THERE was a little English girl, And pardon through his blood alone, An ancient Irish serving-man Watching with anxious, jealous care, For he loved the fair and gentle child Better than aught beside. And often Edith read to him, From that pure blessed Word whose light, But the English book seem'd not to him Aught in which he had part. The child was grieved, until one thought And in the Irish Bible read Full well was she repaid. The sound Was music to the old man's ear, With wond'ring, breathless eagernes God bless'd the efforts of a child; His mighty grace was given, The aged man trod joyfully J. T. -Children's Miss. Record. Price 6d. doz., or 3/6 100; 20 copies sent free by post for 10d., paid in advance, Published by GALL & INGLIS, 38 North Bridge, Edinburgh. HOULSTON & WRIGHT, London. OUR readers will recollect accounts | fully, and from which Christian Miswhich we have given them in the Children's Missionary Newspaper,* of two visits which the Rev. William Ellis made to Madagascar; that island where persecution long raged so fear March 1857. sionaries have been banished for twenty-two years. In those visits, Mr Ellis was not allowed to go as far as the capital, he was obliged to confine himself to one part near the coast. * See the Numbers for January 1854, and May 1855. 18 MR ELLIS IN MADAGASCAR. But news has lately come that he has now safely reached Antanarivo, the capital of Madagascar, and we think our readers will like to hear something about his journey. It took him three weeks to get to Antanarivo from the coast, and a great part of the road was exceedingly difficult; indeed it could hardly be called a road at all. There is one part of the country through which he had to pass that is so unhealthy, that it has got the name of the "Fever district." To make it worse, it was the rainy season, and the bearers had to wade through deep mud, or walk on a narrow precipitous path. Mr Ellis says, he was often reminded of a favourite saying of the late King Badama, "that he could trust any invading army with his two generals, woods, and fever." The government did all they could for the comfort of Mr Ellis. They sent more than a hundred men to escort him, and wherever they stopped, provisions were ready for him. The young prince, who has long been a Christian, sent kind messages and letters to Mr Ellis, and as he drew nearer to the capital, many of the Christian party poured in their welcomes to the Missionary. The queen, too, though she has been so great a persecutor, seemed resolved to show him all the honour she could. A palanquin was prepared for him to use in entering the city. It was covered with velvet, and three chiefs rode on horseback beside him, while he had nume rous followers in attendance. In this grand style he was conducted to a house which had been prepared for him with every comfort. As soon as he arrived, the queen sent him presents, to show her goodwill. Who can tell if the heart of this cruel persecutor may not have been softened by witnessing the blameless lives of the Christians? Perhaps her own son may yet be the means of changing her. Mr Ellis sent back his letter by the bearers who had to return to the coast, so he had not yet seen the queen; but he was very much gratified by a visit he had from the prince. He describes him as being youthful in appearance, but of very frank, pleasant manners, and dressed like an English gentleman. They were soon quite at home with each other, the prince seemed to confide in the Missionary as if he had been a near friend. It is very likely that Mr Ellis will not be able to tell us much of what he hears and sees; for he will be afraid of putting anything in print which might bring the Christians into trouble. They have suffered much and nobly; and many a touching tale could be told of their devotedness and faithfulness. When happier days shall dawn upon Madagascar, much will be brought to light that will awaken our admiration and strengthen our faith. Mr Ellis earnestly begs for our prayers, that his efforts may be so guided and directed by God, that his visit shall prove not to have been in vain. STORIES FROM THE WILDERNESS. 19 STORIES FROM THE WILDERNESS. Ir is a common saying among the In- Mansuk's brother, Wulluck, told Mr Budd that he did not think he should ever become a Christian, because then he should have no chance of ever meeting with his relations and friends who had gone before to the other world. 66 over the world. How many in our own country labour for the "meat which perisheth," rather than for "that which endureth unto everlasting life;" but they do not confess it so honestly as this old chief did. Mr Budd found it very difficult to make the people understand what sin is. They thought murder was sin, but if a man only intended to murder some one, and was prevented, that was no sin at all. They were astonished when told what the Bible says, that "The thought of foolishness is sin;" and "He that hateth his brother is a murderer." It was much the same with the old chief. Mansuk," says Mr Budd, "is very shy of the praying religion. He can sit and hear any worldly talk, but he has no ears to listen to any thing respecting his soul. At first, when in- Of all the Indians, it was soon seen vited to come and join in worshipping, that Mansuk was the most attentive he shook his head, signifying No." He to the Missionary's instructions. His and his wife, however, thought better brother Wulluck warned him not to go of it, and came, and were very attentive the whole time during service. Afterwards, Mr Budd sought him out at his tent, and asked him why he was so shy of the word of God, by which alone they could know the right way to please Him. "My friend," replied the old chief, "if you had made a large kettle of broth with your flour, all the Indians would be ready to come in when you wanted them; but as you merely speak to them about the praying religion, they feel no inclination to go, without seeing something to go for." You see that people are the same all to the praying place, or think about Christianity at all. But the old man replied,-" Tell my brother that I cannot keep from going to the praying people's place; I am there almost every day, and I attend the worship every Sunday. I find nothing bad there." This showed that he was in earnest, for he lived on the other side of the river, and had to cross the ice with a swollen foot to get to the Missionary. After being for some time under instruction, he was baptized, with his wife and another old woman. These were the first fruits among the Thickwood Indians. How glad Mr Budd must have felt that he had come to them in spite of Mansuk's threatening message. The old man then came to live near Mr Budd, that he might lose nothing of the teaching. He often asked one of the school-girls to read a chapter to him, and when she was tired, he would go to another. He hungered for the Word of Life. The summer after he was baptized, Mr Budd had to go to Cumberland station. He soon received the sad news of the death of the old chief. He says, "he was sick not more than six days, and died on the 12th of June, about three weeks after we had left. Joseph Turner informs me, that he was very quiet all the time of his sickness, and died peaceably.' His death is a great trial to me, as I always looked up to him as the main pillar of the mission. God only knows what will become of the mission now. It is, however, a comfort to know that God is able of these stones to raise up another Mansuk. But still, his death is much to be regretted for several reasons. He was the first Indian who embraced Christianity. He countenanced our proceedings from the beginning, and did all in his power to assist me in my first attempts to form the mission at the Nepowewin. He was very diligent in setting the Indians a good example; very constant and attentive to the means of grace, and diligent in his little farm. His influence would have prevailed at last with his large family on the side of Christianity." WESTERN POLYNESIA. CHAPTER I.-THE ISLAND of marÉ. IN the year 1841, a trading vessel from Australia, visited the Island of Maré, one of the Western South Sea Islands. Some dispute arising between the traders and the natives, the captain of the ship thoughtlessly struck the chief with a rope's end, when he sent him ashore. Now, a savage never forgives, and this chief held a counsel with his people, as to how they should punish the English captain for offering him such an insult. The very next day, the sea was covered with their canoes; they surrounded the ship, murdered the captain and the whole of the crew, carried off everything they thought of any value, and then destroyed the ship. This was their revenge. It happened, that among the treasures which they brought from the ship, was a quantity of gunpowder. One day they were amusing themselves by throwing small quantities of it into the fire; when, unfortunately, some sparks fell into the open barrels, and greatly to the terror of the ignorant people, an awful explosion took place; the large hut in which they were assembled was blown to atoms, four of their num |