glory which shall be revealed in us" then every finger separately. Some(Rom. viii. 18). Hence our NEW times the poet would take him into the ΝΑΜΕ. It is already "written in garden, for he had become so tame that heaven" (Luke x. 20). Let us strive there was no fear of his running away. to follow in the footsteps of Patriarchs, Puss liked this very much, and would Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, ask to go out as plainly as if he could and just men made perfect, lest our speak. How would he ask? By drumnames be "blotted out of the book of ming with his paws on his master's knee, life" (Rev. iii. 5). All whose names and looking up with an appealing exare not so recorded, or are erased have pression that plainly said, "Please take no hope of heaven (Rev. xx. 15; xxii. me out." Then he would take Mr. 19). Cowper's coat-tails between his teeth, and pull at them with all his might. The great attraction in the garden was a cucumber vine, where he would often lie all day until the evening.

Cowper and his Pets,

No doubt many of our little friends keep rabbits, and are very fond of their docile yet lively pets; but none of you, I think, have kept pet hares like the poet Cowper. I will tell you how it was that he became so much interested in those little creatures. Some children, whom he knew, had a leveret, which, you know, is a little hare; but though it was a nice plaything for a change, they soon grew tired of it, and their father seeing the poor little thing neglected, offered it with their consent, to Mr. Cowper, who at this time was suffering from a strange and distressing mental affliction; and his friend hoped that the little amusement of tending and taming the leveret might prove an agreeable diversion from his own thoughts. Several more friends who were glad enough to do anything for him, brought him other hares, till, as he said, he might have had enough to stock a paddock.

He selected three, whom he named Puss, Tiny and Bess. Bess was the largest and strongest, and at first the tamest. He would have made you laugh at his funny antics, as he frisked about the parlor; for after supper the hares were allowed to play in the poet's room. Puss at first was shy, like a wild hare, but his master's kindness soon made him feel at home, and he would jump upon his knee, and sometimes go to sleep in his lap. Once he was taken ill, so Mr. Cowper kept him apart from his companions; for hares, like many other animals, will persecute their sick friends. He nursed the little thing very carefully till he was well again, then the faithful creature showed his gratitude in the most unmistakable manner, by licking his master's hand all over, and

Tiny was of a very different disposition: in spite of all his master's kindness, he would not allow him to stroke his fur without a grunt; but even his solemn surliness amused the poet.

The three little animals lived a very happy life, and seemed quite to enjoy being domesticated. You will think they had good reason to be comfortable, when I tell you that their master himself made each of them a snug, cosy bedroom, with a bed of clean straw on which to sleep, and in daytime they had a nice hall where they could play all together, Bess was the first to die; he caught cold one day after his room had been cleaned, he having been put to bed before it was dry. Tiny lived to be eight, and Puss ten years old. When Tiny died the poet wrote his celebrated Epitaph "On a Hare," which perhaps, some of our little readers have read.-Early Days

It is always well to remember that nothing in the world is easier than to pull down and destroy. It requires no intelligence, no character, only power and will. A hog can root up a garden. One hen, scratching for worms, will destroy in an hour what nature and the gardener have been years in producing. The veriest dolt, with a pickaxe, on the Parthenon, allowed to indulge his destructive propensities, would soon make that charming building an unsightly ruin. Nothing is easier than to find fault, to tear down and to destroy. An oil spot can be put in a second on a silk dress, and every day it will gather more and more of the dust that is always flying.-Christian Intelligencer.

LESSON XLI.

Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity. Genesis xviii. 16-33.

THE SUBJECT.-ABRAHAM PRAYS FOR SODOM.

QUESTIONS.

NOTES. Three heavenly messengers as it spread over the earth, or ascended visit Abraham at Mamre or Hebron. to heaven, was to be laid open and proclaimed to themselves and others. And if not, I will know. That is, the people's true character shall be revealed.

He welcomes, entertains and refreshes them after the Eastern mode of hospitality. They inform him of the birth of his son Isaac (vs. 1-15).

VESRE 16. And the men rose up — looked towards Sodom. And Abraham went with them. This was another piece of Eastern hospitality, which a host owed his guests, to direct them on their journey. To this duty our Lord refers "And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain" (Matt. 5: 41). As public roads and highways were not then; as villages, towns and cities lay apart, with wildernesses between, guides were necessary to strangers in the neighborhoods. Hence Abraham brought them on their

way.

VERSE 22. And the men turned their faces from thence and went towards Sodom. It seems but two angels left in this direction. But Abraham stood yet before the Lord. This was the third and chief angel, called the Lord. He was, likely, Christ Himself, who in the early ages manifested Himself on rare occasions.

VERSE 23. And Abraham drew near. In some reverential manner he approached this superior angel. His intercession for the city, whose doom had been told him, commences with the question-Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? This was the ground of his intercession. He pleads from this principle. Thou wilt not punish the just with the unjust.

This

VERSES 24-32. Peradventure. word occurs six times in his prayer, and means-if it should be the case, that fifty righteous, or forty-five, or forty, or thirty, or twenty, or ten, be found. These numbers represent the idea of completeness, or some select company, large or smallrather than just so many.

VERSES 17-19. Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do? This is put as a question, but means, that a revelation shall be made to Abraham concerning the end of Sodom. We of ten make use of this form of speech, when we mean to say something positive. Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation. Through Abraham's posterity the world knows that such cities once existed and what became of them. Among his descend- Abraham appears to assume the charants the threatened destruction and its acter of an intercessor, or mediator befulfilment were remembered and pre- tween God and Sodom, or the race, as served. God was all the more feared it were, since the change of his name on this account, whilst every man's household and people may take warning by Sodom's fate. That his children and all after him may keep the way of the Lord, and learn to observe justice and avoid judgment, as well as challenge God's benediction.

VERSE 20. Sodom and Gomorrah. There were five cities clustered around the Dead Sea, in the Jordan Valley, noted for their iniquity. The two here mentioned were the largest-the other three were Admah, Zeboim and Zoar. Our word "Sodomy" is from the name of the first city, and is a standing memorial of the wickedness of the fated place.

VERSE 21. I will go down now. This may have been done through one of His servants sent thither; or it may have been Lot himself, according to the saying of St. Peter (2 Epis. 2: 7,8). See whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it. Their evil reputation,

occurred. And with a great reverence towards the Lord, and a profound humility within himself, does he carry his of fice. He addresses Him Lord, and "judge of all the earth;" whilst he counts himself "dust and ashes." Besides, he apologizes for venturing to speak, so nuch and so long. Behold, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord;—Oh, let not the Lord be angry! And I will speak yet but this once! Thus he supplicates five times, and each time earnestly, but humbly.

There is much praying done, without any supplication, importunity or perseverance; and much supplication, without modesty, or reverence. So, too, is there much prayer offered, without intercession, or asking for others.

The patience of God also shines out brilliantly. "God is patient because He is eternal," says an old saint. cepts every condition which Abraham

He ac

Sodom was on the verge of destruction, and this negotiation or treaty is related for us, to teach us, that its impending doom was but a reaping of its own sowing; that the salt had all died out of its bosom, or lost its savor; and that its ripe harvest was at the door, just as it was with Jerusalem in later years, or many other cities. From Abraham's solicitude and God's condescension we see, that heaven is more inclined to prevent and deliver, than to arbitrarily strike and angrily light upon men. Because Abraham was allowed to search out, from fifty to ten men, and did not find any number after all, we may infer that to spare the city would but aggravate its misery. It is always far from the Lord to destroy the good, since the judge of all the earth always saves as long as there is any one to save. The Lord is good to all, and exhibits mercy in what strikes us as wrath indeed. In Sodom He delivered the only household that served Him, and suffered the city to come to an end, rather than to sink into a still deeper deep.

VERSE 33. And the Lord went His way. But only after, Abraham ceased supplicating Him-as soon as he left communing. Now Abraham returned to Hebron. The destruction of Sodom follows next.

A Happy Scientist.

PROF. SCHLIEMANN'S GREEK WIFE.

Dr. Schliemann, writing from Troy (Asia Minor) to a friend in Indianapolis, says: "I think that there is no lady in the world who could have made me so happy as Mrs. Sophia Schliemann, whom I married ten years ago from pure affection, and because, though she then only knew her native tongue, the modern Greek, she showed a great enthusiasm for Homer and archæology. Since that time she has perfectly mastered nearly all the European languages, learned nearly all the Homeric poems by heart and constantly assists me with fervent zeal in all my undertakings; nay, the French edition of my Mycense is dedicated to her, and she fully deserves it. You say my work has not been profitable to me; but if, as you say, you read my Mycenae, you ought to know that I work from pure love for science, and that I gave away to the Greek people the immense treasures found by me and my wife at Mycena * * Believe me we have nearly all our money in America, and if we buy a home in Indianapolis it is with the intention to remove thither sooner or later. We spend the value of palaces in our scientific explorations, but are content and happy in a modest little cottage.

*

LOOKING at the rich colors of stained windows from the outside of a church, WHENCE COMES THE EXPRESSION: one sees but blurred and confused "Oil on the Troubled Waters?"—The shades on the glass. But seen from the fishermen of the Shetland Isles, as we inside, the full figures, with all their learn from a writer in Chambers's Jourmarvellous colors are clearly seen. So nal, are wont, when in utmost peril may persons fancy that they can fully during a storm, to throw oil on the understand the power and glory of waters to still them. They crush in Christ's Church without entering or be- their hands the livers of any ling or coming living members of it. They see cod they may have caught, and keep nought but defects from without, and throwing them astern and around them. enlarge upon them. But as soon as "The effect," we are told, "is magical. with sincere penitence and faith they The waves are not lessened in size; but enter Christ's fold, they see the glorify- they no longer break, and it is only ing light and loveliness of the Saviour's from their breaking close to the boat presence. No one can form a correct and so being dashed in upon her and opinion of the Church from an outside filling her that there is danger. The shadow. Years have elapsed since rapidity with which the oil spreads over the first baptism, and now there are a considerable space of sea around is seventy churches, averaging one hun- marvellous, and scarcely to be credited dred members each, on the former field except by one who has witnessed the of His labors. phenomenon.

Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity. Genesis xix. 15-25.

THE SUBJECT.-THE DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH.

QUESTIONS.