may be in the youngest, or the meanest in the house, and works, by God's blessing, like the leaven hidden in the meal, until the whole lump be leavened. "Happy families!" writes M'Cheyne; "but, oh! how few, where parents and children fear the Lord, and speak often one to another, and the Lord stands by hearkening, and writing down their words in his book of remembrance,' wherein he reckons up his jewels." Isabel on Influence. A GENTLE-MANLY BOY. "BE very gentle with her, my son," said Mrs. Butler, as she tied on her little girl's bonnet, and sent her out to play with her elder brother. They had not been out very long before a cry was heard, and presently Julius came in and threw down his hat, saying: "I hate playing with girls! There's no fun with them; they cry in a minute." "What have you been doing to your sister? I see her lying there on the gravel walk; you have torn her frock and pushed her down. I am afraid you forgot my caution to be gentle." "Gentle Boys can't be gentle, mother; it's their nature to be rough, and hardy, and boisterous. They are the stuff soldiers and sailors are made of. It's very well to talk of a gentle girl; but a gentle boy-it sounds ridiculous! I should be ready to knock a fellow down for calling me so!" "And yet, Julius, a few years hence, you would be very angry if any one were to say you were not a gentle man." "A gentle man. I had never thought of dividing the word that way before. Being gentle always seems to me like being weak and womanish." This is so far from being the case, my son, that you will always find the bravest men are the most gentle. The spirit of chivalry that you so much admire, was a spirit of the noblest courage and the utmost gentleness combined. Still, I dare say, you would rather be called a manly than a gentle boy?" "Yes, indeed, mother." "Well, then, my son, it is my great wish that you should endeavour to unite the two. Show yourself manly when you are exposed to danger, or see others in peril: be manly when called on to speak the truth, though the speaking of it may bring reproach upon you; be manly when you are in sickness and pain. At the same time be gentle, whether you be with females or with men; be gentle towards all men. By putting the two spirits together, you will deserve a name, which, perhaps, you will not so greatly object to." "I see what you mean, dear mother, and I will endeavour to be what you wish-a gentle-manly boy." ORIGIN OF "LUL-A-BY BABY." THE following facts were taken from the archives of the Historical Society, Boston, America. All those who have witnessed the performances of the Indians from the far west in our city, must recollect the cradle, and the mode in which the Indians bring up their children. Soon after our forefathers landed at Plymouth, some of the people went out into a field where Indian women were picking strawberries, and observed several cradles hung upon the boughs of trees, with the infants fastened upon them novel and curious sight to any European. A breeze sprang up and waved the cradles to and fro. A young man, one of the party, peeled off a piece of bark, and wrote the following, which has been repeated thousands of times by thousands of American matrons, very few of whom ever knew or cared for its origin : "Lul-a-by baby upon the tree top; When the wind blows the cradle will rock; a MISSIONARY EFFORTS. DEAR FRIENDS, THE readers of our interesting and much-improved "Juvenile Companion", will probably recollect, that, about a year ago, I addressed a few remarks to them, on the importance of aiding our Missions; again I write for a similar purpose. By our Sabbath-school at Chelsea there has been collected for the Missionary cause this year the sum of 81. 88. Od.; a great part of which has been collected or given by the scholars; the remainder, by our devoted teachers. It is true, we have had frequently to remind our young friends of their duty and privilege. We have had two Juvenile Missionary Meetings for the purpose of stimulating them. I had the honour, as well as the pleasure, of presiding over both these meetings, and the children, as well as the teachers, appeared deeply interested in the same. The first meeting was addressed by myself, on the necessity of Home Missionaries, and by our Missionary Secretary, on the necessity of Foreign Missionaries. The second meeting was addressed by our Missionary Secretary, who gave a most interesting speech on England, religiously considered, from the time of the Roman Conquest; he was followed by our Missionary Treasurer, who gave an equally interesting address, on the Heathenism of the Eastern part of the world. After which, a Conference Wesleyan very pleasingly addressed the meeting. In the course of his remarks, he told the following anecdote:-"A little boy attended a Missionary Meeting, and became impressed with a desire to help the cause of Missions, and accordingly, went to a gentlemen, and begged something, of which he made a net, sold it, and gave the money to the Missionary cause." I would add here, that some of our little friends have carefully saved and sold bones for the same purpose; and one has collected them from the streets, sold them, and given the money to the same object. But it appears to me that greater efforts should now be put forth than heretofore. One of our respected ministers, has left his native land, for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel in the very far distant land of Australia. This, of course, will increase the expenses of our Missionary operations, and surely is an additional appeal to your sympathies, prayers, and co-operations. If every child in our Sabbath-schools were to give or collect the sum of only sixpence per year, it would amount to a large sum of money, sufficient to keep several missionaries; and I do not see why this should not be done. Come now, let us see whether you will not exert yourselves more than before, and strive to do all you can to leave the world better than you found it. I dare say most of you have heard of the great building in Hyde Park, called the "Exhibition," in London. Much money and time are now being spent by multitudes, to see London and the "Great Exhibition." London is a wonderful place; in it are the richest and the poorest, the most wicked and the most pious, the wisest and the most foolish, the most industrious and the most lazy; churches, chapels, Sabbath, Ragged, and other schools, almost without number; hospitals and institutions of a benevolent character. But there are also dreadful and numerous haunts of wickedness, with thousands of gin-palaces, public-houses, and beer-shops, all of which are counteracting the good which religious teaching ought to effect. I have visited some of the lowest neighbourhoods, and have addressed hundreds at once, of the worst characters in this great metropolis. I have seen the pearly tear trickling down their faces, while they have surrounded me in the open streets, and have listened to the Gospel of peace. In London, and many other places in our own country, there are multitudes of wicked persons who need the labour of Christian Missionaries. G. PARRINGTON. DISHONESTY AND LYING. GEORGE was only a little younger than his eldest brother. He was a well-behaved child, and generally obedient to his parents. But George had one fault-he was cunning. Some boys think this shows smartness, but it is very hard to be cunning and truthful at the same time. George could not see this; his parents tried in vain to convince him that the little tricks, by which he outwitted his companions, were all founded on deceit, and partook of a lie. So it came to pass, that though the school-boys all thought George very smart, they called him a slipperyfellow. True, there is great probability that the character a boy has at school will go with him as long as he lives. Pray, then, children, that you may begin right. When George was almost nine years of age, he was sent to a neighbouring shop for some thread, which was wanted in the family. When he went in there, he found two or three persons who were to be served before him. As he was looking about, he saw a nice double-bladed knife on the shelf. It was just what he wanted; he had been wishing for such a knife a long time, and the price was only twenty-five cents. He had exactly that sum in his hand. His brother John would have been likely to have bought the knife without thinking, and then run home to tell all about it; but George never did things in John's way. He did not forget that he had been sent for two hanks of thread, but he looked at the handsome knife, till he could not see anything else. You know that we can think very quick; it was but a little while that he stood by the counter, but many thoughts passed through his mind. First, he thought, I do want that knife; then conscience said, You must not buy it with this money, for it is not yours; then an evil thought came, I can tell mother something; that will be lying as well as stealing; said conscience, wait and save your spending-money. George was almost persuaded by this last thought, and was turning away, when his heart suggested to him, perhaps the knife would be gone before he could get money enough, so he asked the clerk to let him see it. Conscience is a faithful friend, but if we will do wrong, it will stop warning us. George bought the knife; but after he had put it in his pocket it felt as heavy as lead. Oh! how he wished it was in the shop again! Why, said he to himself, why do |