laid her down on that feverish couch from which she was never permitted to rise. Another explanation also presents itself: she was such a diligent and appreciative reader, so desirous to educate herself in "whatsoever things are lovely and of good report," that I believe when a golden precept or noble maxim came under her notice, she immediately wrote it down, in order that it might be more safely garnered. With these, also, are to be found petitions as deep and earnest as they are childlike; almost startling, at times, in the strength of their aspirations after holiness, and their confessions of sin and want.

EMMA WALKER was born at Belby, near Howden, September 18th, 1853. I first became acquainted with her in January, 1866, when I was appointed to assist in teaching the Girls' First Bibleclass in the Howden Sunday-school.

This was a most interesting class, and for the position assigned me in it I was scarcely equal. I soon found that I had inquiring minds to instruct, and seeking spirits to lead. With two or three exceptions, all the girls were serious. Some of them were truly converted, and were consistently endeavouring to show those around them that they had put on Christ among these was Emma Walker.

She was naturally of a retiring disposition, and I had little knowledge of her, but what might be drawn by inference from her outward deportment, and gentle, refined manners. When the names in the class-register were called over, Emma was never heard contending for her place. She would rather have resigned it; for, if she did not feel herself above such foolish disputes, she knew that the little handmaid of the Lord "must not strive." Her lessons she frequently prepared beforehand, by a careful study of Wesley's notes. Her mother assures me that she devoted a great part of the Saturday (her weekly holiday) to preparation for the Sabbath-school; and it was a bitter disappointment to her when, because of the weather, or her own delicate health, she was not permitted to attend.

There are some scholars whom teachers never like to miss, whose presence in the

class is an encouragement. I need not hesitate to say that many an afternoon, when overpowered with the heat, or distracted by the high-pitched voices from the other side of the school-room, Emma's face, so full of interest and attention, so anxious for information, has been the means of stimulating me, and putting fresh life and energy into my teaching. Her answers to questions put, showed her intelligence to be beyond her years: there was something remarkable, too, in the seriousness with which they were given. Unless addressed personally, she invariably gave place to others; and that sharpness and flippancy of reply, so characteristic of some scholars, was utterly foreign to her.

Thoughts of another world, of the solemn purposes of life and the need of a Saviour, seem to have engaged her mind from earliest childhood. At ten years of age we find her, from the foot of a secret Sinai, tremblingly looking to Calvary. Deep distress and dark despair, at this time, troubled her; but that there were alternations of hope, and glimmerings of faith, may be gathered from these her first entries in her manuscript :

"Feed me with the bread of heaven." "They that seek the Lord, seek not in vain."

The following verse is supposed to be her own composition. Her friends state that it was written on the same night that she was enabled to venture her soul upon Christ, and received the witness of His Spirit in her heart :

"I can but perish if I go;

I am resolved to try;
For, if I stay away, I know
I shall for ever die."

Blessed be God! in that He put a new song into the mouth of this little child. Her happiness is thus recorded on the next page::-

"My Jesus to know, and feel His blood flow, 'Tis life everlasting, 'tis heaven below.' Again,

"To the cross, Thine altar, bind

Me with the cords of love."

A little Thanksgiving for daily mercies is also worthy of record:

"O Lord God of our salvation, from whom all good things do come, we bless Thee

for the mercies of the past day. Thou daily pourest Thy benefits upon us; Thou givest us all things richly to enjoy, -the blessings of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.'

The sense of reconciliation with an offended Father, of interest in the blood of an atoning Saviour, was not all that the ardent spirit of this child of grace desired. Here are prayers so simple, that I almost fear to insert them, lest they should be amusing to some people; but they are breathings of desire after holiness, longings for the hidden manna, worthy of a mature Christian:

"O Father, my soul is very hungry: I am dying for something to eat: Thou only canst satisfy me. Thou hast said that Thou wilt feed the hungry.-Help me to 'put on the whole armour of God.'-I want a new heart:

'A heart from sin set free;

A heart that always feels Thy blood,

So freely spilt for (sinners such as) me !' "Whosoever drinketh of the waters of this world shall thirst again,-Lord, give me the heavenly waters, that I may not thirst again."

Then follows the parable of the Fig-tree, literally copied, and commented on thus:

"This parable applies to us as well as to the Jews. We are all put into the vineyard of the Lord; and we can do both good and evil. O Lord, help me to do good! I should not like it to be said of me, that I cumber the ground.'

"Remember all the dying pains

That my Redeemer felt;

And let His blood wash out my stains,
And answer for my guilt.

"Christ's dear blood, and righteousness,
Be to me as jewels given;
Crowning me, when I shall pass

Onward through the gates of heaven."

The little MS. closes thus:

"And music fills the balmy air,

again took my seat in my old class; but there were several faces missing.

In February, 1867, Howden was visited by fever. Many fell victims, and among them were Emma and two other Sunday scholars. I trust it may be said that they all died "in the Lord." From Emma's last illness little can be gathered: such a life, however, is testimony sufficient. From the time she sickened, her mind became beclouded; and only once or twice did she show signs of consciousness. In one of these short periods she requested her sister to read to her the third chapter of St. John's Gospel.

A day or two before her death she fixed her eyes on a corner of the room, and said, "I am coming very soon." They were, I believe, the last words she uttered. She died on the 9th of March, 1867, aged thirteen years.

There is much that is lovely and worthy of imitation in the character of this little girl; but how could it be otherwise, when her mind was so early and fully yielded to the influences of the Holy Spirit?

Her religious earnestness sanctified and stimulated desires for excellence in secular pursuits and studies. Though painfully sensitive to reproof, she was most anxious that her faults should be corrected. Some one, aware of the affection the day-school master entertained for her, said, "You must feel very happy in being his pupil!" "Yes," she replied; "but I had rather be under Mr. C." "Would you? Why?" "Because he was so much stricter with me," was the answer. Every one will admit, that to deprecate indulgence is a rare trait in a child.

May her memory be cherished by those girls who walked with her on earth; and be made the means of stimulating and encouraging those of them who are yet undecided, to give their hearts to God.

Is there not in this biography much to impress Sabbath-school teachers with the importance of their work? How different are the minds with which they have to do! The prepared ground, the thorny, and the barren lay before them. Side by side may stand the totally careless, and the penitent seeker; and it is their duty to ascertain the spiritual requirements

of each, and to adapt their instructions accordingly. And "Who is sufficient for these things?”

I believed my little friend to be a follower of Christ, but I was little aware of the sacred hunger and thirst after righteousness which prompted these simple but earnest prayers. Let us not, then, too lightly estimate our Sabbathschool ministry. Before "the Good Shepherd" gave Peter the commission, "Feed my Lambs," He first asked him, "Lovest thou Me?" Let us search well our hearts, and see to it that we also are

able to respond, "Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that I love Thee." Let us beseech Him, in all simplicity, as He suffers "the children," so to "suffer" us. Rather than make haste to teach, let us first learn our lessons at His feet, awaiting there fresh baptisms of love. Let us also be watchful, lest we should in any way negative our teaching, offend one of these little ones, or put a stumblingblock in the way of tender feet feebly endeavouring to tread the narrow path.

Early Life of Gnats.

M. MAURICE GERARD, Vice-President of the French Entomological Society, in his "Métamorphoses des Insectes," says: The gnats which we see playing by myriads over rivers or ponds in the last rays of the departing sun, need only to be closely watched to see the females, one after another, alighting on the surface of some floating body, or even of the water itself, and there laying a long train of eggs, ending in points at both extremities, and gradually growing in bulk towards the middle. This raft of eggs is left to the care of the waves and the genial warmth of the sun; and in the course of two days, curious little larvæ make their appearance, in the shape of minute fish, with a long and transparent body, a big head, and black eyes. They haunt stagnant water, get into watering-casks, and other receptacles of the kind. If the water be stirred, or disturbed in any way, they will fly off in all directions, skipping about with great agility. They have no legs, but short hairy antennæ, with which they row about. The last ring of their body carries a tube, by means of which they breathe. In the course of about three weeks this larva casts its skin three or four times. The dorsal region of the thorax protrudes out of the water; the skin shrivels up and splits open, and through the aperture the larva makes its escape, leaving the old skin floating on the surface. The last metamorphosis is radical,-there is a complete change of form: the thorax is broad, and puffed up with air; the abdomen is bent double, and provided with flaps, which enable the creature to swim about. The nymph, thus transformed, rises to the surface of the water, unfolds its tail, and its thorax then swells, and splits open between the two respiratory horns with

J. S. C. I.

which it is provided. The skin of the nymph now becomes a sort of skiff, in the centre of which we perceive the head of the full-grown gnat, which soon rises up vertically like a mast. The tiny craft turns and turns in the breeze without filling or capsizing. The legs and wings now become unfolded: the former find a footing on the water, and the latter are spread out as sails, to catch the soft breeze, which is to waft the little mariner to the bank; but any violent gust will infallibly consign him to an untimely grave.

"Whosoever" and "Whatsoever."

WHOSOEVER and whatsoever are two precious words often found upon the lips of Christ. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you." "Whosoever," is on the outside of the gate, and lets in all who choose. "Whatsoever," is on the inside, and gives those who enter, the free range of all the region and treasury of grace. "Whosoever," makes salvation free; whatsoever," "makes it full.

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Blind People in London.

THERE are 2,638 blind persons in London, and the institutions do not contain 400 of these. There are at this time the names and addresses of 500 of them on the books of the Home-Teaching Society for the Blind, who are visited, week by week, by means of eight Christian men and women employed to teach them to read, and to supply them with books gratuitously. Most of these are in the depths of depressing poverty.