The _Henry James_ struck a coral reef near the island of Palmyra, in the Pacific Ocean, and became a wreck. In an hour the crew had to abandon her, experiencing the greatest difficulty in getting away. The shipwrecked people only saved what they stood in, even the ship's papers and the captain's instruments being lost. They were in a sad plight. One boat containing provisions was swamped and the food lost. The captain nearly lost his life by being thrown into the sea. Fortunately a box of matches was got ash.o.r.e dry, and with these a fire was lighted.

The island of Palmyra was found to be uninhabited, but a search next day revealed a number of small huts made of boards and leaves. The island is about nine hundred miles from Samoa. The mate, who had saved his s.e.xtant, volunteered to go in a small boat to Samoa to seek for aid, and a boat was accordingly manned, the mate having for his companions the boatswain and three seamen. These poor fellows were three weeks in the open boat, in a tropical climate, and their sufferings were very severe.

They traversed about thirteen hundred miles, and some days before arrival their food and water gave out. Their sufferings were then terrible, and when they reached Apia, their condition plainly showed what they had pa.s.sed through. Had their voyage been lengthened but a couple of days, it is likely all would have either gone mad or perished from starvation. The shipwrecked people on the island were in the meantime living on wild birds, birds' eggs, and on cocoa-nuts. They had no arms with them, and the only means of catching the birds was by sticks, the men having to get within reach of the birds before they could be caught. In the first days the only water the people had was what they caught by spreading out the leaves of trees. The matches at last got wet, and the poor people could not make their accustomed fire.

A powerful telescope gla.s.s then furnished a burning gla.s.s, and enabled them to get fires once more. Altogether they were on the island six weeks. At the end of this time the mail steamer _Mariposa_ called at the island, and rescued the people from their island imprisonment. The party included two ladies (pa.s.sengers) and six children.

The Board of Trade have awarded a piece of plate to Captain Hayward, of the _Mariposa_; a gold medal to Mr. Hart, first officer; and a silver medal and a sum of 2 each to seamen Barpark, Erving, Allan, and Driscoll, in connection with the rescue of the castaways. Captain Hayward, who was bound to San Francisco with mails and pa.s.sengers, voluntarily incurred the risk of a heavy fine for breach of contract, and set off with the above-named crew in an open boat, and rescued the unfortunate people.

BIBLE SUBJECTS FOR EACH SUNDAY IN DECEMBER.

Dec. 2. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 2.

Dec. 9. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 4.

Dec. 16. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 10.

Dec. 23. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 12.

Dec. 30. Commit to memory Ps. xc. 14.

HE WENT WRONG, BUT HE FOUND MERCY.

On Sunday afternoon, August 26th, 1888, Mr. Carr, of Leicester, gave an interesting address to the scholars attending the Zion Sunday School, Trowbridge. After singing and prayer, Mr. Carr took "The Prodigal Son"

as his subject, which he explained in a most interesting manner. He said:--

"Once upon a time there were two brothers. One of them ran away, but he got into no end of trouble. But while he was so wretched, something occurred with him, and by-and-bye he was brought back in peace to his father's house, and was happy for ever afterward.

"Most of you know that this is the outline of the parable of 'The Prodigal Son,' and I am going to try and tell you the details of it. I shall divide it into four parts. The first one is _Ruin_; the second, _Repentance_; the third, _Return_; the fourth, _Reception_. He was ruined. By grace he repented, returned to his father, and was joyfully received by him.

"First, then, _Ruin_. Now, there are steps leading to ruin. You find the prodigal was happy at home at first. Like Adam, in the garden of Eden, G.o.d gave him a great many good gifts, as He has given you. He has given us life, hearing, eyesight, and intellect. The prodigal had a large portion of good gifts, but what did he do? He wandered away from his father, and went into a far country. Do you like to be away from home?

Remember this--if you do, it is the first step to your ruin, as it was with the prodigal. He took his journey into a far country, where he was far away from his father; and so we, in our natural state, are far away from G.o.d. Do you ever think what a dreadful thing it is to be far away from G.o.d? The prodigal wanted to be far from Him. But when there, at a distance from his father, he had no G.o.d to go to in his troubles. He doubtless did not like the text, 'Thou G.o.d seest me.' If you are like this, remember that every sin you commit is written in His remembrance book. But the prodigal made up his mind not to trouble about that. Have you thus done so? If so, you will have to trouble about it some day.

There is a day coming when we shall all have to stand before G.o.d, and it is a dreadful subject for those to think of who, like the prodigal, are now at a distance from G.o.d. Therefore, we see that _Distance_ is the first step.

"The next one is _Dissipation_. He wasted his substance--put his gifts to a wrong use. Have we wasted the good things which G.o.d has given us?

If so, it is the road to ruin.

"After he had thus wasted his substance by riotous living and falling into bad company, there came another step, namely, _Dest.i.tution_, which we all have come to spiritually, and ere long we who have life, health, bright eyes, rosy cheeks, and busy hands, shall be going to the grave.

By-and-bye we shall have spent it all, and we shall be nothing but a heap of dust and ashes.

"But you find that, when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine, and he began to be in want. He then fell into disgrace, and went to a citizen of that country to see if he could help him. He went into the fields to feed swine, and he had not a friend to speak to--none to help him. The hand of G.o.d had gone out against him, and all his friends forsook him.

"That is just the state of the unG.o.dly. But when he was in the very heat of this ruin, something happened to him. He was brought to _Repentance_.

What was his first step to repentance? He was brought to himself--that is, a right understanding was given to him. What had the prodigal a right understanding about? About himself. Sin had made a madman of him, but now he began to consider the extent of his misery. How many of you have considered what you are in the sight of G.o.d? You may be dead before next Sunday. Where would you be? In heaven or in h.e.l.l? The prodigal began to consider what his sin had done for him. He said, 'How many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!' He knew he was perishing; and we are, if Christ has not saved us.

"The first step was, a right understanding. Now comes the second step, knowledge of the extent of his misery, thirdly, a felt sense that he was perishing; then, fourthly, a wise resolution--'I will arise, and go to my father.' He had been trying to make himself more respectable, but found he could not, but that he must go to his father just as he was.

Thus he was brought to himself. Grace did this, and if grace works in us there will be a willingness to go to G.o.d. Either you want to be near to G.o.d, or, like the prodigal, you want to shun the very thoughts of G.o.d.

We are either on the road to ruin or salvation. What did the prodigal say to his father? 'Father, I have sinned.' He knew he was a sinner, and that he had sinned, and he confessed his unworthiness. He said, 'I am no more worthy to be called thy son; make me as one of thy hired servants.'

He was brought to repentance, and he made up his mind to return to his father. But his father was a long way off--too far for him to see him.

But his father saw him while he was yet a great way off, and had compa.s.sion on him. He did not say, 'I see that naughty boy that wandered from me, and got into so much trouble and sin, and now I will punish him.' But he had compa.s.sion on him, and did not say a word about his wicked ways. 'He ran.' Now, look, here was the prodigal creeping to his father, but the father 'ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.' No doubt he had a dirty face, but the father did not wait till his face was clean. Just as we are as sinners, so the prodigal here was in all his rags. He said to his father, 'But, father, I am a vile sinner. I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight.' Thus he told his father just what he was.

"Now then comes the fourth part--_his reception by his father_. When his father met him he took no notice of his sins, did not answer him a word, but he said to his servants, 'Bring forth the best robe.' That was the robe of righteousness. Here were manifested the riches of divine grace.

The prodigal had nothing but sin and grief, but now his father gave him a better robe than he ever had before. His first robe was not the best.

It was one of creature-righteousness, but now he had lost it; and when he was brought back by grace he had a better robe given him. A robe of righteousness is better than one of creature-righteousness. The best robe was brought forth, and a ring was put on his finger. A ring is something which has no beginning nor end, and the ring is a most blessed emblem of eternity. It has neither beginning nor end. And a ring denotes love--love of the giver to the receiver. This ring denotes a Father's eternal love. His father loved him, all the time the prodigal was sinning against him, with an eternal love. And they put shoes on his feet--shoes of the preparation of the Gospel. They were shoes that would wear well. The saints have a rough road to travel, and therefore they need shoes of iron and bra.s.s. Then the fatted calf was brought and killed, and they had a great feast and were merry, and we do not read that they ever left off. There is no end to the rejoicings over repenting, returning sinners. Oh, that we all may know what it is to be redeemed by grace! This parable teaches us man's ruin, Christ's redemption, and a Father's eternal love."

M. G.

JOHNNIE'S CHRISTMAS.

[This, and three other pieces of poetry, including the one given last month, were written for a boy who recently died. After long and severe suffering he was seized with a fit. He held up both arms, and, as the struggles ceased, he looked up and said, "Come! Come!" His mother asked him if he thought he should go to heaven. He replied, "I'm sure of it.

Jesus told me He would take me, and He wouldn't have said it if He didn't mean it."--ED.]

Hang out the toys for the little ones; Pile up the raisins, and take out the stones; But nut, and pudding, and Christmas tree, Says little Johnnie, are not for me.

If the children frolic I have to start, With a bitter pain at my silent heart; And my throbbing head is afraid to move At sound of the voices which most I love.

It is nice to feel, though sitting here, That mother is with me, and baby dear, For some of my little friends have lain On a hospital bed, in lonely pain.

Oh, G.o.d, my Friend, Thou art surely kind, And we, poor sinners, are weak and blind; Little we think, and little know, Of the love that suffered for human woe.

We hail Thy birth with a gladsome song, But Thou hadst sorrow life's journey long; And Thou hadst power Thyself to free, Yet chose to suffer for things like me.

Oh, come to my heart this Christmas Day!

I am weak and weary, and far away; Since help and mercy are Thy delight, Oh, come to my father's house to-night!

Bring rest for my mother, and joy for me; My head will not throb as I listen to Thee; And my heart, though too weak for a footfall below, Will bound, without aching, Thy coming to know.

Thou callest the children, and I am a child; Thou callest the guilty, and I am defiled; They gather about Thee in joyful array; Oh, put me among them, Lord Jesus, to-day!

Put one of my hands in that right hand of Thine, And hold out Thy wounds to Thy Father divine; He would not, He could not, say nay unto Thee, And I should for ever Thy diadem be.

M. A. CHAPLIN.

_Galleywood, Chelmsford._

ANSWER TO BIBLE ENIGMA.

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