Charley had a brother, Willie, two years older than himself.  Little could he know of death—­but he knew he had no baby-brother now, and his mother told him Charley was in heaven.

“I hope, mother,” said he, “the apostles will not get him.”

“Why, my child?”

“Because they did not want little children to go to Jesus,” was his artless reply.

This little boy has recently removed, with his parents, to the city.  He does not like it as he did the green grass and shaded fields of the country.  He feels lonely without the companionship of the trees and the birds, and he wishes that “God would take him right up to heaven to play with Charley.”

How is it with you, my dear child?  Are you ready to be taken “right up to heaven?” Do you love your Saviour?  Do you obey your parents?  Are you truthful and conscientious?  Do you study your Bible to learn all you can about God, and what he would have you be and do?  Do you pray to him daily for His blessing, and ask Him to keep you from sin?  Do you seek His forgiveness for all you have done that is wrong?

So live, that when the angel of death comes for you, he may carry you where Charley is, into the blessed home prepared for all who love God. When He will come, you cannot know.  Be always ready, and then He will not find you unprepared.

[Illustration]

DARLING WILLIE.

Willie was an active little boy, just large enough to be dressed in frock and pantaloons.  He was very affectionate, and everybody who knew him loved him.

When he left the green fields in the country, to come with his parents to the city, he did not feel so happy as in his pleasant home by the river side, where the wild birds sung to him, and where he could watch the branches of the old elm swaying in the breeze.

It was autumn when he came to town, and there were no flowers in the yard attached to his city home.  The grass was brown and frost-bitten, and soon the white snow came and covered it.  The stone walks were swept, and when it was not too cold, Willie could ride around the little square, seated on his velocipede.  In his mother’s parlour, he could make houses with his blocks, or stables for his tin horses, and often he went out to walk or drive with his mother, who always enjoyed taking him with her.

The winter passed away, and every month the strong cords of love were binding him still more closely to the hearts of his friends.  Spring came—­the fresh grass sprung up, and the dandelions opened their blossoms in Willie’s playground.  How he loved to look at them!  Those blades of grass, and the yellow flowers, filled his heart with gladness.  His eyes sparkled, and he could scarcely stand still as he talked about them.

Willie was, one day, sitting with his grandmother by the open window.  The sun had just sunk below the horizon, and the clouds were gorgeously tinted with his parting rays.  Some of them were of a rich golden hue, and others were dyed with rosy light.  It was an exceedingly beautiful sunset, and Willie, who loved all nature, gazed for some time in silent admiration.  Then, looking up to his grandmother’s face, and pointing to the west,