My young friend, whoever you are that may read this story, lay up in your heart this sweet lesson, taught you by the God of love: "Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you;" (Eph. iv. 32.) that you may, as a dear child of God, follow your Saviour's steps, and, like him, "walk in love."

HERE is a branch of the bread-fruit tree. This tree is found in the islands of the South Seas, and in the Ladrone and Philippine islands. The fruit is round, and grows on the boughs, like apples; when ripe, it is the size of a child's head, and is yellow, soft, and sweet; but the natives take it green, and bake it in the oven, till the rind is black. This they scrape off, and eat

the inside, which is soft and white, like the inside of newly-baked bread. This fruit is in season eight months in the year, so that the natives feed upon no other sort of bread during that time. The tree on which this curious and useful fruit grows, is about the size of a large apple tree, or small oak. It grows with little trouble; if a man plant ten of them in his lifetime, he will do all that is necessary for keeping up the supply of this valuable food.

THE CHILD AND THE BEE.

"STAY awhile, little bee, in this blossom so gay, I am sure you must tire working thus all the day: What beautiful things in this garden we see! Sweet flowers and ripe fruits-stay awhile, little bee."

"Little lady, I only can happiness know When what is my duty I cheerfully do;

Except I seek honey when flowers are in bloom, What food shall I have when the winter is come ?"

How wise is the bee! what a lesson it gives
To the child who in folly and idleness lives;
Who passes in sin and vain pleasure his days,
And seeks not the knowledge of God and his ways.
Henceforth, like the bee, may he lay up a store
To serve him when youth's sunny time is no more;
For youth is the season which Mercy has given
To prepare for old age, and to fit us for heaven.

Foster, Printer Kirkby Lonsdale.

J. H.

THE POWER OF PRAYER. THE PIRATE.

SOME years ago, the Moravian missionaries sailed from London to the island of St. Thomas, where they were going to labour among the slaves. The name of the ship in which they sailed was the Britannia. At first the voyage was pleasant and prosperous; and in their hearts, as well as their voices, the missionaries would often thank God for his goodness to them. But one day a great danger threatened them. A pirate ship was distinguished, far off, but bearing down towards them. Now pirates are at sea what robbers are on land, but even more terrible; because there is seldom

any help near. They sail about the seas in their light-built, swift-sailing vessels; seldom going on land, but making it their whole business to rob other ships. And on their ill-gotten spoils they live. Generally they murder as well as rob. Sometimes they lay a plank over the ship's side, blindfold the eyes of the unfortunate crew and passengers, and compel them to walk thus along the plank, till, without knowing it, they reach the end; and then they fall into the sea and are drowned. No wonder that the sight of a pirate-vessel was a very alarming one to the people in the Britannia.

It came on, nearer and nearer. And what could those who saw it do, all alone there, in the wide ocean? Each did what he thought wisest and best. The captain judged it best to put the ship into a state of defence; so he ranged his men, and prepared to resist, as well as he could. The sailors, whatever they thought best, had no choice but to obey the captain. But the missionaries thought it best to pray; and they went down into the cabin, and there, heedless of what was going on upon deck, they poured out their souls in earnest prayer to God; remembering, no doubt, his promises, and the words, "If God be for us who can be against us ?"

The pirate-ship approached, till it came within gun-shot of the Britannia; and then, from the cannon ranged along its deck,

began to pour out a heavy fire. And there were grappling-irons on board, or strong, sharp hooks, fixed to long ropes, ready to throw into the Britannia, and hold her fast, while the pirates should board her, and do their work of destruction. It seemed that there was little chance of escape from such an enemy. But the captain, whose heart was sinking at the fearful prospect before him, did not know what powerful helpers he had below, in the few peaceable missionaries, whose fervent prayers were then ascending, through the noise of the fight, to heaven.

The moment the pirates tried to throw their grappling-irons across to the other ship, their own was tossed violently, and the men who held the ropes were thrown by force into the sea. Vexed by this disaster, the pirate-captain sent others, who shared the same fate. Seeing he could not succeed in this manner, he resolved to fire at the Britannia, till she sank with repeated blows. But this effect strangely failed also; for the balls missed their aim and fell into the sea. The smoke of the frequent charges was very dense, and hung about the vessels for some minutes, hiding them from each other's view. At

last a sudden gust of wind cleared it away; and to the amazement of the pirate-captain, the Britannia was seen at a distance, with all her sails spread to the wind, speeding swiftly away from the attack. And they