was remarked by the neighbours that he looked as if he were blind. She did not, however, give up all hope, but took him to be examined by the doctors, who immediately confirmed their opinion. So great was the shock to her nerves that she became quite insensible in the surgery, and had to be helped home by a friend who had accompanied her. For the time it was a sad trouble, but, as she remarked in after years, "What I fancied would be a big burden to me turned out to be as light as a feather." This blind boy proved to be her most loved child, and the best companion she ever had.

When thirteen years of age, he had an opportunity of converting a sinner from the error of his ways. It happened in this way. There lived not far from his mother's house an old man of independent means, careless as to the state of his soul, and of a peculiar temper and disposition. As from time to time he met this blind boy, he was in the habit of pinching his ears in order to make him speak, and to hear what he would say. For some time he bore it patiently, but at last one day he made answer, "Oh! Mr. Harris, it is you, is it?" "How do you know who it is?" the old man replied; you can't see me." "That is true enough; but I ought to know you by this time, for you have pinched me many and many a time." "That I have, my boy, but I fancied you did not know who did it; however, this shall be the last time, now you've found me out."

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This curious encounter was the beginning of a friendly intimacy, and the boy lost no opportunity of speaking a word of truth in season. One day John Harris was telling Joe how he came by his little property, when the boy remarked that he ought to be very thankful to God for having sent him such a bountiful supply.

"Well, Joe, I may say that I felt very glad when I got the news, and as I sat and thought about it, I thanked Him my luck."

for

"What! didn't you go down on your knees at once?" "No, I can't say I did that."

"Well, surely that is the least you could have done, I should say. I fear, Mr. Harris, you are like myself and many more -anything but what you ought to be. But you are getting old, and can't expect to be here much longer; so if you would take my advice you would seek to know more of God while He may be found; yes, seek Him at once. I'm a great sinner, yet I feel that He will pardon me : so will He you, if you ask Him sincerely."

“What, you a sinner! I don't know how that can be. You have never seen the world, and I can't make out how you, a blind boy, could have done any one any hurt.”

"Ah, but you don't know, Mr. Harris. I have not loved God as I ought to have done, and have often despised His offers of help."

Such was this blind boy's conversation, and it was not without its effect; for as soon as his wife came in John Harris said to her,

"That blind boy has been in here talking very straight to me. Would you mind going round to his mother's and finding out from her whether she sent him to talk to me? But don't ask her if he is present, for I don't want to hurt his feelings. If she says that she did-for I am sure she will speak the truth-then tell her that he shall never come into my house again, for I won't be set upon by any one like that! But if she denies having had anything to do with it, you may tell her that Joe may come whenever he likes, for I shall feel certain then that God sent that poor blind boy to talk to me."

She went to Mrs. Watkins's house, as requested, and was assured that the boy had gone of his own accord, and on her return she delivered her message accordingly.

For the next nine months blind Joe was a constant visitor at Harris's house, when the old man was taken to his rest, we trust. After a very few visits he induced him to kneel down in his chair, for he was unable to kneel on the floor, and by degrees a change was wrought in his heart. "I begin to see my way now,” he remarked one day. "I get

more light.

To think that a poor blind boy should have been the means of my seeking the Lord!"

"Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength."

Not long after this the youthful teacher followed his hoaryheaded pupil to the world beyond the grave, and restored to their proper Owner the talents preserved and gained. 'Tis true that they had not been many, perhaps not so many as are intrusted to you, reader; yet few as they were they were put to the best use, and had gained in proportion a high interest, for which attention on the part of this servant we fancy we can hear the bestowal of the reward: "Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things; I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

This narrative may reach the ears of some man, woman, or child afflicted with the loss of sight. If so, we would have them learn from it the lesson that deprivation of bodily sight does not involve the loss of that of the soul; that although it is not possible for such to behold and admire the beauties of God's creation in this world below, it is possible for them to look with the eye of faith into the world above, and there with all clearness to behold its purity and its peaceful garb; that although they may not be able to appreciate the smiles of their earthly friends, yet they may, if only they make a friend of Christ, behold the beauty of His presence.

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Mother, shall we see in question of a poor blind girl.

heaven?" was the touching "Yes, dear, we shall all see

there, for there will be no night there."

But there is more for such to learn from the life of little Joe. He felt, as all should feel-even the poorest, the weakest, and the most ignorant-that God has cut out and apportioned to each one of His servants some work for him to do while he is a sojourner here below. Where the rich man cannot gain an entrance, the poor man may often take the field, and rescue the feeble flock from the ravages of the

wild-beast Satan and his evil spirits. Where the strong man dare not exhort his fellow, there the helpless child or the pain-stricken wife may speak the word in season. Where the accomplished minister or visitor fails to touch the heart and to reach the conscience, there the ill-educated neighbour may speak the plain word of advice to the plain man, and may, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, turn the rocky heart into the flowing river.

Never let any one, however afflicted or helpless he may fancy himself to be, despair of doing work for God: never let him cry, in the language of complaint, "Of what use am I? Here am I—a poor blind child, or a weakly, bedridden creature-why am I afflicted like this? Why am I brought into the world to be in the way of others, and to be a burden to all my friends?" To say nothing of the sin of rebellion against God, such a spirit as this would manifest a doubting of the Almighty's wisdom. Has not He a purpose in all the afflictions He sends? Do they not form a part—a wondrous part of His plan of redemption? Is He not aware of all the diseases which wear and destroy the human frame, and does He permit the ravages of one too many of these? Ye who are blind, or afflicted, or bereaved, is there not a "needs-be" for all your sufferings?

Jeremiah tells us in his Lamentations, that God "doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." And true it is, for He has their good in view, and from a merciful consideration of their wants and failings He applies the rod where only it is needed.

But we must not lose sight of this fact, that those who are weak in bodily health are often the strongest in faith, and that those who are unable to help themselves as regards the getting of a livelihood, are yet enabled to feed others with a part of their own spiritual supply. This merely opens to view another reason for the reign of affliction here below.

Then never bewail your helpless lot, ye who are blind, and sick, and feeble, but rather consecrate all your influence to

BEAUTY OF HOLINESS MOST VISIBLE IN ADVERSITY.

the sacred service of God. You have power as well as others. You may vie with others in winning souls for Him.

And ye who are parents and friends of such as this poor little blind Joe, think them not useless burdens; but learn from this simple narrative that God has given you such to be a comfort and a warning, to be a blessing and a guide. Oh! what a blessing, if any word of theirs spoken in the moment of suffering should touch your heart, and lay it bare, and prompt you to get it washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb!

Beauty of Holiness most visible in Adversity.

HE bee sucks sweet honey out of the bitterest herb! So God will, by afflictions, teach His children to suck sweet knowledge, sweet obedience, and

sweet experience, out of all the bitter afflictions and trials He exercises them with: that scouring and rubbing which frets others, shall make them shine the brighter: that weight which crushes and keeps others under, shall but make them, like the palm-tree, grow better and higher. Stars shine brightest in the darkest night; torches give the best light when beaten; grapes yield most wine when most pressed; spices smell sweetest when pounded; vines are the better for bleeding; gold looks the brighter for scouring; and juniper smells sweetest in the fire. Afflictions are the saints' best benefactors. Where afflictions hang heaviest corruptions hang loosest. Grace that is hid in nature, as sweet water in rose-leaves, is then most fragrant when the fire of affliction is put under to distil it out. Grace shines the brighter for scouring, and is most glorious when it is most clouded.—Brooks.