FOR some years back I have occasionally visited an aged friend, recently deceased, who in his youth was a skilful sailor. He entertained me now and then with accounts of his voyages and travels.

Once, on a voyage from Calcutta to the Clyde, in the Indian Ocean he fell in with a Chinese vessel, whose captain and crew had lost their way, and came to him for assistance. He gave them the information they needed, -told them how to put their compass right, showed them

their course upon the chart, and how to shape it for the port they wished to reach.

Their fresh water was spent; he told them to send to his ship and they would be supplied.

"Oh," he said, "had you seen, when we parted, by what gestures and signs they expressed their gratitude! -it more than repaid me for my trouble."

Now wasn't that a noble deed, and worthy of a British sailor?

Ere my friend had finished relating the incident, I was thinking of my work as a Sabbath-school teacher.

My dear young friends, you are on the voyage of life, and many of you, like that Chinese crew, know not where you are, or whither you are going.

Your teachers are at hand to tell you.

You have a safe compass-the Bible; it will never deceive you, for it has, so to speak, been adjusted by God himself. Learn and love to use it.

You have a chart in the Bible; shape your "" course through life by it,-it guides to the true "celestial" land. Oh yes, learn and love to use it.

You need water. You have "a fountain" in the Bible. Come here day by day to drink, and, the voyage ended, you will find yourselves in that bright home where you shall "hunger no more, neither thirst any more.

Greenock.

C. M.

OUR WILL AND GOD'S.

LET it never be forgotten by us, that, in every act of sin, we prefer our will to God's.

WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE?

BETTER is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.-Prov. xv. 17.

CONDEMNED BY A HEATHEN.

AN English minister had a careless son, who left his home, went on board a vessel, and sailed to a foreign land. His parents could only pray for him, and send him good advice when they wrote to him.

He

The ship reached a distant port, and was there waiting to take in a fresh cargo; when the sailors went on shore, and brought back with them a little native boy, who could play on some curious musical instrument. amused them for a long time; but at last he said, "You must now take me on shore.' The sailors told him that he must not go yet. "Indeed I cannot stay any longer," replied the black boy; "and I will tell you why. A kind missionary has come near the village where I live. From him I have learned all I know about Jesus Christ, in whom I now wish to believe. This is about the hour when he meets us under the shade of a tree to tell us more; I want to go and hear him." The sailors were quite overcome by the boy's cries, and at once took him ashore.

The minister's thought.ess son was struck with the words of the heathen boy. He felt condemned. "Here am I," he said, "the son of a minister in England, knowing far more about Jesus Christ than this poor boy, and yet caring far less about him! He is now earnestly listening to the word of life, while I am living quite careless about it!"

In great distress he retired that night to his hammock; but his father's instructions came back to his thoughts, and reminded him how he might seek and find that salvation which he so much needed. He became a real Christian; and great was the joy in his distant home, when the happy tidings reached his parents.-Journal of Missions.

66 NONE NEED STAND IDLE."

I REQUEST your prayers for this whole district, namely, Glencoe, Fort William, and Kilmalie. What a privilege young Christians have now, besides what I had when

I was first brought to know the Lord! I had a burning desire to work for my Redeemer, but there was no opening, so I used to go to a church-yard in Edinburgh and write texts of Scripture with my pencil on the tombstones, so that some one might read them; but I was horrified one day that I went there and found the most fearful blasphemies written beside where I had written the last verse of the 3d chapter of John. Thanks be unto God, the case is different now, and none need stand idle unless they wish it.-Letter in Wynd Journal.

PRECIOUS TIME.

As every shred of gold is precious, so is every minute of time.-John Mason.

GOD KNOWS ALL ABOUT IT.

THE eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.—Prov. xv. 3.

Feb. 1.

8.

SATURDAY NIGHT.

A TEXT FOR OUR TEACHER.

February 1862.

Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not.-Isa. xxxv. 4.

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.-Prov. x. 5.

15. It was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.—John

ix. 14.

22. It may be that the Lord will work for us : for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.-1 Sam. xiv. 6.