Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

It pains us when we are injured, and the revenge of man is sweet. So I feel myself, and my heart naturally loves it too. Then I think I see before me the man in the scripture who took his debtor by the throat! I lay it to heart, and think that I will forgive my fellow-sinner, and will never say a word to him of the hundred pence.

And lead us not into temptation.

Here I think of all kinds of sad examples, when men in such and such circumstances departed from what was good, and feel that I will fare no better, if I do not watch and pray.

Deliver us from evil.

Even here still I think of the many temptations around me, and how easy it is to be led astray, and get into wrong paths. At the same time I think of all the ills and woes of life-consumption, old age, chill and fever, phrenzy, and the thousand afflictions to which flesh is heir, and for which there is no human help. And you will find, Andrew, that if the tears did not flow before they will come now, and we can sigh and sorrow so penitently and so tenderly as if all help were gone. But then again we must take courage, and lay our hand upon our mouth, and in triumph say on: For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen!

BROTHER, TAKE MY ARM.

BY THOMAS MACKELLAR.

WHEN grief is heavy on thee,
Or dismal fears alarm,
Then, brother, lean upon me-
My brother, take my arm.

There's many a load of trouble
That taketh two to bear,
Where one would bend quite double
Beneath the heavy care.

If malice, in its rancor,

Has sought thy mortal harm,
My shoulder be thine anchor-
My brother, take my arm.
Though all, in time of trial,
May turn their eyes away,
Nay, brother, no denial,

My arm shall be thy stay.

If grief were mine to-morrow,
A grief that naught could charm,

I'd cry, in all my sorrow,

"O, brother, give thine arm?” Aye! let me feel another

Will weep with me in woe;

A brother, yea, a brother,
May all who sorrow know!

THE COUNTRY BOY IN THE TOWN-SABBATH SCHOOL.

This boy was one of the writer's acquaintances in boyhood's happy days, and is even now, as a man, by no means a stranger to him. What is to be said about him is all veritable fact. He is a native of the Keystone State, and considers it a great mercy of God that he was born a good many years ago, and that in the country. He is by no means averse to all genuine improvements or any degree of progress in the right direction. Nor does he think that all town people are knaves. But he remembers a good many customs which, in his opinion, are ever to be preferred to those that now have taken their place-considers much, that is called progress, grievous deeline; and is of opinion also, that there are more good people in the country than in towns and cities, especially at the present time. The parents of this boy were both members of the church, and as their heart desired to raise good children, they made use of all proper means to accomplish their object. In those days the school house and the church, among the German christians, stood close together, and the schoolmaster needed more than a certificate from the county superintendent; he had to be a consistent professor of the christian religion. In the school, where this boy attended, it was fixed and required usage to open the session in the morning with singing and prayer; close at noon with a hymn; open in the afternoon with prayer, and close in the evening by the same exercises. This was order of each day. As soon as the scholars could read well enough they had to bring their Testaments, and at last their Bibles. From this good book they had to commit, weekly, some passages. The more advanced were required to study the catechism, and thus prepare themselves for catechisation by the minister. These, among other things, seem sufficient ground why it may be considered a mercy of God to have been borne long ago. For these good customs have vanished away.

If, what is generally maintained by those who know by experience, is true, then this boy sustained an irreparable loss in the death of his mother. So young was he yet at this mournful event, that he has but dim recollections of ever having been blessed with a mother. Her early demise changed greatly the course of this family. The farming business was abandoned, and the forsaken father settled down in retirement. The boys, as they grew up, went from home to learn trades. Several of them got into the town of Here we find the boy of our story on a visit to his brother; and it is at this time that the "country boy" gets into the "town sabbath school." It will not seem strange if he should feel strange in these new circumstances. He takes a back-seat and would not dare to stir during the exercises. At last a young man-a good, pious

young man, no doubt-approaches him in all simplicity and kindness, and thus succeeds at once to gain the boy's affection and confidence. Having ascertained, by questioning him, that he was able to read, he produced one of those old-fashioned spelling-books that contained a great many Bible histories, and from this the stranger boy was to say his lesson. The story chosen for this time was about good old Noah and how he was saved in the ark. When the boy had finished reading his lesson the teacher very kindly made the application. "Noah," he said, "was preserved with his family because he did not forget God. He always remembered that God saw him, and tried to please him, and do what he required of him. Thus he also built the ark, when all others around him laughed at him. When the flood came he went into his ark, and when all others perished in the flood, he was saved. Now this God lives yet," he continued, "and he sees us also; and if we think of him, and try to do his will, and avoid all sin, then we need never be afraid. Even in the night, no matter where we are, God is near us, if we are good, and nothing can injure us."

But why make such a long story of a "country boy," the reader may say. Well, this relation of facts, is not half as long as the thousand and one tales and novels, teeming over the land and eagerly read by thousands without containing a line of valuable instruction. We think our story affords data from which very important lessons may be learned.

1. A lesson for boys. Though the Guardian is intended specially for "young men and ladies," it is no doubt also read by many boys and girls. These may learn how to live happy, even in the midst of danger. If they will not only read the story of Noah, but also remember its application, as did the country boy, and try always to think of that great God who preserved his servant Noah, they will certainly avoid much that is sinful, and not suffer half as much from fear, as bad children do. When our boy became afraid of any thing wrong, it also came to his mind and made him sorry, and he was led to ask God to forgive him and resolved to do better afterwards. If any boy or girl learns such a lesson it will be worth more than all the gold of California.

2. Sabbath-school teachers may learn a lesson. In many Sunday-schools the lonely boy would have been permitted to go away without any sort of a lesson. Teachers generally think all is done when they have heard the lessons of their own classes. Few would be led, by the love of Jesus, to approach a stray lamb that might come within their reach. And few also feel sufficient interest to make such applications of what is recited, as would be likely to fix the attention of their pupils on a few wholesome points, and thus sow good seed in hope of raising a good tree. The "country boy," even now, derives comfort from the first lesson of that sabbathschool. Simple as the application was, it resulted in good fruit.

That boy is now a minister of the gospel, and many souls bless God to hear from his lips the good tidings of great joy. What a field of usefulness is open for sabbath-school teachers. Bless the Lord all ye that have this opportunity to sow the imperishable seed of the word. You may lead many lambs into the Saviour's fold if you are only faithful in your important trust.

3. Professors of religion may receive instruction from our story. Noah's God is the God whom they profess to worship. A God of unbounding love; but also a God of most righteous severity. The man that manifested his faith by a strict obedience to God's commandments, by proper works, was approved of God when others perished in great multitudes. By faith Noah, being warned of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith, Heb. 17: 7. The creature's safety is under the shadow of the Almighty. To enjoy this, he must be obeyed. Hypocritical professions will not avail in the day of judgment. If Christians wish to be happy and secure, they must do as the country boy; they must always remember that God sees them. This will cause them to watch over all their ways, and spur them to earnest efforts in doing the will of God. Is it not a lamentable fact, that many professing Christians are not only in the world, but of the world. Though "warned of things not seen as yet" more solemnly and repeatedly than ever Noah was, they are not "moved with fear," and habitually forget that safety is found only in the ways in which God requires us to walk.

What a difference would become manifest in the family, in the church, and in more public places and transactions, if God's nearness were habitually remembered. It is indeed alarming how widespread this popular infidelity has become in the church. A thousand signs of the times evidence that the highest aim of numbers of professors is to pass for Christians in the eyes of their brethren. "I am as good as such and such an one," is no uncommon remark, and this is to pass as evidence that such person is a Christian. But is such ground safe? Your brethren may be as wicked as you, and you may perish together. Are you as good as God requires you to be? This is the safe way of proving our professions. "Men looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." "And," says the Apostle Paul, "They measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."

4. Non-professors may receive warning from this story. God warned not only Noah, but others also, in the days before the flood. Noah was a "preacher of righteousness." God gave a respite of one hundred and twenty years, but sinners were not moved. They were "eating and drinking, and married and were

given in marriage." The things not seen as yet, though foretold, received no serious consideration. The servant of God was all along busy in building the ark. By doing God's will, he prepared for himself and family a place of safety against the day of outpoured wrath. For all this he was laughed to scorn. The world would not believe in God; sinners would not be warned to flee from coming punishment by returning unto the Lord. Time, however, was passing away in its perpetual swiftness. The ark had been finished; the day of probation was over. Those in the ark were saved; all others perished.

Reader, are you out of the church-out of Christ? You are in terrible danger. The day of final account is very nigh indeed. You can surely not forget entirely that you also have to give an account to your Judge in that day? How wise to remember this in time. How unwise to defer it to hours or days of your last sickness-the stroke that shall sever the thread of your life on earth, and usher you into the presence of your maker. Have you not often seen, and often heard of the helplessness of the sick and the dying who lived without Christ? Feeling, in this serious hour, that they must leave all behind; that even their best friends cannot accompany them through the "valley of the shadow of death,' a sense of their forsaken condition renders them unutterably miserable. How much they would do, and how much they would give, if the time of their stay on earth could be lived over again. You have time and opportunity, warning and entreaty; be persuaded, then, to yield your heart to Christ at once; and whenever your end comes it shall be peace.

Boys are admonished by a sensible writer to beware of the following description of company, if they would avoid becoming like those who enter prison for their crimes: 1. Those who ridicule parents or disobey their commands. 2. Those who profane the Sabbath or scoff at religion. 3. Those who use profane or filthy language. 4. Those who are unfaithful, play truant, and waste their time in idleness. 5. Those who are of a quarrelsome temper. 6. Those who are addicted to lying and stealing. 7. Those who take pleasure in torturing animals and insects. 8. Those who loaf around grog-shops and drink whiskey.