I WANT TO BE AN ANGEL.

I want to be an an - gel, and with the an-gels

stand, A crown up-on my fore-head, A harp with

in my hand. There, right before my Saviour, So

Some of our Sunday School friends, ignoring the incident that records the little child's wish, and thinking for self rather than the little ones, have altered the beginning, and commence it thus.

"I would be like an angel,"

The last verse, however, they retain,-"O there I'll be an angel."

2 I never would be weary, nor ever shed a tear,

Nor ever know a sorrow, nor ever feel a fear;

But blessed, pure, and holy, I'd dwell in Jesu's sight,

And with ten thousand thousands praise him both day and night.

3 I know I'm weak and sinful, but Jesus can forgive,

For many little children have gone to heaven to live;

Dear Saviour, when I languish, and lay me down to die,
O send a shining angel, to bear me to the sky.

4 Oh, there I'll be an angel, and with the angels stand,
A crown upon my forehead, a harp within my hand;
And there, before my Saviour, so glorious and so bright,
I'll join the heavenly music, and praise him day and night.

Poetry.

THE LITTLE WHITE LIE.

I was in trouble beyond any doubt-
I was in trouble-and how to get out?
"Tell a white lie," said the devil to me.
"Tell a lie! Oh! how dreadful!

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But what would it be

If I should?-though I never shall tell one," said I.
"Don't be frightened," said he, we won't call it a lie-
A few words, in their way quite as good as the truth,
And for this occasion far better, forsooth."

But my little white lie, when I'd told it grew black ;
Then, oh! how could I hide it or how get it back ?
For it never would do to be caught in a lie,

For 'twas known that a very good youngster was I.
I must manage in some way to keep it from sight:

"Tell one more," said the devil; " 'twill make it all right."

But my two grew to three, and my three were soon four, And my four gave rise to a dozen or more ;

Till I felt in my soul such a sense of disgrace,

I had scarcely one friend I could look in the face;

And at night to my room I went creeping up

stairs

God is truth! could I sleep without saying my prayers?

But my fears and my conscience thus followed about,

I was really half glad when the lie was found out;

For it was-it is always the way with a lie-
And all said that a very bad youngster was I.

Good or bad, I have learned in one thing to be wise,
And shun in the future all little white lies.

The Vine.

HE vine is often named in the Scriptures as
an emblem of peace, of prosperity, and of
Christ Himself. In eastern countries, the
shade of the vine and also of the fig-tree
were much prized as a protection from the
scorching rays of the sun.
The more

wealthy of the inhabitants sometimes had a vine trained over a large frame of trellis work (as in our cut) outside their houses, so as to resemble a room. This served as a beautiful apartment for the reception of friends and guests, being well adapted for social visits.

The prophet Zechariah-3 chap. 10 v.-makes a striking reference to this: "Ir. that day shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig-tree." That is, the day should come when Christians shall be so zealous as to the spiritual good of their fellow-creatures, that they shall embrace every opportunity of speaking to them about the things that belong to their peace. We believe that the time shall come when religious subjects shall be the favourite topics for conversation, instead of everything else being preferred. Then, and not till then, shall the prediction of the prophet be fulfilled.

T. B.

Tip's Sunday-School.

ER real name was Margaret Elizabeth, after two grandmothers, one of whom left her a string of gold beads, and the other a curious china mug; but the mug was broken, and the gold beads had been sold to help to pay for her father's funeral. He had given her the name of Tip; for she was such a wee, wise, cunning body, and when she did anything unusual, and it was always of the best, he used to say," That's tiptop!"

She was

Her father had been dead four years, now. nine, and her brother George eleven. They were very poor, for Mrs. Colmer went out washing and ironing, or took it into the house, and now and then George earned a little by doing some errand for a neighbour.

Mrs. C. had said that morning,-" When you come home from school, George, take your boots into Mr. Benson's to be mended."

"I don't see why I need to, to-day. Joe Tracy wanted me to go nutting. They'll all be gone."

"No, George, your boots are almost ruined now. You can wear my rubbers to run down there."

This was why George sat rather sulkily by the window and refused Tip's overtures to have "some fun." "There's Mrs. Brown getting in coal. I could earn a shilling, I know, if I only had my boots. It's always the way! I don't see why a fellow can't have two pairs at a

time."

"Because we're so poor," said Tip.

"'Twouldn't cost so very much. Jim Waters bought a pair for eight shillings."