THE TWO CLERKS.

FOR THE YOUNG. In Market Square, in the pleasant “I must have Herbert or Charles city of M— was a crockeryware for a partner," soliloquised Mr. shop, over the door of which was a Hudson ; " on which can I decide ? black sign bearing in gilt letters the They both do very well in the shop, name of Benjamin Hudson. For but I ought to know something of many years this crockery shop had them out of the shop, and I am been there, with the great pitcher sorry to say that is a point I have hanging in front for a sign ; indeed, never paid proper attention to. when, Mr. Hudson first opened the My clerks come here in the morning shop, some forty years previous, he and go away at night; what be. was quite a young man, and the comes of them over-night, I know sign over his door was bright and not, and yet I ought to know. handsome; but now his eyes had Neither of them has parents in grown dim, and the owner was the city; they live in some of the called “Old Hudson” by all the numerous lodging-houses, and I boys and girls of the city.

hope are steady and well behaved. Mr. Benjamin Hudson had grown I must see them in their homes, rich in his business, for he had con- and then decide which shall be my ducted it all himself, and taken care partner.” that nothing should be wasted or The next day Mr. Hudson ascerlost by neglect. He had made tained the lodging-places of his mistakes, to be sure, as every man clerks, without letting them know will make some blunders during a for what purpose, and after supper lifetime, but by skilful management that evening his wife and daughters he quickly recovered from them. were somewhat astonished to see Sixty-five years had begun to bend him go to the hall and put on his over Mr. Hudson's shoulders and coat and hat.' dim the brightness of his eye, and “Where are you going, papa ? " he found business more irksome asked Lily, the youngest daughter, than it had formerly been. . who could hardly remember the

“I must have a partner,” said he evening when her father had not one day to himself as he sat before remained at home. a cheerful fire. “I must have some “I am going to make a call, Lily, one interested in the business who on two young men of my acquaintis young and active, and will take ance; I shall not be long gone," the weight off my shoulders, for I replied Mr. Hudson, and bidding do not care to do as I used to." them good-bye, immediately started

Now, in Mr. Hudson's employ out. were two young men-Herbert Herbert's lodging was the nearer Bond and Charles Seymour. They of the two, and here Mr. Hudson had been with him an equal length stopped first. of time, and had performed their It was a neat-looking house, in a duties faithfully and well. Charles very pleasant street. Mrs. Bunting, did his work quickly, and had a the landlady, opened the door when smart way about him that made Mr. Hudson rang. people think he was greatly superior “Does a young man named to Herbert, who had a more quiet Herbert Bond live here?” demeanour and accomplished quitel He does. Walk in, sir, and I as much without making a great will call him," replied the woman. stir about it.

“I will go to his room, if you. will show me where it is," answered “You shall have it willingly,” Mr. Hudson; “I presume he is in?" said Mr. Hudson, and then he added:

"I think so; he is seldom out in “ Are you contented here in these the evening. You can step up there lodgings ? ” if you like, sir; go up two flights, and "They are very good lodgings, the first door to the right is the and Mrs. Bunting is very kind; but one,” replied Mrs. Bunting.

I have often wished that I could Mr. Hudson puffed up the stairs live at home,' answered Herbert. and knocked with his cane at the “And why can't you? How far designated door. It was opened by is it from here?" asked his emHerbert, who looked very much ployer. amazed when he saw his employer, "Twenty-five miles, sir; rather and said :

far to travel every day, and then I ., “Why, Mr. Hudson, is anything can't afford the expense,” was Her. the matter?"

bert's reply. "Nothirg," said Mr. Hudson, "What time could you reach the walking in and taking a chair. "I shop in the morning ?" took a notion to call round and see “At half-past eight, sir." how you were this evening."

" And you would have to leave at Bond expressed himself very glad wlaat hour in the afternoon ? ” to see his employer, and while he “At about half-past six, sir." took his hat and cane, Mr. Hudson “Well, perhaps it can be arglanced round the room. It was ranged so that you can live at home, an attic room, with dormer win- Herbert.” dows; a good fire was burning in “Oh, I should like it so much if an open grate; a book-rack filled I could," was the clerk's reply. with books adorned one side of the “Well, I'll look into the matter. room; and the centre of the floor It is a pity one who is so fond of his was occupied by a table on which home can't live there, in these times were writing materials.

of railways, Herbert," said Mr. Hud. "You look very . cosy here, son, as he rose to depart. Herbert Herbert ; but why do you have an thanked him for his visit, and said attic room? Are there none you it would please him to have Mr. can have below-stairs?" " Hudson call again.

"Oh yes, sir; but this is cheaper, The old gentleman descended the and I have all the more money to stairs well satisfied with the call, send to my father,” replied Herbert. and said to himself:

“Isn't your father well off ?” “Now for Charles Seymour. I inquired Mr. Hudson.

hope I shall find him as well occu"Not very, sir; he used to be pied as Herbert Bond." well off, but business did not answer, The other house was reached, the and he lost a good deal of money,” bell rung, and Mr. Hudson was adsaid Bond.

mitted. The servant said Seymour "What do you find to do in the was in, and ushered him to the evenings? Does not time hang chamber door. Mr. Hudson knocked, very heavy?"

and the door immediately swung "Oh no, sir! I have books to open, and a voice exclaimed, “Well, read and letters to write. To-night old fellow, got along at last, have I am writing home; they want me you? We're all ready for you; to make them a visit, but I write have got the" Charles Seymour that it is a pretty busy time just stopped here, and his face turned now, but when it is over I shall ask suddenly pale at seeing, instead of you for a few days of absence.” one of his boon companions, his venerable employer. It was several bottles. Seymour looked dreadfully seconds before he could recover his distressed, but could do nothing. speech. “I beg your pardon, Mr. It was a fourth friend, who had Hudson, you must excuse me; I been out after refreshments, and expected a friend this evening, and took this facetious mode of introin the dim light of the passage I ducing them into the chamber. Mr. thought you were he. Walk in, Hudson thought it was time for sir, and sit down.”

him to go, so he took his leave and Mr. Hudson entered the room, returned to his home. and was somewhat surprised to see Mr. Hudson was not long in makthe identical three young men who ing up his mind as to which one of his had insulted him in the street; they clerks would make the most faithful were smoking cigars, and had their and efficient partner, and in less feet elevated on the sofa, mantel- than a week it was announced in piece, and bedstead. Mr. Hudson the papers that Herbert Bond was saw at once that he was in confu- a member of the firm of Benjamin sion, and Seymour's actions were Hudson & Co. It was a happy day painful and awkward. Nevertheless for Herbert, and it was not many his employer started a conversation, years before he managed the whole and had been there but a few business himself; and he became a minutes when a footstep was heard wealthy man. on the stairs; and the door opened Charles Seymour knew well the a little, and a bottle of champagne reason of Mr. Hudson's choice, and came rolling across the floor, fol. he always regretted having formed lowed by a round Dutch cheese, such unprofitable acquaintances as a bunch of cigars, and two more had met in his room that night,

THE KINDNESS OF LOVE.

BY THE REV. W. ABBOTT. “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them to drink of the river of thy pleasure. For with thee is the fountain of life : in thy light shall we see light. O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.”—PSALM Xxxvi. 7-10.

The subject will justify the length of the above quotation. A single verse at first arrested attention, this led to the further perusal of the Psalm, when we found the subject continued through several verses, and felt it difficult to make a selection. We therefore give a long text for a short paper.

It is not generally in the Psalms that a subject is treated so continuously as the present one: a single verse often suffices. The Bible is not a book of tedious discussion, or of long and difficult reasoning, but chiefly of simple statement, brief narrative, pertinent appeal, and earnest exhortation. But here we have four verses on one subject, and that a happy one, and happily treated.

The subject is that of lovingkindness—the kindness of love. Love is a subject often repeated in the Bible, and its repetition is interesting and effective. It is presented to us in various aspects, as pity, bene

volence, complacency; in various moods, as gifts, manifestations, influences.

The lovingkindness of God is here said to be "excellent.” It abounds in excellencies as is plain from the text. Those interested in it are very privileged. It forms the shadow of wings to trust in, insuring safety in danger; the delicacies of a feast, satisfying its guests ; the river of pleasure, the fulness, freeness, continuance of joy to its recipients ; the fountain of life, the source of health, vigour, and activity 80 essential to happiness ; the sunlight that makes the spiritual day, the sunshine of quickened souls.

The continuance of lovingkindness is sought for. "O continue thy lovingkindness anto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart." The continuance of this privilege rests on God's righteousness or faithfulness. There is the sure hope of this continuance because there is stability about the Great Giver. His lovingkindness is " like the great mountains." The mountains continue-not yielding like sand-not shaken like reeds—not cat down like grass-not driven away like chaff. So God's kindness remains as something sure on which to rest our hearts and hopes.

The knowledge of God's lovingkindness is the best and happiest of knowledge. It is experimental knowledge, a consciousness of the kindness of love, and is taught us by the Spirit of God. Growth in this knowledge is sought for in Scripture readings, interested hearing, and sweet meditation. Beginning with this knowledge, we desire its continuance, because the subject is increasingly precious to us. God's love is a sweet privilege for our hearts, and a sacred law for our lives ; its tendency is to make our hearts happy, and our lives holy. Let our daily prayer be as suggested by this writer, “ O continue thy lovingkindness unto us.” Life is desirable only as lovingkindness flows on and shines on with it.

Admiration of the lovingkindness of God is here expressed. “How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God !” We speak of all Bible subjects as being important, but even these have their relative value, and, as rightly understood, will produce their corresponding emotions and appreciation. It is an intelligent, loving, joyous, grateful admiration. It is produced by the Spirit of God acting on the faculties of the mind and the affections of the heart—" the love of God shed abroad in the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit.” When the love of God is thus shed abroad in the heart, it fills it with admiring wonder and joyous expectation. Some persons admire everything, wonder at everything, and so admire nothing; admire everything seemingly, but nothing really.

All this commends the subject. The subject itself—its several advantages depicted, these advantages continued ; the present satisfaction enjoyed, with the future realisation anticipated-all these commend the subject for every anxious seeker. But why commend it ? Because it tends to happiness to lead men to seek, find, and enjoy real and lasting happiness in the alone source of it, the lovingkindness of God.

Blunham.

NEWS OF THE CHURCHES. A NEW mission chapel has been The following reports of MINISopened at Farnworth, in connection TERIAL CHANGES have reached us with the church in Claremont since the preparation of our last chapel, Bolton, of which the Rev. issue : The Rev, W. Myers, of J. F. Smyth is the minister.—The the Metropolitan Tabernacle College, foundation-stone of a new chapel to Eastwood, Notts; the Rev. J. C. has been laid at Lockerley, Hamp. Shanks, of Glasgow, to Redruth, shire. - The memorial-stone of a Cornwall; the Rev. D. Jennings, of new chapel has been laid at Dum. Long Crendon, to Warwick; the fries, for the ministry of the Rev. Rev. H. D. Brown, late of DarlingG. W. Tooley.—The foundation- ton, to Rochdale-road, Bury, Lan stone of a new mission chapel has cashire; the Rev. F. Overend, of the been laid at New Shirland, near Manchester College, to King-street, Alfreton, Derbyshire. '

Oldham; the Rev. E. Lewis, of
Tredegar, to George-town, Merthyr

Tydvil; the Rev. J. Watmough, of THE Rev. W. J. Packer, late-of Edgeside, Lancashire, to Clay Cross, Bath, has been publicly recognised Chesterfield; the Rev. L. Llewellyn, as the pastor of the church in of Harvey-lane, Leicester, to Wyle Castlegate, Berwick-on-Tweed; the Cop, Shrewsbury; the Rev. J. Rev. S. Hawkes, late of Nelson, of Brown, lately returned from Nova the church at Old Swan, Liverpool; Scotia, to Melksham, Wilts; the the Rev. W. A. Davies, late of South Rev. M. Cumming, of New Barnet, Shields, of the church at Melton Herts," to Garland-street, Bury St. Mowbray, Leicestershire ;the Rev. Edmunds. The Rev. G. P. Mackay, J. J. Dalton, late of Bradford, of who has laboured aţ Mint-lane, the church in Lock's-lanc, Frome; Lincoln, since the resignation of the Rev. T. H. Smith, of the church the late pastor, the Rev. G. A. at Haddenham, Cambridge; the Brown (who on account of ill-health, Rev. G. Hester, late of Sheffield, of has gone to New Zealand), has the church in High-street, Berk- been unanimously invited by the hampstead; the Rev. W. M. Thomas, church to become their pastor for å late of Willinghall, of the church at period of two years. The Rev. W. Bethel, Nantyglo, Monmouthshire; I Walters has, on account of ill-health, the Rev. W. H. J. Popo, late of signified his intention to relinquish Calne, Wilts, of the church in in September next his charge of the Chelsea chapel, Lower Sloane-street, church in Christchurch, Aston-park, London; the Rev. A. C. 'Perriam, Birmingham. The, Rev. J. R. of the church at Ilkeston, Derby- Chamberlain has, after a ministry shire; the Rev. W. Chapman, of of five years, resigned the pastorate the church at Hucknall Torkard, of the church in George-street, Ryde, Notts; the Rev. G. Dunnett, of the Isle of Wight. - The Rev. J. W. church at the Darkhouse, Coseley; Norton has resigned his pastorate the Rev. J. S. Geale, of the church of the church in High-street, Chatin Queen-square, Brighton; the ham.

ham. dina g. 16). ", 9, ;, !!. Rev. J. Pringle, of the church at: Wickwar; the Rev. F. Forbes, of We regret to announce the death the church at Alloa; the Rev. W of the Rev. H. Webley, of BradfordF. Edgerton, of the church at Gam- on-Avon, at the age of seventy. lingay.

seven. D a wire ,