"THE QUIVER" BIBLE CLASS. "By the time he had written my name and address down, four or five other boys, and as many girls, had arrived, the oldest of whom was not more than nine or ten, the youngest perhaps four. All were more or less dirty and ragged, but the girls were decidedly tidier than the boys, though most of them had hardly a bit of shoe to their feet; plenty of them, like myself, none at all. "Presently in came two young ladies. The elder, perhaps eighteen years of age, had a sweet, quiet, fair face and grey earnest sympathetic eyes; the other, some two years her junior, with a bright rosy cheek and buoyant manner, indicative of unbounded health and spirits. These were the daughters of the clergyman of the district. At once they set to work instructing the girls, while the superintendent, with a couple of assistants, began teaching the boys. "In a short time an alphabet was brought me, and I took my first lesson; ay, and a tough job I found it. More than once during its progress I wished myself anywhere but where I was; and if my teacher had only turned his back for an instant, I certainly should have made a dash for the street. However, before I had finished, several of the more easily-remembered letters had imprinted themselves upon my brain for ever. At length the pale-faced young man arose, patted me on the shoulder, and said I had done well. He then brought a piece of slate, and set me a copy of strokes and pothooks. "During my A B C lesson we had been disturbed several times by boys from without, shouting and whistling through the keyhole; but I had hardly commenced my writing when suddenly the door was thrown open with a great bang, and a dead cat came flying over my head. Shouts of laughter followed, in which some of the school joined. Block, the doorkeeper, was that evening absent from sickness, and so the youth of the neighbourhood had taken the opportunity to renew some few of the annoyances which had led to his employment. "No ragged school can do without its Block; he is just as necessary as gas, books, and teachers. Scholars kept dropping in at intervals all the first hour. Towards the close of the evening we were signalled to rise, and the superintendent read a chapter out of the New Testament, explaining its meaning as he went along. After that, we sang a hymn, and then we repeated the Lord's Prayer, I saying it for the first time in my life; then we were dismissed. The school was held four evenings a week, and from that night I became one of its most punctual attendants. "I soon learnt to read and write a little, and in less than a year could spell words of two syllables. I was always treated with kindness, and the pale young man never lost an opportunity of giving a word of encouragement. Before my first year was up he had started me in the watercress trade, and I 479 was thus enabled to increase the household earnings a trifle. When I had attended eighteen months he got me into the Shoeblack Brigade. There I also prospered, for I always tried to make my customers' boots shine as well as ever I could, and got promoted from station to station, until I held one of the best. "While in the Brigade the fever visited Smudge Court, and carried off both my parents; so as I had no other relations to turn to, at my own desire I was apprenticed by the society to the sea for three years, and started with an outfit that was the admiration of the whole ship. When my time was up, having a good captain, I was easily persuaded to sign articles for another three years' trip. From that voyage I have now returned. In my leisure I've managed to pick up a little navigation, and don't despair of being master of a vessel myself before I die. This little goldfinch I saved from a wreck when just upon the point of going down, and I intend him as a present for the good gentleman-if he be alive-who came to my rescue in the time of my danger; and here, sir (pulling out a purse full of sovereigns), is a nest of canaries, some of whom, before many hours are gone, shall sing a pretty little song upon the table of that ragged school, which sent forth the pale-faced cruiser who first took me in tow, and carried me safely into port." "THE QUIVER" BIBLE CLASS. 187. How often and by whom were the treasures of the Lord's house stripped? 188. Two parables which show the success of frequent fervent prayer are mentioned only by St. Luke. Give them. 189. On what two occasions did our Lord teach the Lord's prayer as a model one? 190. The predictions of one of the minor prophets are entirely devoted to the subject of the future overthrow of the Edomites. Name him. 191. Jesus applied two names to the traitor Judas which his after conduct fully justified. 192. Show from the narrative in Genesis that Isaac lived a considerable time after the blessing he pronounced upon Esau and Jacob. 193. Give in the Saviour's own words the severest rebuke he ever addressed to one of his disciples. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON PAGE 447. 174. "After two days will he revive us, in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight" (Hosea vi. 2). 175. "Barnabas took him, and explained to the apostles how he had seen the Lord in the way" (Acts ix, 27). 176. Ahithophel (2 Sam. xvii. 23). 177. 1 Sam. ix. 25. BIBLE NOTES. THE POUNDS (Luke xix. 12-27). CERTAIN nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return." The reason for the utterance of this parable is twofold-to teach the necessity of a patient waiting for the coming of Christ, and an active working for him till the time of his return. A mixed multitude composed the audience while Christ delivered this parable. Some of his hearers were his disciples, others were drawn after him by different motives either from curiosity or envy, or because they saw his miracles, and desired to share in their own persons the benefits they knew others had derived from them. It is probable that it was for these last that reference was made to the citizens in the parable who behaved so shamefully. No doubt he saw some in the crowd which followed him, who in a few days would join in the cry raised against himself "Crucify him." " The idea of the journey is borrowed from the fact that it was not at all an unusual circumstance for distinguished persons to betake themselves to Rome, and obtain kingdoms for themselves from the senators, who, though not kings, were yet powerful enough to make and unmake kings. The kingdom that this nobleman seeks is that of which he is already a citizen; that this is so is clear from the fact that his fellow-citizens sent a message after him"We will not have this man to reign over us." It was more than a message; it was an embassy that they sent. It was by no means uncommon for embassies to be sent to Rome, to counteract the designs of the men who sought kingdoms from the Senate, when such men were not acceptable to the people who were to be subject to them. The mention of the hatred and opposition on the part of the citizens serves to bring out more clearly the character of the servants; even so does the hostility of the citizens of the world against Christ try and display the temper of Christians who are his servants. "He called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come." It would be absurd to suppose that this nobleman of sufficient mark to be justified in seeking a royal dignity for himself, had only ten servants, therefore we had better understand it that he called ten of his servants. An equal sum of money is given to each, with the injunction from the master that they were "to occupy," or rather employ it in trading during his absence. The word here rendered pound is equivalent to £4 1s, 3d. of our money, and not to £3 2s. 6d., as given in the margin of some Bibles. Here each servant receives an equal sum, while in the parable of the talents each is entrusted with a different sum, this latter unfolding the thought that the degree of responsibility resting upon every one corresponds with the measure of the gifts entrusted to each. ... "When he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him that he might know how much every man had gained by trading." The enmity of his fellowcitizens did not prevent the success of the object for which the journey was undertaken. He returns as their king, and will now inquire into their conduct during his absence. He bestows rewards upon those who had earned them-giving to one authority over ten cities, to another authority over five cities, and punishments more or less severe upon those who had not taken advantage of the means of doing good he had put in their power, or who had shown themselves his enemies by open opposition to his cause. meted out justice as a king, and gives the command that his enemies should be slain in his presence. He Christ is he who has gone to receive a kingdom; and one day he will return to take account with those who are his friends, as well as with those who are his enemies. The pound committed to each of the servants represents that Divine life, of which every Christian is to make a wise use, and from which he is to make all possible gain for the glory of his cause. He will be judged according to the increase of the capital confided to him, and the slothful servant, "who hid his Lord's money in a napkin"—in other words, who has supposed that religion would take care of itself without any effort of the soul—will be brought to certain condemnation, and his pound will be taken from him and given to that disciple who has made the best use of the holy trust committed to his keeping. "Unto every one that hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him." Nothing is more just than the application of this law, and few can be found who will deny that nought else could be expected by him who failed to do as his master in his absence wished him to do. The parable closes with the sentence of condemnation pronounced on those who were his enemies, who, without straining the parable in the slightest degree, may be regarded as types of that ungrateful nation which has rejected Christ as its King—even the Jews. "He insisted upon dragging us through Bethnal Green, Shoreditch, and Spitalfields churchyards "-p. 485. TWO STORIES IN ONE. BY WILLIAM GILBERT, AUTHOR OF "DE PROFUNDIS," 66 SHIRLEY HALL ASYLUM," ETC. W CHAPTER IX.-A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. E remained seated together for some time after | singularly unanimous in our opinion-all admired the departure of the attaché, reviewing the him greatly; and yet, if our opinions had been conversation which had taken place with him, and analysed, it is more than possible that our admirathe impression his visit had made on us. We were tion arose from different sources. My father spoke 346 VOL. VII. with great pleasure on the interest M. Dubarry took in the descendants of the Huguenot emigrants. "I was especially pleased," he said, "with the attention he showed to my description of the chapel in John Street. It is rare in the present day to meet with any one who takes an interest in matters of the kind." I could have told my father-and possibly my mother could have done the same-that his guest seemed rather ennuied with the subject than otherwise at least, judging from the expression of his face, although he evidently attempted to control it. However, my father was satisfied, and that was enough for me. My mother was pleased with him for the information he was able to give respecting the different individuals who had been present at the ball; and I with the prospect of the next to which we were to be invited. "The baron prides himself on being descended from one of the oldest families in Normandy, but there are still one or two points remaining to prove his descent in a perfectly satisfactory manner. My cousin has now arrived, and I am about to ask you the favour of allowing me to introduce him to you. He is a very gentlemanly, amiable man, and he desires me to say if you will accord him an interview, the favour will be most gratefully received by him. Any appointment you may make he will punctually attend to." A family conclave was now held as to the answer we should give to the letter. Of course, my father was perfectly willing to grant the interview-in fact, the subject to be inquired into was one so pleasing to him, that I am persuaded he almost felt grateful for the application which had been made to him. On the other side, my mother did not not like the idea of the attaché and his cousin visiting at our house without some hospitality being shown them. The question was, however, at last solved to my father's perfect satisfaction. We were to invite the About ten days after the visit of the attaché, a attaché and his cousin to a modest déjeûner à la fourlarge note arrived, sealed with the French Ambas-chette. sador's arms, and on opening it, to my great joy, it was found to contain an invitation to the Embassy. The invitation was a long one, and was not to come off till the end of the month: we were then scarcely at the beginning. I remembered, however, that there was as much pleasure in the anticipation as in the reality, and I consoled myself the best way I could with that reflection. Even my father, when he heard the invitation had arrived, showed not the slightest sign of disapprobation. And this neutrality on his part afforded both my mother and myself very great satisfaction. Two days after the receipt of the invitation, to our great surprise, we received another note sealed with the arms of the French Ambassador. This, however, unlike the former, which had been addressed to my mother, was for my father. He was not at home when it arrived, nor did he return for some hours afterwards, much to my annoyance, as my curiosity had reached to an almost painful point. In fact, I began to fear that possibly something had occurred to put off the ball, and in such a case doubt was almost as painful as the reality. My father at last arrived at home, and on his opening the letter all my fears vanished, though my interest in it remained unabated. The letter was from the attaché, who told us that immediately after his visit to our house he had written to his cousin in Normandy, telling him the facilities my father was possessed of for tracing up the ancestry of those Norman families at present residing in Spitalfields, some of whose ancestors had emigrated to England at the time of the persecution of the Protestants. So great an effect had been produced on his cousin's father, the Baron de Vernieul, by this communication, that he had dispatched his son to England to endeavour to trace up some point on family matters in which he was greatly interested. The note went on to say: The custom was a French one, and that, to a great degree, compensated my father for not being able to provide such a dinner as he could have wished. My father now answered the note, and appointed a day in the following week for them to come. By way of being fully prepared, I believe he spent some hours every day in searching the records of the Norman Society and of the school, so that he might refresh his memory on any of the points he might be asked. My father, moreover, wrote to the schoolmaster at Clapham, under whose care my brother Edmond had been placed, to allow him to return home for that day, stating as a reason that he thought it would be an excellent lesson of good breeding for him to remain for some hours in the society of two polished French gentlemen. The schoolmaster readily granted the permission, and early in the day Edmond arrived at home. I must say, after the first pleasure of meeting my brother was over, I began somewhat to regret that his visit to us had not been made on a day when we should have had no company. It was some months since we had seen him, and he had grown so much, that his clothes were all too short for him, and he had a certain raw schoolboy air about him, which I thought would contrast somewhat unfavourably with the polished manners and appearance of the guests we were about to receive. In due time, and at the moment when my mother and myself were on the tiptoe of expectation, our guests arrived. I need not say that both my father and mother received them with all the courtesy which was their due. The attaché introduced his cousin to us, each separately. I do not know why, but when he was introduced to me my face flushed slightly. Annoyed at the circumstance, I tried to repress it, but, as usual in such cases, it made matters still worse; and this was the more annoying to me as my parents might attribute it to the impression the stranger had made on me, who, being a remarkably handsome TWO STORIES IN ONE. graceful man, would have made such a conclusion the more natural. Nor was I in any manner whatever biassed in his favour by the effect of his first appearance, for when I brought him back to my mind after he had left us, and analysed with perfect coolness and self-possession his appearance, it seemed not more attractive to me than at the first moment I saw him. Certainly if the stranger noticed my behaviour, he had the good breeding not to let his knowledge appear, for his manner of addressing me was easy, gentlemanly, and polished in the extreme. The first ice of introduction being broken, and the few ordinary inquiries of our new visitor, how long he had been in England, what he thought of the country, and similar questions being over, he explained to my father the immediate object of his visit. I am afraid if I attempted to give a correct description of it, I should fail. In the first place, it was rather a complicated one; and in the next I was so annoyed with myself for my foolish behaviour that I paid less attention than perhaps I ought to have done. As far as I can remember, he told my father as follows: That at the time of the Huguenot persecution, the senior branch of the family of De Vernieul, who had adopted the reformed religion, were obliged to leave France in such haste as to be able to save very little of their property. The second branch, from which he was descended, having remained faithful to the Catholic religion, had by interest at court obtained the estates and goods of the former. All the documents they possessed of the branch which had fled to England comprised a few letters imploring assistance in their necessity, but of which applications there was too much reason to believe no notice had been taken. The estates afterwards descended in direct line to the Baron de Vernieul (our visitor's father), who had improved them to such a degree that they were now of immense value. One subject, however, had always rankled in the baron's mind. He was exceedingly proud, and the doubt of his being the head of the family annoyed him greatly. He had lately heard that the senior branch which had emigrated to England was extinct; and if that could be proved, he would then be the principal representative of one of the oldest families in the north of France. M. de Vernieul said that he had brought with him a few documents, which he placed on the table before my father, but whether they were of any use he was unable to say. 483 "With respect to the family being extinct," continued my father, "I believe it would be very difficult to find a member of it left. The only question is, whether some of them might not have emigrated to Coventry or Norfolk; but in either case I may be able to arrive at a certain conclusion. I remember the name on the list of pupils in the school for the noblesse et bourgeoisie, though not for the last thirty years; and another collateral proof that the family is extinct, is that there has been no manufacturer of that name of any eminence in London during the last half century. I will, however, make further inquiries on the subject, and I have no doubt I shall be able in a few days to obtain some reliable information." The déjeuner now being ready, we went into the dining-room, and there seated ourselves at table. The conversation was carried on generally on different subjects, but ever and anon our new acquaintance's mission was reverted to. Occasionally during the meal he addressed my brother Edmond, asking him at what school he was being educated, and whether he was not proud of his French descent. I was rather vexed at Edmond's reply, and that for two reasons-I thought it might annoy my father, and also that it was uncivil to M. de Vernieul. "I am far more proud of being an Englishman than of being descended from a Frenchman, and always shall be," replied Edmond. "But your father is of a different opinion." "My father is as much an Englishman at heart as I am," said Edmond, bluntly. 'Edmond, my dear," said my mother, reprovingly. 'I mean what I say, mother. Have you not often told me that when Bonaparte threatened the invasion of England, not only did my father enlist as a volunteer, but he was so warm in the cause that they made him captain of his company?" Seeing my mother somewhat embarrassed for a reply, the attaché broke in with, "Bravo, Edmond! I do not blame you for being proud of the country that gave you birth, and received your father, your grandfather, and others with open arms when they fled from a cruel and persecuting enemy in their own. You must not blame him for that, madam. In my opinion the feeling is doubly honourable in him, not only from England being the land of his birth, but of its being still dearer to him by the ties of gratitude.” Both my mother and father seemed thankful for My father took up the letters, and found they the interference of the attaché, and I was perhaps were of very ancient date. In them the writer im- more so than either. I do not know why, but plored the ancestor of the baron to assist them in their Edmond seemed to have taken an especial aversion distress, and both letters were addressed from some to M. de Vernieul, possibly feeling how ungainly a house in Spitalfields. My father, after having ex-personage he himself appeared when compared with amined the letters, said that the houses from which they were addressed were still in existence, and he had reason to believe that the very weaving-room windows which were placed in the house by the writer of the letters, were standing. him-at least, if that was not the reason I know not what was, for he certainly treated Edmond with great civility the whole time we were at table. Though angry with my brother in my heart, I spoke endearingly to him several times during the breakfast. I |