was lifted up, that whosoever beheld it might be healed, and live; and Christ was crucified, and preached to mankind in the Gospel, that whosoever "believeth in him might not perish, but have everlasting life." (John iii. 16.) D.S.

CHANGING THE STYLE.

THE year did not always begin on the first of January, but was considered as commencing on the twenty-fifth of March. This being the cause of great inconvenience, (especially in carrying on a correspondence with foreigners,) was remedied in this country by an Act of Parliament, passed in 1752, by which it was enacted, that the first of January should be reckoned as the first day of the year, and eleven days in that year succeeding the second of September (what would have been the third being called the fourteenth) were thrown

out.

The "old style" still prevails in Muscovy, Denmark, Holstein, Hamburgh, Utrecht, Guilders, East Friesland, Geneva, and in all the Protestant principalities in Germany, and cantons of Switzerland.

The "new style" is used in all the dominions subject to Great Britain, in America, in Amsterdam, in Rotterdam, Leyden, Haerlem, Middleburgh, Ghent, Brussels, Brabant, and in other places in the Netherlands; also in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Hungary, Poland, and in all the Popish principalities of Germany, and cantons of Switzerland.

To expose the clamours which are too often idly raised against the laws, that clever painter, Hogarth, alluded to the change in the style, very happily, in one of his election pictures: on a flag is written, "Give us our eleven days;" as if every individual had been actually robbed, by an Act of Parliament, of a portion of his life.

BE KIND TO THE POOR.

DEAR CHILDren,

DID you ever, when you visited the poor, consider how much less their responsibility was than yours, how patiently they endured distress, how thankful they were for trifling gratuities, and how charitable they were towards each other when afflicted? The following were the impressions made on my mind, the first season that my sister allowed me to accompany her in her visits of mercy, which were always esteemed by us as recreations, and especial honours; and this time it was to a poor Christian widow, who, with her little son, lived in an obscure street, in an upper room, at the end of a dark staircase; but, to my surprise, we had a most radiant welcome, which made us all feel quite happy, for although the room was perfectly clean, it was very, very poor, without fire, or chairs; and the good woman was sewing at the hardest, worst-requited work. Yet she could in

everything give thanks, which shone in her courteous reception; giving, at the same time, a useful lesson to all ill-behaved, awkward little ladies.

In my sister's address there was no show of condescension, as she entered the little apartment quite as respectfully as she would have done into any withdrawing-room. There was much to be learned in this scene, notwithstanding that which has been related concerning me was so true; it taught me never to look down with fancied superiority upon any one, and also instructed me in the truth, that the mind is its own place, and that it is possible, not only to be happy, but to be wise and grateful, with very little of this world's good, and in circumstances of destitution and suffering. The delight which the little child evinced, when my sister desired me to divide with him some fruit, which had just before been given to me, caused me to reflect with much self-reproach on my unthankfulness for the frequent indulgences which I received.

It has been truly said, that education is not a mere relation of facts, cleverly communicated, but it consists in continually training and biasing a mind.

The sympathy with which my instructress listened to the tale of sorrow, told me that we could not appreciate the feeling of others in affliction, unless we had learned to suffer; and reminded me of One who was made in all things like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful HighPriest.

Thus we see in how many instances friendly intercourse with the poor, may be conducive to our best interests, forasmuch as the tendering assistance

to them for the sake of Christ, will be the criterion by which our character will be judged at last; so our heavenly Father has made the duty to be an important auxiliary to our growth in grace, as he wisely ordained, and mercifully intends, as much to save us by means, as to save us at all.

H. F. E. A.

THE HINDOO SCHOLAR.

How happy is the condition of little girls in a Christian land, compared with their state among the Heathen! The laws of the Hindoos declare, that it is not proper for females to learn to read; and they are mostly left to grow up in ignorance. When a Missionary offered to begin a school for the young in a Hindoo village, some of the people said he might open one for the boys. He then told them he was willing to commence one for girls also; when a native replied, "What have we to do for them? Let them remain as they are." The Missionary said, that they had souls as well as men, and must be saved or lost for ever. The Hindoo added, "They do not know how to go to heaven: let them go to hell."

But since this shocking reply was made, many schools for females have been raised in India, and God has richly blessed the labours of the Christian Teachers. Many pleasing accounts of the piety of Hindoo girls have been, sent to us, and one of them will now be given.

Pannachi was a lively little girl, with a smiling

face, and of simple manners. As her father had given up his idols, he brought her to a school to be taught. She was very diligent, and got on nicely in her learning. She took great delight in reading, and sometimes went to the Missionary's house, and standing at his study-door, would make a courtesy, and with a pleasing smile on her face, used to say, "Good morning, Sir;" which was almost all she knew in English. To encourage the little learner, he would lend her the Bible, or some other book, which she might take with her to read.

It was the practice of the Missionary to have morning prayer with the school-girls, to whom he explained, in a simple way, a few verses of the Scriptures. The girls who could read took their books with them, and questions were asked, to see if they understood what had been told them. Little Pannachi did not trifle and play, as many English girls do when the Bible is read; but she looked at the Missionary, and tried to make out what he was reading, so that she was able to answer the questions better than any other girl in the school.

When the evening came, she was always glad to join in the prayers that were offered, and to hear the Scriptures again expounded.

One or two of the girls had to stay in the schoolroom, to take care of it, while the rest went to join in family prayer; but Pannachi, when it was her turn to stop behind, used to beg very hard, that she also might be allowed to go. She said she did not like to lose any part of her instruction.