drawn; and very soon the lady of the house reported that in something less than an hour everything cooking would be ready. And away went our friends; and who shall say that God was not with them?

Brayton and his company returned first; and, then, in came Percival with a detachment of males. The exclamation of the one was the exclamation of the other, "You have not exceeded your number, have you?" and, though they had both broken the law, both hoped that the other had not; and, if anything, he who had most transgressed was least disposed to forgive his fellow-as very often happens in this world -for, while Brayton had been severe enough to consent to only one addition to his number, Percival had yielded to the implorations of three. In all, therefore, sixteen aged people, and one little girl, the companion of a blind woman, stood wonderingly, crowded together, in the young men's sitting-room; and a motley room-full they were! Ragged, dirty, lame, blind, sick, dying, all but dead, one would think; and in the midst of them that little girl, nameless, perhaps, and homeless too! What strange differences in form and feature, and yet, over all, what a common shade of misery and woe! Seventeen records of one perpetual lesson of suffering and sin! What work for the Son of man! Was He not there in the person of His young servants? Think of that, my brother!

And now there is bustle, and running to and fro, and coming in, and going out, and steam of warm rich dishes; for the covers are off, and a great roasted joint and a mighty dish of sausages, and a glorious pie, and conveyances of vegetables, and I cannot tell you what appear. And they are looked at-looked into, I might sayand every mouth waters at the sight. They sit or stand quite still, however, for I do not suppose but what nearly all of them think they are dreaming; and a kindly proposition that "the ladies" sit down first, there not being room for all, and a division being imperative, goes by consent. The proposition came from one of the most wretched-looking of the men, and Harry is deeply touched by it, and thinks that that was almost worthy of the brave days of He is interrupted; for there is a complaint: the little girl will not sit down. She says that "it is for the old people," and she is "only a little girl!" Brave days before and after those of Agamemnon, suggests itself to Harry, and a

tear swells up to his eyelids, and falls upon his hand; but he would make himself believe that he is a bad carver, and has caused a splashing in the dish. At length the little girl is persuaded to sit down, but no sooner down than up. "She must not," she says, "for there is her little brother somewhere in the street," and she I cannot eat without he is eating!"'

"But some kind gentleman may have got hold of him," suggested one of the old "ladies."

66

Oh, no," she responded, her eyes filling with tears; "the kind gentlemen have got hold of us; but I wish they had got hold of my brother instead of me!"

"The brave days of old," Harry Percival, never saw anything braver than that; and that is the thought which the looks of the two friends telegraph to each other's heart. And then they try to soothe the little girl, and tell her that she shall have "a very nice pie " to take home, -nay, not home-to her little brother; and she rests and is thankful. And they all sing a short simple verse; and then with wonderful resignation the old "gentlemen "sit down, and look at each other and at everything that is going on, while the old ladies look to themselves, and Harry and Will help them to do that. It is a strange sight, and I would that certain persons in yonder village could just take a peep of it. Whatever secret there was about the recent Christmas, there is a certain secret about this new year; and Harry and Will have got fair hold of that secret. It is the secret of how to spend a happy new year; and the secret is being worked out in their little sitting-room. never was a problem more happily solved; and never was a good impression more thoroughly impressed.

And

For three long hours, shortened, however, by the devotion of their labour, did Percival and Brayton heap good things upon their thankful guests; and wretchedness seemed to be forgotten, and hope seemed to revive, and sad eyes brightened, and frosted natures began to thaw, and human hearts welled up with gratitude, and every way these seventeen outcasts of a Christian metropolis began to unfold themselves, and human susceptibilities appeared, and despair-that mother of suicides-loosened her grasp. They had all feasted upon seasonable fare,-fare long "out of season" for them, and though they had had enough there was little to spare. If the number

had been much exceeded, and Harry, and Will had been besieged by pitiful applicants, the entertainment would have been marred; but as it was, it had been a grand success. Yet one thing remained, and as words of hearty thanks began to fill the room with a strange disharmony of sounds, Brayton, with the true disciple-spirit, began to speak of One unto whom all thanks were due, and of the feast which He had provided-plentiful and free. Every voice was still, and every ear turned to listen. And Will Brayton, with an eloquence scarcely his own, preached unto them Jesus; and then, upon the same sublime theme, Harry Percival made his maiden speech-for that was scarcely_a speech he made on Christmas night. He told of those days of old when the Saviour lived and suffered, and he told of the good time coming He promised to all who put their trust in Him. And, then, Will took his group, and Harry took his,and they read unto them of Him who was Himself an outcast, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, the blessed Saviour, Christ the Lord. They told them of the life He lived, and of the death He died, and of His resurrection and return, to plead for sinners such as they. And, then, they prayed; and, oh, such prayers! They came right up from the heaven of a heart of faith, and they went right up to the object of all faith in heaven. They prayed for light, for help, for blessing, for God Himself. And He who sitteth upon the throne looked down that night into that little lodging in infinite compassion.

Sure enough, if wishing or wishes ever brought a happy new year, there is a happy year, and many such, in store for Harry Percival and Will Brayton! And they make their good wishes in response; but they are already thinking of doing something more than that, I believe; for, look you, they are taking the "name and address" of all such as have either name or address; and as for those that have neither, or, at any rate, are without home, even the most comfortless, they are arranging to meet them on a subsequent evening in the chapel schoolroom. Indeed,

I

may as well say at once, that, out of this evening's proceedings, sprang one of the many ragged schools and homes for the poor that, for some years past, have gradually prevailed in the midst of the heathenism and barbarism of London. To write a history of the good they have done,

one would have to go to heaven for particulars; and, then, one would only find that they could not be written.

To-night, however, there was no help for it but to bid their visitors "Good night," and see them into the street. Much as it pained the hearts of Harry and Will, there was nothing else left them to do; and, perhaps it was the necessary impulse to future doing. Over and over again they shook hands with, and had their hands shaken by, their friends of the night; and in blessing and being blessed, they contrived at last to part. A shudder of cheerless pity crept over them as they pulled in their chairs to the fire; and, though St. Paul's was pealing out the hour which announced the death of the first day of the new year, they felt ill-disposed to go to' bed. Other things were in their thoughts, other feelings in their hearts; and Harry seemed certainly disposed to make up for his haste on that other evening, in that other place. There was a low knock at the door, and their landlady entered, looking perplexed enough-something like Percival looked on Christmas-day. Please, gentlemen,-indeed, indeed, I was afraid of something of the kind; but you said, you know, that you would see everything right-have you seen anything of the two best spoons?

"The two best spoons?" quietly repeated Will. "No; have they gone?"

"Have they gone?" vociferated Harry; for repetitions are customary on occasions of perfect astonishment; "have they gone?" shouted he, and he jumped from his seat.

"Why, of course they have! Not that I care for two best spoons, nor two dozen best spoons; but one would really think they had enough without helping themselves in that way. Do you think that in the brave days of

"Harry!" said Will, rising, and putting his hand upon his friend's shoulderHarry! your vow, and our prayers!

There was a fearful thundering at the door, and, as a sort of relief, perhaps, Percival bounded across the room, and in a moment had opened the door.

"There," said a voice that seemed half choked, "I could not take it ;" and, as one of "the two best spoons" fell upon the door-step, a man's form rushed away-into the darkness !

"It's one of the spoons," said Harry, as he returned to the sitting-room, and, then,

he told them of the scene at the door. He could scarcely get on, however, and, noticing his embarrassment, the lady thoughtfully retreated. Harry sat down and looked at the spoon. He felt sorely rebuked, and his good friend left him to his thoughts.

It was not a moment for speech, indeed; and, yet, Will Brayton could have spoken. He had been afraid, for a moment, that the lesson Harry had learnt was about to be blotted out for ever by a darker lesson; and that dread fear had almost stifled his very heart. He beheld his friend sinking again into the dreariest faithlessness, and he beheld him sinking and sinking below the reach of even the affection of nearest and dearest friends. He beheld him, in his sneering denial of man, denying the great God, and he trembled to think of that scepticism. Again, however, had the dark cloud passed over, and the sunlight looked

1 the brighter just because of the cloud. He could have spoken, but he did notsave in his heart to God.

Another loud knock at the door, and this time Will rushes to the place,-the knock had scarcely disturbed Percival in the deep reverie of his spirit.

"There," said a voice, "I could not take it either;" and as the figure rushed away again into the street, and as the second, spoon fell upon the step, it was not very difficult to conclude that one hand had taken both articles, and the bitter struggle one heart had had to return, not both, but even one, followed upon that.

It was useless to attempt to follow the figure, and nothing just then was to be gained by it. The gain was within; and, full of that thought, Will returned to the room, and gave the spoon to Harry. It was just the consummation needed; and Percival's heart got blessed vent in a flood of tears.

"Father of all flesh, and Saviour of all who put their trust in thee! We beseech thee to hear us at this time, and to look down upon us in thy tender mercy. Thou

hast brought us to the beginning of another year; and though we are yet but young, we would remember that we must soon appear in thy presence, and give an account unto thee of all the talents thou hast bestowed upon us. It hath graciously pleased thee to bestow upon us that best of all thy good gifts unto the children of men-the gift of Jesus Christ thy Son. In Him we have all things, and in Him we have assurance of thy pardon and acceptance. Be pleased, good Father, to hear us for His sake, and, by the gift of thy good Spirit, to keep us and sustain us, and give us the victory in Him. Thou dost know how frail and faulty we are, and thou hast promised that, as is our day, so shall our strength be. Lord God, be thou our strength this day! Teach us that our strength is in thee. Teach us that we are thy servants, and teach us that our life is thine, and that its labours are at thy command. Give us each day our daily toil; and as thou hast suffered for us, help us to suffer for thee. If thou art not too high to regard those who sin and are in misery because of sin, surely we are not; and, like Him who died for sinners, we, too, would live and die for them. Help us to this work, our Redeemer, and, by thy promised consolation, comfort us in it. Watch over us this night. Commend unto our hearts the lessons we have learned this night. Be with those who have been with us, and graciously consider them. Infinite Lord, have mercy upon us all! For Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.'

"Amen," said Percival, and the friends rose and saluted each other. They slept in peace.

They continued, I need scarcely say, after this new beginning. Percival was thoroughly restored-to himself, and to his friend. They prospered in the world, and thus were enabled to extend their labours of love. And they gave each other a sister of each; and you have no idea of THE

BRAVE DAYS OF-NOW.

THE ANSWERING OF PRAYER. As to the manner in which God may answer our prayers, that depends upon His own wisdom and love. He may refuse what we ask, because we ask in ignorance. If a child asks a serpent, thinking it to be a fish, the father will in mercy refuse his request -saying, "Ye know not what ye ask.".

And God may hear our prayer by granting us something very different from what we desired, yet something much better. The Apostle Paul prayed the Lord thrice that He would remove the thorn out of his flesh, and that the messenger of Satan which buffeted him might depart from him. His prayer was answered; not, however, by the removal of the thorn, but by the assurance of strength to bear it, and to be perfected by it. "He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness."

And God may not hear our prayer for a long time, but yet hear it at the best time for us. Therefore "men ought always to pray, and not to faint," for God will hear His own elect who cry to Him day and night, though He bear long with them." Nay, the answer to some prayers may be deferred

until after the death of the petitioner, who in heaven only will learn how he was heard and answered. Thus the prayers offered up by Jesus while on earth are being answered in every age of the world. Many a child receives blessings in answer to prayers offered up by dying parents long years ago. But it is impossible for us to specify the many ways of the Lord as the Hearer of Prayer. Let us, however, be assured that there are no facts more certain in the history of men of prayer, nor to themselves more familiar, than that their prayers are answered; and that, whether or not we can recognize the answer, God does hear usgranting what is asked according to His will, and giving us (it may be in our darke hour) the rich and sustaining blessing of His peace.

Be not, therefore, careful or over-anxious about anything, as if your heavenly Father did not know you, nor care for you; "but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus!"-Norman Macleod, D.D.

BIBLE DISTRIBUTION IN BACKERGUNGE.

Ir is now some sixty years since the work of translating the Scriptures into the languages of Northern India was begun. As fast as this has been accomplished, large numbers of copies have been put into circulation, perhaps amounting in the whole to three or four millions. But the population of Northern India is at least one hundred millions, so that as yet very few can have had an opportunity of reading for themselves the word of God. In order to increase the knowledge of the Scriptures, a plan was suggested last year by Mr. Murdoch, by which an attempt should be made to give to every schoolmaster, whether in missionary or heathen schools, a copy of the New Testament, and to every child in his school who can read, a copy of one of the four Gospel

This was to be accomplished by the missionaries and their native preachers in every district, visiting every village, and thus in the course of a year or two covering the entire land.

Our missionaries in Bengal have begun to act on this plan, and we wish to lay before our readers some particulars of the work in the district of Backergunge.

The northern part of the district was first selected, and as the country is covered with water during a large part of the year, and always intersected with numerous rivers and canals, the two native brethren employed were compelled to go from village to village by boat. The boatmen, as well as the two distributors, are members of the church, and they have entered heartily into the work, helping by conversation, as well as in other ways, to accomplishthe object.

At

present they have visited only seventeen villages. But this slow progress has been occasioned by the desire of the people to retain the brethren, and to have intercourse with them. Thus they have visited three hundred and twenty-nine families, and distributed, not as was first intended, one Testainent or Gospel in every village, but some hundred and thirty copies in these seventeen villages-the desire of many for the word of God being so great that they could not be withstood.

Not the least useful feature of the movement is, the conversations which have been held on the subject of Christianity, so that great numbers of persons have received, not only the Scriptures, but an exposition of the blessed truths it contains.

We will now give a few extracts from the report which the Rev. J. C. Page has furnished:

:

"1. In one place they failed to leave a single book behind: 'No one could read in this village. In two or three houses they found the old orthodox Hindus opposing them, but at first only: Went (in the village of Kalkini) to a brahmin's house. Were met with these words: "No one can read here, and we do not wish to listen to Christians." We urged, "How then do you manage your zamindari matters, if you cannot read?" Other people now came in. Had a congregation of some thirty, who heard us with much kindness. Left among them four Gospels and a New Testament.' In the village of Shomorsingh, at first some young men were deterred from receiving books, as the older people derided them; but after a while they became bolder and took several little volumes.' In another place, an old man would not listen to us, and sent us away; but his nephew followed us, led us to another house, heard us preach the Gospel, and accepted some books from us with much pleasure.'

"2. However, in the majority of villages our brethren were well treated in more senses than one. 'Women and children in the families thus heard us when we spoke of Christ as the Saviour, King, and Judge of men.' 'We were received with joy by a man named Radhamohon.' Many women heard: all said this religion is true, for no one can refute what these men say.' 'Men and women listened attentively.' 'A Muhammadan accepted a new Testament with pleasure, and acknowledged the holiness of Christ.' 'At first opposed, but afterwards received with joy.' 'Made

known (among Muhammadans) the holiness of Christ and the unholiness of Muhammad. The young people approved and took books.' Still, we were opposed by one of the chief men of the village. He would not allow that Muhammad was a sinner; but he admitted that Jesus was sinless.' 'In another house we were treated to mangoes and other nice things, and our message was well received. And again, Here we were feasted on mangoes and other things.' Rather encouraging on a hot day!

"3. The brethren had some old feeble objections to answer, and the poor despised women now and then appear on the scene. "We were heard with much good will. Only two women were very noisy.' 'At Bakai had a congregation of a hundred and eleven women and men.' 'In the house of Jugol Paramanik a young woman put us this question: "Born of one woman, how can I call another woman mother?" We replied, "God gave you birth. Him you have forsaken, and called another father!" She was now silenced, only saying that the religion of Christ was true and good; but she could not abandon all for it.' On another occasion, a man named Balok Bala said, "We cannot receive your books, for we cannot obey them; they are too holy." We replied, "When a child goes to school he does not become learned, or is not even able to read, all at once. All this comes in time, by degrees." Again, a proud Hindu greatly opposed us, and said, "Why do you come to the houses of the poor? What do they care about religion? You should rather bring some money for them. Then they might become Christians." However, after we had shown him how God did not regard persons, but was merciful to the poor as well as to the rich, he changed his tone, and with his son received books from us.' In several places 'it was freely allowed that all men will embrace this religion, but by degrees.' Now and then a man would cry out, Let the big people become Christian; then we will follow. We are waiting for them to move first.'"

It will be seen that this movement is a very encouraging one. And having faith in God's promise, that His word shall not return unto Him void, one cannot doubt that every good word spoken, and every copy of the Scriptures read, will in due season be followed with blessed results. The word of the Lord "liveth, and abideth for ever."