A third case is mentioned by Eliot, in which was exercised a vigilance equally strict. On a certain Sabbath, the public meeting was held long and late. One of the Indians, upon returning to the wigwam, found the fire almost gone out. As he sat in the corner, he split with his hatchet a small piece of dry wood, which he had reserved for kindling, and so lighted his fire. Men, who had been taught, that to think our own thoughts, or speak our own words on that holy day, was a violation of God's command, could not suffer this to pass without rebuke; and the next lecture the subject was brought before the assembly for further investigation.

These instances may serve to show how the Indians regarded the Sabbath. And now, my young readers, if the unlettered savage, who had scarcely received the rudiments of a Christian education, was severely reprimanded for doing what would now be deemed by many a slight breach of the fourth commandment, of how much sorer punishment shall those children and youth be thought worthy, who are in the constant practice of desecrating God's holy day? If the untutored Indian was so strict in its observance, is it not a disgrace, as well as a sin, for Sabbath school children to collect in little groups around our country churches, during the intervals of divine service, to sport and laugh? Believe me, nothing so pains a teacher's heart.

JAMES.

Little Nelson.

One morning in the latter part of last autumn, Mrs. M., after the example of the excellent Mrs. Isabella Graham, took her dinner in her work-bag, and went out to spend the day in visiting a number of poor families who lived at a distance from her dwelling. She once remarked to the writer, "This sort of business is hard work; but, after a day thus spent, 'tis with peculiar pleasure that the heart breathes, Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. But, to return to my story. Mrs. M. visited a number of families and met with many interesting things; but at present I can speak of only one. She called at a house where she found a poor young

woman in deep affliction. This woman informed Mrs. M., that "two weeks since, her husband had borrowed her last dollar, that she had earned by washing, and had gone off, she knew not where, and had left her alone with two little children, almost entirely destitute of food and fuel." In answer to Mrs. M.'s inquiries, the woman said, "If you could let my little boy go and stay a few days at your house, it would do me a great deal of good. I could then take the babe, and go out to washing." Tears ran freely down the cheeks of the poor woman as she uttered this. Little Nelson was about five years old. He had fine rosy cheeks, bright blue eyes, and soft curly hair; and his very motion would convince any one, that he had good common sense.

Mrs. M. was the wife of a rich farmer, and her benevolent heart did not refuse to take the little boy. Dressed in coarse clean clothes, he took his little basket of play-things, and went home with Mrs. M.

As Mrs. M. was returning home, in a pathway through the woods, with the little boy trudging at her side, she fell into a reverie. During the day, she had many times, with a grateful heart, contrasted her own situation with that of the poor people whom she had been visiting; but now her mind was musing on her own afflictions; (for rich people often have much to grieve about.) The little boy noticed the change in her countenance, let go her hand, ran forward a few steps, then looked up in her face, and said,

"Has your farder run'd away?"

In a few minutes they came to a short turn in the road, where a river seemed to cross the path. Mrs. M. pointed to her house, which was on the other side of the river, directly opposite the spot where they stood, and said to Nelson, There is the house to which we are going." The boy looked frightened, and asked, "Shall I take off my shoes-are you going to wade over?" No, child," replied Mrs. M., "there is a bridge very near. Nelson eagerly looked on the river, then up in the face of Mrs. M., and with an expression of mingled indignation and terror, exclaimed, "There is no bridge; I'll go back!" "Child," replied Mrs. M., "there is a bridge, and if we find it very soon,, will you believe that

VOL. VII.

12.

I always tell little boys the truth?" After walking down the river a few rods, they stood on the bridge, and the little boy's face was as bright as the waves upon which he was looking. Mrs. M. inquired,

Nelson, do you know who made this river, those beautiful trees, and that sun?" Nelson replied, "No -nobody made them-did grandsir?"

No, child, there is a God, and he made them. Have you never heard that there is a God?"-"No, there is no God."

With a very serious look, Mrs. M. replied, "Just now, you told me there was no bridge; but we found one, and there certainly is a God, though you cannot see him.'

The little boy was now prepared to listen to the instructions which Mrs. M. was disposed to communicate; and it is astonishing to think how much he learnt in a very few weeks.

Now, my dear Sabbath school children (for this story was written for you), let me ask, if a want of confidence in your teacher is not one cause of your being so slow to learn? When they tell you that there is no other name under heaven, save that of Jesus Christ, whereby souls can be saved, do you believe them? When they tell you, that without holiness no man can see the Lord, do you believe them? If so, why not repent, and give your hearts at once to the Savior?

O, my dear children, have confidence in your teachers; but above all things, have faith in God; believe what the Bible says, and you will be happy here, and happy beyond the grave. H. M.

The Infant Series.

The Infant Series,-mentioned in the February Visiter,-embraces twenty-four small books, suited to the age and capacity of the members of infant classes. Each book contains eight pages and four pictures, exclusive of those on the cover and title page. These little books are done up in two packages, with the titles of those contained in each package on the envelope.

The following is a specimen of the matter and pictures of these tiny volumes.

THE AFFECTIONATE SISTER.

Eliza is a little girl only three years old, and she has a little brother only one year old. She calls him her "dear little brother Willy." She loves him very much, and kisses him many, many times every day. They spend a great deal of time playing with the pretty blocks, picture-cards, and books which their father and mother have bought them; and it is delightful to see how well they agree. Eliza seldom does any thing to make her little brother cry; but she is almost always kind and affectionate to him. You may sometimes see them for a whole hour engaged in their happy play. Eliza will make a little house with her blocks, while Willy sits by and watches her as she lays one block upon another; or he amuses himself with some of the toys that cover the floor.

Sometimes, when Eliza has almost finished her house, Willy will creep along, and, with one blow with his hand, throw it all down, and scatter the blocks all over the room. That will make Eliza laugh; and when she has softly patted his cheek and said, "Willy,-you little rogue, you mustn't throw down sister's house," she will run and gather her blocks and begin to build again.

It would make you laugh to see their joyful meeting, when they first wake in the morning. Eliza climbs upon her mother's bed and watches her sleeping brother. She can hardly keep still. She no sooner sees him beginning to move and to open his eyes, than she cries out, "Mother, brother Willy's awake.-Good morning, dear brother Willy."

Eliza has just got into her little trundle-bed. Willy is so full of glee, that his mother can hardly hold him to put on his night-clothes. See; his mother has put him on the carpet, and here the little rogue has crept along to his sister, and now they will have a fine hugging. Soon the mother will put her darling boy into his wagon, Eliza will say her little prayer, and they will very soon be fast asleep.

Children! you don't know how happy it makes Eliza's father

and mother, to see her so kind and affectionate to her little brother. They hope she will always be so. They pray every day that God would give her a new heart, and Willy too, and make them both love the Savior while they are young, and then they will always love each other. Their parents often think, should God let these dear children live, how delightful it will be, in a few years more, to see them, hand in hand, going to the Infant School.

Children! are your parents made happy in seeing you always kind and affectionate to your little brothers and sisters? Some children are unkind to each other, and quarrelsome; but God will never love such children.

Plans to increase the number of Scholars.

The superintendent of the Sabbath school in E-, has adopted the following plan to increase the number of his school. On the Sabbath he appoints the children or youth in two classes, to spend as much of the week as they can in looking up new scholars. On the next Sabbath he goes to each class and gets an account of each scholar's success. Then, at the close of the school, he reports the number of visits each class has made, the number of persons that promised to attend, and the number of those then present. He then appoints two more classes to pursue the same work. And his reporting the results before the school produces, perhaps, a little emulation between the two classes appointed to the work. If any scholar has been particularly successful, or has made a large number of visits, this is mentioned in the report, but without giving the name of the successful or diligent scholar.

The first two classes appointed to this work, this spring, made, during their week, sixty-six visits. These visits, proba