TRATFORD STRATFORD-ON-AVON CHURCH. ON-AVON is a little market town in Warwickshire. It is a very ancient place, as we read of it even three centuries before the Norman Conquest. The town is approached from London by a long stone bridge of fourteen pointed arches, erected in the reign of Henry VII. at the sole charge of Sir Hugh Clopton, lord mayor of London. At the south-eastern corner was the eldest of eight children. His father was a glover by trade, and enjoyed the title of alderman. Soon after his marriage with Ann Hathaway, Shakespeare found his way to London, and began to write those works which have immortalised his name. His undertakings prospered, and at a comparatively early period he retired to his native town in comfortable circumstances, and died in his fifty-third year. His body is buried in the chancel of the church on the north side. The monument againt the wall is surmounted by a half-length effigy of the immortal poet. In the principal room of the town hall there is a portrait of Shakespeare by Benjamin Wilson. Part of the ancient house in which he was born, and which belonged to him at his death, is standing in Henley-street. A room in it, pointed out as the chamber of his birth, is covered with the names of visitors. We cannot here speak of Shakespeare's poetry. But one thing we may say it shows an extensive and minute acquaintance with the Scriptures. Clearly Shakespeare was a man who diligently read his Bible. In his will he said, "I com mend my soul into the hands of God, my Creator; hoping, and assuredly believing, through the only merits of Jesus Christ, my Saviour, to be made partaker of life everlasting." In this faith may all the readers of the Hive both live and die. W ILLAGE SPORTS. E have many times in the Hive told our young friends that it is quite a right and reasonable thing that they should have times for play. We love to see children at play. We have no doubt Jesus Christ loved to watch the children playing. Only let us do our work first; let us earn our recreation, and then let us play fairly, and never be sulky or lose our temper. On page 169 we have a picture representing village sports. There are both men and children enjoying themselves in various ways. This picture reminds us of certain lines in one of Milton's most beautiful poems, which run thus :— "Sometimes with secure delight, Now, how many of our young friends know HAT W JACK'S RESCUE. BY DR. J. H. HANAFORD. are you doing here?" asked Amelia Howard, as she and her younger sister were passing through the "House of Correction" on errands of mercy. "Nothing, only sittin' on the steps, waitin'," said the boy, rather sullenly at first, as he did not understand the object of the inquiry. "Yes, I see that you are sitting on the steps," Amelia replied, in mild tones that seemed to arrest his attention; "but why do you sit there, looking so forlorn ?" "Only 'cause they won't let me sit anywhere else, only here and in my cell." "What is your name, my boy ?" "Here," the boy answered, "they call me Jack West, but my mother called me Johnnie Weston ;" looking up as if he had found a friend at last. "But, Johnnie," asked Amelia, as she approached him, "why are you in this. terrible place?" "I don't exactly know," he replied. "I only know that the police-officer brought me here about four years ago, and that I am now here." "But why did he bring you here?" Amelia asked, in tones that assured him she did not wish to injure him. "Well, I will tell you, but nobody else," he answered, raising his hand earnestly. My father drinks, you see, or did when I used to be at home, and he used to send me after rum for him. When he couldn't get any money he used to whip me, and make me go round the market and steal something, and sell it to buy liquor for him. He whipped me awful hard one day 'cause I didn't want to steal, and I went and stole some onions to sell to Pat Malony for rum. The man saw me and run after me, and then called the police, and he brought me here. Mother was sick when they brought me here, and I don't know what has become of any of them. I used to go to school when I could, and sometimes to the Sundayschool, when father would let me. But I can't go now; I am dirty and ragged, and don't know anything, and can't be anybody. I want to work and go to school, and be like other boys. But I can't get off without running away, as Bob Riley did last week, and that's too mean for me. Please, miss, won't you try to get me out of this place? If you will, I will work for you ever so long." "What can you do, Johnnie ?" asked Amelia's sister. "Oh, I can do almost anything, and I will try awful hard to please you, and will' come real early in the morning. Please ask them to let me go." "Can you drive a horse, Johnnie ?" asked Hattie, the sister, "Yes, and harness one too," he earnestly replied. "I used to drive Mr. Smith's coal cart, and work in his stable, too, I know all about horses, miss." "And can you take care of a flower-garden, too?" she asked. "I can learn," he said. "I will try awful hard to do just as you tell me, if I can only get out of this awful place." 66 Well, Johnnie, we will try, as we wish a good boy at our house-just such a boy as you seem to be," said Hattie, taking him by the hand and raising him up. "Oh, don't touch me," he said, "I'm so dirty and ragged. It will dirty your fine clothes, miss. But if I can work and get better ones, and be where I can keep clean, I shall be so glad, and will do anything for you." The young ladies left, promising him that they would call again in a few days. Their father became interested in the de scription of the boy, and soon made arrange ments for his release. He ascertained that Johnnie's mother had died about one year before, and that his father had left the city for California and had not been heard from. They decided that Johnnie should become a member of their family, and that they would do well by him if he proved worthy of encouragement. One beautiful morning, not long after these "angels of mercy" left" Jack West," looking amazed, and as much pleased and excited, they returned and found him in the same place, for he expected them, and wished to be where they could easily find him. As they approached, looking en couragingly towards him, he arose modestly, though feeling bashful. Hattie approached and extended her hand, but he shrank from touching it, lest his might soil hers. She took his hand, however, and said, " Johnnie, you are to go with us and live with us as long as you please. We will give you good, clean clothes, and do all for you that we did for our brother, who died last winter. His name was Johnnie too, and we shall be glad to help you. We have brought some of his clothes with us, and the keeper will let you go into his room and wash yourself and put on something better. You can leave everything behind." Johnnie fairly jumped for joy, and danced around in fine glee, till he thought that it was not polite before such ladies, whom he had learned almost to venerate. The story of Johnnie's progress and success is soon told, and is just what we might naturally expect. He proved trusty, industrious, and anxious to make a man. He was sent to school, learned rapidly, excelled his associates, in part because he wished to show his gratitude to his benefactors, and in part because he wished to wipe out the stain and disgrace of having been in prison; and he did it. He really took the place of the departed Johnnie Howard, and was worthy to take the place of such a good boy. He was beloved and respected by his associates and teachers, and finally became a good scholar, and more, a good man. He never tasted that terrible drink that had ruined his family, and came so near proving his destruction. He soon formed a Band of Hope, took the charge of it, and made himself very useful. He went to the Sabbath-school as soon as possible, became a scholar first, then a teacher, and at last the superintendent. My young friends may like to know what became of "Jack West." Well, as you pass Weston-street, in the city of "out West," please notice a large sign at the corner of the street, looking something like the following: -"John Weston, M.D., Physician and Surgeon." Perhaps they would like also to know who mends Johnnie's clothes, &c., who is the mistress of that fine house, and who cheers and encourages him, reminding him of the progress he has made. Well, one of Mr. Howard's daughters went West at the same time, one named Hattie, and her name now is Mrs. Weston. You must guess the rest. SERMONS TO CHILDREN. BY WILLIAM L. ROBERTS, OF GLOSSOP. may be a good thing, or it may be a bad thing; it may prove a blessing or a curse, according to circumstances. Perhaps a very large number of the readers of these sermons have no "great expectations" in this direction and yet the text says, "A good man leaveth an inheritance." I think the real meaning of the text is, that the inheritance left by a good man is likely to be more certain and more beneficial than that left by a bad man. Bad men often get their wealth |