་་

VARIETIES.

"I DON'T WANT TO BE GOOD.'

So said a little girl at Derby to a friend who was talking to her. He asked her why she did not wish to be good. Because," said she, "all good children die, and I don't want to die." This was a sad mistake. Many die that are not converted. And those that are good do not die at all earlier than they otherwise would, but they die happier. Let all children understand that religion will make them happy in life, as well as in death; and that if they love and serve God they are more likely to live long than if they offend God and commit sin.

"HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE?"

Many years ago, a Welch minister, a man of God, before beginning his sermon leant over the pulpit and said with a solemn air, "Friends, I have a question to ask. I cannot answer it. You cannot answer it. If an angel from heaven were here, he could not answer it. If a devil from

hell were here, he could not answer it!" Death-like Bilence reigned. Every eye was fixed on the speaker. He proceeded: "The question is this, 'How SHALL YOU ESCAPE, IF YOU NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION?""

Reader! Can you answer the question? I ask not, do you intend-do you wish-do you hope to flee?-but, have you fled for refuge, to lay hold on the hope set before you? How shall you escape, if you neglect so great salvation?

TRY TO DO GOOD.

Have you elder brothers and sisters who are anxious for your welfare? Do everything in your power to repay their tenderness. Have you younger ones? Take pains to help them to be good. Explain their little books to them. Teach them simple pieces of poetry. If they are out of humour, try to soothe them. Teach them to be careful of their toys, and to put every thing in its place, when they have done with it, and to return whatever they have borrowed to its owner. Show them by your own conduct, how to be good-tempered and happy. If they are mere babes, you can do something towards this. It will be an assistance to your parents, to help in the great work of making their children good. You will also grow better and happier yourselves.

Whatever your parents are employed about, be ready to assist them, if theywill permit it. If your mother is weary with household cares, or the charge of little children, come cheerfully to her aid. You can never know how much you are indebted to her, until the burdens of life are upon you, and you watch at the cradle of your own babe, as she has watched over you. But though you cannot understand, or fully repay this debt, you may do much to cheer her by your helping hand, and affectionate deportment.

"OH, IF 1 WERE RICH."

"Oh, if I were rich, how freely would I scatter my money in doing good!" said a young girl as she finished reading in a newspaper an appeal in behalf of a benevolent object. But she was not rich, and so laid the paper aside with a sigh. On that very day she had spent five dollars for a useless ornament.

Father-Well, my dear children, are you not all delighted with your own new magazine?

Mary-Yes, father, I am truly pleased with it; but I would like to know more about the reasons for calling it by such a very interesting name.

Father-Well, my dear, let us see if we cannot find out some good reasons for this sweet little title, besides those that the Editor gave us in his first address.

Mary-That is excellent-let us all guess. I think it will be called the Dew-Drop, because that is so suitable to tender herbs and flowers. Oh, I remember the Editor hinted that in his Address; but it is a nice reason-is it not, father?

3

22

A CONVERSATION ABOUT

Father-Yes, my child; it is a reason worth repeating. Heavy rains are good for sturdy trees, but small rain and dew for tender plants and herbs. So, great books for great grown people; but little books for little folks. Hard words and difficult thoughts for old persons; but simple thoughts in simple words for young people. Strong meat for men, but milk for babes. But think of something else that characterizes the dew.

Thomas-I have seen dry and withered flowers and plants look very vigorous after an abundan dew, as if they had been very much refreshed.

Father-Yes, the dew refreshes the tender herb; and so the DEW-DROP is intended to refresh the weary spirit of any child that has felt reason to be unhappy. And, oh, there are many little boys and girls, who, however much they may seem to enjoy their play, at times feel like dear little Bertie, of whom I have read to you. You remember how one night he was crying aloud in his little cot-bed, and, though very late and nearly dark, he could not sleep; and, as his mamma entered the room to enquire the reason of his distress, he threw himself on his face across the bed, sobbing out, "Oh! mamma, what shall I do? My sins! my sins!" Dear little boy! "he was weary and heavy laden;" he was like a tender plant that had become dry and withered, and needed the refreshing dew to cheer and relieve his young heart. mamma directed him to Jesus, who weary, so will your little magazine tell from time to time, where you, my dears, and all children, may find rest from the sense of their sins; and thus will the little book come refreshingly to your troubled spirit, as the "dew upon the tender herb." But tell me one thing

And just as his gives rest to the