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A Puzzle Picture.

BY GEO. MAY POWELL.

In the early days of stereoscopic pictures, an ingenious artist showed the writer a very puzzling picture. Instead of mounting two pictures of himself together or two of his wife, on one side he put a photograph of himself, on the other side one of her.

When this odd combination was looked at through a stereoscopic glass, it was a puzzle picture indeed.

At one instant it seemed like a man wearing a figin a broad-cloth dress. The two pictures combined in one, as this glass must combine them, made the

ured silk coat. At the same instant it was a woman

The Child Poet.

In a volume of poems recently printed for private circulation, and bearing the name of Maude Egerwritten before the gifted author had reached her ton Hine, there are some purporting to have been markable both for the completeness of the thought eighth year. We subjoin one of them, which is reit contains, and for the symbolical expression found Miss Hine was no longer a child in mind when she for it. It will be evident to all who read it that wrote it, whatever she may have been in years and

physical development. To be able to give to a deep truth such a purely imaginative expression, and to have at command the word-colors required to embody it, is beyond the powers which we assofaces and figures an indescribable mixture of man ciate even with precocious childhood. We are not and woman. Back hair and beard, and masculine and feminine features were perpetually and pain-ascertion that this was the work of a child of eight casting a doubt upon the perfect truthfulness of the fully blending under the eye. Nothing could be more essentially neither one thing nor the other

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A young person in the Sabbath-school is led to seek the Saviour. Soon after joining the Church a temptation to attend a theatre is yielded to; though the plainest teaching of experience is that white ravens are plentier than theater-going Church members who are a comfort to their pastors or themselves. Does a young Christian prefer even a concert or a popular lecture to prayer-mecting; or to hard work on a Church or Sabbath-school Committee, where "the King's business" needs him? Is secular reading or conversation on Sunday preferred to that which will cultivate and enrich the heart garden? Is daily secret prayer and Bible reading forsaken or a burden? If these things are so, they are danger signals. If they are characteristics of a professed follower of Christ, he may be sure he is a puzzle picture to keen-eyed worldings. To the latter he is a false light on the shore. Some of them who may be dear to him he is probably thus leading to eternal misery instead of happiness.

He may be sure, however, that One who sees the heart is not deceived. Also, that unless he comes closer to Jesus, and stays closer to him, he will himself pass from the ranks of Church members in this world to "outer darkness" in the next. The Master says that "many in that day, who thought they were his, will be found with no wedding garment.

Therefore, pray and labor that the Sabbathschool may be the birthplace of souls into a life of self-denying service of One who has done unspeakably more for us than we can do for him. Don't live after joining the Church as if a certain old song of Zion read, "I must be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease." If you do, your life will be a self-deceiving puzzle picture. You are on the air-line road to eternal ruin.

"If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

years old, but merely drawing attention to it as an instance of unusually early mental development. did not keep pace afterward with the increasing subJudging by the later poems, the power of expression tlety and wealth of the writer's thoughts. As the work of a child of eight we know nothing in literature equal to

THE DAISY AND THE FERN.
The day was hot, the sun shone out
And burned the little flowers,
And earthward drooped their weary heads,
And longed for cooling showers.
One little daisy, hot and tired,

And scorching in the sun,
Had altered much, for fair was she
When the morning had begun.

"Come, put yourself beneath my shade!"
A graceful fern thus spake;
"For if you stay out there, dear flower,
You'll shrivel up and bake."

So daisy leaned toward the fern,

And hid beneath her shade,
And on the fern's cool mossy root
Her burning petals laid.

No sunlight fell on her, but, O!
The poor fern had it all;
She drooped down low, and lower still,
Who once was straight and tall.

"Daisy," she said, "I'm dying fast,
My life is near its end,

My time with you is almost past,
So farewell, little friend."

Then daisy wept, her tears ran down
Upon the poor fern's root;

A thrill of fast-returning life
Through the languid fern did shoot.
Full soon she grew quite fresh again,
No longer did she burn;
For little daisy's tears of love
Had saved the dying fern.

-Sunday-School Chronicle.

Take Courage from the Wave
Theory.

BY MARGARET MEREDITH.

YEARS ago some one read aloud in my hearing, from Herbert Spencer's discussion of the Wave Theory, a paragraph in which he turns aside to remark that in the mental world also life and feeling and thought move in waves; that grief, for instance, never presses down upon the heart in cne unbroken sameness of misery, but has its moments of reaction, of relief from the strain of acute suffering; that periods of excitement or of numbness are in mercy given to us.

This has ever since explained to me that thing at which people so often carp, the light-heartedness which they have been surprised to see on some occasion in one for whose distress of mind they had felt called upon to be sympathizing, but whom they are now inclined to consider heartless or at least shallow. No such thing. I, wise in Herbert Spencer's idea, felt that poor human nature, in them as in others, was not constituted to endure continous extreme sorrow or to be capable of it.

But, moreover, I have found not only feeling, but events even, to move in waves; and in noticing this I have gained a consolation and encouragement which is well worth your attention.

I used to work hard in a Children's Mission Band, and after a time I observed that if on one Wednesday I came home thinking it a failure, I

Look out then for this possibility; forewarn yourself of it; forewarn them of it; and then when the enthusiasm which has borne them along dies in their hearts, and leaves them painfully unwilling to persevere, they will not be thoroughly surprised and thrown out of their reckoning by their change of feeling, nor unprepared for the necessity of praying on from principle and without feeling, and you will not despair for them nor give up persuading them.

A Future Hamlet.

COL. INGERSOLL is out with a proposal to devote his energies to the destruction of the Christian religion. Can he believe this work to be within his range. If so, he will have company in the failure that awaits him. Voltaire thought that while it took twelve men to establish Christianity, one man could overthrow it. We have seen in the British Museum a medal with the inscription "To Diocletian, who destroyed Christianity." The colonel would do well to get his medal struck off as soon as possible. In ages to come Christianity will triumph even more gloriously than heretofore. Meanwhile the bones of the forgotten atheist will be rotting in some cemetery, where another Hamlet may come, and picking up the skull may say, moralizing, "This skull had a tongue in it. . . . It might be the pate of a politician, one that would circumvent God, might it not?" Bradford, Pa. G. C. J.

Year.

1882.
1883.
1884.

1885.

At Home.

Sunday-schools. Teachers.

Scholars,

Increase.

9,310

62,442

462,321

9,649

65,198

483,426

21.105

9.875

65,574

509,934

26.508

10,268

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The table shows an increase of Sunday-schools, 1,312; teachers, 9,531; scholars, 99.426; making the total increase for the four years of teachers and scholars, 108,957. creased in circulation since 1882. The monthly issue was The Sunday-school periodicals have also greatly inthen a little over 400,000; it is now about 575,000.

was almost sure to come home on the next Wednesday thinking it a grand success. Now, though it really happened that the ups and downs of that little sewing society alternated with considerable reg... AT the General Conference of the Methodist ularity, the why and wherefore could not be reasoned Episcopal Church, South, at its recent session in Richout or explained, unless, indeed, by treating the mond, Va., an interesting report was made of the Sunmatter as a special provid ence; but in per- day-school work of that Church. The following table sonal efforts to do good, in efforts to lead individ-wili show the annual increase for the last four years: uals to betterness and to salvation, ups and downs 1881. of success are natural, and one is spared many a bitter discouragement by realizing that fact. A girl tells you one day that she has "stopped trying to be saved," although she lifted you to the seventh heaven of hope two days ago by her apparent determination and earnestness in the hard struggle. You are sick at heart and feel that all is over, and though you urge and beg her to begin again, it is with an utter disappointment and hopelessness gnawing at every The State Street Methodist Episcopal Church, word you say; and yet the next time you see her Trenton, N. J., celebrated on the 14th of June the she is praying and striving as diligently as ever, twentieth anniversary of the dedication of its beautiful and may not altogether realize that she has ever place of worship. A little volume prepared by Gen. J. seemed near giving the whole thing up. She was F. Rusling tells the story of the church and of the Sunjust down in the trough of the wave; with no one day-school. This school has now one of the finest to rouse her up she might have stayed there and rooms for Sunday-school purposes in New Jersey. actually stopped trying finally and lost all-many do exactly this; but spurred up to renewed effort, the is one of the growing number of our Churches in which depression-perhaps partly physical-has first been the expenses of the school are met by an appropriation resisted and then has passed away, and at any rate the hard task has been grappled afresh. Such times of depression may come to her again, may come often -people have different dispositions, and all have stern difficulties of some sort in seeking salvation.

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usual; no superintendent, as usual; a very few scholars, as usual; a very few teachers, as usual; without religious instruction, as usual; all bears the appearance of neglect; three female teachers, two male teachers, three male scholars, ten female scholars. It is the earnest prayer of an interested individual that usual' will no longer continue as a proverbial saying among us, but that we may all be up and doing, working while it is called to-day."

One would hardly suppose that this school is the same as that mentioned in the preceding paragraph. It is the same, however, though only in name. The minute above given was written in 1824. Sixty-two years have shown an improvement in Sunday-school work in the old church, though it must be confessed that there are places in which this ancient record might be truthfully written to-day.

... We learn from the Sunday-School Magazine that | the late General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, ordered the preparation of a catalogue of Sunday-school books and also of a Sunday-school song book.

We learn further from the same source that during the centennial year the sum of $10,000 was collected for Sunday-school purposes. The money was placed by the General Conference in the care of the General Conference Sunday-school Committee, to be invested by them and the income to be devoted to the aid of destitute Sunday-schools of the Church.

... A prize of one thousand dollars, for the best book on The Christian Obligations, of Property and Labor, is offered by The American Sunday-School Union, of Philadelphia. The book must contain between 60,000 and 100,000 words, and all competing MSS. must be sent in by November 1, 1887.

.. The editor of the Baptist Teacher gives a good illustration of some of the difficulties which face a speaker who asks questions of a juvenile audience. He was addressing a mission school: "Now, children," we asked, "can you tell what it is that causes all the red eyes, and bruised bodies, and broken heads, and bleeding hearts, of which the world is full ?" "Yes, sir-ee," said a bright-eyed gamin very near to the front. 'Well, what is it, my son ?" we encouragingly asked. "The police!!" was the reply that fairly brought down the house. It must be remembered that this was in Chicago, where our grim guardians of the peace carry locust clubs, and sometimes use them right and left.

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The same editor says: "It is reported of our beloved brother, B. F. Jacobs, that upon a similar occasion, when he was desiring to illustrate the meaning of eternity, he took a ring from his finger, and holding it aloft, he ventured to ask: " Well, boys, what is this?" One of the young hoodlums, more audacious than the rest, boldly shouted: "It is brass." We have no doubt that Brother Jacobs enjoyed this as thoroughly as any one present; and we do not believe it disconcerted him him in the least.

...

Bishop Mallalieu sends us from New Orleans a programme of "A Grand Jubilee at the La Harpe Methodist Episcopal Church on Sunday night, June 27, 1886." The programme consists of six hymns, a collection, and thirteen sermons! Notice is given that the doors will open at "5 o'clock P. M. sharp." When they will close is not stated. But think of thirteen sermons at one meeting!

... Dr. Coxe, the agent for the Sunday-School Union and Tract Society for the West and North-west, was present on June 20 at the dedication of three now Me41

Plato and Paul; or, Philosophy and Christianity. An Examination of the Two Fundamental Forces of Cosmic and Human History, with their Contents, Methods, Functions, Relations, and Results Compared. By J. W. Mendenhall, Ph.D., D.D. Cincinnati: Cranston Stowe. New York: Phillips & Hunt. The author sets out with the assumption that the philosophical basis of Christianity is as impregnable as the historical basis. He declares that Christianity as a system of truth is susceptible of mathematical demonstration. Plato and Paul he takes as the exponents of two antagonistic systems of thought. The one represents philosophy: the other Christianity. The discussion of the subject is conducted by the author in a manner worthy of its im- . portance, and though some of his positions will doubtless be challenged, his work commends itself to thinkers as worthy of consideration. As a matter of taste we should have been better pleased if the writer had been more sparing in the use of italics, since they add nothing to the strength of his positions. The table of contents and the index will bring him the thanks of his readers.

The Labor Problem. Plain Questions and Practical Answers. Edited by William E. Barnes. New York: Harper & Brothers. The views of a number of experts in both capital and labor are here set forth in a frank and candid manner. The conflict between capital and labor is one of the most important questions of the times, and a perusal of this volume will aid in a clear understanding of the case.

The Story of Music and Musicians for Young Readers. By Lucy C. Lillie. Illustrated. New York: Harper & Brothers. In a most entertaining way the writer tells her delightful story. It is one which ought to be read by all young people who are interested in music. It will be found not only interesting but instructive.

Readings and Recitations. No. 6. A new and choice Collection of Articles in prose and verse, embracing argument and appeal, pathos and humor, by the foremost temperance advocates and writers. Edited by Miss L. Penney. New York: The National Temperance Society. The title indicates the design of this book. Those who are seeking for selections to be read or spoken will do well to get it.

The American Salmon Fisherman. By Henry P. Wells. Illustrated. New York: Harper & Brothers. To those who wish to learn where and how to catch salmon this book will give the desired information, and give it, too, in a way easily understood and in a captivating style. It is easy to see that the writer is an enthusiast in his subject, as all writers ought to be.

My Pupil and I. A Story for Teachers. By R. S. Holmes. In form this is fiction; in substance it is truth. A beautiful and touching story of what might be. Doubtless it will be helpful to many Sunday-school teachers. Thirty cents sent to the author at Plainfield, N. J., will secure a copy.

Cecil's Cousins. By E. H. Hollis. New York: Thomas Y. Crowell. A story written in a lively, entertaining manner, and containing several good moral

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Sept. 5. Jesus the True Vine..... John 15. 1-16. 12. The Mission of the Spirit....John 16. 5-20. 19. Jesus Interceding....... ....John 17. 1-26. 26. Second Quarterly Review.

THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL JOURNAL Is published Monthly by Phillips & Hunt, at New York, and Cranston & Stowe, at Cincinnati. TERMS: SIXTY-FIVE CENTS a year for single subscribers, and FIFTY-FIVE CENTS each for clubs of six or over sent to one address. This includes the postage, which the publishers are obliged to prepay. If the names are to be written on each copy they will be charged at same rate as for a single copy. Subscriptions may commence at any time, but must expire with March. June, September, or December. Subscribers will please send their orders at least one month in advance.

Orders may be directed to PHILLIPS & HUNT, New York and Detroit; CRANSTON & STOWE, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis; J. B. HILL, San Francisco, Cal.; J. P. MAGEE, Boston; J. HORNER, Pittsburg; H. H. OTIS, Buffalo; PERKINPINE & HIGGINS, or F. B. CLEGG, Philadelphia; D. H. CARROLL, Baltimore.

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NEW SERIES. OCTOBER, 1886. VOL. XVIII, No. 10.

SURDAY SCHOOL JOURRAL

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J. H. VINCENT, Editor.

J. M. FREEMAN and J. L. HURLBUT, Associates.

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[Entered at the Post-office at New York, N. Y., as second-class mail matter.]

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