THE MURDERED MOTHER.

17

young friend what he knew of Jacob. He said he had never much to do with him. He was a bad boy, and every body gave him the name of it. And he thought the less he had to do with such a boy, the better it was for him.

'Did he ever go to Sunday school?' said I.

Yes, sir; he was in the same class with me, but he only went a few months, and was always late; and never had a lesson, and almost always forgot his library book.'

"When I had come to the house, I found I was followed by several children, who had seen me with a kitten in my hands, and wondered what I was going to do with it. While I was talking with them about the cruel treatment the poor little creature had suffered, and about the sin of using any animal unkindly, Jacob's mother came to the door, and my young friend immediately told me that the woman at the door was Mrs. Millman.

I saw Jacob within the house, just behind his mother; but the moment he perceived who I was, he skulked away into the yard. I asked his mother if she would call him in, as I had something I wished to say to him.

What has he done, sir? Has he injured any body?" asked Mrs. Millman.

'Why,' said I, 'he has shown himself to be a very wicked, cruel boy. Here is a poor kitten that he has almost killed; and here is his handkerchief, which I should like him to come and take.'

Come here, Jacob,' cried Mrs. Millman, opening the door that led into the yard; come here, I tell you, and hear what the gentleman has to say.'

'I ha'nt touch'd him,' muttered the boy; and it's my kitten, and he han't no business with it, nor with me neither.'

'He is a bad boy, sir; a very bad boy,' said his mother; ' and I do not know what will become of him.'

· How old is he?'

'Ten years old next month,' she replied.

'How long has his father been dead?'

'He died when Jacob was a little over a year old.' 'Does he go to a Sunday school?

'No; he does not like to go to Sunday school, and never did. He went for a while, but the teacher found fault with him for not coming in better season, and he quit the school, and I couldn't get him to go back by all I could say to him !'

'Did his teacher never come to inquire after him?'

'I never heard of the teacher after the boy left; and I did not care to see him, for I don't think he treated the child as he would like to have his own boy treated.'

'Can he read?'

'He could if he would, but he is all the time out.'

Do you keep him at home in the evening?'

'I do sometimes; but he contrives to slip out almost every night without my knowing it, and gets with other boys; and if you know anything about this neighbourhood, you know there are a plenty of such boys, and bad enough they are too.'

My good woman,' said I, 'there's reason to believe, that if you both live, that boy will cost you a great many tears. I see you have no control over him. You cannot even make him come to me to get his pocket handkerchief. Now, I warn you, that he will grow worse and worse as he grows older; and lightly as you may think of it, I should not be at all surprised if he should bring down your grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. You are not acting the part of a kind and faithful mother to him, in letting him have his own way; and I fear you will see the time when you will mourn that you did not restrain and correct him in the days of his wildness and folly.'

She seemed to take what I had said rather unkindly. When I proposed to get him a good place in the Sunday school, she said she had no very good opinion of Sunday schools, since she knew more about them, and how her boy was treated at one of them. I then proposed to bring him an interesting book; but she said he had more books now than he was willing to read; and she did not know that it was a good plan to be tying children to books all their days.' I gave her the handkerchief, and put the kitten upon the floor, and went on my way.

Some years after this I left the town. I had occasion to revisit it, and as the pastor of the church was absent, I consented to preach, though I was in feeble health. Public prayers were requested in behalf of a woman who was supposed to be just closing her life. And I found upon inquiry, after service, it was the same Mrs. Millman, whose boy I had followed home some years before.

A few circumstances were mentioned, which called back to my recollection all the scenes that I have related about the boy and the kitten; and at the earnest request of the neighbours, I went to see the sick woman in the afternoon, although she now lived at a distance from town.

THE CHILD COMING TO JESUS.

19

I found she was, indeed, a poor, miserable, dying creature. The house and furniture were very mean and comfortless; though there was an air of neatness about her bed and her dress that told of the kind offices of a neighbour.

Soon after I began to converse with her, I told her who I was, and reminded her of my former acquaintance with her, and of the incident about the kitten, and asked her if the boy was living.

'O, Sir,' said she, covering her face with the bed clothes,

THAT BOY HAS KILLED ME.'

She soon composed herself, and collecting what little strength she had, raised herself partly up, and spoke as follows:

THE SUNDAY SCHOLAR. London: Dyer,

This is a Monthly Magazine, at One Halfpenny. It has, in each number, two good Engravings. The letter-press is good. All the articles are sound, instructive, and pleasing. It is purely unsectarian. The elements of the common salvation are here taught, we must say, in an excellent spirit, in an excellent style, in an excellent variety, and at a price singularly cheap. Surely the circulation must be immense: We cordially commend it to every sunday scholar in christendom.

BAKER'S TABULAR VIEW. London: Low.

It is a truth handed down to us from the days of Horace, that things which are subjected to the eye, impress the mind more than those submitted to the ear. Upon this principle Mr. Baker has proceeded in the construction of his noble chart. Its size is five feet by four. It gives every event recorded in the Old Testament in a chronological order. These events are divided into eight periods. To each event the date and scene are assigned, and the scripture reference

appended. Each period has its distinctive colour. The utility of such a chart is beyond all dispute. This one is remarkably correct. It is mounted on a roller, and is altogether a most attractive and useful appendage to School rooms of every description. We sincerely hope Mr. Baker will be encouraged in his laudable efforts. It may heighten the interest attached to this chart, if we say it issues from the Deaf and Dumb Institution at Doncaster.

THE CHRISTIAN'S MINIATURE MAGAZINE. London: Dyer.

The first vol. of this Pocket Magazine has been submitted to us: and we beg to submit it to our readers. It consists of some of the choicest pieces of divinity, some crumbs gathered up from the rich table of English Theology. It is just the work for those dear Christians who have not leisure or opportunity to approach the stores of religious truth. The quotations are various, striking, and devotional, such as would often serve for a Christian's meditation. They are flowers and gems indeed.

KITTO'S CYCLOPEDIA OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE. London: Longman.

We beg to report progress, and progress toward perfection, in this admirable work. The eighth part is now published, and reaches the word 'Ephesus.' Our approval of it becomes more hearty. It takes in a far wider range of subjects than we had anticipated, while upon all subjects which it embraces, it displays an amount of consecrated talent, which is truly delightful. Discussions, on controverted doctrinal points are avoided, but information on almost every topic connected with sacred writ is supplied in a copious, yet condensed and lucid form. The pictorial illustrations are all that could be desired. We give specimens in our first article. Most conscientiously can we advise every minister and student, and every Sunday school teacher's library to secure this able and beautiful book. It is essential to the completeness of every Christian's study,

PAYNE'S POETRY FOR CHILDREN. London: Relfe and Fletcher. The perusal of this charming little book, made us exclaim, oh that it had been published in our boyish days! It contains about two hundred choice pieces o poetry, adapted to the minds, the tastes, the imaginations of children. There are in it most beautiful similes, most touching and pathetic strains. The pieces are short, pure, catching, and instructive. They are collected from the writings of the very best of our English bards, nor have we detected a single line which we could wish to blot out. To Christian parents, anxious to enrich the minds of their beloved children with just and devout thoughts, and to reach their conscience through their imagination, we say, purchase this book, and be sure to read the preface.

MY SUNDAY SCHOLARS. London: Tract Society. There is scarcely any class of persons which is overlooked by the excellent Tract Society. Month after month do its publications issue, not only deserving but actually securing the attention of almost every kind of reader. We now very cordially commend a new book to our friends who are Sunday School Teachers. It consists of a series of reflections and advices, matured by a ten years' engagement in a Sunday school. We must pronounce this little Pocket volume to be every way worthy of the attention of every Sunday School Teacher. [A press of matter compels us to postpone, till next month, notices in type, of the following works, Jamaica, its past and present state:'Instruction in Vocal Music: Christian Lady's Toilette: Homely Hints to Sunday School Teachers: Autobiography of H. Stilling.'-ED.]

The Portion.

JAN. 14. THE APOSTLE'S COMMISSION.-Matt. x. 1-15.

NOTES.

Ver. 1. 'Gave them power,' a proof of Christ's divinity. Ver. 2. 'First Simon,' Peter was first only in order, not dignity; he was the first whom Jesus called to the ministry, Ver. 4. 'Judas Iscariot,' so called from Ish, a man, and Carioth, his birth place. Ver. 5. 'Sent them forth,' two and two; Mark vi. 7; Ecc. iv. 9, 10: 'go not, &c.,' the gospel was promised first to the Jews, Acts iii. 25, 26, and so bitterly did they hate the Samaritans, that they would have scorned the gospel, had it been offered to that people first. Ver. 7. 'Kingdom of heaven, Christ's church on earth. Ver. 8. 'Freely give,' do all the good in your power, and do it gratuitously. Ver. 9. 'Purses,' folds in their girdles: Ver. 10. Scrép,' a bag for provisions, 1 Sam. xvii. 40: three day's provision was common where there were no inns. Ver. 10. Neither shoes,' they were to wear sandals only, Mark vi. 9, as being less expensive than shoes; 'staves,' walking sticks, one was allowed, Mark vi. 8. Ver. 11. 'Worthy,' inclined to hospitality; there abide,' not being anxious about worldly comforts. Ver. 12. 'Salute it,' speak kindly; Ruth ii. 4. Ver. 13. 'Let your peace, &c.,' let your blessing through prayer come on it. Ver. 14. Shake off,' the Jews always shook their clothes when they entered the holy land from any Gentile country; the apostles were to do so against persons who rejected them, as being no better than heathens. Ver. 15. More tolerable,' these cities never rejected Christ.

QUESTIONS

1. What great work were these disciples about to undertake ?—2. How were they qualified for it ?-3. Were these miraculous powers to convert souls, or were they to arrest attention and prove divine authority?-4. What does imparting these powers prove Christ to have been?-5. Why were the Apostles to avoid the Gentiles and Samaritans?-6. Under what figure did Christ represent the Jews?— 7. Why is that figure descriptive of the natural condition of ourselves? Is. liii. 6.-8. Does any character of Christ beautifully suit our lost, wandering state?-John x. 11; Ps. xxiii. 3.-9. How may we know whether we have been brought back to the fold of Christ? John x. 27.-10. Why were the Apostles to preach the gospel freely ?—11. Does that practice teach us any duty ?-12. How does usefulness to the souls of others reward us?-13. What is our duty toward those who preach to us the gospel? 1 Cor. ix. 14; Gal. vi. 6.-14. On entering a place what enquiry were the Apostles to make ?-15. How were they to treat the family?-16. But if the family were unkind what was to become of the benediction?-17. What lesson does that fact teach us? THAT PRAYER ALWAYS BRINGS DOWN A BLESSING EITHER FOR OURSELVES OR OTHERS. Ps. xxxv. 13.-18. Some places would reject the Apostles, what would be their doom?-19. How are we now to treat the gospel of Christ?-20. As there will be degrees of: misery in hell, what will be our condition if we refuse to repent and believe the gospel?

JAN. 21.-THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES.-Exek, xxxvii, 1-14

NOTES.

This vision was caused by God, to represent to the prophet the scattered and hopeless condition of the Jewish people, showing also that their restoratio must proceed from God in answer to their prayers. It illustrates several grea