PATTERA-KALEE AND VEERAPATTERAM. THESE are demons worshipped in South Travancore. The poor people often make vows and offer sacrifices to them in time of sickness. At the annual festival which is held in honour of these ugly idols, those who have recovered from sickness come to perform their vows. Some will swing from a great height with hooks in their backs,—some will hold a pan of fire in their hands before the idol,-and

LIFE AND VOYAGES OF REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 13

some will have a thin piece of cane put through their sides, and dance while others hold the cane. Surely the sufferings which they are willing to endure to please their false and cruel idols should make us ashamed of doing and bearing so little in the service of our Saviour.

I.

THE LIFE AND VOYAGES OF THE

REV. JOHN WILLIAMS.*

SOMETHING ABOUT HIM WHILE HE WAS A LITTLE BOY.

I SUPPOSE that all the children who read this magazine, have heard of the great and good missionary, Mr. Williams, and would like to hear his history.

John Williams was born at Tottenham High Cross, June 29th, 1796. There is not much known of what he did and said while quite a little boy. He went to a good plain school, and learned all that was taught there. He was fond of getting knowledge, and used to want to know a great many things that were not in his lessons. He was a quick, handy boy, and very fond of his sisters, and made himself very useful to them. When they wanted anything done, they used to say, "John can do it," or, " John will do it." I wonder if there are any little boys now reading this whose sisters can say the same of them?

John's father had not, at this time, begun to think about God; but his mother was a truly good woman, and she used to take her little boys and girls to her room every morning and evening to teach them, and to pray with them. They also went with her to the house of God every Sabbath-day. She was very anxious about little John, and some things made her hope that he had begun to fear and love God. One thing which made her hope this was, that he always spoke the truth. He had the greatest dread of telling a lie. Another thing was, that while he was at school, she found a paper on which he had written some hymns and prayers to repeat every morning and evening. His sister says that he made them quite by himself. These are the prayers and hymns.

THE MORNING PRAYER.

I thank thee, O Lord! for the life which thou hast given me, and which thou art still preserving. Thou hast watched over me while I have been asleep, and hast permitted me to see the light of another day. Oh! forgive me whatever I have thought, whatever I have said, and whatever I have done amiss in time past; and

*From the Rev. E. Prout's "Memoirs of the Life of the Rev. John Williams."

keep me from displeasing thee in time to come. Do good, O Lord! to my friends and relations; teach me how to love thee; teach me how to pray as I ought, and as I get older, may I get wiser and better; fit me for doing thy will here on earth, and fit me for heaven, that happy place where thou art, and to thee be all the praise for ever. Amen.

THE EVENING PRAYER.

O Lord! I thank thee for thy goodness to me through all the day, for the light of the sun, for the food which I have eaten, for the clothes that I have worn, and for the air which I have breathed; but pardon, O Lord! all my sins, my thoughtlessness, my forgetfulness of thee; and all my wrong words and actions, remember them not against me. O Lord, help me to think of thee oftener, to understand the instructions that are given me, and to obey my parents, and to love those who are set over me. Be with me through the night, and grant me that rest which is needful for my health. Hear my prayers, and answer in mercy. Amen.

THE MORNING HYMN.

Soon as the sun ascends the sky,

His light and heat to shed;

I would not any longer lie,
And slumber in my bed.

With open eyes and gladsome heart,
I welcome in the day;

I throw my bed-clothes all apart,
And rise, and kneel, and pray.

For when the little birds unite,
Their morning song to raise ;
So little boys should take delight,
Their Maker too to praise.

He gave the little bird his wings,
On which he mounts the sky;
He taught him all the notes he sings,
And built his nest on high.

He gave me life, and to prolong

The life my God affords,

He taught my mind to think, and tongue
To tell my thoughts in words.

For this, my kind preserver! thou
Shall hear my frequent praise;
To thee I'll daily learn to bow,
And give my youngest days.

LIFE AND VOYAGES OF REV. JOHN WILLIAMS. 15

THE EVENING HYMN.

The sun that lately filled the skies,
With all his sparkling rays;
Now hides his glories from our eyes,
And night comes on apace.

And now to him who made the sun,
And taught him when to rise,
Who showed him in what course to run
Across the glaring skies;

Who gave the gentle moon to cheer
The still and gloomy night;
Like a large pearl 'mong diamonds clear,
She looks and sheds her light;

To him, Oh! let my willing tongue
Send up the grateful strain;
And let my heart join in the song,
Or all my praise is vain.

His name, just learnt, his name I love,
How sweet it is to know,

That God, who made the world above,
Made me and all below:
Asleep, awake, that he sustains,
And feeds my tender frame.

He sends the blood through all my veins,
I live and move in him.

Now grant, my Maker! from this hour,
More and more knowledge still;

And since I've learnt thy name and power,
Oh! let me know thy will.

These are very nice little prayers and hymns, but there is one fault. There is nothing about Jesus in them. I think this shows

that little John had not the love of Jesus in his heart, or he would not have forgotten his Saviour's name. He wished to do as his dear mother taught him, but, like little Samuel, he "did not yet know the Lord." (To be continued.)

"GOD MADE TWO GREAT LIGHTS;
HE MADE THE STARS ALSO.' ""

Once on the wide unfathomed sea
Night rested like a pall;

Wave after wave rolled gloomily,

For darkness covered all.

GEN. i. 16.

And then a deep and solemn voice
Fell on the quiet night,

And bade the new-born world rejoice ;-
God spake, and "there was light!"

Once and again that voice was heard
In wonder-working tone,

And earth, and sea, and sky appeared,
And God was there alone.

Then came the sun in glory forth
To rule the joyous day;

By night the moonbeam cheered the earth
With soft and silver ray.

High in the firmament they shone,
And shed their light afar;

Yet, ere God's work of love was done,
He made each little star!

And here we pause,-another sight
Breaks on the eye of thought;
Oh! may we read the tale aright,
With deep instruction fraught!

Long have some spots on this fair earth

Dwelt in unbroken night,

But now the gospel sun shines forth,
And deserts hail the light.

And wise and holy men there are,

Who, like the silver moon,

Go to reflect the light afar

Of that unsetting sun.

And is that all? no! lowlier still,
God's gentle spirit bends ;-
Our tiny lamps with light to fill
The Saviour condescends.

He bids us shine; our feeble ray
His love will not despise ;
A child may on His altar lay
Its little sacrifice.

Then small and lowly as we are,
With God's own glory bright,—

May each one shine-a twinkling star
In this dark world of night!

Manchester, Dec. 9th, 1843.

E. M. I.