during which a Polish gentleman, who was travelling on foot with two guides, played some beautiful airs of his own composing, on a piano forte which had been presented to the monks by an English gentleman, and which was in very good tune. After breakfast we saw the chapel. It is neat, but not much ornamented. A box was hung against the wall, with the words pour les pauvres written on it, in which all those who can afford it, put some remuneration for their entertainment at the convent. The gentlemen visited the library, but women are not permitted to go into it. Our kind hosts shewed us a cabinet of natural history, and some relics which were found on the site of a temple of Jupiter, that stood formerly by the side of the lake near the Hospice. We were accompanied in our ramble by one of the monks, who seemed to have the principal direction of the domestic affairs, and whose manners are those of a man of the world. After a little while we were joined by the prieur. They were so kind as to call some of the dogs, which continued with us during our walk. We had three of these mild and noble animals with us. They are large and strong, with fine coats of a fawn colour, spotted with white; and are distinguished by a particular form of the nose. They are very gentle and good-tempered. These sensible creatures will discover bodies that are buried six feet deep in the snow; and when they meet with travellers who have lost their way, will conduct them to the Hospice, leading them, by safe paths, over the snow. They are sent out in pairs. One of them has a small bottle of wine, and a basket containing some bread, fastened to him; and the other has some garments. The servants of the convent, and sometimes the monks themselves, go in search of travellers, with the dogs. I saw one of these dogs in London, at the place where the models of Switzerland were exhibited; but though it had the form and colour of these, yet it looked quite a different animal. There it was languishing and dying with heat; but here, in their native mountains, they are all life and joyous spirit, and range the country with the freedom, though not the fierceness, of the lion. Formerly, before the roads over Mont Cenis and the Simplon were made, a vast many travellers passed this way, and the dogs were the means of saving a great many lives; but at present the number of travellers, excepting those who come, like us, from motives of curiosity, is comparatively small. Still they save many persons' lives, even now. We saw six horses arrive, loaded with wood; the regular number that are sent during the summer. The wood was fastened on their backs in a very peculiar manner, with a strong stick, crossways, to keep it steady. During our walk, the prieur picked up a bit of crystal and gave it to me. I shall treasure it up, as a remembrance of my visit to this place, and of his kindness. I picked up some bits of crystal likewise, and gathered some beautiful flowers. Though not a blade of grass grows within some miles of this place, yet the rocks are thickly sprinkled with bright flowers; and when the monks saw me gathering them, they very obligingly brought me a great profusion. I noticed five sorts of gentians; one of which, I was told, will not thrive unless in a situation five thousand feet above the level of the sea. It is very small, grows in clusters, and is of a very bright blue. There are several sorts of campanulas; some beautiful little saxifrages; several sorts of violets: one that I had particularly observed had the middle petal jagged. The mountain pink, several sorts of geraniums, and many more, too numerous to mention, were glittering and shining on the bare rock, where there appeared nothing to nourish them. We have been very kindly provided with an early dinner; but I own I felt some awkwardness in eating of the good things set before us, when I observed that the monks did not partake of the meat; it being, I suppose, a fast day. In a quarter of an hour we shall take our leave; but I shall long remember, with pleasure and gratitude, the courtesy and hospitality with which we have been received and entertained by the superior and other ecclesiastics of St. Bernard's. ON CHILDREN LOVING AND SERVING CHRIST. PERHAPS, young reader, you have heard and read many anecdotes of boys and girls about your own size and age shewing how they loved the Saviour, and tried to glorify Him. Let me tell you another or two, and then urge you to go and do likewise. Well: I heard a London minister say, not long ago, that one Lord's-day he addressed the sabbath school children, and exhorted them all to do something for Christ. The next day a little girl called upon him, and said, "If you please, sir, I think I can do something for Christ!" The gentleman kindly replied, "Well, my dear, and what can you do?" "Oh, sir," she said, "If you will fold some of the tracts written to people who keep open their shops on the sabbath-day, put them in envelopes, and direct them, I can take them round, and although they might refuse to take them from a gentleman, they surely will not from a little girl." The minister did as he was requested; the child took them round, and six shops were afterwards closed in consequence. All this out of love to Christ, and by a little girl! In a Sunday school where it was customary to give the three best girls a five shilling piece at the end of the year; three of the elder scholars had just received the money, when they were asked what they would do with it? The first replied she should buy a nice doll! The second said, she should purchase an article of dress; but the third, with deep emotion, exclaimed, "I shall do with mine the same as angels do with theirs." She was reminded angels have no money. "No! no!" she said, "but they cast their crowns at Jesus' feet; so shall I." She gave her crown piece to the cause of Christ. Amelia Geddie was one day dressed in a new white frock, with red ribbons in her bonnet, and some one said to her, "No doubt you will think yourself very prim and clean ?" "Ah no," she replied, "I will never think that until I have the fine white robe of my Redeemer's righteousness put upon me." She was but a child, and yet she felt her need of Jesus! And, my dear children, you all have sinned, and are in danger of punishment. Oh! cry as David did, "Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." You should seek Christ at once, for life is very uncertain. More than half the human race die before they reach manhood. You are guilty by nature. Have you found forgiveness in Christ? Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Life, too, is very short-life is like sleep. Hours pass rapidly in sleep-so does life. It is as the shooting of an arrow, or the rapidity of the eagle's flight. It is a vapour. Many children die. You know some who have died young. Have you prepared to meet God? The late Countess of Huntingdon, when about nine years of age, saw the dead body of a little child of her own age carried to the grave; she followed the funeral, and there her heart was. opened to the conviction that she needed the Saviour. She sought him, found him, became rich in faith and good works, and now rests from her labours in the bosom of Jesus. Nothing but having a personal interest in Christ will fit you to die; all other delights and pleasures will fail you in a dying hour. But Jesus will not. He can and does support his people in the hour of death. John Newton tells of a little girl who said on her dying day, "If this be dying it is a pleasant thing to die." Another young christian of eight years of age came home ill of a disease of which he soon died. His mother asked him if he was afraid to die? He said, "No! I wish to die, if it be God's will; that sweet word, 'sleep in Jesus,' makes me happy when I think of the grave." Oh, my dear children, would you live and die happy, come now to the Saviour. The door is open, enter! Now is the accepted time. PRAISING JESUS. BY A YOUTH. A. T. To Jesus on high, our Saviour and King, May thy grace be sufficient in trouble and care, THE SECRET OF SUCCESS. REPLY TO A CHARADE. ARE not the virtues mentioned in the verses of S. A. S., at page 108, INDUSTRY AND PERSEVERANCE. Thus-1. Indus-2. try-3. Per-4. sever-5. ance. 1. The river Indus. 2. I was trying to make it out. 3. Per-sia. 4. The Emperor Sever-us. 5. ance is half of dist-ance. Bristol. L. C. |