Only a Pin.

ONLY two or three days ago, an overseer in the mills found a pin which cost the company about fifty pounds.

"Was it stolen?" asked Susie.

"I

suppose it must have been very handsome. Was it a diamond pin ?"

"Oh! no, my dear, not by any means. It was just such a pin as people buy every day, and use without stint. Here is one

"Such a pin as that cost fifty pounds!" exclaimed John. "I don't believe it."

"But mamma says it's a true story," interposed Susie.

"Yes, I know it to be true; and this is the way the pin happened to cost so much. You know that calicoes, after they are printed and washed, are dried and smoothed by being passed over heated rollers. Well, by some mischance, a pin dropped so as to lie upon the principal roller, and, indeed, became wedged into it, the head standing out a little way from the surface.

"Over and over went the roller, and round and round went the cloth, winding at length upon still another roller, until the piece was measured off. Then another piece began to be dried and wound; and so on, until fifty pieces had been counted off. These were not examined immediately, but removed from the machinery and laid aside.

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When, at length, they came to be inspected, it was found that there were holes in every piece throughout the web, and only three quarters of a yard apart. Now, in each piece there were from thirty-five to forty-five yards; and at sixpence a yard, that would count up to about fifty pounds.

Of course, the goods could not be classed as perfect goods; so they were sold as remnants, at less than half the price they would have brought had it not been for that hidden pin.

Now, it seems to me that when a boy takes for his companion a profane swearer, a Sabbath-breaker, or a lad who is untruthful, and a little girl has for her playmate one who is unkind or disobedient, or in any way a wicked child, they are like the roller which took to its bosom the pin. Without their being able to help it, the evil influence often clings to them, and leaves its mark upon everybody with whom they come in contact.

That pin damaged irreparably two thousand yards of new print; but bad company has ruined thousands of souls for whom Christ died. Remember, "one sinner destroyeth much good;" therefore avoid evil companions.- Child's Treasury.

The Voice of the Bell.

BOY whose only religious education was obtained in a Sabbath-school, discovered the worth of his soul at a very early age, and became convinced of sin. Christian friends looked forward to the time when he would be useful in the service of Christ; for he appeared to be truly con 70 vbverted. But he formed the acquaintance 202 of careless and wicked boys, and by degrees, absented himself from Sabbathschool and from church. At last he forsook both entirely, and said he was "ashamed to be a Sabbath scholar now

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he was a big boy." He went on from bad to worse till he became a young man.

One Sabbath morning, he, with some of his wicked companions, had set forth to spend the day in sport. They happened to pass the church where, when a boy, he had attended the Sabbath-school. Just as they reached the steps, the bell pealed out its solemn tone.

He started; to his ears it spoke as plainly as human voice: "Come, come, come !" Then and there the Spirit arresbut every peal rang in his ear: As the last stroke died away, he

ted him. He went on; Come, come now!"

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turned to his companions, saying,-"I'll not go with you to-day; I am going back to church." They laughed, and tried to stop him; but he turned from them, and went back to the church, the days of his boyhood in that Sabbathschool being with him in the visions of memory every step of the way. The sermon was from the words, " Come unto me," etc. Then and there the Saviour said to his soul, Come;" and he went. To this day he is one of the most zealous workers in the vineyard of Christ. List to the sound of the church-going bell, and see if it says not to you "Come, come, come now."-Sunday- School Messen

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ger.

How God takes care of His Children

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my walks across Boston Common, a year ago, I often met a little lame girl, whose interesting countenance and quiet manner, as she offered her candy for sale, attracted my attention. Sometimes I bought a little to encourage her, at others gave her a penny. She told me that her family were very poor, and she tried to help them all she could. One of her little brothers was also lame; both were

obliged to use crutches.

When the cold weather came on, the little girl was missing from her accustomed place, but as soon as the warm breath of returning spring covered the trees with verdure, and the ground with its rich living carpet of green, she returned and offered her small stock of candy to the passerby, as before.

One day in July last, I found the mother with her little girl. She had a careworn, anxious countenance, just one of those we cannot forget; while, tottering about, now on this side, then on that, was a baby, who seemed to have just become conscious that it could walk alone. It was rather pretty, and its dress, though poor and worn, was neat and clean. Such little ones always attract me; they remind me of the dear ones whose playful, winning ways once made up much of the happiness of our household, and do still, though their home is now a heavenly one. Taking a penny from my purse, I gave it to the baby, and nodding to the mother, who seemed pleased at the notice, I passed

on.

Upon reaching home, a half-crown, which had been given to me for a particular use, was missing. Where could it be? I recollected a recent purchase I had made, and was certain that it was then in my purse. I had opened the purse but once afterwards, when I took from it the penny. Could I have dropped it at that time? I thought not. Well, wherever it is, I hope it may do somebody some good," thought I, and it passed from my mind.

Two months later, I found the mother and her little girl at the old place; a small table stood near, on which were spread out apples, candy, &c. As I approached, the little girl ran out to meet me, and the mother exclaimed,—“ Oh, dear lady, I bless God that I see you, and I thank you for the help that you gave me that day in my great trouble." "When was it?" said I.

"The day that you gave my baby the penny and the half-crown. I have prayed to the blessed Jesus for you every day since."

"I am very glad that it help edyou, but I dropped it, said I.

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"Yes," she replied, "when you gave it to the baby," seeming not to understand me. "Oh, that was the day of my great want. I can't bear to look back to it. My children had nothing to eat, and my oldest girl lay on the floor crying with hunger. That was dreadful, that day of my very great want!" she repeated. The money kept my

had not been for I do not sell very

poor children from starving, and if it that, I never could have got this table. much, but we have since never been so badly off as then."

"This was the way then," said I to myself, "that my halfcrown went. God wanted it to supply the need of his poor suffering ones." I was made the instrument of relieving them, and they had prayed that blessings might descend upon me. But it was no act of mine. It was not my intention to bestow the money upon them; it had been done by another. Could I doubt that it was the hand ofa kind heavenly Father, whose watchful care is extended to all It was one of those beautiful providences, often unseen and unnoticed by us, of which the world is so full, by which He accomplishes His purposes of mercy and love to His children. The cries of that suffering family had reached His ear, and in Infinite wisdom He came to their relief.—Child at Home.

No matter how much Jesus loves other children, there is room, ever room, in His affection for you, and as many others as will ask Him to care for them. .