Truthfulness.

WO country lads came at an early hour to a market town, and, arranging their

little stands, sat down to wait for customers. One was furnished with fruits and vegetables of the boy's own raising, and the other supplied with clams and fish. The market hours passed along, and each little merchant saw with pleasure his store steadily decreasing, and an equivalent in silver bits shining in his little money-cup. The last melon lay on Harry's stand, when a gentleman came by, and placing his hand upon it, said: "What a fine, large melon! What do you ask for it, my boy ?"

"The melon is the last I have, sir; and though it looks very fair, there is an unsound spot in it," said the boy, turning it over.

"So there is," said the man; "I think I will not take it. But," he added, looking into the boy's fine open countenance, "is it very businesslike to point out the defects of your fruit to customers ? "

"It is better than being dishonest, sir," said the boy, modestly.

"You are right, little fellow; always remember that principle, and you will find favour with God, and man also; I shall remember your little stand in future. Are those clams fresh ?" he continued, turning to Ben Wilson's stand.

"Yes, sir; fresh this morning. I caught them myself," was the reply, and a purchase being made, the gentleman went away.

Harry, what a fool you were to show the gentleman that spot in the melon! Now you can take it home for your pains, or throw it away. How much wiser is he about those clams I caught yesterday? Sold them for the same price as I did the fresh ones. He would never have looked at the melon until he had gone away."

"Ben, I would not tell a lie, or act one either, for twice what I have earned this morning. Besides, I shall be better off in the end,

for I have gained a customer, and you have lost one."

And so it proved, for the next day the gentleman bought nearly all his fruits and vegetables of Harry, but never spent another penny at the stand of his neighbour. Thus the season passed; the gentleman, finding he could always get a good article of Harry, constantly patronized him, and sometimes talked with him a few minutes about his future prospects. To become a merchant was Harry's great ambition, and when winter came on, the gentleman wanting a trusty boy for his warehouse, decided on giving the place to Harry. Steadily and surely he advanced in the confidence of his employer, until, having passed through various posts of service, he became at length an honoured partner in the firm.

Honesty the Best Policy.

RS. MORTON was a widow woman who had an only son, named Abel. They lived in a small hut in the outskirts of

the village, and were very poor. Abel had never learned a trade, but he was an honest, industrious boy. He loved his mother very much, and was always ready to work for her when he could get any work to do. One winter his mother had been very sick, and, as he had been obliged to stay at home and nurse her, he had not been able to work much, and they were very much in want of clothing, and food, and fuel, and everything.

One afternoon Abel went into the village to see if he could get some work and earn a little money. He went from one house to another all through the village, but could get nothing to do. Snow began to fall, and soon the ground was white all over.

He stooped to pick it up, and found it was a small silk purse. It was quite heavy. He shook it, and the clear jingle that it made told him it was filled, not with copper, but with silver!

The poor fellow did not stop to open it, for night was coming on, and he knew his mother would be anxious about him. As soon as he entered the cottage, he drew the purse from his pocket, and threw it on the table near his mother.

"What is that?" she asked, as she heard the rattle of the money.

"A purse, mother. I found it on the road, just at the corner of our lane.”

A candle was lighted. The purse was emptied. It was found to contain twenty silver coins.

"I wonder," said Abel, "if we can find who lost it ?"

"Isn't there some name on the purse?" asked Mrs. Morton.

Abel looked on the inside of the clasp, which was lined with red morocco, and there he saw the name "John Thompson."

Mr. Thompson was one of the richest men in that neighbourhood. He owned a large farm; kept a great number of cows, and supplied the village and neighbourhood with milk and vegetables.

"Ah! how easily Mr. Thompson could spare this," said Abel. "It wouldn't be any loss to him; and we need it so much!"

"That's true," said his mother; "it wouldn't be any loss to him; but it would be a great loss to us if we should keep it." "How so, mother?'

Why, don't you see, we should lose our honesty and honour. That is worse than losing money. The next time you met Mr. Thompson you would be afraid to look him in the face. There would be a blot upon your character, and a thorn in your pillow at night that would disturb your rest. Surely you wouldn't be willing to keep it, Abel ?”

"No, mother; I would't keep it for anything."

Early the next morning, Abel hastened over to Mr. Thompson's house, and gave him the purse.

He seemed pleased to receive it. He asked Abel if he could write and cipher; and finding he could do both very well, he told him he wanted an honest person who could write and keep accounts, to go to market, and sell things for him. "I am willing to employ you, and to give you good wages."

Abel burst into tears. He couldn't speak. He only pressed Mr. Thompson's hand. Then he flew home to tell his mother the good news. And when he got through, he said,—

"O mother! only think-if I had kept the money."

Surely he found it true that "honesty is the best policy."

lho on the Prize? Won

H, Rose, I hope-I think you will get the prize."

"0"

"I don't know, Alice, I wish I may; but Susan Foster is older than I am, you know."

"Yes, but she is not so steady, nor so regular as you are, and her class is not so well taught as yours."

"Well, to-morrow will soon be here," said Rose, with a half sigh.

And to-morrow, as Rose said, soon came, the long thought of to-morrow, when the prizes were to be given. All the girls in the school whose conduct deserved it had a reward of some kind; but there was one prize-"the prize" it was called, intended for the best scholar, which Rose was especially anxious to get. She had set her mind upon having it, not so much for her own sake, as for her sister's, for Alice had often expressed her earnest wish that Rose might be the successful one this year. And if Rose failed this time-well, could she not try the next? Ah, but then, Alice, dear, loving, warm-hearted little Alice might perhaps not be there to share in her sister's joy. For Alice had been in bad health for a long time; she was slowly wasting

away; and the doctor hadn't any hope that she would ever be well again. And Alice knew this, but it did not make her sad, for she loved the Saviour, and was ready to go and dwell with Him.

It was a fine sunny morning; the birds sang merrily; and many a little heart beat high as the school children assembled in the parsonage grounds. There they were to have their merry games and their nice feast, and there the prizes were to be distributed by Miss Selwyn, the minister's sister. Mr. Selwyn was there, ready with his kind speeches, and encouraging remarks; and Miss Dora Selwyn, who had been long absent was there also, besides other visitors.

And did Rose gain the prize? Of course she did, and very happy she felt, although she looked very quiet and blushed a good deal as she received from Miss Selwyn a handsome rosewood work-box, nicely furnished for use. If any one felt more pleased than herself, it was her dear little sister, who was seated on a low chair a few yards distant. You may be sure that so soon as Rose was at liberty, she ran eagerly to Alice with her new treasure. Oh, how bright Alice looked as she held it in her hands!

The other girls crowded round, that they, too, might see it; and as Alice was thus left to herself for a minute, some one said to her,

"And wouldn't you like to have got a prize as well as your sister ?"

It was Miss Dora, who had been watching the two sisters, and heard what had passed between them.

Alice looked up with a pleasant smile at the young lady, and replied with touching calmness, "No, Miss, for I should never want to use it! I don't think I shall live very much longer. But then," and her little face brightened considerably, "I shall have a better prize than Rose's!-'a crown of glory.' Oh, that will be beautiful, won't it ?”

Happy little Alice, pale and drooping as she looked, there was not a happier child that day in those pretty gardens! And Rose was pleased,

partly because she had gained the prize, and partly because Alice was pleased. Sweet little sisters, they loved each other tenderly, and they have not been separated!

"What! did Rose die too ?" No, dear reader, but Alice has lived. It pleased God, that contrary to everybody's expectations, she should get better; and now, the two loving sisters are helpers to each other in their daily duties and pleasures; and are together "pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Puzzles

THE answer to the first Puzzle in the number for June was,-"All is not gold that glitters."

The answer to the second was,-"Eight cats."

The following have answered both correctly, -L. Elstob, P. W. Thompson, T. Winton, Geo. Crossley, M. A. Ormerod, E. Lister, J. Lloyd Roberts, A. H. Low, Mary Hoyle, W. E. Beckett, W. S. Gibson, Annie Burley, Annie Ellis, W. H. Roberts, J. T. Law, S. Diggle, A. J. Gibbs, Ruth Ashby, R. W. Linton, E. Hamblin, M. H. Wild, Emily Wild, A. Pickering, Annie Ormerod, D. T. Scott, T. E. Scott, A. Soothill, R. Wood, J. G. Davies, J. Ware, J. Cheetham, T. Taylor, J. Greenwood, R. Wyld, S. J. Watson, E. R. Arthurton, F. E. Chester, W. Shelley, Mary Hainsworth, Annie Townend, M. L. Rayner, T. E. Wakefield, Mary Lord, J. Lord, W. Lord, F. A. Carver, Alice Ashby, Florence Sharpley, A. Thackray, H. Lewis, C. S. Butterworth, T. E. Williams, J. W. Curra, J. Forward, J. Brown, J. K. Woolstenholme, M. Sellars, T. Smith, T. F. Moorhouse, W. Hardman, M. E. Butterworth, G. H. Andrews, Elizabeth Gowland, C. Taylor, R. Fletcher, H. A. Miell, P. Forder, E. A. Underwood, E. Henderson.

The following have answered one correctly,H. Lloyd Snape, E. E. Moulds, H. Horrox, A. Derry, Mary Ward, Henry Ostler, A. M. Cozens-Hardy, J. H. Tattersall, H. W. Strong, L. K. Dawkins, G. H. Mc Callum, T. Hampson, T. Baxter, J. T. Tidswell, H. Davey, E. E. Clarke, H. M. Foster, J. W. Worth, W. Crozier, W. H. Whitworth, M. Lang, L. Oldfield, K. Hoggarth, M. S. Whipp, M. J. Davies, R. J. Wakefield, E. Rebentish, F. Hedley, E. J. Belsten, W. Muncaster, Ada Hollely, W. Damels, R. Moore, J. Taylor, A. Cox, A. Barker, J. S. Seaton, Willis Briggs, P. Charlesworth, R. Lancaster, F. Proud, A. L. Forward, M. J. Cornthwaite, A. H. Olds, R. W. Mitchinson, A. Halmshaw, T. Mc Underhey, W. H. Brock, W. Bowell, W. Newbold, T. Murdin, M. A. Dixon, T. Stothard, F. H. Leech, W. J. Bennett, S. J. Gray, W. Rushworth, A. Rushworth, W. A. Rushworth.

As we expect to be away from home the early part of August, we have omitted the puzzles for this month. Upwards of 120 names are given above, and about an equal number sent answers that were not correct. It would not be quite convenient, for the postman to leave us 250 letters while we are absent, we have therefore decided to allow our young friends a month's rest.

Communications for the Editor to be addressed Mr. M. MILLER, 4, Mountfort Crescent,

Barnsbury Square, London N.

London:-T. BARLOW,

119, Salisbury Square, Fleet Street.

J. H. ADAMS, Printer, 7, Wilderness Row.E.C.