wood, and the bodies of people who had been burnt to death, and then fallen into the water. It was a very fearful sight. We had the poor creatures brought to land, and then the coroner held an inquest over them in our barn, and we buried them sadly in the little chapel yard.

It is now some time since I visited my old haunts by the sea. I do not know when I shall see them again. Most of my old friends in the place are now dead. When I was last there I saw very few old faces remaining. It is sad to leave one's home, and to see one's friends leave this world one after the other. But it all teaches us that this world is but a pilgrimage, that we should be looking for one which will last longer, whose builder and maker is God.

Children who are happy now at their homes, with their parents and friends, little think how soon all that they love and enjoy must come to an end. Those who are wise will consider these things. They will be making a home in heaven; they will be seeking for Jesus to prepare mansions there for them; for it will not matter whatever happen to them,-whether they are left fatherless, or motherless, or friendless, or homeless, if they have a Father in God, a Friend in Jesus, a home in heaven.

THE HAPPY HOME.

THERE was a certain great king, who had the largest and most beautiful house in the world, and he was so kind-hearted that his door was open to all who were willing to live with him. Even his enemies were not shut out, if they would only confess that they were wrong, and ask him to pardon them and open the door. He did not wait till they came and knocked, but sent his son to invite them; and promised that if they would come and live with him they should have all they wished, and even more than they could ask.

And the king's son afterwards wrote a letter to them to say that he was furnishing a pleasant room for every one of them, and that he would soon come himself and bring them. He did so. The rooms were filling every day, and from morning till night the songs of the happy people were so sweet and loud that the house rang with them; and the wonder was that anybody should pass the door, and be willing to stay outside.

My dear children, heaven is that home. God the Father is that King. Jesus is that beloved Son. He came from his Father's house to invite you and me to it. He did more. He shed His blood for us, and by the sacrifice of Himself secured eternal happiness to all who will receive Him as their Saviour. And every man and woman and child who is sorry for sin, and asks God to

forgive for Jesus' sake, to pardon, sanctify, and save, shall have a free welcome to that heavenly palace, and shall wear such a white garment and such a bright crown, that the very angels shall wonder at their new companion, and sing with him a song of praise!

I ask you, then, dear children, will you go to this happy home? Will you love this precious Saviour? Will you pray to this gracious Father? If you will, He sends each of you this kind message: "I have gone to heaven to make ready a place for you." But perhaps you wish to know a little more about this place, and about the love of Jesus in preparing it; let me try to tell you.

You have often seen how bright everything looks on a sunny summer's day; how the trees, and flowers, and fields sparkle in the sunshine. But heaven is far brighter than all that. There is no need of the sun there, for "God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." Little children cry, and suffer, and die, even on some of these brightest days; and it is very sad to go out from the glad sunshine into a darkened room, with the curtain drawn or the blinds down, and to see a poor mother weeping and sobbing by the bedside of her dying child. But there is no sight like this in heaven. "There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying." The sin and misery of our world made even the blessed Jesus weep. But in heaven God has wiped away "all tears from off all faces."

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A mother once said to her little boy who was dying in her lap, Samuel, you never cry now, though all of us are crying round you." "Oh no," said he, "I have done with tears; Christ has done and suffered so much for me, that I have nothing to do now but to rejoice and praise him." He was full of pain, and he knew it would be a joyful time when his little limbs should no longer ache; but he did not speak of pain; his soul was too happy for that; and he is now praising Jesus day and night without ceasing. Dear children, do you love the Saviour? If you do, then you long to see Him, you love to praise Him, you wish to be like Him; you can say, "I have a desire to depart and be with Christ.

NATIVE CHURCH IN NEW

ZEALAND.

It is not many years ago since there was an island in the South Seas, which was inhabited by people so savage and barbarous, that ships dare hardly go near it. They would kill any white man they saw, and most likely, horrible to say, eat him afterwards. This island was New Zealand.

But a missionary ship came here. And without any defence of guns or swords, the missionaries came amongst the people, and taught them the word of God." God took care of them, and helped them. The people listened; they became friends of the mis

sionaries, and before long most of them left their wars, and their cruelties, and their idols, and became Christians.

The picture shows you a church, which the New Zealanders have built almost entirely by themselves, at a place called Otaki. It will hold a great many people, and they

all crowd into it every Sunday to the services. How strange it must be for the missionaries, who once knew these people only as warriors and savages, to see them now so tame, and so fond of religion. But it is the grace of God which has done it, and it shows what the grace of God can do.