Christ, may be sent among them, and will do all in your power, my dear children, to promote it.'

'I should like very much to be a missionary, aunt.'

I think, my dear Charles, you do not know at present, whether you would like it or not; the person who knows the value of an immortal soul, and has fled to Christ as his Saviour, can alone be fit for a missionary :he must also have much knowledge, zeal, and prudence; with a degree of firmness, and willingness to bear every difficulty and hardship. It is not for pleasure or self-indulgence any man goes out as a missionary, but to carry the knowledge of salvation to perishing sinners, and to bring glory to God. Like the angels who appeared to the Shepherds, the gospel he declares, brings "Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will towards men."

A tap was heard at the door, Mary went to see who knocked, she found Susan Benson with some plants tied up in grass, and small trowel in her

hand.

6

Susan said

My mother sent me, Miss, with some of the carnation plants, if you would be so kind as to put them into your garden. I have brought this trowel to set them, and I have a barrow of mould, such as I found good for them in mother's garden, and if you will allow me, I will plant them for you.'

Mrs. Stewart heard what Susan said ; she thanked her for her kindness, and allowed all the young people to go and see the carnations planted, sayingTo-morrow, my dears, I hope we shall continue our Geography.'

She then gave Mary some pretty printed calico, to make Susan a frock, and the little girl received it with much gratitude.

CONVERSATION XXXIII.

GEOGRAPHY.

NEXT day, at an earlier hour than usual, the children were ready for their Geography lesson.

Mamma, said Mary, you told us yesterday, that the heathens in Hindoostan, worshipped the River Ganges. If you please, will you tell me how they could worship water.'

'The ignorance of those who do not know the true God, is so great, my love, that they have been found to worship every imaginable folly, even a bundle of straw, or a little crawling insect, such is the foolishness of man without God.'

'I I think, aunt, the river Ganges must be a very grand object; it appears

to flow through a large space of country, and is surely a great comfort, and very useful in the warm climate of Hindoostan.'

It is the largest river in this part of Asia, my dear; it flows into the sea, in union with the Burrampooter; you may observe it at the top of the bay of Bengal, in the Indian ocean; there are several small Islands at the mouth of these two rivers, which are called the Sunderbunds, they are overgrown with many trees and shrubs. Tigers, and other beasts of prey live in them, concealed among the bushes.'

And if any one went near where the tigers live, I suppose, mamma, they would be torn to pieces.'

Yes, my dear; tigers are very ravenous and cruel, they kill, even when they are not hungry; after your Geography lesson, if you remind me, I shall tell you something about the tiger; we must now turn to the map.

We spoke yesterday of the river Ganges, look on the map; you see, at one part of its course, it is very distant from the Burrampooter, though they meet near the sea, and their sources are not far from each other; the Hindoos so venerate this river, that they think themselves happy if they can visit it at least once a year; and they have a cruel custom of laying old, or dying persons, near its banks, that the water may cover them.'

'O, mamma,' said Lucy, would not they be drowned ? '

6

Yes, my love; it is for that purpose they are placed there; the young people get tired of the old; their superstition and wickedness, therefore, both unite to make them lay their poor old relations on the banks of the river.'

"O the cruel, cruel, young people! I am glad, mamma, that you and dear papa do not live in that country, for if you grew old there, they would kill