of no inconsiderable suffering upon the horses that drag our omnibuses, heavy waggons, and cabs.

For these reasons nothing can be more desirable than that the torpid consciousness of our children should be awakened to the lessons which physiologists and anatomists have to teach as to the nervous organisation of horses, dogs, cattle, and sheep. It was remarked by Humboldt that there is no surer sign of a finely touched nature in man than his love of animals; and, in the same spirit, one of our own poets tells us that "feeling hearts, touch them but rightly, find a thousand melodies unheard before."

But for those whose lot it is not to be "in populous city pent" nature daily unfolds her open volume and invites them with a thousand voices to read, mark, and inwardly digest it. Those who have a natural affinity for animals know well that the meanest among the beasts of the field, or the birds of the air, or, according to Agassiz, even the fishes of the sea or river, have a depth of unsuspected intelligence which only awaits the hand and patience of a master to draw it forth. Finally, they who devote themselves to the study of natural history have the satisfaction of knowing that, like the Scotch naturalist of Mr. Smiles, they may well "pity all our great ones and rich men, who know not their happiness.' It will wean them from a thousand debasing pursuits and unworthy cares, teaching them to sympathise with those lines of Coleridge which were always on the lips of Dr. Arnold

"He prayeth well who loveth well
Both man, and bird, and beast."

GOING ON TO LEARN.

How glad I am that I can read!
For would it not be sad indeed,
If I should say, This book is mine,
While yet I could not read a line?

But I have only just begun;

A great deal more must yet be done;
If wise and useful I would grow,
I must go on to learn, I know.

And so I will, with all my power,
From day to day, from hour to hour;
For though much time and pains it cost,
It never will be labour lost.

106

A. B. K. has sent us some verses on the Bible which we have read with pleasure for the sentiments they contain. But in composition we think they are hardly "good enough for publication." Still we are so pleased with them, and with the nice, modest note which accompanies them, that we shall be glad to hear from A. B. K. again.

"CHESLYN-HAY" wishes us to give him our opinion of the science of clairvoyance, and to say whether any notice is to be taken of it. Our opinion is that clairvoyance is a false science, if it is to be designated by that term at all, and that no serious notice is to be taken of it. We believe that the kind of coincidence which is called chance has much to do with the instances that have come true. We have heard wonderful stories told of the power of the somnambulist in a clairvoyant state, and the narrator has asserted them to be facts. But saying a thing is a fact and believing in it are not the same; and among those who practise clairvoyance our opinion is believers in it are very few. Who would dare to arrest a person for theft on the evidence supplied by clairvoyance? No one would spend five pounds, or undertake a journey of a hundred miles, from his faith in clairvoyance; though we can understand that money being spent, or those miles being travelled, from curiosity, or a desire to know whether the clairvoyant's statements are correct. But if found correct, what then? He might say there is something strange here, something mysterious; but he could not say I have now found what will help me the better to live the life my Maker and society require me to live.

If "a Christian young man " will take our advice he will not trouble his mind, or waste his time, in meddling with questions that in the nature of things cannot be explained; and which only either amuse or perplex those who deeply study them. Let him study history, or acquire a language, or grasp the elements of some real science, as geology, or botany, or astronomy, and he will be a better man for the knowledge he gains, better in himself, and better in his relation to society and to God.

To some fourteen or fifteen contributors of verses we have to give the same answer as to A. B. K.-hardly good enough for publication. Still we are not sorry to receive these contributions. If our young friends never become poets, in an indirect way their efforts to write verses will be a benefit to them. It may teach them to think, and to try to give suitable expression to their thoughts; and the formation of these habits is of great importance to every one. Some of our correspondents have been trying their hands at prose composition, but the pieces are not up to the mark sufficiently for insertion in the INSTRUCTOR.

[Other questions we are obliged to leave answering till next month.]

SUNDAY-SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.

SCRIPTURE LESSONS FOR SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

APRIL.

MORNING SUBJECTS.

SUBJECT.

Second Quarter.

GOLDEN TEXTS FOR REPETITION.

FOR READING.

6 Jesus walks on the sea.... Mark vi. 45-56....

ver. 50.

One whose birth was regarded by his parents as a source of comfort and ease, yet in his time the greatest judgment came upon men.

He was chosen by God to deliver tidings of woe, but failed to convince men of the truth he preached. He was eminent for holiness, and yet fell into grievous sin, which brought abiding sorrow to one of his family.

A SUBJECT.

1. Where is rising early in the morning first named in the Bible ? 2. Name three patriarchs who were early risers. 3. What four judges were early risers? 4. What king rose early in his anxiety about the fate of a prophet? 5. A scripture which says it is useless to rise early without the Divine blessing. 6. A scripture which pronounces woe on those who rise early to commit sin.

A PUZZLE.

1. A most wicked king of Judah. 2. A woman who heard a famous speech of Paul. 3. The father of teetotallers. 4. The title of one of Paul's first converts at Athens. 5. A royal name borne by three individuals mentioned in the New Testament. 6. A province of Syria mentioned once in the New Testament. 7. A plain where several of the patriarchs dwelt.

The initials give the name of the father of a famous Old Testament family. The finals the father of a famous New Testament family.

ANSWERS TO FEBRUARY QUESTIONS.

2.

5.

8.

A character-Mark. Acts xii. 12: xiii. 13; xv. 37-39. Colossians iv. 10; 2 Timothy iv. 11. A subject-1. 2 Timothy iii. 15. Psalm cxlviii. 12. 3. Psalm lxxi. 5, 17. 4. Genesis xxxvii. 2. 1 Samuel iii. 6. 2 Kings xi. 21; xxii. 1. 7. 2 Kings xxi. 1. 2 Kings ii. 23, 24. 9. Jonah iv. 11. 10. Judges xiii. 8. 11. Proverbs xxix. 15. 12. Luke ix. 47. A puzzle-1. Beth-palet. 2. Orpah. 3. Aceldama. 4. Nimrod. 5. Elzabad. 6. Raca. 7. Gethsemane. 8. Esau. 9. Stephanas. Initials: Boanerges. Finals: Thaddæus. In the subjects of January and February several of the questions may be answered in more ways than one. All the replies that have given Scripture are counted answers.

WHAT IS A GENTLEMAN ?

GENTLEMAN is just a gentleman; no more, no less: a diamond polished that was first a diamond in the rough. A gentleman is gentle. A gentleman is modest. A gentleman is courteous. A gentleman is slow to take offence, as being one who never gives it. A gentleman is slow to surmise evil, as being one who never thinks it. A gentleman moderates his appetites. A gentleman refines his taste. A gentleman subdues his feelings. A gentleman controls his speech. A gentleman deems every other better than himself.

A

A SERVANT.

SHAMED of being a servant? No, indeed! Let no honest woman be ashamed of that. If she is able to earn her living and be fairly and squarely independent as cook or chambermaid or nurse girl, let her take that path in life, and hold up her head with any one-that is, if she is a good servant, honest, faithful, and respecting herself too much to be disrespectful to her employers.

Many an idle, though reputable young woman, who folds her arms while a bent old father earns her living, would show a proper spirit if she went cheerfully into some one's kitchen, and brought home all she could spare of the high wages domestics now command.

Of course, education, talent, and peculiar opportunities, render it better that many working women should take other walks of life. But there is always a good opportunity for any one with common strength and common sense to become independent as a household servant. Shops, work-rooms, factories, overflow. Good workwomen are often destitute. Did any one ever hear of a good cook, who is a sober woman, coming to the almshouse?

No woman who has been brought up to do housework dislikes it. It is only the name of SERVANT from which she shrinks-and what unutterable folly it is, since we are all servants. No man who is unselfish, no woman who does her duty, but is at service all his or her life for some one or something. A clergyman, a lawyer, a physician, a soldier, a sailor, each acknowledges the name. Surely a wife must serve her husband and children, and a child its parents; and a hired servant who gives good value for value received, can hold up her head as one who does an honourable work.

JUVENILE MISSIONARY MEETING.

PARK PLACE, LIVERPOOL.-We held our half-yearly meeting on the afternoon of Sunday, the 12th of January, 1879. The chair was taken by our worthy secretary, Mr. James Jones. He delivered a brief but practical address to the young folks. Addresses were also delivered by the Rev. G. Coates, and Messrs. J. E. Fowler and Gunn; and recitations and dialogues were given as follows: "The Child's Dying Gift," Elizabeth Stephen; "A Missionary Lesson," Arthur Molyneux; "A Dialogue on Missions," Miss Rossetter and Miss A. Fowler; "A Missionary Plea," F. Casford. Our young people have been busy in their exertions on behalf of the Mission, and have realised as follows:-Miss Molyneux, 12s.; A. Barrow, 2s. 2d. ; Elizabeth Bond, 1s. 9d.; Henry Williams, 7d.; E. Atkin, 1s. 6d.; J. Tear, 1s. 7d.; Robert Marshall Story, 6s.; A. Molyneux, 4s. 3d.; H. Kerrige, 4s. 8d.; W. Foster, 1s.; John Quayle, 3s. 1d.; C. Carter, 4s.; W. Quayle, 3s. 6d. Boxes in the School:-Girls', 15s. 10d.; Boys', 17s. 4d. Collected at the meetings, £1 17s. 10d., making a total for the half-year of £6 1s. 11d. A good many of the collectors do not bring in their money until the year ends; so that we hope by then to have double, if not more. We have springing up among us a band of