But

ranged on the shelves in neat and handy order. Which to look at first he knew not-he would have liked to look at them all. the Bookseller, who saw this, put into the hands of his Father a Catalogue with the prices of each. Mr. Porter glanced over it, and said, "Now John, what is your book to be about?" John was not like a silly little boy we once knew, who said to his Grandmother, when she wished him to have a book which would have told him how to be a good boy-"I dont want such a book, I want one that will make me laugh." No, John knew better. He knew too, that as his Father knew more about books than he did, he would be the best judge, and so he replied, "I will leave it to you Father." Well," said his Father, "I will give you my advice. You know I have plenty of books at home on History, Biography, Voyages, Travels, and such like, which you can read any time whenever you please. But there is one book which I should like you to have as your own book, to keep as long as you live. I dont think there is a better book in the world than it, except the Bible, and you have a Bible." And then turning to the Bookseller he said, "I see you have many very cheap books in this list. We had no such cheap books when I was a boy.

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Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress for eightpence! but I should like a better for my son-a larger book and illustrated by some handsome cuts." The Bookseller soon found the very book Mr. P. required, who putting it into John's hands said, "There, that is the book I should like you to have, John." John turned over the pages rapidly to glance at the pictures, which he admired very much; but not knowing what the book was about, said, " And do you think I shall like this book, Father?" "Yes that you will," said Mr. P., when you once begin to read it you will not know how to leave off, and when you have done you will wish it had been as long again." This was enough: John believed all his Father said, for he had never deceived him. The book was carefully wrapped up. John grasped it as a precious prize, and now only longed to be at home that he might shew it to his mother, look at the pictures again, and begin to read it for himself.

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Little Reader! have you ever read the Pilgrim's Progress? If not, save your money and buy one. You will be glad you took our advice, and you will say when you have done, that it is one of the most interesting books in the world, although it was written by a Prisoner in a Gaol !

OR, SKATING ON THE SABBATH.

DICK CURTIS and BILL WILSON went to the same Sabbath School.

rough fellows, and being in

they were always playing

They were two

the same class
some trick or

other, and the Teacher was often obliged to complain of their rudeness. Of the two, Dick was the ruder. He was generally the ringleader in all mischief. There are, unfortunately, a few such rough lads in all Sabbath Schools, especially in populous districts. The fault is usually with the

Parents, who do not correct them as they ought to do, and keep them in proper subjection. In some cases, the Parents being poor, send their children, at an early age, to work where wicked young men teach them everything that is evil. Brickyards, amongst other places, are sad schools of wickedness for the children of the poor. Dick and Bill worked together in the same brickyard.

On a sharp frosty winter morning in January, Dick and Bill were on their way to the Sabbath School, when Dick said to his companion, “Bill, it's a sharp frost this morning. Our pond at the brickyard was frozen over yesterday, but it would'nt bear then. I threw a half-brick on it, and it cracked the ice, but didn't go through. I will be bound it will bear this morning. Let us go and have a skate." "I should like to go and have a skate very much," said Bill," But I dont quite like going this morning. Remember what our Teacher said last Sunday about all them chaps, seventeen or eighteen of 'em, I think he said, all being drowned in a river, through the ice breaking, one Sunday. You didn't hear him, you were playing one of your silly tricks all the time he was talking about it. But I heard him, and I shouldn't

like to go to day. We can go to-morrow can't we, at dinner time?" Dick, who was never fast for excuses, looking as cross as he well could, said "Why are you going to be frightened. The Teacher only told you that tale on purpose to get you to go to School. We work hard all the week dont we. When are we to have any fun? I say let us go now. It may be a thaw to-morrow, and then we shan't have a skate at allcome along." This last argument was enough for Bill, and so, having fetched their skates, away they went. Dick was first to venture. "It'll bear Bill," he cried out, "come on the ice and put on your skates." They were soon equipped, and began to cut this way and that on the ice, which was as smooth and clear as glass, and cracked at every stroke they took. "I'll tell you what, Dick, we must mind, or we shall be in if we dont take care," said Bill. "Not we," cried his bold companion. “Follow the leader, and you'll see I'll go all round the pond!" And off went the daring lad, and Bill after him, till the leader came to a part of the pond which had been broken the day before to let the cows drink, and was only thinly frozen over, when in he went, and Bill would have been in after him, had he not stuck the heel of his skate