learned at Sunday School, and to tell me which of them he liked the best, he repeated several with tolerable accuracy, and seemed to select the words-" He will keep his lambs in his hands, and will never let them go." I turned to the verses which he had thus associated in his youthful mind, and read them -he seemed much pleased, and in answer to my several questions he shewed how fully he was able to apply and understand the words he had repeated. Our conversation was as follows:-Who are the Lambs? "Christians"-but he speaks of sheep toowho are the lambs? "Little people, little Christians." Why does he say that he will gather them? "Because they would not go to him, he will go after them, he will hold them in his hands not to let them fall?" Do you think he can keep you when you are dying and not let you fall when he is carrying you away to heaven? "Oh! I do." Do you remember what Jesus the Lamb of God says he will do with his lambs in Heaven after he has brought them there? "He will feed them and lead them unto living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe away all their tears." Once when speaking of his wicked heart, I asked him who could change it, and reminded him of the response he used to repeat at Church, he instantly remembered it and said, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Afterwards he asked me to pray with him that God would

change his heart; we knelt down and prayed. I felt as though the Lord was catching this lamb in his hand, and was assured that he who heard his child-like, gentle voice, giving his own version of his precious promise, and expressing such confidence in it that the sting of death seemed gone, would look down upon his little frame and carry him away from this world of sin. He was often visited by his Teacher-her remark respecting him was simply this-" There cannot be a doubt about the dear child that he is safe."

THE STARS.

Mr young Friends, I have, in a former number, told you a little concerning the Sun: I intend making the Stars the subject of the present paper. Perhaps the youngest of my readers seldom sees the stars, because they do not begin to shine until the eyes of little ones are generally closed in slumber; but I think when ever you do see them, you must think how beautiful they are, and feel inclined to say, in the words of the pretty little hymn, which many of you have learned_

"Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are;
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky."

And well may you wonder; for these beautiful lights are thought to be large bodies each star is perhaps a world containing thousands and millions of living beings. Do not think I am telling you what is impossible; because, remember, there is no end to the power of Him who only said "Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven: and it was so." (Gen. i. 15.) The stars never move: they shine like the sun, by their own light; hence they are called luminous bodies. True it is, dear children, that these things are not only far above your comprehension, but the wisest man that ever lived would say, with the Apostle Paul, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out !" (Rom. xi. 33.)

The ancient idolaters, those poor ignorant people who did not know there was one God, called the sun and moon the King and Queen of heaven, and the stars their armies; but we, my young friends, will turn to the Bible, and read what it says about them.

The first text we take shall be concerning the countless number of the stars. In the 22nd Genesis, 17th verse, God compares them in multitude to the sand on the sea shore; and what can give you a greater idea of their vast numbers? And in the 15th Genesis, 5th verse, we are told that God said to

Abraham, "Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou shalt be able to number them.' That was impossible for Abraham, or any other man to do; but the Lord can, as David says: "He telleth the number of the stars, he calleth them all by their names."

O let us study more and more the power of God in his works, and adore more and more his wisdom and goodness. Who can look unto the heavens without feeling his own insignificance, and the transcendent greatness of the Creator of all? Perhaps it has never struck you that the stars may lead your thoughts to the babe in Bethle hem. Remember it was a star which guided the shepherds to the stable where Jesus was born: and "when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.' (Matt. ii. 10.) And well might they be glad, because they had found Christ their Saviour. And let me ask you, my young friends, have you found Jesus? You require no star, as the shepherds did, to lead you to him. You know where he is-at his Father's right hand, ready and willing to listen to the simplest prayers of the youngest amongst you who feels he has naughty tempers, and who wishes Jesus to pardon his sins, and give him a new heart, and make him one of his lambs. If any of you feel thus, pray to him, telling him, in your own words, what you want him to grant you; then will you have found Jesus:

and although you do not see him, or offer to him, as the shepherds did, gold, frankincense, and myrrh, yet you can offer what is most valuable in Jesus' sight-a humble, subdued spirit, willing to learn of him.

E.

THE BLIND GIRL.

LET me give you a short account of a little blind girl. Her name was Julia. She had never in her life seen any thing. When she became old enough, and strong enough to walk, she was led around by her brother Charles, who was two years older than Julia. Charles used to take notice of almost every thing which could be seen, and try to tell his little blind sister about it.

One pleasant summer day he took her by the hand, and they wandered down in the smooth, pleasant fields together. He talked to her, as they went along, about the green leaves, and the soft green moss, and the beautiful flowers, and the bright sun. shine, and every thing he could think of to make her happy. By and by she was weary-for it is hard work to walk when you cannot see-and they sat down under a large shady tree to rest awhile. For a few minutes they sat quite still, and listened to the song of a little bird. Julia spoke first.

"Charles," said she, "how long a time that sweet bird sings! He must be full of