the praise of your teachers; and worse even than this, you wished to awaken the envy of your companions.  Such a gift, however large, could never be acceptable to the just God, who knows all hearts, and bids us to do good in secret and He will reward us openly.  You see, my little girl, how one misstep makes the way for another,—­how this pride begat envy, and envy covetousness, and then how quickly did deceit and dishonesty and disobedience come after.  Do not think me harsh, my dear child, from my heart I forgive you; your punishment has been severe, but I trust it will be to you a well-spring of grace; and now let us humbly ask the forgiveness and blessing of that just and yet merciful God who for Jesus’ sake will hear our prayers.”

They knelt, and Mrs. Grey made a touching and earnest prayer; even Mrs. Murray was affected to tears; she felt ashamed of her daughter’s conduct; she knew she herself was to blame, and this event had a good effect upon her future conduct.

After a little while Charlotte asked for her box, and taking out the pink ribbon placed it in Mrs. Grey’s hand and begged her to burn it, as she could not bear to see it.

“No,” said Mrs. Grey, “keep it, Charlotte; it will remind you of your fatal error, and perhaps, through God’s blessing, may sometimes lead you from the path of sin into that of holiness.”

Charlotte took her friend’s advice, and after her recovery never gave utterance to a falsehood.  She and Annie became Sunday-school teachers, and through the grace of God Charlotte was the means of bringing her whole family into the fold of the Good Shepherd; and while she lived she always carefully treasured the pink ribbon, which was a memento alike of her fault and her sincere repentance.

* * * * *

Original.

LETTER FROM A FATHER TO A SON.

MY DEAR SON:—­Seldom, if ever, have I perused a letter of deeper interest to myself as a father, than the one you lately addressed to your sister.  Long had it been my daily prayer that the Spirit of God would impress you with the importance of becoming a Christian; from your letter I infer that you are anxiously inquiring after the “great salvation.”  It is all-important that you be guided aright. What must you do?

The Bible should be our guide in matters involving our spiritual interests, and we need not fear to follow its directions.  The Bible declares that in order to be saved the sinner must “repent.”  This is the first step.

But what is it to repent?  Let me tell you.  Suppose, then, that a person spreads a false and injurious report about another, by which his character is wounded, his influence lessened, and his business destroyed.  This is wrong.  Of this wrong, the injurer at length becoming sensible, and deeply regretting it, repairs to the one whom he has injured, confesses the wrong, seeks forgiveness, does all in his power to make amends, and offends no more.  This is repentance.