But it is not enough to think; above all things you must pray; these should be weeks of especial prayer. First of all, you should pray that God may bless the season of your preparation, and all the means used to prepare you, whether those taken by your pastor or by yourselves; next you should pray that your Confirmation itself should be blest to your souls, that you may enjoy the fulness of that gift of the Holy Ghost which is bestowed therein. I should advise you every night and morning to add an especial prayer about your Confirmation. By this means you will get God's help, and it is God's help which you now want. A sincere, serious spirit, a deep and strong desire to serve Him is His gift, for from Him come all good desires. You may understand all about Confirmation; you may answer questions excellently; you may comprehend all the instructions which I may give; but all this will avail you nothing, unless with your heart you desire to obtain God's blessing and favour in this holy ordinance of the Church.

In short, my friends, let these weeks be different from any other weeks in your lives. You are about to put your hand to the plough; and as you cannot draw back without peril to

your soul, so you should not hastily or lightly draw near to such an act. You need solemn preparation; you need your pastor's help; you need. earnest and constant prayer; you need much serious thought. Believe me, there are great blessings in Confirmation, if your souls are properly prepared; it is a great step towards the kingdom of heaven, if it be rightly taken.

With

your own hands you then take up the Cross; with your own mouth you then give yourselves up to Christ. It is most wise to take up the Cross and to put yourselves under Christ's yoke; it is most wise to do it in a deliberate and holy way.

And now, proposing to instruct you in the whole matter more in detail, I will only be you to-night to join with me in fervent prayer to God, that both the preparation for Confirmation and the Confirmation itself, may be full of blessings to your souls." The whole party then a young soul was lifted

up

knelt down, and many in earnest prayer, and

doubtless the prayer was received up into heaven

for Christ's sake.

THE HOP-PICKER.

THROUGHOUT that garden of England, Kent, and in the wealds of Kent especially, every idle hand is, in the first week of September, called to join in the profitable and pleasant errand of hop-picking," or as it is commonly termed, hopping."

There is no growth of any plant cultivated by man which is so graceful as the hop, and the scene where its luxuriant blossoms hang in rich clusters, is one which is said to be far more beautiful than the vineyards of other countries, admired and praised as they are, and have been.

There may be no enlivening dance and festivity like those indulged in by the peasants of France, but still there is happiness of heart for the hop-gatherer while he gains good wages for his honest toil.

your soul, so you should not hastily or lightly draw near to such an act. You need solemn preparation; you need your pastor's help; you need. earnest and constant prayer; you need much serious thought. Believe me, there are great blessings in Confirmation, if your souls are properly prepared; it is a great step towards the kingdom of heaven, if it be rightly taken. With your own hands you then take up the Cross; with your own mouth you then give yourselves up to Christ. It is most wise to take up the Cross and to put yourselves under Christ's yoke; it is most wise to do it in a deliberate and holy way.

And now, proposing to instruct you in the whole matter more in detail, I will only be you to-night to join with me in fervent prayer to God, that both the preparation for Confirmation and the Confirmation itself, may be full of blessings to your souls."

The whole party then knelt down, and many a young soul was lifted up in earnest prayer, and doubtless the prayer was received up into heaven. for Christ's sake.

JOHN HENRY PARKER, OXFORD AND LONDON.

THE HOP-PICKER.

THROUGHOUT that garden of England, Kent, and in the wealds of Kent especially, every idle hand is, in the first week of September, called to join in the profitable and pleasant errand of hop-picking," or as it is commonly termed, hopping."

There is no growth of any plant cultivated by man which is so graceful as the hop, and the scene where its luxuriant blossoms hang in rich clusters, is one which is said to be far more beautiful than the vineyards of other countries, admired and praised as they are, and have been.

There may be no enlivening dance and festivity like those indulged in by the peasants of France, but still there is happiness of heart for the hop-gatherer while he gains good wages for his honest toil.