for in view of His greatness our only thought can be, "What is man that Thou art mindful of him?" Besides, this clothing commands the respect and honour of men. I believe verily that though the self-asserting man may push himself forward and gain for a while the end he seeks (for courage and perseverance will have their reward, even though allied with conceit), yet the man who quietly waits to be called up higher, filling well each lower place, as he enters it, will in the end attain a nobler position, and find it far more solid and abiding. If we enlarge our view of life we shall find that promise of the great Master more often fulfilled than we imagine. "The meek shall inherit the earth." This garment is to be worn every day, and all day long. It is the soft, lustrous, but lasting dress which fits all stations and wears well, whatever be our occupation.

This

Paul, too, has an answer ready for us; he tells us to "put on charity." This is the Christian's girdle; it is put over all, and binds all together-the very bond of perfectness. Charity, that is kindly, considerate love, completes the character. Be clothed with it, put it on as a garment everywhere, and always wear it. ornament is always in fashion, and the possession of it is the secret of true politeness. I know of no worthy society in which you will not be received if you have this robe upon you. Love is to rule everywhere. In business love, not self-interest, should govern us. For if the maxim of the world is the real principle of business, "Every man for himself," then business is essentially unchristian, and no good man can pursue it. But it is not so. The true principle of all life is Christ's golden rule, or in other words, this garb of love is as suitable in the market as anywhere else. In the home love, not temper, ought to rule. Many a home made miserable by the capricious rule of impulse and temper may be remade by the spirit of potent love, and become the paradise God meant it to be. In society love, not envy, should guide us; for whereas envy produces hatreds and strifes, love smoothes all things, makes all jars softer, lubricates all difficulties, and brings happiness out of everything.. So let love rule. Let love be lord of all. Put on this garment, and while all other garbs grow old, and motheaten, and decay, this garment will shine the brighter the longer it is worn.

And Christ Himself has an answer to our eager question. Buy of Me," says He, "white raiment that thou mayst be clothed." We, like the Laodiceans, often think ourselves well clothed when God sees we are naked. Material wealth and gay garments do not cover us. God sees through all such disguises, for "all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." No self-righteous deeds, no ostentatious acts of charity, or services of religion can veil us. The real white raiment is the "righteousness of the saints." And this beautiful fabric is only to be bought of the Lord Jesus, and it can be bought from Him "without money and without price." This raiment is the robe which is "washed and made white by the blood of the Lamb." This, too, is the "beautiful garment" which the prophet says is the proper garb of the Church. This is "the garment of salvation," which good men wear. This is the "wedding garment," without which we have no

right at the feast table. This is the true white raiment, and all may wear it, for Christ will give it to all who have faith in Him, and when we have obtained this beautiful garment let us "keep it unspotted from the world."

And Christ has another answer to our inquiry. He offers to give us "The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." If we put on these other robes we must needs add this. Indeed, the possession of the others ensures this. This is given in along with the other articles of the Christian costume. The ability, and the right, and the inclination to praise, are the special gifts of the Gospel. Gratitude includes happiness, for gratitude produces it, and expresses it, and so enhances it, and the garment of praise is the flowing garb of joy. Whatever spirit of heaviness may weigh us down, we may exchange it for the garment of praise, and heaviness is not becoming the good man, in whom the good spirit of God should be ever producing emotions and songs of praise. We talk of saints and angels in heaven holding golden harps; we ought to carry harps through life, or, like the angel Israfel, in the Mahommetan legends, whose very "heart-strings are a lute," our hearts should be as lutes, from which the music of praise should incessantly arise.

There is another relation which the good man holds besides those to God and his fellow-men-a relation to evil as an uncompromising foe, and as a soldier he needs something more substantial than ordinary clothing; and so the Apostle Paul comes forward with another answer to our question when he bids us 'put on the whole armour of God." And yet when we look into the description of the armour-pieces we find that the graces which adorn character also defend it. Faith, righteousness, truth, love, these are the armour-plates, and these, too, are the garments of the Christian. So that every true man is already fully equipped, not only for the life of peaceful usefulness, but for valiant combat, if that is needful. And in the midst of spiritual peace and luxury we are liable to the attack of our deceitful foe; so it is necessary to be forearmed, and never to forget the soldier in the Christian.

And as a summing up of all these answers there is one comprehensive reply given by the Apostle Paul. He tells us to "put on Christ." This includes all graces and adornments of the character. Chrysostom says:-"Thus we speak concerning friends, that a man has put on such and such an one, referring to his great love for him and constant intercourse." And so we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, we conceal ourselves in Him, we wear His virtues and are endued or clothed with the beauties of His holiness. That life, so divinely beautiful, is our example, and we live it so well as we can. We live it that men may say of us, "His very life is Christ." We live, yet not we, but Christ lives in us.

And if we receive these answers, and, instead of wearying ourselves with vain desires for material finery and grandeur, are content with humble garb, that we may be dressed in spiritual ornaments; if we are clothed with humility, and put on charity, and wear the white robe of righteousness and the garment of

praise; if we are defended by the whole armour of God, and, in a word, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, then we may lay hold on one promise more, and may expect before long to put aside the "garment spotted by the flesh," "to change our vile body," and “to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven." P. W. DARNTON.

The Children's Hour.

CHAPTER III.-CARRIE'S BROTHER.

HARRY was Caroline's only brother, and she was very fond of him. He was several years older than she, and when she was only a little baby he used to carry her about and take such care of her that she began to love him even then. When she was old enough to play with him he was most of the time at school, but when holidays came no brother and sister could be happier than Harry and Carrie were; Carrie thought that there was nobody in all the world half so good and noble as her brother. And Harry used to think very highly of his "baby sister" as he loved to call her even when she was, as she thought, grown into quite a big girl. Carrie never forgot her brother. Every night and morning when she prayed to God she asked Him to bless her "dear brother Harry." I don't know whether Harry prayed for his sister when he became a big boy, and found that it was almost time for him to leave school; but he could not have prayed for himself very earnestly, for he began to form some bad habits, and to do many wrong things which his conscience must have told him God would not approve of. But Carrie did not know this; neither did their father and mother, and so they still kept on loving and trusting Harry, and believing him to be everything that was good.

But one Christmas time, twelve months before Carrie formed her notable resolution, a terrible thing happened. Harry had left school-he was almost a young man now-and had been for a few months in a situation, which his father had allowed him to take as he had expressed his great desire to do so.

But he had a holiday at Christmas time, and his sister Carrie was almost wild with delight at the thought of seeing him. She made herself as busy as possible arranging his bed-room and decorating the drawing-room with holly, and even helping in the kitchen to make the pies which she knew he would enjoy.

But when he came Carrie felt disappointed. She could not tell what made it, but she felt that there was somehow a difference in Harry. He was not as gentle, and thoughtful, and kind as he used to be. He was far more noisy, and sometimes in his boisterous spirits he said things that caused Carrie to feel quite uncomfortable.

She did not know what it could be, but she had a great dread that her brother was not as good as he might be.

But Caroline Lacey was a thoughtful girl. She said nothing about her fears to anybody; she only prayed more earnestly than ever for her brother, and tried to be as kind as possible to him.

But Carrie's loving eyes saw too keenly to be mistaken. On the second day of his visit Harry drank too much wine, which made him so foolish and disagreeable that even Carrie was too disgusted to remain with him; and that night she and her mamma talked and cried together about the brother and son whom they both still loved so well.

But on Christmas-eve something worse even than that happened; for a policeman came to the house and took Harry into custody. His father came in just at the time.

"What is the reason of this?" he asked angrily of the officer. "It means, sir, that this young gentleman has been robbing his employer, and trying to fix the blame upon somebody else, and it is my duty to take him at once to the station."

"Oh, Harry, Harry, it surely cannot be true," cried his mother, while Caroline watched it all with a perfectly white face and frightened eyes.

"No, it is not true; it is a lie," said Harry.

"No, young gentleman, you know better than that," said the policeman.

"Is it true, Harry? Don't tell me a lie!" said his father, sternly.

"I shall repeat what I hear," the policeman reminded Harry; "and you are not obliged to speak."

"If it is true," said Harry, "I am no worse than other fellows, only they are not caught."

Caroline knew from that moment that her brother was guilty, and a great pain came into her heart.

Harry was taken away, and afterward he was tried, and found guilty, and sentenced to several months' imprisonment. It was a

great grief to his friends; they felt the shame even more th n Harry himself. But though they could not excuse him, they loved him, and prayed for him, and still hoped for the best. And many were the loving letters that were written to him.

They hoped that when he came out of prison he would be changed for the better, and they arranged to receive him kindly and give him a welcome home.

But Harry was no better for the punishment he had had, and he refused to come home and try to do better.

So a friend of Mr. Lacey's offered him a situation as clerk, and for the whole year Harry had lived in a town a little distance from his father and mother, and only saw them occasionally.

You will have guessed that Carrie's resolution had much to do with her brother, and it had. For she had resolved, by God's blessing, to be the means of bringing him back to his home, and to a better frame of mind, before another year had passed.

And all girls who have brothers for whom they care will wish Carrie great success.

CHAPTER IV.-IN THE WAITING-ROOM.

"DEAR HARRY,-Will you please meet me to-day at two o'clock at the railway station? The waiting-room is almost certain to be unoccupied then, and I want to give you a new-year's kiss, and a little present, if you will accept of them. Please, do meet me, as I am coming over on purpose.-Your affectionate sister,

"CARRIE."

At two o'clock Carrie was at the station, looking and feeling very anxious. "Will he come?" was the question which she kept asking herself. For on several previous occasions Harry had disappointed her. But to-day she felt hopeful as well as anxious.

"If he comes," she thought, "I will take it for an omen of good, and will believe that I shall be able to keep my resolution," and then she looked out of the window, and walked to and fro several times, watching for but not seeing Harry. Then Carrie, remembering that as God was her Father, she might take even her little wants to Him, prayed softly that He would incline Harry's heart to come. A few minutes after he entered the room, and came up to his sister. He soon had his new-year's kiss, and Carrie whispered, lovingly, "Dear Harry, God bless you, and give you a happy new

year.

"I don't suppose He will, because you see I don't deserve it," said he.

"No one does deserve it, but many people get it without," said Carrie.

"Oh, do they? Well, I shall have no objection to a little more happiness this year than I had last," said Harry.

mother?"

"How is

"She is better than she was, and sent her love to you, and-" "What is the good of that?" said Harry. "She cannot love me, and it is no use her pretending to do so.'

"She does, Harry, as much as ever, and you ought to believe it," said Caroline, quietly.

"What sort of a Christmas have you had?"

"What sort could we have without you, Harry? We did so hope you would come home, and I think you would if you had known how much we all wanted you."

"I daresay," said Harry, sneeringly. "I have been wretched enough, but I suppose that is good for me."

"We have all thought about you, Harry, and I do hope that we shall soon have you at home," and poor Carrie was so affected that she could not help crying.

"Come, Carry, a railway-station is a little too public a place for tears and sentiment," said Harry. "Cheer up, for I have not many minutes to spare. What do you want to say to me?"

"I want to tell you that I have signed the pledge."

"What pledge ?""

"Don't you know? The temperance pledge, and I am going to keep it, too."

"Are you afraid of yourself?" asked Harry, laughing.