PUZZLES FOR CHILDREN. BY UNCLE GEORGE. SCRIPTURAL ENIGMA. 1. The river by which a girdle was hid. 2. The river by which a prophet had a vision. 4. Under what was Deborah buried? 5. Of whose house was Nabal? 6. What was the name of Rebekah's brother? 7. In what period of life is it said that hypocrites die ? 8. Of what tribe was a cunning work man and embroiderer of fine linen? 9. Whom does Paul call a faithful and beloved brother? 10. Who was the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem ? The initials of the answers form the name of a tempestuous wind. The award of the prizes will be announced in the INSTRUCTOR for February. TABERNACLE SUNDAY SCHOOLS, OLDBURY.-DEAR SIR,- We held our Annual Juvenile Missionary Meeting on Sunday evening, April 30th, in our chapel. The meeting was presided over by Mr. Samuel Nightin gale, junior, who made a few encouraging remarks. The secretary read the report, after which addresses were delivered by the Rev. T. T. Rushworth, T. Currie, and J. Pardoe. Pieces were recited by several of the Sunday-school scholars. The meeting was enlivened by the children and choir sweetly singing several of Messrs. Moody and Sankey's hymns. The following is the amounts collected on cards: Mary Ann Crumpet, 18.; William Franks, 18.; Benjamin Skidmore, ls. ld.; Thomas Matthews, 1s. 4d.; Priscilla Clift, 1s. 8d.; A Friend, 18. 8d.; Jacob Hatton, 1s. 9d.; Maria Millward, 1s. 9d.; Sarah Bagnall, 28.; George Worthen, 28.; Elizabeth Darby, 28. 5d.; Alfred James Holloway, 2s. 6d. ; Louisa Grigg, 28. 9d.; Edward Millward, 28. 9d.; William H. Prescott, 3s. 1d.; Joseph Rose, 38. 2d.; Lizzie Preston, 48.; Arthur Platt, 5s.; Keziah Ray, 5s.; Robert Sabin, 58 ; Elizabeth kidmore, 58.; Annie Holland, 5s.; Edward Holloway, 5s. 6d. ; Joseph Alex. Armstrong, 78. 1d.; Mary Alice Saul, 68.; William Robinson, 78. 9d.; Miss Emma Baker and Miss Maria Butler, 138.; Miss Kate Parkes and Miss Fanny Sturges, £1 68; Collection in School, 17s. 2d; sums under one shilling, 4s. 10d.; additional efforts, £6 78. 6d. Total, £13 15s. 10d. Collection at meeting, £7 148. 24d., showing an increase altogether of about 5s. 2d. You will see by the above report that success has attended our efforts during the past year, and hoping that this will encourage us to be more vigorous in the future,-I remain, yours truly, J. OSBORNE, Secretary. HIGH TOWN, NEAR CANNOCK.-Our mission services were held November 12th by the Rev. T. Porteus, and £1 5s. 74d. was collected. There has also been collected by cards: Esther Pitaway, 6s. 9d.; Clara Platts, 58.; Ellen Hill, 4s. 6d. ; Sarah Ann Kent, 2s. 11d.; Epsy Tarling, 28. 6d. ; Elizabeth Moreton, 2s. 6d. ; Emma Jane Culling, 1s. 9d.; Sarah Barnes, 18. Total of cards and collection, £2 12s. 6d.-WILLIAM JAYN. PUDSEY.-We held our Annual Juvenile Missionary Meeting on Sunday afternoon, October 22, when our esteemed superintendent, Mr. Samuel Lee, presided, and with his address created at the beginning a good feeling, which was maintained throughout. Recitations and dialogues were beautifully given by Miss Mary Fearnley, Hannah Mary Glover, Jane Ann Rhodes, Clara Glover, Mary Hannah Hinchliffee, and Anna Brown. The Rev. W. Wilshaw gave us an excellent address on "Modern Missions," more particularly on our own missionaries in China. The choir was in attendance, our schoolroom was filled with a respectable congregation, and altogether we had a good meeting. We are also glad to report an increase on last year of £3. The following is the result of our young friends' efforts at Pudsey :-Elizabeth Glover, £2; Margaret A. Hinchliffee, £1 168.; Sarah Ann Shoesmith, £1 5s. 7d.; Mary Fearnley, 19s. 4d.; Emma S. Salter, 15s.; John W. Turner, 13s.; Sarah Walker, 9s 1d.; Mary H. Hinchliffee, 78. 5d.; Martha Pearson, 5s. 34d.; Elizabeth Walton, 58. 2d.; Rosetta Lumby, 48. 3d.; Esther Ackeroyd, 48.; Mary E. Pearson, 38. 8d.; Willy Webster, 3s. 1d.; Margesson Stott, 3s. ; John Glover 28. 9d.; Ellen Hinchliffee, 28. 7d.; George W. Graves, 28. 8d.; smaller sums, 88. 7d.; public collection, £1 88. 7d. Total, £11 188. 8d.; less expenses, 188 8d.; paid over, £11. May He who first gave the commission to go and preach the Gospel to every creature crown all our efforts with abundant success.-JOSHUA SHOESMITH, Secretary. 66 BERRY BROW.-We held our Annual Juvenile Missionary Meeting on the afternoon of Sunday, May 7th, 1876. Mr. Matthew Bradley occupied the chair, and the chapel was moderately full. Short addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. K. Jackson, of Lindley, and Messrs. C. Edwards and T. Taylor of our own school. Our young friends enlivened the meeting by reciting dialogues and other pieces in a very creditable manner. Dialogue on Missions," by H. Crossley and Tom Woodhouse. Recitations were rendered by Helena Whiteley, "Communion;" Sarah Hardcastle, "Your Mission; " Ann Banks, "The Best Use of a Penny;" Mary Houlgate, "The English Child; " Harriet Beecher Dawson, "The Child's Lesson." At the close of the meeting, which was of an interesting character, a collection was made, which amounted to £1 Os. 9d. following sums were also collected: -Laura Jessop, 11s. 3d. ; Helena Whiteley, 118.; making a total of £2 38, being a little more than last year. May our young friends be encouraged from this to persevere.-H. GLEDHILL, Mission Secretary. The ATTERCLIFFE, SHEFFIELD.-We held our Juvenile Missionary Meeting in our chapel on Sunday afternoon, December 3, 1876. There was a moderately good attendance. We were successful in securing the services of one of the students of Ranmoor College, Mr. G. Parker, who was planned to preach at our chapel morning and evening, and who willingly consented to preside over our meeting in the afternoon. In the efficient manner in which he conducted the meeting, we have promise that if God spares his life he will be an ornament to our Connexion, and a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. The report, read by the secretary, Mr. Benistone, showed that our Missions are still progressing. The ; sums of money collected by our young friends, I think, very encouraging, taking into account the great depression in the whole of the Sheffield trades, and the short time they have been collecting-only five weeks. The following is the result :-Matthew Benistone (collected from annual subscribers), 178. 4d.; Hannah Frith, 88. 10d.; Miriam Hazlehurst, 10s. 8d. Florence Parker, 5s. 4d.; Florence Beardshall, 3s. 4d.; Charles Edgar Cooper, 10s. 3d.; Samuel Frith, 8s.; Daniel Mattison, 7s. 24d.; John C. Seager, 68.; Percy J. Austin, 58.; William Smith, 5s. ; Edwin Rowley, 48. 5d.; William H. Swann, 3s. 10d.; Henry Castle, 5s. 5d.; W. Austin, 3s. 4 d.; William Robinson, 18. 9d.; Samuel Webster, 1s. 1d.; Henry Mustill, 18. 7d.; James White, 1s.; William Taylor, 18. 4d.; James Ibbotson, 6d.-£5 11 3d.; public collection, £1=£6 11s. 3d. Expenses, 3s. 3d.; leaving a total of £6 8s., being an increase of £1 128. 8d. upon last year. After the reading of the report, addresses were delivered by Messrs. G. Menills, A. Shepherd, and G. Turner. The first of the three speakers spoke with much earnestness upon the importance of sanctifying ourselves to God for the sake of others. The other two speakers gave their maiden speeches, it being their first attempt to speak upon a missionary platform. They did well. The first spoke upon the Bible— what it has done in our own land and is doing in other lands, &c.; and the last speaker spoke upon the work and the trials of the missionary. Also two of our scholars recited pieces-Samuel Frith, "The Missionary's Resolve; " and Daniel Mattison upon the "Mission Cause." The meeting was a very pleasing and instructive one, and was enlivened during the intervals by appropriate hymns. We are looking for greater success in the future. Our young friends need not be discouraged; they must persevere. We ought, as our chairman suggested, to take a special interest in mission work, knowing that our beloved missionaries in China, Mr. Hall and Mr. Innocent, were scholars and local preachers in our Circuit. May we imbibe more of the missionary spirit, and help our noble-hearted brethren in realising their cherished hope-" China for Christ."-W. RATLEDGE, Treasurer. BROWNLOW FOLD, BOLTON.-Our Juvenile Missionary Meeting was held on Sunday afternoon, December 10th, 1876. Addresses were delivered by Mr. Mullineux, chairman; the Rev. T. Smith, superintendent minister; Mr. Salmon, missionary; and Messrs. Melling, Harding, and Hampson. This was the most successful Juvenile Missionary Meeting ever held in this place. The children had entered heartily into the work, and collected £3 28. The collection at the meeting amounted to 138. 8d., including fifty-six farthings. W. S. แ A LITTLE BOY. As a little boy was paring an apple which had been given to him after dinner, the following question was put to him by a lady: Supposing God were to tell you He would give you whatever you chose to ask Him for, what would you ask Him to give you ?" "Do you mean to eat?" inquired the little boy. "No," replied the lady; "I mean of all things you can think of that you like, what would you ask Him for ?" The child laid down his apple, and seemed for a few seconds to be lost in thought, then looking up at the lady, he answered, "I would ask God to give me a new heart." SPRING FLOWERS. HE love of flowers is a sentiment common alike to all. They are the delight of our childhood, while we cherish them in youth, and admire them in declining years. But perhaps it is the early flowers of Spring that always bring with them the greatest degree of pleasure. Our affections seem to expand at the sight of the first blossom under the sunny wall or sheltered bank, however humble its race may be. Why it should be so is easy to understand. "It is our first meeting with a long-lost friend, the reviving glow of a natural affection, that so warms us at this season. To maturity flowers give pleasure, as the harbinger of the renewal of life; to youth they are an expanding being, opening years, hilarity, and joy; and the child, let loose from the house, riots in the flowery meads 'monarch of all he surveys.' There is not a prettier emblem of Spring than an infant sporting in the sunny field, with its osier basket wreathed with buttercups and daisies. With summer flowers we seem to live as with neighbours, in harmony and good order, but spring flowers are cherished as private friendships." The gift of flowers is a very striking proof of the Divine goodness. As Mary Howitt has sweetly sung : "God might have made the earth bring forth Enough for great and small; The oak tree and the cedar tree, He might have made enough-enough For food, and medicine, and toil, And yet have made no flowers. To whisper hope, to comfort man, For He who careth for the flowers, |