Pale and downcast, timid, trembling,
Rudely cradled, roughly nursed,
I, of every flower, am chosen

To proclaim His glory first.

And 'tis thus that I would teach thee,
If thou dost His favour seek,
That the Lord our God exalteth
Most "the humble and the meek,"

SCRAPS.

I SAW a girl one evening lately in a schoolroom which was rather dark. Her pinafore seemed to be white and clean, and her hair neat and tidy. Presently the mistress brought a candle into the room, and then I noticed that the pinafore was all soiled and torn, and the little girl's hair was greatly in want of a brush.

Your heart will not look so wicked as it is unless you examine it with the strong light of the Bible. Sins, which appear "little ones to the bad man, are very great in the sight of God; and unless you look into the dark corners of your soul, you will never find out all the bad thoughts, and tempers, and pride, and selfishness, which are hidden there. But it is a pleasant thing to know that Jesus died to take away all these evil things, and those who love him will have their hearts made clean, for the Holy Spirit to live always in them.

J. Bolders one morning stole an apple from a stall in the street. He did not feel comfortable after he had done it; but he thought the

apple would be nice to eat, so he put it in his pocket, and went to his work. Often and often during the day John thought of his apple, and now and then he took it out to eat it; but, somehow or other, he did not like to do so, (conscience was struggling hard with sin,) and he felt unhappy all day, and kept thinking about his apple without enjoying it. At last he went back to the applewoman, (conscience had won the victory,) and he gave back the apple, and he bought it, with two others, for a halfpenny. Suddenly the apple looked so nice, and he ate it up with pleasure, for an honest halfpenny is better than a stolen sovereign."

Here was one of these little farthing sins which boys and girls often throw upon their consciences, and if their consciences are tender, like the eye, even a grain of sin will trouble them all day. As for the children who have a hardened conscience, I must speak to them next month.

I know a shoe-black, called "Rustics," who had another little friend of his in the "polishing brigade." Once there was a treat given to all the boys, and this little friend was absent. Well, a gentleman promised "Rustics

a penny if he would fetch his friend to the treat; and off he set running, for it was a long way to go. They both arrived in time for the plumcake, but "Rustics" would not take the penny he had earned.

Now, if there are "little sins," which weigh

heavy, so are there little acts of kindness, which show a generous mind. I call this conduct of "Rustic's" noble and generous, and I hope that if he sees it here in print, (though I be-. lieve he is a troublesome boy,) he will show that he can be humble too.

BIBLE QUESTIONS FOR MARCH. WE must remind our young readers that the names of those who obtain prizes are given in the large Magazine, and call their attention to the following three questions for this month:— 7. Give two verses from the Old Testament in which eternal life is promised. 8. Relate the history of St. Paul in thirty words.

9. What prophets of the Old Testament are

mentioned by name in the New Testament?

THE FIRST FATHER AND MOTHER.

HAVE you got a Bible? I hope you have. But if not, you may buy one for six pennies of your teacher. But why do I want you to have a Bible? Whose book is it?

It is God's book. The only book God has written for men. Ought not all men, therefore, to read it?

But perhaps you ask, what is it about? 1 will tell you. There is the history of the world in it, from the very beginning; the history of a great many people; the history of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God and the Saviour of men ; and there are many beautiful Psalms, and other writings in it.

I think you will like the histories best now, so I mean to tell you where to find some of them, and to explain them to you.

First, then, I will tell you about Adam and Eve, for they were the first people who lived in the world. I dare say you have often heard of them, and that they sinned against God.

Yes, they did, indeed. They listened to the wicked spirit, who tempted them to disobey God. God had been very good to them. And even now he was very gentle to them, and did not send them out of the beautiful garden till he had made them coats of skins to clothe

them. He might have punished them much more than he did. He might have said to them, "You seem to like Satan more than me, and so you may go and be with him always." Would not that have been dreadful? But God did not say so. No; he said he would put enmity between man and the devil. And though the devil might hurt them a little, some Man should be born who would destroy the devil at last. (Gen. iii. 15; Heb. ii. 14.)

Who was this man? It was Jesus Christ. He was a man, though he was also the Son of God. We must learn more and more about him, and pray God to teach us more, and to give us faith, and love to him, that we may be saved by him from going to hell.

Adam and Eve were very thankful for God's mercy, for after they had committed the sin they felt how wicked they were; and were afraid their punishment would be more than they could bear. We do not, however, read any more about them, except that they went out of the Garden of Eden, and that some children were born to them. These children were, like their parents, sinful; for now sin had come into the world, this could not be helped. We all have some sin in our hearts. But God knows this, and if we are really sorry for our sins, and pray to Him to forgive us, for Jesus Christ's sake, and to give us His Holy Spirit to help us to be good, He will. And He will love us, and take us to live for ever with