lying about the streets. And what do they do with the leaves? They roof houses with them; they make partitions between rooms with them; they form them into bowls, and baskets, and dishes. They make fans of them, to keep off troublesome insects; and brooms to sweep the house, and even boats to sail on the rivers! And what do they do with the branches? Fences are made of them, and cots, and screens, and beautiful bird-cages, and matting, and ropes, and even carpets. Why, I think an Arab could almost live altogether on a palm-tree, and nothing else. He could build the framework of his house with a few stems, fill up the walls with branches, and furnish it entirely with the leaves; and then have a few trees growing about the house, and eat their dates; and have his boat on the river too. What a useful tree is the palm-tree! Do you wonder at the Arabs being very fond of it?

And now that I have told you something about the palm-tree, you must tell me something about it. It grows, I said, in hot countries. It grows very much in the countries which the Bible speaks about. So we read often of the palm-tree in Scripture. And what do we read about it? What was the name of the city which was called "the City of Palm-trees? Where did the Israelites, on their march to Canaan, find seventytwo palm-trees all growing together? What great prophetess (and she was once at the

head of an army, too), used to live under a palm-tree? Who once rode into Jerusalem on an ass, over branches of palm-trees strewed on the way? Where does David say that "the righteous shall flourish like a palmtree?" And, lastly, where were those people standing, and who were they, who were "clothed in white robes, and had palms in their hands?" Now find out in the Bible the answers to these questions, and you will know pretty near all about the palm-tree.

C.

TO THE LITTLE READERS OF THE 66 CHILDREN'S FRIEND."

MY DEAR CHILDREN,-In my letter this year I want to say something to you about yourselves. Each month as it comes round brings to you your little Magazine, which is, I doubt not, a very welcome visitor, with its bright pink cover. It tells you many things to make you good and wise; and I hope you think seriously about what you read, and, what is more than thinking, pray earnestly to God for the gift of His Holy Spirit, that you may have an understanding heart. Each little Magazine is a talent entrusted to you by God; and when you stand before the throne at that last great day, when Christ will come to be our Judge, it will be seen whether you have improved these talents by using them aright, or whether you have neglected or abused them. What is written

about Christ and his salvation is not to be forgotten as soon as read; it is to be treasured up in your hearts, that, by the grace of God, it may make you holier and better. You are young now, and your happy joyous feelings make the earth look bright. But, dear children, have you ever wept for sin? Oh, sin is the canker which spreads a blight over the bloom of the fairest flower! We have sinned against God, and God has cursed sin. It is a dreadful thing to sin against a just and holy God. But is there no help for us? Cannot we be delivered from his wrath? Is there not a Saviour, who has borne the curse for us? Oh, yes! -that holy God is a God of love, of goodness, and of grace; and surely tears of gratitude will fill our eyes when we read that sweet story of love divine, "God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." That Son is Jesus, who was made flesh, that He might offer himself upon the cross as an atonement for the sins of men. It was at the birth of Jesus that angels sang their heavenly music over that field, at Bethlehem, where the shepherds kept their flocks. Do you love this gracious Saviour? Do you love His word? Do you seek His face in prayer? Is it the joy of your heart to do what He commands? Do not hastily dismiss these questions; think them over very often, and never rest satisfied until you can say

from your heart, "I do love Jesus " My dear children, time is fast passing away, and eternity is coming on. We must soon appear before God; and what shall we do then, if the Lord Jesus Christ is not our friend? Give your hearts to Him now. Seek from Him the gift of repentance, that you may be sorry for your sins, and forsake them. Ask him to give you faith, which is also a gift of God, and without which you cannot please Him. Ask Him for His Holy Spirit, which He will freely give; and that Spirit will teach you all things, and make the commandments of God the very delight and joy of your hearts. This is happiness indeed. Only Jesus can roll away the curse which rests upon the guilty soul. Where sin is unrepented, and unforgiven, there is the curse of God. In Christ, our Saviour, is pardon for the guilty. He is our only hope, our only refuge. Flee to Him, and He will shelter your souls, and cover you with the spotless robe of His own perfect righteousness; and though you are little children, frail and helpless, He, who does not forget what He felt when He was a child on earth, and who is touched with the feeling of childhood's infirmities,-He will bless you abundantly when you try to please Him with all your heart; and His precious blood will wash every stain of sin away. The song of the seraphim is not so sweet in His ear, as the lisping accents of prayer and praise which are breathed from an infant's heart. I com

mend you, dear children, to His saving grace. May His loving mercy bless and protect you for evermore !

Your affectionate friend, J. H.

TRUE COURAGE.

"PAPA, you told me, the other day, that you did not think I knew what true courage was, and that when I got well you would talk to me about it. Can you not tell me now what it is?"

"Yes, my son; but before I tell you what it is, I should like to know what you think it is?"

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"What I think it is?" repeated Frederic; "why, it is—it is—stay,―let me consider;' and he paused for a moment, while Colonel Stanley looked smilingly but silently in his face. Well, papa; I think true courage is when a man is not afraid of any person, nor of ever so many people, but will fight them all, just as you were not afraid when you met all those Indians, with such a very few men on your side; and when your men would have tried to get off, you made them stay and fight till the Indians themselves were glad to run away. I think that was true courage."

"And is that all, Frederic?" asked his father, still smilingly.

Why, papa, I don't know anything else; for if a person is not afraid of any man, or of a whole army of men, he certainly will