well, and am prepared to affirm that he is a capital fellow. He is fond of a bit of fun. He can laugh, and jump, and sing with the merriest. He is clever, but not puffed up with conceit. He has but little of French polish about him, but he has a goodly quantity of English oak. If you try in any way to test his real worth, like men try shillings and sovereigns, you will find that he has the ring of genuine coin. He has an honest open look, a true and fearless tongue, a sound and noble heart. I have often admired his diligence when at his lessons; his wakeful interest in what is said to him; his industry and energy in whatever he puts his hand to; and, to crown all, I have been unspeakably pleased to see in him the marks of a true Christian disciple. Although he has not seen more than thirteen summers, I believe he has begun to serve the Lord Jesus. I have seen his face beam with joy while listening to the story of our Saviour's love and beauty. I have seen his eye moistened with tears when his ear has drunk in the story of our Saviour's agony and shame. Frank knows his Bible well, and when questioned concerning the contents of that best of books his answers are prompt and intelligent. He has the rare privilege of having an exceedingly good man for his father, and a gentle, prayerful woman for his mother. He reverences and loves them, and they think a world of him. Let us pray that he may fulfil their brightest expectations. XXVII.-RUTH CHEERFUL. This carte is last in our album, but it is not the least worthy and valuable. The girl it faintly and dimly represents is just one of the sweetest and bonniest girls I ever met with. Like Frank Sterling she is blessed with good Christian parents. In this respect she has the advantage over poor Mary Sorrowful, the drunkard's child, whose likeness I called your attention to some months ago. Mary is now in heaven. Ruth is still living, and is the pride of her parents, the joy of her teacher, and the friend of her pastor. Men of science tell us about "bottled-up sunshine" hidden deep in the earth in coal-beds. Well, there is a lot of sunshine in Ruth, but it is not bottled up, it bursts forth, brims over-beams in her eyes, rings in her voice, shines on her pathway. She "carries music in her heart," "scatters sunbeams" by her smiles and deeds. Her obedience is cheerful. The commands of her parents and teachers have no need to be repeated, and followed by threats and blows in tears. She obeys readily and gladly. When asked to get her lessons, she does not shake herself-do you?—and whine and weep. When sent on errands, she does not curl her lips, hang down her eyelids, and say, in whimpering tones, "I don't want to go; on the contrary, she says quickly, "Yes, Ma," "Yes, Ma, I will go," and she does go and is soon back again; love impels her, and nothing impels like true affection. "'Tis love that makes her cheerful feet In swift obedience move." ADDRESSES FOR JUVENILE MISSIONARY MEETINGS. 327 Ruth is a beautiful girl; she has not only beauty of form, feature, and expression-the light and purity within shine out in her lovely face. She, too, is a disciple of Jesus. She has given herself to Him who is the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valley; it is this which gives the richest bloom and sweetest fragrance to her character and life. Ruth, though young, has made a wise and noble choice. She has chosen God for her Father, Christ for Friend and Saviour. Will you, my dear reader, at once, deliberately and heartily, make this blessed choice ? Now, in closing this album, let me assure you that the characters which have been sketched in this homely chit-chat fashion are not merely imaginary persons. They are honest, though imperfect, descriptions of persons whom I have met with. Some in one county, some in another, some in small country schools, some in large town schools. For many years I have taken a deep and growing interest in Sunday schools. I have mingled freely both with teachers and scholars; watched somewhat closely the work in the class, the committee-room, and in the teachers' meeting; I have made myself acquainted with the names and faces of the teachers and scholars; consequently it has been no very difficult thing for me to call up the various likenesses which have during twenty years been photographed upon my mind and heart And why have I taken this interest in Sunday-school work? Partly because of the vast debt I 'owe to the Sunday school. No writer for the JUVENILE INSTRUCTOR, and no reader of it, owes to the Sunday school a larger debt than I do. That debt, as far as possible, I would most cheerfully pay. I rejoice to think that the higher mission of the Sunday school is being more vividly realised and powerfully felt. Never before was so much done in our country to gather the young into the fold of Christ as is being done now; but still there is room for improvement, and if all our teachers will try to become like John Winsome, Miss Neverfail, and Daniel Never flinch, and all our scholars like Frank Sterling and Ruth Cheerful, what a blessed change we shall soon see in our country! ADDRESSES FOR JUVENILE MISSIONARY MEETINGS. IV. DEAR FRIENDS, I've a duty that's not very light, And if you will grant me a few minutes' grace, Though "money's the root of all evil," folks say, Without it the grandest of movements would fail, 328 ADDRESSES FOR JUVENILE MISSIONARY MEETINGS. You have heard what we're doing in Mission'ry work And will freely admit that to carry it on Nearly five thousand pounds were expended last year And this year I doubt not much more will be spent, Towards this outlay our Society here Now, do not refuse us, and say "trade is bad; None hear of bad trade so soon as do those 'Tis because trade is bad that we eagerly ask Our Mission'ry boxes have only caught pence And young Johnnie's pennies to ha'pennies have shrunk, The cards too have realised less than they did; It was really hard work to collect, For nobody seemed to possess any change, And silver we could not expect. Some gave us their pence with a bright cheerful smile, Some gave all they could-an encouraging word, So to you we must look to raise the amount And even if more than that sum should be raised, We don't ask a penny that you cannot spare, But perhaps there are some whom bad trade don't affect, TOM BROWN. VIRTUE ne'er dwells within that heart Whene'er a good man comes to thee 'Tis by his deeds and not his gown Folly and anger are the same, He who once proves himself a knave Doth seldom change this side the grave. To others pardon e'er bestow, |