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At length a sudden stop was put to further purchases. Reeder came home one day looking very anxious and careworn. "Mary," he said, you must be very careful how you spend the money now, for work is getting slack, and I've heard there's to be six men discharged next Saturday."

"You won't be one of them, John?" said Mrs. Reeder, turning white with fear.

"I don't know; I stand the same chance as the rest, and if I don't get turned off this week, I may next."

Mrs. Reeder scarcely knew what she was about the remainder of that day. What should she do if her husband's fears were realized, and she could not keep up the weekly payments to Judson? She was wearing the dress now that she first bought of him. She had told her husband that it was a present from her brother, who had come to see them some months previously, for she was afraid to keep it hidden away longer for fear of its discovery. But she never had any pleasure in wearing it, for she was in continual fear lest, by some chance, it was discovered how she had obtained it.

The week passed-one long agony to Mrs. Reeder, and then her worst fears were realized. She burst into tears when her husband came home, and his downcast looks told her the sad news.

He was surprised at this outburst. "Come, come, Mary," he said, "don't take on so, it isn't so bad for us as it is for a good many. Thank God, we've got a few shillings put away in the post-office bank, and we're clear of debt. I can't expect to get work again directly, for there's none stirring anywhere just now; but the Lord will provide, you know, and we must be as careful as we can."

Poor Mrs. Reeder! While her husband was saying this she felt inclined to fall on her knees before him and confess everything; but the hope that she might be able to keep the miserable state of things from him even yet, prevented her. By dint of promises of speedy payment when her husband should get work, she succeeded in persuading Judson to wait for one or two weeks. By that time their slender stock

of money was gone, and they were compelled to apply for credit at the general shop.

To Reeder's intense surprise, this was refused.

"They

won't let us have a loaf?" he said to the child who had been sent for it.

"No, father." The girl had received several lessons in deceit from her mother, and did not deliver the message that had been sent, reserving that until her mother's return from Mrs. Brown's.

Reeder looked mystified; but at length, taking down his cap from the nail where it hung, went across the road to demand an explanation of the refusal. It was given at once -there was already a large debt owing; in fact, he was told that his wife was in debt everywhere. He did not believe it at first, but his anger cooling somewhat, he made inquiry, and found to his horror that the news was too true. Butcher, baker, landlord, and everybody else had been kept without their money for Judson, and the poor man felt himself overwhelmed with calamity. For hours he wandered about uncertain what to do. His wife had deceived him, cruelly deceived him, and where could he turn? whom could he trust now?

Meanwhile Mrs. Reeder had returned home, to hear the terrible news that her husband had gone to the general shop. Full discovery was inevitable now, and dreading to meet her husband, the foolish woman put on her bonnet and shawl and crept out of the house, walking she knew not and cared not whither, so long as it was away from home. She had no deliberate intention of leaving her husband and children, but the mental torture she had endured the last few weeks had made her incapable of reasoning upon this. Suddenly, as she walked, she remembered the advice given her months before by the district visitor, and the accompanying words upon seeking God's direction. It was too late to seek that now, she thought; she had forgotten God, and He had forgotten her. While she was thus reasoning, her foot slipped, and the next minute she fell heavily to the ground. The

pain in her foot rendered her unconscious for some minutes, and when she attempted to rise it increased so much that she fell back with a groan.

How long she lay on the cold, damp ground she did not know, for when she at length aroused from what had seemed a long sleep, she found herself lying on a little bed in the workhouse infirmary, and the worn, haggard face of her husband bending over her. In a moment there rushed to her mind all the events of the past, and she feebly turned to hide her face in the sheet, as she sobbed out, "O God, forgive me for breaking my husband's heart."

"Amen," said Reeder, softly, with bowed head.

"Mary,"

he added, "ask God's forgiveness for the past, and for the future let us both pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation.'

He could not say more now, for his wife was too weak to bear much conversation. It was weeks before she was able to leave the workhouse and return to her home. She sometimes thought it hard, when her husband came to see her, and still postponed her return, but she did not know how great a struggle with poverty and debt they were now enduring at home-debt which she had herself thoughtlessly and wickedly incurred. During the time spent in the workhouse Mrs. Reeder had ample time to think over the past, and what her husband had said in connection with that and the future, and she resolved humbly and prayerfully never to forget the bitter lesson she had learned, but to seek earnestly God's guidance, and that He would ever more keep her from running into temptation.

Christian Conflict.

HERE is an Amalek still in this world, of which this history is but a feeble representation. One with whom all Christ's people have to fight; one "whose hand is continually against the throne of God;" one "with whom the Lord will have war from

generation to generation;" one who once dared to enter the lists with the Son of God; but one whom "the God of peace will bruise under our feet shortly;" and who is eventually to be destroyed in the lake of fire and brimstone for ever. It is Satan--the prince of this world! "The principalities, and powers, and rulers of the darkness of this world"-those principles which are so rife in this world, and which are wielded with such subtlety and force by the god of this world-which assault us in such unexpected ways, and with such force, at times; and at one time springing up, as it were, a serpent from beneath our feet; at another, confronting us with all the attractiveness of an angel of light. These are our Amalek.

Moreover, this is to be borne in mind,-in all his temptations, Satan never means less than the everlasting destruction of the soul. Never forget this; let the departure from what is right be the very least, so slight that none shall ever observe it at all, yet his object is ever the same-death. The very deviation itself may have so plausible a reason, that it almost seems to warrant it. He has no objection, therefore, to see persons pursuing right objects, if only it be by wrong means; for he knows we are not "to do evil that good may come ;" and so, if he can corrupt the integrity of either our motive, our spirit, or our end, he will not harass us further, but let us be at rest, thinking all is well. For he does not lead his victims straight to the gulf this would frighten them-but conducts them thither by a thousand winding paths. Satan is always trying, persecuting, ensnaring the children of God. His malice and efforts are directed against such; and the feebler and fainter their faith, the severer are his attacks. And although the people of God desire peace in this stormy world, and to conduct themselves " blamelessly and harmlessly," yet, as soldiers of Christ, they cannot obtain their inheritance without preparing themselves for combat, and warring a good warfare." And this warfare will last as long as this life lasts. Rev. J. W. Reeve.

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BETHLEHEM.

HERE are few cities like the village of Bethlehem for interest and renown, though it never was great in size, nor likely to attract notice beyond a thousand other such. But it is God's sovereign choice that is the beginning of all exaltation and greatness. It pleased him that in this place Incarnate God, "The Word made flesh," should be born.

Bethlehem, "house of bread," called of old Ephratah, "fruitfulness," owes its name simply to the circumstance that it is the spot where a full supply of all food may be obtained by one coming from the barren region toward the Dead Sea, and from the comparatively sterile district a little distant. The Bethlehem of Zebulun, west of Nazareth'