and if it did not do well then, I would cut it down; and if it bore well it should be henceforth dedicated to the Missionaries in Tripoli; and now you see how God has blessed it for you." There was not another tree around so loaded with fruit, and "my jars," says the missionary, "have been full of the delicious olives of which I am eating every day. And, better still, it is bearing again this year, though of course not so bountifully." No One Prays for Me. PECIAL prayer and effort were made by a ing him a humble believer in Jesus. The lawyer was riding with another companion of his own not long after. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh ;" so the conversation quite naturally turned to the subject of personal salvation. The new convert spoke freely, and told of the faithfulness of his kind friend S-, but for whom he might have been left to perish. "I had friends once who prayed for me," said the other, thoughtfully," but I have been so careless they have all given me up. I don't suppose there is one person on earth who prays for me now." "You are mistaken," said the other, "S-- prays for you very earnestly." "Is it possible?" said the youth, pausing in great aston ishment. It was like a lightning-flash to his soul-and, not long after, he, too, was rejoicing in Jesus. Are we offering such "effectual, fervent prayer" for any soul? Should the Christian ever suffer himself to be without the burden of some immortal spirit upon his heart? Such prayer does avail much. God's Word declares it, and the experience of ten thousand souls verifies the declaration. Whom will you take this week, of all your impenitent acquaintances, as a subject of earnest prayer and labour? Try to be of use. OME people go to the sea-side, or to the country, in the summer and autumn months, for change of air to themselves and their families. What excellent opimportunities often occur in this way for doing good to others! God never sends His children to any place where he has not some work for them to do. To instruct the ignorant-to visit the sick and aged-to comfort the sorrowful-to speak a word or give a tract to the careless-to get children to come to the Sabbath-school,-it is wonderful what opportunities there will be for such work, both for young and old, if we will only watch for them. If a little boy were to put an acorn into the ground, in some quiet corner in the country, and to go back twenty years after, most likely he would find a young oak-tree. So if, in faith and prayer, we speak a word for God, who can tell but that we may find, long years after that, God has made it the means of saving a soul? Both Blind and Deaf. HERE was a young woman, who was completely blind and deaf, and she was brought before a number of eminent surgeons, to see if anything could be done for her. Her sad condition had been produced by violent pain in the head. The only method of communicating with her was by tapping her hand, which signified no, and by squeezing it, which signified yes. The surgeons concluded that her case was incurable, and, in reply to her earnest inquiries, she received the unwelcome tap. She immediately burst into tears, in all the bitterness of anguish. "What!" said she, "shall I never see the light of day, or hear a human voice? Must I remain shut up in darkness and silence as long as I live?" A friend who was present took up a Bible and placed it to her breast. She put her hands on it, and asked, "Is this the Bible?" Her hand was squeezed in reply. She immediately clasped it in her hands, and held it to her bosom, and exclaimed, "This is, the only comfort I have left; I shall never more be able to look upon its blessed pages, but I can think of the promises I have learned from it;" and she then began to repeat some of its promises : "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee," "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee," 'My grace is sufficient for thee," &c. She dried her tears, and became peacefully submissive to the will of God.-Children's Friend. 66 Varieties. FORGETTING A CHILD. A Western minister, staying at a house over the Sabbath, won the heart of a child, and promised that she should hear him preach next day. Sunday morning came, and when the hour of service arrived, the little one was not yet awake. Leaving her asleep, the whole family repaired to the church. In the middle of the sermon they were greatly surprised to see her toddle down the aisle in her white nightdress. Stopping before the pulpit, and looking up into the face of the minister, she said in a grieved voice: "I guess you forgot me." It would be a fortunate state of things if all our boys and girls were acquainted with their pastors. None of them would be willing to be forgotten from the Sunday services. Christia n at Work. SECRET OF SUCCESS. A CHRISTIAN merchant who, from being a very poor boy, had risen to wealth and renown, was once asked by an intimate friend to what, under God, he attributed his success in life. "To prompt and steady obedience to my parents," was his reply. "In the midst of many bad examples of youths of my own age, I was always able to yield a ready submission to the will of my father and mother, and I firmly believe that a blessing has, in consequence, rested upon me and all my efforts."-Christian Weekly. CHARITY. "But the greatest of these is Charity." "FOR whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." But Charity remains, unchanged by years, unimpaired in vigour, undiminished in brightness. She shall outlive her sister graces. Faith will yield her evidence to demonstration; Hope will be resolved in the stronger bliss of fruition; but Charity has then her perfect work. Love abideth forever. Whoso abideth in love, dwelleth in God, and God dwelleth in him. 66 But the greatest of these is charity"-the greatest, as it is the crown of all; the greatest, as it is the survivor of all; the greatest, as it is the consummation of all; and the greatest, as it is the recompense of all. THE OLD WELL. "THERE was a well near here," said a bystander, "and very good water used to come from it; but it has been filled up for a long time." "Indeed! I never knew there was a well here, much less tasted the water. How did it get filled up?" "Neglect, sir. Some rubbish got in, then part of the surrounding soil; and as it was not cleared out at once it got worse and worse, till it is, as you see it, quite choked up. I wonder if there is any water at the bottom?" 66 These last words set me thinking: “I wonder if there is any water at the bottom?" I thought how much this old well was like some Christians. The Lord. Jesus spoke of the life he gives to the believer as a well of water unto him (John iv. 14), but are there not many, who are supposed to be Christians, in whom we do not see any water, and of whom we can say, as of this old well, "I wonder if there is any water at the bottom?" |