tinguished him to the day of his death. He had few companions outside his own home, and these were carefully selected. He had a strong regard for self-respect, and ever strove to maintain it. In friendship he was confiding and firm, and never flinched from speaking his mind when occasion required. It was thought by some that he would be fitted to exercise his gifts as a local preacher, and to this end he engaged several times at Castle Eden Colliery in exhortation work. He had a desire to be useful in the Church of his choice, but Providence ordained that Edward should suffer in order to reign. Up to the days of young manhood he was strong and healthy. Eighteen months ago he got wet, and for three or four days went about in his damp clothing, and this induced consumption. He little thought at first that such would terminate fatally, but medical men predicted it. Often in his sickness did he say he was better, especially when the days were brighter. But he came to realise his position, saying to those about him, "It will not be long before Christ comes to fetch me home." His strongly affectionate nature could not bear the visits of many of his friends; for, when they were gone, he wept that he should soon see them no more on earth. I saw him about an hour or less before he died, and though speech had left him, consciousness remained, and his look was big with peace and confidence and joy. Just before he died, he called the members of his family one by one, and imprinted a passionate kiss on each, and in peace, if not in triumph, passed away to the evershining shore. His strong and loving spirit has found ampler scope and a more congenial sphere for development and growth. The last of the three whose loss we name is

ELISABETH MARGARET ANN NUTT,

BORN at Southampton on the 3rd of September, 1857, and departed this life on the 17th of January, 1877. She was always of a somewhat delicate constitution, though never until her last illness laid aside. Her childhood and early youth being spent elsewhere, we are not able to speak particularly; but we are told that for years she has manifested a love of books and home, and for some time past she has been the main temporal support of the household. In disposition, she was somewhat hasty, but quick to regret and generous to forgive. She has been connected with this school and congregation about three years, and in fellowship with the Church about a year. She had a most retentive memory, and often repeated interesting portions of sermons she was permitted to hear. She spoke of this Church and school as one who had delight in coming, and she ceased to come when forced to do so. For a couple of weeks she was ailing, though not fully laid aside, and her friends thought it was weakness, induced by repeated colds; but time told that her days were numbered. In sickness, she turned her thoughts seriously to the approaching end, and spoke of trust and hope in Christ. Pastoral and friendly visits were always fully appreciated. She spoke of going home first, and of her intention to receive the members of her family when they should put off this tabernacle. So she died, trusting in that Jesus who is the resurrection and the life. So the words are true

THE STEPPING STONES.

E will make of our picture this month a parable for our young readers, and from it try to teach them a few useful lessons.

As you look upon that boy and girls standing so ticklishly on those stones surrounded with water, you perhaps ask why are they there? They seem to be in danger; have they not gone into it wilfully? Well, they probably have, for boys and girls have a great propensity to go where, in the opinion of elder people, they ought not to go, and do what they ought not to do. They like sometimes to get into what we grown-up people call mischief, and we are not sure that they do not like getting into a little danger as well. It causes an excitement that is pleasant to them. Are they not naughty in this? Perhaps not altogether so. A child who does mischief for mischief's sake is a naughty child. We do not say that there are no such children, but we are charitable enough to think they are not so numerous as some suppose. From recollections of our own childhood we know that a child may be found in mischief without being mischievous. The act we condemn has been done from no badness of heart, as it was not known to be wrong, and the doing of it gratified an innocent curiosity, or gave exercise to pent-up physical energy. The boy is father to the man, and a boyhood without adventure is likely to lead to an inactive and useless manhood. We, therefore, are not for putting down romping lads and lasses, nor have we always dark forebodings for children who have an aptitude for getting into what are called "scrapes." We want brave men and women who will go where duty calls, and do their duty firmly and fully though dangers threaten and formidable difficulties lie in the way. And such men and women can only be bred of boys and girls that have some pluck in them, and are at times a little wilful.

Whether the children in the picture are in the peril they seem to be by their own will or not, in going through life we shall not be able to avoid being in their position. The waters will be spread all around us, and if we miss the stones on which we have to step, certainly we shall have a nice ducking, and it may be we shall get drowned. Our life, from infancy to greatest age, is ever attended with danger. At first the danger relates only to our body, or physical existence. We may be injured or lose our life even by accident or disease. But

with growing years come intelligence and moral responsibility, and then dangers of another kind press upon us; dangers relating to our higher life—to our SOUL and its present and eternal welfare. With regard to these dangers we are not to act a coward's part, we are not to be too much afraid of them, though, on the other hand, we are not to go into them when there is no need, or more than we need. And then our great Father in heaven has graciously provided for our safety and deliverance in all our dangers. What beautiful words are those of the Psalmist :-" Our God is the God of salvation; and to the Lord God belong the issues from death." He is said to bring His people through the water, but if He does He places stepping stones for them to walk upon. We must therefore be careful to put our feet on these. Sometimes we shall find it difficult to do, but He will help us in our difficulty. In His Word we read that He is a God nigh at hand and not afar off, a very present help in time of need. We hope all our young readers will remember this, and as they step from one stone to another will hold out their hands to lay hold of the hand of God, and then we are sure they will ever be kept from falling.

Again, while we look to God for help to walk on the stepping stones placed for our feet, let us seek to help each other in the exercise. It is our duty and will be to our great advantage to do this. Thus helping ourselves, and helping each other, and being all helped of God, we shall so far escape the perils of our earthly pilgrimage as to reach the better country, even a heavenly, which God has prepared for, and where He wishes to bring us all.

BEN BARLOW'S BUDGET.

By TOM BROWN, Author of " A Year at School," &c., &c.

Letter No. 36.

From BEN BARLOW to MRS. BARLOW.

MY DEAR MOTHER,—

3, Brighton Villas, Regent's Park, London, July 1st, 187-.

I have been so busy going about that I have not had time to write till now. Let me try to tell you where I have been.

Wednesday afternoon we spent at the Zoo. I did enjoy it. We

had a ride on the elephants and dromedaries. I can't tell you half the things we saw. I think almost the funniest were the eagles. They look terribly cruel when still, but when they begin to walk, they move about so much as if they had corns that I could not help laughing. The lions are grand, and so are the tigers. The bears look moped to death, and do nothing but gape and swallow bags of biscuits, paper and all together. The seals are very amusing; they come at the keeper's call, and do several queer things when told. But the monkeys are the chaps for fun. They are playing pranks all the time. I saw one get hold of the end of a lady's ribbon, and in a second he had got her hat inside the cage, pulling it to pieces. But if I go on like this, my letter will be full of animals.

On the Thursday morning we went a steamboat ride down the river to Greenwich. The bridges are fine, and the new Embankment is a splendid piece of work. Greenwich Hospital is a fine place. There are no pensioners kept there now-it is used as a sort of training institution. In the museum are a lot of relics of Nelson. In the river are anchored some old men-of-war which are now used as training ships for the navy.

In the afternoon we went to the Tower, and were marched round by the beef-eaters in their queer old dresses. It was wonderfully interesting, but the beef-eater who took us round talked through his nose, and he hurried us through as if his appetite made him impatient for his tea. We saw the headsman's axe and block, the instruments of torture, and the cell in which Sir Walter Raleigh was confined. We also saw the ancient armour and the royal jewels.

After leaving the Tower we went to St. Paul's Cathedral, and Ted and I got up right into the golden ball above the dome and just under the cross. There are more than six hundred steps from the nave to the ball. London lies like a map at your feet when you are up there. Of course we tried the whispering gallery, and saw the great clock, which has to be wound up every day, the hanging staircase, and the rest of the sights. It is indeed a grand building.

On Friday we went to the National Gallery, which is right opposite Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square. I liked Wilkie's and Landseer's pictures best, I think. Wilkie's are humorous and homely, and Landseer's are nearly all pictures of animals.

We then went to the British Museum, but we saw so many wonderful things there that it is useless attempting to tell you of

them now.

At night, Mr. Instone had what he calls a musical evening. I told you he was a musician. Well, two or three times a month he gets about half-a-dozen other players to come and bring their violins, violoncellos, flutes, and clarionets, and they have quite a concert just for their own pleasure. Ted made great fun of the clarionet player, he was a very funny-looking German, but when the playing began he enjoyed it too much to joke.

Early this morning we went to see the fish market at Billingsgate,