stack which farmer S- has just raised; here is a nice feast for me." So off he ran, as fast as his little legs could carry him, to make his breakfast upon the wheat.

That very same morning a grim, cunning, sly weasel, crept out of his hole. "Humph,’ thought he, "I must get something good to eat to-day. I had nothing at all yesterday, and I am very hungry now. But yesterday was wet, and my game was not out; surely I shall find something this fine sunny day. Ah! what is that rustling in the middle of the field?" And he crept silently, and close along the hedge-side, with his sharp ears and his piercing eyes both open, as wide as possible.

It happened (curiously enough), that on the very same morning, a little robin-redbreast, who had been fast asleep all night on a twig, was suddenly woke up by a noise below him. "What's that," said he; "who's awake before me this morning?" He cast his little eyes to the ground, and there he saw a sight which quite horrified him; there was a large weasel running into the hedge with a poor little mouse in his mouth, which was crying and squeaking most piteously. Not a moment was to be lost,-down pounced the robin, screaming with its loudest notes, and attacked the weasel, pecking itsback most bravely.

The cruel monster turned round, as if to say, "Who dares thus to interfere with me?" He dropped the mouse, and rushed

at the bird. But the robin was not frightened; he took his stand by the mouse, and continued fluttering, and screaming, and pecking. The weasel could not catch him; but at last made a dash at the mouse (who all this time was too frightened to stir), and ran off with him into his hole. The brave little robin was now quite disappointed,-it kept flying from branch to branch, singing its most melancholy song. And what was the end of the mouse, it would make me too sad to say.

Now what do we learn from this story, which is quite true? Do not we learn a lesson from the mouse, from the weasel, and from the robin?

The mouse reminds me of a careless, happy, thoughtless, little child, who plays about all day without ever thinking of danger. There are many dangers about us which we little think of,-dangers to our bodies, and dangers to our souls. We need to be seeking God's help continually, to take care of us.

The weasel reminds me of one, 66 "who goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." Can you tell me who this is; and where we read of him in the Bible?

The robin teaches me a lesson of generous courage. Poor little fellow! he was not very strong, and had little chance against the weasel, but he did all he could; and what he did would have been quite enough to

release the mouse if it had not been so frightened. What a brave and compassionate little bird he was. I am sure you will like robins more, after you have read this story.

In one way the robin reminds me of One who is always ready to help, and full of pity whenever we are in trouble. Can you tell me who this is? But in another way he is not like the Person I mean, for the robin was weak, and He is very strong, and can fight and conquer all our enemies, and get us from their power.

May Jesus fight for us against Satan, and all the enemies who would ruin and destroy our souls!

THE TURKISH MARTYR.

A few years before the Greek revolution, a Turk and a Greek lived opposite to each other in Smyrna. The Turk was from the island of Mitylene, nearly all the inhabitants of which understood Greek. The Greek was from Athens: he kept a shop, and had a younger brother, a youth of about fourteen years of age, to assist him. The Turk often visited his neighbour; and one day he found the young Greek reading a copy of the Holy Scriptures, on which his mind was intently fixed. Impatient at seeing him so busy, the Turk inquired, with some temper, the name of the book. The boy replied that it was his "ketab," or sacred book. He then

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explained the nature of its contents, and urged their claims upon his attention. The Turk listened with apparent interest; but when he had left the house, the elder brother severely blamed the warm-hearted youth. "If this Turk should denounce us," he said, we are both of us lost; imprisonment, loss of our property, and probably death, will be our lot." The young Greek was alarmed, and as soon as he had an opportunity of speaking to the Turk alone, he frankly confessed to him his fears. "By my religion," said the Turk solemnly, "and by all that I hold sacred, I swear that I will not denounce you! Only read to me something from your ketab." The young Greek then ventured to read a portion of God's word. The Turk listened with deep attention, and the more he heard the more eager was he still to hear. From his window opposite he could see whenever the elder brother left the house, and this was a signal for him to hasten to the boy, whom he induced by presents to spend much time in reading to him the Bible.

Several months passed in this manner; and the Turk came at length to the resolution of abandoning the religion of his fathers, and embracing Christianity. A Turk desiring to become a Christian was a thing so unheard of, that no one would believe his sincerity; and had not his heart been really influenced by the grace of God, his ardent desire would soon have been cooled by the

repulses and discouragements which he met with. But he persevered, and at length, after long waiting, was admitted to baptism.

Now he was filled with joy; yet there was one thought which depressed his spirit. He had an aged mother and a brother at Mitylene, who were strangers to the hope and peace which he had found. He determined to visit them, and carry the Gospel to them; but while he was on his way thither, he was recognized by an officer of the customs, and questioned as to the object of his journey and the change in his faith. He immediately avowed himself a Christian! The consequence was, that he was cast into prison, and subjected to every kind of torture; but he continued immovable.

As soon as this event became known, the Christians were deeply affected. One of them, after much contrivance, succeeded in obtaining an interview with the poor Turk in his prison. He sought to console him, by assuring him how much they all felt for him, and how earnest had been their prayers for his deliverance, for the strengthening of his faith; and how he had himself been sent on their part to encourage him. "I thank you for your love," was the calm and courageous reply; but, blessed be God, I stand in no need of encouragement; I know whom I have believed, and by His grace I shall endure all, even unto the end!

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This was no vain boast, but the confidence of a mind that was stayed on God. That