Chapter C: Swain (1)

FLYING FOXES.

Among the many anomalies presented by Nature, that of a flying mammal has seemed strikingly incongruous, and has always left an impression on the popular mind generally the reverse of the truth. The fox-bats are an example in point. Superstition has gathered about these strange creatures the wildest fears; and their uncouth and weird looks have strengthened a foolish credence in the stories of the vampire. They, it was declared, settled at night upon the wearied sleeper, and sucked his life-blood, or with a malicious bite involved the souls of the virtuous in the terrors of their own lost estate.

The examinations of the naturalist long ago put to flight these romantic tales; but in their haunts, among the woods of Southern Asia, in Africa, Australia, Java, and Sumatra, their black swarms and flying movements yet cause dread and disgust.

The flying foxes are ranged under the order of the _Cheiroptera_, or hand-winged mammals, and are grouped together in the sub-section of the fruit-eating bats, as distinguished from those feeding mostly upon insects.

Their depredations upon orchards and vineyards are notorious. Sailing through the air at sundown, and guided by an acute sense of smell, they will enter the plantations containing some plant upon which the fruit has reached maturity, and, covering it in crowds, will revel in the delicious repast, leaving the tree or vine at dawn stripped of all its precious wealth. They fly rapidly, but never at any great height, and sometimes will traverse considerable spaces, migrating from island to island over intervening arms of the ocean. On the ground they are agile and curiously active. They climb trees with ease, and during the day hang by their hind limbs, their wing membrane wrapped around them, from the loftier boughs. So densely are they sometimes congregated that the tree seems a solid mass of black, motionless bags.

The species is distributed over East India, and finds also a favourable habitation in Madagascar. It lives in immense colonies, and its swarms have been compared with those of gnats, while the branches they infest sometimes break down with their great weight. They feed on dates, bananas, the guava fruit, and also eat insects, the young and eggs of birds, and apparently at times snakes. Their flesh is edible, and esteemed immensely by natives, who catch them in nets in the trees, and kill them on the ground.

In flight, they can be brought down by a blow delivered on the expanded arms, covered with the flying membrane (patagium), as these are very weak.

This species is seen more often in captivity than any other; and Brehm, from whose admirable Thierleben these notes are taken, speaks with characteristic enthusiasm of his observations made upon one. The "fox" slept nearly all day, though regularly he devoted some time to the cleansing and preparation of his "flying machine," and occasionally bestirred himself for the enjoyment of a cherry or a sip of milk. At the approach of night he became restless and excited, stretched his wings, and vainly attempted to escape. He displayed temper, and would bite sharply any one whose familiarities he resented. The combats of these animals with one another are very relentless, and generally terminate with the death of one or both contestants.

The head in these bats is long and pointed, the ears moderately large, the nose without the appendages seen in the insectivorous bats, and the jaws armed with incisors, canines, and molar teeth. They form in their habitat interesting spectacles; and their whirring progress through the air at night, or the pendent throngs they present by day, alike astonish the visitor to Ceylon and India. The bats are naturally regarded as one of the most distinctly marked groups of animals; and among them the flying-foxes (_Pteropidae_) are easily identified. They have long been known in literature, and the ancient Herodotus spoke of them in Arabia, and said that the inhabitants protected themselves against them in dresses of leather. Later classic authors referred to them, and many naturalists have in the East carefully observed their habits.

KILLED BY LIGHTNING.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,--As a warning to any of our young friends who, when they leave home to take part in the battle of life, may be thrown amongst revilers and blasphemers, I will relate a sad occurrence which took place in the next village to this on Monday, June 25th, 1888.

A club is held in the village of Birdham, where this took place, and on the evening previous, being the Sabbath evening, the stall-keepers, swinging boat proprietors, &c., were drinking at the village inn, and one of the company, a young man of twenty, was swearing and flourishing his hands over his head, saying he did not care for any one. God might strike him blind if He liked.

The next day, about noon, a heavy thunderstorm burst over the village. This young man had gone into the field with the horse, a little boy being beside him, when a flash of lightning darted down, cut his hat to pieces, and left him a corpse. One ear was split, and one hand and the face were black.

Thus it was not long before God dealt with this young mocker in a manner more awful than he probably expected. This was so sad that it impressed many with solemn thoughts, and led to the following similar sad story being again related.

Some years since, in the next village, Earnley, a man being accused of taking some money, declared that, if he had it, he hoped his legs and arms might be burned off. A storm arose, the lightning darted athwart the heavens, fell on the barn wherein he was, burned the barn, and his body was afterwards found with legs and arms burned off.

This was related to me by a woman named Shepherd, now living within a short distance of where the barn stood, and who saw it on fire.

Still another sad tale. On Sunday last, four young men left Bognor for Selsey--a few miles' trip by boat on the sea. At Selsey they took too much drink, and, on their return, the boat capsized, and they were in the water for an hour crying for help; but although many heard them one and two miles away--it being a still night--no one seems to have known whence the sounds came. Thus all four Sabbath-breakers perished. One of the poor fellows wore the knees of his trousers quite away in his attempts to climb on the overturned boat.

A. E. P.

_Sidlesham._

P.S.--Selsey also joins this village. I saw the boat rowing towards it about half-past four.

["The wages of sin is death." Reader, how are you living? How shall you die, and where shall you go? Remember that all who are out of Christ are exposed to the wrath of God, while all who, by faith, flee to Him for mercy, are saved from the wrath to come. Beware of mocking God, of despising His Word, and of desecrating His day. "The way of transgressors is hard," but "whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall find mercy."--ED.]

THE highest visible form of Christian life is self-denial for the good of others.

AN AGED PILGRIM'S HISTORY.

An aged pilgrim of seventy-two years, recently made a pensioner of our Society, has lately come under our notice, and as an example of courageous faith, it may interest our readers and others to know something of this poor old man.

Having faithfully served our country for fourteen years as a soldier in the 14th Light Dragoons, and having been severely wounded during the Crimean War, in which he served in all the special engagements, he was paid off as unfit for further service, receiving a pension for only ten years, as he was unable to complete the full term of service (twenty-one years) which would have entitled him to a pension for life.

After leaving the army he worked as a labourer, whenever he could find employment, and was brought to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ about twenty years ago, after which he was soon engaged in carrying heavy loads at Cotton's Wharf, in Tooley Street, London.

After seventeen years of this work, he one day, unhappily, stumbled whilst carrying a load, and fell backwards some distance, the back of his head being split open. This brought about paralysis on the left side, and some two years afterwards it resulted in the loss of his sight. For three years he has been stone blind, and has suffered at times most acutely from pain in the head; but his indomitable energy, and strong faith in his "dear Heavenly Father," have kept him from falling to the level of a pauper; and rather than gravitate to the condition of an inmate of one of our Unions, he has bravely endeavoured to make a living by playing a musical instrument in the streets.

To add to his affliction, his wife, in 1883, was run over in the streets of London, and died in an hospital under amputation of both legs. Thus, left without relation or friend, this poor blind man had to face this cold and unheeding world alone; and yet he is never alone, for his faith is so bright that he goes out, walking long distances, trusting to God to preserve him in his way.

On one occasion, he was taken by a constable before the Lord Mayor of London, charged with playing an instrument in the streets, and having been questioned as to what he did, answered that he played a small instrument by which to keep himself. The Lord Mayor asked him to play a tune, which he accordingly did, and he at once took the part of this aged pilgrim, gave him five shillings, and reprimanded the constable for arresting the poor old man, and told him to look after those who were doing really wrong things in the streets, and not to bring poor, helpless men to him like that. This poor man, hearing the severe words addressed to the constable by his lordship, immediately began to beg that no punishment might be meted out, quietly remarking, "My lord, very likely he is a young constable, and has not quite learnt his duties. Don't punish him; don't punish him." Thus did he show the true Christian spirit of love for his enemies.

To illustrate the marvellous energy of will and courage of heart in this old veteran, on one occasion he was badly bitten by a ferocious dog, which left a terrible wound on his leg. No sooner had it got well enough for him to crawl, than he walked four miles in awful agony to see one of his friends, taking four and a half hours over the journey. Such men are worthy of our support.

Our readers may ask, "How is it that Government does not look after this old soldier?" But it is explained when we learn that he married "off the strength," _i.e._, without leave, and so is now left to do the best he can, unaided by his country.

From town to town this poor man, literally a pilgrim, wanders, seeking the "wherewithal" to keep body and soul together. Often would he have been starved, but for friends whom the good Lord has raised up for him in the most unexpected ways.

Wherever he goes he carries the savour of Christ with him, and boldly witnesses for his Saviour, abominating the awful language and behaviour which he has to put up with in the houses where he lodges for the night; and has even been pushed and struck because he has spoken out against the evil by which he was surrounded. Thus actually from day to day dependent upon his "Father in heaven" for his "daily bread," he lives by faith; and thank God we know that, not having "his portion in this life," there awaits him in due time the sweet rest of heaven, where he shall be for ever "comforted" and owned in his Father's kingdom.--H. J. K., in _Quarterly Record of the Aged Pilgrims' Friend Society_.

A MODEL PRAYER-MEETING.

It was a cheerful chapel above ground, filled with seats, wide enough apart to kneel down between them, if one wanted to do so, well warmed and well ventilated.

At the time fixed for the meeting, first of all came Brother _Punctuality_. His watch and actions are always regulated to the minute by the town clock. Once he and the minister came together. They waited one minute for others who came not, and then each prayed, talked, and sang. They spent fifteen minutes thus, and then left.

On their way home they met the rest coming, who said, "Why, are we not to have a meeting?" "Oh, _we_ have had one," was the reply. That cured all, except the most incorrigible, of their delay. Some people are chronically tardy. You can never change them. They are always too late for work, too late for dinner, too late for church. What a mercy if they are not at last among those who come when the door is shut! They disturb the devotions of others. Not so Brother Punctuality; only he has one troublesome fault. When the hour is done he opens that inevitable hunting-watch of his, and snaps it to with such a nervous jerk that it says very plainly to all, "Now, shut up and go home." This is bad enough in ordinary and dull times, but when hearts are warm, and prayers are strong, and the current of love flows fully, let there then at least be a little more latitude.

Congenial with this brother is Brother _Promptitude_. When the leader opens the meeting, he is always ready to rise. He shudders at these pauses. They are to him as ice-cakes clogging the current of love, hindering the wheels of prayer. Yet he would not rush things. I have known him to count _seven_, the mystic number of the Scripture, and then, if no one rose to speak or pray, he did. He is thus a minute man, ready for action in a minute, and hating to lose the minutes. Slower natures than his complain that he does not give them time to think. No matter; they may learn at last not to be so slow.

In the other seat sits Brother _Brevity_. He has something to say, and having said it he sits down. When some overstocked divine or some thin-laid layman drags wearily along with a chain of dull platitudes, he is very twitchy, wondering why people will waste so much good breath and use so many poor words in saying nothing.

Brother _Pointedness_ deeply sympathises with him. He wants to see people take good aim at the mark, and hit it--not try to see how near they can come and not do it.

Brother _Round-the-Circle_ greatly distresses him, who, if he has a fact, an incident, or an illustration, has so many minor details to dwell upon that he smothers the infant-truth under his mass of old clothes.--_Selected._

[Perhaps this curious sketch may yield useful hints to some who read it.--ED.]

GENEROSITY AND LOVE.

The late Duke of Portland was a nobleman who contrived to pass through life without much noise, but reaped happiness and respect in abundance, and, while gratifying his taste for rural occupation, conferred the most lasting benefits on the country. The following, among many stories, is told of him:--

The duke discovered that one of his tenants, a small farmer, was falling, year after year, into arrears of rent. The steward wished to know what was to be done. The duke rode to the farm, saw that it was rapidly deteriorating, and the man, who was really an experienced and industrious farmer, totally unable to manage it, from poverty. In fact, all that was on the farm was not enough to pay the arrears.

"John," said the duke, as the farmer came to meet him, as he rode up to the house, "I want to look over the farm a little."

As they went along, "Really," said he, "everything is in very bad case. This won't do. I see you are quite under it. All your stock and crops won't pay the rent in arrear. I will tell you what I must do. I must take the farm into my own hands. You shall look after it for me, and I will pay you your wages."

Of course, there was no saying nay. The poor man bowed assent.

Presently there came a reinforcement of stock, then loads of manure, at the proper time seed, and wood from the plantations for repairing gates and buildings. The duke rode over frequently. The man exerted himself, and seemed really quite relieved from a load of care by the change. Things speedily assumed a new aspect. The crops and stock flourished; fences and out-buildings were put into good order. In two or three rent-days it was seen by the steward's books that the farm was making its way. The duke on his next visit said--

"Well, John, I think the farm does very well now. We will change again. You shall once more be tenant, and, as you now have your head fairly above water, I hope you will be able to keep it there."

The duke rode off at his usual rapid rate. The man stood in astonishment; but a happy fellow he was when, on applying to the steward, he found that he was actually re-entered as tenant to the farm, just as it stood in its restored condition. We will venture to say, however, that the duke himself was the happier man of the two.

He that doeth good enriches his own heart with unspeakable blessings.

"Better a fountain in the heart
Than a fountain by the way."

W. H.

ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.

(_Page 165._)

"_Praise._"--PSALM cl. 1.

P is in Peter, but not in Aaron.
R is in Pharaoh, but not in Matthew.
A is in Adam, but not in Moses.
I is in Israel, but not in Abdon.
S is in Jesus, but not in Daniel.
E is in Eden, but not in Spirit.

JOSEPH HUGH WILLERTON
(Aged 6 years).

_Corby, Grantham._

[A correct answer has also been received from Maggie Nunn, aged nine years.--ED.]

ZOAR CHAPEL SUNDAY SCHOOL, HAND CROSS.

The Sunday School children of the above place of worship met together for their annual meeting on Sunday afternoon, May 20th, when our kind friend, Mr. Daw, of Hailsham, presided.

The service commenced by our old friend, Mr. Izard, giving out Hymn 59, Clifton Hymnal, after which Mr. Daw commenced by saying, as there were a goodly number of friends present, as well as children, he would try to make it as much like an ordinary service as possible. He then read 1 Samuel iii., then engaged in prayer, after which Hymn 212 was sung, the last line of the chorus being, "What can we give in exchange for the soul?"

He said that, when he was about one year old in divine things, he thought, if that text was written up on his house in big letters, so as people could see it as they passed by, it would convert them, and he actually went out one day to see if there was a place where it might be put up. That was when he had been quickened into life about one year. He said he did not feel very old now. He remembered asking some little girls if they could tell him how old he was, and one little girl said thirteen; and he thought she was very near right, for he felt sure he was not more than fourteen now.

He then said he should preach a short sermon from 1 Samuel iii., and the last clause of the eighth verse--"And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child." He said he had tried to preach to children before, but this was to be a special trial, so we should see how he got on.

He said, in referring to the Lord calling Samuel, that his mother Hannah was of a sorrowful spirit, and prayed and made vows to the Lord that, if He would give her a man-child, she would give him to the Lord all the days of his life; and the Lord granted her request, and she called his name Samuel, because she had asked him of the Lord. So when Samuel was very young, she took him up to the temple; and one night, when he lay asleep, the Lord called him, and Samuel thought it was Eli that called him. But Eli said, "I called thee not; go and lie down again." But the Lord called him the second and third time, then "Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child."

The Lord called David to be king--the most unlikely one of the lot, for all his brothers passed before Samuel first. Great, strong men they were, to all appearance--far before David. But no; David, the shepherd boy, was chosen to be king, for God often "chooses the foolish things to confound the wise."

He said he used to be a teacher in the Sunday School, and he often wished he was one now, for he thought he liked talking to children best; and when the Lord called him out to preach, one of his greatest trials was, to give up the Sunday School, for he thought out of his class the Lord had called four boys and four girls.

Some boys and girls, after they have been to a Sunday School a few times, will return home and tell a fine tale to their mother, and say, "I shall not go to that school any more." "Oh, why not?" "Because they don't give such good treats and prizes as they do at other schools." But their mothers never ought to encourage that.

He once saw a girl at Polegate Station, and he thought, "That girl is going off to service." He was sure of it; and whenever he saw a girl at the station, with a box or two and a parcel, going off to service for the first time, he generally said to himself, "That girl will have a good cry to-night, when she gets into bed." So when he saw this girl, he thought he would write her a letter; and he did so--that being five years ago--and he saw her only last week, when she said she had cause to thank him for that letter, and he quite hoped that letter was the means used by the Lord in calling her.

Then he said he wanted to say a word to parents and teachers. He did not know who he had before him, because he did not live in the neighbourhood. If he did, he should know more about them, and if the children did not come to school pretty regularly, he should often call on them to know the reason. He said he did not wish to offend them, but he often thought that parents sent their children to school, and never went to the house of God themselves.

And as to teachers--what a self-denying work theirs was! If there were any that needed sympathy, it was the teachers; and if they could not get it from the parents, they would draw it from some other source, for we read, "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days" (Eccles. xi. 1).

The children then repeated several hymns and passages of Scripture, which they had learned for the occasion, after which Mr. Daw proceeded to distribute the prizes--which consisted of Bibles, hymn-books, and other good books--those receiving the best who had the most marks for attendance and good behaviour. In presenting a nice Bible to a little girl, he made the remark, "I have a Bible in my pocket which is not quite so good-looking as yours, but I prize it beyond any Bibles here, because it was given to me by a girl that is now in heaven; and there are marks in it, against various portions of Scripture, which had been blessed to her through my ministry." As they came forward to receive their prizes, he addressed each one in a very affectionate manner. He, indeed, had a kind word for all. He also wished each one to learn a hymn, which he named. After singing another hymn, Mr. Daw concluded with prayer.

"Am I called, and can it be?
Has my Saviour chosen me?
Vilest of the vile am I;
Can I lift my thoughts so high?"

A READER.

ZION CHAPEL, TROWBRIDGE.

The sixtieth anniversary of the Sabbath School in connection with this place was held on Sunday, June 24th. Special sermons were preached by Mr. B. C. Turner, of Southport, and the scholars sang specially-selected hymns in the evening, at which service the chapel was crowded.

The text in the morning was Ruth iii. 1, and in the evening Mr. Turner spoke from Ecclesiastes xi. 6, "In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand." In discoursing from these words, he spoke many encouraging words to the teachers and parents, and gave good advice to the children.

After the sermon, three girls and four boys were promoted to the Senior Bible Classes, each of whom was presented with a handsomely-bound Bible, and Mr. Turner spoke a few appropriate words to them.

The collections at the two services amounted to L15 1s. 3d. The school now numbers 240 scholars, forty teachers, and two superintendents.

BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN AUGUST.

Aug. 5. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 1. Aug. 12. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 14. Aug. 19. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 25. Aug. 26. Commit to memory Prov. iv. 18.

WHAT could Jesus do more than die for us? and what can we do less than live to Him?

OUR BIBLE CLASS.

THE PARABLE OF THE LABOURERS IN THE VINEYARD.

(MATTHEW xx. 1-16.)

Jesus had left Galilee for the last time, and He and His disciples were on their way to Jerusalem, where He would be condemned to die. They had rested in a house on the road, and He had embraced and blessed the little children that were brought to receive His gracious touch. He had been met by a rich young man as He resumed His journey--one who wanted eternal life, but sorrowfully left the only Giver of that blessing because he could not bear to give up his wealth to follow the meek and lowly Saviour; and as the youth turned away, Jesus had said to the disciples, "Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God" (Mark x. 24). A conversation followed (Matt. xix.), in the course of which Peter asked, "What reward shall we have, who have forsaken all, and followed Thee?" to which question the Saviour replied by a promise and a parable--the promise that all His followers should gain a hundred-fold by their losses for His sake, and inherit everlasting life; but He added, "Many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first," to illustrate which fact, He told them a parable. "For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard." With those whom he first engaged, a penny a day was the wages agreed upon, and they went at once to work. A penny a day, young friends, was not such a little as it seems to us. It meant about eightpence halfpenny in our money, and would buy a great deal more than we can get for eightpence halfpenny now. You could live, in a careful way, at "an inn" for a great deal less than a penny a day; and when the good Samaritan took the wounded Jew to one of these humble places of rest and refreshment, he gave the innkeeper "two pence" to take care of his guest, and provide for him, and promised to pay any more expense should it be incurred.

The terms were very fair and liberal for a full day's work; but more hands were needed, and the master went out again at nine o'clock in the morning, then at noon, at three in the afternoon, and yet again at the eleventh hour, five p.m.; and finding still some unemployed, he asked, "Why stand ye here all the day idle?" "Because," said they, "no man hath hired us." "Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive." Such were the terms on which all except the earliest labourers were hired.

The working day of twelve hours is ended; the men are called to receive payment; but, strange to say, the latest comers are first called, and each one receives the full amount--one penny. The whole-day workers are now dissatisfied. They have got all they were promised, but why should those latecomers have as much as themselves, who had been working all the time? "Friend," said the good man of the house to one of the complainers, "I do thee no wrong. Didst thou not agree with me for a penny? Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, or envious, because I am good?" "So," said the Lord Jesus, "in My kingdom the last shall be first, and the first last." And has not He, who is your Lord and Master, a right to do what He will with His own?

The disciples were thinking that Jesus would reign on earth, and make the Jews a free, prosperous nation, and they, as His first followers, wanted to be great men in His kingdom (see verses 20, 21 of this chapter). Christ, on the other hand, was thinking of a spiritual, heavenly kingdom, where He would reign for ever, ruling His people's hearts by love. In this kingdom God has always blessed His servants according to His own good pleasure.

Abraham, Isaac, David, and a host of others who served the Lord for many years, looked forward to dwelling with Him in blessedness for ever. The dying thief, whose day of life was spent in worse than idleness, in the service of sin and Satan, received, in answer to his earnest prayer, the wonderful assurance, "Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise."

Prophets laboured, and Apostles reaped the fruit of those labours (John iv. 37, 38). John the Baptist was great and honoured as the herald of Jesus, yet the least one in Christ's kingdom is equal with, and in some respects even greater, than he (Matt. xi. 11).

The Gentiles, in time past, were not a saved people; but now multitudes of them have been gathered to Jesus, and become the people of God, while the Jews (God's ancient people) have to a great extent despised the Gospel, and been shut out from its blessings; so the last have been first, and the first have become last.

Among the twelve Apostles, Andrew first found Jesus, and brought Peter, his brother, to Him; but Peter afterwards became far more noted than Andrew, especially on the Day of Pentecost, and in his Epistles; while Paul, the very last of all, the persecutor of Christians, became the first and greatest of the apostolic witnesses of Jesus. And Paul took no credit to himself for this. "Not I, but the grace of God which was with me," he delighted to say was the cause of all the good works done; and when he joyfully looked forward to the crown of righteousness laid up for him, he gladly adds, "and not for me only, but also for all them that love His appearing."

This parable is quite different from the one in Matthew xxi., where faithful and unfaithful servants are contrasted. All the labourers in this vineyard worked. None are accused of laziness or unfaithfulness. None are blamed for the way in which their work was done. Those who laboured longest were still well paid, while the late comers were rewarded by sheer generosity. So, in the kingdom of God's grace, each favoured servant of the Lord "knows in all his heart and soul that not one thing has failed of all the good things the Lord his God promised him." He never gives less than He said He would. He often gives more than we either ask or think.

Does the end of the day in this parable mean the evening of life, or the end of the world? And did Jesus represent the feelings of some of His people when dying, or at the last day? Oh, no! I do not for one moment think so. But you know we sometimes show a pouting, cross little child a picture of one like itself, to let it see how ugly it looks; and in the same way Jesus, by this parable, taught His disciples and us that when we are jealous and envious of others, we are finding fault with God's kindness and bounty.

And let us remember that, whether we are rich or poor--whether our labours in Christ's cause seem very successful or not--yet, if we have been called to serve Him at all, the highest honour has been put upon us. Far better to be employed in His vineyard than to be loitering outside; infinitely preferable to be "a doorkeeper in His house, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." His "ways are ways of pleasantness," and "in keeping His commandments there is great reward."

May we be His servants, loving and faithful, and receive at last that great reward which none but Jesus can deserve, "the free gift of God, eternal life," through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour; and our song of humble gratitude will be, "Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name be glory, for Thy mercy and truth's sake. Amen."

Our next subject will be, _Ananias and Sapphira_ (Acts v.).

Your affectionate friend,
H. S. L.

PRIZE ESSAY.

CONTRAST THE LESSON TAUGHT BY THE CONDUCT OF SOLOMON AND OF REHOBOAM, AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THEIR REIGN.

The chief lesson taught by the conduct of Solomon at the commencement of his reign is, humility. We know this by his choice when God asked him, in a dream, "What shall I give thee?" He made answer that the people he had to rule were as the dust of the earth for multitude, and that he had no more power to act as a king than a child. He therefore wished for wisdom to help him to do right, and for God to be with him, as He had been with his father David.

This incident shows the gracious nature of Solomon's character; and the reward that God gave him ought to make us remember that "he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

With Rehoboam it was different. The lesson taught is, that his conduct should be shunned by all. Shortly after he was made king, those who had lived the greater part of Solomon's reign came and asked him if he would be kind to them, and ease the servitude that his father had put upon them. He sought to man instead of to God, and chose the counsel of foolish young men. After the people had been kept waiting three days, he told them that he would add to the yoke that they formerly had borne, and as his father had "chastised them with whips," so would he "with scorpions." At the time that Rehoboam made that rough and haughty answer, he probably had forgotten that the majority of the people had most power, but so it was here, for ten of the twelve tribes revolted.

The first lesson taught by Solomon, and the second taught by Rehoboam, contrast deeply with each other. The first, if imitated by every one, would work a wonderful change in the world. There would be fewer quarrels, fewer wars, and, in a word, less sin. The second is the cause of many evils with which the earth abounds. The former the Lord is delighted with; the latter is an abomination. If Jesus Christ was once "made lower than the angels" for our sakes, surely we ought to put away all haughtiness, and remember that we are on a level with our fellow-creatures by creation, and that all who are saved are saved by free grace, through faith in Christ.

WILLIAM ERNEST CRAY
(Aged 11 years).

_Pearl Cottage, Carlyle Road,
Forton, Gosport, Hants._

[Good Essays have been received from Jane Bell, Laura Creasey, E. B. Knocker, Alice Creasey, B. Stroud, Annie Judd, Alice Pease, G. A. Osmotherly, E. Saunders, M. E. Denly.]

[The writer of the above Essay receives a copy of "The Life of George Whitfield."

The subject for October will be, "Charity," as commended in the Scriptures; and the prize to be given for the best Essay on that subject, a copy of Foxe's "Book of Martyrs." All competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age, and that the Essay is their own composition, or the papers will be passed over, as the Editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information. Papers must be sent direct to the Editor, Mr. T. Hull, 117, High Street, Hastings, by the first of September.]

THE cross is the distinct announcement to us of that wonderful law, that "through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of heaven." Perfection through suffering--that is the doctrine of the cross. There is love in that law.

Interesting Items.

ON July 15th, after two sermons by Mr. Hull, at Rochdale Road, Manchester, L44 9s. 51/2d. was collected for the Sunday School there.

SALE OF PICTURES.--The _Chester Chronicle_ states authoritatively that Lord Tollemache has sold two of his pictures by Sir Joshua Reynolds for L15,000 each, and one by Gainsborough for L14,000.

IN addition to the present from a London banker of 10,000 books, a lady in the City has sent a van load, about one and a half tons, to the Mariners' Mission, Burdett Road, London, E., for free distribution among sailors and others.

LOW RENTAL FOR LAND.--Eight hundred acres of arable land in the Isle of Sheppey, well known for its productive nature, have just been let to a new tenant at the unprecedentedly low price of 1s. 2d. an acre. The tithe on the land is 12s. an acre.

ON June 1st, 1883, a toad was placed in a cavity hollowed in a large stone, and the opening was sealed up with cement. On the 1st of June, this year, the stone was broken open, and the toad was found alive, and strangely enough, it had grown considerably.

MR. JOHN WHITE, of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, erected a highly horrible scarecrow in a field. Three weeks afterwards he went to inquire after its health, and found that a robin had built her nest in one of the pockets, and a tomtit had utilized a sleeve for the same purpose.

A MAIDEN SESSION.--There were no prisoners for trial at Cambridgeshire Quarter Sessions, July 13th, 1888. Mr. Sperling, the chairman, who was presented with a pair of white gloves, said that, during an experience of over thirty years, he did not remember a previous maiden session.

THE Dundee sealing steamer _Esquimaux_ arrived the other week at St. John's, Newfoundland, from seal fishing, with a catch of 23,000 seals. The _Aurora_, another Dundee vessel, followed, with a cargo of 25,000 seals. The seal fishing off the Newfoundland coast has this season been a great success.

ARTIFICIAL IVORY.--A substance resembling ivory of creamy whiteness and great hardness is made from good potatoes washed in diluted sulphuric acid, then boiled in the same solution until they become solid and dense. They are then washed free from the acid and slowly dried. This ivory can be dyed, and turned, and made useful in many ways.

DR. GORDON STABLES, the well-known author, spends the summer in going about the country in a caravan. His handsome home on wheels is called "The Wanderer." It is drawn by two capital carriage horses, and is fitted in most luxurious fashion. He takes a man-servant with him, and has a tricycle attached to the vehicle. He stops at night by the roadside.

NEW GOLD FIELD.--A rich gold field has been discovered between the two rivers, Lava and Papanahoni, in Surinam. It is an open question whether this district of 20,000 to 25,000 square kilometres belongs to France or Holland. M. Condreau, the French traveller, who has been closely investigating the district, considers that it will be as productive as the gold-fields of Australia and California.

MR. GEORGE LE FEVRE, of the Huguenot Church at Canterbury Cathedral, writes thus--"A large and valuable oil painting of a scene in the history of the Huguenots has been presented to the French Church. The subject is exceedingly appropriate this year, being the tercentenary celebration of the defeat of the Spanish invasion of England. The picture has been hung up in that part of the Crypt known as the Chantry of the Black Prince, and has been much admired by tourists, who are now visiting in considerable numbers."

BY the steamship _Oonah_, which is the latest addition to the fleet of the Tasmanian Steam Navigation Company, there arrived at Melbourne on Saturday, April 28th, from Tasmania, the largest shipment of fruit for the London market which has left the Australian colonies--about 13,000 bushels of choice apples. The fruit will be transhipped into the cool chamber of the P. and O. mail boat _Oceana_, leaving on the 4th of May, and will be followed by another shipment by the _Britannia_, leaving on the 18th of May. This, we understand, closes the operations of the shippers for this season. Should the outcome of these shipments be as encouraging as the telegraphic news already received seems to indicate, there is every prospect of a very large export trade in this industry being established. We are informed that the parcel now arrived could have been very much increased had there been more room in the cool chamber of the _Oceana_. No doubt next season all the boats of the P. and O. and Orient Companies will make arrangements to take fruit, so that shipments can be forwarded every week.--_Launceston (Tasmania) Examiner, May 2nd._

FURTHER particulars of the floods in Mexico show them to have been of a most serious character. It is stated that, in the town of Silao, where the river overflowed its banks on the 18th of June, 1,500 persons perished. At Leon, over 2,200 houses were destroyed. In some districts it is declared that bodies were floating about on the waters as thickly as driftwood.

DREAD OF COMETS.--A story is related showing the dread with which comets were regarded in the early part of the last century. A renowned astronomer predicted that a comet would appear on Wednesday, October 14th, 1712, and that the world would be destroyed by fire on the Friday following. The astronomer was correct, so far as the comet was concerned. A number of persons got into the boats and barges on the Thames, thinking the water the safest place. A captain of a Dutch ship threw all his powder into the river, that his ship might not be endangered. A number of clergymen, it is said, were ferried over to Lambeth, to request that proper prayers might be prepared, there being none suitable in the Church service. Sir Gilbert Heathcote, at that time head director of the Bank, issued orders to all the fire offices in London, requiring them to keep a good look-out, and to have a particular eye on the Bank of England.

A MILLIONAIRE INVENTOR.--We have more than once pointed out how simple inventions (observes a writer in _Invention_) often realize large sums for the fortunate inventor. Here is another illustration. The discovery of the perforated substance used for bottoming chairs and for other purposes has made its inventor a millionaire. George Yeaton, the inventor in question, was a poor Yankee cane-seater in Vermont. He first distinguished himself by inventing a machine for weaving cane, but he made no money out of it, as some one stole his idea, and had the process patented. After a number of years experimenting, Yeaton at last hit upon this invention, which consists of a number of thin layers of boards of different degrees of hardness glued together to give pliability. Yeaton went through a number of bitterly contested law-suits before he got his invention patented. He was wise in not paying others to manufacture his device. He formed a company, and to-day he has a plant valued at half a million dollars, and is in the receipt of a princely annual revenue derived from this invention.

THE FASTEST TRAIN IN THE WORLD.--The fastest train in the world is without doubt the "Flying Dutchman," which for many years has succeeded in knocking off the seventy-eight miles between London and Swindon in an hour and twenty-seven minutes. This is at the rate of fifty-three miles an hour. Exeter is 194 miles from Paddington, and is reached in four and a quarter hours, or an average pace throughout, including stoppages, of forty-five miles and a half per hour. The Prince of Wales has made some remarkably quick journeys on the Great Western. Not very long ago the North Western took him from Manchester to London in three hours and fifty-five minutes, but the Great Western had previously beaten this by conveying him from London to Swansea (216 miles) in three hours and fifty-three minutes, the average speed throughout that remarkable journey being almost fifty-six miles an hour. English trains are much quicker than those of the Continent. The speed of the American expresses is from thirty-five to forty miles an hour. The Chemin de fer du Nord runs its expresses at an average of thirty-seven, and the Paris and Mediterranean at thirty-four miles an hour. Some of the German expresses cover thirty-six miles an hour.

A TERRIBLE SITUATION.--Mr. Ballou, in his recent wanderings under the Southern Cross, has found one more unpleasant item for reptile literature. In Sydney he heard the following snake story, the facts of which occurred not long before, near the town of Parramatta. In the family of a settler, who resided some half a league from the town, there was an invalid daughter, she being of an extremely nervous temperament. She was sleeping, one summer afternoon, in a hammock swung between two supporting standards in the shade of the piazza, when she was suddenly awakened by feeling something cold and moist clinging about her throat. She put her hand to the spot, and clasped the body of a snake just at the back of its head, and, with a horrified cry, wrenched with all her strength to pull it away. This was the first instinctive action of the moment, but so great was her terror that she speedily lost all consciousness of the situation. Her hand, however, still grasped the snake where she had first seized upon it, and with such a convulsive force that the creature was rendered powerless. The cry of the terrified girl brought the father from within the house, who instantly came to her relief; but in the fit which her fright had induced, her hand slowly contracted about the creature's throat with a force which she could not possibly have exerted when awake, and before her fingers were unclasped, by the aid of a bit of hammock cord, the reptile was completely strangled. Fortunately, the creature had not bitten the girl before she seized it, and after that it was unable to do so. It is said to have been four feet long, and of a poisonous species.

LETTER BY A DYING SOLDIER.

My dear wife,--Before these lines reach you, grim death will have swept me off the stage of time. No more shalt thou repose in these arms; no more shall these eyes behold thy lovely person, or gaze with delight on thee or my dear infants.

Yesterday we had a bloody and obstinate fight, in which we had great numbers killed and wounded. I received one ball in my leg, another in my breast. I am now so weak with the loss of blood that I can hardly write these few lines as the last tribute of my unchanging love to thee. The surgeons inform me that three hours will be the utmost I can survive. Alas! too true was the dire presage in my mind that we should never meet again on this side eternity.

On our passage here, I gave myself up to reading the Bible, it being the only Book I was possessed of. The Almighty was pleased to draw my heart to Him by the sweet attractions of His grace, and at the same time to enlighten my mind.

There is in the regiment a corporal who is a Christian. I had no knowledge of him till one night when I had been earnest in prayer to God to guide me in the way of peace. During my sleep I dreamed of this same man, and was directed to him by name, Samuel Pierce. The dream made so strong an impression on my mind that the next morning I inquired if there was such a person in the regiment, and was greatly astonished to find him. I told him my dream, with which he was much pleased. We soon contracted a strong friendship, and he was pleased to explain to me the amazing love of God in giving His Son Jesus Christ to bleed and die for sinners. He unfolded to me the mysteries of salvation, the nature of the new birth, and the great necessity of holiness of heart and life. In short, he became my spiritual father, and to him, under God, I owe much that I am now acquainted with.

Soon after we landed, God was pleased to speak peace to my soul. Oh, the bliss, the unutterable joy, that I then felt, through the blood of the Lamb! How I longed to tell the whole world what Jesus had done for me! But how did I long for thee, my love, to taste and know the love of God in Christ Jesus! I would have given the world to have been with thee, to have told thee of "the pearl of great price." And as we shall never meet more in this vale of tears, this is my dying wish and advice--read the Bible and good books, frequent the preaching of the Gospel, and the Lord will guide thee in His way. And oh, endeavour to bring up the dear little ones in the fear of God. Oh, never fix thine heart upon the vain and unsubstantial things of this world! Heaven and the love of God are the only things that demand our hearts, or are worthy of engrossing them. I have been a worthless husband to thee, and a vile rebel against my God. "God be merciful to me a sinner!" I die in peace. I die in a full assurance of eternal glory. A few moments and my soul shall be ranged in the "general assembly of the Church of the First-born who are written in heaven."

And now, my dear infants, the God who blessed Jacob and Joseph will bless you. Seek Him, and He will be found of you. Call upon Him, and He will hear and bless you. Learn, then, my dear children, when you grow up, to seek for permanent happiness in God through a crucified Redeemer.

"The world recedes, it disappears;
Heaven opens on my eyes, my ears
With sounds seraphic ring.
Lend, lend your wings; I mount, I fly!
'O grave, where is thy victory?
O death, where is thy sting?'"

Dear wife, more would I say, but life ebbs out apace. Bright angels stand around the gory turf on which I lie, ready to escort me to the arms of Jesus. Bending saints reveal my shining crown, and beckon me away. Yea, methinks my Jesus bids me come. Adieu, adieu!

JOHN RANDON.

A HOPEFUL CASE.

Being called to preach the Word in a parish where there is no resident minister, it frequently falls to my lot to visit those who are afflicted.

A singular instance, both of ignorance and mercy, appeared in the character of a person almost unknown to me till the following circumstance took place.

A poor woman, about the middle of August last, was taken very ill with pleurisy, and was much alarmed. This being the Sabbath evening, she sent for one of the people who usually attend my preaching to come and read with her. He accordingly went, and she was much pleased with what he read. Before he left her, she solicited him to ask me to come and see her. Being out preaching, upon my return home I met this person, who told me the request of the poor woman. I immediately went, and found her in a helpless, miserable state, both as to body and soul. Her husband being gone to harvest, she was left without money to procure any of the comforts of life. The marks of poverty appeared in every part of the habitation, and the poor creature laid stretched out upon a bed of sorrow, being in a languishing state through the violence of the fever.