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The Enraged Elephant.

LOOK! What a fearful sight. It is enough to freeze one's blood, and make one's hair stand on end. An enormous elephant has broken loose from one of the great bazaars, and is charging through the main street of the city, destroying all before it. Right and left the crowds fly in horror and disorder. Look again! A poor child, ragged and starving, has somehow fallen in the elephant's way, and is likely to be crushed to death. But just as the furious beast rushes to the spot, a man, dressed like a labourer, springs out right in front of the elephant, snatches up the child, and leaps back just in time to save his own life. As he leaps back the turban falls from his face, and every one sees that he is no other than the Emperor Baber himself. A great hush falls upon the crowd, they can scarcely believe their own eyes. Suddenly another man steps forth, casts himself at the Emperor's feet, presents him with his sword, and

says

Prince, I am thine enemy, and I meant to have slain thee this day; but he who saves life is greater than he who destroys it. My hands are weak against him whom God protects. Take my sword, and kill him who would have killed thee!'

The young Emperor's noble face beams with benignity as he listens to the strange confession, and, lifting the prostrate man, says, 'I will not kill any man who confesses his fault and is sorry for it. Take back thy sword, and use it in my service. I make thee one of my palace-guards.

The stern Hindoo bows his head and weeps like a child.

'I go to Sunday School.'

AN old lady, being very poor, thought she would go and live with her daughter, hoping that she was better off and could help her. On her way a boy begged to carry her box for two pennies, saying that his folks were starving at home. When they arrived at her daughter's it was quite dark, and she, through mistake, gave the boy a half-crown, and had only two pennies left. She found her daughter and children in a state of starvation, and she gave her the two pennies to get something for the children to eat, and went to bed without supper, hoping that God would provide for the morrow.

In the early morning a tap was heard at the

door, which the daughter opened, and a boy rather bluntly said:

''Didn't I bring a box here last night for an old woman?

'Yes, you did.' 'Where is she?'

'Upstairs.'

'Tell her to come down; I want to see her.' The old woman soon made her appearance, when the boy said:

'Missus, do you know you gave me a half-crown instead of a penny last night? because you did, and I have brought it back. Here it is.'

'Yes, my lad, I did, and I am very much obliged to you for bringing it back. But I want to know how you came to do so, for I thought you told me you were starving at home.' 'Yes, we are very bad off,' said the boy, brightening up as he spoke; but I go to Sunday-school, and I love Jesus, and I could not be dishonest.'

'The Lord is my Shepherd.'

A POOR Woman came in great trouble to a kind lady who had befriended her, to tell her that, on account of various changes in the families where she had been employed, her work had all left her, and she was utterly uncertain where any more was coming from. The lady, after sympathizing and relieving her present need, asked her to go with her to her own When there she said to her, 'Now, Katy, when I am in trouble and don't know what to do, I always ask God to tell me. Would you like to have me ask Him for you?'

room.

'Oh, me dear lady, and it's meself as is grateful and proud to have ye praying for the likes of me; but I fears what the holy father may be sayin' when I comes to confession, savin' your presence, me dear lady!'

But Mrs. D- was not easily discouraged. She had faith in God's Word, and she believed that He would bless this humble soul beside her. So taking up her Bible, she read those sweet words, 'The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.'

Then dropping on her knees, she poured out her heart in desire that this sorrowful sister might find the truth of the words she had read, and that she might trust Him also to save her soul.

Some days after the woman came again, this time with a joyful face and happy voice, to tell

AN HONEST BOY.

her that her prayer had been answered. Work had come to her again, and she had plenty for herself and her family.

'And oh, me lady,' she cried, the tears falling from her eyes, 'niver again will I be sayin' me prayers to the saints and the priest. I will just go straight to the blissid Lord hisself and ask him for what I wants. Please, ma'am, read me again those swate words about his being my shepherd, and the still waters and all the rest.'

The two Coins.

'BEN ADAM had a golden coin one day, Which he put out at interest with a Jew. Year after year, awaiting him it lay,

Until the double coin two pieces grew; And these two, four,-so on, till people said,

'How rich Ben Adam is!' and bowed the servile head.

'Ben Selim had a golden coin that day,

Which to a stranger asking alms he gave, Who went rejoicing on his unknown way.

But Selim died, too poor to own a grave;

But, when his soul reached heaven, angels with pride Showed him the wealth to which his coin had multiplied.'

Robert's Certificate.

'HAVE you a recommendation?' 'Yes, sir.'

Robert had been seeking a situation for almost a week; and now that he had at last met with something that promised success he was as nervous as a boy can be. His hand went down in his jacket pocket—a handkerchief, a strap, but no recommendation. He emptied another pocket, and another and another without success.

'Ah! there it is, I suppose; you have dropped it on the floor,' said the gentleman, who was standing by, waiting, as a bit of paper fluttered to the floor.

'No, sir; that's only my pledge,' Robert answered, stooping to pick up the paper. 'Your pledge?

'Yes, sir. My temperance pledge.' 'May I see it?'

Robert handed it to him, and continued his search for the missing paper, growing more nervous as the search proceeded.

'Never mind, my boy. I don't need any further

47

reference,' said the gentleman, after reading the pledge. 'I am willing to trust a boy who puts his name to a promise like this. That boy is his own reference.'

An Honest Boy.

IN a country school a large class were standing to spell. In the lesson there was a very hard word. I put the word to the scholar at the head, and he missed it; I passed it to the next, and the next, and so on through the whole class, till it came to the last scholar-the smallest of the class-and he spelled it right, at least I understood him so, and he went to the head, above seventeen boys and girls, all older than himself. I then turned round and wrote the word on the blackboard, so that they all might see how it was spelled, and learn it better. But no sooner had I written it than the little boy at the head cried out: O! I didn't say it so, Miss Wilson; I said e instead of i.'

And he went back to the foot, of his own accord, quicker than he had gone to the head. Was he not an honest boy? I should always have thought he spelled it right if he had not told me; but he was too honest to take any credit that did not belong to him.

Our Cockatoo.

OUR Cockatoo is a pretty bird. Everybody admires him and praises his beauty. We sometimes think he is a little vain, and considers himself deserving all the praise he gets. We think so from the way in which he struts on his perch, cocks his head, and puts on dignified airs. But it is only fair to say he may not be vain for all that. Appearances are not always to be relied on. Some people who look vain are really quite humble, and some who look humble are vain. You can't be sure how it is by appearances, and ought, therefore, to be cautious in judging. Little Mary and the cockatoo are great friends. She often gives him a piece of sugar, or a bit of sweet cake, or fruit of some kind. The other day she brought him a beautiful apple. Before beginning to eat it he looked at it all round, as if admiring its beauty and thinking what a jolly treat Mary had brought him. He knows Mary quite well, and whenever she comes near him he rustles his feathers and screams with delight.

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London: Published by RALPH FENWICK, 6 Sutton Street, Commercial Road, E.
Printed by F. H. HURD, Bourne House, Bedford Street, Commercial Road E.

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