The Young Folks' Page. XV. NO PITY FOR CONSTANT COMPLAINERS. H, dear!" sighed a young field-mouse | merrily, "don't fret yourself; when you've lived in the wood as long as I have, you'll know better. I used to pity her myself once "What's the matter ?" asked the squirrel, (and it's not in my way to make troubles slopping short in a run. either), but I have found out, this long time past, that complaining is just a trick of hers, and that, whether she's happy or miserable, she has but one note; so I never concern "That poor wood-pigeon-it goes to my heart to hear her plaintive accents, how mournful, how affecting!" "Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the squirrel myself about her."—Mrs. Prosser. XVI. LEARNING TO READ WITHOUT A BOOK. 66 POOR boy when first brought to school, was asked if he knew his letters. "Oh, yes," he said. "Can you spell ?" "Oh, yes," he again answered. 'Do you read?” Oh, yes." "And what book did you learn from ?" "Oh, I never had a book in my life, sir." "And who was your schoolmaster ?" "Oh, I never was at school." Here was a singular case: a boy could read and spell without a book or a master. But how was this? Why, another poor boy, a little older than himself, had taught him to read, by showing him the letters over the shop doors which they passed as they went through the city. His teacher, then, was a poor boy like himself, and his book the signboards on the houses. What may not be done by trying, and helping one another? XVII. REVERENCE. LITTLE boy, being put to bed one night, asked to be carried about a little first, that he "might think a bit before saying his prayer." How many forget to think a bit, but just fall down on their knees, say their threadbare sentences, and rise again to resume the talk that was for a little interrupted! Few boys would go to ask a situation from a gentleman without a deal of preparation so as to look clean and smart, and a great deal of thought about what words they should use; and yet many approach the greatest Master, and seek for the best place, without really thinking what they are about. The gentleman needing a boy would not be likely to engage that one who came looking as if he did not mind whether he got the situation or not, and certainly God will not be less wise. It is said of an old schoolmaster, John Trebonius, that he never entered his school and met his boys without taking off his hat, by way of respect, as he said he knew not what great men some of them might yet be. How much more should we reverence God when we worship Him! The Bible Mine Searched. NSWERS are not to be sent to the Editor, but will appear in each succeeding month. SCRIPTURE QUESTIONS. The first letters of the Answers will name a noted transgressor, who found forgiveness in a season of adversity. 1. King Herod's foster-brother. 2. One who troubled an apostle. 3. A city where St. Paul passed a winter. 5. A judge of Israel 6. A prudent man. 7. A ready scribe. 8. A sect among the Jews. ANSWERS (See August No.). 1. Rom. viii. 23; Gal. v. 5; 1 Thess. i. 10. 2. Lev. xi. 10. 3. John xiii. 2, 27. 4. Luke xi. 50, 51; Heb. xii. 24. 5. Isa. xliii. 25. Ah, those little ice-cold fingers! How those little hands remind us, "He Stands Fire." A WORD TO YOUNG MEN. WAS walking along the "There is one thing I cannot understand about the British soldier." "What is that, sir?" "Well," I said, "he is bold and daring: you could not insult him more than by calling him a coward. There are men amongst you would rush up to the cannon's mouth, even if you knew it would be certain death. And yet there are amongst you men who dare not kneel down in the barrack-room at night, and repeat the prayer their mother taught them when they were children." . the greatest blackguard in the room cried out, Lads, he is genuine-he stands fire;' and from that night every one in the room respected him, and began to follow his example." In a large establishment in Birmingham, some seventy years ago, there was a youth who came from his mother's loving home in one of our beautiful villages. He had been taught to "stand fire: not to be ashamed of God or of prayer. The first night he retired to rest with several other youths. He knelt down to pray, and, as in the case of the soldier, he was instantly beset by the young fellows in the room, abusing him and ridiculing him. Everything was done to induce him to abstain from prayer, but he "stood fire; "he was not He paused, and said, "That is true, ashamed of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus sir." "What is the meaning of it, soldier ? " He said : A "You remind me of what took place in my own roll a few weeks ago. young fellow came into our room, and the first night before going to bed he knelt down to pray, and instantly there was a noise and disturbance in the room. Caps and belts were flung over at the man, but he did not move. The second night there was a general cry, 'Willie, try it again.' Down he went on his knees again. Caps and belts were thrown again, and the men whistled. The third night he went again on his knees, and again on the fourth night, with the same result. On the fifth night, Christ. Amongst the others was a strongbuilt youth, who stood on his right, and who said, "My mother taught me to do that. I have been ashamed of doing it, but I will do it now." That youth became the great, the noble John Angell James. O young men, if that youth had not stood fire the world might never have known or been blessed by the labours of John Angell James. The soldier told me what I want you to remember. He said, "Sir, as a rule the fresh fellows who kneel down to pray do not do it a second night." Ah! young men, may that never be said of you. That explains the meaning of those words, "He stands fire."-From an Address by MR. T. B. SMITHIES. The Young Folks' Page. XV. NO PITY FOR CONSTANT COMPLAINERS. H, dear!" sighed a young field-mouse | merrily, "don't fret yourself; when you've to a squirrel, "I am so sorry-so sad!" "What's the matter ?" asked the squirrel, stopping short in a run. "That poor wood-pigeon-it goes to my heart to hear her plaintive accents, how mournful, how affecting!" "Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the squirrel lived in the wood as long as I have, you'll know better. I used to pity her myself once (and it's not in my way to make troubles either), but I have found out, this long time past, that complaining is just a trick of hers, and that, whether she's happy or miserable, she has but one note; so I never concern myself about her."-Mrs. Prosser. XVI. LEARNING TO READ WITHOUT A BOOK. POOR boy when first brought to school, was asked if he knew his letters. “Oh, yes,” he said. "Can you spell ?" "Oh, yes," he again answered. "Do you read?" "Oh, yes." "And what book did you learn from ?" "Oh, I never had a book in my life, sir." "And who was your schoolmaster ?" "Oh, I never was at school." read and spell without a book or a master. But how was this? Why, another poor boy, a little older than himself, had taught him to read, by showing him the letters over the shop doors which they passed as they went through the city. Here was a singular case: a boy could His teacher, then, was a poor boy like himself, and his book the signboards on the houses. What may not be done by trying, and helping one another? XVII. REVERENCE. LITTLE boy, being put to bed one night, asked to be carried about a little first, that he "might think a bit before saying his prayer." How many forget to think a bit, but just fall down on their knees, say their threadbare sentences, and rise again to resume the talk that was for a little interrupted! Few boys would go to ask a situation from a gentleman without a deal of preparation so as to look clean and smart, and a great deal of thought about what words they should use; and yet many approach the greatest Master, and seek for the best place, without really thinking what they are about. The gentleman needing a boy would not be likely to engage that one who came looking as if he did not mind whether he got the situation or not, and certainly God will not be less wise. It is said of an old schoolmaster, John Trebonius, that he never entered his school and met his boys without taking off his hat, by way of respect, as he said he knew not what great men some of them might yet be. How much more should we reverence God when we worship Him! The Bible Mine Searched. NSWERS are not to be sent to the Editor, SCRIPTURE QUESTIONS. The first letters of the Answers will name a noted transgressor, who found forgiveness in a season of adversity. 1. King Herod's foster-brother. 2. One who troubled an apostle. 3. A city where St. Paul passed a winter. 5. A judge of Israel 8. A sect among the Jews. ANSWERS (See August No.). 1. Rom. viii. 23; Gal. v. 5; 1 Thess. i. 10. 2. Lev. xi. 10. 3. John xiii. 2, 27. 4. Luke xi. 50, 51; Heb. xii. 24. 5. Isa. xliii. 25. Ah, those little ice-cold fingers! How those little hands remind us, "He Stands Fire.” A WORD TO YOUNG MEN. WAS walking along the "There is one thing I cannot understand about the British soldier." "What is that, sir?" "Well," I said, "he is bold and daring: you could not insult him more than by calling him a coward. There are men amongst you would rush up to the cannon's mouth, even if you knew it would be certain death. And yet there are amongst you men who dare not kneel down in the barrack-room at night, and repeat the prayer their mother taught them when they were children." He paused, and said, "That is true, sir." "What is the meaning of it, soldier ?" He said: "You remind me of what took place in my own roll a few weeks ago. A young fellow came into our room, and the first night before going to bed he knelt down to pray, and instantly there was a noise and disturbance in the room. Caps and belts were flung over at the man, but he did not move. The second night there was a general cry, 'Willie, try it again.' Down he went on his knees again. Caps and belts were thrown again, and the men whistled. The third night he went again on his knees, and again on the fourth night, with the same result. On the fifth night, the greatest blackguard in the room cried out, Lads, he is genuine-he stands fire;' and from that night every one in the room respected him, and began to follow his example." In a large establishment in Birmingham, some seventy years ago, there was a youth who came from his mother's loving home in one of our beautiful villages. He had been taught to "stand fire:" not to be ashamed of God or of prayer. The first night he retired to rest with several other youths. He knelt down to pray, and, as in the case of the soldier, he was instantly beset by the young fellows in the room, abusing him and ridiculing him. Everything was done to induce him to abstain from prayer, but he "stood fire;" he was not ashamed of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amongst the others was a strongbuilt youth, who stood on his right, and who said, "My mother taught me to do that. I have been ashamed of doing it, but I will do it now." That youth became the great, the noble John Angell James. O young men, if that youth had not stood fire the world might never have known or been blessed by the labours of John Angell James. The soldier told me what I want you to remember. He said, "Sir, as a rule the fresh fellows who kneel down to pray do not do it a second night." Ah! young men, may that never be said of you. That explains the meaning of those words, "He stands fire."-From an Address by MR. T. B. SMITHIES. The Young Folks' Page. XV. NO PITY FOR CONSTANT COMPLAINERS. H, dear!" sighed a young field-mouse | merrily, "don't fret yourself; when you've lived in the wood as long as I have, you'll "What's the matter ?" asked the squirrel, (and it's not in my way to make troubles stopping short in a run. either), but I have found out, this long time past, that complaining is just a trick of hers, and that, whether she's happy or miserable, she has but one note; so I never concern "That poor wood-pigeon-it goes to my heart to hear her plaintive accents, how mournful, how affecting!" “Ha! ha! ha!" laughed the squirrel myself about her."—Mrs. Prosser. XVI. LEARNING TO READ WITHOUT A BOOK. POOR boy when first brought to school, was asked if he knew his letters. "Oh, yes," he said. "Can you spell ?" "Oh, yes," he again answered. "Do you read?” "Oh, yes." "And what book did you learn from ?" "Oh, I never had a book in my life, sir." "And who was your schoolmaster ?" 'Oh, I never was at school." Here was a singular case: a boy could read and spell without a book or a master. But how was this? Why, another poor boy, a little older than himself, had taught him to read, by showing him the letters over the shop doors which they passed as they went through the city. His teacher, then, was a poor boy like himself, and his book the signboards on the houses. What may not be done by trying, and helping one another? XVII. REVERENCE. LITTLE boy, being put to bed one little first, that he "might think a bit before saying his prayer." How many forget to think a bit, but just fall down on their knees, say their threadbare sentences, and rise again to resume the talk that was for a little interrupted! Few boys would go to ask a situation from a gentleman without a deal of preparation so as to look clean and smart, and a great deal of thought about what words they should use; and yet many approach the greatest Master, and seek for the best place, without really thinking what they are about. The gentleman needing a boy would not be likely to engage that one who came looking as if he did not mind whether he got the situation or not, and certainly God will not be less wise. It is said of an old schoolmaster, John Trebonius, that he never entered his school and met his boys without taking off his hat, by way of respect, as he said he knew not what great men some of them might yet be. How much more should we reverence God when we worship Him! The Bible Mine Searched. NSWERS are not to be sent to the Editor, SCRIPTURE QUESTIONS. The first letters of the Answers will name a noted transgressor, who found forgiveness in a season of adversity. 1. King Herod's foster-brother. 2. One who troubled an apostle. 3. A city where St. Paul passed a winter. 5. A judge of Israel 8. A sect among the Jews. ANSWERS (See August No.). 1. Rom. viii. 23; Gal. v. 5; 1 Thess. i. 10. 2. Lev. xi. 10. 3. John xiii. 2, 27. 4. Luke xi. 50, 51; Heb. xii. 24. 5. Isa. xliii. 25. |
