The other day I turned over the leaves of an old book, in which, more than fifty years ago, my mother had begun entering the names, wages, and other items relating to her servants, making notes as to their service, capacity, character, etc. It set me thinking about my own service-whom I am serving, how I am serving, and what will be the result of my service.

You see, when we were saved-you and I-we became "servants of righteousness," "servants to God" (Rom. 6 :18-22), or as another scripture tells us, "Ye serve the Lord Christ" (Col. 3 :24); and when we call Him Master and Lord, we say well, for such He is to us whom He has redeemed to Himself by His blood.

As I looked through my mother's old book, it was wonderful to find how much of it fitted in with what the Bible says about our service, and how her little entries spoke to my conscience; perhaps they will also speak to yours.

" Selina M., a very good and clever, hard-working servant; she was, however, violent at times with her fellow-servants."

Is that what may be written of you in the accounts above ? Is your energetic, faithful service marred by a temper that is a trial to fellow-workers ? Thus was it long ago, when Paul wrote to two "good, hard-working" servants:"I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord" (Phil. 4 :2).

It is pleasant to find that Selina, after having been away for a time nursing:her sick mother, returned; and that when she left again on the same mission the following year, the entry runs thus:" She is a great loss to me; she has governed her temper, and made no trouble with her fellow-servants this last year. They all seem to regret her very much."

God grant that we, too, may thus grow in grace and in likeness to our Master; that we may never be found beating the men-servants and maidens, as did the evil servant, who thought the master would never come to look into his conduct (Luke 12:45).

Of another, I read:"A very nice-looking young woman, obliging, and clever in her work, but giddy in her conduct." Alas, if such "little foxes " spoil our "tender grapes" (Song 2 :15), and mar our service for Christ ! Give good heed to the apostle's word, teaching "the young women to be sober" (Tit. 2:4), so that no occasion may be given to speak reproachfully.

"Mary Ann H., an able nurse, but had not patience with the children; none of the little ones liked her, and were glad when she left." Yet, how dear to Christ's heart are the little ones! Do you lose patience with the lambs of the flock ? Are you a Sunday-school teacher, a "nurse " in the Church of God, yet lacking patience with the children, so that they do not like you, and are glad to get away from your class, and care not for the truths of God taught by your impatient lips ?

Of one who travels with her mistress, it is said:" She was very thoughtful on the journey, and kind to the little ones." How much we might lighten one another's burdens in the wilderness journey were we more " kindly affectioned one to another" (Rom. 12 :10), thus fulfilling the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).

I will give you one more entry:"Eliza H., a most excellent servant. She lived with me for more than seven years, and left in a consumption, of which she died. She was much attached to the children, and always thoughtful and attentive to them. She is a very great loss to me; few are to be found like her. Her mind seemed in a happy state, and she was fully prepared for her death." Does it not make you think of him to whom his Lord said, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant :thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things:enter thou into the joy of thy Lord " (Matt. 25 :21). The term of service being ended, there comes the call to come up higher, where "His servants shall serve Him " for ever!

But there is another point in the old book that has struck me very much. I see that in those days the maids were engaged by the year, and their wages paid at the year's end. It seems that as the year ran its course, a girl would draw a few shillings at a time in advance. On each such occasion she would sign her name-sometimes with evident difficulty-sometimes only the initials are scrawled (for those were not days of "graded school" and "high school"), but one way or another she acknowledged having received the money ; and when the term of her service was completed, the words "paid in full" or " settled" are written, and she adds her signature for the last time.

Now we who serve Christ get some of our pay " advanced " to us, do we not ? Yes, a hundredfold more in " this present time" than we have sacrificed for His name's sake. But, dear fellow-Christian, think of the pay-day coming! It will be well to have some arrears to be " settled " on that day in which He will reckon with His servants (Matt. 25 :19). Not one but shall be paid in full" for He will give to " every man according as his work shall be " (Rev. 22 :12). Then it will be "made manifest" how each one has served, and "then shall every one have praise of God " (i Cor. 4 :5). You will find how God's unforgetting heart has treasured up every thought, word and deed that has been given in loving service to Himself, and you will marvel as He praises and repays you for what His own grace has wrought in you! H. F. W.