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A NEW YEAR'S HYMN.

HOU, who of each coming day Know'st each secret long before,

Of a new path on our way Now Thou openest, Lord, the door. Covered is Thy sacred will

With a veil we see not through; But Thine ear is open still

To each simple prayer and true. Thou who giv'st us happy days,

Who dost bless the dwelling, Lord, Bless our parents' works and ways,

Hear our prayers for them outpoured. If it be Thy will, do Thou

From them keep distress and care, Bless our mother's gentle brow,

Smooth the lines of sorrow there. And our teachers do Thou bless, Pastors, all Thy word who preach; Give them showers of happiness

For the glorious things they teach. And let us of Thee be blest,

Make us wise and holy, Lord, That their joy on us may rest,

As our love on them is poured.

JANET.

THE INSPECTION OF THE FLEET.

PON a certain bright summer afternoon five children might have been seen building castles

by the sea, or with bare feet springing from rock to rock whilst seeking for sea anemones in the little pools left by the tide. These were Johnnie, Willie, and Alfred Fairlyn, their only and dearly loved sister, Annie, and their bosom friend, Fred Stanton.

The weather had been sultry and oppressive in their town house, so the two families had emigrated to the pleasant. fishing village of Nottley; the children were allowed to wander alone, for their parents knew that the younger ones were safe in the charge of the sober, eldest boy, Johnnie, who, whilst thoroughly enjoying any fun himself, watched carefully that nothing rash or dangerous should be attempted by the others. This evening Fred and Willie were sailing two mimic ships which Mrs. Fairlyn had bought them the day before. As they played an old weatherbeaten sailor, with a merry, good-natured face, came up, a certain Sam Bell, who was a great friend of the children, and a devoted champion of little Annie.

"Good morning, Sam," cried Johnnie; "and, oh, Sam, look at my Ocean Queen."

"And my Sea Bird," said Fred and Willie.

Old Sam looked at the boats, and then-"I tell 'ee what, young masters," he said; "each of you make me a boat,

and whoever makes the best I'll give him the man-o'-war I showed you the other day."

With a delighted shout the boys answered that they would, for not even speaking of the fun in making the boats, the ship of which Sam spoke was most beautifully carved; it had been made by him in his leisure moments some time before. The day upon which he was to examine the fleet was fixed, and the boys ran off. Suffice it to say, that not much was seen of them for the next week, and that sundry odours of tar and paint accompanied them.

Upon the great day all the children assembled by the sea; I say all, for Annie, who shared her brothers' sports, was not going to be left out now, besides, Willie had made her a tiny boat in return for the careful stitching which the little girl had bestowed on his sails. Presently Sam approached and gave his directions. "I'll look at them one by one, and them that I've seen are to be carried on one side by their owners, so that I mayn't be mixing you up. Ladies attended to first," he said, as with a twinkle in his eye he took Annie's little barque and examined it carefully. "A trim little craft, Miss Annie," he said; "and as you are a lady I won't ask you to go aside-you may stay."

Alfred's boat was pronounced to be "good," and Willie's "carefully done," but when Sam came to Fred's, his admiration was great; so neatly finished, so well carved was it; and Sam said smiling: "I suppose Master Johnnie's is better; but if it is, I need not offer you my man-o'-war.”

Johnnie's, however, which had been attempted on a large scale, was very bad, and Sam's sailor eyes were offended

by jagged ends and scraps of paint here and there.

"You are not made for a sailor, Master Johnnie; it's not like you to be so careless and untidy," said Sam, as he placed his model ship in Fred's eager hands, but at this junction Annie started forward.

"You did not know I knew," she cried, "but I did. Oh! Mr. Sam, it is not Johnnie's fault at all. (Yes, Jack, I will tell, no matter how you look.) This is how it was: some time after you told us to make the boats, Fred cut his finger. I know, because I saw a large bandage upon his finger, and he was so miserable about it that Johnnie said he would help him to finish his boat, for the cut was so sore that Fred could not work; but when the Surprise was finished Jack had not time to make his own ship properly."

Annie drew back when she had finished her not very lucid explanation, almost frightened at her own boldness, and Sam, smiling approvingly at Johnnie, said: "You were quite right to help Master Fred, and I'm sure I would not have called you careless if I had known. Three cheers, boys, for Master Jack."

They were heartily given, and then all ran off, and I think that Johnnie Fairlyn was far happier that evening than if he had gained the prize and not denied himself to help another.

MAUDE.

THE FOOLISH ROBIN.

NCE there was a robin

Lived outside the door, Who wanted to go inside And hop upon the floor. "Oh! no," said the mother. "You must stay with me: Little birds are safest Sitting in a tree." "I don't care," said robin, And gave his tail a fling ; 'I don't think the old folks

Know quite every thing."

Down he flew, and Kitty seized him
Before he'd time to blink,
"Oh !" he cried, "I'm sorry,
But I didn't think."

JENNY STEWART.

H father! I was obliged to have just one look at you."

So spoke little Jenny Stewart before five o'clock one summer's morning, more than a hundred years ago, as, bearing a large bundle, she stepped rapidly into the place where her father was lying. It was a large dark cave in the midst of a thick wood, and the poor man, who was badly wounded, was obliged to remain there to escape some soldiers who were waiting to capture and slay. him. He dwelt in the north of Scotland, and had lately taken part in a sad and fruitless rebellion.

Jenny was almost ten years of age, a sharp, active, red-haired lassie, accustomed to race in all directions with bare head and feet and with petticoats reach

ing only to her knees. Her home was situated just outside the wood where her father was concealed, and her duty was to carry food in thither for him. She used to hide it in a spot of which he knew, that he might come there in the night to fetch it; and she had shown wonderful skill in escaping the notice of the soldiers. She had sorely longed for a sight of the one she loved so well, and on the morning of which we tell had for the first time ventured near him.

He was a tall, strong Highlander, wearing a heavy broadsword, and with two large pistols stuck in his belt; but as he drew near to the front of the cave to welcome his daughter, his worn and weary appearance filled her with sadness. He held her tightly in his arms for a few seconds, and as he did so tears were shed by both of them.

At length he said, "The bloodhounds are not following you, are they, my dear?"

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By this Jenny knew that he meant the soldiers, and she answered, No, no, father, trust me for that. They're sly enough, I know, but they've got something to do to beat Jenny. There are only three left now; they all got drunk last night, and were sound asleep when I started. I peeped into the tent and saw them."

"Where are your mother and the children?" Captain Stewart next asked; and he added, "The house is levelled to the ground, I suppose?" He knew it was the custom to destroy thus the property of all who were rebels.

But Jenny answered quickly, "No, no, father; we're all safe and as well as ever, and we should be just as happy if we could only have you lack with us. Colonel Whiteford almost offended the