n
front, there was a sensible expression of delight over the whole
school.

In a far-off corner sat a little boy, poorly dressed, and of pallid
countenance, but with a keen and intelligent eye, which had attracted
my notice from the beginning. The more difficult the questions grew,
his eye was fixed with the keener gaze on the face of the master.
Several times I observed a puzzled child cast backwards to him a look,
as expressing the assurance that _he_ was able to solve all
difficulties. At length, on a slight motion of the master's hand, the
little brown boy was seen to dart from his obscure recess, and pass
rapidly across the forms, while his companions eagerly made way for
him, clapping their hands as in anticipation of some brilliant
achievement. In an instant, the boy stood before the master, his dark
eye full of anxious expression, but quite devoid of doubt or anxiety.
All our attention was at once directed to the half-clothed, barefooted
child, to whom the questions were now put, and by whom they were
answered with a promptitude and precision most wonderful. And who,
what was he, that little brown boy? Some did not care to ask, and
others said: 'Who would have thought that that little beggar-boy would
have been so smart!' But God has chosen the vile things (to man) of
this earth to become a bright and shining light to the world. We asked
who that little boy was, and the master smiled, shook his head, and
said: 'Oh, I scarcely know myself: it is a little boy the police have
sent us in lately from the streets. It is not above three weeks since
he came, but he is a good and very clever child--very desirous to
learn, and never forgets anything!'

I was affected by this trivial circumstance, reflecting how many
little brown boys like this there must be in various countries called
civilised, who, for want of a refuge where love and light are
predominant, remain the outcasts of the streets, and become the prey
of vice and ignorance.

THE LOSING GAME.

[The following story is by no means a piece of mere
invention. The principal points were narrated to me by a
very intelligent young North-Sea fisherman, who had
frequently heard the legend from a grizzled old sailor on
board the smack in which he was an apprentice. The veteran
used to tell the story as having happened to himself; and he
had told it so often, that he firmly believed it, and used
to get into a passion whe