widowed mother hung upon his neck, and sobbed for very joy; and his little sisters crowded round him, eager to tell him all the little events of their home life. It was a pleasant, refreshing sleep which the boy got that night: a mother's kiss rested on his forehead, and his lullaby was sung by the breaking waves. In that slumber all bygone hardships were forgotten; and, ere daybreak, Alick was up and lending a helping hand to his mother in the house. Obadiah's presents were received with delight; and Mrs. Watson was truly grateful to the kind man who had thus befriended her boy, and she never wearied hearing Alick tell of all his kindness.

It was Saturday, so there was no school for the little girls to go to, and many hours were spent by the brother and sisters on the rocky beach, every nook of which was known to Alick-every boulder and rock was as some well-known, long-lived friend. The fresh breeze fanned the boy's pale cheek, and put new strength into his limbs, and new energy into his heart; and with a sister seated on each side, he told wonderful stories of forest life.

And the children opened their eyes as they heard of tufts of fragrant violets and pale primroses; of birds of every size filling the air with their bursts of melody; and more wonderful still, of real living squirrels, like the stuffed one that stood on the top of mother's chest of drawers, actually hopping from branch to branch, just above the head of their brother, and almost within his reach. Oh! it must be a charming place that forest; and to their thinking, Alick was a fortunate lad to live such a life.

Alick smiled as they spoke; not for worlds would he have shown them the other side of the picture—the incessant toil, the meagre fare, the hard words. No, no, the dark side was his own. No need to let his trials cast a shade on the young lives of his little sisters. Let them picture him, as long as they could, basking in the sunshine, or sporting in the green shady woods. Only Lizzie noticed that his red cheeks were paler, and the light of

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his eyes dimmer, than when she last saw him. And once, when little Mary said how happy he must be, Lizzie observed his eyes suddenly fill with tears; and, child though she was, she doubted if he really were so.

But the mother's eyes, more watchful even than hers, had soon marked the change, and in part guessed the cause; yet she doubted the wisdom of speaking on the subject. She had heard rumours ere now that Mr. Grattan was a hard master, and at first she would fain have withdrawn her child from his service; yet the question was, Would it be a kindness to the boy to do so? She could not keep him at home, even had he been willing to remain, which she knew he would not be; and a situation for one so young was not easy to obtain. So, following the advice of a faithful friend, she left matters alone, and did the best she could for her child, daily in prayer committing him to the keeping of his heavenly

Father.

Yet, when she saw his wearied look, her heart smote her; and when the boy slipped his small store of money into her hands, proud of having it to give her, tears fell as she thought' how hard he had toiled to win it. But she wished not to damp the honest pride and joy which she saw on her boy's face, as he gave her these his first wages. It be that Alick guessed some of the thoughts that passed through his mother's mind; for he said boldly, Nay, mother, don't look at me like that. It was hard work at first, and is so still, may be ; but I determined to brave it, and by God's help I will. I am not going to fret any more, you'll see, but work with a right good will. Mother, you know the good old

am

Scotch

may

proverb,

"Set a stout heart to a stae brae."

Well, I have begun to do that, by Obadiah's advice, and already I've proved the value of it.'

The mother smiled: it was as if a heavy weight had been lifted off her heart. 'The proverb is a good one,'

she said, and bravely your father acted it out; but there's

thing, but it's written in the word of God: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."

When, some days afterwards, Alick was again at work, he told Obadiah of his mother's version of the proverb; and the old man reverently lifted his cap, and said, ‘The Lord bless her and thee, boy: it's a Bible maxim, and no mistake; and mayhap the Master had it in mind when He said—

""Work whilst 'tis called to-day; the night cometh, when
no man can work."'

M. H.

SATURDAY EVENING THOUGHTS.

THE duties of another week are done;
Another portion of my life is gone;

Its hopes, its joys, and cares have passed away;
And with the record of each passing day,

Its follies and its sins, whate'er they be,
My Father and my God, are known to thee.

O that my life were holy in Thy sight

As beauteous as the flowers, like noonday bright;
Like Jesus, filled with love's divinest flame,—
O be it mine to glorify Thy name !

Through Him, O God, on Thee I humbly call,
Be Thou my guide, my trust, my life, my all!

My powers, my life, through Jesus Christ to Thee
I dedicate, that I may holy be;

Cleanse Thou my secret soul, my sins forgive,
And may I henceforth to Thy glory live;
The Christ-like love to God and man be mine,
'Tis all I ask,—the glory all be Thine.

W. K.