Don't Be too Certain.


BOYS, don't be too certain. Remember

that nothing is easier than to be mistaken.

And if you permit yourself to be mistaken

a great many times, everybody will lose

 confidence in what you say.

"John, where's the hammer?"

"It is in the corn-house."

"No, it is not there; I have just been

looking there."

"Well, I know it is; I saw it there not

half an hour ago."

"If you say it is there, it must be there, of

course. But suppose you go and bring it."

John goes to the corn-house, and presently

returns with a small ax in his hand.

"Oh, it was the ax I saw. The handle

was sticking out from a half-bushel measure.

I thought it was the hammer."

"But you said positively that you did see

it, and not that you thought you saw it. There

is a great difference between the two answers.

Do not permit yourself to make a

positive statement, even about small matters,

unless you are quite sure; for if you do, you

will find the habit growing upon you, and,

by-and-by, you will begin to make loose replies

to questions of great importance. 

Don'tbe too certain .'"—



Young Pilgrim.



NEW-YEAR'S DAY.


I Find songs are sweet to-day,

But, children, you must also pray,

Asking God to guard you here,

Making this a safe new year.

You must ask for grace within,

To follow Christ, forsaking SIN,

Living as his children dear,

Making this a holy year.

Little children, bright and gay,

I would not make you sad to-day;

Yet I must repeat it here,

This may be your last new year.

But if Jesus be your friend,

You have a life that will not end,

And a home that's shining clear,

Fairer than the fairest here.


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Little Willie and the Apple.


WILLIE'S father was at work in the cellar,

and he stood by, earnestly watching his

movements. Presently the father picked

up from the cellar floor a nice russet apple,

and offered it to his son, saying, "Here,

Willie, you may eat this."

Willie, without moving a finger to take

the apple, answered, "Mother does not let

me eat more than one apple in the forenoon."

Willie had been for several weeks quite

unwell, and his mother had limited him to

two apples a day, one in the forenoon and

one in the afternoon, thinking that more

would injure him. When his father offered

him the apple, Willie remembered that he

had already had his apple that morning, and

he answered, in a pleasant tone, "Mother

does not let me eat more than one apple in

the forenoon."

Children that have a good mother, and

obey all her commands, are kept from a

thousand snares into which disobedient

children fall.


Willie's Penny


WILLIE'S penny made Heaven rejoice!

It could not have done much to help a starving

family. What did he do with it?

His sister was a missionary in Africa, and

the family were filling a box to send her.

As one after another deposited their gifts,

little Willie said: "I want to give my penny."

"What shall be bought with the little offering?"

was the next question. It was decided

to buy a tract, and write the history

of the gift on the margin, and with a prayer

for its success, send it on its distant errand.

The box arrived on the mission ground, and

among its valuable, interesting contents, Willie's

gift was laid away unnoticed, and for a

while forgotten. But God's watchful, all seeing

eye had not forgotten it. One day a

native teacher was starting from the mission

station to go to a school over the mountain

where he was to be employed. He was well

learned in the language, and was a valuable

help to the missionaries; but, alas! He lacked

the knowledge that cometh from above. He

was not a Christian, and had resisted all

efforts for his conversion. This was a great

grief to the missionaries; but they continued

to pray and hope.

In looking over some papers, Willie's tract

was discovered, with the marginal explanation,

and the fact that prayer had been offered

in beloved America for its success in doing

good. It was handed to the native teacher.

He read it on his journey. It opened his eyes,

showed him that he was a lost sinner, and that

all his learning could not help him. It also

told him of one who was able and willing to

save, who had died for him, and was willing

to have his great love returned.

What years of Christian labor by the missionaries

had not done was now brought

about by the penny tract. The strong man

bowed in penitence and humble submission at

Jesus' feet, and became a sincere Christian.

The missionaries to whom he went praised

God for the change which had sent them a

godly teacher. Those who put the tract in

his hand were overcome with joy; "for there

is joy in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth."

So you see how Willie's penny made

Heaven rejoice.

 

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'LIVING or dying, Lord,

I ask but to be thine;

My life to thee, thy life in me,

Makes Heaven forever mine.