therefore, did he make answer, as he still rested his hand on the little maiden's brow, "God grant that I may be counted worthy of that kingdom." Memel. A. M. DE H. 66 WAS IT OUR JESUS ?" A LITTLE three-year old girl stood at the window one pleasant sabbath, "watching for papa," who was at church. Soon she spied him coming; and as he entered the door, she raised her eyes to him, and said, “Papa, what did Mr. R- preach about this morning ?" Her father replied, "He preached about Jesus." "Papa, was it our Jesus?" she asked. "Yes," said her father, "it was our Jesus." The eyes brightened at the thought that papa's minister knew her Jesus, and talked about him to his congregation. Do you, my dear child, claim this Jesus as yours? I hope so, for it is a most blessed thought that every little girl and boy may have him for their own Saviour. No matter how much he loves other children, there is room, ever room, in his affection for you, and as many others as will ask him to care for them. They brought young children to him, and he took them up in his arms, and blessed them." Mark x. 13, 16. WHEN we are satisfied that anything is right, and true, and good, we must hold it fast, and not let it go. BIRTHDAY VERSES. FOR A LITTLE GIRL, AGED SEVEN YEARS. So I have heard dear mother say, A new-born babe. It could not stand, it could not walk, It had no teeth. From where it lay it could not rise; And two nice ears. It had a tongue, none could deny ; Now seven years old God made me-I to God belong; He keeps me safe, and makes me strong; Father in heaven, teach me to know, With thee to dwell. OLD MARCO, THE TAME BEAR. THE wild bear, when full grown, is a very fierce animal. Yet it is wonderful what a power the human eye has, even upon this savage creature. A gentleman was once walking through a forest in North America with his wife, when a sudden turn in the path brought to their view a large bear, coming directly towards them. The lady was so alarmed that she wished to flee, but the gentleman said their only safety was in going forward, and looking the bear steadily in the eye. They did so, advancing slowly and firmly, and soon the animal's courage seemed to forsake him, and he skulked off into the woods. You may well suppose that the two pursued their walk with thankful hearts for their merciful deliverance. Although so fierce when fully grown, the little cubs may be taken early, and, if carefully trained, become as tame as house-dogs. It is not uncommon to see a tame bear occupying a corner of the hunter's cabin, in some parts of America. They sometimes are very attached to those about them, which continues as long as they live. The following account is said to be quite true. A nobleman in France had an old bear named Marco, which he kept in a little cabin built inside his barn. The winter of 1709 was a very severe one, and many poor people were nearly frozen to death. Some poor peasants were used to come into the barn to sleep, and among them was a little child, who, seeing Marco had a snug nest, crept in to No. 216. DECEMBER, 1862. N share it with him. Old Bruin was not used to have such liberties taken with his dignity; but he seemed to take the matter kindly, and instead of injuring the little intruder, he took him tenderly between his paws, and drawing him up to his shaggy breast, kept him warm and comfortable until morn ing. It was a nicer bed than he had slept in for many a night, and when evening came again, he returned to his new lodgings, where he found old Marco glad to see him, and again went to sleep in his great paws. While he slept the bear never stirred lest he should disturb him, and after this he saved part of his supper for his hungry little friend, who was very thankful to the kind old bear. The friendship continued until the little boy's death, when Marco grieved for him a long time, scarcely taking any food. The white bear lives in the cold northern regions, where vast numbers of them are found. They are sometimes found floating on a piece of ice a long distance from land, and then, if the boat of a poor Greenlander chances to come quite near, a bear will sometimes spring into it; and if the boat is not turned over, he sits down quietly like any other passenger, and allows himself to be rowed to land, when he walks off without stopping to pay his fare. The study of natural history is a very interesting one, and we hope all our young readers will begin it very early. The more we know of the works of God, the more we shall learn of his great power and wisdom in creating and providing for the wondrous creatures he has made. E. L. M. A LIE, AND WHAT CAME OF IT. ONE beautiful afternoon, Lucy B, a child of four years old, and her brother, who was two years her senior, were amusing themselves at a game of hide-and-seek, when the little girl, tired of her pastime, threw aside the article they had been hiding. "Where have you put it, Lucy ?" inquired Charles, looking around. |