Joy is not far from the heart of every man-I mean, such joy as the conditions of his present life render possible. We cannot ignore facts. Here are sin, suffering, sorrow, shame, wrong, cruelty, treachery, death. We cannot shut these out! We cannot keep an angel, with flaming sword, about any Eden of our own habitation, and say, "Enter ye not!" We might, indeed, manage for a season to forget these things: but to forget them, is not for them to forget us. There are (and must be) days of darkness for all. But there is possible to us a joy amid all conditions, and this is Christian joy. We have seen the picture of a Blindfold Justice; I wonder that there never has been one painted of a Blindfold Joy-a worldly man seeking for gladness away from God. Christian joy is open-visaged; sees all life's conditions, and meets them with a smile: catches the inspiration of the voice which says, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Envy the wicked?-No! When I can look into the Bible and see my Father's face; go into the world and hear my Father's voice; enter within the secret chamber of my own heart, and find there the pavilion of a reconciled God and Father, I need envy none. The Saviour has not disappointed his disciples, or falsified his promise, "that ye might have my joy fulfilled in yourselves." Yes, and thus it is; the experience of a thousand generations of saints has attested it. "Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." Where humility and the fear of the Lord are, there is happiness indeed. We may mourn over the fact that so few Christians attain the high ideal of Christian joy; but what would that religion avail us, which had not its ideal ever beyond us? Think how kind God is, thus to bring real joy within the reach of all! If happiness depended on estate, how poor the great world of hearts must ever be! But the priceless blessings of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost are within the reach of all who seek them in a spirit of sincere faith. There are wealthy men whose carriages dash by us and whose broad acres spread before us, who have all the cares and none of the comforts of the humblest; and there are proud damsels in the world of fashion who sweep by with dainty tread and costly apparel, whose lot no peasant's barefoot daughter in the Highlands need envy as she goes across the bonny heather. I scarcely ever knew a devout Christian man, however poor, who did not feel that the pearl of price in his heart outweighed all other treasures. Let not thine heart envy sinners. But if envy be legitimate at all in the sphere of human life, envy rather the restful peace, the cheerful hope, and the consecrated life of a Christian man. The heart, as we have seen, is the seat and centre of the danger. Long before the steps go astray the heart goes wrong. In cases of moral defection men's thoughts antedate their fall. Our Lord says, 66 'Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries." Let us remember how often the heart is deceived through the eye. We only look on the surface life; then we taste. So we find our mistake too late. Sin will not bear to be tried. There is no serpent in this world's garden that will bear a moment's dallying with. Coiled up at the bottom of the fabled wine-cup, it soon darts up to strike and sting. What words of warning the inspired Book contains concerning deceitful things; and amongst deceitful things the heart is the "most deceitful of all." How pleasant it is to turn in closing to the prospects which we need never envy, for the simple reason that we may possess them ourselves at once. Wisdom's ways may be ours. "Length of days and long life and peace shall they add to thee." Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her." She H, mamma, mamma," said Lillie Marston, as she burst unceremoniously into the room where Mrs. Marston was sitting, "Elsie Mannering has two beautiful little kittens, all white, with black stripes down their backs, and she says they will have bushy tails, and she says I may have one of them! Oh, mamma! I may, mayn't I? They are such dears!" And the little girl clasped her hands in an ecstasy, and looked anxiously towards her mother for an answer. The room in which Mrs. Marston was sitting was a pretty room in the rectory of her son, the Reverend Alexander Marston; the ceiling was lofty, the walls were painted a cool green, and two French windows opened on to a charming little lawn. Before another large window stood a cage which completely filled it, and reached nearly to the ceiling, and in it were canaries and bullfinches, pets of her son's. In fact, Mrs. Marston was, at the very moment of Lillie's entrance, chopping hard-boiled eggs for some of those very birds. So, without hesitating a moment, when the quest, she. looked up and said, your brother?" 66 'Yes, mamma," said Lillie, but she gave a very much as opened the door of the loft when he passed uneasy glance at the birds. it; and no one else went there, the stairs were so "And are you grateful to him for his kindness to steep and awkward. both of us?" "Of course, mamma," returned Lillie. "And don't you know, my dear, that he has a perfect dread of cats, on account of his birds ?" "Well, mamma," replied Lillie, who by this me was quite certain of the coming verdict, "I don't see why Alec should have so many pets, and I not one. It's a great shame, and I don't want Alec to keep me, or send me to school, or anything, if he doesn't like. I never asked him to. Mayn't I have the kitten ?" "No, my dear," replied Mrs. Marston, in a tone that showed how shocked she was at Lillie's ungrateful speech-" certainly not." Lillie bounded out of the French window, found a convenient spot for a seat, threw herself on the ground, buried her head in her holland apron, and began sobbing convulsively. "What a shame!" she exclaimed, when she could get breath enough. "Such a beautiful kitty! such a rare thing, too, with a bushy tail and all! I hate canaries, I do!" she continued, passionately clutching whole handfuls of grass and scattering them to the wind. When her passion had cooled a little, she began to think, not repentantly, but rebelliously. These thoughts soon broke out into angry words. "I will have the kitten," she kept repeating-"I will have the kitten. I'll keep it in the loft, and I'll go and see it and feed it every day." Elsie Mannering lived only a very little way from Lillie Marston's; and in ten minutes more Lillie had bathed her eyes, smoothed her hair, put on her garden-hat, and walked off to Elsie. To this loft, then, the kitten was taken, and in a very short time provided with a saucer of milk, which Lillie had begged for herself. Then the loft-window was shut, the door was shut and locked, and the kitten was a prisoner. At luncheon Lillie was so calm and apparently humble, that Mrs. Marston congratulated herself upon her little daughter's power to overcome disappointment. At dinner she was somewhat astonished at the rapidity with which her plate was cleared. The fact was, Miss Lillie wrapped up several choice bits in her clean handkerchief for "Beauty," as she determined to call the cat. Very nearly all day Beauty" was allowed to roam about the roof, for there were no houses near for her to jump on to, and, therefore, no fear of losing her; and the servants never thought of going up there. So things went on for nearly a week, when one morning at breakfast Mrs. Marston said, “Lillie, I think I have something pleasant to tell you; I hope it will make up for your disappointment about the kitten." Lillie's face grew scarlet, but Mrs. Marston continued "You are to go and spend two days with Georgie and Laura at The Firs.'" At any other time Lillie would have jumped for joy at such a proposition, but now the coveted kitten was, she thought, a dreadful bar to her happiness. So, much to the astonishment of Mrs. Marston and Alec, she faltered out, with the tears on her eyelashes just ready to drop "I would rather stay at home, mamma; I don't want to go." "What in the name of wonder for?" asked Alec, Oh, Elsie," she cried out, as soon as she caught with a mouthful of pie on its way to his lips. This sight of her, "which kitten am I to have ?" "Come here," said Lillie, "and sit on this seat." The two friends sat down, and in a very low voice whispered together. You may guess what they said, for Elsie's first loud remark was-"How nasty and disagreeable! I would, if I were you." "You fetch me the kitten out here, and I will take it home in my apron; and if mamma sees me and calls me, I shall run away." was quite a strong expression for him to use; but if you had known Lillie's usual behaviour when a treat was proposed as well as he did, you would have been as much astonished. Mrs. Marston opened her eyes, and she then said quietly, "The poor child can't be well. A change will do her good." Lillie passionately protested that she did not wish to go; but every time she said so only increased her mamma's determination that she should. Decisive What should she do with Beauty? measures must be taken, for in a few hours she would be off to "The Firs." The kitten was brought, and after bestowing a good deal of admiration upon it, Lillie wrapped it securely in the skirt of her apron, and went home. You have seen how hasty Lillie was, and you may Mrs. Marston did not see her, and she carried her depend she was not long in deciding upon what to prize in triumph to the loft. It was a very small do. She went into the pantry, and stole (yes, I replace indeed, but it had a little window in it, and peat it-stole) a raw mutton chop, several slices of was quite a palace for a kitten. It was on the left-ham that had been left from breakfast, and a large piece of cheese. All these she cut into small pieces, and conveyed to the loft, as well as a jug of milk and a large piece of bread. The milk she poured into a very rusty tin pan, and the other articles she distributed about the floor. She gave a parting pat to Beauty, and a kiss to her pretty head, and then she stepped outside, locked the door, and put the key in the bosom of her frock. "Only two days," she kept repeating to herselfonly two days. Surely that will last till I come back. And then she went to "The Firs." Two days passed, and Georgie and Laura must have Lillie to stay longer. She said she couldn't; and when they pressed her very hard, she said she wouldn't. But Georgie and Laura's mamma said she was to stay, so she did; and very miserable she was, at times, I assure you. Once or twice she had nearly made up her mind to write a little letter to her mamma, and confess all about it. Then she thought, "Why, how silly! If Beauty's all right when I get home, who need know ?" What a naughty girl! The two days reached to ten, and at last Lillie came home. She had scarcely taken her hat and jacket off, when she rushed to the loft; and there what a woful sight presented itself! The poor kitten lay just inside the door, stiff and dead-as dead as dead could be-its pretty blue eyes were as dull as dull, and its beautiful white fur was ragged and dirty. It had been-starved to death! No trace of food was in the loft; the kitten had eaten it all in four days at the most, and the other six it had gradually starved to death. Lillie knelt down and felt it. It was scarcely cold, but it was quite, quite dead. Down-stairs ran Lillie, sobbing as if her heart would break. She rushed to her mamma, and sobbed out-"Oh, mamma! can you ever trust me again?-will you ever forgive me? I brought home that kitten you said I musn't have, and I kept it in the loft, and-and it is starved to death!" Lillie was evidently so sensible of her naughtiness, and in such grief, that her mamma left her to herself then; but afterwards she had a long talk with her, and told her that for a long time she must not expect to be trusted, and must be watched, for fear another temptation should lead her so far astray. Her brother, too, was highly displeased, and expressed his unmitigated disappointment in Lillie's character, which was very hard to bear. All this severe discipline, however, had the right effect; and Lillie was quite sufficiently punished before the happy day when her mother told her that she had perfect confidence in her. And now, dear little readers, if you are ever so much inclined to be as disobedient to your parents as the little girl in my story, try and not give way, and remember "Lillie's Kitten." "THE QUIVER" BIBLE CLASS. [Under this head we propose to provide our younger readers each week with a suitable employment for their leisure on the Sunday. It will be our endeavour to give such questions as shall stimulate them to a further study of the subjects touched upon; and we hope parents will assist us in that endeavour, by encouraging their children to make a regular practice of so important and beneficial an exercise. The method we would recommend is, that the children should write down their answers to each set of questions, and keep them until they are able to compare them with our own solutions, which will appear in a subsequent number to that in which their respective questions are given. By this means will be established, we presume, the largest Bible Class ever known, for its members will number very many thousands, in almost every part of the world. Some of our Bible Class will be in Canada, some in the United States, some in Australia and New Zealand, and others in more or less remote places; and it is pleasant indeed to us to think that by this simple plan all these shall be bound together in one sweet fellowship every Lord's Day, studying the same Scripture, thinking the same thoughts, and, above all, uniting in our earnest prayer that every member of "THE QUIVER" BIBLE CLASS may become one of that holier and larger Brotherhood of Him who says: "Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."]-THE EDITOR. 1. Which was the learned tribe in Israel? 2. An Ethiopian who trusted in the Lord, and his life was given him for a prey? 3. Upon what did the manna fall? 4. And what did this signify? 5. A man who was hypocrite enough to weep with some mourning worshippers, thus decoying them into the city, and there slew them? 6. What two prophecies refer to the taking of Jerusalem by the Romans? 7. Who predicted that an invading king should pitch his tent over a spot he indicated? 8. What other nation besides Israel is to be scattered to every people? 9. In Ezek. xii. 13 it is said of Zedekiah, “I will How could this be? bring him to Babylon yet he shall not see it." ... FREEDOM. A SONNET. VER as God moves forward through the earth The people cry for freedom round his feet; And God hears alway, for in Him no dearth Of love can be for aspirations meet, And liberty He grants when men entreat. Firm paced, the conquering army of the LordLaw, Order, Toleration, Worship FreeMoves to the great fulfilment of His word That all the kingdoms of the earth shall be Full of His knowledge, boundless as the sea. Think ye He hears not?-that He long delays, Though daily have His people not been dumb, Wrestling in spirit? though the Church still prays (A Christ-taught supplicant) Thy kingdom come? THE CHAPTER IV.-COULD THIS BE MARGARET ? HE woman, stranger though she seemed, knew every step of the way. She did not go direct to the point. An irresistible influence seized upon her. She hurried along in the direction of the old mill. VOL. V. As she hurried, she often pressed her hand to her heart." Once she stopped, and gasped as if for breath; and once she bowed her head, and joined her hands as if in prayer; then, she hurried on again. 213 The old mill was in a rather lonely spot on the suburbs of the town. It was forsaken and disused. An old dilapidated house stood beside it. The house had no inhabitants, it was disused as well. She glanced at the blank uncurtained windows. She could only see them by the light of a pale fitful moon, that went and came every moment, as the clouds drove by. She lingered a few moments. Once she tried the door, as if she would have entered, but it was locked. Her time was short; the chimes of the town clocks were brought clear and distinct by the wind; she could not stay any longer. What was there in the lonely spot so dear to her? | stranger hastily, and stepped in. Why did she wish to stay? her a few moments. I have come a long, long, way," said the woman in a pleading tone. The look of wounded pride had vanished almost as soon as it came. "Oh, I do not want to hinder you from seeing her. Janet!" added he, turning to a young woman who was passing. "Here's a person says she must see Miss Easton." The winds might have answered the question as they came hurrying by to expend their fury on the bleak open yonder. There was no other reply. She drew her shawl round her, and went away. Soon she had quitted that part of the town. Now she came upon a broad turnpike, which lay white and bare in the moonlight, and down which the wind swept right in her teeth. But she battled on bravely. The energy of the woman was wonderful. Her thoughts had wandered lately from her child, but they went back to it as to a centre of attraction. She could see the small white face and golden clustering hair, the tiny hands and little wasted arms; and as she thought, she grew brave, and set the wind at naught. By-and-by she turned down a narrow lane. Her walk was nearly ended. In the moonlight, looking like some black frowning castle of the olden time, was Bramley Hall, When she saw it, she paused as if to take breath. She pressed her hand to her heart, and looked up as if to the Strong for strength. Very soon she stood under a heavy stone portico, and had reached cut her hand to ring; but ere she did so, another sharp confilict took place. She glanced at her shabby dress, and moved a few steps away. Which of the two entrances ought she to choose? "Oh, this one!" And she came back with a flush on her face, and a slight curl on her lip. Nothing should force her to take the other. A servant-man answered the bell. He stared at her with more surprise than civility. 66 "She can't, till my mistress has done dressing," replied Janet, 'if the person likes to wait in the cloak room — "Thank you, I do not mind waiting," said the "Come, then, this is the way. Oh, I see you know it!" said Janet in a tone of surprise. “You know Miss Easton, perhaps." "I have seen her," stammered the stranger, who had become deadly pale. "Well, sit there a bit by the fire, you look bad enough, anyhow. There's my mistress's bell. She'll soon be down now," and Janet bustled off again. The stranger sat down, and glanced half fearfully round the room. It was a small room, and had an old-fashioned mirror over the mantel-piece, and a solitary picture on the wall. The picture might have been placed here to be out of sight and memory. The woman looked at it with a half smile. It was the portrait of a young girl with a profusion of golden hair, and blue eyes which had rather a pensive expression. There was a wreath of roses on her head, and roses were at her feet. A name was written under the portrait-" Margaret, on her seventeenth birthday." She was looking at the picture, when a step was heard. At the sound of it she started and trembled, and sunk into her chair. The next moment, a lady entered the room-no more terrific object than that. The lady was young-younger, to judge from appearance, by twenty years at least, than the stranger. She was richly dressed. Her silken train swept the ground, and she had jewels in her hair, and on her neck and arms. No, she was not the Margaret of the picture. Her hair was black, and her face, though very handsome, had sternness and decision in it. There was a trace of likeness, but no more. She came in, clasping her bracelet, and rather in haste. She gave a hurried glance towards the Is Miss Easton at home ?" asked the woman in stranger, but there was not the least recognition. a faltering voice. He stopped. There was a flush on the cheek, and the head was raised proudly. Something told him that in spite of appearances the stranger was a lady. "Miss Easton has a party to-night, and can't see any one," added the man, rather pazzled, and in a more respectful tone. There never would have been, if the stranger had not said "Adela !" The golden bracelet dropped on the floor. She picked it up again. She rarely lost her self-possession. She laid the bracelet on the table, and her keen black eyes were riveted on the stranger. A Gradually, light broke in upon the darkness. fact forced itself on her mind that was very startling and unexpected. The woman was her sister! She advanced a step-without, however, holding "I will not detain her. I cnly want to speak to out her hand. She was evidently perplexed as to |