goods placed of necessity in the general warehouse might, if they would, insure themselves against ultimate loss through fire by estimating the value of such goods and paying fire insurance accordingly. But " some of them thought the whole place so safe," said the fireman, "they didn't insure for a single farthing;" and so when the fire broke out they lost all. We too may, if we will, so insure the earthly possessions bestowed on us-talents, health, influence, friendship, substance-as to lose nothing "when the earth and the works that are therein shall be burnt up." If, realizing that "time and chance happeneth to them all," that "all that is of the world passeth away," we value these gifts of time for His sake who gave them, and use them in His service and for His glory, we are fully insured against that day of destruction: we are by their means growing "rich towards God;" "laying up in store a good foundation;" "a treasure in the heavens that faileth not."

Such insurance may often cost a present sacrifice; present wishes, self-gratification, must often be laid aside. Between seed-time and harvest may pass many a long, dark winter-day to him who thus sows to the Spirit to reap of the Spirit everlasting life. To all outward appearance, a very saving or losing of life may be involved. Heart and flesh failing, we may be tempted to cry, "It is vain to serve God! What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance? Where is the God of judgment ?" But the Lord knoweth them that fear Him, and before Him the book of remembrance is written. The reaping-time will surely come; the manifold more" be given. "Now in this present time" we shall know that our insurance in God's promises was worth all it cost us; and when "the heaven and earth that now are shall be dissolved in fire," the Lord in whom we have trusted shall open to us His good treasure, and we shall wonder at the "many things" bestowed on us in reward for the "few things" in which we have been faithful; and our endless song of praise will be, "Oh how plentiful is Thy goodness which Thou hast laid up for them that

fear Thee; and that Thou hast prepared for them that put their trust in Thee before the sons of men." "We went

through fire and through water, but Thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place."

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That Ugly Box!

ATHER, do just step in and see what ails our little maid here's she been a-fretting, and ever so restless since I put her to bed; and general, she'm asleep afore I've time to undress baby. I feel fidgety-like, because, whilst I was seeing the 'tatoes weighed up at the door, she ran down to Sally Smith's, where they'm all down in the measles. I minds it, now I see her so feverish." 66 Father," or, more properly speaking, husband, went at once to the crib that held his little girl. The tread of his boot, which had not formerly disturbed the child, made her start. She then sat bolt upright, and commenced kneading her small fists into her eyelids, preparatory to an outburst of tears. But "father's" strong arm was immediately thrown round the little trembling frame, whilst "father's" kind voice asked softly

So Polly did not cry-she did something far wiser; she whispered her trouble into the ear bent so lovingly downquite down within reach of her lisping lips. She seemed to

gain both strength and comfort as she pressed her whole weight against the arm that held her, and laid her flushed cheek on the bosom whose inly throbs seemed to beat time to a sweet tale of love-fatherly love!

Ah, dear reader, should we not all be happier and wiser men and women, if, instead of fretting over our troubles, we poured them out, as we are invited to do, into the ear of our Heavenly Father, as simply and trustingly as little Polly poured out her childish grievances to her earthly parent? Happier? Yes, infinitely happier! For at any rate we should

lose half the trouble by dividing it, by sharing it with One willing to take our burden to Himself. Wiser? Ay, infinitely wiser! because-(now listen, dear reader, to the because; give me your full attention; for the secret I am going to tell you is worth knowing). We should be wiser in casting our cares upon the Lord,' because He will not only take half the sorrow away, but all! Our gracious Heavenly Father knows nothing of half measures. As He is all in all in Himself, so whatsoever He does for us is also "all in all." All our cares, sorrows, troubles, sins forgiven, relieved, healed, and removed, or none. One sin remaining would sink the soul to hell; one trouble unrelieved would render life unhappy; one sorrow passed over by the healing touch of Divine love would cloud life's enjoyment; one care recast on us would weigh down in gloom that soul which should ever be tuneful in praise of the holy and loving God, and ever soaring, like the lark, on the wings of trustful joy.

will

But in my anxiety to remind you of this subject-the tender sympathy and care of the Lord for us in all things— I have forgotten little Polly and her sorrow. If you listen to what father said when he returned to his wife, after having soothed his little girl to sleep, you will understand the cause of her alarm, and all but tears. I must, however, first tell you that when "father" had sufficiently quieted the small, quivering limbs and heaving chest to enable the child to speak without fear of sobs, instead of speech, he gathered that her fright was all about a box! She began about a box, went on about a box, and finally summedup by flinging her arms around his neck, and exclaiming, in earnest tones,

"Say, no, father; say, no, that ugly box shall never come to take away my Polly! say no, father, and then I know it won't!" Now although father had not heard her talk of this box before, he guessed what she meant, and said seriously-(for, as he feared God, he of course also feared to 2 Eph. i. 23.

1 1 Peter v. 7.

tell a lie, though by telling it he should comfort his dearly loved daughter)-he therefore only said,

"Father can't say no to that, Polly, because God fixes the time when that 'ugly box' shall come or be sent for us; but father will promise his own darling Polly this—that he will ask God to keep away that ugly box for many years, so that Polly may have time to grow into a useful woman, and serve the dear Saviour who has done so much for her. And father will also pray that if the ugly box should be sent whilst she is a child she may be ready to go; ready to be shut down in it, without fear, trusting in that Redeemer who shed His precious blood for the little ones as much as for the elder ones-for the lambs as well as for the sheep." Having thus soothed his dear Polly to rest, he went back to his anxious wife, and the remark before alluded to fell from his lips.

"Why, wifie dear, what is all this our Polly keeps on about, A box-an ugly box?' The poor child seems half astray about this box."

66

Oh, Richard, I am vexed beyond measure! The dear little Tottie saw Elizabeth Manley's coffin carried in ! and at first she shouted and laughed at the ugly box, until one of the bearers turned and said, 'That 'ere is a box that will come to bear you away one day to the cold ground-so don't you make merry on it! Yes-'twill come sure enough!' The poor child looked terrified, and ran in to me; and I felt obliged to explain to her, Richard, how that death has passed on all of us, and all about the coffin, for she'd have fretted more without knowing. Besides, I felt the Lord had sent me an opportunity of telling the dear babe about her soul. Then she watched for the funeral day, and when she saw the coffin brought out of doors, with her playmate screwed down in it, she cried as though her little heart would break, and then ran in and hid her face in my lap, exclaiming (oh, so sad, Dick, it was to hear!)-'Mother, it won't come for me—say, no! Then she cried out, 'I'll ask father to say "no," then it can't come. I couldn't be shut

down in that ugly box, just to be put in the dark "pitty hole." Then she seemed so excited-like, I talked to her, and hugged her, and prayed with her, and at last put her to bed, hoping she might go to sleep; but

Here another cry and restless movement made both parents hasten to the crib, and try to soothe the little girl, but to no purpose-the night passed in watching; and as morning dawned Polly looked brightly up, and said—

Father and mother both repeated the text, Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not." Then turning her little head, she said, "Ugly box may come now! It can't shut up 'Suffer.

Evening shed its shadows on that cottage, and the ugly box was silently brought up the court; but as the little redeemed one lay in it, in the calm repose of blessed death, the parents thought the "box" of infantile dread transformed into a couch of glory.

This, dear reader, is all I have to tell you of the story of the ugly box, but I have a question or two to ask.

This ugly box must come for you—are you prepared to lie, or rather to be laid down in it?

you

It may come very soon―are you ready to meet that soonness? Every one expects to die by-and-by, but there may be no by-and-bys in your case; the coffin that is to bear to the grave may even now be ready in the nearest undertaker's yard-are you as prepared to fill it as it is to receive you? These are thoughts that will not bear putting off; for although your physical health may be sound enough to satisfy an assurance company, there are accidents that make as great an inroad on undertakers' stores as the diseases to which human life is subject. Whoever you are, wheresoever you are, the "ugly box" must come for you. If God, in His forbearing mercy, cries, "Let it alone for this year also," yet the year, the month, the week, the day, the hour, must