in, lift me in." When he seemed as if he was in, he lifted up both hands; and when he could no longer lift them up he asked his father and mother to hold them up, and then he cried "Victory! victory! vic"-with the last breath he drew upon earth. At seven o'clock on the Lord's-day, June, 18—, his happy spirit forsook its clay tenement, and arose, we trust, to join the church triumphant in the service and enjoyment of an eternal sabbath. His father and mother humbly fell on their knees, and ascribed all the glory to God for such a son; and prayed that God would give them grace to train up their remaining children in the way they should go, that their end might also be peace.

Youthful reader! remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth. Seek the Lord while he may be found; look unto Jesus for pardon and salvation; and so honour him on earth, that you may reign with him in heaven for ever! Barton-under-Needwood.

S. S.

A BLOSSOM OF EARLY PIETY.

WHEN the earth is full-dressed in its garments anew,
How lovely the blossoms, all sparkling with dew;

But lovelier far are the blossoms of grace,
When we each unfolding of piety trace.

We once had a blossom, but it faded soon,
For his sun went down before it was noon;
Yet these are but emblems to picture the scene;
He lives though he faded-and shall rise again.

By faith we behold him transplanted above,
To bloom on for ever in regions of love;
The clouds and the darkness for ever withdrawn,
His sun in its glory shall never go down.

GOD EVERYWHERE.

WHITHER, ah! whither can I fly,
To hide from God's all seeing eye?
Where is the spot where I can lie
Unseen by Him?

If up to heaven I take my flight,
The dwelling of the saints in light,
There all around is dazzling bright,
Lo, He is there!

Or if from thence my way I wend,
And into hell's dark caves descend,
Where without hope long ages spend,
Yet is He there!

If on the wings of morn I ride,
And swiftly o'er the ocean glide,
And on its broad expanse abide,

Thou, Lord, art there!

If on the arctic shores I land,
Or light on Afric's scorching sand,
Or on the burning Etna stand,

Yet art Thou there!

If to the caverns of the deep

I dive, which richest treasures keep
All rapt in one unbroken sleep,
I find Thee there!

Where'er I be, where'er I go,

If to the lands of endless snow,
Where verdant pastures never grow,
Yet God is there.

Or where the gentle zephyrs play,
And fragrant flowers scent all my way,
Beneath the sun's resplendent ray,

I find God near!

Holbeach.

Or if I think the gloom of night
Will hide me from his piercing sight,
From which I can escape by flight,
"Tis all in vain!

His eyes can pierce the deepest gloom,
In midnight's hour as well as noon,
And every act and deed that's done
Is seen by Him!

Then long as I shall sojourn here,
Oh! may it be my constant care
To live so that I need not fear
God's searching eye!

A. H.

Burnley.

BEAUTIFUL THINGS.

A PLEASANT look and cheerful mien.
A fruitful field and meadow green.
A shepherd with his flock at noon.
A summer sun and harvest moon.
A ship at sea with sails all spread.
A star-lit sky above the head.
A glow-worm shining in the night.
A man in prayer at morning light.
A mother and her children dear.
A household blest with godly fear.
A church well filled with saints indeed.
A Bible chosen as the creed.

A platform broad enough for all.

A christian with an earnest soul.

A pastor in the widow's cot.

A widow happy with her lot.

A Bible on the table spread.'

A father sitting at the head.
A listening family around.
A town were many such abound.

J. B.

ORIGINAL PIECES

WRITTEN BY THE YOUNG.

THE BIBLE.

BEFORE the invention of printing, Bibles, and indeed all books, were very scarce. Bibles were not always printed, as they are now, but were written on rolls of parchment. The Jews called the scriptures the lesson; they divided it into three parts, the law, the prophets, and the psalms. The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, and the New Testament in Greek.

The first attempt at translating the bible into Saxon is generally ascribed to Cædmon, a monk, in the seventh century. In the eighth century Adhelm translated the Psalms, and about the same time the Venerable Bede translated the four Gospels. The Bible was not always divided into chapters and verses as it is now, but was divided about the year 1220 by Stephen Langton, archbishop of Canterbury. A bible then was very precious, costing upwards of a £100. In some places a bible was chained in some secure place in the church, so that the people might go and read it, without any fear of its being taken away. About the year 1378, Wickliffe translated the whole Bible into English; it

did a great deal to enlighten the people's minds; but it could not circulate all over the land, as it is now, one of his New Testaments costing above £40. After the invention of printing Bibles became much cheaper.

The Bible they had then was not the same translation as that we have now. The Bible in use now is a translation which was made in the time of James the First. He appointed fifty-four learned men to make a new translation. They were divided into six parties, each party having a separate portion to translate. After they had translated it, they met together; one of them read the new version, all the rest holding in their hands a copy of the old one. When any thing was observed the reader was stopped; when they had considered, and agreed on it, he went on. It was three years in completing; it began in 1607, and was finished in 1610. We should be thankful to God that we can now have a copy of the Bible for a few pence. We should remember that there are many people in distant lands who are now without the Bible, and we should try do all we can in order to send Bibles to them.

Derby.

J. T. A.

TO MY FRIEND ON HER BIRTHDAY.

JUST fifteen years have passed away,

Since thy first happy natal day,

When the tender beams of thy mother's eye,
Mingling with those of the opening sky,

Kindly fell on thy infant face,

Which lay enclosed in her warm embrace.
A gentle prayer she raised on high,

It's incense wafted to the sky;