THE LORD BISHOP OF ONTARIO AND

MRS. LEWIS.

HE Lord Bishop of Ontario and Mrs. Travers Lewis sailed from Liverpool for Canada on Friday, 30th August. Their own immediate relatives and friends accompanied them on board ship, and remained with them to the last. Chiefly, Mrs. Lewis had the comfort of her mother's presence and parting blessing. To her more distant friends and workers she sent farewell messages, praying "that God would be very nigh them." One of the wisest of men has said, "They seem to take the sun from the world who withdraw friendship from life." Thank God, Mrs. Lewis' friendship is not so withdrawn. We each, as individuals, as well as a band of workers, feel it holds us still in its pleasant grip. True, we cannot know the enjoyment which Dr. Johnson so graphically described when he exclaimed: "Sir, we had a good talk!" save by retrospection. But we may know it in anticipation. God in His mercy sparing us to meet again in the coming year, then-oh, then!-what a great deal we shall have to tell one another. Meanwhile let us "keep our friend under our own life's key."

* Cicero.

Echoes from Paris.

"ABSENT IN BODY; PRESENT IN SPIRIT."

(I COR. V. 3.)

HE wheels move round and time goes on,
The guiding presence is not gone,

It moves among us yet;
While mem'ry holds its living power
The past becomes the present hour-
And how can we forget?

Our friend is not the less our friend,
Though for a time our converse end;
Under our "own life's key"

We keep the faith our hearts that stirred,
We keep the name-a household word--
The name of Ada Leigh.

Thus in "life's bundle" yet we're tied,
As when we once prayed side by side;
Hoping and praying still:

One God is ours, one cause we own,
While one in heart before the Throne,
We seek to do His will.

All joy attend her onward way,
Friend of the lone, the stranger's stay,
And youth's unfailing guide;

How many prayers from grateful hearts
Follow the ship as it departs,

And blessings sure provide.

The old scenes fade! the sea will swell
Between us, but we still can tell,

Our trials each to each;

And all to God. Our joys we share

In living union, and declare

Our absent ones we reach.

E. E. H.

7

You know that to give alms is nothing unless you give thought also; and that therefore it is written, not "blessed is he that feedeth the poor," but "blessed is he that considereth the poor."—Ruskin.

world, put on her holiday dress. Our English and American friends are going their several ways, very much edified and delighted, telling their less fortunate neighbours of the treasures of the Exposition and Louvre, and the wonders of the tower of towers.

But there is a transverse side to this pretty picture. The influx of visitors has meant an increased demand upon our funds. The price of provisions, for instance, was exorbitantly raised, and yet our children should be fed. All have returned from Le Vesinet, where they were sent after the breaking out of measles and diphtheria in our Orphanage. Only two it was necessary to board out for a time, as they were not sufficiently recovered from their form of sickness to be re-admitted among their healthier companions.

Behind us lie the shadows. Over three little graves falls the morning sunlight and the evening dew. Well, we know they are "safe in the arms of Jesus;" in the sunshine of God's love for evermore. "We asked life of Thee, and Thou gavest it them, even length of days for ever and ever." It is most blessed to hear of one that she was a little missionary indeed, repeating the verses and hymns she had learned in the Orphanage to her only relative, a step-grandmother, who received the

Echoes from Paris.

truth "out of the mouth" of this babe.

9

"Will the French

people sing the new song too in heaven?" she once asked, evidently puzzled by the "confusion of tongues." Ah, she has already learned the glad refrain: "Thou hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation!" (Rev. v. 9).

And now again the cheery laugh echoes from our playground; and when lessons are over, and the task is done, the swing sways backward and forward to a merry song. Here is no harsh treatment, no cramming system; nothing inconsistent with the purity, and healthiness, and happiness of home life. They have learned to read

without tears. It is not,

"Scold it in, mould it in,

All that they can swallow,

Fold it in, hold it in,

Children's heads are hollow."

Instead of "faces pinched and sad and pale," are rosy cheeks and innocent smiles, as tiny arms twine round nurse's neck, and the younger ones close their eyes as the flowers their petals, without dread of the coming night, or anxiety for the coming day. Trained, instructed both by precept and example, finding that life is not an idle dream, but the highest aims may ennoble the commonest tasks, thank God in our Orphanage you will not find that saddest sight perhaps of all humanity—" a piece of childhood thrown away."

NOTE. We gratefully acknowledge the gift of fifty books of "Songs for Little Singers," and two larger copies, with music, from Henry King Lewis, Esq., for the use of our children.

USE YOUR TALENT.

YHAT is that in thine hands, Abel?" "Nothing but a wee lamb, O God, taken from the flock; I propose offering it to Thee, a willing sacrifice." And so he did, and the sweet smell of that burning has been filling the air ever since, and constantly going up to God as a perpetual sacrifice of praise.

"What is that thou hast in thine hand, Moses?" "Nothing but a staff, O God, with which I tend my flocks." "Take it and use it for Me." And he did, and with it wrought more wondrous things than Egypt and her proud king had seen before.

"Mary, what is that thou hast in thine hand?" "Nothing but a pot of sweet-smelling ointment, O God, wherewith I would anoint this Holy One called Jesus." And so she did, and not only did the perfume fill all the house in which they were, but the Bible-reading world has been fragrant with the memory of the blessed act of love, which has ever since been spoken of "as a memorial of her."

"Poor woman, what is that thou hast in thine hand?" "Only two mites, Lord. It is very little, but then it is all I have, and I would put it into Thy treasury." And so she did, and the story of her generous giving has ever since wrought like a charm in prompting others to give to the Lord.

"What is that thou hast in thine hand, Dorcas?" "Only a needle, Lord." "Take it and use it for Me." And so she did, and not only were the suffering poor of Joppa warmly clad, but inspired by this loving life, "Dorcas Societies " even now continue their benign mission to the poor throughout the earth.-Selected.