Friend. Why do you like the Psalms better than the Proverbs?

Boy. Because there is a great deal more about God in them. Now, don't you think David was a very wise man to write all the Psalms ?

Friend. The Psalms are not all David's writing; but he is supposed to have written the greater part of them; and I certainly agree with you, that he must have been a very wise man.

Boy. And wiser than Solomon ?

Friend. I will not dispute this matter with you. To love and serve God is a mark of the highest wisdom, for no one can love God without the knowledge of him; and if the knowledge of God leads a man to love and serve him, it is a proof he is a wise man. Such a man is wise for this world and the next too: and such was David. But we find that Solomon asked wisdom of God, and God gave it him; and we find that God was pleased with Solomon for this; he gave him not only wisdom, but also riches and honour beside. So we must consider Solomon a wise man.

Boy. But he was not wise always, for you know he bowed down to idols, and worshipped gods that were not gods, but only made of wood and stone. It appears to me that Solomon was wise for this world, and David for the next.

Friend. We believe and hope that Solomon saw his error, and sin, and folly, in this, and truly repented of it before he died; for as you say, it was a sad proof he was not wise always; and we learn by it not to put our trust in the wisest of men; but in God alone, who is "only wise and blessed for ever." And we should learn also to pray to God for his grace to keep us; for we see, except God is pleased to keep the wisest of men, he becomes a fool. Boy. But David did pray to God for grace.

Friend. David was a very eminent servant of God; but there was a time when he showed great want of wisdom, for he forgot God's eye was upon him, and he * See 2 Chron. i. 10, and 1 Kings iii. 10.

fell into sin and displeased God; but he repented of his sin, and God forgave him. I will agree with you here, that there was a great difference in this respect between David and Solomon: David loved God; and we read that his heart was perfect with the Lord his God; which means he truly loved him always, and was sorry when he had displeased him: and could not be happy but in the enjoy ment of his presence and his favour.

Boy. I will tell you how I think it was. I think the difference was this-David and Solomon were both wise, but Solomon was wise for all the affairs of the kingdom: he was a great king, and knew how to rule his people; he was very wise in all the things of this world; but David was wise towards God.

Friend. I think you may be right.

Boy. Well, then, do you not think this the best wisdom?

Friend. It certainly is, because this world will come to an end; and they who are wise only for this world, will be found fools in the end; but he who loves and serves God has God for his friend, and he will be his friend for ever; this is true wisdom, the knowledge, and love, and fear of the Lord; to depart from evil and to do good-to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul and strength and mind-this is true wisdom. One of our Saviour's names is Wisdom; and he says, "I love them that love me." He says again, "I will fill their treasures. Blessed are they that keep my ways. Blessed is the man that heareth me, &c.—for whoso findeth me, findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord." Our Lord says, "this is life eternal, to know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." Seek this knowledge, for it is indeed wisdom; this world will be burned up; all that is in it will pass away and be no more; but when all its wisdom and all its pomp shall perish, the servants of God will be found among the truly wise; for to know, to love and to serve him, is to be wise unto SALVATION.

Children's Friend.

CLOG SHOES.

A SUPERINTENDENT of a Sunday-school once made the

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following statement I was, one Sunday afternoon,

about to close the school in which I was engaged, when a well-dressed, genteel person presented himself as a visiter, and requested me to allow him (if it would not be deemed an intrusion) to speak to the children. This request being readily granted, he addressed them nearly to the following effect:

'There was once a poor lad, who was noted, even among his sinful companions, for his wickedness; but especially for swearing and Sabbath-breaking. He, along with some others, resolved, one Sunday, to follow and pelt some steady boys who were going to their school. However, it so happened, that the lads, on being attacked, took to their heels; the wicked lad followed them to the very door of the school. When the door was opened, the scholars were singing; and such a sound came from the place as astonished the wicked boy. He wondered what they were doing in the inside. A teacher at that moment, admitting the other boys, invited the wicked boy to come in. A new scene now opened itself upon him; near 300 boys were present with their teachers; and they all appeared so neat and clean, and in such good order, that he wished he was like them. He stood for some time, dirty and ragged, and with his wooden clogs on, which, whenever he stirred, made so much noise as to cause all present to look at him. After some consultation, he being a stout, good-looking lad, it was resolved to admit him as a scholar; and he was put into the A B C class. Everything in the school was new to him.

'The next Sunday he went to the school with his hair combed, and his face washed: but his clogs still remained to mortify him. His case was kindly taken into consideration by the teachers, and a pair of shoes was given him. He now found himself so much behind the other boys, that he resolved to strain every nerve to get up to them. This determination was the means of his rising to the very first

class. Soon after, as his conduct was much approved he was appointed to be a teacher. He now felt he had something more to do than to teach others-that he had his own soul to save. In a little time he was enabled, after much prayer, to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and to rejoice in his salvation. The Lord then called him to preach the Gospel; and happening, some time after, to preach within twenty miles of his much-loved school, he, after his morning's labour, resolved to pay it a visit, and reached the place just in time to see the poor lads in his own, very own school; and here he is now speaking to you!'

"The scene now became truly affecting; he burst into tears, as did several others around him. At last, he sobbed out, 'O, my dear lads, be careful, be in right good earnest to make the most of your very great Sunday-school privileges. I have kept you too long. God bless you all.' He then concluded with a most pathetic prayer."

THE QUEEN AND THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL SCHOLARS.

AN event, certainly unparalleled in the history of Sunday-schools, and of our country, if not of the world, has just transpired, which deserves to be recorded in the "Juvenile Companion," as a memento to be referred to in years to come by the scholars, teachers, conductors, and promoters of Sabbath-schools. Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, being about to visit Liverpool and Manchester, two of the principal towns-one for manufactures, the other for commerce-in the kingdom, the idea was thrown out, that in the latter place the Sunday-school scholars of all denominations might be collected in one of the public parks, and thus give the children an opportunity of seeing Her Majesty much better than they could possibly do in the streets, and at the same time afford Her Majesty an opportunity of beholding such a sight as had not before been witnessed. This was no sooner determined on than

active steps were taken to carry it into effect. Two vast platforms, or rather galleries, parallel with each other, reaching to an enormous length, and capable of holding 80,000 young persons, with a wide space between for a carriage-drive, were erected in Peel Park, Salford; socalled from the celebrated statesman, Sir Robert Peel, whose death the nation was called upon to lament a short time ago.

Eighty-two thousand cards, with the National Anthem on one side, and "Visit of Her Majesty the Queen. General Assemblage of Sunday-school Scholars in Peel Park, Salford, October 10th, 1851. Admit the Bearer. Robert Needham," on the other. The following are the words of the National Anthem

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

God save our gracious Queen,

Long live our noble Queen,

God save the Queen!

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us,

God save the Queen!

Crown'd by a nation's love,

Guarded by heaven above,

Long live the Queen!

Long may each voice exclaim,

Wide as Britannia's fame,

Long live VICTORIA's name,

God bless the Queen!

Thy choicest gifts in store,

On her be pleased to pour,

Long may she reign!

May she defend our laws,

And ever give us cause

To sing with heart and voice,

God save the Queen!

It was intended that the young people should sing the above anthem, and it was therefore printed on the entrance ticket. For some weeks previously, the children were