"What can you do, poor things?" said he.

"You shall see! you shall see!" answered several voices. "It is a pity if we have been to school for nothing. How can the father of eight children be poor? We shall work and make you rich again."

"I shall help," said the younger girl, hardly four years old. "I will not have any new things bought, and I shall sell my great doll."

The heart of the husband and father, which had sunk within his bosom like a stone, was lifted up. The sweet enthusiasm of the scene cheered him, and his nightly prayer was like a song of praise.

They left their stately house. The servants were dismissed. Pictures and plate, rich carpets and furniture, were sold, and she who had been the mistress of the mansion, shed no tears.

"Pay every debt," said she; "let no one suffer through us, and we may be happy."

He rented a neat cottage, and a small piece of ground, a few miles from the city. With the aid of his sons, he cultivated vegetables for the market. He viewed with delight and astonishment the economy of his wife, nurtured as she had been in wealth, and the efficiency which his daughters soon acquired under her training.

The eldest one instructed in the household, and also assisted the younger children-besides, they executed various works, which they had learned as accomplishments, but which they found could be disposed of to advantage. They embroidered with taste some of the ornamental parts of female apparel, which were readily sold to a merchant in the city.

They cultivated flowers, sent bouquets to market in the cart that conveyed the vegetables; they plaited straw, they painted maps, they executed plain needle-work. Every one was at her post, busy and cheerful, The little cottage was like a bee-hive.

"I never enjoyed such health before," said the father. "And I never was so happy before," said the mother. "We never knew how many things we could do, when

we lived in the great house," said the children, “and we love each other a great deal better here. You call us your little bees."

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Yes," replied the father, "and you make just such honey as the heart likes to feed on."

Economy, as well as industry, was strictly observed; nothing was wasted. Nothing unnecessary was purchased. The eldest daughter became assistant teacher in a distinguished female seminary, and the second took her place as instructress to the family.

The dwelling which had always been kept neat, they were soon able to beautify. Its construction was improved, and the vines and flowering trees were replanted around it. The merchant was happier under his woodbine-covered porch in a summer's evening, than he had been in his showy drawing-room.

"We are now thriving and prosperous," said he; "shall we return to the city ?"

"O, no," was the unanimous reply.

"Let us remain," said the wife, "where we have found health and contentment." "Father," said the youngest, "all we children hope you are not going to be rich again; for then," she added, "we little ones were shut up in the nursery, and did not see much of you or mother. Now we all live together, and sister, who loves us, teaches us, and we learn to be industrious and useful. We were none of us happy when we were rich and did not work. So, father, please not be a rich man any more."-Mrs. Sigourney.

PAPAL AGGRESSION.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,-I request your serious attention to a few words on a subject which I deem of considerable importance.

I doubt not you have all heard and read about the recent aggressive movement of the Pope of Rome, and your minds are beginning to take some interest in the subject; a few

friendly suggestions, therefore, as to what line of procedure you ought to adopt in order to protect yourselves from Popery, will probably be acceptable to you.

Popery is now assuming an elevated and potent aspect in this land, and it becomes all true Protestants, more especially all who love the truth as it is in Jesus, to be on their guard, and earnestly "contend for the faith once delivered to the saints." The Papal Church is opposed to religious freedom and to religious truth, and hence you have an important work to do at the present time.

First, then, let your own minds be well stored with Gospel truth. Without this you are constantly in danger of imbibing erroncous notions, and being led from the simplicity of the truth. At your time of life it is very important that you should know the Holy Scriptures; for they are able to " Make you wise unto salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." Make, then, the Word of God your daily companion--read the Bible diligently and prayerfully, and read such other good books as you may be able to obtain as will afford you useful information, and lead to a right understanding of your duty to God and man.

you

The human mind is an active principle-it will be employed about either good or evil. It is well to have the miad occupied with truth, for this is one of the best and most powerful means of keeping out error. The knowledge of Divine truth will defend you against the puerilities, heresies, and corruptions of the Church of Rome; therefore, study to become well acquainted with the teaching of the oracles of God. Bibles and many other excellent books are now abundant and cheap, and you possess much greater facilities for obtaining improvement and knowledge of the doctrines of the Bible, and other useful information, than was enjoyed by your forefathers. Value as you ought the privileges with which you are favoured; hide the Word of God in your hearts-believe its doctrines and promises --listen to its counsels, and frame your lives according thereto; then will you possess and enjoy, notwithstanding the efforts of Rome, freedom, firmness, and safety.

Having ranged yourselves on the side of truth and right

eousness, have full confidence in your position. With truth for your instructor, and the God of truth for your helper, you need not fear the presumptuous bulls and empty threats of the Pope. Truth may sometimes be like the sun behind a cloud, but it afterwards will burst forth with increased splendour and force. In the Bible, truth is compared to a girdle, as in the following words:-" Having your loins girt about with truth." Truth is also said to have a purifying efficacy:-"Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth." Such, then, being the value and benefit of religious truth, I exhort you, in the language of the wise man, "Buy the truth, and sell it not."

It is important, in the next place, that you have a strong conviction of the heretical and practical corruption of the Church of Rome. That the Papal Church is awfully depraved, is a point on which all Protestants are agreed. Its idolatrous worship of images, saints, and the Virgin Mary; its nonsensical masses, penances, and confessions: its foolish, arrogant, and ill-founded pretensions to infallibility and unity; its vile assumption of apostolic succession, absolution, and purity; its superstitious mummeries, rites, and ceremonies, are all contrary to the Word of God. When you consider the vices, cruelties, lewdness, and abominations of this Church, you will have no sympathy with its aggressive movements, but will be prepared to put forth every Scriptural and necessary effort to restrain its progress, and keep yourselves unspotted thereby.

I would also counsel you to beware of allurements to Romanism. Your path, especially now, is beset with dangers and beguilements. Roman Catholics, of all ranks in life, are ever on the alert to make proselytes. The bait is covered with glittering gold or silver, and accompanied with fair promises; but, bear in mind, the hook is concealed beneath, and that which is sweet in the mouth will be bitter in the stomach. Be continually on your guard. Keep out of the way of temptation. Remember the word of exhortation given by the ancient preacher-"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

In the last place, I recommend that you cultivate active usefulness. Having yourselves become the happy possessors of Gospel salvation, seek to make known the truth to others. You are all capable of doing something. Some of you may soon begin to teach in the Sabbath-school, distribute religious tracts, or collect money for the cause of Christian Missions. Useful activity will strengthen you in the love of the things which are good, and be a safeguard to you against things which are bad. Remember the saying of the poet, which is as truc as it is beautiful"Satan finds some mischief still

For idle hands to do."

If you live to God, neither Popery, nor sin, nor Satan, can materially harm you.

Praying that the blessing of God may attend, and rest upon you, I am,

My young Friends,

Your well-wisher,

R. C. LOVETRUTH.

THE WOOL COMBER OF MEAUX.

FOR many a long year the Romish priesthood in France, as in all countries where they have sufficient power, contrived to keep the Bible out of the reach of the people. The priests themselves knew very little, and the people knew nothing, of its contents. The Sunday-scholar in this happy land now knows more of God's Word than did all the men and women-not excepting the priests-of some of the large parishes of France in those days. This fearful darkness long prevailed, and still, alas! continues to a great extent; but when the light of the blessed Reformation dawned, some of these dark papists began to read the Bible, and thus discovered the folly and wickedness of the Romish religion. To extinguish the light, the Pope and his priests quickly made desperate efforts. Persecution began; and the first martyr was John Leclerc, the