Papers from Fernando Po. 125 shelter to the shipping during tornadoes which generally blow from the east. Standing on this narrow neck of land,' near the lighthouse, we have on the left a fine view of Maidstone Bay and C. Bullen, the latter being about half-a-dozen miles distant. We often gaze anxiously towards Bullen, glad to catch the first glimpse of the approaching English mail. Our view on the right extends to C. Horatio, and directly across the channel we may on rare occasions get a good view of the many-peaked Cameroon Mountains. The distance from St. Isabel to Victoria on the main-land is about 35 British miles. At present we have but two mission stations on the island, our labours at St. Isabel being chiefly among the civilised, while those of our brethren at George Bay are devoted mainly to the Boobees, the aboriginees of the island. We hope to have three stations here ere long-one in each of the afore-mentioned bays. There is room for a dozen. Doubtless our readers have many times sung Bishop Heber's beautiful hymn : 'From Greenland's icy mountains, but as far as we know Africa, golden sand, even in colour, is at a discount. Indeed there is but little sand of any kind on the coast of Fernando Po-that which exists being of a dark hue and chiefly in the bays. Neither are there many rocks, but there are myriads of large black boulders, hence a voyage in an open boat near a lee-shore is not very desirable. The only strip of golden (yellow) sand that we know of is opposite Goat Island; and right cheering and homely it appears. Around our island there are several islets, the largest of which is scarcely half a mile long. Kid and Goat near G. Bay have been already mentioned. Adelaide Islands in Maidstone Bay lie about three quarters of a mile from Longfield House. An island forms the extreme point of C. Horatio-Seven Island lies about a mile off the eastern coast, and near the south border there is also a small island, the name of which we do not know. Neither of these islets is inhabited, but some of them are chosen by parrots for roosting places. Eagles may also be seen flying around. Not wishing to trespass on the space our esteemed editor may have intended for other and better articles, I will conclude the present paper by promising to give some account of a voyage round the island in my next. SAMUEL GRIFFITHS. 128 A FLOWER NOT FOR CHILDREN. WONDERS are presented to us in the works of God wherever we turn our attention, whether the object we gaze upon be a grain of sand, a flower, an insect, a beast, a bird, a fish, or man, who is placed at the head of the animal creation. But while each object has wonders in itself, so when we look at the chain of animated existence from the lowest form of animal life up to man, we are filled with wonder at the many links in this chain of being. Naturalists have placed zoophites (zo'-o-fits) at the last or lowest class of animals. The term zoophyte is derived from the Greek language, and means the animal plant, because it was supposed at one time to partake both of the nature of animal and plant. The flower that we are going to speak about belongs to this class. It is called the opelet. 'It grows in the sea, and appears very beautiful leaning through the waves and spreading out petals fringed with pink or purple; but in reality it is not a flower, but a greedy sea animal. Woe to the little fish and tiny creatures of the sea if they play too near to the long, softly-waving fingers. They find them to be crafty, reaching fingers; they seize all that touches them, and draw them down to an open mouth, hidden underneath the pretty flower, and they are soon swallowed up to feed the hungry opelet.' What lessons are suggested to us by this beautiful destroyer! It is a living illustration of the danger of sin. It may be regarded as an emblem of sin, which is not only an enemy of God, but an enemy to us, full of cruelty (and wickedness. Yet, like the chamelion which changes its colour, so sin changes its shape, varies its appearance, and speaks to us in gentle tones and winning words, as if it were the very best friend we have in the world, and many are induced by its fascinations to walk in its broad path, little dreaming that its steps lead down to the chambers of death. In some of our large towns there are pleasure gardens, open not merely during the day, but also after sunset. They are illuminated with lamps, enlivened with bands of music, and decorated with gay colours. Many who have visited those pleasure gardens have had only once to regret their having gone there, and that has been throughout the course of their after-life. Sin, like those gardens, lights its lamps, charms with its music, and decks itself in gay attire, and says to the young, ' Come near and see this wonderful show, this fine circus, this gay theatre; come into this beautiful garden, and see A Flower Not for Children. 129 the fireworks and the scenic representations; stay a little after all this is over and join the mixed company; come, taste a little sweet wine, this will comfort you and do you no hurt. Don't be always like a child in leading strings; you ought now to be able to judge for yourself. Take a nice walk on the Sabbath; why should you be stowed up in a chapel and Sunday-school so many hours each Sunday? Why should you be bound to tell the old folk at home where you have been? Besides, you can enjoy yourself in a Sunday stroll without their knowing anything about it. What you have done harms nobody, and to cover it over with words of concealment is only a white lie! Thus sin speaks to unsuspecting youth, and while they listen to its sweet voice, the pretty pink fringe becomes hard, grasping fingers, aye, sometimes heavy iron chains, and young souls are drawn down, down, into the dark mouth of sin, and, alas! are swallowed up for ever. If we could speak to those little creatures which play near the opelet, and give them to understand their danger, would they not swim away, and find food, recreation, and pleasure elsewhere? It is likely they would. Well, dear children, see to it that you act as wise a part. Don't play with sin. If sinners entice you, don't consent to go with them. Do not think that you can walk within the boundary of temptation and yet be able to command yourself that you will take no harm. Lean not to your own understanding. Remember evil communications corrupt good manners, and a companion of fools will be destroyed. Look upon a liar as a sneaking coward. Don't be one. Be brave to tell the truth, even should you suffer for it. Truth-telling wins in the long run. Seek counsel of God. Let your daily prayer be, lead us not into temptation, and think, when you are tempted, of Jesus, who was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin, and he will give you grace to conquer as he did. Perhaps you will get by heart the following lines: : Beware of the Opelet's floating fringe, Ye creatures that rove the sea; On its parted lips is a rosy tinge, Its leaves float smoothly on the tide, |