day morning, after coming from church; and it makes me very happy to think that any word I could say has done a little good in the world."-Tribune.

The Months and Remarkable Days.

BY THE REV. W. L. ROBERTS, HOLMFIRTH.

EPTEMBER truly meaneth seventh month, although it is actually the ninth. It was formerly the seventh, when the year began in March, and not in January as at present. Several efforts were made to get a new name for it, but the old name would not give way; it is often a difficult thing to change a name; somehow the old one will stick: It is the same with re

putation. "Give a dog a bad name and hang him" is an old saying that contains a good lesson. If you get a bad name, it is difficult to exchange it for a good one. Try to begin well, get a good name for truthfulness. honesty, industry, punctuality, and other virtues, and try to keep it.

The Anglo-Saxons called it gerst-monath, that is, gristmonth, the month in which the barley, the chief corn of the Anglo-Saxons, was gathered home-the harvest home. It is still the principal month for gathering the corn crops, as well as many of the best fruits of our land. The song of the reaper will have ceased, and the heavily-laden wain will move slowly homeward with its precious load. I hope that real gratitude will move the hearts of all when "Harvest Home" comes.

The most noted day in this month is Michaelmas, a day set apart in honour of St. Michael, an old Romish saint. Michaelmas Day is the 29th of September. Although formerly a festival in the Church, and still recognised as such

by the Roman Catholics, yet it is more noted as a term day, on which to pay rents, change houses, and such like. We are not able to tell our readers much about St. Michael. Like many others of the saints he appears to have favoured Cornwall with his visits. In Mount's Bay, between the Land's End and Lizard's Point, is a rocky elevation called St. Michael's Mount. The ghost of St. Michael is said to have been seen on the top of this rock; and a projection at one corner is called St. Michael's chair. There is an old chapel or religious house on the top of it. This hill stands a short distance from the shore, and at high water it is surrounded by the sea. A similar hill rising from a sandy plain, called by the same name, is to be seen in the northwest of France.

Besides Michaelmas Day, the Roman Catholics observe the 8th of September as the birthday of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Lord Jesus Christ; and, on the 21st, they celebrate the birth of Matthew the disciple of Christ.

Hettie and the Peach.

E a good girl, Hettie," said Mrs. Williams, as she closed the door and passed into the street.

66

وو

Yes, mamma,' was the reply of a girl of eight summers, left to take care of herself awhile, as her mamma went to make calls.

By-and-by Hettie was alone, and she began to think it a good opportunity to

take one of the peaches that had been put away till her brother Edward should return home from school.

true, papa gave me several when he brought them

"It is

home,

66

and I promised mamma not to touch anything; but I shall take only one," argued the child; nobody will know the difference; there will be plenty left for Edward." Her first move was to look into the pantry; but not finding them, she opened a closet where her mamma kept china, and there found the fruit dish with the peaches. A still small voice wispered, "Don't touch them; it is wrong." But " Only one," was the girl's argument. So, climbing on a chair, her hand was raised to the bowl, when her foot slipped, and down came Hettie, fruit dish, and peaches, all upon the floor.

She was too much hurt to get up immediately, and when she did, it was to see her mamma's china dish broken in pieces. What could she do? To tell a lie would be dreadful; besides, her parents would be sure to find it out, and then both the sin and disgrace would be upon her. "Oh that I had obeyed mamma, and kept my word too; then I should be so happy."

Hettie had scarcely gathered up the broken china when she heard footsteps in the hall. She closed the cupboard door, and seating herself, tried to appear composed.

66

Has any one been in ?" asked Mrs. Williams.

"No one," replied Hettie, still keeping her eyes fixed upon her doll's dress, which she was changing. It was nearly tea-time, and the little girl trembled every moment least something should call her mamma to the cupboard.

The afternoon wore away; tea was over, and no one discovered that a piece of china had been broken. But the longer the delay, the more uneasiness to Hettie; for her fault must come to light; it must, and it would. As she went to her room for the night, she attempted to pray as usual, but it gave her no relief; the consciousness of sin was upon her, and any effort to pray only brought what she had done more vividly before her. She sometimes felt for a moment that she would go to her mamma and tell her frankly all about it, and ask her forgiveness. But how

could she acknowledge so naughty an act? She had not courage; she could not do that. pleasant dreams came to her relief.

She tried to sleep, but no

The sun had crept far

in upon her pillow when she awoke; her head was aching ; and the first thought that rushed over her mind was the broken fruit dish. 66 All this suffering for one wrong act!" thought Hettie and the unhappy little girl buried her face in her hands and wept.

By-and-bye her face and hair were put in order, and with a faltering step she went down to the breakfast-room. The moment she opened the door, she saw from her mamma's countenance that the unfortunate affair of the peaches was discovered. Nothing was said for the time, and Hettie tried to eat her breakfast; but she had no relish for food. As they were leaving the breakfast-room, Mrs. Williams said to her little girl, "Come up stairs, Hettie; I wish to talk with you a little while." Hettie well understood the subject of the conversation. She could bear it no longer. Bursting into tears, she followed her mamma to her room, and falling upon her knees confessed her fault. The folly as well as the wrong of such a proceeding was set before her as a mother only could do it. The lesson learned this time lasted the little girl through her life. She was never known afterwards to touch anything her mamma had put away. In after life she often referred to the broken china; and when she did, she was sure to mention what she suffered from trying to take one peach which did not belong to her.-Family Treasury.

Varietics.