Joseph or Paul? Besides, we hope by-and-by to reach heaven. Those blessed heights of excellence to which all the holy men and women of old have gone before us; and not only see them, but if there is communion in heaven, we shall hold sweet converse with them forever and ever. But will it not afford us real pleasure to have become intimately acquainted in this world with their particular characters? Will it not afford us individual pleasure when we come to sit down with Paul in the courts above, to converse with him on many remarkable incidents of his remarkable life? And will not this pleasure be greatly heightened if we are already famil iar, as much so as the study of the sacred pages can render us, with his character and travels? Then, again, the study of the sacred word, if rightly pursued, awakens, improves and elevates the conscience. On this subject, President Wayland, in his "Elements of Moral Science," has the following thoughts: Our conscience is improved by reflecting upon virtuous actions and thinking upon virtuous character. The more we do this the easier do we learn to distinguish and avoid everything that is wrong.

It is for this reason that we should reflect much upon the character of our blessed Saviour, if we wish to improve our consciences and make progress in virtue. So young per· sons should reflect upon the Bible characters, for the names of Mary, Martha, Dorcas, Priscilla, Phebe and Lydia are honored names within the Christian world at this hour. And they are so because St. Paul says, "Help those women that labor with me in the gospel." Nothing can be more just than these sentiments, and nothing can prove a greater benefit

than the study of sacred biography. Sacred books are not uncommon among the nations, and there are those who would have us regard the Bible only as of the same character as all the rest. But look along the track of any other sacred book that the world has ever heard of. Look one by one through the several fields they have professed to illumine, and as compared with the Bible, what has any of them done towards elevating the race? The awakened but unlettered sailor, wishing to purchase a Bible, happily designated it as the book that speaks for itself. And in nothing does it more eloquently speak for itself than in the work of enlightment, healing and quickening it has accomplished. The time was when Universalists were pre-eminently a Bible reading people, having greater familiarity with the whole Bible than any others, and proportionally better able to use the Bible in proving and defending their faith. Then the most unlettered Universalist was entirely at home in the closest hand-to-hand Bible argument. Not the elders, simply, but

the

young men and the young wo men; but that pre-eminence is no longer ours. But we are putting our personal spiritual life and all our church stands for, every day in peril, so long as this neglect continues. Let us awake to a new departure. Let the Bible study begin in earnest, not for controversy, but for the higher purposes of a Christian cult

ure.

The Bible is no gourd that grew up yesterday. It is the legacy of ages. It will not disappear tomorrow, but will last as long as men and women are away from their heavenly Father and their final home.

THE trials of life are the tests which ascertain how much gold there is in us.

AUNT LOIS AND HER FAMILY.

A SERIAL STORY FOR GIRLS.

BY REV. MARY C. BILLINGS.

CHAPTER V.

Myron reached home from a trip out of the village at an unusually early hour that day. He had been gathering his "truck" as he called it, for an extra start to the city the next morning. Marthy, delighted with her present from 'Roy, showed the picture to her husband.

"Now, Myron, would you have thought that little creeter could do sech a piece of work as that, frame and all? And to think he remembered my birthday in that way; wasn't it remarkable? Dear little fellow, he's just as sweet as can be; and sech fondness for flowers I never did see. He and Miss Grace has just left here; gone after some of them eye-bright flowers."

Myron had taken the delicate frame in his great rough hands, and with his face all smiles, looked at it delightedly.

Wall, I declare! It does beat all! That little chap has got the stuff in him! There ain't one growed up . man in a thousand, no, in ten thousand, that could do sech a job as that! Fact is, them Deadwoods was awful smart. Nothin' they could't do if they tried.. Little feller's grandf'er, now, could paint anything; but somehow they kept a dwindlin' arter that old darkey woman told > their fortun'. I tell ye, Marthy," Myron lowered his voice as he handed the picture to her. "The family never did prosper arter one on 'em ingaged in bringing a shipcargo of slaves from Africa. The 'Lord don't prosper sech doin's nohow. Blood-money don't never do the owners any good. Ef they had been contented with their reg'lar

West Indy trade in rum and molasses, I don't believe but that they would some on 'em that are dead, be alive this minute, and the old place be with at least two hundred acres still belongin' to it. Wall, now, if you'll git me a snack of somethin, I'll go out and make ready for my trip to-morrow. Where did ye say they'd gone?" Marthy told him. "Down in Joe Pettis' lot to git some of them bright red flowers that grows there."

"Lord, Marthy! you don't mean it do ye! Not down there? They've got an Alderney bull there, the fiercest critter you ever see."

Myron had snatched his hat while he spoke, and was striding out of the house, and down through the barn-yard towards the field, indicated by his wife, before the terrified wom an could get breath to speak. Seeing him hurrying off, she slipped on her sun-bonnet, and caught up a bottle of camphor standing on the shelf--this was her panaecea for all kinds of ailments-and trotted after her husband as fast as her feet could carry her.

When I recovered consciousness the first objects I saw, were Myron and Marthy bending over me; a strong smell of camphor pervading the air, and my face and hands drenched with water. It was Myron's voice that I heard just as the catastrophe occurred! He had the forethought to slip his hat in the brook as he came over where I was lying and dashed water in my face. had managed to crawl up to me, and was chafing my hands as he had seen Aunt Lois do, for I was subject to fainting in those days. The little fellow was not injured, the meadowgrass being high at that time, and

soft as a cushion.

Roy

"I think sister has fainted, he said quietly as Myron bent over me.

"I don't think she is hurt much, for I saw the creature push her over. She was at the top of the fence when he got here.'

I too, landed in the soft, thick grass. The dear boy had seen the catastrophe without the power to prevent it! Myron, too, caught a glimpse of it, and it was his voice that I heard at that desperate moment. The ugly beast struck one horn under my arm as I was trying to throw myself over the top rail of the fence; and giving me a push, I was precipitated at some distance on the other side, the safe side of the rails!

It was a narrow escape. The

creature then turned and rushed off in an opposite direction; so that when Myron came running to see if I had escaped being killed, the way was clear. Marthy didn't go around through the bars, but seeing Myron jumping over the fence, came through the meadow, reaching the spot where I was lying in time to test the virtue of her favorite remedy, the "camphor," in bringing me out of the fainting fit.

"Where's 'Roy dear," was first question.

my

"Oh, you're both all right! Got a big shaken up, didn't ye, but I guess no harm done.”

was

Myron's voice was just brimming with the cheeriest kindliness. Marthy had my head in her lap, and bathing my temples, cooing over me as she would to a sick baby. "Here's 'Roy right by you; he's every inch a man; said you'd fainted, and didn't take on a mite, as most boys would. He only wanted to help bring you to; he said you fainted away easy."

"Yes," Myron put in, "some folks does, but it ain't nothin' serious, you'll be all right putty soon."

During this time, both these kind

souls were helping me on to my feet with the tenderest care. "Our blessed darling! to think he is safe!" I said, trying to smile at him; then I burst into tears. The tense nerves relaxed, and I began to feel relieved.

"That's right, 'twill do you a power of good to cry a little; now lean right on me," said Myron, “and you, Marthy, help our brave little gentleman along. I aint goin' to call him a boy any more," he added, turning and beaming down on 'Roy from under his shaggy brows. The little fellow was very pale and quiet. With Myron's strong arm supporting me, and Marthy and 'Roy following, we slowly returned to the cottage, and soon after were able to walk home. A wonder that I escaped without broken bones. The extent of my injuries were a strained shoulder, and a few bruises, besides the general jarring of my nerves, the effect of which did not subside for several weeks. Of course we were petted and coddled at home by the girls. While Auntie, always collected, outwardly at least, took me into the bed-room and examined my shoulder to ascertain that there was no dislocation. It was only a strain ; and with free applications of arnica, mended rapidly. Fortunately it was the left arm, and did not disable me from my ordinary duties after the first day. I was lying down on the lounge that evening, feeling weak and sleepy; 'Roy sat in his low rocker by my side, his head on the pillow with me, and one hand clasping mine, when I heard Myron's voice in the next room talking to Auntie.

"Why, Miss Fenton, it did beat all, to think of a young girl like her a havin' sech presence of mind. Jest as sure's you born, that pesky brute would 'a killed her, ef she hadn't a tossed that ar' red jacket as

fur as she could heave it. It jest gin her time to make the fence, and git the little feller over it, and herself mostways. How she could 'a lifted him that way I don't see. Sing'lar, ain't it, what strength fright does give a person. If ever I wus thankful, it was when I found she want hurt bad. Yes'm; as you say, sich critters hadn't orter be 'lowed to run in the pastur. I'm goin' to complain of this un, right away. Pettis hes no business to keep him out of his barn-yard. He only got him last week, and is mighty proud of the stock. For my part, I'd reely ruther hev Durhams, sech as your'n and mine be, than all the Alderney's in the kentry. It's queer to think that them males, bein' so small, are sech fierce and treach'rous critters. A man's life ain't safe that takes care of 'em."

"Wall, you got the butter ready to pack for mornin'? All right, and now I'll see Miss Lu' about them extry fowls Miss Jones wants. She's expecting a pile of company this week, ministers and their wives, and so on. It's a convention, and brings 'em all along, you see."

We heard him go out into the back porch where the girls were busy preparing their contribution of fowls, eggs, fruit and vegetables, for Myron's market wagon. Le Roy had clutched my hand convulsively, while Myron was talking of our escape from death. When he had gone out, he asked, in a low tone of mingled awe and fright.

"Did you do that? I didn't see it. I thought you had dropped your jacket on the way. How wise you are, Gracie, my own dear sister."

And the little fellow's arm was round my neck as he whispered all of a tremble, "you saved my life too. I can't love you enough for it." It was my turn to calm his agitation.

At this moment Auntie came in, and seeing how matters stood, had us both prepare for a night of rest. Before going to sleep, 'Roy called out to Lois, who was sitting in the room with me, "Auntie, I think we ought to have a special prayer to-night for our preservation." She arose, took the prayer-book and read an appropriate thanksgiving.

We never planted any roots of the cardinal flower. "I never want to see one of those blossoms again," 'Roy said to Janet the next day, when he went out to the flower-bed. "No, darling. I shouldn't think you would. We have enough in the garden without them. I don't want them any more than you do."

Marthy was so thankful that she took the "camphire" out with her, and coming over to see us the next day, said she believed that it had saved me from being down sick after sech a faintin' spell, and frightnin'. spell, and then turning, to Aunt Lois, added, "You ought to have heerd Myron go on last night about both of 'em bein' so wonderful in their presence of mind under sech a sudden shock."

She said "it was blood that would tell every time. That it was the old Deadwood trait that comes out in 'em. That no ordinary young folks would hev done as they did he thinks."

Marthy was dreadfully cut up" she said, "to think she was the means of our coming so near bein' killed."