rolling on the road at their play. One of them, a little older than the rest, had on what was once a white shirt; but it was not at all white then. This was all his dress. He was as dusty and as dirty as the rest. His black face, and curly hair, and his whole body, were covered with dust and mud. They stood and looked at us, and we could hardly get them to come near; but this one, a little older, came forward a few steps and spoke. His name was John Knox, a sharp, active little fellow, not very big for his age. For more than a year we tried to get him to come to school; but he did not seem inclined to come, neither did his friends seem to want him to come, and he ran about like a wild goat. At last he was got to school, and he learned very quickly. He is now five years older, and a different boy-quite altered in his conduct. Last year he became a clerk in the printing office. He writes a really good hand, and every month he writes a thousand addresses for the little newspaper we have here, called the Kaffir Express. He puts postage stamps: on them, and with one older to look at his work, he checks them in a book, and sends them off to the postoffice. It takes a long time to write the names of a thousand people and the places where they live, and yet he does it carefully and well. Try how long it will take you to write the addresses of fifty, or even of twenty letters. Other boys of that small number who came to the garden gate, and who have not gone to school, are now running about wilder and worse than before, and useless for any good work. Some of them are very bad indeed; for we have bad people here too. But you see by this storywhich is true, every word of it-how much education, and teaching from the Bible, changes people. The change is so great in some, that after a year or two you would not know them. John Knox receives £10 a year for his work; and out of this he has to pay £5 for his food and lodging in the Institution. We do not give this £10 merely to help him to pay, we give it because his work is worth it. If it were not worth that he would not get it. Sometimes he has to work all night. He has a brother, older than himself, who works in the fields. His name is Candlish," so called after Dr. Candlish of Edinburgh. Their father, who is now dead, had a liking, you see, for the names of men who were well known. Again we thank you for your gift to Christ's cause in Africa. And I ask you to add to it another gift-give all your hearts to Christ, and then everything you do will be accepted by him, and you will find how good it is to have him for your friend. He is the best of friends, and he will never forsake you if you trust him. May God bless you all with his grace, to keep you out of the ways of evil and temptation in this life, and bring you to his heavenly kingdom at last. Yours sincerely, JAMES STEWART. Sabbath Schools in Africa. I AM glad to state that these are prospering. They differ in one respect from those in the home country, that many of the members sit down with the younger scholars to receive instruction from the Word of God-in one of our schools to the number of twenty-six. Lately, at a prize distribution of Bibles and Testaments, I had appointed hymns to be learned out of our Kaffir hymn-book by those who wished to compete for the prizes; and amongst the successful competitors were some of the grown-up people, the competitors learning from twenty to seventy verses. — - Rev. J. G. Robertson, Lovedale. SATURDAY NIGHT. A TEXT FOR OUR TEACHER. April 6. Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.-John vi. 68. 13. Study to shew thyself ap proved unto God, a work- 20. Take heed therefore unto 27. Here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land.-Gen. xlvii. 23. what good old Dr. Watts says in his hymn about INNOCENT PLAY. ABROAD in the meadows to see the young lambs Run sporting about by the side of their dams, With fleeces so clean and so white; Or a nest of young doves in a large open cage, When they play all in love without anger and rage; How much we may learn from the sight! If we had been ducks, we might dabble in mud; Or dogs, we might play till it ended in blood; So foul and so fierce are their natures; But Thomas, and William, and such pretty names, Should be cleanly and harmless as doves or as lambs, Those lovely sweet innocent creatures. Not a thing that we do, nor a word that we say, Should injure another in jesting or play, There's none but a madman will fling about fire, And tell you, "'Tis all but in sport." VALUE OF A MINUTE. A SMALL Vessel was nearing the shores of the Bristol Channel in a storm, and was in imminent danger of being dashed upon the rocks. Every one seemed to have lost all hope, and expected every moment that the ship would strike and founder. The captain stood on deck, his watch in his hand, and his eye fixed on it. Suddenly he cried out, as he glanced across the water, "Thank God, we are saved-the tide has turned; in one minute more we should have been on the rocks!" Both captain and crew felt then, as perhaps they never felt before, the value of a minute. A SCHOOL IN MADAGASCAR. A SCHOOL in Madagascar is thus described by the Rev. J. Pearse:-"We don't teach very hard things in this school, but only reading, writing, and arithmetic, and such like. Many of our scholars can read the New Testament very well indeed. I am sure you would be surprised if you could listen to some of them, only about six or seven years of age, reading verse after verse without making any mistake. And they can do sums very quickly, and say the multiplication table first rate. The girls learn needlework. You would think it a funny sight if you could peep into the school-room some day when the scholars are there. The children are not dressed in frocks and pinafores, like the children in England, but most of them have only a "lamba," which is just three or four yards of calico, or native cloth, wrapped round their bodies. A few of the boys have shirts, and some of the girls have a jacket, but only one here and there, whose parents are very well off. Neither boys nor girls wear anything on their feet, and seldom any covering on their heads. Some few boys sport a straw hat with a broad brim, which can be bought in the market for a few pence, but not many. And then some of the children nave such funny names, so that if you could hear the names called out, you would laugh. I copy a few with their literal meanings opposite. Ravoalavo...... Master Rat. Ravalala........ Rafito Ramalama..... Locust. Seven. Slippery. KINDNESS COSTS NOTHING. WE lately saw a poor blind man at a crowded street-corner in Edinburgh. There was such a noise of carts and carriages passing that he was afraid to cross. Two poor ragged boys went up to him. One took each arm, and they gently led him over in safety. Well done, kind fellows! They had no money to give him, but their help was worth still more; for though they had given him five shillings, he might have been killed if they had not guided him. A good example: try to follow it. Try to be of use. Kindness costs nothing. See that little girl leading the old woman across the bridge. It costs her nothing; but the old body is nearly blind, and but for her little guide, she might have fallen over into the water. Do good to all as you have opportunity. REMEMBERING HIS FATHER'S HOUSE. MANY years ago a kind gentleman brought from Jamaica a little black boy only ten years of age, whose father had been a slave. He gave him an education, and took him into his service. After his master's death, Joseph went to live with a wealthy family, where, being prudent and careful, he saved money. Last of all, he went into the service of a clergyman, who found him not only a faithful servant, but a truly converted man. About twelve years ago he died at Bath; but, before his death, he told his master that he wished to leave his money for the salvation of the heathen, of whom he had been one. No less a sum than £527, 19s. 6d. was paid into the Church Missionary Society. "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matt. vi. 21.) IS THERE ANY REASON WHY? Ir a thing is right to be done, it must be right that somebody should do it. Is there any reason why I should not be that somebody?-Archbishop Whately. NO CASE TOO BAD. Do you think your case is too bad for Christ to save? Every one whom Christ saves had just such a heart as you.M'Cheyne. |