The Earlier The Easier.


AN old man one day took a child on his

knee, and talked to him about Jesus, and

told him to seek the Saviour, and pray to

him, and love him. The child knew that

the old man was not himself a Christian,

and felt surprised. Then he looked up into

the old man's face, and said:

"But why don't you seek God?"

The old man was affected by the question,

and replied, "Ah, my dear child, I neglected

to do so when I was young, and now my

heart is so hard that I fear I shall never be

able."

Ah, my dear reader, believe him. "Today,

if ye will hear His voice, harden not

your hearts." It will be more difficult to

hear tomorrow. And weeks, and months,

and years hence, even could you be sure of

them, how high and strong a barrier will

gradually be rising between you and Christ.

"They that seek Me early shall find me."

"Something Good."

"WHAT will you be when you are a man?"

I asked a bright little fellow who with his

brother was trudging to school one morning.

"Oh! Something good," he replied.

"Then you will be a minister, I suppose,

will you not?"

"I don't know," said he; "all ministers

ain't good. I know a minister who runs

horses and gets mad when he's beat; and I

don't think he is any better than other

folks."

"Well, what will you be?" I asked again.

"Oh! Something good, and that's all."

This was a noble answer, was it not, children?

Yes; worthy of even older ones

than he. It has sounded in my ears ever

since, though it was over a year ago that I

heard it. "Something good!" This covers

a large ground, for real goodness is true

'greatness.’ It is not the profession, the name,

or the employment alone, that makes the

man, though it may be of importance what

that choice shall be. In choosing a profession

or business, first of all, ask yourself

if it is such as you can follow in the fear

of God; then if you can ask the blessing

of the Lord upon it, make it your aim to be

as good in it as it is possible for you to be.

A merchant's runner may be one who will

rise higher in the estimation of the good and

great than the employee at his side who is

unfaithful in duty.

It is not in great matters only that real

goodness may be shown. Trifles make up

the sum of life. In sickness, poverty, and

distress, in the humble cottage, and in the

mansion, alike is true goodness a precious

gem to be admired and sought after. Seek

for it, and be wise. 



M. E. P.



A POLISH prince was accustomed to carry

the picture of his father always in his bosom;

and on any particular occasion he would take

it out and view it, and say, "Let me do

nothing unbecoming so excellent a father."