THE BASKET OF SUMMER FRUIT.

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forth the end of Israel on earth, in another it sets forth, as with a sunbeam, the beginning of Israel in heaven. If you are enabled to consider this subject experimentally, it will be indeed a basket of summer fruit, refreshing to your heart and to your soul.

THE LASKET LANE.

that a worse road

AGAIN do I say it to my sorrow, than Lasket Lane it would be very difficult to find. So stony in one part, and so clayey in another; so full of deep ruts, holes, and quagmires, and so beset on each side with straggling brambles, that, take it altogether, it would be, as I said, no easy matter to find a worse road.

Not only is the road bad in itself, but the people who have to do with it seem to take a sort of pride in making it worse. On one side the road lies a gate-post, thrown down so carelessly, that any one unaccustomed to the lane, when driving along in a gig at nightfall, would, in all probability, be overthrown. On the other side, at some distance from the gate-post, is a heap of weeds, not spread about, but piled up as if for the very purpose of doing mischief; while from the top of the lane to the bottom,

large heaps of stones lie in very dangerous positions: they may be broken some day to fill up the ruts, the holes, and the quagmires; but while they lie where they now are, they render Lasket Lane almost impassable.

Some time ago, I had to pass along this lane on a very stormy day; and though I was on horseback, with a pair of mud boots up to my thighs, and a great coat and Macintosh on my back, still to get along Lasket Lane was a sad trouble to me. While I was walking my horse cautiously along, holding at the same time an umbrella over my head, I heard a splashing behind me, and in another minute, a countryman, in a smock-frock, mounted on a strong horse, dashed by me, seemingly as light-hearted and as unconcerned as if the weather had been fine, and the Lasket Lane as smooth as a bowling-green.

The countryman had neither umbrella, mud boots, great coat, nor Macintosh cloak; yet on he went freely and fearlessly, not even thinking that to be a trouble, which I had so much difficulty in contending with. As he resolutely splashed onward through the miry lane, I looked after him with a degree of respect; for I felt my own littleness. "There goes my superior!" thought I, and before I had reached the middle of the Lasket Lane, no doubt he was at the end of it.

If you had seen me huddled up on horseback, wrinkling my brow at the stormy weather, and looking anxiously at the wretched road, you would

very likely have laughed at me; but had you seen the countryman, you would have regarded him with pleasure. Learn a lesson, then, from us both.

There are many Lasket Lanes in the world, of one kind or other: rude and rough roads, and deep and dirty quagmires are to be found in most places; and if there are not these, still there are trials to endure, and difficulties to overcome. Meet them with a good spirit, and be not disheartened by trifling troubles!

Be ashamed of giving way to unnecessary fears; look upward confidently, and go onwards boldly. Learn to endure hardness as a faithful soldier of Christ, especially in holy things; for "no man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God," Luke ix. 62.

Courage in the common affairs of life is a valuable quality, but in spiritual things it is a Christian grace. Let us take courage, then, thinking lightly of our momentary troubles. "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds," Heb. xii. 1-3.

GOD'S PRESENCE.

THEY who have God's presence have all that they need; for in his presence is fulness of joy, and at his right hand pleasures for evermore. Are they in doubt and danger? they hear the Master's voice saying, "Peace, be still," and, "It is I; be not afraid!" Are they in the water or the fire? "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;-when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned." Christians, indeed, are not over particular about circumstances, so that they are blessed with God's presence. When Jesus is seen walking upon the sea, they know that there will soon be a great calm. The people of God know what winter is, as well as summer; they know what thorns are as well as flowers. Often do they walk in desolate places, and stumble in rugged pathways with a darkness that may be felt all around them; but when God is with them, crooked things are made straight, and rough places plain. I ask not, therefore, whether you are at ease or in trouble; whether you are sitting down in green pastures, or standing up in a fiery furnace; but, rather, Is there one with you like unto "the Son of God?" See Dan. iii. 25.

ON DRESS.

WHAT a medley of opinions, what diversified inclinations there are among mankind on the subject of dress! One follows the fashion; another is negligent, and becomes slovenly; a third considers neatness an indispensable requisite; a fourth disapproves of wearing mourning; and a fifth dresses plain and lowly, making it a matter of conscience to do so, and deeming it wrong to do otherwise. For myself, I leave the right and the wrong of the thing, believing as I do that we are too apt, in many cases, to be more precise than our heavenly Father requires us to be. We are too much given to bind ourselves where He gives us liberty, and to take liberty where He would bind us for our good; but I am rather fond of following out my own feelings in these matters, and in letting others follow out theirs. Let the rejoicing bride and bridegroom adorn themselves with their wedding garments; and let those who are sorrowful, if they list, put on sackcloth and go softly. Some time ago, in leaving the house of a neighbour, I took up a hat which had crape around it; but as it did not fit me, I returned to change it for my own. "Well, sir," said the owner of the hat, " I do not much wonder at the mistake, as we have each of us hoisted the symbol