SUNDAY-SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.

SINGING DOGGEREL.

mens of the bad taste ard bad grammar of certain doggerel rhymes which appear in a recent collection of Temperance Gospel Songs. Here is a parody on Little Drops of Water: "

Of making Sunday School singingbooks there is no end. The demand is constant and the supply is abundant." There are plenty of Sunday Schools which are not satisfied unless they can change books every season. It is, indeed, just as much a matter of fashion as a change of coats or bonnets.

In meeting this demand many publishers seem to be chiefly concerned to produce books with taking titles and jingling tunes. The contents of the socalled hymns appear to be very little regarded. They generally consist of miserable doggerel, which but for the rhymes could hardly be distinguished from prose. This is bad enough, but the case is even worse when the author, either ignorantly or intentionally, teaches false doctrine. On a recent visit to a Sunday School in the country we heard the cildren singing a dreary hymn which taught, if it taught anything-that after conversion Christians can live just as they please. Good works were represented as obstacles to salvation. Two lines still linger in our memory:

Little drops of claret,

Now and then, at first,
Forms an awful habit,

And a dreadful thirst.

The following specimen is, if anything worse than the preceding:

My eyes were of the deepest blue,
No lustre did they lack,

But now you see they both are red,
And one is also black!

My nose was never beautiful,
But then 'twas not amiss:
Old Alcohol he touched it up,

And what d'ye think of this?

Now we ask, in all solemnity, Is it right to teach children such stuff as this? How can pastors and teachers justify themselves when they promote the introduction of books which either teach destructive doctrine, or turn the worship of God into a frivolous amusement? Would it not be better to sing those grand old hymns in which consecrated genius offers its noblest tribute to its Creator? Let us teach the young to appreciate their beauties, and they will no more desire to sing doggerel.

HINTS TO GIRLS.

"Cast away good works forever! They will rob you of your crown." We know, of course, that we are justified by faith alone; but we also know those who are implanted into Christ by faith must bring forth fruits of thankfulness. To cast away good works forever would be to renounce all part in the Give your best sympathy. There is kingdom of our Lord. It was perhaps no greater human power than the tenfortunate, in this in-tance, that neither derness of woman. If you can minister teacher nor children appeared to think to some one in sickness, lessen someof the meaning of the hymn. They sang body's distress, or put a flower in some it to a tune which sounded very much poor home, you have done a thing you like "Jenny, crack corn! I don't care; "will always be glad to think of. You and we don't think they cared about will be remembered, and a woman asks anything but the tune. no grander monument than to live in One of our exchanges gives us spci- hearts.-Lutheran Observer.

Hamilton, 380 pages. From Exile to Over-
throw, Rev. John W. Mears, D D, 475 pages.
Boys at Eastwick, M. E. Griffith, 255 pages.
Bessie and I, Lilian F. Wells, 304 pages.
Elijah, the Favored Man, Robert M. Patterson,
216 pages.
Week Day Religion, Rev. J. R.
Miller, 315 pages. Almost a Nun, Julia McNair
Wright, 398 pages. Alypius of Tagaste, Mrs.
Webb, 361 pages. Ride through Palestine,
524 pages. Rambles Among Insects, 279 pages.
Summer by the Sea, 304 pages. Daisy and
her Friends, 256 pages. The Story of Mada-
gascar, 313 pages. We Three, 270 pages.
Farmer Tompkins and his Bibles, 330 pages.
The Theban Legion, 239 pages. Wat Adams,
the Young Machinist, 247 pages. Oriel, 340
pages. A Good Name, 240 pages. Aonio
Paleario, 112 pages. Leaves and Fruit, M. E.
Griffith, 368 pages. Consequences, Mr. Dun-
ning, 392 pages. Scattered, do do, 272 pages.
Letting Down the Bars, do do do do.

Old

Portmanteau, Kate Hamilton, 277 pages.
House that Jack Built, do do, 368 pages. Rufus
the Unready, Martha Farquaharson, 308 pages.
William Farel, Wm. Blackburn, 347 pages.
Chumbo's Hut, Jno. Hosmer, 234 pages. John
Calvin and his Enemies, Rev. Thomas Smith,
D. D., 208 pages. Finding Jesus, Eliz Strong,
160 pages. Through the Wilderness, Mary
Willard, 207 pages. Westward, a Tale of
Emigrant Life, Mrs Wright, 272 pages. Four
Friends and their Fortunes, Author of Oriel,
320 pages. Trye's Year in India, Julia
Thompson, do do.

DODD, MEAD & Co., Pubs., New York.

We have here another fine lot of books for little folks, finely bound, beautifully illustrated, and filled with entertaining and instructive stories. The names of the books are as follows:

Little Folks' Ballads, A Christmas at School, A Day in the Woods, Little Nursery Songs, for the Twilight, A Long Day, Bobby Shalto, Uncle Dick's Portfolio, Dick and Grace. The Fish Boy, Songs for the Fireside, A Winter Story, Jack Greene, Little Folks' Songs, A Book about Indians.

These books contain about 50 pages, and are sold at 25 cents a piece.

It is the object of the Bureau to select books for the Sunday-school which are of superior excellence in every respect. The above have been thoroughly examined and are heartily recomended as books of such a character.

REV. C. S. GERHART, A. M.
REV. H. M. KIEFFER, A. M.
REV. R. L. GERHART, A. M.
MISS ALICE NEVIN.

OUR BOOK TABLE.

THE ORPHAN WANDERERS; containing Cared For, and How a Farthing became a Fortune. By Mrs. C. E. Bowen. New York, Robert Carter and Brother, 530 Broadway, 1882. Price $1.00.

These are interesting stories, illustrative of the Providence that cares for young children. The book is well suited for the Sunday School

NATIONAL TEMPERANCE PUBLISHING HOUSE, library.
New York.

The Lost Estate and Other Stories, Mrs
Ballard, 217 pages, $1.00. No Danger, Mary
Hodges, 360 pages, 1.25. The Prince of Good
Fellows M. E. Wilmer, 367 pages, 1.25. Rose
Clifton, Mrs E. J. Richmond. 426 pages, 1.50.
The Voice of the Home, S. M. J. Henry, 405
pages, 1 25. A Day with a Demon, Julia
McNair Wright, 95 pages, 40 cts. Little Blue
Jacket and Other Stories, Mrs M. A. Paull,
162 pages, 75 cts. Bread and Beer, Mary
Dwinell Chellis, 381 pages, 1.25. Her Heritage,
Laurie Loring, 354 pages, 1.25.

ESTES & LAURIOT, Pubs., Boston, Mass. Christian Heroines, 290 pages. The Young Woman's Friend. 250 pages. Papers for Thoughtful Girls, 344 pages, in set 4.50. Winning his Way, Chas. Coffin, 258 pages, 1.25. Zig-Zag Journeys in Europe, Hezekiah Butterworth, 311 pages, 1.75. Zig-Zag Journey in the Orient, do do, 320 pages, 1.75. Young Folks' History of Russia, 520 pages, 1.50. Do do America, Hezekiah Butterworth, 535 pages, 1.50. Do do Boston, do do, 480

pages, 1.50.

CASSEL, PETTER, GALPIN & Co., New York,

London and Paris.

We have here a list of Books especially in tended for children of the Infant-School. They are filled with beautiful stories and fine illustrations. 1st set Little Folks' Stories, 12 vols., at 25c.; 2nd set Bible Stories, 4 vols., at 25c. These average 60 pages.

SWEETBRIAR, OR DOINGS IN PRIORSTHORPE
MAGNA. By Agnes Giberne. New York,
Robert Carter & Bro's, 530 Broadway, 1882.
A story of life among the middle classes in
England. It gives the reader an accurate
idea of the social condition which it is intend-
ed to represent, and the authoress proves her-
self a careful student of human nature.
THE PETTIBONE NAME. A New England
Story, by Margaret Sidney. Boston, D.
Lothrop and Company, 32 Franklin Street.
Price $1.25.

As a description of rural life in New Eng-
land this book is certainly to be commended.
The story is well told, and the principal char-
acters unusually well drawn. The book has
the elements of popularity, and will, no doubt,
be extensively circulated.
ACTON: OR SCHOOL AND COLLEGE DAYS.
By Erie Arnold. Boston, Congregational
Publishing Society, Congregational House.
induce the young to make an early confession
This is a pleasantly told story, intended to
of their faith in Christ. In our opinion this
object would be more likely to be accomplish-
ed if the religious experiences of the youthful
characters were not so minutely related. Ex-
amples of cheerful, healthy Christian living
are more likely to attract the young than par-
ticular accounts of the struggles which are
sometimes necessary in reaching this happy
condition. The design of the book is most
praiseworthy, and we hope it may do good.

LESSON X.

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

LOVE TO GOD AND MEN.-MARK 12: 28-44.

Commit to memory verses 29-31.

28. And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?

29. And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

32. And the scribe said unto him, Well. Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:

33. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

34. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him auy question.

35. And Jesus answered and said, while he taught

September 3, 1882.

in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?

36. For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

37. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.

38. And he said unto them in his doctrine. Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

39. And the chief seats in the synagogues, and uppermost rooms at feasts:

40. Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

41. And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury, and many that were rich cast in much.

42. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

43. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

44. For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

1. THE RELIGION OF LOVE, vs. 27-34.

2. THE RELIGION OF PRETENSE, vs. 38-40.

3. THE RELIGION OF SACRIFICE, vs. 41-44.

GOLDEN TEXT: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." Deut. 6:5.

110.

INSTRUCTION.

Verse 28. First commandment-greatest. 30, Heart, soul, &c.—with our entire being. Thy neighbor--fellow-man. 33. More than all burnt offerings--love is better than all outward forms of service. 34. Discreetly---wisely. Not far-in the right road. 36. David said, in Psalm 37. Lord... Son--Lord as to His Divine nature; son as to His human nature. Common people-the people in general. 38. Long clothing--robes such as priests wore. 39. Uppermost rooms--chief seats. 40. Pretense-false show. 41. Treasury, which was in the court of the women. 42. Mites-the smallest coins in use, worth less than a quarter of a 43. Cast more in---in the sight of God.

cent.

CATECHISM.

Ques. What profit dost thou receive by
Christ's holy conception and nativity?
Ans. That He is our Mediator, and with

His innocence and perfect holiness covers, in the light of God, my sins wherein I was conceived and brought forth.

QUESTIONS.

Verse 28. What question did the lawyer ask Christ? Is it an important one?

29-31. Repeat the answer which Jesus gave. What is meant by loving God with all heart, soul &c., &c.? Who is your neighbor? What is the soul of all true religion? What is the fulfilling of the law? What is the greatest of all virtues ?

32-33. What is worth more than all outward services? What enables us to worship God aright, and help our fellow-men?

34. What did Jesus say to the lawyer? Is it enough to be near the Kingdom? What is better?

35. What question does Christ ask? How was Jesus the Lord of David? How was He his Son?

36. Where did David call Jesus his Lord? 37. What class of people heard Jesus gladly? Do you like to hear His words?" What think ye of Christ ?"

38-40. What kind of religion was that of the scribes? (See outline.) What did they love? What wicked things did they do? What did they do for a pretense? What shall be their reward? Can we deceive God by pretense and hypocrisy?

41. In what part of the temple was the treasury? Who inspected the gifts? Who cast in much?

42-44. How much did the poor widow give? In whose sight was it much? Does Christ take notice of all we give? What makes a gift valuable?

LESSON HYMN : “Oh Love divine, how sweet thou art."

Cast more in than they all-in God's reckoning, more in the amount of faith and heart. She gave all that she had at her disposal. This was an illustration of the religion of sacrifice. Self-denial This is the first commandment; that ought to be exercised by every believer is, this sincere, fervid, intelligent, and in Christ. It is the only way to take energetic love will lead to keeping the the higher degrees in the Christian life. commandments.