SAUL OF TARSUS. BY D. S., JR.

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PAGE

93

THE FOUNTAIN OF LIVING WATERS. BY THE REV. JOHN ALEXANDER

SENDING FORTH THE APOSTLES

98

99

THE LADY ANNE CARR. BY THE AUTHOR OF "MAY YOU LIKE IT"

101

JOSHUA. BY THE REV. THOMAS DALE

THE SAVING EFFICACY OF TRUTH. BY J. S.

THE TWO MITES. BY MRS. SARAH JOSEPHA HALE

THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES. BY THE AUTHOR OF "VISIONS OF SOLI-

TUDE, ETC."

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157

ON THE MISSIONS OF THE UNITED BRETHREN. BY T. GRINFIELD, M. A. 160

DREAMING

163

OUR LORD HEALING THE LEPER. BY MRS. O. M. P. LORD

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

I. THE DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM.

II. THE DELIVERANCE OF ST. PETER.

III. BLESSING LITTLE CHILDREN.

IV. SECRET PRAYER.

V. THE EVENING SACRIFICE.

VI. SAVING TRUTH.

VII. OUR LORD PREDICTING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE.

VIII. THE COLISEUM.

IX. DREAMING.

SACRED ANNUA L.

THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA.

BY MRS. J. E. YOUNG.

THE noontide sun shone on Samaria's vale,
And bathed with fiery rays the mountain heights
Of Ebal and Gerizim. Not a sound

Disturbed the dreamy stillness of the scene,
Save a faint murmur from fair Sychar's towers,
That, in the distance, rose midst verdant groves
And gardens, bright with Nature's garniture
Of fruits and blossoms. Up the rugged path,
With faltering step and slow, a stranger came,
And sat him down near where an olive flung
Its fruitful branches over Jacob's well.
Weary and languid from excess of heat,

He longed for the cool waters, but in vain

He sought wherewith to draw, when lo! came nigh
A woman of Samaria, whose fair face

Of loveliness surpassing, sin had marred
With trace of earthly passions; Jesus saith,
In gentle tone, "I pray thee, give me drink."

She, wondering, questioned, "Wouldst thou drink of me,
A woman of Samaria, thou, a Jew?"

He, answering, said, "Knew'st thou the gift of God,
And Him who speaks to thee, thou wouldst entreat
The living water only He can give."

With curious gaze she scanned his aspect meek,

His mildly searching eye and brow benign,
Where Love's Divinest Essence sat enthroned,

And coldly asked of him, "From whence hast thou
That living water? In the dewy morn,
The noonday heat, at the calm eventide,
We hither come to draw; hither we bring
Our thirsting herds; here came the patriarch
With Rachel, the beloved, and the fair sons
Who blessed his household hearth: greater art thou
Than were our fathers, in the olden time?"
Gazing with sweet compassion on her face
He mildly said, "Who drinks of Jacob's well
Shall need again, but whosoever tastes
Of the pure fountain I shall give to him
Shall thirst no more for ever; it shall be
An everlasting Spring, bestowing Life,

Hope's full fruition, Grace that knows no bounds,
And Joy unspeakable. The weary soul
Earth cannot satisfy; that bends beneath
The heat and burden of the cheerless day,
Thirsting for happiness as pants the hart
For the cool water-brooks, shall taste this Spring
That changes not, eternal in supply."

As thus the Saviour, with persuasive voice,