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"Here is my hand as a pledge for a call-more I cannot promise."

The boys separated, each engaged with new and strange thoughts. When David took his book, he found the learning of his lesson a difficult task. He repeated words, but their meaning did not enter his understanding. He studied on and on, while his mind was wholly occupied with a desire to learn to draw, and a determination to pay for his blue coat. At length, he read aloud from his book, "It is a law in natural philosophy, that no two things can occupy the same place at the same time." He paused; for he now grasped an idea. "And this is as true of the philosophy of mind," he said, "and Harry's plan and my lesson can never grow together. I will make this promised call, leave a decided answer, and then there will be room and readiness for study."

He was soon seated at a centre table, in the pleasant parlour of Mrs. Grey, looking with Harry at some beautiful engravings and paintings. He looked at each one separately, with great delight and interest, occasionally making a remark that revealed a mind susceptible of every form of beauty. Mrs. Grey had laid aside her book, and was seated near David, sharing in his pleasure. As he laid the last one down, he said, "I have enjoyed much; I should never tire looking at beautiful pictures; what a treasure you possess in them."

Yes," said Mrs. Grey, "I value them much for their own worth and beauty; then there is a pleasant association connected with each. Many of them are offerings of kindness and love from some good friend."

"From some relative, I suppose," said David.

"No, from friends;-from those persons that find pleasure in adding to the happiness of others. I was always very fond of pictures, and before I was married I had no means of gratifying this love. Yet I was not left destitute-most of these were given me then. Look at the one in the frame opposite."

"Oh, how beautiful! how very beautiful!" exclaimed David, after intensely gazing at it for some time.

"Yes, it is the most beautiful picture I have," said Mrs. Grey; "it was a present from Mr. T., now in

Italy. He was formerly one of our neighbours, and knew that I was very fond of pictures. On receiving it, I was, at first, almost oppressed with a deep feeling of gratitude, mingled with joy and delight, I thought it was too much for me to have, and I knew not how I could ever appropriately thank the generous giver. I took my pen-no words were sufficiently expressive; I arose and walked to the door, then stepped out. One of the most beautiful sunsets met my eye; my picture for the moment was forgotten, and my whole soul was enraptured, as I gazed upon the gorgeous canopy that reached from the horizon nearly to the zenith. Then there was the silvery lake below, reflecting every variety of shade and colour, that was so beautifully mingled above. Beyond this, was the deep green forest of the noble oak, interspersed with the gracefully waving elm, and the chestnut, with its delicate blossom. On oné side was the green corn, moving to the gentle breeze, and on the other rested a flock of sheep and lambs, with the shepherd and his dog. My soul was bathed in beauty; every sense was hushed, save that of con scious delight, when a soft voice whispered, Seest thou this picture? I said, Yes, and how beautiful! Again it whispered, And hast thou thanked the giver?" A sudden pang of pain pierced my heart, and I mur: mured, 'No, no; I did not think of it.' And the angel voice continued, And thou art troubled because thon canst not find language sufficiently expressive to thank a friend for a picture, poor indeed beside this."

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"I now closed my eyes against this surpassing scene of beauty, and tried to breathe words of thanksgiving, but could not. I gazed once more; beauty remained, but all delight from my soul had fled, and I returned, to the house. There met me the picture I had left. I took my pen and paper, yet could write nothing, and I resolved to return the valuable present. I could not keep it. The weight of gratitude for so rich a gift was more than I could bear. At length, with feelings and thoughts much troubled, I sought my bed. It was long before sleep came, and when it did, I was quickly aroused by a sweet voice, again whispering, Hast thou thanked the giver?' This time I answered, How can I?' The

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full-toned, musical reply, I shall never forget. It has been a star of light, guiding me on the way since that memorable evening. In softest words it said:

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Open thy heart to receive; enjoy and use every good that is offered thee. This is gratitude that is acceptable to the great Giver of every gift. Even thy picture upon the table is from this same all-bountiful source. Our Father hath touched the heart of thy friend; He is forming it anew into His own image. Love is active there, and can find rest only in going. forth into use; and wilt thou impede its onward, happy course? Wilt thou deprive thy friend of the high happiness of giving? Even now, while thou art murmuring beneath an oppressive weight of gratitude, his soul is open, and he is receiving still greater gifts to bestow upon those worthy to receive. He is filled with heavenly delight, for he acknowledges every gift as coming from the hand of Infinite Love, therefore he is truly rich in charge of many things, while he claims nothing. Canst not thou throw aside false pride and self-reliance, and come into this receptive state? Do this, and thou hast thanked the Giver!' The voice ceased. I slept sweetly, and in the morning felt as if I awoke to a new life. My pen moved easily; I had but to express to Mr. T. the beauty I found in his picture, and the pleasure it would ever afford me and my friends to see it hanging beside the wall of my room."

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"And now, Master David, I am indebted to you for an increased pleasure this evening. Harry and I have received much from your society, and the happy expression of your face, tells us you have been no loser." "Indeed I have enjoyed much, and feel and think what I cannot express, nor fully understand. But I will hope a night's sleep may affect me as it did you after this bright communication, that I may awake to a new life, and seek that grateful state the angel voice described. I will try to overcome my foolish pride, and receive, enjoy, and use, every gift that is offered me." Now you are right," said Harry, now we can meet face to face, and heart to heart. There is no icy barrier to separate us; in a week's time we shall be one, sharing our goods, and thus doubling our joys. You

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will come tomorrow morning at seven o'clock, David, and take your first drawing lesson."

"I cannot say yes, now, Harry, although I see things in a new light. I must first talk with mother, and have a night's sleep before my way is all clear."

"Do not press him, my son," said Mrs. Grey, "all will be bright to him in the morning. He will see that every good we have comes from Infinite Love. Even the strength that he has been labouring with to maintain independence, is a gift from our Father. All, all is from Him. He is ever giving, and He only requires, in return, open souls to receive His goods, and loving. hearts to use them. And surely David Earl will not, in blind self-reliance, refuse privileges offered him, because they come through earthly mediums; no, he will use the talents God hath given him, that they may be multiplied tenfold, in good to him and the world."

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Well, mother, we can let him know; seven o'clock is the hour, and pencils and paper will be waiting for him." The hour was remembered, and the following morning David took his first lesson in drawing. Mr. White found him a boy of marked genius; but what was better, he was a boy of untiring industry and perseverance. Six months passed rapidly by, and every morning at seven o'clock, was David at the drawing-table, and Harry found his predictions fulfilled in two respects: his joys were doubled, and his friend was far in advance of him in his favourite art.

To be continued.)

THE PHYSICAL POWERS OF ENGLAND.-Each acre of a coal seam four feet in thickness, and yielding one yard nett of pure fuel, is equivalent to about 5,000 tons; and possesses, therefore, a reserve of mechanical strength in its fuel equal to the lifelabour of more than 1,600 men. Each square mile of one such single coal-bed contains 3,000,000 tons of fuel; equivalent to 1,000,000 men labouring through 20 years of their ripe strength. Assuming, for calculation, that 10,000,000 tons out of the present annual products of the British coal mines, namely, 65,000,000, are applied to the production of mechanical power, then England annually summonses to her aid an army of 3,300,000 fresh men, pledged to exert their fullest strength through 20 years. Her actual annual expenditure of power, then, is represented by 66,000,000 of able-bodied labourers. The latent strength resident in the whole coal product of the kingdom, may, by the same process, be calculated at more than 400,000,000 strong men, or more than double the number of the adult males now upon the globe.-Mechanics' Magazine.

EASTER THOUGHTS.

EVERY child in a Sunday-school knows why we keep Easter. It reminds us of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every child may not be able to understand all the reasons why we consider these things of so much importance; but there are some of these reasons which we may all comprehend and feel; some thoughts which every mind should cherish as often as Easter returns.

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Street along which Christ bore his cross; showing also the flat roofs of the country.

The first thing we should do, with regard to the facts which Easter commemorates, is to obtain a clear notion of them,-not merely the power of describing them in words, but the power to see a picture of the events clearly depicted before the imagination. To do

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