Great was their rapture when they first caught sight of the hills of St. George’s Sound; for then they knew their journey would soon end.  But they had rivers to cross on the way, and in trying to get the horses over, they nearly lost the poor beasts, and their own lives too.  For three days their clothes were dripping with wet, and the last night was one of the worst; but then they knew it was the LAST, and that thought enabled them to bear all.  So does the Christian feel when near the end of his journey.  He is in the midst of storms, and wading through deep waters, even the deep waters of DEATH; but he knows that he is near HOME.

It was in the midst of a furious storm, that these travellers arrived at their journey’s end.  Though they were now close to the town of Albany, neither man nor beast were to be seen; for neither would venture out.  At last, a native appeared, and he knew Wylie, and greeted him joyfully, telling him at the same time that his friends had given him up for dead a long while ago.  This native, by a loud shrill cry, let his countrymen know that Wylie was found; and presently a multitude of men, women, and children, came rushing rapidly from the town, and up the hill to meet him.  His parents and brethren folded him in their arms, while all around welcomed him with shouts of joy.  His master was kindly received at the house of a friend; but he did not meet with so warm a welcome as Wylie, for he was not like him in the midst of his family.

The kind master overlooked all Wylie’s faults during the journey, and remembered only his kindness in keeping with him to the end.  He even spoke in his favor to the government, requesting that Wylie might have a daily allowance of food as a reward for his good conduct.  What great reason had this young savage to rejoice that he had not listened to the enticements of his wicked comrades, when they called him so often by his name, and tried to induce him to forsake his kind master!

LITTLE MICKEY.

Mickey was born in the wilds of Australia; yet he was a highly favored boy; for he became servant to a missionary.  This was far better than being, like Wylie, the companion of a traveller.

Mickey was a merry and active little fellow, and was a great favorite with his master’s children.  The older ones taught him to read, and the little ones played with him.  During the day, Mickey took care of the cattle, and at night he slept in a shed close by his master’s house.  He might have been a happy boy, but he soon fell into sin and sorrow.

One evening he was in the cooking-house, eating his supper with another native boy, his fellow-servant.  The oven was hot, and the bread was baking.  Mickey opened the door of the oven, and looked in.  That was wrong; it was the first step towards evil.  Mickey had eaten a good supper, and ought to have been satisfied; but, like his countrymen, he had an enormous appetite, and was always ready to eat too much when he could.  He took some of the hot bread, and gave some to his fellow-servant.  How like was his conduct to that of Eve, when she took the fruit, and gave some to Adam!