us, Mr. Gordon, and

least such as you are. the standard, and king

I'm sure I love Christians; at

But now about the Lion on Richard adopting it.'

'You heard this morning all I knew of that,' replied Gordon. My small stock of information was soon communicated. I saw you looking at the royal standard, with feelings that I very well understood; for I have served under that flag, Mr. Cohen, ever since I was a little boy-a little cabin-boy, blacking the officers shoes: for though, by the goodness of God, I have risen to a responsible and respectable station, and am treated so kindly by gentlemen born and bred, yet, sir, I sprang from very humble parents, the poor of this world, only rich in faith, who could'nt have afforded me the means of learning to read. I came first on board a ship, hoping just to pick up a few crumbs of biscuit by doing any menial work-an honest little vagabond, afraid to steal, and ashamed to beg while my small fingers could work. But you see, sir, I have had a good Master to serve, and after some hard rubs, he has brought me to honour, as I may call it. And now Mr. Cohen, I advise you to serve the same Master, who will be equally gracious to you. To return to the standard, as I said, I saw you looking on it, with the heart of an Englishman; and perhaps not knowing that it had its commendation to the heart of an Israelite too.'

'I was quite ignorant of it, indeed: and I should like to know more about our old Lion.'

You remember,' said Gordon, how your great

ancestor, Jacob, blessed his twelve sons, the heads of the twelve tribes, before he died; and the particular mention of the lion in Judah's blessing?'

Alick did not remember, because he did not know a word about it; however, his curiosity was excited, and he said. To tell you the truth, Mr. Gordon, I have been rather a bad student. I read what was put into my hands, but never gave proper attention to it so though I may have seen it all before, any thing you see good enough to tell me will be as new to me as if I had not.'

66

:

Well, come here, and look at this page, where the whole is related by your great Lawgiver, Moses.' He turned to the forty-ninth chapter of Genesis, and saying in a low but distinct voice, May the God of Jacob bless it to our souls for Jesus Christ's sake,' he pointed out the eighth verse, requesting Alick to read it, who, colouring with a feeling that he could not define, began, "Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise, thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies, thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?" Alick here exclaimed,

heard that in the morning.'

:

Why, we

Yes but not in the same part of the book; we will see to that presently go on, if you please.' Alick resumed.

"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a

1

Lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: his eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk." This is prose, but really I never read poetry so beautiful, Mr. Gordon. The sceptre is departed from Judah, alas!'-and that sigh was the first, Alick ever gave to the desolation of his people-‘but I don't know who Shiloh is. In fact I feel I am shamefully ignorant of things I ought to know. Please to tell me, Mr. Gordon, who is Shiloh?'

As the boy turned his bright eyes on his companion, the expression of humility, submission, and earnestness upon his ingenuous countenance so touched the warm heart of the old christian sailor, that for the moment his voice failed him. He pointed upwards, and then said, 'Pray that you may know him.'

Alick dropped his eyes, looking disappointed, and Gordon resumed, 'I will point out something remarkable to you. These words spoken by Jacob could not be known to that heathen idolater Balaam, when the king of Moab set him to curse Israel; yet see how similar are the terms he uses; in fact the same;' and he turned to the twenty-fourth of Numbers, pointing out the 9th verse, "He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion, who shall stir him up?" That is singular,' said Alick, how do

you account for it?'

6

By the fact, that both spake as they were moved by the Spirit of the Lord; Jacob willingly; wicked Balaam against his will: and this not only confirms the prophecy, but makes it doubly observable.'

'That's true. Do you see, too, it is said here that he, that is Jacob, "hath as it were the strength of an unicorn." The unicorn also is in the royal arms of England.'

Gordon smiled, delighted at finding the youth thus interested. I never thought of the unicorn before, I acknowledge, but your remark is true. And now see another prediction of Shiloh: "There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel" this star, this sceptre is Shiloh.'

'How can that be?' asked Alick quickly. The sceptre was to depart when Shiloh came: how then can Shiloh be a sceptre.'

6

'I'll tell you,' said Gordon, with increased animation, and oh, what a privilege it is to tell you things on the knowledge of which depends the salvation of your immortal soul! This sceptre of Jacob-'

Before he could add another word, a rap at the door was followed by a summons to attend the first Lieutenant immediately. Gordon's countenance had never looked so clouded, as it did on hearing this; he rose heavily, and Alick said, 'Never mind: you'll let me come another time, I know, and then you can tell me more of this. I am very, very much obliged to you, Mr. Gordon, indeed I am. I'll try to become a better scholar, and at all events I'll never rest till

I find out all that is to be found out about Judah's

Lion.'

'Dear boy!' thought the Gunner as he hastened upon deck, you little know how true a word you have spoken. Rest, indeed, can never be yours till you come to a right acquaintance with the Lamb that was slain-" the Lion of the tribe of Judah ?”