y faithfully His word; obey his voice. Yield thy heart to Him
and trust Him implicitly. He will prove himself able to bless thee in
thine inmost soul. The avenues to that soul are all open to Him, and He
can cause such gentle, soothing influences to flow in upon thee as shall
make thee "Sing even as in the days of thy youth."

Fatherless child! whose heart fails thee when thou dost miss from every
familiar place the guide of thy youth, faint not nor be discouraged,
though the way is rough, and the voice that ever spoke tenderly to thee
is silent. Thou hast a father in heaven; and He who calls himself such
understands better than thou what is implied in that sacred name. Tell
Him thy woes and wants.

"Thou art as much His care, as if beside
Nor man nor angel lived in heaven or earth."

* * * * *

Original.

INFANTS TAUGHT TO PRAY.

Persons who have never investigated the subject cannot believe that
young children are capable of being taught to pray, intelligently. As
infants cannot be supposed to understand the essential nature and design
of prayer, we may profitably inquire, "Of what use can prayer be to a
young child?"

Miss H. More defines prayer to be "The application of want to Him who
alone can relieve it; the confession of sin to Him who alone can pardon
it; the urgency of poverty, the prostration of humility, the fervency of
penitence--the confidence of trust. It is the 'Lord save us, we perish,'
of drowning Peter--the cry of faith to the ear of mercy." Now, are not
children, for several of their first years, absolutely dependent upon
others for the supply of all their wants? And yet, though no beings are
so weak, so helpless, yet none are so eloquent in pleading or praying
for what they want as young children in distress, though they have not
yet acquired the language of speech, and simply because this language is
nature's voice.

How irresistible are the entreaties of an infant in sickness, pain, and
trouble. It will not be pacified or comforted by any one but its
mother--her bosom is its sanctuary--her voice its sweetest melody--her
arms its only refuge. What a preparation is this in the ordering of
Providence, and in direct reference to what is to succeed, evidently
with the design that when a child is of a suitable age, it may transfer
its highest love and confidence from its earthly parents to a heavenly
Father. At first the mother stands in the place of God