WINGS, BY-AND-BY. "WALTER," said a gentleman on a ferry-boat to a poor helpless cripple, "how is it, when you cannot walk, that your shoes get worn ?"

A blush came over the boy's pale face, but after hesitating a moment he said:

"My mother has younger children, sir, and while she is out washing, I amuse them by creeping about on the floor and playing."

"Poor boy!" said a lady standing near, not loud enough, as she thought, to be overheard. "What a life to lead! What has he in all the future to look forward to ?"

The tear started in his eye, and the bright smile that chased it away showed that he did hear her. As she passed by him to step on shore he said in a low voice, but with a smile: "I'm looking forward to having wings some day, lady!"

Happy Walter! poor, crippled, and dependent on charity, yet performing his mission, doing in his measure the Master's will! Patiently waiting for the future, he shall by-and-by "mount up with wings as eagles; shall run, and not be weary, shall walk and not faint." Walter's hope of heaven made him happy, as it will make any one happy who possesses it.

MY REDEEMER.

OH the sweet joy that sentence gives,
"I know that my Redeemer lives!"
He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save.

He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above-
To comfort me whene'er I faint,
And soothe my heaviest complaint.
He lives that He may in me dwell,
And save me from the power of hell;
He lives, my mansion to prepare,
And soon to bring me safely there.
He lives, my kind and faithful Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I'll sing-
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

not come nor go if called by any other name; nor would it come or go if called by any but its own shepherd. He knew Every shepherd knew all his own sheep. their names also. If any one was about to go into a wrong place he called it, and it turned back. If the way was narrow or steep he would go before, and they would follow him. This is just like what the Bible says about Christ and His flock. "The sheep hear His voice and He calleth His own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when He putteth forth His own sheep, He goeth before them, and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers." "I am the Good Shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine." "I lay down My life for the sheep."

Some of the lambs were quite strong and full of play: The day my friend saw the shepherds was a cold day. but some of them were very young and tender. The cold chilled them, and they could not walk. So the shepherds took up the little lambs and put them in their bosoms. But they did not smother them. They left But their heads out, so that they could breathe well. It was a pleasing sight they kept them snug and warm. to see an old shepherd with his long grey beard, and his bosom full of lambs. Just so the Bible says of Christ.

He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom." Many little children have loved Christ; and He has never let such perish. He is as good to little children as to old people. He says, "I love them that love Me, and those that seek Me early shall find Me."

Among the sheep were some old and feeble ones. They could not walk much. If the way was miry or steep, they could hardly go along. So the shepherds. would come and put their crooks under their bodies, just behind their forelegs, and help them along. They treated them with great gentleness and care. Just so "the Good Shepherd has pity on the weak, and gently helps them along." He never leaves nor forsakes them. "His rod and His staff comfort them." He leads all His sheep into His fold for safety. He leads them out, that they may find pasture. If little boys and girls are wise, they will desire above all things to belong to Christ's flock. I hope all of you will commit to memory the twenty-third Psalm. It is beautiful. "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want."

DR. PLUMER.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

SOME years ago a friend of mine was in Greece, in the month of March. He was travelling in the country where the shepherds live. They were out in the valleys, where grass grew. Every sheep had its own name. It would

the

Illustrated Anecdotes; and Pithy Pieces in Prose and Verse. Many Engravings. Price 2s. 6d.

Puffing Billy and the Prize Rocket; or the Story of the Stephensons and our Railways. With Illustrations. By Mrs. H. C. Knight. Cloth, 1s. 6d. No Gains without Pains. was wonderfully successful in life. Knight. Cloth, 18.

The Story of a Man who With Illustrations. By Mrs. H. C.

S. W. PARTRIDGE & Co., 9, Paternoster Row, E.C.

THE LORD OUR ROCK. WITH the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright;

With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward.

For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.

For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.

As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

For who is God save the Lord? or who is a rock save our God?

It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation : and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.-PSALM Xviii. 25-35.

THE EVERLASTING ROCK.

I WAS bathing, and venturing beyond my depth, found myself sinking. I thought I must drown; but suddenly my feet touched a great rock in the bed of the stream, and I was saved.

How illustrative is this of Christian experience!

The streams of solitude are strong in their current and deep in their flow. God's children are struggling in them. They have great fear lest they go down, and the waters overwhelm them. Sorrows multiply, and thick darkness gathers, but there rises beneath them the everlasting Rock-Jesus Christ-and they stand on a sure foundation, and are safe.

Fellow-Christian, that Rock will follow you wherever you go, and buoy you up amid the flood, so that the waters shall not overflow you. You will touch it when you pass through the last river, and go up the other bank with joy on your heart, and light in your face." Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me."

But the wicked have no rock to their feet. They go down among the uncertain sands. They are consumed by care, overwhelmed by trouble, and are without Christ. Oh what a passage must theirs be through death and eternity!

to return, the horses came home alone. Alarmed lest some accident had befallen them, Carrie's mother asked her if she would be willing to go all that long distance. alone, and tell them of the horse's return.

It was then nearly dark, but she had often rode there with her father, and knew that he would return with her, so she was not afraid to go; but when she reached the place, her father and uncle were nowhere to be found. Little Carrie waited and looked awhile, then climbed into the waggon and seated herself quietly till they should It was a long time for a little girl of seven years to wait in a strange place, in the dark too, and you may imagine the relief and joy she felt when at last she heard her father's voice calling, "Carrie." "I am here, father. I am in the waggon," she cried.

come.

I was a little, but I thought mother wished me to come, and I could not go back alone, it was so dark; so I thought God would take care of me till you came; and I said over my little hymns and prayers, and then you came."

Precious child! Her confidence in her father was not misplaced. He had never deceived or neglected her. She knew he would come.

Dear children, you have a kind Heavenly Father. He does more for you than any earthly parent can. He loads you with favours. He preserves you in your going out and coming in. He blesses you with home and friends. Will you not trust Him as fully as Carrie did her earthly parents? He has given you directions which, if followed, will keep you safely in all the dangers and trials of life, and bring you at last to His glorious home. Will you not obey His commands, and await His blessing with the same childlike confidence and trust ?

HYMN FOR A LITTLE CHILD.

GOD, whose home is in the sky,
Far above the sun so high;
Far above the moon so bright,

And the stars which shine at night:
Thou art very near to me,

7 Though I cannot look on Thee.

Yet I know it was Thy hand
Formed the earth whereon I stand-
Made the grass, the flower, the tree,
Everything I love to see;

Thou didst make them all to raise
Even little children's praise.

Though Thy home is far away,
Thou dost watch me night and day;
Thou canst hear my feeble tongue
Sound above the angels' song,
When they bow their golden wings.
Unto Thee, great King of kings.

I would love and praise Thee too,
As the holy angels do;

Thank Thee for Thy mercies given,
Pray, to guide my way to heaven,
And to join the glorious hymn
Chanted by the seraphim.

JAMES DAFFORNE.

THE WATER OF LIFE. JESUS the water of life will give,

Freely, freely, freely;

Jesus the water of life will give

Freely to those who love Him. Come to that fountain, oh, drink and live,

Freely, freely, freely;

Come to that fountain, oh, drink and live, Flowing for those that love Him.

The Spirit and the Bride say, Come; freely, freely, freely;
And he that is thirsty, let him come, and drink of the water of life.
The fountain of life is flowing, flowing, freely flowing;
The fountain of life is flowing, is flowing for you and for me.

Jesus has promised a home in heaven,

Freely, freely, freely;

Jesus has promised a home in heaven, Freely to those that love Him. Treasures unfading will there be given,

Freely, freely, freely;

Treasures unfading will there be given. Freely to those that love Him.

Jesus has promised a robe of white,
Freely, freely, freely;

Jesus has promised a robe of white

Freely to those that love Him ; Kingdoms of glory and crowns of light,

Freely, freely, freely;

Kingdoms of glory and crowns of light

Freely to those that love Him.