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VARIETIES.

A DAY WELL SPENT.

Every day is a little life; and our whole life is but a day repeated. And hence it is said that old Jacob numbers his life by days, and Moses desires to be taught this point of holy arithmetic-to number not his years but his DAYS, and these, so as to apply his heart unto wisdom! Those, therefore, that dare lose a day are dangerously prodigal, and those that dare misspend it, desperate! () children, then give heed; your feet are already entangled among time's rapids, and another misspent hour may drive you headlong on the rocks of destruction. Improve the time, for the days are few and evil.

A LITTLE MISSIONARY.

There was a little girl, not nine years old, who had learned in a Sabbath-school to value the Bible and to love the Lord. As her parents were poor, they left this country, and went to America. When they

reached the place where they intended to live, the first desire of little Mary's heart was to find a Sundayschool, like that which she had attended in England, and a kind teacher such as she had when there. But, poor girl! she was greatly disappointed. There was nothing of the kind in the dark and distant place where her parents had settled down. Yet many other children were there; and, after a little time, Mary thought,||| that if she could not learn, she would try to teach and so she went first to one and then to another, and told them some things she had heard at her English Sunday-school, and repeated to them many pretty little hymns. The children were delighted, for they had never heard anything of the kind before; and then one told another what Mary had taught them, till at last ever so many came round her, and in this way she get a little Sunday-school of her own in the American wilderness, and spread around her the light which she had brought from England.

HERE is a thoughtful girl who has gone out to a lovely spot where grow a great many flowers. There are especially a delightful number of the most lovely lilies. She has been reading before she went out these words of Jesus-" Consider the lilies." She has gathered a few of them in her bonnet, and now she stands with some in her hand admiring them and learning the lessons of matchless wisdom, which may be obtained from these beautiful flowers. Now, dear young readers, I am very desirous that you, too, should learn the precious lesson which Jesus taught, when he said"Consider the lilies." You know, that now most

of you are fed and clothed by your parents without either care or labour on your part, and hence you do not know much about great anxiety regarding the things that are needed to clothe and feed you. But after you grow up and find that you must labour for yourselves, and it may be, find some difficulty, and getting on in the world, you will be tempted to feel very distressingly careful as to the things of the world. Now, it is when this comes to be the case, that you will need most to consider the lilies; " but if you are now well accustomed to such consideration it will come readily to you then, whereas, if you do not think of these things now you will be apt to forget to think of them after you grow older. If you take up the lily, or stand by it in the garden, and think how beautifully God has clothed it, and how much more in his kind providence he must be willing to clothe you, and accustom your young hearts to such thoughts, then they will be quite natural to you in after years. You will find them to be like treasure which you have laid up for a time of need. Think of the kindness of Him who clothed the lilies, as it is shown to you in the wonderful suffering which he bore for your sins, and you will rejoice to say in Jesus' words, "Much more will he clothe " and feed us. Let us all, then, rejoice to put perfect confidence in a Gracious Friend.

AN UNGRATEFUL RETURN.

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AN UNGRATEFUL RETURN.

DEAR YOUNG READER-No doubt you will know well the meaning of ingratitude. If you have any friends or relatives who are kind to you, and give daily evidence of their increasing love, and if you show unkindness to them in return, then you are a most ungrateful child.

I heard the other day of a little sailor boy, who was on his return home from a distant country. When the vessel reached Yarmouth Roads, it blew a frightful hurricane; every thing was tried to save the ship, but in vain, she struck. Many souls were in this ship unprepared to meet the great Judge of the universe. Their shrieks and groans bore lamentable testimony to this fact. Signal guns were fired to announce their position of deep distress. Boats were sent out from the shore to assist in saving their lives. The little sailor boy I have mentioned, was in deep distress lest he should be forgotten. He was seated in the cabin crying aloud to the passengers, "OH SAVE ME! oh save me!"

Many heard his call for help, but were too much occupied with their own affairs to attend to his request. One gentleman, however, in passing through the cabin heard him with deep compassion, and resolved to save him. He placed him by his side in the life boat, and both were most wonderfully saved from a watery grave. The first words uttered by the young sailor when he reached the shore, were oaths and blasphemy against the kind God who so wonderfully provided for his deliverance. Oh, was not this the most base ingratitude! Why, one would think that in such circumstances, his first words would have been those of thanksgiving. The kind gentleman who had felt so much compassion for him, was shocked and could not listen to his oft-repeated curses.

Now, dear reader, you are not to think this case more awful than others. Let me tell you that hundreds in our own country are equally guilty. Oh how many little boys and girls are deeply guilty of

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AN UNGRATEFUL RETURN.

ingratitude to God. I know little children who do not swear or blaspheme, are apt to think that they are not so wicked as those who engage in such practices. But the little boy or girl who continues to hate God, is as ungrateful as this little boy.

Look at your own position, dear reader, and see if this be not true. Are you the enemy of God? Do you care nothing at all for him? If so, just think how he regards you. He made you, and breathed into your nostrils the breath of life. He has preserved you through all the dangers of infancy and childhood, and up to the present hour has blessed you with innumerable comforts. Think then if it be not cruel ingratitude to refuse him your love. Think, too, of your position as to eternity. You are created an immortal being; you must live not merely here, in this world, but eternally, either miserable or happy -either a companion of demons in hell, or angels in heaven. Ponder this, I entreat you. Oh, did you truly realise your perilous state as to eternity, you would cry out in agony like the little sailor boy-oh save me, oh save me! Your position is even more perilous than his. He was all anxiety to escape from a watery grave, and hence his cry for help. You, my reader, if unsaved, are in danger of eternal death. WHAT CAN SAVE YOU?

Remember and meditate on the Love of God, as seen in the gift of his only Son, and you will see your way of escape. Jehovah has done more for you than merely giving you a being and surrounding you with temporal blessing. He has made ample provision for your soul -your immortal mind. "God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life." Here then is your deliverer, Jesus Christ. He beheld a lost and ruined world perishing, and his compassionate heart yearned to accomplish deliverance. He became man. He bore our sins in his own body on the tree." All your iniquities, dear reader, were laid upon him. Had Jesus not made satisfaction to the justice of God for all your sins, you would have reaped