The Tower of Siloam.

LUKE xiii. 4.

F those eighteen upon whom the Tower of Siloam fell and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? (Fifth verse). I tell you, nay, but except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."

It is supposed that the tower may have been built on the porches of the pool of Siloam, and that the foundation not being strong enough, it gave way, when the tower fell, causing the loss of eighteen lives. Our Saviour took occasion to correct an error held by many Jews that those who suffered by accidents were greater sinners than others.

The friends of Job thought

that his terrible afflictions were on account of sins which he would not acknowledge. But the Lord Jesus teaches a contrary doctrine, namely, that it is in another world, more than in this, that the wicked shall be punished for "the deeds done in the body." Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish. This was fulfilled literally at the destruction of Jerusalem. Priests and others were slain, and their blood mingled with that of the sacrifices they were offering, and on multitudes of people, houses, towers and other buildings fell, causing great destruction. And except we repent, the wrath of God will fall upon us, and then it had been better for us had we never been born. To avoid this let each one of us say with the penitent publican God be merciful unto me a sinner." T.B.

The Children's Party.

HAT shall we do to-morrow?" asked
Helen and Robert, whose few days of

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no school" had already begun to hang heavy on their hands. At first the prospect of a whole week of play was fine; and though they had a nice play-room and an abundance of playthings, besides books, and little duties all about the house, yet I am sorry to say, two ill-looking creatures sometimes crept into the playroom and spoiled all their enjoyment, setting the children snatching, and crying, and striking in a terrible way. They always put a stop to everything pleasant wherever they go, and I wonder they should ever for a moment be harboured anywhere. Perhaps you have seen them. I hope not. Lest they ever should offer to keep company I must mention their names, and warn you, against them. You will know them by their sour faces. They are Discontent and Disagreement. Keep clear of them, children, for they will not let you have a minute's peace or enjoyment.

with

you

But I must go back to Helen and Robert when they asked their mother, "What shall we do to-morrow?" which they did, just after a brush with these two.

"You shall have a little party," said she. That was delightful,

"But I don't want a crowd," said Robert, "like George's birthday party; and I don't want Tom Bates to it, inor Harry Emery, nor—”

"And I don't want Maggie and Jane," added Helen. Oh, I shall choose who are to come," said their mother. They have never all been here together, but they are a delightful set."

“Oh, yes,” cried the children. "Do we know them all?"

"You are not so well acquainted as I wish you were, and as I desire you to be," said their mother. "You must be glad to see them, and be careful not to hurt their feelings, for if you do, I am afraid I shall not be able to persuade them to stay."

Oh, we will, we will,” cried the children heartily; "we'll do our very best."

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'I hope none of them will be quarrelsome," said Robert. They are not," said their mother; "they won't quarrel, you may depend upon that; they aim to make everybody happy."

"I wish they'd come real early," said the children. "One of them, where she is in the habit of going, often comes before people are up in the morning."

"How funny!" and the children laughed heartily.

"Yes," continued their mother, "and she would like nothing better than to come and creep into your beds tomorrow morning the minute your eyes are open."

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'Capital," shouted Robert; "let's see her come. Company into bed with us!"

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No," said Helen, "let's be as smart as company, and get up to receive her."

Of course the children were anxious to know their names, and who the guests were to be. Their mother thought they

Robert drew a pencil from his would do for both. Mother

had best write them down. pocket, and said one pencil thought not, but wished each to have paper and pencil, and carefully write a list of them.

This set the children on a

small business jaunt of much interest, and at length

brought them back to two "All ready," said Robert;

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stools by their mother's side. "now for the names."

Certainly," said their mother, "and you must not speak one word till you have finished."

"Now then," said their mother, "the first is from a

large family, which we cannot stop to specify; so write down, The Little Kindnesses."

Robert and Helen stared at their mother, then at each other. Their faces flushed very red, but not a word was said, and they headed the list with the Little Kindnesses. "Sweet Temper," said she. They wrote that. "Thank"The two bears, Bear and Forbear," said she. "Good Behaviour; True Politeness; and last, though not least, Brotherly Love."

ful Heart."

They wrote that.

All were written. "That is enough to make a pretty good day of it," said their mother. "Each read aloud your list, and let us see if it is all right.”

The children read over their names, and then such a talk followed as I wish you could have heard. But I cannot write it; only the children determined to be as good as their word, and receive and treat their friends accordingly. "Which is the one that comes so early?" asked Helen, looking over her list.

“I should think it most likely to be Thankful Heart,” said Robert, "coming just as quick as we wake, and making us thank God for,

'The goodness and the grace

Which on our births have smiled."

To make a long story short, to-morrow came, bringing the company; and Thankful Heart just as early as the day, who helped to prepare the way for the rest. I wish I could stop to describe the day. It was a very interesting and happy day, however.

When Robert was trying to mend Helen's doll, Misunderstanding peeped in at the door, and winked at Helen; but For-bear was happily on the spot, and beckoned Mis-understanding off; so that what might have brought Hard Words ran into Soft Smiles, and the affair ended in a frolicsome somerset on the carpet.

This is a children's party I am sure

could object to.

no good mother

A Long Race for a Book.

OT many years ago, a Sabbath-school teacher, in a remote district, met a number of children playing by the road-side. He was much interested in their replies to his questions, and, as he left them, he handed to each a tract.

After following a lonely path for nearly two miles, he heard approaching footsteps, and, turning round, found that he had been followed by a little boy, who had run all that distance to beg a tract for his mother.

"Can you read?" asked the teacher.

"No, sir, but my mother can."

"Will you carry these home, and try to remember what is in them, and pray God to make you a good and useful child?"

Yes, sir; and I shall never forget your kindness."

The teacher, after giving his little friend some timely words of counsel, went on, and the boy retraced his steps till he had joined his companions, holding up to their delighted gaze a couple of illustrated tracts, which he said the religious man had given him.

The "good seed sown by a trusting hand brought forth precious fruit. The contents of those simple pages so moved that mother's heart that she earnestly sought the Good Shepherd, and found in him peace and pardon. She now rests from her labours, and her released 'spirit doubtless rejoices in the realms of light; while her son is prepar