"JESUS CAN SAVE ME." A FRIEND of mine used to take his little son into his arms, and talk with him about Jesus. The little boy never grew tired of that "sweet story." It was always new to him. One day, while sitting in his father's lap, his papa said to him "Would my little son like to go into the kingdom of heaven?" "Yes, papa," he answered. "But," said the father, "how can you get there? Your little heart is full of sin. How can you expect to go where God is ?" "But all are sinners, papa," the little fellow answered. "That is true," replied the father, "and yet God has said that only the pure in heart shall see Him. How, then, can my little boy expect to go there?" The dear little fellow's face grew very sad. His heart seemed full, and, bursting into tears, he laid his head on his father's bosom, and sobbed out "Papa, Jesus can save me." Dear children, Jesus can save you. If you would be saved, you must look to Him, "For there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." EARLY RISING. "Joshua rose early in the morning.”—Josh. iii. 1. FREDERICK II., King of Prussia, used to rise early; and he gave strict orders to his attendants never to suffer him to sleep longer than four o'clock in the morning, and to pay no attention to his unwillingness to rise. One morning at the appointed time, the page whose turn it was to attend him, and who had been long in his service, came to his bed and awoke him. "Let me sleep but a little longer," said the monarch, "I still am much fatigued." "Your majesty has given positive orders I should wake you early," replied the page. "But another quarter of an hour more." "Not one minute," said the page; "it has struck four; I am ordered to insist upon your majesty's rising." "Well," said the king, "you are a brave lad; had you let me sleep on, you would have fared ill for your neglect." MISSIONARY GARDENS. A DEAR little boy, only four years and a half old, wished to have a bit of ground given to him, on which he could raise something for the missionaries. So he had a little plat given him, on which he planted a few hills of corn. When it was large enough to eat, he sold it all, and received five shillings. Oh, how rich and happy the little boy felt! He would not spend a penny of it for himself, but desired to have his "heathen money" sent off right away, so it might begin at once to do some good. So his father wrote a letter, and sent it off to the Mission House. It was an excellent beginning for a child, to dedicate his first earnings to the Lord. Now, what other children will begin with a little garden for the Lord? Hardly any father, who has a garden of his own, but would give you at least a bed in it for this purpose. Some perhaps would be willing to give a fine plat of ground to the children of the family, and let each have his particular part of it. If all farmers would aid their children in such a work, a large revenue might be gained for our mission work. A lady attended a Bible meeting, and was so deeply interested that she wished to give a guinea towards it. But she had no guinea, except one she had laid aside to purchase a hive of bees. She resolved to give that, however, and the next day a swarm of bees came and settled down on a tree in her garden. She was so surprised and impressed with the incident, that she resolved to dedicate them to the Bible cause, and also the successive swarms from them. In a few years' time the yearly sum amounted to over ten pounds. A gentleman who heard this incident related, went home and dedicated a walnut-tree, loaded with nuts, to the same cause. Now, what tree have you got for the Lord, and what proportion of your land are you willing to cultivate for Him? TIME FLIES. SIXTY seconds make a minute; Time for ever flies away; Sixty minutes make an hour, Four and twenty hours a day. Seven days make up a week, Two and fifty weeks a year; Let us then not waste the time God has granted to us here. To Sunday and Day-school Teachers, &c. THE WEEKLY WELCOME. With Engraving, Letter-press, and Music, in BOTH notations, with special reference to the "International Series of Sunday-school Lessons for 1875." Four pages. Price 4d. per dozen; or, 28. 6d. per 100. Published every Tuesday. It is hoped that Sunday-school Teachers will present these papers weekly to their scholars. A specimen Packet containing one dozen copies of No. 1 or No. 2 will be sent post free by the publishers to any address on receipt of five penny stamps, but it is particularly requested that the weekly orders be given through local booksellers. NEW BOOKS FOR SUNDAY-SCHOOL LIBRARIES. Illustrated Anecdotes; and Pithy Pieces in Prose S. W. Partridge & Co., 9, Paternoster Row. MEMORIAL STONES. AND it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying, Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever. And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day. And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over : That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the 2. Because it will prevent us from being discontented 3. Because it will make us hopeful for the future. See And we'll trust Him for all that's to come!' II. "I will remember the works of the Lord:" how shall we? Israel did not trust to their memory. In the wilderness, up even after the Red Sea, the manna, &c., "they soon forgat His works," Ps. cvi. 13; so now they set "memorial stones" as reminders. (Illustrations: -keepsakes; birthdays; gravestones and tablets; statues of great men; Albert Memorial; Bunyan Monument; Christmas Day, Easter, &c.) What are our "reminders" of God's mercy? Sundays; Bibles; churches and chapels; texts on schoolroom A prayer that God will remember us, Psalm xxv. 7. The resurrection of Christ Gen. ix. 12-17. Gen. xxviii. 18. Gen. xxxi. 45-47. Exod. xvi. 32-34. Numb. xvi. 36-40. Numb. xvii. 10. Josh. xxii. 34. 1 Sam. vii. 12. Eccl. xii. 1. Ps. xx. 7. Ps. xxx. 4. Acts xx. 35. LITTLE GIRLS' SEWING SOCIETY. THERE is a Society in a pretty little town, of which I am going to tell you, in the hope that some who have not attempted anything of the kind may be encouraged to try a similar way of doing good. The Society is called, "The Little Girls' Sewing Society." The members have adopted the following resolution : "Although we are young, we think we can do some good; and we have agreed to form a Society in which we can make our little fingers useful by sewing for the poor heathen children; and we hope thus to grow wiser and better as we grow older, more benevolent to our fellowcreatures, and more pleasing to God." There are thirteen members, all under fourteen years of age. They meet, once in two weeks, on Saturday afternoon. Although the snow is sometimes deep, and the weather very cold, only two or three, I believe, have ever been absent. The time for meeting is joyfully welcomed, and glad faces always greet the young ladies who take charge of the Society. The meetings are opened by reading an interesting passage of Scripture, about which the members are questioned. They then engage in their work of making a bedquilt to send to some of the destitute little girls among the heathen. While they sew, one of the ladies, or one of the members, reads or relates missionary narratives, by which they are pleased and instructed. There are many Societies like this in operation, and we hope that many more will soon be formed. THE FORGOTTEN ONE. "To think that my brother could forget me!" cried "But it will always grieve me to think that he forgot," sobbed Charlotte. "Did you never forget a friend?” "I think not, mamma." "Who is your best friend-the ever-blessed, loving friend who died for you?" "Jesus Christ, the Saviour." "And yet He loves you far more than you love your brother. How your forgetfulness must grieve Him." Do we ever think of this? Before the throne of glory Christ remembers us from day to day. Shall we then ever forget Him who ever intercedes for us? II A CURE FOR ANGER. Two little sisters, one seven and the other five years old, were playing together, when a little difference arose between them. Lucy, the elder, feeling that anger was rising, said: "I am getting angry; I had better go out of the room for a few minutes." She went out, and soon returned with all the angry feelings gone. How she spent the few minutes I think most of our little readers will know. Lucy had not read her Bible in vain; she knew the meaning of these sweet and encouraging words"Ask, and it shall be given;" and many times had she proved them to be true when fighting against her naturally hasty temper. How many sad scenes would be avoided if all children would follow the example of little Lucy! If any one offend you, before answering, try to call to mind this golden sentence: "A soft answer turneth away wrath but grievous words stir up anger;" and if you attend to it you will save yourself hours of regret and repentance. WHAT IS FAITH? A POOR wild Irish boy, taught in a mission-school in Ireland, was asked what was meant by saving faith. He replied, "Grasping Christ with the heart." A young Portuguese convert being asked what she meant by faith, replied:-"Me think this: God say to me, Maria, I promise you something very, very good." Me not know what it is; me wait perhaps long, long time; but me sure God tell not story. Me quite happy. God say He give, and me quite sure God will give; that me think faith. God says, 'Maria, me do it ;' me quite sure; God says, and that enough for Maria. That's faith, is it not?” no want to see. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." To Sunday and Day-school Teachers, &c. THE WEEKLY WELCOME. With Engraving, Letter-press, and Music, in BOTH notations, with special reference to the "International Series of Sunday-school Lessons for 1875.” Four pages. Price 28. 6d. per 100. Published every Tuesday. It is hoped that Sunday-school Teachers will present these papers weekly to their scholars. A specimen Packet containing one dozen copies of No. 1, 2 or 3, will be sent post free by the publishers to any address on receipt of five penny stamps, but it is particularly requested that the weekly orders be given through local booksellers. The Juvenile Library. Packets A, B, C, and D, of Natural History Stories for my Juvenile Friends. |