with care. And now, little one, come here-come, and I will repay you for what you did for the bird." And he took from the folds of his cloak a basket filled with provisions, of different kinds; and giving it to Elizabeth, he said, "Now, divide these."

How her bright eyes sparkled with delight! How the children rejoiced! and all began to partake of the food which the little girl rejoiced in having to give.

"Ah! see," said Ann, "how God has heard our prayers."

Tears filled the eyes of the good man. "Listen," said he to Joseph: "I will give you work from this time on my own land; and just remember, when you are in any need, I have enough for you." And then he hastened from the door, leaving behind him the sound of thanks and joyful weeping.

From that time the cottage beside the forest was never destitute of food, though want still lay heavily on the country around. The gentle little Elizabeth nursed her bird till spring returned, and then set free the little messenger, which had seemed to bring them tidings that help was at hand.

"Fly away now," said Ann: "you brought us a happy promise; and well it was fulfilled. O my children, forget it not! Every word of our Saviour is truth indeed."

WORK IS GOOD.

"I WISH I was rich, and not obliged to learn a trade. I have to be so punctual-always at the shop in season," said John H to his mother

in a grumbling, discontented tone. "There is Sam M-, his father is so rich he does not want to work; and there's S- -, he does not do anything unless he's a mind to do it; but I have to work."

John talked as if he thought it was a great hardship; and I have known other boys who seemed to regard working in much the same light. It is a false light, boys; and is sure to mislead and ruin you. Let us look at the matter a moment. Of the 806 convicts now in one of the prisons, 400, or nearly sixty per cent., have no trades, and 250 cannot read or write. What lesson does this teach us? That education and regular occupation are two great elements of success. Moral training is, of course, important. But without habits of industry, grafted on a regular occupation, the perils of the young are fearful. Almost any trade is better than none. Some trade, calling, or profession, should be thoroughly learned. It occupies the mind, curbs the passions, and tasks the faculties of youth. It prevents your running to waste, or, what is worse, running to ruin. A good education, habits of industry, and a useful calling, are of far greater price than the greatest fortune without these qualities; for it is these which make the man.

PRAY FOR THE HEATHEN.

LITTLE children, when you pray
To God to keep you through the day;
When you ask that He would take
Your sins away, for Jesus' sake;

When you thank Him for your friends,
And the comfort that He sends;
Don't forget to breathe a prayer

For those who know not of His care.
Many little ones there are,
Over the sea, so very far,

Who never heard of God above,
Who do not know of Jesus' love;

Children who have never heard
From Christian friends this blessed word,
That gentle Jesus, meek and mild,
Dearly loves each little child,

And bids them always come and pray
To Him who takes their sins away.
This Saviour they have never known,
And therefore kneel to wood and stone.
O, children! ask of Him to send
Some one to be the Heathen's friend;
To guide them from destruction's road,
Into the path that leads to God,

That they may have their sins forgiven,
And, when they die, may go to heaven;
That they and you at last may stand
Within that happy, happy land.

A POLITE BOY.

THE other day we were riding in a crowded railway-carriage. At one of the stations an old gentleman entered, and was looking around him for a seat, when a lad ten or twelve years of age rose up

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and said, "Take my seat, Sir." The offer was accepted, and the infirm old man sat down. "Why did you give me your seat?" he inquired of the boy. Because you are old, Sir, and I am a boy," was the quick reply. The passengers were very much pleased and gratified. For my part, I wanted to seize hold of the little fellow and press him to my bosom. It was a respect for age, which is always praiseworthy.

THE LORD'S PRAYER IN DEATH. A SUNDAY-SCHOOL scholar was dying. Her friends had gathered around to listen to her dying words. After she had been raised in bed, and had spoken a few words to each one, she said,—

"Now, mother, I would like to have you lay my head down on the pillow."

Her request was granted.

"Now," said she, "I want to say the Lord's Prayer, just as I said it when I was a little child."

Slowly and fervently that beautiful prayer was uttered. For a few moments a smile played around the lips of the dying girl, and then her happy spirit winged its way to that better land where prayer is lost in praise.

HE FORGOT IT WAS SUNDAY.

A LITTLE boy was amusing himself with his playthings on Sunday.

"Edward," said his mother, "don't you know it is Sunday?"

"O, is it?" said he: "I did not remember.""

"That is the very command which God has given us: 'Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy.'"

Children often excuse themselves by saying, "I did not think, I forgot, I did not remember." But they ought to think; they ought to remember.

ALLIGATOR'S NESTS.

THESE nests resemble haycocks. They are four feet high, and five in diameter at their basis, being constructed with grass and herbage. First, they deposit their eggs on a floor of mortar, and, having covered this with a stratum of mud and herbage, eight inches thick, lay another sort of eggs upon that, and so on to the top, there being commonly from one to two hundred eggs in a nest. With their tails they then beat down round the nest the dense grass and reeds five feet high, to prevent the approach of unseen enemies. The female watches ber eggs until they are hatched by the heat of the sun; and then takes her brood under her own care, defending them, and providing for their subsistence. Dr. Lutzemburg, of New Orleans, once packed up one of those nests with the eggs in a box for the Museum of St. Petersburg, but was recommended before he closed it to see that there was no danger of the eggs being hatched on the voyage.

On