were well and strong, content with the plain food; but then little Meta, her second child, began to grow pale and weak, and the bright spring days, instead of invigorating, found her weaker still, her appetite failing, and often the mother sighed as the child turned away unable to eat the best she could afford.

All the day long now the little invalid lay on her couch downstairs, and it was often with an anxious heart that the mother bade good-bye and kissed her children before starting on her rounds.

One morning as she was leaving them, Meta looked up from her sick couch, and with a longing expression on her pale, wan face, said, "Mother, dear mother, do bring me a bunch of grapes when you come home-just one bunch."

It was a very scarce and dear time for grapes, and the mother knew it might be impossible with hier slender means to procure them, but not having the heart to refuse her little sick one, "I will try, my darling, what I can do," she said, and then left them and went on her way.

Down through the village and across the fields, some of the grander houses were soon reached; in many of them the widow was known, and generally found customers, and so it happened to-day. A grand old castle, standing in the midst of a beautiful park and gardens, was the last place to be called at, and having good success there, it was with a nearly empty basket and a light heart that Widow G--wended her way back through the park.

And now that the business of the day was over, her home again filled her thoughts, and especially her little Meta, and the great desire she had for some grapes; so having sold very well she determined, if possible, to get them for the child. That they had some growing at the castle there was no doubt, so as she walked down the road she looked about in every direction, hoping to see a greenhouse; presently one caught her eye, not far from the path. Gladly she made her way towards it, and saw, as she drew near, that the gardener was there. Stopping a moment, and taking

out her purse, she put into her hand what she thought a large sum and went in.

"Sir," she said, addressing the gardener, "would you please spare me a bunch of grapes ?"

"No," he answered gruffly, "certainly not.”

"I would pay you for them," she continued, holding out the money.

"I tell you we have none to spare,” he replied.

The widow turned sadly away; but remembering how few opportunities she might have of gratifying her child, and imagining the money offered was insufficient, she opened her purse again, and taking out double as much as at first returned to the greenhouse. "I would give you all this, sir, for one bunch," she pleaded, holding out the money.

Without deigning to look at it, he replied haughtily, "Go on, we don't sell grapes here."

It was no use to try again; sorely disappointed she retraced her steps, the tears running down her cheeks, as she walked back through the park. So occupied was she with her own sad thoughts that she had hardly noticed a young and beautiful girl, who with light and joyous steps. was making her way towards the castle. The child stopped as she noticed the woman's tears, and in a gentle, kind voice asked what was the matter. Widow G told her simple tale, and the girl's heart was touched. In an encouraging tone she answered, "Oh, is that all? Come with me." Away she went across the grass, and into the castle, whence she quickly returned with a basket in her hand; then going into the greenhouse she cut one or more of the luxuriant bunches, putting them in the basket, and quickly came back to where the widow was standing. "Here, poor woman," she said, "take these and welcome. You know," she continued, "my father is a prince, and therefore he cannot grow grapes to sell, but he loves to give them to those who need."

Dear friend, our Father in heaven is rich in "wisdom,"

rich in "goodness," "rich in grace," "rich in mercy," rich in " glory," ""rich to all that call upon Him," but He is a King, and therefore He cannot sell, and we cannot purchase; what He has to bestow "He giveth to all men liberally;" "out of His fulness" we receive.

Fellow-sinner, what is your need? Let us search God's rich storehouse of gifts, and yours must indeed be a sad case if we cannot find something to meet it. Is it the hardness of your heart that troubles you? Hear His promise: "A new heart I will give you." "I will give them a heart to know Me," saith the Lord. Is your faith so weak that you scarcely dare to trust? "Faith is the gift of God." Do you fear you will not hold on your way? "He giveth more grace." Are you weary, heavy laden? Hear His gracious words: "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "My peace I give unto you." Do you feel your own weakness?"The God of Israel is He that giveth strength. and power unto His people." Do you want a bright hope to cheer you on your way? Jesus says, "I give eternal life." Are your sins a burden? The Saviour is exalted "to give remission of sins." Is your name here a tarnished one? He promises, "I will give him a new name." But perhaps your trouble is that you do not feel your sin : even then we are told Jesus is exalted to give repentance. And we have also the promise of "the gift of the Holy Ghost" to "convince of sin." Do you fear to pass through death? "He giveth us the victory." And greatest, best of all, "He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." For "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Oh! what a rich supply for a poor, needy sinner. friend, do you fear to take these gifts because you are so unworthy? Suppose the poor widow had hesitated to take the grapes from her benefactor because she was so needy.

My

“My poor woman," the young girl would have replied, “it is because of your poverty and need that I love to bestow." Ah! you cannot be too unworthy for Jesus. He Himself says, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Go and plead with God His promise: "If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him." When He is come He will "convince of sin," "teach you all things," lead to Jesus, and help you to believe that, though "the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

An Enemy's Question.

John xviii. 15-18, 25-27.

s different tests are used by the physician, the chemist, and the jeweller, for the various purposes of their art, to detect the presence of disease, poison, or alloy, so doubtless are the temptations which are permitted to assail us regulated by the skill of the Great Physician and the watchful eye of the Divine Refiner, and exactly adapted to develop the latent weakness and lurking unsuspected disease, or the dross that still prevents the silver from coming "forth a vessel for the finer." They are exactly adapted to test the strength of our resolution, the tenacity of our faith, as Job's trials and temptations revealed a certain spirit of self-justification, but brought out the faith and patience of the most patient of men, and elicited that grand avowal, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." Else why did this temptation befall Peter, and not the beloved disciple? John went in also to see the end-was there no danger to him? Peter thought his love and courage were strong, and equal to any test, or he surely had not ventured into the danger. But he needed to be taught how weak he was, and the lesson was

a very painful one. Let us be careful of blaming him too much while we draw instruction and warning from this sad passage in his history.

We can fancy him listening with a torn heart to the indignities heaped on his Lord, but trying to pass as a stranger and indifferent spectator, warming himself among the servants; possibly by his emotion attracting the attention of those around, though had it not been for the traitor within, even then the shaft had fallen harmless. But beginning with sleeping when desired to watch, he went all unprepared, unarmed, into the thick of the fight, and quailed before the glance and word of a maid; and, giving way to the natural impetuosity of his character, added sin to sin, denying his discipleship-denying all knowledge of his loved Master with oaths and curses! Alas! he was "ashamed of Jesus!" It was bad enough to forsake Him and flee; it was worse to do as Peter did, adding to the pain of the "contradiction of sinners endured on that night" the deep sorrow of wounded love. Alas! have not we failed with far less provocation? have not we been "ashamed of Jesus" with far less cause?

"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man." 1 "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." Peter's fall is a commentary on these words, and bids us take heed to our treading, and pray with intense earnestness, "Hold Thou me up ;" "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." It warns us also to act up to our prayer; nor having prayed, straightway to put ourselves unnecessarily in the place of temptation, trusting to the efficacy of our prayer. "Shall we sin that grace may abound?" But if a temptation lies across our direct path of duty, then we may go boldly on in a strength not our own, trusting that the way of escape shall be provided; for "God will with the temptation make a way of escape, that we may be able to bear it."3

There is comfort, too, for us in this history.

It shows us

31 Cor. x. 13.