well marked, he would then stop for the winter. In the summer of 1875 he would more than double his size; in 1876 he would add to his house. In 1877 and 1878 he would again go on building, till he was dredged up in the middle of his work in 1879, when he would be five and a-half years old. The way in which an oyster builds his shell is a pretty sight. I have watched it frequently. The beard or fringe of an oyster is not only his breathing organ, but his feeling organ also, by which he conveys the food to his complicated mouth with his four lips. When the warm, calm days of June come, the oyster opens his shell, and, by means of his fringe, begins building an additional story to his house. This he does by depositing very fine particles of carbonate of lime, till they at last form a substance as thin as silver paper and exceedingly fragile; then he adds more and more, till at last the new shell is at least as hard as the old shell. When oysters are growing in their shells they must be handled very carefully, as the new growth of shell will cut like broken glass, and a wound on the finger from an oyster shell is often very troublesome.

LEARNING TO SAVE.

HE first thing to be learned by a boy or young man, or anybody else having the least ambition to become a useful member of society, is the habit of saving. No matter if a boy or girl has wealthy parents, each should learn to save, if for no other reason than that riches are well known to "take to themselves wings and fly away." Few are so well-to

do as to be secure against poverty and want. The children of the wealthy classes are often miserably poor; while men of large means have commenced life without other advantages than habits of industry coupled with the disposition to save. It is especially important that children of people in moderate circumstances and of the poor should learn to take care of the money they get. A boy who is earning two or three shillings or more a day, should manage to save a portion of it if possible. If he can lay by only one shilling a week, let him save that. It doesn't amount to much, it is true, but it is worth saving; it is better saved than wasted-better saved than thrown away for tobacco or beer or any other worthless or useless article or object. But the best thing about it is that the boy who saves fifty-two shillings a year on a very meagre salary acquires a habit of taking care of his money which will be of the utmost value to him. The reason why working men as a class do not get ahead faster, are not more independent, is that they have never learned to save their earnings. It does not matter whether a man receives a salary of five shillings a day or a pound, if he gets rid of it all during the week, so that there is nothing left on Saturday

night, he will not get rich very rapidly. He will never have much ahead. But the individual who receives five shillings per day and is able to save a shilling, or the one getting a pound who is careful to lay by five shillings, is laying by something for a rainy day. Young people who expect to labour with their hands for what they may have of this world's goods, who have no ambition or wish to become professional men, office-holders or speculators, should by all means acquire habits of economy, learn to save. So surely as they do this, so surely will they be able to accumulate, so surely will they be in a situation to ask no special favours. Every man wants to learn to look out for himself and rely upon himself. Every man needs to feel that he is the peer of every other man, and he cannot do it if he is penniless. Money is power, and those who have it exert a wider influence than the destitute. They are more independent. Hence it should be the ambition of every young man to acquire, and to do this he must learn to save. This is the first lesson to be learned, and the youth who cannot master it will never have anything. He will be a dependent.

A SHORT SERMON.

HAT thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."Young man, you have no business to be lazy. Nobody has; and the instant you become conscious of that fault, as any other, it becomes your duty to root it out. "God helps those who help themselves." Yes, He surely does. Young man, with your hands in your pockets, your idle hands, don't deny it, when you haven't so much as half opened your sleepy eyes all your life. Don't say "it's no use trying to be anybody," when you sit from daylight till dark, and from dusk to dawn, folding your sluggish hands before your sluggard's heart-a wall of offence to the most determined prosperity. Don't say you're an unlucky dog, when you only snap and snarl at the bones that fall to your lot. Little by little, young man. Do you expect to have riches crammed down your throat, much as they give medicine to a naughty child? Shame to you! Up and at it! Trumpet tones call you to the battle of life! Will you linger on the outskirts of the strife, grumbling because you cannot pocket the spoils others have fought for? Put on your armour and go to work! Go to work in earnest. You mustn't row your boat with one oar, as though you expected God to pull the other side, but sit in the centre and work both oars with might and main; and then if you ask Him, He'll steer the bark for you, till it becomes a rich argosy, freighted with all manner of rare and precious things.

MEMOIRS.

SEPTIMUS GRIFFITHS was born at Darby Hand, near Netherton, July 4th, 1829. In early life he was the subject of good impressions, and became deeply convinced that sound conversion to God was absolutely necessary to enable him to live a life of usefulness. When twenty years of age, at a revival service, he was led to cast himself upon the mercy of God, and received the sweet assurance of his acceptance. He joined a society class, and his parents going to reside at Netherton he became a member of Mr. Joseph Homer's class at that place. In 1853 he married Miss E. Chandler, of Darby Hand, who was a member of the society. He removed, in 1860, to Quarry Bank, and after a short time united himself with us at Cradley Forge. He met in class with our esteemed friend Mr. H. Evers, who induced him to become a teacher in the Sunday-school. From the office of teacher he was raised to be superintendent, the duties of which office he fulfilled to the best of his ability. His love for the school and zeal for its welfare, enabled him to meet with firmness any difficulties which might arise. Our brother's death was very sudden and unexpected, he being at school the Sunday morning previous to that event. On the day of his death two of our friends visited him, and when asked a few questions respecting his confidence in God, he replied, "That's all right," and a few minutes afterwards calmly fell asleep in Jesus, on Sunday, September 22nd, 1878, in the forty-ninth year of his age. By his death the school has lost a true friend, the teachers a zealous coworker, his bereaved wife an affectionate husband, and his family a loving father. But our loss is his gain, for "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."-H. ROWLEY.

JOHN THOMAS GRIFFITHS, son of the above, was for many years a scholar in our school, and also a member of Mr. Eli Skelling's class. From childhood he was severely afflicted, which often hindered his attendance at school and class. He was a consistent and intelligent member, his experience being clear and pointed. His patience under his very painful afflictions was very remarkable. He never breathed a murmur. His hope was full and his prospects bright. His answers to questions by teachers, leader, the Rev. J. Whitton, and the writer, were given promptly and satisfactorily. At times he had a longing to get well, until about two days prior to his death, when a marked change took place in him, making it clear to himself and his friends that his stay on earth would be very short. Addressing his mother he said, "I am going to die." On her replying, "You are now in the valley," he exultingly exclaimed, "But it is lighted up." Shortly after he passed away in calm tranquillity to the "land of pure delight' 'in the twenty-fourth year of his age.-H. ROWLEY.

SUNDAY-SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.

SCRIPTURE LESSONS FOR SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.

OCTOBER.

MORNING SUBJECTS.

SUBJECT.

Fourth Quarter.

FOR READING.

GOLDEN TEXTS

FOR REPETITION.

5 David's Charge to Solomon 1 Chron. xxviii. 1-10. ver. 9.

30 TheMessageto the Churches Rev. iii. 1–13

BIBLE QUESTIONS.

A CHARACTER.

ver. 8.

ver. 11.

A royal lady whose name expressed delight. She had a very good husband, but a very wicked son. Her name was given by God to the church.

A SUBJECT.

1. Two passages which speak of Paul's industry in secular work. 2. Three instances in Scripture history of industry in corn fields. 3. Four commands given by Paul to practise industry.

1. A fair queen. disciple.

A PUZZLE.

2. Where our affections should be. 3. An old

The initials give the name of a wicked son of a good father. The finals one to whom a crown was adjudged for a memorial.

ANSWERS TO AUGUST QUESTIONS.

A character-Hiel. 1 Kings xvi. 34. A subject-1 Matt. iii. 11 or John i. 27; John iii. 30; Matt. iii. 14. 2. Matt. ix. 10; Luke xviii. 15, 16; John xiii. 5. 3. Luke xiv. 7; xv. 18; xviii. 18. A puzzle -1. Jabesh-Gilead, 1 Samuel xxxi. 11, 12. 2. Omega, Rev. xxii. 13. 3. Samson, Judges xvi. 3. 4. Eli, 1 Samuel iii. 13. 5. Phebe. Rom. xvi. 1. 6. Hiddikel, Gen. ii 14. Initials: Joseph. Finals: Daniel.

JUVENILE MISSIONARY MEETING.

-Our

SALEM SUNDAY SCHOOL, BERRY BROW, HUDDERSFIELD. Annual Juvenile Missionary meeting was held on Sunday_afternoon, April 27th, 1879. Our esteemed minister, Rev. John James, presided. There was a large attendance of scholars, and a fair attendance of parents and friends. The chairman gave out the hymn, beginning, "From Greenland's icy mountains," &c., and offered prayer, and afterwards called upon the Secretary to read the report, which was a very encouraging one. After the reading of the same, a short address was delivered by the chairman in his usual kindly style. Short addresses bearing on mission work were also delivered by Messrs. H. Berry, H. Farrand, J. Heeley, and T. Leonard, which were well received. Several recitations were given in a pleasing manner by the following scholars:-Nanny Barrand, Janet Woodhouse, Sarah A. Crow, Annie Berry, and Clara Lodge. The following is the financial result for the year:-Collected by Laura Jessop, £2; by Sarah Ellen Bradley, 3s. 9d.; subscription from Mr. Alfred Heely, 2s.; subscription from Miss Eliza J. Hirst, 2s. 6d.; these, with the collection at the meeting amounting to £1, makes the total £3 8s. 3d. We are sorry to say it is rather below the amount of last year. The meeting throughout was a most enjoyable one, and we believe will be the means of creating a deeper earnestness in the hearts of our friends for the mission cause.-HENRY GLEDHILL, Mission Secretary.