BIBLE FRUITS FROM A REFORMATORY.

THE agents of the Bible Society often meet with encouraging instances of gratitude in very unlikely quarters. One of them lately procured a grant of forty-one Bibles for the Manchester Reformatory, and the following gratifying note was the result.

"Manchester and Salford Reformatory.

Blackley. Jan. 10, 1859. "DEAR SIR,-I have enclosed to you two small amounts of money-14s. 4. for the Church Missionary Society, and 13s. 4 d. for the British and Foreign Bible Society-being the contributions for the year from the inmates of the Manchester and Salford Reformatory. In doing so, I have to add, that every halfpenny is from the boys; that it is a purely voluntary contribution on their parts, freely given out of small weekly sums, varying from a halfpenny to threepence, which are accorded by the Committee as rewards for labour, and which, in the year, amounted to about seven pounds for forty-six boys. This money each boy spends as he pleases in the little extras not found by the Institution, such as stationery, postage, contributions, &c. From the same source, during the last year, have been purchased eight large hymn-books, sixteeh prayerbooks at fourteenpence each, and twelve pocket reference Bibles at one shilling and elevenpence each.

"I believe the contributions I have enclosed are real heart-offerings, and that the Bible is here fulfilling its own glorious destiny in the divine promise, My word shall not return unto me void,'

"I am respectfully yours,

"W. A."

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SCHOOL-TIME.--YORUBA COUNTRY.

THE children rise at six in the morning, and are assembled for morning prayers and singing by the schoolmaster. At eight they attend the Missionary's family prayers. At nine they go out for breakfast. As domestic life in Africa is so different from that in England, it needs a little explanation. Each child is supplied with cowries to purchase his breakfast— a kind of gruel which is sold in the streets by women, who gain a livelihood by it. Cowries are little shells, which pass as money in Africa. The gruel is taken in a little calabash, and a cake or two is purchased to eat with it. After breakfast, a bell rings for school, and late comers are locked out if not present at a second bell ringing: they are then punished as defaulters much in the same way as little boys and girls in England, and manifest a similar disposition in making excuses for neglect, which, unfortunately, are sometimes proved to be at the expense of truth. During school hours they are taught writing, arithmetic, reading, grammar, geography, &c., and of course, most especially, they are led to know that gracious Saviour, who said, "Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The younger ones are entertained with Scripture stories, illustrated by pictures. The history of Joseph is a great favourite: it would seem to commend itself especially to the sympathies.of little Africans, who are in constant danger of being sold away into horrible slavery. At ten o'clock they are allowed to leave off instruction for a little time: then they usually march round the room singing, "Half-past ten, we must all go to our classes." Work goes on

again until twelve, when they are sent out for half an hour; and if all the breakfast cowries are not spent, a little luncheon is prooured. After this the girls get to their needlework, making and repairing their own and the boys' garments: the boys, in the mean time, are exercised in cyphering. School closes at two, and there is no more work until the next morning. Out of school the time is occupied by the children in sports of various kinds, and no children are more active and vigorous in play than the little Africans. They are particularly expert in turning summersaults; they bathe, hunt for fruit and nuts in the fields, and are fond of cultivating a little garden. Their dinner is not procured in the street, like their breakfast, but is prepared by a female who has charge of the children. She cooks rice, yams, and a kind of gruel from yam flour. Our illustration shows the Eya, or "Mother," as she is usually designated, bringing in her large calabash of hot dinner to her young charge. Each of them is provided with a little pan and a drinking cup. They sit cross-legged on the floor of the piazza, and eat their dinner in as much order as the Eya can command.

In the evening at six, they assemble to prepare their lesson, and give an account of the days' instruction After family prayer they are all sent off to bed, where they fully enjoy the rest which young hearts and young heads so easily obtain.

"IS IT WELL WITH THE CHILD?"

ON a stormy evening in January last, some of the scholars of a little village school in the North Riding of Yorkshire* were employed in a very solemn and * Barton-le-Street-January 29, 1859.

affecting service. They were engaged in carrying to the grave, the mortal remains of a little schoolfellow, whom they so tenderly loved, that one of them, in her simplicity, told her mother that she had rather the Queen had died than little Sarah Jane.

It was "indeed in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ," that her body was committed to the tomb, for she had given proof that she was one who loved the blessed Saviour, and that her trust was in His

name.

Her heavenly Father had appointed for her a larger measure of suffering and scrrow than often falls to the lot of one so young. Though only ten years old when she died, yet she had known much distressing pain. Her earthly father, who was an agricultural labourer, she never saw; for he died before she was born. The little orphan was early afflicted with disease, and was at one time so lame that her brothers had to carry her to school, where she occupied her own little chair, being too lame to sit on the bench with the other scholars: She loved her school, and treasured up in her mind the instructions which she there received. When about seven years old, she read the Bible in the Sundayschool far better than many who were much older than herself. At home, so fond was she of reading, that she scarcely ever had a book out of her hand.

If, on a Sunday, she had not been able, from any cause, to learn her lesson perfectly, the tears would start into her eyes, and she would show so much distress, that her teacher had often to address to her words of comfort. Some of the elder children in this