the coal-box in his own room; and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part. Wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of strong imagination, he failed.- Chas. Dickens.

LESSON 26.

PAUL'S DEFENCE BEFORE KING AGRIPPA.

THEN Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:

2. I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself, this day, before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews; especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews; wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

3. And now I stand, and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers; unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, King Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.

4. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you that God should raise the dead? I verily thought with myself that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

5. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem; and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received

authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and, being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them, even unto strange cities.

6. Whereupon, as I went to Damascus, with authority and commission from the chief priests, at mid-day, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying, in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord?

7. And he said, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified, by faith that is in me.

8. Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision; but showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.

9. Having, therefore, obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come; that Christ should suffer,

and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people and to the Gentiles. And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said, with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself: much learning doth make thee mad.

10. But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely; for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

11. And Paul said, I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor and Bernice, and they that sat with them. And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar. Bible.

~

LESSON 27.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF SPORT.

BEA

EAR lightly on their foreheads, Time!
Strew roses on their way;

The young in heart, however old,

That prize the present day,

And, wiser than the pompous proud,
Are wise enough to play.

G

2. I love to see a man forget

His blood is growing cold,

And leap, or swim, or gather flowers,
Oblivious of his gold,

And mix with children in their sport,
Nor think that he is old.

3. I love to see the man of care
Take pleasure in a toy,

I love to see him row or ride,
And tread the grass with joy,
Or hunt the flying cricket-ball
As lusty as a boy.

4. All sports that spare the humblest pain,
That neither maim nor kill

That lead us to the quiet field,

Or to the wholesome hill,

Are duties which the pure of heart
Religiously fulfil.

5. Though some may laugh that full-grown men May frolic in the wood,

Like children let adrift from school,-
Not mine that scornful mood;

I honor human happiness,

And deem it gratitude.

6. And, though perchance the Cricketer,
Or Chinaman that flies

His Dragon-kite with boys and girls,
May seem to some unwise,

I see no folly in their play,

But sense that underlies.

7. The road of life is hard enough

Bestrewn with snag and thorn;

I would not mock the simplest joy
That made it less forlorn;

But fill its evening path with flowers
As fresh as those of morn.

8. "T is something, when the moon has passed, To brave the touch of Time,

And say, "Good friend, thou harm'st me not, My soul is in its prime;

Thou canst not chill my warmth of heart;— I carol while I climb."

9. Give us but health, and peace of mind, Whate'er our clime or clan,

We'll take delight in simple things,

Nor deem that sports unman;

And let the proud, who fly no kites,

Despise us if they can!

Chas. Mackay.

LESSON 28.

POOR FARMER JOHN.

LD farmer John is sore perplexed

OLD

Nay, farmer John is really vexed:
He labors early, labors late,
Yet ever talks of adverse fate;
For all his toilings scarce suffice

Of longed-for lands to pay the price.

2. The summers come, the summers go,

The spring showers waste the winter's snow
The while, from dawn till close of day,
Receiving naught but frowns for pay;
His good wife toils; and anxious care
Has faded lip and cheek and hair.