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"Mother," said Willie again, after half an hour's silence, "I would rather be as I am, poor and deformed, and be loved and protected by God, than be rich and well shaped, and not know Him."

Willie's mother was comforted, but her heart ached. Could it be that boys in their wanton thoughtlessness had been making a jest of her poor little boy's infirmity, and even ill-treating him, and that he had borne it meekly and patiently, and never once spoken of it for fear of distressing his mother? Yes, it was so; but then Willie had a Comforter up in the sky, as well as a Protector; and strange as it may seem to thoughtless and unworthy children, the Comforter enabled him to rise above insults and injuries, so that he carried no burden, and was scarcely distressed by

them.

The broken window and the boys' rudeness proved to be a great blessing to Willie, for the lady never lost sight of him while she lived. Having no children of her own, the Lord put it into her heart to care for this little deformed one and his widowed mother who had so tenderly brought him up. She paid for his schooling, and when he grew older had him placed in an office, where after a time he became head clerk, and obtained a handsome salary, being greatly prized by his employer for his strict integrity. He was first and foremost in every good word and work. He was the comfort and support of his mother in her old age, a 'teacher in the Sunday-school, and a useful and able advocate of the temperance cause, while he turned many to righteousness by his pure and noble example.

Long before her death, his mother ceased to shed tears on his account, and looked with pride upon her son, who was so greatly beloved and esteemed by God's people, for he was a member of a Christian Church, and would one day, in that higher and blessed world," shine as the stars for

ever and ever."

EDWIN; OR, PUTTING IT OFF.

C. R.

DWIN STANLEY was a bright-faced boy of thirteen, who lived with his widowed mother and sisters in a large manufacturing town in England. He was naturally amiable, and, above all, really desired to live according to the precepts of the Bible. His mother and sisters were indeed glad that he had thus chosen the better part.

But Edwin had one very great fault which he did not strive to overcome as much as he ought. That fault was procrastination. He was always putting off what he had to do. "Another time," Next time," 99 64 Oh, to-morrow will do," and many

expressions of the kind were constantly being heard from him.

Maggie, his youngest and favourite sister, was a very winning child. Whenever she asked Edwin to do anything for her she generally added, "And please do it now, Edwin." He could rarely resist that dear little face and pleading voice, and he generally tried to please her. But as years went on he found it harder to keep from putting off what he had to do, and at the time my story begins he was very lax in his efforts. One night his mother spoke to him seriously about it. "Don't worry, mother," said Edwin, "about me; I shall try and cure myself, if it displeases you so much."

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Ah, Edwin!" answered his mother, "you can't cure yourself. Remember that our Lord Himself tells you, Without Me ye can do nothing.' And you must ask Him to help you if you would succeed. Though I am very glad you should try and overcome your fault, because it displeases me, yet you should do it above all things, because it displeases God." How, mother?-I don't understand," said Edwin.

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"In this way, my son. You are told, 'Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might,' and I am sure it must mean now,-not to put it off."

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Very well, mother; I will try," said Edwin, and then, bidding his mother good night, he went to bed.

For some days Edwin remembered his promise to try and not put off what he had to do.

When a letter from his uncle came, asking him the Christian name of one of his friends, whose father he thought he knew, he answered it at once, not putting it off indefinitely, as he would at another time.

When Maggie asked him to bring home her hoop from a shop where it had been left to be mended, he did it at once; and when his mother reminded him that the school-room bookcase was in great disorder, he went and settled it all without delay. In many ways Edwin improved, and his mother began hopefully to think he was really overcoming his great fault.

All that time he had been watchful, and had asked God to help him. Then the devil tempted him to think that he need not be so very strict and careful; then he gave way to the suggestion, and became less watchful, and God sent him a very sharp lesson to teach him the danger of putting off.

"Edwin," said Mrs. Stanley, one morning, as he was preparing to start for school, "I want you to leave this note at Dr. Charter's."

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Yes, mother," said Edwin, who was late, and in a violent hurry.

"Leave it at once, Edwin, even if you are late, for-"

But Edwin was gone. He had heard he was to leave it at once, but that was all.

He ran off, and when he got to the corner of the street he thought to himself, "What can it matter? after school will do." He did not think that

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Mrs. Stanley full of anxiety for the doctor's visit. Then Edwin had to confess that he had only just left the note. Mrs. Stanley's heart was too full of sorrow about her child to be able to reprove

A FEW STORIES ABOUT DOGS.
(SEE ENGRAVING.)

Edwin, whose grief at the result of his procrasti. MANY wonderful stories have been told about nation was a heavier punishment than any words could be.

As Dr. Charter's return was so uncertain, Mrs. Stanley decided to send at once for another doctor, Edwin going with the message.

He was so miserable that he felt relieved at having something to do. He ran quickly to Dr. Kay's, and finding him at home, returned with him.

After seeing the child, Dr. Kay said that it was a very serious case of fever. A severe cold had very soon run into that, and had he seen her earlier it would have been better. He would do what he could, but the case lay in higher hands

than his.

"If he had seen her earlier!" Edwin heard these words, and, not waiting for more, ran into his own room, and burst into a passion of bitter crying.

Never did Edwin spend such wretched days as that and the succeeding ones. When he grew to be a man, and many trials and troubles came to him, he often said that no grief he ever had was equal to what he felt on those dreadful days when Maggie lay sick unto death, and he had the conviction ever present to him that it was through his own fault, and he felt that if Maggie died he could never forgive himself.

But Maggie did not die. All was done for her that could be done, and God blessed the means to her recovery.

One day when the spring had come, and the days were long and light, Edwin sat by Maggie's sofa in the drawing-room, watching the dear little face he loved so well. At last she fell asleep Edwin moved towards the window and watched the sun setting in the west, leaving a sea of golden glory in the sky.

Presently his mother came in, and seeing Maggie was asleep, they both went into a little room that opened off the drawing-room.

"Edwin," said Mrs. Stanley, "God sent you a sharp lesson, to teach you not to put off-did He

not?"

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Oh, mother," said Edwin, "I am so thankful that He did not let Maggie die, for then indeed I should have been wretched."

"God is very good," said Mrs. Stanley, softly. "Never forget the lesson, my son.'

"I will not, mother-God helping me!" said Edwin. And he never did. He grew up to be an earnest Christian man, doing his work in the world in a God-fearing spirit, and never again feeling so self-sufficient as to think that he might cease to watch, or needed less constant prayer. When he had a duty to do he tried to do it at once remembering the old proverb, "Procrastination is the thief of time."

L. E. D.

the cleverness of dogs-much more wonderful than that which the picture represents, where Lounger shows his appetite as well as his instinct, by being ready for a drink whenever his young master carries off his stool to enable him to reach the tap, though forbidden to do so. Doggie knows nothing of what is right or wrong, as boys ought to do. Yet you know some dogs are said to be wise, and others, not foolish, but stupid. Let me tell a story:

Once a Frenchman, to annoy the owner of a
Newfoundland dog, said he did not believe the
dog to be smart. The dog's master, vexed at the
slur, gave his friend a push, and knocked him/
over the bank into a shallow river. The dog
immediately sprang in, and seizing one of the
Frenchman's coat-tails, proceeded to swim for
shore. Unfortunately, another Newfoundland dog
saw the affair, and leaped into the river to the
rescue. The second dog seized the other tail of
the coat, and wished to swim back to his master,
while the first dog held fast and struggled for his
side, and the owner of the coat cried in vain for
help. At this ridiculous juncture the coat gave
way, and each dog proudly swam off with a piece
of cloth in his mouth. What the half-drowned
Frenchman thought about the wisdom of dogs by
this time can only be imagined. Glad enough he
certainly was to see his friend plunge in and swim
to his aid.

who knew what he was about.
Well, young folks, my next story tells of a dog
A gentleman in
Scotland noticed a shepherd's dog lying close to
some men who were washing a detachment of ten
sheep. Suddenly the dog started off to the main
body of the flock, brought back ten sheep, and
drove them into the empty washing-pen. Soon
the men had reduced the number of sheep in the
pen to three. Away ran the dog, returning with
three, and again this sagacious dog went for
ten more. Again all the sheep were washed but
another ten. So he continued through the after-
noon, proving that in some way he could count

both three and ten.

Once, we are told on good authority, a little terrier saved a great ship. This dog was purchased in France by a sea-captain, and named Neptune. Little Nep soon learned to like the ship, and would run up the rigging like a sailor. He could scent the land before it was seen by the sailors, and as the ship approached the shore, would sniff and bark for joy. When Nep had been to sea with his master about two years, the Hortensia-that was the vessel's name-came sailing along the coast of Florida, where are many bars and islands. The captain went below and turned into his berth to sleep. Nep lay as usual at his master's state-room door. There

Y son, if thine heart be wise, My heart shall lies in the Florida Straits a rock called the rejoice, even Mine.-Prov. xxiii. 15.

Double-headed Shot Keys. A lighthouse is built

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The night wore on, and all was still but the splashing of the water. The mate went below to get something from his chest, sat down upon it for a few minutes, and before he knew it, was fast asleep. The men on deck, receiving no orders, supposed all was right, and one by one they too fell asleep. No one was awake except a Spanish lad, whose turn it was to be at the wheel, and steer the vessel.

Meanwhile, the wind changed, a stiff breeze sprang up, the sails were filled, and the Hortensia ploughed through the ocean, straight towards the Double-headed Shot Keys. The lad, half asleep at the helm, knew not of the danger, neither could he see ahead from where he stood; for the great sails concealed the view of the lighthouse; but Nep, the good sailor that he was, discovered that land was near-he smelt it. He rushed into his master's state-room, and barked and jumped up to him as he lay in his berth.

"Get down! Be still, Nep!" said the sleepy captain.

But Nep would not be still. He only barked the louder.

"Be still!" said the captain again; and he pushed the dog away. Again the faithful little fellow barked furiously. The captain thoroughly aroused, began to think something must be the matter. He sprang up, and Nep_ran forward, barking, to the companion-way. The captain's head no sooner came above the deck than he saw that right ahead was the fearful rock and the lighthouse, and the ship plunging toward it at the rate of nine miles an hour. He seized the helm ; the ship struggled-swung around-and when her course was shifted she was so near the rock that in three minutes more she would have struck. The sleeping sailors were aroused to their duty, and the astonished mate rose up from his nap on the chest to learn that but for the faithful dog the waves might have already closed over them. All dogs would not prove such agreeable companions at sea.

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Arctic explorers complain that their Esquimaux dogs are very much in the way on deck. Capt. Nares says: 'Being in strange quarters, the dogs are baying in concert, the distracting noise frequently diversified by a sharp howl, as a sailor in forcing his way through their midst uses the toe of his boot. The packs collected from four different settlements are strangers to each other. The king dog of each team is necessarily tied up, his subordinates clustering around and crouching at his feet. In their anxious endeavours to protect their followers, and if possible to maintain and extend their rights, these king dogs are straining their very utmost at the ropes, snarling and lifting their upper lips, evidently longing for the time to arrive when they may get free and decide who is to be ruler over all. By sheer fighting each has worked his way to the

position he now holds, the most determined and enduring animal gaining the day. A long series of contests will be undertaken before the supreme one is acknowledged." These hardy dogs will not sleep under cover, and they bolt their meat frozen hard.

Have you heard of "Jock, the navvy's friend,” young folks? You know the men who labour on the railway cuttings and canals are called navvies. One of these men befriended a nameless dog, and ever after, Jock, as he was called, watched the navvy's coat and hat. For years they travelled and worked together, until one day the sandy earth gave way over the poor navvy, and they dug him out dead.

Jock was lying watching a pickaxe and bundle of dinner all that day and night, and would allow nothing of his master's to be touched. The foreman tried to coax him away with meat, but without success. At last, an old chum of the navvy's went and fetched the poor fellow's cap, and held it for Jock to smell; then, but not till then, as if his beloved master had just sent him a message, he jumped off the coat and followed, while the dead man's things were carried to his old home. There they made Jock comfortable in a corner on the navvy's old coat, and a dish of food by his side. The next morning Jock was found dead upon his master's coat, with the dish of food untasted beside him!

A LITTLE SERMON. KING SOL AND HIS MESSENGERS. A PARABLE FOR YOUNG AND OLD.

T was seed-time, and every thrifty peasant was hard at work in his fields. From his

throne in the heavens King Sol beheld the scene of activity on the earth, and despatched his trusty messengers, Heat and Light, with strict injunctions to render the husbandmen all the assistance in their power. Rejoiced to aid in so good a work, they disposed of the forces under their control so as to cover both sea and land, and millions of rays were quickly in operation, causing roots to germinate, and plants to shoot, so that the green blades of wheat, and grass, and orchards in full blossom soon testified to their untiring energy, and nature presented a lovely picture of vernal beauty.

Elated with their success, Heat and Light redoubled their efforts; but were amazed and mortified to find, after a time, that the bright tints on which they had prided themselves faded, the fields were parched up, the flowers drooped their pretty heads, and universal languor prevailed.

As too often happens under such circumstances, discouragement begat dissension in their ranks. Heat complained of the fierce glare of Light; and Light maintained that Heat had been scorching and oppressive. Moreover, the rays on land

declared that they had been neglected by the rays over the sea, who had not only nothing valuable to show for their labours, but had actually produced vapours that had clouded over and obscured the face of their Great Master on high.

At last King Sol spake and said, "Why do ye thus murmur among yourselves, seeing that ye are all striving for one common end? My ways are not your ways, neither are your ways my ways. Rest assured, so long as ye are faithful to duty, and carry out my precepts, ye may leave the result in my hands."

And as he finished speaking, lo! the clouds that had shrouded his face burst and descended in refreshing showers over the thirsty land; so that invigorated Nature once more lifted up her head in thankfulness for the plentecus rain. A bright rainbow appeared in the heavens, and was accepted by all as a covenant of peace restored, and as an earnest of future goodwill.-Morning Light.

ETTA'S BLACK CAT.

INDNESS to animals is a sure sign of a good and feeling disposition. The boyhood of many great and clever men has been notable for affection and benevolent inclination towards their four-footed dependents. But in some boys, I am sorry to say, there exists a great disposition to hunt and torment dumb creatures, more particularly those harmless, inoffensive animals, domestic cats, so especially valuable in preserving our dwellings from the plague of rats and mice. On human kindness and sympathy these animals are peculiarly dependent for daily food and protection; yet perhaps no animal is more exposed to danger and destruction than the common domestic cat.

I wish my young readers could have seen Etta Castleton's pet black cat, "Silverbell;" so called because Etta's kind father, to please his little girl, had bought for it a handsome scarlet leather collar, braced with plates of white metal, and further decorated with three tiny bells, bright as silver, though of course they only imitated that precious metal.

Now this was the way in which Etta came into possession of Master Silverbell. She was in the habit of visiting some little friends, whose parents were neighbours of Mr. and Mrs. Castleton, and this family had a custom which I think was a sadly cruel one. They would keep one of a litter of kittens, as a pet and plaything for the children, and when the poor little creature grew out of its kittenhood, and was no longer playful and interesting after the manner of kittens, it was remorsely drowned.

It happened one day when Etta was playing with Mrs. Hartley's children, that Silverbellwho at that early period of his existence, had no better name than "Kit," or "Puss "-had ceased greatly to amuse his patrons, the young Hartleys.

He was getting too big to run after his own tail, or play with a ball of string.

"Let it be drowned out of the way," said the eldest boy, who happened to come into the room at the identical moment when the children were talking about the cat. The little ones clapped their hands gleefully on hearing this fiat. The thought of standing to witness the dying struggles of the poor little animal, who, for six months of its life had been their playfellow, pleased these cruel children greatly; it was a fresh excitement, and they had been taught to regard excitement as the salt of life, without which nothing in existence could be fully enjoyed or relished. They quickly began to hunt for the cat, who, as if he had heard the doom to which he was about to be consigned,-and probably he had, for our domestic pets understand much more than we give them credit for knowing,-had got out of the way of his former playmates, now so suddenly converted into cruel and vindictive enemies. The chase lasted some time, and was an amusement in itself, for the poor cat got under the chairs, then the table, and lastly took refuge beneath the sofa, which had to be moved before the terrified cat could be made prisoner.

Etta, much disconcerted at the scene, stood by with a sorrowful face, and a heart full almost to bursting. She had been brought up to be tender, and love every thing to which her Creator had given life, and had, when very little, learned to repeat these lines of a famous poet :"He prayeth best who loveth best

All things, both great and small;
For the dear God, who loveth us,
Hath made and loveth all."

She had likewise been taught not to scream at the sight of a spider or black beetle, nor to run away from a poor little harmless mouse. She had been taught that the hand of God was as visible in these, His meanest creatures, as in the structure of her own frame, and the miracle of her own existence. So, just as John Hartley seized the poor cat, dragging him by the skin of the neck from beneath the sofa, Etta, who could contain her indignation no longer, burst out with: 'John, you naughty boy, what are you going to do ?"

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"Drown a cat," replied John, with a grin of delight. Drowning cats was not an every day amusement at the command of this unfeeling and cruel boy, and he was quite excited at the prospect of so fine a diversion.

"You-you are very wicked," said Etta, who could hardly prevent herself from sobbing. "Such a pretty little cat," she continued; "and you pretended all of you to be so fond of it. How can you be so naughty ?"

"We may if we like," shouted Sam, the youngest boy, who was anticipating the "fun" as eagerly as his brother.

"My mother would not allow such doings," said Etta, staunchly.

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Come along," John Hartley called impatiently to his brothers. "Sam, ask Mary for the large pail, and bring Master Puss to the water tap.

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