"because it is a debonnaire and simple bird, and gains its living without injury to any one, and never seeks to rob or grieve its neighbour." The wise men returned immediately to the King. Robert, they said, would be bold and valiant, and would gain renown and honour, but he would inally be overcome by violence, and die in a prison: William would be powerful and strong as the eagle, but feared and hated for his cruelty and violence, until he ended a bad life by an equally bad death: but Henry would be wise and prudent, peaceful, unless when compelled to war; he would gain wide lands, and die in peace. When King William lay on his death-bed he remembered the saying of his wise men, and bequeathed Normandy to Robert, England to William, and his treasures, without land, to his younger son Henry, who eventually became King of both countries, and reigned long and prosperously.-Wright's England in the Middle Ages.

LIFE OF DAVID.

(Continued from page 70.)

THESE arguments moved Saul to give his consent; for surely the arm which freed the panting, gentle "lamb of the flock" from the jaw of the lion, was nerved with more than earthly might. So at length Saul said, "Go, and the Lord be with thee;" and lent him his own armour and sword. But David said, "I cannot go with these; for I am

not accustomed to them." So he put them off; and having chosen five smooth stones from the bed of the clear brook which babbled by, placed them in his shepherd's bag, and, sling in hand, drew near to meet his foe. There stood the proud Philistine, with his helmet and target of brass, his coat of mail and spear of iron, by his side the burnished shield, eyeing disdainfully the armies of the living God; when advances, as a champion for him, the mighty one, a shepherdyouth, of a fair and beautiful countenance, his flaxen curls the only helmet, and weapons of warfare a sling and five smooth stones; these his only visible weapons; but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords fought for and with him. The warring hosts were encamped on opposite mountains, between which lay the wooded valley of Elah; and it was upon one of these heights Goliath shouted forth his challenge. Contemptuously he looked upon David, and tauntingly said, "Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the birds of the air, and the beasts of the field." David replied, "Thou comest to me with a sword and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee," and the Philistine shall be food for the fowls of the air, and wild beasts of the earth; "that all the earth may know there is a God in Israel.

When Goliath arose and drew nearer, David

ran to meet him, and putting one of his stones in the sling, struck him in the forehead. The stone sank in beneath the first blow of the "fair and beautiful youth," the mighty "man of war" fell upon his face. Then, taking the sword of his fallen foe, David destroyed him with his own weapon. The Philistines gazing from the heights above, on seeing their champion fall, hastily fled; whilst rejoicing shouts from the hosts of Israel and Judah awoke the sleeping echoes from the glens of the valley, and rocks of the mountains, as pursuing the enemy, "the wounded fell down by the way," left, as David had foretold, food for the watching birds of prey which hovered near.

As David went forth to meet Goliath, Saul inquired of one of his Captains whose son he was; and he, being unable to inform the King, was commanded to inquire concerning his parentage. Shortly after, David himself appeared before Saul, bearing the head of the giant. Saul then found he was a son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite. Jonathan, the Monarch's son, was also present; and he loved David, vowed friendship towards him, giving to him his own garments,-sword, bow, and girdle. Saul would not permit David to leave him: so he remained, and so wisely behaved himself, that honours crowned his head, and he won favour from high and low.

Yet David soon found that little dependence is to be placed on the good-will of Princes; for Saul soon became angry and jealous, because the multitudes who came out to meet them as they

returned ascribed greater praises to David than to himself, saying,

"Saul hath slain his thousands,

David his ten thousands."

Not to himself did David take the glory of his victory; but, sweetly tuning his harp to a song of thanksgiving, sang, "I will praise thee, O God, with my whole heart; for thou hast maintained my right and my cause.'

(To be continued.)

FAREWELL TO A FRIEND.

THINK not, my friend, though call'd away,
Thy form no more to see,

That friendship's star will fail to shine :
I'll still remember thee.

When spring returns, with buds and flowers,
And birds sing in each tree,

While listening to their woodnotes wild,
I'll still remember thee.

When summer comes, with sultry beams,

And all is joy and glee,
While musing in my rosy bower,

I'll still remember thee.

When autumn smiles o'er hill and dale,
And spreads her bounties free,
O then, when plenty crowns the year,
I'll still remember thee!

When winter comes, with clouds and storms,
When snows deface the lea,

E'en then, amidst the tempest's howl,
I'll still remember thee.

And when thy sinking frame decays,

When life and health shall filee,
May He who died a world to save,

In death remember thee!

REV. J. T. BARR.

MEMOIR.

ROBERT HENRY ROBINSON.

"GODLINESS is profitable" for all, but especially for the young, preserving them, as it does, from the vices of the world, fitting them for the duties of their calling, and preparing them for death, whether it may be in the spring, the summer, or the autumn of life.

The subject of this brief notice was an instance of early piety. He was dedicated to God in the solemn ordinance of baptism. At the tender age of seven years he was impressed with religious concern; but it was not until the age of fourteen years that he sought and obtained" God, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

peace with

The state of his health being extremely delicate, he remained at home until he was ten years old, when he was sent to Kingswood-school, where he continued four years. On leaving the school, the Rev. Robert Smith, the late Governor, addressed the following note to his parents: "Your dear Robert is leaving this school. I am happy to say that he leaves with a good character: he has behaved well; and we greatly esteem and love