THIS creature is of the cat kind. Indeed it is a large wild cat, resembling, in its appearance, a small tiger. It is found in all parts of South America, especially in Mexico, and hence it is called the Ocelot, or Mexican Tiger.

Its body, when grown, is nearly three feet in length, and its tail more than one; its height is about eighteen inches; the ground colour of its fur is gray, mingled with a slight tinge of reddish-yellow, darker on the back, and elegantly marked with long spots; its under parts are white; but the colours vary in different specimens. It climbs trees expertly in search of its prey, which consists of birds and small animals.

It is nevertheless exceedingly powerful, but is easily tamed, and when domesticated, becomes mild, gentle, and playful.

How wonderful are the works of the Great Creator! What an endless variety of creatures he has made on the land and in the sea! The more we see, the more we hear, the more must we admire his wisdom, and power, and goodness. For there is not a creature, however large or however small, but is provided for by his bounteous hand.

"These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thon givest them, they gather; thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the face of the earth. The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever; the Lord shall rejoice in his works."

THE BLIND CHILD.

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JOHN RICHARD HAYCOCK lived in Birmingham. He was blind from his birth. His parents were poor but honest, and they lived in a yard, a and when John went up the yard, the neighbours sent him down again, and when he went into his father's shop he sent him out, and he was not allowed to go into the street for fear of

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being run over, and so the poor little fellow was regarded as a nuisance by them all: then he would go to his mother and say, " Mother, they will not let me go anywhere!" His mother would then comfort him, and talk to him kindly. Ah! there is nobody like a mother if you are in trouble. Is there?

John was taught by his parents not to say bad words, or take anything that was not his; and at length they sent him to a school, taught by a kind-hearted minister of the gospel, with whom John was a favourite. And he taught John the fear of God, and the love of Jesus Christ to his soul, and also repeated little hymns and plain passages of scripture to him till he could say them off.

He also attended the Sabbath-school, and when the sermons for the school were preached, John sung beautifully, for he had a good voice; and he repeated some pretty verses about "Woodland Scenery," the close of each verse ending,

"I can hut image them in mind;

I ne'er shall see them-I am blind!''

This dear child appears to have profited by what he heard at the schools. He seemed conscious that he was a sinner before God, and always manifested nneasiness when he heard other children say bad words.

In January last, John was taken poorly, and

it was soon found that his sickness was unto
death. For some time the poor little fellow
was in sad trouble about his sins-fearing that
God would not forgive him. His agony of
mind was increased by the bodily sufferings he
endured, which were very great. Once he called
out, as if struggling with the enemy of souls,
"Get thee behind me, satan!" Exhausted, he
now fell asleep, and when he awoke he said, he
had had such a pleasant dream; he had seen
his little sisters in heaven, and he should soon
go to them. They called him a blind boy now,
but he should see well enough in heaven!
He then repeated the hymn,-

"There is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.'

During his illness, he several times expressed his anxiety for the salvation of his father and mother. He gradually became weaker and weaker, and died on the 30th of January, aged eight years and nine months. Thus closing his eyes (we had nearly said) upon the scenes of time. But no, he never had the gift of sight so long as he dwelt below. He has gone, however, where he will with open face gaze on scenes of resplendent beauty and glory, before the throne of God

THE young are but little aware of the temptations with which they will be surrounded as they grow up. We are always glad to see a Sabbathschool, with its classes of clean and tidy children, learning to read the book of God, and receiving the best advice from their kind teachers; and yet, we could weep as we look at them, to think of what they will have to go through if they live long enough in this vain and sinful world! Many, we hope, will walk in the ways of piety and peace; but some, we fear, will fall a prey to vanity or siu. Well: we cannot do better, after all, than go on teaching them all we can; for when they once know how happy real religion can make them, they will