Now you all know what is meant by sowing seed. Probably you have sown seeds yourself in your garden. When the seed is scattered over a large tract of ground, you know that it does not all grow equally well, it depends upon the state of the soil. Our Lord says, "The seed is the Word of God." "Some fell by the way-side and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up." You know that it would be of no use to sow seeds on the pavement or the highway. Before they could grow, the birds would have picked them up. So there are some children to whom it is of no use to read or explain the Bible, to take them to church, or to bid them kneel down to pray. They have no thought at all about the matter, they know nothing, and care nothing about it. These are they whose hearts are like the road-side.

"But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the Word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while; for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is offended."

upon

Now if throw you your seed stones that are very thinly covered with earth, they will begin to grow just at first; but the roots will soon reach the stones, and having no depth of earth to nourish them, the plants will soon die. These are children who do at the time listen to what is taught them. While they hear of the blessedness of following the footsteps of our Lord's most holy life, they determine that they will try to love and serve Him; but it is only for the moment. The instant they find

that doing right will give them any trouble, or bring them into any difficulty, they fall away.

"He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the Word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the Word, and he becometh unfruitful." Now if you take a handful of seed and throw it into a bed of thorns, and thistles, and weeds, can the seed grow there? If your head is full of anxiety and care about worldly affairs, and you can think of nothing, except how to get money, or how to spend it, all the heavenly thoughts that are put into your mind cannot grow there. It is quite right that people should strive to get their own living, and to do their duty in that state of life to which God has called them; but if they are so taken up by doing this, as never to have any time for reading their Bibles, for keeping holy their Sundays, for thinking about the God who made them, the Saviour who redeemed them, and of the Holy Spirit which is promised to them that ask, then are they like the seed that is choked by the thorns and is "unfruitful."

Now if we really want our seeds to grow well, must we not first see that the earth is cleared of weeds and stones, that it has been well dug, and is ready to receive the seeds, and then must we not take care to sow them where no fowls of the air can pick them up, where no thorns or thistles can choke

them ?

Such are they who are longing to be Christ's soldiers and servants, not merely when they are hearing about religion, but who are trying all the

day long to do what they know is right, and not what they like best. From one grain of corn will spring forth thirty, or sixty, or an hundred other grains. Those who are striving in earnest, be they rich or poor, young or old, are sure to bring forth fruit. Some may find it more easy than others; but none will fail.

PARABLE OF THE TALENTS.

ANOTHER parable that you will understand is that of "a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them.” To him that had received five talents his lord said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy lord." He that had received two talents and had gained other two, received the same recompense. The one who had hidden his talent in the ground was called wicked and slothful, and his talent was taken from him, and he was punished, as an unprofitable servant.

A talent signifies a sum of money. It is as if some one gave to one of you ten shillings, to another five, to another one, and told you to try and trade with them, buying goods and selling them again, and then to come and show what profit you had made.

Now it is a fact that each of you is exactly in this position. Each of you has talents given to you, some more, some less, of which you must make as much use as you can. Perhaps you have no idea what the talents are for which you are answerable. You may have health and strength given to you. Some children are always weak and ill, all they can do is to suffer patiently, and give as little trouble as possible. But you are strong and well, and can help others. You can get up early, and light the fire, and get the breakfast, and help to dress the little ones, and in a thousand ways assist your father and mother who work so hard for you. You can offer to nurse a child, or to do some errands for a sick neighbour, and in this manner trade as it were with that talent which has been given you, and make profit of it.

Another talent is the opportunity of being taught. Every boy and girl now has the power of going to school. Now what use do you make of it? If you only go there because you are forced to do it, if when you get there, you are as idle as you dare to be, and try to make other children as bad as yourselves; if on every idle excuse you stay away, what profit are you making out of that talent of yours? Are you not hiding it in the earth ?

Many of you have little brothers and sist

Have you ever thought that your influence over them is a talent for which you will have to account? The elder children in a family have great power over the younger ones for good or for evil. You may improve that talent by leading them to do right, and setting them a good example. On the contrary, you may teach them to be very naughty. You may spoil their temper by teazing them, or you may encourage them to disobey your father and mother, and to be saucy and headstrong. Then what account will you render of your talent?

And observe that the wicked servant who was punished, only seems to have been guilty of idleness and negligence. He does not appear to have made a bad use of his talent; he only wasted it. It is sometimes said of people that they are no one's enemies but their own; meaning that they do no harm to anybody except themselves. But this parable teaches, that neglecting the talents given to us is a sin in itself. Children sometimes fancy that talents are only given to people who are grown up; but every child who reads this has some gifts or opportunities for good given to them. Some ten talents, some five, and some one.

THE CENTURION'S SERVANT.

JESUS entered into Capernaum, where a certain centurion lived, who had a servant who was dear to him, and was "sick and ready to die; and when he