knowing it would not be sufficient, he in a manner which cannot be told, piteously begged for a penny each from all around to assist his father in this trial.

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On the Wednesday evening, at 10 p.m., those around his bed who thought they saw on his brow and in his eyes the light of another country were not mistaken, for in a few minutes he was singing as though he was one of a choir unheard by them of this world, and his last mortal act, to be ever embalmed in his father's heart, was his gasping, 'Father, come and take your two last kisses-I am going now;" and upon his father doing so, said, "No one else must have the last, my father;" when his breath faltered, and being in the last throb of life, he waved his hand as the last signal, whilst his lips in bliss murmured, ""Tis finished, finished, done;" and his happy spirit took its flight to the tabernacle not built with hands."

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Now, my dear children, in closing this letter, let me say that on many graves and monuments you may read great and sounding words of the deeds of warriors and great ones who lie beneath, yet you will never be able to read a more beau. tiful epitaph than the one which William H.'s father has written, although it is engraved on no stone. It is as follows. Speaking of his death, he says: "Thus died one of the most affectionate, loving, dutiful, harmless, though afflicted, children a bereaved parent ever mourned over." He died November 28, 1866; aged 12 years and 6 months. Hoping that the example of his life and death may be of service to us, I remain, yours sincerely, ISHMAEL.

Manchester, Feb., 1867.

SAY NO.

THERE is a word, a little word, we utter without thought;

But though so small, yet is it oft with vast importance fraught;

What brings such sorrow unto some, and leads them on to woe?

What blasts the fairest, fondest hopes? the want of saying "no."

Unthinking youth, unnumbered snares are gathered round thy feet,

And soft sin's siren voice invites to taste her cup, so sweet;

Oh, walk not in her deathful ways, they to destruction go;

Resist the inclination wrong; unwavering answer "no."

Alluring pleasures throng the way, but ah, their lovely train,

Which promises delightful joy, conceals remorseful pain;

That thorns are hid beneath the flower, a touch would quickly show;

But do not touch, oh, turn away and boldly answer "no."

And answer instant-linger not, for dangerous is delay,

And he who parleys with the foe has all but lost the day;

Beware of this, nor dare attempt a treaty with the foe,

But meet him with a firm, a calm, unhesitating "no." A GLEANER.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

PROVING THAT POPERY IS COMPLETELY AT VARIANCE WITH THE BIBLE.

No. VIII. (For Committing to Memory.)

57. Does the Bible teach us that the Virgin Mary ought to be worshipped?

No. It says, "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour" (Luke i. 46, 47). And it came

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to pass, as He spake these things a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto Him, Blessed is the womb that bare Thee, and the paps which Thou hast sucked. But He said, Yea, rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it" (Luke xi. 27, 28). "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come" (John ii. 4). "Then one said unto Him, Behold, Thy mother and Thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with Thee. But He answered and said unto him that told Him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother" (Matt. xii. 47-50).

THE LEGACY.

A VERY poor but spiritual woman, who died in Yorkshire, not far from Ledstone, the seat of the excellent Lady Betty Hastings, said, a little before she expired, "I will not die without leaving dear Lady Hastings a legacy, and I bequeath her the 17th chapter of John, with my prayers that it may be made as great a blessing to her heart as it hath

been to mine."

THE FABLE OF THE SHEEP AND THE

WOLVES EXEMPLIFIED.

A CAREFUL shepherd had a flock
Of thriving sheep-his only stock;
Their pasture he with walls surrounded,
As wolves throughout the land abounded;
Great were his pains, his labours long,
To make the barriers high and strong;

M

Yet often, as he went to sleep,

The wolves broke in and slew the sheep.
At last he finds his work complete-
No entrance left but at the gate.
His flock, protected and at peace,
Began to flourish and increase,
Till, full of years and honest pride*
At his success, the shepherd died.
A son succeeded, mild and kind,
Of liberal and gentle mind,

Who wished indeed to save the sheep,
And yet the wolves in humour keep.
Him the submissive brutes petition
To pity their forlorn condition;
Of their primæval rights denuded,
And from the pasturage excluded,
They vow'd, they swore, their alter'd mind
To sheep had long become so kind
They would not put a tooth or foot on
The choicest, fattest leg of mutton;
Their ancestors, they all confessed,
Of harsher notions were possessed,
Had often broke the shepherd's wall,
And made the sheep in thousands fall,
Spread death and desolation round,
And stained with blood the blushing ground;
But they, kind souls, had other kidneys,
As noble as Sir Philip Sidney's.

Mild as Melancthon they would keep,
And help to feed this flock of sheep.
The shepherd, fearing such a trial,
Was resolute in his denial,

Till, by false friends extremely puzzled,

We are not pleased with the adjectives often attached to pride, such as "proper," "honest," &c. All pride is sinful. A being properly gratified at the success of an undertaking is not pride.-ED.