to say veloma (good-bye). I was very tired; but they were as fresh and lively as when they first came in, although the afternoon was intensely hot.

"Perhaps you do not know that boys and girls marry while quite children here. Some of my women are not more than twelve or thirteen years old; but they are wives and mothers, knowing little and perhaps caring less, for their duties and responsibilities. Yet I think you would love them very much : they are so grateful, and their manner so kind. They come with their small offerings, a few eggs or lemons, or a basket of onions. The little girls bring me pretty bunches of roses, which are very fragile, and do not last long in water, bnt they are deliciously sweet. The other morning a boy quite naked brought me some roses; I was sorry I had nothing I could spare him for a caniba: I could love any one who brings me roses, they are so home-like.

"Both men and women are delighted with my sewing-machine. The other day I had an assembly of nineteen watching me use it; they seemed as if they could not believe their eyes. We have so many visitors, that many days we have not time to take our meals, and we get our food as we can."

SPIRITUAL SAFETY IS SECURED BY PROGRESS.

IF I do not rise, I shall fall. I must ascend, or I shall descend. If we do not advance, we shall not be long before we recede. Such is the invariable doctrine of Scripture. "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh." "Add to your faith-for if ye do these things ye shall never fall." "The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath." "Beware lest ye fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in grace.

دو

"There is a fire-fly in the southern clime,

That brightens only when upon the wing:
Thus it is with the mind. When once we rest,
We darken."

We are secure only by continually increasing in goodness. Stationary we cannot be. The man who should ship his oars and fold his arms, believing that his boat would keep where she was, would soon find his error; if he will not work, wind and tide will. A certain eminent artist declared that the first indication of failing power which he experienced was the fact that he painted a picture that satisfied him. Yes, when we look with vain complacency on the work of our hands or heads, we are already retrograding. There is no security but in rising.

"Go up, go up, my heart,

Dwell with thy God above;
For here thou canst not rest,
Nor here give forth thy love.

Go up, go up, my heart,
Be not a trifler here;
Ascend above the clouds,
Dwell in a higher sphere.
Go up, reluctant heart,
Take up thy rest above;
Arise! earth-clinging thoughts,

Ascend! my lingering love."

During a desperate battle in India, a young officer rode up to head-quarters, and cried to Sir Charles Napier, "We have taken a standard, Sir Charles." The astute old general gave no heed to the words. They were repeated, but with no better effect. On a third announcement of the victory, he turned and said, "Then take another, sir." Do we take a standard from the ranks of Satan's army? Have our hands torn down a flaunting, defiant banner from the citadels of sin? Are we able to wrest a flag from the hosts of error? Then let us "take another." Progress and security are inseparable.

MY MOTHER'S HANDS.

SUCH beautiful, beautiful hands!
They're neither white nor small;
And you, I know, would scarcely think
That they were fair at all.

I've looked on hands whose form and hue
A sculptor's dream might be ;
Yet are these aged, wrinkled hands,
Most beautiful to me.

Such beautiful, beautiful hands!
Though heart were weary and sad;
These patient hands kept toiling on,
That the children might be glad.
I almost weep, as, looking back
To childhood's distant day,

I think how these hands rested not,
When mine were at their play.

Such beautiful, beautiful hands!
They're growing feeble now;
For time and pain have left their mark
On hand, and heart, and brow.
Alas! alas! the nearing time,
And the sad, sad day to me,
When neath the daisies, out of sight,
These hands will folded be.

But oh! beyond this shadow-lamp,
Where all is bright and fair,

I know full well these dear old hands

Will palms of victory bear.

Where crystal streams, through endless years,

Flow over golden sands;

And where the old grow young again,

I'll clasp my mother's hands!

E. G.

HINTS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD.

RICE CAKE.

FOR PURIFYING WATER.

Wash one pound of rice, put it in a stew pan, with a pint of water, put it on the fire; when the rice is well soaked, add a quart of milk, quarter of a pound of butter, grat-purities, and give it the freshness

A large spoonful of powdered alum stirred into one hogshead of impure water, will, after the lapse of a few hours, precipitate the im

ed lemon-peel, or a little nutmeg, or a piece of cinnamon; boil till thick, then add two eggs well beaten, a little salt, and a quarter of a pound of sugar; place all in a greased pan, or tin bread-pan; bake one hour, and serve with sugar or jam over.

ECONOMY IN FOOD.

One pound of whole rice boiled in five quarts of water, thickened with a pound of oatmeal, will make eight pounds and a half of good food. Put the rice down first with one quart of water, and add the remaining four quarts of water as the rice swells, then put in the oatmeal, stirring all-cost sixpence. Add salt, or pepper, or sugar, to suit the taste. If the rice is steeped for five or six hours, it will be better.

FOOD OF INFANTS AND CHILDREN.

Every parent must be aware that a child sometimes shows a decided dislike to certain kinds of food. In such a case do not compel it to eat what nature may instinctively reject as being unfit. It is easy to distinguish between a rooted aversion and a mere whim, if you will only forego that which you wish the child to overcome-the petty tyranny of your own will. Even infants, after enjoying one kind of food for weeks, will suddenly reject it, and refuse to take the first spoonful. This is the voice of nature, calling for a change of diet, and you will be wise not to disregard it.

A

and clearness of spring water. pailful may be purified with a teaspoonful of alum.

FOR CHILBLAINS.

Boil some turnips, and mash them into a pulp; put them in a tub or large basin, and put the feet in them, almost as hot as can be borne, for a short time before going to bed. Of course this must be before the chilblains are broken.

EMETIC FOR CHILDREN.

The safest emetic for children if they have croup, whooping cough, inflammation of the chest, or fits, is ipecacuanha powder. As much as will lie on a sixpence may be given with a teaspoonful of sugar and water, again and again, till the child vomits.

MUSTARD POULTICE.

Mix common flour of mustard with water at blood heat; put it into a bag of old linen; let it stay on fifteen minutes, if the patient can bear it so long, but never longer, especially if the patient is a child.

FOR WEAK EYES.

Two grains of acetate of zinc, in two ounces of rose water; filter the liquor carefully, and wash the eyes night and morning.

FOR AGUE.

Give three grains of quinine three times a day. Avoid swamps and all places where fresh and salt waters mix.

"MRS. BOLTON, how do you get along?" was the first question asked on entering a humble cottage in which were seated three or four idiots, who cast a hideous Va smile around them and gave a laugh that sent a thrill of horror through one's inmost heart. They had not always been so; but when they were twelve or fourteen years old, one after another was seized with rheumatism, and the limbs began to swell and reason gradually to give way, until they could do nothing but sit, clothed in rags, in the chairs their father had made for them on wheels so as to move them about. Her eyes instantly sparkled with an energy that bespoke the vigorous emotions of her soul, while the tears filled her eyes as she replied, "Oh, I am about as happy as I can be, and live!"

Such an answer, so rich in consolation, breathing so much of heaven, when I was anticipating only an expression of gloom and despondence, was too much for my sympathies to bear. I was so reproved and troubled that I sat in silence. But while I was dumb, the lips of the old lady were opened, and her tongue was eloquent in describing the source of her happiness.

"My husband," said she, "and myself have begun to serve God in our old age. Here we read the Bible and pray together night VOL. V. No. 2.]

[FEBRUARY, 1868.

and morning. It is a new thing with us, and we ought to be ashamed that it is. But we have blessed times. The Saviour, I trust, meets with us, unworthy as we are. We are greatly comforted. When I am about my work, my heart is upon God, and I am so happy in thinking of the Saviour.

"You see my family," she said, as she pointed to her children, who were stupidly chattering among themselves; "I have thought for many years that I had a hard lot. When I remembered that my children were once as bright and active as other children, I thought my troubles were greater than my neighbours'. I have felt very hard towards the Lord for afflicting me in this way." And again she bent her head and burst into tears. "I did hope," she continued, "that our youngest son would be spared to us, that he might take care of us in our old age. But he is now fourteen years of age, and his joints are beginning to grow out of shape, and he is becoming lame, dear boy, and I suppose he will soon be like the others. I say, I used to have very hard feelings towards the Lord, but now my feelings are entirely changed. I now believe that God has done right. It is all for the best. I needed such an affliction. I know that I am a great sinner, but I can praise God, and my soul is full of joy and peace."

What is it that lights up the countenance of this aged and deeply afflicted woman with the smile of hope and joy? What so quickly called forth the animated words, "I am about as happy as I can be, and live"? Was it not the soul-sustaining power of the religion of Jesus? Was it not the blessed and ever-enduring fruit of faith in Him, whom having not seen she loved, and in whom she rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory?

The simplicity of her narrative, especially her joyful triumph over such affliction, led me to exclaim, "What cannot religion do?” And hast thou, dear reader, like this woman, "thought for many years that thine was a hard lot, and that thy troubles were greater than thy neighbours'?" Go thou and do likewise-lay down thy burden at the feet of Jesus.

QUEEN ELIZABETH, during her last illness, is said to have exclaimed, "O time, time! a world of wealth for a moment of time!"

THE THREAD OF LIFE.-So frail, so extremely fine is the thread of life, that it not only bursts before the storm, but breaks even at a breeze. The most common occurrences, those from which we expect not the least harm, may prove the weapons of our destruction : nay, our very comforts may become killing. The air we breathe may be our bane, and the food we eat the vehicle of death. Since, then, we are so liable to be dispossessed of this earthly tabernacle, let us look upon ourselves only as tenants-at-will, and hold ourselves in readiness to depart at a moment's warning.-Hervey.