God." "God," said she, with astonishment, "where is he? where does he live?" &c. Many questions of a similar nature she put with much interest and feeling, to which her master gave such answers as were calculated to awaken the liveliest feelings of her mind in regard to Jehovah. After she had learned all her little mind could retain of divine things, she desired to go home and see her parents, with an earnestness that could not be resisted. Go she must; leave was granted; she went home to her father's cottage, a place where prayer was not wont to be made, with her little bosom beating with a high tone of pious feeling, in view of the importance of prayer. She went to her father, and said, "Father, pray." She urged with warmth a compliance; but he utterly refused. She then went to her mother and asked her to pray, but with no better success. She could not endure it any longer; her feelings must vent themselves in words. She said, "Let us pray." She knelt down and prayed, and it appeared that Scripture was fulfilled, "The effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much." In answer to her prayer both of her parents were brought under conviction, which terminated in hopeful conversion to God. And this was the beginning of an extensive revival of religion.

"THE LITTLE BUSY BEE."

"How doth the little busy bee

Improve each shining hour."

THESE are the shining hours, when all nature smiles on the glad heart of youth. While the sun shines, the little busy bee improves each moment to secure his sweet treasure, and deposit it in a safe place; and when the sun ceases to shine, and he is shut up in his hive, he busies himself in arranging and securing it for winter's use. So, now, while all is sunshine about them, should children and youth store their minds with knowledge; and then when business, care, and trouble come, they will have resources to draw from to occupy their minds, and comfort their hearts. Let them especially store their

minds richly with the Word of God, which will then be sweeter to them than honey and the honeycomb ; but above all secure the true riches, which that blessed Word teaches them how to obtain, and which will not fail them when the storms of life arise, and the winter of old age appears.

But children and youth may do more than just to lay up for themselves. The bee-hunter puts a piece of honeycomb in a box, catches a bee from a flower, and covers over the box, and very soon the bee begins to fill himself with the honey. Then the hunter lets him out, and he flies round and round in a circle, and rises up and surveys the fields around him, till he sees where he is, and then darts off in a straight line to his home. In a little time he comes back, but not alone. He brings a companion with him, and they load themselves with honey, go, and and return again, bringing others with them; till in a little while the hunter's box is swarming like a hive.

Now, when we have tasted the sweetness of God's Word, and learned how precious Jesus is, you, in like manner, should seek to bring your companions with you, to partake of the same blessings. For the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ is not like earthly treasure. If you were to find a heap of gold, you would be likely to want it all for yourself; but when you have found the true riches, there is no room for selfishness; for you may take all you want, and the stock will not be diminished. There is enough for all, and you may freely invite every one you see to partake of it, without any fear that you will not have enough for yourself.

And now, let every boy and girl who attends the Sabbath-school, and there partakes of that which is sweeter than honey in the comb, and more precious than gold and silver, follow the example of the bee, and every Sabbath bring a companion with him, so that the Sabbath-school may swarm like the bee-hunter's box. In this way, every Sabbath-school scholar will become a Missionary; and they will form a great army, in the service of the Captain of Salvation, before whom, fierce and powerful as he is, Satan himself will tremble for his kingdom.

THE VOICE OF SPRING.
HARK! what a merry sound is there,
Echoing from the distant dale;
Glad tidings from its tones appear,

Its sweet soft notes, we all would hail.
Its chords are swelling through the air,
Its music cheers the sadden'd heart,
It tells us gladsome times are near,
A thousand blessings to impart.
It echoes on the trickling stream,
Over the rich and fertile plain;
'Tis like a song in an evening dream,
And we love to hear its strain.

The forest hears its joyful sound,

And shakes its tall and stately head,
Whilst every bending branch rebounds
With "Welcome, to our verdant shade."
The merry songsters of the wood,
With joy take up the tuneful lay;
Sweet harbinger of every good,

They'll sound thy praise, from day to day.
The varied tribes, o'er earth that bound,
That bask beneath the sun's bright ray;
Will listen to the welcome sound,

When his gold beams are breaking day.
The crocus and the violet hear

The music of its mystic spell;
And many lovely flowers appear,
Their tale of happiness to tell.

Sound on! sound on! o'er this broad earth,
All nature gives the welcome, "Come!"
For thy sweet voice gives nature birth,
And she starts from the slumb'ring tomb.

Ask ye, what sound is this we hear,
That comes so swiftly on the wing;
And why it is to all so dear?

It is the charming voice of Spring.
Then grateful songs to God we'll give,
For all the smiling joys of Spring,
That in life's Spring time, we may live,
And Autumn fruit to Jesus bring.
Darlington.

J. HORSLEY.

AT the south-western point of Spain and Europe stands the important fortress of Gibraltar, which commands the passage from the Atlantic Ocean into the Mediterranean Sea. It is a very remarkable circumstance that Gibraltar, which is a part of Spain, and at so great a distance from England, is in the possession of Great Britain. It was captured by an English fleet, aided by a small band of Dutchmen, in the year 1704, one hundred and fifty years since; and although repeated attempts have been made by the Spaniards, aided by the French, to take Gibraltar from the English, their endeavours have been unsuccessful.

!

The ancient Greeks and Romans called Gibraltarwhich was then known under the name of Mount Calpeand Mount Abyla-in Africa, opposite to Gibraltar—the Pillars of Hercules. The Greeks and Romans were not accustomed to navigate the ocean beyond the narrow sea which runs between those places.

The rock of Gibraltar is only about three miles long,

and in no part exceeds three-quarters of a mile in width ; between it and the main land is a low sandy neck of land, which is about half a mile broad where it joins Gibraltar, but it is wider towards the Spanish territory. The rock, the isthmus or neck of land, and the coast of Spain, form a bay, which is more than eight miles long and five miles wide, and is called the Bay of Gibraltar. This bay is an excellent harbour for shipping.

The most celebrated part of the rock, towards the south, is nearly fourteen hundred and forty feet above the level of the sea. The northern side of the rock, which faces Spain, is almost perpendicular, except a narrow passage towards the north-west.

In the early part of the eighth century, a Spanish nobleman, of great wealth and influence, whose daughter had been greatly insulted and injured by the king of Spain, induced the Saracens to send an army to conquer Spain. The forces landed on the isthmus near to the rock, and they were under the command of a general whose name was Tarif Ebn Zarca. He erected a castle on Mount Calpe, and changed its name to Gibel-Tarif, which Arabic designation signifies, the mountain of Tarif. From an inscription over the gate of this castle, it appears that it was erected in the year 725. The name of Gibel-Tarif has, by corruption, become changed to Gibraltar. Probably it was corrupted first by calling it GibalTar, and then the transition would be easy to call it Gibraltar.

The Saracens and Moors, followers of Mahomet, kept possession of Gibel-Tarif for about six hundred years, when it was taken by Ferdinand, king of Castile. It was, however, again taken by the Mahometans; and for several years there were fierce contests between them and the Spaniards for its possession. In the year 1462, the Spaniards finally ejected the Mahometans, and Gibraltar was held by Spain till the year 1704, when it was besieged and taken possession of by the English fleet, under Sir George Rooke, aided by 1800 English and Dutch, commanded by the Prince of Hesse d'Armstadt. Ever since then Gib