This woman lived on the Ganges, near Sanger Island. She was the mother of a pair of beautiful twin babies. But one of these children was a girl, and the poor benighted mother on that account supposed herself to be under "Gunga's" curse for some offence she had committed.

A missionary's wife found her lamenting, and heard the story of her grief. The god must be appeased, the woman said. He was certainly angry, or the children would have both been boys, and with good eyes. She would have to make a sacrifice to soothe his wrath.

The Christian lady did what she could to impress her with better teachings, but with little effect. She left her sadly, never for one moment dreaming what the wretched mother meditated doing.

A day or two later the lady called again. As before, the mother sat beside the little basket cradle weeping—for this time there was but one baby in the cradle. It was the poor little blind girl. The other had been drowned in the Ganges.

The Christian lady was horror-struck when she knew the truth.

"Unhappy woman!" she exclaimed; "if you were driven to do this, why did you destroy the child you loved, and spare the one you hated?"

The woman sobbed and beat her breast piteously.

"O, it is that that breaks my heart," she said. "The god must have the best. When I had a perfect one he would not take the other. Alas, my boy, my boy!"

Why should not many who live in this land of light be shamed—not by the deed, but by the devotion of this poor heathen? Under the gentle law of Christ, we know that God's demand for the best we have only bids us use it for him, and devote it to him.

If we serve him selfishly, may not even the poor dark-souled Hindoo mother rise up and condemn us?—Selected.

Ah, I did not say that; but don't you know, if you are soldiers of the great King, he will take care of you; and whatever happens will give you the sweetest, highest happiness there is in this world?

We talk about things "happening," but it is well for us to remember that this King of ours manages all things, and is pledged to make "all things work together for good," to those who belong to him.

How many of you are blooming for him?

How many of you who have not yet settled the question, will come over to His side before this New Year's Day is done?

Oh, I hope you are all preparing for a Happy New Year.

Fred from Rhode Island. I am sorry your "other letter" was not answered, but glad that you did not wait for it. It is so pleasant to hear that the badges help our young people. So you found The Pansy blooming where you did not expect it? The truth is, we Pansies are a very large family, and are wonderfully scattered. I have marked your letter to be copied, for the other Blossoms to enjoy.

Mary and John from Tarsus. Dear, far-away Blossoms, we welcome you. How strange it is to think that in the very country where the great Paul lived so many years ago, two little Pansy buds are growing for Jesus. I hope you may be very fragrant flowers in that far-away land. Will you give my love to little Robert Livingstone?

Gertrude from New York. I am glad for you. "Whining" is a habit very easy to form, and very hard to break. It requires a good, strong resolution, such as you have made. As for "prompt obedience," I heard a gentleman once say, that no one was fit to command, who had not learned to obey.

Grace from Pennsylvania. You have asked a hard question, my dear. How can we interest people in things in which they have no interest? Let us see. In the first place, we must be very much interested ourselves, and must know just why we are interested, and just what we hope to do, by securing others to join us. Many of the P. S. have weekly meetings where they do some benevolent work, and have many an interesting book read to them while they work. Others have a literary society. What have you tried to do? Tell us the whole story, and we will try to help you.

Susie from Pennsylvania. The "Whisper Motto" is: "For Jesus' Sake." All the Pansies who choose it for their motto are expected to try to live by it. To do nothing which they think Jesus would not like, and to take him for their pattern. I am glad you like The Pansy.

Nettie from Ohio. Dear little Blossom, I was very much interested in your letter. I read it to a friend who said she would send you The Pansy for one year, for a Christmas present. So you may expect it to visit you as usual. I am glad you and your little sisters like it so well. For a little girl who has never been to school, I think you write an excellent letter.

Harriet from Deddington. So a little American Blossom has gone to bloom in England! That is good. May the fragrance of your life be enough to give joy to all around you. Did you ever notice how easy it is to find things to fret about, if one only tries?

Edith from New York. Now, my dear, I hope you will this time understand that you are the "Edith" meant. I would like to make it "sound like you" if I could. Since you live in Chautauqua County, perhaps you have been to the beautiful Chautauqua, where so many young people go every summer.

Richard from Virginia. We welcome you, my boy. If you succeed in raising a P. S. company, an officer's badge will be sent you in place of the one you now have. The habit of using "by-words" seems to be growing among our young people, both girls and boys. I am glad for every one who joins the ranks to fight against it.

Myra from New York. My wee Blossom, I was glad to receive your letter. So you want to write "nice stories"? Well, who can tell but you may write beautiful stories, one of these days? I'll tell you what you might begin to do now. Live a story, a beautiful one, so that people who know you will say one to another, "How gentle, and unselfish, and truthful, and loving Myra is!" How would that do? Yes, I know it is much harder to live stories than it is to write them; but then, they are worth more.

Bessie and Gracie from Wisconsin. Two dear sisters who are going to "help each other." I know all about that habit of impatience, Bessie; ever so many people are troubled with it. As for "contradicting," I have spent part of the day with a boy who contradicted his mother five times in the course of half an hour. Think of it!

Miriam from New Jersey. You have chosen a fault which is very common, and very trying to one's friends. "Slow obedience is only half obedience," a dear old friend of mine used to say. I have often thought of it; and I believe it is quite true. Do not you? I think you must have had a pleasant time at your celebration.

Stella from Omaha. Your pledge reminds me of a day when I was looking through a gentleman's autograph album, and came to a name which I could not pronounce. This was it: Inaminute. "What is this name?" I asked, in wonder. The young man laughed. "Oh, that was one of our boys who was always keeping us waiting; he was sure to shout out: "In a minute!" no matter how much haste we were in. So we took to calling him that; and the name stuck, somehow, and fits to this day. Some one told me only yesterday, that he never succeeded in anything he undertook, because he was always behindhand."

Harry from Pennsylvania. "A better boy in every way that I can." That is a grand pledge, Harry. It has given me great comfort to write it out in full on our pledge book, and to think while I am writing it, what a grand man there will be in Pennsylvania, one of these days, if Harry lives, and keeps his pledge. I pray God to help you every day to keep it.

May from New York. A May flower that shall help somebody every day, will be sure to shed sweet perfume. I hope my little May will blossom some day in our Father's garden, where flowers never fade.

Bella from Canada. A Pansy Blossom in Canada! Yes, indeed, many of them. This one we welcome with special joy because you are such a wee bud; only six, and pledged to try to make sunshine for the people around you, every day. God bless our little Canadian Bella!

Cora from New York. Poor little "finger nails!" I am glad they are not to suffer any more. A lady once told me that she was so in the habit of biting her nails, that when she stood before a great audience once, to speak on temperance, she found herself tugging at her glove to get to her fingers so she could bite them! Would not that have been an astonishing sight? Habit is a strange tyrant. Break away from this one, while you are young.

Henry from New York. Good for you, my boy! Half-learned lessons are very common, and very disgraceful. Please don't wear your badge at all, on any day when you fail in a lesson; I should hate to think of its being treated in that way.

Clyde from Virginia. Welcome to our Pansy Society. What kind word have you said this month, I wonder, that has helped some one on his way. A kind word a day, would make a lovely chain of kindness each year. Then, if we could follow the words and see what they did for others, what a story they would make!

Mary from Indiana. So you have overcome that habit of saying "Wait a minute." How glad mamma must be! I rejoice with you. What are you going to take up next? I presume Satan keeps you busy fighting against his wishes. He is very industrious, and when he fails in one direction, he tries in another.

Frankie from Michigan. I hope mamma was not only surprised but pleased with the badge, and your reason for receiving it. Does she see you growing patient? That is not an easy lesson to learn. In fact it takes a great deal of patience to be patient!

Ida from Kansas. Your pledge was rather indefinite, my dear. I have not a very clear idea of what you mean to do. However, if you have, and are trying for it, the main point has been gained. Perhaps you will write and make the matter plainer to me.

George from Minnesota. I know a boy who has taught himself to be so cross to his little sister that she actually cries sometimes, when she sees him coming. Yet he loves her, and would shed bitter tears if God where to take her away. Why do you suppose he wants to heap up sad memories for himself, by yielding to such a foolish habit? I am glad you have taken the pledge you send.

Nellie from —— If one only gets used to it, my dear, it is really quite an easy thing to do a thing at once, as it is to linger awhile. In fact it is easier; there is such a delightful feeling about having a thing done that we did not want to do. A young girl told me once that she remembered a certain summer day in which life was bright to her, all day, because she succeeded in making her bed before her mother said to her, "Come, dear, it is time your morning work was done."