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"NEDDY AND ME."

SOME years ago, on the yearly list of subscribers to a missionary society, was seen this strange entry, "Neddy and me, £6;" and not one year only was it so, but for several years. Perhaps you are curious to know something about "Neddy and me," who managed always to have so much to give for the help of the heathen.

"I dare say they were rich boys," you say, "with plenty of pocket-money, and could afford to part with a good sum. But it was no such thing: if you will listen, I will tell you all about them.

James W. was not a rich boy, but a poor one; very poor, with no father or mother to provide for him, so that he was obliged to work for his own living. He had been to a ragged-school and learned to read, and there also he must have been taught what a happy thing it is to do something for others. Being related to the servant of a clergyman who lived nigh at hand, he had a ticket given him for the usual Sunday-school feast. It was the custom at such a time after tea that the children should say some hymns; and one was repeated by a little girl, which was called "Do Something for Jesus." James W. listened with great interest, and when he went away there were tears in his eyes. God had sent those simple words as a message to the boy's heart.

Several months passed away, and then the same clergyman was holding his usual missionary meeting, which took place once a year. Different young contributors placed their collections on the table, they all sang, and they prayed, and then the people went away. One boy seemed lingering behind the rest, and, at last coming forward, he put into the clergyman's hands a small brown bag which felt very heavy. It was James W's bag, and, to the clergyman's great surprise, it contained nearly six pounds! Stop a minute, my boy," said he, as James was hurrying away as fast as he could: "come, sit down, and tell me how you can afford to give all this to the missionary society." The boy coloured, but at last took courage to tell his little history, which we will give you in his own words.

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"All that day after the school feast, sir, I felt so sorry that I could not help the poor people whom the good missionaries teach to read. I had learned to read at the ragged-school, and I wished all of them might be taught to know that Jesus died for them; but days passed, and I could not think of anything that I could do. Next Sun

:

day, after the sermon, the gentlemen went to the pews with plates to put the people's money in, and while they did so the clergyman stood and said some sentences about charity one was, 'Be merciful after thy power: if thou hast much, give plenteously; if thou hast little, do thy diligence to give gladly of that little for so gatherest thou to thyself a good reward in the day of necessity. When I went home the words stayed in my mind, and I wished very much I could give something, however little. I had no money; but, I thanked God, I had plenty of strength, and as the long days came I should have time also.

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That night a thought came into my mind, and I prayed God to bless me and to make me able to carry it out.

"I make my living, sir, by buying fruit and vegetables, and selling them again. I determined to put by the profits I got one day each week, and I have done so the last year, sir. I do not wrong anyone by this, for Neddy (my donkey, sir) is able to do plenty of work, and we get on bravely. I often wonder to hear boys say the times are bad; I am sure I get on well, and I am happy and thankful. Please take the money, sir: I must make haste; for it is late, and Neddy and me get up long before it is light in the morning.'

"Tell me your name," said the minister, " and I will put it on the list of my young contributors."

"No, sir, I would rather not; it would not be fair; I only do one half, and poor Neddy does the other. We are partners, sir; I give time, and Neddy gives labour; so one name must not go into the list unless both names go."

"Well, then, Neddy and me' it shall be; and now good night, my boy, and may God bless you and the money you have given. It will be used in sending His holy word to the heathen, that they may be taught to know that Jesus Christ died for sinners."

James went away, and the next day the clergyman thought he would try to find out more about the boy. As he did not bring Neddy so far as that part of the town, he took a walk into his own neighbourhood, and very soon, at a little distance before him, he saw the partners. Neddy was laden with potatoes, winter greens, and other vegetables, and James carried a box full of early salad, which he grew in boxes. As he stopped at a house known to the clergyman, he made inquiries about him, which were answered in a satisfactory manner.

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He comes here three days a week," the lady said, "and is quite a favourite of ours. I have never known him cheat me of a farthing; and if he says his fruit and vegetables are fresh, I would take his word more than that of the first green-grocer in the town. I can quite depend upon James," continued the lady, after giving several instances of his good conduct; " and I am beginning to take an interest in ragged-schools; for I am sure if they teach such principles as James has learned, every one should support them."

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The clergyman then went in search of the little fruiterer, and told him to call at his house, when he gave him a basket of beautiful table-fruit he had just received from a friend, in token of his approval of his conduct. Since then James has been going on, as he would say, bravely," and is now one of the assistant teachers in this kind friend's schools. He still keeps up his missionary subscription, and his whole conduct shows that he is treading in the right way, and persuading others to tread it with him. He has great influence with his companions, and often talks to them in a kind and useful way. This is his favourite hymn, and he calls it "the Comrades' Hymn:"

"Come, brother, join our band;

Come to the heavenly land:

Ours is a holy strife;

Ours is a glorious life.

Come, join our brotherhood;

Come, we will do thee good."

As for "Neddy," I am sure he is a happy donkey to have such a good, kind boy for his master; and, whenever you feel inclined to call a donkey a stupid animal, I hope you will think of Neddy and how useful he was to James. But still more, I hope you will try and copy James in trying to do good to others, and in his going on year after year in the good path he has chosen. You know it is very easy to do a thing from impulse-that is, just from the feelings of the moment; but to persevere, to go on and on in the right road, this is the test of principle, and this is what James did. He did not only give his money one year, but many years. May we not hope that he had the love of God in his heart? for what else can make it easy to deny ourselves for the sake of others? Your father and mother work for you, and probably give you many comforts; but all the money, you must remember, which James gave to the missionary society was so much taken away from his own comforts,

and even necessaries. But do yon think it was any loss to him? Did it not make him all the happier in his own heart, even though he had to go without something he would have liked to have?

God, you may be sure, never lets us be losers when we give up anything for Him. I do not mean to say He will give you as much money back again; but in some way or other He will bless you in return, and fulfil his promise to you. It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts xx. 35). "That which he hath given will pay him again." (Prov. xx. 17).

He

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"Give,' said the little stream,

As it hurried down the hill:

'I am small, I know, but wherever I go
The fields grow greener still.'

"Give,' said the gentle rain,

As it fell upon the flowers:

I raise up the drooping heads again,
And freshen the summer bowers.'

"Give,' said the violet sweet,

In its soft spring-like voice:

'From cottage and hall they will hear my call,
They will find me and rejoice.'

"Give,' said they all; 'for we

Have much received from heaven;

And we fain would give, yes, would only live
To give as God has given.'

"And you, dear children, too,

Have something you can give;

Oh, do as the streams and the blossoms do,
And for God and others live."

M. K. M.

A MORAL RECIPE.

To desire to do something, not only as well as it can be done, but better than we can do it,-to feel to exaggeration all our own natural deficiencies towards the doing of it,-to resolve by redoubled energy and perseverance to extract from art whatever may supply those deficiencies in nature; this is the surest way to become great. He who thus feels, thus desires, and thus resolves, will keep free from rust those mainsprings of action, -the sensibility to shame, and the yearning towards perfection.-Caxtoniana.

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