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CURRENT LITERATURE.

miracle) we present to our readers, adding Dr. Macduff's interesting remarks upon it. The volume would make a very acceptable and useful present to young people.

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"There was one striking miracle which Jesus now performed on a blind man at Bethsaida-Julias. The frequency of cures performed on the blind, recorded in the Gospels and Acts, is not anything strange to those who have been in the East. The loss of sight is there a much more common calamity than it is here. Some attribute it to the climate, some to the glare of the sun. A writer mentions that in Jaffa every tenth person is said to be blind. In the present case, we are told nothing whatever regarding the wretched being himself, who was now brought into the presence of Jesus. We may fancy him a poor, ignorant, half-naked outcast. Yet, though unable to put the thought in words, doubtless, with all his ignorance and degradation, he could feel, and feel deeply, in common with his fellow-sufferers, the plaintive sigh the Master of Song puts into the lips of Israel's blind Judge:—,

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"Total eclipse! no sun, no moon,

All dark amidst the blaze of noon;
O, Glorious Light! no cheering ray
To glad my eyes with welcome day!
Why thus deprived? Thy prime decree-
Sun, moon, and stars are dark to me!

Handel's "Sampson."

"One of the main points, if not the main point, of interest in the miracle, is Jesus (before performing the cure) taking the helpless creature by the hand,' as He 'led him out of the town,' away from the hard thoughts and unkind speeches that might have been uttered aloud in the throngs of street or bazaar; some of which, indeed, may have already fallen on the ear of the Gracious Healer. And they bring a blind man unto Him, and besought Him to touch him. AND HE TOOK THE BLIND MAN BY THE HAND' (Mark viii. 22, 23).

"Oh, most touching picture! We have heard of kings and queens stooping over the couch of beggary, or fetching water to dying lips. But here is the Lord and Giver of Life and LIGHT linking His hand with that of one, alike in mind and body-inwardly as well as outwardly-in deepest DARKNESS!

"The man was restored. May we not hope that his eyes were opened to nobler visions than those of lake, and river, and mountain around him?"

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224

FARM HOUSE DAYS.

FARM HOUSE DAYS.

BY A. M.

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HAT a happy fascination a "farm house has for many! Perhaps our picture may bring back to some of our readers many bright remembrances of times they have spent in one. If so they will understand how delighted we were to find ourselves with some friends at a delicious farm house among the hills in Cumberland.

Those who live with country sights and sounds constantly around them, can hardly realise the refreshment they may give to some tired town friend by sharing with them their country enjoyments.

Our farm house was high up, with most lovely views all round of those wonderfully restful mountains around Derwentwater. A dear little musical brook ripples along to greet you as you turn in from the road, and we discovered a delightfully cool seat by it for hot days, where we used to read or write, drinking in all its beauty.

The house door opened out from the general sitting-room, and we kept it open all day, so as to lose none of the fresh air or mountain view. The green of grass and trees was most refreshing. Then all the farm-like sights and sounds were delightful; the cows and sheep, geese and pigs, all contributing their share. We were there just when the sweet-scented hay was being safely housed, and very pleasant was it to hear the farmer's cheery recital each evening, when he came in for prayers, of the number of "loads in to-day "; the light in his face when he spoke with thankfulness of the fine weather, showing he recognised it as a gift from his God.

During the hot weather, we used to have long rambles late in the day, over moor, and moss, and heather on the near hills, to our hearts' content; feasting our eyes with the glories of the splendid sunsets which lit up the hills in turn, and called forth spontaneous hymns of praise to Him who "maketh the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice." It was in one of these lengthened rambles we came in view of the head of the Lake and all its exceedingly beautiful scenery. It was a lovely, still evening, and as we sat and sang, and talked together on the top of the crag, we thought of the wonderful escape we had had the week before, as we were driving on the road far beneath us. A horse had staggered down from a bank on our left, falling insensible against our vehicle; if it had come one instant sooner, it would have fallen against our horses, who might, most probably, have been frightened into the lake below, from which there was no protection, on our right hand.

We waited to do what we could for the poor horse, and few of our party will ever forget the intensity of the remark made by a friend with

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FARM HOUSE DAYS.

us then "Yes, we have lost a little time, but we might have gained eternity"; nor the stirred feelings as we sang soon after, beneath the "Yews," our thanksgiving-a paraphrase on the 91st Psalm, with the chorus, "I am safe from all danger while under His wings." Could you have said so? Do you know that perfectly safe Shelter which was a proved reality to us that day?

Then we had a charming open-air tea. Two of our party undertook the boiling of the water, which was no easy work, as the air would get under the umbrellas, and you know "the watched pot never boils "; but after patient waiting we were rewarded by some really good tea. We left the lovely spot reluctantly, giving last looks at the "fraternal Yews," so famed in that neighbourhood. Driving home we overtook! two pedestrians, who called out that they had heard our singing whenever they were on heights, but lost the sound whenever they came to! the valleys. "Keep on the heights then!" responded our friend; a lesson stored away by more than one heart for future use.

Some of our walks over the hills led us through very marshy places which reminded us of an illustration which one of our friends had gathered on our expedition to "the Yews." You may remember how wet I got because I did not know the plan of using the little stones in the stream as stepping stones, and I tried to go round and only found it worse. Well, how often we try and beat round the bush in trying our own way or arguing with Satan about things, instead of using God's words and promises as stepping stones, and firmly planting our feet upon them and making them our own, and then going upon the strength of the stepping stones He gives us.

"Upon Thy promises I stand,

Trusting in Thee; Thine own right hand

Doth keep and comfort me!"

We were near enough to the lake to make boating very enjoyable, and never did the surrounding hills look more lovely than from the water. "The mountains shall bring peace to the people." How literally we realised that, as well as the mountain lesson of the enveloping, constant care of the Lord for His children (Psa. cxxv. 1, 2). Yes, the mountains, "God's cathedrals not made with hands," gave us ever fresh thoughts.

"Christ prayed upon the mountains, and His voice

Still haunts the hills with holy murmurings."

It is wonderful how much we may learn if we have our eyes opened to "observe these things":

"Let me spell Thy words and works together."

And there are verses that come with a fuller meaning since those Farm-house days, such as Psalms viii.; civ.; lxv. 6-13; cxliii. 5; cxlv. 9, 10, 15, 16; cxlvii. 7-9; and cxlviii. 1, 9, 10.

Our happy time went all too fast, our week lengthened itself inte ten days; but the day came when we had to say good-bye to our lovely

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