phia was complaining to his iron merchant, that such was the scarcity of money that he could not pay his rent. The merchant then asked him, how much rum he used in his family in the course of the day. Upon his answering this question, the merchant made a calculation, and showed him that his rum amounted to more money in the year than his house-rent. The calculation so enlightened and impressed the artisan, that he at once entirely renounced all spirituous liquors. In the course of the ensuing year he paid his rent and bought a new suit of clothes out of the savings he thus effected. He persisted in the course on which he had entered, to the end of life, and the happy consequence was competence and respectability. THE WHITE ANGEL. Some children stood in a group about the door of the village school-house one lovely summer day. They were all talking pleasantly together, from Kline, the son of the rich and proud Hoffmeister, to the little blue-eyed Carl, the only child of the poor baker. The school-house door opened, and Master Friedrich himself appeared, and cried in a cheery, hearty voice, "Welcome, my children!" "Welcome, master!" cried they. And now they entered and took their seats, and were quite still while the good master read a short chapter in the Book of books, and then reverently kneeling, prayed that the dear Saviour would guide them in his teachings, and bless them, and send his Holy Spirit to watch over them all. School began, the thumb-worn books were brought out, the lazy boys began to sigh and frown, and wish impatiently for the recess, and wonder why Latin dictionaries were ever invented; when, as if by magic, they found themselves listening to the pleasant voice of Master Friedrich, and actually understanding their lessons-so clear and simple were his explanations, and the time for recess came, to their great astonishment, long before they expected. When the studies were over, the master drew from his desk a box, and whilst the children gathered around he opened it, and drew out charming little white and pink sea-shells, pretty pictures, and many other beautiful things, which he gave to the children, with loving words. But the most lovely thing of all was a little porcelain statuette of an angel. She stood-so fair, so pure-with her small, white hands folded over her breast, and her eyes uplifted, that the children gazed enchanted. "O, the dear angel-the beautiful angel!" cried they all. "Wilt thou give it me, Master Friedrich ?" But the good master smiled and said,—“The little angel is too lovely to be given to any boy who is not good and true of heart. We shall presently see who shall deserve her. He who brings to me to-morrow the brightest thing on earth shall have the angel." At this the children looked at each other, as if wondering what the master might mean. But he said no more, and they went home thoughtful. The next day, after the lessons (which had now become so pleasant) were finished, the children clustered around the master to show him what they had brought. Some of the smaller ones had picked up sparkling stones on the road, and as they laid them in the sunlight, they were sure they must be something bright and precious. Some had polished up a shilling till it shone like a crown; one brought a watch crystal which his father had given him, and which he considered a wonder of transparent brightness; and Kline, the rich Hoffmeister's son had brought a paste buckle, made to imitate diamonds, than which, in his opinion, nothing could be brighter. All these things were placed on the master's desk, side by side. The shilling shone away famously, the pebbles and the watch crystal did their best, but Kline's buckle was the bravest of all. "Ah! mine is the brightest !" shouted Kline, clapping his hands. ་ "But where is little Carl ?" said Master Friedrich; "he ran out just now." "All eyes were turned to the door, when presently in rushed Carl, breathless. In his hands, held up lovingly against his neck, was a poor, little, snow-white dove. Some crimson drops upon the downy breast showed that it was wounded. 66 "O, master," cried Carl, "I was looking for something bright when I came upon this poor little white dove. Some cruel boys were tormenting it, and I caught it up quickly and ran here. O, I fear it will die!" Even as he spoke, the dove's soft eyes grew filmy, it nestled closer in Carl's neck, then gave a faint cry, dropped its little head and died, Carl sank on his knees beside the master's desk, and from his there fell upon the poor dove's broken wing two tears, large and bright. eyes The master took the dead dove from his hands, and laid it tenderly down on the desk with the bright things; then raising Carl he softly said, "My children, there is no brighter thing on earth than a tender, pitying tear." The boys were silent for a moment, for they felt that the master had decided that Carl had rightly won the angel. Kline cried out, "My master, thou didst not fairly explain to us. give us another trial." Then I pray thee "Yes, dear master," said Max, "give us another trial." The good master smiled thoughtfully, and his eye rested for a moment lovingly upon Carl, then glancing around, he said,"He who brings me the loveliest thing on earth to-morrow shall have the angel." The children clapped their hands and departed satisfied. After school, the next day, Kline was the first to run up stairs to Master Friedrich, and lay upon his desk what he considered the loveliest thing in the whole world, his new soldier cap, with the long scarlet feather and bright golden tassel. Max came next, and placed beside the cap a small silver watch, his last birthday gift, with a bright steel watch-chain attached. Otto brought a great picture-book, just sent him by his godmother; Rudolph, a tiny marble vase, richly sculptured; and so on, until a still more motley collection than that before lay upon Master Friedrich's desk. Then poor little Carl stepped modestly up, and placed in the master's hand a pure white lily. The rich perfume filled the room, and bending over the flower, inhaling the delicious fragrance, the master softly said, "My children, the blessed Word of God says, 'Behold the lilies of the field; they toil not, neither do they spin, yet Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.' Carl has rightly chosen." But murmurs arose; the children were not satisfied, and again they asked for another trial. And, as before, good Master Friedrich inquired, “What sayest thou, Carl?" and he answered as before, with generous haste, "Yes, dear master." "Now, this is the last time," said the master; "and he who brings to me the best thing on earth shall have the angel." "The very best thing on earth is plum cake,” cried Kline, on the third day, as he walked up to the desk, bearing a large cake richly frosted, with a wreath of sugar roses round the edge. This he placed triumphantly before the master, sure of the prize. "I "Nay, thou art wrong this time, Kline," said Max. asked my father what was the best thing on earth, and he gave me this golden guilder; the prize is mine." "Ah! but my father said that the very best thing was a good glass of Rhenish wine," cried Otto, "and I have brought a bottle of it thirty years old; the prize is surely mine." So they went on till all had placed their offerings before the master. "And thou, Carl," said he, "what hast thou brought which thou thinkest the best on earth ?" A crimson flush rose to the little boy's forehead, and coming softly forward, he took from his breast a small worn Testament, pressed it to his lips, and then reverently laid it down with the rest, as he said, in a low, sweet voice,→ "My mother, dear master, says that God's precious Testament is far beyond all earthly possessions." ""Tis thine, my Carl!" cried the master, snatching the boy to his breast. "The white angel is thine; for there is nothing in the wide world half so precious as the blessed words of Christ :" and he placed the white angel in the hands of the trembling boy. ANNALS OF THE BAND OF HOPE UNION. BAND OF HOPE UNION, 37, QUEEN'S SQUARE. The Hon. Secretary begs to intimate that all letters relating to the Meetings, Dissolving Views, the RECORD, Agents, &c, are to be addresed to him as above. Non-attendance to this intimation will lead to delay. COMMERCIAL ROAD CHAPEL.-On Wednesday evening, the 23rd of October, the Third Anniversary of this Society took place, when a goodly number of friends took tea. At seven o'clock a public meeting was held, when the Rev. John Sugden, B.A., Secretary of the London Congregational Association, presided. The Report stated that the number of signatures in the pledge book of the society, now amounts to 154-50 of these have been added during the past year. During last winter, illus trated lectures were given by Agents of the Band of Hope Union, and others; and prizes had been distributed to six of the members, for regular attendance and good behaviour. The following gentlemen took part in the proceedings:-Rev. T. Goadby, Mr. T. White, of the Sailors' Institute, and others. Several dialogues were given by members of the society. FOREST HILL-On Monday evening, November 4th, the Band of Hope held their First Anniversary, and the room was well packed with children,, who regaled themselves with the cake and tea provided for the occasion. After tea, the chair was taken by Mr. J. Worthy, and short addresses were delivered by Messrs. Child and Seddon; the remainder of the evening being devoted to the recitations and pieces sung by the children. A vote of thanks was given, and carried by acclamation, to Miss Gwennap, who first established this Band of Hope, and has been unremitting in her exertions for its prosperity. you BENNETT STREET, MANCHESTER.-A letter to the Editor says:-As desire to know something about our doings, I will give you a summary of what has been done during the last twelve months. Our society originated amongst a few of our Sunday school teachers. We have met uninterruptedly on the the third Tuesday in every month. The society is managed by twenty of our own teachers, who are formed into a committee for that purpose, and four superintendents, who co-operate with us. At ten of our meetings, we have had 37 speeches delivered, 38 recitations, 16 glees and songs, and at the eleventh meeting, a concert was given by the Tonic-Sol-Fa Choral Society, in connexion with the School. The average number attending our meetings is 400, and the number who have signed the pledge is 680, very few cases have come to our knowledge where the pledge has been broken. We had our First Annual Tea Party on the 15th of last month, at which 452 persons sat down to tea; we had many friends present, and our worthy Pastor, the Rev. R. Lambe, came amongst us. He made a very feeling address on the evils of intemperance, as affecting the social and moral condition of the young, and he also encouraged the members to keep their pledge. An address was delivered by Mr. S. Whitmore, the President of the Society. He spoke of the necessity of Bands of Hope, in connexion with Sunday Schools, and related several instances of persons, who had once belonged to our own school, who had fallen through intemperance. The present aspect of our society is very encouraging, especially to those who are labouring for the cause of temperance, among the 2000 scholars in our school. We hope to do greater things yet, God helping us. We open all our meetings with a hymn and prayer, we also close each meeting in the same way. We intend distributing tracts at our meetings, as a further means of spreading temperance truth, and hope, by this plan, to reach the parents of some of our young members. CHIPPENHAM-Mr. T. Mills writes: "I am glad to inform you that we accepted the services of your Agent, Mr. F. Smith, with Dissolving Views, accompanied by descriptive Lecture, in our Town Hall. The results were most gratifying, we disposed of 360 tickets, which, of course, increased our funds. The lecture gave general satisfaction." |