with ease this great number of children. As I ascended the stairs, the profound silence that reigned, surprised me; and had I been a stranger, I could not have supposed any children were there. When I reached the first platform of the gallery, what a sight presented itself to my view!-four hundred children, motionless as the peopled canvas, their glistening eyes and dim. pled cheeks alone confirmed their reality. Besides the children, 70 adult persons were disposed in groups in different parts of the gallery, either gazing on the scene before them, or conversing with deep interest among themselves. These were the teachers. To-day they were not at their posts to maintain order; it was unnecessary. The children required no authority to keep them still. The great secret of the science of education was here practically displayed. The more you interest and engage the feelings of children, the easier will they be taught and managed. The scene that now presented itself was one of intense interest. Nothing could elevate the mind more than the contemplation of it. Every child, each teacher, and even the spectator, that curiosity had drawn thither, was a book to read. In their eyes you could have traced those many blameless passions that pervade the human breast. Here were eyes dilated with curiosity, beaming with hope, and again softened into love, meekness and affection. It was, indeed, a sight to make one's heart glad. From this scene of animated nature, the eye found relief in the plain, whitewashed arch, unadorned and unornamented. It was a fit entablature for such a scene of love and virtuous interest. Looking down through this beautiful assemblage, the plain desk, the sacred books; the nave of the church as yet untenanted, except by two or three strangers who had heard from the children the story of the White Book, and were intently listening to catch some words that might explain to them the exercises in which every one present, to them, seemed so highly interested. All this had a most striking effect. Along the benches, here and there among the classes, you might observe some little brother or sister, two or three years old, whose prattling tongue was now tied in silence, and their ever busy hands, for the moment still, were clinging to the shouldersof

their little companions; and stretched on tip-toe on the bench, their little bright inquiring eyes, seeming to say "what does it mean?" And well might a stranger inquire what it was that entranced, as it were, the attention of all these children; for the eyes of all were directed towards an object, the source of all their present interest-a plain table, covered with a white cloth, on which was laid the green banner of the school, the simple emblem of their unity that had been so often raised in the anniversary procession; its motto, the word "Truth." Underneath this banner was concealed the offering that love had made to virtue. The moment the superintendent entered the gallery, he advanced towards the table and exclaimed"Then shall every one have praise of God.". Every eye in an instant, turned from the table towards the speaker, who briefly directed their attention to the great and solemn occasion to which this passage alluded: the final judgment, when the great master himself should come from his throne of mercy, and seated in the clouds of heaven with his holy angels with him and his rewards of everlasting life-and then should every faithful servant have reward of God. He led them to consider the nature of the rewards about to be bestowed, admitting that some who might this day receive a reward might not be so distinguished on that great day. For their judgment now was but of man, while God, who would then judge, looked at the heart. He warned the ambitious candidates to fear and tremble lest they should at last prove in the sight of God like the "whited sepulchre." He then affectionately entreated the children to love one another, and to imitate the examples set them by those who would be rewarded, in meekness, patience and brotherly love. He addressed the yet unknown candidates, and kindly warned them to receive their rewards with becoming humility; not as the means of a proud triumph, but to increase their estimation of truth and virtue. Should any (he said) receive an unmerited reward, let such rebuke themselves, and more earnestly strive to excel in future. The concluding remarks must have went home to every heart There is, said the speaker, a single word that expresses the bright object we follow, and that we also wish you, dear children, earnestly to pursue. This banner instructs

and reproves us: behold its motto.-Here he took up the banner from the table, and displayed it, saying, learn and believe, dear scholars, your teachers have "no greater pleasure. than to see their children walking in the truth." The table of

rewards was now uncovered, and a considerable number of volumes, in parcels of two or three, appeared in every variety of coloured binding. Each was tied up with a green ribband, and had a number and name attached, written on white paper. The neatness and order of this arrangement was a lesson to teachers and scholars not soon to be forgotten. The next moment the White Book was open in the hands of the superintendent, and the first candidate before him.

(To be continued.)

ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS.

[For the S. School Teachers' Magazine.]

SUNDAY SCHOOLS CONSIDERED AS PROMOTING EARLY PIETY.

To devote ourselves to God in early life, is in accordance with the dictates of conscience, common sense, and the commands of God. It is a duty, however, to which the human heart is ever averse, and particularly so at the period alluded to. A disposition to indulge in sin now, and repent when evil days. come, is manifested both by old and young, notwithstanding the declarations of Him who has said, "to-day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts," and that if this command is disobeyed he will laugh at their calamity, and mock when their fear cometh." And this disposition to procrastinate is not a little increased by the fascinations of the world; particularly in the young. They have never experienced how deceitful and unsatisfactory are the objects they pursue. Vice presents herself in ten thousand alluring attitudes, and her intentions to delude and destroy are never suspected. Her votaries blindly follow her although obliged to acknowledge that every cup she gives presents the dregs of bitterness, and serves only to increase their thirst.

The sin of procrastination cannot, however, be charged upon

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man in all things. Is his earthly prosperity to be promoted, he will rise up early and eat with patience the bread of carefulness. Is the miser to increase his store, he will leave untried no effort to add house to house, and land to land, until there be no more room. And so it is with man, whether he is ambitious of honour, glory, or wealth. But in the greatest of all interests. that of laying up treasures in heaven, he is ever inclined to say at a more convenient season I will attend to this. Fathers are anxious that their children should commence learning those things which are useful in their various avocations, early in life, in order to fit them to contend with its ills and its misfortunes; and this anxiety is just and proper. But if it be important to make such preparation for time, how much more for eternity? Assuredly when the immensity of the subject is considered, it will be admitted that none can begin too soon. Let us attend to the advantages resulting from so doing.

1. Early piety is eminently beneficial to its possessor considered with respect to this life. He escapes all those snares and temptations which are set for the destruction of his peace of mind and conscience. Those allurements of pleasure which attract the attention of his youug irreligious friends, are presented to him in vain. He has lost his relish for them, and his mind prefers other objects on which it may dwell with profit and delight. All the turbulence of passion which distracts the mind and destroys the peace of the unsanctified heart he has escaped; and in his bosom there reigns a calm, delightful to himself, and the effects of which are calculated to render him lovely in the eyes of others. That sense of danger, the alarm of conscience, and a perception of the displeasure of God, together with the forebodings of future wo, which like so many harpies constantly distract the repose of the unsanctified man, he escaped forever, when he laid down the weapons of his rebellion. Pride, which has created more misery in the human family than any other passion, and which appears a prominent trait in the character of apostate man, he has laid aside; and measuring things by the standard of truth, he perceives how foolish and vain are all efforts which his sinful fellow beings make for their self exaltation and advancement. By good men

Sunday Schools considered as Promoting Early Piety. 345

he is loved, and by bad men respected. Friends he will meet every where, and those whose feelings and actions are in accordance with his own. The charge of hypocrisy which is so often preferred against those who give up their hearts in later life, will not be made against him. Evil companions, too, who so often prevent each other from becoming religious, he has entirely avoided. Evil example passes by unheeded by him. If his parents are of the household of faith, he has the consolation of knowing, that he is gladdening their hearts, and rendering their pilgrimage easy and delightful. Even should they remain without piety, they cannot but behold the conduct of their child with complacency and joy.

2. Early Piety is a consolation to its possessor through life.-To an old man who is called at the eleventh hour, a life spent in sin must be in the highest degree painful. To know that he is saved only so "as by fire;" to recollect that his life has been an infinite injury to his fellow beings; that his day for glorifying his master in this world is nearly past; to think of the good that he might have rendered to the world by a different course of conduct, must all be causes of regret. On the contrary, to reflect that instead of injuring our fellow beings our exertions have had a tendency not only to make them wiser and better here, but by the blessing of God, to render them eternally happy, must sweeten the evening of life. ample of what the good man experiences at the close of his day. With what confidence does he address the children of Israel when he says, "I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day behold here I am, witness against me before the Lord and his anointed whose ox have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind my eyes therewith, and I will restore it to you?"

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Samuel was an eminent exe

3. Early Piety exerts an extensive and beneficial influence on the young companions of its possessor. The power of example is so proverbial, that many have chosen to consider all kinds of evil as the consequences of bad example. Almost every action which we perform has an influence not only upon our own character, but those with whom we associate. With none is this