hold. A lady had, a year or two ago, a young jackdaw brought her by a boy, from whom she purchased it. By means of his clever and diverting ways, Jack soon became, and still is, a general favourite in the family. He is, too, a much-indulged bird, having the run of the whole house and garden, while at night he occupies a spacious apartment, consisting of a large shed. In summer, the doors and windows being open, he walks in and out just as he pleases. He is extremely fond of paying the breakfast-table a visit, when he will filch from the sugarglass the largest lump he can find. He will also take a sip out of the cream-jug, though he generally takes the opportunity of performing the feat when his mistress is not looking.

One day, Jack, with his keen eye for what is good, saw on the clean table-cloth a glass full of richly-coloured, tempting-looking jam. In his extreme eagerness to taste what it was,

he fairly put his foot into the dainty. The footman happened at this moment to enter the room, and he was at once desired to turn Jack out. Thomas obeyed his mistress's order, and shut the door against

the rebellious favourite. Jack evidently took great offence at the treatment he had received, and he showed that he could sometimes bear malice.

At luncheon time that same day, Jack appeared at the open window, and then unceremoniously hopped in. The lady was at this moment giving some order to Thomas which would oblige him to leave the room. Jack seemed now resolved to avenge, by returning, the insult that had been put upon him. Heat once alighted from the back of the chair on which he had perched himself, - his feathers, wings, loud screeches, and general movement all plainly indicating his hostility; and rushing after the footman, he pecked furiously at his heels, as if he would say, "Now it is Jack's turn to expel Thomas from the room.'

A GRATEFUL FAMILY.

NE Reuben Rouzy, of

Virginia, it is related, owed General Washington about a thousand pounds. While the General was President of the United States, one of his agents brought an action for the money. Judgment was obtained, and execution issued against the

defendant, who was taken to gaol. He had a considerable landed estate; but this kind of property cannot be sold in Virginia for debts, unless at the discretion of the person who owns it. He had a large family; and, for the sake of his children, preferred lying in gaol to selling his land. A friend hinted to him that probably General Washington did not know anything of the proceeding, and that it might be well to send him a petition, with a statement of the circumstances. He did so, and the very next post from Philadelphia, after the arrival of his petition in that city, brought him an order for his immediate release, together with a full discharge, and a severe reprimand to the agent for having acted in such a manner. Poor Rouzy was, in consequence, restored to his family, who never laid down their heads at night without offering prayers to Heaven for their "beloved Washington."

Providence smiled upon the labours of the grateful family, and in a few years Rouzy enjoyed the great pleasure of being able to lay the thousand pounds, with the interest, at the feet of this truly great man. Washington reminded him that

the debt was discharged. Rouzy replied that the debt of his family to the father of their country, and preserver of himself, could never be discharged; and the General, to avoid the pressing importunity of the grateful Virginian, who would not be denied, accepted the money, only, however, to divide it among Rouzy's children, which he immediately did.

THE GOLDEN RULE
APPLIED.

RICH man made his
will, leaving all he had to

a company of his fellowcitizens to dispose of, but reserving to his rightful heir "such a portion as pleaseth them.” The heir having sued the company for his share of the property, the judge inquired whether they wished to carry out the will of the testator; and, if so, what provision they proposed making for the heir. "He shall have a tenth part," said they, "and we will retain for ourselves the other nine." "Take, then," said the judge, "the tenth part to yourselves, and leave the rest to the heir; for by the will he is to have what part pleaseth you."

YOUTHFUL BIOGRAPHY.

JULIA ALLEN HAY.

NE of the little readers of "Early Days not long ago passed away to her home in heaven, after giving clear evidence that she was a child of God, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

JULIA ALLEN HAY was born on the 6th of June, 1863, and was baptized by her grandfather. Through the whole period of early infancy she suffered from frequent attacks of illness which brought her to the borders of the grave; and but for superior medical skill, and the unwearied care of her mother, her life could not have been preserved so long as it was. From her fifth birthday, however, she gradually gained strength, and her general health ceased to be a source of anxiety. It was confidently hoped that the frail child might be reared to

womanhood.

When about six years of age, she was taken by her father to the laying of the foundationstone of a Wesleyan chapel belonging to a neighbouring village, when she had the pleasure of placing a brick in the building of the house of

God in which she afterwards worshipped. Probably this was one reason why she ever afterwards felt attached to that village and chapel, and regretted the removal of the family to a distance. About two years before her death, some of the children of the family sometimes held what they called prayer-meetings; and on one occasion it was remarked that little Julia ought not to attend, as she had not shown any wish to meet with the rest, nor had expressed her feelings at all on religious subjects. The writer of this sketch well remembers the scene that followed, when she was told of this. She threw off her usual reserve, and begged to be allowed to be present, as well as to join in prayer. She even wept when she spoke of her desire to seek the forgiveness of her sins.

her studies were her constant delight. Her little fingers swept the keys of the pianoforte with surprising grace.

Some months before her death, a little visitor asked her how long she thought she should live. The reply was, that she did not think she should live "until she was ten." No importance was attached to the words at the time; but the remark, taken with other circumstances, seems to show that she had been preparing for the event which has now taken place.

As the Christmas of 1872 drew near, she was full of eager hope to see some absent members of the family, especially a dear uncle, to whom she was most tenderly attached. Various little ornaments were carefully preserved until the Christmas-tree, a much larger one than usual, was put up. All the little folks at her home seemed, with her, to hail the good old Christmastime with greater joy than ever. The season was prolonged, and happy to them all. But, alas ! before the decorations she had rejoiced to prepare were taken down, the merriest amongst the family group, the one who had taken the liveliest interest in the greetings and rejoicings, was

not; for God had taken her. When the New Year was ushered in, the flower began to droop. For a few days a cold only was observed, with sorethroat, -an ailment to which she had been subject. When the symptoms grew worse, medical advice was sought, but no immediate danger was suspected. The pain, however, increased, and her delicate frame was rapidly weakened. On the Wednesday before her death she was downstairs, at dinner and tea, and was anxious to remain later than usual. So the sofa was drawn near the fire, and the invalid laid on it, well wrapped up, until sleep and weakness overcame her. She was then carried to bed, to be undressed for the last time.

Days and nights of much suffering and languor followed but the little one's patience wa remarkable. Once, when he mother spoke of her sorrow 01 account of her suffering so much she quickly replied,—

"My Father's hand prepares the cup

And what He wills is best."

This opened the way for furthe conversation about her state mind; which was a source thankfulness and joy. Wh she said conveyed memorabl