"We need hardly say, there can be no remains now of what was once the City of David. Monkish traditions, indeed, pretend to point out some, such as the "Pool of Bathsheba;" but they are wholly destitute of foundation. But though the surface of the hill may have somewhat changed, its general form and character are, and ever must be, the same."

A SCENE IN THE SOUTH SEAS.

ABOUT thirty years ago, the first missionary landed on the island of Raratonga. In 1834, the first christian church was formed, six in number. Since then, in that small island, one thousand members have died in christian communion, concerning whom we have confident hopes. Last year we had a united communion service, and about fifteen hundred or sixteen hundred persons assembled from the different villages. Nearly one thousand of them got into the chapel, which is one hundred feet long, sixty wide, and twenty-four feet high, neatly pewed and seated; the work having all been done by natives, who, thirty years ago, did not know the use of either a saw, a plane, or a chisel. About seven hundred and fifty communicants were seated in the body of the chapel, the spectators sitting at the side. We commenced our service about nine in the morning, and concluded it between three and four in the afternoon. Oh, it was a hallowed day!

After the elements had been distributed, some old men rose, their faces wrinkled, and told us that they had been heathens and cannibals. At last a man, amidst a noble band

of deacons, got up. He was the first native christian who landed on Raratonga, thirty years ago, to tell the heathen that Jehovah is the true God, and Jesus Christ the true Saviour. He pointed to an old man, and said, “Oh, I remember the day I landed, thirty years ago, when you tore my shirt from my back, and wanted to tear the flesh from my bones. Oh, what have I lived to see! Then you were naked, savage, cannibal men; but now ye are clothed, and in your right mind." He then pointed to a man at his side, a fine, tall, athletic fellow, some fifty years of age, and he said "Rei, O brother Rei, do not you remember when you stood on yonder reef, and poised your spear at me when I landed? You meant to thrust it into me, and you did not then know why you did not. But here we are." He then took up a bible, faithfully translated into the language of the island. Tears ran down his cheeks. He could not speak for a minute or two, but at length he said, "Oh, when I look at this book, I feel as good old Simeon felt when he said, 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.'”

These pleasing facts were lately related by a missionary from the island. Who would not wish to lend a helping hand in so good a work? Who does not feel his heart rising to join the rapturous adoration of the ancient Psalmist, on hearing such good news from a far country? "Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.”

A WARNING TO BOYS.

Verses written on the sudden death of two brothers, who were drowned while sliding on the ice, near Accrington, on Lord's-day, February 1, 1857.

COME ponder well, for 'tis no jest;
To laugh it would be wrong;
It is a sad and doleful tale,
The burden of my song.

It is a voice of warning too,
For those who will attend,
And listen to the kind advice
Now given by a friend.

Two boys, as young as most of you
Who read this mournful tale,
Have suddenly been called away,
Down to death's gloomy vale.

Bent on amusement one Lord's-day,
They left their home at noon,
Not thinking when they went away
To meet their fate so soon.

The place they went to slide upon
Was thinly frozen o'er;

This they found out when 'twas too late,
But might have known before.

Which went in first I cannot tell,
Nor do I wish to know;

But this one thing I know quite well,

They both soon sunk below!

How very frail is human life;

How soon the treasure flies;

Just in the bloom of youth and health
Man very often dies.

Boys too, are very thoughtless found,

Though warned o'er and o'er,

Lancashire.

They still will go on dangerous ground,
As careless as before.

Should not such accidents as these
Important warnings preach,
That we may learn from such events,
The lessons which they teach?

Think first upon that holy day
On which the scene occurr'd,
Which by amusement they profaned,
And sinn'd against the Lord.

Remember next the mournful fact,
That these two boys were brothers:
And ponder on the sorrow which
They brought upon their mother!

No tongue can tell the weight of woe
That pressed upon her heart,
To think that she so suddenly

Must from her children part.

Think last upon the sabbath school,
From which they stray'd away;

Had they gone there they might have been
Alive this very day.

Reflect how frail is mortal life,
Which no man can restore;
A moment and it flies away,
But will come back no more.

Let all the boys who read this tale,
Take warning and beware,
For if they break the sabbath day,
They fall into a snare.

Oh! rather let them love that day,
The best of all the seven,

When they can learn to walk the way
That leads to God and heaven.

G. H.