mation, but a life long habit—a seven years' habit."

Harry was quiet for a little while, and Aunt Lena turned over her book in silence. Then Harry said:

"Aunt Lena, I will try to break my whistling habit, and I will try to help Mary too!"

"And will you learn this verse, my boy?"

Aunt Lena held in her hand an open Testament, and Harry read:

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

Aunt Lena's visit lasted for more than a month, and when she left, Harry was trying hard to be more loving and gentle with little sister Mary, and Mary had left off sucking her thumb.

Donkey and Camel Riding.

HE ride of yesterday forenoon was on a camel-my first and, if wishes are anything, my only ride for many a long day on an animal of that species. It happened to be one of monstrous height, and rigged off with saddle suited to his tribe. He knelt down to have me get on, otherwise a step-ladder would have been necessary, and at his first lurch toward getting up, it seemed as if he would send me ten feet on ahead of him, and immediately after, when he was making his second, I did not know but I was going to be cast as far into the back ground; but by holding on closely to the saddle, and having the friendly aid of a hand on either side, I found myself elevated for once beyond my ambition or fondest dreams. Bridle, I had none, also no stirrups. The only thing I had to hold my mammoth by, was a single rope of palm-bark

around his nose, and my only rest was by the front of my hard saddle. Besides this, I had to keep my umbrella constantly in position over me—for the sun is tropical here, and has been all the time I have been in Egypt-and care also for my little travelling-bag, for botanical, mineralogical, or whatever purpose an excursion into the country might serve. I was very much afraid my camel would walk over some man or beast at once, so perfectly independent and straight-a-head was his conduct. He seemed to look down with imperial contempt on the little donkeys that wabbled below, and I believe he would have walked over any, or all of them, if they had not wisely tripped out of his path. A stroke from the cowhide of the driver brought him to a trot, and what a trot it was! He brought his great spongy feet up and down in quick succession, and left the donkeys away behind in a very short time. It seemed to me as if I were astraddle the roof of a two-storey house which was under full gallop, and my fear equally divided between my being carried ahead or brought to a halt. My camel boy held the halter at the start, and ran along with his beast, applying the raw hide without stint. As I became a little used to the gait, he gave me the rope, and after this the whip, and it seemed that, with both hands full I could hardly keep on. But my camel was sure-footed, and as stumbling was the principal thing I had to fear, we accomplished together our journey without parting company by the way. When he stopped, by two great lurches, like the foundering of a mighty ship, he brought me within stepping distance of the mother earth again.-Dr.Hurst's Letter from Thebes.

Children in Japan and their Toys.

HILDREN in every land must have their toys. Many of the toys of the children in Japan are curious and beautiful. But the strangest thing about them is that the greater part of them are exactly the same as those with which English and German children amuse themselves. Ivory whistles with bells on them are put in the brown hands of the babe in its mother's arms. Chirping birds, birds mounted on wheels, birds and butterflies suspended on a rod by a thread from the middle of the back, so as to seem to fly, rats that leap out of a box by a spring when the lid is removed, earthenware cats with moveable heads, figures of monkeys, and rabbits, and soldiers-all make fine mirth for the youngest in the family.

Then follow balls, marbles, shuttlecocks, jumping-jacks, and other figures that are made to dance, or roll their eyes, or shoot out their tongues, or brandish a sword by pulling a string: sticks with a horse's head to ride, and whirligigs; drums, whistles, guitars, flutes, and other sorts of instruments for blowing and beating; carts, mortar and pestle, and tops. Japanese boys enjoy themselves as well, so far as "playthings" are concerned, as boys in our country. Thousands of bright-eyed, shouting little creatures play the very same games in which the boys engage who read this paper.

Girls, too, have their dolls, and doll-house, and furniture, and little dishes, with nice sweet cakes and candies, and tea, to make little " parties" together. There are many forms of fancy baskets, boxes, and cabinets, some very graceful, and curious, and costly. Nor are children's books and coloured pictures wanting. Superstition puts in the

hands of the young a multitude of charms, pictures, images, and books, cunningly devised to win their hearts to idol worship. They are taught by a mother's lips to repeat vain forms of prayers, and the knees are bent by a mother's tender hand before grim and smoky idols. Their idols become very dear to them, because they attribute their blessings to the power and kindness of the idol. They hate and despise, above all things, the cross of Christ. But we hope the time draws nigh when Japan shall receive the pure Gospel, and when its children shall have, in their own tongue, some of the good books which are found in our favoured land.-S. S. Visitor.

"No."

A Touching Story.

N the cemetery at Nashville, Tennessee, a stranger was seen planting a flower over a soldier's grave. When asked, "Was your son buried there?"

"No," was the answer.

"Your son-in-law ?"

"No."

"A brother?"

"No."

"A relative?"

After a moment, the stranger laid down a small board which he held in his hand, and said:

66

'Well, I will tell you. When the war broke out, I was a farmer in Illinois. I was wanted to enlist, but I was poor. I had a wife and seven children. I was drafted. I had no money to hire a substitute, and so I made up I must leave my poor, sickly wife and little

my mind that children, and

go and fight the enemy. After I had got all ready to go,

a young man whom I knew came to me and said: "You have a big family, which your wife cannot take care of. I will go for you.' He did go in my place, and in the battle of Chickamauga, he was wounded, and taken to Nashville hospital. But after a long sickness he died, and was buried here, and ever since I have wanted to come to Nashville and see his grave; and so I saved up all the spare money I could, and yesterday I came on, and to-day I found my dear friend's grave."

With tears of gratitude running down his cheeks, he took up the small board and pressed it down into the ground in the place of a tombstone. Under the soldier's name were

written only these words;

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HE DIED FOR ME."

FAMILY PEACE.

Varieties.

It is recorded that an emperor of China, once making a progress through his dominions, was, by chance, entertained in a house in which the master, with his wife, children, daughter-inlaw, grand-children, and servants, all lived together in perfect peace and harmony. The emperor, struck with admiration at the spectacle, requested the head of the family to inform him what means he used to pre