"Oh, father!" said Tom, “ they Jim. But they were not to be are not as bad as they are made shaken off so easily, and Tom's out. Frequently things are laid to ease - loving nature soon gave up their charge that they never thought the conflict, and they were as of doing.” " thick” as ever again. And this “No doubt, my son,” his father happened the more readily as Tom replied; "and that is the penalty was an only child, and his mother they pay for a bad reputation. But at this time an invalid. they commit wrong deeds enough One night, after school, he found to make them very dangerous com- Dick and Jim waiting for him. panions; and as far as I can learn “Hallo, old boy,” said Dick; “we they are not in the least to be are going to have rare sport to-mortrusted. I wouldn't think so much row; and we want you to promise of an occasional bit of mischief, just to join us. Say you will, that's a for the pure fun of the thing. Mr. good feller." Greene was just telling me about “How can I say that,” said the way they annoyed them last Tom, “before I know what you night. They had company and propose to do?" were tormented with a frequent "Now that's just like you," said ringing of the bell. They watched, Dick. “I believe you told us once and found that the bell rang with that you were a namesake of the out any one coming upon the piazza. Rev. Thomas Scott, a common Accordingly the bell-knob was ex- tater,' as Mrs. Partington has it, amined, and was found to have a and a very pie-ous' man. That piece of stout twine tied about it. accounts for your being such a Mr. Greene attempted to recon- saint and a regular milk-and-water noitre, and there was a great scam-boy. Do have some spirit for pering of boys and considerable once !" laughter. Now that might do for Dick knew there was nothing once; but that and similar tricks this “milk-and-water boy” dreaded have been tried altogether too often as much as a little ridicule. It in this neighbourhood to be agree- had been the weapon used in two able, and Mr. Greene proposes put- or three successful campaigns. ting the police on their track. And 66 Well, I'll promise," said Tom I don't blame him." reluctantly. · Tom's face grew very red while " That's right, old feller,” said his father was relating this anec- Dick, giving him a smart slap on dote. Tom had suffered from un- the shoulder. “I knew there was usual fatigue the previous evening, some spirit in you when your and was supposed to retire early to blood was up. We're sick and bed. But while his father was tired of being cooped up in a hot spending an hour or two in his schoolroom, and we've concluded wife's sick room, Tom had been en. to hook jack.'" joying this bit of fun ” outside. Poor Tom look aghast at this unAnd to his credit be it said, Tom expected announcement, and at felt decidedly mean about it. There first flatly refused to join them in hadn't been nearly as much sport any such scheme. A long debate in it as he had expected. It was followed, in which the mean and his first step in a course of decep- wicked part of the truant was tion; but, alas! not his last. painted in glowing colours as the For a few days after this conver- daring exploit of brave and manly sation he attempted to follow his spirits. Before they separated for father's advice and shun Diok and the night, Tom had agreed to act his part in the little drama. Their is to stick it up on these peaked plans were nicely laid to escape points of the fence." detection. Tom was to see one of No sooner said than done; and the boys in the morning and re- with a united three groans for the quest him to tell his teacher that pie, and a tragical “Long may it his mother was very sick, and that stay as a symbol of stinginess !" he could not come to school that from Dick, the boys were again morning. And Jim was to have gaily on their way. symptoms of diphtheria sufficiently And now Tom's turn had comesevere to afford an excuse for Dick and he hesitated. and himself. As this was a rôle “Well,” said Jim, "you are a hitherto unattempted by the boys, mealy-mouthed chap, full of your they hoped to carry it out without airy notions. We should have had suspicion. la gay time if it hadn't been for Tom passed a most unhappy you." night, and had not his usual appe. And Tom was conquered. Leav. tite for breakfast. He pretended / ing the boys at a gate, he went boldly to himself that it was all a good up to the side door. A lady with a joke; but it was one which he pleasant face appeared. heartily wished over. As for Dick " Will you pleaso give me someand Jim, their consciences were of thing to eat ?said Tom. “I am tough material, and could bear very hungry.” considerable straining. "What is your name, and where In the morning all happened do you live ?” inquired the lady. well for the success of their plan, "My name is Tom Warren, and and at nine o'clock the three boys I live in Mason Street," replied were on their way to the woode, Tom desperately. His apprenticewhere they expected a fine frolic. ship in deception had not been But poor Tom proved the Jonah long enough to make him quick at of the expedition. Everything went falsehood. wrong; and at eleven o'clock the “Why are you not at school?” boys started on their return home, continued the lady. tired and hungry. Then it was “My mother is sick," said Tom; that Dick's drooping spirit revived, and not knowing what question and he proposed that they should would come next, he rushed from each take their turn at begging. the door. Jim joined heartily in the plan, and The boys were full of wrath when after the usual amount of ridicule, they learned the result of his atTom assented also. tempt. Dick's attempt was rewarded with "The idea,” said Dick, of giving two apples, and he joined the boys your own name, and telling just at the gate, laughing merrily where you lived. You're a smart "If she had only given me one boy to take on a tramp." more," he said, "we should have Tom's wretchedness had reached had enough to go round.” its highest point, and he was Jim was quite closely questioned, thoroughly out of patience with his and ended by bringing some mouldy companions. pie as his share of the contribu- “I am a weak and wicked boy,'' | he said, “to be persuaded into , Mean old thing !" he ex- doing anything of this kind. Wo Claimed ; "she must think we are may as well come to an understandaungry if she supposes we can eat ing. I have done wrong, and I mouldy pie, The only thing to do shall tell father and Mişs Abbott all about it. I wouldn't have mother' To tell Miss Abbott was the know it for the world !” severest test of the genuineness of “Oh!” said Jim, “ nice little Tom's repentance. He had always boy will 'fess, and save his own pre- been one of her “ good boys," and cious skin, while he gets a good he hated to lower himself in her flogging for his wicked companions.” estimation. She listened in silence “Nothing of the kind," said Tom. to Tom's brief story, and then “I shall not mention your names, assured him that it was not entirely if I can help it. And I may as new to her. The house at which well say right here that our friend- he called that morning was her ship is at an end. You don't do home. The lady who appeared at right; and I can't do right and go the door, amazed at his strange bewith you. If I had never seen you, haviour, had passed into the parlour I should feel a great deal happier to observe his course, and there at this very minute.” an open window had heard a por· An angry discussion followed ; tion of the boys' conversation. but for once Tom stood firmly by his principles, and could not be The three boys are young men dissuaded therefrom either by ridi- now. Dick and Jim have renounced cule, threats, or entreaties. When the mischievous tricks. of youth ; the boys finally separated, it was but it is to be feared that a close in. with the painful conviction that the spection of their course would morning's effort had been a failure. reveal some discreditable facts. Mr. Warren was surprised and Tom is a young man of sterling pained when he heard his son's worth of character, who dates his sorrowful confession. But he felt first steadfast stand for principle that the frankness with which he from a bitter experience in boy, owned his fault was a redeeming hood, when he first fully realised feature of the case, and a hopeful that one cannot stake fire in his promise for the future. He trusted bosom, and his clothes not be That it would be a lesson to him to burned ;" nor “go upon hot coals, shun bad companions, and with and his feet not be burned." them the first beginnings of evil. SCHEER AMIDST GLOOM.” THERE are few more impressive stories of Scripture than that which cells how, when imprisoned at Philippi, " at midnight Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises unto God." They were in great bodily suffering. But a few hours before they had been subjected to the Roman scoarging, and the flesh on their backs was hanging in shreds, while their bodies were burning with the fever from their wounds. They were in prison; not in a prison hospital such as the felon of to-day in their condition would be placed in, but in a noisome dudgeon whose dampness chilled them to the bone as often as the burning fever abated. Nor were they allowed such choice of position, such wretched ease as might have been found in that wretched place, for the measure of their discomfort was filled up by making their ankles fast in the stocks. Friends may cheer us in our sụffering. If they can do nothing to relieve our pain, their presence and consoling words may help us to bear it. We know that Paul was a man very sensitive to friendly sympathy. But of course no friends were allowed to minister to them now, or speak to them one word of cheer. And for others than themselves might they be troubled. They had gathered a little handful of converts at Philippi-an encouraging beginning of a Church had been made. Their hearts had beat high with hope at the prospeots which were opening before them. But now their preaching is brought to an end, their work is possibly overthrown. Will not the little band of Christians be scattered ? will not some of them be terrified into renouncing Jesus ? must not their encouraging work in Philippi come to an end even in its beginning ? It was midnight. There is a gloom in the midnight hour. The little child is troubled at the dark-even the child too young to have heard of ghosts and goblins. It is natural for it to be depressed by the darkness, and the grown man never entirely recovers from that feeling. The sleepless invalid longs for the dawn, for pain is doubly depressing in the night. Thus while the apostles were suffering in mind as well as in body, the midnight was pressing their sorrow still deeper into their souls. But though darkness was all about them, there was light in their hearts. Though pain was racking their limbs, their spirits were resting in a joyful peace. At midnight they prayed and sang praises anto God. Having lifted up their hearts in prayer to the Most High, they received from heaven such comfort that they could lift ap their voices in the most cheering strains. For they believed in God. The question whether God exists is simply the question whether all things in the universe are governed by the forces of wisdom and goodness—and thus that every combination of circumstances will be made to issue in the highest good. When we are in trouble, it is hard to answer this question with a confident affirmative. We tremble lest the evil should be triumphing, lest ignorance and malevolence may not, after all, be the dominant principles in the universe. But despair is blank atheism ; it is an abandonment of belief in the rule of wisdom and goodness. Even anxiety partakes of this error; it is a questioning whether, after all, there be what we call God. But if a man truly and fully believes that all the affairs of the universe are controlled by wisdom and goodness, he cannot be troubled in mind, however dark may be the immediate prospect. And prayer is a reassuring of oneself that God does exist. It is & reaching out and laying hold of the hand of God, as a timid child in the night is comforted by taking hold of a parent's hand. Prayer is not so much that by which we secure a change in the order of events, as something by which we are made quiet, and content to let the afflictive order of events go on. It is the soul's assurance to itself that this suffering and this midnight darkness is all controlled by God, and that out of it He will bring the highest good. And so with prayer comes praise. The soul which by prayer has gained a sense of God's presence lifts up to Him its joyful songs of praise. Perhaps, brother, the midnight is on your soul. Cherished plans in life may all have been thwarted. Affliction, sorrow, in severest form may have come upon you. Can you not believe that God still exists ? —that out of these things as well as out of prosperity shall come the highest good? Can you not with Paul and Silas pray in your midnight, and sing praises unto God ? No wonder that the apostles, having their souls filled with such a sense of God's presence, were able to do a converting work right there in the prison. Nay, were not souls saved there which would not have been saved had not Paul and Silas been brought into that midnight? Must we not believe that they felt fully comforted in their affliction, felt fully repaid for their suffering, when they saw that through them they had been enabled to bring others to the Saviour ? Perhaps, brother, you have been led down into the midnight that you may do good to some who could be reached in no other way. The world is full of troubled, sorrowing men-men who have been so afflicted that they have given up hope and are in despair. Now if you will only sing songs in the midnight, they may be persuaded that after all the world is ruled by God. Our Lord became a man of sorrows that He might help sorrowing men. Now the servant is not above his master; think it not strange, therefore, if God shall thrust you down into suffering and gloom, that you by an example of faith amidst sorrows may help to save those who are in gloom. THE LOVED AND LOST. “ The loved and lost !” why do we call them lost? Because we miss them from our onward road ? Straightway relieved them from life's weary load, They are not lost; they are within the door That shuts out loss, and every hurtful thing- And God Himself their Lord, and Judge, and King |