wheelbarrows with sails, chop-sticks, beautiful lamps, junks, and city walls of immense breadth, all pass in rapid succession before us. Look round some of your rooms, young readers, and see if there are no Chinese wonders there?

I am sure you will find some. These exquisitely carved card-cases and beautiful boxes, intricate puzzles (ball within ball), that richly enamelled work-table and tea-caddy, and those lovely hand-screens and featherfans, are all from China,—that wonderful country, inhabited by nearly four hundred millions of people, few, very few of whom know the one true God and Saviour!

Is it not sad to think of it? And does not the prayer rise from your young hearts, 'Lord, send forth many labourers into that portion of Thy vineyard'? Often did such a prayer rise from the lips of him, a glance at whose life we propose to give you, till to the prayer he added the words,Here am I, Lord, send me!' And David Sandeman set forth to proclaim to the people of China the 'unsearchable riches of Christ.'

Would you not like to hear something about him? If so, pay attention, and come with me into a large warehouse in the crowded city of Manchester. There are many people in it; but turn your eyes to a group of three young men who are stooping over a book which lies open before them, and the contents of which they are discussing: The tall dark-eyed young man is he whom we seek. Far away from this busy noisy city is the home of his birth. 'Mid the lovely scenery of the Scottish Highlands his young life was spent. In the woods and by the river-side he had loved to roam with many dear ones, tracing the hand of the great Creator in His marvellous works. And there, amid these scenes of beauty (about a year before we see him), he was born again; the love of Jesus filled his heart, and from that hour his one desire was to live to His glory. Up to that time the expression of his face was a sad one; but as soon as he knew Jesus as his Saviour, the sadness dis

appeared, and a look of joy (which all remarked) took its place.

To visit the poor on his father's property and in the neighbourhood, and tell them of Christ, became his delight. The joy of his heart was reflected on all around. Mountains, woods, and streams, all appeared clothed in a new beauty.

Dear readers, never believe those who tell you that religion is a dull, melancholy thing. Ask true Christians if they are duller or more gloomy than in the days when they cared for none of these things;' and their answer will be, 'We never knew what real happiness meant till we knew Jesus as our Saviour friend; but now we are glad all the day long!'

The time had now arrived when David Sandeman must leave his happy home and go forth to fight the battle of life. Only eighteen years had passed over his head, when, followed by the blessings of father, mother, sister, and friends, he set out to begin business in a mercantile house in Manchester.

Sorry as all were to part with him, they feared not to let him go. A seal was on his forehead, placed there by God himself; and the Guide under whose protection he was, was one who could not err, and who would never leave him. Now, do you wonder if, amidst the cares and bustle of his new life, he will still find time and ways to serve his heavenly Master? Or do some of my boy readers feel anxious to know whether he will not be ashamed to confess his Saviour amongst his fellow-clerks and new associates? 'because, you know, it must be horrid to be laughed at and called a saint, and all that sort of thing!'

Listen to the account of young Sandeman's first few weeks at his new place of abode (as told in his interesting memoir, written by his friend, Rev. A. Bonar), and judge for yourselves. As soon as he was settled, we read he began to distribute tracts in the neighbourhood, took class in the Sunday school, and when he had a spare

hour, visited the scholars at their homes. Then in the warehouse, Mr Sandeman himself writes, he felt it very helpful in short intervals of rest to take up his Testament and read a few verses, then, after a short prayer, to return with fresh zest to his work.

I dare say some mocked, perhaps called him hard names; but if so, he would not heed much. He knew there was One who smiled. Some lads dread the sneer of men; he dreaded far more the frown of his God, and remembered the words of Him who said, 'Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and my words, of him shall the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father.'

But if he had enemies in the warehouse, he says nothing about them; and ere long he began to speak to his fellow-clerks and the other workers about Jesus. Even now, as we see him, he is reading a difficult passage in the Bible with two of his friends. There is bustle and confusion around them, but their hearts are lifted above it all; and Sandeman 'thanks God and takes courage.'

One day he speaks to a friend on the duty of keeping holy the Lord's day; another, he is begging a policeman to declare himself on the Lord's side; and again, he is full of joy at having got some of the workmen in the warehouse to come daily and repeat some verses of the Bible. Diligent in business, he yet found time to work for God,-proving the truth of the proverb, which I dare say all my readers know: 'Where there is a will there is a way.'

But you say, What has all this to do with China? I thought you were going to tell us about China and the Chinese. Patience, little readers: by-and-by I hope to tell you something about China; but I only promised to tell you about one who loved it, and so I have. We shall not long find David Sandeman in the Manchester warehouse; but hope to give you a peep of him in other scenes, both in our own land and under the blazing sun of China. In the meantime, we will leave

him doing his present duty, with a light heart and a joyful countenance, singing his favourite hymn:

'One there is above all others,

Oh how He loves!

His is love beyond a brother's,

Oh how He loves!'

M. H.

THE WHISPERING SHELL.

SUGGESTED BY THE PICTURE OF THE LITTLE GIRL LISTENING TO
THE SHELL SHE HAS PICKED UP ON THE SHORE.

WHAT news, what news? pretty list'ner tell,
What doth it whisper, that mystic shell?
It has filled those eyes

With glad surprise:

Sweet maid, we should like to hear it well.

Good news, good news, worth a thousand pound!
It tells me his ship is homeward bound:

Oh mother dear!

He will soon be here:

Father is coming all safe and sound!

She gathers her riches, and runs to tell

The news she has heard from the whispering shell.
Why does she stop,

And her treasure drop,

As if she were struck by a sudden spell?

She has come in sight of the cottage-door,~
Her own dear cottage beside the shore:
Whom does she see?

'Tis he, 'tis he,

He is safe in his darling's arms once more !-F. W. H.

THE STORY OF A BIBLE.

T was a bright and lovely day in the early summer, when a happy troop of girls and boys walked up the road that led to Ashby Rectory, situated in one of the prettiest villages in the south of Ireland. It was the day

that had been selected for the annual examination of the Sunday schools, after which prizes were to be distributed. There was to be a prize for the best answerer in Scripture in the entire school, and also a prize for good conduct and regularity to every child who deserved it. The procession stopped when it reached the avenue, where the children were met and welcomed by Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald; and when all had been arranged according to their respective classes in the large village room of the rectory, the examination proceeded. It was most satisfactory, and the answering was unusually good. The prize was adjudged to Fanny Wilson, a gentle but very intelligent girl, of fourteen years old; so Mr Fitzgerald presented her with a beautiful pocket Bible, bound in morocco, with gilt edges, first having written in it'Given to Fanny Wilson, as a reward for good answering, with earnest prayer that God, for Christ's sake, may give her His Holy Spirit, that she may understand those Scriptures which are able to make her wise unto salvation. -Edward Fitzgerald, June 14, 18-.'

Mr Fitzgerald spoke most solemnly to them all, and especially to Fanny, on the importance of not being satisfied with mere head-knowledge of Scripture, and urged them all never to open the Bible without seeking the aid of the Holy Spirit to enable them to understand and profit by it. The other prizes were then distributed;