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\ “One afternoon, having seated myself on a pleas~
yant hill-side, so as to receive pure air and the ge-
attention was attracted by
But when at length the Saviour stood disclosed,’
With what delight her eager soul believed !. \
On Him, without a doubt or fear, r
temptibleness.
the scorn of every generous reader.
_.THE FAMILY....
THE LIVING WATER.
tee
t."—Joun 4: 14.
It was the noontide hour, when on his way”
The Saviour rested at Samaria’s well, 0:
Though worn and wearied by the sultry day,
From His parched lips what blessed teachings fell !
“He spoke of living water unto one * .
... Who wondered greatly at His kind address.
She knew not of the works that He had done,
‘And that He went about to heal and bless. ,
~ ‘The weary traveller alone she saw,
But did not yet the true Messiah kno’
“Thou nothing hast,” she said, “wherewith to draw; !
Whence hast Thou living water to bestow 2”
as the aweet, refreshing words she heard .'
like soft balm upon her opening mind,
i ‘er sout was stirred,”
ving stream, of which He told, to find.
Then,
Fell
. An carnest longing in
It was at first of earthly need she thought ;— » ‘
“Give me this water, that I thirst '
Nor hither come to draw"'—a rest she sought
From weary burdens she had borne before.‘
And the rich blessing of His grace received. |
She did not taste the precious gift alone,
* But spread the soul-reviving news around ;
Nor rested, till to others she had shown.» +, «
he gracious, loving Saviour she had found. |,
, weary one, oppressed with sin and care—
Thirsting for Lliss which earth can never give,
Now unto Jesus lift thine humble prayer,
And hear Him kindly say, “Believe and live !”
< A fount of living water—cheering news!
-_ Earth’s waysi
O, do not then the heavenly gift refuse,
. Drink of this stream, and never thirst again! | '*
te .
A BATTLE OF SNAKES,
an
/ nial rays of the sun, m
; a slight movement in the grass a few feet below me.
; On ‘ooking for the cause I
t ul
quest
{
t
(eyes of fire. Those of the green were swollen, and |*
|
’ snakes, one a
other a black one, about three feet in length. They
I vere a few feet apart, both creeping slowly along
in the grass in the same direction, probably in
of food. Anticipating what might be the
result should the two species come in too close
proximity, we carefully took our place so as not to
disturb, but to perceive them closely... Suddenly
the green snake came toa halt, and being on the
up hill-side was able to closely scan his adversary,
the black, without .being seen by him, and ap-
parently to ask himself the serious question, What
shall I do, run away or stand my ground? * But
Presently, moving a few inches forward in a
straight line, he was seen to raise his head care-
fully above the short blades of grass as if to recon-
noitre. This attracted black’s, attention, who, on
perceiving the green snake, rose immediately in a
spiral form, and advanced up the hill toward him.
‘The other also was seen to- rise a little, and to
Araw his body into a more dense form. - de-
sign was now evidently to menace and intimidate
-each other by displaying in quick succession ‘their
long, forked tongues, and gazing into each other's
seemed to change from a bright to a dull-red color;
while those of the other, sparkling with rage, dis-
played less fear but more power.
- While engaged in this way the black was seen
¢ to describe a tortuous, quivering motion with his
tail, and gradually approach bis opponent. Now
they made several dashes at each othtr’s eyes with
the points of their jaws, each missing’: his aim.
This to no purpose, they rushed upon. each other
with open mouths, and soon enveloped each other
in their snaky folds, apparently endeavoring’ to
crush or strangle each other in the tangled grass.
Failing to choke each other to death, they now un-
- coiled, and next endeavored to pulleach other in
twain. The black, coiling his neck around that of
the other, slid a little down the hill, and added the
weight of his body to his superior strength. But,
fortunately, the poor green, who seemed by this
time nearly exhausted, bethought himself to ‘coil
his tail firmly around a bramble, which happily
stood in reach. Now came the tug of war, and the
slim body of poor vernalis was stretched to its ut-
most tension. The black,-seeing the dilemma,
coiled also his tail around some blades of. grass,
but these all were quickly broken. Failing in
this attempt to conquer, the black raised himsel
nearly erect, and pounced upon his victim with
wide-spread jaws, and bit him alternately “from
head to tail, at the same time covering his body
with slime. ‘ The next move was to swallow him
whole, which he did, till he came to the great folds
so firmly tied around the little bush. These
brought him to a dead halt, and finding’ a retreat
necessary, he commenced to disgorge his enemy,
which, by the way, he found to be no easy business,
But accomplishing this, he was seen to stretch
himself out at full length, as if inclined to rest, and
meditate upon some better plan of attack. Just
here we interfered, and producing a small jar from
our pocket, made him an easy prisoner, and he now
forms one specimen in our collection.
ee
=
menced picking up the seattered potatoes, they
sneaked away, as such creatures will, when rebuked
for wrong, and made conscious ‘of their own con-
_Words are not necessary to commend the lad,
who with so unhesitating a sympathy could defend
a stranger in her helplessness and distress; neither
is comment needed upon the conduct of this group
of boys, to exhibit their brutality, and make them
“Whoso’ drinketh of the water that I shail give hin shall never
thirst me.
‘}and it was again taken up. ‘It is well it was not
5 --
le springs have long been tried in vain ;
“|told him, and requested that his brother, who was
erceived two young
een snake of the usual size; the
THE YOUTH’S.
The green snake was now, of course, supposed
to be dead. But on examination, to our surprise,
he was found still to be alive, and firmly coiled to
the bramble as at first. And before we left the .
spot be was seen gradually to uncoil himself from
the little twig, and slowly creep away out of sight,
occasionally halting to Tisten or scan the grount
closely, as if fearing that his adversary, the black,
might again spring upon him.—Christian Advocate
and Journal, ~ .
- ———_19)
. A TOUCHING SCENE. :
- I was conversing not long since with a returned
volunteer." -y
“I was in the hospital as nurse, for a long time,”
-| said he, and assisted in taking off limbs, and dress-
ing all sorts of wounds; but the hardest thing I
ever did was to take my thumb off a man’s leg.”
+ “Ab!” said I, “how was that?” Then he told
“It was a young man who had a severe wound
in the thigh. The ball passed completely through;|
and amputation was necessary. The limb was cui
off close to the body, the arteries taken up, and he
seemed to be doing well. Subsequently one of the
small arteries sloughed off. An incision was made,
the main artery,’ said the surgeon, as he performed
the operation ; the might have bled to death before
we could have taken it up.’ But Charley got on
finely and was a favorite with us all. * bong
I was passing through the ward one night about
midnight, when suddenly, as I was passing Charley’s
bed, he spoke to me: ‘1I——, my leg is bleeding
again.’ 1 threw back the bed-clothes, and the
‘|blood spirted in the.air, The. main artery had
sloughed off. ‘ a :
Fortunately, I knew just what to do, and in an
instant I had pressed my thumb on the place and
stopped the bleeding. It was so close to the body
that there was barely room for my thumb, but 1
succeeded in arousing one of the convalescents, ay
sent him for the surgeon, who came in on the run.
‘Lam so thankful, H——,’ said he, as he saw me,
‘that you were up and knew what to do, for he
thust have bled to death before I could have got
ere.” te
“But on examination of the case- he looked ex-
ceedingly serious, and sent for other surgeons. All
came that were within reach, and a consultation
was held over. the poor fellow. One conclusion
was reached by all. There was no spot to work
save the spot where my thumb was placed; they
could not work under my thumb, and if I moved it
he would bleed to death before the artery could be
taken up. There was no way to save his life. ©
Poor Charley! He was very calm when they
in the same hospital, might be called up. He came
and sat down by the bedside, and for three hour I
stood, and by the pressure of my thumb kept up
the life of Charley, while the brothers bad their
last conversation on earth. ' It was a strange place
for me to be in, to feel that I held the life of a fel-
low mortal in my hands, as it were, and stranger
yet, to feel that an act of mine must cause that life
to depart. Loving the poor fellow as I did it was
a hard thought ; but there was no alternative.
“The last words were spoken, Charley had. ar-
ranged all his business affairs, and sent tender mes-
sages to absent ones, who little dreamed how
near their loved one stood to the grave. . The tears
filled my eyes more than once as I listened to those
parting words. ' All was said, and he turned to me.
‘Now,"H—, I guess you had better take off your
thumb.’) ‘O Charley! how can I? I said. ‘But it
must be, you know,’ he replied, cheerfully—I
thank you very much for your kindness, and now
‘ood-by.” . . ot
“He turned away his head, I raised’ my thumb,
once more the life current: gushed forth, and in
three minutes poor Charley was dead.”
SCRAPS FOR YOUTH.
: For the Companion,
MISSIONARY ADVENTURE,
hha (4 / DELIVERANCE FROM CANNIBALS. * - an
Rev, Walter Lawrie, of the English Wesleyan |
‘ociety, in-one of his voyages in the South Seas,
encountered danger in the two appalling forms of
shipwreck and cannibalism.
“On the: 25th of November, 1847, Mr. Lawrie
wrote, “IIow truly perilous is the condition of such
a voyage as ours in Feejee!” On the morning of
that day he and his companions began beating up
to Vewa, a principal mission station, which they
expected to make early in the day. But’ they
new they were sailing ‘over “treacherous séas,”
and men were aloft looking out for danger,
At ten o’clock in the forenoon a cry was heard
from the tops, “Keep her away! a rock is right
ahead!” The word was instantly attended to by
the Captain, who had the helm, but it was too late,
The ship struck on a small coral rock, having deep
water all around, and an ebb tide. It was the
missionary ship, “John Wesley,” and was fitted
out expressly for the South Sea mission. Was she
to perish on this spot, and with her a zentous and
experienced missionary, and the hopes of thousands
who were looking to her as a principal agency in
spreading the Gospel among those islands?
Tt seemed for a time as if such a catastrophe was
inevitable. The ship hung by the middle, about
one third resting on the rock. The ballast was
thrown overboard, but as the tide fell, the ‘vessel
keeled over, and her bilge struck hard upon the
rock, : oo oe
All on board were filled with terror, for no
4 . .
Jady’s eyes were full of tears
the bundle quickly, and gave
but she gave her nothing else ; no, not even a six-
pence; and, turning away, went back inta the
store from which she had just come out. As she
went away I saw the
ae mn
COMPANION
source of hope was apparent; but it was no time
for inaction, and they continued throwing ouf the
ballast, and looking to God for help. Those who
were in the hold could see the stones heaving as
though the rock were bursting through the bottom
of the ship. |
While things were in this condition two canoes
were seen approaching the vessel. As they drew
near, it was seen, with a feeling of apprehension
and horror, that the men were perfectly naked, and
their looks and whole appearance fierce and sav-
age. They were forbidden to come on board the
vessel, upon which they moved to a little distance ;
but soon returned with an air of increased hostility.
The condition of the' missionary and crew was
now one of double peril—a frightful death at the
hands of cannibals being probable, even though
they should escape the dangers of the wreck.
When the savages again came near, Mr. Lawrie
“and others exhibited before them some muskets
.and other fire arms, with a view to intimidate and
vrepel them. This had the desired effect. With an
air of sudden terror they hastily pushed off before
the wind, and were not seen again. Mr. Lawrie
says, .
TX0 doubt they intended our destruction, but
God put the fear of our arms upon them.” Mean-
while the vessel lay upon the point of a sharp rock,
so much keeled over that no one could stand upon
the deck without holding onj and thus, in perils of
waters and perils of robbers and murderers, the
missionary and crew of the “John Wesley” passed
the time from ten in the morning till seven in the
evening, when the flowing tide lifted the vessel
from the rock and floated her into deep water.
_ She proved sea worthy still, and took her pre-
‘cious frieght to Vewa without further trouble.
For the Companion,
TO HENRY’S MOTHER,
0, could you see your darling now, ,
How quick your pain would cease!
"Twould charm your sorrows all away.
To look on Henry’s peace. -
Think not upon the anguish past,
Nor on the wasted clay; o
_ Think of that glad soul shining bright
Beyond the stars to-day,
‘What yester morning sighed and groaned
Through long, distressful hours,
"Now laughs, and sings, and plays among ©
Sweet, never-fading flowers. ; et
Doubtless he asks for “dear mamma,” {3
Oft pausing in his song ;
And angels say, “Sing on, fair child,
She will not tarry long.”
‘Think of thy darling’s soul, beloved; ,
’Twill help thee well to bear,
* To yield a little while the form
» That was thy charge and care.
A. Moorg.
: BETTER THAN DIAMONDS. °‘ hi
I was standing in the broad, crowded streéts of a
large city. : It was a cold winter’s day: ‘There had
been rain ; and although the sun had been shining
brightly, yet the long icicles hung from the eaves
of the houses, and the wheels rumbled loudly as
they passed over the ground. There was a clear,
bright look, and -a cold, bracing feeling in the air,
and a keen north-west wind, which quickened every
step. . Just then a little girl came running along—
a poor, ill-clad child. Ler clothes were scant and
threadbare; she had no cloak and no shawl, and
her little bare feet looked red and suffering. She
carried a bundle in her hand. “As she passed me
her foot slipped and she fell with a ery of pain;
but she held the bundle tightly im her hand, and
jumping up, although she limped sadly, endeavored
to run on as before. . .
‘Stop, little girl!” said a sweet voice, anda
beautiful woman, wrapped in a huge shawl, with
furs around her, came out of a jeweller’s store close
by. “Poor child,” she said, “are you hurt? - Sit
down on this step and tell me.” * Lo
" How I loved her, and how beautiful she looked !
“O I cannot,” said the child; “I cannot wait; I
am in such a hurry! I have.been to the shoe-
maker’s ; and mother must finish them to-night, or
she will never get any more shoes to bind.”
“To-night 2” said the beautiful woman, “to-
night? : a
“Yes,” said the child—for the stranger’s kind
manner had made her bold—Yes, for the great
ball to-night. And these satin slippers must be
spangled and—” | pot te
The beautiful woman took the bundle from the
child’s hand, and unrolled it.. You do not know
why her face flushed, and then turned pale.” But I
Pee egked in the bundle and on the inside
of a slipper I saw a name, a lady’s name, wri 3
but I shall nottellit. yunitiens
“iAnd where does your. mother live, my little
ir] ?” .
So the little girl told her where; and the
told her that her father was dead, and that her Le;
tle brother was sick, and that her mother bound
shoes that they might have bread; but that some-
times they were very cold, and that her mother
sometimes cried because she had no
milk for her little brother.
3 and she rolled up
it back to the child;
glitter of a diamond pin.
resently she came back, and stepping into a
handsome carriage, rolled off. . The little girl
I ra
looked after her a moment, and then, with her lit-
tle bare feet colder than they were before, ran
quickly away. oe .
I followed the little girl, and saw her go toa
narrow, damp street, into a small, dark room. —
saw her mother—her sad, faded mother, but with
face so patient—hushing and soothing a sick
And the baby slept, and the mother laid it
on her lap; and the bundle was unrolled, and a
dim candle helped her with her work ; for though
it was not night, yet ber room was very dark.
Then after awhile, she kissed the little girl, ‘and
warmed her poor frozen feet over the scanty fife in
the grate, and gave her a little piece of bread, for
she had no more; and then heard her say her
eyening prayer, and folding her tenderly to her
bosom, blessed. her and told her that. the angels
would take care of her. And the little child slept,
and dreamed—O such pleasant dreams !—of warm
stockings and new’shoes; but the mother sewed -
on alone; and as, the bright spangles glittered on
the satin slippers, came there no repining into the
heart? ‘ When ‘she thought of her child’s bare,
cold feet, and of. the scanty morsel bf bread which
had not satisfied her hunger, came there no visions
of a bright room, and gorgeous clothing, and a-
table loaded with all that was good and nice, a lit-
tle portion of which spared to her would send
warmth and comfort to her humble dwelling ?
If such thoughts came, and others of a pleasant
cottage, and of one who dearly loved her, and
whose strong. arm had kept want and_ trouble
from her and her babes, but who could’ never
come back—if these thoughts did come repiningly,
there also came another; and’ the widow’s hands
were elasped and her head bowed in deep contri-
tion, as 1 heard her say, “Father, forgive me! for
5
Thou doest all things well, and 1 will trust in,
Thee.” Just then the door opened sofily, and
some one entered. Was it an angel? er hands ©
were of spotless white, and she moved with a
noiseless step.’ She went’to the bed where the
child lay, and covered it with warm blankets,
Then presently a, fire sparkled and blazed there,
such as the little grate had never, known before.
Then a huge loaf was placed upon the table, and
fresh milk for the sick babe. Then she passed
gently before the mother, and drawing the unfin-
ished slipper from her hand, placed: there a purse
of gold, and said,in a voice like music, “Bless thy
God, who is the God of the fatherless and the
widow ;” and she was gone—only as she went out
I heard her say, “Better than diamonds, better
than diamonds.” What could she mean? looked
at the mother. With clasped hands and streaming
eyes she blessed her God, who had sent an angel to
comfort her. So I went too;.and I went to a
bright room, where there were music, and dancing,
and sweet flowers; and 1 saw young, happy faces
and sparkling jewels, but none that. I knew, until
one passe:
with only arosebud on her bosom, and whose voice
was like the sweet sound of a silver lute. No
spangled slipper was on her foot; but she moved
as one that. treadeth upon air; and the divine
beauty of holiness had so glorified her face that I
felt, as I gazed upon her, that she was indeed an.
angel of God.
———_+e—___
PERA.AND NERA. trad
In one of the wild places in Africa lived an old,
He was so large that it often took
half of a cow to feed him a single day, and so swift
that hardly anything could get away from him, and
so strong that when he once had fairly got his
claws into his victim, there was no hope." He kept
himself out of sight in the thick bushes during the
day, but prowled about in the night. His roar was
so loud that it rang over all the region, and made
every creature that heard it tremble. , '
Not far from the home of this old lion lived a
family of gazelles—a mother and two little ones,
The male gazelle had gone out to find a green pas-
ture for his family, when he was tempted to go too
far, and the lion caught and ate him. The
mother was terribly afraid of the old lion. When-
ever she heard of his having killed some other
gazelle, or when she heard his roar, she used to call
her little ones near her, and make them lie down,
while she told them about the awful lion.
charged them not to go out of her sight,
fail to run to her and hide the moment they heard
the roar of the “old eater,” as she called him, The
little gazelles were most beautiful creatures, Their
skins were soft and smooth, their limbs small and
delicate, their motions graceful and gentle, and
their eyes large, black and soft. n all Africa
there were no such twin gazelles: The mother
gave them the names of Pera and Nera. They
Jooked so much alike that nobody but the mother
would ever know them apart. They were the joy
of her life. No poor gazelle could feel
her children or love them more.
But it came to piss that this mother gazelle was
taken sick. ° She had to lie down under the shadow
of @ lofty betel tree. Pera and Nera wouid leave
er only long enough to nip a little grass, and si
a little water from the brook, and then woul
hasten back to her. But they could bring her no
Hee Bo che grew weaker and sicker. She felt
ust die! An ; a
come of Pera and News thet, O what would te
“My dear little ones,”
said shi :
stood near her, she to them, as they
and putting their noses on her
neck seemed to listen most. earnestly, “My dear
little ones!’ I feel that I must die! And what
will become of you? That dreadful lion will seek
ou, and I am afraid will find you.’ You are too
young to Know his stealthy step, too unsuspicious
val ‘or his crouchi
smell him when near.” 88 Form, too hovest °
“But, mother, we shall hear his roar,” said Pera,
ill run to our tree the moment we
“Abt my children,
roar, but will creep
his being near
Poor things,
and who will
when he is near you he won't
reep softly. You won't dream of
til he springs on you. O dear?!
who will protect you from the old lion,
Il feed you in this barren place, when I
am gone! It seems as if I could not think of your
ne
P
me whose dress was of simple white, --
prouder of
aa
es
genre
a .
