THE RAGGED BOY-THE RICH MERCHANT.

BUSINESS of importance called me at one time to the great city, the London of America. I had spent the morning in viewing the great buildings, the city hall, the great custom-house; Trinity church, with its tall spire, then nearly completed; and many other public places, so interesting to the stranger: and being much wearied with my morning's excursion, I sought my friend's house as a place of rest. While sitting at the dining-table, a servant handed me a note that moment left at the door by some unknown person, which read as follows

"Dear Sir,-Having seen your name announced as one of the speakers at the Sunday-school meeting, it would give me great pleasure to see you at No. -, Pearl-street, this afternoon, at three o'clock. Do not disappoint me. Your friend, GEORGE S."

I hastened to comply with the invitation at the appointed hour. Crowding my way along through the multitude of people thronging the busy streets, I arrived, at last, at the number mentioned in the note. I inquired of the clerk for the name; and, to my surprise, he introduced me to the proprietor of a large wholesale dry goods store; one of the first establishments in the city.

"Sir," said the merchant, "I believe I am not mistaken : you are Mr. M., the student of Mr. W

teacher in the Sabbath-school of W—."

once my

"I was a poor student, and a teacher in the school you mentioned. But this cannot be George S, the whitehaired boy, owned as my scholar!"

"The same," answered the merchant, grasping my hand with the greatest joy; and a tear trickled down his cheeks. "The same, only grown to manhood. You will pardon my hasty note, and this abrupt meeting; but, Sir, I thought that we should never, never meet again, and, learning that you were in the city, I was anxious to offer you the hospitalities of my home during your stay, if it is agreeable, and consistent with other engagements: please order your trunk to be

taken to my house; my house is yours while you remain. I cannot be denied."

Indeed I could not deny him. With joy I complied with his generous offer: and at his house I found a home indeed. Here it may be proper to give you a history of our first acquaintance.

While preparing for the ministry, it was the custom to seek out poor children for the Sabbath-school. In one of my rambles I found a little boy in the street, poorly clad, with his little bare feet in the cold snow; no hat, and in a most wretched condition. I called him to me, and proposed the following questions

"What is your name, my little fellow ?"

"My name is George S

"Where do you live?

"In the woods, by the old mill.” "What is your father's name?

"I have no father (and he burst into tears); my father was brought home dead, about a year ago. He was found frozen to death on the road to our house."

"And your mother, is she living ?"

"Yes; but she is poor, and goes out to work."

"Have you any brothers and sisters ?"

"Yes; one brother and one sister."

"Are they at home?"

"Yes, Sir; they are little ones, and cannot go out now.” "Well, my little fellow, you want a pair of shoes, and some clothes."

"Yes, Sir, I do; but I want to get something for mother to eat first."

This told the story. I asked no more mediately set about the work to be done.

questions, but imGeorge was soon in my waggon with me, and I took food enough for his mother's present necessities.

On reaching their house, I found a lonely woman with two dear little ones, and nothing to eat. George jumped out of the waggon, and ran into the house, saying, "O mother! mother! you will not cry any more: the gentleman has got us enough to eat for a whole month." I found, by inquiry,

that the father had been a drunkard, and died in a drunken fit, and the poor widow had to struggle on alone. George, who was then about ten years of age, was the only child large enough to be of any help to his mother, and a good boy he was to that poor mother.

I left the house, and the next day sent some good woman to clothe them, and get George to attend the Sunday-school the next Sabbath. George was at the school, with new shoes, and hat, and clothes, a happy, cheerful boy.

For one year he was my scholar; then I left the place, and never saw him again till I met him, as I have told you, a merchant in a great city. God had prospered him, giving him friends and influence; and, from an errand-boy in the store, had raised him to be the owner. He was then twenty-four years old; with a wife, and one little boy a year old.

Now go back with me to New York, and you may think that you see me seated at the fireside, while he is relating the dealings of God with him, since I left him a little boy in the Sabbath-school at W.

Soon after I left the place, he was fortunate enough to meet a man from New York who loved Sabbath-schools. While he was on a visit to some friends in the country, he saw George, and, being pleased with him, offered to take him home. The mother consented, and George left home, with many tears, for a place in the gentleman's store.

By good conduct he gained the affections of all who knew him. At the age of eighteen years he was advanced to the station of clerk, and from a clerk to a partner with his employer. When he was twenty-one years of age his partner died, having no children or relations, not even a wife; and he gave to poor George all the interest in the concern, and at once made him the owner of some thousands of pounds. And here I found myself, seated with my old scholar, in a fine house and a happy family.

He is superintendent of a large school of poor boys, picked up from the streets and lanes of the city, a member of the church, and much beloved by all the brethren; a man known, too, by the poor and afflicted. Every Sabbath morning he has a school among the poor sailors on the dock, in a room

hired for the purpose. As I sat there, so happily rejoicing in the goodness of God, as manifested in this instance, I could but ask George, "Where is your mother ?"

"Oh, Sir! she went home to heaven from my arms, in this very room, a few months since; and just before she died, she gave me a strict charge to seek you out, and, if I found you, to tell you that her dying breath went up to God for a blessing on your head."

"Your sister, what has become of her, and your baby brother?"

"Oh, Sir, my brother has grown up to be a young man, and is now a clerk and first book-keeper in my store; and he, too, has a large class in the Sabbath-school. And my dear sister is far away, the companion of a devoted missionary in the West. She was married but a few months previous to my mother's death."

Here I must leave the history of this interesting family, and, in a few words, hint at the lesson it teaches.

1. See how God always confers his blessings on those little children who love their parents. Little George cared not for the shoes for his cold feet, and a warm cap for his head, until his poor mother could have food.

And, through that little boy, God came in mercy to the family. George early became a Christian, and was the humble instrument of the conversion of his mother and sister. The mother is permitted the privilege of dying in the glorious prospect of heaven, and sinking down to the grave sustained by the arms of her noble boy. The sister goes out to be the companion of the missionary, to aid in spreading the news of salvation to the poor and perishing.

2. What encouragement there is in this history of facts! It teaches us to labour for the poor and destitute sons of affliction and poverty, that they may shine as stars of the first magnitude in the Saviour's crown.

Dear teachers, remember the poor. Do not pass them by. Care for them, and God will reward you an hundredfold.

3. The benefits of Sabbath-school instruction are not confined merely to the things of time; they reach into

eternity, and roll a wave of glory up to the very throne of the great God.

Oh, let us be faithful, industrious, persevering, prayerful, and devoted to our work a little longer, and soon we shall go home to our reward and our crown.-From the Ecclesiastical and Missionary Record: a Canadian Periodical.

THE TWO GIVERS.

A COLLECTION for Foreign Missions was being made at the church door. Up walked the richest man in the congregation, and laid a five-pound note upon the plate. The people admired the gift, and praised the giver, but it gave no thrill of joy in heaven. Directly after him there came a little, pale, poor girl, meanly clad, and poverty written in all her looks, yet with a countenance full of sweetness, and a tear trembling in her eye, and laid beside the rich man's note a single penny. The crowd pushed her rudely by. No one noticed or cared for her gift. But Jesus and his angels, who were looking on, accepted it, as far more precious than the rich man's note, and made a record of it to her honour.

You will ask, "How came this difference?"

That same morning the rich man said within himself, "What shall I give to the collection to-day for Foreign Missions? I must give a five-pound note, for that is what will be expected of me; and I wish my donation to be above all the others."

That same morning the little girl had been reading her Bible, and had seen the story of the love of Jesus, and loved Him in return. She thought within herself, "If Jesus did so much for me, O what can I do to show my love to Him? There is to be a collection for Foreign Missions this day, and I have only a penny; but I will give my penny for Jesus' sake, and it may be He will accept it from me, for I love Him very much."

The little girl took her penny and laid it on the chair before which she was kneeling, and prayed thus for a blessing:

O, my God! here is a penny which I will give to thee. Take it Lord, although I am not worthy to give it, and bless it, so that it will do good to the poor heathen." Then rising from her knees, she took it to the church, and gave as we said.