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it to be rich towards God? Psa. cxii. 9.-How should we use the things of this world? 1 Cor. vii. 31.What will overtake him who trusts in his riches? Prov. xi. 28.

ONE DAY AT A TIME.

"GOOD morning, grandfather. A happy new year to you," said Ann Blake, as she entered the little parlour at Rose Cottage.

"And a happy new year to you, Ann; ay, many, many happy years, if so God will," said Ann's grandfather.

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Mother has sent you a jar of her baked pears, grandfather," said Ann; "and I've brought you a pair of woollen stockings of my own knitting.

This is the first pair I have made; I knit socks for brother Edward, but stockings are more difficult."

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Then, my dear," said Grandfather Grey, as he took the stockings in one hand, and placed the other kindly on Ann's shoulder; I must value your patience and kindness the more, and give you the more hearty thanks. It was very thoughtful of you and dear mother to remember me, and by your gifts to add to my happiness. And now," he said, "take off your bonnet, and stay awhile with me, unless you think mother will want you at home."

"Oh no, grandfather, she won't expect me till dinner-time."

"Oh, indeed! and what are you going to do this morning, Ann ?"

"I don't know, grandfather," said Ann, somewhat

sadly; "I don't feel inclined to do what I did last New Year's Day."

"What was that, my dear ?"

"Oh, I was busy good part of the morning, making plans for so many things to be done during the year; I resolved to learn a great deal, and to improve in everything; and a whole year seemed such a long time, that I thought it would be easy to do even more than I set myself; but last night," said Ann, turning away her head to hide her tears, "I felt as if I would never plan any more, for the year is gone, and I've scarcely done anything."

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"Don't weep, my dear," said her grandfather; perhaps I can help you; I think I see where you have made a mistake. It is true, as you say, that a year is a long period of time, but it is also true that it is made up of small portions, which are constantly and quickly passing away. Now, my dear, you planned for the year, and whilst you were thinking of the long space of time before you, one little day was slipping by, without your perceiving it; and one follows another so quickly, that unless we seize each and turn it to good account, we must of necessity lose either the whole, or a large portion, of our year. But come,” he added, "you must not be cast down because you have failed hitherto; many older than you posed to do a great deal in the coming year, have forgotten that it can only come to them a day at a time, precisely as the one that went before it. We must live one day at a time, my dear, and only one day. It is by treasuring these lesser portions of time we gather in the year. But there is one thing Ann

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has done," said he, unfolding and examining one of the stockings; "she has contrived to bring Grandfather Grey a beautiful present of her own handiwork : did it take a whole day to make this, my dear ?"

“Oh, grandfather," said Ann, "it couldn't be done in less than a fortnight, with very close work; and I was a month doing it."

"And where did you begin it, my dear? I don't understand much about work, you know."

"Just here, grandfather; at this open part.'

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What, and you went on and on till you reached the top ?"

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"Yes, grandfather, I tasked myself with fifty rounds every day."

"What is a round, my dear ?”

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Oh, a round means a row; it was knitted on three needles, and every time I had gone over the three a round was done."

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Yes, my dear; and how did you get through each needle ?"

"Oh, a stitch at a time," said Ann, "and I was obliged to be very careful, for if one stitch slips, there will be a gap, unless it can be picked up again, which is very difficult. There were forty stitches on each needle; so, in going through the three, I knitted one hundred and twenty stitches."

"Well, it is a beautiful stocking," said her grandfather, holding it up before him; "and you tell me it is all made up of single stitches, and that only by each little stitch being carefully knitted in its right turn could the stocking be completed. Ah, well!" he said, smiling, "while my granddaughter can patiently take

stitch after stitch, and make a stocking from top to toe, I shall not believe but she will try again to make a happy new year, by working away diligently at each little day as it comes round."

"I wish I could, grandfather," said Aun, "for I do want to be good and useful. I never thought before how much easier it would be to try a day at a time."

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My dear Ann," said her grandfather, "I can assure you, from my own experience, that the only way to improve the year is to improve each day. And remember, my dear," he added, "that though you may pick up a fallen stitch, you can never regain a lost day. But, Ann, you cannot even live a day rightly without help from God."

"I know it, grandfather; but I've done so many things wrong, and so few right, that I felt this morning as if it were useless to try any more."

"It will never be useless, my dear, while this text remains in the Bible; 'My grace is sufficient for thee. But you must not forget that just as our bodies need a daily supply of food, so our souls need be daily supplied with this grace. Go every morning to God, and ask him for his grace to help you. Go every evening and get the faults of the day forgiven, through Jesus Christ, and for his sake God has promised to help you, my dear; and if he spare us both to see next new year's day, why, you must bring Grandfather Grey as welcome a present as these warm stockingsa good account of a well-spent year."

Ann's face was brighter: she kissed her grandfather and said, "Yes, grandfather, I'll try again; I will." "God bless you, my dear; but remember-One day at a time."

6. S.

NEVER TELL A LIE.

Two lads came at an early hour to a country market town, and, spreading out their little stands, they sat down to wait for customers. One sold melons and other fruits, the other dealt in oysters and fish. The market hours passed along, and each little dealer saw with pleasure his stores steadily decreasing, while the money was filling their pockets. The last melon lay on Harry's stand, when a gentleman came by, and, placing his hand upon it, said, "What a fine large melon! I think I must buy it. it, my boy ?"

What do you ask for

"The melon is the last I have, sir; and though it looks very fair, there is an unsound spot on the other side," said the boy, turning it over.

"So there is," said the man; "I think I will not take it. But," he added, looking into the boy's face, "is it very business-like to point out the defects of your fruits to customers ?"

"It is better than being dishonest, sir," said the boy modestly.

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'You are right, my boy; always remember to speak the truth, and you will find favour with God and man also. You have nothing else I wish for this morning, but I shall not forget your little stand in future. Are those oysters fresh ?" he continued, turning to Bən Wilson's stand.

"Yes, sir; fresh this morning," was the reply; and a purchase being made, the gentleman went his way. Harry, what a fool you was to show the gentle. man that spot in the melon! Now you can take it

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