66

her prayers one day. In the course of the morning she knelt down, and repeated after me, in addition to her usual short prayer, Forgive me, O Lord, for forgetting my prayers." She raised her head, looked upward, and said, in a coaxing tone, as if to make amends for the omission, “But I am saying dem now, God!" This was the precious child who prayed, quite of her own accord, when not four years old, "Take us to heaven all togedder, not one at a !"

time, pease

Perhaps my young readers wish to know what became of all these children. Charlotte has many years been a Missionary's wife in Africa. Three of them have long been parents themselves in America. One of them at least is in heaven.

My dear readers of "Early Days," never neglect prayer; and remember it is for the sake of our blessed Redeemer that our prayers are answered. ELIZA WEAVER BRADBURN.

Guernsey.

JUBILEE ADDRESS TO SUNDAY

SCHOLARS.

BY THE REV. J. A. JAMES.

To the children of the Sunday-school, I would say,Bless God for the privileges you so richly enjoy in this invaluable institution. It is now only about seventy years ago, that Sunday-schools were established. Before then, the children of the labouring classes grew up for the most part in ignorance, neglect of the Sabbath, and all the vices to which Sabbathbreaking too often leads. Yes, my children, it is an

undoubted fact, that Sabbath-breaking is a sin itself, and does lead to many other sins. "Remember," therefore, "the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy." Attend the school constantly and punctually. And understand for what you are brought to school. It is not merely to learn to read, but to be taught true religion. And what is true religion? Repentance towards God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ," and a holy life. Now, this is true religion, and you are brought to a Sunday-school to be taught it. Be very diligent and very anxious to learn. Mind what your kind Teachers say to you. Is it not very good of them to give up their time to you? More than fifty years ago, I was a Sunday-school Teacher myself; and I very well remember that one of the boys in my class was killed. He was a good boy. I had great comfort in him. You may be suddenly killed; and therefore I advise you to be always prepared for death, by being always found in the fear of God. A good child is as fit to die in his daily occupation, as he is in the house of God. Now take my word for it, a good Sunday-school boy or girl, that is, a boy or girl that is very constant, always in time, obedient to their Teachers, anxious to grow in knowledge and religion, will be likely to do well for both worlds, this and the next. Now, if you follow my advice, and should live to be fifty years old, you will then say, on your jubilee-day," Blessed be God for sending me to a Sunday-school: it was there I learnt to be a good boy, and, being a good boy, by God's grace I became a good man.' What a different aspect does our Sunday-school

present from what it did when I came! We then had no school-rooms, but taught the children in a house in Moor-street. I should think it probable that during my pastorate nearly twenty thousand children have been in our schools. And where are they now? Many in eternity. Some, we hope, in heaven; others, we fear, in hell. Many of them are now members of this church and other churches. Many in various parts of the earth, and in all conditions of life. Shall I tell you what has ruined many of these in body, soul, and estate? Why, drunkenness. Dear children, do grow up with a dread, a horror, and a hatred of drunkenness; and in order to avoid this vice, do not touch intoxicating drink. Shun it as you would a poison. Boys and girls can do without ale, wine, or spirits.

During my pastorate I have witnessed multitudes of children that have grown up to be their parents' comfort, pride, and boast; and others breaking their parents' hearts by their misconduct, and bringing down their grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. To which of these classes do you belong?

It is time to turn your attention to your own jubilee. "Our jubilee," you say: "what! shall I have a jubilee?" Yes, of course, if you live to be fifty years of age. The fiftieth year of your life will be your jubilee. Now, here, let me solemnly ask you, and entreat you as solemnly to ask yourselves, how you wish to keep your jubilee; in happiness or misery? Think of that birth-day when you shall say, “I am this day fifty years old." Now tell me how you would like that day to be spent. You will

then be receiving the congratulations of your friends for your situation and circumstances, or else their pity. You will then be miserable or happy. You are ready to say, "How can I tell what will happen to me fifty years hence?" Why, I know very well there are many things in your future history which neither you nor any one else but God can foretell. You cannot tell whether you will be rich or poor; ill or well; living in this country or abroad. But you can tell one thing; and that is, that if you are good, you will be happy; and if you are wicked, you will be miserable. There is always some present duty to be attended to. Mind that. Do that. And let nothing draw away your attention from that. But, still, you must also look on to the future, for the future will come; and you must prepare and provide for it. Well, now, shall I tell you what will, in all probability, ensure you a happy jubilee?

True religion, a good education, diligence in learning your business, good habits of general conduct, and striving to make others happy.

Begin with religion. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Fear God. Love Christ. Hate sin. Seek to be good and holy. Read your Bible and pray to God daily. Think often of the words you have learnt:—

""Tis religion that will give

Sweetest pleasures while we live ;

'Tis religion must supply

Solid comforts when we die."

Next to this, be very anxious to improve your

minds. Do not be idle at school. Eagerly desire to learn. Get knowledge. Knowledge is power, pleasure, and means of usefulness.

Then, when sent apprentice, diligently learn your trade or profession, whatever it may be. Strive to excel. Do not be satisfied with mediocrity. And then form good general habits of industry, punctuality, perseverance, frugality. Nor must you omit to endeavour to make others happy. I lately read, in the life of a very wise and very witty man, something like the following directions how to make every day happy:

When you rise in the morning, form a resolution to make, at least, one person happy that day. It is easily done. There is your mother say a very kind word, or do a very kind action for her, as soon as you see her. She will think upon it with joy all the day. There are your brothers or sisters: give up something you like and which they want: why, it will delight them all day. Or there are the servants of the family: be very kind in some particular act to them. Or there is a poor widow, or any other distressed person, to whom you might give a penny, or, by your parents' permission, an old cast-off garment: why, it will make them happy all day. Now, as there are, you know, three hundred and sixty-five days in the year, you would thus make three hundred and sixty-five persons in a year happy for a day. And now calculate, for most of you know a little arithmetic, how many persons you would make happy for a day, supposing you are now ten years of age, and should live to keep your