powerful tale, and use made easy to him what many would have regarded as a hard task to perform. Imagine, then, a slender lad of twelve years of age; of fair complexion; his eyes and mouth expressive; his auburn hair neatly arranged; his look modest; his mien gentle; his conduct courteous, kind, affectionate, and true. And, by the way, he has ALREADY EXPERIENCED A CHANGE OF HEART. He loves God, and regards HIM as his Heavenly Father.

But that you may enjoy the most favourable and commanding view of this little fellow, come with me, and let us spend a day at his home. It is morning. The sun has just come forth "from his chamber:" his rays are painting and gilding up the eastern sky: the ocean gleams in his presence, and the dew-drop softly and silently reflects his image. The leaf, the thorn, and the tiny blade of grass, each has a mirror of the sun. Away fly the clouds, the mist and vapours of the night. The owls and bats, and lighthaters retire into seclusion. The merry birds are up, and cheerily whistling and warbling their morning songs; the lark has just ascended, and is going up to dip its wing and sing its carol in a lighter atmosphere: and Willie should be up. A call is given by his mother, and kindly responded to by the willing, active boy. He does not parley with the bed. There is with him no hesitation nor delay. He is soon washed, dressed, and ready to approach his God. Before him lies his hymn-book, and the BOOK of BOOKS. There he kneels! See how that form is bent! His eyes are directed upward, as if looking up into some great yet gracious presence. The GREAT God is a God of LOVE. How his little hands are placed! O what an attitude! prays!"

"Prayer is the simplest form of speech,

That infant lips can try;

Yet the sublimest strains that reach

The Majesty on high."

Behold, he

Thanksgiving has been offered for the mercies of the night, and the Divine blessing besought, with childlike simplicity, on his school-fellows, relatives, the church, the world, his parents and himself. Now a portion of God's

holy WORD is read, another learnt; also a portion of a hymn, and the dear boy has prayed that his memory may be sanctified to retain what he has committed to its care, and that it may prove of service to him in future life. He now commends his soul and body to the keeping of the Preserver of men, and departs from his room to greet his beloved parents. Here he comes! how happy he looks: his very eyes glisten with delight! Good children are always the most happy here, and shall be still more happy hereafter.

"Know that for such superior souls
There lies a bliss, beyond the poles,
Where rising floods of knowledge roll,
And pour, and pour upon the soul."

My little readers will guess Willie's first words of salutation; then the graceful bow, the complacent smile,-the quick step to mother and father, and the kiss of affection. Now I should like you to tell your parents or your teachers, in how many respects I have represented this lad as a model worthy of your imitation. But I have not done. When spoken to by any one, Willie does not answer, as many thoughtless children do, by a naked, abrupt "Eh! What! Yes! No!" He always appends those little polite terms which some so often forget. You never see him look sour, and distort his pretty features as many children do, who, if a looking-glass hung before them, would be ashamed of their distorted features. When at table he sits up with ease and grace; and his conduct is never such as to require sharp and repeated reproofs.

Let us look at him during family worship. See how calm and dignified he sits: it is childlike unconscious dignity; while the Scriptures are read, his eye and his ear intensely follow his father, who audibly reads the precious truths. During the offering up of prayer, you may be sure that Willie is not looking out at the window, nor playing, nor allowing his thoughts to wander to other objects. If you pay attention, you will hear sounds indicative of his religious feelings and earnestness of soul. Soft, yet earnest responses now and anon indicate his interest in the petitions offered up.

In school, Willie behaves not unseemly, and never complains of the lessons imposed upon him. While listening to the preaching of the blessed Gospel, the dear lad is all eye and all ear, and his very mouth seems to sympathise with those other organs: he appears as if he would eat the Word as it comes from the lips of the preacher. In his play, he manifests, like most children, spirit and pleasure, and always reminds us of the gay and merry frolics of the innocent lambs in their noon-day gambols. When on the broad green meadow, "jewelled with wild flowers," or on the rugged cliff, or the shingle beach, or in the school-yard, or sporting amidst the humble varieties of his father's garden, he conducts himself wisely, and excites admiration. From what I have said you will infer, that though Willie is not perfect in knowledge or holiness, yet he is courteous, kind, affectionate, gentle, active, willing, and true, and that he is making efforts to improve.

And now, lest you should think I have over-coloured this sketch, I must tell you that I once knew such a boy as Willie. I had the pleasure of sleeping with him, and going through devotional exercises with him. And among the verses I learnt with him on my knees were the following"By death and hell pursued in vain,

To thee the ransom'd seed shall come,

Shouting their heavenly Zion gain,

And pass through death triumphant home.

"The pain of life shall there be o'er,
The anguish, and distracting care,

There sighing grief shall weep no more,
And sin shall never enter there."

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Other verses from the hymn-book and the Bible were learnt by me the few nights I slept with him. If I had space would give them you. But I must now tell you that Willie has left our world. His body is in the grave, and his spirit has fled to a happier clime. He is gone to the world of "spirits bright."

"O! what a glorious state, my soul,
Prepared for pilgrims here below;
O! may I reach that heavenly goal,
And taste celestial pleasures too."

Willie became a Sabbath-school teacher; studied, and

thus laboured till he was twenty years old. He had become old in religious experience, and at this early age "passed through death triumphant home." I think these were about his last words:-"Don't grieve, mother, I am happy! I am going a delightful journey, to 'see the King in his beauty.' ." Oh! that I had more fully imitated that lad. Well, it is not too late to begin. Let us study him, and commence at once. May we meet him in heaven! Amen. W. T. S.

GRATITUDE, AND ITS ADVANTAGES. GRATITUDE is a very excellent and pleasing disposition. It is a very desirable adornment, and worthy of universal cultivation. A deaf and dumb girl had written before her this question "What is your interpretation of gratitude ?” She immediately wrote "Gratitude is the memory of the heart." A lovely sentiment; would that it found expression in the conduct of every human being. It is very important that young persons should cherish a grateful disposition; it highly becomes them to do so. Youth is a favoured season. Young persons are generally dependent, and are the objects of much kind attention.

To our

The young should be grateful to their parents. parents we are greatly indebted; for our sakes they have endured many sufferings and privations; for us they have often denied themselves, have watched, wept, prayed, and laboured. How frequently they have preferred our ease, and comfort, and safety to their own! They provided for our bodily wants, and for our mental training, and exerted a salutary check on our wayward inclinations. By night and by day, at home and abroad, we have been the objects of their tender solicitude. Can we think of the kindness of our parents, of their vigilance, their gentleness, their patience, their blessings, their prayers, their untiring devotedness to our welfare, and not feel truly grateful to them! Deplorably hardened are they who can; a monster indeed must he be who is destitute of filial gratitude.

Sabbath-school scholars should be grateful to their

teachers. It is very pleasing to know that the Juvenile Companion is read by several thousands of our Sabbathscholars, and that they are highly pleased with it; with many of them it is a great favourite. We wish that all the Sabbath-scholars who may read these lines may be led to value their Sunday-school privileges, and to feel duly grateful to their teachers. Consider, my dear young friends, that your teachers labour for your improvement; they love you and wish you well. It would give them great joy to see you wise, and virtuous, and happy. It is not without making sacrifices that they spend a considerable portion of every Lord's-day endeavouring to teach you that which is good. Their labours are disinterested and benevolent: they employ their time and their talents, and give their money for the purpose of doing you good. Is it not reasonable that you should be grateful to them?

It is the duty of the young to be grateful to all their benefactors. It is the lot of some to be bereaved of their parents at an early age. Sad indeed is such a loss, it must be felt to be understood; but orphan children often meet with kind friends by whom they are adopted and provided for. Many other young persons, though they are not thus bereaved, yet they are afflicted, or necessitous, but their condition is noticed by generous-minded persons who pity and help them. To such benefactors they certainly ought to manifest their gratitude.

The young ought to be especially grateful to the blessed God. He is our great benefactor; all our springs of temporal and spiritual good are in Him. He is a friend above all others. He gives us friends to bless the present scene." We may truly say—

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Parents, friends, 'twas God bestowed,
Life, and all descend from God."

We should learn to acknowledge God for every benefit; the glowing language of the Psalmist well becomes us-"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine