the circle of her own home.  Debarred from the pursuits which furnish so quickening an excitement to the other sex, she either is confined to the routine of domestic life and the quiet society of a social circle, or devotes herself to those frivolous pleasures which enervate while they excite; which, like the inspiration of the wine-cup, are transient in their joy, but deep and lasting in their evil.  But when religion enters her heart it opens a new and that the grandest array of objects.  It imparts a new element of thought, a wonderful depth and earnestness of character.  It elevates before her an ennobling object, and enlists her fine sensibilities, emotions and affections in its pursuit.  Coming thus through religion into harmony with God, she ascends to the highest position a woman can occupy in this world.

To woman should Christianity be especially dear.  It has led her out of the house of bondage; it has lifted her from the stool of the servant to an equality with the master; it has exalted her from the position of a mere minister of sensual pleasure, the toy of a civilized paganism, to a full companionship with man; it has given her soul—­once spurned, degraded, its immortality doubted, its glory eclipsed—­a priceless value; and shed around her whole character the radiance of heaven.  Let pure religion create the atmosphere around a woman’s spirit, and breathe its life into her heart; let it refine her affections, sanctify her intellect, elevate her aims, and hallow her physical beauty; let it mould her early character by its rich influences, and cause the love of Jehovah to consecrate all earthly love, and she is indeed to our race of all the gifts of time, the last and best, the crown of our glory, the perfection of our life.

* * * * *

Original.

A CHILD’S PRAYER.

By one of our little friends, seven years of age, for a little sister of five, who had committed an offense.

  Oh great and glorious God! 
    Thy mercy sweet bestow
  Upon a little sister,
    So very full of woe.

  Oh Lord, pray let her live,
    For lo! at thy right hand,
  To intercede for sinners,
    The blessed Savior stands.

  Then pardon her, Most High! 
    Pray cast her not away,
  But blot out all her sins,
    And cleanse her heart to-day.

* * * * *

Original.

WOMAN.

BY M. S. HUTTON, D.D.

     “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be
     alone, I will make him a help meet for him.”—­GEN.
     2:18.

     “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God
     created he him; male and female created he
     them.”—­GEN. 1:27.