side
began to swear in a dreadful manner. I lifted up my heart for God's
blessing on what I said; and presently, in a quiet way, I asked him
this question: 'Driver, do you ever pray?' He seemed displeased at
first; but after awhile he replied, 'I sometimes go to church on
Sunday; and then I suppose I pray, don't I?' 'I am afraid you never
pray at all; for no man can swear as you do, and yet be in the habit
of praying to God.'

"As we rode along he seemed thoughtful. 'Coachman, I wish you would
pray now,' I said. '"Why, what a time to pray, Sir, when a man is
driving a coach!"' 'Yet, my friend, God will hear you,' '"What shall
I pray?"' he asked, in a low voice. 'Pray these words: '"O Lord,
grant me thy Holy Spirit, for Christ's sake. Amen."' He hesitated,
but in a moment he repeated them; and then, at my request, he said
them over a second, and a third time. The end of the journey was
reached, and I left him.

"Some months passed away, and we met once more. 'Ah, Sir,' said he,
with a smile, 'the prayer you taught me on that coach-box was
answered. I saw myself a lost, and ruined sinner; but now, I humbly
hope, that through the blood which cleanseth from all sin, and by the
power of the Holy Spirit, I am a converted man.'"

And so, when we think of the twelve apostles, appointed by Jesus to
preach his gospel, these are the four things for us to remember in
connection with them, viz.:--_the men_ whom he chose; _the work_ they
had to do; _the help_ given them in doing that work; and _the lesson_
we are taught by this subject--the lesson of prayer.

Whatever we have to do, let us do it with all our hearts, and do it
as for God, and then we shall be his apostles--his sent ones. Let me
put the application of this subject in the form of some earnest,
practical lines that I lately met with. The lines only speak of
boys, but they apply just as well to girls. They are headed:

DRIVE THE NAIL.

"Drive the nail aright, boys,
Hit it on the head,
Strike with all your might, boys,
While the iron's red.

"Lessons you've to learn, boys,
Study with a will;
They who reach the top, boys,
First must climb the hill.

"Standing at the foot, boys,
Gazing at the sky,
How can you get up, boys,
If you never try?

"Though you stumble oft, boys,
Never be downcast;
Try and try again, boys,
You'll succeed at last.

"Ever persevere, boys,
Tho' your task be hard;
Toil and h