woman. I found her very ill indeed with pneumonia, and breathing very laboriously. I asked her if she knew Jesus and loved Him. She knew Him, but she had not committed herself, soul and body, to Him. I told her He was ready to receive her now, sick, weak, and unworthy, and to be her Saviour and friend. She said she wanted to go to Him and to rest in Him, and was willing to give up all to Him. We went over together the story of His love to sinners, His welcoming ministrations to them, His dying for them. Oh! how eagerly she listened, and how eagerly she spoke. When I began to quote any of His inviting and comforting words, she would take them out of my mouth and finish the passage herself. She had been well instructed in the Bible, and this was why she found peace and comfort so soon. I said,-" The blood of Jesus Christ"-she broke in"cleanseth from all sin." I repeated the line, "Jesus sought me when a stranger." She added the next, Wandering from the fold of God." I gave the third, " He to save my soul from danger." She whispered tenderly at last, "Interposed His precious blood."

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She was an English girl; had married at the age of sixteen in England. Her husband came immediately over to this country to try and better his fortune. She had not seen him for five years. He had just sent for her to come out to California, where he was doing well. . . But she will never meet her husband in this world. She died on the morning of Thursday, at half-past two, and I have no doubt has gone to be with that Jesus to whom she so lately gave her heart. Thursday afternoon at six, at the going down of the sun, she was buried at sea, committed to the deep. At the Captain's request, I conducted the service. When at the words, "We commit her body to the deep," she was launched into the sea, the effect was solemn and impressive beyond anything I ever witnessed.

No footsteps of friends will ever pass her grave; no eyes of affection read on its head-stone the name, Mary Ann Vincent, but God's eye will watch her, and that name is written, I think, in His Book of life."-Letter from California.

TWO MARKET-BOYS.

WO lads came at an early hour to a country market town, and spreading out their little stands, they sat down to wait for customers. One sold melons and other fruits, the other dealt in oysters and fish. The market hours passed along, and each little dealer saw with pleasure his stores steadily decreasing, while the money was filling his pockets. The last melon lay on Harry's stand, when a gentleman came by, and placing his hand upon it, said, "What a fine large melon! I think I must buy it. What do you ask for it, my boy !"

"The melon is the last I have, sir; and though it looks very fair, there is an unsound spot on the other side," said the boy, turning it over.

"So there is," said the man; "I think I will not take it. But," he added, looking into the boy's face," is it very business-like to point out the defects of your fruits to customers ?" "It is better than being dishonest, sir," said the boy modestly.

"You are right, my boy; always remember to speak the truth, and you will find favour with God and man also. You have nothing else I wish for this morning, but I shall not forget your little stand in future. Are those oysters fresh ? " he continued, turning to Ben Wilson's stand.

"Yes, sir; fresh this morning," was the reply; and a purchase being made, the gentleman went his way.

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Harry, what a fool you was to show the gentleman the spot in the melon! Now you can take it home for your pains, or throw it away. How much wiser is he about those oysters? Sold them at the same price I did the fresh ones. He would never have looked at the melon until he had gone away." Ben, I would not tell a lie or act one, either, for twice what I have earned this morning. Besides, I shall be better off in the end; for I have gained a customer, and you have lost one."

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And so it proved; for the next day the gentleman bought quite a supply of fruit of Harry but never spent another penny at the stand of Ben. Thus the season passed; the gentleman finding he could always get a good article of Harry, always bought of him, and sometimes talked a few minutes with him about his future hopes and prospects. To become a tradesman was his great ambition; and when the winter came on, the gentleman, wanting a trusty boy for his shop, decided on giving the place to Harry. Steadily and surely he advanced in the confidence of his employers, until he became at length an honoured partner in the firm.

THE NAUGHTY FINGERS.

AMMA," said Lizzy, after she was undressed, "this finger and this thumb have been naughty to-day." "What have they done?" asked mamma. "They took some raisins from your cupboard," said the little girl. "Did nobody tell them to do it ?" asked mamma. Lizzy looked down. "I did not hear anybody tell them to," she answered softly. "Did they eat the raisins ?" asked mamma. "They put them in my mouth," answered Lizzy. "Were you not to

right to them, you know."

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blame to take them ?" asked mamma; "your fingers had no They gave them to me," said "But the Bible says, If thy right hand offend Must we cut any part of this little hand off?" asked mamma. "What is offend ?" asked the child.

the little girl.

thee cut it off.

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"But it was only one finger and one thumb," said Lizzy. They are two little thieves, then; for they took what did not belong to them. They can no longer be trusted; we must shut them up," said mamma. Lizzy looked very sorry, while her mother found some black cloth and wound round the finger, then the thumb. Her hand felt very clumsy. She went to bed and arose in the morning with them still

shut up.

"Shall I take this ugly black cloth off now ?" she asked on going to be washed. "Oh no," said mamma; we have no proof they are sorry yet, therefore it is not safe to trust them; they may directly go into the cupboard again." "I think they are very sorry," said Lizzy, in a pitiful tone. "But they have not said so," said mamma. Lizzy went down to breakfast with the ugly black rags on. How she held her spoon I cannot tell. I do not think she ate much; for she looked unhappy.

By-and-by the little girl came to her mamma, with the tears rolling down her cheeks. "Mamma," she sobbed, "It was I made my fingers naughty-I-naughty I; I'm to blame." "Oh, then," said mamma, "let us set the poor captives free;" and off came the little black rags directly. Mamma took the little fat hand in hers, and said,-" These fingers are pinching fingers, or stealing or striking fingers, or trusty, good little fingers, just as Lizzy says. They are her little servants, whom God gave her to be usefully employed."

"And they shall be mamma," cried the child. They are not to blame; it is only I, naughty I. I am so sorry." Lizzy put up her hand for mamma to kiss, and ever since it has had a good little mistress as need be.

VARIETIES.