pleased me, and I dined for a book which I am sure will be a blessing to two souls who desired to have the Lord Jesus' own words."

I cannot refrain from giving you another extract from a letter from this colporteur, as it will make you acquainted with a Roman Catholic priest who sets a bright example, even to many a Protestant clergyman in this country. where I had been

"From hence I went to

once before, but where I still had to deliver a New Testament which was ordered. Now it was remarkable that at the woman's house, who had a shop, I should meet with the priest, who lived near her. 'Ah!' said the woman to the priest, 'there's the man with the book I spoke to you about. How glad I am you are here, for I am sure you will buy one too.' 'Oh,' answered the priest, 'I always have one in my pocket, in order to learn the whole of it by heart, as the Fathers did formerly. I am exceedingly fond of the word of God, for it comforts and refreshes my soul.' And then he talked to me a good deal. Î cannot tell you all he said, but the Lord is operating in this man's heart, and he is not far from the kingdom of God. He said to me, 'To-day you will not find many of my people at home, but will you come here again? for it is my desire to see the word of God in every house.' Then I went away, and he shook hands with me, and said, 'May the Lord crown your work with his blessing!' In a short time I sold several copies there, and hope, if the Lord will, to go there again soon, for many of the people ordered fresh copies. May the Lord enable many of them to celebrate Whitsuntide as in the days of old!”

A young Roman Catholic girl who had bought a New Testament just before Whitsuntide, and whom he afterwards met again, said to him, “Oh, what a happy Whitsuntide I have spent! Such a book I have never read. Our prayer books I have

read so often that I almost know them by heart, and there is nothing in them that makes me think; but this book is quite a different thing: one can't read so much of it, it is so curious, there is so much I must think about before I can go on with it. It is a wonderful book."

Yes, it is "

a wonderful book." The girl is right. May we still be enabled to hand it to millions, that they may learn "to think of it!"

THREE CHILDREN THAT I KNOW.

A PAGE FOR THE VERY YOUNG.

BY HOMELY HERBERT.

I KNOW three children; I need not give their real names, but to suit my present purpose will call them Nequeo, Nolo, and Tentabo.

One morning, directly after breakfast, Nequeo might have been heard talking with her mother, but certainly not like a good and dutiful girl. Mrs. Goodchild had asked her to mend a pair of stockings, as there was so much needlework to be done.

"Oh, mother," said Nequeo, "I can't mend stockings."

"I think you can, if you only try," said Mrs. Goodchild.

"No, indeed, mother; I am sure I can't. Let Tentabo do it."

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'Nonsense, child; you can manage it very well, if you set about it. Besides, your sister has other work to do."

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Oh, mother, give me something else to do; I don't like mending stockings."

Anything but what I wish you to do, Nequeo; that seems to be your spirit," said Mrs. G. sternly: "I insist upon your doing it at once."

"You make me do everything," said Nequeo, pouting her lips and shrugging her shoulders, while at the same time she rudely snatched the stockings from her mother's hands.

Mrs. Goodchild felt quite grieved that her daughter should behave so unkindly and in such a disrespectful way towards her, and above all, that she should have tried to hide her dislike to what was required of her by an untruth. Homely Herbert too felt that he could not love the little girl who would conduct herself thus to a kind mother; and he was sorry to find that Nolo was like his sister, although more outspoken. Nolo always says, "I won't:" a very bad habit as well as a sinful one. There is no attempt, however, to hide his unwillingness to do what is required of him.

He openly expresses his dislike to do what is right, while Nequeo tries to conceal it by professing that she is unable to perform what is required of her. The conduct of Nequeo, I shall describe as disobedience in intention; that of Nolo, as disobedience in practice. The one secretly means she won't, the other openly says it. So that you may easily see there is no difference between Nolo and Nequeo. They are both disobedient children.

Not so, however, is Tentabo. She is a very amiable girl. Everybody loves her, and I think she loves everybody. She is always ready and willing to do what is required of her; and even if the duty should be somewhat difficult, and she may have some doubt whether she can perform it, yet she will never refuse, but meekly say, "I'll try.'

Which of the three children do you love, young reader? Oh, Tentabo, to be sure. Well, then, let me ask you what is your name? Nequeo (I cannot), Nolo (I will not), or Tentabo (I will try) ? The con

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duct of Nolo and Nequeo to earthly parents is sad indeed; but there are other Nolos and Nequeos than those I have described.

There are Nequeos who say they can't do what God requires of them. They think hard thoughts of God, and say that He expects of them what they cannot perform. The fact is they dislike the service of God, but try to conceal their dislike by saying they are unable to perform what He requires of them. This is unjust towards God; He never commands us to do anything that we cannot. When Christ told the man with a withered arm to stretch it forth, the man might have said, "I can't;" but no, he was willing to obey, and Christ helped him to do it. So with us, if we are willing, God will help us to do our duty.

There are Nolos, too, who say they will not have God to reign over them. They dislike the service of God, but instead of concealing that dislike, they openly avow it. In the sight of God, however, who knows the thoughts and intents of the heart, both the Nequeos and the Nolos are alike, and He says of them, "Ye will not come unto Me that ye might have life: " and unless they repent, He will say to them in the great day of account: "Depart from Me."

The Nolos and the Nequeos do not like the terms of the service of God. They are very selfish and self-willed; they like to have their own way, and so they rather live to themselves than to God. Oh, how ungrateful are these Nolos and Nequeos to their Father in heaven! He provides their daily bread and preserves their lives, and yet they do not love Him! He sent his Son into the world to die for sinners, and yet they will not give their hearts to Him; He gives his Holy Spirit to assist them to serve Him, but they will not ask for that assistance, and they say, "Depart from me, for I desire not the knowledge of thy ways." There are, however, a few Tentabos in the world, who say, "I will try to serve God: the best I can

render I know will be but a feeble service. My heart is very sinful, and when I would do good, evil is present with me; but I will ask God to give me his Holy Spirit and to enable me to keep his commandments." To such God will say, "Fear not, I will help thee," and at the last day, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

Young reader, there is no excuse for disobedience to God. In the Bible we may read our duty to God, and how we may do it, with the promises of help in its performance. It is sinful, therefore, to say, we can't do what God requires; it is wicked to say, we won't; it is wise to say, I'll try.

WHAT TO MAKE FOR INDIA.

THE following brief extract from a letter received from Mrs. Stubbins of Berhampore, may interest those of our readers who belong to working parties, and guide them in their choice of work :

"The box arrived in excellent order, about the end of February. I had my husband's study cleared for the occasion, and the things nicely arranged on long tables, and a circular sent round announcing a public sale on two different days. The articles looked very nice indeed, and were much admired for their elegance, and, in many cases, for their utility. By far the greater part of the articles were sold during the two days of sale, and the remainder I have forwarded to Berhampore. To the ladies there the first article sold was the knitted worsted shawl, and had there been several, they would have sold. The dolls, of all sizes, sold the first day, and several were disappointed at not being able to procure one. The braided holland

coats and handsome white dresses sold well. There were some fashionable print pinafores, trimmed with white braid, so very pretty, and suitable for this country,