duty, its own privileges - holding out hands offering us radiant gifts. The day passes and never comes again. Other days as bright may come, but that day never comes a second time. If we do not take just then the gifts it offers, we shall never have another chance to get them, and shall always be poorer for what we have missed.-J. R. MILLER.

Behind Time.

The best-laid plans, the most important affairs, the fortunes of individuals, the weal of nations, honor, life itself, are daily sacrificed because somebody is "behind time." There are men who always fail in whatever they undertake simply because they are "behind time." There are others who put off reformation year by year, till death seizes them; and they perish unrepentant, because for ever "behind time." Five minutes in a crisis is worth years. It is but a little period, yet it has often saved a fortune or redeemed a people. If there is one virtue that should be cultivated more than another by him who would succeed in life, it is punctuality; if there is one error that should be avoided, it is being "behind time."-FREEMAN HUNT.

Time and Eternity.

The flowers fade, the heart withers, man grows old and dies, the world lies down in the sepulcher of ages; but time writes no wrinkles on the brow of eternity.BISHOP HEBER.

THANKSGIVING.

Giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father.-ST. PAUL.

Thanks for Ills Escaped.

Rather than upbraid God for the ills that have befallen thee, thank Him for those which have not befallen thee. IVAN PANIN.

The Thankful Heart.

For all that God in mercy sends

For health and children, home and friends;
For comforts in the time of need,
For every kindly word or deed,
For happy thoughts and holy talk,
For guidance in our daily walk-
In everything give thanks!

For beauty in this world of ours,
For verdant grass and lovely flowers,
For song of birds, for hum of bees,

For the refreshing Summer breeze,
For hill and plain, for stream and wood,
For the great ocean's mighty flood-

In everything give thanks!

For the sweet sleep which comes with night,

For the returning morning light,

For the bright sun that shines on high,

For the stars glittering in the sky-
For these and every thing we see,
O Lord, our hearts we lift to Thee;
In every thing give thanks!

E. I. TUPPER.

Counting Our Mercies.

Counting up our mercies and our every-day reasons for gratitude, looking at the hundred little things and large things, gentle words, loving smiles, flowers sent to cheer us, children to greet us, old friends to advise and middleaged friends to uphold us, good books to read, dear songs to sing, meetings in gladness, even parting in hope for the better life, we do not know where to end the list. The only thing to do is to live always in an atmosphere sweet and vital with thanksgiving. "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow !"-MARGARET E. Sangster.

Thanksgiving Prayer.

We come, O Lord, these Autumn days,
With hymns of gratitude and praise.
Harvest of gold the plains adorn,

Rich fruits roll forth from Plenty's horn;
Thou givest treasures from the rocks;
The little hills are clothed with flocks;
The seas are with their burden white,
And new Thy mercies day and night.

For changing seasons as they go,
For Autumn leaf, for Winter's snow,

For the green verdure of the Spring,
For life in plant and life on wing,
For Summer with its ripening heat,
For hopes the rounded years complete,
For morn and noon, for night and day,
For light that marks our heavenward way;

For all the blessings of Thy hand,
For freedom in fair freedom's land,
Pursuits of thrift that bring us wealth,
For schools and churches, peace and health,
For commerce, yielding up her stores,
Brought for man's use from distant shores;
For countless gifts, O Lord, we raise
Our hymns of gratitude and praise.

Thou settest man in families,

And all his wants the earth supplies;
Of children, be they far or near,
Of children's children gathered here,
We thank Thee for Thy gracious care,
And lift for them the secret prayer,
As clustered round each social board
We eat and drink, and praise the Lord.

J. E. RANKIN.

Reasons for Thanksgiving.

Plato, looking through the dim spectacles of Nature, gave thanks unto God for three things: First, that God created him a man, and not a beast; secondly, that he

was born a Grecian and not a barbarian; thirdly, that not only so, but a philosopher also. But Christians, that are better bred and taught, turn the stream of their thanks into another manner of channel: First, that God hath created them after His own image; secondly, that He hath called them out of the common crowd of this world and made them Christians; thirdly, and more especially, that among those who bear the name of Christ. He hath made them faithful ones; like a few quick-sighted men among a company of blind ones; like the light in Goshen, when all Egypt was dark besides; or like Gideon's fleece, only watered with the dew of Heaven, while the rest of the earth was dry and destitute of His favor. Great cause of thankfulness indeed !-Spencer.

A Beautiful Emblem.

The heath in the desert wants rain far more than the water-lily. But let the showers come down upon the heath in the desert. There is no motion, no sign, that the shower is welcome or is working. On the other hand, the moment the rain begins to fall upon the water-lily, though it is rooted in water and has its chief element in water, its leaves seem to be clapping their hands, and the whole plant rejoices in the falling of the rain ~S. MARTIN.