THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

The Children's Corner.

YOUTH AND AGE.

FAITH IN "OUR FATHER."

THERE is a beautiful story from the German, which our readers may not, perhaps have seen, and which we will here repeat, since it embodies in a brief space a great argument.

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In that beautiful part of Germany," says the narrative, "which borders on the Rhine, there is a noble castle, which, as you travel on the western bank of the river, you may see lifting its ancient towers on the opposite side, above the grove of trees nearly as old as itself.

About forty years ago, there lived in that castle a noble Baron. He had one only son, who was not only a comfort to his father, but a blessing to all who lived on his father's land.

It happened, on a certain occasion, that this young man being from home, there came a French gentleman to see the castle, who began to talk of his heavenly Father in terms that chilled the old man's blood; on which the Baron reproved him, saying, 'Are you not afraid of offending God, who reigns above, by speaking in such a manner?' The gentleman said he knew nothing about God, for he had never seen him. The Baron did not this time notice what the gentleman said, but the next morning took him about his castle grounds, and took occasion first to show him a very beautiful picture that hung on the wall. The gentleman admired the picture very much, and said, 'Whoever drew this picture knows very well how to use the pencil.'

'My son drew the picture,' said the Baron.

'Then your son is a clever man,' replied the gentleman.

The Baron then went with his visitor into the garden, and showed him many beautiful flowers and trees.

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'Who has the ordering of this garden?' asked the gentleman. 'My son,' replied the Baron; he knows every plant.' 'Indeed,' said the gentleman; 'I shall think very highly of him soon.'

The Baron then took him into the village, and showed him a small neat cottage, where his son had established a school, and where he caused all young children who had lost their parents to be received and nourished at his own expense.

The children in the house looked so innocent and so happy, that the gentleman was very much pleased, and when he returned to the castle, he said to the Baron, 'What a happy man you are to have so good a son!'

'How do you know I have so good a son?'

'Because I have seen his works, and I know that he must be good and clever, if he has done all that you have shewed me.'

POETRY.

" But you have not seen him.'

'No, but I know him very well; I judge of him by his work.'

True,' replied the Baron; and in this way I judge of the character of our heavenly Father. I know by his works that he is a Being of infinite wisdom, and power, and goodness.""

The scoffer was silenced. He had answered his own wickedness and folly by his own words, and could say no more.

But how is it that some men are so strangely and ungratefully wicked as to insult their heavenly Father in the way they do? They will acknowledge excellence if they see it in a fellow-creature; and though Divine wisdom and goodness are more obvious and abundant, they never think of admiring them, or of thanking the Giver of every good gift for his numerous favours. The secret is, the carnal heart of man is enmity against God, and nothing but the love of God, as seen in giving up his own Son to die for our sins, will ever melt the hardened heart of man, and bring him, broken and contrite in spirit, to seek for pardoning mercy of God.

Poetry.

THE HEAVENLY VOYAGERS.

I WILL hoist up my sails, and for glory I'll steer,
Nor the billows of life, nor the storms will I fear;

Since Jesus has promised his aid to bestow,
He'll guide me, and guard me, and lead me safe through.

And when on the plains of glory I stand,

A crown on my brow, and a palm in my hand,

I'll sing of his mercy so rich and so free,

Which saved from perdition a rebel like me.

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

Anecdotes and Selections.

THE DAY OF REST.-Never should we profane or misimprove the christian sabbath. There are many perverse thoughts and temptations which would sway us to error, or negligence in this respect but there is a very old rhyme, which is worthy of being committed to memory as a check upon the desire to neglect our religious duties. It reads:

"A sabbath well spent
Brings a week of content,

And health for the toils of to-morrow;

But a sabbath profaned,
Whatsoe'er may be gained,

Is a certain forerunner of sorrow."

This is a ditty very simple in its language; and it is as true as it is easily understood. It was written two hundred years ago, and by a very distinguished person, Sir Matthew Hale. Sir Matthew was a judge in England, and made many decisions in cases which came before him, which are frequently referred to even now by our lawyers and judges; but he never made decision embodying more true wisdom than is contained in those lines. He was so studious that it is related of him that he studied sixteen hours out of the twenty-four; and his Sunday's repose and the calmness of his devotions gave him strength for the great labours which he accomplished. Let us all then, while we remember that God is everywhere, and that His wisdom is seen in His works, acknowledge and obey the wisdom which made the sabbath for man, and blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it.

RELIGION HALLOWS EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES, and the christian carries his religion wherever he goes-into the world, as well as into the church; so that, in labouring for the bread that perisheth, as well as distributing the bread that endureth to everlasting life, he renders service to the Lord. Christ is his Master at the loom, in the shop, in the counting house, on the exchange, as well as in the house of prayer, and at the sacramental supper. He is the Lord's servant as well when he attends to the duties of his calling in the week, as when he worships on the sabbath. Neither time nor place can alter the relation he bears to Christ; and Christ being Lord of all, both in the providential and spiritual world, orders the goings of his people, fixes the bounds of their habitations, and allots to them the measure and kind of their daily toil.

A BEAUTIFUL SUGGESTION.-How often may a person converse with us before he understands our relation to the heavenly country! If exiles meet in a foreign land, what pleasant discourse have they of home! They suffer not one another to forget it.

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

LOOK UP! WHO SEES You ?-A man who was in the habit of going into a neighbour's corn field to steal the grain, one day took his son, of about eight years old, with him. The father told him to hold the bag, while he looked on to watch if any one was near to see him. After standing on the fence and peeping through all the rows of corn, he returned to take the bag from his child, and began his sinful work. "Father," said the boy, "you forgot to look somewhere else." "Which way, child?" supposing he had seen some one. "You forgot to look up to the sky, to see if God was noticing you." The father felt this reproof of the child so much, that he left the corn field, and returned home, and never again ventured to steal; remembering the truth that he had learned from the child, that the eye of God always beholds us.

THE HIGHLAND FISHERMEN.-Two fishermen, a few years ago, were mending their nets on board their vessel on one of the lakes in the interior of Argyleshire, at a considerable distance from shore, when a sudden squall upset the boat. One of them could not swim, and the only oar which floated was caught by him that could swim. His sinking companion cried, "Ah, my poor wife and children, they must starve now!" "Save yourself, I will risk my life for their sakes!" said the other, and thrusting the oar beneath the arms of the drowning man, he committed himself instantly to the deep. That moment the other oar was seen floating towards them, and thus both were enabled to keep afloat till they were picked up. Surely this little anecdote will tend to impress on the minds of christians the too much neglected duty of "brotherly kindness."

COMMUNION WITH GOD is no light matter. It is not to be thrust aside as an indifferent good. It is something to commune with our kind. It is something to have an earthly friend. It is something to share our joys and our sorrows with those linked to us by human ties. How much higher is it to commune with God; to have a heavenly friend; to pour our joys and our sorrows into the ear of one who is ever near, ever watchful, ever kind; who knows all our necessities, all our sympathies, all our innermost thoughts, and who, when all else are gone, still remains with us, to whom we can cling, and who never denies support.

THE CHEERFUL BEHAVIOUR OF THE SAINTS in the ways of God engages their neighbours to join with them therein. And the more humble men are, the more God regards and exalts them. And nothing is more detestable to him than indulged pride. Whatever trouble God casts his people into, He will protect and preserve them therein. And what good works of grace or salvation He begins, He will perfect at last. He will never leave nor forsake his own. Let us then trust in him at all times, and pour out our hearts before him.