A TRUE BOY'S INFLUENCE.



THE following incident, related by the late Dr. Neal of England, beautifully illustrates the power of example. 

We give it, hoping it may be an encouragement to all young people to be faithful to their obligations, that they may realize in their own lives that whosoever honors God, God will honor.

Dr. Neal says that he was visiting a large school, and among other places he was shown a room, or dormitory as they called it, where as many as eighty boys slept. It is at present a rule of the school that before they retire, silence should be kept for a certain length of time, so that all the boys may kneel and pray undisturbed. 

Now twenty years ago, of all the eighty boys that were there then, not one ever knelt in prayer; and it may be interesting to you to know how such a radical change was effected. 

A boy entered the school at that time, not more than eleven or twelve years of age. He was not strong in health, and was rather backward in learning.

The first night he was surprised to see all the boys get into bed without praying. It occurred to him that if he only prayed from the heart that was all that was necessary, and that he might say his prayers after he went to bed. Then he remembered what our Lord says: "Whosoever, therefore, shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven." After a great struggle, he knelt; but he had no sooner done so, than there arose such an outcry, such a hooting, as might well have frightened a brave man, much more a weak boy.

Night after night this was repeated; day after day he was mocked and ridiculed. But by and-by some of the better boys grew ashamed of their conduct, and began to defend him and take his part, and finally followed his example by kneeling and praying. So it came to pass by degrees that they all knelt in prayer. Thus we see how the truth in this one boy overcame a school of iniquity. This one thing I am sure of, that of all things which are called glorious now, great victories, great conquests, great overcoming of difficulties, this is one of the most truly glorious. Something of this kind any of you may be called on to do at some future time. 




Children's Friend.





 IN the depths of the sea the waters are still; 

 the heaviest grief is that borne in silence;

 the deepest love flows through the eye and touch;

 the purest joy is unspeakable;

 the most impressive prayer is silent;

 and the most solemn preacher at a funeral is 

 the silent one whose lips are cold in death.