is my constant study to avoid every company that drinks. Inever leave my barracks of a night; when my work is done for the day, I can find plenty to do-I can read my Bible, or I can learn to write or cast accounts. Never was I so happy as I am now, thank God for it; this five months, from the 9th of December to this present day, I have not drunk one drop of any sort of drink, and may God keep me so. Dear mother, I enjoy perfect health ever since I left home; the country I like very well; in fact, I am as happy as I could wish to be. All I want now to make me the happiest man, is to hear from you, and send you some money, and I will not envy the richest man in Liverpool, although I am in the centre of Caffreland, far away from old England. 66 * My dear Mother, as soon as I get a letter from you, I will send you five pounds, and I will let you draw ten shillings of my pay every month while I am on station, and may the Almighty spare you long to draw it and me to give it; you may expect it with confidence. I would not write one single lie to you; I have had too much of them; I hope God will forgive me. I am always thinking of you, day and night; you are never absent from my thoughts. When walking as sentry, at the dead hour of the night, when everything is quiet, when a soldier is walking his lonely post, and thinking of home far away, and of past days; it is then that the home of his boyhood appears dear to him, and the unbidden tear comes to his eyes, when he thinks of the unkindness he has shown to those parents that he should have been kind to; it is more than I can in reality describe. I will say one thing to you, my dear mother; if you know any one that was like me, tell them from one that knows what it is to be a disobedient son in his young days, to obey their parents, to shun the public-house and bad company, or they may live to curse the day they were born. Tell them from me it is a fine thing to do good. Prevention is better than cure. "I have not much more to say, but to give you a description of the country called Caffreland, which I am living in now. The natives are called Caffres, and quite black; they go quite naked, except a blanket they wear round them-the women the same. They live in creils and keep cattle; the women do all the work, such as cook, break the wood to light the fire, grind the corn. It is a curious sight to see them in their huts, which are about the size of a bushel basket, with a fire lit, smoking all day long: I am quite used to it now, and think nothing of it. It is the greatest place for thunder and lightning I ever saw. It is a fine climate and healthy-plenty of water and plenty of bush. It is a fine place for emigration for tradesmen and for servants; young women could get places by the dozen, and good wages; and some of them good husbands, with plenty of money. I now will conclude, my dear mother, as I have said as much as I can. I am well in health and spirits, quite happy, like soldiering very well, live in hopes of returning to see you, if God spares me; if not, His will be done-I hope we shall meet in heaven. You may expect the money as soon as I hear from you. I now conclude, wishing you all the happiness you can enjoy in this world, and eternal happiness in the world to come. From your loving son until death, "W. W." ELEPHANT GODS. WE, who have the Bible in our hands, and know all about Jesus Christ, have but little idea of the ignorance and superstition which are to be found amongst the heathen. But what sad scenes do we hear of every now and then! In one part of India amongst the mountains, there is a race of very strong people, who formerly used to get their living by making inroads upon the low country, and stealing all they could lay their hands upon. They have become more civilised now, and have given up this; but still they are sadly ignorant. What do you think? Some travellers the other day were going through their country, and they came to a forest. Here, in the midst of the trees, was a large village, composed of huts and tents, as you see in the picture. And near these huts were two high pieces of wood stuck into the ground, and they were carved, so that the top part looked like a man's head, and below were elephants' tusks. Were Now what were these things for? they monuments? No. Were they kind of May-poles to amuse the children? No. They were used by the poor people as gods! They thought they were gods, who had made them, and who took care of them. And so they worshipped these figures. And as they thought these gods might do them harm if they were angry, they used to put goods things before them to please them, such as rice, and fruits, and fowls, and pigs. Just as if the dumb idol could eat, or know anything about it. Dear children, you are highly favoured. You know much more than these poor ignorant people. But will you not try to make them know what you know? Save your pennies now and then, instead of spending them upon yourselves, and give them to the Missionaries, that they may be able to go out to their far-off countries, and preach to them the Gospel, and bring them to know the true God who lives in Heaven, and Jesus Christ whom he sent. LITTLE BILL AT THE PUMP. In the year 18-, the same good old pastor had occasion to visit what was then called the "Far West." At the close of a beautiful day in the month of July, just at dusk, as he was walking along one of the streets of a Western city of much note, with one arm thrown backward across his back, he felt the sudden and firm grasp of some other hand upon his own as it was thus placed. Turning quickly about, he found himself facing a young and well-dressed gentleman, of tall and elegant stature, and in all respects exceedingly fair to look upon. At the same time, he manifested very deep emotion, for which the pastor was utterly unable to Without loosing his hold, the account. stranger said, "You do not know me!" "No; yet I see about your countenance |