way that leadeth unto life.
He must not linger in the flowery scenes

That would beguile his heart from holiness and God.
Onward and heavenward, as one who sees

Afar the home of glory now for him prepared,
He presses on that he may enter in with joy.
The struggle may be long, but victory is sure,
For the Great Captain has the battle for him won.
And even now the weary pilgrim knows

His Father is recording all he does

The very least in which he tries to please

His loving Master who has given him life.

"They shall be Mine," he hears his Father say; "My special treasures they shall be in that

Great day when I shall judge the world.

They shall be Mine. My home their home shall be.
For Me they lived and suffered; now with Me
They evermore shall reign!"

Then they who scorned these lowly ones
Shall see and wonder! no more despised,

How envied then! When all that once did charm

Is gone for ever, and they for ever lost!

Then they will say, "Fools that we were,

To mock them so, and call their life a madness!
Now, they the happy are for evermore;

We the wretched wanderers in endless woe!

Better we ne'er were born! Where's now our mirth, Our rank, our fame, our riches? Gone! all gone!

We might have happy been-we heard of Ilim

Who came the lost to save; but we refused

To hearken, and set at nought His love.

We made the world our portion; in blindness
Served its master, and now his bitter wages reap.
The dizzy dream is past; and now, awake,
We see the dread reality that knows no end!
Dark dark! dark! all dark!

'The blackness of darkness for ever'

Is now our portion.

Who shall dwell with the devouring fire?

Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?": 1

C. H. I.

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Living in the Story."

H, papa, how late you are!

for you ever so long."

I've been watching

For quite half an hour little Effie Gascoigne

had been looking through the hall window; and the winter's afternoon had grown so dark that she could hardly see the gateway at the end of the short carriagedrive, when at last she heard the welcome sound of the horse's steps, and opened the hall-door as her father rode up.

"I was kept in town, darling, and missed my train," he said as he dismounted, and, leaving his horse to the servant, who was waiting outside, came quickly in, and stooped to kiss his little daughter's eager face. "Well, has it been a happy birthday?"

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"Oh yes, papa! and I've had several more birthday presents. They're all set out in the study for you to see; and mamma said I might stay with you all the time till she comes home, and then not go to bed till after late dinner."

She took hold of her father's hand, and they went across the hall into the study, where Effie's birthday presents were spread out on the large writing-table; they looked very gay in the light of a lamp in the middle. There was a doll with wax arms and legs, dark blue eyes, and fair curls; she was in full evening dress of pink silk and white lace, and there was a set of toilet furniture for her use, consisting of a table hung with white muslin, a little looking-glass, and a brush and comb. There was also a doll's kitchen, fully stocked; and there were several brightly bound books, a little reticule for work, a pair of vases, and a bottle of scent.

1 Isa. xxxiii. 14.