coral insects live, move, and work, below. In the seas washing the shores of New South Wales, the coral formation is most rapid, and equally extensive; the Red Sea and the Molucca islands are equally abundant in their products; and, but for the many causes displacing the creatures who work, and the violent and sudden death of many by fragmentary rocks being torn up by the force of the seas; the very bed of the ocean would be changed, and submarine mountains endanger our maritime progressand all this by an insect which is so insignificant as not to admit of any well-defined form, and so small as to hide itself in a space very little larger than would admit a pin. Work on little creature, do your Maker's bidding, and when the last fires shall consume the earth, and man shall be called to his account "Then he shall see, and hear, and know, ALMOST AT HOME. RUTH ALLERTON, a slender-made little girl, lived with her mother in the cottage under the wood, close to the river; rather too close, indeed, for after heavy rains the water came up almost to the very door, and once, during a great flood, the kitchen was three feet deep in water. Though Ruth's mother could not be said to be very poor, yet had she to work hard for a living. Mrs. Allerton had always worked hard; but having lost her husband, she was obliged to work harder. Sometimes she laboured in the fields for the farmer who lived near, and sometimes she did a little washing and ironing. She kept a pig, that her Christmas rent might be provided for, and then she had rabbits and fowls. Her little orchard brought her in something, and her white-heart cherry-tree, in a good season, was quite a prize to her. One market day she had some fowls to sell, as well as a couple of rabbits, and two large baskets of fruit; so that, not being able to carry it all herself, Ruth went with her to help her. The market town was as much as five miles off, and then there were gates and stiles to get over, and a sandy lane and a stony hill to conquer; so that, by the time they had reached the old Market Hall, both of them were sadly tired. Those who have never carried a heavy basket of fruit five miles on a hot day, little think what a hard task it is to perform. In returning home again, in the evening, they were overtaken by a storm; and poor Ruth, being a weakly child, was hardly able to set one foot before another. She, however did her best, though Sandy Lane and Stony Hill sadly tried her. By the time they had reached the little common the storm was at its height. Oh? how the wind did blow and the rain pour down from the skies! Opposite the blackmith's shop which was a mile further on than the little common, poor Ruth made a stand, as if she could walk no further: but her mother cheered her drooping spirit by saying, "Keep up your courage a little longer, Ruth; for you are almost at home!” Ruth did keep up her courage. Soon after this she and her mother reached the cottage, wet to the very skin; but dry clothes, a cheerful fire, and a supply of plain food comforted their hearts. It was well for Ruth that her mother was a pious woman; had she not been so, she would not have been so anxious for her daughter to go to the Sunday-school. Thousands have had reason to bless God for the opening of sabbath schools, for there their youthful minds were taught the way of salvation, through faith in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for sinners. Ruth, if not a very clever girl, was teachable, and gave her mother much comfort. They had but little, but "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith," Prov. xv. 16. In the cottage under the wood they lived in quietness and peace; and though some would have thought such a situation lonely and unsafe, they had no fear. God was with them, "and the angel of His presence saved them." Those who trust in the Lord are safe everywhere, and a simple prayer, whispered in a cottage under a wood, finds its way to heaven as soon as a loud hallelujah from a temple of the Most High. But now came the time when affliction and trial were to enter the cottage of the widow, for poor Ruth was taken ill, and when the parish doctor called to see her, he shook his head, and was silent; from the very first he seemed to have no hope of her getting better. Ruth was very patient, and her mother very kind, but sickness went on doing its work. It was soon plain enough that the days of Ruth were numbered, and that she had not long to live. Time passed, the leaves of the trees had faded, and the wind sounded mournfully as it whistled through the wood, when, one night, after the widow had been singing a hymn, as she sat at work beside the sick bed, Ruth, looking up, said to her, "Mother! that is a sweet hymn; but do you remember what you said to me by the blacksmith's shop that stormy night, when I was so tired coming from market. ?" "No, love! What was it?" "Why, you said, 'Keep up your courage a little longer Ruth; for you are almost at home.' It did me good then, mother, say it again! say it again! The poor widow struggled hard to speak the words, but she could not. Too well she knew that her child was drawing very near her end, and her grief for a moment overcame her submission to God's holy will, but it was only for a moment; and no sooner did Ruth say, “Mother, why don't you speak the words?" than, making an effort, she pulled down her apron from her eyes, bent with affection over her dying child, and said, in a cheering voice, while printing a kiss on her pale cheek, "Keep up your courage a very little longer, dear Ruth; for indeed, you are almost at home." Ruth nestled down under the bed-clothes, with a languid smile on her happy face, and very soon closed her eyes for ever. When the doctor came in the morning to see his patient she needed no more medicine, and no more attention; her sufferings were over, her hands were still, and her heart beat no longer. Her heavenly Father had called her above, and she was at home in heaven. How sweet to go above, from earthly pain, Where peace and holy joy for ever reign. Perhaps, reader, you are young, like little Ruth; or middle-aged, like her mother; or it may be that you have gray hairs on your head-whichever it may be, it matters but little, if, as a sinner, you have sought and found the Saviour. Nor does it matter much whether you have a little, or a great deal of knowledge, so that you know Him whom to know is eternal life. No doubt you have your trouble! It may be poverty, which is very trying; or some bodily affliction, that is hard to bear; or some continual care, that makes you weep in secret with bitter tears. Come! come! do not be cast down. God knows all about it, and he will bear you through it. You have only to trust Him, and to cast your burden on Him, and He will bear it. Have you forgotten how he preserved Daniel in the lions' den? how he moved Paul and Silas to sing when they were in prison, and made his servant Simeon ready to “depart in peace?" Doubt him not for a moment. If you regard God's dealings with you aright, you will find that eyerything is in your favour. He is your Father and Friend, and has prepared a mansion for you in heaven : keep up your courage, then, a little longer; for remember that you are almost at home. BENEFITS OF AFFLICTION. THE path of sorrow, and that path alone, COWPER. MEMOIR OF WILLIAM HENRY ASHWORTH. William Henry Ashworth, was born at Calis, in Yorkshire, Jan. 30, 1838. His father was a native of Newchurch, Bacup Circuit, but his mother of Calis; he was sent to the Myrtle Grove Sunday-school, when between four and five years of age; his parents never had any trouble with him about going to school. At school he was quiet and attentive to his teacher. He attended a day-school in the neighbourhood, and made great proficiency in learning. At the age of seven he could read his Bible, write a good hand, and was tolerable at figures. The master of the day-school said to his father if he would allow him to remain two years longer at school, he could make a scholar of him, so that he would be able to earn his living with his pen, but his father was not in circumstances to allow him to remain longer at school, therefore, when a little over seven years of age he was sent to the mill, and remained at work in the mill till within a few days of his death. In the year 1847, the family came to reside in Newchurch, and William Henry, along with his sister Mary, was sent to our school. He entered as a scholar the third Bible class. His behaviour was commendable, he always seemed quiet and thoughtful, and advanced from class to class, till he got to the highest class in the school. About June, 1854, he took charge of a class, and was much beloved and respected both by teachers and scholars. |