,illustration3 ,,hop-,,picking4 7,see page #bgd47 ,,the ,,little ,,gleaner4 ,a ,monthly ,magazine for the ,young4 ,,vol4 ,x41 ,,new ,,series4 #ahhh4 ,,london3 ,,houlston ,,and ,,sons1 #g1 ,,paternoster ,,buildings1 ,e4,c42 ,,and ,e4 ,,wilmshurst1 ,,bookseller1 ,,blackheath1 ,s4,e4 ,,london3 ,,printed ,,by ,w4 ,h4 ,,and ,l4 ,,collingridge1 #adh ,,and #adi1 ,,aldersgate ,,street1 ,e4,c4 ,illustration3 ,engraved by ,s4 ,w4 ,partridge ,co4 ,,well1 ,,then1 ,,come ,,to ,,the ,,canal4 7,see page #d47 ,,the ,,editor',s ,,new ,,year',s ,,address ,,to ,,his ,,young ,,friends4 ,dear young friends1--,we wish you each and all a very ,happy ,new ,year1 and1 above all things else1 that it may prove to many of you a year of grace--that is1 we pray that the rich saving grace of ,god may be put in the hearts of many of our readers who hitherto have not called upon ,him for mercy4 ,how many who began the year #ahhg in health are now laid in the grave6 ,some1 no doubt1 who read this address will be thinking of others who read last year's1 and who were interested in ,,the ,,little ,,gleaner1 watching for its appearance month by month1 but who now have passed away1 and will no more read it1 nor walk and talk with them again4 ,the other month1 a wrapper in which a ,,gleaner had been enclosed by some friend to a person in ,ireland was sent to us bearing this solemn mark1 ,dead4 ,this told us that the person to whom the ,,gleaner had been sent had become the prey of death1 and would never read another4 ,oh1 how solemn that word looked and sounded to us--dead6 and the thought rushed into our mind1 ,how did he die8 ,where is he8 ,if he died in ,christ1 it is well with him1 for all who thus die are eternally at rest1 free from sin1 care1 pain1 and sorrow4 ,yea1 they are 'for ever with the ,lord4' ,dear reader1 how is it with you8 ,you are spared1 while some have been called from time into eternity4 ,we hope you feel this to be a mercy1 and we now ask1 ,have you ever been led to the throne of grace1 concerned about sin and salvation8 ,has the cry ever gone from your heart to the ,lord1 ,god be merciful to me a sinner8 ,if not1 oh1 that1 as this year begins to pass away1 the ,spirit may cause your heart to feel the guilt of your sin1 and lead you1 a poor1 burdened1 contrite one1 to the feet of ,him who died on the cross1 and whose blood cleanses those who are thus brought unto ,him from all sin4 ,then you shall prove that ,he is mighty to save--yea1 able to save all those to the uttermost that come unto ,god by ,him4 ,we believe that many who will read these words have proved the ability of ,christ ,jesus to save1 and that others are seeking ,him1 and longing to know that their sins are forgiven4 ,we rejoice over them1 and pray that many more may be brought to walk the same way1 for it is the way from sin1 death1 and hell1 and the way to ,christ1 peace1 and heaven4 ,all who walk therein belong to the flock of the ,good ,shepherd2 and we can say to each one who has thus fled to ,him for refuge1 ,he careth for you4 ,his love is stronger than death1 and knows no change1 for ,he is the same yesterday1 and to-day1 and for ever4 ,dear young friends1 there is a reality in the religion of ,jesus1 and we pray that1 in this truth-despising day1 you may feel the power of grace1 and1 by the work of the ,spirit in your hearts1 be so grounded in the truth that you may turn with contempt from all those who1 while they profess to preach1 have not the knowledge of ,god and ,his truth in them2 and1 although they are anxious to discredit the ,word of ,god1 and set aside the atonement of ,christ1 yet they do not know what to substitute for them4 ,all who follow such leaders are certainly being led on the down grade1 and even the leaders themselves confess that they do not know where they shall be landed4 ,some have already been landed in ,socinianism1 and others in infidelity4 ,therefore1 we say to all our readers1 ,abide by and hold fast the ,word of ,god1 ,cleave to those who preach the pure and simple truths of the ,gospel of ,christ1 as recorded in the ,scriptures1 and may the ,lord bless you with faith to receive them in your heart4 ,then you shall know the truth1 and the truth shall make you free4 ,dear young friends1 we seek your good1 therefore we thus write1 hoping that our word of warning may not be in vain1 but that some may be put on their guard against preachers and teachers who have nothing but the shifting sands of science for a foundation1 which must all be swept away1 and those who build thereon must perish in the ruin4 ,oh1 may we be found on the ,rock1 ,christ1 living and dying1 and be enabled to declare before all these deceivers1 ,i know whom ,i have believed1 and am persuaded that ,he is able to keep that which ,i have committed unto ,him against that day4 ,children1 do not forget the ,bible4 ,obey1 honour1 and love your parents4 ,avoid bad company1 bad and foolish books1 and evil habits4 ,these things will bring shame and misery to those who follow them1 therefore shun them all4 ,we still ask your help in spreading the ,,gleaner and the ,,sower4 ,may the ,lord make them useful1 and bless you with ,his covenant blessing1 is the desire of ,,the ,,editor4 ,a ,,touching ,,incident4 ,a very touching incident occurred lately at ,governeur ,hospital1 ,new ,york ,city4 ,little ,annie ,ashpurvis was sent by her parents to the cellar for some firewood4 ,the child1 who was but six years old1 took a lighted lamp in her hand1 and while descending the stairs1 her foot slipped1 and she fell1 breaking the lamp1 the flames of the burning fluid soon enveloping her entire body4 ,as soon as the surgeon was called1 the little sufferer was driven in an ambulance to the hospital4 ,the child was put on a sofa cot1 and the surgeon did all he could to alleviate her suffering1 but it was impossible to save her life4 ,under the influence of a narcotic1 she soon fell asleep4 ,thus she lay slowly breathing for some hours4 ,her face was so swollen that she could not open her eyes4 ,about half-past two in the morning she showed signs of returning consciousness4 ,the watchful nurse asked her if she would take a drink4 ,she distinctly answered1 ,yes4 ,in a moment the house surgeon was beside her cot4 ,he felt the pulse1 but shook his head1 and turned to go away4 ,as he did so1 the little creature moved her body4 ,she turned half around4 ,the dim light of the candle shone on the blackened face4 ,the swollen lips pursed out1 and in a clear1 sweet voice1 the dying child began to sing1 ,nearer1 my ,god1 to ,thee4 ,the doctor and the nurse stood transfixed4 ,the other patients in the silent1 darkened ward leaned on their elbows and drank in the sweet melody4 ,the first verse completed1 she gradually sank back on her pillow4 ,her strength began to fail1 and with it her voice1 and only the humming1 like distant music1 of the air of the hymn could be heard4 ,how sweet1 yet weird1 that humming sounded6 ,the candle lent its meagre light1 and the big clock in the corner told out its seconds1 as the sweet little soul passed out to its ,maker4 ,the humming ceased4 ,all was over4 ,the doctor turned away with his handkerchief raised to his eyes4 ,the nurse gazed into the flame of the candle1 and heaved a sigh4 ,she seemed to read the little one's death there4 ,when the remains were buried1 the coffin was strewn with flowers1 offerings of her little schoolmates1 with whom the dead child had been a great favourite4-- ,evangelist4 ,,self-,,denial4--,there never did1 and never will1 exist anything permanent1 and noble1 and excellent in a character which was a stranger to the exercise of resolute self-denial4 ,,only ,,once4 ,stop a minute1 ,james4 ,we're making up a skating party to go down the river to-night4 ,we shall build a fire on the island1 and have a grand time4 ,come1 go with us4 ,no1 ,george1 ,i can't4 ,father says ,i must skate on the canal4 ,it isn't so wide1 nor quite so good skating1 ,i know1 but it's safe4 ,nonsense6 ,the ice is at least two inches thick anywhere1 even in the thinnest places4 ,no matter4 ,i can't skate on the river4 ,well1 then1 come to the canal4 ,you can skate out to the fork1 where it joins the river1 and see us all4 ,will you do that8 ,yes4 ,all right4 ,be there at seven4 ,james was ready with his skates at the time appointed1 and about to leave the house4 ,where now1 ,james8 asked his father4 ,i'm going to skate awhile on the canal1 father4 ,well1 it's a bright evening1 but don't stay late1 and don't go on the river4 ,just then ,james's little sister1 ,marion1 who was ready to go to bed1 shouted after him1 ,stop1 ,james6 ,give me a kiss1 and holding up her rosebud mouth1 in a plump face1 from which the laughing eyes were shining1 she received his good-night kiss1 and he went out4 ,as he passed the window1 he saw1 through the half-drawn curtains1 little ,marion by her mother1 with the ,bible4 ,the father had laid his ,book down1 and they sat reverently listening while his petition went up to heaven4 ,it was a beautiful picture4 ,poor ,jamie6 ,with what different feelings would he have looked upon it1 had he then known what was to happen within the next two hours6 ,he crossed the field before the house1 and was soon on the canal1 and gliding swiftly towards the river1 from which the sound of merry voices already reached his ear2 and as he wheeled splendidly1 just at the entrance of the canal1 the boys saw him1 and came bearing down upon him like a fleet of swift ships before the wind4 ,hurrah1 ,james6 cried a dozen of them1 as they joined company on the canal4 ,there they amused themselves awhile1 racing1 skating backward1 and cutting all sorts of fanciful figures upon the ice1 until ,george gave the word1 ,now for the island6 and with loud shouts they shot out together upon the river1 all but ,james4 ,i must leave you now1 he said4 ,oh1 ,james1 don't6 cried several at once4 ,now1 see here1 ,james1 said ,george2 what's the use of being so set8 ,go down with us this time4 ,father said1 ',don't go on the river4' ,well1 as to that1 you've been on the river two or three times4 ,look at your marks4 ,james now saw that1 in the excitement of their sport1 he had repeatedly rushed out of the canal quite across the channel of the river4 ,he wanted to go with the boys4 ,he didn't really think there was much danger1 and the discovery that he had already unwittingly broken his father's command1 did not help him in his hour of weakness and temptation4 ,the boys all clamoured for him to join them4 ,james slowly glided out of the canal1 stood still a moment1 and the tempter prevailed4 ,well1 ,i'll go down this once--mind you1 only once1 and he darted like an arrow to the front1 for he was the best skater in the company1 and soon was far in advance of the rest4 ,alas6 none of the boys knew of the murderous breathing-hole which had opened that day in the ice in the channel1 and now lay right in ,james's path1 waiting to receive him2 and the first notice they had of its existence was a despairing cry of terror from him as he plunged in4 ,all was confusion among the boys2 but ,george1 more self-possessed than the others1 hurried to the shore1 and1 shouting cheerily1 ,hold on1 ,jamie6 ,i'll help you out1 broke off the limb of a tree1 as large and long as he could handle1 brought it on1 and tried1 by carefully creeping towards ,james1 to put it within his reach4 ,but the current was strong2 the water was bitterly cold2 and ,james1 who had been urging his friend to make haste1 now began to lose his strength and become benumbed1 and before the limb came within his grasp1 he said1 faintly1 ,oh1 ,george1 ,i can't hold on any longer6 ,ask father--to forgive---- and went down with the tide4 ,an hour later1 the men at the mill below1 who had broken the ice above the barred outlet of the dam1 and were watching and waiting in expectation of their mournful work1 lifted ,james's body out of the water1 and tenderly carried it to his home4 ,boys1 ,i have seldom told you a more sad story4 ,oh1 that ,i could now impress upon your young hearts the lesson of obedience to parents so deeply that it shall never be forgotten6 ,if you are ever tempted to disregard a kind father's commands1 or his advice1 even though it be only once1 may you have strength to resist the temptation4 ,remember ,jamie4 ,it is true that disobedience to parents is not always--nor indeed often--followed so speedily by such sad consequences1 but we know that the smile of ,god for this life will rest upon those children who obey their parents4 ,honour thy father and mother is the first commandment with promise4 ,,lines ,,on ,,the ,,new ,,year4 ,in some simple words of rhyme ,read1 and mark the flight of time2 ,seasons come and disappear1 ,as we pass from year to year4 ,all things ever on the move1 ,whether them we hate or love2 ',tis a changing scene below-- ,this we own1 for this we know4 ,blest are they--and only they-- ,who are in the narrow way2 ,seeking ,jesus' blessed face2 ,longing much to know ,his grace4 ,mourning over inward sin2 ,panting only ,him to win ,who for sin and sinners died1 ,when on ,calvary crucified4 ,do ,i1 who these lines now read1 ,of redemption feel my need8 ,do ,i really long to know ,that ,his blood for me did flow8 ,do my heart and mouth confess ,i am all unrighteousness8 ,do ,i pray indeed to see ,christ my ,righteousness to be8 ,do ,i feel ,i cannot die ,till ,he does ,his blood apply8 ,and my doubting soul assure ,i shall to the end endure8 ,if 'tis so1 ,i know full well ,i shall surely with ,him dwell1 ,and shall1 in ,his house on high1 ,shout ,his praise beyond the sky4 ,a4 ,,hammond4 ,,supposing all the great points of atheism were formed into a kind of creed1 ,i would fain ask whether it would not require an infinitely greater measure of faith than any set of articles which they so violently oppose8--,addison4 ,,the ,,charcoal ,,burner',s ,,star4 ,in one of the ,protestant cantons of ,switzerland dwelt a lady of fortune1 in a handsome mansion1 surrounded with extensive grounds4 ,these were laid out with the greatest taste1 so as to command at every convenient point a favourable view of the romantic and interesting country that rose on all sides round the lovely and fertile plain in which it was situated4 ,madame de ,blenal was a widow who had1 at an early age1 married a gentleman of property in the canton who1 like herself1 was a humble follower and sincere lover of the ,redeemer1 but who1 after a year or two of as perfect happiness as this world can be expected to afford1 died in faith1 looking forward with assured hope to the promises made by the ,lord ,jesus to all who truly believe in ,him4 ,with a heart prepared by faith to submit to the decrees of ,providence1 whether for this world's good or ill1 ,madame de ,blenal1 though she deeply felt the blow which her ,heavenly ,father had inflicted upon her1 soothed her grief with the reflection that her husband was now at peace1 and removed from the troubles which beset every sojourner in this mortal world4 ,too fondly attached to his memory ever to enter a second time into married life1 she applied herself entirely to the cultivation of a treasure he had left behind1 in the person of a little boy named ,alfred1 whom she endeavoured prayerfully to bring up in the nurture and admonition of the ,lord4 ,neither did she neglect to enrich his mind with such knowledge as might enable him to manage the earthly inheritance which was hereafter to belong to him1 if it pleased ,god that he should live to arrive at the age of manhood4 ,at the time of which we are writing1 ,madame de ,blenal had just resigned to him the management of the property which he inherited from his father1 reserving to herself only the portion which she had brought with her when she married4 ,still1 as1 in his own opinion as well as hers1 he was yet too young to think of taking a wife1 ,madame de ,blenal remained the mistress of his household1 while he applied himself to studying the nature of the duties that had devolved upon him1 and to endeavouring to acquire personal experience in the management of his estate1 as well as to improve the characters and condition of his tenants and labourers4 ,it happened one day1 towards the end of summer1 that a party who were friends of her son's1 together with some older ones of her own1 had been dining at her house1 and the whole party had retired after dinner1 to take their coffee in an open part of the grounds which commanded the best view both of the plain and of the mountains beyond it4 ,the former was already involved in the shades of evening1 which1 gradually ascending the latter1 soon reached the glaciers in the distance1 and converted the roseate tint with which the last beams of the departing sun had invested them into that cold1 lurid hue that heralds in the approaching night4 ,the stars now began to appear1 one by one1 in the clear blue sky1 and led the thoughts of many1 if not all1 of the party from ,nature up to ,nature's ,god4 ,some of the younger ones1 however1 began to amuse themselves by counting them1 as they came into view2 and one or two1 rather vain of their knowledge of astronomy1 informed the others of their names4 ,suddenly ,alfred exclaimed-- ,i can see one which is not to be found in the lists furnished by any astronomer1 and yet it is by far the most brilliant4 ,his friends thought that he was jesting1 but yet attempted to discover it in the sky4 ,you are all looking too high1 he said1 laughing1 and pointed to a distant mountain1 where the fire of a charcoal burner had just made its appearance4 ,the party gazed attentively for some time1 when one of the ladies said1 with a sigh-- ,poor man6 ,how much he is to be pitied1 sitting all alone up there6 ,perhaps1 madame1 he is not so solitary as you imagine4 ,the mountaineers of these parts seldom leave their village homes for the summer season without taking a ,bible with them1 so that ,i trust it may be said of this one1 even if his solitude is not sometimes broken by a passing visit from a goatherd1 that he is never quite alone1 for ,god is always near them that fear ,him4 ,that is a blessed thing indeed1 said the lady2 but is he not in danger from the wolves8 ,no1 madame4 ,first of all1 the wolves are not so numerous about here as many persons think2 and1 even where they are more abundant1 there are few1 at this season1 so pressed by hunger as to have the courage to attack a man2 and besides1 the fire itself would keep them at a distance4 ,they have an instinctive dread of it4 ,so far so good1 ,mr4 ,alfred4 ,still1 if ,i were in the place of this man1 ,i should not be quite at ease4 ,i should every moment be expecting the approach of robbers4 ,robbers1 madame1 are very considerate people4 ,they do not like to lose either their time or their labour4 ,now1 what could they find worth stealing from this poor charcoal burner8 ,what8 ,why1 his money1 to be sure6 ,his money8 ,if he happens to have any4 ,he does not carry it with him into the forest1 where he has no use for it1 but leaves it at home with his wife4 ,a very good husband6 ,but his watch8 ,an article quite useless to him4 ,he marks the time by the sun and stars2 or1 if the weather is cloudy1 most of the mountain chalets are furnished with a small wooden clock1 which holds out no great temptation to men whose thoughts are fixed upon the well-stored purses of travellers4 ,you have an answer for everything1 ,mr4 ,alfred4 ,do you know the man8 ,i cannot say that ,i do1 madame4 ,we have few1 if any1 charcoal burners in our domain4 ,that mountain is at some distance1 and he belongs most probably to another village4 ,but ,i have had occasion to observe the habits of these mountaineers1 and have acquired a tolerable knowledge of them generally4 ,and what can he possibly be doing at this hour1 in that wild place8 ,precisely what we are doing ourselves--he is watching his fire4 ,after many other conjectures had been hazarded as to the way in which the charcoal burner was passing his time1 ,madame de ,blenal said-- ,a truce with these idle fancies4 ,our pastors in this canton are not idle1 and our peasantry are generally well instructed in their ,christian duties1 so ,i trust that he is better employed than any of you suppose4 ,perhaps1 at this moment1 he is sitting with the ,bible on his knee1 reading of the mercies of ,jesus1 meditating upon them as he watches his fire1 and lifting up his heart in prayer to ,him who alone is able to inspire it with holy thoughts and divine affections4 ,however1 said the lady who had first begun the conversation1 ,i should really like to know what he is about4 ,i wish some one could tell us who has actually seen him4 ,i can easily satisfy your curiosity1 madame1 said young ,alfred4 ,i have nothing to do but to mount my horse and gallop to the foot of the mountain4 ,it will not be more than an hour's ride4 ,i will then engage a guide to take me to the charcoal burner's hut1 and1 without losing a moment1 ,i will find out what he was doing at nightfall4 ,are you not afraid of your son's undertaking such an enterprise at this late hour8 asked a young lady of ,madame de ,blenal4 ,madame de ,blenal smiled1 and replied1 ,no1 mademoiselle4 ,my son is well acquainted with the road4 ,we are not infested with robbers in this canton1 and1 as the object of his pursuit is perfectly innocent1 ,i can confide him to the protection of ,him on whom ,i know his own trust is constantly fixed4 ,go1 then1 ,alfred1 but exercise your usual prudence1 and do not heedlessly expose yourself to danger4 ,an old lady who had not yet spoken1 but who knew how to speak a word in season1 then remarked1 ,place1 each of you1 a small sum of money in ,alfred's hands4 ,if he finds the charcoal burner worthily employed1 let him bestow it upon him4 ,if otherwise1 as some of you have supposed may be the case1 let him bring it back1 and restore to each one what he has contributed4 ,every one readily agreed to the proposal4 ,each drew out his purse1 and ,alfred received a very respectable sum4 ,he was leaving the party1 when some one asked how soon they might expect him back8 ,by midnight1 he replied4 ,and where shall we meet8 ,here1 said ,madame de ,blenal4 ,we will return into the house when ,alfred is gone1 for the air is getting cold1 and it will not be prudent to sit here any longer4 ,alfred then set out2 and as soon as the sound of his horse's hoofs was heard1 the young men pulled out their watches1 that the precise length of his absence might be ascertained when he returned4 ,we will now leave ,madame de ,blenal to order supper for her party1 and the remainder to amuse themselves with conversation1 music1 and such resources as her house afforded1 while we accompany ,alfred on his nocturnal excursion4 ,the moon had just begun to rise in full splendour above the mountains as he started1 and to spread her silver light over the plain4 ,this1 together with the increasing freshness of the air1 infused spirits into the rider as well as his horse4 ,notwithstanding1 however1 the knowledge which both of them possessed of the road they had to traverse1 they scarcely reached the foot of the mountain within the time upon which ,alfred had calculated4 ,here were situated two or three picturesque cottages1 inhabited by guides1 one of whom was known to ,alfred by name4 ,him therefore he sought out1 and engaged to conduct him to the object of his journey4 ,the man was rather surprised at a summons so late in the evening1 and asked the traveller whether he had not better wait at his cottage till daybreak4 ,no1 replied ,alfred2 ,i only wish to go as far as the charcoal burner's hut1 whose fire can be seen for some miles off1 and ,i must return to where ,i came from before midnight4 ,ah6 my friend ,gervais4 ,i know him well1 sir4 ,but it is a good way up the mountain1 and if you have far to ride back1 you will hardly keep to the time you have mentioned4 ,never mind1 said the young man2 ,i must go on now4 ,where can ,i put my horse8 ,here in this shed1 sir4 ,there is a bit of hay and some beans1 with which he can amuse himself while we are gone4 ,the path was not steep1 for it was cut in a zig-zag form1 sometimes leading over pastures1 and sometimes through woods so thick that the moonlight could not penetrate them2 but the guide was provided with a torch of pine1 to prevent the danger of a false step4 ,for the first part of the journey they travelled on in silence1 the guide amusing himself with forming conjectures as to the object of ,alfred's visit to the charcoal burner after night had set in4 ,can it be1 he said to himself1 a relation from the ,indies1 or from ,algeria8 ,i never heard that ,gervais had any relations in those parts4 ,or a creditor8 ,no1 that cannot be1 for my honest friend1 ,i am sure1 does not owe any one a single penny4 ,or has he gained a prize in the lottery8 ,he would consider it a sin to risk the smallest fraction upon such a hazard4 ,ah6 perhaps some one has left him a legacy4 ,so much the better1 if it is so4 ,i shall be well paid for the trouble ,i have had4 ,he is too good a fellow not to reward me to the utmost of his power4 ,thus it was that the guide employed himself in vain conjectures4 ,when the uncertain light by which they travelled1 whether of the moon or of the torch1 fell sufficiently clear upon ,alfred's features1 he examined them attentively1 as if he could have read his secret in them4 ,his curiosity made him not less impatient to reach the charcoal furnace than the young man himself4 ,at length1 by a sudden turn of the path1 it appeared at once before them4 ,the wood1 heaped in the form of a cone1 and covered with a thick coating of earth1 was burning slowly1 openings being made at different heights on the mound1 to give a passage to the flames1 and to afford a proper proportion of atmospheric air1 to keep them alive4 ,alfred1 though born in the neighbourhood1 had never before visited a charcoal furnace2 but1 new as the sight was to him1 he did not pause long to observe it4 ,his attention was arrested by the hut which stood near1 built something in the form of a tent1 and composed of planks leaning on both sides against a cross-beam1 which rested on two others placed one at each end of the building4 ,this kind of hut is common to most of the charcoal burners of these mountains1 where they make their dwelling during the whole of the summer months1 having no other bed than dried leaves--no other apparent occupation than cutting and piling up the wood1 and watching their fires4 ,one moment only ,alfred stopped to gaze upon this humble dwelling1 compared with which the chalets of the cowherds were almost splendid mansions2 the next instant1 his attention was arrested by something far more interesting4 ,a chorus of youthful voices burst upon his ears1 accompanied by one deep1 clear bass1 which was powerful enough to support and regulate the trebles4 ,they were singing the following hymn1 to a beautiful ,swiss air1 well known to ,alfred as one used in the churches of that ,protestant canton-- ,look to ,jesus1 weary wanderer1 ,sinful1 wretched as thou art2 ,he is precious2 thou shalt know it2 ,only trust ,his loving heart4 ,trust it wholly2 it was broken ,that thine own might be at peace2 ,every sin its streams atone for2 ,he can bid all anguish cease4 ,now ,he reigns above the heavens1 ,and shall reign for evermore2 ,but ,his mighty arm is guarding ,those for whom ,he died before4 ,he shall come again in glory2 ,all creation shall bow down2 ,those who seek not ,his salvation ,must endure ,his awful frown4 ,wait upon ,him1 then1 ,his people2 ,let ,him be your constant strength2 ,lean upon ,him daily1 hourly2 ,ye shall reign with ,him at length4 ,may the ,spirit of adoption1 ,which our ,heavenly ,father gives1 ,help us all and each to please ,him ,more each moment of our lives4 7,to be continued47 ,,envy shoots at others and wounds itself4 ,,we should often have reason to be ashamed of our most brilliant actions1 if the world could see the motives from which they spring4 ,,scripture ,,enigma4 ,a ,,parable ,,from ,a ,,farmer',s ,,son ,,to ,,all ,,gleaners4 ,i was born in a house where there were many fields attached--in fact1 it was called a farm-house1 so1 from a boy1 ,i well knew what a gleaner meant4 ,i have seen all sizes in a field1 picking up corn4 ,but gleaning is not so general as it used to be4 ,one reason is1 many farmers are too covetous to leave much in their fields for gleaners4 ,another is1 many persons are too proud to be gleaners4 ,but still there are many who are entitled to the character of gleaner4 ,now1 gleaners1 let us come a little closer4 ,first1 there must be the person known as the farmer2 secondly1 there must be the fields4 ,these fields must be sown with corn4 ,it must ripen1 be cut and carried4 ,then is the time for the gleaner to take his or her part4 ,the gleaners must have a will1 and patience to wait4 ,they need eyes1 hands1 and feet4 ,at the time the farmer's son is writing this1 gleaning is over4 ,it is winter4 ,but he can tell gleaners of a farm containing sixty-six fields1 some much larger than others1 but all the fields grow the best corn that can be found at any market in the world4 ,there is not one whole grass field found on the farm4 ,there are a number of young and old people live near this farm1 but they do not want to be gleaners4 ,they look over the gates sometimes1 but1 having eyes so much like the mole1 they either do not take that to be corn which is really so1 or else they pursue other things they feel are so much better than gleaning in any of these fields2 and not being very poor1 but having enough gold to buy a few oxen1 they tell some of the farmer's workmen they prefer buying or taking to gleaning1 so they wish them good morning2 but they are very polite to the men they join in conversation with4 ,then there are other people near these fields who say they hate the great farmer4 ,in fact1 they are so evil-disposed that they talk freely of hating the fields and the corn too2 and there is not one workman on the estate they will give a good word to4 ,this the farmer's son can vouch for truth2 and he has a good many brothers belonging to his family1 who could be called as witnesses if there was any need4 ,but we must not overlook others who live near the farm4 ,most of them dwell in a very low-built house2 there is no upstairs4 ,they live on the ground floor1 and not far from the spot where they dwell1 some of the labourers on the farm live1 and they join in conversation occasionally4 ,but these poor people who dwell in the low-built cottages are shy1 and think they take a liberty even in saying a few words to these labourers2 and as for talking freely to the great farmer1 they dare not4 ,if he passes1 they only bow before him and look on the ground4 ,you would almost wonder how they are kept alive4 ,they are nearly always hungry1 but1 now and then1 they get just enough to keep them alive4 ,when the season comes round1 those that observe may soon find these are the old-fashioned gleaners4 ,they possess willing legs1 eyes1 and hands4 ,they use their legs by starting from their poor home2 and1 after walking some distance1 the road brings them to this farm of sixty-six fields4 ,these fields are all numbered4 ,some look at one field1 and some at another1 but the hedges are all good4 ,no one can get through them1 and a high gate is at each entrance4 ,one of the gleaners looked with a very wishful eye over the gate of the eighth field1 and she desired to be among the gleaners1 but there was a notice that trespassers will be prosecuted4 ,how earnestly the gleaner uses his eyes1 and looks through the bars of the gate2 but there are no ears of corn to be seen at present by him1 so he cannot use his hands1 though they are both ready to pick up2 and the thought comes1 ,no doubt there will soon be plenty of corn seen1 and1 if ,i might1 would ,i not pick up8 ,i feel ,i would glean beside any gleaner4 ,if he could pick faster than ,i1 he would have to be very nimble4 ,i do not know that the great landowner and farmer would allow me to go into his field4 ,but1 though my hands now hang down1 and ,i cannot use them1 ,i will go home and wait1 and come again4 ,if ,i cannot get admission to one field1 ,i may to another4 ,i should be happy if ,i could glean in the smallest field on the farm4 ,perhaps1 when ,i come again1 that notice-board may be taken down4 ,if so1 ,i think ,i shall venture into ,no4 #h or #ag2 but should ,i not have nerve enough1 ,i shall humbly ask one of the labourers1 and if he says he does not know1 ,i will1 if an opportunity occurs1 bow myself to the earth and ask the great owner4 ,i have been told by some that he often appears as if he could not condescend to speak to those that live in such a low house1 yet1 if you press your suit1 he will speak in the kindest manner1 and ask what you really want4 ,the farmer's son noticed1 as this gleaner returned to his humble home1 one of the labourers greeted him with a ,good evening1 and asked him why he looked so sad8 ,he replied1 ,i have been a long journey to glean on the farm owned by your master1 and ,i looked at the eighth field1 but could not see that there were any ears of corn for me to pick up2 and besides1 ,i noticed a board1 that 'trespassers will be prosecuted1' and thoughts would keep coming in my mind as ,i returned1 that possibly ,i should never be admitted into any of the fields as a gleaner4 ,the labourer said1 ,you must not faint1 but1 as soon as the sun rises in the morning1 try and find the forty-second field1 and most probably you will find the gate open4 ,if1 as you enter1 the first part of the field looks bare1 walk to almost the middle1 and ,i think you will find some gleanings to pick up4 ,he returned thanks1 bowed1 and they parted4 ,the next morning1 as soon as the sun was up1 he arose and did as he was bid4 ,after reaching the field1 he found the part where the ears of corn lay1 and he picked up as many as he needed4 ,on his return1 he met several other gleaners who were seeking a field to glean in4 ,he bade them go to the same one where he had picked up an armful1 and there they would find the result of perseverance4 ,the parable is closed for this time4 ,will any reader1 under twelve years of age1 expound it8 ,who are the farmer and the son8 ,who are the labourers and gleaners8 ,what are the sixty-six fields8 ,and what are the names of those specially referred to8 ,search from ,genesis to ,revelation4 ,your true friend1 ,,the ,,farmer',s ,,son 7,over fifteen years old74 ,a volume1 ,the ,loss of ,all ,things for ,christ1 will be given for the best answer4 ,the writer must be under twelve4 ,,bible ,,subjects ,,for ,,each ,,sunday ,,in ,,january4 ,jan4 #a4 ,commit to memory #a ,chrn4 v4 #aj4 ,jan4 #h4 ,commit to memory ,psa4 cxi4 #aj4 ,jan4 #ae4 ,commit to memory ,prov4 viii4 #aj4 ,jan4 #bb4 ,commit to memory ,prov4 viii4 #cb4 ,jan4 #bi4 ,commit to memory ,john iv4 #aj4 ,,what the world calls virtue is a name and a dream without ,christ4 ,the foundation of all human excellence must be laid deep in the blood of the ,redeemer's cross and in the power of ,his resurrection4--,robertson4 ,,an ,,old ,,quilt ,,and ,,its ,,story4 ,among all the beautiful needlework exhibited in the ,woman's ,industry ,department of the recent ,edinburgh ,exhibition1 many must have observed a bed-quilt worked in a quaint conventional pattern1 on a white linen ground1 which bore a label to the effect that it was designed and commenced by a ,countess of ,aberdeen towards the middle of the last century1 and recently completed by a crofter woman in ,aberdeenshire4 ,could the quilt tell its own tale1 its history1 no doubt1 would be most pathetic and interesting2 but we will try1 with the knowledge we have1 to lightly sketch that history4 ,the ,countess who commenced it was ,anne1 daughter of ,alexander1 second ,duke of ,gordon4 ,the third wife of ,william1 ,earl of ,aberdeen1 she was still a young woman when1 by his death in #agde1 she was left a widow4 ,quitting ,haddo1 the home of her married life1 she went with her young family to reside in the fine old historic castle of ,fyvie1 a few miles distant1 which1 with her dower1 had been bought by the ,earl as her jointure house4 ,the ,countess seems to have been gifted with artistic tastes1 as she left in ,haddo many evidences of her skill and industry--several sets of beautifully-worked curtains1 with long-forgotten curious stitches1 producing varied and admirable effects4 ,but the bright1 pretty industry of the ,countess was checked4 ,sickness1 to be followed by death1 entered her home4 ,we may fancy that by her husband's sick-bed the first beginning of this quilt was made--how1 in the intervals of watching the invalid1 a few sprays and scrolls were delicately traced4 ,but the summons had gone forth1 and1 as death approached1 the work1 which had been in part the occupation of happier days1 and a resource in affliction1 was thrown aside4 ,when the widowed ,countess had settled in a new home1 and again faced the ordinary duties of life1 we need not wonder that she thought no more of the discarded work left at ,haddo ,house1 but set herself to design afresh and embroider the curtains which have ever since 7until recently7 adorned a bed-room in ,fyvie ,castle4 ,into these no doubt was woven many a thought for the ,jacobite cause1 and many an anxiety for dear ones1 as her own family1 the ducal house of ,gordon1 had been keen supporters of the ,stuarts1 and it is said that the ,countess came out on the road-side1 near ,fyvie ,castle1 with her children1 to see the ,duke of ,cumberland's troops pass on their way to ,culloden to put down the ,scotch rebellion1 and boldly avowed to him her sympathy with his foe4 ,but what of the work the ,countess left at ,haddo ,house8 ,as to it1 our history is silent for more than a hundred years4 ,it has lain folded by the fingers of the busy worker that have long been still4 ,sorrow and joy have come by turns to the house--birth and death4 ,children have prattled1 and statesmen have discussed the affairs of nations4 ,those who have made history have come and gone2 philanthropy and romance have alike been woven into the family story2 but the piece of discarded broderie has been unheeded4 ,at length the present ,countess of ,aberdeen1 whose name will ever be associated with earnest desire and effort for the good of others1 and whose taste and love of the beautiful led to her interest in such work1 unfolding the long-forgotten quilt1 conceived the idea of having it completed1 if possible4 ,to whom1 however1 could the beautiful work be entrusted to be finished1 by deft fingers and graceful appreciation8 ,illustration3 ,,interior ,,of ,a ,,crofter',s ,,cottage4 ,we now turn to another scene4 ,about five-and-twenty years ago1 on the top of a bare hill in ,fyvie1 ,aberdeenshire1 stood a cottage1 tenanted by a crofter named ,sandieson1 with his wife and family4 ,though at a comparatively high elevation1 the land around was all cultivated1 but1 arid and stony as the soil was1 it seemed as if cultivation were one long struggle against ,nature1 rather than aided by it4 ,life was hard2 still1 contentment sweetened the peasant's lot1 and they got on pretty well till sickness during three successive winters told hardly on his means4 ,father1 mother1 and children all worked2 still the wolf was at the door4 ,bed clothing was scant1 and money to buy still scantier4 ,a mother's love and care quickened thought4 ,the woman1 as she tells her story1 bethought herself what she could do for bedding for a covering against cold4 ,scraps she had1 bits of old clothes and stockings1 and tacked them together1 fold upon fold1 to attain a certain thickness2 then1 buying a pennyworth of log-wood1 and with it dyeing what had once been a tartan shawl1 but which had long lost all its colour1 she spread it over her scraps for a cover4 ,but1 alas6 the holes were but too apparent4 ,necessity again quickened invention4 ,she selected some of the better pieces of the old garments1 cut them into the shape of leaves and birds1 and laid them on the holes1 adding one or two more for uniformity1 and then1 with a darning needle and fingering wool1 she veined the leaves and made effective marking on the birds4 ,such was her first attempt at fancy work4 ,an admiring neighbour asked her to do a similar quilt for her1 offering some scraps of new material4 ,another commission followed1 this time with the offer of green wool for leaves4 ,but one cold1 hard green did not please the worker1 now growing daily more experienced and critical1 so a visit was made to the little country town a few miles distant1 in search of greater variety in greens and browns1 the appreciation of ,nature's varied tints becoming daily stronger and clearer4 ,about this time1 a lady to whom the woman had taken some work1 on sight gave her a quantity of old floss silks4 ,the possession of these was a new power to her1 and from that time she rapidly acquired a skill in shading leaves and flowers with a beauty which it is impossible to describe4 ,a farmer from a little distance1 having heard of her work1 went to see her4 ,after looking at what1 to him1 seemed so marvellous1 he turned to her1 and said1 ,well1 well1 it's wonderful6 ,but you will have to do no more rough work to keep your hands fit for this2 and how will that do with the croft8 ,indeed1 sir1 was her reply1 it would never do4 ,but ,i assure you this is not my only work1 for ,i have just finished building a hundred and thirty-four yards of a stone dyke with my own hands4 ,my husband had work elsewhere1 which he could not afford to miss4 ,the cattle were straying where they should not1 so ,i have just built it myself1 the children helping me by handing up the smaller stones4 ,after gaining some experience1 ,mrs4 ,sandieson gave up the earlier style of work with which she had begun1 and devoted herself almost entirely to embroidery in silks4 ,she has trained a daughter1 who lives with her1 to work as well as herself1 and no description can do justice to the beauty of their finer work4 ,their designs are1 with very few exceptions1 their own1 and many of their pieces are singularly beautiful4 ,they have even copied the plate representing a peacock on a branch of a tree1 from ,gould's ,asiatic ,birds1 and no one but those who have seen it1 could believe in the wondrous working of the bird1 and in the feathers of the neck1 with the faint change of tint where it catches the light as the bird turns its head4 ,it is marvellous6 ,but copying flowers from nature is what they chiefly do1 and their careful observation and fidelity in representation are very characteristic in their work4 ,trails of thunbergia1 scarlet tropaeolum1 apple blossom1 cherry1 and bramble2 willow1 with its catkins1 a little titmouse on the branch2 snowberry1 with a robin perched on it2 the red and white lapageria1 eucalyptus1 pepper tree1 and others are some of their subjects4 ,and this is what the crofter's wife1 who commenced with the old dyed shawl for a foundation1 has1 totally unaided1 taught herself and her daughter to accomplish2 and this is the crofter's wife who1 one hundred and forty years afterwards1 was employed by ,lady ,aberdeen to finish the quilt which the ,countess of #agde had commenced4 ,is there not a little pathos in the history of a piece of work begun and completed in such different circumstances8 ,the work of these peasant-artists1 mother and daughter1 is now very well known among ladies in ,aberdeenshire1 and has lately been brought under the notice of ,her ,majesty1 who condescended to purchase largely of it2 but the writer believes the quilt shown by ,lady ,aberdeen1 in ,edinburgh1 to be the only specimen that has been exhibited publicly4--,ladies' ,treasury4 ,,wonderful ,,grace4 ,john ,dickson1 a farmer in the parish of ,ratho1 near ,edinburgh1 was long a stranger to the riches of divine grace4 ,he paid no regard to the sacred ordinances1 or1 if ever on the ,lord's ,day he entered the house of ,god1 it was more for a desire of ridiculing than profiting by what he heard4 ,the ,word preached did not profit him1 not being mixed with faith4 ,in this dreadful situation was he when his wife died1 after bringing into the world an infant daughter4 ,the good providence of that gracious ,god who calleth the weak things of this world to confound the strong had ordained that the nurse of this child should be a woman of exemplary faith1 who walked in the ,spirit1 being sanctified by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the carnal mind of the father still continued at enmity with ,god2 but he was1 ere long1 to be brought to a full conviction of his own unworthiness1 and a delightful experience of the riches of redeeming love4 ,the child1 being now about twenty months old1 and beginning to prattle a few words1 was one day sent for by her father1 who was sitting after dinner with some of his profane acquaintances4 ,to his great astonishment the child repeated1 two or three times1 in its infant tones1 ,oh1 the grace of ,god6 ,these words made a deep impression upon the father4 ,he began to reflect upon his sins1 and the power of that grace which cleanseth from sin1 so long the subject of his impious ridicule4 ,the ,holy ,ghost had opened his heart1 and now brought him1 like a sheep that had been astray1 into the fold of divine love4 ,since that time he has walked as becometh one called in the ,lord1 bringing forth fruit meet for repentance4 ,the words which1 through the grace of ,god1 became the happy instrument of his conversion were the customary ejaculation of the godly nurse1 and had thus been learned by the infant4 ,so truly was the ,scripture verified that out of the mouths of babes and sucklings the ,lord hath ordained praise4 ,r4 ,,endeavor to be always patient of the faults and imperfections of others1 for thou hast many faults and imperfections of thy own that require a reciprocation of forbearance4 ,if thou art not able to make thyself that which thou wishest to be1 how canst thou expect to mould another in conformity to thy will8--,thomas a ,kempis4 ,,my ,,stage-,,coach ,,companion4 ,it was on a dull1 chilly morning1 ,i remember1 that ,i left my country home by the coach which was to convey me to ,london4 ,i was then about twenty years of age4 ,i had never before been very far1 or very long absent from my father's house2 and my young mind was filled with thoughts of the pleasures in store for me in a long visit ,i was about to pay to my ,london relations4 ,among the enjoyments ,i most reckoned on1 apart from the society of my aunt and cousins1 were those of the theatre1 balls1 and evening parties4 ,very different engagements these1 from the domestic duties and rural recreations to which ,i had been accustomed in a retired country residence4 ,thoughts like these had softened the pain of separation from my kind and indulgent parents2 but there were tears in my eyes on bidding them farewell1 and ,i was glad to let fall my veil1 to hide them from the only passenger in the coach4 ,this passenger was a gentleman of middle age1 well wrapped up in a greatcoat of rather formal cut1 and with a clerical-looking hat on his head4 ,he had a pleasant1 though a rather serious expression of countenance1 as he lifted his eyes from the book he was reading4 ,it was not long before he shut up the book1 and made some remarks about the weather and the scenery4 ,a short silence followed1 which was broken by my fellow-traveller saying that he had just been passing a few weeks in a watering-place which ,i knew to be a fashionable one4 ,i have never been there1 ,i said4 ,i suppose it is a very gay place1 sir8 ,it is a fine town1 and the country around it is very beautiful1 said the gentleman4 ,this was not the answer ,i expected1 and ,i varied my question by referring to the visitors and places of amusement1 particularly mentioning the theatre and the public assemblies4 ,the stranger smiled pleasantly1 and said1 ,i saw only the outside of the theatre2 but during my stay there ,i was present at several public assemblies4 ,how very enchanting they must be6 ,i remarked1 with youthful ardour4 ,i am not sure that 'enchanting' is quite the right word1 he said1 looking thoughtful2 but they were very delightful1 certainly4 ,they were crowded1 ,i suppose1 sir8 ,yes1 generally1 he said1 and added that1 at the last of these public assemblies1 there were present more than a thousand people4 ,this seemed to me to be a great number1 and to need a large assembly room to hold them4 ,i made some remark which led him to say that no doubt there were many varieties of character present1 and of different degrees in life4 ,but1 he added1 ,i have reason to know that many honourable personages were to be met with there1 and even the ,king ,himself was there4 ,the ,king1 sir8 ,i did not know that the ,king ever visited ----2 and ,i began to feel incredulous4 ,i was not so ignorant as not to know that ,king ,george the ,fourth1 in whose reign we were then living1 had for some time almost secluded himself from his subjects1 and resided generally at ,windsor4 ,i see1 continued the stranger1 speaking more earnestly and seriously than before1 that you do not quite understand me2 and ,i apprehend that we have each been using the same words to express a different set of ideas on which our minds have been fixed4 ,i do not understand you1 sir1 ,i said1 rather coldly4 ,permit me1 madam1 to explain4 ,i am a minister of the ,gospel4 ,the public assemblies of which ,i have been speaking are the assembling together of those who meet for ,god's worship and service2 the honourable persons to whom ,i referred are those whom the ,bible calls the children of ,god2 and the ,king whom ,i believe to have been present at these assemblies is ,he who is ',king of kings and ,lord of lords1' who ,himself has told us that1 where two or three are gathered together in ,his name1 there ,he is in the midst of them4 ,there was such kindness and courtesy and respect in the gentleman's manner1 that ,i could not feel vexed at his having spoken in a sort of parable1 so ,i smiled1 and said1 ,i had no idea that you were a minister1 sir4 ,i am glad that you are not angry with me1 young lady1 said he1 for having wilfully misinterpreted your questions4 ,you know it is 'out of the abundance of the heart' that 'the mouth speaketh'2 and when you got into the coach ,i was engaged in thought1 studying a subject which ,i hope to speak about next ,sunday2 and1 singularly1 this subject is so far like that which has engaged a few minutes of our conversation1 as that it refers to an assembly1 though one of a very superior character to any the world has ever seen or known4 ,may ,i ask1 sir1 what assembly it is you mean8 ,certainly1 replied he2 and taking from his pocket a ,new ,testament1 he opened it and read1 ,ye are come unto ,mount ,sion1 and unto the city of the living ,god1 the heavenly ,jerusalem1 and to an innumerable company of angels1 to the general assembly and ,church of the ,first-born which are written in heaven1 and to ,god1 the ,judge of all1 and to the spirits of just men made perfect1 and to ,jesus1 the ,mediator of the new covenant1 and to the blood of sprinkling1 that speaketh better things than that of ,abel4 ,having read this1 my fellow-traveller again put up his ,book1 and there was a short silence between us1 until he said1 ,that is the text1 madam4 ,do you think it possible for any preacher to do justice to it8 ,i do not know indeed1 sir1 ,i said2 and ,i added 7what ,i truly thought7 that the words struck me as being very beautiful4 ,they are indeed beautiful1 and magnificent1 and solemn1 he said2 and he continued to remark that they were highly calculated to arouse in the mind emotions of no ordinary nature4 ,did ,i not think so8 ,i hesitated what to reply1 for ,i shrank from expressing sentiments which ,i did not really feel4 ,doubtless he saw my embarrassment1 and1 instead of pressing for an answer1 he asked me if he might mention a few of the thoughts which had passed through his mind1 as he had pondered over the passage4 ,i said1 if he pleased to do so1 ,i should be glad to hear him1 and accordingly he went on-- ,i suppose that the words ,i have read referred not so much to the future1 as to the present position or condition of those to whom they were addressed1 and that they may be applied also to certain characters at the present time4 ,i have no doubt1 madam1 that you understand of what characters ,i speak8 ,i could not misunderstand you1 ,i said4 ,of course you mean ,christians8 ,yes2 of all true ,christians it may be said that they are come to ,mount ,sion4 ,all who truly believe in ,christ live under a dispensation of mercy4 ,they are even now 'fellow-citizens with the saints1 and of the household of ,god4' ,their names are enrolled in the ,lamb's book of life2 angels are their invisible attendants2 they are united in spirit to ',jesus1 the ,mediator of the new covenant'2 they are admitted into the gracious presence of the ,father1 'the ,judge of all1' so as to find access at every hour to ,god within the veil2 and they have even now received the atonement1 'the blood of sprinkling1' by which their polluted consciences are cleansed and purified4 ,these are great and exalted privileges1 are they not8 ,yes1 sir1 ,i said1 feeling as ,i said it how incapable ,i was of appreciating them4 ,the stranger did not notice my hesitation1 however1 but went on with still more animation-- ,i cannot help thinking that more than ,i have mentioned is implied in the words which you justly think so beautiful1 and that the writer had in his mind the future as well as the present life4 ,the final and everlasting residence of all believers1 after all the cares and toils of their earthly pilgrimage are past1 is to be ,mount ,sion1 the city of the living ,god1 the heavenly ,jerusalem2 part of their employment will be holy and devout adoration2 their society1 myriads of angels and a vast assembly of the perfected spirits of the just2 the chief source of their happiness will be the presence of 'the ,judge of all1' in ',jesus the ,mediator'2 and the cause of all this blessedness is indicated in the closing words--'the blood of sprinkling1' or the atonement of ,jesus4 ,i was interested1 and wished he would continue4 ,probably he could see that ,i was not unwilling to listen1 for1 after the pause of a minute or two1 he began to expatiate a little on some of the ideas he had already expressed4 ,he spoke of the unbroken repose and perfect security of the city of ,god1 and then of the happy employments of the great assembly in heaven4 ,here he drew a contrast between the amusements of the world and the enjoyments of the heavenly state1 and added that1 to worldly and unsanctified minds1 these enjoyments had no attractions4 ,those who live only for this life1 he said1 cannot conceive of any pleasure to be found in heavenly adoration and praise4 ,accustomed to account the ,sabbath of the ,lord a weariness1 and devotional services irksome and tedious1 it cannot appear to them desirable to enter upon a state of existence in which the worship of the ,almighty is one of the choicest occupations of its inhabitants4 ,nor can we wonder1 continued my companion1 that it should be thus1 so long as the heart remains at enmity with ,god1 while the affections are earthly and sensual1 and where there is no fear of ,god1 no love to ,god1 no delight in ,god1 no earnest desire to serve and honour ,him4 ,am ,i not right8 the stranger asked1 fixing his eyes upon me4 ,yes1 sir1 ,i think you are1 ,i replied1 faintly2 and1 after some further conversation on the same subjects1 my fellow-traveller told me that he was going only to the end of the present stage4 ,there we shall part1 he said1 and possibly we shall not meet again in this world2 but if1 by divine grace1 we should be fellow-heirs of the same glorious inheritance1 we shall meet in that general assembly4 ,these were almost the last words he spoke1 for1 in a few minutes1 the coach stopped1 and the stranger1 alighting and bidding me farewell1 disappeared4 ,many years passed away1 and ,i was a happy wife and mother4 ,my husband was a true and earnest ,christian2 and ,i--yes 7and therein was my happiness71 ,i1 too1 was a believer in ,christ4 ,my ,christian life had been1 in some respects1 an eventful one4 ,my first steps in it had been beset with difficulties and no ordinary opposition2 but patience was given me to endure2 strength1 to overcome2 and1 blessed be ,god1 my heart's desire and prayer to ,him on behalf of some very dear to me had1 ,i trust1 been heard and answered4 ,my conversion was in part1 at least1 the result of the stage-coach conversation ,i have recorded4 ,god1 in ,his infinite mercy1 by means of the words of a stranger1 called me to consideration4 ,the ,holy ,spirit showed me my miserable condition1 as being a lover of pleasures more than a lover of ,god4 ,through a long1 dark passage of soul-distress and great conflict ,i was led into the light and faith of the glorious ,gospel--from the thunders of ,sinai to ,mount ,sion1 the city of the living ,god2 to ,jesus1 the ,mediator of the new covenant1 and to the blood of sprinkling4 ,one thing troubled me--or1 if not troubled exactly1 left within me an unsatisfied desire4 ,for years ,i had longed to see1 to meet once more1 the stranger who had so kindly and so wisely invited my attention to religion4 ,i wished to hear his voice again1 and to tell him what the ,lord had done for my soul4 ,sometimes1 indeed1 ,i recalled his parting words with something like awe1 though yet with a thrill of pleasurable assurance--,possibly we shall not meet again in this world2 but if1 by divine grace1 we should be fellow-heirs of the same glorious inheritance1 we shall meet in that general assembly4 ,annie1 said my husband one day--he had an open letter in his hand--a visitor is coming1 whom ,i shall be very glad for you to know--my old friend and pastor1 ,mr4 ,j----2 and he put the letter into my hands4 ,it was a short note1 merely stating that1 finding he should be at a certain time within easy reach of my husband's home1 the writer would1 if he might1 avail himself of the opportunity of renewing the personal intercourse which time and distance had so long interrupted4 ,a few days later1 a chaise drove to our door1 and my husband1 eager to welcome his old friend1 met him in the hall1 where ,i also was waiting to receive him4 ,he was an elderly man1 but with a firm step1 a strong frame1 a pleasant smile1 a kindly voice1 and a benevolent countenance4 ,annie1 my dear1 this is---- ,i cannot go on to describe a scene in which ,i became all at once and unexpectedly so personally interested4 ,in my husband's friend ,i recognized1 at a single glance1 my stage-coach companion1 though he had no recollection of me4 ,it was a happy meeting--the faint foreshadowing1 it may be1 of such meetings innumerable in that general assembly in the heavenly ,jerusalem above1 when they who have sown1 and those who have reaped1 shall rejoice together with joy unspeakable and full of glory4--,a ,tract issued by the ,religious ,tract ,society4 ,,answer ,,to ,,bible ,,enigma4 7,page #bge47 ,i am the ,rose of ,sharon4--,,song ,,of ,,solomon ii4 #a4 ,i ssachar ,genesis xxxv4 #bc4 ,a biram ,numbers xxvi4 #i4 ,m icah ,judges xvii4 #a4 ,t irzah #a ,kings xvi4 #f4 ,h oreb ,exodus iii4 #a4 ,e bal ,joshua viii4 #cj4 ,r ehoboam #a ,kings xi4 #dc4 ,o g ,numbers xxi4 #cc4 ,s hammah #a ,samuel xvii4 #ac4 ,e dom #b ,samuel viii4 #ad4 ,o nan ,genesis xlvi4 #ab4 ,f elix ,acts xxiv4 #be4 ,s imon ,mark iii4 #ah4 ,h adadezer #b ,samuel viii4 #c4 ,a maziah ,amos vii4 #aj4 ,r aven ,leviticus xi4 #ae4 ,o bed-edom #b ,samuel vi4 #aa4 ,n adab ,numbers iii4 #d4 ,,ada ,,willerton 7,aged #i years74 ,corby1 ,grantham4 ,i ,,have found1 by a strict and diligent observation1 that a due observance of the duty of ,sunday has ever had joined to it a blessing upon the rest of my time4--,sir ,matthew ,hale4 ,,our ,,bible ,,class4 ,,the ,,cross ,,of ,,christ4 ,the cross of ,christ is mentioned by the ,apostle ,paul in his ,epistles to different ,churches1 but we may confidently say that the wooden gibbet upon which the ,saviour suffered was never loved or reverenced by that honoured servant of the ,lord1 or the people to whom he wrote4 ,the brazen serpent1 that divinely appointed means of ,israel's cure1 was broken in pieces by good ,hezekiah1 who contemptuously called it a bit of brass1 because the ,israelites worshipped it2 and their idolatry is described as a base crime in #b ,kings xviii4 #d1 although it was a figure of ,him that was to come2 and ,jesus ,himself declared1 ,as ,moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness1 even so must the ,son of ,man be lifted up1 that whosoever believeth in ,him should not perish1 but have eternal life 7,john iii4 #ad1 #ae72 and the true cross1 if it now existed1 would only be a bit of wood--a thing in itself worthless--and the adoration of it would be nothing better than idolatry4 ,christ and ,him crucified is the sinner's hope1 the believer's joy1 and this is what we are to understand by the apostolic mention of the cross of ,jesus4 ,the cross was the sign1 the illustration1 of ,his sufferings and death4 ,crucifixion was most painful and most shameful1 and both these facts appear in ,hebrews xii4 #b4 ,he endured the cross1 despising the shame4 ,with the hands and feet nailed to the cross1 and the weight of the body borne by those pierced hands1 the sufferer1 who generally was first cruelly scourged1 expired after long1 lingering torture2 and it was a shameful death1 to which only the lowest and worst of men were supposed to be sentenced4 ,yet ,jesus1 the ,high and ,holy ,one1 humbled ,himself unto death1 even the death of the cross4 ,but there was deep spiritual meaning in all this4 ,tribulation and anguish 7,rom4 ii4 #i71 sorrow and death1 are sin's reward4 ,dying1 thou shalt die 7,gen4 ii4 #ag1 margin7 is the divine sentence upon every transgressor1 and sin is a reproach to any people 7,prov4 xiv4 #cd74 ,shame and everlasting contempt will be the sinner's recompense4 ,and ,jesus was ,his people's ,surety and ,substitute4 ,he stood for them2 ,he took their place4 ,the ,just ,one suffered for the unjust4 ,the ,king of ,glory bore reproach and shame for the sake of the sinners ,he eternally loved1 that whosoever believeth in ,him should have everlasting life1 glory1 and joy 7,dan4 xii4 #b74 ,the death of the cross1 as ,jesus suffered it1 involved the shedding of blood1 and the blood is the life4 ,he poured out ,his soul unto death4 ,he gave ,his life a ransom for many1 because without shedding of blood there is no remission1 no forgiveness of sin4 ,but crucifixion1 unlike many violent deaths1 did not divide or dismember the body4 ,in stoning1 the back was often broken2 by other modes of execution1 the head was cut off1 the neck broken1 or the body otherwise mutilated4 ,the legs of the crucified might be broken to hasten death1 but this was no necessary part of the sentence2 and concerning ,jesus it was prophesied1 ,none of ,his bones shall be broken 7,psa4 xxxiv4 #bj2 ,john xix4 #cf74 ,and this also was fraught with deep spiritual meaning4 ,that bruised and torn1 yet perfect body which hung on the cross1 and was laid in the grave1 was but a picture of that holy soul1 that perfect spirit1 which ,he yielded up to ,god4 ,how clear was ,his memory6 ,that the ,scripture might be fulfilled1 ,he said1 ,i thirst4 ,how perfect ,his love6 ,he prayed for ,his executioners2 ,he remembered ,mary4 ,how full ,his knowledge of ,his people1 and how perfect ,his confidence in ,himself6 ,he blessed the penitent thief1 and assured him of a home with ,himself in heaven4 ,oh1 wondrous ,sufferer6 almighty ,saviour6 ,none ever died as ,jesus died1 bearing sin and guilt away1 and overcoming death1 while ,he laid down ,his sacred life4 ,the cross of ,christ has a mighty influence upon all who believe on ,his name4 ,paul said1 with holy earnestness1 ,god forbid that ,i should glory in anything but the cross of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 by which the world is crucified unto me1 and ,i unto the world 7,gal4 vi4 #ad74 ,once1 as a ,pharisee1 he loved the world--the religious world--the esteem of men1 the applause of his fellow-,pharisees2 but now they hated and persecuted him1 and he despised their favour4 ,so1 if we are led to behold by faith ,jesus crucified for us1 the sins1 the pleasures1 and the friendships of the world will lose their power and attractions1 and the love of ,christ will constrain us to live to ,him who died and rose again for us4 ,we find that1 when the ,apostles were first beaten and threatened for preaching the ,gospel1 they departed from the presence of the council1 rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for ,his sake 7,acts v4 #dj1 #da74 ,they knew that ,jesus loved and gave ,himself for them1 and they1 out of love to their ,saviour1 were willing to lay down their lives for ,his sake1 or to live despised and hated by the world4 ,before ,he died1 ,christ said1 ,if any man will come after ,me1 let him deny himself1 and take up his cross1 and follow ,me4 ,he foresaw ,his own sufferings from the first1 but the joy that was set before ,him animated ,him all the while1 and1 as ,his people's ,leader1 ,he says1 ,follow ,me1 and enter at last into ,my joy4 ,but ,jesus never said1 ,take up ,my cross4 ,oh1 no6 ,his cross ,he alone could bear6 ,his saving sufferings ,he only could endure6 ,it is our own cross that we are called to bear as ,his followers1 and ,his love will strengthen and support us4 ,oh1 that we may indeed know ,him as our once crucified1 but now exalted ,saviour1 and follow ,him through all life's changes to the bright home whither ,he has gone1 living henceforth to ,him1 and ,him alone4 ,our next subject will be1 ,psalm xxxii4 ,your loving friend1 ,h4 ,s4 ,l4 ,,prize ,,essay4 ,,how ,,to ,,live ,,well4 ,we cannot live well without we acknowledge ,god in all our ways4 ,a ,christian cannot exist without prayer4 ,thus1 in #a ,thessalonians v4 #ag1 it says1 ,pray without ceasing1 which shows us that we cannot live well without prayer4 ,to live well also means that we should obey and honour our parents1 as enjoined in ,ephesians vi4 #a1 #b1 and make ourselves useful to those that surround us4 ,and1 in #b ,thessalonians iii4 #ac1 it says1 ,brethren1 be not weary in well doing4 ,jesus ,christ has also set a pattern1 for ,he was always doing good4 ,he even came into this world to die for sinners4 ,as ,jane ,taylor says-- ,jesus1 who lived above the sky1 ,came down to be a ,man1 and die2 ,and in the ,bible we may see ,how very good ,he used to be4 ,and so ,he died2 and this is why ,he came to be a ,man1 and die3 ,the ,bible says ,he came from heaven ,that sinners' sins might be forgiven4 ,if we are taught to live a ,christian life--to trust in1 and fear ,god--,he will be sure to provide for our every want4 ,to live well is to try and always do the things that are just1 treating people with respect1 and to love those who hate us1 and those who despitefully use us1 for ,jesus ,christ's sake4 ,he says1 in ,john xv4 #bj1 ,remember the word that ,i said unto you1 ,the servant is not greater than his lord4 ,if they have persecuted ,me1 they will also persecute you2 if they have kept ,my sayings1 they will keep yours also4 ,if we wish to live well1 we must seek ,god in little things as well as in larger things2 for ,he takes account of the thoughts1 words1 and actions of men1 which are to be revealed at the last day4 ,living well also means that we should do those things that are pleasing in ,god's sight2 for if we love and serve ,him truly1 we shall be happy here and in the life to come1 for the righteous ,christ will gather as ,his jewels at the great judgment day1 and they will be happy for evermore in that beautiful heaven which ,jesus has prepared for those who love ,him1 and do ,his will2 for ,jesus says1 in ,john xiv4 #c1 ,if ,i go to prepare a place for you1 ,i will come again1 and receive you unto ,myself2 that where ,i am1 there ye may be also4 ,to live well is to live as expecting every day to be our last1 and to be looking for that time when the trump of the archangel shall sound1 and all the dead arise from their graves4 ,we do not know the day1 nor the hour1 when the ,son of ,man shall come to judge the quick and the dead1 for it says1 in ,matthew xxiv4 #cf1 ,but of that day and hour knoweth no man1 no1 not the angels in heaven1 but ,my ,father only4 ,newton expresses in the following verse some good thoughts upon the right way to learn how to live1 and that is1 by seeking ,god's direction-- ,show me what ,i have to do2 ,every hour my strength renew2 ,let me live a life of faith2 ,let me die ,thy people's death4 ,,lilly ,,rush 7,aged #ac years74 ,red ,house1 ,thornham1 near ,eye1 ,suffolk4 ,there have been several creditable ,essays sent1 but none that have reached the desired mark4 ,we may mention those by ,ernest ,sawyer1 ,margaret ,creasey1 ,e4 ,b4 ,knocker1 ,jane ,bell1 ,maria ,reeder1 ,e4 ,t4 ,mann1 ,edith ,hirst1 ,ella ,saunders1 ,w4 ,b4 ,beckwith 7aged #aa years71 ,a4 ,pease1 ,sarah ,hicks1 and ,jesse ,hammond4 ,the age of the writer must always be given4 ,the writer of the above ,essay receives a copy of ,,the ,,little ,,gleaner 7cloth74 ,the subject for ,march will be1 ,self-,help1 and a kind friend has promised a copy of ,from the ,loom to a ,lawyer's ,gown2 or1 ,self-,help that was not all for ,self1 for the best ,essay4 ,we hope we shall have some good ,essays on the subject4 ,all competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age1 and that the ,essay is their own composition1 or the papers will be passed over1 as the ,editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information4 ,papers must be sent direct to the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings1 by the first of ,february4 ,a ,,child',s ,,prayer4 ,,suitable ,,for ,,the ,,new ,,year4 ,oh1 blessed ,jesus1 care for me1 ,and wash me in ,thy blood2 ,teach me to ever look to ,thee1 ,and help me to be good4 ,give me ,thy ,holy ,spirit1 ,lord1 ,and teach me how to pray2 ,oh1 let me understand ,thy ,word1 ,and take my sins away4 ,whene'er ,i'm tempted to do wrong1 ,oh1 let me think of ,thee2 ,help me to always guard my tongue1 ,when naughty ,i would be4 ,teach me to tread the narrow way1 ,which all ,thy saints have trod2 ,and guard and guide me every day2 ,be ,thou my ,lord and ,god4 ,help me to trust in ,thee alone1 ,and not have fear of men2 ,to seek ,thy will before my own1 ,for ,jesus' sake4 ,amen4 ,,jane ,,bell 7,aged #ad years74 ,sleaford4 ,interesting ,items4 ,a ,,rarely-,,blooming ,,flower4--,in one of the conservatories at ,hamilton ,palace gardens there is a fine specimen of the ,angeavia variegata in full bloom4 ,the tradition is1 that the plant only flowers once in a hundred years4 ,,steam heating and electric lighting of trains is receiving very close attention from a number of the leading railway managers in the ,united ,states4 ,on some roads the change has been decided upon1 and cars are being reconstructed on the new plans as rapidly as possible4 ,,pilots' ,,pay4--,from ,london to ,gravesend the pilot's fee may range from #ahs4 to ,l#g #ahs41 and from ,gravesend to the ,nore from ,l#a #abs4 to ,l#g #hs42 and while a vessel drawing less than seven feet of water is piloted from the ,downs to the ,isle of ,wight for ,l#c #ds41 one that draws twenty-five feet will cost for the same distance1 either way1 as much as ,l#ad #fs4 ,,romanism in ,america is throwing off its sheep's clothing1 and revealing its wolfish nature4 ,the following is an extract from one of its journals1 the ,western ,watchman--,protestantism6 ,we would draw and quarter it4 ,we would impale it and hang it up for crows' nests4 ,we would tear it with pincers1 and fire it with hot irons4 ,we would fill it with molten lead1 and sink it in hell fire a hundred fathoms deep4 ,only the genius that invented the multiform cruelties of the ,inquisition could express itself in such an infernally varied vocabulary of torture4 ,,the ,,warrant ,,for ,,bunyan',s ,,last ,,imprisonment4--,among the ,chauncy collection of autographs recently dispersed by ,messrs4 ,sotheby1 there lay1 hidden and unnoticed1 the original warrant under which ,bunyan was apprehended for that third and final imprisonment of some six months' duration1 during which1 according to his latest biographer1 he wrote the first part of ,the ,pilgrim's ,progress4 ,it fills a half-sheet of foolscap1 and is dated ,march #dth1 #afgd-e1 under the hands and seals of twelve justices1 six of them1 either then or in the ,parliament of #afgh1 members for county or borough1 and three of whom had originally committed him for the previous twelve years' imprisonment4 ,,composition ,,during ,,sleep4--,lord ,thurlow told his nephew that1 when young1 he read much at night1 and that once1 while at college1 having been unable to complete a particular line in a ,latin poem he was composing1 it rested so on his mind that he dreamed of it1 completed it in his sleep1 wrote it out next morning1 and received many compliments on its classical and felicitous turn4 ,in my own experience1 ,i have imagined myself1 during sleep1 to be listening to instrumental music quite new to me1 and have been able to reproduce the melody next day2 and ,i have now in my possession a ,,ms4 copy of a ,dead ,march composed by the author1 from whom ,i had it1 in a dream4--,correspondent of ,notes and ,queries4 ,,the ,,dangers ,,of ,,eating ,,orange ,,peel4--,it is a very bad habit to eat orange peel4 ,nor is the juvenile habit of eating apples with the peel on to be recommended either4 ,parents who do not care as yet to correct these evil propensities will perhaps be more inclined to do so when they hear that the little black specks which may be found on the skins of oranges and apples that have been kept some time are clusters of fungi1 precisely similar to those to which whooping-cough is attributed4 ,dr4 ,tschamer1 of ,graz1 who has made the discovery1 scraped some of these black specks off an orange1 and introduced them into his lungs by a strong inspiration4 ,next day he was troubled with violent tickling in the throat1 which by the end of the week had developed into an acute attack of whooping-cough4 ,a ,,brave ,,child4--,one day recently at ,sandown1 while a gentleman was showing his little girl how ,lion1 a splendid ,st4 ,bernard dog1 and a great favourite in the family1 caught pieces of biscuit in his mouth1 the poor child stole up to put her arm round the dog's neck4 ,unhappily ,lion was so engrossed1 he never heard the fairy footstep4 ,taking the little face for a dainty morsel intended for him1 he sharply closed his large teeth in the tender cheek and nostril4 ,elsie bravely struggled to conceal the blood which fast flowed from the wound1 and assured her mother without a tear that she was far more frightened than hurt4 ,lion1 who had been taught to apologise for wrong-doing by standing up1 at once assumed that plaintive attitude1 while ,elsie entreated his master not to punish him1 as she knew it was all a mistake4 ,the little face is still strapped up1 but as the dog was perfectly healthy1 the only fear entertained is that a permanent mark may be left there4 ,one lasting impression was certainly made4 ,the self-control and calmness of the mother1 who saw the sharp1 sudden bite inflicted on her only child1 and the unflinching courage displayed by ,elsie while she pleaded for the dumb friend who had so unwittingly injured her1 will never be forgotten by ,lion's master or any one who witnessed the unfortunate incident4--,lady's ,pictorial4 ,,the ,,general ,,and ,,the ,,sparrow4--,general ,robert ,e4 ,lee was one of the bravest soldiers and ablest leaders of the ,southern ,states armies in the great ,american ,civil ,war4 ,along with an almost culpable indifference to danger he joined an intense love for animals and a deep feeling for the helpless1 as the following story will show4 ,he was once visiting a battery near ,richmond1 in ,virginia1 when the soldiers 7with whom he was immensely popular7 crowded round him1 and thus offered a good target for the enemy's fire4 ,lee at once bade them retire to the rear1 out of reach of harm4 ,the men did so1 but--as if unaware of the risk he ran--he walked across the yard1 and picked up some object from the ground1 and put it on a tree branch above his head4 ,it was afterwards found that this object was an unfledged sparrow1 which had fallen out of its nest1 and which the general had restored to its home at such imminent danger to himself4 ,,the ,,end ,,of ,a ,,dog',s ,,quarrel4--,one day1 a fine ,newfoundland dog and a mastiff had a sharp discussion over a bone1 and warred away as angrily as two boys4 ,they were fighting on a bridge1 and before they knew it1 over they went into the water4 ,the banks were so high that they were forced to swim some distance before they came to a landing-place4 ,it was very easy for the ,newfoundlander4 ,he was as much at home in the water as a seal4 ,but not so poor ,bruce4 ,he struggled and tried to swim1 but made little headway4 ,the ,newfoundland dog quickly reached the land1 and then turned to look at his old enemy4 ,he saw plainly that his strength was fast failing1 and that he was likely to drown1 so what should the noble fellow do but plunge in1 seize him gently by the collar1 and1 keeping his nose above water1 tow him safely into port4 ,it was funny to see these dogs look at each other as they shook their wet coats4 ,their glance said as plainly as words1 ,we'll never quarrel any more4 ,,the following tragical story of a pen is deeply interesting1 since to an instrument in itself so humble the death of a little ,liverpool schoolboy is due4 ,the lad1 sitting at his desk at ,st4 ,anthony's ,school1 saw on the floor a piece of paper which he wished to pick up4 ,to leave his right hand free he put his pen in his breast pocket4 ,he was sitting at the end of a bench1 from which1 in stooping1 he fell to the floor4 ,the weight of his body fell on the point of the pen4 ,the nib pierced the poor little fellow's heart4 ,amid the silent work of the writing lesson his cry of agony rang out with startling effect1 and a whole town1 hearing of a boy's death from such a cause1 shares the painful surprise of the school-room4 ,the one ray of relief in this painful story shines over the grief-stricken home4 ,the public sympathy directed to this house1 finds it inhabited by a struggling widow1 with four young children still surviving4 ,a subscription is forthwith got up for her benefit1 and the son's death is likely to be the means of saving the mother from destitution4 ,,the ,manchester ,ship ,canal will be a stone-banked stream1 #be feet in depth1 and at least #abj feet in width1 supplied with numerous docks1 crossed by lofty bridges for trains1 and swing-bridges for road traffic1 and forming a waterway in which the biggest steamships and sailing vessels will be able to pass one another at a fair speed4 ,it will be wider and deeper than the ,suez ,canal1 and will depend for its construction chiefly on the huge steam excavators1 which are a kind of cross between cranes and the dredgers we see in rivers and harbours1 and which remove a cubic yard of soil at a time4 ,it will enable ,manchester to send her calicoes direct to all quarters of the globe1 and will tap the chemical region of ,runcorn1 and the salt districts of ,cheshire1 saving the present cost of transhipment of a million tons per annum of the latter condiment4 ,nearly #bj1jjj men will find employment for the next four years in the construction of this big canal for the passage of ocean ships between ,liverpool and ,manchester4 ,the first sod has been quietly cut with a navvy's spade by ,lord ,egerton of ,tatton1 the chairman of the company1 in the presence of twenty directors and a few shareholders1 at ,eastham1 where the canal will lead out of the ,mersey4 ,,hanover ,,baptist ,,sunday ,,school1 ,,tunbridge ,,wells4--,the half-yearly meeting of the above school was held on ,wednesday1 ,october #bfth4 ,the meeting was presided over by the ,superintendent1 who in a few opening remarks urged the parents to try and send their children to school in time1 and in the morning as well as the afternoon2 after which the children recited their various pieces to the ,pastor1 ,mr4 ,newton4 ,mr4 ,botten then proceeded to give away the rewards1 which he said he hoped they would prize1 and lend to their brothers and sisters to read if they wanted them2 and he hoped they would never read the pernicious books and periodicals that found such favour amongst boys in our day1 but1 if they were offered a book to read1 to show it to father and mother1 and1 if they did not mind their reading it1 then all right4 ,in conclusion1 he wished the teachers ,god-speed in the work4 ,mr4 ,saltmarsh and ,mr4 ,house also gave parcels of books away1 and a pleasant meeting was brought to a close by singing the hymn1 ,around the throne of ,god in heaven1 ,mr4 ,newton concluding with prayer4 ,each child received a bun on departing4 ,w4 ,l4 ,w4 ,illustration3 ,,paper1 ,,sir8 7,see page #bf47 ,,what ,a ,,tract ,,may ,,do4 ,often1 as we journey from place to place by rail1 we notice with peculiar interest the newsboys at the different stations as they politely inquire1 ,paper1 sir8 and1 as we think what advantages they have of reading the different kinds of papers and books which pass through their hands1 we wonder1 as we look upon them1 what kind of reading they prefer1 good or bad2 and1 from the appearance of many1 we fear it is the latter4 ,we know that many young people of both sexes prefer light1 foolish1 and fictitious books1 over which they spend a lot of their precious time1 reading made-up tales--things that never occurred--and we say1 ,what a pity that they should thus waste their time in doing worse than nothing1 when they might be storing their minds with useful knowledge6 ,we hope our young friend in the illustration is not one of these1 for1 as we look upon his open and pleasant countenance1 we are inclined to believe he is not1 in mind1 of such a low order2 and1 while he may have to carry books and papers which we should advise him never to read1 we can but reflect as to the power for good of such an agency1 if used for the spread of pure ,scriptural truth4 ,oh1 that it were so6 ,who can tell1 if good books and tracts were thus scattered1 what good might result therefrom8 ,we have read with pleasure1 and here give to our readers1 the following narrative1 showing the way the ,lord sometimes signally blesses even the giving of a tract to a stranger1 and may many be encouraged to go and do likewise3-- ,roger ,m---- was one of a family resident in the town of ,d----1 where his first days were spent1 without anything remarkable taking place to distinguish his boyhood from that of many around him4 ,it was1 however1 his privilege1 though unvalued at the time1 to receive religious training in a ,sabbath ,school4 ,it is not known that at this period any particular progress was made by him in any department of useful or of religious knowledge4 ,indeed1 his after-course would rather prove that1 like many who have enjoyed similar advantages1 he grew up only to show that1 by nature1 he possessed a heart averse from ,god1 and prone to depart from ,him4 ,in the course of time ,roger ,m----was placed with a respectable tradesman of his native town1 with a fair prospect of becoming acquainted with a business in which he might have obtained an honest livelihood2 but he turned his back on his friends and prospects1 and enlisted in the marines4 ,from his own lips the subsequent account of himself was derived4 ,year after year passed on1 and though often engaged in scenes of carnage and bloodshed1 he was yet wonderfully preserved both from wounds and death4 ,at length1 just on the eve of the battle of ,waterloo1 he was drafted from his ship to take a part in that fearful and eventful conflict4 ,amidst wounds and slaughter1 and disabled and dying comrades1 he stood unscathed2 and after the peace which followed on that memorable victory1 he was discharged from the service1 and took up his residence in the city of ,e----4 ,here1 however1 he only lived to prove how ineffectual1 of themselves1 are the most terrible scenes savingly to touch the rebellious heart of man1 or even to awaken the mind to any just sense of the amazing goodness and long-suffering of ,god1 independently of the grace and influence of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,he spent his days in a life of dissipation and drunkenness1 unmoved by any reflection on the past1 or by any regard for the future4 ,yet was there mercy in store for ,roger ,m----4 ,god's ways are not as our ways1 neither ,his thoughts as our thoughts4 ,returning home one evening in a state of intoxication1 a lady placed in his hand a religious tract1 which1 by the mercy of ,god1 he carried home1 and the next morning read4 ,it is not easy to describe the state of feeling that arose in his heart from its perusal4 ,his own account of that moment was deeply affecting4 ,conviction of sin1 remorse1 alarm of conscience1 strong desire after peace and pardon1 the cry of the jailor1 ,what must ,i do to be saved8--all1 in tumultuous conflict1 agitated his spirit4 ,day after day1 week after week1 he sought relief to his mind1 and direction to his anxious heart1 by entering various places of worship in the city4 ,at length in a little chapel he found that which his soul longed for4 ,the word of peace1 the glad tidings of salvation through the blood of ,christ1 came home with power to his heart1 and he obtained peace through believing4 ,having become a new creature in ,christ ,jesus1 he next lived a new life1 and rendered up himself a living sacrifice to the great ,redeemer4 ,as ,roger ,m---- had pursued a course of sin unto death1 so now he pursued a course of obedience unto righteousness1 the end of which is eternal life4 ,a new life had opened upon him1 and as a soldier of the cross he served ,jesus ,christ1 his new ,captain1 with humble zeal and holy joy4 ,in the last interview which the writer had with him1 his expressions of overwhelming love to ,jesus were most fervent4 ,tears of gratitude rolled down his thin1 furrowed cheeks as1 with emphasis1 and a feeling most touching1 he acknowledged the debt of love which he owed to his beloved ,lord4 ,never did the writer witness so strong an exhibition of heartfelt1 deep1 religious feeling4 ,roger could speak of nothing but the unmerited and wonderful love of his ,lord and ,saviour1 and of ,his amazing goodness in sparing and saving so vile a transgressor4 ,when the burst of feeling had a little subsided1 he expressed a strong desire to see his former teacher1 then an aged ,christian4 ,an interview was sought for him1 that he might express his gratitude to his instructor in the days of his youth1 and thank him for all the good counsels which had then been given him4 ,here1 again1 the sobs and tears of the humble child of ,god burst forth anew1 and the friend who accompanied him was obliged to shorten the interview1 from fear of the consequences to both the old men4 ,the scene will never be obliterated from the memory of him who pens this recital1 nor the conviction1 moreover1 of the deep-seated piety and gratitude of the penitent veteran4 ,one thing amongst others which ,roger confessed was this--that1 in the midst of the conflicts in which he had been engaged1 the lessons and truths presented to him in the ,sabbath ,school were constantly rushing into his mind with indescribable freshness1 producing a conflict there1 compared with which that without was as nothing4 ,yet1 strange to say1 this resulted in no real conviction or conversion when the danger was past4 ,it was not till the little messenger of mercy had reached his hand1 and its truths1 by divine mercy1 touched his heart1 that he became a contrite sinner and humble suppliant at the feet of ,jesus1 and at length was brought to know that1 being justified by faith1 he had peace with ,god through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ 7,rom4 v4 #a74 ,one point in the character of this converted sinner remains to be mentioned--that1 although latterly so afflicted by entire deafness as to require communication by means of writing1 yet was he constant in his attendance at the house of ,god1 where1 as one of the true circumcision1 he doubtless worshipped ,god in the spirit1 rejoiced in ,christ ,jesus1 and had no confidence in the flesh 7,phil4 iii4 #c74 ,he has long since gone to the unseen world to be with ,jesus1 which is far better4 ,this narrative affords no small encouragement to those who distribute1 even under unpromising circumstances1 those leaves which are intended for the healing of the soul4 ,cast thy bread upon the waters3 for thou shalt find it after many days4 ,in the morning sow thy seed1 and in the evening withhold not thine hand2 for thou knowest not whether shall prosper1 either this or that1 or whether they both shall be alike good 7,eccles4 xi4 #f74 ,,answer ,,to ,,scripture ,,enigma4 7,page #aj47 ,the ,farmer is the ,lord4 ,i am the true ,vine1 and ,my ,father is the ,husbandman1 said the ,son1 ,jesus 7,john xv4 i74 ,the farm is the ,bible1 and the sixty-six fields are the books thereof4 ,the ,bible is sown all over with spiritual food1 which is the ,word of ,god1 for ,his people4 ,those people who seek after the ,lord must have a will to come1 and patience to wait for an answer4 ,there are some people who have the ,bible1 but have no desire after the ,lord2 but they find other things they think better of than seeking after the ,lord4 ,there are some people who say they hate the ,lord1 and the ,bible1 and there is not a minister that they will say a good word to4 ,this1 ,jesus and ,his servants can vouch for a truth4 ,the people who live in those low-built houses are those who are humble in the sight of the ,lord2 and not far from where they dwell the ministers live1 and they think it a great liberty to speak a few words to the ministers1 and1 as for the ,lord1 they often feel they dare not attempt to speak to ,him4 ,but the ,lord says1 in ,luke xii4 #cb1 ,fear not1 little flock2 for it is your ,father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom4 ,you would almost wonder how these people exist2 but they get a little help from the ,lord now and then1 which keeps them alive4 ,and then it is said1 one came to the ,bible1 and looked in the ,book of ,ruth1 but could not gather anything2 and ,christians cannot gather anything from ,god's ,word unless ,god opens it to them2 and if they do not get good out of one part of the ,bible they go to another1 and would be glad to glean in either field of ,ruth or ,esther4 ,in the end1 the labourer directed the gleaner to the forty-second field1 and he gathered handfuls 7,luke xi4 #i-ac71 and then he told others where to go to find plenty of food4 ,,mary ,,willerton 7,aged #aa years74 ,corby1 ,grantham4 ,this is the most correct answer received up to the time of going to press4--,,ed4 ,,be ,,gentle4 ,there is a plant that in its cell ,all trembling seems to stand1 ,and bends its stalk and folds its leaves ,from each approaching hand4 ,and thus there is a conscious nerve ,within the human breast1 ,that from the rash and careless hand ,shrinks and retires distressed4 ,the pressure rude1 the touch severe1 ,will raise within the mind ,a nameless thrill1 a secret tear1 ,a torture undefined4 ,oh1 you whose nature is so formed ,each thought refined to know1 ,repress the word1 the glance1 that wakes ,that trembling nerve to woe6 ,and be it still your joy to raise ,the trembler from the shade2 ,to bind the broken1 and to heal ,the wound you never made4 ,whene'er you see the feeling mind1 ,oh1 let this care begin6 ,and though the cell be e'er so low1 ,respect the guest within4--,l4 ,h4 ,a ,,biblical ,,discovery4 ,bible students will gladly read the account of a remarkable and interesting discovery sent to the ,council of the ,egypt ,exploration ,fund by their explorer1 ,mr4 ,flinders ,petrie4 ,he has apparently found the remains of a royal palace1 mentioned in the ,bible as ,tahpanhes1 and referred to by the ,father of ,history in his record of the adventures of the first ,greek colonists who1 six hundred years before the ,christian era1 settled in a corner of the northeastern ,delta of ,egypt4 ,these early ,greeks conveyed to their countrymen the wisdom of the ,egyptians2 and the science1 art1 and literature of the older civilization was filtered through the artistic ,greek intellect to the western world4 ,students of ,egyptian and ,greek history will take deep interest in this discovery4 ,but the finding of the remains of this royal palace appeals to a more numerous and humbler class of students4 ,in the book of ,jeremiah the ,prophet1 from chapter thirty-seven to chapter forty-seven1 the reader will find a graphic record of the events that preceded1 accompanied1 and followed the destruction of ,jerusalem by ,nebuchadnezzar4 ,a great portion of the action of this story took place in the country in which ,mr4 ,petrie and his ,arab labourers have been at work for some time past4 ,after the tumults that followed the departure from ,jerusalem of ,nebuchadnezzar with the captive ,jews to ,babylon1 it was decided by ,johanan1 against the advice and the prophecy of ,jeremiah1 to fly into ,egypt1 the land of ,king ,zedekiah's old ally4 ,the princesses1 and the captains1 and ,jeremiah1 were taken across the frontier by ,johanan1 and hospitably received by ,pharaoh ,hophra1 who installed his guests in the royal residence in ,tahpanhes4 ,jeremiah could not rest even in the stronghold thus provided for himself and his countrymen by the kindness of ,hophra1 and in the court-yard or square of the royal palace of ,tahpanhes he made a remarkable prophecy4 ,taking great stones in his hands1 and burying them in the pavement1 the ,prophet declared that in that very spot ,king ,nebuchadnezzar would spread his pavilion when he came1 with his destroying army1 to punish the ,jews1 and to execute vengeance on their ,egyptian allies4 ,the prophecy1 there is every reason to believe1 was fulfilled4 ,the ,babylonish conqueror invaded ,egypt1 and burnt ,pharaoh's house at ,tahpanhes4 ,centuries have passed4 ,the sand of the desert1 and the mud of old ,nile1 have swept over the site of the remarkable prophecy1 and about #b1ejj years after the death of the ,prophet1 an ,englishman rolls away the encrustations of time4 ,he discovers the basement floor of the old citadel--half prison and half palace4 ,from the ruins he extracts slabs of fine limestone covered with hieroglyphic inscriptions1 figures of captives delicately sculptured and painted1 iron and bronze tools4 ,in the kitchen he finds pokers1 and spits1 and broken bottles4 ,the room of the little scullery maid is found almost intact4 ,it contains a recess with a sink and a bench for the ancient pots and pans4 ,mr4 ,petrie's communication1 which can be had from the ,secretary of the ,egypt ,exploration ,fund1 throws a strong light on the wondrous story in the grand old ,book which has been for centuries a household treasure in ,english homes1 and will be read with delight by all lovers of the ,bible4 ,,every season of life has its appropriate duties4 ,,through all our troubles1 the tangled skein is in the hands of ,one who sees the end from the beginning4 ,he shall yet unravel all4 ,,the ,,charcoal ,,burner',s ,,star4 7,concluded from page #i47 ,alfred was struck mute with surprise4 ,even the guide seemed astonished at this unexpected welcome to the hut4 ,it was not until a minute or two after the voices had ceased that they ventured to approach the entrance4 ,when they did1 they saw the charcoal burner standing at the end of a rude table1 formed of one broad deal plank1 supported by four legs1 along one side of which were ranged three boys between twelve and fourteen years old4 ,books and paper1 with an inkstand and pens1 were lying on the table4 ,it was a forest school4 ,the intruders again paused at a sight as unexpected as had been the melody they had just heard4 ,but their footsteps had caught the ears of those within the hut4 ,who goes there8 asked the man1 in a calm voice4 ,friends1 replied both ,alfred and the guide1 and the latter added-- ,good evening1 ,gervais4 ,it is only your friend ,michel4 ,i have brought you a gentleman who is very anxious to see you4 ,what is your pleasure with me1 sir8 asked the charcoal burner1 taking off his woollen cap4 ,first1 to wish you a good evening1 ,monsieur ,gervais2 and next1 to apologize for my visit4 ,is there anything you wish to say in private8 ,nothing very important2 but---- ,these boys are in your way8 ,oh1 pray do not let me interrupt you6 ,my business here is not of sufficient consequence4 ,we have done1 sir4 ,indeed1 our evening studies1 and more particularly our ,scripture readings1 have been prolonged rather beyond our usual hour4 ,we have only one more duty to fulfil1 which we never omit4 ,you will excuse it1 sir4 ,without waiting for a reply1 ,gervais assumed a serious air4 ,the boys knelt down before the wooden bench on which they had been sitting4 ,alfred1 and even the guide1 followed their example1 and the woodman offered up a brief1 but solemn evening prayer2 after which he pressed affectionately the hands of the young herdsmen1 and dismissed them with a kind remembrance to their employers4 ,good-night1 ,monsieur ,gervais6 said the boys cheerfully1 and in an instant they were all leaping up the heights beyond the fir trees1 which soon hid them from the sight of those who remained behind4 ,i expected to find you alone1 ,monsieur ,gervais1 said ,alfred1 and ,i wished to put a question to you which is now very plainly answered by the scene ,i have just witnessed4 ,two hours ago1 ,i was with a party of friends in the plain below1 at some distance from this mountain4 ,at nightfall1 when we saw the light of your furnace beginning to shine1 we said among ourselves1 as we looked1 with no small degree of interest1 upon this earthly star1 as it seemed to us1 ',what can the man be doing who is watching by the side of this fire8' ,you see1 sir1 that ,i am young1 and you know that1 at my age1 good-humoured frolics are not uncommon4 ',i will soon know1' ,i said4 ,well1 ,i mounted my horse immediately1 and rode at full speed to the foot of the mountain4 ,and now that ,i am here1 ,i find that ,i have reason to rejoice in my freak1 ,monsieur ,gervais1 since it has made me the witness of a most interesting scene4 ,these pens and paper1 and these books--this one in particular--afford sufficient evidence of the manner in which you have passed the evening4 ,here1 to my surprise1 ,i have found1 at this late hour1 in the deep recesses of the woods1 on a wild and lofty mountain1 a school for useful learning in general1 but more especially1 as the closing of the scene has informed me1 for the most important of all knowledge--that of the ,creator who made1 of the ,son who redeemed1 and of the ,holy ,spirit who sanctifies us4 ,you pass your evenings in pointing out to these boys1 who might otherwise be running wild along the mountains and through the forests1 like the beasts that perish1 the only way that leads to everlasting life4 ,may ,i ask if you have any particular interest in them8 ,are they your children1 or are they employed by you in your business8 ,no1 sir1 said the charcoal burner2 ,i am neither their father nor their master4 ,alas6 they have but one ,father1 which is in heaven4 ,they are orphans1 sir1 and are employed by the herdsmen4 ,they remain here for several months in the year1 to assist in tending their cattle and their goats1 which are kept during the summer in the mountain pastures4 ,they are therefore serving an apprenticeship to the line of life for which they are destined4 ,but there are other things which are needful for them1 as well as learning to look after cows1 and sheep1 and goats2 and one thing more needful than all the rest1 which they might learn to neglect1 were they left to themselves1 without some one to lead them in the right path1 and to speak to them of the faith and love of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,it is true they are here far removed from the temptations which they would meet with in towns1 and even in villages2 but ,satan has his snares in all parts--in the wilderness1 where he dared to tempt the ,son of ,god ,himself1 as well as in the city1 where1 they say1 his traps are set so thickly that it is impossible to avoid them1 unless the light of ,god's ,holy ,spirit is shining on our path4 ,but even here1 had he no other means of leading them astray1 they might fall1 by his devices1 into the worst of sins--the forgetfulness of ,god1 and all they owe to ,him4 ,the condition1 then1 of these poor boys has interested me very greatly4 ,i have prevailed upon their masters to let them come to me for two hours every evening1 as soon as the cows and goats are milked1 and the sheep are in the folds1 when ,i endeavour1 with ,god's help1 to teach them to read and write1 and cast up an account2 but1 above all1 to seek to find out the ,lord in ,his holy ,word1 and to pray to ,him4 ,for myself1 too1 it is a profitable as well as a cheerful occupation in this solitude4 ,i wish1 indeed1 that ,i were able to have them longer with me each day1 but that our labours will not allow of4 ,on ,sundays1 indeed1 they have rather less to do1 and we take advantage of this to devote more time to the service of ,god4 ,rather less to do on ,sundays6 said ,alfred4 ,is the ,lord's ,day1 then1 made only partially a day of rest8 ,sir1 replied ,gervais1 there are works of absolute necessity which require our attention1 here in the mountains1 nearly as much on the ,lord's ,day as on the other days of the week4 ,we do not cut wood on the ,sabbath ,day1 but my fire must not be allowed to go out4 ,it must be kept constantly burning till the operation is complete4 ,so far1 indeed1 it affords a lesson of holy instruction to my young pupils as well as myself1 and shows us the necessity of the flame of ,christian love1 and faith1 and hope being kept alive in our hearts1 even when pursuing our daily occupations4 ,then those who have the charge of cattle and sheep must attend to their wants1 or the poor creatures would suffer sadly by their neglect4 ,it takes up a large portion of the day to milk the cows and the goats1 and ,i dare say you can understand that1 to say nothing of the loss their owners would incur were this omitted1 the poor beasts themselves would suffer bitterly from bodily pain and disease4 ,i ought to have thought of this1 as ,i am myself learning to be a farmer1 observed ,alfred4 ,but do you not draw any spiritual improvement for your scholars from this8 ,oh1 yes1 sir6 ,i show them how ,jesus1 the ,good ,shepherd1 is constantly feeding and caring for ,his flock1 watching over them1 and keeping the young lambs from going astray2 carrying them in ,his bosom1 and giving them the bread of life to eat1 and the waters of everlasting comfort to drink4 ,and are your kind instructions confined to these three boys8 ,not altogether1 sir4 ,most of their masters1 when their necessary work is done1 come with such of their servants as can be spared1 on the evening of the ,lord's ,day2 and1 as we have no pastor up here to teach us in the way of holiness1 we join together in prayer4 ,we sing 'psalms1 and hymns1 and spiritual songs1' and we 'search the ,scriptures1' and nourish our souls with the holy ,word of ,god4 ,most of them1 ,i assure you1 sir1 are very seriously disposed1 and love to hear me talk to them of the ,lord ,jesus1 and tell them of all ,he has done to save sinners1 to take away their sin1 to give them repentance1 and everlasting life after death4 ,and it is thus you have been passing your time1 exclaimed ,alfred1 when some of my thoughtless young friends below fancied you might be drinking or smoking while you were watching your fire4 ,happy man6 ,these solitudes are no solitudes to you4 ,how far more profitably1 how far more pleasantly1 are you employed than the greater number of those who live in the world6 ,i must entreat you to pardon my having intruded upon you1 ,i am ashamed to say1 from a motive of mere curiosity4 ,but see how ,god often causes even our follies and weaknesses to turn out to our profit4 ,i have learned a lesson that ,i trust1 by ,his grace1 ,i shall never forget4 ,it has taught me that every godly man has a part assigned to him for others as well as for himself1 to show forth the great salvation that ,christ brought upon earth4 ,you are diligently fulfilling your part4 ,you have prayed for work1 and our great ,master has mercifully provided it for you4 ,you are laying up treasure for yourself in heaven1 while many of those who would be inclined to pity your worldly position are wasting their lives in idleness and sin1 neglecting the work they might do1 and burying in the earth the talent committed to their charge4 ,numbers there are in the world who are attempting to secure to themselves a memorial among posterity1 by erecting hospitals and schools1 while you are consecrating this little hovel to ,god in a way that might never have been known in this world1 but which will not be forgotten by the ,lord 'in the day when ,he maketh up ,his jewels4' ,as he said this1 ,alfred cast his eyes round the hut1 and fixed them upon an open chest which stood in one corner1 supported upon one or two short beams of wood1 to preserve the contents from the damp4 ,you are not unprovided with books1 ,i see1 besides those that lie on the table4 ,we have indeed a little library there1 sir1 replied ,gervais4 ,it is very small1 but quite equal to our wants4 ,you would find there ',the ,histories of the ,old and ,new ,testaments1' ',the ,imitation of ,jesus ,christ1' ',the ,history of ,france1' ',robinson ,crusoe1' and a few others4 ,would you like to look at the writing of these boys1 sir8 ,alfred examined some copy-books lying on the table1 and could not help expressing his surprise at the progress the lads appeared to have made in three short months4 ,then1 looking at his watch1 he said-- ,i fear ,i have overstayed my time1 but before ,i go ,i have yet a duty to perform4 ,while ,i congratulate you most sincerely on the success with which ,god seems to have blessed your endeavours in behalf of these destitute youths1 ,i must add that the interest which the idea of your isolated situation excited among the party ,i left in the plain below was such that they said ,i ought not1 without some good reason1 to intrude upon you1 and desired me to bring this little offering to you1 begging of you to accept it1 in token of their good-will4 ,vainly1 however1 did the young man press the offering upon the charcoal burner4 ,he absolutely refused it4 ,money6 said he2 for what8 ,from whom does it come8 ,excuse me1 sir1 but you must recollect that you are quite a stranger to me4 ,i do not even know your name4 ,alfred looked greatly disappointed1 but replied that his name was ,alfred de ,blenal4 ,what6 the son of ,madame de ,blenal1 of ----8 ,the same4 ,you are no longer a stranger1 sir4 ,your excellent mother's piety and benevolence are well known to all the country around4 ,well1 sir1 as you seem distressed by my refusal1 ,i will accept your liberal offer1 but not for myself4 ,i will only take it as trustee for these three boys1 to be applied to their future maintenance1 till they are able to support themselves4 ,excellent man6 replied ,alfred1 deeply affected4 ,this sum will hardly be sufficient for your benevolent purpose1 and it will give us pleasure to make it up to such an amount as may be required4 ,i have promised to return to the persons who are expecting me by midnight1 and ,i fear they will be uneasy at my prolonged absence4 ,take it1 then1 ,monsieur ,gervais1 and whenever you require a little more money for the good works you may find occasion to perform in your neighbourhood1 do not fail to put me under contribution4 ,i shall tell my friends all ,i have seen and heard1 and be assured that they will envy me my good fortune4 ,farewell1 and remember that1 by applying to me when you want anything1 either for yourself or others1 you will only prove that ,i have inspired you with sentiments of esteem and friendship4 ,saying this1 ,alfred gave the charcoal burner a cordial embrace1 and departed4 ,the thoughts of ,michel1 the guide1 as he descended the mountain1 were very different from those with which he had gone up4 ,he was an altered man from that night4 ,midnight had passed4 ,the supper was waiting at ,madame de ,blenal's4 ,the guests were beginning to be impatient1 some from hunger1 some from curiosity1 but more from anxiety4 ,had he miscalculated the distance8 ,had he mistaken the way8 ,had he met with an accident8 ,the former conjectures were spoken aloud2 the latter was only whispered by some who were not within ,madame de ,blenal's hearing4 ,she herself remained silent1 but perfectly calm4 ,we do not say that the mother's heart was free from anxiety1 but there was a remedy within it which served as a preventive against all idle and unnecessary fears4 ,the eye of ,god was upon her son1 and she knew that his own trust was fixed upon ,his saving arm4 ,she knew1 too1 that1 although full of the spirit and buoyancy of youth1 he would avoid the sin of running into needless danger4 ,if an accident had detained him1 it was permitted as a trial of her faith1 and she was prepared to submit4 ,the impatience of the party was just beginning to reach its height1 when the sound of a horse's hoofs was heard4 ,every eye was turned to the door1 which was soon opened1 and ,alfred stood before them1 smiling1 cheerful1 and uninjured1 though in a condition that at first occasioned some alarm1 but soon excited a burst of laughter4 ,here is ocular proof1 cried one1 that he has seen the charcoal burner4 ,and been at close quarters with him1 said another4 ,he is covered with soot4 ,why1 ,mr4 ,alfred1 said a young lady1 one would think you had embraced him6 ,i have1 mademoiselle1 and ,i am not ashamed of owning it4 ,had you seen what ,i have1 you would have done the same1 without considering your dress4 ,why1 what have you seen8 was asked by more than one4 ,i have found a preacher of righteousness1 'a teacher of babes1' in the forest--one who is an example to us all--and ,i have learned that1 whatever our station in life may be1 we may do good service to our ,lord4 ,alfred then gave a full detail of his adventure4 ,so then1 said the old lady who had decided the question about the money1 while we were indulging in foolish conjectures1 and idly jesting about this worthy man1 he was engaged in the pious task of teaching young boys to read ,god's holy ,word1 and the eye of that ,god was upon us all4 ,my dear young friends1 this is a lesson which ,i trust you will never forget4 ,i see by your looks that it has produced its effect1 and given birth to serious thoughts in your hearts4 ,god has caused your inconsiderate frolic to turn out well1 and ,i suspect that this will be a happy day for the pupils of ,gervais4 ,the orphans will not want protectors4 ,now let us go to supper4 ,our friend ,alfred must be hungry after his ride1 and he has well earned his meal4 ,these words1 together with the circumstances that gave rise to them1 made a deep and salutary impression upon the hearers4 ,the supper passed cheerfully1 and the conversation turned upon what could best be done for the charcoal burner and the poor orphans4 ,many plans were proposed1 and at last one was suggested which met with general approbation4 ,the young men1 in consequence1 all visited the mountain forest and the hut1 which1 under their exertions and superintendence1 soon disappeared1 and a comfortable chalet rose in its place1 in which ,gervais continued for many summers to pursue his useful labours1 and more than one or two successive generations of boys owed their teaching to him1 and their establishment in the world to the care of the patrons whom ,alfred's visit had1 by ,god's mercy1 raised up for them4 ,,from ,,darkness ,,to ,,light4 ,in a conversation with the late ,richard de ,courcy1 ,john ,berridge observed that he had1 for many years1 been preaching up self1 but not ,christ ,jesus the ,lord3-- ,i was a length of time in ,arminian fetters4 ,john and ,charles ,wesley got me into their cradle1 and the devil kept rocking2 but the ,holy ,spirit1 in a most remarkable manner1 delivered me from the sleep of sin by slaying the legality of my heart4 ,i used to lament the unprofitableness of my preaching1 and though ,i was a dealer in fire and brimstone1 ,i could make no impression on my hearers4 ,one day1 my man ,thomas was sawing a sturdy piece of oak1 and1 as ,i was standing by him1 he threw down his saw1 and turning to me1 said1 ,master1 ,i must give this job up2 it is so knotty4 ,i took up the saw1 and said1 ,tom1 let me try2 and to work ,i went1 and1 being of muscular strength1 ,i soon overcame the difficulty4 ,it occurred to me1 when leaving the field1 that my preaching resembled ,tom's sawing1 and these words were impressed on my mind--,who art thou1 ,o great mountain8 before ,zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain4 ,i returned to my chamber1 and poured out my heart to the ,lord4 ,a conviction arose in my mind that the work that ,god alone can perform ,i looked for the creature to produce4 ,on reflection1 ,i found the drift of my preaching for twenty years had been to tell the sinner to put the key into the lock of the door1 so as to open it4 ,i never thought of my ,beloved putting ,his hand by the hole of the door1 nor of applying to ,him who has the keys of ,david1 who openeth1 and no man shutteth2 and shutteth1 and no man openeth4 ,on the ,sunday following1 ,i took my text from ,isaiah--,ye also made a ditch between two walls1 for the water of the old pool2 but ye have not looked unto the ,maker thereof1 neither had respect unto ,him4 ,from that time ,god the ,holy ,ghost has given me better tools for my workmanship4 ,in addressing those whose hearts are unrenewed and unchanged1 ,i make no propositions or calls4 ,i cry aloud1 and lift up my voice1 and show my people their transgressions and their sins4 ,i then turn from the unconverted1 and implore my ,master to take the work in hand1 to convince of sin1 and to lead them to ,christ4 ,with uplifted eyes and outstretched arms ,i cry1 ,lay hold of these rebels1 ,o ,lord1 as the angel did of lingering ,lot1 and overcome them by ,thy omnipotent power1 so as to lay down their arms to come in1 that ,thy house may be filled4 ,john ,berridge can do nothing but say1 ,awake1 ,o arm of the ,lord6 ,this is my province2 a step further ,i cannot1 ,i dare not1 go4 ,for the last twelve years the ,lord has1 in a most wonderful manner1 displayed the riches of ,his grace in giving me innumerable seals to my ministry1 both in town and country--trophies of mercy1 as studs in the ,mediatorial crown of my dear ,redeemer4 ,,old ,,everton4 ,oh1 that there were more such preachers in the present day6 ,when bold1 presumptuous men stand up1 ,and fain would make believe ,that they are teachers sent of ,god1 ,and thus poor souls deceive1 ,they should1 by every ,god-taught soul1 ,be faithfully withstood1 ,if aught they bring to us as truth ,but ,jesus and ,his blood4 ,such men as these the ,word declares ,shall come1 and shall deceive2 ,but sinners1 truly born of ,god1 ,will not such men receive4 ,if possible1 we know they would ,deceive ,thine own elect2 ,but1 bless ,thy precious name1 dear ,lord1 ,thou wilt ,thine own protect4 ,how solemn is the thought to me-- ,such men may think they're right1 ,yet their profession will1 if left1 ,end in eternal night6 ,depart1 ye cursed6 will be said ,by lips that cannot lie2 ,since you have hated ,me and ,mine1 ,your doom is now to die4 ,you see1 though now it is too late1 ,the oil-less lamp won't do2 ,the door against you now is shut2 ,there is no passing through4 ,my soul1 reflect6 ,how stands the case ,with me1 a helpless sinner8 ,i cannot hope to win the race2 ,but ,jesus is my ,winner4 ,i never should have sought to ,thee1 ,dear ,lord1 ,thou knowest well1 ,if ,thou hadst not first called me1 ,and plucked my feet from hell4 ,b4 ,w4 ,,bible ,,subjects ,,for ,,each ,,sunday ,,in ,,february4 ,feb4 #e4 ,commit to memory ,ruth ii4 #g4 ,feb4 #ab4 ,commit to memory ,ruth ii4 #h4 ,feb4 #ai4 ,commit to memory ,ruth ii4 #i4 ,feb4 #bf4 ,commit to memory ,ruth ii4 #aj4 ,,put heart in your work1 whatever it is4 ,if it be the lowliest1 simplest little task1 it will be ennobled by your doing it well and cheerfully1 and taking real pleasure in it4 ,,the ,,day ,,of ,,small ,,things4 7,,zechariah iv4 #aj47 ,the second temple was much smaller than1 and very inferior to1 the first1 and from it were wanting the ark1 the ,shechinah glory1 the sacred fire1 and the ,urim and ,thummim4 ,hence we read that1 when it was erected and dedicated1 the older men that had seen the former temple wept 7,ezra iii4 #ab74 ,compared with that1 the second temple saw but a day of small things 7,hag4 ii4 #c74 ,and thus do we sometimes speak of the days of childhood and youth1 and rightly so4 ,young people are small in stature and little in ability4 ,their minds are not much cultivated at present1 their faculties undeveloped4 ,their views of things are narrow and circumscribed4 ,they have seen and know but little of the world1 or1 indeed1 of anything at all4 ,but children are not to be despised on that account4 ,we who are older must not think depreciatingly of them1 nor should the young depreciate themselves--their abilities1 their time1 their opportunities4 ,do not waste your precious moments1 for yours is a golden age1 which will quickly pass away1 and can never return4 ,do not imagine that you are too young to exert any influence over others for good or harm4 ,you may1 and do1 influence not only your companions1 but many older people also4 ,as children and youths are old enough to sin1 they are old enough also to be impressed by the ,spirit of ,god--yea1 even savingly converted1 if ,god so will it4 ,not long ago1 a very little boy1 dying1 was heard to say1 ,oh1 ,lord ,jesus1 please make room for a little boy6 and ,i doubt not1 his prayer was as real and as acceptable to ,god as was that of the dying malefactor1 ,lord1 remember me1 c4 ,another dear little fellow said1 ,if ,i ever get to heaven1 ,i'll go straight up to ,jesus1 throw my arms around ,his neck1 and say1 ',i'm come6 ,i'm come6' ,very little things are not without their importance or value4 ,the earth is nourished all summer by tiny dew-drops4 ,the greatest mountains1 even huge ,chimilari1 towering five and a half miles into the clouds1 and all the other peaks in the ,himalaya and ,andes ranges1 are formed of tiny molecules of earthy matter4 ,take a lesson from the coral formations4 ,these are the work of a very little creature called a polype1 or sea-anemone4 ,recent research has led to the discovery of much that is highly interesting respecting these little creatures4 ,one polype1 fixing its minute body to the rocky bottom of the sea1 discharges a chalky secretion1 which gradually grows up a branched trunk4 ,the end of each branch is terminated by another polype2 and thus it divides and multiplies itself1 until a huge mass of red coral is formed4 ,the more common white coral is similarly produced4 ,beware of what are called little sins4 ,do not think them mere trifles4 ,bad in themselves1 they likewise extend and grow into habits4 ,these1 once acquired1 will hold you down with the force of a mighty chain4 ,of late years vine-stocks have been imported from ,america into ,france and ,italy4 ,upon these a tiny insect1 called phylloxera1 has been found--so small that thirty-three of them placed lengthwise would not measure more than an inch2 and yet so destructive have these tiny things proved1 and so rapidly have they been known to spread1 that they have been the destruction of more than a million acres of vines4 ,one has well observed that a great sin committed once shows where the devil has been2 but petty sins1 nourished into a habit1 show where the devil lives4 ,illustration3 ,,her ,,father',s ,,bad ,,ways ,,made ,,her ,,life ,,hard4 7,see page #ch47 ,one of the discoveries of modern medical science is1 that the disease known as cholera may be produced by a microscopic insect 7the ,conina ,bacillus7 being taken into the stomach inadvertently with our food4 ,this minute creature propagates with enormous rapidity in the blood1 until that terrible malady is the result4 ,thus many great things are developed from the very smallest--not only great evils1 but great blessings also4 ,in doing good1 we must not despise the day of small things4 ,the beginnings1 though imperfect and weak1 are not without their own peculiar value1 and ultimately they lead on to excellence4 ,travellers on the continent are often struck by the contrast exhibited between two paintings which are shown in the museum at ,rotterdam4 ,the one is exceedingly poor--a mere daub4 ,the most enthusiastic connoisseur cannot discover in it any mark of genius4 ,the other painting is a grand work of art1 almost priceless in value4 ,yet1 strange to say1 the same painter executed both--the celebrated ,rembrandt4 ,the first illustrates the commencement of his career as an artist2 the other is a masterpiece1 while many years of earnest1 patient toil intervened4 ,there must be a beginning to all things1 and many dear ,sabbath scholars have been instrumental of good to their parents and friends4 ,i will mention one instance of this1 selected from scores which have come under notice at different times4 ,in a miserable home there once resided a drunken father1 with one girl1 his only child4 ,of course1 he took no particular interest in her welfare1 either body or soul4 ,but some kind friend got her to attend a ,sabbath ,school4 ,there she was brought to know and love the ,saviour1 and often during the week1 while attending to the house1 she was known to sing the sweet hymns she had learned4 ,this was her only comfort1 for her father's bad ways made her life hard4 ,one day1 when she was thus occupied1 her father was in another room1 sleeping off his drunkenness4 ,on awaking1 he heard the little maid singing-- ,there is a happy land1 ,far1 far away4 ,the ,lord was pleased to use these words for another awakening4 ,the grace of ,god touched his heart1 and he said to himself1 ,yes1 it must be far away for her1 poor thing2 it cannot be here with me4 ,that thought came from ,god4 ,it melted his frozen heart1 brought him to his knees1 caused him to utter strong cries for mercy1 led him to ask his little daughter to explain the way of salvation1 and ultimately he was enabled to rejoice in pardoning mercy4 ,dear young ,gleaners1 may the ,lord thus be pleased to bless the reading of the ,,little ,,gleaner1 and the instruction imparted in the ,sabbath ,school1 first to your own soul1 and then make you a similarly honoured instrument of good to others4 ,a4 ,e4 ,,realff4 ,dunstable4 ,,god never wrought miracles to convince atheism1 because ,his ordinary works convince it4 ,a ,,sunny1 happy face naturally1 is worth a world of recipes upon cheerfulness4 ,only let one possessing it come into a room where there are a number of melancholy souls1 and see how soon the magnetic influence begins to relax the lines of care around the mouth and eyes of the burdened ones1 and the light of forgotten smiles to illumine the dark faces6 ,the very breath of summer has blown through the room1 bringing the breath of meadow sweets on its wings4 ,,how ,a ,,great ,,mistake ,,was ,,discovered4 ,a ,,true ,,incident4 ,my grandmother was always looked upon by those who knew her as a good ,churchwoman1 a dutiful wife1 an affectionate mother1 and a good neighbour4 ,she attended the services and partook of the ,sacrament regularly1 visited the sick1 gave alms to the poor1 and was generally regarded as a very religious1 upright1 consistent1 and exemplary person4 ,yet1 notwithstanding this outward goodness1 her mind was not at rest4 ,her religion yielded no joy1 her service brought no satisfaction4 ,nor could it be otherwise1 for1 instead of it being the spontaneous outflow of a heart constrained by love1 it was as a task imposed--a duty performed in the hope of pleasing ,god1 and meriting ,his favour1 and in this way obtaining peace and rest to her soul4 ,poor grandmother6 ,these were deadly doings2 but she knew it not1 for her eyes were blinded by the god of this world 7,satan71 and her unsuccessful attempts to procure peace by these means often left her depressed in spirit and cast down in mind4 ,but ,god had better things in store for her1 although it was by no ordinary means that ,he was pleased to make known to her ,his more excellent way4 ,one ,sunday1 she went to church as usual1 and took part in the singing and prayers1 which were performed in the same mechanical order as at other times4 ,it was not until the text was read out that her attention was particularly aroused2 but this so arrested her that it all seemed to be intended for herself4 ,the words1 ,ye must be born again1 uttered by the lips of an unconverted preacher1 were made the message of ,god to her soul1 but not as yet the message of peace4 ,her conscience was troubled1 and as the words of the text were revolved in her mind1 and the necessity of the new birth laid hold upon her heart1 she trembled in her seat1 and all her fancied goodness fled away2 for here was ,nicodemus1 a good man1 a teacher of religion1 a pattern of morality1 being told by the ,lord ,jesus that he must be born again1 or he could not enter heaven4 ,she could see now that her almsgiving and church-going would not satisfy the righteous claims of a just and holy ,god4 ,she had made a most blessed discovery--that she was a lost sinner1 having no hope1 and without ,god in the world4 ,she returned home in great distress of mind1 and so continued until the next day4 ,these painful exercises then showed no signs of abatement1 for the words of the text kept ringing in her ears2 so1 on the morrow1 as early as convenient1 she sought an interview with the clergyman1 in the hope that he might be able to minister relief to her troubled heart4 ,but woe unto you1 ye blind guides6 ,the only counsel he could give was1 to remind her of her good deeds1 her consistent life1 her regular attendance at church1 c41 urging her to be calm and to banish from her mind these distressing thoughts1 as there was not the slightest foundation for her fears4 ,but this only increased her trouble1 and she cried out1 in great anguish of soul1 ,tell me how ,i can be 'born again'6 ,tell me over again what you were telling the people yesterday4 ,as she earnestly entreated him thus1 he became greatly perplexed1 for1 alas6 the sermon he had preached the day previous was borrowed1 and had since been returned to its owner2 so1 in much confusion1 he had to confess his inability to help her2 but said he1 ,you must get into cheerful company1 read lively books at the same time offering to lend her some of ,shakespeare's plays1 and these impressions will soon wear off4 ,but the solemn words from ,john iii4 #g were fastened in her mind by the ,master of ,assemblies1 to bring forth their fruit in due season4 ,my grandmother left the minister in great despair1 which continued and increased to such an extent that eventually it became necessary to remove her to an asylum1 and her cries of distress were heartrending1 her incessant and unchanging cry being1 ,i must be 'born again'6 ,tell me how ,i must be 'born again'6 ,but strange as it may appear1 this was ,god's way of bringing her both mental and spiritual relief4 ,a ,christian lady who visited the asylum became acquainted with her case1 and learning that there were times when grandmother was quieter and more herself1 she resolved1 if possible1 to enlist the co-operation of a godly minister of her acquaintance2 and having made it a matter of prayer1 the way was soon open for him to see her1 and the visit was made with the happiest results4 ,as the glorious ,gospel message was set before her1 in simple and earnest language1 she listened with rapt attention1 and drank in the blessed truth which was soon to become the power of ,god unto her salvation4 ,after this visit she was a little restless at times1 but as the truth entered her soul1 and she was enabled by precious faith to lay hold upon ,christ1 her fears all vanished1 and she gradually became more calm and peaceful4 ,she was led to see that peace was made for her by the blood of the cross1 and not by her works2 and1 being justified by faith1 she had peace with ,god1 through our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,she had now known and experienced the blessed change so long sought1 and which might have been set forth at her first awakening had a wise counsellor been at hand4 ,the change wrought in her soul was very real1 and acted so beneficially upon her mind that shortly afterwards she was able to return to her home and friends1 to tell what great things the ,lord had done unto her4 ,the remainder of her life was one of settled peace and joy1 fruitful in good works1 and abounding in thanksgiving and praise to ,god4 ,dear reader1 how is it with you8 ,have you experienced this great change8 ,remember1 nothing but reality will do for ,god and eternity4 ,neither education1 morality1 reformation1 nor religious profession1 can take the place of the new birth4 ,they that are in the flesh cannot please ,god4 ,there must be a new life and a new power communicated1 in which to love and serve ,god2 and this can only be by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,except a man be born again1 he cannot see the kingdom of ,god 7,john iii4 #c74--,selected4 ,,the ,,enemies ,,of ,,god ,,and ,,of ,,his ,,people ,,scattered4 ,as the anniversary of the defeat of the ,spanish ,armada is to be celebrated this year1 the following anecdote may not be uninteresting to our readers1 as showing a like providence in the case of ,new ,england ,christians4 ,dr4 ,wisner remarks that the destruction of the ,french armament1 under the ,duc ,d',auville1 should be remembered with gratitude and admiration by every inhabitant of ,america4 ,this fleet consisted of forty ships of war1 and was destined for the destruction of ,new ,england4 ,it sailed from ,chebucto1 in ,nova ,scotia1 for that purpose4 ,in the meantime the godly people1 apprized of their danger1 had appointed a season of fasting and prayer to be observed in all their churches4 ,while ,mr4 ,prince was officiating in ,old ,south ,church1 ,boston1 on the fast day1 and praying most fervently that the dreaded calamity might be averted1 a sudden gust of wind arose 7the day till then had bean perfectly calm7--so violent as to cause a loud clattering of the windows4 ,the pastor paused in his prayer1 and1 looking round upon the congregation with a countenance of hope1 he again commenced1 and1 with great ardour1 supplicated the ,almighty to cause that wind to frustrate the object of their enemies4 ,a tempest ensued1 in which the greater part of the ,french fleet was wrecked4 ,the ,duc ,d',auville1 the principal general1 and his second in command1 both committed suicide4 ,many died from disease1 and thousands found a watery grave4 ,a late ,president remarks--,i am bound1 as an inhabitant of ,new ,england1 to declare1 were there no other instance than the above to be found1 the blessings communicated on the occasion now referred to would furnish ample proof1 concerning answers to prayer1 to every sober and intelligent man4 ,a ,,hint ,,to ,,parents4 ,in writing upon the education of the young1 a thoughtful writer has made the following observations3-- ,the little triumphs and successes of the young mind should never be lightly passed over without a token of just and fitting praise from the lips of its parents4 ,the love of approbation is one of the strongest incentives to improvement and industry which the ,creator has implanted in the human mind4 ,in the child1 this feeling is very predominant2 and1 if disappointed of its justly-earned tribute1 will be checked1 and the child disheartened and mortified4 ,benjamin ,west relates that he owed his success in life to the fond kiss of delighted approval bestowed on him by his mother1 on his bringing her a rude production of his pencil when quite a little boy4 ',that kiss1' said the great artist1 'made me a painter4' ,praise1 then1 when merited1 should never be withheld4 ,it is the chief--indeed1 generally the only--recompense to which children look2 and it is a bitter and injudicious cruelty to deprive them of it4 ,the approval and the censure of its parents and teachers should1 in this sense1 be the guiding stars of a child's existence4 ,but care should be taken that neither should be bestowed carelessly or with partiality1 so as to induce vanity1 or1 on the other hand1 bitterness of feeling4 ,,bible ,,enigma4 ,an ,apostle employed as a messenger4 ,the son of ,zephaniah4 ,a disciple called the chamberlain of the city4 ,a place whence gold was brought to the temple4 ,an idol of ,damascus4 ,he who arrested a prophet that was put into a dungeon4 ,who said1 ,the ,lord is good1 a ,stronghold in the day of trouble1 c48 ,a disciple who dwelt at ,troas4 ,a sorcerer struck blind4 ,the name given to the sockets for fastening the stones in the ephod4 ,that without which it is impossible to please ,god4 ,the place where one was struck dead for touching the ark4 ,aaron's wife4 ,the ,syriac name for ,father4 ,the ,epistle where the words are--,ye are not your own1 c4 ,the place to which ,samson gave a name1 where he quenched his thirst after slaying the ,philistines4 ,total--one of the titles of ,christ1 used prophetically4 ,,low expense is the highway to fortune4 ,,the ,,sixth ,,annual ,,christmas ,,gathering ,,of ,,ebenezer ,,sunday ,,school1 ,,hastings4 ,year succeeds year and marks the flight of time1 and1 in its flight1 leaves the impress of many changes1 proving to every thoughtful mind that here we have no continuing city4 ,but1 amid the changes of life1 the ,lord encourages ,his people to wait upon ,him2 and none need to do so more than they who are engaged in the work of spreading ,his truth1 whether among old or young2 and when the spirit of prayer is kept alive in their midst1 they are not without testimony that the ,lord is with them4 ,these thoughts were in the minds of some who witnessed the assembling of the scholars of this school on ,december #bgth1 and they marvelled how any ,god-fearing man or woman can feel indifferent to the welfare of the young1 or look on unmoved as they assemble together4 ,to some of us these gatherings are as the solemn assembly4 ,we see an eager1 expectant throng1 seeking for that which shall please them--for the most part1 seemingly unconscious1 for the time at least1 that they have immortal souls that must live in eternal happiness or eternal misery1 and1 therefore1 without a knowledge of their state before ,god4 ,we see our own children1 and yearn over them in prayer before ,god1 and1 like ,ezra1 we would afflict ourselves before ,god to seek a right way for ourselves and our little ones4 ,the scholars assembled in the chapel1 as usual1 at half-past two1 when the proceedings were opened by a short address from our ,pastor and ,president1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hull4 ,many friends encouraged us by their presence1 though the severe weather considerably influenced their number4 ,as soon as a hymn had been sung1 ,mr4 ,hull read and expounded the first ,psalm1 showing the character of that man whom ,god had pronounced blessed4 ,he then earnestly besought the ,lord's blessing1 and followed it by a few words on the preciousness of truth4 ,the report was then read by the ,secretary1 ,mr4 ,ellis1 and again proved to be of a most interesting and encouraging character4 ,the steady increase that marked the earlier years of this school has been continuous1 the number on the register now being #bej1 showing an increase of sixteen during the year4 ,the average attendance has been #aec in the morning1 and #aid in the afternoon1 as compared with #ace and #afi in #ahhf4 ,the highest single attendance was #bbc4 ,two scholars have been lost by death1 and one teacher by removal4 ,we give an extract from the report1 as expressing the earnest feeling of those engaged in the work--,to record an increase in numbers is pleasing1 as showing outward success2 but the success we desire is1 that our scholars may be brought to a knowledge of the ,lord1 that ,god's truth may be established in their hearts1 and that many that meet with us now may bless the ,lord for the instrumentality of ,ebenezer ,sunday ,school4 ,the financial statement showed a balance in hand of ,l#e #afs4 #g;d4 ,this would be to ,december #ast1 the date to which the accounts are made up1 and1 therefore1 leaves the expenses of this day1 with the prizes1 to be met by the balance in hand1 which1 of course1 is quite inadequate4 ,but the executive feel sure that the same kind thoughtfulness that has put them beyond anxiety in the past will not be wanting in the future4 ,the expenses of the year have been ,l#cd #aas4 #d;d42 the income ,l#cb #ajs41 which1 added to the balance brought forward from last year1 makes ,l#dj #hs4 ,several addresses were next given1 and listened to with marked attention4 ,the ,superintendent1 ,mr4 ,j4 ,trimming1 spoke of his own feeling in the work1 and how earnestly he looked for the blessing of the ,lord2 the anxiety he felt for the young1 and the vast importance of putting a right value on the ,word of ,god4 ,mr4 ,r4 ,funnell1 who is in his seventy-eighth year1 was most enthusiastically received4 ,he is a pattern of diligence and earnestness in everything connected with the welfare of this school and ,church4 ,he very nicely used the illustration of ,elijah gathering the people on ,mount ,carmel1 as showing his thoughts on ,sunday ,school work4 ,though we may build altars1 yet1 if no living fire comes down from heaven1 no saving work will be accomplished4 ,mr4 ,poole enforced the importance of taking heed to both what we read and what we hear1 and to treasure up the ,word1 that it might be of profit4 ,mr4 ,ellis1 the ,secretary1 followed with a few affectionate and earnest words1 at the close of which1 ,mr4 ,hull proceeded to distribute the prizes--the most interesting event of the afternoon4 ,before distributing to the scholars1 ,mr4 ,hull called on three teachers1 namely1 ,miss ,p4 ,funnell1 ,miss ,m4 ,funnell1 and ,mr4 ,jesse ,vine1 to receive a present from their respective classes--a proceeding most heartily received by the whole school4 ,and now1 class after class filed past the ,president to receive the book prize awarded to them2 and though the list was long1 and the recipients many1 he had a kindly word for all4 ,mr4 ,hull does not spare himself on these occasions1 and by his pithy remarks and enforcement of precepts1 suggested by the proceedings1 contributes in no small degree to the success of the gathering4 ,tea was now announced1 the arrangements for which--both for scholars and friends--were excellent1 and most heartily did the assembly respond to the invitation4 ,at the close of the tea1 the scholars again took their places in the chapel1 and proceeded to carry out a plan wholly devised and arranged by the ,superintendent4 ,in introducing the subject1 ,mr4 ,trimming spoke of the importance of the study of the ,word of ,god--a study which he had reason to fear was sadly neglected2 and with a view to show the ,word of ,god as a harmonious whole1 and to bring into prominence the ,book of ,proverbs1 he had prepared a subject1 or a series of subjects1 which he called1 ,the ,crown of ,glory4 ,he read ,proverbs iv4 #g-i1 as the basis of his plan4 ,in a crown there are precious stones1 the precious stones in this crown being--first1 the fear of the ,lord2 secondly1 repentance2 thirdly1 seeking ,god2 fourthly1 shunning evil2 fifthly1 obedience to instruction2 sixthly1 waiting upon ,god2 seventhly1 acknowledging ,god's sovereignty2 eighthly1 truthfulness and honesty2 ninthly1 guards for the temper2 tenthly1 guards for the tongue2 eleventhly1 ,god's power over all hearts2 twelfthly1 true friendship4 ,to illustrate and bring out into bold relief each of these precious stones1 each class had prepared portions of ,scripture1 hymns1 or poems to recite as each subject was announced4 ,it must have repaid the ,superintendent for all the trouble he had taken1 and given the friends much pleasure to hear the manner in which the different classes acquitted themselves1 the ,young ,men's ,bible ,class especially4 ,throughout the entire proceedings1 hymns1 specially selected for the occasion1 were nicely sung by the scholars1 and contributed much to the heartiness of the gathering4 ,the school-room was decorated in the usual manner1 namely1 with garments destined for distribution among the deserving poor4 ,these garments have been made1 as in former years1 by the scholars and friends--in fact1 the ,school ,dorcas is now an established institution1 and shows what may be done by kind hearts and nimble fingers4 ,the meeting was brought to a close1 shortly before nine o'clock1 with the usual acknowledgments1 the singing of ,shall we meet beyond the river8 and prayer1 every one feeling that another pleasant and profitable meeting had been held4 ,c4 ,e4 ,,our ,,bible ,,class4 ,,psalm ,,xxxii4 ,with our ,bibles open before us1 dear young friends1 we will try to make a few comments on this portion of ,scripture4 ,but let us first turn to ,psalm li41 for there is the sad confession of sin which went before this joyful song of ,blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven4 ,this first verse is a shout of joy and gratitude4 ,oh1 the happiness--the indescribable happiness--of the forgiven sinner6 ,four words are used to describe wrong-doing and guilt3 transgression1 or trespass--a venturing on forbidden ground2 sin--a failing1 or falling short of goodness2 iniquity 7second verse71 wilfulness1 rebellion2 and guile--deceit and falsehood4 ,and here are four pictures of ,god's saving love4 ,forgive means forth give4 ,pardon flows forth freely and fully from the heart of ,god to all who truly confess their sins and entreat ,his mercy4 ,sin is covered1 for ,christ is the ,propitiation for ,his people's sins1 and these two words carry us back to the tabernacle's most holy place1 and bring to view the covering1 or lid1 of the ark1 the mercy-seat1 sprinkled with atoning blood and bright with the divine glory4 ,jesus has died1 and ,his blood cleanseth from all sin4 ,to ,him ,david looked1 and was saved1 and faith now looks back to ,his perfect ,sacrifice1 and rejoices in ,him alone4 ,then iniquity is not imputed to the pardoned one1 for it is ,god that justifieth4 ,impute or reckon reminds us of an account book1 with its columns of debt and credit entries4 ,god will not charge ,his children with iniquity1 for ,jesus paid their debts1 and ,christ's goodness and merits are reckoned in their favour1 and they shall receive all blessings for ,his sake4 ,and then these blessed ones are made as well as reckoned righteous4 ,in their spirit there is no guile4 ,they1 through ,god's ,spirit1 become honest and sincere4 ,oh1 how blessed are these forgiven ones6 ,then ,david1 for the sake of contrast1 presents another picture--his own attempts at covering his sin4 ,what clumsy1 miserable failures6 ,he tried to cover one stain by another blot1 and then threw the cloak of falsehood over all4 ,but the weary months passed on1 and brought him no relief from the unspeakable wretchedness that filled his heart and wore out his body by day and by night1 till ,nathan1 the prophet1 was sent by ,god to reprove him1 and then1 with a full heart1 ,david acknowledged all1 and received the free pardon of his ,heavenly ,father4 ,now1 ,david would be useful to others1 and warn sinners against the evil ways they are pursuing 7see ver4 #aj1 first clause71 and would encourage all who are seeking the ,lord to hope in ,his mercy1 who had been so merciful to him4 ,god had often been his ,hiding-place 7ver4 #g7 when he fled from ,saul into rocks and caves of the earth4 ,his sure defence was the ,lord ,himself4 ,he preserved him from death2 and now he had afresh experienced ,his loving-kindness4 ,and as we read this verse1 are we not reminded of the sweet lines-- ,rock of ,ages1 cleft for me1 ,let me hide myself in ,thee8 ,the ,lord ,himself is the great ,instructor and ,leader of ,his people1 and ,he guides them with ,his eye always upon them1 watching and protecting the objects of ,his care 7ver4 #h74 ,but ,david would tenderly exhort all who heard1 and still hear him1 to dread sin1 and be afraid of all wayward1 self-willed feelings4 ,be ye not as the horse1 or the mule1 that have no understanding of their owners' will sometimes1 but will1 if possible1 get their own way1 and need to be steered and restrained4 ,i have been like them1 ,david seems to say1 and ,i was allowed to take my own course2 and oh1 how fearfully ,i went astray6 ,be warned by my fall1 and learn1 with me1 to pray1 ',hold ,thou me up1 and ,i shall be safe4' ,many sorrows shall be to the wicked1 but they that trust in the ,lord1 though they are weak1 and foolish1 and imperfect1 shall be compassed about with mercy4 ,therefore1 be glad in the ,lord1 ye righteous3 and shout for joy1 all ye that are upright in heart1 for ,he is good and faithful1 and will preserve you2 ,he is gracious1 and will forgive2 ,he is holy and almighty1 and ,he will cleanse you from all unrighteousness1 and fill and crown you with ,his glory for ever4 ,may we be kept by the power and providence of ,god from falling into sin and evil1 but since we have sinned and come short of ,his glory--since we need pardon and cleansing--may we be led to pray1 with ,david1 ,wash me1 and ,i shall be whiter than snow4 ,create in me a clean heart1 ,o ,god1 and renew a right spirit within me4 ,like him1 may we know the joys of divine forgiveness1 and then be helped to show forth our ,saviour's praise1 not only by our words1 but in our lives1 by walking in the way of ,his commandments1 and cleaving to ,him with purpose of heart4 ,our next subject will be1 ,john xvii4 #bb4 ,your loving friend1 ,h4 ,s4 ,l4 ,,do those things that you judge to be good1 although1 after you have done them1 you may be disesteemed1 being regardless of the praise or blame of the vulgar4--,pythagoras4 ,,prize ,,essay4 ,,what ,,kind ,,of ,,service ,,is ,,most ,,acceptable ,,to ,,god8 ,god accepts that service which is prompted entirely out of love to ,him with greater pleasure than any other4 ,if we obey our parents and serve ,god only with a view of being praised by men1 ,he does not accept our service1 and we may be compared with the scribes and ,pharisees washing the outside of the platter and of the cup1 but leaving the inside unclean4 ,jesus says1 ,woe unto you1 scribes and ,pharisees1 hypocrites6 for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter1 but within they are full of extortion and excess 7,matt4 xxiii4 #be74 ,jesus means by this that the scribes and ,pharisees gave heed to all the outward ceremonies of religion1 and were1 to all appearance1 good and upright2 but they did not really love ,god in their hearts4 ,god looks upon the motive which prompts any little kindness to any one4 ,he does not look so much at the action4 ,he says1 even a cup of cold water1 if given for ,jesus' sake1 will be remembered and rewarded 7,matt4 x4 #db2 ,mark ix4 #da74 ,jesus says that even the widow who put her farthing into the treasury1 gave more than the scribes and ,pharisees1 who put in large sums of money4 ,he means by this that the widow put in all she had4 ,she must have had great love to ,god to give her last farthing for the use of ,god's house1 and the ,pharisees were really prompted to put in their large sums of money because of the praise of man4 ,in obeying our parents1 and in whatever we do1 we should do it as unto the ,lord4 ,paul says1 ,not with eye-service1 as men pleasers2 but as the servants of ,christ1 doing the will of ,god from the heart2 with good will doing service as to the ,lord1 and not to men 7,eph4 vi4 #f1 #g74 ,only a kindly action1 ,done to a child of ,god2 ,not done to cause attraction1 ,but as unto ,christ the ,lord4 ,when ,mary poured the precious box of ointment on ,jesus' head1 and anointed ,his feet1 and wiped them with her hair1 she did it out of love to ,him1 and ,jesus accepted her service2 and when some were angry at what they termed the woman's waste of ointment1 ,jesus reproved them1 and said1 ,she hath done what she could4 ,oh1 that we may have our sins forgiven through the blood of ,jesus1 and be enabled to serve ,him acceptably1 so that we may have the joy of hearing ,him say1 at the last day1 ,come1 thou blessed of ,my ,father1 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world 7,matt4 xxv4 #cd74 ,search me1 ,o ,god1 is my desire1 ,nor let me from ,thy ways depart2 ,to love and serve ,thee ,i aspire1 ,enriched with ,mary's better part4 ,,mabel ,,ellen ,,denly 7,aged #aa years74 #aig1 ,high ,street1 ,hounslow4 ,we have received several good ,essays this month1 especially those from ,e4 ,b4 ,knocker1 ,jane ,bell1 ,margaret ,creasey1 ,l4 ,rush1 and ,p4 ,rackham4 ,we hope all of them1 as well as the very young friend who wrote the above1 will feel encouraged to persevere4 ,the writer of the above ,essay receives a copy of ,,the ,,sower for #ahhg4 ,the subject for ,april will be1 ,who are they that will ,stand ,perfect in the ,day of ,judgment8 and the prize to be given for the best ,essay on that subject1 a copy of ,the ,life of ,john ,newton4 ,all competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age1 and that the ,essay is their own composition1 or the papers will be passed over1 as the ,editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information4 ,papers must be sent direct to the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings1 by the first of ,march4 ,,let ,,no ,,man ,,despise ,,thee4 ,does the injunction to ,timothy and ,titus respectively--,let no man less despise thy youth1 and ,let no man despise thee--give any sanction to self-assertiveness8 ,let it not be thought so4 ,am ,i eccentric for the sake of eccentricity1 or for the sake of attracting notoriety8 ,am ,i tenacious of my own rights1 while sublimely indifferent to the rights of others8 ,do ,i try to pass myself off for better1 wiser1 richer1 or nobler than ,i am8 ,then ,i deserve to be despised4 ,but if1 in the vindication of unpalatable truth1 or in the steadfast and unostentatious discharge of duty1 ,i encounter scorn1 be scorn my portion4 ,the sum of the matter seems to me to be this--,while1 on the one hand1 ,i must be willing1 for conscience' sake1 to endure reproach1 opposition1 buffeting1 and contempt1 ,i must be equally concerned1 on the other1 to avoid every questionable act or thing that1 with any show of reason1 may cause me to be despised1 and may thus materially mar my influence for good4 ,herein does the poet of the ,night ,thoughts hit the mark--,revere thyself1 and yet thyself despise4 ,let self be of no reputation1 but1 at the same time1 do thou faithfully and prayerfully pursue intrinsic worth1 and let not a good name be of no account in thy regard4 ,,thomson ,,sharp4 ,,egotism and self-assertion are unamiable traits4 ,interesting ,items4 ,a ,,correspondent of the ,echo calls attention to the fact that1 at ,dr4 ,lee's church1 in the ,new ,cut1 on ,sunday night1 ,january #ast1 the ,te ,deum was sung in thanksgiving for the ,papal ,jubilee1 and wishes to know what is to prevent it4 ,nothing1 replies the editor4 ,,according to the ,charity ,record1 the amount of money bequeathed in great sums for charitable purposes during the year just closed was more than ,l#gjj1jjj2 and if bequests under ,l#a1jjj be added1 the total would at least reach ,l#a1jjj1jjj4 ,this is exclusive of the money given to several religious and book-publishing societies4 ,a ,,thieving ,,elephant4--,the contents of a clothes-chest1 belonging to one of the people recently employed in the carnival in the ,waverley ,market1 ,edinburgh1 disappeared in a rather amusing fashion4 ,the chest had been lying near the performing elephants1 and in the morning it was observed that one of these animals was particularly lively1 and apparently in the very highest spirits4 ,later on1 the owner of the chest discovered that the whole of the contents had been abstracted4 ,subsequent examination satisfied the searchers that one of the animals was responsible for the disappearance of the wardrobe1 and as none of the articles could be discovered hidden away in its vicinity1 the only conclusion that could be come to was1 that the mischievous animal had swallowed the whole lot--boots1 brushes1 trousers1 shirts1 and several other articles of wearing apparel4 ,,the ,,baku ,,naphtha ,,springs4--,although within the last two years intelligence has frequently reached ,europe of extraordinary outbursts of mineral oil on the ,apsheron peninsula1 near ,baku1 nothing has yet equalled the astonishing outbreak which the ,northern ,telegraph ,agency telegraphed a few days ago4 ,their telegram was to the effect that1 near the petroleum works of a certain ,m4 ,arafeloff1 a fountain of oil was throwing out over #b1djj tons daily1 that this had been continuing without intermission for four weeks1 and that more than the half of this enormous output was going to waste4 ,it is to this loss of the oil that attention is now being directed4 ,not only at ,arafeloff's fountain1 but at almost every large fountain in the ,balakhan-,sabuntchin district1 the waste of this most valuable product has been enormous4 ,millions of poods of oil have been lost owing to the inefficient way in which it is reservoired and stored4 ,it is now understood that the ,government will take immediate steps to prevent this ruinous waste1 and to compel the owners of oil-springs to adopt more scientific methods of boring1 collecting1 and storing4 ,,an ,,irish ,,cabin ,,paved ,,with ,,gold4--,the ,irish ,ecclesiastical ,gazette of ,december #cast contains the following3--,a few weeks ago1 the writer was in a bank office in a country town in the south of ,ireland1 when a very common-looking1 roughly-dressed man passed out after a conference with the manager4 ,the latter said1 ',did you see that man8 ,well1 some time ago1 there was a run on the ,bank of ,ireland here1 and he withdrew 7receiving it in gold7 ,l#gjj which he had there on deposit4 ,that sum he informs me he still has at home1 under the kitchen flure4 ,he has also more than ,l#djj on deposit here with us4' ,is it not hard to know 'what is truth' in ,ireland8 ,here you have the floor of an ,irish cabin literally paved with gold at a time when the payment of rent is impossible4 ,it may be said that this is an exceptional case1 but we believe such cases are not at all so rare as some suppose4 ,,the ,roman correspondent of ,le ,paris of ,january #eth states that1 at ,florence1 ,mr4 ,gladstone was heard to express a desire to see ,leo ,,xiii4 ,this being repeated at the ,vatican1 the ,pope sent word to ,mr4 ,gladstone that nothing would delight him more than to have a visit from him4 ,it is therefore arranged1 says the correspondent of the ,paris1 that he is to go to ,rome1 and when he calls at the ,vatican1 is to be received according to the ceremonial adopted there when non-,catholic visitors are admitted to audiences4 ,the correspondent thinks that anxiety about the ,irish question moved ,mr4 ,gladstone to manifest the desire above mentioned1 and that the ,pope's celerity in reciprocating it sprung from the same cause4 ,the ,pope has been urged to stand out against the ,land ,league2 but1 feeling what a momentous thing it would be to do this1 he is1 we are told1 delighted to talk over the matter with ,mr4 ,gladstone4 ,thus we see ,salisbury and ,co4 and ,gladstone and ,co4 are in perfect agreement as to giving their power to the ,pope4 ,it is only a keen competition between them as to which shall be first1 and do it most effectually4 ,since ,salisbury and ,co4 have encouraged the ,queen to despise her coronation oath1 we need no longer wonder that they are so quiet about ,mr4 ,bradlaugh4 ,perhaps ,lord ,r4 ,churchill's expressions on the subject were anticipatory of the whole matter4 ,we find that neither party is worthy of being entrusted with our ,protestant interests4 ,,nine hundred thousand dog licenses were issued for the past year4 ,the duty amounted to ,l#cdj1jjj4 ,,christmas ,,at ,,the ,,london ,,post ,,office4--,from statistics it would seem that never before have the ,post ,office officials had their energies so severely taxed as on ,christmas ,eve last1 during which day no fewer than #ae1jjj1jjj letters and newspapers were forwarded to their destination4 ,in all some #c1jjj supernumerary men were engaged1 these being in addition to the regular staff4 ,at ,coldbath ,fields1 where the ,parcel ,post is now conducted1 some #fe1jjj inland and #e1jjj foreign parcels were disposed of during the day1 for the conveyance of which to the various railway termini more than #hjj vans were brought into requisition4 ,,an ,,atlantic ,,wave4--,an immense wave recently fell upon the steamship ,umbria with a deafening roar when a thousand miles from ,queenstown1 bringing the ship to a standstill1 and causing much damage to the decks4 ,stout brass rods1 an inch in diameter1 that formed the railing about the bridge1 were twisted and bent like straws4 ,an eye-witness1 who has made thirteen ocean voyages1 thus describes the occurrence3--,the look-out saw the wave coming1 and the course of the vessel was altered so that she met it obliquely1 while the speed of the engines was slackened4 ,as ,i saw the huge wave1 it looked like a black mass of water with white waves on the top1 and it rolled higher and higher as it neared the vessel4 ,when it struck her she shivered from stem to stern1 and the combing of the wave fell with the weight of tons on the deck4 ,the wood cover of the forward hatch was splintered in pieces1 while the water poured in torrents into the hold1 but the bulkheads were closed4 ,the bridge was broken1 and the iron stanchions were twisted with enormous force1 while the turtle-back was flattened by the tremendous weight of the water4 ,there was also a panic among the passengers1 most of whom were sleeping in their berths4 ,when the force of the wave was felt1 they thought the ship was going to the bottom1 and many in their night-clothes rushed into the main dining-room4 ,of course the danger was past1 as the wave rolled by1 and the excitement subsided4 ,,zion ,,sunday ,,school1 ,,herden ,,bridge1 ,,yorkshire4--,the friends1 teachers1 and scholars connected with the above place celebrated their annual ,christmas tea festival on ,christmas ,eve1 ,december #bdth1 #ahhg4 ,the school-room was very tastefully decorated with evergreens and mottoes in touch with the season2 also the tables1 so richly laden with all sorts of nice and dainty things1 had not escaped the eye of the decorators1 for at intervals luxuriant exotics were placed1 thereby contributing a very pleasing appearance4 ,the children's features were lightened up with the thought of their happy treat2 also the older people seemed to wear pleasant countenances1 and apparently enjoyed the time1 notwithstanding their thoughts were in a much loftier strain4 ,the tea was served by the young ladies of the place to about one hundred and forty4 ,after tea1 a public meeting was held in the chapel1 presided over by ,mr4 ,john ,smith1 of ,halifax4 ,the meeting was opened by singing a ,christmas hymn1 after which ,mr4 ,t4 ,barritt1 senior deacon1 offered prayer4 ,mr4 ,e4 ,hargreaves presented the prizes to the scholars for good attendance4 ,addresses were also delivered by ,messrs4 ,t4 ,smith1 ,jos4 ,smith1 and ,t4 ,barritt4 ,hymns were sung4 ,the report was read by the ,secretary1 which showed an increase of eight during the year1 the present number on the books being eighty-two4 ,recitations were given by the scholars1 and a very good meeting was brought to a close a little after nine o'clock4 ,,albert ,,street ,,chapel ,,sunday ,,school1 ,,oxford4--,the prizes were distributed to the scholars on ,tuesday1 ,december #bgth1 #ahhg4 ,the meeting was opened by singing1 ,i thank the goodness and the grace2 this was followed by prayer4 ,owing to the indisposition of ,mr4 ,newton1 the friends1 teachers1 and scholars were greatly disappointed in not having the usual address they look forward to every year from the ,superintendent4 ,there were twenty-eight boys and girls who said pieces1 and they1 one and all1 deserve great commendation for the capital way in which they recited4 ,one girl1 aged twelve1 rehearsed the story of ,giving ,away a ,child1 in prose1 from ,volume ,,ix4 of the ,,little ,,gleaner4 ,another scholar1 aged twelve1 repeated in a very perfect manner a lengthy piece containing seventy-nine verses1 entitled ,the ,little ,pilgrim4 ,this too was taken from an early volume of the ,,little ,,gleaner4 ,a boy1 aged eleven1 rehearsed very nicely a difficult piece called ,the ,two ,brothers1 and what ,echo said to them1 and he imitated the echo capitally4 ,then followed1 perhaps1 the greatest attraction of the evening1 namely1 the distribution of the prizes4 ,the first prize in the boys' class was awarded to ,william ,tombs1 and in the girls' class to ,elizabeth ,leech4 ,as usual1 a prize was given for the best essay--the subject1 ,the ,history of ,joseph4 ,this prize was awarded to a boy1 who received a nicely-bound book1 entitled ,pebbles from the ,brook4 ,the meeting was closed with prayer4 ,m4 ,s4 ,p4 ,illustration3 ,,caring ,,for ,,the ,,little ,,ones ,,caring ,,for ,,the ,,little ,,ones4 ,the faithful guardians of our cities have many and varied duties to perform1 but perhaps in none of them does the kindness of their hearts shine forth as it does in their tenderness to little ones who have lost themselves in the winding streets of a great city4 ,in wet or wintry weather they treat them tenderly1 and take them home1 or to the warm fire at the nearest station1 till their parents claim them4 ,this incident may well call to mind the kindness of ,jesus to the little ones when on earth1 as we read--,and they brought young children to ,him1 that ,he should touch them3 and ,his disciples rebuked those that brought them4 ,but when ,jesus saw it1 ,he was much displeased1 and said unto them1 ,suffer the little children to come unto ,me1 and forbid them not3 for of such is the kingdom of ,god4 ,and ,he took them up in ,his arms1 put ,his hands upon them1 and blessed them 7,mark x4 #ac1 #ad1 #af74 ,the mothers came1 in days of old1 ,to ,jesus1 that ,he might enfold ,within ,his arms their children dear1 ,and then ,his kindness did appear4 ,disciples thought it waste of time2 ,rebuked1 as though it was a crime2 ,but it was ne'er the ,saviour's way ,to turn poor coming ones away4 ,therefore the ,lord was much displeased1 ,and thus the happy moment seized2 ,them in ,his arms did take and bear1 ,showing ,his love and kindly care4 ,his loving voice could never say-- ,oh1 take these little ones away6 ,and though the parents' hearts might fear1 ,he loved to see them coming near4 ,his blessed words1 ,forbid them not1 ,are with much heavenly comfort fraught2 ,and ,suffer them to come to ,me1 ,gives forth a welcome kind and free4 ,in ,him sweet rays of mercy shine-- ,so tender1 harmless1 yet divine2 ,upon them ,he ,his hands doth place1 ,and blesses them in truth and grace4 ,displeased with what ,his servants did1 ,and having their unkindness chid1 ,he makes ,his pleasure shine so bright1 ,causing the mothers much delight4 ,oh1 tell it out1 to heal the smart ,of many an anxious parent's heart-- ,he hears the sigh1 ,he sees the tear1 ,and each poor pleader welcomes near4 ,oh1 tell it out1 that children dear ,may seek ,his face1 and never fear1 ,that ,he will hear their feeble prayer1 ,and give them in ,his love to share4 ,he speaks of heaven and glorious things1 ,and is so meek1 though ,king of kings2 ,of children says1 to cheer and please1 ,the kingdom is of such as these4 ,oh1 eyes that saw with kindly look6 ,oh1 arms that thus the children took6 ,oh1 hands1 parental-like1 thus laid6 ,oh1 words to bless1 what grace displayed6 ,lord1 fix our youthful eyes on ,thee2 ,grant us ,thy love and grace to see2 ,cause us to love ,thy blessed name1 ,and tune our tongues to speak ,thy fame4 ,the proud1 the lofty1 all defiled1 ,must be made as a little child2 ,must all their sins and vileness own1 ,and seek for mercy at ,thy throne4#a #a ,throne of grace4 ,oh1 ,saviour1 may ,thy love so free ,encourage souls to come to ,thee2 ,and may they1 finding all they need1 ,confess that they are blest indeed4 ,b4 ,b4 ,,the biggest lies are told for the least cause4 ,a ,,budding ,,of ,,hope4 ,dear young readers of the ,,little ,,gleaner1 how very true and solemn are the words of the poet-- ,the moment when our lives begin ,we all begin to die4 ,and at what age death may take us none of us can say4 ,from among the large number who read the ,,gleaner1 we every now and again hear of one being taken away by death4 ,lizzie ,winchester1 of ,cross-in-,hand1 was a constant reader of the ,,gleaner1 and of other good books1 but not to the neglecting of her ,bible4 ,she was a scholar in the ,sunday ,school at ,ebenezer ,chapel1 ,heathfield1 where she was always very quiet and attentive1 and she was also very fond of her teacher4 ,when she left school1 she regularly attended chapel with her sisters1 sitting where she could see the school children1 and would complain when she got home if she saw any that did not behave themselves properly4 ,she had a great reverence for the house of ,god and for the servants of ,god4 ,she had but few companions1 but was much beloved for her little acts of kindness in sending to one and another small presents4 ,some little time before her death she sent ,the ,sack and its ,treasure to a young friend at ,eastbourne1 as a birthday present2 and who can say how much real good may result from such little gifts as that8 ,i should not think that any one could point out a flaw in her moral character4 ,but this was not grace2 and although she needed no outward reformation1 yet if the heart be not changed1 there can be no entering into the kingdom of ,god4 ,the last time that she walked to chapel1 a distance of three miles--making six miles both ways--was on ,august #bast4 ,it was not then known that anything was the matter with her4 ,first her throat was sore1 and she felt poorly1 but she still kept about4 ,on ,wednesday1 ,september #adth1 she was out1 and gathered half a gallon of blackberries4 ,she was up on ,thursday and ,friday1 and put her clothes on on ,saturday1 but could not get down stairs4 ,towards night she was much worse1 and it was found that her affliction was diabetes4 ,on ,sunday she was very ill1 and the doctor said she could not last long4 ,her ,sunday ,school teacher1 ,miss ,c----1 was sent for1 and when she arrived1 she saw that ,lizzie was sinking fast1 and found that she could say but little4 ,i am not going to set her up1 and positively say she was a partaker of grace1 for the very few words she uttered are not of themselves sufficient evidence for that4 ,about five o'clock1 during her mother's absence1 she said1 in a very low tone of voice1 ,i hope ,jesus will heal my soul1 or1 ,perhaps ,jesus will heal my soul4 ,miss ,c---- could not distinguish the words so as to be sure which4 ,early on ,monday morning1 the #aith of ,september1 #ahhg1 she died4 ,had she lived till the #bfth1 she would have been eighteen years of age4 ,just as she departed there was a beautiful smile came over her countenance2 and as ,miss ,c---- afterwards went with several friends to see the corpse1 these words came into her mind as if some one had spoken them to her-- ,not a wave of trouble rolls ,across her peaceful breast4 ,mr4 ,mockford buried her on the following ,saturday2 and1 among other things1 he spoke from these words--,if the tree fall toward the south1 or toward the north1 in the place where the tree falleth there it shall be4 ,he spoke of the departed as being toward the south--toward the house of ,god1 the people of ,god1 and the ways and ,word of ,god2 and as she was so far joined to the living1 there was hope that she would be found among that people at the resurrection morning4 ,on ,sunday morning in the school1 one of the teachers read that chapter where the same words stand1 and1 though not at the funeral1 some very similar remarks were made1 and the same hope concerning the departed was expressed4 ,i am sure of this--that1 if she had that good thing in her heart toward the ,lord ,god of ,israel1 namely1 faith toward ,jesus and ,his blood1 she is now joining ,the host of virgin saints ,made to salvation wise4 ,the question may arise1 ,why say anything about her1 since there is no more ground for hope than this8 ,it is to the living ,i want to say a few words1 hoping the ,lord will make use of this feeble account to lead the young readers of the ,,little ,,gleaner to consider how matters stand with them before ,god and for eternity4 ,reflect1 young friend1 ,i humbly crave1 ,thy sins1 how high they mount6 ,what are thy hopes beyond the grave8 ,how stands that dark account8 ,oh1 how solemn your case1 if you are in an unpardoned state6 ,death may come upon you speedily1 and then what will you do8 ,all who die without repentance and forgiveness must hear that solemn word from the lips of ,christ1 ,depart from ,me6 ,are you blessed with a good hope1 through grace8 ,then you certainly have something to be thankful to ,god for4 ,or are you in some doubt as to whether you have a living hope in ,christ8 ,and do you fear that1 if called to die1 you could say no more than ,lizzie ,winchester did8 ,then my prayer for such an one is1 that the ,lord may stir you up to real1 earnest1 wrestling prayer and importunity respecting your salvation4 ,if hellish foes beset thee round1 ,and would thy way withstand1 ,on ,jesus call1 nor yield thy ground1 ,and ,he will help command4 ,it is no small mercy1 reader1 if your moral character will compare with ,lizzie ,winchester's4 ,she was a model in this respect1 and ,i hope you may be found in every way as consistent as she was1 and1 above all1 may you be found in ,christ ,jesus1 living and dying4 ,i had thought of saying more1 but1 as ,i wish to be brief1 ,i will conclude by telling you that1 notwithstanding her reservedness1 several friends1 with myself1 had a good hope of ,lizzie4 ,we do trust she is now completely blest2 ,has done with sin1 and care1 and woe1 ,and entered ,jesus' rest4 ,w4 ,l4 ,we hope our readers will bear in mind the motive our friend has in writing1 and we in giving1 this brief account of ,lizzie ,winchester2 and may the ,holy ,spirit cause the reading of it to make them feel the importance of the new birth1 and stir them up to seek clear and certain evidences of their salvation1 so that1 when they come to die1 they may be able to confess1 ,i know whom ,i have believed1 and am persuaded that ,he is able to keep that which ,i have committed unto ,him4--,,ed4 ,,bible ,,subjects ,,for ,,each ,,sunday ,,in ,,march4 ,mar4 #d4 ,commit to memory ,heb4 xi4 #bc4 ,mar4 #aa4 ,commit to memory ,heb4 xi4 #bd4 ,mar4 #ah4 ,commit to memory ,heb4 xi4 #be4 ,mar4 #be4 ,commit to memory ,heb4 xi4 #bf4 ,,the first character of right childhood is1 that it is modest4 ,,there ,,is ,,no ,,rest ,,in ,,hell6 ,,an ,,authentic ,,narrative4 ,dear ,reader1--,the following account being an authenticated fact1 it is put before you with the hope that you may be thereby led to solemnly consider the subject of a future state4 ,god's truth does not require fiction to make it effectual2 therefore1 the net of truth should only be weighted with words of truth4 ,the awful1 but true1 narrative now put before you takes us back for something like a century1 to the city of ,glasgow1 where1 at that time1 was a club of gentlemen of the first rank in that city4 ,they met professedly for card-playing2 but the members were distinguished by such a fearless excess of profligacy as to obtain for it the name of ,the ,hell ,club4 ,besides their nightly or weekly meetings1 they held a grand annual festival1 at which each member endeavoured to outdo all his former outdoings in drunkenness1 blasphemy1 and licentiousness4 ,of all who shone on these occasions1 none shone half so brilliantly as ,archibald ,boyle4 ,educated by a fond and foolishly indulgent mother1 he was early allowed to meet in society with members of ,the ,hell ,club4 ,one night1 on retiring to sleep1 after returning from one of the annual meetings of the club1 ,boyle dreamt that he was still riding1 as usual1 upon his famous black horse1 towards his own house--then a country seat embowered by ancient trees1 and situated upon a hill now built over by the most fashionable part of ,glasgow--and that he was suddenly accosted by some one1 whose personal appearance he could not1 in the gloom of night1 distinctly discern1 but who1 seizing the reins1 said1 in a voice apparently accustomed to command1 ,you must go with me4 ,and who are you8 exclaimed ,boyle1 with a volley of blasphemous execrations1 while he struggled to disengage his reins from the intruder's grasp4 ,that you will see by-and-bye1 replied the same voice1 in a cold1 sneering tone1 that thrilled through his very heart4 ,boyle plunged his spurs into the panting sides of his steed4 ,the noble animal reared1 and then darted forward with a speed which nearly deprived his rider of breath4 ,but in vain--in vain6 ,fleeter than the wind he flew1 the mysterious1 half-seen guide still in front of him6 ,agonized by he knew not what of indescribable horror and awe1 ,boyle again furiously spurred the gallant horse4 ,it fiercely reared and plunged4 ,he lost his seat1 and expected at the moment to feel himself dashed to the earth4 ,but not so1 for he continued to fall--fall--fall--it appeared to himself with an ever-increasing velocity4 ,at length this terrific rapidity of motion abated1 and1 to his amazement and horror1 he perceived that this mysterious attendant was close by his side4 ,where1 he exclaimed1 in the frantic energy of despair1 where are you taking me8 ,where am ,i8 ,where am ,i going8 ,to hell6 replied the same iron voice1 and from the depths below the sound so familiar to his lips was suddenly re-echoed--,to hell6 ,onward1 onward they hurried in darkness1 rendered more horrible still by the conscious presence of his spectral conductor4 ,at length a glimmering light appeared in the distance1 and soon increased to a blaze4 ,but1 as they approached it1 in addition to the hideously discordant groans and yells of agony and despair1 his ears were assailed with what seemed to be the echoes of frantic revelry4 ,boyle at length perceived that he was surrounded by those whom he had known on earth1 but were some time dead1 each one of them betraying his agony at the bitter recollections of the vain pursuits that had engrossed his time here4 ,suddenly observing that his unearthly conductor had disappeared1 he felt so relieved by his absence that he ventured to address his former friend1 ,mrs4 ,d----1 whom he saw sitting with eyes fixed in intense earnestness1 as she was wont on earth1 apparently absorbed at her favourite game of loo4 ,ha6 ,mrs4 ,d----6 ,delighted to see you6 ,d'ye know a fellow told me to-night he was bringing me to hell6 ,ha6 ha6 ,if this be hell1 said he1 scoffingly1 what a ---- pleasant place it must be6 ,ha6 ha6 ,come now1 my good ,mrs4 ,d----1 for auld lang syne1 do just stop for a moment1 rest1 and--show me through the pleasures of hell1 he was going1 with reckless profanity1 to add2 but1 with a shriek that seemed to cleave through his very soul1 she exclaimed1 ,rest6 ,there is no rest in hell6 and from the interminable vaults1 voices1 as loud as thunder1 repeated the awful1 the heart-withering sound1 ,there is no rest in hell6 and he who1 in his vision1 walked among them in a mortal frame of flesh and blood1 felt how inexpressibly more horrible such sounds could be than ever was the wildest shriek of agony on earth4 ,he saw ,maxwell1 the former companion of his own boyish profligacy1 and said1 ,stop1 ,harry6 stop6 ,speak to me6 ,oh1 rest one moment6 ,scarce had the words been breathed from his faltering lips1 when again his terror-stricken ear was stunned with the same wild yell of agony1 re-echoed by ten thousand thousand voices--,there is no rest in hell6 ,all at once he perceived that his unearthly conductor was once more by his side4 ,take me1 shrieked ,boyle1 take me from this place6 ,by the living ,god1 whose name ,i have so often outraged1 ,i adjure thee6 ,take me from this place6 ,canst thou still name ,his name8 said the fiend1 with a hideous sneer4 ,go1 then2 but1 in a year and a day1 we meet1 to part no more6 ,boyle awoke2 and he felt as if the last words of the fiend were traced in letters of living fire upon his heart and brain4 ,unable1 from actual bodily ailment1 to leave his bed for several days1 the horrid vision had full time to take effect upon his mind2 and many were the pangs of tardy remorse and ill-defined terror that beset his vice-stained soul1 as he lay in darkness and seclusion--to him so very unusual4 ,he resolved1 utterly and for ever1 to forsake ,the ,hell ,club4 ,above all1 he determined that nothing on earth should tempt him to join the next annual festival4 ,the companions of his licentiousness bound themselves by an oath never to desist till they had discovered what was the matter with him1 and had cured him of playing the ,methodist2 for their alarm as to losing the life of the ,club had been wrought up to the highest pitch by one of their number declaring that1 on unexpectedly entering ,boyle's room1 he detected him in the act of hastily hiding a ,book1 which he actually believed was the ,bible4 ,alas6 alas6 poor ,boyle6 ,like many a youth1 he was ashamed to avow his convictions1 and his endless ruin followed4 ,from the annual meeting he shrank with an instinctive horror1 and made up his mind utterly to avoid it4 ,well aware of this resolve1 his tempters determined he should have no choice4 ,how potent1 how active1 is the spirit of evil6 ,how feeble is unassisted1 ,christless1 unprayerful man6 ,boyle found himself1 he could not tell how1 seated at that table on that very day1 where he had sworn to himself a thousand and a thousand times nothing on earth should make him sit4 ,his ears tingled1 and his eyes swam1 as he listened to the opening sentence of the president's address--,gentlemen1 this is leap year2 therefore1 it is a year and a day since our last annual meeting4 ,every nerve in ,boyle's body twanged in agony at the ominous1 the well-remembered words4 ,his first impulse was to rise and fly2 but then--the sneers6 the sneers6 ,how many in this world1 as well as poor ,boyle1 have dreaded a sneer1 and dared the wrath of an almighty and eternal ,god1 rather than encounter the sarcastic curl of a fellow-creature's lip6 ,the night was gloomy1 with frequent and fitful gusts of chill and howling wind1 as ,boyle1 with fevered nerves and a reeling brain1 mounted his horse to return home4 ,the following morning1 the well-known black steed was found1 with saddle and bridle on1 quietly grazing on the road-side1 about half-way to ,boyle's country-house1 and a few yards from it lay the stiffened corpse of its master4 ,reader1 the dream is horrible--truly horrible--yet not half so horrible as the reality4 ,ah6 no4 ,no dream can picture the full1 long misery of the worm that dieth not1 the fire that is never quenched1 the woe that never ends4 ,oh1 reader1 if1 under the poison of infidelity1 you have been led to doubt the existence of hell1 ,i pray ,god you may believe the awful reality ere you are in it6 ,if ,god did not punish sin1 ,his indifference to it would encourage it4 ,if ,god did not punish sin1 where were ,his holy abhorrence of it8 ,if ,god did not punish sin1 ,his kingdom would be a moral chaos4 ,but ,his ,word declares that we must all appear before the judgment-seat of ,christ1 that every one may receive the things done in his body1 according to that he hath done1 whether it be good or bad 7#b ,cor4 v4 #aj74 ,reader1 as in the days of ,noah1 so now4 ,death threatens all who are out of ,christ1 and1 therefore1 in their sins4 ,there was then only one place of safety2 there is only one place of safety now--that is1 in the ,ark1 ,christ4 ,,ye ,,must ,,be ,,born ,,again4 ,the horror you have felt in reading this dream will be no benefit to you if it is not made1 in the hands of the ,spirit1 the means of your flying to ,christ for refuge4 ,oh1 that in some hearts1 the reading of this sad narrative may prove the means of producing the earnest cry1 ,deliver me from going down to the pit6 and ,what must ,i do to be saved8 ,to such ,god's free invitation to the heavy-laden sinner to come to ,christ for rest is given1 and ,jesus ,himself declares1 ,him that cometh to ,me1 ,i will in no wise cast out 7,john vi4 #cg74 ,,the ,,scotch ,,thistle4 ,why the ,scots chose the thistle for a national insignia is told in this legend4 ,it was at the time of an invasion1 when the destinies of ,scotland hung upon the result of a battle soon to come4 ,the invaders knew that the ,scots were desperate1 and availed themselves of a dark1 stormy night1 and planned to fall upon the ,scottish army on every side at the same moment4 ,had they been suffered to execute their plan undetected1 they would certainly have succeeded in destroying the ,scots2 but a simple accident betrayed them4 ,when near the ,scottish camp1 the foremost of the invaders removed the heavy shoes from their feet1 so that their steps might not be heard1 and thus stealthily advancing barefooted1 a heavy1 quick-tempered soldier trod squarely upon a huge thistle1 the sharp point of which gave such sudden and exquisite pain that he cried out with a bitter curse4 ,his cry aroused the outlying ,scots1 and apprized them of their danger1 and meeting the foe widely divided for the purpose of encompassing the camp1 they were enabled easily to overcome them with great slaughter4 ,when the ,scots discovered that it was to a thistle that they owed their victory1 they adopted the prickly plant as their national emblem4 ,,cousin ,,susan',s ,,note-,,book ,,jottings ,,on ,,the ,,life ,,and ,,work ,,of ,,father ,,chiniquy4 ,,beloved1 ,,believe ,,not ,,every ,,spirit4 ,we have often wondered why any one should believe that a bit of consecrated bread was the true body and soul of the ,lord ,jesus1 and that1 as such1 it should be reverenced and adored4 ,but our surprise abates1 though our sorrow increases1 when we trace the steps by which a ,roman ,catholic reaches that point of folly and superstition1 as the interesting narrative of ,father ,chiniquy brings them to our view4 ,when he was eleven or twelve years old1 he met with a class of lads about the same age1 to be prepared for his first communion2 and there he was taught that1 just as his mother punished him more seldom and less severely than his father for his faults1 and just as his mother often interceded for him and saved him from punishment altogether1 so ,mary was more pitiful1 more tender1 than ,jesus1 and when ,he was righteously angry1 ,his mother--the mother of all who pray to her--turned away ,his anger1 and averted the strokes ,he was about to inflict on the sinner4 ,the thought of this ,christ--terrible1 angry1 unapproachable--was dark and chilling in the extreme4 ,he seemed a ,being to be feared1 but not beloved4 ,and then the false ,church presented another ,christ to view--a god made with hands1 not of wood or stone1 but of wheaten flour4 ,the priest's servant girl or attendant takes the dough1 bakes it between two heated irons1 on which are graven the letters1 ,i4 ,h4 ,s41 and the figure of a cross4 ,these wafers1 about four or five inches large1 when well baked1 are cut with a pair of scissors into smaller ones1 about one inch in size1 and then the priest1 taking them to the altar1 and pronouncing ,latin words for ,this is ,my body1 is supposed to turn each of these into the ,christ who lived and loved and suffered here1 a gentle1 tender1 loving ,saviour2 and the poor deluded creatures who tremble before ,christ in heaven1 bow down and adore1 when they do not eat1 the paltry wafer which the priest has blessed4 ,chiniquy himself passed whole hours1 in biting wintry weather1 in a church never warmed by a fire1 worshipping this wafer god4 ,he was yearning for divine sympathy and love1 and hoped he had it then4 ,and yet1 though he tried to believe a lie so earnestly1 his faith was often shaken by what he saw and heard4 ,in a company of priests1 a strange story was told of a drunken curate and his deacon1 who1 called to go a long journey in snowy weather1 to carry the sacred wafer to a sick person1 had a dispute with a traveller as to which should lead his horses into the deep snow1 the cleared path being too narrow for the vehicles to pass each other4 ,a terrible fight took place4 ,the priest's horses took fright and returned home1 breaking the sleigh all to pieces1 and the little silk bag containing their god was lost in the snow4 ,it was carefully sought in vain1 and not till the month of ,june was it found1 and then the wafer inside the little silver box had melted away6 ,and the priests laughed boisterously when they heard it4 ,did they believe what they taught the people8 ,at another time1 a blind priest had been adoring the bit of bread he had just consecrated1 but when he went to eat it1 it was gone4 ,in alarm1 he sent for ,chiniquy1 who was hearing confessions not far away1 and as it could nowhere be found1 he knew that a rat had taken it1 for the rats were both numerous and bold in that place4 ,the old priest was inconsolable1 though he blessed another piece and then concluded his devotions4 ,but his lamentations were so deep and long that ,chiniquy at last lost patience1 and said a word or two which greatly shocked the superstitious priest1 who severely rebuked him1 and ordered him for a penance to kneel every day before the fourteen images representing the way of the cross1 and say a penitential psalm before each for nine days1 and on no account to tell the story of the rat to any one4 ,he complied with these requests1 and received a very gracious absolution4 ,but on the sixth day he pierced the skin of his knees while kneeling1 and the blood flowed freely1 causing him great pain whenever he knelt or walked1 and all because he for a moment had doubted the right of ,rome to call that a god which a priest could professedly create and a rat destroy6 ,alas6 for those who follow such pernicious teachings6 ,let us pity and pray for them1 and more than ever cleave to that ,gospel which tells us that there is only one name given under heaven by which we must be saved--one ,mediator between ,god and men1 the ,man ,christ ,jesus1 who lives in glory1 no more to suffer or die1 but who is ,jesus of ,nazareth 7,acts xxii4 #h71 still tender and loving as when ,he dwelt below1 while ,he is eternally mighty to save to the uttermost all that come unto ,god by ,him4 ,oh1 that all our hope and confidence may rest on ,him--entirely on ,him alone6 ,,the ,,dirge ,,of ,,an ,,englishwoman4 ,and ought the ,queen of ,england's land ,a gift to send by ,norfolk's hand ,to the old ,pope of ,rome1 ,his ,jubilee to celebrate1 ,with ,popish pomp1 in grandest state1 ,in his ,italian home8 ,chalice and basin1 richly made ,of shining gold2 to him conveyed ,by one of his trained band4 ,he used them both at his ,high ,mass1 ,and proud of such a gift he was ,from our dear native land4 ,our own ,victoria should be free1 ,true to the rights she swore when she ,sat in the abbey old2 ,and crown was placed upon her head1 ,and coronation oath she said ,over ,god's ,word1 we're told4 ,up1 ,english men and women all6 ,to the red beast#b ne'er bow at all1 ,but leave him to his fate2 ,for ,babylon will surely fall1#c ,and with her1 nations great and small1 ,who follow in her wake4 ,in days of yore she sat a queen1#d ,on seven hills1#e so vile1 unclean1 ,and shed the blood of saints4 ,come out of her1 ,my people#f all1 ,nor of her plagues receive at all1 ,or listen to her plaints4 ,the ,ritualists are helping fast ,to bring us now1 as in times past1 ,beneath the sway of ,rome4 ,you silly men and 7silly7 women#g all1 ,oh1 why take heed to them at all ,who creep into the home8#g ,alas6 alas6 for ,england's ,queen1 ,and ,english nation too1 ,i ween1 ,if e'er the ,pope gets sway6 ,true ,christians ne'er will bend the knee ,to kiss ,pope's toe so impiously1 ,nor pence to ,peter pay4 ,n4 ,p4 ,w4 ,southsea4 ,,nothing doth more hurt in a ,state than that cunning men pass for wise4 #b ,revelation xvii4 #c4 #c ,revelation xiv4 #h4 #d ,revelation xviii4 #g4 #e ,revelation xvii4 #i4 #f ,revelation xviii4 #d4 #g #b ,timothy iii4 #f4 ,,experiences ,,in ,,the ,,arctic ,,ocean4 ,captain ,adams1 of the whaling steamer ,maud1 which lately arrived at ,dundee from ,davis ,straits1 has related a few interesting incidents of his voyage4 ,when in ,exeter ,sound1 ,captain ,adams was informed1 by a native1 of an island which was a favourite resort of the walrus1 and where the animals could be often found asleep4 ,he accordingly determined to try and secure an old specimen1 and sent out four boats1 with twenty-four men1 to effect a capture4 ,on arriving at the island1 a large number of walrus were seen basking on the shore1 and a landing was attempted1 with the result that the colony soon showed their tusks1 and made a deliberate attack on the boats4 ,ten of the foremost animals had to be shot to prevent mischief1 and after a severe struggle a female walrus was lassoed4 ,a number of small ropes were then fastened about it1 and the huge animal was1 after immense labour1 hoisted into an empty boat1 to which it had to be secured1 to prevent it smashing the planks4 ,on being towed to the ship1 the boat and the walrus were hoisted on board1 and suitable quarters were then found for it4 ,it is fully eighteen months old1 and ,captain ,adams is hopeful that it will survive4 ,a young live bear has also been brought home4 ,one of the noteworthy incidents of the voyage was the landing of ,urio ,etawango 7the ,esquimaux whom ,captain ,adams had staying in ,dundee over last winter7 at ,durban1 the residence of his tribe4 ,for several days previous to the arrival of the ,maud off ,durban1 ,urio was moody and disconsolate1 but he did not reveal his mind1 so that the crew were ignorant of his thoughts4 ,the conjecture was1 that he was sorry to return to the rude life of an ,inuit1 after his experience of civilized life4 ,when the ship first arrived off ,durban1 there was a long stretch of ice running out from the land1 and ,urio and one of the officers travelled about fifteen miles1 and lighted a fire as a signal to the tribe of his return4 ,the signal was soon recognized1 and ere long the whole tribe were seen making their way over the ice4 ,meantime ,urio had returned to the ship1 and he was taking a nap in his berth when the news was communicated to him of the arrival of the tribe1 with his wife and child amongst them4 ,the ,inuits are a very impassive race1 and it was amusing to see the cool way in which ,urio and his wife shook hands1 as though they had been parted twelve days instead of twelve months4 ,urio showed more affection towards his child1 with whom he rubbed cheeks in the manner peculiar to the ,inuits4 ,but if the young wife was undemonstrative at meeting with her husband1 she got into transports of joy at the sight of the numerous presents which friends of her husband in ,dundee had sent out to her4 ,one of these was a pretty melodion1 and the young woman's eyes sparkled when she beheld it4 ,to the astonishment of the ship's company1 she lifted the instrument and played ,there is nae luck aboot the hoose1 finishing with ,the ,keel ,row4 ,it was subsequently ascertained that she had learned to play several tunes on the concertina whilst resident at the ,american settlements on ,cumberland ,gulf4 ,when the other presents were laid out1 the delight of ,urio and his wife and friends was unbounded4 ,several of the gaudy petticoats were seized1 and the women put them on above their sealskin dresses1 being so fond of display that the most showy articles are always worn outermost4 ,owing to the distance of the ship from the shore1 only a few of the lighter presents were removed at that time1 but a month later the ship got near the land1 when the remainder of the articles were put ashore and taken possession of by ,urio4 ,captain ,adams gives the ,esquimaux chief the character of an honest1 hard-working1 warm-hearted fellow4 ,he proved a good sailor1 was beloved by all the crew1 and he was a dead shot while seal-hunting4 ,it is evident that his experience of civilized life has given him a distaste for his former mode of life1 for he pleaded with ,captain ,adams to promise to take himself and his wife and child to ,scotland next year4 ,captain ,adams is of opinion that the whaling at ,davis ,straits and ,greenland is virtually exhausted4 ,he saw only seventeen whales throughout the season4 ,,singular ,,cause ,,of ,,death4 ,on ,friday1 ,january #acth1 ,mr4 ,wynne ,e4 ,baxter held an inquiry at the ,london ,hospital1 ,whitechapel1 respecting the death of ,moses ,raphael1 aged thirty-two years1 a commercial traveller1 lately residing at ,bromley-by-,bow1 who died on the previous day in the above hospital4 ,about six weeks previously he complained of pains in his head and also of shivers1 and eventually it was decided to remove him to the hospital4 ,until the last few weeks the deceased had been in apparently good health4 ,he was a wonderful brain-worker1 and had kept a set of books most accurately4 ,henry ,muir ,doyle1 house-surgeon1 stated that the deceased1 on his admission1 appeared drowsy1 and complained of a pain in his head4 ,he continued in that state till the #ajth1 but at times appeared quite clear-headed and rational4 ,on the #ajth1 symptoms of apoplexy appeared1 and deceased expired at twelve o'clock the same night4 ,witness said that1 since death1 he had made a most searching examination of the head and brain4 ,on opening the former1 he discovered an abscess in the brain4 ,it was about the size of a turkey's egg1 and had evidently been there some time4 ,on removing the abscess1 a penholder and nib were found protruding from the top of the right orbital plate4 ,this had produced the abscess1 and the abscess had caused death4 ,the holder and nib must have entered the brain by way of the right eye1 or through the right part of the nose4 ,it was probable that they had been in there for a considerable time1 as the bone had grown over them1 and it was with difficulty they were separated4 ,he had examined the eye1 but had failed to detect any injury4 ,it was1 however1 quite possible for such a thing to enter beneath the lid of the open eye1 and the wound to heal up1 showing no signs of the entry4 ,the widow of the deceased man was called in1 and said that her husband never mentioned to her anything about being hurt by a pen4 ,the coroner said that the case was the most extraordinary that had ever come before him4--,times4 ,,answer ,,to ,,bible ,,enigma4 7,page #da47 ,the ,prince of ,peace4--,,isaiah ix4 #f4 ,t ychicus ,colossians iv4 #g4 ,h en ,zechariah vi4 #ad4 ,e rastus ,romans xvi4 #bc4 ,p arvaim #b ,chronicles iii4 #f4 ,r immon ,joshua xv4 #cb4 ,i rijah ,jeremiah xxxvii4 #ad4 ,n ahum ,nahum i4 #g4 ,c arpus #b ,timothy iv4 #ac4 ,e lymas ,acts xiii4 #aa4 ,o uches ,exodus xxviii4 #aa4 ,f aith ,hebrews xi4 #f4 ,p erez-uzzah #b ,samuel vi4 #h4 ,e lisheba ,exodus vi4 #bc4 ,a bba ,romans viii4 #ae4 ,c orinthians #a ,corinthians vi4 #ai4 ,e n-hakkore ,judges xv4 #ai4 ,,john ,,west 7,aged #i years74 ,biggleswade4 ,,something ,,about ,,foxes4 ,that always entertaining writer about birds and animals1 ,j4 ,g4 ,wood1 has a pleasant paper on ,foxes in the ,child's ,pictorial4 ,the author of ,homes without ,hands says3-- ,many foxes have been known to climb trees1 and hide among the branches1 where no dog could smell them4 ,only a few months before these lines were written1 the ,east ,kent foxhounds met near ,dover4 ,the master of the hunt had been told that foxes had been seen to run up a tree1 which was pointed out4 ,a man was sent up the tree1 and out came a fox1 which was hidden among some ivy about twenty feet from the ground4 ,the animal was chased1 but after a while the scent failed and the fox escaped4 ,the hunt then returned to the tree1 and again sent a man up it4 ,presently a second fox came tumbling out of the ivy1 but mistook his distance1 and jumped into the middle of the hounds1 which tore it to pieces before it could recover from the fall4 ,the man continued to search the tree1 and a third fox leaped out1 and was killed close to the ,south ,foreland4 ,in ,december1 #ahhe1 a fox was found near ,oswestry1 and after being chased for some time1 it ran up a tree1 to the height of at least forty feet1 and hid itself among the ivy with which the tree was clothed4 ,it was soon turned out of its shelter1 and1 after running for about half an hour1 got away from the hounds1 probably by some equally clever trick4 ,there are foxes known which have been hunted for several seasons and never taken2 and those who have seen them run1 say that the animals do not seem in the least afraid of the hounds1 but trot on quite gently for some time1 knowing that1 in the end1 they will give their enemies the slip4 ,mr4 ,webster relates an amusing story about a cunning old ,american fox4 ,it had been chased over and over again1 and always escaped near the same place1 namely1 a wooden fence outside a plantation1 which led into a thick forest4 ,hounds were brought from great distances in order to catch this fox1 but never succeeded4 ,the fox always made its bed in the middle of a large field1 and did not try to hide1 but gave the hounds a good run1 and then disappeared at the fence4 ,now1 in ,america there are no hedges1 the fields being divided by railed fences4 ,westward1 where wood is almost valueless1 the snake fence is used1 but in the more cultivated parts the fence is made by fixing two strong stakes in the ground1 so as to cross each other like the letter ,x1 and nailing them together where they cross4 ,long poles are then laid on the crossed stakes1 so that the fence can be made to any height which is most convenient1 the poles being seldom nailed1 but held in their place by their own weight4 ,now1 foxes often run along a fence1 or the top of a wall1 as far as the end4 ,then they go back for some distance on their own track1 and leap off the wall as far as they can1 so as to mislead the hounds4 ,knowing this trick1 ,mr4 ,webber took the hounds all round the fence and the plantation1 but could find no signs of the fox4 ,at last he determined to hide himself near the place1 when the hounds were again set on the fox1 and try to discover the trick4 ,after a while the fox came quite slowly until he reached the fence4 ,then he jumped on the top rail1 and ran along it for about two hundred yards1 until he came opposite a dead tree1 nearly sixteen feet from the fence4 ,he paused for a moment1 and1 with a tremendous jump1 leaped upon a tree1 alighting on a large knot on the side of the trunk4 ,then he ran up the trunk1 which was slightly sloping1 and entered a hollow at the top1 nearly thirty feet from the ground1 where he lay hid1 no one even suspecting that he could leap from a fence to the tree1 much less run up it4 ,this feat was the more wonderful1 because ivy does not grow out of doors in ,america1 so that there seemed to be no foot-hold4 ,indeed1 had it not been for the knot1 the fox could not have climbed the tree4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,fox ,,sees ,,the ,,ear1 ,,the ,,rabbit ,,sees ,,the ,,tail4 ,mr4 ,webber was so pleased with the cleverness of the fox that he would not betray the trick1 but amused himself on many occasions by watching the fox baffle the hounds4 ,sometimes the mother fox chooses a hollow tree1 instead of a burrow1 for her nursery4 ,in ,april1 #ahfh1 a strange discovery was made in ,warwickshire1 seven dead cubs having been found in the top of a pollard oak4 ,it was clear that the mother had been killed1 and that the poor little cubs had died of hunger4 ,the cubs1 when very young1 are odd-looking little creatures--not in the least like their parents4 ,they are pale brown in colour1 have short1 snub noses1 like those of pug dogs1 and little1 short1 pointed tails1 not at all like the beautiful brushes into which they will grow in course of time4 ,the courage of the fox is wonderful4 ,a fox was on one occasion sent to ,mr4 ,bartlett for the purpose of being stuffed4 ,it had only three feet1 and1 on opening it1 ,mr4 ,bartlett found the missing foot in its stomach6 ,the animal had clearly been taken in a trap1 and had freed itself by biting off the foot by which it was caught4 ,we can understand why it should bite off the foot by which it was detained1 but why it should eat its own foot seems rather puzzling4 ,i am inclined to think that it did so by mere instinct1 which made it eat any morsel of bleeding flesh that came between its jaws4 ,if foxes are only fit to be hunted down1 why are they preserved for that cruelty8--,,ed4 ,,one ,,poor ,,stone4 ,two masons were working together on the rear wall of a church1 when one stopped the other just as he was putting a stone in its place4 ,don't put in that stone1 he said2 it is flakey1 and will soon fall to pieces4 ,i know it isn't a very good one1 but it is so handy1 and just fits here4 ,nobody will see it up here1 and it is too much trouble to get another4 ,don't put it in4 ,take time to send for another4 ,that stone won't stand the weather1 and when it falls the whole building will be damaged4 ,i guess not4 ,it won't hurt us1 so here goes4 ,then he lifted the stone into its place1 poor1 and loose-grained1 and flakey as it was1 covered it over with mortar1 and went on with his work4 ,nobody could see the stone1 and none knew of its worthlessness but the two masons1 and the church was finished and accepted4 ,but time and the weather did their work1 and soon it began to flake and crumble4 ,every rain-storm and every hot1 sultry day helped its decay1 and it soon crumbled away4 ,but that was not all1 nor the worst4 ,the loss of the stone weakened the wall1 and soon a great beam which it should have supported sunk into the cavity1 a crack appeared in the roof1 and the rain soon made sad havoc with ceiling and fresco2 so a new roof and ceiling1 and expensive repairs1 were the result of one poor stone being put in the place of a good one4 ,each one of us1 young or old1 is building a structure for himself4 ,the structure is our character1 and every act of our lives is a stone in the building4 ,don't work in poor stones4 ,every mean action1 every wrong act or impure word1 will show itself in your after life1 though it may pass unnoticed at first4 ,let every act and word of every day be pure and right1 and your character will stand the test of any time4 ,a ,,morning',s ,,walk ,,in ,a ,,country ,,lane4 ,it is pleasing1 during the bright summer time1 to rise early and1 if our lot is so cast1 to stroll into the country lanes and breathe the pure air of heaven1 inhale the sweet scent of the hay1 and gaze upon ,god's beautiful creation around us1 and1 if possible1 learn some of the many lessons which even a tiny flower or a feeble insect may be able to teach us4 ,one ,monday morning during the last summer1 when staying in ,hampshire1 we had such a walk1 the memory of which1 and its profitable lessons1 are still fresh upon our minds4 ,leaving the town where we were staying1 we quickly found ourselves between the hedgerows1 and our first impulse was to turn at once into the green fields1 but another feeling led us to keep to the lane4 ,was that change of plan the result of chance8 ,nay2 the great ,ruler of all things1 who guides the flight of a sparrow1 as surely orders the footsteps of ,his children4 ,john ,knox had a usual seat at his table1 with his back to the window4 ,a sudden impulse led him to take another seat4 ,that night the assassin's bullet came through the window1 and but for an overruling ,providence1 ,knox would have lost his life4 ,how many such instances might be related1 which shows that even more surely than the smallest wheel of some vast machinery is as readily controlled as the largest1 so surely does ,infinite ,wisdom control all the great machinery of life1 from its most momentous events down to the smallest circumstance1 such as the movement of a leaf4 ,if a pestilence stalk through our land1 we say1 ',the ,lord hath done it4' ,is it not also ,his doings when an aphis creepeth on a rosebud8 ,if an avalanche fall from the ,alps1 we tremble at the will of ,providence4 ,is not that will also concerned when the sere leaf falls from the poplar8 ,pursuing our walk1 we soon found that we were in the most delightful of country lanes1 with high hedgerows and overhanging trees1 that formed a most delightful shade from the fierce burning sun1 which1 even at that early hour1 was almost unbearable4 ,what must be the sufferings of a traveller in the desert1 with the fierce orb of day beating down upon his head1 as mile after mile he traverses the burning sand without shade or water8 ,how grateful to him must be the shadow of a great rock in a weary land1 or some delightful ,elim1 with its seventy shady palms1 and its twelve refreshing wells of water6 ,but there is yet another person to whom a shade is more delightful than even this desert traveller1 and that is1 a poor sinner upon whom is beating down the threatened wrath of an offended ,god4 ,when ,thomas ,bilney1 as a young man1 was feeling this1 he endeavoured for a long time to find a shelter in some of the foolish and deceptive lies of the ,romish ,church4 ,he gave his money for ,masses and performed his penances till his purse was empty1 and his body reduced to great weakness1 and yet no shelter could he find in these from the wrath of ,god4 ,at length he purchased a ,greek ,testament1 and there he found the blessed shade1 for with delight he read therein1 ,this is a faithful saying1 and worthy of all acceptation1 that ,christ ,jesus came into the world to save sinners1 of whom ,i am chief4 ,well might he exclaim1 as he sat down under the shadow of the cross1 with great delight1 ,oh1 blessed saying of ,st4 ,paul6 ,oh1 blessed saying of ,st4 ,paul6 ,dear young reader1 have you felt your need of this precious shade8 ,presently we noticed in the hedge a rose-bush1 a large portion of which was hanging down broken--doubtless the work of some thoughtless person1 who had plucked the flowers in such a reckless manner as to leave a sad memento of his thoughtless action4 ,but people who live in glass houses must be careful what stones they throw at others4 ,that little boy1 for instance1 was just as thoughtless who played with his ball in so careless a manner as to break two windows in one week4 ,that little girl1 too1 was equally thoughtless who1 when left at home to take care of baby1 carelessly left it on the bed while she went up the street to see some dancing dogs1 and who found1 on her return1 that the baby had fallen on the floor1 and had so injured its head as to nearly result in its death4 ,ah6 and how many are now in our workhouses or prisons who would have to confess they were brought there because they did not think what trouble their thoughtless actions would bring upon them6 ,yea1 we fear that there are many among the lost who would have to make the same sad confession4 ,may the ,lord cause each of our young readers to think of what will be the sad consequence of seeking only after earthly pleasure4 ,it will be worse than a destroyed rose-bush4 ,it may be destroyed health--destroyed reputation--destroyed prospects in life--yea1 and1 if grace prevent not1 destroyed happiness for ever4 ,as we proceeded further up the lane1 we noticed that the hedges on both sides were blooming with wild roses1 which were truly charming to behold4 ,our first thought on seeing them was of the dear ones at home 7many miles away71 and how we should like to transport them to this shady bower1 to enjoy what we were beholding4 ,but1 as this desire was impracticable1 the next thought was1 to gather some of these roses and take them home1 that they1 too1 might1 in some measure1 share in our pleasure4 ,henceforth our endeavours to please others made our walk doubly pleasant4 ,a selfish person1 young or old1 can never be happy4 ,but find one who tries to share his pleasures or comforts with others1 and he is surely happy--like the little girl who stretched her small cloak round her young brother to shelter him from the wintry blast1 although1 strictly speaking1 the cloak was scarcely big enough for herself4 ,and how happy was that little girl who nursed a sick cat in the garret1 and shared her meals with it1 till pussy was quite well again6 ,boys and girls1 share your pleasures with others4 ,the next thought was1 to look after the little roses1 knowing they would last longer than the big ones4 ,yes1 fellow-teachers1 look after the little rosebuds just blooming into life4 ,who can tell but what the ,master may use you to gather them from the world1 that they may1 by ,his grace1 be prepared for ,his mansion above8 ,but the thorns6 ,not a single little rosebud without a thorn1 yet so beautiful in other respects4 ,before ,adam's fall1 roses grew in ,eden without thorns4 ,thorns are a badge of the curse1 and even the smallest child has the thorn of sin4 ,and how often we see it manifest6 ,the thorn of pride1 the thorn of self-will1 the thorn of temper1 the thorn of deceit4 ,but1 dear young friends1 are these thorns a trouble to you8 ,would you like their power destroyed1 and guilt pardoned8 ,listen1 then1 to ,god's way of salvation4 ,as we gathered the roses1 the thorns pricked our hands4 ,but never mind that4 ,we love them too much to mind a few pricks4 ,have you ever thought how the thorns 7as long as your finger7 were plaited into a crown1 and pierced the head of ,jesus8 ,yes1 ,he loved ,his children so much that ,he willingly endured even the nails1 as well as the thorns1 that they might be for ever saved from the wrath to come4 ,a child once cried for fear when a wasp was near1 but his mother said1 ,don't fear1 my child6 ,it has left its sting in my hand4 ,it won't hurt you4 ,yes1 ,jesus has been pricked and stung by sin that ,his people may for ever be delivered from its fatal power4 ,may you1 dear young friends1 from a living faith1 be enabled to commit your soul into ,his keeping who is able to save unto the uttermost all that come unto ,god through ,him4 ,but how easily many of the roses scattered6 ,we only touched the branch1 and they were gone4 ,such is life6 ,we may be in full bloom one day1 but in a moment we may be carried into eternity4 ,we all do fade as a leaf4 ,the longest life is but brief4 ,then well may we pray-- ,prepare me1 gracious ,god1 ,to stand before ,thy face2 ,thy ,spirit must the work perform1 ,for it is all of grace4 ,,ebenezer4 ,,keep ,,the ,,star ,,in ,,sight4 ,on a wild spot on the coast of ,cornwall ,i fell in with ,will ,treherne4 ,he was as sound an old salt as ever manned a lifeboat or went aloft in a gale of wind4 ,he was getting an old man when ,i used to see him sitting on the beach1 when his day's work was done1 smoking his pipe and gazing at the evening star4 ,he told us boys stirring stories of sea life and adventure4 ,one evening he narrated the following3-- ,thirty years ago1 in just such a night as this1 the wind whistling as it does now1 with the sea rising1 and with as crazy a craft as seamen ever sailed in1 ,i found myself drifting along a dangerous coast4 ,our captain was an experienced one1 and1 when he saw what weather we were threatened with1 he took his place at the wheel1 and did his best to keep our courage up4 ,he was in terribly poor health1 but his spirits rose above his bodily weakness1 and he gave his orders with a pluck and decision that made men of every one of us4 ',will ,treherne1' he cried1 'stand by me if you can be spared4 ,my strength is going4 ,do you see that star right ahead8' ',yes1 sir4' ',if my strength should fail1 steer right ahead for that1 and you are safe4 ,and oh1 remember1 ,will1 that there is another ,star you must always keep in view if you are to get safely into port at last4' ,i knew what he meant4 ,he was pointing me to the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 for he was as good a ,christian as he was a captain1 and he never lost a chance of saying a word that might steady us youngsters1 and make us think of our souls4 ,i have heard many a sermon since that night in the storm1 when he told me to keep the star ahead1 but none took more hold on me than that one that night1 when ,i lost my truest and best friend4 ,did you lose him that night8 ,i asked4 ,yes1 my lad1 the sailor answered1 sadly4 ,his hour was come4 ,when he could stand the gale no longer1 he shouted as loud as he could1 ',keep the star in sight1 my lads2 keep the star in sight6' ,then he was helped down to the cabin1 and ,i never saw him alive again4 ,i was lashed to the wheel1 and though the spray well-nigh blinded me1 yet ,i managed to keep the star in sight1 as the first officer gave his orders for the working of the ship4 ,after two hours of steering through a narrow and dangerous channel1 we found ourselves in a friendly sea4 ,the star had guided us right4 ,when the ship was in safety1 and my turn of work was over1 ,i went down to the captain's cabin4 ,a flag was thrown over his body1 but his manly1 resolute face1 which even death had not much altered1 was visible4 ,i knelt down there and prayed ,god to guide me through the storms of life2 and ,i believe ,i can say that1 from that night1 in spite of my faults and failings1 ,i have kept the ,star in sight4 ,now you will know why ,i am such a star-gazer2 and if ,i may give you a bit of counsel1 my lad1 let me advise you to seek grace to begin and steer your course by the ,star of ,bethlehem2 and1 if your eye is fixed on that ,star1 you will come safely through the dangers of life into the port of peace at last4--,chatterbox4 ,,answer ,,of ,,george ,,iii4 ,,to ,,lord ,,grenville1 ,,when ,,applied ,,to ,,on ,,the ,,roman ,,catholic ,,bill1 ,,march1 #ahjg4 ,,my ,,lord1--,i am one of those that respect an oath4 ,i have firmness sufficient to quit my throne and retire to a cottage1 or to place my neck upon a block on a scaffold1 if my people require it2 but ,i have not resolution enough to break an oath--an oath ,i took in the most solemn manner at my coronation4 ,god grant that the legislators of the present day may feel speedily the justice and wisdom of the noble sentiment of this illustrious monarch4 ,,the ,,late ,,prince ,,consort',s ,,opinion ,,of ,,popery4 ,it is an open secret1 says the ,christian1 that the ,queen insists on exercising her right of private judgment on all ecclesiastical affairs in which she has to act4 ,before giving her assent to the selection of a golden ,mass bowl as her ,jubilee present to the ,pope of ,rome1 the fact possibly escaped ,her ,majesty's memory that the late ,prince ,consort's opinion of ,romanism was summed up in ,adam ,smith's statement1 as follows--',the greatest conspiracy ever hatched against human liberty1 civil and religious1 is the ,roman ,catholic ,church4' ,this quotation appears on the title-page of the ',prince ,consort's ,speeches1' edited by ,his ,royal ,highness himself4 ,a ,,bible ,,with ,,pins ,,in ,,it4 ,it was an old ,bible1 a family ,bible1 a well-worn ,bible--the ,bible of an old lady who had read it1 and walked by it1 and fed on it1 and prayed over it for a long lifetime4 ,as she grew older and older1 her sight began to fail1 and she found it hard to find her favourite verses4 ,but she could not live without them1 so what did she do8 ,she stuck a pin in them1 one by one2 and after her death they counted #afh4 ,when people went to see her1 she would open her ,bible1 and feeling over the page after her pin1 would say1 ,read there1 or ,read here2 and she knew pretty well what verse was stuck by that pin1 and what by this pin4 ,she could indeed say of her precious ,bible1 ,i love ,thy commandments above gold2 yea1 above fine gold2 they are sweeter to me than honey and the honey-comb4 ,,bible ,,enigma4 ,the father of a blind man4 ,an ancient musical instrument4 ,a measure of time4 ,an immense fish4 ,a non-believer4 ,a foreign language4 ,a relation of ,jacob4 ,an animal4 ,one of ,joseph's sons4 ,a domestic animal4 ,a very valuable stone4 ,a particular time in the day4 ,another word for a letter4 ,,joseph ,,smith 7,aged #ab years74 ,,thrilling ,,scenes ,,at ,,the ,,forth ,,bridge ,,works4 ,two more fatal accidents were1 some time since1 reported from the ,forth ,bridge works1 making thirty-four since the work began4 ,one of the engineers of the bridge1 ,mr4 ,benjamin ,baker1 recently gave a lecture in ,dundee1 descriptive of the work1 in the course of which he gave the following account of the dangers of the undertaking3-- ,much of the work1 he said1 required men of exceptional hardiness1 courage1 and presence of mind4 ,in ,august last1 six men were standing on a few planks hanging by iron hooks1 at a height of about #adj feet above sea level4 ,one of the hooks gave way without any warning1 and in a fraction of a second the planks slipped away from under the men's feet4 ,short as the time was1 with the lightning quickness of thought1 three of the six men saved themselves by springing at and clutching hold of pieces of the steel work4 ,another man plunged headlong down twice the height of the ,tay bridge into the water4 ,his hardiness was such that the terrible flight through mid-air and shock on striking the water--a shock which he had seen break planks like matches--did not incapacitate him from grasping the rope which was cast to him1 or from resuming work after he had recovered from the immediate effects of the shock4 ,as regards courage1 two of the men were left hanging by the arms with a clean drop of #adj feet below them4 ,although presumably unnerved by seeing their comrades take that terrible flight1 the first man reached by the rescue party said1 ,i can hold on4 ,go to the other man2 he is dazed4 ,such workmen upheld the best traditions of their fellow-craftsmen in the past4 ,,our ,,bible ,,class4 ,and the glory which ,thou gavest ,me ,i have given them2 that they may be one1 even as ,we are ,one4--,,john xvii4 #bb4 ,the glory of the ,lord endureth for ever2 and in this sublime prayer ,jesus speaks of the glory that ,he had with ,his ,father before the world began1 and asks that ,he may be glorified in finishing ,his saving work4 ,but what is the glory spoken of in our text8 ,two thoughts must guide us to its meaning--first1 the ,father had given it to ,his ,son2 secondly1 ,jesus had given it to ,his disciples4 ,christ is ,god1 and1 as ,god1 is1 and ever must be1 glorious4 ,but this glory was not given ,him2 it was ,his own4 ,christ is the one ,mediator between ,god and men--the only ,way to heaven and happiness--the all-sufficient and only ,saviour of sinners1 who redeemed them by ,his blood1 and saves them by ,his life4 ,but ,his glory1 as ,mediator and ,saviour1 ,he will not give to another4 ,he received it1 and is crowned with it1 alone4 ,yet ,he says1 ,i have given ,my disciples--the men ,thou gavest out of the world--the glory ,thou hast given ,me4 ,he is the ,truth4 ,his words were always divinely full of heavenly meaning4 ,let us try by other ,scriptures to understand this one4 ,in ,isaiah xl4 #aj1 we read1 ,behold1 the ,lord ,god will come with strong hand--or will come as a ,mighty ,one--behold1 ,his reward is with ,him1 and the recompense of ,his work see margin is before ,him4 ,in ,hebrews xii4 #b1 we are told that1 for the joy that was set before ,him1 ,he endured the cross1 despising the shame1 and is set down1 now and for ever1 at the right hand of ,god4 ,this recompense1 this joy1 is ,christ's glory4 ,and what is it8 ,in one word1 it is salvation--the satisfaction1 the honour1 and delight1 of rescuing1 and eternally enriching1 the people whom ,he loved from eternity1 and will for ever love4 ,as ,cowper sweetly sings-- ,of all the crowns ,jehovah wears1 ,salvation is ,his dearest claim2 ,that gracious sound well-pleased ,he hears1 ,and owns ,emmanuel for ,his name4 ,in this--,his joy1 ,his glory--,he makes ,his people share here in this world1 and in this present time-- ,before they reach the heavenly fields1 ,or tread the golden streets4 ,they are interested in ,his salvation1 and on this word we may reflect a little1 for interest has a two-fold meaning4 ,it means1 benefit or profit2 and it also means1 friendly1 loving concern for a person or an object4 ,if ,i am interested in a paying business1 ,i share in its profits1 and am benefited by it2 but ,i am interested in many things that bring me no money1 and ,i gladly give them all the help ,i can1 because ,i long for their success and prosperity4 ,and in this double way believers are interested in ,christ's salvation4 ,they are for ever benefited by it4 ,his death secures their endless life2 ,his sorrow yields them joy and peace2 and ,his poverty has made them rich for evermore4 ,thanks be unto ,god for ,his unspeakable gift1 is the glad cry of all who know that this precious salvation is their own4 ,then comes the other form of interest--loving1 prayerful desire that ,christ may be glorified2 that the kingdom of ,god may come2 that sinners may be brought to the ,saviour4 ,the burdened heart1 longing for peace1 may be too full of its own sorrows to think much of others2 but the forgiven child of ,god1 rejoicing in ,jesus as his own dear1 almighty ,friend1 says1 or desires to say-- ,now will ,i tell to sinners round ,what a dear ,saviour ,i have found2 ,i'll point to ,his redeeming blood1 ,and say1 ',behold the way to ,god6' ,thus the apostles laboured to carry the ,gospel wherever they could travel1 though1 by so doing1 they were exposed to persecution1 suffering1 and death4 ,but they longed to spread the joyful news abroad1 and to be the means of leading their hearers to ,jesus2 and when they saw the grace of ,god1 they were glad with an unspeakable joy4 ,and1 so far as we are animated with ,christ's spirit1 we1 too1 shall seek after the same blessed results4 ,and ,jesus has given ,his glory to ,his people that they may all be united together1 even as ,he and ,his ,father are ,one--one in heart1 and mind1 and aims4 ,we hear a great deal just now about the unity of ,christendom1 or the ,christian world1 and some would like to blend the ,greek and ,roman with the ,english ,church4 ,now1 what sort of union would that be8 ,others do not go quite so far1 and yet they would unite together a variety of creeds and people by dropping every important difference1 and giving up whatever was not generally acceptable4 ,but let us never forget that there can be no ,christian union without ,christ2 no holy unity unless founded on ,god's ,word4 ,gas jets affixed in a certain way to our ceilings are called sun-lights4 ,they are only artificial lights1 after all2 and whatever name it may assume1 unless ,christ is the ,centre of unity1 the union is not ,christian1 for if any one have not the ,spirit of ,christ1 he is none of ,his4 ,but union to and in ,christ is very real and true even now1 and those who follow ,jesus can hold sweet intercourse together in this world4 ,grace be with all them that love our ,lord ,jesus ,christ in sincerity4 ,we are1 at best1 imperfect in the present state4 ,we know but in part4 ,our love is often cold1 and sin still dwells in the heart2 but in the glory that is yet to come1 we1 if we are ,his1 shall know1 even as we have been known of ,him4 ,perfect love will cast out all distance and coldness1 and perfect holiness will possess every saved one4 ,beloved1 wrote the same ,apostle who recorded the ,saviour's prayer1 now are we the sons of ,god1 and it doth not yet appear what we shall be2 but we know that1 when ,he shall appear1 we shall be like ,him1 for we shall see ,him as ,he is4 ,may this glorious prospect be ours1 through ,his grace4 ,our next subject will be1 ,matthew vi4 #bb1 #bc--,mental ,eyes3 ,darkened and ,illuminated4 ,yours affectionately1 ,h4 ,s4 ,l4 ,a ,,word ,,to ,,self-,,seekers4 ,i would not lead the selfish life ,that never seeks to throw ,a pleasant ray of happiness ,on other people's woe4 ,i scorn the folks who will not strive ,to lessen want and care2 ,nor lend a helping hand to those ,who have so much to bear4 ,is there not misery enough ,on this terrestrial ball ,to spring some sympathetic chord ,within the hearts of all8 ,oh1 ye who only seek your own-- ,who hold yourselves so dear ,that ye can never give the sad ,one simple word of cheer-- ,believe me1 if ye wish to spend ,a life of happy ease1 ,seek not your own1 but how ye may ,your weary brothers please4 ,and ,he who marks each gentle deed ,of loving sympathy1 ,may whisper ,his approving word-- ,ye did it unto ,me4 ,,carrie ,,light4 ,brighton4 ,,prize ,,essay4 ,,self-,,help4 ,there are six important heads which this subject may be placed under1 viz41 ,industry1 ,patience1 ,perseverance1 ,cheerfulness1 ,courage1 and ,prudence4 ,industry4--,this is a very important thing in life1 and you will never be any good to the world without you possess it4 ,there have been men who1 by their patient industry1 have done their country a great deal of good by inventing engines and machines to mitigate the labours of men2 and some of these men have been mobbed and nearly killed by their townsmen1 who thought their work would be taken away instead of enlarged1 and very often their inventions have been broken to pieces4 ,solomon1 in the ,book of ,ecclesiastes ix4 #aj1 says1 ,whatsoever thy hand findeth to do1 do it with thy might2 and in ,proverbs vi4 #f--;,go to the ant1 thou sluggard2 consider her ways and be wise4 ,patience4--,patience is a very needful thing to self-help1 for without it you will not be able to do anything that requires time and trouble4 ,you have need of patience when you are waiting for a thing which you are in great haste to obtain4 ,david says1 in ,psalm xxxvii4 #g1 ,rest in the ,lord1 and wait patiently for ,him4 ,perseverance4--,there are some people who1 if they start a certain thing1 have not the necessary perseverance to finish it2 while others1 who persevere1 succeed4 ,great men you read of in history would never have been so distinguished had it not been for their perseverance4 ,bernard ,palissy1 who discovered the white enamel for pottery1 had a great many trials to bear1 and was years before he perfected it2 but he persevered1 and at last succeeded4#h #h ,for a fuller account of ,palissy1 see ,,little ,,gleaner for ,july1 #ahgi4 ,oh1 that we may be taught to trust in ,christ1 and pray1 with the poet-- ,lord1 hast ,thou made me know ,thy ways8 ,conduct me in ,thy fear2 ,and grant me such supplies of grace ,that ,i may persevere4 ,cheerfulness4--,this is a very essential thing to self-help4 ,if you have a task1 and you have somebody to cheer you up1 your task feels lighter1 and the time passes better4 ,people who are dull1 and not cheerful1 find the time pass slower1 and the work seems heavier4 ,there have been men who have been cheerful even when they have been in great difficulties4 ,christ said to the man sick of the palsy1 ,son1 be of good cheer2 thy sins be forgiven thee4 ,courage4--,moral courage is one of the most important features in this subject4 ,you will be more likely to succeed if you are bold and courageous4 ,it is right to be courageous in a good cause1 but not in a wrong one4 ,it is real courage1 when wicked persons try to entice you to drinking1 gambling1 and other vices1 if you boldly answer1 ,no4 ,solomon says1 in the ,book of ,proverbs xxviii4 #a--,the wicked flee when no man pursueth1 but the righteous are as bold as a lion4 ,prudence1 or ,foresight4--,it is wise to consider what the consequences of your actions will be4 ,some people do not stop to do so1 and thus run needlessly into danger4 ,you cannot rightly practise self-help without you are prudent4 ,it is very imprudent to risk life or anything unnecessarily1 or to leave things to the last minute or two4 ,if you are imprudent1 you will regret it in after life4 ,in ,proverbs xvi4 #ba1 it says1 ,the wise in heart shall be called prudent4 ,self-help is not a spiritual thing1 but a temporal one2 but you cannot truly succeed in these things without ,god's help and blessing4 ,may we1 in the things of daily life1 and especially in spiritual things1 be led to say1 like ,david1 in ,psalm cxxi41 ,i will lift up mine eyes unto the hills1 from whence cometh my help4 ,my help cometh from the ,lord1 which made heaven and earth1 remembering that ,he does not approve selfish living1 but says1 ,to do good and to communicate1 forget not4--7,abridged47 ,f4 ,e4 ,h4 ,,andrews 7,aged #ac years #e months74 #a1 ,tavistock ,terrace1 ,upper ,holloway1 ,london1 ,n4 ,lilly ,rush1 ,w4 ,e4 ,cray 7age not given71 ,a4 ,m4 ,cray1 ,e4 ,b4 ,west1 ,a4 ,pease1 and ,margaret ,creasey have sent fair ,essays1 especially the first-named1 and we hope they will still persevere4 ,the writer of the above ,essay receives a copy of ,from the ,loom to a ,lawyer's ,gown2 or1 ,self-,help that was not all for ,self1 presented by a friend who reads the ,,gleaner4 ,the subject for ,may will be1 ,how to be ,useful in the ,world1 and the prize to be given for the best ,essay on that subject1 a copy of ,notable ,workers in ,humble ,life4 ,all competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age1 and that the ,essay is their own composition1 or the papers will be passed over1 as the ,editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information4 ,papers must be sent direct to the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings1 by the first of ,april4 ,,one good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters4 ,in the home1 she is the loadstone to all hearts1 and loadstar to all eyes4 ,imitation of her is constant--imitation which ,bacon likens to a globe of precepts4 ,but example is far more than precept4 ,in its instruction is action4 ,interesting ,items4 ,,the ,,elephant',s ,,strength4--,the ordinary strength of an elephant is calculated as equal to that of #adg men4 ,a ,,fight ,,among ,,lions4--,a fearful struggle took place recently between eight lions in a cage at the menagerie at ,liverpool ,exhibition4 ,one lion1 valued at ,l#aej1 was killed4 ,,the red-wood forests of ,california1 ,oregon1 and ,washington ,territory are1 perhaps1 the most wonderful of the world4 ,the average yield per acre is #ajj1jjj feet lumber1 or #fd1jjj1jjj feet to the square mile4 ,,sir ,,john ,,coode',s scheme for the protection of the foreshore at ,hastings1 by means of two stone groynes and an extended breastwork at the east end of the town1 was completed last ,august4 ,the total cost has been ,l#cj1jjj4 ,sir ,john remarked that the beach was accumulating at the rate of #dj1jjj to #ej1jjj tons per annum4 ,,extraordinary ,,case ,,of ,,strangulation4--,an extraordinary case has occurred at ,howick1 near ,preston4 ,a little boy named ,fisher1 the son of a farmer1 was climbing an apple tree1 when he slipped between two branches4 ,his jacket turned up fast round his neck1 and as he could not get a button undone1 he was strangled4 ,a ,,monster ,,dogfish4--,a gigantic dogfish1 weighing ten cwt41 has been hauled ashore by a fisherman at ,mazargues1 in the ,department of the ,bouches-du-,rhone4 ,the animal made a desperate struggle on the bank1 and its head had to be battered in with a club before it could be mastered4 ,a monster of a similar kind1 some time ago1 ate up a boatman and his boy1 whose boat had been capsized in the river4 ,,it has been calculated that1 after ,prince von ,bismarck's recent great speech1 #a1bah telegrams1 containing #aid1bif words1 were despatched to #cbf different places on the world's surface4 ,two hundred and thirty-five telegraph clerks were employed at sixty ,hughes' apparatus1 #aee ,morse's1 and seven ,estienne's1 to carry out the work2 and the number of words in the ,chancellor's speech is computed at #aj1iig4 ,a ,,peculiar ,,case4--,captain ,russell has had under treatment a valuable and favourite cat1 belonging to a resident of ,spittlegate1 ,grantham4 ,the poor animal was taken with a choking sensation about three weeks ago1 and1 as it could not eat1 soon grew very thin1 and appeared to be going the way of all flesh4 ,after vain attempts at restoration1 pussy was taken to the afore-named veterinary surgeon1 who prescribed for her4 ,she was fed with a spoon for some days1 and at length a substance was discovered to be forming by the side of the neck4 ,supposing it to be a boil1 he lanced it1 and found it to contain a piece of metal1 which he at once extracted1 in the shape of a sewing-needle with a piece of cotton attached4 ,the cat is now recovered1 and but little the worse for the painful operation4--,grantham ,journal4 ,,the ,emperor of ,china1 who is about to be married1 is doing the thing handsomely4 ,his wedding gifts to his young bride include a gold seal richly inlaid with jewels1 the handle being formed by two gold dragons2 ten piebald horses with complete trappings2 ten gilt helmets and cuirasses3 #a1jjj pieces of satin of the first quality1 and #bjj pieces of cotton material2 #bjj ounces of gold2 #aj1jjj ounces of silver2 one gold tea service1 and one silver tea service2 twenty horses with complete trappings1 and twenty without4 ,the parents of the lady receive also #ajj ounces of gold2 one gold tea set2 #e1jjj taels of silver2 one silver tea set2 #ejj pieces of silk2 #a1jjj pieces of cotton material2 six horses1 completely harnessed2 a helmet and cuirass2 a bow and a quiver1 with arrows2 each parent one ,court dress for summer1 and one for winter1 one every-day dress1 and a sable coat4 ,the brothers and servants of the bride also receive rich and costly presents4 ,,from ,,dover ,,to ,,calais ,,in ,,twenty-,,five ,,minutes4--,a novel ship has recently been invented by ,mr4 ,thomas ,hitt1 of ,brandon1 ,suffolk4 ,she is somewhat of a semi-twin type1 one-third wider than the ordinary sailing ship1 but not so wide as a paddle-steamer4 ,between the supposed divided halves1 which ascend to about eighteen inches above the water-line1 is a wheel-race1 extending from bow to stern4 ,in the centre of this wheel-race a pit is formed1 into which the lower part of the periphery of the wheel descends4 ,the wheel1 when rotating1 drives the water through the race1 and out at the stern1 with great velocity4 ,the maximum result of experiments indicates that a ship of #ejj tons1 with a wheel of #ej feet diameter1 making #ej revolutions per minute1 will attain a speed of #ef knots an hour1 after allowing one-fourth for slip and other contingencies4 ,although the wheel is described as making #ej revolutions per minute1 it may reach #ajj1 more or less4 ,this excess of power may be utilized for the production and storage of electricity1 to be used either for illuminating purposes1 or for propelling the ship when becalmed4 ,a ,,faithful ,,mastiff4--,john ,templeton is a blacksmith1 who owns a fine specimen of the ,english mastiff4 ,recently ,mr4 ,templeton was working at his forge1 putting a new steel in the point of a pick4 ,the steel was slightly burned in the heating1 and1 instead of welding1 flew into half-a-dozen pieces4 ,one piece struck the blacksmith above the right eye with such force as to fasten itself in firmly4 ,he staggered and fell backwards4 ,how long he was unconscious he does not know1 but when he revived1 the dog lay in the middle of the shop1 crying almost like a human being1 and rubbing his jaws in the dust of the floor4 ,the piece of steel which had struck ,mr4 ,templeton lay a short distance from the dog4 ,the faithful animal had seized the hot steel with his teeth1 and drew it from the frontal bone of ,mr4 ,templeton's head4 ,the dog's mouth was badly burned4--,albany ,journal4 ,,the ,,discoveries ,,at ,,pompeii4--,a ,naples correspondent says--,the waxed tablets found1 together with silver vases1 c41 at ,pompeii1 all belong to one woman1 ,decidia ,margaris1 and are contracts precisely similar to those found twelve years ago belonging to one ,lucio ,cecilio ,giocondo2 but unlike those1 which were enclosed in a strong iron box1 and had undergone a process of carbonization which preserved their legibility for eighteen centuries1 the present ones were only folded1 together with the vases1 in a thick cloth1 which the rain-water had penetrated1 reducing the wood to pulp1 and wearing away the wax on which the characters are impressed1 so that only some fragments preserved the writing2 and a few days after the discovery these too were lost1 the wax separating from the wooden tablets and breaking up into minute particles4 ,there remains now only one tablet1 which has been naturally preserved by being impregnated with oxide of copper4 ,it is the contract for the sale of young slaves to ,decidia ,margaris4--,daily ,news4 ,a ,,genuine ,,fast ,,of ,,twenty ,,days4--,an extraordinary case of prolonged fasting is reported in connection with the severe weather4 ,on ,december #bbnd1 #ahhg1 a peasant woman from ,opergrabern1 near ,vienna1 went to receive some money that was owing to her at a small village a few miles distant4 ,the amount was not paid1 and the woman had only four kreutzers in her pocket1 with which she bought two rolls of bread4 ,on the way home she was caught in a heavy snow-storm1 and took shelter in a small hut in a vineyard4 ,the storm continuing1 she decided to spend the night where she was1 and divested herself of some of her upper garments to wrap up her feet4 ,the next morning1 when she awoke1 she could not rise1 being partially paralyzed by the cold4 ,her cries for help were unheard1 and it was only on the #aath of ,january she was found by a woodcutter's wife1 having been twenty days without food4 ,she was in a precarious condition1 but there is some hope of her recovery4 ,,youthful ,,heroines4--,the ,royal ,humane ,society have awarded their highest honour--a silver medal--to a young lady named ,fanny ,rowe1 only fifteen years of age1 daughter of the ,rev4 ,j4 ,g4 ,rowe1 vicar of ,topcroft1 ,bungay1 for saving the life of a lad named ,franchs1 at ,neuchatel1 under circumstances of great gallantry4 ,the lad was playing by the jetty with his brother1 when he fell into deep water4 ,his brother jumped in to save him1 but1 not being able to swim1 was soon in difficulties4 ,a number of men ran about crying out ,who can swim8 but no one attempted a rescue until ,miss ,rowe came up1 kicked off her shoes1 but otherwise fully dressed1 without a moment's hesitation rushed into the water1 swam to the place1 dived1 and caught the younger brother1 but could not keep hold of him1 his hair being so short4 ,she dived again and caught him1 this time by the ear1 and brought him to the jetty1 where he was lifted out1 and then she returned and saved the elder brother4 ,the bronze medal was also unanimously bestowed upon ,miss ,m4 ,strachy1 aged seventeen1 daughter of ,her ,majesty's ,consul at ,dresden1 for saving ,miss ,taylor at ,sandy ,island1 ,heligoland4 ,,zion ,,chapel1 ,,folkestone4--,the ,new ,year's ,meeting of the ,sunday ,school took place on ,january #afth4 ,after doing justice to the tea1 the children and friends met in the chapel1 where ,mr4 ,weeks1 of ,tenterden1 opened the meeting with the reading of the fifty-fifth chapter of ,isaiah and prayer4 ,some of the children repeated the ,epistle of ,james1 having learned various portions of it4 ,mr4 ,brown1 of ,tadworth1 spoke on the beginnings of true religion1 using the alphabet--,a for attention to various good things1 and not to wickedness2 ,b for the ,bible2 ,c for conviction1 which he described as a sure and certain knowledge of our sinful state1 not fancies floating in the mind1 and he illustrated it by a condemned convict's knowledge of his own sad case4 ,mr4 ,weeks then sought to encourage the children in the ways of obedience to parents and storing ,scripture in the memory1 of which latter no enemy could rob them4 ,he also spoke to the teachers and friends1 giving a word of encouragement4 ,mr4 ,smith spoke of the need of ,jesus ,christ being formed in the heart as the only hope for lost sinners1 after which the yearly prizes were handed to their respective owners1 also the gifts of clothing by an old friend of the children4 ,a few words of prayer closed a happy meeting4 ,e4 ,m4 ,illustration3 ,,are ,,you ,,sure ,,that ,,nothing ,,is ,,left ,,undone8 7,see page #gd47 ,,an ,,incident ,,in ,,the ,,life ,,of ,a ,,barrister4 ,i was engaged in my study one morning1 when a client of mine1 a ,mr4 ,b----1 was introduced4 ,he was in a state of great excitement1 having heard that the ,lord ,chancellor was to pronounce judgment on his case that day4 ,are you sure1 he inquired1 that nothing is left undone8 ,if judgment is given against me1 ,i am a ruined man4 ,all my hopes are centred in its results4 ,on the issue hang the prospects of my darling wife and children4 ,oh1 tell me1 can anything further be done to1 if possible1 ensure success8 ,i endeavoured to calm him by saying that we were fully prepared1 and that counsel's opinion was in his favour4 ,this assurance having appeased him a little1 he left me1 appointing to meet again in an hour at the court4 ,the ,chancellor had just taken his seat as ,i entered1 and was proceeding to give judgment in my client's case4 ,casting my eyes around1 ,i observed poor ,mr4 ,b---- seated on a bench1 immediately opposite his lordship4 ,he did not recognize me1 for his entire attention was riveted on the oracle from whence was to proceed the eagerly wished for1 but dreaded decision4 ,to look upon that man was painful indeed2 and although many years of professional experience had familiarized me to such scenes1 yet ,i could not behold him without emotion1 and trembled to think of the awful effect an adverse decision would have on a mind so sensitive as his1 and wrought to the highest degree of painful suspense4 ,my fears were but too soon realized4 ,after an elaborate and carefully considered review of the case1 a final decree was awarded against my client4 ,never shall ,i forget the agony of despair depicted on his countenance at that moment as1 rushing from the court1 he hissed into my ear the fearful words1 ,oh1 ,i am undone6 ,it was a damp ,november day on which the circumstance above narrated occurred4 ,wending my way homewards through ,chancery ,lane1 the words of my unfortunate client recurred to me4 ,will my case be called on to-day8 thought ,i2 and is nothing left undone to ensure me a favourable decree at the hands of that eternal ,judge before whom ,i must stand1 sooner or later8 ,dear reader1 you and ,i have both a case of vital importance1 the judgment of which will be eternal happiness or eternal misery4 ,if we have no ,friend at court1 no skilful ,advocate to plead1 anything of our own--any pleadings based upon our own works or performances--will most assuredly fail4 ,a form without the power will not stand the test of that tremendous1 awful day4 ,all false coverings will then be stripped off4 ,naked1 ruined1 and undone for ever must we be unless found clothed with the righteousness of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,god-,man4 ,the lines of one of our poets have aptly described the case-- ,a debtor to ,jehovah's law1 ,my soul by nature stood1 ,and ,justice was about to draw ,his sword to shed my blood4 ',stand forth6 ,stand forth6' he sternly cried1 ',and pay me what you owe6' ',tis done1' said ,jesus1 'for ,i died2 ,loose him1 and let him go6' ,what a solemn consideration it is that ,i who write and you who read will stand in one case or the other--,loose him1 and let him go6 or1 ,bind him hand and foot1 and cast him into outer darkness6 ,i ask myself--and may ,i ask you--,does it cause you any searchings of heart1 any anxious thoughts1 any tossings to and fro upon your bed8 ,how stands the case1 my soul1 with thee8 ,are matters right between ,god and thy soul8 ,have ,i any reason to hope that ,i shall be acquitted8 ,or are you1 ,gallio-like1 caring for none of these things1 dancing the hellward road apace8 ,this we are sure of--that the judgment of ,god will be according to truth1 and those who die in their sins1 destitute of an interest and hope in ,christ1 will have to confess that the ,judge of all the earth has done right4 ,your debts are great--too great for you ever to pay4 ,are you trying to wipe off part of the score1 endeavouring to do your best1 and trusting ,jesus ,christ to make up the rest8 ,hopeless case1 for-- ,could thy zeal no respite know1 ,could thy tears for ever flow1 ,all for sin could not atone2 ,christ must save1 and ,christ alone4 ,but if1 from a sense of your true state and condition1 your entirely bankrupt state1 with no hope or help in yourself1 you have fallen down at ,jesus' feet1 crying1 ,lord1 save1 or ,i perish6 you are on safe ground4 ,thy ,surety paid for thee2 and thou shalt know it in ,his own time1 to the joy of thy heart4 ,a ,,barrister4 ,,modes ,,of ,,travel ,,in ,,persia4 ,there are two modes of travel in ,persia1 caravan and chappah4 ,the former is slow1 at the pace which loaded mules can follow1 say twenty-five miles a day4 ,to travel in caravan means not to go with a large company1 but in this leisurely manner4 ,hence our word caravan1 because large trains in the ,east must necessarily travel in caravan style4 ,chappah travelling1 on the other hand1 means rapid going1 at an average of eighty to a hundred and fifty miles per diem4 ,this can only be done by riding at a steady gallop--horses rarely trot in the ,east--and changing horses at short intervals4 ,the post carriers invariably travel chappah4 ,the method of measuring distances in ,persia is by farsakhs1 a farsakh representing four miles4 ,post stations are placed four farsakhs1 or sixteen miles apart1 and more rarely five farsakhs4 ,fresh relays of horses are kept in readiness at these stations4 ,the post carriers1 accompanied by a single attendant1 both heavily armed1 and wielding a fierce whip of hide1 carry the mail in saddle bags4 ,on arriving at a station they dismount1 take a hasty cup of tea which is in readiness1 and a few pulls at the kalian1 or water-pipe4 ,then the horses are led out1 and the postman starts for another sixteen-mile gallop over the mountain and plain1 through forest and waste4 ,these postmen are1 so far as ,i could learn1 very faithful and courageous1 as they must need be1 for they are sometimes attacked and killed1 especially when it had leaked out that they are carrying money4 ,thus they go through ,persia1 and through life1 on horseback4 ,in summer1 they have to rest during the heat of the day1 but1 summer and winter1 they gallop all night1 and practically have no rest until the end of the journey4 ,the post rider from ,teheran to ,bushire goes nearly seven hundred miles before he can take a solid sleep4--,s4 ,g4 ,w4 ,benjamin4 ,,the ,,value ,,of ,,work4 ,earn your own bread1 and see how sweet it will be6 ,work1 and see how well you will be6 ,work1 and see how cheerful you will be6 ,work1 and see how independent you will be6 ,work1 and see how happy your family will be6 ,work1 and1 instead of repining at ,providence1 you may1 perhaps1 find yourself offering up thanks for all the numerous blessings you enjoy4 ,,cousin ,,susan',s ,,note-,,book ,,jottings ,,on ,,the ,,life ,,and ,,work ,,of ,,father ,,chiniquy4 ,,the ,,cow1 ,,the ,,sucking ,,pig1 ,,and ,,purgatory4 ,the tree is known by its fruit4--,,matthew xii4 #cc4 ,mr4 ,chiniquy died very suddenly1 when his little son ,charlie was only twelve years old4 ,the boy had been fetched home from the house of a relative who lived at a distance1 and where he had attended a good school1 kept by a ,protestant gentleman4 ,he had gone through various lessons with his father1 and delighted him with the progress he had made4 ,they had read the fifteenth chapter of ,luke1 and retired to rest full of joy2 but before the next day dawned1 the boy awoke to his mother's heartrending cry1 ,oh1 my dear child1 you have no more a father6 ,he is dead6 ,poor child6 ,he felt he could not believe it4 ,he ran to his father's bed1 kissed him1 pressed his hands1 and prayed that he might live4 ,but it was too true4 ,the breath had fled1 and only a lifeless corpse remained4 ,after such overwhelming sorrow1 surely they needed the tenderest sympathy2 but only a few days elapsed before the parish priest 7who had1 years before1 tried to get their ,bible away7 called on them1 and1 after a few cold words1 he said that something was owing for the prayers that had been offered for the departed1 and he would be glad to receive it6 ,poor ,mrs4 ,chiniquy assured him that1 although her husband had received a considerable income as a notary1 yet their expenses had been so heavy that he had left her little besides debts4 ,the house he had had built1 and the piece of land he purchased not long ago1 were only half paid for1 and ,i fear1 said she1 ,i shall lose them both4 ,i hope1 sir1 she added1 that you are not the man to take away from us our last piece of bread4 ,but1 madam1 was the cruel answer1 the money for the masses offered for the rest of your husband's soul must be paid6 ,for some time the widow sat shedding silent tears4 ,at length she raised her tearful eyes1 and said1 ,sir1 you see that cow in the meadow8 ,her milk1 and the butter made from it1 form the principal part of my children's food4 ,i hope you will not take her away from us4 ,if1 however1 such a sacrifice must be made to deliver my poor husband's soul from purgatory1 take her as the payment of the masses to be offered to extinguish those devouring flames4 ,very well1 madam1 said the priest1 rising1 and walking out4 ,they anxiously watched to see what he would do2 and1 to their horror1 he went straight to the meadow and drove away their useful and cherished favourite4 ,poor ,mrs4 ,chiniquy nearly fainted2 and when able to speak1 she said-- ,dear child1 if ever you become a priest1 never be so hard-hearted towards poor widows as are the priests of to-day4 ,those words were never forgotten1 as our next story will show4 ,many years had passed4 ,the child had become a man and a priest1 when he was invited to preach a course of three sermons in the church of a rich curate4 ,on the second day1 walking with him to the parsonage1 a very poor1 ragged1 and miserable man took off his hat1 and tremblingly addressed the curate1 saying-- ,you know1 sir1 that my poor wife died1 and was buried ten days ago2 but ,i was too poor to have a funeral service sung for her1 and ,i fear she is in purgatory4 ,almost every night ,i see her in my dreams in burning flames1 and she cries to me to help her4 ,will you be so kind as to sing that high mass for her8 ,of course1 answered the curate4 ,your wife is suffering in purgatory4 ,give me five dollars1 and ,i will sing the mass to-morrow morning4 ,the poor man replied that his wife had long been ill1 and he was too distressed to pay the money1 and begged that five low masses might be said for her4 ,the priest told him he must pay five shillings for them1 but the wretched man declared he had no money1 and that he and his children were starving4 ,well1 well1 said the curate1 ,i saw two beautiful sucking pigs before your house this morning4 ,give me one of them4 ,those pigs1 sir1 said the man1 were given me by a charitable neighbour1 that ,i might raise them for my children's food next winter4 ,they will surely starve if ,i give my pigs away4 ,chiniquy could not wait to hear the conclusion of the shameful bargain4 ,he hurried away to his room1 refused to take tea1 and spent a sleepless night wondering whether the ,church of ,rome could be the ,church of ,christ4 ,next morning1 he gave five dollars to the poor man1 and went breakfastless to church4 ,after preaching1 he was led by the curate to his dining-room4 ,the long fast had made him very hungry1 and the foremost dish was a delicious sucking pig4 ,he had cut a piece1 and was just about to eat1 when the scene of yesterday flashed across his mind1 and he inquired1 ,was this that sucking pig8 ,yes1 replied the curate1 with a hearty laugh1 it is just that4 ,if we cannot take the poor woman's soul out of purgatory1 we will1 at all events1 eat a fine sucking pig4 ,the priestly guests all joined in the laugh except ,chiniquy1 who1 with a burst of righteous indignation1 pushed his plate away1 and in a few thrilling words told them what he thought of the whole proceeding4 ,of course they were very angry2 but the sucking pig was untouched by any one4 ,thus were ,chiniquy's eyes gradually opened1 and he saw men as trees walking1 until the final touch gave him to see all things clearly4 ,lord1 open ,thou our eyes1 and give us clearer and yet clearer light1 that we not only may forsake every evil way1 but may follow ,thee with full purpose of heart4 ,,questions ,,with ,,answers4 ,what is earth1 sexton8 ,a place to dig graves4 ,what is earth1 rich man8 ,a place to work slaves4 ,what is earth1 grey-beard8 ,a place to grow old4 ,what is earth1 miser8 ,a place to dig gold4 ,what is earth1 schoolboy8 ,a place for my play4 ,what is earth1 maiden8 ,a place to be gay4 ,what is earth1 seamstress8 ,a place where ,i weep4 ,what is earth1 sluggard8 ,a good place to sleep4 ,what is earth1 soldier8 ,a place for a battle4 ,what is earth1 herdsman8 ,a place to raise cattle4 ,what is earth1 widow8 ,a place of true sorrow4 ,what is earth1 tradesman8 ,i'll tell you to-morrow4 ,what is earth1 sick man8 ',tis nothing to me4 ,what is earth1 sailor8 ,my home is the sea4 ,what is earth1 statesman8 ,a place to win fame4 ,what is earth1 author8 ,i'll write there my name4 ,what is earth1 monarch8 ,for my realm 'tis given4 ,what is earth1 ,christian8 ,the gateway of heaven4 ,,some ,,account ,,of ,,the ,,lord',s ,,gracious ,,dealings ,,with ,,mary ,,stubbs1 ,,who ,,died ,,at ,,godmanchester1 ,,december #ai,,th1 #ahhg1 ,,aged ,,twenty-,,four ,,years4 ,we cannot say when1 or by what means1 the ,lord first implanted the seed of eternal life in our sister's soul2 but as in nature1 so in grace--there is first the dropping of the seed1 then the blade and the ear1 and after that1 the full corn in the ear2 the full corn in many1 as in our sister's case1 not appearing until they are laid down by a fatal disease4 ,by letters which ,i received from her the last few years1 ,i had a hope the seed was sown from the love which she manifested to the truth and people of ,god4 ,at the same time1 many of her words and actions manifested much impatience1 showing that she was a child of fallen ,adam1 and that she was under another influence than the ,holy ,spirit of ,god4 ,this was a trial to us1 giving us many errands to the throne of grace1 not knowing what the end might be2 and not only was it a grief to us1 but also to herself4 ,some months ago1 writing to me1 she said1 ,i feel so very unhappy4 ,i wish ,i had never been born1 for ,i do not feel fit to live1 nor yet fit to die4 ,her sister1 with whom she lived1 says1 ,once or twice before her last affliction have we found her weeping1 after she returned from the house of ,god--once especially1 when ,mr4 ,oldfield spoke from the words1 ',thou shalt preserve me from trouble1' at which time she seemed sorely tried2 and referring to it on her dying bed1 said1 ',satan did tempt me so then2 but what a mercy ,god preserved me6 ,i felt that1 if ,i had died then1 ,i must have been lost4' ,at another time she found her in great distress1 and1 inquiring the cause1 she said1 ,i feel so ill6 ,i do not think ,i shall live long1 and ,i know ,i am not prepared to die4 ,about three weeks after this1 she went to ,st4 ,ives' anniversary1 and heard ,mr4 ,hull preach from the text1 ,in this place will ,i give you peace4 ,the words seemed to have an abiding-place in her heart1 and proved a promise to her in her affliction4 ,they were as bread cast upon the waters1 found and enjoyed after many days4 ,when she returned from ,st4 ,ives1 she looked quite ill1 and said1 ,it seems as though ,i am not to go anywhere and enjoy myself4 ,a few weeks after this1 she took to her room1 which she never left again4 ,but1 as her bodily strength decreased1 she became more and more anxious about eternal things1 and said to her sister and one of the members1 who were sitting with her1 ,i do not think ,i shall get better4 ,if ,i was sure ,i should go to heaven1 ,i should not mind dying2 but ,i keep thinking of all my past sins1 and all that ,i have done and said4 ,do you think the ,lord will forgive8 and with great earnestness she exclaimed1 ,oh1 do tell me--do you think ,he will forgive all my sins1 and take me to heaven8 ,they told her they felt sure1 if the ,lord had made her sins a burden to her1 and enabled her to beg of ,him to cleanse her in ,his precious blood1 ,he would1 in ,his own time1 answer her petitions1 and they encouraged her to give ,him no rest until ,he spoke home peace and pardon to her soul4 ,on ,saturday1 ,november #abth1 ,mr4 ,oldfield called to see her4 ,she asked him if he thought the ,lord would forgive her4 ,he assured her that1 if the ,lord had made her long for ,his pardoning love1 ,he would appear for her4 ,he had sweet liberty in prayer on her behalf1 and1 having read at her request the twenty-seventh ,psalm1 he inquired if she had any favourite hymns4 ,she replied1 ,yes--',there is a fountain filled with blood4' ,he remarked1 ,the dying thief felt he needed that fountain1 and so do you and ,i1 ,mary4 ,she answered1 ,yes1 we do4 ,in the evening1 two of her sisters came to see her1 and she exclaimed1 ,what6 are you both come so far to see me8 ,i am not worthy1 and burst into tears4 ,on ,sunday1 ,november #acth1 she said but little during the day1 but still kept begging of the ,lord to forgive her all her sins1 and take her to heaven2 and in the evening ,he answered her prayer1 and sweetly spoke home peace and pardon to her heart4 ,she exclaimed1 ,jesus has pardoned all my sins6 ,yes1 yes1 ,he has told me so6 ,i am so happy6 ,oh1 so happy6 ,jesus6 ,jesus6 ,thou art precious to my soul6 ,oh1 come and take me6 ,i long to be with ,you1 dear ,jesus6 and1 with solemn sweetness1 she added1 ',yea1 though ,i walk through the valley of the shadow of death1 ,i will fear no evil1 for ,thou art with me2 ,thy rod and ,thy staff they comfort me4' ,lord1 ,i believe ,thou hast prepared1 ,unworthy though ,i be1 ,for me a rich1 a free reward1 ,a golden harp for me4 ,jesus is 'the ,chiefest among ten thousand1 and the altogether lovely4' ,thus she laid1 blessing and praising ,his dear name till she was completely exhausted4 ,early the next morning she said1 ,i am still on this bed of affliction4 ,the ,lord has spared me one more day1 but ,i hope ,he will soon come and fetch me4 ,i do so long to go1 but ,i must wait a little longer1 ,till ,his appointed time1 ,and glory in the knowledge ,that such a home is mine4 ,yes1 'that such a home is mine6' ,i shall wear a white robe there1 and sing ',hallelujah6 ,hallelujah6' ,yes1 loudest of the crowd ,i'll sing1 ,whilst heaven's resounding mansions ring ,with shouts of sovereign grace4 ,on ,monday1 ,november #adth1 ,i and my brother visited her for the first time4 ,she was at first overcome1 but soon revived1 and said1 ,i am so pleased to see you both4 ,i asked the ,lord to spare me to see you all before ,i died4 ,how kind ,he is to hear me6 ,i spent1 altogether1 the greatest part of four days with her1 and those will be reckoned amongst the happiest days of my life1 though mixed with sorrow at the thought of losing one made doubly dear by the sweet manifestation of the spirit of ,christ in her4 ,we could but look on and say1 ,what hath ,god wrought6 she herself saying1 ,i am not the one ,i was once1 but am a new creature in ,christ ,jesus1 for the ,lord has heard my prayers1 and forgiven all my sins1 and now ,i know ,i am going to heaven1 her countenance at the same time beaming with joy4 ,on ,tuesday1 ,november #aeth1 she asked her eldest brother to read to her-- ,when languor and disease invade ,this trembling house of clay1 ',tis sweet to look beyond our cage1 ,and long to fly away1 which she much enjoyed4 ,on ,wednesday1 ,november #afth1 she said to me1 ,oh1 ,joseph1 ,i feel ,jesus is all around me1 and ,i know ,he is soon coming to take me home4 ,i am so happy1 and waiting to go to my home of eternal rest4 ,turning to those present1 she said1 ,you do not mind parting with me1 now you know ,i am going to heaven1 do you8 and1 seeing us in tears1 she said1 ,i cannot think what you have to grieve about4 ,if ,i were not going to heaven1 then you might grieve4 ,at times she seemed completely lost to all around1 and was in sweet communion with ,god1 and laid blessing and praising ,his dear name4 ,the following are only a few of the sweet words that fell from her lips--,oh1 ,jesus1 ,i am so happy6 ,thou art precious to my soul4 ,i long to be with ,thee1 dear ,jesus--not that ,i wish to leave my brothers and sisters1 only to come to ,thee4 ,i can leave everything to come to ,thee1 dear ,jesus4 ,come and fetch me4 ,fetch me soon1 if it is ,thy will2 but if ,i must wait a little longer1 give me patience to wait ,thy time4 ,at other times1 she would repeat with sweet feeling her favourite hymns and chapters1 amongst which were1 ,psalms xxiii41 xxvii41 and ciii42 and hymns1 ,how sweet the name of ,jesus sounds1 ,there is a fountain filled with blood1 and ,father1 whate'er of earthly bliss4 ,the last verse of the latter seemed particularly precious to her-- ,let the sweet hope that ,thou art mine ,my life and death attend2 ,thy presence through my journey shine1 ,and crown my journey's end4 ,one morning1 she wished her books1 c41 brought to her1 that she might give us each a parting gift1 saying1 ,keep them in remembrance of me1 when ,i am gone to heaven to be with ,jesus4 ,on ,wednesday1 ,november #afth1 in the evening1 ,mr4 ,oldfield again saw her4 ,she spoke very freely to him1 and said1 ,won't it be nice to depart and be with ,jesus8--much better than remaining here4 ,i think ,he will soon come and fetch me4 ,he has pardoned all my sins4 ,yes1 ,he told me so4 ,he read ,john x4 at her wish1 and spoke in prayer1 which she much enjoyed and spoke of afterwards4 ,when ,i was about to leave her1 she said1 ,i want you all to sing1 ',how sweet the name of ,jesus sounds1' which we did1 she joining with all the strength she had1 her face being radiant with joy4 ,another morning she awoke1 and commenced singing several sweet hymns4 ,truly she experienced the words of ,isaiah1 ,thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on ,thee4 ,one ,sunday she said1 ,how ,i should love to get to chapel6 ,if ,i ever went again1 ,i should like to be baptized2 but ,i do not think ,i shall have strength to go any more4 ,no2 ,jesus is going to take me to ,himself4 ,how kind of ,him6 ,don't you think so8 ,i do4 ,on ,november #bfth1 being her eldest sister's birthday1 she wished us to get a card for her4 ,one being selected with the words1 ,the ,lord will bless ,his people with peace1 she said1 ,yes1 that is the peace ,mr4 ,hull spoke of at ,st4 ,ives1 and ,god has given me that peace4 ,in presenting the card1 she said to her sister1 ,take it from me4 ,it will be the last present ,i shall give you on your birthday4 ,before another ,i shall be in heaven4 ,yes1 ,i shall soon be landed ,on yonder shores of bliss2 ,there1 with my powers expanded1 ,shall dwell where ,jesus is4 ,during the night she remarked1 ,how good ,jesus is in taking me away so gently6 ,i thought1 after all ,i have done and said1 ,i should suffer much more4 ,my sufferings are nothing to what ,christ suffered on the cross4 ,the next day ,mr4 ,oldfield came1 and she wished him to read ,psalm ciii4--,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul--and the hymn commencing1 ,my hope is built on nothing less4 ,he commented on the last verse1 and spoke of the robe prepared for her1 and the glory that awaited her in heaven4 ,on ,monday1 ,november #bhth1 with deep feeling1 she said-- ,e'er since by faith ,i saw the stream ,thy flowing wounds supply1 ,redeeming love has been my theme1 ,and shall be till ,i die4 ,one day1 her doctor said he thought her a little better4 ,when she was told1 she burst into tears1 and said1 ,oh1 ,i do not want to get better6 ,dear ,jesus1 do come and take me6 ,weary of earth1 myself1 and sin1 ,dear ,jesus1 set me free6 ,and to ,thy glory take me in1 ,for there ,i long to be4 ,another time she said1 ,i think ,i shall soon reach my journey's end now4 ,won't it be nice when my last day comes8 ,i did not think ,i should be taken first1 but ,i do now4 ,i wonder who will be the next8 ,jesus knows4 ,i should like to have on my tombstone1 ',to depart and be with ,christ is far better1' and ,i hope ,mr4 ,oldfield will bury me2 but it little matters about my body4 ,i shall be singing in heaven when they are putting my poor body in the grave4 ,the last time ,mr4 ,oldfield visited her she could say but very little to him1 her cough being so incessant4 ,he read ,psalms cxv4 and cxvi41 and remarked1 ,the heathen have no ,god to cry to in their affliction1 but you have4 ,what a mercy6 ,when your poor1 lisping1 stammering tongue ,lies silent in the grave1 ,then1 in a nobler1 sweeter song1 ,you'll sing ,his power to save4 ,you have had a foretaste of heaven here1 haven't you8 ,she answered1 ,yes1 ,i have4 ,at times her sufferings seemed more than she knew how to bear1 and caused her to become impatient2 but afterwards she would express much sorrow for it1 and beg earnestly of the ,lord to forgive her1 and enable her to bear all ,he should see fit to lay upon her1 adding1 ,my sufferings are nothing to what ,christ suffered4 ,on ,sunday1 ,december #ahth1 she said but little during the day1 but in the evening she wished the hundredth ,psalm to be read1 and the hymn1 ,oh1 bless the ,lord1 my soul4 ,between eleven and twelve o'clock at night she said to her sisters1 ,i think ,i shall go to-night4 ,yes1 ,i feel sure ,i shall4 ,they asked her if she still felt happy1 and if ,jesus was precious4 ,she answered1 ,yes6 yes6 ,my hope is built on nothing less ,than ,jesus' blood and righteousness4 ,turning to them1 she said1 ,good-bye1 good-bye4 ,say ',good-bye' to all for me4 ,i am going home6 home6 home6 ,i am going home6 ,she then fell asleep1 to awake in a happier world1 where the inhabitant shall no more say1 ,i am sick2 and where they that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity4 ,she was interred at ,godmanchester on ,december #bfth1 #ahhg1 many of the friends and scholars of the ,sunday ,school being present4 ,truly1 the memory of the just is blessed4 ,j4 ,s4 ,,bible ,,subjects ,,for ,,each ,,sunday ,,in ,,april4 ,april #a4 ,commit to memory ,psa4 xciv4 #a4 ,april #h4 ,commit to memory ,psa4 xciv4 #b4 ,april #ae4 ,commit to memory ,psa4 xciv4 #ba4 ,april #bb4 ,commit to memory ,psa4 xciv4 #bb4 ,april #bi4 ,commit to memory ,psa4 xciv4 #bc4 ,a ,,chinaman applied for membership in a ,san ,francisco ,baptist ,church4 ,in answer to the question1 ,how he found ,jesus8 he is reported to have answered1 ,i no find ,jesus at all2 ,he find me4 ,there is a great deal of theology as well as evidence of religion in his answer4 ,a ,,famous ,,dog4 ,in #aggi1 a young dog1 who apparently had no master1 came1 no one knew how1 to ,caen1 ,france1 and met there a regiment of grenadiers starting for ,italy4 ,urged on1 apparently by destiny1 he followed them4 ,he was1 to all appearance1 a common street cur1 dirty and ugly1 but he had such a bright expression and seemed so intelligent that they did not hesitate to take him4 ,his new companions forced him to act as sentinel1 to obey orders1 to keep step1 to become accustomed to the sound of fire-arms1 to obey roll call1 and all other duties the soldiers were called upon to perform4 ,he received and ate his rations with them1 and lived in every respect as his regiment was commanded to do4 ,in going to ,italy1 ,moustache crossed ,st4 ,bernard1 at the cost of unknown hardships1 and encamped with the regiment above ,alexandria4 ,it was here that he was to accomplish his first great feat of arms4 ,a detachment of ,austrians1 hidden in the ,valley of ,balbo1 advanced in the night to surprise the grenadiers1 and was heard by this vigilant dog as he was making his rounds4 ,the soldiers were awakened by his barking4 ,in a moment every one was on foot1 and the enemy dislodged4 ,to reward ,moustache1 the colonel had his name inscribed on the regimental roll1 and ordered that he should have every day the ration of a soldier4 ,he ordered that there should be put on his neck a collar bearing the name of the regiment1 and the barber was ordered to wash and comb him every week4 ,some time afterwards there was a slight engagement1 and ,moustache conducted himself very bravely4 ,he here received his first wound--a bayonet thrust in the shoulder4 ,it must be said here that ,moustache was never wounded except in front4 ,about this time he quarrelled with the grenadiers and deserted1 because they had left him tied in the garrison4 ,taking refuge with a company of chasseurs1 he saw a disguised ,austrian spy enter the ,french camp4 ,moustache1 forgetting the insult he had received1 welcomed the stranger by springing at his throat with much fierceness4 ,this action astonished all at first1 but they had time for reflection1 and then remembered the sagacity of the faithful dog4 ,the stranger was arrested1 searched1 and found to be a spy4 ,moustache continued the series of his exploits4 ,at the battle of ,austerlitz1 seeing the colour-bearer surrounded by enemies1 he flew to his rescue1 defended him as well as he could1 and when the soldier fell1 pierced with bullets1 enveloped in his colours1 ,moustache1 seizing with his teeth that part of the glorious flag which he could get1 fairly flew past the enemy1 and brought back to his company the blood-stained remnants4 ,it must be said here that a charge of musketry had taken off one of his legs4 ,this saving of the flag brought him merited honour4 ,they took off the collar he wore1 and ,marshal ,lannes ordered that they should put on him a red ribbon1 with a copper medal1 bearing this inscription on one side--,he lost a leg at the battle of ,austerlitz1 and saved the colours of his regiment4 ,on the other side it read--,moustache should be loved and honoured as a brave ,french dog4 ,as it was easy to recognise him by his ribbon and medal1 they decided that1 in whatever regiment he should present himself1 he should receive the portion of a soldier4 ,he took part yet in several battles1 and among others that of ,essling 7#ahji74 ,he made with the dragoons two campaigns1 and the brave dog fought every time he had the opportunity4 ,he always walked in front on the alert1 barking when he heard any noise1 and could not find out the cause4 ,in the ,sierra ,morena mountains1 he brought back to camp the horse of a dragoon who had been killed4 ,it is said that at several times he showed this same act of intelligence4 ,he made his last campaign with the artillery1 and was killed at the battle of ,badajoz1 on ,march #aath1 #ahaa1 at the age of twelve years4 ,they buried him on the spot where he fell1 with his medal and his ribbon4 ,on the stone which served as his monument they wrote--,here lies ,moustache4 ,these simple words are more eloquent than the most pompous epitaph4 ,,flesh-,,eating ,,plants4 ,it is said that there are about a hundred kinds of flesh-eating plants all the world over1 and of these1 three--the sundew1 butterwort1 and bladderwort--grow in this country4 ,the member of this species best known to ,british botanists is the sundew4 ,the leaves of this plant resemble in shape a flat spoon1 and the surface of their blades is covered with stout1 erect1 hair-like objects1 each with a roundish head1 which is surrounded with a sticky fluid4 ,flies are the usual prey of the sundew4 ,when one of these insects touches the blade of a leaf of the plant1 the sticky points detain it1 and the edges of the blade begin bending towards the centre1 and continue to so fold themselves until the fly is entirely enveloped by them4 ,after remaining in this position for many hours1 or even days1 the leaf gradually resumes its original shape1 and an examination will show that nothing remains of the fly but the hard parts--as the wings1 outer skin1 c4 ,the rest of the insect has been dissolved in the sticky secretions1 and absorbed by the plant4 ,several of these plants have been placed near one another1 and some have been covered by fine gauze1 so that no flies could be caught by their leaves4 ,the superiority of the plants that have been left in their natural state has clearly proved that a supply of animal food is not only advantageous1 but almost necessary to them4 7,see ,psalm civ4 #bd47 ,,draw ,,me4 ,no man can come to ,me except the ,father1 which hath sent ,me1 draw him4--,,john vi4 #dd4 ,him that cometh to ,me ,i will in no wise cast out4--,,john vi4 #cg4 ,i am the ,door4--,,john x4 #i4 ,draw me1 we will run after ,thee4--,,solomon',s ,,song i4 #d4 ,oh1 draw me1 ,holy ,father1 ,for in ,thy ,word ,i read ,that they who go to ,jesus ,with all their guilt and need1 ,are certainly attracted ,by ,thy almighty power1 ,to find a happy entrance ,through heaven's ,living ,door4 ,the world1 which once did furnish ,the trifles ,i desired1 ,now gives no satisfaction2 ,there's something else required3 ,the devil would allure me ,with charms by him designed ,to cry1 ,peace6 peace6 but cannot ,relieve my troubled mind4 ,i see no place of refuge ,to which ,i may retreat2 ,no home1 or kindly shelter1 ,to rest my weary feet4 ,where shall ,i go8 where can ,i8 ,dear ,saviour1 hear my plea-- ,draw me1 and ,i'll run gladly2 ,yes1 draw me unto ,thee4 ,a4 ,b4 ,a ,,brave ,,rescue4 ,it is only within the last few weeks that particulars have been published in the ,swiss papers of a brave rescue effected on ,mount ,st4 ,bernard on the night of the last ,sunday in ,november4 ,while a violent snow-storm was in progress1 ,grand1 the manager of the hospice1 noticed that his own special dog that was alone with him in his room became very restless1 and made signs to him to go out4 ,he took the lantern and fog-horn1 and went out on the mountain1 the dog leading him4 ,in a very short time he heard a call and groaning1 and1 helped by the dog1 dug out of the snow an ,italian1 whom he carried on his back into the hospice4 ,the rescued man stated that his father1 two brothers1 and another ,italian1 all journeying home with him over the pass1 lay buried in the snow4 ,he had pushed on to obtain help1 but had been overpowered by the storm4 ,grand made ready and went out again4 ,this second search was more tedious1 and led him further away1 but at last the barking of the dog announced a discovery4 ,it was the ,italian stranger who was now saved and carried up to the hospice4 ,a third time ,grand and his dog sallied out into the tempest1 and after a quarter of an hour's search found the others1 near where the second man had been discovered4 ,they were quite buried under the snow1 and almost insensible4 ,he took the most feeble on his shoulders1 and with difficulty conducted the others to the hospice4 ,it was now past midnight1 and his toilsome task had occupied ,grand over four hours1 in a blinding snow-storm4 ,a recent telegram from ,geneva states that two avalanches have fallen on the above famous hospice of ,st4 ,bernard4 ,the church has been almost entirely buried in snow4 ,no loss of life is reported4 ,,the ,,mummy ,,of ,,sesostris4 ,a new ,egyptian labyrinth was some time ago discovered at a place named ,deyr-el-,baharee by ,m4 ,maspero1 an orientalist of ,french nationality1 who found in one of the underground galleries1 hollowed through a mountain of granite1 three sarcophagi of the ,mosaic period4 ,they resembled somewhat our modern coffins1 except that they were much larger and rather clumsier in shape4 ,but they were beautifully adorned with images of ,egyptian gods and sacred animals1 painted in colours that were still of admirable freshness1 on a dark-brown ground4 ,they bore numerous inscriptions in hieroglyphics and the demotic character1 wherefrom the clue was obtained as to their identity4 ,the sarcophagi1 with their contents1 were transported down the ,nile to ,boulag1 at the gates of ,cairo1 and were opened in the presence of the ,khedive and several pashas4 ,the coil of thick cloth in which the first mummy lay was ripped open2 then a narrow linen band of about eight inches in breadth1 that went round and round the body several hundred times from head to foot1 was unwound2 after that1 a second winding sheet of the finest linen was with great care cut open with scissors4 ,at last a head appeared1 totally unlike that of any modern human being4 ,the description of it is given by ,m4 ,maspero in his report3-- ,the head is long and small in proportion to the body4 ,the crown is utterly bald2 the hair is scanty about the temples1 but grows in thick1 lank tufts on the nape4 ,it was white before death1 but has been stained light yellow by the sweet essences with which the body was embalmed4 ,the ears were almost round1 standing out from the head1 and are pierced like those of a woman4 ,the mouth is small1 and bordered with thick1 fleshy lips1 behind which is a row of white teeth that were kept clean with evident care4 ,whiskers and beard are thin4 ,they were shaved during lifetime1 but grew in the last illness1 or may-be after death4 ,the low forehead is narrow1 and the brow prominent1 and covered with white hairs4 ,the eyes are small1 and set close to one another2 the nose long1 thin1 aquiline1 and slightly flattened at the tip by the pressure of the bandages4 ,the temple is hollow1 the cheek-bones are prominent1 the jaw is strong1 and the chin very underhung4 ,the face of the mummy is certainly not an intelligent one1 and almost appears bestial2 but it has an unmistakable look of pride1 doggedness1 and majesty4 ,illustration3 ,,rescue ,,by ,,dogs ,,of ,,st4 ,,bernard4 ,as regards the body1 it is that of an aged man1 who was singularly vigorous and robust1 and must have lived to nearly a hundred years of age4 ,from the inscriptions on the coffin1 it appeared that the body it held had reigned over ,egypt for sixty-seven years1 during which time the country had attained the pinnacle of national greatness4 ,the ,hebrews groaned under his oppression1 and hundreds of thousands1 while employed to build the city of ,ramesis1 had died under the taskmasters' lash4 ,this mummy was the greatest among the ,pharaohs--,sesostris4 ,he was found in a wonderful state of preservation1 after having remained in that coffin for thirty-five centuries4 ,the second mummy proved to be that of ,rameses ,,iii4 ,the third mummy became putrid from exposure to air1 and was accordingly buried by ,m4 ,maspero4 ,it turned out to be that of a queen named ,nofritari1 of the eighteenth dynasty4 ,,when thy hand hath done a good act1 ask thy heart whether it is well done4--,fuller4 ,,this ,,is ,,the ,,way2 ,,walk ,,ye ,,in ,,it4 7,,psalm cxix4 #i47 ,wherewith shall the inquiring youth ,attempt to cleanse his way8 ,this question asked the lips of ,truth1 ,and many since that day4 ,the answer's ready for the meek1 ,and easy to be found2 ,no far-fetched knowledge need you seek ,on false1 on foreign ground4 ,take heed unto your steps1 dear friend1 ,the ,bible does declare2 ,may you unto ,god's ,word attend ,with energy and prayer4 ,take heed unto thyself1 wrote ,paul1 ,and to the doctrines1 too2 ,young ,timothy obeyed the call1 ,and ,god's salvation knew4 ,friend1 you may study well the law1 ,and try to do your best2 ,remember1 you will have to know ,this lesson with the rest4 ,but if you find yourself at last ,a guiltier sinner still1 ,the ,gospel is revealed for such-- ,come1 whosoever will4 ,yes1 there the secret is made known-- ,the remedy you need-- ,the precious blood of ,christ alone ,can cleanse thought1 word1 and deed4 ,m4 ,e4 ,s4 ,corby4 ,,thou1 ,,god1 ,,seest ,,me6 ,george1 said a big boy1 winking hard at his curly-headed little comrade1 you may pick me some of those apples4 ,your father has fallen asleep over his book in the study4 ,george raised his fearless1 honest eyes to the older lad's face1 and replied1 ,my ,father is father's ,father too1 and ,he neither slumbers nor sleeps 7,psa4 cxxi4 #d74 ,george's ,father was the all-seeing ,god4 ,a ,,visit ,,to ,,the ,,idrian ,,mines4 ,after passing through several parts of the ,alps1 and having visited ,germany1 ,i thought ,i could not return home without visiting those dreadful subterraneous caverns1 where thousands are condemned to reside1 shut out from all hopes of ever seeing the cheerful light of the sun1 and obliged to toil out a miserable life under the whips of imperious task-masters4 ,imagine to yourself a hole in the side of a mountain1 about five yards over4 ,down this you are lowered in a kind of bucket to a depth of more than one hundred fathoms1 the prospect growing still more gloomy1 yet still widening as you descend4 ,at length1 after swinging in terrible suspense for some time in this precarious situation1 you reach the bottom1 and tread on the ground1 which1 by its hollow sound under your feet1 and the reverberations of the echo1 seems thundering at every step you take4 ,in this gloomy and frightful solitude you are enlightened by the feeble gleam of lamps1 here and there dispersed1 so as that the wretched inhabitants of these mansions can go from one place to another without a guide2 though ,i could scarcely discern1 for some time1 anything--not even the person who came to show me these scenes of horror4 ,from this description1 ,i suppose you have but a disagreeable idea of the place2 yet let me assure you that it is a palace1 if the habitation be compared with the inhabitants4 ,such wretches my eyes never yet beheld4 ,the blackness of their visages only serves to cover a horrid paleness1 caused by the noxious qualities of the mineral they are employed in procuring4 ,as they1 in general1 consist of malefactors1 condemned for life to this task1 they are fed at the public expense2 but seldom consume much provision1 as they lose their appetites in a short time1 and commonly1 in about two years1 expire1 through a total contraction of all the joints4 ,in this horrid mansion ,i walked after my guide for some time1 pondering on the strange tyranny and avarice of mankind1 when ,i was accosted by a voice behind me1 calling me by name1 and inquiring after my health with the most cordial affection4 ,i turned1 and saw a creature all black and hideous1 who approached me1 and1 with a piteous accent1 said1 ,ah6 ,everard1 do you not know me8 ,what was my surprise when1 through the veil of this wretchedness1 ,i discovered the features of a dear old friend4 ,i flew to him with affection1 and1 after a tear of condolence1 asked him how he came there4 ,to this he replied that1 having fought a duel with an officer of the ,austrian ,infantry1 against the ,emperor's command1 and having left him for dead1 he was obliged to flee into the forests of ,istria1 where he was first taken1 and afterwards sheltered by some banditti1 who had long infested that quarter4 ,with these he lived nine months1 till1 by a close investiture of the place in which they were concealed1 and after a very obstinate resistance1 in which the greater part of them were killed1 he was taken1 and carried to ,vienna1 in order to be broken alive upon the wheel4 ,however1 upon arriving at the capital1 he was quickly known1 and several of the associates of his accusation and danger witnessing his innocence1 his punishment of the rack was changed into that of perpetual banishment and labour in the mines of ,idria4 ,as my old friend was giving me this account1 a young woman came up to him who at once ,i perceived to be born for a better fortune4 ,the dreadful situation of this place was not able to destroy her beauty2 and1 even in this scene of wretchedness1 she seemed to have charms sufficient to grace the most brilliant assembly4 ,this lady was1 in fact1 daughter to one of the first families in ,germany2 and having tried every means to procure her husband's pardon without effect1 was at last resolved to share his miseries1 as she could not relieve them4 ,she accordingly descended with him into these mansions1 whence few of the living return1 despising the splendour of opulence1 and contented with the consciousness of her own constancy4 ,i was afterwards spectator of the most affecting scene ,i ever beheld4 ,in the course of some days after my visiting the gloomy mansion ,i have represented to you1 a person came post from ,vienna to the ,idrian bottom1 who was followed by a second1 and he by a third4 ,the first inquiry was after my unfortunate friend1 and ,i1 happening to overhear the demand1 gave them the first intelligence4 ,two of these were the brother and cousin of the lady2 the third was an intimate acquaintance and fellow-soldier of my friend4 ,they came with his pardon1 which had been procured by the general with whom the duel had been fought1 and who was perfectly cured of his wounds4 ,i led him1 with all the expedition of joy1 down to this dreary abode1 presented to him his friends1 and informed him of the happy change of his circumstances4 ,it would be impossible to describe the joy that brightened upon his grief-worn countenance1 nor were the young lady's emotions less vivid at seeing her friends1 and hearing of her husband's liberty4 ,some hours were employed in mending the appearance of this faithful couple2 nor could ,i1 without a tear1 behold my friend taking leave of the former wretched companions of his toil4 ,to one he left his mattock1 to another his working clothes1 and to a third such utensils as were necessary for him in that situation4 ,we soon emerged from the mine1 where he once again revisited the light of the sun1 that he had totally despaired of ever seeing again4 ,a post-chaise and four were ready the next morning to take them to ,vienna1 where1 ,i am since informed by a letter from himself1 they are returned4 ,the ,emperor has again taken him into favour1 his fortune and rank are restored1 and he and his fair partner have now the pleasing satisfaction of feeling happiness with double relish1 as they once knew what it was to be miserable4--,selected4 ,what a happy deliverance6 say you4 ,ah6 but it is only a faint emblem of that deliverance which ,jesus wrought4 ,these people were delivered from sufferings which would only have been for a short time1 but ,jesus died to deliver ,his people from the wrath to come--the fire that shall not be quenched4 ,reader1 have you been brought to ,him8 ,can you say1 ,he loved me1 and gave ,himself for me8 or are you without hope of eternal life8 ,oh1 that you may seek to win ,christ1 and be found in ,him6--,,ed4 ,,answer ,,to ,,bible ,,enigma4 7,page #ff47 ,thy will be done4--,,matthew xxvi4 #db4 ,t imaeus ,mark x4 #df4 ,h arp ,genesis iv4 #ba4 ,y ear ,leviticus xxv4 #d4 ,w hale ,job vii4 #ab4 ,i nfidel #b ,corinthians vi4 #ae4 ,l atin ,luke xxiii4 #ch4 ,l aban ,genesis xxix4 #aj4 ,b ehemoth ,job xl4 #ae4 ,e phraim ,genesis xli4 #eb4 ,d og ,exodus xi4 #g4 ,o nyx ,genesis ii4 #ab4 ,n oon ,solomon's ,song i4 #g4 ,e pistle #b ,corinthians iii4 #a4 ,,harry ,,frederick ,,forfeitt 7,aged #aj years74 ,thong1 near ,gravesend4 ,,an ,,encouraging ,,sunday ,,school ,,gathering4 ,the twelfth annual meeting of the ,sunday ,school1 ,devonshire ,road ,chapel1 ,greenwich1 was held on ,february #hth4 ,the singing of a hymn was followed by the reading of ,psalm xix4 by ,mr4 ,boorne1 the ,pastor1 and prayer by ,mr4 ,joseph ,whittome4 ,mr4 ,boorne1 in his remarks1 referred to ,pharaoh's desire to keep the children in ,egypt1 even if the ,god of ,israel compelled him to let their parents go4 ,but they also had to come out from bondage4 ,he said a phrase was sometimes used to hinder the planting of ,sunday ,schools1 namely1 that they are often only a nursery for the ,church4 ,his opinion was1 that a ,sunday ,school might be put to a much worse use4 ,he thought it a good and desirable thing when it was so2 and scholars taught of ,god1 as well as by their teachers1 passed from the ,sunday ,school into the ,church4 ,the ,secretary and ,acting-,superintendent1 ,mr4 ,samuel ,boorne1 then read the report4 ,he noted four encouraging facts4 ,the increase of numbers--twenty new scholars1 making #adj in all4 ,that the infant class1 the feeder of the school1 was increasing4 ,the manifest interest taken in their school by many of the scholars1 for1 though it was twelve years old1 some of the original scholars were still connected with the ,bible ,classes4 ,her ,majesty's ,jubilee year was commemorated by the gift to each child of an ornamental card1 on which was printed the ,coronation ,oath1 taken by ,her ,majesty on her accession1 to preserve the ,protestant liberties of her country4 ,it was put into a gilt frame1 and was much appreciated by the scholars4 ,the collecting cards for the ,aged ,pilgrims' ,friend ,society1 issued this year by request1 and always a voluntary effort on the part of the children1 resulted in ,l#f #ajs4 ,mr4 ,marshall1 of ,clifton1 then interested many by his pleasant and solemn remarks4 ,the possibilities for the future represented by such a gathering of boys and girls formed a fitting theme4 ,he hoped there were none present who would be the means of breaking their parents' hearts4 ,a page from the life of a youth who really did do it1 and who traced the beginning of his evil doings to drink1 was pointed and solemn1 ,mr4 ,marshall saying it was his conviction that children should never be allowed to acquire a taste for so dangerous a luxury4 ,he said he was a total abstainer himself1 and did not think--and probably the audience agreed with him--he looked any the worse for it4 ,his concluding words will be remembered4 ,after fifty years' experience of the love and ways of ,god1 he testified to young and old that there was no happiness in anything but the knowledge of ,god in ,christ4 ,it surpasses and eclipses all4 ,he will do everything for those who are ,his4 ,he then addressed a few words to the teachers1 advising them to stick to the ,word of ,god4 ,the ,holy ,spirit was able to teach even children4 ,he once baptized a girl of fourteen1 of whom he could say he knew she was a vessel of mercy2 and why should he keep her out of the privileges of the ,lord's people8 ,he would not hesitate to baptize a child of ten if he or she gave sufficient evidence that they knew something of their own sinfulness1 and something of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,can any man forbid water1 that these should not be baptized1 which have received the ,holy ,ghost as well as we8 ,mr4 ,wilmshurst then began his address by reminding his young friends of the many happy ,sundays they had spent together4 ,what pleasant gatherings they were6 ,he had not forgotten them1 if they had4 ,but now he wished to speak of a most remarkable gathering of people4 ,he referred to the four hundred men who gathered to ,david in the cave ,adullam 7#a ,sam4 xxii4 #a1 #b74 ,the remarkable points were these3-- ,first1 they were all remarkably poor--in debt--and bankrupts in those days were liable to be taken for bondmen1 or slaves 7see #b ,kings iv4 #a74 ,we are all in debt to ,god1 and have nothing to pay4 ,we add to it hourly1 and unless the heavy debt is paid by us 7which is impossible71 or by ,another1 we shall be shut up for ever in prison with ,satan and his angels4 ,secondly1 these men were remarkably discontented--discontented with ,saul1 the reigning king1 his service1 and his rewards2 and they came to ,david1 an uncrowned king1 with no apparent advantage to offer them4 ,true type of those who1 like ,moses in a similar case1 have chosen rather to suffer affliction with the people of ,god1 than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season4 ,thirdly1 they were in remarkable distress4 ,so are all those who come to ,king ,jesus--a distress which others cannot understand1 and often cannot account for4 ,what must ,i do to be saved8 is a strange trouble to many4 ,fourthly1 they had remarkable desires4 ,they wished to find ,david1 to dwell with him1 and have him for their leader and captain4 ,and ,david himself was a fugitive1 hunted by ,saul--poor1 powerless1 and hidden away in a cave in a mountain1 where1 probably1 it was very difficult to find him4 ,so there are some 7only a few compared with the number of the people of the land1 like ,david's four hundred7 whose hearts are set on finding ,jesus4 ,they wish to be near ,him always4 ,he 7like ,david7 is difficult to find4 ,he must be usually searched for as for hid treasures 7,prov4 ii4 #d71 but when found1 ,he becomes their ,captain4 ,fifthly1 these men had a remarkable reception4 ,they had no good characters--nothing to recommend them--but they were received4 ,so ,jesus also receiveth sinners and eateth with them4 ,as the ,pharisees despised ,jesus for keeping such company1 so ,saul and his servants despised ,david4 ,jesus says1 ,him that cometh to ,me ,i will in no wise cast out4 ,the reception of the four hundred was also remarkable because they were uninvited4 ,but here the type fails4 ,jesus has invited those who come to ,him 7see ,matt4 xi4 #bh74 ,sixthly1 the men made remarkable soldiers4 ,their doings are recorded in #b ,samuel xxiii41 and the doings and victories of the good soldiers of ,jesus ,christ are to be found in ,hebrews xi4 ,david's soldiers did not live idle lives in the cave1 nor do ,christ's soldiers have peace always4 ,they have to fight the good fight of faith with the sword of the ,spirit1 which is the ,word of ,god1 and the bow of prayer4 ,they fight1 however1 with their ,captain's eye upon them 7see ,psa4 xxxiv4 #ae74 ,lastly1 they were remarkably rewarded4 ,when ,david came to the throne1 they were put in positions of honour4 ,the visible reward of ,christ's followers is yet to come 7,dan4 vii4 #bb1 #bg2 ,matt4 xix4 #bh2 ,luke xxii4 #bi1 #cj74 ,he has promised also to give them manifold more in this present time1 as well as life everlasting 7,luke xviii4 #bh-cj74 ,the prizes were then distributed by the ,pastor1 and after a concluding word of prayer1 this encouraging meeting was brought to a close4 ,e4 ,m4 ,,the ,,wise ,,and ,,foolish ,,builders4 7,,matthew vii4 #bd-bi47 ,this is a wilderness of sand1 ,with driving winds on every hand2 ,how many build their houses here1 ,nor seem the coming storm to fear6 ,there is a sure ,foundation-,stone2 ,may ,i be builded thereupon6 ,then shall ,i stand the last dread shock1 ,safe on the ,everlasting ,rock4 ,,bible ,,enigma4 ,the name of a river4 ,a place where all ,jews were commanded to depart from4 ,a king to whom the children of ,israel sent a present4 ,what did ,abimelech take with him when he went up ,mount ,zalmon8 ,what did the ,lord say the strong shall be as8 ,a mighty man of valour4 ,one of ,david's children4 ,name one of ,jacob's sons4 ,a brother of ,tubal4 ,one of the cities which the children of ,reuben built4 ,a mountain4 ,what did ,jesus say a disciple should be called8 ,that which was to be burned always4 ,a place where ,david dwelt4 ,one of the cities which the children of ,gad built4 ,of what tribe was ,hiram8 ,what did the ,lord say should not cease while the earth remaineth8 ,the name of a thing declared to be a mocker 7spell it backwards74 ,one who slew1 in the valley of salt1 eighteen thousand4 ,that which remains to the people of ,god4 ,a place where the children of ,israel provoked the ,lord to wrath4 ,a wicked king4 ,the place where the father of ,gideon dwelt4 ,one whom the ,lord blessed4 ,a bird that found no rest save in one place4 ,the initials and finals will form a prayer4 ,,alice ,,cole4 ,basingstoke4 ,,the law of love requires us to sacrifice our own comfort to promote the happiness of others4--,albert ,barnes4 ,,our ,,bible ,,class4 ,,mental ,,eyes3 ,,darkened ,,and ,,illuminated4 7,,matthew vi4 #bb1 #bc47 ,light sometimes means that which gives1 sometimes that which receives or reflects1 light2 as the sun is the light of the world1 and the windows through which he shines are the lights of the room and the house4 ,our eyes are the lights1 or windows1 of our body4 ,through them we look out upon the world around us2 and light1 knowledge1 and pleasure come in to us from what we see1 as well as what we hear4 ,jesus here refers to the eyes of the mind--the understanding4 ,how often1 when a difficult matter has been explained1 we say1 ,oh1 yes2 ,i see it all now6 and yet the eyes behold no new object4 ,we mean that we now understand what puzzled us so much before4 ,thus1 in these two verses we are told about minds that are darkened1 and also about understandings that are enlightened with the light of life4 ,if the light that is in thee be darkness1 how great is that darkness6 ,if the windows are bricked up1 no ray of light can force an entrance1 even at noonday1 into the darkened rooms2 or1 if the casements are thickly curtained1 or closely shuttered1 how dark the house must be6 ,so sin of some kind--pride1 prejudice1 or superstition--darkens the sinner's understanding1 shuts out the light of heavenly truth1 and lulls him to sleep in the arms of the wicked one--the sleep of death4 ,people often tell us that we can do something to enlighten our own understanding4 ,we can unfasten the shutters1 or draw back the curtains1 and let in the light4 ,alas6 unless the grace of ,god has reached us in its almighty power1 we do not want the light4 ,our deeds are evil1 and the light that makes them manifest is hateful 7see ,john iii4 #ah1 #ai74 ,the thief1 the murderer1 the coiner of bad money1 and all who are knowingly guilty of wrong-doing1 love darkness1 secresy1 and concealment rather than light2 and this is our condemnation1 as fallen creatures--we love the darkness1 and we shun ,god's holy light4 ,having the understanding darkened1 being alienated or estranged from the life of ,god through the ignorance that is in them1 because of the hardness of their heart 7,eph4 iv4 #ah74 ,such was our state by nature4 ,what are our feelings now8 ,saul of ,tarsus1 as a ,pharisee1 was learned1 intelligent1 and moral2 but how dark1 how blind1 he was in those days6 ,jesus1 ,god's beloved ,son1 was the ,object of his hatred4 ,the altogether ,lovely ,one had no beauty at all for him1 and the children of ,god he viewed as enemies whom he felt bound to conquer and destroy4 ,how great his darkness was--the darkness of prejudice and pride6 ,chiniquy1 the ,romish priest1 of whom some of us have heard so much1 was blinded by superstition for many a year1 and even the light of the ,bible1 as he read and studied it1 could not remove that darkness till ,god ,himself said1 ,let there be light1 and made the night of superstitious error flee away4 ,then minds are blinded as was ,balaam's of old1 and the ,pharisees1 to whom ,christ said1 ,if ye were blind--that is1 if they had not heard ,his words1 and seen ,his works 7see ,john xv4 #bb1 #bd7--ye had not had sin--you would have been comparatively free from blame--but now ye say1 ,we see2 therefore your sin remaineth4 ,they hated the light they had1 and closed their eyes against it4 ,as the proverb says1 ,none are so blind as those who will not see4 ,but ,god1 who commanded light to shine out of darkness at the world's creation1 hath shined in our hearts1 wrote the ,apostle ,paul 7#b ,cor4 iv4 #f71 to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of ,god in the face of ,jesus ,christ4 ,the once blinded ,pharisee could see now1 and how different were all his feelings6 ,his own righteousness was cast away4 ,jesus was precious to his heart1 and ,christians were his own company1 his beloved friends4 ,no darkness is too dense1 no barrier too strong1 for almighty grace to remove4 ,has the ,sun of ,righteousness arisen in our hearts8 ,how may we know8 ,jesus tells us 7,john iii4 #ba7--;,he that doeth truth cometh to the light4 ,god is ,light1 and ,his ,word is a light that makes all things manifest4 ,it shows sin1 how black it is4 ,it reveals the hollowness of the world1 the glory of ,christ4 ,it points out our dangers1 our disease1 our wants1 and our foes2 while it sets forth the remedy of all our ills1 the great ,refuge and ,deliverer who can save unto the uttermost all who confide in ,him4 ,do we try ourselves by the ,scriptures8 ,abraham compared himself to dust and ashes--worthless4 ,job said1 ,i have heard of ,thee by the hearing of the ear1 but now mine eye seeth ,thee1 wherefore ,i abhor myself1 and repent in dust and ashes 7,job xlii4 #e1 #f74 ,david1 king of ,israel1 said1 ,i am poor1 and needy4 ,are we anything like these saints of ,god8 ,god says1 ,he will give strength to those who have no might1 will fill the hungry with good things1 and for ,his own name's sake will bless those who feel themselves unworthy of ,his favour4 ,do these promises suit us8 ,are we glad that ,god's mercy is so free8 ,and do we1 like the ,psalmist1 esteem all ,his precepts concerning all things to be right1 and hate every false way8 7,psa4 cxix4 #abh47 ,if so1 we are children of the light1 and1 while we examine ourselves1 we shall pray ,god to search and try us1 and lead us in ,his everlasting way4 ,jesus said1 ,he that followeth ,me shall not walk in darkness 7,john viii4 #ab71 yet they who fear the ,lord1 and obey ,his beloved ,servant1 may1 for a time1 have no bright shinings on their pathway 7,isa4 l4 #aj71 just as sometimes a change of wind1 or some other cause1 may make a sudden darkness overspread the sky4 ,but day-darkness generally passes off again before long4 ,so light is sown for the righteous1 and the glad harvest shall certainly be reaped1 for the path of the just is as the shining light1 which shineth more and more unto the perfect day 7,prov4 iv4 #ah74 ,the morning twilight in nature may be dim and clouded1 but when once the sun has risen1 the light grows clearer and brighter till noon is reached2 but then it begins to decline1 and evening gradually comes on4 ,but the spiritual day ends in noontide glory1 the everlasting ending of all sorrow1 sin1 and fear2 and to ,his people the ,saviour says1 ,thy sun shall no more go down1 for the ,lord shall be thy everlasting ,light1 and the days of thy mourning shall be ended 7,isa4 lx4 #bj74 ,may ,he open our eyes1 that we may behold wondrous things out of ,his law4 ,may the ,sun of ,righteousness arise upon us1 with healing in ,his wings1 that in ,his light we may see light1 and follow ,him who has redeemed us from all evil to the realms of endless day4 ,our next subject will be1 ,god's ,independence of ,all1 and ,his ,declared ,need of ,some of ,his ,creatures4 ,compare ,psalm l4 #ab1 with ,matthew xxi4 #c1 and other passages4 ,yours affectionately1 ,h4 ,s4 ,l4 ,,the ,,pharisee ,,and ,,the ,,publican4 ,the ,word of ,god records a potent test ,by which a true possessor may be known-- ,the ,pharisee will smite his fellow's breast2 ,the grace-taught publican will smite his own4 ,,prize ,,essay4 ,,who ,,are ,,they ,,that ,,will ,,stand ,,perfect ,,in ,,the ,,day ,,of ,,judgment8 ,those who will stand perfect in the day of judgment are those who1 by the grace of ,god1 have been enabled to trust in1 and wait on1 the ,lord for salvation from sin and its consequences2 for1 by the ,holy ,spirit working in them1 they see their sin1 and feel the anger of ,god4 ,the heart is deceitful above all things1 and desperately wicked3 who can know it8 7,jer4 xvii4 #i72 and1 when we see and feel a little of our wickedness1 we despair1 and ,satan begins to torment us1 and say1 ,you are too wicked to go to heaven4 ,but ,jesus says1 ,him that cometh to ,me ,i will in no wise cast out 7,john vi4 #cg72 ,come unto ,me1 all ye that labour and are heavy laden1 and ,i will give you rest 7,matt4 xi4 #bh74 ,jesus says heavy laden1 showing that1 no matter how wicked1 how laden1 ,his word to all those who are weary of sin1 and heavy laden with sorrow for sin1 is1 ,come1 and ,i will give you rest--rest from ,satan and his temptations1 rest from the world and all its busy cares4 ,his rest is so different from all other1 for ,he says1 in ,john xiv4 #bg1 ,peace ,i leave with you2 ,my peace ,i give unto you3 not as the world giveth1 give ,i unto you4 ,let not your heart be troubled1 neither let it be afraid4 ,those who will stand perfect are those who have been chosen by ,god as vessels of mercy1 for ,peter says1 ,elect according to the foreknowledge of ,god the ,father1 through sanctification of the ,spirit1 unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of ,jesus ,christ4 ,then1 when sprinkled by the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 they are perfectly free from sin2 as the hymn says-- ,there is a fountain filled with blood1 ,drawn from ,immanuel's veins2 ,and sinners plunged beneath that flood ,lose all their guilty stains4 ,and this is how ,god's people stand before ,him-- ,dear1 dying ,lamb1 ,thy precious blood ,shall never lose its power ,till all the ransomed ,church of ,god ,be saved to sin no more4 ,and when the final judgment is pronounced1 those whose names are not recorded in the book of life will hear those awful words1 ,depart from ,me1 ye cursed1 into everlasting fire1 prepared for the devil and his angels 7,matt4 xxv4 #da74 ,but if our names are written in ,god's book of life1 how sweet to hear1 ,come1 ye blessed of ,my ,father1 inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world 7,matt4 xxv4 #cd74 ,oh1 that we may be found at ,god's right hand1 perfect in ,christ's righteousness1 singing and praising ,god through all eternity6 ,unto ,him that loved us1 and washed us from our sins in ,his own blood1 and hath made us kings and priests unto ,god and ,his ,father3 to ,him be glory and dominion for ever and ever4 ,amen 7,rev4 i4 #e1 #f74 ,but can ,i bear the piercing thought-- ',what if my name should be left out ,when ,thou for them shalt call8' ,let me among thy saints be found ,whene'er the archangel's trump shall sound1 ,to see ,thy smiling face3 ,then loudest of the crowd ,i'll sing1 ,while heaven's resounding mansions ring ,with shouts of sovereign grace4 ,,grace ,,annie ,,osmotherly 7,aged #ab years74 #de1 ,cutmore ,street1 ,gravesend1 ,kent4 ,we have received many tolerably good ,essays for this month1 among which the following claim special notice--,e4 ,b4 ,knocker2 ,lilly ,rush2 ,margaret ,creasey2 ,j4 ,e4 ,wright2 ,p4 ,rackham2 ,jane ,bell2 ,florrie ,rush2 ,claude ,rush 7aged #aj years72 ,laura ,creasey2 ,e4 ,wightman2 ,e4 ,b4 ,west2 ,d4 ,newbury2 ,b4 ,m4 ,dennis2 ,a4 ,m4 ,cray2 ,w4 ,e4 ,cray1 c4 ,the writer of the above ,essay receives a copy of ,the ,life of ,john ,newton4 ,the subject for ,june will be1 ,what ,marks do the ,lambs of ,jesus ,christ ,bear8 and the prize to be given for the best ,essay on that subject1 a copy of ,the ,dairyman's ,daughter4 ,all competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age1 and that the ,essay is their own composition1 or the papers will be passed over1 as the ,editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information4 ,papers must be sent direct to the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings1 by the first of ,may4 ,,kindness ,,to ,,animals4 ,the following lines are printed on a board over a watering-trough in ,holloway1 ,bath3-- ,a man of kindness to his beast is kind1 ,but brutish actions show a brutish mind4 ,remember1 ,he who made thee made the brute2 ,who gave thee speech and reason1 made him mute4 ,he can't complain1 but ,god's all-seeing eye ,beholds thy cruelty and hears his cry4 ,he was designed thy servant--not thy drudge4 ,remember his ,creator is thy ,judge4 ,,he acts but a fool's part who aims at heaven1 but lives at random4 ,interesting ,items4 ,,the ,,deepest ,,running ,,stream4--,the deepest running stream that is known is the ,niagara river1 just under the suspension bridge1 where it is seven hundred feet deep by actual measurement4 ,,sabbath-,,breaking4--,on ,sunday afternoon1 ,march #dth1 at ,sheffield1 a little boy1 whose name was ,thomas ,haigh1 was drowned in a dam1 caused by the breaking of the ice4 ,he was sent to the ,sunday ,school by his parents4 ,instead of going there1 however1 he and another boy went to what is known as the ,little ,london dam4 ,the ice was not safe1 but they ventured on it1 and ultimately both fell in4 ,haigh was drowned1 and his body has not yet been discovered2 the other escaped4 ,children1 beware of disobedience and ,sabbath-breaking4 ,,great ,,snowstorm ,,in ,,new ,,york4--,every one declares it to be the worst storm they have ever known4 ,saturday1 ,march #ajth1 was a balmy1 spring day4 ,on ,sunday evening some cold rain fell1 changing at midnight into a freezing sleet4 ,on ,monday there was a veritable ,dakota blizzard4 ,the air was filled with snow flying before the wind at the rate of sixty miles an hour4 ,it was impossible in the street to keep the eyes open1 and almost impossible to walk4 ,those who did venture out of doors were to be seen clinging to trees for support against the gale1 or turning breezy corners upon their hands and knees4 ,vehicular traffic was totally suspended4 ,huge snow-ploughs1 drawn along the tramways by a score of horses1 had to be abandoned in the streets4 ,the tram-car drivers unhitched their teams of three horses1 and left the cars wherever they happened to be4 ,unbroken drifts1 as high as the hips1 or even in some cases up to the shoulders1 filled nine-tenths of the shop doors along ,broadway4 ,the storm is believed to be without a parallel4 ,it extended all along the ,hudson ,river and around ,new ,york4 ,,death ,,of ,,the ,,emperor ,,william ,,of ,,germany4--,berlin has been a city of mourning1 and ,germany a nation of grief1 in consequence of the death of the ,emperor ,william1 who closed his long1 eventful1 and successful life in his palace there1 ,unter den ,linden1 about half-past eight a4m41 ,march #ith4 ,just before he died1 when ,dr4 ,kogel1 the ,court chaplain1 repeated to the ,emperor the words of the ,psalmist--,yea1 though ,i walk through the valley of the shadow of death1 ,i will fear no evil1 for ,thou art with me2 ,thy rod and ,thy staff they comfort me1 the ,emperor observed1 ,that is beautiful4 ,his last words are said to have been those with which he replied to a question from his daughter1 the ,grand ,duchess of ,baden1 as to whether he was tired1 and would like to rest4 ,i have no time at present to be tired1 responded ,his ,majesty4 ,sometimes1 when his thoughts were wandering1 the dying monarch would think of his afflicted son and successor far away on the ,mediterranean shore1 and murmur1 ,fritz1 lieber ,fritz4 ,the ,emperor was a man who acknowledged ,god1 and ,god prospered his work1 as in the case of the ,franco-,prussian war1 for instance1 although many of his enemies sneered at that acknowledgment4 ,a special funeral service was held on ,saturday1 the #ajth ult41 in the mortuary chamber of the late ,emperor1 at which the ,dowager ,empress1 the ,grand ,duke and ,duchess of ,baden1 the ,crown ,prince and ,princess of ,sweden1 and other ,royal personages were present4 ,the deceased monarch lay in the same position as that in which he expired1 having a crucifix on the breast1 and holding an ivory cross in the right hand4 ,what ,popery6 ,,the ,,berlin ,,telegraph ,,office4--,friday1 ,march #ith1 will long be remembered as the busiest day on record at the ,central ,telegraph ,office of ,berlin4 ,the pressure was great on ,thursday1 when #bi1hgh telegrams1 aggregating #gii1ibf words1 had to be sent off4 ,but this record1 was eclipsed by the following day1 no fewer than #cf1fae telegrams1 containing together #a1aae1eea words1 being despatched to all parts of the globe1 and in different languages4 ,all the ,government telegraphists fit for duty had to be called in to meet the pressure1 and all the available instruments were worked4 ,it was a fortunate circumstance that the ,berlin ,bourse was closed1 as this enabled the authorities to make use of the instruments there for the work4 ,during the busiest hours of the day1 no less than #cdf telegraphists were at work at the same time in the great instrument room of the ,central ,telegraph ,office1 and #bcj instruments were operated4 ,,epping ,,baptist ,,sunday ,,school4--,on ,wednesday1 ,february #ast1 a lecture was delivered by ,mr4 ,william ,hazelton1 of ,college ,park1 ,lewisham1 entitled1 ,wit and its ,uses4 ,the lecture was listened to with great interest4 ,pieces were sung by the teachers and scholars1 conducted by ,mr4 ,g4 ,nokes4 ,the chair was taken by ,mr4 ,c4 ,cottis4 ,there was a good attendance1 and collections amounted to over two pounds4 ,on ,tuesday1 ,february #adth1 the children1 with their teachers and friends1 had their annual tea1 after which short addresses were given by the teachers1 and recitations and singing by the children4 ,the prizes1 consisting of books1 were then distributed by the ,superintendent1 ,mr4 ,william ,cottis2 and singing the ,doxology and prayer brought a very pleasant meeting to a close4 ,,siddal1 ,,halifax4--,on ,shrove ,tuesday1 the annual tea in connection with the ,strict ,baptist ,sunday ,school took place1 when about #afj sat down to tea4 ,the meeting was presided over by the respected minister1 ,mr4 ,d4 ,smith1 who gave a short address on ,stealing4 ,a few suitable recitations by the young children followed4 ,mr4 ,h4 ,e4 ,greenwood gave a short address on ,prizes1 and said how necessary it was for young people to have something to aim at1 and also on the value of a good name4 ,mr4 ,james ,moss1 ,superintendent of ,hebden ,bridge ,sunday ,school1 exhorted the children to obedience to their parents1 and related instances where disobedience had been punished in a remarkable way4 ,mr4 ,thos4 ,smith1 ,mr4 ,jos4 ,smith1 and ,mr4 ,m4 ,h4 ,robinson also gave short addresses4 ,mr4 ,john ,smith presented the certificates for attendance and good conduct1 and gave excellent counsel to the recipients4 ,after the singing of the ,doxology1 a very encouraging meeting was brought to a close4 ,,southsea4--,,salem ,,street ,,sunday ,,school4--,the annual distribution of prizes took place on ,sunday1 ,february #abth1 #ahhh4 ,after the opening services1 ,mr4 ,lowe spoke to the scholars respecting regularity and punctuality1 trying to impress on their minds that these things would be a good recommendation for their future life4 ,he also gave a hint that teachers should set the example4 ,he then spoke of love as being the mainspring to win the affections of the scholars1 for if love will not1 the reverse will not do so4 ,he also spoke affectionately to the young men present4 ,he felt surprised that they came so regularly to school4 ,he was brought up to the ,sunday ,school1 but as he grew older1 he left and sought worldly amusements2 but1 as he remarked1 being a vessel of mercy1 ,god sought him out in ,his own time4 ,he felt there was nothing in the school to attract young men1 but if they were seeking the one thing needful1 they would not desire such amusements as those by which many congregations seek to draw the minds of youth4 ,mr4 ,hitchens1 the ,superintendent1 then remarked that it was twenty years since he first became connected with the school1 and that he had seen many changes during that period2 but still he could say1 having obtained help of ,god1 he had continued until the present day4 ,then came the distribution of prizes4 ,one received a book about the sagacity of animals1 and his teacher also gave him a ,bible for his good attendance and punctuality1 as he did not remember him being away once through the year4 ,the service was ended by singing and prayer4 ,e4 ,a4 ,,hitchens4 ,,cirencester4--,,park ,,street ,,chapel ,,sunday ,,school4--,dear ,mr4 ,editor1--,i am one of the readers of the ,,little ,,gleaner4 ,we take a lot of them in our ,sunday ,school1 and the girls and boys like them very much4 ,i have been pleased to read about the treats which have been given at other ,sunday ,schools1 and thinking other children like reading about such things too1 ,i send you an account of our ,christmas treat1 held on ,january #bfth4 ,if you think it worth putting in the ,,little ,,gleaner1 ,i shall be very pleased to see it there4 ,ours is not a very large school1 there being only about fifty2 but ,i think it is very nice to go there4 ,mr4 ,barnard tells us that some of the ministers who give us an address tell him that ours is a very nice school1 for they go to some schools where the children are not so nicely behaved and attentive as we are2 but ,i expect we are not any better than we should be4 ,but ,i must tell you about our winter treat4 ,we have a summer outing as well4 ,about last ,october1 some of the lady teachers and friends who attend our chapel1 knowing that the poorer children of our school would be glad of some warm clothes for the winter1 got some money together and bought flannel1 serge1 and stockings1 and had a sewing meeting every week1 and made shirts1 dresses1 flannel petticoats1 and skirts2 and by ,christmas time they had a big box full of all these sorts of things1 which were brought and given away at our treat4 ,the children began tea at four o'clock1 after singing grace4 ,we had a beautiful tea1 and we each had an orange given us2 and then1 after the visitors 7and we had a chapel full7 had had their tea1 we sang a hymn1 and then our minister1 ,mr4 ,barnard1 gave a nice1 interesting address4 ,several of us recited pieces1 and after some more singing and one or two other friends had spoken to us1 the best part of the evening came for us children1 for ,mr4 ,barnard gave us our prizes--some beautiful books4 ,mine was a lovely one4 ,then the big box was opened1 and the garments were distributed2 and after a vote of thanks to the ladies1 and to ,mr4 ,barnard for presiding1 the meeting was closed with prayer4 ,i enjoyed myself very much1 and ,i think every one else did4 ,i have not had much practice in writing letters1 as ,i am only a little girl1 ten years old1 but ,i have sent you the best account ,i can of our treat4 ,i remain1 your young friend1 ,,mercy ,,risely4 ,p4,s4--,perhaps you don't know me1 but ,i have seen you ever so many times at our chapel4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,captain ,,never ,,saw ,,any ,,one ,,look ,,happier4 7,see page #ih47 ,,the ,,jesuit ,,and ,,the ,,bible4 ,there were not many passengers on board the vessel in which ,i was going to ,belgium1 which rendered our intercourse more intimate4 ,while ,i was conversing with two elderly persons from ,holland1 ,i saw a respectable looking young man1 passing backwards and forwards1 who seemed to listen to what ,i said4 ,in the afternoon1 as ,i was seated among some bales of goods1 the same young man placed himself beside me1 and made some remark as to the fineness of the weather4 ,yes1 ,i answered1 it is a proof of the goodness of ,god to us2 but to be sensible of ,his goodness is a far greater blessing4 ,has not a ,christian double cause for happiness1 since all he receives comes from the hand of his ,father8 ,he answered1 ,the captain and ,i were just now speaking about you4 ,the captain said he never saw any one look happier1 and he thought you must have some especial cause for it4 ,i wish1 sir1 ,i frankly confess1 to be told what your secret is2 for1 in truth1 ,i am not free from anxiety4 ,he then proceeded to relate how he had gone from place to place1 in order to practise his profession as a painter1 and yet all his calculations had been disappointed4 ,he was a native of ,belgium1 and a ,roman ,catholic4 ,but1 he added1 with a sort of contempt1 all my religion has given me no consolation4 ,what do you think is the use of all these rites and ceremonies8 ,they are wearisome1 and that is all4 ,my secret1 ,i answered1 which is not one in reality1 is of a very different character4 ,the ,bible1 sir1 by the mercy of ,god1 has rendered me happy1 not only for this world1 but1 above all1 for eternity4 ,perhaps you never read it8 ,the ,bible1 sir8 ,do you not know it is denied1 and even forbidden1 to us ,catholics8 ,i have heard1 indeed1 that some priests allow their parishioners to read it1 but they are very few2 and the truth is that1 if any of us were to read the ,bible1 he would be forced to do penance1 and to give the ,book up to our priest4 ,i have never read it1 ,i own4 ,here is a part of it1 ,i said1 producing my ,new ,testament4 ,this is the ,gospel of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,the ,gospel6 said the young man1 with surprise4 ,is it all contained in that small ,book8 ,i should never have supposed it4 ,this small ,book1 ,i said1 contains1 in our language1 all that ,god has said to us by ,jesus ,christ1 and costs only one franc 7tenpence74 ,only one franc6 ,is it possible8 ,i will have one1 and read it1 you may be sure4 ,i promise you1 as soon as we arrive at ,brussels1 the first thing ,i do will be to get that ,book4 ,but1 sir1 you say that your priest will not allow you to read it8 ,no1 sir2 our ,church does not permit us to do so4 ,but if you wish to know my own views1 ,i must say ,i feel sure that we are prevented from reading the ,bible only because it is exactly the reverse of what our priests tell us4 ,they say that the ,bible is obscure1 and not easy to be understood1 and that1 if they comprehend it1 it is different with the common people4 ,but ,i do not believe this1 especially after something that happened to one of my friends1 which ,i will tell you4 ,you know1 perhaps1 that ,belgium is full of ,jesuits1 and the people dislike them4 ,a certain abbe1 who was only a ,jesuit in disguise1 was confessor to a friend of mine1 who1 like many others1 had been guilty of some imprudence1 and he confessed it to this same priest1 who imposed rather a heavy penance on him1 particularly requiring him to make a rich offering to ,our ,lady the ,virgin ,mary4 ,well1 on his way home1 my friend met one of the colporteurs1 who sell ,bibles and other religious books4 ,he bought one1 and began to read it1 and the result was1 that he discovered1 as he told me1 that he must seek the forgiveness of his sins from ,god1 through the ,saviour1 and that to make an offering to the ,virgin for his faults was at once to lose his pains1 his money1 and his soul4 ,three months had passed1 when the priest met my friend1 and asked if he had done all he was directed1 and especially1 if he had made the offering4 ,my friend answered1 ',i have got a ,book which has shown me that ,god alone forgives sin1 and that to give money for a fault is to mock the ,holy ,spirit4' ',that is the ,bible1' exclaimed the ,jesuit4 ',wretched man1 from whom did you get it8 ,unless you give it up to me this very day1 woe be unto you6' ,my friend refused1 and there is no sort of annoyance or vexation which the priest has not made him suffer4 ,however1 he was firm4 ,but hitherto1 ,i confess1 ,i cared very little about the matter4 ,then1 said ,i1 you remain in ignorance as to whether ,god loves you or not8 ,i am not worse than others1 he replied2 and since ,god is good1 ,i do not suppose ,he hates me4 ,i explained1 with all simplicity and freedom1 the glorious doctrine of the salvation of ,god in ,christ1 and ,i saw that no thirsty traveller hastens to springs in the wilderness more eagerly than this young man seemed to turn and hearken to the record of divine love4 ,at length1 with much earnestness1 he cried out1 ,sir1 how wonderful is the love of ,god to man6 ,we did not deserve that ,he should give ,his ,son to die for us4 ,this was surpassing love4 ,the thought of it overpowers me4 ,will you not1 then1 ,i said1 read the ,bible1 which tells us this glorious news8 ,be assured that ,i will read it1 he answered4 ,in less than a week ,i will have one like that which belongs to my friend4 ,it is twice as thick as that lady's work-box1 but this one ,book contains all that ,god has said to man2 and the print is so clear4 ,but if some ,jesuit should see your ,book1 he may take it from you4 ,shall ,i tell you what ,i will do1 if any one of them meddles with me8 he said4 ,i will read some of its excellent contents to him1 and ask him what he thinks of them4 ,then ,i am sure he will not come again1 unless he takes a liking to them2 and then he will not hurt me4 ,c4 ,a ,,divine ,,providence4 ,the late ,mr4 ,edward ,parsons1 of ,leeds1 frequently supplied the pulpit of the ,tabernacle1 ,tottenham ,court ,road1 ,london4 ,walking out one ,monday morning1 he was accosted by a stranger1 who expressed a wish to accompany him4 ,on arriving at a certain house he said1 ,this is my home1 sir4 ,will you walk in and rest yourself8 ,having done so1 his host told him he had a design in thus treating him1 and then related the following remarkable facts3-- ,many years before1 himself and wife had come from ,scotland to ,london1 where1 as a mechanic1 he had for a time full employment2 but when his work became slack1 he was obliged to part with some of his furniture and take a smaller house4 ,his circumstances growing worse1 his health also failing1 he was obliged to part with more of his furniture1 until he found himself1 wife1 and family driven to reside in a wretched cellar in ,st4 ,giles'4 ,one day1 being without food1 or the means of obtaining any1 he resolved the next morning to drown himself in the ,new ,river1 and accordingly started to carry out his terrible intention4 ,it was the ,sabbath morning1 and as he passed through ,tottenham ,court ,road1 on his way to the ,new ,river1 a little before seven o'clock1 he observed a throng of people entering the ,tabernacle4 ,in a sullen mood he joined these early worshippers4 ,mr4 ,parsons was in the pulpit1 and gave out his text1 which was--,when the poor and needy seek water1 and there is none1 and their tongue faileth for thirst1 ,i1 the ,lord1 will hear them2 ,i1 the ,god of ,jacob1 will not forsake them 7,isa4 xli4 #ag74 ,it seemed so truly for him that the poor1 starving man could not help remaining through the sermon4 ,at its close ,mr4 ,parsons inquired1 ,have you put the ,god of ,jacob to the test8 ,the poor man at once said to himself1 ,i have not put the ,god of ,jacob to the test2 and consequently1 with a half-resolution to do so1 he returned to the miserable cellar4 ,there sat his wretched wife1 and there were his starving children1 crying for the food he could not supply4 ,a short period of pensive sadness1 and then he said to his wife1 ,i think we might read a chapter4 ,poor woman6 ,the remark opened up the well-spring of her heart1 and she burst into tears4 ,the thought of her early religious training at once rushed on her mind4 ,she looked for their ,bible1 but it had been pawned4 ,she1 however1 found part of an old copy1 out of which her husband read a chapter4 ,we have not put the ,god of ,jacob to the test4 ,shall we pray8 said he4 ,this more surprised the poor wife1 but at once they knelt down1 and did then put the ,god of ,jacob to the test4 ,still the whole day passed without their being supplied with food4 ,the next morning1 however1 the postman1 who very seldom entered that poverty-stricken street1 brought the man a letter from a former fellow-workman who had heard of his ill-health and loss of work4 ,the letter contained information concerning a large firm in ,london which had an extensive contract1 and was requiring a number of hands1 and advised that he should apply to it for employment4 ,it also contained a one-pound note as a loan1 which he immediately employed in obtaining food for his family and in delivering his best coat from the pawnbroker's4 ,he then applied to the firm named1 and obtained employment1 and1 being a clever workman1 his services were secured for a permanency4 ,at length he was appointed foreman1 and1 after a few years1 was made a partner in the business1 and eventually1 his former master retiring1 he gave up the business to him4 ,with grateful acknowledgments to the ,lord1 he then told ,mr4 ,parsons that he had also been enabled to put the ,god of ,jacob to the test with reference to the wants of his soul--that he had been led by divine grace to seek and find salvation2 so that he could set to his seal that ,god was true1 and that1 when the poor and needy seek water1 and there is none1 and their tongue faileth for thirst1 the ,lord will hear them2 the ,god of ,jacob will not forsake them4 ,r4 ,f4 ,r4 ,,two ,,ways ,,of ,,descending4 ,there are two ways of coming down stairs--one is1 to fall from the top to the bottom2 and the other is1 to come down step by step2 but both will take you to the bottom4 ,so also there are two ways of reaching hell--one is1 to fall into it by the committal of one great and terrible sin 7comparatively few do this74 ,the other is only too general--to go downward by the steps of little sins4 ,beware of the treachery of little sins4 ,e4 ,,barne4 ,,cousin ,,susan',s ,,note-,,book ,,jottings ,,on ,,the ,,life ,,and ,,work ,,of ,,father ,,chiniquy4 ,,doubly ,,freed ,,and ,,doubly ,,enriched4 ,godliness is profitable unto all things1 having promise of the life that now is1 and of that also which is to come4--#a ,,timothy iv4 #h4 ,when some notorious ,canadian robbers were arrested1 ,chiniquy was chosen by several as their confessor1 and he constantly attended the prison1 instructing them1 and trying to teach them how to die4 ,but1 after all his efforts1 a terrible fear that they were not converted would come over his mind1 and doubts of the real efficacy of ,popish ceremonies to prepare a sinner to meet ,god troubled him so much1 that he made a final attempt to rescue the doomed men after sentence of death was passed upon some of them4 ,his tears and prayers were successful1 and the ,governor of ,canada changed the death-doom to life-long exile in ,botany ,bay4 ,they1 with a number of other prisoners1 were therefore transported to the penal settlement1 and good ,father ,chiniquy gave each penitent he visited a ,new ,testament when he took leave of them4 ,forty years passed away1 and ,mr4 ,chiniquy1 the ,presbyterian minister1 was lecturing on ,romanism1 in ,australia1 when he saw an elegant carriage driven up to the house at which he was staying1 and a venerable gentleman1 alighting from it1 knocked at the door4 ,he went himself to open it1 to save trouble1 and the stranger asked1 was ,father ,chiniquy there1 and might he see him privately8 ,as ,i am ,father ,chiniquy1 was the reply1 ,i can at once answer that ,i shall feel much pleasure in granting your request4 ,he led the way upstairs1 and1 when alone1 the stranger asked-- ,do you remember the thieves who were sentenced to death in ,quebec1 in #ahcg8 ,well1 dear ,father ,chiniquy1 ,i was one of those criminals4444 ,my name was ,a----4 ,god has blessed me in many ways1 but it is to you1 under ,him1 that ,i owe my life1 and all the privileges of my present existence4444 ,i come to bless and thank you for what you have done for me2 and1 with tears of joy and gratitude1 he threw himself into his benefactor's arms4 ,they knelt together to thank ,god for ,his mercy1 and then the visitor continued his wonderful story4 ,he said1 ,after you had given us your last benediction1 when on board the ship that was to take us to ,botany ,bay1 the first thing ,i did was1 to open the ,new ,testament you had given me4444 ,it was the first time ,i had had that ,book in my hands4 ,you were the only priest in ,canada who would put it in the hands of the common people4444 ,the only good ,i derived from the first reading was1 that ,i clearly saw why the priests of ,rome fear and hate that ,book4 ,in vain ,i looked for ,mass1 indulgences1 purgatory1 confession1 the worship of ,mary1 c41 444 and for some weeks ,i became more of a sceptic than anything else4 ,but1 if my first reading did me little or no good1 ,i cannot say the same of the second4 ,i remembered1 when handing us the ,book1 you told us to read it with prayer to ,god for light to understand it4 ,i was tired of my former wicked life4 ,i felt the need of a change4 ,you often1 when speaking to us1 used the words of the ,saviour1 ',come unto ,me1 all ye who are weary and heavy-laden1 and ,i will give you rest'2 but1 like all the other priests1 you mixed with them the invocation of ,mary1 confidence in signs of the cross1 and confession1 so that your sublime appeals to the words of ,christ were drowned by absurd and impious superstitions4 ,one morning1 after a sleepless night1 and feeling so pressed down with the weight of my sins1 ,i opened my ,gospel ,book1 after praying for light and guidance1 and my eyes fell on the words1 ',the ,lamb of ,god1 that takes away the sin of the world4' ,these words fell on my poor guilty soul with a divine power4 ,i spent the day in crying to the ,lamb of ,god to take away my sins4 ,before the day was over ,i felt and knew that my cries had been heard4 ,the ,lamb of ,god had taken away my sins4 ,he had changed my heart1 and made quite a new man of me4 ,from that day the reading of the ,gospel was to my soul what bread is to the poor1 hungry man1 and what pure and refreshing waters are to the thirsty traveller4 ,my unspeakable joy was1 to read the ,holy ,book1 and speak to my companions in chains of the dear ,saviour's love for poor sinners2 and1 thanks be to ,god1 a good number have found ,him altogether precious1 and have been sincerely converted in the dark holes of that convict ship4 ,when at work in ,sydney with the other culprits1 ,i felt my chains to be light when ,i was sure the heavy chains of sin were gone2 and1 though working hard beneath a burning sun from morning till night1 my heart was full of joy when ,i was sure my ,saviour had prepared a throne for me in ,his heavenly kingdom4 ,about a year afterwards1 a minister of the ,gospel and another gentleman came to me and told me ,i was pardoned1 at the same time handing me a document signed by the ,governor1 and a hundred dollars1 adding1 ',go and be a faithful follower of the ,lord ,jesus1 and ,god ,almighty will bless you in all your ways4' ,all this seemed like a dream1 but it was a reality1 and ,i spent several days and nights weeping for joy1 and blessing the ,god of my salvation4 ,some years after that1 we heard of the gold mines1 and ,i started1 in company with several others2 but ,i separated from the others1 for ,i wanted to be alone1 and pray to my ,god as ,i walked along4 ,after a long march1 ,i came to a beautiful spot between three small hills1 whence a brook was running to the plain below4 ,i sat down to eat my dinner1 and1 while doing so1 my eyes fell on a stone by the brook about the size of a goose's egg4 ,the rays of the sun shone on it like a mirror4 ,i picked it up1 and found it was nearly all gold of the purest kind4444 ,with the money ,i gained from that place ,i afterwards bought a piece of land1 and became one of the wealthy men of ,australia4 ,i married and settled here2 444 and it is to you1 after ,god1 ,i owe my life and all the privileges ,i now enjoy4 ,they wept and praised ,god together in the beautiful language of the #ajcrd ,psalm4 ,both could say1 with a full heart1 ,bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul2 and all that is within me1 bless ,his holy name4 ,the next day ,pastor ,chiniquy dined at the house of his unexpected visitor1 and felt warmly interested in the family and all that he saw and heard1 and the two separated1 not expecting to meet again on earth1 but confidently hoping to meet around the throne of ,god1 to praise the wonders of redeeming love for ever4 ,may we also be glad1 and rejoice in ,his salvation1 and join to sing the heavenly song with heart and voice1 even now-- ,till sweeter notes our bosoms swell1 ,in yonder world above4 ,,wise work is cheerful as a child's work is4 ,a ,,brother',s ,,dream4 ,god speaketh 444 in a dream1 in a vision of the night1 when deep sleep falleth upon men1 in slumberings on the bed2 then ,he openeth the ears of men1 and sealeth their instruction4--,,job xxxiii4 #ad-af4 ,superstition attaches much importance to the night wanderings of a disturbed mind1 and augurs good or ill1 according to the nature of the dreamy imaginings4 ,thousands have dreamed themselves to ruin1 by following the empty speculations of a fervid imagination1 and neglecting the path of prudent industry4 ,the text above does not teach that ,god speaketh in all dreams1 but that ,he is pleased sometimes 7and the writer believes very occasionally7 to communicate instruction by such means4 ,he that made the soul can approach it by any avenue ,he pleases1 and is shut out from none4 ,winters and summers1 as many as fourteen1 have rolled over my head since the night made memorable by a brother's dream4 ,thirteen years have likewise passed since my arms were placed beneath this dying brother--since the glad angels conveyed his sweet spirit to the paradise of ,god4 ,oh1 the heavenly smile--oh1 the beaming eye he cast upon me--as he gently subsided into endless rest6 ,never shall ,i forget that scene4 ,never will be erased from memory's tablet that chamber1 and all that there ,i felt1 and saw1 and heard4 ,friend after friend departs2 ,who has not lost a friend8 ,come1 then1 all sympathizing hearts2 come1 ye who know what sorrow is2 come1 all who feel an aching void1 ,the world can never fill1 and listen to a brother's dream4 ,brought up to attend public worship1 and under religious instruction1 the period when spiritual life first animated his soul is not known to any survivors2 nor1 also1 what were the peculiar exercises of his mind during the first year or two of his ,christian life4 ,up to the time of his dream1 he was associated with many of those whose religion consists chiefly in name and show1 carnal excitement1 and flesh-pleasing formality2 and1 being of a very cheerful disposition1 and generally beloved by all who knew him1 it needed no small effort--nothing short of divine power--to sever the confederacy4 ,as will always be the case where the life of ,god is1 his soul began to languish and starve under the ,yea and nay1 ,do and live1 orations to which he from time to time listened4 ,he could not feed on husks4 ,distressed1 hungry1 and thirsty1 his soul at last fainted4 ,then he cried unto ,god in his trouble4 ,full of vexation and perplexity1 not knowing where to go or what to do1 he dreamed4 ,he saw1 as he thought1 an old woman with a cross-handled basket crying her saleables4 ,who wants to buy any religion8 ,who wants to buy any religion8 she repeated again and again4 ,gladly1 eagerly he vociferated1 ,i do6 ,i do6 ,he bought a large supply4 ,it consisted of a great number of props1 which supported him all around1 and on each prop was written something which he was to do--some deed or good work he was to perform4 ,almost as soon as he was in possession of his purchased religion1 he saw1 at a great distance1 a fire raging1 which soon increased1 so that it seemed to compass the whole sensible horizon4 ,but what was more fearful1 it burned still nearer and nearer to the spot where he stood1 consuming everything as it approached4 ,alarmed1 amazed1 terrified1 his horror was increased as he beheld his props already on fire4 ,everything had been destroyed as the burning ocean approached1 and could he escape8 ,alone and helpless1 how could deliverance be effected8 ,power and hope were alike gone1 and into the infinite fire he was just sinking1 when1 lo6 the mighty ,jesus1 before unseen1 stretched out ,his gracious arm1 and with words of promise1 instantaneously performed1 said1 ,i'll hold you up6 ,forthwith the fire was quenched1 and he sang delivering grace4 ,these solemn scenes1 so visibly portrayed in his imagination while asleep1 became a subject of serious consideration when awake4 ,who could explain the matter to him8 ,not long he lacked a teacher4 ,the ,gracious ,interpreter sent a messenger to blow the ,gospel trumpet in the neighbourhood4 ,he went2 he heard4 ,oh1 what a sermon6 ,never had such statements fallen upon his ears2 never had such light shone into his mind4 ,and what a text6--,the hail shall sweep away your refuge of lies1 and the waters shall overflow the hiding-place4 ,one after another1 the preacher described the vain hopes on which he had rested1 and showed their frailty and destruction1 in the way he had felt4 ,and then his refuge1 his hiding-place1 his props1 away1 away they go1 just as he saw1 exactly as he felt4 ,in short1 the preacher's sermon was a map of the path--a verbal unfolding of the secrets of his heart4 ,what was the consequence8 ,the meshes of the devil's fishing-net were broken2 free-will1 creature-dependency1 were gone2 and hope--,gospel hope--good hope through grace--filled his anxious bosom4 ,he had been down in the horrible pit2 he had been sinking in the miry clay4 ,now he is brought to the verge of deliverance4 ,now he sees1 he hopes in1 the boundless prospects of covenant grace4 ,not many miles distant in another direction1 lived and preached a servant of the ,lord1 lately taken to his everlasting home4 ,he bent his steps to hear the words of truth and grace from his lips4 ,wonderful6 ,astonishing6 ,was it an angel ,i heard before--one who had assumed a bodily shape1 to bear those joyful tidings to my soul1 and now appears again with other features and with another voice8 ,no2 he was a man2 and this is a human voice ,i hear4 ,but how astonishing6 ,he seems to know all the other told me1 and to begin where the other left off4 ,their sermons seem like two following pages of a book1 in which ,i read the secrets of my life1 and behold in legible lines those things ,i never breathed to human friends4 ',this is the ,lord's doing1 and it is marvellous in my eyes4' ,it was the ,lord's doing2 for not only was his whole ,christian pathway mapped out1 but his soul sweetly delivered from legal entanglements1 from slavish fear and anxious doubt1 and brought into that liberty with which ,god makes ,his people free4 ,he was made wise unto salvation1 through faith in ,jesus ,christ4 ,moreover1 by continuance in that ,word1 he gave unequivocal demonstration that he was a disciple indeed2 one who was a learner and follower of ,jesus2 and so1 knowing the truth as it is in ,jesus1 he rejoiced in hope of the glory of ,god4 ,nor did he have long to wait1 for1 sinking under the merciless hand of pale consumption1 in a little more than a year he was suddenly removed to that land of peace and love where ,jesus sheds the brightest beams ,of ,his o'erflowing grace4 ,reader1 the dream was instructive to the dear departed2 but was it given for him alone8 ,it can no longer benefit him1 for with him all is reality--no shadowy emblem1 but everything substantial4 ,may not we therefore derive instruction8 ,let us look at some of its prominences4 ,standing out with towering majesty and grandeur1 like a cloud-capped mountain1 appears ,divine sovereignty--the sovereign mercy of the ,lord1 who hath mercy on whom ,he will have mercy4 ,you will not see this through reason's misty glass 7which perverts and confuses all things beheld through it71 no more than the loftiest eminence is discernible in the darkness of midnight4 ,but in the light of ,god's truth it is clearly visible4 ,there are many with whom he was associated when he sought the living among the dead--when he was entangled in the carnal schemes of a false religion--who remain where he could not stay1 and seem contented1 too4 ,there have been but comparatively very few brought to seek what he sought1 and to know what he was taught4 ,who hath saved us1 and called us with an holy calling1 not according to our works1 but according to ,his own purpose and grace1 which was given us in ,christ ,jesus before the world began4 ,we also discover the danger of false religion4 ,behold that burning flame6 ,thus burns ,god's wrath against sin4 ,no human efforts can quench it or check its progress4 ,all creature performances1 like the ,,props1 will be consumed by it4 ,the best of human works are but as stubble to the fire of wrath divine4 ,indeed1 when ,god tells of that dreadful day which shall burn as an oven1 the self-righteous1 or proud1 are put before those that do wickedly1 as objects of ,god's displeasure1 and doomed to that dreadful burning4 ,oh1 could ,i make my words thunder and lightning1 to peal and flash this solemn truth from hill to hill and from vale to vale6 ,all false religion begins on the outside1 and attempts to alter principles by renovating practice2 but all true religion commences within4 ,the ,spirit produces a change in the practice by implanting new life and holy principles4 ,ye must be born again4 ,religion is not a new patch on an old garment1 but a new fabric entirely4 ,if any man be in ,christ ,jesus1 he is a new creature4 ,we see1 likewise1 the trouble and anxiety which are felt when one is soundly convinced of his sinful life and state4 ,salvation is then a matter of life and death4 ,life1 life1 eternal life6 is the earnest cry4 ,conviction of sin1 when it merely penetrates the skin1 is soon soothed and forgotten2 but when the arrows from the bow of ,god's ,word pierce the heart1 no hand can withdraw them but ,his who directed them1 and no balm can heal those painful wounds but that administered by ,jehovah-,jesus4 ,it may be seen also that1 till ,he who is the ,way1 the ,truth1 and the ,life1 was proclaimed to his eager soul1 he found no solid satisfaction1 no stable peace4 ,in vain the trembling conscience seeks ,some solid ground to rest upon2 ,with long despair the spirit breaks1 ,till we apply to ,christ alone4 ,he is the only ,antidote to our sin1 ruin1 and disease2 and ,he is freely set forth in the ,gospel as the gracious1 willing1 almighty1 and everlasting ,saviour of the lost and undone4 ,until we are brought sensibly to feel our sin and destitution1 we are ready and willing to try everything but that which ,god has provided2 but when we are brought before ,his infinite holiness1 and see the filthy garments in which we are clad1 no arm is long and powerful enough to reach our case but ,his1 who is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto ,god by ,him4 ,the blessed ,spirit will always glorify ,jesus by ,his teaching1 and will lead the soul to ,him as the ,all in all of salvation4 ,here are exhibited1 likewise1 the gracious operations of ,his power and wisdom who says1 ,the ransomed of the ,lord shall return and come to ,zion1 with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads4 ,had his soul's salvation rested on his believing1 as some would tell us1 he had not have been where he is4 ,grace begins1 grace carries on1 grace performs1 and finally completes1 the grand work of eternal redemption4 ,in this brief narrative appears1 moreover1 the peace and joy a knowledge of sin forgiven and peace secured produces in the soul4 ,oh1 the blissful truth1 ,redemption through ,his blood1 the forgiveness of sins1 according to the riches of ,his grace4 ,to taste this1 to know this1 exceeds ten thousand worlds of sordid treasure--transcends the highest delights of this terrestrial sphere4 ,how did his happy soul rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory6 ,but he has long entered his rest4 ,he has forgotten to mourn1 and loudly sings the praises of the ,lamb4 ,where is my reader8 ,is he pursuing the wind1 and hunting after the shadowy trifles of earth8 ,is he attempting by creature works to make his peace with ,god8 ,doomed to total disappointment and eternal condemnation are all those who die in such hostility to the way of peace and ,heaven's declared will6 ,oh1 delusion6 worse than madness6 ,he that believeth not shall be damned6 ,no salvation but by a living faith in the ,lamb of ,god and ,his all-perfect work4 ,,prompt ,,kindness4 ,the fact that we are too apt to suppress our kindest emotions for loved ones1 and withhold our words of approbation1 is but too frequently apparent4 ,this is often done with the best intent1 fearing that more cordial expression and warmer approval may savour of flattery1 and very frequently it is the outcome of pure carelessness or indifference4 ,in this connection it is well to consider the words of ,horace ,mann4 ,says he3-- ,do not keep the alabaster boxes of your love and tenderness sealed up until your friends are dead4 ,fill their lives with sweetness4 ,speak approving1 cheering words while their hearts can be thrilled and made happier by them4 ,the kind things you mean to say when they are gone1 say before they go4 ,the flowers you mean to send for their coffins1 send to brighten their homes before they leave them4 ,if my friends have alabaster boxes laid away1 full of fragrant perfumes of sympathy and affection1 which they mean to break over my dead body1 ,i would rather they bring them out in my weary and troubled hours1 and open them1 that ,i may be refreshed and cheered by them while ,i need them4 ,i would rather have a plain coffin without flowers1 a funeral without eulogy1 than life without the sweetness of love and tenderness and sympathy4 ,let us learn to anoint our friends beforehand for their burial4 ,post-mortem kindness does not cheer the burdened spirit4 ,flowers on the coffin cast no fragrance backward over the weary way4 ,,bible ,,enigma4 ,an unknown king4 ,a place from which the ,canaanites were not driven4 ,one of the dukes of ,edom4 ,a ,shuhite4 ,a place built by the sons of ,elpaal4 ,where were they once who are now made nigh to ,god8 ,the ,hebrew name for pavement4 ,a name which means the tower4 ,something which ,god used to give a sign to encourage a king4 ,the initials and finals form two titles of ,christ4 ,,clara ,,ellis 7,aged #ad years74 ,a ,,fugitive ,,in ,,the ,,himalaya ,,mountains4 ,in the summer of #aheb ,colonel ,b----1 on an excursion to the snowy range of the ,himalayas1 had proceeded into the mountains some twenty miles beyond any known habitation of civilized man1 when the natives told him that1 in a village near by1 a white man was living in concealment4 ,incredible as it appeared1 ,colonel ,b---- followed his guides to a little native hut with mud walls and roof of grass4 ,taking a peep in at the low entrance1 sure enough1 there he spied an elderly person with a white face1 but in the most shabby dress of the natives1 who1 on catching a glance of the intruder1 rushed into a dark corner of his miserable hovel1 out of which the most earnest entreaties and assurances of good intentions scarcely brought him4 ,he was the son of an ,english gentleman who1 like thousands of the high-bred youths of ,england1 had come to ,india to procure a title to a ,government pension1 and1 after remaining here ten or twenty years1 return home and live in ease4 ,like not a few who come to this land1 supposing he could scarcely avoid becoming rich1 he had run recklessly into debt1 until he was threatened with a term of years in close confinement unless he should immediately cancel his liabilities1 to do which he was totally incapable4 ,he fled beyond the limits of the ,british territory to the place where ,colonel ,b---- found him1 where he had subsisted for some fifteen years1 in the manner of the wild natives around him1 not excepting their revolting vices4 ,colonel ,b---- told him of a debt he owed1 which1 if not discharged1 might consign him to chains and darkness1 not for a term of years1 but for eternity2 begged him earnestly to seek to escape that everlasting imprisonment in the dungeons of the unutterably miserable2 prayed with him1 and gave him a few tracts1 which1 like many good men1 ,colonel ,b---- is in the habit of taking with him wherever he goes4 ,two years after1 he again visited him1 and found that the seed he had been permitted to sow was springing up4 ,on reading the tract1 ,it is the ,last ,time1 he could have no peace of mind until he found assurance of his greatest debt being cancelled by the blood of ,christ4 ,his brother1 who was receiving a large salary in ,india1 was delighted to be permitted to meet his earthly liabilities1 and requested him to return to ,england and live the remainder of his days in comfortable ease4 ,but no2 he said he had opposed and reviled the ,christian religion in ,india1 and here he wished to do what he could to counteract his past evil influence4 ,he is now at ,s----1 daily assisting a missionary in proclaiming to the heathen the only way of eternal life4 ,may ,he whose grace has raised him thus far out of the loathsome den1 lead him still onward1 and make him an eminent aid and ornament to the faith which he so long despised and reproached4 ,in what various ways does ,god enable him to do good whose heart is set upon it6 ,the author of that tract probably never thought of its floating over the waves fifteen thousand miles1 fluttering on the breeze another thousand miles into the heart of a heathen country1 amidst the bears and wolves and wild men of the ,himalayas1 lighting upon a poor degraded immortal1 twice dead and plucked up by the roots1 and proving him a son and heir of the ,lord ,god ,almighty1 a being to reign on the throne of the universe for ever with the ,king of kings4 ,o the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of ,god6 ,a ,,few ,,words ,,from ,,the ,,dumb4 ,it is the glory of ,englishmen to stand up for the defenceless1 and to scorn the cowardly oppression of the weak4 ,surely1 then1 those who own and those who use ponies and donkeys will be willing to give a fair hearing to a pleader for the helpless1 dumb creatures4 ,if they could speak for themselves1 would they not say--,give us some rest one day in the week1 and we will do all the more for you the other six1 and last the longer for it4 ,you yourself work the better1 and live the longer1 for one day's rest4 ,don't beat our sore sides so hard and so often1 and we shall be stronger and better servants to you4 ,you know how oppression only makes you set up your back1 but you will do anything for a kind master4 ,don't ride and race us about till we are ready to drop1 and our wind is almost broken1 and we are reeking with heat and rough usage4 ,pray let us have a little more water when we stand weary and thirsty1 with our poor dry tongues unable to ask for it4 ,you have felt the suffering of thirst4 ,and for pity's sake1 the ponies would say1 loosen this torturing bearing-rein4 ,we toss and shake our heads1 or we try to keep them still1 and nothing gives us a moment's ease4 ,you1 master1 would suffer severely if your head were held in such a position1 and we could do more work1 and much better1 without it4 ,please remember that we can always hear your voice1 and shall understand what you want us to do so much more quickly1 if you speak to us quietly1 than if you roar at us1 and drag our tender1 worn mouths about4 ,we get so puzzled and frightened when you're in a rage with us1 that we only flounder and plunge1 and make you more and more angry4 ,our last entreaty is that1 when we get old and past our work1 you will not let our poor1 wasted bodies stagger along under some load1 when our lives have been spent in your service1 but that you will reward us by having us immediately put out of our pain4 ,think how much you owe to mercy yourself1 and remember1 ,the merciful man doeth good to his beast4 ,,one ,,link ,,gone4 ,take the pillows from the cradle ,where the little sufferer lay2 ,draw the curtain1 close the shutters1 ,shut out every beam of day4 ,spread the pall upon the table2 ,place the lifeless body there2 ,back from off the marble features ,lay the auburn curls with care4 ,with its little blue-veined fingers ,crossed upon its painless breast1 ,free from care1 and pain1 and anguish1 ,let the infant beauty rest4 ,smooth its little shroud about it2 ,pick its toys from off the floor2 ,they1 with all their sparkling beauty1 ,ne'er can charm their owner more4 ,take the little shoes and stockings ,from the doting mother's sight2 ,pattering feet no more will need them1 ,in and out with such delight4 ,parents faint and worn with watching ,through the long1 dark night of grief1 ,dry your tears1 and soothe your sighing2 ,gain a respite of relief4 ,mother's care no more is needed ,to allay the rising moan2 ,and though you perchance may leave it1 ,it can never be alone4 ,thus a golden link is broken ,in a chain of earthly bliss-- ,thus the distance shorter making ',twixt another world and this4 ,illustration3 ,,kindness ,,to ,,animals4 7,see page #ajh47 ,a ,,gathered ,,one4 ,a ,,short ,,account ,,of ,,emma ,,beesley1 ,,of ,,leicester1 ,,who ,,died ,,on ,,lord',s ,,day ,,morning1 ,,january #a,,st1 #ahhh1 ,,aged ,,twenty-,,one ,,years4 ,our earliest recollection of ,emma was as a child in our ,sunday ,school1 which she was led1 in a very marked way1 to attend4 ,her sister was persuaded by a companion to go with her to our school just for one afternoon1 and she was so interested that she became a regular scholar4 ,emma was at that time attending a school in connection with a ,general ,baptist cause1 but hearing her sister speak in such high terms of the school at ,zion ,chapel1 she was soon persuaded to go with her4 ,like her sister1 she felt so at home that she also became a scholar4 ,they each became so very much attached to both school and chapel1 that they had no desire whatever to leave it2 and we have good reason to believe the ,word was made a blessing1 and that the seed of divine grace was sown in each of their hearts by ,god the ,eternal ,spirit4 ,emma was of a very quiet turn of mind1 and for the last two years was the subject of great soul-trouble4 ,all who knew her could testify to the deep sense she had of her sinnership before ,god4 ,her great fear was1 that she was too great a sinner for the ,lord to look upon2 but her whole desire was1 to be found right with ,him4 ,to a friend she said1 ,oh1 ,i should not mind waiting1 if only ,i knew ,i should obtain the blessing2 but ,i am so afraid ,i shall never have what ,i am seeking after4 ,her love for the house of ,god was so great that no weather would prevent her from attending the means4 ,being of a delicate constitution1 her mother often reproved her for going so much2 but she could say1 with the poet-- ,i love to meet amongst them now1 ,before ,thy gracious feet to bow1 ,though vilest of them all4 ,truly1 she prized the company of the ,lord's people1 and looked upon them as the excellent of the earth2 and many times has said1 ,i want the ,lord to assure me that ,i am one of ,his family1 redeemed by precious blood4 ,for the most part she was very dark in her mind1 but had rays of light1 being often encouraged under the preached ,word4 ,it was about a month before her last illness that the ,lord seemed to completely wean her from the world4 ,she seemed like one that was indeed taking the kingdom of heaven by violence4 ,the things that belonged to her soul's happiness were eagerly sought after1 while the things of the world were only a plague and a burden4 ,she said to a friend1 ,oh1 how ,i long for the ,christmas holidays--not for the mere holiday1 but that ,i may get away from my work1 and be with the dear people of ,god4 ,about a fortnight before her illness1 our dear minister spoke from the words1 ,my sheep hear ,my voice1 and ,i know them1 and they follow ,me4 ,it seemed to completely cut her up1 as she feared she was only a hypocrite1 and not a true follower1 which caused her great sorrow of heart4 ,but during the week the ,lord was pleased to shine upon her once more with these words--,i have loved thee with an everlasting love2 therefore with loving-kindness have ,i drawn thee4 ,but the words were so great she feared to take them1 and yet she could not put them away4 ,on the following ,sunday1 our dear pastor took for his text1 ,even to ,him shall men come 7,isa4 xlv4 #bd74 ,that day was indeed a ,sabbath to her2 for1 as the character was described1 the ,lord sweetly made it plain to her that she was no longer to cut herself off1 and she felt sure that she was the character described4 ,she earnestly begged of the ,lord that day that ,mr4 ,hazlerigg might be led to take the same text in the evening4 ,to her great joy the same words were again given out1 and the sermon was attended with the same sweetness to her4 ,she was indeed full4 ,a friend who walked with her from chapel said afterwards1 that she seemed in a most heavenly frame of mind4 ,she could do nothing but speak of the favoured times she had had in hearing4 ,the next1 and indeed the last1 time that she was permitted to meet with us on earth1 was at our prayer-meeting on the ,monday evening1 and then she seemed again to be much favoured4 ,she was taken ill on the ,wednesday evening4 ,on the following ,friday1 the writer1 being sent for1 went and found her very ill1 but her mind seemed stayed upon eternal things4 ,i said1 ,do you think you shall get better1 ,emma8 to which she replied1 ,i do not know4 ,if the complaint is not stayed1 ,i must sink2 but ,i do not mind4 ,i asked her if she feared death4 ,she replied1 ,no2 ,i only want the ,lord to reveal ,himself to me more1 and then ,i do not mind whether it is life or death4 ,she said1 ,i have only one wish1 and that is1 that the affliction may be sanctified4 ,she said that verse had been so blessed to her-- ,fenced with ,jehovah's 'shalls' and 'wills1' ,firm as the everlasting hills4 ,i said1 ,oh1 ,emma1 how good of the ,lord to give you those words4 ,he knows how full of fears you are1 and how ,satan would cast his 'buts' and 'ifs' at you2 but the ,lord has given you those words to quench ,satan's darts with4 ,i told her ,i believed the ,lord was either preparing her for ,his ,church below1 or ,his ,church above4 ,she smiled1 and said1 ,i hope it is so4 ,a friend1 to whom she was much attached1 called to see her1 and said1 ,emma1 should you like me to read to you8 ,i am afraid you are too ill4 ,she said1 ,oh1 do6 ,i should so much like you to do so4 ,the twenty-third ,psalm was read1 and a few words of prayer offered2 and to a friend1 who afterwards went in1 she said how very much she enjoyed it4 ,we did indeed feel it good to be with her2 but the affliction was of such a painful nature that she could not talk much4 ,the doctor said that all that could be done for her was to keep her very quiet1 and give her support1 so that we often refrained from conversing with her1 hoping very much that it might be the ,lord's will to restore her4 ,on ,saturday morning our hopes were raised very high4 ,she was quiet in her mind1 ,satan not being permitted to harass her4 ,her only fear seemed to be that she was ungrateful4 ,she said1 ,i have so many friends1 and they are all so kind4 ,but we always found her to be truly grateful for every little act of kindness shown to her4 ,towards evening a change for the worse took place4 ,convulsions seized her1 and1 for about twelve hours1 it was most painful to witness her struggle with the last enemy--so much so that her dear sister1 who was devoted to her1 was led to beg of the ,lord to release her4 ,about six o'clock on ,lord's ,day morning her spirit took its flight1 to be for ever with the ,lord4 ,truly1 we could say it was her gain1 though we felt the loss most keenly4 ,the ,lord had been so good in supporting her through her painful affliction1 that we felt we could justly say1 with the poet-- ,her mind was tranquil and serene2 ,no terror in her look was seen2 ,her ,saviour's smile dispelled the gloom1 ,and smoothed her passage to the tomb4 ,c4 ,,wardle4 ,,prayer ,,answered4 ,a ,,true ,,incident4 ,on the summit of ,washington mountain1 overlooking the ,housatonic ,valley1 stood a hut1 the home of ,john ,barry1 a poor charcoal-burner1 whose family consisted of his wife and himself4 ,his occupation brought him in but few dollars1 and when cold weather came1 he had managed to get together only a small provision for the winter4 ,this fall1 after a summer of hard work1 he fell sick1 and was unable to keep his fires going1 so1 when the snow of ,december1 #ahgd1 fell1 and the drifts had shut off communication with the village at the foot of the mountain1 ,john and his wife were in great straits4 ,their entire stock of food consisted of only a few pounds of salt pork and a bushel of potatoes4 ,sugar1 flour1 coffee1 and tea had1 early in ,december1 given out1 and the chances for replenishing the larder were slim indeed4 ,the snowstorms came again1 and the drifts deepened4 ,all the roads1 even in the valley1 were impassable1 and no one thought of trying to open the mountain highways1 which even in summer were only occasionally travelled1 and none gave the old man and his wife a thought4 ,december #aeth came1 and with it the heaviest fall of snow experienced in ,berkshire ,county in many years4 ,the food of the old couple on the mountain was now reduced to a day's supply1 but ,john did not yet despair4 ,he was a ,christian and a ,god-fearing man1 and ,his promises were remembered2 and so1 when evening came1 and the north-east gale was blowing and the fierce snowstorm was raging1 ,john and his wife were praying and asking for help4 ,in ,sheffield village1 ten miles away1 lived ,deacon ,brown1 a well-to-do farmer of fifty years old1 who was noted for his consistent and godly deportment1 both as a man and a ,christian4 ,the deacon and his wife had gone to bed early1 and1 in spite of the storm raging without1 were sleeping soundly1 when1 with a start1 the deacon awoke1 and said to his wife1 ,who spoke8 ,who's there8 ,why1 said the wife1 no one is here but you and me4 ,what is the matter with you8 ,i heard a voice1 said the deacon1 saying1 ',send food to ,john4' ,nonsense6 replied ,mrs4 ,brown4 ,you've been dreaming4 ,the deacon laid his head on his pillow1 and was asleep in a minute4 ,soon he started up again1 and1 waking his wife1 exclaimed--,there1 ,i heard that voice again--',send food to ,john4' ,well1 well1 said ,mrs4 ,brown4 ,deacon1 you are not well2 your supper has not agreed with you4 ,lie down and try to sleep4 ,again the deacon closed his eyes1 and again came the voice--,send food to ,john4 ,this time the deacon was thoroughly awake4 ,wife1 said he1 who do we know named ,john who needs food8 ,no one ,i remember1 replied ,mrs4 ,brown1 unless it be ,john ,barry1 the old charcoal-burner on the mountain4 ,that's it6 exclaimed the deacon4 ,now ,i remember1 when ,i was at the store in ,sheffield the other day1 ,clark1 the merchant1 speaking of ,john ,barry1 said1 ',i wonder if the old man is alive1 for it is six weeks since ,i saw him1 and he has not yet laid in his winter stock of groceries4' ,it must be old ,john is sick1 and wanting food4 ,so saying1 the good deacon arose and proceeded to dress himself4 ,come1 wife1 said he1 wake our boy ,willie1 and tell him to feed the horses and get ready to go with me2 and do you pack up in the two largest baskets you have1 a good stock of food1 and get us an early breakfast1 for ,i am going up to the mountain to carry the food ,i know ,john ,barry needs4 ,mrs4 ,brown1 accustomed to the sudden impulses of her good husband1 and believing him to be always in the right1 cheerfully complied1 and after a hot breakfast1 ,deacon ,brown and his son ,willie1 a boy of nineteen1 hitched up the horses to the double sleigh1 and then1 with a month's supply of food1 and a ,good-bye1 mother1 started at five o'clock on that cold ,december morning for a journey that almost any other than ,deacon ,brown and his son would not have dared to undertake4 ,the north-east storm was still raging1 and the snow falling and drifting fast2 but on1 on went the stout1 well-fed team on its errand of mercy1 while the occupants of the sleigh1 wrapped up in blankets and extra buffalo robes1 urged the horses through the drifts and in the face of the storm4 ,that ten miles' ride1 which required in the summer hardly an hour or two1 was not finished until the deacon's watch showed that five hours had passed4 ,at last they drew up in front of the hut where the poor trusting ,christian man and woman were on their knees praying for help to ,him who is always the ,hearer and ,answerer of prayer2 and as the deacon reached the door1 he heard the voice of supplication1 and then he knew that the voice which awakened him from sleep was sent from heaven4 ,he knocked at the door4 ,it was opened2 and we can imagine the joy of the old couple when the generous supply of food was carried in1 and the thanksgivings that were uttered by the starving tenants of that mountain hut4 ,call upon ,me in the day of trouble1 and ,i will answer thee4--,lantern4 ,,never think that you can make yourself great by making another less4 ,,answer ,,to ,,bible ,,enigma4 7,page #ia47 ,create in me a clean heart1 ,o ,god2 renew a right spirit within me4--,,psalm li4 #aj4 ,c heba ,r 4 ,ezekiel i4 i4 ,r om ,e 4 ,acts xviii4 #b4 ,e glo ,n 4 ,judges iii4 #ae4 ,a x ,e 4 ,judges ix4 #dh4 ,t o ,w 4 ,isaiah i4 #ca4 ,e liad ,a 4 #b ,chronicles xvii4 #ag4 ,i bha ,r 4 #b ,samuel v4 #ae4 ,n aphtal ,i 4 ,genesis xxx4 #h4 ,m ago ,g 4 #a ,chronicles i4 #e4 ,e leale ,h 4 ,numbers xxxii4 #cg4 ,a rara ,t 4 ,genesis viii4 #d4 ,c epha ,s 4 ,john i4 #db4 ,l am ,p 4 ,exodus xxvii4 #bj4 ,e nged ,i 4 #a ,samuel xxiii4 #bi4 ,a roe ,r 4 ,numbers xxxii4 #cd4 ,n aphtal ,i 4 #a ,kings vii4 #ad4 ,h arves ,t 4 ,genesis viii4 #bb4 ,e ni ,w 4 ,proverbs xx4 #a4 ,a bisha ,i 4 #a ,chronicles xviii4 #ab4 ,r es ,t 4 ,hebrews iv4 #i4 ,t abera ,h 4 ,deuteronomy ix4 #bb4 ,o mr ,i 4 #a ,kings xvi4 #be4 ,g ibeo ,n#i 4 #a ,chronicles viii4 #bi4 ,o bed-edo ,m 4 #b ,samuel vi4 #aa4 ,d ov ,e 4 ,genesis viii4 #i4 ,,thomas ,,tyler 7,aged #ad years74 ,potton1 ,beds4 #i ,gideon was given by mistake1 in the ,enigma1 instead of ,gibeon4 ,,wisdom4 7,,proverbs iii4 #ac-ae47 ,true wisdom doth my soul admire1 ,and would before fine gold prefer2 ,for all the things ,i could desire ,are not to be compared with her4 ,while earthly things fill earthly minds1 ,attracted to their native clod1 ,happy the man who wisdom finds1 ,and holds her in the fear of ,god6 ,,the ,,clever ,,boy ,,and ,,the ,,electrical ,,machine4 ,an electrical machine was in the window of a scientific instrument maker's shop1 and a youth stood looking at it with eager eyes4 ,he was observing every part with intense curiosity4 ,at length1 after a long1 absorbing gaze1 a neighbouring clock struck4 ,he started like one awakened from a sleep1 and ran with all speed to his master's workshop4 ,the boy was the son of a working man--a smith1 and was intended also for a working man1 but not quite so laborious a trade4 ,perhaps the boy was not strong enough for his father's manly trade1 so he was apprenticed to a bookbinder in ,blandford ,street1 ,marylebone4 ,he was a very diligent lad1 fond of work in hours of business1 and fond of a book in hours of leisure4 ,his master noticed this1 and gave him leave to stay in the workshop during the dinner-hour4 ,whilst his fellow-workers were drinking and smoking1 the orphan boy was storing his mind with useful knowledge4 ,in particular he loved books on scientific subjects4 ,he liked to read about the wonders of chemistry2 still more about electricity--that wonderful power that flashes out of the thunder-cloud1 that dwells unseen in the dew-drop1 that1 at a touch1 thrills through the startled nerves1 and1 like an invisible but mighty spirit1 pervades all things1 from the clouds of heaven to the clods of earth4 ,one day he found out the shop window with the electrical machine1 and at every spare moment he haunted that window1 taking the shape and measure of every knob1 and wire1 and wheel1 and plate1 with earnest eyes4 ,then he resolved to try and make one for himself2 so by the light of the early summer mornings1 he was up and working away at his machine4 ,in time he completed it1 and found it would act4 ,he touched the knob1 and the shock that went through him was as nothing compared with the joy that throbbed through his heart at seeing his work complete4 ,he showed it to his master1 who1 being a kind and sensible man1 was pleased and surprised at the ingenuity of the lad4 ,the master was fond of showing the electrical apparatus of his industrious apprentice to every person likely to be interested in a clever youth4 ,amongst them were some ,fellows of the ,royal ,society1 who might1 perhaps1 have an admission ticket to give4 ,some few years after1 the lad1 now a young man1 was again gazing with wide open eyes1 and laying up all he saw in his mind4 ,this time it was not through a shop window that he looked4 ,it was from a seat in the ,royal ,society's lecture-room that he witnessed ,sir ,humphrey ,davey making some beautiful chemical experiments4 ,the youth did not know which most to admire--the beautiful apparatus1 the wonderful experiments1 or the eloquent lecture4 ,all was so new to him--so interesting4 ,but the lecturer himself was1 above all the rest1 the object of his admiration4 ,our youth1 having been a reader1 knew that ,sir ,humphrey ,davey was not born of rich parents1 though his kindred and his breeding were virtuous and respectable4 ,in the remote town of ,penzance1 in ,cornwall1 from the most western extremity in ,england1 the great man had come4 ,he had taught himself nearly all he knew2 and now the youth saw him standing before the mighty and the noble of the land1 the light of genius in his flashing eyes1 the words of wisdom on his eloquent lips4 ,oh1 if ,i could but follow the steps of such a master6 was the involuntary wish of the youthful hearer4 ,this thought soon produced action4 ,promptness was a leading part of the young man's character1 so he resolved to write to the great chemist1 and state that he wished to follow some other trade than that to which he had been apprenticed2 that he loved science1 and would think himself happy to be employed in any way in the laboratory of so great a man4 ,it was a bold step1 but the request1 though urgent1 was full of the noble humility of real worth4 ,his letter was not neglected4 ,inquiries were made4 ,the good master had no wish to prevent the youth entering on a career for which his talents and studious habits fitted him4 ,the electrical apparatus was another aid to him1 so the wish of his heart was granted4 ,he entered the laboratory of the great man1 and had ample opportunity to study and to improve4 ,there is no need to say he did not waste his time or neglect his opportunities4 ,sir ,humphrey ,davey died1 leaving a name dear to the philanthropist1 as well as the man of science2 but his place was not long vacant4 ,who filled it8 ,he whose youth we have feebly sketched2 he whose lectures at the ,royal ,institution were listened to by the ,prince ,consort and the ,prince of ,wales--the celebrated and much-beloved ,professor ,faraday4 ,seest thou the man that is diligent in business8 he shall stand before kings4 ,professor ,faraday was not only one of the greatest scientific authorities that ever lived1 but he was a companion of humble-minded ,christians4 ,his weekdays he devoted to science1 but on the ,sunday he might be heard telling the story of redeeming love to delighted listeners4 ,,christ',s time was largely taken up in making people happy4 ,we do well to remember that1 and to do our best in ministering to the happiness of all around us4 ,,our ,,bible ,,class4 ,,god',s ,,independence ,,of ,,all1 ,,and ,,his ,,declared ,,need ,,of ,,some ,,of ,,his ,,creatures4 7,,psalm l4 #ab1 ,,and ,,matthew xxi4 #a-c47 ,that ,god is independent the ,bible everywhere declares4 ,all beings beside ,himself are ,his creatures1 and ,he is ,lord of all4 ,he needs nothing1 for ,he possesses all things4 ,no supplies1 for1 though ,he ordained sacrifices and planned ,his temple1 heaven is ,his throne1 and earth ,his footstool1 and ,his own hand gives life1 power1 and sustenance to all 7,acts xvii4 #be74 ,no tribute4 ,the free-will offerings of ,david and his people1 for the building of the temple1 were a sweet sacrifice to ,god2 but ,david truly described matters when he said1 ,of ,thine own1 ,o ,lord1 have we given unto ,thee 7#a ,chron4 xxix4 #ad74 ,he needs no information or guidance 7see ,isa4 xl4 #ac-ae74 ,who hath directed the ,spirit of the ,lord8 or being ,his counsellor1 hath taught ,him8 ,the question is not asked of angels1 but of men2 and all nations before ,him are as a drop of a bucket--the little drips that fall from it as it is drawn up from the well--while ,he taketh up the islands as a very little thing--a light thing1 lifted easily with the fingers4 ,no creatures can give their ,creator a single new thought1 or any help of any kind 7,rom4 xi4 #cd-cf74 ,for who hath known the mind of the ,lord8 ,who then could have been ,his counsellor8 ,or who hath first given to ,him8 ,this can never be1 for of ,him1 and through ,him1 and to ,him are all things1 to whom be glory for ever4 ,amen4 ,therefore ,he needs give no explanations to any of ,his creatures4 ,who can say unto ,him1 ,what doest ,thou8 7,dan4 iv4 #ce47 ,thus ,god is above all1 and independent of all4 ,yet ,jesus needed the ass and colt 7,matt4 xxi474 ,we read of coming to the help of the ,lord against the mighty 7,judges v4 #bc72 and ,paul spoke about working together with ,god in teaching ,his people4 ,the ,bible is full of these contrasts4 ,god is so high1 and yet so condescending2 full of majesty1 yet plenteous in mercy to all who call upon ,him4 ,there is no contradiction in the contrast2 but ,god's needs are never necessities4 ,our needs arise out of our nature4 ,we need food1 clothing1 and comforts1 friendship and sympathy2 but all ,god's needs come from ,his will and ,his love4 ,how beautifully this appears in the life of ,jesus6 ,he came to earth as a little ,infant1 needing a mother's care4 ,he grew up in humble circumstances1 and when ,he went forth1 at thirty years of age1 to preach the ,gospel1 the ,son of ,man had not where to lay ,his head4 ,he also needed the many ministries of love ,his devoted followers rendered to ,him4 ,and when ,he died1 others must provide the grave-clothes and the tomb1 for ,he had none of ,his own4 ,though ,he was rich1 yet for our sakes ,he became poor1 that we through ,his poverty might be rich4 ,for our sakes6 ,this is the keynote to all the needs of the ,almighty4 ,the ,father of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ chose ,his people in ,his ,son before the foundation of the world1 and the father of a family needs his children because they are his own1 and he loves them4 ,the shepherd needs his sheep to be safe1 and will not willingly lose them4 ,jesus is the ,good ,shepherd1 who bought ,his sheep with ,his own life and blood1 and must needs gather and keep them every one4 ,the physician needs patients whose healing shall proclaim his knowledge and skill1 and the ,great ,physician of sin-sick hearts will glorify ,himself by bringing perfect health and cure to all who are led to ,him by the ,holy ,spirit4 ,do we feel our need of ,him8 ,have we discovered that we are fallen1 lost1 guilty1 and diseased8 ,then ,he needs us1 and has shown us our need1 that ,he may relieve1 supply1 and bless us with ,his great salvation4 ,in the same way ,he needs ,his people's services for their own sakes4 ,by fighting the ,lord's battles of old1 ,his servants were interested in ,his cause4 ,by working with ,him now1 in preaching1 teaching1 warning1 and comforting others1 ,christ's followers still are honoured and blessed4 ,when ,saul of ,tarsus1 breathing out slaughter and bitterness against the sheep of ,christ1 was hastening like a wolf to ,damascus1 ,jesus stopped ,him1 made him a new creature1 and caused him to utter that cry of anguish1 ,lord1 what wilt ,thou have me to do8 ,like the jailer's question1 ,what must ,i do to be saved8 it came from a convinced and burdened heart4 ,saul suddenly discovered that his life had been one terrible mistake--that ,jesus of ,nazareth was the ,lord of heaven--and tremblingly he wondered1 ,could there be pardon for such a rebel as he now felt himself to be8 ,could not the same almighty voice have spoken peace to that troubled conscience8 ,certainly2 but ,jesus required ,ananias to be ,his messenger to the humbled ,pharisee2 and1 after three days of suspense and blindness1 while his tears had been his only food1 ,ananias arrived with the message of peace4 ,how tenderly it was given6 ,he put his hands on him1 and said1 ,brother ,saul1 the ,lord1 even ,jesus1 who appeared to thee by the way as thou camest1 hath sent me unto thee1 and comfort1 sight1 and joy followed1 while the believing penitent was baptized in the name of his ,lord4 ,how gracious and wise was all this6 ,how closely it drew ,ananias and ,saul together as brethren--children of the same heavenly family4 ,paul always lovingly remembered his first ,christian friend 7,acts xxii4 #ab1 #ac71 and we are sure that ,ananias never forgot that memorable day4 ,and in the same way ,christ still needs the loving services of ,his people to one another2 and those who are taught and helped1 love their ,christian helpers1 while the helpers feel a double love towards those to whom they have been made useful4 ,thus the great and glorious independent and almighty ,king condescends to make use of feeble worms4 ,and which should we most admire1 ,his majesty1 or ,his tenderness8 ,we cannot tell4 ,he is all-wise and all-powerful1 and-- ,with heaven and earth at ,his command1 ,he waits to answer prayer4 ,therefore1 blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness1 for the time is coming when they shall hunger no more1 neither thirst1 for the ,lamb in the midst of the throne shall fill them with all good1 and there will be no more need on either side4 ,jesus shall see ,his people fully saved1 and shall be satisfied2 and they1 beholding ,his face in righteousness1 shall be gratefully satisfied1 when they awake1 with ,his likeness 7,psa4 xvii4 #ae74 ,may this joy unspeakable be ours4 ,our next subject will be1 ,the ,good ,shepherd ,gathering ,his ,sheep 7,john x4 #af74 ,yours affectionately1 ,h4 ,s4 ,l4 ,,bible ,,subjects ,,for ,,each ,,sunday ,,in ,,may4 ,may #f4 ,commit to memory ,rom4 viii4 #ca4 ,may #ac4 ,commit to memory ,rom4 viii4 #cb4 ,may #bj4 ,commit to memory ,rom4 viii4 #cc4 ,may #bg4 ,commit to memory ,rom4 viii4 #cd4 ,,prize ,,essay4 ,,how ,,to ,,be ,,useful ,,in ,,the ,,world4 ,there are five heads under which this subject may be placed--,love1 ,truthfulness1 ,obedience1 ,cheerfulness1 ,peacemakers4 ,love4 ,if true love is inspired in our hearts1 our chief aim will consist in trying to be a help to others1 which is very useful and needful1 even in our own homes4 ,the power of love is of such value1 that those who know it esteem it as a precious gem set in gold1 for without it1 our life would be a path of misery and woe--two of the most terrible burdens in the world4 ,love is the true spring of usefulness4 ,truthfulness is always needful4 ,he who is tempted to tell a lie should consider that he may be struck dead while doing so2 and then1 where will his soul awake8 ,truth will out1 if it be a long while hidden4 ,it will stand like the mountain against the roaring sea--nothing can move it2 for with it1 is a clear conscience in the sight of ,god4 ,if truth were spoken more freely and carefully1 we should be far happier4 ,its preciousness cannot be sufficiently prized4 ,obedience is often the root of cheerfulness4 ,an obedient child has this motto in view--,thou1 ,god1 seest me4 ,obedience is useful in preserving us from many dangers1 which our elders can often foresee1 and which might prove the ruin of our immortal souls if we were to be disobedient4 ,thus it brings happiness into the homes and hearts of children and parents1 and so produces cheerfulness4 ,cheerfulness is sure to arise1 in due course1 from godliness4 ,if we have trials1 we should not give way to despair1 and make those about us unhappy2 but we should try to attend to our work1 and look at the brighter side of our troubles1 and encourage those whom we often find in greater difficulties than ourselves2 at the same time1 not forgetting to take our crosses to ,god4 ,we may cheer many a saddened heart by cheerful words1 and sometimes entice the young revenger to forget and forgive4 ,peacemakers are thus spoken of--,blessed are the peacemakers2 for they shall be called the children of ,god 7,matt4 v4 #i74 ,christ teaches us this in ,his sermon on the mount2 and ,he also set us the example4 ,a little child may be a peacemaker1 if it is only to say a word of love1 and so stem the rising tempest4 ,in time1 it may develop itself more fully1 and we may thus honour our holy ,master by treading in ,his footsteps1 and proving a help to all who know it1 in speaking ,his truth boldly and sincerely4 ,for an example of usefulness1 we must consider the precious ,jesus1 and pray for grace to imitate ,him in all ,his ways2 then we shall not willingly do wrong1 for ,he is superlatively good4 ,,margaret ,,creasey 7,aged #ad years74 ,sydney ,house1 ,sleaford4 ,our young friend tells us her age will not admit of her writing the ,essays in future1 but we hope she will not forget us1 and we pray that the ,lord may give her grace to live a useful and honourable life as a disciple of ,jesus4 ,we have received several creditable ,essays this month1 those from ,e4 ,b4 ,knocker1 ,jane ,bell1 ,lilly ,rush1 ,florrie ,rush1 and ,w4 ,e4 ,cray deserving special mention as giving signs of approaching success4 ,the writer of the above ,essay receives a copy of ,notable ,workers in ,humble ,life4 ,the subject for ,july will be1 ,the ,difference between ',uncertain ,riches' and ',the ,true ,riches' 7see ,tim4 vi4 #ag2 ,prov4 xxiii4 #e2 ,luke xvi4 #aa2 ,prov4 viii4 #ah1 c472 and the prize to be given for the best ,essay on that subject1 a copy of ,the ,story of the ,spanish ,armada4 ,all competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age1 and that the ,essay is their own composition1 or the papers will be passed over1 as the ,editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information4 ,papers must be sent direct to the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings1 by the first of ,june4 ,we insert the following to show what even very young children can accomplish by trying1 and with a desire to encourage our young friend and others to try again3-- ,,how ,,to ,,be ,,useful ,,in ,,the ,,world4 ,little children can be useful in many ways4 ,first1 learn to be useful at home4 ,lay the meals1 and do the dusting2 go on errands1 and be kind to brothers and sisters4 ,always speak the truth1 and obey your parents2 and if you are sent out on an errand1 or with a message1 and any other little children try to persuade you to go with them1 mind and obey your parents4 ,be gentle in your manner and duties1 and be careful with little children1 if you have to see to them1 and with your brothers and sisters1 and in all your duties4 ,we should be very careful to do what we are told to do1 and also very careful not to do what we are told not to do4 ,be kind1 not selfish2 dutiful to parents2 and do little things willingly2 try and persevere at school2 be strictly honest1 whatever occupation you may be in2 always be just1 and if you do this1 people will feel they can trust you2 but if you do not1 people will say they cannot trust you4 ,set an example not to be cruel to anything or any body1 but to be kind to all1 and love and obey your parents4 ,,mercy ,,phillips 7,aged #g years1 #aj months74 ,lindfield1 ,hayward's ,heath4 ,interesting ,items4 ,,over #aj1jjj1jjj eggs now arrive in ,new ,york city weekly4 ,one recent ,canada train had thirty-one cars1 with #bjj1jjj eggs in each4 ,the chief supply to the ,new ,york market comes from ,canada and ,michigan4 ,,united ,,states' ,,flour ,,exports4--,the ,united ,states now manufacture yearly #gj1jjj1jjj barrels of flour1 and of this one-seventh part is exported4 ,the great bulk of this flour is sent from eight ,atlantic ports to ,europe4 ,,among the fowls of the air are three1 the eagle1 swan1 and raven1 which live to the age of one hundred years or more4 ,the paroquet and heron attain the goodly age of sixty years4 ,the sparrow-hawk1 duck1 and pelican may live to be forty1 while the peacock and linnet reach the quarter century1 and the canary twenty-four years4 ,a ,,sagacious ,,dog4--,just recently a dog1 of the black and tan terrier species1 entered the ,bolton ,infirmary unobserved1 and forced itself upon the attention of the house-surgeon1 who found one of the animal's legs broken4 ,with the aid of nurses he set the limb1 the dog meanwhile licking the surgeon's hand4 ,it refused to leave the institution1 and was installed as an in-patient4 ,how the dog got into the infirmary is unknown4 ,,we understand that the hall which1 for the last nearly sixty years1 has been appropriated in ,glasgow to caricaturing religion1 and where mockery of the ,sabbath1 recitations1 comic songs1 dancing1 and all sorts of diabolical devices to entrap weak souls1 were revelled in1 where many ,sabbaths ,mrs4 ,besant and ,mr4 ,bradlaugh gave vent to their mockery and blasphemy of ,god1 is henceforth to be used for the worship of the ,almighty4 ,,origin ,,of ,,the ,,word ,,news4--,the word news is not1 as many may imagine1 derived from the adjective new4 ,in former years 7between #aeie and #agcj7 it was a prevalent practice to put over the periodical publications of the day the initial letters of the cardinal points of the compass1 thus--,n ,e ,w ,s1 implying that those papers contained intelligence from the four quarters of the globe1 and from this practice is derived the term of newspaper4 ,a ,,telegram states that the body of ,alexander the ,great has been found among the sarcophagi lately unearthed at ,saida1 in ,syria4 ,it is stated that the body can be positively identified by its inscription1 and other particulars4 ,alexander is known to have died at ,babylon1 and on his death-bed he is stated to have told his sons to convey his body to ,alexandria1 the city he had founded at the mouth of the ,nile4 ,although the monarch did not live thirty-three years1 or reign thirteen1 he did more than all before or since his time4 ,,amongst the most curious of recorded wills is that of a ,mr4 ,thomas ,tuke1 of ,wath1 near ,rotherham1 who1 dying in #ahaj1 bequeathed a penny to every child that should be present at his funeral4 ,another provision of the will ordered a shilling to be given to every poor woman in ,wath1 whilst to his own daughter he only bequeathed the pittance of four guineas per annum4 ,an old woman had for eleven years attended him4 ,to her he bequeathed the munificent sum of one guinea only1 for1 as he expressed it1 tucking him up in bed4 ,a further whimsy of the selfish humourist was a bequest of forty dozen penny buns to be thrown from the church tower at noon on ,christmas ,day for ever4 ,,one day1 a gentleman's attention was attracted by an unusual commotion in his stable1 where two carriage horses were kept4 ,looking in1 he saw that one of the animals had got out of its loose box1 and was helping itself to a bucket of mash which the coachman had left at the door4 ,the other horse was neighing loudly1 evidently demanding a share in the feast4 ,what was the gentleman's surprise to see the first horse fill its mouth with the mash1 and then push its nose through the bars of the loose box1 for its imprisoned companion to take the relish from its mouth4 ,this was repeated several times4 ,the horse which was thus fed had often been seen to push over some of his hay into his companion's rack1 when that was emptied first4 ,a ,,submerged ,,forest4--,during the late violent storms in the ,channel1 the sea washed through a high and hard sand-bank near ,st4 ,malo1 nearly four metres thick1 laying bare a portion of an ancient forest which was already passing into the condition of coal4 ,this forest at the beginning of our era covered an extensive tract of the coast2 but with the sinking of the land it became submerged and covered up by the drifting sand4 ,mont ,saint ,michel once stood in the middle of it4 ,the forest had quite disappeared by the middle of the tenth century4 ,occasionally1 at very low tides after storms1 remains of it are disclosed1 just as at present4 ,it is believed that1 some centuries ago1 the highest tides rose about twelve metres above the level of the lowest ebb4 ,now the high-water level is #ae4e metres above the lowest4 ,,preaching at ,kensington the other week1 ,cardinal ,manning said that there are labouring in ,london no less than #cej ,roman ,catholic priests and #a1jjj nuns4 ,a ,,snake ,,that ,,understood ,,english4--,it is related that some ,americans recently going through the ,jardin des ,plantes of ,paris1 stopped to look at a big rattlesnake in a cage4 ,it lay motionless1 apparently asleep1 but when two of the party who lingered behind began to speak in ,english1 it moved1 lifted its head1 and gave every sign of interest4 ,they told their companions that the snake understood ,english4 ,the whole party then returned to the cage4 ,the snake was apparently asleep again4 ,they conversed in ,french1 but the snake made no movement4 ,then the ladies began to speak in ,english4 ,the snake started1 lifted its head1 and showed the same alertness as before at the sounds4 ,the rattlesnake proved1 on inquiry1 to have come from ,virginia4 ,,the ,,south ,,african ,,gold ,,fields4--,the ,natal ,mercury says3--,the gold exports for ,january1 #ahhh1 from ,natal were ,l#ca1ddg1 and from the ,cape ,l#bf1aae1 making a total of ,l#eg1efb4 ,this is a capital opening for the first month of the year1 and if continued in the same ratio1 will mean the handsome total for the year of ,l#fij1gdd4 ,glowing reports continue to come in from the ,waterfall1 at the ,kantoor4 ,a number of buildings are going up4 ,last week a seven-ounce nugget was brought into ,barberton4 ,two ,portuguese are said to be making1 on an average1 four ounces per day1 say ,l#ajj per week1 and their ground is described as a regular 'bank4' ,of course they and a few others are exceptionally lucky ones2 but all are said to be making a good living4 ,,st4 ,,patrick',s ,,day ,,in ,,new ,,york4--,the following open letter has been addressed to the ,mayor of ,new ,york3--#fi1 ,wall ,street1 ,new ,york1 ,march #aith1 #ahhh4--,my dear ,sir1--,while coming from ,washington yesterday on the limited express1 my eye caught the telegram printed in a ,washington paper announcing your order forbidding the display of the ,irish flag from the ,city ,hall on ,st4 ,patrick's ,day4 ,i could not repress an audible and emphatic ',amen1' quite to the surprise of the ladies and gentlemen in the car4 ,for many years ,i1 in company with thousands of ,americans and adopted citizens from ,england1 ,france1 and ,germany1 have been outraged and scandalized by this annual insult to our intelligence1 our pride of country1 our religious belief4 ,in the minds of many others besides the writer1 that banner represents in a large degree the worst elements in our body politic--ignorance1 vice1 bigotry1 and crime4 ,it is displayed on the #agth of ,march in nearly every rum shop1 gambling hell1 and thieves' den in ,new ,york4 ,it was borne in the ranks of the murderous mob that held possession of the city in the ,july riots of '#fc4 ,but1 aside from this1 no legal or other right exists for the display of that flag or any other1 except the ones you indicate1 from the ,city ,hall of the great metropolis of a land whose people are by a large majority consistent ,protestants1 on a day set apart to honour the memory of a fabulous ,roman ,catholic saint4 ,furthermore1 this is literally a rum-sellers' and a rum-drinkers' procession4 ,the wholesale rum-seller rides on horseback1 the retail rum-seller rides in a carriage1 the drinkers walk1 until many of them1 overcome by rum1 fall in the gutter1 are gathered up by the police1 cared for in the station houses and the penitentiary1 cleaned1 and clothed1 and fed at the expense of the long-suffering taxpayer4 ,i respect the honest1 right-living ,irishman or woman1 ,catholic or ,protestant1 and would not deny them a single right to which ,i1 a native-born ,american citizen1 am entitled2 but ,i enter my indignant protest against the steadily increasing attacks upon our most valued institutions by this largely foreign-born and most turbulent portion of our population4 ,it is high time to call a halt and compel obedience to decency and law4 ,you will certainly receive the heartfelt thanks and unanimous support of every lover of our city1 our country1 our institutions1 our laws4--,i am1 my dear sir1 very respectfully yours1 ,,george ,,shepard ,,page4 ,to his ,honour ,a4 ,s4 ,hewitt1 ,mayor of the ,city of ,new ,york4 ,we say1 ,all due honour to the noble ,mayor of ,new ,york1 for such a common-sense decision4--,,ed4 ,,keeping ,,warm4--,it may not be generally known that1 when exposed to severe cold1 a feeling of warmth is readily created by repeatedly filling the lungs to their utmost extent in the following manner4 ,throw the shoulders well back1 and hold the head well up4 ,inflate the lungs slowly1 the air entering entirely through the nose4 ,when the lungs are completely filled1 hold the breath for ten seconds or longer1 and then expire it quickly through the mouth4 ,after repeating this exercise while one is chilly1 a feeling of warmth will be felt over the entire body1 and even in the feet and hands4 ,it is important to practise this exercise many times each day1 and especially when in the open air4 ,if the habit ever becomes universal1 then consumption and many other diseases will rarely1 if ever1 be heard of4 ,not only while practising the breathing exercise must the clothing be loose over the chest1 but beginners will do well to remember1 in having their clothing fitted1 to allow for the permanent expansion of one1 two1 and even three inches1 which will eventually follow4 ,illustration3 ,,she ,,now ,,felt ,,that ,,she ,,had ,,lost ,,her ,,way4 7,see page #abb47 ,,lost ,,and ,,found4 ,a ,,true ,,story ,,for ,,the ,,little ,,ones4 ,little ,janet ,bruce lived in a pretty village in ,scotland4 ,near to her home was a large wood4 ,if you were to go into it without a guide1 you might go on for miles before you could find your way out of it4 ,in some places no path is to be seen1 and tall trees and creeping plants cast a deep shadow over the ground4 ,janet was the only child of a poor widow4 ,her father had come to the village from a distant part of the country in search of work2 but he had not been there long before he fell ill and died4 ,it was a sad loss to ,janet and her mother1 but ,god1 who looks in pity on the widow and fatherless1 raised up for them many kind friends4 ,it was one evening1 late in the autumn1 that ,janet sat at the door of her mother's cottage4 ,she had been told never to go far away from the house1 lest she should be lost4 ,but on this evening1 as she looked over the fields1 she saw some bright blue flowers near a bush2 and as she was very fond of making little nosegays of wild blossoms1 she thought she should like to pluck them4 ,when these were gathered1 there was still further away a hedge with shining buds4 ,oh1 said she1 ,i should like to have them to put with my blue flowers4 ,in a moment she sprang towards them1 when a little bird was startled from its nest in the hedge4 ,what a pretty creature6 she cried4 ,how ,i should like to see where it will fly to6 ,and so she ran towards it1 but the bird could fly much faster than she could run4 ,soon it flew into the wood1 and ,janet followed after it4 ,thus we see how one wrong step leads to another4 ,dear children1 beware of the first temptation to acts of disobedience4 ,it was a cool evening1 and the wind blew among the trees4 ,a little rain had begun to fall1 and there were signs of a stormy night4 ,where had little ,janet wandered to8 and where could she find a shelter should there be a storm8 ,the sun now sank behind the hills1 and night came on4 ,then it was dark--quite dark2 and her young heart beat quickly as the wind moaned among the trees4 ,she now felt that she had lost her way1 and then sat down to weep4 ,she thought what a naughty child she had been in not obeying her mother4 ,at last she cried herself to sleep4 ,as soon as the daylight came again1 she awoke1 and felt very hungry4 ,but there was no nice breakfast ready for her1 and no loving mother to kiss her4 ,she was alone in that great wood4 ,janet thought that it was no use for her to sit still1 so she rose up1 and walked on1 but not so fast as before1 for her feet were cold1 her legs were stiff from lying on the damp ground1 and she was weak from want of food4 ,yet the more she went forward1 the further she was from home1 for she was going quite another way from that path which led to her mother's cottage4 ,after a time she came to a place where she saw some dark-looking people seated on the outside of a little tent or camp4 ,these were gipsies4 ,at first she was afraid2 but what was a little girl to do in that wide wood8 ,so1 thinking that they might be kind to her1 she went to them1 and told how she was lost4 ,they told ,janet to sit down by their fire1 and then they gave her some food out of a large iron kettle that hung from three upright sticks4 ,the poor girl stopped with them all that day1 and at night she cried1 and asked them to take her home to her dear mother4 ,but the gipsies looked at one another1 and then spoke in a whisper1 so that she might not hear what they said4 ,at last1 the men and women took off ,janet's nice frock1 and put on her an old ragged dress4 ,they also rubbed her face1 neck1 and hands with a dark juice1 and then they told her that she must go with them1 and she should be in the place of one of their own little girls who had died4 ,the tent was now packed up1 and put into a little cart1 and all went forward into a part of the country ,janet had never seen before4 ,now1 poor child1 all days were alike to her4 ,she did not know ,sunday from any other day4 ,she had no ,sabbath ,school to go to1 nor any good books to read4 ,instead of the sweet hymns she used to hear sung1 she now only heard the vain and foolish songs of the gipsies4 ,the ,bible1 which her mother used to read to her every night and morning1 was a ,book unknown to these wild people4 ,in what state of mind was ,janet's mother all this time8 ,the people of the village1 when they first heard of her loss1 went in search of the child4 ,they took with them lanterns1 and torches1 and tin horns1 to sound as a signal1 should they find the lost one4 ,onward they went2 some along the fields1 and others into the wood2 but hour after hour passed away1 and the little girl was not found4 ,oh1 what grief filled the widow's heart6 ,my child has fallen into the river1 and is drowned1 she cried2 or has strayed into the woods1 and will be starved to death4 ,when all the people had come back with the sad tidings that no trace of ,janet could be found1 she wept aloud4 ,nearly twelve months passed away1 but ,janet was not happy with the gipsies4 ,take me to my mother1 she often said with tears4 ,oh1 do let me go home again6 ,they tried to please her with their wandering ways of life1 but she could find no pleasure in them4 ,she used to sit on the side of the road wherever they went1 and look on every passer-by1 to see if she could find any one she knew4 ,but no1 all faces were strange4 ,she did not know that she was many miles away from her mother's cottage4 ,as time went on1 the gipsies saw that ,janet became very pale and ill4 ,she was so weak that they thought she would die4 ,they then told her that1 in a few weeks1 they would go back to the woods where they first met with her1 and that she should again see her mother4 ,how did ,janet count the days and hours till the time came2 and when they once more reached the woods1 she clapped her hands for joy4 ,it was again the autumn of the year1 and the reapers were at work in the fields4 ,they were very busy1 for they were afraid that a storm was coming on4 ,it was just such a cloudy evening as that when ,janet was lost4 ,they had cut down all the corn at the lower part of one of the fields1 and had just reached a corner which lay against the entrance to the wood1 when who should they see but a little gipsy girl4 ,she ran as well as she could1 for she was very feeble1 towards them1 crying1 ,i am ,janet6 ,my name is ,janet ,bruce4 ,oh1 carry me home to my mother6 ,the reapers stopped in their work1 and one of them caught the girl up in his arms1 and looking for a moment in her face1 shouted out1 ,yes1 it is she6 ,it is ,janet herself6 ,there could be no mistake1 for though she had grown taller1 and her dress was ragged1 and her face was brown1 they knew her again in a moment4 ,the work of the day was soon over1 and a seat of boughs of trees was quickly made1 into which they put ,janet2 then two of the strongest men raised her upon their shoulders1 and carried her towards her own dear home4 ,some went before--men1 boys1 and women--and some followed after2 and as they went they sang aloud for joy4 ,the glad tidings soon reached ,janet's cottage1 and the mother rushed forward to meet her child4 ,but we cannot tell you what were the feelings of the poor widow as she clasped ,janet once more in her arms4 ,the gipsy dress was taken off1 and better clothes put on1 and like the father in the parable1 the widow said1 ,this my child was dead1 and is alive again2 and was lost1 and is found4 ,and so it is when a sinner is brought by the ,holy ,spirit to return to ,god4 ,with shame and sorrow he says1 ,father1 ,i have sinned4 ,but ,god1 who is rich in mercy1 is ready to forgive4 ,he will1 for ,christ's sake1 hear prayer4 ,through ,his precious blood ,he will pardon sin4 ,he will take off the ragged garments of sin1 and put on the white robe of ,jesus' righteousness1 and receive coming sinners as ,his children4 ,then what sounds of joy are heard in heaven1 when those who were lost are brought home to dwell for ever in their ,father's house6 ,dear child1 through the fall you are lost4 ,have you been truly brought as a penitent to ,christ8 ,if so1 you are found4 ,do not forget this--all the while any one knows not what it is to come to ,christ for mercy and pardon1 he is lost4 ,but the moment a sinner is truly brought to the cross of ,christ for salvation1 he is found4 ,are you among the lost or among the found8 ,,the ,,dear ,,old ,,times4 ,it is interesting to look over household and personal accounts of1 say1 a hundred and fifty years ago4 ,some of these1 which deal with the expenses of ,mr4 ,gervase ,scrope1 and of his son ,thomas1 both of ,cockerington1 ,lincolnshire1 lie before me2 and from them ,i find that my dark-coloured cloth suit1 trimmed with silver buttons and loops1 was made ,november #bast1 #agcj1 and cost in all ,l#ag #ags4 #f;d4 ,this included two pairs of breeches4 ,the cloth for the suit cost #ahs4 a yard2 but ,mr4 ,scrope had a cloak in #agcb1 the cloth of which cost ,l#a #bs4 a yard4 ,in #agbi1 however1 he procured a cheap knockabout suit of clothes for ,l#i #js4 #f;d4 ,economy seems to have been necessary1 for in #agca1 ,tommy had a pair of breeches made out of an old scarlet riding-coat of mine4 ,boots and wigs were both dear2 so also were hats4 ,the squire's window-tax in #agdh amounted to ,l#b #ags4 ,only in the matter of certain articles of food were the old days cheaper than the new4 ,in #aged1 eight lbs4 of veal cost #bs4 #d;d41 or #ca_/b;d4 per lb42 a tongue cost #as4 #aj;d42 #ca lbs4 of round and rump of beef cost #abs41 or about #da_/b;d4 per lb42 a leg and saddle of mutton cost #ds4 #g;d42 a quarter of lamb cost #as4 #f;d42 #bb lbs4 of pork were bought for #es4 #f;d42 and rabbits ranged from #f;d4 to #as4 a couple1 according to size4 ,but coffee was #fs4 a lb41 and lump sugar was #aj;d4 ,soap at this time cost #gs4 #f;d4 a stone4 ,bread was sometimes cheap1 but whenever war broke out1 the price always went up to a terrible height1 and much misery and distress must have resulted4 ,in #ahhf1 the average price of wheat in ,england was #cis4 #d;d4 per imperial quarter2 in #ahaj it was #ajfs4 #e;d42 and in #ahja it was #aais4 #f;d42 or more than three times as much as it was two years ago4 ,those were indeed dear old times4--,cassell's ,saturday ,journal4 ,,points ,,to ,,be ,,aimed ,,at4 ,p unctual be throughout the day2 ,o bedient to superiors2 ,i ndustrious in every way2 ,n ot haughty to inferiors3 ,t ruthful in word1 and trim in dress2 ,s hun folly1 and for wisdom press4 ,j4 ,b4 ,,all who now colour for show will hereafter be shown in their true colours4 ,,what ,a ,,priest ,,thought ,,of ,,roman ,,catholic ,,miracles4 ,after the working of ,satan with all power1 and signs1 and lying wonders4--#b ,,thessalonians ii4 #i4 ,in the autumn of #ahcf1 the ,marine hospital of ,quebec1 in ,canada1 was filled with patients suffering from ship typhoid fever1 and so deadly was the disease that1 by the following spring1 a number of the officials and servants of the institution had also been smitten1 and died4 ,chiniquy had hitherto been spared1 although in constant attendance on the patients1 but in ,may1 #ahcg1 he was attacked with the fearful disease4 ,his life was despaired of1 and the last ,sacraments were administered to him4 ,he could not speak4 ,his tongue became like a piece of wood1 and all that could be given him was a little cold water1 dropped with much difficulty through his teeth4 ,on the thirteenth night of his illness1 he heard the doctors whisper1 ,he is dead1 or nearly so1 and they left the room4 ,a deep horror seized him4 ,an icy wave seemed to creep over his whole frame1 and a terrible vision rose before his mind4 ,a pair of scales stood before him4 ,his sins were in one scale2 his good works and penances in the other2 and all his righteousness seemed but a grain of sand compared with a mountain load of guilt1 and to ,god he dared not cry for mercy4 ,but he thought of two saints--,st4 ,anne1 who was believed to have cured hundreds of cripples1 and ,st4 ,philomene1 who was just then the favourite saint of ,rome4 ,to these he cried1 with all the earnestness of his failing soul1 and soon a bright vision came before him of an aged1 grave lady1 and a young and beautiful one1 the latter distinctly saying to him1 ,you will be cured4 ,the vision then disappeared1 but the fever had gone also4 ,the crisis was over4 ,he was hungry1 and asked for food1 which was at once given him1 and he ravenously ate the dainties prepared1 while the friendly priests gathered round him joyfully1 and sang a hymn of praise4 ,of course they believed that the saints had cured him1 and the ,roman ,catholic doctors shared their idea2 but a ,protestant physician denied it altogether1 and in a kind manner he tried to prove that no miracle had been wrought1 but that returning health came from natural causes1 by the will and blessing of ,god4 ,chiniquy was unwilling1 however1 to change his mind on the subject1 and1 true to the vow he made in the hour of fear1 he got a splendid picture painted1 at a cost of ,l#ej1 representing his vision as he lay seemingly on the bed of death4 ,three months later1 he was in the house of the curate of ,st4 ,anne1 a cousin of his1 and he showed him the picture he intended to exhibit in the church next day4 ,but1 to his surprise and grief1 his older relative1 instead of sharing his belief1 laughed heartily at his folly1 asking him how he1 as a man of sense1 could possibly believe in such a miracle4 ,chiniquy reminded him of all the crutches hanging in ,st4 ,anne's ,church1 belonging to the cripples she had cured1 which remark gave rise to another burst of laughter on the curate's part4 ,but1 sobering down1 he seriously declared that1 having carefully watched these so-called cures1 he had found that ninety-nine out of every hundred were impostures1 the hundredth one being an honest belief1 but a superstitious and fancied one4 ,these pretended cripples were nearly always lazy beggars1 who knew that their seeming lameness would get them pity and money1 and1 when tired of that game1 they would make a begging tour1 telling all their helpers that they were going to the church of ,st4 ,anne1 to pray for the use of their legs4 ,they at last arrive there1 pay from one to five dollars to have a mass said for them1 and then1 in the midst of the ceremony1 just as they receive the wafer1 there is a cry of joy4 ,they are cured1 and they leave their crutches behind as witnesses of their cure4 ,they then return1 and tell all who will listen as they go along1 receiving fresh gifts from them until they get home again1 to take a farm and settle down with their dishonest gains4 ,such1 said the curate1 is the true history of the ninety-nine miracles4 ,in the hundredth case the man is really cured1 because he was really afflicted2 but his nerves were wrought upon just as ,i was once cured of a dreadful toothache by seeing the dentist put his instrument on the table4 ,i took my hat and left1 and the dentist laughed heartily every time he met me afterwards4 ,one of the weakest points of our religion is the ridiculous miracles said to be wrought by the relics and bones of saints4 ,for the most part1 they are the bones of chickens or sheep2 and were ,i a ,pope1 ,i would throw all these ,pagan mummeries to the bottom of the sea1 and would present to the eyes of sinners nothing but ',christ and ,him crucified' as the ,object of their faith1 just as the ,apostles of ,jesus do in their ,epistles6 ,they talked together in this strain till two o'clock in the morning1 and then ,chiniquy was too puzzled and sad to sleep4 ,next morning1 multitudes came to see his picture1 and hear about his cure1 which he long afterwards believed to be a miracle4 ,soon after he had finally left his priesthood1 however1 he again caught the fever1 while visiting a dying man1 and again on the thirteenth day the malady took a favourable turn2 but this time he had felt happy in the prospect of dying1 and the vision he saw at the crisis of the disease was not ,st4 ,anne1 or ,st4 ,philomene1 but a dozen bishops1 dagger in hand1 rushing on him to take his life4 ,he thought he turned on them and slew them1 and with this the fever left him4 ,he asked for food1 and speedily recovered1 and then he knew that it was the ,lord who had forgiven all his iniquities1 who had also healed his diseases1 without the aid of any of the saints of ,rome1 and the snare which had long held him captive was broken4 ,he no longer sought the aid of departed saints in heaven1 any more than he thought of again praying for souls in purgatorial fires4 ,the ,word of ,god was henceforth his only guide4 ,may the religion of the ,bible only1 be our religion also4--,jottings on ,the ,life and ,work of ,father ,chiniquy1 by ,cousin ,susan4 ,,counting ,,the ,,cost4 ,there are some curious stories respecting ,fra ,rocco1 the celebrated preacher of ,naples4 ,on one occasion1 it is related1 he preached a penitential sermon1 and introduced so many illustrations of terror that he soon brought his hearers to their knees4 ,while they were thus showing every sign of contrition1 he cried out-- ,now1 all of you who sincerely repent of your sins1 hold up your hands4 ,every man in the vast multitude immediately stretched out both his hands4 ,holy ,archangel ,michael1 exclaimed ,rocco1 thou who with thine adamantine sword standest at the right of the judgment-seat of ,god1 hew me off every hand which has been raised hypocritically4 ,in an instant every hand dropped1 and ,rocco1 of course1 poured forth a fresh torrent of eloquent invective against their sins and their deceit4 ,true repentance is given by ,jesus ,christ1 the exalted ,prince and ,saviour4 ,all other is but mere show1 and unavailing before ,god4--,,ed4 ,a ,,heart without a gift is better than a gift without a heart4 ,,juvenile ,,gems4 ,the subjects of these memoirs--,ann ,jane ,woolford1 ,george ,woolford1 and ,hephzibah ,woolford--were born in the beautiful town of ,cheltenham1 ,august #bjth1 #ahdj1 ,january #bhth1 #ahdb1 and ,february #adth1 #ahdf4 ,the names of their parents were ,george and ,ann ,woolford1 both members of the ,church assembling for worship in ,bethel ,chapel1 ,cheltenham4 ,in all1 four children shared their affection1 interested their solicitudes1 listened to their counsels1 and knelt at their domestic altar4 ,upon three out of the four the grave closed in comparative infancy2 and1 believing the kindness and love of ,god our ,saviour toward man appeared to them1 the bereaved mother1 partly to indulge in a subject of mournful interest1 and partly to record the gracious dealings of ,god1 drew up1 with her own hand1 the subjoined narrative3-- ,,george4 ,my eldest child1 ,george ,woolford1 was attacked by scarlatina on ,october #afth1 #ahea1 from which he partially recovered1 but died the following month4 ,perceiving his soul 'drawing nigh unto the grave1 and his life to the destroyers1' ,i remarked1 ',it will do you no harm to think of death1 seeing we must all die4' ,with tears in his eyes he exclaimed1 ',oh1 mother1 ,i am afraid ,i shall not go to heaven4' ,i asked why he thus feared4 ,his answer was1 ',i am afraid the ,lord will not forgive me4' ,i said1 ',my dear1 the ,lord is ready to forgive all who from their hearts are sorry for their sins2 and ,i hope the ,holy ,ghost will enable you to pray for divine forgiveness4' ,he seemed much affected by these remarks1 but said he was too ill to talk or listen to me4 ,in great earnestness 7and ,i believe under divine influence7 ,i entreated ,god to grant me the great favour of informing me whether my dear boy was interested in the everlasting covenant1 which is 'ordered in all things1 and sure4' ,about two or three days after1 he commenced a conversation by saying1 ',mother1 ,i am afraid ,i shall not go to heaven4 ,i have been such a sinner4 ,i am afraid ,i am so great a sinner that the ,lord will not save me4 ,i have done so many things that are sinful1 and they come into my mind and make me grieve4' ,i repeated several portions of the ,holy ,scripture1 to which he listened in great earnestness1 and then inquired1 ',but1 as ,i have not long to live1 will the ,lord forgive me after putting it off so long8' ,i answered in the affirmative1 and mentioned the dying thief1 assuring him the ,lord was as willing to pardon him as ,he had been to pardon that malefactor4 ,this relieved his mind1 and he asked for his ,testament to read4 ,a few days after1 while ,i was gazing intently on him1 he meekly exclaimed1 ',do not look at me so1 my dear mother4 ,it almost breaks my heart4' ,i said1 ',my dear boy1 do you ever pray8' ,he answered1 ',i try to do so2 but do not know that ,i pray aright4' ,i remarked1 ',if it is from your heart1 the ,lord will answer it in ,his own time1 for the prayer of necessity is that in which ,he delights4' ,on the ,lord's ,day before his death he appeared much better1 ate a hearty dinner1 and remained up till between four and five in the afternoon1 when he exclaimed1 ',oh1 mother1 ,i am afraid my breath is getting bad again4' ,after several hours of great suffering1 he cried out1 ',dear ,lord1 take me--do take me6' ,hearing him thus call upon the name of the ,lord1 ,i approached him softly1 and in soothing terms expressed my gladness at finding he was not afraid to die4 ',no1 dear mother1' he said1 ',i am not afraid to die4 ,i am happy now4' ,i inquired1 ',do you love the ,lord8' ',oh1 yes1' was his ready answer1 and immediately ejaculated1 ',dearest ,lord1 take me--take me--take me6' a great many times4 ,his pains becoming stronger1 he said1 ',dear mother1 do pray the dear ,lord to take me6' ,i did so2 and when risen from my knees1 he said1 ',thank you1 my dear mother4 ,i hope the ,lord will answer your prayer1' and then added1 ',oh1 my dear1 dear ,lord1 do take me6 ,take me from this world now4 ,i do not want to live here4 ,take me with my next breath4 ,this moment1 dear ,lord1 take me4' ,observing the state of his mind1 ,i put this question to him--',my dear boy1 do you think the ,lord has washed you in ,his blood1 and clothed you in ,his precious righteousness8' ',oh1 yes1 ,i do1 mother1' was his prompt reply4 ,his pains abating1 he remarked1 ',how kind the ,lord is to me6 ,i shall never be able to praise ,him enough4' ,i said1 ',my dear1 you will have the countless ages of eternity to praise ,him in4' ,he said1 ',i want to go4' ,i answered1 ',pray for patience1 that you may wait the ,lord's time4' ',i am not impatient1 but my pains are great1' was his meek reply1 and he began entreating the ,lord to remove him from this sinful world4 ,a short time after this1 he exclaimed1 ',oh1 that precious ,book1 the ,bible6' ,i answered1 ',it is indeed a precious ,book4 ,it tells us of a ,saviour1 who washed you and me in ,his precious blood6' ,he said1 ',yes'2 and added1 ',pray for ,him to take me soon4 ,do1 dear mother1' c4 ,expressing a desire to kiss my hand1 ,i gave him one4 ,he held it very tightly1 and kissed it several times4 ,i asked him if he thought he had been a little sinner or a great one4 ,surprised by this question1 and apparently hurt1 he replied1 ',oh1 mother1 a great one--a great one4' ,overhearing a part of my conversation with his aunt1 he said1 ',oh1 mother1 do not ask the ,lord to let me live4 ,i want to die4 ,i would not live half a second4' ,shortly after1 he repeated a similar prayer1 wished to see his father1 kiss him1 and take his leave of him1 which he did in an affectionate manner4 ,he then inquired what o'clock it was1 and being disappointed1 cried out in a tone of thrilling solemnity1 ',o ,lord of ,hosts1 come and take me6' ,shortly afterwards he exclaimed1 lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven1 ',i think ,i am dying4 ,pray again1 dear mother1 that the ,lord may take me4' ,persuaded of his interest in ,christ1 ,i was enabled to resign him1 and much as ,i loved him1 actually entreated the ,lord to fetch him away4 ,when this was over1 he said1 ',thank you1 my dearest mother4 ,i hope the ,lord will answer all your prayers before long4' ,at another time1 he remarked1 ',how good the ,lord is to me1 is ,he not8' ,and again1 ',my sufferings are great1 but they will soon be over1 for ,i shall soon be with the ,lord'2 and in a manner ,i cannot describe1 exclaimed1 ',oh1 dear ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and ,holy ,ghost1 come and take me4' ,not long after1 he remarked1 ',i shall soon go now4 ,something has broke in my head4 ,you may send for some one to lay me out4' ,after a short interval he complained of shortness of breath1 and proceeded to call upon the ,lord in a sweet manner1 but in a short time suddenly exclaimed1 ',now ,i know ,i shall soon be gone1 for two things have broke within me4 ,does not my voice get weaker8' ,after giving directions about his books1 he again complained of his distresses1 and ,i remarked1 ',the way to the kingdom was through much tribulation4' ,he requested that ,i would pray for patience2 and upon being reminded that the ,lord loved him too well to detain him one moment beyond the appointed time1 he said1 ',oh1 why is ,he so long in coming8 ,dear ,lord1 come now6' ,referring him to some of the ,lord's children who had suffered fire and sword1 but were now in glory1 ,i added1 ',you will soon be with them1 and have ten thousand smiles from your ,redeemer1 with love in every smile4' ,this seemed to refresh his spirit1 and ,i continued1 ',one moment with ,christ will more than recompense for all your pain4' ,he said1 ',oh1 yes4 ,come1 dear ,lord1 and take me6' ,heart and flesh failing1 his father was called into his room4 ,the patient sufferer looked calmly at him1 gently moved to the other side of the chair1 said ',mother6' and resting his head on his arm1 and with a pleasant countenance1 and without a groan1 quietly fell asleep in ,christ1 ,november #agth1 #ahea1 at five o'clock a4m4 ,thus died ,george ,woolford1 aged nine years and nine months4 ,those that sleep in ,christ will ,god bring with ,him4 ',i take these little lambs1' said ,he1 ',and lay them in ,my breast2 ,protection they shall find in ,me2 ,in ,me be ever blest4 ',death may the bands of life unloose1 ,but can't dissolve ,my love2 ,millions of infant souls compose ,the family above4' ,his words the happy parents hear1 ,and shout with joys divine-- ',dear ,saviour1 all we have and are ,shall be for ever ,thine4' ,,hephzibah4 ,my dear ,hephzibah was taken ill on the fifth of ,november1 and though ,i have not many sayings of hers to record1 ,i nevertheless believe that there was 'some good thing in her toward the ,lord ,god of ,israel1' and therefore1 in solemn pleasure1 rehearse the memorials of ,his grace4 ,on the fourth day of her illness she said1 ',mother1 ,i am very ill1 but ,i am not afraid to die1 mother4 ,no2 ,i should like to die1 and be with the ,lord1 for ,i do love ,him1 mother1 that ,i do1 better than every one besides4' ',but do you not love your father and mother best8' ,i inquired4 ,her answer was1 ',i do love you both very dearly1 but ,i love the ,lord most4 ,ought ,i not to love ,him most1 mother8' ,i said1 ',yes1 my dear4' ,she replied1 ',and so ,i do4 ,i want to go to heaven1 to be with ,him4 ,and ,i should like my dear father1 and mother1 and ,ann ,jane1 and ,george1 and ,rhoda to go with me4 ,would not that be happy1 to meet and never part again8 ,there we should have all we want4' ,i replied1 ',yes1 my dear1 for the ,lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them1 and shall lead them unto living fountains of water1 and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes4 ,and there shall be no night there4' ',oh1 will not that be happy1 mother8' she exclaimed4 ',i want to die1 that ,i may see the ,lord4 ,he is so good and kind to me4' ,i asked1 ',would you not like to get well again8' and her reply was1 ',i would rather die and go to ,jesus4' ,the frequency of her expressed desires to 'depart and be with ,christ' excited a trembling apprehension in my mind of her speedy dissolution1 an apprehension fully verified by the event4 ,she now sunk into a state of unconsciousness1 in which she continued for more than a week1 suffering very much1 indicating the speedy disrupture of all earthly ties1 and inducing a perpetual vigil4 ,to my surprise she suddenly rallied1 seemed to get better1 and 'hope told a flattering tale'2 but it disappointed us1 and rendered the separation more trying4 ,the sensitive vigilance of my child's conscience was very remarkable4 ,for instance1 when any little delicacy had been declined1 she remained inflexible1 remarking that to alter her decision would be to 'tell a story1' which1 she said1 'would be very wicked4' ,on the day she died1 she said1 ',mother1 ,i am very ill4 ,i think ,i shall die4 ,my throat is so bad4' ,shortly after1 she said1 ',mother1' and was silent4 ,a few minutes after that1 she lifted up her dear eyes and hands to heaven three times1 clasping her hands and letting them down again4 ,none but a mother knows a mother's heart4 ,i saw the stroke1 clasped my loved ,hephzibah1 and impressed the farewell kiss on her dying cheek4 ,she looked at me1 gave up the ghost1 and was 'carried by the angels into ,abraham's bosom' on ,november #bhth1 #ahea1 in the sixth year of her age4 ,one gentle sigh their fetters breaks1 ,we scarce can say1 ',they're gone6' ,before the willing spirit takes ,her mansion near the throne4 ,faith strives1 but all its efforts fail ,to trace her in her flight2 ,no eye can pierce within the veil ,which hides that world of light4 ,thus much 7and this is all7 we know-- ,they are completely blest2 ,have done with sin1 and care1 and woe1 ,and with their ,saviour rest4 ,the memoir of the third child1 ,ann ,jane1 will appear next month4 ,,the ,,blind ,,tortoise ,,in ,,the ,,well4 ,a blind tortoise lived in a well4 ,another tortoise1 a native of the ocean1 in his inland travels happened to tumble into this well4 ,the blind one asked of his new comrade whence he came4 ,from the sea4 ,hearing of the sea1 he of the well swam round a little circle and asked-- ,is the water of the ocean as large as this8 ,larger1 replied he of the sea4 ,the well tortoise then swam two-thirds of the well1 and asked if the sea was as big as that4 ,much larger than that1 said the sea tortoise4 ,well1 then1 asked the blind tortoise1 is the sea as large as this whole well8 ,larger1 said the sea tortoise4 ,if that is so1 said the well tortoise1 how big1 then1 is the sea8 ,the sea tortoise replied1 ,you having never seen any other water than that of your well1 your capability of understanding is small4 ,as to the ocean1 though you spent many years in it1 you would never be able to explore the half of it1 nor to reach the limit1 and it is utterly impossible to compare it with this well of yours4 ,the well tortoise replied1 ,it is impossible that there can be a larger water than this well4 ,you are simply praising up your native place with vain words4 ,how many people there are like the tortoise in the well6 ,,bible ,,enigma4 ,though 'tis not seen1 yet it is known1 ,for oft it makes e'en strong men groan4 ,the proud and bold have shook with fear ,when they have felt this strong one near4 ,yea1 monarchs have before it fell1 ,and feared that they should sink to hell4 ,but oft the sad have felt this power1 ,and found1 in trouble's darkest hour1 ,such friendly help that they have said ,they never more should be afraid4 ,and such as felt condemned to die ,have been released and filled with joy4 ,now1 reader1 search your ,bible through1 ,and tell us where these things you view4 ,,the greatest happiness of the creature is not to have the creature for his happiness4 ,,the ,,sense ,,and ,,senses ,,of ,,animals4 ,sir ,john ,lubbock1 ,m4,p41 some time since1 delivered an address in ,queen ,street ,hall1 ,edinburgh1 to the members of the ,edinburgh ,philosophical ,institution1 on ,the ,sense and ,senses of ,animals4 ,in the course of his remarks the lecturer said that one would gratefully admit that the dog was a loyal1 and true1 and affectionate friend1 but when we came to consider the nature of the animal1 our knowledge was very limited4 ,that arose a good deal from the fact that people had tried rather to teach animals than to learn from them4 ,it had occurred to him that some such method as that which was followed in the case of deaf mutes might prove instructive if adapted to the case of dogs4 ,he had tried with a black poodle belonging to himself4 ,he then went on to relate several experiments he had made with pieces of cardboards1 with different words marked upon them4 ,he had taken two pieces of card1 one blank1 and the other with the word food upon it4 ,he had put the latter on a saucer containing some bread and milk1 and the blank card he put on an empty saucer4 ,the dog was not allowed to eat until it brought the proper card to him4 ,this experiment was repeated over and over again1 and in about ten days the dog began to distinguish the card with the letters on it from the plain card4 ,it took a longer time to make the dog realize the difference between different words4 ,in order to try and discover whether the dog could distinguish colours1 he prepared six cards1 marking two of them blue1 two yellow1 and two orange4 ,he put one of each on the floor1 and tried to get the dog to bring to him a card with the same colour as one which he showed the dog in his hand4 ,after trying this for three months1 he found that his experiment in this direction was a failure4 ,he had always felt a great longing to know how the world appeared to the lower animals4 ,it was still a doubtful point whether ants were able to hear4 ,from experiments which he had made1 he had come to the conclusion they had not the power of addressing each other4 ,his impression on the whole was1 that bees and ants were not deaf1 but that they heard sounds so shrill as to be beyond our hearing4 ,there was no doubt about insects seeing4 ,he then went on to relate several experiments he had made with the view of discovering whether different insects could distinguish different colours1 and had any preference for particular colours4 ,the colours of objects must present a very different impression upon insects to that on human beings4 ,the world to them might be full of music which we could not hear1 colours which we could not see1 and sensations which we could not feel4 ,,beware ,,of ,,thorns4 ,a hand encased in leathern glove1 ,one pensive autumn day1 ,gathered some pretty wayside flowers1 ,to make a bright bouquet4 ,with kind intent the flowers were culled1 ,to please a loved one's taste2 ,but ah6 unconsciously1 some thorns ,were with the blossoms placed4 ,the hand that grasped the welcome gift ,soon felt the piercing smart1 ,and pain dispelled the grateful smile ,that rayed out from the heart4 ,would we to spirits bowed and sad ,convey a transient joy8 ,let not the lack of tender skill ,our kindly deed alloy4 ,e4 ,d4 ,,if you pursue sin for profit you will never profit by your sin4 ,,the ,,cost ,,of ,a ,,broken ,,sabbath4 ,a bright ,sabbath morning in ,august1 a young minister was on his road to a distant parish1 where he had engaged to take the services4 ,he overtook a group of lads1 evidently bent on an excursion of amusement4 ,a boy1 coming from the opposite direction1 was being alternately persuaded and chaffed to give up for once going to ,sunday ,school1 and join the pleasure-party instead4 ,just then an old man1 of venerable appearance1 who had watched the group from his garden1 came forward and addressed the boys in the following words-- ,lads1 you may think lightly now of what you are doing1 but ,sabbath-breaking leads to ruin--has led to the gallows4 ,ben--turning to the boy on his way to ,sunday ,school--don't be ashamed of doing right4 ,the ,lord saith1 ',them that honour ,me ,i will honour1 and they that despise ,me shall be lightly esteemed4' ,ah6 boys1 be warned in time4 ,you cannot reckon the cost of a broken ,sabbath4 ,ben1 strengthened thus1 went on his way1 regardless of the jeers of the other lads1 who1 turning over a stile1 were quickly out of sight and hearing4 ,the minister also went on his way1 but the earnest tones and sad expression of the aged man had made a deep impression on him1 and he pondered if some personal experience lay behind that solemn warning1 ,you cannot reckon the cost of a broken ,sabbath4 ,the evening of that day found him coming through the fields by a path which led hard by the door of the cottage of the old man4 ,it had been pointed out as shorter and pleasanter than the dusty high road which he had travelled in the morning4 ,the day had been hot1 and an offer to go back to the rectory for refreshment had been declined1 as it would lengthen the walk considerably2 but now1 tired and thirsty1 he resolved to test the hospitality of the owner of the cottage4 ,the old man sat outside his doorway1 with his big ,bible on a round table4 ,the wayfarer asked for a little water to drink4 ,he was courteously requested to enter in and rest1 and a draught of milk proposed instead1 unless he could wait for a cup of tea4 ,the kettle was boiling in the back kitchen1 and the little table1 covered with a snowy cloth1 was already set for a solitary meal1 which the visitor was invited to share4 ,he accepted the kindly offer1 not sorry to have an opportunity of converse with one whose words had lingered with him through the day4 ,having explained how he had been occupied since passing in the early morn1 he remarked-- ,you live alone8 ,yes1 sir1 ,i am alone in the world1 but yet not alone1 for the ,saviour is often with me in my humble dwelling1 and ,i hope in a little while ,he'll come and take me to ,his home above4 ,that is a blessed hope to cheer and make you patient to wait ,his time1 my friend1 was the rejoinder4 ,have you been left long alone8 ,the last went home twenty years ago1 come ,michaelmas1 said the aged host4 ,it has been whiles a weary waiting-time1 but it's sinful to repine4 ,his time must be the right time4 ,whilst the old man went to fetch the tea1 the guest looked round and observed some articles of carved wood--boxes1 flat rulers1 and leaf-cutters--and was struck with the frequent recurrence of short words of ,holy ,writ on the ,sabbath4 ,some little books lay on the window-sill1 many of which were on the same subject4 ,after impressively asking ,god's blessing1 and whilst partaking of the simple meal1 the visitor remarked-- ,i see the sanctity of the ,lord's ,day is a strong point with you4 ,i was struck this morning with the expression you used to those lads--'the cost of a broken ,sabbath4' ,illustration3 ,,the ,,old ,,man ,,sat ,,with ,,his ,,big ,,bible4 7,see page #acb47 ,no response came for some minutes1 as if the host was debating some question with himself2 and so it proved1 for at last he raised his head and said1 with a vast depth of pathos in his tones-- ,none have had greater reason to know the bitter cost1 sir1 than myself4 ,it is not often that ,i speak of the past1 but it may be the ,lord has brought you here for a purpose to-day1 and you may be able to use it as a warning to some within your influence4 ,if your story will not be too painful to you1 my friend1 ,i should indeed feel grateful to you for it1 was the response4 ,i do not belong to these parts1 sir1 he began1 but ,i've been here over a quarter of a century4 ,i lived in a large village in a midland county1 where some extensive mill-works were carried on1 and rose from a lad's tasks there to fill the place of foreman4 ,i married happily1 and had a home of comfort and peace with a loving1 godly wife4 ,four children out of six born to us grew up--two sons and two daughters--and after the toil and din of the week1 ,sunday was a day of quiet enjoyment1 in the midst of my family1 spent in ,god's house and our home1 with the aid of books and singing1 for we all had fair voices4 ,it had never been counted a dull day by the young folks4 ,the lovely flowers and birds1 and the wonders of the book of creation and the ,book of grace1 made the day of holy rest seem all too short4 ,but our circle did not remain unbroken4 ,first1 our eldest girl1 poor ,maggie1 left home to take a situation in a neighbouring town1 and soon after1 our first-born1 ,david1 who had never taken kindly to mill-work1 obtained employment in an office in the same town1 within five minutes' walk of his sister4 ,this seemed well for both1 being much attached to each other4 ,ned and ,mary still clung to the old home1 and the other two frequently spent the ,sabbath in our midst4 ,david almost always walked over in the early morn1 or late on ,saturday night1 returning1 if alone1 on ,monday morning1 or1 if ,maggie accompanied him1 the same evening1 as she was not allowed out at night4 ,she could only1 of course1 take turns with her fellow-servants2 but1 unless weather prevented1 we could surely reckon on the flown birds coming1 when able1 back to their nest on the ,sabbath4 ,but at last came just such a lovely summer day as this has been4 ,we lingered before starting for church till long after the bells had been chiming1 but neither of them came4 ,we looked to find them on our return1 and dinner waited long2 but the night came1 and we had not heard or seen aught of either4 ,i overheard ,ned in the garden speaking to ,mary-- ',i shan't feel easy till ,i've run over to the town to-morrow1 after work-hours4 ,i hear there was to be a river excursion from the town to-day--a steamer calling for a lot of folks4' ',but1 ,ned1 you don't believe ,davie or ,maggie would go8' said ,mary1 half reproachfully4 ',i don't feel comfortable about it1' replied her brother4 ',maggie could be persuaded to go anywhere with ,david1 and he and ,i had a talk not long ago on ,sunday trips4 ,he said folks could thus get out into pure country air1 for a few pence1 who were cooped up all the week in the smoke of the town1 and those who desired it could go to a place of worship even twice1 and get tea1 before they had to start on the return voyage4' ,the fear expressed was1 alas6 too well grounded4 ,david's master's son was one of these habitual pleasure-seekers1 and had long tried to persuade him to join him4 ,he had also become acquainted with ,maggie1 through meeting her out with the children to whom she was nursemaid1 and often fell in with her on the ,sundays she spent in the town4 ,in vain had he tried to induce her to join the steamer trip1 till one day he said-- ',if ,david went1 you could not scruple about going under his care4' ',oh1 ,i'm safe enough not to go at that rate1' was her reply4 ,but she was mistaken4 ,david had been persuaded to put his conscience to sleep by the resolution that it should only be for once1 just to see for himself how it worked really1 for good or evil4 ,he was more than half inclined to retract his consent1 when he learnt that his sister was to be of the party1 but the tempter having got his victims into the net1 did not let them off4 ,david and ,maggie found a church near the river1 and went to morning service4 ,their evil adviser accompanied them on condition that the afternoon should be spent in the woods4 ,it was not difficult to get separated in the many paths1 and when the steamer's warning bell was heard1 amid the hurried rush onboard1 ,david did not discover till too late that1 amongst several missing1 were ,maggie1 and also his master's son4 ,no entreaty could induce the captain to put back4 ,some fresh passengers had come on board1 showing views and engravings1 and ,david1 glad to divert his attention from self-reproach1 amused his mind with looking through their collection1 for he now repented bitterly that he had ever come--still more that he had brought his sister1 and then allowed her to slip out of his charge4 ,one of the new comers was especially friendly1 explaining the views to 'cheer up his spirits4' ,when within ten minutes of landing1 a boat came alongside with two or three police in plain clothes1 and soon arrested1 as well-known pickpockets1 two of the fresh passengers1 whilst all were advised to see what they had lost4 ,much of the booty was found on the prisoners1 but not all1 which led to a general search of the passengers4 ,on my poor son1 in his coat-pocket1 was discovered the rest of the missing plunder1 which had doubtless been slipped in by his friendly entertainer when he saw the police on board4 ,david's protestations of innocence were all unavailing4 ,the contents of his pockets were then and afterwards deemed conclusive proof of his guilt4 ,all efforts to save him were in vain4 ,he never breathed free air again in this life4 ,his sentence placed him among convicts at ,portland1 where his health broke down under grief and disgrace4 ,the tidings of his death reached me after ,i had moved here1 in a kind letter from the chaplain1 sending this precious relic taking a well-worn ,testament from his breast1 with its marked verses of comfort and a few lines from my poor boy--all ,i have left of him4 ,a folded sheet of paper1 yellow from age and tender from frequent handling1 lay between the leaves of the little ,book4 ,the old man handed both to his guest4 ,in the touching farewell to his father were the words1 ,you and mother know ,i've suffered innocently1 and it's now nearly over1 and ,i shall soon be free and with ,jesus1 whose precious blood has cleansed me from all sin4 ,but1 dear father1 never cease to warn the young of the fearful cost of a broken ,sabbath4 ,the aged man wiped away some falling tears4 ,i shall see my boy soon1 he continued4 ,i've tried to keep his injunction1 and1 by tract given or word spoken1 not to let a ,sabbath go by without some warning4 ,his mother scarcely held up her head after his trial1 and did not survive her first-born many weeks1 and ,i was left alone with our youngest--my ,mary4 ,that broken ,sabbath had lost ,maggie her place and character4 ,the doors were locked against her that night1 and no explanation would be accepted next day4 ,she wrote us word she'd got another situation at a distance through a friend4 ,we never saw her more in the old house1 and lost all traces of her4 ,our other boy1 ,ned1 came to us soon after his brother's trial1 and1 asking our consent and forgiveness for going away1 said he could not hold up his head in the village1 and must go to sea4 ,we let him go1 hoping time and change of scene would heal the wound1 and he'd come back to us to a fresh home1 for ,i felt like himself1 that ,i could not stay on in the factory1 and resigned my post and came here1 hoping our ,davie might soon be free to join us also2 but the ,lord set him free to go to a better mansion in the skies4 ,four years after we came here1 ,i had a letter from a neighbour who lived hard by in the old place4 ,what ,mary had often secretly feared1 came to pass4 ,maggie had come back1 to find no home left2 but the widow over the way had seen in the dusk a woman go and return1 repulsed from the old door1 and sit down to weep by the road-side4 ,she brought the wanderer to her own fireside4 ,i fetched her away1 and we nursed the poor1 worn1 wasted one tenderly1 but she had only come home with the prodigal's cry1 to die--',father1 ,i have sinned against heaven1 and before thee4' ,that broken ,sabbath was her first step to ruin1 but the blessed ,lord1 in ,his rich mercy1 and by the ,holy ,spirit's gracious leadings1 led her to the fountain which makes crimson sins white as snow1 and she is gone before me too4 ,the doctor--a good1 kind man--shook his head1 and bade me keep my ,mary in the fresh air1 and give her plenty of new milk4 ,he feared she had taken the seeds of disease in that long nursing1 and so it proved2 but1 with the hopefulness of consumption1 she did not believe she was going to leave me desolate1 and ,i deceived myself1 and hoped against hope1 as ,i looked on the sweet face and lovely bloom as she lay on this bench1 enjoying the sight and breath of the flowers4 ,by my carving1 which went to a ,london house1 we were kept from want1 and ,ned sent us home1 with sailor generosity1 supplies of money4 ',if he'd only come himself1' said my ,mary1 'it would be better than all the gold4' ',write and tell him so1' ,i said2 and so we both did1 and ,i told him of the fading away of his favourite sister1 hoping it would draw him back over the sea1 if anything would2 but the brother and sister were not to meet here again4 ,my ,mary left me one early morn1 as the sun's first streaks were gilding the sky4 ,no answer came from my sailor son1 but the good pastor who had ministered to us in our hours of sore need1 came one day1 and gently told me1 as ,i sat alone1 that his ship had gone down in one of the wild ,atlantic storms4 ,my boy is now safe in heaven1 where there is no more sea4 ,the aged man ceased4 ,his eye was on the sunset cloud1 but his heart was in the spirit land4 ,his guest1 rising up to depart1 took tenderly the wrinkled hand1 and said1 ,the ransomed of the ,lord shall return and come to ,zion1 with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads3 they shall obtain joy and gladness1 and sorrow and sighing shall flee away4 ,then he hastened homewards1 his own heart full with this touching record of the cost of a broken ,sabbath4--,from a ,tract1 published by ,s4 ,w4 ,partridge and ,co4 ,a ,,soft ,,pillow4 ,if the pillow be too hard1 it is very unlikely that the sleep should be sound4 ,yet this mainly depends upon circumstances4 ,if the conscience is easy1 the pillow will be comfortable1 even though a block of stone4 ,jacob slept sweetly at ,bethel1 when the ,lord appeared to him and told him that ,he was his ,god4 ,if1 on the other hand1 there is guilt on the conscience1 though the head is laid on the softest down1 the pillow will not be altogether easy4 ,,receiving ,,the ,,truth4 ,mrs4 ,le ,pla was a ,french lady1 who came over to ,england in the younger part of her life1 with much of the vivacity for which the ,french nation has been remarkable4 ,she was particularly under the eye of a grave1 ,pharisaic lady1 by whom she was persuaded to go to church1 but the dull manner in which the clergyman performed his office disgusted her so much1 that she withheld her attention1 and fell asleep4 ,at this1 her ,english friend was exceedingly angry1 and reproved her sharply4 ,on another ,lord's ,day her friend took her to hear ,dr4 ,f----1 but his excessive action provoked her to such a degree that she burst into a loud laugh1 and she was desired to walk out of the place of worship1 where she had certainly shown too little regard for the ,divine ,being and ,his worshippers4 ,on returning home1 she was very properly and severely remonstrated with1 at which she was much hurt4 ,she replied1 in broken ,english1 ,what can ,i do1 madam8 ,i go to church to please you1 and there ,i fall asleep4 ,i go to meeting1 and there ,i laugh2 and to tell you the truth1 ,i begin to think my own religion is not the right religion1 for that teaches me to worship images1 and ,god says1 ',thou shalt not make any graven image4' ,if1 therefore1 madam1 ,i go to any place of worship1 it shall be to hear a ,mr4 ,whitefield1 for ,i have heard great things of him4 ,well1 said her ,english friend1 we will inquire where he preaches4 ,the good man was then dead4 ,the ladies therefore went to the ,tabernacle1 ,moorfields4 ,mr4 ,t4 ,knight was the preacher1 and the native of ,france1 enraptured1 cried out-- ,this is the good and right doctrine6 ,here ,i will attend4 ,yes1 said the prudent1 self-righteous lady1 it is my opinion that they believe in predestination here1 and you cannot think it right that ,god made any of ,his creatures to be damned8 ,oh1 no1 said ,mrs4 ,le ,pla2 but ,i will certainly inquire for myself4 ,the next opportunity was eagerly embraced1 and the zealous inquirer1 seating herself by a good old woman of the congregation1 whispered-- ,pray1 madam1 do they believe in predestination here8 ,why1 predestination1 said she1 how can they avoid believing it8 ,the ,bible is full of it4 ,the querist was thunderstruck4 ,she hastened home4 ,do they believe in predestination there8 ,an old lady told me they did1 was the reply4 ,but1 said the ,french lady1 ,i am determined to ask the minister myself4 ,not long after1 she had an interview with ,mr4 ,knight4 ,pray1 sir1 said she1 will you allow me to ask you a few questions8 ,by all means1 said the good man4 ,then you must know1 said ,mrs4 ,le ,pla1 ,i was brought up a ,roman ,catholic1 and ,i think that is not the right religion1 because they worship images1 and ,i come to hear you with pleasure1 sir4 ,but my friends tell me you believe in predestination1 and a good old lady1 one of your congregation1 confirms it4 ,i have therefore taken the liberty to ask yourself about it4 ,mr4 ,knight said to her1 ,do not believe what every old woman says to you4 ,do you believe you are a sinner8 ,oh1 yes1 sir6 ,do you feel the want of ,jesus ,christ8 ,oh1 yes1 sir4 ,then1 said ,mr4 ,knight1 continue to hear the ,word of ,god1 and search the ,scriptures to see whether ,i preach the truth or not4 ,she took his advice1 and some little time after1 he preached on the subject of predestination1 and desired his hearers to compare what he had to say with their ,bibles4 ,the ,french lady did so1 and was quite overcome with conviction of the truth4 ,the question now was not with her1 whether predestination was a truth of ,god or not1 but whether she was one of the happy number appointed to salvation4 ,she afterwards became established in the truth1 was joined to ,mr4 ,brewer's ,church1 died in the ,lord some years since1 and was interred in the adjoining burying-ground4 ,,an ,,evening ,,at ,,the ,,west ,,end4 ,on ,monday evening1 ,april #bcrd1 #ahhh1 we were present at the twenty-second ,annual ,meeting of ,gower ,street ,chapel ,sunday ,school1 and1 although the weather was most unfavourable1 the attendance was good1 which must have been very encouraging to ,mr4 ,cooper1 the ,superintendent1 and the teachers4 ,the meeting was presided over by the senior deacon1 ,mr4 ,link4 ,the proceedings were opened by singing1 and the ,chairman read the fourth chapter of ,malachi1 after which ,mr4 ,gray engaged in prayer4 ,mr4 ,link1 in the course of a few weighty remarks1 said that they were gathered to thank the ,lord for ,his goodness4 ,he felt that the children were surrounded with many temptations to ensnare them4 ,he spoke of the shortness of time1 and the solemnity of the day of judgment1 and said that he often meditated upon these things1 and thought about the ,lord's servants and people1 whom he had loved because they were the ,lord's1 and whom he hoped to meet again when he had done with time things4 ,the report for the past year was then read by ,mr4 ,hale1 the ,secretary1 from which it appears that there are #bbb scholars on the books1 which is a slight decrease during the year4 ,the library numbers about #a1jcj books4 ,the report of the ,sick and ,benevolent ,society was also read4 ,mr4 ,boorne1 of ,greenwich1 in addressing the teachers1 referred to the works1 ,word1 and worship of ,god4 ,he said that the grass1 moss1 plants1 trees1 flowers1 and fruits showed the sovereignty of ,god4 ,then there were the various animals for the use and food of mankind1 and the internal treasures--metals1 oxides1 salts1 c4 ,god's wise provision of the sea for cleansing and purifying the earth--all declared the sovereignty1 wisdom1 power1 and goodness of ,god4 ,great ,god1 with wonder and with praise1 ,on all ,thy works ,i look2 ,but still ,thy wisdom1 power1 and grace ,shine brightest in ,thy ,book4 ,he then spoke of the ,book of revelation1 the ,bible1 and the need that the scholars should be taught the value of it1 and what it has cost to procure it to us--what a privilege it is to be able to read it1 and of the mercy of understanding it4 ,he mentioned an instance of a ,bible1 consisting of nine volumes1 being sold for ,l#cc #fs4 #h;d41 in the thirteenth century1 which would represent about fifteen times that sum now4 ,to-day a ,bible might be bought for a few pence4 ,he referred to the rigid laws of the time of ,henry ,v41 to prevent any from reading the ,bible in the mother tongue2 yet still the ,book lives4 ,he referred to the vulgar idea of the three ,r's in education1 and said that there were three ,r's which he wished them to oppose in their teaching1 namely1 ,romanism1 ,rationalism1 and ,ritualism4 ,how many worshipped something short of ,god in the setting up of candles1 crucifixes1 music1 and other things4 ,we must worship in spirit and in truth4 ,he concluded by exhorting them not to grow weary in well-doing1 for their labour would not be in vain in the ,lord4 ,mr4 ,hazlerigg1 of ,leicester1 said he had the difficult task of speaking to the children1 and he wished to put before them four prizes4 ,but they were not tangible--nothing to eat1 nor yet anything to see--yet all1 he thought1 might have them1 and he recommended them all to aim at getting them4 ,the first thing he wished them to prize was1 their ,sunday ,school4 ,he said it should be the endeavour of all to keep up the honour of the school1 and1 when any were tempted to do wrong1 their first thought should be1 ,what would they say at the ,sunday ,school8 ,when he was formerly in the army1 they had what was termed esprit de corps1 i4e41 a pride in keeping up the character of the regiment4 ,he hoped none of his audience would ever buy sweets on ,sunday1 or it might be said1 that ,it is one of the ,gower ,street ,sunday ,school children4 ,the second prize was1 their ,bibles4 ,if they prized and were led by their ,bibles1 they would be good children4 ,it would make them submit to all lawful authority4 ,how different it would be if the command1 ,thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself1 was better learnt and practised than it is6 ,in the third place1 he wished them to prize their chapel4 ,he spoke of the blessing attending the hearing of the ,word of ,god4 ,he said that some children go to school1 and then slip off without going to chapel4 ,he hoped none of those before him ever did that4 ,fourthly1 he hoped they would prize their ,superintendent and their teachers4 ,what a labour of love and self-denial was theirs6 ,they liked the work1 and their desire was1 the glory of ,god in the children's good--in the salvation of their souls1 and their prosperity--and they sought for this reward--the good of their scholars4 ,the touchable prizes for the past year were then distributed by ,mr4 ,hazlerigg1 and after ,mr4 ,link had concluded with prayer1 the children each received a bun and orange1 the gift of ,mr4 ,prior1 one of their teachers4 ,for the sake of brevity1 a vote of thanks was proposed to the latter1 associated with the names of the visiting ministers and the ,president1 which was heartily responded to4 ,mr4 ,hazlerigg replied for all in a few witty words1 which brought the evening to a genial and timely close4 ,,ragged ,,tom4 ,tom was a poor1 ragged boy4 ,his home was an old house in a narrow court4 ,a stool1 a deal table1 an old bed in one corner1 and a bag of shavings in another1 were all the goods contained in the room where ,tom1 with his father and mother1 lived4 ,tom's hands and face were generally very dirty2 his hair matted2 his clothes were in rags1 and his feet were without shoes4 ,he often had nothing to eat1 and no fire to warm him1 however cold the day4 ,many were the blows and kicks the poor boy received from the rude men and lads who lived in the court4 ,it was well for him that a ,ragged ,school was established in the neighbourhood1 and he was invited to go4 ,he then learned that he had three enemies of which he had not hitherto thought much4 ,these were dirt1 ignorance1 and sin4 ,he speedily vanquished the first at a pump4 ,the second he overcame by patient effort at the school4 ,then ,tom became a respectable1 happy1 and useful young man4 ,best of all1 he sought mercy and help from ,god1 and lived to prove that he had ,god's smile and blessing4 ,,our ,,bible ,,class4 ,,the ,,good ,,shepherd ,,gathering ,,his ,,sheep4 7,,john x4 #af47 ,in the city of ,jerusalem1 at the ,feast of ,tabernacles1 a few months before ,his death1 ,jesus set forth this beautiful parable of the ,good ,shepherd4 ,he had given sight to a man who from his birth had been blind4 ,the ,pharisees1 as usual1 had shown their hatred of ,him1 and ,he then described ,himself as the true ,leader1 beloved and honoured of all believing1 obedient souls1 declaring that ,his enemies did not believe ,him1 because they were not ,his sheep4 ,my sheep hear ,my voice2 ,i know them1 they follow ,me1 and ,i lay down ,my life for them4 ,and other sheep ,i have that are not of this ,israelite or ,jewish fold2 them also ,i must bring2 and they shall hear ,my voice1 and there shall be one fold and one ,shepherd 7,john x4 #af74 ,the ,jews who listened to those gracious words were much divided in their opinions about them1 some declaring that ,jesus was mad2 others1 appealing to the great miracle ,he had wrought in opening the eyes of the blind2 and three months later1 at another feast 7see ver4 #bb71 their controversy was renewed1 and ,jesus concluded ,his striking allegory by saying1 ,i and ,my ,father are ,one1 and no power shall ever be able to snatch ,my people from ,my hand or from ,his 7ver4 #bi1 #cj74 ,returning to our text1 we find ,jesus declaring that all ,his people are ,his before they know or love ,him4 ,up to that time the ,jewish ,church had been the only earthly fold of believers in the living ,god1 and all the ,gentiles who were taught by the ,holy ,spirit were led to unite with the house of ,israel or the people of ,judah4 ,god was ,israel's ,shepherd 7,psa4 lxxx4 #a74 ,he led ,his people like a flock by the hand of ,moses and ,aaron 7,psa4 lxxvii4 #bj74 ,they were regarded as the sheep of ,his pasture 7,psa4 c471 and the world around them were strangers and foreigners1 aliens from the commonwealth of ,israel1 and strangers to the covenant of promise4 ,but among these outcasts ,jesus had many sheep4 ,he gathered some in olden times4 ,he came to lay down ,his life for a great multitude1 to be drawn to ,himself from every kindred1 and tribe1 and nation1 and tongue4 ,he spoke of them as being already ,his own--,other sheep ,i have1 and them also ,i must bring1 or lead4 ,the ,son of ,man came to seek and to save that which was lost4 ,all we like sheep have gone astray2 we have turned every one to his own way2 and ,he who paid the ransom price of ,his wandering flock1 goes after every one for whom ,he shed ,his blood4 ,he finds them wandering far from ,god1 ,and brings them to ,his chosen fold4 ,as many as are led by ,his ,spirit--the ,spirit of ,god--they are the children of ,god1 the sheep of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,he brings them to feel that they are lost--that they are far off by wicked works--that they are guilty1 and weak1 and helpless--and thus they are drawn to the ,good ,shepherd1 who can and will deliver them from all evil1 and fill them with all good4 ,and having brought near1 ,he leads in green pastures1 beside still waters2 and even when the way is less pleasant1 ,he always leads in the way of righteousness1 in the midst of the paths of judgment 7,prov4 viii4 #bj74 ,they shall hear ,my voice1 ,he said1 and it is by ,his voice--,his ,word spoken to the heart--that ,he ever leads ,his people4 ,three thousand heard it on the day of ,pentecost1 and were pricked in their heart4 ,wounded1 and imploring forgiving1 healing grace1 they heard again with gladness1 and followed their ,lord in baptism 7,acts ii4 #cg-da74 ,lydia's heart was opened to receive the glad tidings1 and she followed the ,good ,shepherd2 and ,jesus leads ,his disciples all the way home4 ,in all thy ways1 the wise man says1 acknowledge ,him1 and ,he shall direct thy paths 7,prov4 iii4 #f74 ,these are they that follow the ,lamb whithersoever ,he goeth 7,rev4 xiv474 ,happy are they who know the sound of that heavenly voice6 ,have we heard it8 ,it may not be recognized at first1 as ,samuel heard1 but did not know who called him1 until his name had been again and again repeated1 and ,eli had perceived that the ,lord had called the child4 ,but as surely as ,he speaks1 we shall1 sooner or later1 know ,his voice1 and long and love to hear it4 ,then ,jesus promises that all ,his people1 of all nations and all ages of time1 shall become one flock--one in ,jesus2 one in heart1 and mind1 and judgment--and the whole redeemed and gathered flock shall at last dwell in one fold--the fold of heavenly1 eternal life and glory4 ,from sorrow1 care1 and pain1 ,and sin they shall be free1 ,and perfect love and friendship reign ,through all eternity4 ,and there shall be one ,shepherd4 ,jesus only shall be seen1 acknowledged1 and followed4 ,now ,he is loved and honoured as the great ,chief ,shepherd of the sheep1 and the ministers of the ,gospel are pastors1 or shepherds1 serving under ,him4 ,christ brings them forth1 gives them their work1 and blesses their careful labours4 ,but ,he removes them one by one4 ,he alone abides for evermore4 ,and in the fold above1 the pastors appear no more as shepherds1 but as sheep1 the redeemed and saved people of the ,lord4 ,yet1 wonderful to relate1 the one divine ,shepherd is called the ,lamb 7,rev4 vii4 #i-ag7--the ,lamb of ,god1 all-seeing and almighty1 yet the ,lamb that once was slain4 ,his life and blood the ,shepherd paid1 ,a ransom for the flock4 ,and this wonderful work is to be remembered while the years of eternity roll1 therefore it is the ,lamb in the midst of the throne that shall feed them1 and lead them to fountains of living waters2 and ,god shall wipe away tears from all eyes4 ,shall we be among them8 ,let us rather ask1 ,are we asking ,him to be our ,leader now8 ,are we hungering and thirsting after righteousness now8 ,and are we mourning over sin1 and after ,him8 ,if so1 our ,leader in this world will be our ,leader still4 ,he that hath fed will feed2 ,he that hath blessed will bless2 ,he that hath led will lead2 ,can ,he do less8 ,and we shall hunger and thirst no more in that blessed fold1 where in ,his presence there is fulness of joy1 and at ,his right hand are pleasures for evermore4 ,this is the life ,he gives ,his ransomed ones4 ,may it be ours4 ,our next subject will be1 ,elisha and the ,shunammite 7#b ,kings iv4 #h-cg2 viii4 #a-f74 ,yours affectionately1 ,h4 ,s4 ,l4 ,,bible ,,subjects ,,for ,,each ,,sunday ,,in ,,june4 ,june #c4 ,commit to memory ,prov4 x4 #bg1 ,june #aj4 ,commit to memory ,prov4 x4 #bh4 ,june #ag4 ,commit to memory ,prov4 x4 #bi4 ,june #bd4 ,commit to memory ,prov4 x4 #cj4 ,a ,,sanctified heart is better than a silvered tongue4 ,,prize ,,essay4 ,,what ,,marks ,,do ,,the ,,lambs ,,of ,,jesus ,,christ ,,bear8 ,true ,christians may be known by their walk and conversation4 ,they are anointed ones1 and they walk in the narrow way1 following in ,christ's footsteps4 ,they look unto ,jesus1 who is the ,author and ,finisher of their faith4 ,they are a despised or persecuted people1 as true ,christians have been in all ages4 ,the lambs of ,christ have always a great deal of trouble1 and are tried and tempted in many ways1 but it is for a token of their eternal salvation1 if ,god sanctifies the trouble4 ,if their affliction drives them to ,god1 it is a sanctified affliction1 and is for their souls' good4 ,an infallible mark of a regenerated character is1 when he begins to hate evil1 and where there is the ,spirit's work1 there is the panting after ,god4 ,a child of ,god looks within1 and feels that there is no putting away sin but by the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 and no pardon for poor sinners but by ,his sacrifice4 ,we cannot make ourselves clean1 or walk in the right way in our own strength1 but ,god will help us if we ask ,him in the right way4 ,the lambs of ,jesus ,christ are poor in spirit and pure in heart4 ,they hunger and thirst after righteousness4 ,although they are often persecuted for righteousness' sake1 yet ,christ's righteousness is imputed to them1 because ,he has atoned for their sins4 ,in speaking of truly good men1 ,mr4 ,gadsby said-- ,life1 light1 and holiness divine ,from ,jesus they by faith receive2 ,the ,spirit makes ,his graces shine1 ,and gives them power in ,christ to live4 ,,jane ,,bell 7,aged #ad years74 ,sydney ,house1 ,sleaford1 ,lincolnshire4 ,very creditable ,essays have been received from ,eleanor ,saunders1 ,lilly ,rush1 ,a4 ,pease1 ,w4 ,e4 ,cray1 and ,laura ,creasey4 ,we hope our young friends will follow up the various subjects1 as the study of them may do them good4 ,the writer of the above ,essay receives a copy of ,the ,dairyman's ,daughter4 ,the subject for ,august will be1 ,contrast the ,lesson ,taught by the ,conduct of ,solomon and of ,rehoboam1 at the ,commencement of their ,reign2 and the prize to be given for the best ,essay on that subject1 a copy of ,the ,life of ,george ,whitfield4 ,all competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age1 and that the ,essay is their own composition1 or the papers will be passed over1 as the ,editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information4 ,papers must be sent direct to the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings1 by the first of ,july4 ,,answer ,,to ,,bible ,,enigma4 7,page #ajf47 ,lamb of ,god4--,,john i4 #bi4 ,lord of all4--,,acts x4 #cf4 ,l emue ,l 4 ,proverbs xxxi4 #a4 ,a cch ,o 4 ,judges i4 #ca4 ,m ibza ,r 4 #a ,chronicles i4 #ec4 ,b ilda ,d 4 ,job ii4 #aa4 ,o n ,o 4 #a ,chronicles viii4 #ab4 ,f ar of ,f 4 ,ephesians ii4 #ac4 ,g abbath ,a 4 ,john xix4 #ac4 ,o phe ,l 4 #b ,chronicles xxvii4 #c4 ,d ia ,l 4 #b ,kings xx4 #aa4 ,,clara ,,ellis 7,aged #ad years74 ,,many wish to be like ,christ in bliss who seek not to be like ,him by grace4 ,interesting ,items4 ,,dairying ,,by ,a ,,duchess4--,the ,duchess of ,hamilton has opened a shop in ,ipswich for the sale of butter1 and is crowded with orders1 at #as4 #g;d4 per pound4 ,,telegraphing from a moving train has now become a practical success in ,america1 and the messages have been successfully transmitted by induction through twenty feet of air4 ,a ,,powerful ,,pneumatic ,,gun4--,a pneumatic gun1 which is to throw a shell containing six hundred pounds of dynamite four miles1 is being constructed for ,italy in ,philadelphia4 ,,the ,,queen has presented to ,st4 ,george's ,chapel1 ,windsor ,castle1 a very handsome silver gilt altar cross1 in commemoration of her ,jubilee4 ,the royal gift1 which has1 it is said1 cost about ,l#cjj1 was displayed upon the table next the reredos for the first time on ,april #ast4 ,,the ,brighton ,hotel1 on ,coney ,island1 has been successfully moved one hundred and twenty feet further inland1 in order to escape the encroachments of the sea4 ,the building was raised in one mass and rested on trucks made to run on rails4 ,six locomotives were then attached to the cars1 and dragged the hotel for the distance named4 ,it is intended to move it still further4 ,a ,,spanish ,protestant clergyman1 ,senor ,vila1 has been condemned to imprisonment for two years four months and one day1 and to a fine of two hundred and fifty francs and the costs1 by the ,criminal ,court at ,malaga1 for having discussed and condemned the dogmas of the ,roman ,catholic ,church in a pamphlet which he published in answer to the attacks of a ,catholic priest from ,paris1 who came to ,malaga1 and published a pamphlet against the ,protestant religion4 ,,the ,,oldest ,,and ,,youngest4--,the oldest ,cabinet ,minister is ,viscount ,cranbrook1 ,lord ,president of the ,council1 aged seventy-three2 the youngest is ,mr4 ,balfour1 ,chief ,secretary for ,ireland1 aged thirty-nine4 ,the oldest member of the ,privy ,council is ,viscount ,eversley1 aged ninety-three1 who is also the oldest peer of the realm2 the youngest member is the ,duke of ,portland1 aged thirty4 ,the youngest duke is ,h4,r4,h4 the ,duke of ,albany1 aged three4 ,the ,right ,hon4 ,c4 ,p4 ,villiers 7,south ,wolverhampton71 aged eighty-six1 is the oldest member of the ,house of ,commons2 and the youngest is ,lord ,h4 ,cavendish-,bentinck1 aged twenty-four4 ,mr4 ,justice ,manisty1 aged seventy-eight1 is the oldest ,english judge2 and ,mr4 ,justice ,charles1 aged forty-nine1 is the youngest4 ,the oldest bishop is ,dr4 ,durnford1 of ,chichester1 aged eighty-five2 and the youngest is ,dr4 ,john ,wordsworth1 of ,salisbury1 aged forty-four4 ,a ,,military ,,heroine4--,a handsome marble memorial has been erected in the cemetery at ,southsea in honour of the late ,mrs4 ,fox1 whose death was1 by special order of the ,duke of ,cambridge1 signalized by a military funeral4 ,the inscription on the memorial is as follows3--,sacred to the memory of ,mrs4 ,george ,fox1 wife of ,quartermaster ,george ,fox1 #bnd ,connaught ,rangers 7#idth ,regiment71 who died at ,cambridge ,barracks1 ,portsmouth1 on ,january #bbnd1 #ahhh1 from the effects of wounds received in the action of ,bronker's ,sprint1 ,transvaal4 ,for her heroic and unselfish conduct on that occasion in nursing the wounded--desperately wounded though she was herself--she was decorated by ,her ,majesty with the ,order of the ,royal ,cross4 ,this monument is erected to her memory as a token of affection and esteem by the officers 7past and present71 non-commissioned officers1 and men of the #bnd ,connaught ,rangers4 ',well done1 thou good and faithful servant' 7,matt4 xxv4 #ba74 ,the inscription is surmounted by the regimental crest--a crown1 an elephant1 the word ,seringapatam--and #bnd ,battalion the ,connaught ,rangers4 ,a ,,return1 just prepared at the ,war ,office1 of the religious profession of non-commissioned officers and men of the ,british ,european troops and ,colonial ,corps 7exclusive of ,indian troops71 shows that1 at the beginning of the present year1 there were #aeh1dad ,protestants of various denominations on the roll books1 of whom #acb1ecg belonged to the ,church of ,england1 #ae1jgb were ,presbyterians1 #i1dcg ,wesleyans1 and #a1cfi belonged to one or other of the smaller ,protestant bodies4 ,the total number of ,roman ,catholics was #dj1gge2 and there were #bgd who were either ,mahometans1 ,hindoos1 or ,jews2 while the religion of #a1jdd was not reported4 ,the proportion of ,church of ,england soldiers per thousand 7not reckoning the ,colonial corps7 was #ffh2 of ,roman ,catholics1 #bje2 of ,presbyterians1 #gf2 of ,wesleyans1 #df2 of men of the smaller ,protestant denominations1 #e2 there being thus in all #gie ,protestants per #a1jjj1 to #bje ,roman ,catholics4 ,the inquiry has not been so complete in the line cavalry as in other branches of the service1 there being #fge men out of #ag1ced whose religious profession has not been reported2 whilst amongst the #abi1eii men of the line infantry1 only #bgb were not reported4 ,,watch ,,glasses4--,of watch glasses1 #ej1jjj gross1 or #g1bjj1jjj1 are sold annually in the ,united ,states4 ,most of these are imported from ,england4 ,a ,,memorial window is to be placed in the ,bristol ,royal ,infirmary to commemorate the heroic deed of a young surgeon1 ,william ,conner1 medical officer1 who lost his life in a noble and daring effort to save a poor patient who had undergone the operation of tracheotomy while suffering from diphtheria4 ,a false membrane having formed in the throat1 and the patient being in imminent danger of his life1 young ,conner applied his lips to the throat tube1 and succeeded in removing the obstruction4 ,the window is in three panels1 representing incidents from the parable of the ,good ,samaritan1 and healing the sick1 and it will be inscribed1 ,to the glory of ,god1 and in affectionate remembrance of ,william ,conner1 who was born ,may #gth1 #ahea1 and died ,july #dth1 #ahhg4 ,a ,,great ,,log ,,raft4--,not satisfied with the former experiment and catastrophe1 the ,nova ,scotians are putting together another huge log raft1 to be floated to ,new ,york in ,july or ,august of this year4 ,this raft will be #fej feet long1 and will have six masts1 and a great spread of sail4 ,confidence seems to be placed in the usual fine weather of ,july and ,august2 but storms are by no means unknown over the course that the raft will traverse2 and should this huge area of floating timber encounter a storm1 the chains which will hold the logs together will snap like packing-cord1 and leave the crew to shift for their lives in their boats1 or by endeavouring to cling to their logs4 ,these experiments1 like attempts to swim the rapids of ,niagara1 should be prevented by some law or regulations1 since the common sense of those concerned is conspicuous by its absence4 ,it is quite possible that the raft may be favoured by fine weather1 and reach its destination successfully2 but it is true1 nevertheless1 that the enterprise is hare-brained1 and undertaken at great risk of life and property4 ,,great ,,storm ,,at ,,madagascar4--,particulars have been received1 via the ,cape of ,good ,hope1 of a terrific hurricane which raged at ,tamatave on ,february #bbnd1 which will long be remembered by the inhabitants as one of the most disastrous storms that have visited the island during this century4 ,eleven vessels at anchor in the harbour were totally wrecked4 ,some of them foundered at their anchors1 others parted their cables1 and were driven on the reefs4 ,the damage done to the town was very great4 ,not a house escaped more or less destruction1 numbers of them being utterly swept away4 ,the ,british ,consulate1 a large new building1 only erected some months ago by the ,british ,government1 was almost totally destroyed4 ,large fragments of this building were carried by the wind for hundreds of yards1 and for acres around the ground presented an extraordinary and melancholy spectacle1 being strewn with doors1 windows1 beams1 and other pieces of twisted wood and iron1 besides clothes and furniture4 ,the ,consul's wife1 ,mrs4 ,haggard 7the ,consul himself was at ,mauritius71 and those in the ,consulate had a narrow escape with their lives4 ,most of the trees were blown down1 and all were smashed to pieces4 ,several lives were lost on shore in addition to those drowned1 but their numbers were few in comparison to the almost incredible damage done in so short a time1 the hurricane only lasting seven hours4 ,a remarkable circumstance in connection with the hurricane is1 that it was not felt forty miles to the northward of ,tamatave1 nor its full strength sixty miles south4 ,,the ,,chinese ,,almanack4--,the great value which the ,chinese attach to their almanack is shown in many ways4 ,recently the ,chinese residents at ,lhassa1 in ,thibet1 implored the ,emperor to cause arrangements to be made which would enable them to receive their copies of the almanack at the earliest possible date in each year4 ,a writer in a recent issue of the ,chinese ,recorder says that the most important book to the ,chinese is the almanack4 ,its space is far too important to be occupied with the matter which fills ,western almanacks4 ,it contains astronomical information1 which is useful2 but its great mission is to give full and accurate information for selecting lucky places for performing all the acts1 great and small1 of every-day life4 ,and as every act of life1 however trivial1 depends for its success on the time in which1 and the direction 7i4e41 the point of the compass7 towards which it is done1 it is of the utmost importance that every one should have correct information available at all times1 to enable him to so order his life as to avoid bad luck and calamity1 and secure good luck and prosperity4 ,consequently1 the almanack is perhaps the most universally circulated book in ,china4 ,the writer speaks of it as a terrible yoke of bondage4 ,it is issued by the ,government1 and the sale of all almanacks but the authorized one is prohibited4 ,quite recently the new ,chinese ,minister to ,germany refused to sail for his post on a day which the almanack declared to be unlucky1 and the departure of the ,german mail steamer was consequently deferred at the request of the ,german minister to ,pekin4--,what a pity but these poor deluded creatures were blessed with ,bible truth and ,jesus' grace6--,,ed4 ,illustration3 ,a ,,troop ,,of ,,dragoons ,,came ,,up ,,at ,,full ,,gallop4 7,see page #adf47 ,,the ,,covenanter',s ,,escape ,,and ,,death4 ,on the #afth of ,april1 #afhe1 ,peden made a narrow escape4 ,being then at the house of ,john ,nisbet1 of ,hardhill1 a little before nine o'clock in the morning1 a troop of dragoons were observed by the servants1 who were working in the fields1 coming up to the house at full gallop1 upon which the servants ran to conceal themselves4 ,peden1 and those who were with him in the house1 had fled for shelter to a moss nearly two miles distant from the place where the servants were working4 ,the way to this moss was by a very steep ground1 and at the edge of the moss there was a morass about seven or eight yards broad1 and altogether the place was well adapted for concealment1 as well as for protection from military on horseback4 ,here1 however1 ,peden and his companions were discovered4 ,james1 the son of ,john ,nisbet1 a young man about sixteen years of age1 had been with the servants in the field when the troop of dragoons came up1 and in his flight1 being chased by some of the party1 made his way accidentally to where ,peden and about twenty more were lurking1 which occasioned their being discovered4 ,the whole party of dragoons were quickly informed of the prize within their reach1 and about three hours after1 they were joined by another party who aided them in the pursuit4 ,peden and his friends1 observing the enemy dismounting their horses to take the moss on their feet1 for the purpose of securing them1 after some firing on both sides without effect1 drew off1 and kept in the midst of the moss4 ,when the dragoons1 on seeing this1 mounted their horses again1 and pursued by the side of the moss1 the ,covenanters always kept themselves on such ground as the horses could not approach4 ,they were pursued during the whole of that day1 and ran about thirty miles without receiving any refreshment but moss-water till night1 when they got a little milk4 ,peden then left his friends1 and went away by himself4 ,during this year1 and especially the first part of it1 great numbers of the persecuted witnesses were murdered in the fields4 ,peden1 therefore1 to escape the hands of the military1 after this wandered from one lurking-place to another2 and from his minute acquaintance with all the tracts and haunts of the desert1 of which he may be said for years to have been an inhabitant1 he succeeded in eluding the enemy4 ,in such circumstances1 we need not wonder that he was sometimes weary of life1 and envied his fellow-sufferers who had gone to death before him1 and were eternally at rest4 ,at length1 ,peden's bodily infirmities increasing so much as to render him unable to travel1 being almost worn out with fatigue1 and suffering from the many hardships he had undergone1 he arrived at his native parish of ,sorn4 ,he came to his brother's house1 in the neighbourhood of which he caused a cave to be dug1 with a willow bush covering its mouth4 ,his persecutors getting information where he was1 searched every part of the house on many occasions4 ,at last1 one day1 early in the morning1 leaving the cave1 he came to the door of the house4 ,his brother's wife warned him of his danger1 advising him to return to his place of concealment4 ,he told her it was needless to do that1 since it was discovered4 ,but1 said he1 there is no matter1 for within forty-eight hours ,i will be beyond the reach of all the devil's temptations1 and his instruments in hell and on earth1 and they shall trouble me no more4 ,he had not been in the house above three hours when a party of soldiers visited the cave1 and not finding him there1 they searched first the barn1 and next the house1 stabbing the beds1 but they did not enter the place where he lay4 ,peden died on the #bhth of ,january1 #afhf1 being upwards of sixty years of age1 and was privately buried in the church of ,auchinleck1 in the aisle of ,david ,boswell1 ,esq41 of ,auchinleck4 ,but his ashes were not allowed to repose in peace4 ,though he had never been condemned by any jury1 yet the enemy1 being informed of his death and burial1 sent a troop of dragoons1 who pulled his corpse out of the grave after it had lain about six weeks1 and having first broken the chest1 exposed his remains to contempt1 and then carried them to the gallows foot at ,cumnock1 two miles distant1 and there buried them4 ,the design of the soldiers in lifting the body was to hang it in chains upon the gallows at ,cumnock1 but this they were prevented from doing4 ,the ,countess of ,dumfries and the ,lady ,affleck1 shocked at this barbarity1 earnestly interceded that the body might be again buried2 and when the savage commander of the dragoons1 determined to have it hung in chains1 proved unrelenting1 they applied to the ,earl of ,dumfries1 a ,privy ,councillor1 then at home1 who1 yielding to their request1 went to the gibbet and told ,murray that it was erected for malefactors and murderers1 and not for such men as ,mr4 ,peden4 ,the corpse was accordingly reinterred at the foot of the gibbet1 now within the wall of the common burial-ground of ,cumnock parish1 and a suitable memorial erected over the remains1 on which was inscribed an appropriate epitaph4 ,a ,,day',s ,,work4 ,the amount of work some people get through is simply enormous4 ,few people are harder worked than a ,london physician in active practice4 ,we know a doctor who seldom gets more than four hours' sleep out of the twenty-four4 ,he says that it is not that he couldn't do with more1 but it is as much as he can get4 ,many busy men are constantly at work of some kind or the other from eight in the morning till past twelve at night4 ,some1 of course1 break down1 but others can do this year after year1 apparently without any detriment to their health4 ,instances are known of professional men who have not slept for five days together1 and who have not been in bed for three weeks at a time4 ,these sound almost like travellers' tales1 but they are true1 although1 of course1 they are exceptional cases4 ,it is astonishing what interest and energy will do in enabling a man to dispense with rest4 ,it has been said that the twenty-four hours might be advantageously divided into three equal parts--eight hours for sleep1 eight for meals1 exercise1 recreation1 c41 and eight for mental work4 ,few men really require more than eight hours' sleep1 but the majority of us have to do considerably more than eight hours' work in the day4 ,it is not so much that a man wishes for the work1 as that it is forced upon him4 ,he1 perhaps1 is the only person who can perform a certain duty1 and when1 as is often the case1 it is a question of life and death1 it is almost impossible to refuse4 ,many people can never force themselves to do more than a certain amount of mental work2 they get nervous and headachy1 and then it is all over with them4 ,forced work1 as a rule1 tells on a man much more rapidly than purely voluntary work1 for in the former case it is usually associated with anxiety4 ,real overwork gives rise to loss of memory1 a general sense of fatigue1 and particularly of discomfort about the head1 poorness of appetite1 lowness of spirits1 and other similar symptoms4 ,it is worry that injures more than real work4 ,some people are so happily constituted that they never worry much about anything1 whilst others are in a fever of anxiety on every trivial occasion4--,the ,family ,physician4 ,,juvenile ,,gems4 7,concluded from page #acj47 ,,ann ,,jane4 ,my dear ,ann ,jane was an affectionate child1 but naturally timid1 and frequently expressed a hope that she should not be taken ill4 ,yet she too was destined to be borne far1 far away4 ,on ,november #abth1 #ahea1 it pleased ,god to indicate ,his intentions by placing upon her ,his afflicting hand4 ,but ,he who mingles mercy with ,his might1 set ,his bow in the cloud1 answered in the secret place of thunder1 and revealed ,his love in the bosom of the storm4 ,ann ,jane gave pleasing proofs of a work of grace in her soul1 the progress of which was visible to by-standers and friends4 ,a short time after the attack1 she expressed a wish to die2 and upon being asked why1 she answered1 ,because ,i believe ,i shall go to heaven4 ,i believe the dear ,lord has pardoned my sins4 ,she would often say1 ,pray for me1 my dear mother1 and ,i will pray for you1 and myself too2 and would then address herself to ,god in a sweet1 devout manner4 ,observing me to be in great trouble1 she thus spoke to me--,do pray the dear ,lord to take me to ,himself4 ,i answered1 ,how can ,i do so1 seeing ,i cannot give you up8 ,she replied1 ,oh1 mother1 put your trust in the ,lord4 ,he will provide4 ,do ask ,him to take me out of this world4 ,oh1 mother1 there is nothing here worth living for2 and engaging sweetly in prayer1 uttered1 with many other sentences1 the following--,pardon all our sins1 dear and precious ,lord--past sins1 present sins1 and sins to come4 ,wash us in ,thy precious blood1 for ,thou knowest how sinful we are1 and ,thou rememberest we are but dust4 ,oh1 make us love ,thee more6 ,thy love is an everlasting love4 ,take us1 dear ,lord1 take us to ,thyself1 and then we shall love and serve ,thee better4 ,the second ,lord's ,day of her affliction1 she inquired what day it was4 ,i informed her1 and asked1 ,would you not like to spend a ,sabbath in heaven8 ,oh1 yes1 mother6 was the rejoinder4 ,that would be a ,sabbath of ,sabbaths4 ,with pleasure ,i remember some particular times when my precious child seemed almost overpowered by the sweetness and glories of ,immanuel1 who is ,god with us1 not only in our nature1 but in our condition4 ,at these times1 with uplifted hands1 she would exclaim1 ,oh1 my precious ,jesus6 ,oh1 my precious ,christ6 ,one day she said1 ,mother1 my pains are very great4 ,can you do anything to give me relief8 ,what an appeal to maternal tenderness6 ,what a moment of agonizing weakness6 ,i reminded her of the divine sufficiency1 and she poured out a copious argumentative prayer1 not like the prayer of a child1 pleading the ,lord's own ,word1 and the merits of ,christ1 as the only ground of her expectation4 ,i know1 she would say1 ,i am not worthy4 ,i am a guilty sinner4 ,oh1 wash me in ,thy precious blood6 ,give me patience to endure my pains1 and to wait all ,thy will2 and take me to be where ,thou art1 for ever and ever4 ,amen4 ,seeing me weep very much1 on one occasion1 she exclaimed1 ,my precious mother1 ,i do love you6 ,why do you grieve about me8 ,i am not afraid to die4 ,i want to go to my precious ,lord1 and be with ,him for ever4 ,i said1 ,my dear child1 why do you believe you shall go to heaven8 ,do you think you have merited it8 ,oh1 no1 mother1 was her immediate reply4 ,i am a guilty sinner4 ,it is through the ,lord ,jesus1 and for ,his sake1 that ,i hope to be saved4 ,do you not think1 dear mother1 ,he will pardon me8 ,i said1 ,yes1 if you feel your need of ,him4 ,she answered1 ,i believe ,he has pardoned me4 ,after the prayer previously mentioned1 and partly recorded1 she said1 ,how good the ,lord is to me6 ,oh1 my precious ,jesus1 c4 ,oh1 mother1 she said1 in reply to a question1 ,i know ,i love the ,lord4 ,yes1 ,i do2 better than everything else in the world4 ,at another time she cried out1 in a loud impressive tone1 ,oh1 mother1 what is there in this world worth living for8 ,it is all stuff and vanity--it is1 mother4 ,oh1 ,i do not want to live here6 ,pray the dear ,lord to take me to ,himself4 ,oh1 how blessed to be with my precious ,jesus for ever6 ,when informed of the death and burial of her brother1 she appeared excited1 but at last said1 ,dear boy6 ,i hope ,i shall soon be with him1 and then we shall meet to part no more4 ,she then asked me to pray again that ,god would take her4 ,how could ,i8 ,nature has soft but powerful bands1 and the ligaments were not yet severed4 ,she seemed my earthly all4 ,could ,i surrender her to the arms of the destroyer8 ,could ,i look up and say1 ,thy will be done8 ,what grace we need to glorify ,god in the fires6 ,nine days after her illness she raised herself up in her bed1 and1 looking at her departing sister1 said1 ,there is my dying sister4 ,where is she going8 ,where8 ,why1 to the realms of bliss8 ,and who of us next8 ,why1 myself1 ,i believe1 mother4 ,but ,i am not afraid of death1 c4 ,at another time she said1 ,do read to me1 dear mother2 and upon my asking her where1 she replied1 ,read about the sufferings of ,christ ,i did so1 and she afterwards engaged in prayer4 ,at another time the nurse heard her1 during the night1 earnestly praying for both her parents and herself4 ,once she requested me to read the seventeenth chapter of ,john1 remarking at the time1 ,that is sweet reading4 ,after listening for a time she fell into a short sleep1 and ,i laid the ,book down4 ,when she awoke she exclaimed1 ,won't you read to me1 my dear mother8 ,i said1 ,you dropped off into a sleep1 my dear4 ,she then tried to read herself1 but failing1 returned the ,book1 immediately adding1 ,give it me again and let me kiss it1 for ,i love it very much4 ,at different times she expressed earnest desires to go to her brother and sister1 and for her father and mother and sister to go also2 and would try to sing a part of that ,sabbath ,school hymn1 chorusing--,oh1 that will be joyful1 c4 ,two days before she died she exclaimed1 with sweet simplicity1 ,suffer the little children to come unto ,me2 and shortly after1 ,precious ,bible6 what a treasure1 c4 ,the night on which she died1 a friend coming in1 she seemed pleased1 remarking that ,i could then take some rest4 ,shortly after this her voice began to fail4 ,she called for ,hephzibah1 looked at me wishfully1 exclaimed1 ,mother1 and talked earnestly for some time2 but her voice was thick in death1 and language failed as an interpreter of the thoughts and intents of the heart4 ,in vain she laboured to make me comprehend her ideas4 ,the bridge had been broken down2 the fortress was dismantled4 ,only a word or two was distinct enough to be understood1 but from these ,i found her discourse was of a spiritual nature4 ,overcome by the scene1 ,i burst into tears1 and said1 ,my dear child1 how ,i wish ,i could understand you6 ,it almost breaks my heart4 ,at this she looked at me so very affectionately1 and exclaimed1 ,heaven6 heaven6 heaven6 ,she spoke not again1 but for twelve long hours her spirit struggled with her clay1 when the conflict mercifully ceased1 and all was peace1 and righteousness1 and quietness1 and assurance for ever4 ,she exchanged worlds on ,december #adth1 #ahea1 aged eleven years and three months4 ,may death conclude my toils and tears2 ,may death conclude my sins and fears2 ,may death1 through ,jesus1 be my ,friend2 ,may death be life when life shall end6 ,thus ends the interesting memoirs of three happy children2 and as reflection should follow reading1 we proceed from narrative to reflections4 ,,reflections4 #a4 ,from these memoirs we learn how greatly the ,lord sometimes tries the righteous4 ,in little more than a fortnight1 three out of four children were borne to their long home4 ,the father had been previously afflicted with paralysis1 and was at that time unable to follow his employment1 having lamed himself4 #b4 ,we learn that human affliction may consist with divine affection4 ,lazarus sickened and died1 though ,jesus loved him4 ,and what son is there whom the ,father chasteneth not8 #c4 ,we have another lesson upon the inscrutable providence of ,god4 ,i beheld1 says ,solomon1 all the works of ,god1 that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun2 because1 though a man labour to seek it out1 yet shall he not find it2 yea1 further1 though a wise man think to know it1 yet shall he not find it4 ,no man knoweth divine love or hatred by the distributions of providential good and evil4 #d4 ,but if the events of life are so complicated1 and if no application1 however skilfully conducted1 nor any human capacity1 whatever its range1 can fathom the mysteries of ,god1 then1 how unseemly is immoderate grief or unmeasured joy6 ,how premature our decisions1 and how utterly senseless all those infidel cavils against a system which the most enlightened1 philosophical1 and ,spirit-taught mind can neither understand nor deal with6 #e4 ,nevertheless1 we read that the righteous1 and the wise1 and their works1 are in the hand of ,god 7,eccles4 ix4 #a71 from which we conclude that the people of ,god1 wherever located1 and however circumstanced1 are protected by ,his power1 sustained by ,his agency1 supplied by ,his mercy1 are under ,his special care1 and safe in ,his approbation4 ,let this suffice4 ,we walk by faith4 #f4 ,we see here the sovereignty of ,god1 both in ,his providence and grace4 ,we read of one being taken and another left2 but here three are taken1 and only one left4 #g4 ,does not ,god1 sometimes1 put peculiar honour upon ,his professing people1 however ,he sees fit to try them8 ,if ,he takes one of a ,gentile city1 ,he takes two of a ,christian family1 and brings them to ,zion4 #h4 ,we observe1 too1 the earliness and efficacy of ,his work on the minds of some1 so that out of the mouths of babes and sucklings ,he perfects ,his own praise4 #i4 ,attention1 however1 may be called to the value of early and maternal instruction4 ,these children were instructed for the most part by their mother1 who watched over them with incessant care1 keeping them separate from the masses1 and attending to their education as an important duty4 ,there is not a grand inspiring thought1 ,there is not a truth by wisdom taught1 ,there is not a feeling pure or high1 ,that may not be read in a mother's eye4 ,there are teachings on earth1 and sky1 and air2 ,the heavens the glory of ,god declare2 ,but more loud than the voice beneath1 above1 ,is the voice that speaks through a mother's love4 ,w4 ,p4 ,,brought ,,to ,,the ,,fold4 ,louisa ,ann ,jeeves1 of ,pewsey1 ,wilts1 died on ,march #bdth1 #ahhh1 aged twenty-four years4 ,she sat under the truth until she was about twenty1 when she left the place for a short time4 ,but1 when taken seriously ill1 it appears that the ,lord laid the weight of her sins upon her1 and she felt that she had slighted the means of truth1 which was a trouble to her4 ,the clergyman called1 and wished to administer the ,sacrament to her1 but she refused1 and told him she dare not1 for she had not felt the pardon of her sins4 ,from this time she sank very low1 and felt her sins to be a heavy burden4 ,she now eagerly read her ,bible1 in which she marked many portions4 ,her bodily sufferings were very great1 but she bore them without a murmur4 ,her sins1 and the state of her soul before ,god1 seemed always uppermost4 ,i had known her from a child1 and hoped there was some good thing in her2 but when she left the place of truth1 ,i was afraid my hope was vain4 ,i visited her often after my return to ,pewsey1 and found her in great concern about her soul4 ,she said she knew that nothing but an application of the blood of ,christ could suffice for her great sins1 and this she longed to feel4 ,she asked me to read and pray with her1 which ,i was enabled to do1 believing the ,lord had given her true conviction of sin4 ,each time ,i called she was greatly distressed1 and seemed without hope2 and this went on until the last week of her life1 when she begged me to stay with her altogether1 and whenever we were alone she wished me to read and pray4 ,she would cry out in agony1 ,oh1 what shall ,i do if ,i don't get to heaven8 ,on the ,tuesday1 when she had been greatly tried1 this word was brought with comfort to her mind1 ,i will never leave thee1 nor forsake thee4 ,i said1 ,if the ,lord has given you those words1 ,he will1 in ,his own time1 bless you with pardon and peace2 and1 as she was drawing near her end1 ,i said1 ,when ,he comes1 if you are unable to speak1 raise your hand4 ,but the next day the ,lord was pleased to bless her soul with joy and peace4 ,she called for her mother1 and when she came1 she said1 her face at the time beaming with joy1 ,oh1 mother1 ,i am so happy6 ,i am going home to be with ,jesus6 ,he has put away all my sins by ,his own precious blood1 and you will come1 too4 ,she would have us sing some hymns1 herself joining in while able--among others1 ,how sweet the name of ,jesus sounds1 and ,rock of ,ages4 ,when we had finished one she named another1 and said1 ,beautiful6 beautiful6 ,she gradually sank1 but the fear of death was taken away4 ,she was quite conscious to the last1 and turned her head to look at the clock several times4 ,the enemy of souls was not permitted to harass her in her last hours1 and just before she breathed her last1 she raised her arms and clapped her hands three times1 evidently remembering what ,i had said to her4 ,it may be truly said1 she died in peace4 ,she was a constant reader of the ,,little ,,gleaner4 ,c4 ,g4 ,,to lay the salve of our services upon the wound of our sins is as if a man who is stung by a wasp should wipe his face with a nettle4 ,,rome ,,proposes1 ,,god ,,disposes4 ,for ,my thoughts are not your thoughts1 neither are your ways ,my ways1 saith the ,lord4--,,isaiah lv4 #h4 ,father ,chiniquy had been for some years lecturing on teetotalism1 in addition to his usual priestly labours1 and his success had been so great that he had received the title of ,apostle of ,temperance in ,canada1 and the gift of a splendid medal and crucifix from the ,pope of ,rome2 and his reputation as a popular influential priest was therefore well established1 when he was requested to become the leader of a great movement4 ,emigrants were constantly leaving ,europe and ,canada for the ,united ,states1 and many of them became connected1 on their arrival there1 with ,protestant associations4 ,some far-seeing bishops consequently felt that1 if they could divert that tide to places of their own choosing1 under the direction of their own loyal priests1 a splendid triumph would be gained for ,popery1 and in the course of time they would secretly1 yet surely1 rule the ,united ,states of ,america4 ,some small colonies had been already formed1 and the whole of the ,mississippi valley and the adjoining country was so fertile and rich1 even in its wild state1 that ,chiniquy's warmest hopes were kindled1 as he saw that beautiful land2 and1 sitting down1 he wrote a glowing description of it1 and invited intending emigrants to come and see for themselves4 ,the result exceeded all anticipations4 ,in a very short time fifty families arrived at the chosen spot1 and pitched their tents around his own4 ,they soon set to work to build small1 strong wooden houses under their priest's directions1 then a larger one for a parsonage and school2 and1 as fresh emigrants were continually arriving1 they soon became a flourishing1 happy community1 and objects of the bitter jealousy of surrounding priests4 ,many difficulties arose4 ,when his wooden church was just finished1 it was maliciously set on fire the very night after the first services were conducted in it4 ,a new bishop came into power1 whose tyranny and greediness were unbearable1 and ,father ,chiniquy appealed against him to ,napoleon1 the ,french ,emperor1 and the ,pope1 getting him at length removed from the position he had so greatly abused4 ,but the crowning difficulty1 which was designed by ,god to be the crowning blessing of ,his servant's life1 was yet to come1 and thus it came to pass that the ,bible-loving priest forsook his false position1 and came out of ,babylon4 ,when ,rome's new doctrine1 the perfect holiness of the ,virgin ,mary1 was first published in #ahed1 a farmer called on ,chiniquy to ask him whether the ,scriptures taught such a thing1 and he honestly confessed that they did not1 but rather said the opposite1 and that the holy fathers had not believed or taught it either1 but it was with the greatest pain that he1 as a priest1 said this4 ,on another occasion1 the immoral conduct of a priest caused many to ask our friend whether the ,word of ,god really forbade the ministers of ,christ to marry1 and he replied1 ,i will put the ,gospel in your hands1 that you may see for yourselves what the ,holy ,book says about these matters4 ,he accordingly ordered a large number of ,new ,testaments1 which had been printed by the sanction of one of their own archbishops1 and soon they were being eagerly read and studied by his large congregation4 ,and now the decisive hour drew near4 ,another bishop1 who had taken the oppressor's place1 kindly asked and accepted ,chiniquy's submission to his authority4 ,but1 as that document contained the words1 ,according to the ,word and commandments of ,god1 as we find them expressed in the ,gospel of ,christ1 the ,jesuits found fault4 ,the bishop demanded the withdrawal of the words1 and upon his refusal to alter them1 angrily said1 ,if it be so1 sir1 you are no longer a ,roman ,catholic priest4 ,may ,god ,almighty be for ever blessed1 was the brave reply1 given in a loud1 determined voice4 ,but the wrench was a terrible one1 and when alone in his hotel1 the full consequences of his words came forcibly before him1 and he felt alone and desolate4 ,but ,god1 who had thus mysteriously led him into liberty1 did not forsake him now4 ,he spoke to his heart1 and confirmed him in the determination he had made2 and when all his sins seemed like a mountain to rise before him1 ,jesus appeared as his perfect1 all-sufficient ,saviour1 and the troubled heart was filled with joy unspeakable1 so that he could and did exclaim1 ,o magnify the ,lord with me1 and let us exalt ,his name together6 as he hastened home to tell his dear people all that he had experienced of the wrath of man and the love of ,god4 ,may we1 with him1 be favoured to taste and see that the ,lord is good1 and we also shall say1 ,o ,lord ,god of ,hosts1 blessed is the man that trusteth in ,thee6--,jottings on ,the ,life and ,work of ,father ,chiniquy1 by ,cousin ,susan4 ,,how ,,to ,,select ,a ,,boy4 ,a gentleman advertised for a boy1 and nearly fifty applicants presented themselves to him4 ,out of the whole number he selected one1 and dismissed the rest4 ,i should like to know1 said a friend1 on what ground you selected that boy1 who had not a single recommendation4 ,you are mistaken1 said the gentleman2 he has a great many4 ,he wiped his feet when he came in1 and closed the door after him1 showing that he was careful4 ,he gave his seat instantly to that lame old man1 showing that he was thoughtful4 ,he took off his cap when he came in1 and answered my questions promptly1 showing that he was gentlemanly4 ,he picked up the book which ,i had purposely laid on the floor1 and replaced it upon the table2 and he waited quietly for his turn1 instead of pushing and crowding1 showing that he was honourable and orderly4 ,when ,i talked to him1 ,i noticed that his clothes were brushed1 his hair in order4 ,when he wrote his name1 ,i noticed that his finger-nails were clean4 ,don't you call those things letters of recommendation8 ,i do2 and ,i would give more for what ,i can tell about a boy by using my eyes ten minutes than all the letters he can bring me4 ,little things show character1 and frequently determine a boy's whole career4 ,it is the boy who does the kind1 polite1 and thoughtful acts unconsciously that wins his way to employment and success4 ,and success does not mean wealth and fame4 ,a man is valued according to his faithfulness and reliability1 and these chiefly determine the measure of his true usefulness4 ,it is not always those who are most conspicuous in the eyes of the world who are really the most useful4 ,a man who takes money at a ferry gate is seen by thousands1 but he only does what any one of a thousand could do equally well2 while a thoughtful and conscientious writer1 who may be personally known to very few1 may have great influence for good4 ,true success means the development of a character that is worthy of example--a character that is honest to every duty1 faithful to every trust1 and that is unselfish enough to find time for kindly acts that are not forced1 but the simple expression of a warm and generous principle4 ,true success is fidelity to every relation in life4 ,,nothing ,,to ,,thank ,,god ,,for4 ,have you nothing to thank ,god for8 asked the mother of a little girl named ,helen4 ,no1 said ,helen2 you and papa give me everything4 ,not for your pleasant home8 asked mother4 ,it is my papa's house2 he lets me live in it4 ,where did the wood come from to build it8 asked mother4 ,from trees1 answered ,helen1 and they growed in big forests4 ,who planted the big forests8 ,who gave rain to water them8 ,who gave the sun to warm them8 ,who did not allow the winter to blast them8 ,who kept them growing from little trees to trees big enough to build houses with8 ,not papa1 not man2 it was ,god4 ,helen looked her mother in the eye1 and then said1 ,papa bought nails to make it with4 ,what are nails made of8 asked mamma4 ,iron1 answered ,helen2 and men dig iron out of the ground4 ,who put iron in the ground1 and kept it there safe till the men wanted it8 asked mother4 ,it was ,god4 ,we got this carpet from men1 said ,helen1 drawing her small foot across it4 ,where did the carpet-men get the wool to make it from8 asked mother4 ,from farmers1 answered ,helen4 ,and where did the farmers get it8 ,from sheep and lambs' backs1 said the little girl4 ,and who clothed the lambs in dresses good enough for us8 for your dress1 ,i see1 is made of nothing but lambs' wool4 ,where did the lambs get such good stuff8 ,god gave it to them1 ,i suppose1 said the little girl4 ,it is you that gives me bread1 mother1 said she quickly4 ,but1 said her mother1 the flour we got from the shop1 and the shopkeeper bought it from the miller1 and the miller took the wheat from the farmer1 and the farmer had it from the ground1 and the ground grew it all itself4 ,no1 cried ,helen suddenly1 ,god grew it4 ,the sun and the rain1 the wind and the air1 are ,his1 and ,he sent them to the corn-field4 ,the earth is ,his too4 ,and so ,god is at the bottom of everything1 isn't ,he1 mother8 ,yes1 said mother2 ,god is the ,origin of every good and perfect gift which we enjoy4 ,the little girl looked serious4 ,she looked thinking4 ,then1 mamma1 she said at last1 ,i can't make a prayer long enough to thank ,god for everything4 ,oh1 that men1 even as the creatures of ,god1 would praise the ,lord for ,his goodness1 and for ,his wonderful works to the children of men6 ,a ,,cingalese ,,rock ,,fortress4 ,for the first time for a number of years the ,sigiri ,rock in ,ceylon has been scaled by a ,european1 the feat on this occasion being performed by ,general ,lennox1 who commands the troops in the island4 ,it is said1 indeed1 that only one ,european1 ,mr4 ,creasy1 ever succeeded in reaching the summit4 ,the rock is cylindrical in shape1 and the bulging sides render the ascent very difficult and dangerous4 ,there are galleries all round1 a groove about four inches deep being cut in the solid rock4 ,this rises spirally1 and in it are fixed the foundation bricks1 which support a platform about six feet broad1 with a chunam-coated wall about nine feet high4 ,the whole structure follows the curves and contours of the solid rock1 and is cunningly constructed so as to make the most of any natural support the formation can afford4 ,in some places the gallery has fallen completely away1 but it still exhibits flights of fine marble steps4 ,high up on the rock are several figures of ,buddha2 but it is a mystery how the artist got there1 or how1 being there1 he was able to carry on his work4 ,the fortifications consist of platforms1 one above the other1 supported by massive retaining walls1 each commanding the other4 ,owing to the falling away of the gallery1 the ascent in parts had to be made up a perpendicular face of the cliff1 and ,general ,lennox and four natives were left to do the latter part of the ascent alone4 ,the top they found to be a plateau about an acre in extent1 in which were two square tanks1 with sides thirty yards and fifteen feet respectively in length1 cut out of the solid rock4 ,a palace is believed to have existed on the summit at one time1 although time1 weather1 and the jungle have obliterated all traces of it4 ,during the descent the first comer had to guide the foot of the next into a safe fissure1 but all reached the bottom safely after two and a half hours4 ,it is said that the amount of work expended on the galleries is incredible1 and the writer of the account of the feat doubts if all the machinery of modern times could accomplish the stupendous work that was achieved here in old days by manual labour alone4 ,a ,,queer ,,fisherman4 ,monkeys and apes are 7remarks a writer in ,harper's ,young ,people7 always amusing creatures1 and it is great fun to watch their tricks4 ,but there is one ape1 a native of the island of ,java1 who outdoes most of his relatives in the way of being ridiculous1 especially when he amuses himself as a fisherman4 ,this ape is very fond of shellfish1 and there is a certain kind of sand-crab that suits his palate exactly4 ,these crabs dig little homes for themselves deep in the sand1 and thither they retire when they want a quiet rest1 or when any danger threatens4 ,when all is well1 they spend their time sunning themselves at the entrance of their holes1 or hopping along the water's edge in search of food4 ,the apes know their ways1 and while the crabs are looking for a dinner they also are bent on obtaining one for themselves4 ,apes1 you know1 can move very quickly4 ,they wait until they see a party of crabs apparently unconscious of danger1 and busily engaged in discussing a bit of seaweed1 or devouring the insects they are so fond of4 ,moving stealthily forward1 as close as they dare1 the ape gives a sudden leap1 and seizes as many as possible of the poor1 unsuspecting crabs1 which are speedily crunched into a shapeless mass by his strong jaws1 and devoured4 ,but the crabs are very active too1 and it often happens that they will take alarm in time to scamper quickly to their holes1 and so cheat the ape out of his anticipated meal4 ,when this occurs1 the ape has recourse to a stratagem which proves how intelligent he really is1 and which makes him appear1 as ,i have said1 one of the most amusing and ridiculous of creatures4 ,the ape of ,java1 unlike others of his species1 possesses a very long tail4 ,he moves quietly up to the hole into which he has seen the crab disappear1 thrusts his tail into it1 and awaits events4 ,the crab1 indignant at such an intrusion1 makes a spirited attack1 and fastens upon it4 ,this is precisely what the ape wants4 ,he gives a sudden spring forward4 ,the crab1 having no time to collect his ideas1 is drawn to the surface1 and in a moment the ape has him in his claws4 ,poor crab6 victim of his anxiety to punish the invasion of his home4 ,one traveller tells us that there is a comical look of suspense on the ape's face as he thrusts his tail into the hole1 and waits for the crab to seize it4 ,,saved ,,by ,,grace4 ,agreeably to your wishes1 ,i send you the following account of ,w4 ,b----1 who had lived a dissolute life for nearly forty years4 ,he was notorious for drinking and ,sabbath-breaking1 and his general deportment was so abandoned that he was wicked even to a proverb4 ,on ,saturday evening1 ,march #dth1 he attended a funeral1 and from the place of interment he immediately betook himself to a public house1 where he became so intoxicated that it was with some difficulty he reached his own habitation4 ,no sooner was he laid down upon the bed1 and composed to sleep1 than the words of ,eliphaz were verified in his experience--,in thoughts from the visions of the night1 when deep sleep falleth upon man1 fear came upon me1 and trembling1 which made all my bones to shake1 for he dreamed a frightful dream4 ,he thought he saw a serpent of the hydra kind1 with nine heads1 ready to seize him4 ,whatever way he turned1 a head presented itself1 nor could he1 by all the methods he devised1 extricate himself from the baneful monster4 ,he awoke in great distress4 ,though it was but a dream1 it made a strong impression upon his mind1 and he was afraid it portended some future evil4 ,the next morning1 one of the members of our meeting1 as he was going to the house of ,god1 observed him in a pensive posture1 and asked him if he would go with him and hear a sermon upon the old serpent4 ,the sound of the word serpent arrested his attention1 and excited his curiosity to hear what ,i had to say upon such a subject4 ,but for this expression1 probably the poor man had remained unmoved4 ,why the person used it he could not tell1 nor why he invited him to accompany him that morning--a thing which he had never done before4 ,but ,he could tell who1 in the days of ,his flesh1 must needs go through ,samaria1 and whose providences are always in coincidence with the purposes of ,his grace4 ,as soon as prayer was ended1 ,i preached from ,genesis iii4 #ac-ae1 ,and the ,lord ,god said unto the woman1 ,what is this that thou hast done8 ,and the woman said1 ,the serpent beguiled me1 and ,i did eat4 ,and the ,lord ,god said unto the serpent1 ,because thou hast done this1 thou art cursed above all cattle1 c4 ,as ,i was explaining who that serpent was1 and the methods he took to beguile sinners1 the ,lord opened the poor man's eyes1 and the ,word had free course and was glorified4 ,from that moment he gave every demonstration of a real change of heart4 ,about four or five months he continued in the pangs of the new birth4 ,the anguish of his soul was great indeed4 ,he perceived the number of his sins1 and felt the weight of his guilt4 ,for some time he was tempted to despair--,i may say1 to put an end to his existence--but while he was musing on his wretched condition1 these words were applied as a sovereign remedy to his afflicted soul--,believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and thou shalt be saved4 ,this administered all the joy and comfort he stood in need of4 ,now he was enabled to believe that ,christ was as willing to forgive as ,he was mighty to redeem4 ,the burden of his guilt dropped from his mind1 as ,pilgrim's did at the sight of the cross1 and immediately he rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory4 ,i was with him a little while after1 and with a heart overflowing with gratitude to ,god1 he showed me the place of his ,bethel visit1 where the ,lord had opened to him ,his bleeding heart1 and manifested ,his forgiving love4 ,he seems to be1 as the ,apostle expresses it1 a living epistle of ,christ1 seen and read of all men4 ,illustration3 ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,members ,,observed ,,him ,,in ,a ,,pensive ,,posture4 7,see page #aef47 ,,two ,,brave ,,children4 ,the sky at night in the vicinity of ,apple ,creek1 in ,dakota1 a few weeks ago1 was red all around the horizon1 and the people knew that the prairie fires were burning4 ,every evening1 as darkness fell1 the farmers saw the glare becoming more and more distinct1 and during the day the smoke increased until it was nearly suffocating4 ,not far from ,apple ,creek is the little village of ,sterling1 and near ,sterling lived the ,stevens family4 ,mr4 ,stevens was away from home on the day that the fire approached the house1 and it so happened that his wife was sick in bed4 ,their children were a girl of eight years and a boy of eleven4 ,the boy had heard that it was a good thing to plough a furrow across the path of the advancing flames1 and about noon of the day in question he tried to protect the property in that manner4 ,with the two-horse team and plough he cut a trench around the house and sheds1 and then another trench around the stacks of unthreshed wheat4 ,he was not strong enough to plough the trench to a great depth1 but the wide line of damp earth thrown up would be hard for the flames to leap across1 especially since his little sister followed him around1 carrying away all trash that would add to the fury of the flames4 ,that night the fire was so near that the poor woman thought of getting out of bed1 with the purpose of attempting to escape1 but she was too ill to try such a thing4 ,moreover1 she knew that if her husband could reach the house he would come1 and she watched and prayed as the light came to her room from the crimson skies without4 ,when the flames1 running before the wind1 came down upon the ,stevens' place1 they licked up the fences in an instant1 swept away the shocks of grain in the fields1 and then rolled suddenly up to the furrows ploughed by the boy4 ,the wheat stacks fell a prey1 and numberless sparks were scattered around the house2 but the brave boy and his sister ran all about1 trampling out the fire wherever it caught4 ,the little workers were desperate1 for they knew that1 should the house burn1 their poor mother would surely perish in her bed4 ,they fought with brooms1 shovels1 and water4 ,wherever they could they dug up fresh earth1 and for a quarter of an hour they did not pause for a single moment4 ,once the house caught1 and the wood began to add its crackling to the rush and roar of the vast prairie fire2 but the children dashed bucket after bucket of water upon the burning spot1 and so put it out4 ,they carried the day4 ,the great fire swept past1 and in its wake came the father1 half frantic with joy to find that his little hero and heroine had saved their mother's life4--,examiner4 ,a ,,hint ,,to ,,boys4 ,if ,i were a boy again1 and knew what ,i know now1 ,i would not be quite so positive in my own opinions as ,i used to be4 ,boys generally think that they are very certain about many things4 ,a boy of fifteen is a great deal more sure of what he thinks he knows than is a man of fifty4 ,you ask the boy a question1 and he will answer you right off1 up and down4 ,he knows all about it4 ,ask a man of large experience and ripe wisdom the same question1 and he will say1 ,well1 there is much to be said about it4 ,i am inclined1 on the whole1 to think so-and-so1 but other intelligent men think otherwise4 ,when ,i was about eight years old1 ,i travelled from ,central ,massachusetts to ,western ,new ,york1 crossing the river at ,albany1 and going by canal to ,syracuse4 ,on the canal-boat a kindly gentleman was talking to me one day1 and ,i mentioned the fact that ,i had crossed the ,connecticut ,river at ,albany4 ,how ,i got it into my head that it was the ,connecticut ,river ,i do not know1 for ,i knew my geography very well then2 but in some unmistakable way ,i fixed it in my mind that the river at ,albany was the ,connecticut1 and ,i called it so4 ,why1 said the gentleman1 that is the ,hudson ,river4 ,oh1 no1 sir1 ,i replied1 politely but firmly4 ,you're mistaken4 ,that is the ,connecticut ,river4 ,the gentleman smiled and said no more4 ,in this matter ,i was perfectly sure that ,i was right1 and so ,i thought it my duty to correct the gentleman's geography4 ,i felt rather sorry for him that he should be so ignorant4 ,one day1 a short time after ,i reached home1 ,i happened to be looking over my route on the map1 and lo6 there was ,albany standing on the ,hudson ,river1 a hundred miles from the ,connecticut4 ,then ,i did not feel half so sorry for the gentleman's ignorance as ,i did for my own4 ,i never told anybody that story until ,i wrote it down on these pages the other day1 but ,i have thought of it a thousand times1 and always with a blush for my boldness4 ,nor was it the only time that ,i was perfectly sure of things that were not really so4 ,it is hard for a boy to learn that he may be mistaken2 but1 unless he is a dunce1 he learns it after a while4 ,the sooner he finds it out the better for him4 ,w4 ,g4 ,,divine ,,guidance4 ,in the life of ,mary ,pryor1 well known among the ,quakers a hundred years ago1 the following incident occurred on the occasion of her visit to the ,quakers in ,america4 ,she visited several of the best ships of the period1 but did not feel easy to take her passage in any of them4 ,at length1 on sitting down in an inferior vessel1 called the ,fame1 she said she felt so comfortable that she must go in that ship4 ,her friends endeavoured to dissuade her1 one of them saying he would not trust his dog in it4 ,but having sought the ,lord's direction1 she saw no light on any change of plan1 and she set sail in the ,fame4 ,she was now sixty years of age4 ,the voyage occupied three months1 and was miserable in the extreme4 ,the old vessel sprang a leak1 and for weeks crew and passengers had to work at the pumps to keep her afloat4 ,at length1 when all prospect of rescue seemed hopeless1 and the men were on the point of giving up in despair1 ,mrs4 ,pryor1 who had maintained her calmness and encouraged the sailors all along1 came out of her cabin one morning1 saying she had good news1 for she had seen in a dream a vessel coming to their help that very day4 ,she had forgotten the name of the ship1 but if the female passengers would mention their maiden names1 it would be recalled to her memory4 ,one of them said her name had been ,archibald4 ,that1 said ,mrs4 ,pryor1 is the name of the ship that will save us4 ,the men were cheered1 and turned with new energy to the pumps2 and that evening1 just before the vessel foundered1 they were rescued by a small ,halifax schooner1 named the ,archibald4 ,the crew and passengers attributed their deliverance1 under ,god1 to the influence of ,mrs4 ,pryor2 and here was the explanation of the guidance she believed herself to have received to sail in the ,fame1 contrary to the wishes of her friends4 ,the steps of a good man are ordered by the ,lord4--,lantern4 ,,if ,christ be not a refiner's fire in you1 ,he will be a consuming fire to you4 ,,god can give a pardon to the greatest sin1 but ,he cannot give a patronage to the least sin4 ,,jesus ,,loves ,,me6 ,a few years ago1 a poor girl in ,london1 to whose soul the ,spirit had spoken peace through the blood of ,jesus1 was very anxious to impart the knowledge1 and tell some other soul of the dear ,saviour she had found4 ,she was too poor and ragged to take a class in a ,sunday ,school4 ,she especially longed to tell children of ,jesus4 ,she thought1 if she could only be instrumental in the winning of one little child1 how blessed it would be1 so she used to speak to any little child she saw standing about in the street4 ,one little boy1 about seven years old1 often went to her to hear her joyful ,gospel tidings4 ,one day she missed him1 and searched until she found him4 ,poor little fellow6 ,he was lying in great agony upon a miserable bed of straw in a wretched dwelling1 and was quite alone4 ,the kind girl1 full of pity for him1 and anxious to relieve him1 called the attention of neighbours to him1 but they declined to take any step in the matter4 ,at last she called a policeman4 ,he made the case known to the authorities1 and the little sufferer was taken to the workhouse hospital4 ,here he remained in great suffering1 the doctors being unable to do anything to relieve him4 ,in training him for an acrobat1 his parents had treated him so severely1 in order to make his tender little limbs supple1 that there was not a bone in his body seemingly in its proper place1 and his agony was most intense4 ,six doctors1 including ,queen's physicians1 had his case under consideration1 but their skill could not avail4 ,he was unable to lie on his back or side4 ,a frame was made to support his head as he leaned forward4 ,his poor little hands were wrapped in cotton-wool steeped in morphia1 to allay the pain4 ,when he had been in the hospital about four months1 a lady went to see him1 from whom ,i heard this most touching and true account4 ,she said she should never forget his face when he raised his head to speak to her4 ,such a beautiful face1 with sweet blue eyes and placid expression1 met her gaze4 ,he so frequently said1 ,thank you4 ,it was1 ,thank you1 ,i am not suffering quite so much to-day2 or1 ,thank you4 ,you are so kind4 ,one day1 she asked him if he loved ,jesus4 ,he looked at her so reproachfully that her heart smote her for having asked such a question2 then he said1 ,jesus loves me4 ,she saw then the meaning of his reproachful look4 ,how could she ask him whether he loved ,jesus when ,jesus loved him8 ,the dear little sufferer had grasped the secret of power4 ,it was not his love for ,jesus1 but the love of ,jesus to him1 that was the solid rock on which he stood4 ,another time he said1 ,oh1 ,i don't mind bearing a little pain for ,jesus4 ,he died for me4 ,the language of some in the hospital was very dreadful4 ,such blasphemy--such cursing and swearing--even when dying4 ,but the clear voice of the young sufferer often rose high above all others4 ,it distressed him beyond all measure1 and he called out1 ,oh1 don't1 don't6 ,jesus hears you4 ,rough men1 touched by the sight of his pain1 would stand by him1 listening to his words1 silenced by his entreaties4 ,truly he was out of weakness made strong4 ,not long after the visit of the lady to whom ,i have referred1 ,god released the loving little soul from its tenement of suffering1 and revealed to him1 in the eternal weight of glory1 how fully ,he loved him4 ,his brief tale of life on earth1 with its pain so bravely borne1 and its knowledge of love so faithfully testified1 is now changed for the song and the crown1 and the exceeding bliss of being for ever with ,him who loves him1 whom to know is life eternal1 and in whose presence is fulness of joy4 ,,nettie4 ,a ,,red ,,sea ,,rock4 ,a fourth1 and happily a successful1 search by ,her ,majesty's ships has just been made for a reported rock towards the southern end of the ,red ,sea1 on which two steamships1 the ,avocet and ,teddington1 are supposed to have struck during the year #ahhg1 both ships afterwards foundering4 ,owing to a considerable error in the position given by the former vessel1 the first search was mainly over ground too far to the westward1 and operations were suspended until more accurate information could be obtained4 ,the loss of the second ship1 in a position given five miles north-east of the first1 caused a second and careful search to be made on a more extended area1 still with no indication4 ,a surveying vessel was then sent two thousand miles in order to institute a rigorous examination2 but six weeks' close search--though under great difficulties of strong wind and heavy sea--bore no fruit1 and various theories were started to account for the loss of the two steamships4 ,the fourth ship1 ,her ,majesty's surveying ship ,stork1 has been more successful4 ,guided by some slight indication afforded by an insignificant rise in the sea bottom1 the rock has been at last found4 ,it is a small coral patch1 only fifteen feet under the surface of the sea1 and stands in twenty-eight fathoms of water1 in latitude #ad deg4 #bb min4 #h sec4 ,n41 longitude #db deg4 #da min4 #cb sec4 ,e4 ,it lies midway between the two best positions that critical cross-examination had finally settled as most probable for the respective vessels that were lost4 ,though it is between five and six miles from the direct straight line of track1 the existence at times of strong currents transverse to the axis of the ,red ,sea1 causes the danger presented by it to be by no means insignificant1 though it is a matter for marvel that it has never been struck before4 ,the difficulty of finding such a small rock may be appreciated from the fact that one of the searching ships was at anchor within four hundred yards of it1 with her boats sounding round her1 without its being perceived1 though she was driven from her anchorage by a gale before the spot was passed over by the boats4 ,seeing the enormous ,british trade1 valuable both in lives and property1 that passes down the ,red ,sea1 it is a matter of general congratulation that the ,admiralty refused to discontinue the search until the last hope of finding a rock was dispelled1 and that the efforts to discover it have at length been crowned by success4 ,,kenilworth ,,castle4 ,willis1 the ,american traveller1 in his ,famous ,persons and ,famous ,places1 observes that1 when visiting ,kenilworth1 he noticed with surprise that in one place the swelling root of a creeper had lifted one arch from its base1 and the protruding branch of a chance spring tree 7sown1 perhaps1 by a field-sparrow7 had unseated the keystone of the next4 ,and so perish castles and reputations--the masonry of the human hand1 and the fabrics of human thought--not by the strength which they feared1 but by the weakness of trifling things which they despised4 ,little did ,john ,o',gaunt think1 when these rudely-hewn blocks were heaved into their seats by his herculean workmen1 that1 after resisting fire and foe1 they would be sapped and overthrown at last by a vine-tendril and a sparrow6 ,,the ,,priest ,,and ,,the ,,lady2 ,,or1 ,,transubstantiation ,,exposed4 ,a lady once1 a ,protestant1 in ignorance was led ,to think she might with comfort live1 though to a ,papist wed3 ,but ,rome decrees no peace they'll have who marry heretics1 ,until their households have been made submissive to her tricks4 ,it sorely grieved this husband that his wife would not comply ,to join the mother ,church of ,rome1 and heresy deny3 ,day after day he flattered her1 but still she held it good ,that man should never bow his knee to idols made of wood4 ,the ,mass1 the priest1 and miracles1 were made but to deceive2 ,and transubstantiation1 too1 she never could believe4 ,he went unto his clergy1 and told him his sad tale-- ,my wife's an unbeliever1 sir2 try if you can prevail4 ,you say you can work miracles--she says it is absurd-- ,convince her and convert her1 and great is your reward4 ,the priest went with the gentleman--he thought to gain a prize-- ,he says1 ,i will convert your wife1 and open quite her eyes4 ,so when they came unto the house1 ,my dear1 the husband cried1 ,the priest is come to dine with us4 ,he's welcome1 she replied4 ,the dinner being ended1 the priest to teach began1 ,explaining to the lady the sinful state of man4 ,the kindness of the ,saviour 7which no one can deny71 ,who gave ,himself a ,sacrifice1 and once for sin did die4 ,he by ,his priest still offers up ,himself a ,sacrifice4 ,the lady only answered this by expressing great surprise4 ,i will return to-morrow--prepare some bread and wine-- ,and then dispense the ,sacrament to satisfy your mind4 ,i'll bake the cake1 the lady said4 ,you may1 replied he1 ,and when you see this miracle1 convinced ,i'm sure you'll be4 ,the priest returned accordingly--the bread and wine did bless-- ,the lady said1 ,sir1 is it changed8 ,his reverence answered1 ,yes1 ,it's changed now from bread and wine to real flesh and blood2 ,you may depend upon my word1 that it is very ,god4 ,thus1 having blessed the bread and wine1 to eat he did prepare4 ,the lady said unto the priest1 ,i would have you take care2 ,for one half ounce of arsenic ,i have mixed in that cake1 ,but as you have its nature changed1 it can no difference make4 ,the priest stood all confused1 and looked as pale as death2 ,the bread and wine fell from his hands1 and he did gasp for breath4 ,bring me my horse6 his reverence cried2 this is a cursed place6 ,begone6 begone6 the dame replied2 you are a cursed race6 ,her husband sat confounded1 and not one word could say4 ,at last he spoke--,my dear1 said he1 the priest has run away2 ,such mummery and nonsense can never bear the light2 ,apostate ,rome ,i must denounce1 and quit it ,i will quite4 ,,heresies are views discordant to the truths of ,god4 ,,stand ,,back4 ,a gentleman spending his holidays in ,scotland was fishing for trout4 ,he had fishing-tackle and appliances of the best description4 ,he threw out his bait all the morning1 but caught nothing4 ,towards afternoon he espied a little ragged urchin1 with tackle of the most primitive order1 nipping the fish out of the water with marvellous rapidity4 ,amazed1 he watched the lad for a while1 and then went and asked him if he could explain the reason why he was so successful1 in spite of his meagre outfit1 while the expensive apparatus could catch nothing4 ,the boy promptly replied1 ,the fish will no bite1 sir1 as lang as ye dinna keep yersel' oot of sight4 ,well has it been said that fishers of men need not wonder at their want of success1 if they do not keep themselves out of sight1' and uplift the brazen serpent on the ,gospel pole1 while studiously keeping themselves hidden behind the pole4 ,,his ,,title ,,deeds4 ,the deacon of a ,church lay dying4 ,he had been a successful merchant1 and he was about leaving this world to give an account of his stewardship4 ,when he was near his end1 he asked his wife to bring him his title-deeds4 ,the lady went to his private drawer1 and drew out some musty papers relating to his property1 which she took to him4 ,as soon as he saw them1 he said-- ,no1 no2 that is not what ,i mean4 ,bring me the ,new ,testament4 ,it was brought1 and he had it opened at ,romans viii4 #cc--,who shall lay anything to the charge of ,god's elect8 ,he shortly after closed his eyes in death1 his finger continuing to rest on the verse4 ,,our ,,bible ,,class4 ,,elisha ,,and ,,the ,,shunammite4 7#b ,,kings iv4 #h-cg2 viii4 #a-f47 ,as the ,prophet ,elisha carried ,god's messages1 and did ,his appointed work among the ,israelites1 he passed through ,shunem4 ,a great woman1 or1 as we should say1 a rich1 influential lady1 lived there with her husband and servants1 and in her heart some good thing toward the ,god of ,israel was found1 so when the ,prophet passed her door1 she invited him and his attendant to rest and refreshment2 and since he often came that way1 she induced her husband to have a room built upon the wall of the house1 which she got furnished in a simple way1 and this was set apart for ,elisha's special use4 ,his heart was deeply touched by the kind sympathy so freely shown him1 and he offered to do anything she might ask to show his gratitude4 ,but the good woman was not ambitious4 ,i dwell1 said she1 among mine own people4 ,i am well content with the blessings ,i enjoy1 and ask no more4 ,this ,shunammite was doing good not for the sake of reward4 ,she honoured the ,prophet because she perceived that he was a holy man of ,god--a beautiful proof that she also loved and served the ,lord1 for we know that we have passed from death unto life1 because we love the brethren4 ,in honouring ,his ,prophet she honoured ,god1 and ,he has said 7and ,he is true71 ,them that honour ,me ,i will honour4 ,the ,shunammite's honour belongs to all who love ,god's people for ,his sake1 for ,jesus also declared that whosoever shall give one of ,his little ones a cup of cold water to quench his thirst1 in the name of a disciple1 shall in no wise lose his reward 7,matt4 x4 #da1 #db74 ,the loving services rendered to the ,saviour's friends--even to those who are most closely connected with us1 or who often come in our way--are accepted by ,jesus as done unto ,himself4 ,we may not be able to accomplish great and notable things1 but1 like this woman of old1 may we do good as we have opportunity1 and receive ,his word of acceptance1 like ,mary1 ,she hath done what she could4 ,but the ,shunammite was to be rewarded in a very unexpected way4 ,she had no children1 and ,gehazi mentioned this fact to his master1 who1 in the spirit of prophecy1 assured her that1 in due time1 a son should be given her4 ,her joy is described in her reply to ,elisha4 ,the news seemed too good to be true4 ,but ,god is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think4 ,the promised blessing came1 and doubtless the mother felt that her cup overflowed with happiness4 ,but earthly hopes are always insecure4 ,the child had grown2 and at harvest-time he went to the field with his father and the reapers1 when suddenly what we should call a sunstroke fell upon him4 ,my head6 my head6 was all he could say1 and the father had him carried to his mother4 ,she tended him with loving care1 but at noon he died4 ,she took the lifeless form upstairs1 and laid it on the ,prophet's bed1 and then announced her intention to go and find the man of ,god1 saying1 ,it shall be well1 or peace4 ,did she think her child would be restored to life at the ,prophet's word8 ,perhaps so4 ,she had received him at first in a miraculous way1 and by a miracle he might be restored to her4 ,at all events1 her words and conduct illustrate the divine encouragement1 ,trust ,him at all times1 ye people2 pour out your heart before ,him2 ,god is a ,refuge for us4 ,they saw her in the distance1 and ,gehazi ran to meet her1 with the question1 ,is it well with thee1 thy husband1 and the child8 ,and she answered1 ,well4 ,she would not tell the servant her sorrow4 ,she hastened on to his master1 and in her grief she caught hold of his feet1 as if to hold him fast4 ,elisha1 though a prophet1 did not know what had befallen her4 ,perfect knowledge belongs to ,god alone1 and ,he had not revealed this matter to him yet4 ,he heard her story1 and sent ,gehazi with all haste to lay his staff upon the face of the child4 ,but the mother refused to leave ,elisha1 and they together followed ,gehazi1 who1 first reaching the chamber of death1 laid the ,prophet's rod upon the dead1 but in vain4 ,there was neither voice nor hearing4 ,a solemn picture of spiritual death--no voice to cry to ,god2 no ears to listen to ,his ,word4 ,are we alive or dead8 ,elisha next entered the chamber alone1 and1 shutting the door1 he prayed to the ,lord2 and in the end1 the child was perfectly restored to life and health4 ,and this wondrous miracle was no doubt intended to foreshadow the general resurrection of the last great day1 and to show that with ,god all things are possible4 ,here1 too1 we see a figure of ,him that was to come4 ,the ,shunammite prayed to ,god through ,elisha1 from whose lips she had at first received the promise2 and in the name of ,jesus we are to seek all blessings from heaven4 ,he ever lives to intercede ,before ,his ,father's face2 ,give ,him1 my soul1 thy cause to plead1 ,nor doubt the ,father's grace4 ,time rolled on1 and other sorrows came upon the highly-favoured mother4 ,a terrible famine raged in ,samaria1 and at ,elisha's bidding she and her household left the land of ,israel for seven years 7see #b ,kings viii472 and then1 peace and plenty having been restored1 she returned and went to the king to ask for her house and land in ,shunem4 ,behold here the wonder-working providence of the ,lord4 ,at the very time of her visit1 ,gehazi was telling the king of ,elisha's miracles1 especially that of raising one to life2 and as the woman presented her appeal1 ,gehazi1 recognizing her1 exclaimed1 ,my lord1 this is the mother1 and this her son1 whom ,elisha restored to life4 ,deeply interested at once in her case1 the king granted all her request with the utmost readiness4 ,so all things work together for good to them that love ,god1 and ,jesus always sympathizes with ,his people's sorrows1 and helps and comforts them1 so that they who wait for ,him shall not be ashamed4 ,may we1 in every time of trial and difficulty-- ,wait for ,his seasonable aid1 ,and though it tarry1 wait2 ,the promise may be long delayed1 ,but cannot come too late4 ,our next subject will be1 ,the ,parable of the ,labourers in the ,vineyard 7,matt4 xx4 #a-af74 ,your affectionate friend1 ,h4 ,s4 ,,lawrence4 ,,bible ,,enigma4 ,,for ,,the ,,little ,,ones4 ,one is in ,adam1 but not in ,moses4 ,one is in ,jesus1 but not in ,daniel4 ,one is in ,peter1 but not in ,aaron4 ,one is in ,eden1 but not in ,spirit4 ,one is in ,pharaoh1 but not in ,matthew4 ,one is in ,israel1 but not in ,abdon4 ,my whole1 when arranged1 will be found in the ,book of ,psalms4 ,,ethel ,,marsh 7,aged #aa years74 ,laxfield4 ,,bible ,,subjects ,,for ,,each ,,sunday ,,in ,,july4 ,july #a4 ,commit to memory ,daniel ii4 #ai4 ,july #h4 ,commit to memory ,daniel ii4 #bj4 ,july #ae4 ,commit to memory ,daniel ii4 #ba4 ,july #bb4 ,commit to memory ,daniel ii4 #bb4 ,july #bi4 ,commit to memory ,daniel ii4 #bc4 ,,prize ,,essay4 ,,the ,,difference ,,between ,,uncertain ,,riches ,,and ,,the ,,true ,,riches4 ,in ,proverbs xxiii4 #e1 the wise man says1 ,riches certainly make themselves wings2 they fly away as an eagle toward heaven2 and in chapter viii4 #ah1 he says1 ,riches and honour are with me2 yea1 durable riches and righteousness4 ,in these two verses may be seen one difference between the uncertain riches and the true ones4 ,the first passage of ,scripture refers to the uncertain or earthly riches1 which make themselves wings and fly away4 ,the second riches spoken of are the true ones1 which ,christ gives to ,his people1 and which are durable1 inasmuch as they last for ever and ever4 ,this verse is spoken by ,christ under the name of ,wisdom4 ,in ,christ's parable about the rich man and ,lazarus 7,luke xvi4 #ai-ca71 both kinds of riches are spoken of4 ,the rich man had the uncertain riches in abundance1 and was selfish1 and kept them to himself1 but the beggar1 though destitute of this world's goods1 was one of ,god's children1 and had the true riches4 ,a man may be very rich1 and be looking forward to a long life in which to enjoy his riches1 like the rich man in the parable 7see ,luke xii4 #af71 when he may suddenly die1 and then what good can his wealth do him8 ,what ,paul says in his first ,epistle to ,timothy is quite true4 ,he says1 ,we brought nothing into this world1 and it is certain we can carry nothing out 7#a ,tim4 vi4 #g72 and the ,psalmist says1 in ,psalm xlix4 #af-ah1 ,be not thou afraid when one is made rich1 when the glory of his house is increased2 for when he dieth he shall carry nothing away3 his glory shall not descend after him4 ,though while he lived he blessed his soul4 ,but it is not so with those who have the true riches4 ,they can never be disappointed in having to part with them1 for1 as before mentioned1 they are everlasting4 ,christ said1 in ,his sermon on the mount1 ,lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth1 where moth and rust doth corrupt1 and where thieves break through and steal3 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven1 where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt1 and where thieves do not break through nor steal 7,matt4 vi4 #ai1 #bj74 ,our riches are1 as we know from experience1 never really safe from harm and damage1 as articles of apparel1 however costly they may be1 are1 if very careful measures are not used1 subject to being eaten by moths4 ,other things are spoiled by rust gathering on them1 whilst money is never secure1 because thieves may steal it2 and even in banks the managers or clerks may be tempted to steal the money entrusted to them1 or the bank may fail4 ,daniel ,herbert says1 in one of his hymns-- ,should all the banks in ,britain break1 ,the ,bank of ,england smash1 ,bring in your notes to ,zion's bank2 ,you're sure to get your cash4 ,one of ,christ's gifts to ,his people is spoken of in #a ,peter i4 #d4 ,it is an inheritance incorruptible1 and undefiled1 and that fadeth not away1 reserved in heaven for those who are kept by the power of ,god1 through faith1 unto salvation4 ,christ also gives ,his people a crown of glory1 that fadeth not away 7see #a ,peter v4 #d74 ,this crown is called1 in ,timothy1 a crown of righteousness2 and1 in #a ,corinthians ix4 #be1 ,paul calls it an incorruptible one2 and ,james says1 ,blessed is the man that endureth temptation2 for when he is tried1 he shall receive the crown of life1 which the ,lord hath promised to them that love ,him 7,james i4 #ab74 ,in conclusion1 we might compare the two kinds of riches to the ,lord's parable about the wise man who built his house upon a rock1 and it stood firm1 for it was founded upon a rock1 and the foolish one1 who built his upon the sand1 and his house fell1 and great was the fall of it4 ,the first instance resembles those who do not set their hopes on the uncertain1 but on the true riches2 and the second like those who think only of earth1 its uncertain pleasures and riches 7,matt4 vii4 #bd-bg74 ,e4 ,b4 ,,knocker 7,aged #ad years74 ,south ,hill ,house1 ,tunbridge ,wells4 ,very good ,essays have been received from ,nellie ,nunn1 ,laura ,creasey1 ,eleanor ,saunders1 ,jane ,bell1 ,w4 ,e4 ,cray1 ,j4 ,rowbottom1 ,alice ,creasey1 ,rose ,holloway1 ,annetta ,hargreaves1 ,e4 ,r4 ,harris1 c4 ,their efforts are very encouraging4 ,the writer of the above ,essay receives a copy of ,the ,story of the ,spanish ,armada4 ,the subject for ,september will be1 ,the ,blessings ,conferred on ,england by the ,accession to the ,throne of ,william of ,orange1 and by the ,protestant ,succession thereby ,secured to ,us2 and the prize to be given for the best ,essay on that subject1 a copy of ,the ,reformation and its ,heroes4 ,all competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age1 and that the ,essay is their own composition1 or the papers will be passed over1 as the ,editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information4 ,papers must be sent direct to the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings1 by the first of ,august4 ,,erratum4--,through an oversight1 the name of the sender of the ,enigma was given last month instead of the sender of the answer4 ,it should have been--,nellie ,nunn1 aged twelve years4 ,interesting ,items4 ,,the number of ,bibles printed during last year in ,england alone amounted to nearly four millions4 ,a ,,birds' ,,nest ,,in ,a ,,railway ,,truck4--,a water wagtail's nest1 containing four eggs1 was found at ,norbiton ,station amongst some coal in a truck which arrived from ,derbyshire1 a few weeks ago4 ,the old birds had evidently come too1 for they were seen flying about the station4 ,,the death is announced of ,mr4 ,norman ,macdonald1 of ,big ,bras ,dor1 ,cape ,breton1 at the reputed age of #aaj years4 ,it is stated that he was a survivor from ,waterloo4 ,he was a man of great activity and endurance1 and up to about two years ago was able to work on his farm at ,cape ,breton4 ,a ,,quiet ,,rebuke4--,an old minister one ,sunday1 at the close of the sermon1 gave notice to the congregation that in the course of the week he expected to go on a mission to the heathen4 ,one of the deacons1 in great agitation1 exclaimed1 ,why1 my dear sir1 you have never told us one word of this before6 ,what shall we do8 ,oh1 brother1 said the parson1 ,i don't expect to go out of town4 ,,there are more beggars in ,london this year than ,i ever remember before--female beggars1 crossing sweeper beggars1 and singing beggars4 ,and no wonder1 if many of them earn as much as one of the fraternity who was before a suburban magistrate recently4 ,this man confessed to earning #es41 #ajs41 and #aes41 and on one occasion as much as ,l#a #as4 #f;d4 ,he has earned his living by begging for thirty years1 and made a very good living too4 ,he was sent to prison for fourteen days1 and when out will doubtless resume his lucrative profession4 ,a ,,clerical ,,miser4--,the ,rev4 ,john ,trueman1 of ,daventry1 possessed an income of about four hundred pounds per annum clear2 and1 by his self-denying management of it1 he contrived to amass fifty thousand pounds4 ,there were few things too mean for him to do in order to save money4 ,he would steal turnips out of the fields as he passed along1 on the pretence of visiting the farmhouses1 and then beg bits of bacon to boil with them from the good wives in the parish4 ,sometimes he would quarter himself1 without any invitation1 in a farmhouse1 and in the room in which he slept1 he has been known to pull the worsted out of the corners of the blankets1 and take it away with him1 in order to darn his stockings4 ,,in ,india we have a few peculiarities because of the great heat4 ,our houses are1 generally speaking1 on the open ground1 no upstair rooms1 and the doors are left wide open4 ,there was an ,english mother who had the habit1 when probably half asleep1 of handing out her baby before daybreak to the ayah1 to administer to its wants and cares4 ,one morning1 this poor mother1 all but asleep1 felt1 as she thought1 the cold touch of the ayah 7the native nurse71 and handed out the baby2 but it was a wolf that was there4 ,we are asleep1 my friends4 ,that mother lost her reason when the dear little infant was thus destroyed2 but in our sleep and in our slumber we lose one child after another by handing them over to ,rome--to the wolf that destroys them4 ,oh1 let us awake6--,w4 ,ayerst1 ,m4,a4 ,,steel ,,lace4--,a new branch of industry is going to revolutionize the lace trade4 ,a ,new ,york dealer in laces is exhibiting a specimen of lace of an extremely delicate pattern1 and so light that it can almost be blown away by a breath of air4 ,this lace is made of steel rolled as fine as the point of a cambric needle4 ,it is not woven1 but stamped out of a sheet of low grade steel1 so that it should not be too brittle4 ,it was turned out of a small ,pittsburgh mill1 and sent to the dealer to show what could be done in that line4 ,in the course of time other patterns will be made--heavier1 perhaps1 but certainly more tenacious than this piece4 ,there is said to be no question as to its durability1 and its cheapness would make it the most saleable of all laces in the market4 ,it may create a revolution in the lace market1 if rust can be guarded against4--,iron4 ,,sulphur ,,for ,,sore ,,throats4--,the value of sulphur in throat difficulties is but little known among families1 though most physicians prescribe it in some form4 ,an ordinary sore throat will be relieved by a gargle of sulphur and water--one tablespoonful to a glass of water1 and use frequently4 ,in every family the flour of sulphur should be always kept ready for use1 and at the appearance of irritation or cankered spots1 a gargle should be given1 or the powder blown through a paper tube directly into the throat4 ,at different times we have seen the throat trouble relieved in a few hours by the simple use of this valuable remedy4 ,a sore throat is no trivial thing1 and no time should be lost in the matter4 ,if1 after discovering it in a child1 it does not improve in a few hours' time after the use of sulphur1 a reliable physician should be called in without further delay4 ,,the ,queen ,regent of ,spain opened the ,international ,exhibition at ,barcelona on ,sunday1 ,may #bjth1 in the presence of a distinguished assemblage1 including the ,duke and ,duchess of ,edinburgh1 and ,prince ,george of ,wales4 ,perhaps this was done as a set-off against our ,protestant commemorations4 ,oh1 ,england6 ,england6 blush with shame6 ,thy princes stoop to foul thy name4 ,,the present spring has been remarkable for the number of rare birds that have appeared in this country and on the ,continent4 ,these include the golden oriole1 pied flycatcher1 sand-grouse1 dotterel1 hoopoe1 short-toed lark1 moustached grass-warbler1 and rose-coloured pastor4 ,in spite of the ,wild ,birds' ,protection ,act1 many of these visitants are shot immediately upon their arrival4 ,it is only in rare cases that the police interfere1 even when the killing of the birds is a matter of notoriety4 ,,hay ,,fever4--,sir ,morell ,mackenzie has opportunely published a lecture he delivered some time ago at the ,london ,hospital ,medical ,college on hay fever1 which he defines to be a peculiar affection of the mucous membrane of the nose1 eyes1 and air passages1 giving rise to catarrh and asthma1 almost invariably caused by the action of the pollen of grasses and flowers1 and therefore prevalent only where they are in blossom4 ,with regard to the treatment of this disease1 ,sir ,morell ,mackenzie believes the first thing to do is1 to remove the patient from a district in which there is much flowering grass1 a sea voyage being probably the most perfect satisfactory step that can be taken4 ,patients unable to go to sea should reside near the coast1 while dwellers in towns should avoid the country1 and those who reside in the country should make a temporary stay in the centre of a large town4 ,,extraordinary ,,raffle ,,for ,,bibles4--,a curious custom was observed in the ,parish ,church of ,st4 ,ives1 ,hunts1 on ,may #bcrd4 ,dr4 ,robert ,wilde1 who died in ,august1 #afgh1 bequeathed ,l#ej1 the yearly interest of which was to be expended in the purchase of six ,bibles1 not exceeding the price of #gs4 #f;d4 each1 which should be cast for dice on the ,communion table every year by six boys and six girls of the town4 ,a piece of ground was bought with the ,l#ej1 and is now known as ,bible ,orchard4 ,the legacy also provided for the payment of ten shillings yearly to the vicar for preaching a sermon on the occasion commending the excellency1 the perfection1 and divine authority of the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,this singular custom has been regularly observed in the church since the death of the testator1 but representations having been made to the ,bishop of the diocese1 the practice of throwing the dice on the ,communion table was discontinued some years ago1 and the raffling now takes place on a table erected at the chancel steps4 ,the highest throw this year 7three times1 with three dice7 was thirty-seven1 by a little girl4 ,the vicar 7the ,rev4 ,e4 ,tottenham7 preached a sermon from the words1 ,from a child thou hast known the ,holy ,scriptures4 ,,antiquarian ,,discovery4--,during some excavations on the premises of ,messrs4 ,walker and ,sons1 ,otley1 ,yorkshire1 a mass of human and other bones1 bears' claws1 flint1 charcoal1 and burnt slates or tiles1 was turned up with the subsoil1 and among the debris1 at a depth of nearly eight feet from the modern soil level1 six copper and bronze coins and a lead seal were found1 several of the coins being in a good state of preservation4 ,some of the letters on the coins are worn1 but it appears certain that some of the coins are of great antiquity4 ,the seal is of more recent date4 ,seals like the one found were attached to the ,papal bulls1 and as this specimen has the usual aperture through its diameter to allow of the connection of the bull with the seal being made1 there is no doubt that this was so attached to a document of this character4 ,in years past the archbishops had a palace at ,otley1 and it is conjectured that this is one of the many seals used in the manner indicated4 ,the seal in question bears authority from ,pope ,innocent ,,iv41 who occupied the ,papal chair from #abdc to #abed4 ,on the obverse are the ,roman capitals ,,spa41 ,,spe41 standing respectively for ,st4 ,paul and ,st4 ,peter4 ,immediately below are the heads of those saints in relief1 a cross in the middle dividing them4 ,on the reverse are the letters ,,innocentivs ,,pp ,,iiii4 ,,colchester4--,,st4 ,,john',s ,,green ,,chapel ,,sunday ,,school4--,the anniversary services in connection with this school were held on ,sunday and ,monday1 ,may #bgth and #bhth4 ,the sermons on the ,sunday were preached by the ,minister1 ,mr4 ,w4 ,brown4 ,on the ,monday1 the usual gathering of teachers1 friends1 and scholars was well attended1 when suited addresses were given1 and prizes awarded to many of the scholars for regular and punctual attendance4 ,sixteen gained prizes for good essays on ,the ,life of ,joseph4 ,the balance sheet for the last year showed the receipts to be ,l#ah #ads4 #a;d41 and the expenditure to be ,l#bc #ajs4 #c;d41 leaving ,l#d #afs4 #b;d4 due to the treasurer4 ,the amount received on ,sunday and ,monday was ,l#aa #fs4 #ia_/b;d4 ,there are now #ahg scholars and #ae teachers in the school1 #bc scholars and three teachers being added during the past year4 ,illustration3 ,,the ,,wounded ,,drummer-,,boy4 ,,charlie ,,coulson1 ,,the ,,drummer-,,boy4 ,during the ,american ,war1 ,dr4 ,rossvally was surgeon in the army1 and after the battle of ,gettisburg1 among hundreds of wounded soldiers1 a drummer-boy was found entirely helpless on the field4 ,the case seemed almost too bad for treatment1 but as the lad opened his large blue eyes1 the doctor felt he could not let him die there1 so he ordered him to be taken to the hospital1 and found that an arm and a leg required amputation4 ,the assistant-surgeon wished to administer chloroform to the young sufferer1 but he refused1 and when ,dr4 ,rossvally himself remonstrated with him1 he replied-- ,doctor1 one ,sunday afternoon1 in the ,sabbath ,school1 when ,i was nine and a half years old1 ,i was brought to believe in ,christ4 ,i learned to trust ,him then4 ,i have been trusting ,him ever since1 and ,i feel ,i can trust ,him now4 ,he will support me while you amputate my arm and leg4 ,the ,jewish doctor's heart was touched in spite of himself1 and he thereupon asked ,charlie a question he had never asked a soldier before--would he like to see the chaplain8 ,oh1 yes1 sir6 was the quick response2 and after seeing the minister1 by whom he sent a loving message to his mother and the superintendent of his ,sunday ,school1 he told the doctor he was ready for the operation1 promising that he would not even groan if no chloroform were offered him4 ,he kept his promise1 only putting the corner of his pillow in his mouth during the most painful part of the process1 saying1 ,oh1 ,jesus1 blessed ,jesus1 stand by me now6 ,that night the doctor could not sleep4 ,those soft blue eyes and that gentle voice seemed to meet him continually1 and he could not help returning to the hospital in the middle of the night to inquire about the lad4 ,he found him sweetly sleeping1 and one of the nurses told him how two friends had visited him1 and had sung ,jesus1 ,lover of my soul by his bed-side1 and ,charlie had joined in the sacred song4 ,five days afterwards1 he felt he was dying1 and sending for the doctor1 he thanked him for all his kindness1 and begged him to remain and see him die1 trusting ,jesus to the last moment of his life4 ,he tried to stay1 but it was too much for his ,jewish feelings to see that dying youth rejoicing in the love of the ,jesus whose very name he had been taught to hate1 and he hurriedly left the room4 ,twenty minutes after1 he was again summoned to that bed1 and1 asking him to take his hand1 ,charlie said1 ,doctor1 ,i love you because you are a ,jew4 ,the best ,friend ,i have found in this world was a ,jew1 ,jesus ,christ1 to whom ,i want to introduce you before ,i die2 and will you promise me1 doctor1 that what ,i am about to say to you you will never forget8 ,the doctor promised1 and the lad went on--,five days ago1 while you amputated my arm and leg1 ,i prayed the ,lord ,jesus ,christ to convert your soul4 ,these words sank into the doctor's heart4 ,how could that sufferer1 in the midst of such intense pain1 be thinking only of his ,saviour and an unconverted soul8 and he could only answer1 ,well1 my dear boy1 you will soon be all right4 ,with these words he left him1 and a few minutes later the youth fell asleep in ,jesus1 at seventeen years of age4 ,dr4 ,rossvally followed him to the grave1 and for some months the impression his patience and faith had made upon him still remained4 ,gradually it wore off1 however2 and for ten years longer he remained a despiser of the ,saviour1 when ,god1 in mercy1 sent another message to ,his wandering child4 ,at the close of the ,american ,war1 ,dr4 ,rossvally had been made inspecting surgeon1 with charge of the military hospital in ,texas4 ,returning one day from an inspecting tour1 he stopped at an hotel in ,new ,york1 and going to be shaved1 he found the barber's shop hung around with beautifully framed ,scripture texts2 and what was more1 the barber began to speak to him of ,jesus in such an attractive way1 that ,charlie ,coulson's happy death came vividly before his mind4 ,the doctor's mind was deeply moved1 and when he reached ,washington1 where he resided1 for the first time in his life he went to hear an address in a ,christian place of worship1 and he could not restrain the tears that would flow while he listened2 and when the service was ended1 an elderly lady spoke to him before he could escape4 ,he told her he would pray to his ,god--the ,god of ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob--but not to ,jesus4 ,bless your soul1 was the earnest answer1 your ,god of ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob is my ,christ1 and your ,messiah6 ,he went home full of conflicting feelings1 and then for hours he wept and prayed1 while many prophecies concerning the ,messiah came to his mind1 and at length the conviction came that ,jesus was the ,christ1 that ,he was his ,saviour1 and that ,god had forgiven him for the sake of ,his beloved ,son4 ,he hastened to tell his wife of his newly-found joy1 but it only enraged her1 and leaving home1 she went to her parents' house1 who forbade her to have any further intercourse with her husband1 and took the two children under their care4 ,so true is it still that a ,jew must be prepared to forsake all when he follows ,jesus4 ,he went away with a sad heart on his next commission1 but regularly wrote to his wife1 praying that she might read at least one of his letters4 ,for fifty-three days each one was destroyed unopened1 but one night their daughter dreamed that she saw her father die1 and next morning she determined to take his letter in and read it4 ,she did so1 and after a while showed it to her mother1 who1 having secretly read it again and again1 was overcome with strange new feelings1 and she also was led to trust in that long-despised but now precious name--,jesus1 the ,son of ,god4 ,husband and wife were now united in the ,lord1 and their daughter also became a new creature4 ,their son1 however1 long refused even to acknowledge either of his parents1 and his mother died without seeing or hearing from him1 but it is hoped that her prayers for him may be answered4 ,mrs4 ,rossvally's end was peaceful and happy4 ,some friends sang1 ,jesus1 ,lover of my soul1 and when they reached the line1 ,thou1 ,o ,christ1 art all ,i want1 she said1 ,yes1 this is all ,i want6 ,come1 blessed ,jesus1 and take me home6 and so she fell asleep4 ,dr4 ,rossvally still lives1 and like a well-known ancient trophy of divine grace1 preaches the faith he once laboured to destroy1 and ,christ and ,him crucified is his hope and joy4 ,dear reader1 whoever you may be1 may you reflect upon the fact that there is salvation in none other than the ,lamb of ,god1 who died to put sin away1 and ever lives to save all who come unto ,god by ,him4 ,and may ,his ,holy ,spirit impress the truth upon your heart1 ,he that believeth on the ,son of ,god hath everlasting life1 but he that believeth not the ,son shall not see life1 but the wrath of ,god abideth on him 7,john iii4 #cf74--;,from a ,tract1 published at ,leeds by ,dr4 ,m4 ,l4 ,rossvally1 a converted ,jew4 ,a ,,worthy ,quaker thus wrote3--,i expect to pass through this world but once2 if1 therefore1 there be any kindness ,i can show1 or any good thing ,i can do to any fellow human being1 let me do it now4 ,let me not defer or neglect it1 for ,i shall not pass this way again4 ,,mr4 ,,edison',s ,,phonograph4 ,to the ,editor of ,the ,times4 ,sir1--,at two o'clock this afternoon1 at the address below1 ,i had the honour to receive from ,mr4 ,edison his perfected phonograph1 which1 on the authority of ,mr4 ,edison's own statement1 in his own familiar voice1 communicated to me by the phonograph itself1 is the first instrument of his latest model that has been seen outside of his laboratory1 or has left his hands1 and is consequently the first to reach this country4 ,at five minutes past two o'clock precisely1 ,i and my family were enjoying the at once unprecedented and astounding experience of listening to ,mr4 ,edison's own familiar and unmistakable tones here in ,england--more than three thousand miles from the place where he had spoken1 and exactly ten days after1 the voice having meanwhile voyaged across the ,atlantic ,ocean4 ,his first phonogram1 as ,mr4 ,edison calls it1 tells me1 among other things1 that this instrument contains many modifications of those which1 a few weeks ago1 were exhibited at the ,electrical ,club in ,new ,york1 and so widely reported by the ,press4 ,in the several long phonogramic communications to me 7no single word of which had to be repeated in order to be clearly and easily understood by every person present1 including a child of seven years old71 ,mr4 ,edison mentions that he will send me phonograms by every mail leaving ,new ,york1 and requests me to correspond with him exclusively through the medium of the phonograph1 humorously remarking in this connection upon the advantages he will himself derive from the substitution of phonograms for a style of writing not always too legible4 ,next to the phonogram from ,mr4 ,edison himself1 and before all the remainder of the deeply interesting contents of the phonogramic cabinet sent me1 is an exquisite poem entitled1 ,the ,phonograph's ,salutation1 composed by the well-known and gifted ,american poet and preacher1 ,horatio ,nelson ,powers1 ,d4,d41 of ,piermont1 on the ,hudson4 ,this poem makes the phonograph tell its own story of what it is and what it does1 in a style and with a power that must add not a little to the already high reputation of its author4 ,it was spoken by him into the phonograph1 so that we cannot fail to read it as he would have it read--a privilege of no small importance to both the poet and those who hear him4 ,perhaps the highest justification of the phonograph's description of its own power in its ,salutation is found in the fact that to several members of my family who are familiar with the ,doctor's style of oratory1 from having sat under his preaching in former years1 the voice of the author is perfectly recognizable1 even by my youngest child of seven years1 who had not heard the voice since he was five years old4 ,besides the above1 ,mr4 ,edison has sent for our amusement numerous musical records of great interest and beauty--pianoforte1 cornet1 and other instruments1 solos1 duets1 c41 many of which1 he tells me1 have been very frequently repeated--some1 several hundred times4 ,altogether1 our experiences of the day have been so delightful and unusual1 not to say supernatural1 that it makes it difficult to realize that we have not been dreaming--so interesting withal as to make it seem a duty1 as it is a pleasure1 to communicate the above to your widely-read paper1 which ,i have so frequently observed to chronicle the works of the author of this unparalleled triumph of mind over matter4 ,all honour to ,edison6 ,i have the honour to be1 sir1 ,your obedient servant1 ,g4 ,e4 ,,gouraud4 ,little ,menlo1 ,beulah ,hill1 ,upper ,norwood1 ,surrey1 ,june #bfth1 #ahhh4 ,p4,s4--,it may be interesting to add that the above communication was spoken by me into the phonograph1 and written from the phonograph's dictation by a member of my family1 who had1 of course1 no previous experience of the instrument4 ,,the ,,house ,,upon ,,the ,,sand4 ,whilst we were conversing with a man named ,joachim1 says a missionary to ,syria1 in the city of ,nazareth1 a sudden but violent storm arose1 and terrific peals of thunder rolled over our heads4 ,the brow of the hill whereon the city was built was every moment gleaming as the lightning flashed4 ,the rain fell in torrents1 and in the course of an hour a river flowed past the convent door1 along what lately was a dry and quiet street4 ,in the darkness of the night1 we heard loud shrieks for help4 ,the floods carried away baskets1 logs of wood1 tables1 and fruit-stands4 ,at length a general alarm was given4 ,two houses built on the sand were undermined by the water1 and both fell together1 while the people in them escaped with difficulty4 ,it was impossible not to pity these poor1 houseless creatures1 and1 at the same time1 to thank ,god we were in a secure building4 ,the power and meaning of these words spoken by our ,lord was thus made plain--,therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of ,mine1 and doeth them1 ,i will liken him unto a wise man1 which built his house upon a rock2 and the rain descended1 and the floods came1 and the winds blew1 and beat upon that house2 and it fell not3 for it was founded upon a rock4 ,,unseen ,,protection4 ,a lady was wakened up one morning by a strange noise of pecking at the window1 and when she got up1 she saw a butterfly flying backwards and forwards inside the window in a great fright1 because outside there was a sparrow pecking at the glass1 wanting to reach the butterfly4 ,the butterfly did not see the glass1 but it saw the sparrow1 and evidently expected every moment to be caught4 ,neither did the sparrow see the glass1 though it saw the butterfly1 and made sure of catching it4 ,yet1 all the while1 the butterfly1 because of that thin1 invisible sheet of glass1 was actually as safe as if it had been miles away from the sparrow4 ,poor1 fearful child of ,god1 it is when our ,protector is out of sight that our hearts fail us4 ,elisha's servant was in great fear when he awoke in the morning1 and saw the city of ,dothan encompassed with horses1 and chariots1 and a great host2 but when his eyes were opened1 at the prayer of the prophet1 his fears vanished1 for he beheld the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire4 ,thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on ,thee1 because he trusteth in ,thee4 ,the ,lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth and even for evermore4 ,though now unseen by outward sense1 ,faith sees ,him always near2 ,a ,guide1 a glory1 a defence3 ,then what have you to fear8 --,waymarks for ,pilgrims4 ,,answer ,,to ,,bible ,,enigma4 7,page #acj47 ,the omnipotence of ,god is1 in some measure1 made known to the heart of every individual on the face of the earth4 ,we cannot cast our eyes around us without seeing1 in some way or other1 the wonderful power of ,god in the creating and ordering of all things4 ,only what ,god has purposed to do will take place2 and1 on the other hand1 whatever ,god has ordered ,he has power to bring to pass1 although to us such things may seem utterly impossible1 but with ,god all things are possible 7,matt4 xix4 #bf74 ,if we look through the ,bible1 the power of ,god prevails in every book1 chapter1 and verse4 ,was it not with a mighty hand that ,he brought the ,israelites up out of ,egypt8 and their enemies1 who were much stronger than they1 when they knew the ,lord was on ,israel's side1 feared greatly1 and were all overthrown and destroyed 7,exod4 xii4 #cc2 ,joshua x4 #b74 ,david1 too1 realized that wonderful power4 ,he says1 ,but ,i will sing of ,thy power2 yea1 ,i will sing aloud of ,thy mercy in the morning3 for ,thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble 7,psa4 lix4 #af74 ,david was often brought very low 7,psa4 xviii4 #d1 #e2 cxvi4 #c71 but the ,lord did not suffer him to despair1 for he was one of ,his most precious jewels4 ,job1 too1 felt1 in a remarkable way1 during his affliction1 the power of the ,lord1 and he endeavoured to show and explain it to his friends1 but he had to finish up by saying1 ,lo1 these are parts of ,his ways1 but how little a portion is heard of ,him6 ,the omnipotence of ,god is so vast that it is quite impossible for us to fathom it4 ,look at the history of ,jehoshaphat4 ,he heard that a great army was coming to fight against them1 and the army of ,jehoshaphat1 being so small1 he knew they must be defeated and slain4 ,but1 in his extremity1 he cried unto the ,lord1 saying1 ,o ,lord ,god of our fathers1 art not ,thou ,god in heaven8 and rulest not ,thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen8 and in ,thine hand is there not power and might1 so that none is able to withstand ,thee8 7#b ,chron4 xx4 #f47 ,was any able to withstand the ,lord8 ,no6 ,read the twenty-seventh verse--,then they returned1 every man of ,judah and ,jerusalem1 and ,jehoshaphat in the forefront of them1 to go again to ,jerusalem with joy2 for the ,lord had made them to rejoice over their enemies4 ,before1 they felt condemned to die1 but now they were released1 and filled with joy4 ,such are the numerous instances in which the ,lord1 in ,his power1 has raised up the cast down1 relieved the oppressed1 and comforted mourners1 and such as are of a sad heart4 ,,agnes ,,willerton4 ,corby1 ,grantham4 ,this is the best answer we have received1 therefore we give it as embodying the secret of the ,enigma4--,,ed4 ,,bible ,,enigma4 ,a giant4 ,one of ,david's wives4 ,a disease4 ,a piece of money4 ,a prophetess4 ,a garment worn by the priests4 ,a judge4 ,a brother of ,david4 ,a king of ,judah4 ,a brook4 ,a colour4 ,the name by which the penitent ,israelites were to address ,god4 ,a son of ,jacob4 ,the mother of a friend of ,paul's4 ,the initials form something which the ,saviour said4 ,,harry ,f4 ,,forfeitt 7,aged #aj years74 ,,one ,,whose ,,heart ,,the ,,lord ,,opened4 ,carrie ,foord1 the subject of this memoir1 was born at ,tunbridge1 in ,kent1 on #bgth ,september1 #ahfg4 ,at the age of six years she lost her mother1 and at eight her father1 leaving her sister ,kate and herself to the care of their stepmother1 who was in every way most kind to them1 which kindness they returned with much affection4 ,it was ,mrs4 ,foord's wish to keep a home for them to grow up together4 ,man proposes and ,god disposes4 ,the home had to be given up1 ,kate going to her grandfather's1 and ,carrie1 in the providence of ,god1 brought to live with us at ,hailsham1 much against her inclination1 as she neither liked us nor our religion4 ,this continued for some time1 but ,god moves in a mysterious way ,his wonders to perform4 ,she was brought1 through divine grace1 to see her state as a sinner in the sight of ,god by hearing the third verse of the #fffth hymn of ,gadsby's ,selection given out one evening1 as she took her seat in the chapel4 ,the arrow of conviction went home to her heart4 ,well do ,i remember1 on her return1 finding her alone1 and crying4 ,putting her arms round my neck1 she said1 ,what shall ,i do8 ,i am such a sinner6 ,i'm so wicked6 although at the time ,i did not know what had caused her distress4 ,at another time she was much impressed by a sermon our dear ,pastor1 ,mr4 ,nunn1 preached from ,hebrews xiii4 #ad--;,for here we have no continuing city1 but we seek one to come4 ,from this time she became an earnest seeker1 very regular in her attendance at the house of ,god1 nothing but duty keeping her away4 ,ultimately she was baptized1 and became a very useful teacher in the ,sabbath ,school1 where she was much loved4 ,early in #ahhf she caught a severe cold1 which settled on her lungs1 causing the rupture of a blood-vessel4 ,some scattered sayings1 spoken at different times during her illness1 were recorded1 of which the following are a few3-- ,oh1 ,i do wish he did not think so well of me1 and call me good6 alluding to a remark of a very dear friend4 ,he does not know how wicked ,i am1 or he would never say ,i was good4 ,what a mercy ,i was ever brought here1 under the sound of the ,gospel6 ,but then1 ,god is not confined to places1 is ,he1 auntie8 ,if ,i am ,his child1 ,he would be sure to reveal ,himself to me1 in ,his own good time2 but ,i do thank ,him for bringing me here4 ,my dear uncle1 how kind he is6 ,how earnestly he has prayed for me1 and our dear ,pastor too6 ,i believe their prayers have been answered4 ,what a mercy6 ,after a bad fit of bleeding1 ,i said1 ,did you think1 dear1 you should die1 when bringing up the blood8 ,she said1 ,no1 auntie2 ,i never once thought ,i should4 ,our hopes were raised as she got better so quickly1 and we thought it might have been only a lodgment4 ,she frequently said1 ,i don't mind if it is not my lungs4 ,but when she grew rapidly worse1 and we called in another doctor1 he only confirmed what our own doctor had said--that her case was hopeless4 ,after they were gone1 she said1 ,what did they say1 auntie8 ,i told her it was the lung4 ,she very quietly remarked1 ,people often live a long time with their right lung gone1 don't they8 ,i said1 ,yes1 not having the heart to tell her1 in her case1 it would not be long4 ,one day1 turning over the leaves of a hymn-book1 ,i came to the one on the safety of believers1 which ,i read4 ,the first verse is-- ,there is a safe and secret place1 ,beneath the wings divine1 ,reserved for all the heirs of grace2 ,oh1 be that refuge mine6 ,she said1 ,i do like that hymn so much1 auntie4 ,i have had such sweet times in my little room4 ,often when you have sent me up to study for my class1 ,i have had such sweet enjoyment that ,i could not study4 ,on awaking one night1 she said1 ,oh1 auntie1 ,i have had some beautiful words come with such power1 and ,i keep saying them--',thou art ,mine1 as the apple of ,mine eye4' ,i said1 ,you could not have a more precious portion4 ,that will do to go to sleep on1 won't it8 ,she said1 ,oh1 yes6 and soon fell into a peaceful slumber4 ,one night she said1 ,auntie1 do you ever feel your prayers to be very formal1 as if it was merely a habit1 and no heart in it8 ,i said1 ,yes1 dear2 too often4 ,she said1 ,do you8 ,oh1 yes1 ,i said2 ,i wish ,i did not4 ,one morning1 going into her room1 she said to me1 ,i have had a nice time4 ,the sun shone brightly in at the window1 and those words came1 ',so shall the ,sun of ,righteousness arise with healing in ,his wings4' ,one day she said1 ,i used to cry so when ,i was at ,gravesend4 ,do you know what for8 ,i said1 ,no2 why did you8 ,she said1 ,because ,i was coming here4 ,i did dislike coming so1 and for a long time after ,i was here ,i would go and pray1 as ,i thought1 very earnestly that mother would send a letter to fetch me away2 but that letter never came4 ,no1 it never came2 and what a mercy it did not6 ,god knew what was best for me4 ,how we can look back and say1 ',all was for the best4' ,we felt that we should like her to know the state of health she was in1 but felt quite unfit to tell her4 ,during a visit1 a friend asked her if she wished to get better8 ,on referring to me1 after they were gone1 she said1 ,is it wrong1 auntie8 ,don't you think it is natural for me to wish so1 who am young8 ,i said1 ,yes1 dear1 quite natural4 ,she said1 ,but ,i know the ,lord will do what ,he thinks best4 ,previous to her nineteenth birthday 7,september #bgth7 she had a return of the bleeding1 which again confined her to her bed for a time4 ,we all felt her end might be very near1 and would perhaps come suddenly by the rupture of another blood-vessel2 therefore we were very anxious she should know what a precarious state she was in4 ,it was1 therefore1 quite a relief when she said one day1 ,auntie1 ,i did not think at one time ,i should be alive now4 ,i did not think ,i should live to see my birthday4 ,i said1 ,i am very glad to hear you say this4 ,i quite thought you were under the impression you would get better4 ,what were your feelings when you thought this8 ,oh1 she said1 ,i felt ,i could leave it all in the ,lord's hands4 ,he would do what was best4 ,there was a sweet resignation to ,his will at this time2 but1 after a little while1 her bodily strength increasing1 she was gradually buoyed up with a hope that she might get better4 ,knowing from the faithfulness of our doctor that her case was hopeless1 we could not participate in that hope4 ,she was most honest in her principles1 and could not bear to deceive any one4 ,one day1 as we were sitting alone1 she said1 ,oh1 auntie1 you never thought ,i could deceive you or uncle1 did you8 ,but ,i did4 ,i said1 ,i am glad you have spoken of this1 dear1 although ,i think in your case it was different from many 7knowing that what she alluded to was a private matter74 ,at any rate1 you have our pardon4 ,she said1 ,what stings of conscience ,i have had through it6 ,it has quite taken away any feeling of pleasure ,i may have had2 and yet my will was so strong to have my own way1 ,i could not give it up4#aj ,i have not deceived you in anything else1 auntie4 ,you believe me1 don't you8 ,i said1 ,indeed ,i do4 #aj ,we hope all our young readers will mark this honest confession1 which was produced by the fear of ,god1 and ever remember that deception is mean and sinful4--,,ed4 ,a very dear friend calling to see her one afternoon1 who had not seen her since she was called by divine grace1 said in the course of conversation1 ,well1 my dear1 there are times and seasons1 ,i have no doubt1 when you can say you would not have it otherwise1 but that it was good for you to be afflicted8 ,she turned very red1 paused1 then said with her usual candour1 ,i cannot say that1 ,miss ,g----4 ,after her departure1 she said1 ,auntie1 ,i wish to be submissive to the will of the ,lord1 but ,i felt ,i could not say that ,i have ever had a time when ,i would not have it otherwise4 ,a friend calling one evening1 spoke in a very solemn manner of those who had a false enjoyment1 and put some close questions to her4 ,she said little1 but after he was gone seemed much put out1 and said1 ,i know ,i cannot talk like those he visits4 ,i expect he thinks there is nothing in me4 ,what do you say1 auntie8 ,i said1 ,he was certainly very searching1 my dear1 but ,i don't think you understood him4 ,he is so afraid of any one resting on a wrong foundation1 and knowing what a very delicate state of health you were in1 he was anxious to know if you were resting on ,christ1 and ,christ alone1 for salvation4 ,well1 she said1 ,i felt dumb4 ,i expect he thinks very badly of me4 ,her strength seemed to go daily4 ,as ,christmas drew near1 she said1 ,auntie1 let everything go on the same as it has done other years4 ,make no difference for me4 ,invite your friends for the day as usual4 ,but we felt it a very solemn time1 and hard work to put on the appearance of cheerfulness1 feeling sure1 ere another ,christmas came1 her place would be vacant1 and she in eternity4 ,her dear little cousin was a great sufferer at times all through her illness1 and it became apparent that she1 too1 was fast hastening home4 ,i said to ,carrie one day1 ,i used to feel1 dear1 that ,i should have you to leave to see after our dear ,flo1 if we were taken1 but it seems the ,lord's will to take you1 and ,i sometimes think she won't be long4 ,she answered1 ,no1 ,i don't think she will2 but she will be safe whenever she goes4 ,we could have but few quiet times together after this1 through the serious illness and death of her dear cousin1 but she was wonderfully buoyed up at this time with the assurance that nothing was too hard for the ,lord1 and apparently rested upon it1 for when ,i was alluding to her sad state of health1 she said1 ,i know ,i am beyond the power of earthly physicians to cure1 auntie2 but1 you know1 nothing is too hard for the ,lord4 ,after the death of her cousin1 she was most anxious to have her mourning made1 which we felt sorry for1 as it seemed such a clinging to life2 but we found it was only a natural desire to show her love for her dear little cousin4 ,at any rate1 the wish gradually left her1 and all things of an earthly nature lost their charm4 ,one day she said1 ,i have no wish to join in anything now4 ,i don't feel to want to go and witness anything4 ,that is a blessing the ,lord only can give1 isn't it8 ,i said1 ,yes1 knowing what great delight she used to take in many things1 and how active she had been1 especially in anything connected with the chapel or ,sabbath ,school4 ,after this darkness set in4 ,the ,word of ,god was as a sealed ,book1 and she had no spiritual enjoyment1 which she much deplored2 also1 the visits of our dear ,pastor and her uncle failed to give any comfort4 ,one day1 after a doze in the easy chair1 she said1 ,was it not strange8 ,it seemed as if1 when ,i was sleeping1 a little boy came to me1 and said1 ',the ,lord hath not forgotten thee1 so live in peace4' ,it did seem so strange to see the little boy come up and say this4 ,what do you think of it8 ,i said1 ,i cannot tell4 ,she grew rapidly worse1 and our dear nurse thought it advisable to ask the doctor to call1 as he had not been for a few days4 ,he came1 and said she might be gone in twenty-four hours1 or might linger a few days1 but the beginning of the end had taken place4 ,our dear ,pastor went and spoke a few words to her ere he left1 and said1 ,ah6 dear1 it is well with you1 and other words of comfort4 ,but after he was gone she was much cast down1 and said1 ,oh1 why did he say that8 ,i don't feel it will be well4 ,then1 after a little while1 she said1 ,do you think ,i am much worse8 ,yes1 dear1 ,i replied4 ,do you think ,i shall die8 ,i said1 ,i fear you will4 ,then she said1 ,oh1 auntie1 what trouble ,i am in6 ,i fear ,i have deceived you and myself1 and that ,i shall go to hell4 ,i replied1 ,but1 my dear1 you have had some sweet promises applied with power1 haven't you8 ,oh1 ,i've thought so1 but if ,i have been deceiving myself8 ,i said1 ,you have had a desire after these things1 have you not8 ,oh1 yes6 she replied4 ,then1 ,i said1 ,i feel assured1 my dear1 you would not have had a real desire if you were a deceiver4 ,she said1 ,auntie1 what shall ,i do8 ,i feel ,i can't die like this2 but ,i can't do anything1 can ,i8 ,wringing her hands in agony of mind1 she cried1 ,do1 please1 ,lord1 come6 ,do come6 ,oh1 dear ,lord ,jesus1 do please come6 ,she continued in much distress1 until ,i felt quite unequal to talk to her1 and said1 ,my dear1 shall ,i send for some one8 ,she replied1 ,oh1 no1 auntie2 don't send for any one4 ,the ,lord must do it all 7laying great stress on the all72 but do pray for me1 that ,he will appear4 ,her distress of mind was very great4 ,no words or texts of ,scripture named gave her any comfort4 ,i left the room for a short time1 leaving her in the care of our dear nurse 7of whom she was very fond71 and on my return1 found she had had a nice sleep4 ,going up to her1 she said1 ,how can ,i thank you enough8 ,i said1 ,don't say a word about that1 dear4 ,my earnest desire is1 that you may get a word from the ,lord4 ,her countenance looked so placid1 and she said1 ,i have1 auntie4 ,i said1 ,is ,jesus precious to you as your ,saviour8 ,can you trust ,him8 ,she replied1 ,yes4 ,these words came--',fear not2 ,i will be with you1' and ,i think ,he will4 ,yes1 ,his promises stand good4 ',he'll never1 no1 never1 no1 never forsake4' ,she then dozed again4 ,i saw her lips moving1 and caught the words1 ,with ,christ in the vessel ,i smile at the storm1 having evidently been repeating that beautiful hymn of ,newton's1 ,begone unbelief1 my ,saviour is near4 ,after this she had a little time of peace4 ,the next morning1 on being asked if the ,lord had again given her comfort1 ,yes1 she said2 ,he has promised that1 when through fiery trials ,he'll cause me to go1 ,he will be with me4 ,darkness again took possession of her mind1 and she was often saying1 ,oh1 to be a castaway6 ,she said she would like her uncle to come1 which he did4 ,on his approaching the bed1 she said1 ,oh1 uncle1 what will become of me if ,i am a deceiver8 ,i shall be lost6 ,he took her hand1 and said1 ,jesus came to save the lost1 so you see1 dear1 you are one4 ',the whole need not a physician1 but those who are sick4' ,after a few words1 he engaged in prayer4 ,she then dozed1 and was never again so harassed by the enemy of souls4 ,on ,friday morning she was much favoured with the ,lord's presence1 and longed to depart and be with ,christ1 saying repeatedly1 ,do1 dear ,lord ,jesus1 take me to-day6 ,i do so want to go6 ,i said1 ,we must wait ,his time4 ,yes1 she replied-- ,till ,he bids1 ,i cannot die2 ,not a single shaft can hit ,till the ,god of love sees fit4 ,her throat and breathing at this time were very bad1 and she asked the doctor when he came if he could relieve her at all4 ,he said he was afraid he could not1 but it would not be long4 ,after he was gone she again said1 ,i do so hope the ,lord will take me to-day4 ,do come1 ,lord ,jesus2 do come6 ,oh1 how ,i long to go6 ,what a glorious meeting it will be for me1 if ,i am right6 ,then clasping her dear hands together1 she said1 with such a sweet smile as nurse and ,i shall never forget1 ,oh1 blissful home6 ,what a glorious meeting6 ,i shall see ,christ in all ,his beauty6 ,in the afternoon her breathing altered1 and she seemed gently passing away4 ,looking up so sweetly1 she said1 ,am ,i dying1 auntie8 ,i answered1 ,yes1 dear2 it won't be long now4 ,you want to go1 don't you8 ,oh1 yes1 she replied4 ,her difficulty of breathing returned1 and she suffered much through the night4 ,in the morning she said1 ,you thought me dying yesterday1 and the doctor too2 but the dear ,lord did not1 did ,he8 ,it was not ,his time4 ,she continued very ill through the day--scarcely able to speak4 ,towards night she slightly rallied1 and looking up at the clock1 said1 ,oh1 the night6 ,she had often during her illness dreaded the nights4 ,i said1 ,you know that beautiful hymn1 dear--',sun of my soul'8 ,she took it up1 and said-- ,thou ,saviour dear1 ,it is not night if ,thou be near2 ,oh1 may no earth-born cloud arise1 ,to hide ,thee from ,thy servant's eyes1 after which she did not say any more about the night4 ,her dear ,pastor and others bade her good-bye1 but her breathing was too bad for her to speak1 until about two o'clock1 when she startled the dear friend who was sitting up and myself by turning round1 calmly putting her hand in mine1 and1 with a kiss1 said1 ,good-bye4 ,then turning to ,mrs4 ,t----1 she did the same to her1 and then very quietly remarked1 ,you don't hear it now1 auntie8--alluding to the rattles4 ,i said1 ,no2 the conflict will soon be over1 darling4 ,still1 it was not yet ended--not until a quarter to four on the #hth of ,may1 #ahhg1 was her soul permitted to depart and be with ,christ1 whom she had longed to see in all ,his beauty4 ,,little ,,by ,,little4 ,one step and then another1 ,and the longest walk is ended2 ,one stitch and then another1 ,and the largest rent is mended2 ,one brick upon another1 ,and the highest wall is made2 ,one flake upon another1 ,and the deepest snow is laid4 ,so the little coral-workers1 ,by their slow but constant motion1 ,have built those pretty islands ,in the distant1 dark blue ocean2 ,and the noblest undertakings ,man's wisdom hath conceived1 ,by oft-repeated efforts ,have been patiently achieved4 ,then do not look disheartened ,o'er the work you have to do1 ,and say that such a mighty task ,you never can get through2 ,but just endeavour1 day by day1 ,another point to gain1 ,and soon the mountain which you feared ,will prove to be a plain4 ,rome was not builded in a day1 ,the ancient proverb teaches2 ,and ,nature1 by her trees and flowers1 ,the same sweet sermon preaches4 ,think not of far-off duties1 ,but of duties which are near2 ,and having once begun to work1 ,resolve to persevere4 ,c4 ,,swain4 ,,flying ,,foxes4 ,among the many anomalies presented by ,nature1 that of a flying mammal has seemed strikingly incongruous1 and has always left an impression on the popular mind generally the reverse of the truth4 ,the fox-bats are an example in point4 ,superstition has gathered about these strange creatures the wildest fears2 and their uncouth and weird looks have strengthened a foolish credence in the stories of the vampire4 ,they1 it was declared1 settled at night upon the wearied sleeper1 and sucked his life-blood1 or with a malicious bite involved the souls of the virtuous in the terrors of their own lost estate4 ,the examinations of the naturalist long ago put to flight these romantic tales2 but in their haunts1 among the woods of ,southern ,asia1 in ,africa1 ,australia1 ,java1 and ,sumatra1 their black swarms and flying movements yet cause dread and disgust4 ,the flying foxes are ranged under the order of the ,cheiroptera1 or hand-winged mammals1 and are grouped together in the sub-section of the fruit-eating bats1 as distinguished from those feeding mostly upon insects4 ,their depredations upon orchards and vineyards are notorious4 ,sailing through the air at sundown1 and guided by an acute sense of smell1 they will enter the plantations containing some plant upon which the fruit has reached maturity1 and1 covering it in crowds1 will revel in the delicious repast1 leaving the tree or vine at dawn stripped of all its precious wealth4 ,they fly rapidly1 but never at any great height1 and sometimes will traverse considerable spaces1 migrating from island to island over intervening arms of the ocean4 ,on the ground they are agile and curiously active4 ,they climb trees with ease1 and during the day hang by their hind limbs1 their wing membrane wrapped around them1 from the loftier boughs4 ,so densely are they sometimes congregated that the tree seems a solid mass of black1 motionless bags4 ,the species is distributed over ,east ,india1 and finds also a favourable habitation in ,madagascar4 ,it lives in immense colonies1 and its swarms have been compared with those of gnats1 while the branches they infest sometimes break down with their great weight4 ,they feed on dates1 bananas1 the guava fruit1 and also eat insects1 the young and eggs of birds1 and apparently at times snakes4 ,their flesh is edible1 and esteemed immensely by natives1 who catch them in nets in the trees1 and kill them on the ground4 ,in flight1 they can be brought down by a blow delivered on the expanded arms1 covered with the flying membrane 7patagium71 as these are very weak4 ,this species is seen more often in captivity than any other2 and ,brehm1 from whose admirable ,thierleben these notes are taken1 speaks with characteristic enthusiasm of his observations made upon one4 ,the fox slept nearly all day1 though regularly he devoted some time to the cleansing and preparation of his flying machine1 and occasionally bestirred himself for the enjoyment of a cherry or a sip of milk4 ,at the approach of night he became restless and excited1 stretched his wings1 and vainly attempted to escape4 ,he displayed temper1 and would bite sharply any one whose familiarities he resented4 ,the combats of these animals with one another are very relentless1 and generally terminate with the death of one or both contestants4 ,the head in these bats is long and pointed1 the ears moderately large1 the nose without the appendages seen in the insectivorous bats1 and the jaws armed with incisors1 canines1 and molar teeth4 ,they form in their habitat interesting spectacles2 and their whirring progress through the air at night1 or the pendent throngs they present by day1 alike astonish the visitor to ,ceylon and ,india4 ,the bats are naturally regarded as one of the most distinctly marked groups of animals2 and among them the flying-foxes 7,pteropidae7 are easily identified4 ,they have long been known in literature1 and the ancient ,herodotus spoke of them in ,arabia1 and said that the inhabitants protected themselves against them in dresses of leather4 ,later classic authors referred to them1 and many naturalists have in the ,east carefully observed their habits4 ,illustration3 ,,flying ,,foxes4 ,,killed ,,by ,,lightning4 ,,dear ,,mr4 ,,editor1--,as a warning to any of our young friends who1 when they leave home to take part in the battle of life1 may be thrown amongst revilers and blasphemers1 ,i will relate a sad occurrence which took place in the next village to this on ,monday1 ,june #beth1 #ahhh4 ,a club is held in the village of ,birdham1 where this took place1 and on the evening previous1 being the ,sabbath evening1 the stall-keepers1 swinging boat proprietors1 c41 were drinking at the village inn1 and one of the company1 a young man of twenty1 was swearing and flourishing his hands over his head1 saying he did not care for any one4 ,god might strike him blind if ,he liked4 ,the next day1 about noon1 a heavy thunderstorm burst over the village4 ,this young man had gone into the field with the horse1 a little boy being beside him1 when a flash of lightning darted down1 cut his hat to pieces1 and left him a corpse4 ,one ear was split1 and one hand and the face were black4 ,thus it was not long before ,god dealt with this young mocker in a manner more awful than he probably expected4 ,this was so sad that it impressed many with solemn thoughts1 and led to the following similar sad story being again related4 ,some years since1 in the next village1 ,earnley1 a man being accused of taking some money1 declared that1 if he had it1 he hoped his legs and arms might be burned off4 ,a storm arose1 the lightning darted athwart the heavens1 fell on the barn wherein he was1 burned the barn1 and his body was afterwards found with legs and arms burned off4 ,this was related to me by a woman named ,shepherd1 now living within a short distance of where the barn stood1 and who saw it on fire4 ,still another sad tale4 ,on ,sunday last1 four young men left ,bognor for ,selsey--a few miles' trip by boat on the sea4 ,at ,selsey they took too much drink1 and1 on their return1 the boat capsized1 and they were in the water for an hour crying for help2 but although many heard them one and two miles away--it being a still night--no one seems to have known whence the sounds came4 ,thus all four ,sabbath-breakers perished4 ,one of the poor fellows wore the knees of his trousers quite away in his attempts to climb on the overturned boat4 ,a4 ,e4 ,p4 ,sidlesham4 ,p4,s4--,selsey also joins this village4 ,i saw the boat rowing towards it about half-past four4 ,the wages of sin is death4 ,reader1 how are you living8 ,how shall you die1 and where shall you go8 ,remember that all who are out of ,christ are exposed to the wrath of ,god1 while all who1 by faith1 flee to ,him for mercy1 are saved from the wrath to come4 ,beware of mocking ,god1 of despising ,his ,word1 and of desecrating ,his day4 ,the way of transgressors is hard1 but whoso confesseth and forsaketh his sin shall find mercy4--,,ed4 ,,the highest visible form of ,christian life is self-denial for the good of others4 ,,an ,,aged ,,pilgrim',s ,,history4 ,an aged pilgrim of seventy-two years1 recently made a pensioner of our ,society1 has lately come under our notice1 and as an example of courageous faith1 it may interest our readers and others to know something of this poor old man4 ,having faithfully served our country for fourteen years as a soldier in the #adth ,light ,dragoons1 and having been severely wounded during the ,crimean ,war1 in which he served in all the special engagements1 he was paid off as unfit for further service1 receiving a pension for only ten years1 as he was unable to complete the full term of service 7twenty-one years7 which would have entitled him to a pension for life4 ,after leaving the army he worked as a labourer1 whenever he could find employment1 and was brought to a saving knowledge of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ about twenty years ago1 after which he was soon engaged in carrying heavy loads at ,cotton's ,wharf1 in ,tooley ,street1 ,london4 ,after seventeen years of this work1 he one day1 unhappily1 stumbled whilst carrying a load1 and fell backwards some distance1 the back of his head being split open4 ,this brought about paralysis on the left side1 and some two years afterwards it resulted in the loss of his sight4 ,for three years he has been stone blind1 and has suffered at times most acutely from pain in the head2 but his indomitable energy1 and strong faith in his dear ,heavenly ,father1 have kept him from falling to the level of a pauper2 and rather than gravitate to the condition of an inmate of one of our ,unions1 he has bravely endeavoured to make a living by playing a musical instrument in the streets4 ,to add to his affliction1 his wife1 in #ahhc1 was run over in the streets of ,london1 and died in an hospital under amputation of both legs4 ,thus1 left without relation or friend1 this poor blind man had to face this cold and unheeding world alone2 and yet he is never alone1 for his faith is so bright that he goes out1 walking long distances1 trusting to ,god to preserve him in his way4 ,on one occasion1 he was taken by a constable before the ,lord ,mayor of ,london1 charged with playing an instrument in the streets1 and having been questioned as to what he did1 answered that he played a small instrument by which to keep himself4 ,the ,lord ,mayor asked him to play a tune1 which he accordingly did1 and he at once took the part of this aged pilgrim1 gave him five shillings1 and reprimanded the constable for arresting the poor old man1 and told him to look after those who were doing really wrong things in the streets1 and not to bring poor1 helpless men to him like that4 ,this poor man1 hearing the severe words addressed to the constable by his lordship1 immediately began to beg that no punishment might be meted out1 quietly remarking1 ,my lord1 very likely he is a young constable1 and has not quite learnt his duties4 ,don't punish him2 don't punish him4 ,thus did he show the true ,christian spirit of love for his enemies4 ,to illustrate the marvellous energy of will and courage of heart in this old veteran1 on one occasion he was badly bitten by a ferocious dog1 which left a terrible wound on his leg4 ,no sooner had it got well enough for him to crawl1 than he walked four miles in awful agony to see one of his friends1 taking four and a half hours over the journey4 ,such men are worthy of our support4 ,our readers may ask1 ,how is it that ,government does not look after this old soldier8 ,but it is explained when we learn that he married off the strength1 i4e41 without leave1 and so is now left to do the best he can1 unaided by his country4 ,from town to town this poor man1 literally a pilgrim1 wanders1 seeking the wherewithal to keep body and soul together4 ,often would he have been starved1 but for friends whom the good ,lord has raised up for him in the most unexpected ways4 ,wherever he goes he carries the savour of ,christ with him1 and boldly witnesses for his ,saviour1 abominating the awful language and behaviour which he has to put up with in the houses where he lodges for the night2 and has even been pushed and struck because he has spoken out against the evil by which he was surrounded4 ,thus actually from day to day dependent upon his ,father in heaven for his daily bread1 he lives by faith2 and thank ,god we know that1 not having his portion in this life1 there awaits him in due time the sweet rest of heaven1 where he shall be for ever comforted and owned in his ,father's kingdom4--,h4 ,j4 ,k41 in ,quarterly ,record of the ,aged ,pilgrims' ,friend ,society4 ,a ,,model ,,prayer-,,meeting4 ,it was a cheerful chapel above ground1 filled with seats1 wide enough apart to kneel down between them1 if one wanted to do so1 well warmed and well ventilated4 ,at the time fixed for the meeting1 first of all came ,brother ,punctuality4 ,his watch and actions are always regulated to the minute by the town clock4 ,once he and the minister came together4 ,they waited one minute for others who came not1 and then each prayed1 talked1 and sang4 ,they spent fifteen minutes thus1 and then left4 ,on their way home they met the rest coming1 who said1 ,why1 are we not to have a meeting8 ,oh1 we have had one1 was the reply4 ,that cured all1 except the most incorrigible1 of their delay4 ,some people are chronically tardy4 ,you can never change them4 ,they are always too late for work1 too late for dinner1 too late for church4 ,what a mercy if they are not at last among those who come when the door is shut6 ,they disturb the devotions of others4 ,not so ,brother ,punctuality2 only he has one troublesome fault4 ,when the hour is done he opens that inevitable hunting-watch of his1 and snaps it to with such a nervous jerk that it says very plainly to all1 ,now1 shut up and go home4 ,this is bad enough in ordinary and dull times1 but when hearts are warm1 and prayers are strong1 and the current of love flows fully1 let there then at least be a little more latitude4 ,congenial with this brother is ,brother ,promptitude4 ,when the leader opens the meeting1 he is always ready to rise4 ,he shudders at these pauses4 ,they are to him as ice-cakes clogging the current of love1 hindering the wheels of prayer4 ,yet he would not rush things4 ,i have known him to count seven1 the mystic number of the ,scripture1 and then1 if no one rose to speak or pray1 he did4 ,he is thus a minute man1 ready for action in a minute1 and hating to lose the minutes4 ,slower natures than his complain that he does not give them time to think4 ,no matter2 they may learn at last not to be so slow4 ,in the other seat sits ,brother ,brevity4 ,he has something to say1 and having said it he sits down4 ,when some overstocked divine or some thin-laid layman drags wearily along with a chain of dull platitudes1 he is very twitchy1 wondering why people will waste so much good breath and use so many poor words in saying nothing4 ,brother ,pointedness deeply sympathises with him4 ,he wants to see people take good aim at the mark1 and hit it--not try to see how near they can come and not do it4 ,brother ,round-the-,circle greatly distresses him1 who1 if he has a fact1 an incident1 or an illustration1 has so many minor details to dwell upon that he smothers the infant-truth under his mass of old clothes4--,selected4 ,perhaps this curious sketch may yield useful hints to some who read it4--,,ed4 ,,generosity ,,and ,,love4 ,the late ,duke of ,portland was a nobleman who contrived to pass through life without much noise1 but reaped happiness and respect in abundance1 and1 while gratifying his taste for rural occupation1 conferred the most lasting benefits on the country4 ,the following1 among many stories1 is told of him3-- ,the duke discovered that one of his tenants1 a small farmer1 was falling1 year after year1 into arrears of rent4 ,the steward wished to know what was to be done4 ,the duke rode to the farm1 saw that it was rapidly deteriorating1 and the man1 who was really an experienced and industrious farmer1 totally unable to manage it1 from poverty4 ,in fact1 all that was on the farm was not enough to pay the arrears4 ,john1 said the duke1 as the farmer came to meet him1 as he rode up to the house1 ,i want to look over the farm a little4 ,as they went along1 ,really1 said he1 everything is in very bad case4 ,this won't do4 ,i see you are quite under it4 ,all your stock and crops won't pay the rent in arrear4 ,i will tell you what ,i must do4 ,i must take the farm into my own hands4 ,you shall look after it for me1 and ,i will pay you your wages4 ,of course1 there was no saying nay4 ,the poor man bowed assent4 ,presently there came a reinforcement of stock1 then loads of manure1 at the proper time seed1 and wood from the plantations for repairing gates and buildings4 ,the duke rode over frequently4 ,the man exerted himself1 and seemed really quite relieved from a load of care by the change4 ,things speedily assumed a new aspect4 ,the crops and stock flourished2 fences and out-buildings were put into good order4 ,in two or three rent-days it was seen by the steward's books that the farm was making its way4 ,the duke on his next visit said-- ,well1 ,john1 ,i think the farm does very well now4 ,we will change again4 ,you shall once more be tenant1 and1 as you now have your head fairly above water1 ,i hope you will be able to keep it there4 ,the duke rode off at his usual rapid rate4 ,the man stood in astonishment2 but a happy fellow he was when1 on applying to the steward1 he found that he was actually re-entered as tenant to the farm1 just as it stood in its restored condition4 ,we will venture to say1 however1 that the duke himself was the happier man of the two4 ,he that doeth good enriches his own heart with unspeakable blessings4 ,better a fountain in the heart ,than a fountain by the way4 ,w4 ,h4 ,,answer ,,to ,,bible ,,enigma4 7,page #afe47 ,praise4--,,psalm cl4 #a4 ,p is in ,peter1 but not in ,aaron4 ,r is in ,pharaoh1 but not in ,matthew4 ,a is in ,adam1 but not in ,moses4 ,i is in ,israel1 but not in ,abdon4 ,s is in ,jesus1 but not in ,daniel4 ,e is in ,eden1 but not in ,spirit4 ,,joseph ,,hugh ,,willerton 7,aged #f years74 ,corby1 ,grantham4 ,a correct answer has also been received from ,maggie ,nunn1 aged nine years4--,,ed4 ,,zoar ,,chapel ,,sunday ,,school1 ,,hand ,,cross4 ,the ,sunday ,school children of the above place of worship met together for their annual meeting on ,sunday afternoon1 ,may #bjth1 when our kind friend1 ,mr4 ,daw1 of ,hailsham1 presided4 ,the service commenced by our old friend1 ,mr4 ,izard1 giving out ,hymn #ei1 ,clifton ,hymnal1 after which ,mr4 ,daw commenced by saying1 as there were a goodly number of friends present1 as well as children1 he would try to make it as much like an ordinary service as possible4 ,he then read #a ,samuel iii41 then engaged in prayer1 after which ,hymn #bab was sung1 the last line of the chorus being1 ,what can we give in exchange for the soul8 ,he said that1 when he was about one year old in divine things1 he thought1 if that text was written up on his house in big letters1 so as people could see it as they passed by1 it would convert them1 and he actually went out one day to see if there was a place where it might be put up4 ,that was when he had been quickened into life about one year4 ,he said he did not feel very old now4 ,he remembered asking some little girls if they could tell him how old he was1 and one little girl said thirteen2 and he thought she was very near right1 for he felt sure he was not more than fourteen now4 ,he then said he should preach a short sermon from #a ,samuel iii41 and the last clause of the eighth verse--,and ,eli perceived that the ,lord had called the child4 ,he said he had tried to preach to children before1 but this was to be a special trial1 so we should see how he got on4 ,he said1 in referring to the ,lord calling ,samuel1 that his mother ,hannah was of a sorrowful spirit1 and prayed and made vows to the ,lord that1 if ,he would give her a man-child1 she would give him to the ,lord all the days of his life2 and the ,lord granted her request1 and she called his name ,samuel1 because she had asked him of the ,lord4 ,so when ,samuel was very young1 she took him up to the temple2 and one night1 when he lay asleep1 the ,lord called him1 and ,samuel thought it was ,eli that called him4 ,but ,eli said1 ,i called thee not2 go and lie down again4 ,but the ,lord called him the second and third time1 then ,eli perceived that the ,lord had called the child4 ,the ,lord called ,david to be king--the most unlikely one of the lot1 for all his brothers passed before ,samuel first4 ,great1 strong men they were1 to all appearance--far before ,david4 ,but no2 ,david1 the shepherd boy1 was chosen to be king1 for ,god often chooses the foolish things to confound the wise4 ,he said he used to be a teacher in the ,sunday ,school1 and he often wished he was one now1 for he thought he liked talking to children best2 and when the ,lord called him out to preach1 one of his greatest trials was1 to give up the ,sunday ,school1 for he thought out of his class the ,lord had called four boys and four girls4 ,some boys and girls1 after they have been to a ,sunday ,school a few times1 will return home and tell a fine tale to their mother1 and say1 ,i shall not go to that school any more4 ,oh1 why not8 ,because they don't give such good treats and prizes as they do at other schools4 ,but their mothers never ought to encourage that4 ,he once saw a girl at ,polegate ,station1 and he thought1 ,that girl is going off to service4 ,he was sure of it2 and whenever he saw a girl at the station1 with a box or two and a parcel1 going off to service for the first time1 he generally said to himself1 ,that girl will have a good cry to-night1 when she gets into bed4 ,so when he saw this girl1 he thought he would write her a letter2 and he did so--that being five years ago--and he saw her only last week1 when she said she had cause to thank him for that letter1 and he quite hoped that letter was the means used by the ,lord in calling her4 ,then he said he wanted to say a word to parents and teachers4 ,he did not know who he had before him1 because he did not live in the neighbourhood4 ,if he did1 he should know more about them1 and if the children did not come to school pretty regularly1 he should often call on them to know the reason4 ,he said he did not wish to offend them1 but he often thought that parents sent their children to school1 and never went to the house of ,god themselves4 ,and as to teachers--what a self-denying work theirs was6 ,if there were any that needed sympathy1 it was the teachers2 and if they could not get it from the parents1 they would draw it from some other source1 for we read1 ,cast thy bread upon the waters1 for thou shalt find it after many days 7,eccles4 xi4 #a74 ,the children then repeated several hymns and passages of ,scripture1 which they had learned for the occasion1 after which ,mr4 ,daw proceeded to distribute the prizes--which consisted of ,bibles1 hymn-books1 and other good books--those receiving the best who had the most marks for attendance and good behaviour4 ,in presenting a nice ,bible to a little girl1 he made the remark1 ,i have a ,bible in my pocket which is not quite so good-looking as yours1 but ,i prize it beyond any ,bibles here1 because it was given to me by a girl that is now in heaven2 and there are marks in it1 against various portions of ,scripture1 which had been blessed to her through my ministry4 ,as they came forward to receive their prizes1 he addressed each one in a very affectionate manner4 ,he1 indeed1 had a kind word for all4 ,he also wished each one to learn a hymn1 which he named4 ,after singing another hymn1 ,mr4 ,daw concluded with prayer4 ,am ,i called1 and can it be8 ,has my ,saviour chosen me8 ,vilest of the vile am ,i2 ,can ,i lift my thoughts so high8 ,a ,,reader4 ,,zion ,,chapel1 ,,trowbridge4 ,the sixtieth anniversary of the ,sabbath ,school in connection with this place was held on ,sunday1 ,june #bdth4 ,special sermons were preached by ,mr4 ,b4 ,c4 ,turner1 of ,southport1 and the scholars sang specially-selected hymns in the evening1 at which service the chapel was crowded4 ,the text in the morning was ,ruth iii4 #a1 and in the evening ,mr4 ,turner spoke from ,ecclesiastes xi4 #f1 ,in the morning sow thy seed1 and in the evening withhold not thine hand4 ,in discoursing from these words1 he spoke many encouraging words to the teachers and parents1 and gave good advice to the children4 ,after the sermon1 three girls and four boys were promoted to the ,senior ,bible ,classes1 each of whom was presented with a handsomely-bound ,bible1 and ,mr4 ,turner spoke a few appropriate words to them4 ,the collections at the two services amounted to ,l#ae #as4 #c;d4 ,the school now numbers #bdj scholars1 forty teachers1 and two superintendents4 ,,bible ,,subjects ,,for ,,each ,,sunday ,,in ,,august4 ,aug4 #e4 ,commit to memory ,prov4 iv4 #a4 ,aug4 #ab4 ,commit to memory ,prov4 iv4 #ad4 ,aug4 #ai4 ,commit to memory ,prov4 iv4 #be4 ,aug4 #bf4 ,commit to memory ,prov4 iv4 #ah4 ,,what could ,jesus do more than die for us8 and what can we do less than live to ,him8 ,,our ,,bible ,,class4 ,,the ,,parable ,,of ,,the ,,labourers ,,in ,,the ,,vineyard4 7,,matthew xx4 #a-af47 ,jesus had left ,galilee for the last time1 and ,he and ,his disciples were on their way to ,jerusalem1 where ,he would be condemned to die4 ,they had rested in a house on the road1 and ,he had embraced and blessed the little children that were brought to receive ,his gracious touch4 ,he had been met by a rich young man as ,he resumed ,his journey--one who wanted eternal life1 but sorrowfully left the only ,giver of that blessing because he could not bear to give up his wealth to follow the meek and lowly ,saviour2 and as the youth turned away1 ,jesus had said to the disciples1 ,children1 how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of ,god 7,mark x4 #bd74 ,a conversation followed 7,matt4 xix471 in the course of which ,peter asked1 ,what reward shall we have1 who have forsaken all1 and followed ,thee8 to which question the ,saviour replied by a promise and a parable--the promise that all ,his followers should gain a hundred-fold by their losses for ,his sake1 and inherit everlasting life2 but ,he added1 ,many that are first shall be last2 and the last shall be first1 to illustrate which fact1 ,he told them a parable4 ,for the kingdom of heaven is like unto a householder1 who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard4 ,with those whom he first engaged1 a penny a day was the wages agreed upon1 and they went at once to work4 ,a penny a day1 young friends1 was not such a little as it seems to us4 ,it meant about eightpence halfpenny in our money1 and would buy a great deal more than we can get for eightpence halfpenny now4 ,you could live1 in a careful way1 at an inn for a great deal less than a penny a day2 and when the good ,samaritan took the wounded ,jew to one of these humble places of rest and refreshment1 he gave the innkeeper two pence to take care of his guest1 and provide for him1 and promised to pay any more expense should it be incurred4 ,the terms were very fair and liberal for a full day's work2 but more hands were needed1 and the master went out again at nine o'clock in the morning1 then at noon1 at three in the afternoon1 and yet again at the eleventh hour1 five p4m42 and finding still some unemployed1 he asked1 ,why stand ye here all the day idle8 ,because1 said they1 no man hath hired us4 ,go ye also into the vineyard1 and whatsoever is right1 that shall ye receive4 ,such were the terms on which all except the earliest labourers were hired4 ,the working day of twelve hours is ended2 the men are called to receive payment2 but1 strange to say1 the latest comers are first called1 and each one receives the full amount--one penny4 ,the whole-day workers are now dissatisfied4 ,they have got all they were promised1 but why should those latecomers have as much as themselves1 who had been working all the time8 ,friend1 said the good man of the house to one of the complainers1 ,i do thee no wrong4 ,didst thou not agree with me for a penny8 ,is it not lawful for me to do what ,i will with mine own8 ,is thine eye evil1 or envious1 because ,i am good8 ,so1 said the ,lord ,jesus1 in ,my kingdom the last shall be first1 and the first last4 ,and has not ,he1 who is your ,lord and ,master1 a right to do what ,he will with ,his own8 ,the disciples were thinking that ,jesus would reign on earth1 and make the ,jews a free1 prosperous nation1 and they1 as ,his first followers1 wanted to be great men in ,his kingdom 7see verses #bj1 #ba of this chapter74 ,christ1 on the other hand1 was thinking of a spiritual1 heavenly kingdom1 where ,he would reign for ever1 ruling ,his people's hearts by love4 ,in this kingdom ,god has always blessed ,his servants according to ,his own good pleasure4 ,abraham1 ,isaac1 ,david1 and a host of others who served the ,lord for many years1 looked forward to dwelling with ,him in blessedness for ever4 ,the dying thief1 whose day of life was spent in worse than idleness1 in the service of sin and ,satan1 received1 in answer to his earnest prayer1 the wonderful assurance1 ,verily ,i say unto thee1 ,to-day shalt thou be with ,me in paradise4 ,prophets laboured1 and ,apostles reaped the fruit of those labours 7,john iv4 #cg1 #ch74 ,john the ,baptist was great and honoured as the herald of ,jesus1 yet the least one in ,christ's kingdom is equal with1 and in some respects even greater1 than he 7,matt4 xi4 #aa74 ,the ,gentiles1 in time past1 were not a saved people2 but now multitudes of them have been gathered to ,jesus1 and become the people of ,god1 while the ,jews 7,god's ancient people7 have to a great extent despised the ,gospel1 and been shut out from its blessings2 so the last have been first1 and the first have become last4 ,among the twelve ,apostles1 ,andrew first found ,jesus1 and brought ,peter1 his brother1 to ,him2 but ,peter afterwards became far more noted than ,andrew1 especially on the ,day of ,pentecost1 and in his ,epistles2 while ,paul1 the very last of all1 the persecutor of ,christians1 became the first and greatest of the apostolic witnesses of ,jesus4 ,and ,paul took no credit to himself for this4 ,not ,i1 but the grace of ,god which was with me1 he delighted to say was the cause of all the good works done2 and when he joyfully looked forward to the crown of righteousness laid up for him1 he gladly adds1 and not for me only1 but also for all them that love ,his appearing4 ,this parable is quite different from the one in ,matthew xxi41 where faithful and unfaithful servants are contrasted4 ,all the labourers in this vineyard worked4 ,none are accused of laziness or unfaithfulness4 ,none are blamed for the way in which their work was done4 ,those who laboured longest were still well paid1 while the late comers were rewarded by sheer generosity4 ,so1 in the kingdom of ,god's grace1 each favoured servant of the ,lord knows in all his heart and soul that not one thing has failed of all the good things the ,lord his ,god promised him4 ,he never gives less than ,he said ,he would4 ,he often gives more than we either ask or think4 ,does the end of the day in this parable mean the evening of life1 or the end of the world8 ,and did ,jesus represent the feelings of some of ,his people when dying1 or at the last day8 ,oh1 no6 ,i do not for one moment think so4 ,but you know we sometimes show a pouting1 cross little child a picture of one like itself1 to let it see how ugly it looks2 and in the same way ,jesus1 by this parable1 taught ,his disciples and us that when we are jealous and envious of others1 we are finding fault with ,god's kindness and bounty4 ,and let us remember that1 whether we are rich or poor--whether our labours in ,christ's cause seem very successful or not--yet1 if we have been called to serve ,him at all1 the highest honour has been put upon us4 ,far better to be employed in ,his vineyard than to be loitering outside2 infinitely preferable to be a doorkeeper in ,his house1 than to dwell in the tents of wickedness4 ,his ways are ways of pleasantness1 and in keeping ,his commandments there is great reward4 ,may we be ,his servants1 loving and faithful1 and receive at last that great reward which none but ,jesus can deserve1 the free gift of ,god1 eternal life1 through ,jesus ,christ our ,lord and ,saviour2 and our song of humble gratitude will be1 ,not unto us1 ,o ,lord1 not unto us1 but unto ,thy name be glory1 for ,thy mercy and truth's sake4 ,amen4 ,our next subject will be1 ,ananias and ,sapphira 7,acts v474 ,your affectionate friend1 ,h4 ,s4 ,l4 ,,prize ,,essay4 ,,contrast ,,the ,,lesson ,,taught ,,by ,,the ,,conduct ,,of ,,solomon ,,and ,,of ,,rehoboam1 ,,at ,,the ,,commencement ,,of ,,their ,,reign4 ,the chief lesson taught by the conduct of ,solomon at the commencement of his reign is1 humility4 ,we know this by his choice when ,god asked him1 in a dream1 ,what shall ,i give thee8 ,he made answer that the people he had to rule were as the dust of the earth for multitude1 and that he had no more power to act as a king than a child4 ,he therefore wished for wisdom to help him to do right1 and for ,god to be with him1 as ,he had been with his father ,david4 ,this incident shows the gracious nature of ,solomon's character2 and the reward that ,god gave him ought to make us remember that he that humbleth himself shall be exalted4 ,with ,rehoboam it was different4 ,the lesson taught is1 that his conduct should be shunned by all4 ,shortly after he was made king1 those who had lived the greater part of ,solomon's reign came and asked him if he would be kind to them1 and ease the servitude that his father had put upon them4 ,he sought to man instead of to ,god1 and chose the counsel of foolish young men4 ,after the people had been kept waiting three days1 he told them that he would add to the yoke that they formerly had borne1 and as his father had chastised them with whips1 so would he with scorpions4 ,at the time that ,rehoboam made that rough and haughty answer1 he probably had forgotten that the majority of the people had most power1 but so it was here1 for ten of the twelve tribes revolted4 ,the first lesson taught by ,solomon1 and the second taught by ,rehoboam1 contrast deeply with each other4 ,the first1 if imitated by every one1 would work a wonderful change in the world4 ,there would be fewer quarrels1 fewer wars1 and1 in a word1 less sin4 ,the second is the cause of many evils with which the earth abounds4 ,the former the ,lord is delighted with2 the latter is an abomination4 ,if ,jesus ,christ was once made lower than the angels for our sakes1 surely we ought to put away all haughtiness1 and remember that we are on a level with our fellow-creatures by creation1 and that all who are saved are saved by free grace1 through faith in ,christ4 ,,william ,,ernest ,,cray 7,aged #aa years74 ,pearl ,cottage1 ,carlyle ,road1 ,forton1 ,gosport1 ,hants4 ,good ,essays have been received from ,jane ,bell1 ,laura ,creasey1 ,e4 ,b4 ,knocker1 ,alice ,creasey1 ,b4 ,stroud1 ,annie ,judd1 ,alice ,pease1 ,g4 ,a4 ,osmotherly1 ,e4 ,saunders1 ,m4 ,e4 ,denly4 ,the writer of the above ,essay receives a copy of ,the ,life of ,george ,whitfield4 ,the subject for ,october will be1 ,charity1 as commended in the ,scriptures2 and the prize to be given for the best ,essay on that subject1 a copy of ,foxe's ,book of ,martyrs4 ,all competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age1 and that the ,essay is their own composition1 or the papers will be passed over1 as the ,editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information4 ,papers must be sent direct to the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings1 by the first of ,september4 ,,the cross is the distinct announcement to us of that wonderful law1 that through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of heaven4 ,perfection through suffering--that is the doctrine of the cross4 ,there is love in that law4 ,interesting ,items4 ,,on ,july #aeth1 after two sermons by ,mr4 ,hull1 at ,rochdale ,road1 ,manchester1 ,l#dd #is4 #ea_/b;d4 was collected for the ,sunday ,school there4 ,,sale ,,of ,,pictures4--,the ,chester ,chronicle states authoritatively that ,lord ,tollemache has sold two of his pictures by ,sir ,joshua ,reynolds for ,l#ae1jjj each1 and one by ,gainsborough for ,l#ad1jjj4 ,,in addition to the present from a ,london banker of #aj1jjj books1 a lady in the ,city has sent a van load1 about one and a half tons1 to the ,mariners' ,mission1 ,burdett ,road1 ,london1 ,e41 for free distribution among sailors and others4 ,,low ,,rental ,,for ,,land4--,eight hundred acres of arable land in the ,isle of ,sheppey1 well known for its productive nature1 have just been let to a new tenant at the unprecedentedly low price of #as4 #b;d4 an acre4 ,the tithe on the land is #abs4 an acre4 ,,on ,june #ast1 #ahhc1 a toad was placed in a cavity hollowed in a large stone1 and the opening was sealed up with cement4 ,on the #ast of ,june1 this year1 the stone was broken open1 and the toad was found alive1 and strangely enough1 it had grown considerably4 ,,mr4 ,,john ,,white1 of ,nuneaton1 ,warwickshire1 erected a highly horrible scarecrow in a field4 ,three weeks afterwards he went to inquire after its health1 and found that a robin had built her nest in one of the pockets1 and a tomtit had utilized a sleeve for the same purpose4 ,a ,,maiden ,,session4--,there were no prisoners for trial at ,cambridgeshire ,quarter ,sessions1 ,july #acth1 #ahhh4 ,mr4 ,sperling1 the chairman1 who was presented with a pair of white gloves1 said that1 during an experience of over thirty years1 he did not remember a previous maiden session4 ,,the ,dundee sealing steamer ,esquimaux arrived the other week at ,st4 ,john's1 ,newfoundland1 from seal fishing1 with a catch of #bc1jjj seals4 ,the ,aurora1 another ,dundee vessel1 followed1 with a cargo of #be1jjj seals4 ,the seal fishing off the ,newfoundland coast has this season been a great success4 ,,artificial ,,ivory4--,a substance resembling ivory of creamy whiteness and great hardness is made from good potatoes washed in diluted sulphuric acid1 then boiled in the same solution until they become solid and dense4 ,they are then washed free from the acid and slowly dried4 ,this ivory can be dyed1 and turned1 and made useful in many ways4 ,,dr4 ,,gordon ,,stables1 the well-known author1 spends the summer in going about the country in a caravan4 ,his handsome home on wheels is called ,the ,wanderer4 ,it is drawn by two capital carriage horses1 and is fitted in most luxurious fashion4 ,he takes a man-servant with him1 and has a tricycle attached to the vehicle4 ,he stops at night by the roadside4 ,,new ,,gold ,,field4--,a rich gold field has been discovered between the two rivers1 ,lava and ,papanahoni1 in ,surinam4 ,it is an open question whether this district of #bj1jjj to #be1jjj square kilometres belongs to ,france or ,holland4 ,m4 ,condreau1 the ,french traveller1 who has been closely investigating the district1 considers that it will be as productive as the gold-fields of ,australia and ,california4 ,,mr4 ,,george ,,le ,,fevre1 of the ,huguenot ,church at ,canterbury ,cathedral1 writes thus--,a large and valuable oil painting of a scene in the history of the ,huguenots has been presented to the ,french ,church4 ,the subject is exceedingly appropriate this year1 being the tercentenary celebration of the defeat of the ,spanish invasion of ,england4 ,the picture has been hung up in that part of the ,crypt known as the ,chantry of the ,black ,prince1 and has been much admired by tourists1 who are now visiting in considerable numbers4 ,,by the steamship ,oonah1 which is the latest addition to the fleet of the ,tasmanian ,steam ,navigation ,company1 there arrived at ,melbourne on ,saturday1 ,april #bhth1 from ,tasmania1 the largest shipment of fruit for the ,london market which has left the ,australian colonies--about #ac1jjj bushels of choice apples4 ,the fruit will be transhipped into the cool chamber of the ,p4 and ,o4 mail boat ,oceana1 leaving on the #dth of ,may1 and will be followed by another shipment by the ,britannia1 leaving on the #ahth of ,may4 ,this1 we understand1 closes the operations of the shippers for this season4 ,should the outcome of these shipments be as encouraging as the telegraphic news already received seems to indicate1 there is every prospect of a very large export trade in this industry being established4 ,we are informed that the parcel now arrived could have been very much increased had there been more room in the cool chamber of the ,oceana4 ,no doubt next season all the boats of the ,p4 and ,o4 and ,orient ,companies will make arrangements to take fruit1 so that shipments can be forwarded every week4--,launceston 7,tasmania7 ,examiner1 ,may #bnd4 ,,further particulars of the floods in ,mexico show them to have been of a most serious character4 ,it is stated that1 in the town of ,silao1 where the river overflowed its banks on the #ahth of ,june1 #a1ejj persons perished4 ,at ,leon1 over #b1bjj houses were destroyed4 ,in some districts it is declared that bodies were floating about on the waters as thickly as driftwood4 ,,dread ,,of ,,comets4--,a story is related showing the dread with which comets were regarded in the early part of the last century4 ,a renowned astronomer predicted that a comet would appear on ,wednesday1 ,october #adth1 #agab1 and that the world would be destroyed by fire on the ,friday following4 ,the astronomer was correct1 so far as the comet was concerned4 ,a number of persons got into the boats and barges on the ,thames1 thinking the water the safest place4 ,a captain of a ,dutch ship threw all his powder into the river1 that his ship might not be endangered4 ,a number of clergymen1 it is said1 were ferried over to ,lambeth1 to request that proper prayers might be prepared1 there being none suitable in the ,church service4 ,sir ,gilbert ,heathcote1 at that time head director of the ,bank1 issued orders to all the fire offices in ,london1 requiring them to keep a good look-out1 and to have a particular eye on the ,bank of ,england4 ,a ,,millionaire ,,inventor4--,we have more than once pointed out how simple inventions 7observes a writer in ,invention7 often realize large sums for the fortunate inventor4 ,here is another illustration4 ,the discovery of the perforated substance used for bottoming chairs and for other purposes has made its inventor a millionaire4 ,george ,yeaton1 the inventor in question1 was a poor ,yankee cane-seater in ,vermont4 ,he first distinguished himself by inventing a machine for weaving cane1 but he made no money out of it1 as some one stole his idea1 and had the process patented4 ,after a number of years experimenting1 ,yeaton at last hit upon this invention1 which consists of a number of thin layers of boards of different degrees of hardness glued together to give pliability4 ,yeaton went through a number of bitterly contested law-suits before he got his invention patented4 ,he was wise in not paying others to manufacture his device4 ,he formed a company1 and to-day he has a plant valued at half a million dollars1 and is in the receipt of a princely annual revenue derived from this invention4 ,,the ,,fastest ,,train ,,in ,,the ,,world4--,the fastest train in the world is without doubt the ,flying ,dutchman1 which for many years has succeeded in knocking off the seventy-eight miles between ,london and ,swindon in an hour and twenty-seven minutes4 ,this is at the rate of fifty-three miles an hour4 ,exeter is #aid miles from ,paddington1 and is reached in four and a quarter hours1 or an average pace throughout1 including stoppages1 of forty-five miles and a half per hour4 ,the ,prince of ,wales has made some remarkably quick journeys on the ,great ,western4 ,not very long ago the ,north ,western took him from ,manchester to ,london in three hours and fifty-five minutes1 but the ,great ,western had previously beaten this by conveying him from ,london to ,swansea 7#baf miles7 in three hours and fifty-three minutes1 the average speed throughout that remarkable journey being almost fifty-six miles an hour4 ,english trains are much quicker than those of the ,continent4 ,the speed of the ,american expresses is from thirty-five to forty miles an hour4 ,the ,chemin de fer du ,nord runs its expresses at an average of thirty-seven1 and the ,paris and ,mediterranean at thirty-four miles an hour4 ,some of the ,german expresses cover thirty-six miles an hour4 ,a ,,terrible ,,situation4--,mr4 ,ballou1 in his recent wanderings under the ,southern ,cross1 has found one more unpleasant item for reptile literature4 ,in ,sydney he heard the following snake story1 the facts of which occurred not long before1 near the town of ,parramatta4 ,in the family of a settler1 who resided some half a league from the town1 there was an invalid daughter1 she being of an extremely nervous temperament4 ,she was sleeping1 one summer afternoon1 in a hammock swung between two supporting standards in the shade of the piazza1 when she was suddenly awakened by feeling something cold and moist clinging about her throat4 ,she put her hand to the spot1 and clasped the body of a snake just at the back of its head1 and1 with a horrified cry1 wrenched with all her strength to pull it away4 ,this was the first instinctive action of the moment1 but so great was her terror that she speedily lost all consciousness of the situation4 ,her hand1 however1 still grasped the snake where she had first seized upon it1 and with such a convulsive force that the creature was rendered powerless4 ,the cry of the terrified girl brought the father from within the house1 who instantly came to her relief2 but in the fit which her fright had induced1 her hand slowly contracted about the creature's throat with a force which she could not possibly have exerted when awake1 and before her fingers were unclasped1 by the aid of a bit of hammock cord1 the reptile was completely strangled4 ,fortunately1 the creature had not bitten the girl before she seized it1 and after that it was unable to do so4 ,it is said to have been four feet long1 and of a poisonous species4 ,illustration3 ,i ,,gave ,,myself ,,up ,,to ,,reading ,,the ,,bible4 7,see page #aid47 ,,letter ,,by ,a ,,dying ,,soldier4 ,my dear wife1--,before these lines reach you1 grim death will have swept me off the stage of time4 ,no more shalt thou repose in these arms2 no more shall these eyes behold thy lovely person1 or gaze with delight on thee or my dear infants4 ,yesterday we had a bloody and obstinate fight1 in which we had great numbers killed and wounded4 ,i received one ball in my leg1 another in my breast4 ,i am now so weak with the loss of blood that ,i can hardly write these few lines as the last tribute of my unchanging love to thee4 ,the surgeons inform me that three hours will be the utmost ,i can survive4 ,alas6 too true was the dire presage in my mind that we should never meet again on this side eternity4 ,on our passage here1 ,i gave myself up to reading the ,bible1 it being the only ,book ,i was possessed of4 ,the ,almighty was pleased to draw my heart to ,him by the sweet attractions of ,his grace1 and at the same time to enlighten my mind4 ,there is in the regiment a corporal who is a ,christian4 ,i had no knowledge of him till one night when ,i had been earnest in prayer to ,god to guide me in the way of peace4 ,during my sleep ,i dreamed of this same man1 and was directed to him by name1 ,samuel ,pierce4 ,the dream made so strong an impression on my mind that the next morning ,i inquired if there was such a person in the regiment1 and was greatly astonished to find him4 ,i told him my dream1 with which he was much pleased4 ,we soon contracted a strong friendship1 and he was pleased to explain to me the amazing love of ,god in giving ,his ,son ,jesus ,christ to bleed and die for sinners4 ,he unfolded to me the mysteries of salvation1 the nature of the new birth1 and the great necessity of holiness of heart and life4 ,in short1 he became my spiritual father1 and to him1 under ,god1 ,i owe much that ,i am now acquainted with4 ,soon after we landed1 ,god was pleased to speak peace to my soul4 ,oh1 the bliss1 the unutterable joy1 that ,i then felt1 through the blood of the ,lamb6 ,how ,i longed to tell the whole world what ,jesus had done for me6 ,but how did ,i long for thee1 my love1 to taste and know the love of ,god in ,christ ,jesus6 ,i would have given the world to have been with thee1 to have told thee of the pearl of great price4 ,and as we shall never meet more in this vale of tears1 this is my dying wish and advice--read the ,bible and good books1 frequent the preaching of the ,gospel1 and the ,lord will guide thee in ,his way4 ,and oh1 endeavour to bring up the dear little ones in the fear of ,god4 ,oh1 never fix thine heart upon the vain and unsubstantial things of this world6 ,heaven and the love of ,god are the only things that demand our hearts1 or are worthy of engrossing them4 ,i have been a worthless husband to thee1 and a vile rebel against my ,god4 ,god be merciful to me a sinner6 ,i die in peace4 ,i die in a full assurance of eternal glory4 ,a few moments and my soul shall be ranged in the general assembly of the ,church of the ,first-born who are written in heaven4 ,and now1 my dear infants1 the ,god who blessed ,jacob and ,joseph will bless you4 ,seek ,him1 and ,he will be found of you4 ,call upon ,him1 and ,he will hear and bless you4 ,learn1 then1 my dear children1 when you grow up1 to seek for permanent happiness in ,god through a crucified ,redeemer4 ,the world recedes1 it disappears2 ,heaven opens on my eyes1 my ears ,with sounds seraphic ring4 ,lend1 lend your wings2 ,i mount1 ,i fly6 ',o grave1 where is thy victory8 ,o death1 where is thy sting8' ,dear wife1 more would ,i say1 but life ebbs out apace4 ,bright angels stand around the gory turf on which ,i lie1 ready to escort me to the arms of ,jesus4 ,bending saints reveal my shining crown1 and beckon me away4 ,yea1 methinks my ,jesus bids me come4 ,adieu1 adieu6 ,,john ,,randon4 ,a ,,hopeful ,,case4 ,being called to preach the ,word in a parish where there is no resident minister1 it frequently falls to my lot to visit those who are afflicted4 ,a singular instance1 both of ignorance and mercy1 appeared in the character of a person almost unknown to me till the following circumstance took place4 ,a poor woman1 about the middle of ,august last1 was taken very ill with pleurisy1 and was much alarmed4 ,this being the ,sabbath evening1 she sent for one of the people who usually attend my preaching to come and read with her4 ,he accordingly went1 and she was much pleased with what he read4 ,before he left her1 she solicited him to ask me to come and see her4 ,being out preaching1 upon my return home ,i met this person1 who told me the request of the poor woman4 ,i immediately went1 and found her in a helpless1 miserable state1 both as to body and soul4 ,her husband being gone to harvest1 she was left without money to procure any of the comforts of life4 ,the marks of poverty appeared in every part of the habitation1 and the poor creature laid stretched out upon a bed of sorrow1 being in a languishing state through the violence of the fever4 ,after condoling with her for a few minutes upon her external situation1 ,i began to converse with her pretty freely upon the more important affairs belonging to her never-dying soul4 ,the first topic of conversation was upon man as a sinful creature1 and the enmity of the heart in the unconverted4 ,i endeavoured to show that1 although some might be a little more refined as to gross acts of immorality1 yet by nature we are all the children of wrath even as others4 ,i next spoke of salvation by ,jesus ,christ1 that it was all of grace4 ,the woman listened to every word ,i uttered4 ,the tears began to trickle down her cheeks1 and at last she said1 ,i know nothing of the ,man of whom you have been speaking1 immediately adding1 ,i was never brought up in the way of religion--never taught to know a letter of a book1 nor yet attend any place of worship4 ,after ,i had engaged in prayer with her1 ,i left her4 ,the next day ,i made her another visit1 and found the fever increased1 the cough very troublesome1 and the pain in her side very acute4 ,i began to discourse upon the suitableness1 the ability1 and willingness of ,jesus to save perishing sinners1 and then she put this question--,and do you think1 sir1 ,he will save such a wretch as ,i am8 ,i observed1 ,the promise runs thus1 ',him that cometh unto ,me ,i will in no wise cast out1' c4 ,her knowledge of divine things rapidly increased1 and her earnest devotions seemed now to be the perpetual breathings of her soul4 ,the third visit ,i made her1 she lamented her former state of ignorance and sin1 and expressed great fears lest her sins should be too enormous to be forgiven4 ,the poor woman continued in this state about six weeks1 soliciting the company of all ,christian friends to converse and pray with her4 ,the last visit ,i made to her produced a very affecting scene1 both to her and me4 ,i talked to her as one actually dying1 and prayed for her as one who must soon appear before the ,judge of all the earth4 ,while ,i was engaged in prayer1 she repeated the words after me in the most affecting manner1 and after ,i had finished supplicating the ,father of mercies1 she added1 ,oh1 ,lord1 hear6 ,oh1 ,lord1 forgive such a wretch as ,i am6 ,a few hours after this1 she breathed her last1 without either sigh or groan4 ,,the ,,great ,,exhibition ,,of #ahea4 ,of late years we have had in ,britain almost a surfeit of exhibitions1 of one sort or another1 chief among which have been the splendid series which so many witnessed at ,south ,kensington1 and which have given to many of the inhabitants of these isles a far better ideal of the empire's resources than otherwise they would have had1 besides having contributed not a little to the stimulation of commerce1 while furnishing agreeable entertainment to the sightseer4 ,that the day of the exhibition1 as we understand the word1 as an educational and profit-raising medium1 is not yet gone1 is proved by the holding of the ,irish1 ,italian1 and ,anglo-,danish ,exhibitions in ,london this year1 and the popularity of the more general display at ,glasgow1 not to speak of minor shows which have found favour elsewhere4 ,the forerunner of all these magnificent spectacles was the ,great ,exhibition of #ahea1 held in ,hyde ,park1 on the initiative of the late ,prince ,consort1 who borrowed the idea from the ,state-supported ,expositions at ,paris4 ,the ,prince proposed that an exhibition of colossal proportions should be held in ,london1 in a building specially designed for the purpose1 and that it should be open to competitors from all nations1 so as to form a veritable world's fair4 ,the scheme was entered into with alacrity by the public4 ,all sorts of representative men cordially supported the ,prince4 ,a big banquet was given by the ,lord ,mayor of ,london in the ,mansion ,house1 on ,march #bast1 #ahej1 to the municipal magnates of the kingdom1 at which the success of the undertaking was practically assured2 and later on a similar feast was given in the ancient city of ,york1 at which the ,prince again eloquently and effectively pleaded for the accomplishment of the task to which he had set his hand4 ,a ,royal ,commission was appointed to manage the undertaking4 ,hyde ,park was fixed upon as the most appropriate site for the building1 and ,sir ,joseph ,paxton1 though not an architect1 was honoured with instructions to design the fabric--that magnificent ,crystal ,palace1 which was subsequently removed to a permanent and commanding position at ,sydenham1 and which is familiar to every ,london resident and visitor4 ,it was formed chiefly of iron and glass1 being #a1hdh feet long1 #djh feet broad1 and #ff feet high2 crossed by a transept #ajh feet high1 and also #djh feet in length1 for the purpose of enclosing and encasing a group of noble elms4 ,within1 the nave presented a clear1 unobstructive avenue1 from one end of the building to the other1 #gb feet in span1 and #fd feet in height4 ,the wings1 exterior to the centre or nave on each side1 had also galleries the same height1 the wings themselves being broken up into a series of courts each #dh feet wide4 ,the number of columns used in the entire edifice was #c1bcj4 ,there were #cd miles of gutter for carrying off the rain-water to the columns1 which were hollow1 and served as water-pipes2 #bjb miles of sash-bars1 and #ijj1jjj superficial feet of glass1 weighing upwards of #djj tons4 ,the building covered about #ah acres of ground1 and1 with the galleries1 gave an exhibition surface of #ba acres1 with eight miles of tables for laying out goods4 ,the building cost ,l#agf1jjj2 and though the plan was not accepted until the #bfth of ,july1 and the first column not fixed until two months later1 the edifice was virtually completed by the #ast of the following ,january1 on which date it was delivered over to the ,exhibition ,commissioners to be fitted up for its destined purpose4 ,the ,crystal ,palace excited universal admiration for its wonderful combination of vastness and beauty1 and when it was fully furnished1 and opened to the public1 on the #ast of ,may1 #ahea1 the visitor felt as if he had entered a fairy-like scene of enchantment1 a gathering-ground of grace1 brightness1 and delight4 ,it was a splendid sunny morning1 and the assembled multitude was brilliant in the extreme4 ,the ,queen1 accompanied by the ,prince ,consort1 walked in procession through the immense aggregation of treasures1 followed by an imposing array of eminent ,british and foreign notabilities4 ,it has been truly said that within the giant palace of glass were then massed representatives of all the people and productions of the earth--a grand presentment of wealth1 intelligence1 and enterprise4 ,there were over #ag1jjj exhibitors1 some #c1jjj of whom received medals of merit4 ,the ,exhibition remained open until the #aeth of ,october1 altogether #add days1 during which it was visited by #f1agj1jjj persons4 ,the greatest number present in any one day was #aji1gfj1 on ,october #hth4 ,on one occasion #ic1jjj were within the palace at the same moment1 which surpassed1 it is said1 in magnitude1 any number ever assembled together under one roof in the world's history4 ,the charges of admission to the ,great ,exhibition were practically the same as those obtained at the recent ,south ,kensington shows1 and the whole affair was so well managed and successful in every point that at its close a surplus of ,l#aej1jjj remained1 after paying all expenses4 ,,facts ,,about ,,ocean ,,steamships4 ,mr4 ,john ,burns contributed to a recent number of ,good ,words a paper entitled ,something about the ,cunard ,line1 which contains some interesting facts with regard to the equipment and working of ocean steamships4 ,taking the ,etruria as a sample of the present vessels of the ,cunard fleet1 he states that her consumption of coal is #cjj tons per day1 or twelve tons per hour1 or #dff lbs4 per minute4 ,for a single passage across the ,atlantic 7which takes seven days7 she requires the following provisions--#ab1eej lbs4 fresh beef1 #gfj lbs4 corned beef1 #e #cbj lbs4 mutton1 #hej lbs4 lamb1 #cej lbs4 veal1 #cej lbs4 pork1 #b1jjj lbs4 fresh fish1 #fjj fowls1 #cjj chickens1 #ajj ducks1 #ej geese1 #hj turkeys1 #bjj brace grouse1 #ae tons potatoes1 #cj hampers vegetables1 #bbj quarts ice-cream1 #a1jjj quarts milk1 and #aa1ejj eggs4 ,the groceries for the double voyage include #fej lbs4 tea1 #a1bjj lbs4 coffee1 #a1jjj lbs4 white sugar1 #b1hhj lbs4 moist sugar1 #gej lbs4 pulverized sugar1 #a1ejj lbs4 cheese1 #b1jjj lbs4 butter1 #c1ejj lbs4 ham1 and #a1jjj lbs4 bacon4 ,the quantities of wines1 spirits1 beer1 c41 put on board for consumption on the double voyage comprise--#a1ajj bottles of champagne1 #hej bottles of claret1 #f1jjj bottles of ale1 #b1ejj bottles of porter1 #d1ejj bottles of mineral water1 #fej bottles of various spirits4 ,crockery is broken very extensively1 being at the rate of #ijj plates1 #bhj cups1 #dch saucers1 #a1bac tumblers1 #bjj wine glasses1 #bg decanters1 and #fc water bottles in a single voyage4 ,the ,cunard ships1 it is further stated1 traverse yearly a distance equal to five times that between the earth and the moon4 ,in the course of a year the fleet consumes #d1fef sheep1 #a1hjj lambs1 and #b1dgd oxen1 besides #hca1fjc eggs2 and among other articles of consumption are #aa_/b tons of mustard1 #ac_/d tons of pepper1 #g1baf bottles pickles1 #h1jjj tins sardines1 #ae tons marmalade1 #bb tons raisins1 currants1 and figs1 and so on through a long list1 finishing with #icj tons potatoes1 #bd1jge fowls1 #d1bcj ducks1 #b1bjj turkeys1 #b1bjj geese1 #ca1cab tablets ,pears' soap1 #c1dhd lbs4 ,windsor soap1 #aj tons yellow soap4 ,the coal burned during the year amounts to #cef1gfd tons1 which1 if built as a wall four feet high and one foot thick1 would reach from ,land's ,end to ,john o' ,groats4 ,,orphan ,,bess4 ,i am sure that most of our young friends know the meaning of the word orphan2 and perhaps among the numerous readers of the ,,little ,,gleaner are some that are orphans themselves4 ,but if some of the younger ones do not understand what is meant by the word1 we must tell them that1 when children have lost both parents by death1 we call them orphans4 ,very sad indeed it is to lose both father and mother while young1 for no earthly friend can really fill their place4 ,it is of such a child that ,i am writing a few words1 and ,i trust that our little readers will indeed feel thankful to ,god if ,he has spared them both parents1 and granted them happy and comfortable homes4 ,it is more than ten years ago since ,i first saw her whom ,i now call ,orphan ,bess1 and her baby sister4 ,the first great shadow had then fallen upon her home1 and ,i had to attend the funeral4 ,this was in ,march1 #ahgh4 ,a very pale1 fragile child our little maid was then1 and her baby sister was more delicate still4 ,she then sat on the floor1 wondering at the tears of her mother1 frightened at the strange faces and people that came to bear her father away1 and trying to still the baby1 which was wailing in the saddest tones4 ,oh1 how unfit to be thrown on the world--the cold1 rough world--without the strong arm of the father1 and only the mother to shield6 ,but a ,greater ,arm than the earthly father supported and maintained1 and they were not left alone4 ,a few months later the baby died1 and ,bess and the mother were left again4 ,years rolled on1 and the mother and child struggled on together1 and the promise of ,him who cares for the widow and fatherless was proved faithful and true in their needs4 ,but a darker cloud than ever now came1 when the mother laid down and died4 ,ten years had rolled away1 and in ,march1 #ahhh1 this great blow came upon ,bess4 ,these years had made a great change in our little maid1 and when we saw her on the day of the funeral she seemed much altered--still pale and thin1 small and fragile1 and very deaf4 ,i have seen many affecting sights and many sorrowful cases in my journey through life1 but as we stood around the grave of the departed mother and father of ,bess1 in ,st4 ,thomas's churchyard1 at ,woolwich1 on the #agth of ,march1 #ahhh1 ,i saw the saddest sight of all4 ,the open grave1 containing the remains of the father2 the coffin ready to be lowered into it1 containing the dead mother2 and the pale1 thin1 deaf orphan1 standing alone in the world4 ,the blinding snow fell around1 and the wind blew piercingly through the graveyard4 ,a large crowd of strange faces1 and the chief object of interest the orphan child4 ,what wonder1 then1 that the child1 frightened and trembling1 should turn her face away from the coffin and crowd1 and hide her sobs in the dress of a kind woman near8 ,alone in the world now1 yet not alone4 ,the hymn commencing1 ,for ever with the ,lord1 is sung softly1 and as the strains are heard1 we remember that the ,lord liveth4 ,though father and mother are dead1 yet the ,lord liveth1 who has promised to look to the orphan1 and whose eyes are ever upon the needy4 ,what a position to occupy6 ,no father1 no mother1 no home1 unable to hear1 a helpless orphan girl cast upon the world6 ,the words of the poet came into my mind at the moment-- ,what is home without a mother8 ,what are all the joys we meet1 ,when her gentle smile no longer ,greets the coming of our feet8 ,i have omitted one matter1 and that is1 ,bessie's mother was my sister2 and the thought came with power into my mind1 while ,i stood at the grave1 that while the ,lord blessed me with ability and strength1 we could share our bread with ,bess sooner than see her want4 ,father and mother may die1 and they must die1 but there is ,one that cannot alter and that cannot fail4 ,i trust our young friends who read these few lines are interested in our little maid2 and if any are living in ,st4 ,leonards or ,hastings1 they may sometimes see a thin1 pale girl of twelve years1 small for her age1 with dark hair1 cut short1 sharp nose1 and keen grey eyes4 ,this is ,orphan ,bess4 ,not without friends now1 for the ,lord has already raised up kind friends and strong arms to help her1 and made room for her in many hearts4 ,may the ,lord show her further favour by granting her ,his grace is our sincere prayer1 comfort her on earth as a mother comforteth her children1 and be her everlasting ,portion in heaven4 ,gleaners1 you that have fathers and mothers1 remember they are your best earthly friends1 and think of desolate ,bess4 ,gleaners that are orphans1 remember the ,lord liveth1 and that ,he careth for you4 ,j4 ,d4 ,,mary ,,had ,a ,,little ,,lamb4 ,the well-known verses beginning1 ,mary had a little lamb1 were founded on actual circumstances1 and the heroine1 ,mary1 is still living4 ,about seventy years ago she was a little girl1 the daughter of a farmer in ,worcester ,county1 ,massachusetts1 ,united ,states4 ,one spring1 the farmer brought a feeble lamb into the house1 and ,mary adopted it as her especial pet4 ,it became so fond of her that it would follow her everywhere4 ,one day1 it followed her to the village school1 and1 not knowing what else to do with it1 she put it under her desk and covered it with her shawl4 ,there it stayed until ,mary was called up to the teacher's desk to say her lesson1 and then the lamb walked quietly after her1 and the other children burst out laughing1 so the teacher had to shut up the little girl's pet in the wood-shed until school was over4 ,soon after this1 a young student1 named ,john ,rollstone1 wrote a little rhyme about ,mary and her lamb1 and presented it to her4 ,the lamb grew to be a sheep1 and lived for many years1 and when at last it died1 ,mary grieved so much for it that her mother took some of its wool1 which was as white as snow1 and knitted a pair of stockings for her to wear in remembrance of her darling4 ,some years after the lamb's death1 ,mrs4 ,sarah ,hall1 a celebrated woman1 who wrote many books1 composed some verses about ,mary's lamb1 and added them to those written by ,john ,rollstone1 making the complete rhyme as we know it4 ,mary took such good care of the stockings made from her lamb's fleece that1 when she was a grown-up woman1 she was able to give one of them to a bazaar in ,boston4 ,as soon as the fact became known that the stocking was made from the fleece of ,mary's little lamb1 every one wanted a piece of it2 so the stocking was ravelled out1 and the yarn cut into short pieces4 ,each piece was tied to a card on which ,mary wrote her full name1 and these cards sold so well that they brought the large sum of ,l#bh towards the bazaar fund4 ,,lord1 ,i have tried how this thing and that thing will fit my spirit4 ,i can find nothing to rest on1 for nothing here hath any rest itself4 ,o ,centre and ,source of light and strength--,o ,fulness of all things--,i come to ,thee6--,arthur ,h4 ,hallam4 ,,under ,,the ,,london ,,streets4 ,it is true that there are tubes beneath the ,london streets1 but with one exception1 they are not used for the transmission of letters1 but for telegrams only4 ,this exception is a tube between ,euston ,station and the ,general ,post ,office1 through which a few day mail-bags to and from towns on the ,london and ,north-,western are sent4 ,the ,post ,office authorities find that these tubes are quicker than carts1 but their speed is not so great as is usually supposed4 ,from seventeen to thirty-five miles an hour is the average1 but with more powerful engines it is believed that eighty miles an hour could be attained4 ,the longest tube in ,london is two miles three hundred and thirty-nine yards in length4 ,originally there were only seventeen pneumatic tubes in operation1 the longest being that which went to ,fenchurch ,street1 namely1 nine hundred and eighty yards4 ,the second in length was that to ,leadenhall ,street--six hundred and fifty-nine yards4 ,the diameter of the tubes varies from one and a half inches to two and a quarter inches4 ,the telegrams are placed in little leather cases1 called carriers4 ,the time taken in transmission to ,fenchurch ,street is1 by atmospheric pressure1 one minute five seconds2 by suction the speed is somewhat slower--one minute twenty seconds4 ,the steam engine used at the ,general ,post ,office is forty horse power4 ,for sending one of the carriers from forty to fifty yards not more than four or five seconds is necessary4 ,the most complete tubes in ,london are those under the streets between ,temple ,bar and the ,general ,post ,office1 a distance of #a1ccc yards4 ,the tubes form what may be called a pneumatic railway1 with an up and down line4 ,in these tubes telegrams are sent which sometimes are not sent by electricity at all4 ,thus1 if any one wishes to wire from ,cheapside to the ,temple1 his message is placed in a carrier and sent under the streets4 ,,sympathy4 ,rejoice with them that do rejoice1 and weep with them that weep4 ,when childhood's joyous voice resounds ,with innocent delight1 ,check not the infant mirth1 nor put ,those happy smiles to flight4 ,add to the joy while it remains1 ,for on in riper years ,those eyes1 now beaming with delight1 ,may be suffused with tears4 ,when on the ocean's stormy deep ,the voyagers are tossed1 ,and seem1 in that one stormy hour1 ,to think all hope is lost-- ,if they secure the haven reach1 ,and lose their fears and cares1 ,while they rejoice their homes to gain1 ,mingle thy joy with theirs4 ,and is thy neighbour mourning now ,the loss of kindred dear8 ,then give thy sympathy1 and drop ,upon the grave a tear4 ,or knowest thou an orphan1 left ,to tread this world alone8 ,speak words of comfort1 lend thine aid1 ,or take the wanderer home4 ,tell of the loveliness and bloom ,of ,nature to the blind2 ,tell of the joys of heaven1 and thus ,shed light upon the mind4 ,then sympathize with every one1 ,and the commandment keep-- ,rejoice with them that do rejoice1 ,and weep with them that weep4 ,m4 ,e4 ,c4 ,,forward ,,into ,,light ,,and ,,liberty4 ,,jesus ,,only4 ,when ,father ,chiniquy reached his much-loved people1 after he had left the ,church of ,rome1 it was on a ,sabbath morning1 and they were assembled for worship4 ,the bishop had telegraphed to them to turn away their priest1 but when they saw him1 they received him joyfully1 and crowded round him to know what the bishop had really said4 ,entering the chapel1 he told his large congregation how and why he was a priest no longer1 assuring them that he would leave them1 but not until they bade him depart4 ,all were deeply affected1 but no one spoke1 and when he again appealed to them to bravely rise and tell him to go away1 he saw their countenances beam with love and joy more eloquent than words2 and when he offered to remain with them--the free ,christian minister of a ,christian people1 united by the love of ,god and ,his ,word--they all arose in token of their approval1 and a thousand people left the ,church of ,rome on that eventful day4 ,and still the movement spread1 till nearly all who had loved and followed him as he had gradually taught them the truths of the ,gospel1 followed him seeking the full light and liberty of ,god's ,word1 leading him1 and all who heard of it1 to exclaim1 ,this is the ,lord's doing1 and it is marvellous in our eyes4 ,as might have been expected1 they did not see everything at once4 ,there was a splendid group of statues1 representing the ,virgin ,mary learning to read at the feet of her mother1 and before these statues both priest and people had often prayed4 ,chiniquy longed to remove them1 with the pictures and crosses which hung on the walls of the chapel1 but was afraid to do it too quickly4 ,one ,sunday1 however1 after preaching from the text1 ,thou shalt not make to thyself any graven image1 he remained behind to pray1 and1 looking up at the images1 he said1 ,my good ladies1 you must come down from that high position4 ,god ,almighty alone is worshipped here now4 ,your reign has come to an end4 ,a thin1 strong1 silken cord secured them on their pedestals4 ,he cut the cord1 and1 as he expected1 the very next ,sunday1 when the people knelt to pray1 the images gave a couple of jerks1 and then fell down1 and were smashed to fragments on the floor1 the people laughing1 and saying to one another1 ,how foolish to pray to these idols to protect us1 when they cannot take care of themselves6 ,the other images1 crosses1 and pictures were soon cleared away4 ,the most of the people soon learned to reject purgatory1 but some still clung to their old belief1 and ,chiniquy would not too suddenly disturb it4 ,when ,all ,souls' ,day came round1 and collections were usually made for those in purgatory1 two boxes were provided--a white one to receive contributions for the widows and the fatherless children1 and a black one for offerings for the dead4 ,but those who put money into the black one were asked kindly to say how their gifts could be conveyed to their dead friends1 as in every case he had yet heard of1 the priests had kept them for their own bread and butter4 ,a general smile followed that announcement1 and thirty-five dollars were put into the white box for the living1 and nothing at all into the black one for the dead4 ,so1 one by one1 all the false doctrines of ,rome were renounced1 and a few months after1 six thousand were banded together under the name of ,christian ,catholics4 ,rome1 however1 would not thus easily lose so many of its children1 and another bishop thought he would try to win them back again4 ,he appointed a day to visit them1 with a number of priests1 and found a strong1 large platform prepared for his reception1 and a great number of people assembled together to see and hear4 ,as he approached1 the ,american flag was hoisted over the chapel1 and the people shouted1 ,hurrah for the flag of the free and the brave6 ,this alarmed the priestly visitors1 but ,chiniquy hastened to assure them that they would not be injured1 but they1 on the contrary1 would be received in the most courteous way4 ,the bishop then alighted from his carriage1 the priests gathered round him1 and his grand vicar told the people to kneel down and receive their bishop's benediction4 ,no one moved4 ,he repeated his request still more loudly1 when some one answered1 ,do you not know1 sir1 that we no longer bend the knee to any man8 ,it is only before ,god we kneel2 and all the people said1 ,amen4 ,forbidding their own beloved ,pastor ,chiniquy to speak1 the bishop then tremblingly addressed the crowd4 ,he was evidently staggered by the people's courage4 ,having abused the wicked1 rebellious priest who had led them away from ,rome1 he concluded by begging them to return to their holy ,mother ,church1 and asked who would guide them in the ways of ,god if they forsook the ,church of their fathers8 ,after a solemn silence1 an old farmer1 raising his ,bible over his head1 exclaimed1 ,this ,bible is all we want to guide us in the ways of ,god4 ,we do not want anything but the pure ,word of ,god to teach us what we must do to be saved4 ,as for you1 sir1 you had better go away1 and never come here any more4 ,the bishop having failed to gain the people1 tried to forcibly prevent ,chiniquy from speaking4 ,this was too much for the congregation1 and it was only for his sake1 and at his urgent request1 that they allowed the unwelcome visitors to depart unmolested4 ,they retired1 defeated and annoyed1 and the bishop soon afterwards became a lunatic4 ,thus ,god preserved ,his servant and ,his people in the hour of trial1 and though many other difficulties arose1 ,his ,word continued to accomplish ,his purposes of love and grace2 and like another ,luther1 ,pastor ,chiniquy1 though often in peril and doomed to death1 has lived on to a ripe old age1 covered and shielded by the shadow of the ,almighty4 ,there may we also live and rest4--,jottings on ,the ,life and ,work of ,father ,chiniquy1 by ,cousin ,susan4 ,,rare ,,and ,,costly ,,bibles4 ,the special feature at the recent sale of the ,earl of ,crawford's library was the disposal of old and rare editions of the ,bible in various languages4 ,the most important lots were as follows3-- ,the ,bishops' ,bible1 a revision of the ,great ,bible undertaken by ,archbishop ,parker and eight other bishops1 black letter1 folio1 #aefh4 ,it is sometimes called the ,treacle ,bible1 from the words1 ,is there no tryacle instead of 'balm' in ,gilead8 ,l#gj sold to 7,quaritch74 ,second edition of the ,german ,bible1 circa #adff1 ,l#hf 7,quaritch72 first edition of ,luther's ,bible1 ,l#ea 7,quaritch72 the ,mazarin ,bible1 or the ,gutenberg ,bible--the first edition of the ,bible1 and the earliest book printed with movable metal types2 a rare and much-sought book1 two volumes1 printed by ,gutenberg and ,fuest about #adej1 ,l#b1fej4 ,this book was put up at ,l#fie1 for which price this particular copy was sold thirty years ago4 ,the book will remain in this country4 ,sir ,john ,thorold's copy1 a few years ago1 fetched ,l#c1ijj4 ,another ,latin ,bible1 two volumes1 first edition1 with a date beautifully printed upon vellum1 folio1 #adfb1 ,l#a1jbe 7,quaritch72 ,biblia ,slavonica1 the ,ostrog edition1 #aeha1 ,l#gc 7,quaritch72 the ,virginian ,bible1 by ,john ,eliot1 with ,psalms in metre1 two volumes in one1 quarto1 #afhe and #afhj1 ,l#dj 7,quaritch72 first edition of the ,welsh ,bible1 from the ,wepre ,hall ,library1 #aehh1 ,l#fj 7,quaritch72 ,block ,book1 ,apocalypsis ,sancti ,johannis1 forty-eight leaves printed from wooden blocks1 in colours1 and the xylographic text in brown ink1 bound up with other matter in the old oak boards1 folio1 circa #adcj4 ,this rare and curious volume is generally considered as being the second attempt in xylographic printing1 the priority being given to the ,ars ,memorandi4 ,block books are supposed to have preceded by nearly twenty-five years the discovery of printing with metal types1 and the workmanship is attributed to the press of ,laurence ,coster at ,harlem4 ,this specimen was put up at ,l#ajj1 and after a keen competition between ,mr4 ,ellis and ,mr4 ,quaritch1 it was secured by the latter for ,l#ejj4 ,the day's sale realized upwards of ,l#g1jjj4 ,a ,,new ,,telephone4 ,the ,times ,paris correspondent describes some telephone experiments between ,paris and ,brussels with a new apparatus known as the microtelephone push-button1 which he believes to be the most perfect yet produced4 ,as its name indicates1 it has the form of an ordinary electric push-button4 ,when the button has been pushed in1 and has made a sound at the other extremity1 it is taken out1 and is found to be attached to a long electric wire4 ,there is thus exposed the telephonic plate1 which is extremely sensitive1 so that when it is necessary to speak at short distances1 it is not necessary to come close to the instrument4 ,for communications in the same street1 or the same house1 the operator places the upper part near himself1 and without changing his position he can speak with the correspondent at the opposite extremity4 ,he is not obliged to put his ear to the part which contains the button and brings back the reply4 ,thus1 for short distances1 those who make use of this apparatus speak in their ordinary tone1 without changing their customary attitudes4 ,they may sit or walk about1 and speak just as if those they are addressing were present4 ,when great distances intervene1 in which the speakers and hearers are separated by two hundred miles1 it is necessary to come nearer to the apparatus1 but without being obliged to speak quite close to it4 ,what makes this apparatus the most successful of telephonic instruments is1 that it can be made for half-a-crown1 that is to say1 for not more than the price of the ordinary push-button4 ,as it can be fitted to the electric wire of the ordinary ringing apparatus1 it follows that it introduces a complete change in our ordinary modes of intercourse4 ,the railway companies are making experiments with this apparatus as a means of communication between compartments of carriages1 and it is being fitted up on trial in hotels4 ,the inventor is ,dr4 ,cornelius ,herz4 ,,ask ,,on4 7#a ,,kings ii4 #bj2 ,,john xiv4 #ac47 ,i hear a voice from heaven-- ,i hear my ,sovereign say-- ,ask on 7,he speaks to me72 ,i will not say thee nay4 ,i would not doubt ,his word1 ,for truth in ,him abides2 ,i would not doubt ,his power2 ,in ,him the ,godhead hides4 ,and since ,i know ,he gave ,himself1 ,himself1 to move ,jehovah's curse from me1 ,i would not doubt ,his love4 ,and so ,i'll breathe my wish ,to ,christ1 my ,king1 to-day2 ,and rest me on ,his word-- ,i will not say thee nay4 ,,isa4 ,,is ,,not ,a ,,man ,,better ,,than ,,an ,,egg8 ,bacon6 bacon6 bacon6 always bacon6 ,why don't we have eggs sometimes1 like we used to8 was the discontented question of a little boy1 one morning1 as he surveyed a rasher of bacon on his plate4 ,may you never get anything worse to eat1 my boy1 than this nice streaky bacon1 remarked his father1 looking up from his newspaper4 ,little boys should eat what is put before them1 and be thankful that they have food to eat1 observed a severe-looking maiden aunt4 ,ralph is not very well to-day1 said his sister ,nellie1 in a low tone4 ,his appetite has not been so good lately as it used to be4 ,he never seems to get on with bacon2 and there have been very few eggs brought in for some time4 ,do you think the fowls have left off laying1 papa8 ,hardly1 my dear2 this is just the time of year they lay most freely4 ,i suspect they are hiding them1 and making nests for themselves in some secret place4 ,i suspect1 ,john1 that the stable-boy takes them4 ,it is not at all likely that fourteen or fifteen fowls would hide their eggs1 whatever one might do1 said the severe aunt4 ,hens choose curious places to lay their eggs in sometimes1 said ,mr4 ,thorn1#aa laughing4 ,i remember one fine ,spanish bird that invariably laid hers on the top of a wall4 #aa ,the real names are1 of course1 suppressed throughout4 ,what a queer place1 papa6 ,did not the eggs get broken8 ,they did1 my dear1 to the great distress of the poor fowl1 who no doubt wished to make a nest in that strange1 out-of-the-way place4 ,i used to listen for her cackling1 in order1 if possible1 to save the egg2 but it always tumbled off the wall before ,i could get to it4 ,another1 a ,cochin-china fowl1 laid hers on a heap of stones1 and---- ,those must have been very badly managed fowls1 ,john1 interrupted ,miss ,thorn4 ,now1 yours1 on the contrary1 are well cared for1 and properly housed4 ,this was quite true1 for ,mr4 ,thorn's fowl-house was large and airy1 and well supplied with every necessary convenience4 ,indeed1 so true a fancier was he1 that his extensive fowl-house was partitioned off1 so that his ,brahmas1 ,cochin-chinas1 ,houdans1 and other breeds should be in no danger of mixing4 ,it was ,mr4 ,thorn's custom always to collect his eggs himself1 the first thing after breakfast2 and he never allowed any one to go into the fowl-house on any pretence whatever1 unless in his company4 ,owing to this precaution the fowls were all very tame1 while some would testify their pleased sense of his presence by stretching out their necks and uttering a little note of welcome4 ,he was the more surprised1 therefore1 on the morning on which our story begins1 to notice that all the fowls were in a state of intense excitement4 ,to his astonishment1 he found some of the doors communicating with the various sections of the house wide open1 and the cocks1 that he had supposed were safely guarded from each other1 fighting together fiercely4 ,evidently his sister was right4 ,some other hand had collected the eggs4 ,illustration3 ,,what ,,do ,,you ,,know ,,about ,,mr4 ,,thorn',s ,,eggs8 ,as he was coming out1 after having with some difficulty restored order1 his little boy came running up to him1 with his bag of books on his back1 on his way to school1 saying eagerly-- ,i don't want to be dainty1 papa1 only it is tiresome to have nothing but bacon1 when there are such lots of eggs4 ,how do you know there are lots of eggs1 my boy8 ,because ,i hear the hens cackling every day1 papa4 ,this morning there was such a noise before ,i got up4 ,where did the noise come from1 ,ralph8 ,from the hen-house1 papa4 ,are you quite sure1 ,ralph8 ,quite1 papa6 ,oh1 ,i know they don't lay anywhere else1 for ,i have looked so often to see if any of them laid their eggs in the garden4 ,i looked this morning before breakfast4 ,very well1 my boy2 run off to school now4 ,perhaps we may find out soon where the hens do lay their eggs2 but you had better not say anything about it to your schoolfellows4 99 99 99 99 99 ,i tell you what it is1 ,bob--,i don't believe you come honestly by that money4 ,you never do any work to speak of1 and yet every now and then you bring in a lot of money1 said a pale-looking young woman to her husband1 one morning1 as he slouched in to breakfast1 and threw a handful of silver on the table4 ,a deal you know about it1 ,jane6 ,if ,i get odd jobs that bring me in an odd shilling or two1 what business is it of yours1 ,i should like to know8 ,if you and the little 'un have enough to eat1 that's all you need trouble about4 ',taint no concern of mine1 ,bob1 and yet ,i can't help feeling a bit uncomfortable when ,i hear folks say that ,mr4 ,thorn gets no eggs now4 ,what do you know about ,mr4 ,thorn's eggs8 asked her husband1 roughly4 ,well1 that gossiping ,mrs4 ,smith told me that ,mr4 ,thorn said as how his hens had taken to hiding their eggs of late4 ,she said he thought they had nests somewhere1 but he couldn't find them1 and then she looked at them eggs ,i was frying for dinner so suspicious-like that ,i got quite red1 for fear you had taken 'em4 ,bob made no reply1 but ate his breakfast in sullen silence4 ,as he went out1 his wife called after him-- ,you try to get a reg'lar job1 ,bob1 and don't go loafing about4 ,that evening ,bob came in earlier than usual1 and going up to his wife1 who was rocking the cradle1 said in a husky voice-- ,jane1 my gal1 ,i'm goin' to turn over a new leaf4 ,bless the man6 exclaimed ,jane in alarm1 as she saw unwonted tears in her husband's eyes4 ,are you took bad1 ,bob8 ,no1 ,jane1 he replied gently2 but ,i've been bad4 ,listen1 old gal1 and ,i'll tell you all about it4 ,you were right when you said the money ,i brought you lately weren't all honestly come by4 ,oh1 ,bob6 ,hush1 my gal2 don't interrupt me4 ,it's hard on a fellow to have such a tale to tell4 ,you know1 ,jennie1 how long ,i've been out of reg'lar work1 and how hard ,i tried to get some of the farmers round to take me on2 but they all said they had nothing for me to do4 ,well1 when you was took bad1 ,i got desperate like2 and one mornin'1 when ,i was doin' an odd job o' digging in ,mr4 ,thorn's garden1 ,i heard his hens a-cackling2 and as ,i knowed when he collected the eggs1 ,i got up early next day1 and managed to slip in afore he was about2 and as ,i wasn't found out1 ,i did it again and again2 and as ,i had nothing to do after the diggin'1 ,i walked to ,market ,littleton and sold 'em2 and so ,i did many a time4 ,well1 this morning ,i met ,mr4 ,thorn in the village4 ,i tried to skulk out of his way1 but he walked up quite friendly-like1 and says he1 ',i wish ,i had known you were so fond of eggs4 ,i'd have given you some1' says he1 'and welcome4' ,well1 ,i tried to brave it out1 and swore ,i knew nought of his eggs1 but he went on quite friendly in his funny way4 ',bob1' says he1 'you shall have as many as you like1 only let me have the pleasure of getting them for you4 ,it's a pity for you to get up so early1 and have all the trouble of getting over the fence1 and opening the door with a bit of wire1 when ,i could send them to you without any fuss4' ,well1 ,jane1 ,i went down on my knees then1 and ,i said1 ',if you'll forgive me this time1 sir1 ,i'll never do it again2 only don't send me to jail4 ',twould break my gal's heart1 it would'2 and then he puts half-a-crown into my hand1 and he goes with me to a friend of his1 and gets me taken on with the horses4 ,oh1 ,bob1 how could you8 said ,jane1 crying2 and ,mr4 ,thorn such a nice1 kind-spoken gentleman6 ,and oh1 if anybody else knows1 you'll get the name of a thief6 ,no one else does know1 my gal1 and ,i am sure that ,mr4 ,thorn will keep it close4 ,he said he 'spected me the day afore yesterday1 when he seed me at ,market ,littleton sellin' some eggs1 and says he1 ',i didn't like to 'spect you1 ,bob2 but after my 'spicions was roused1 ,i watched yesterday mornin' and this mornin'2' and as ,i was a-coming out of the hen-house this mornin'1 he seed me1 and says he1 '',tis an ill deed that has to be done in the dark1 ,bob4' 99 99 99 99 99 ,a night or two afterwards1 as ,bob was passing a building where services were being held1 he fancied that he heard ,mr4 ,thorn's voice1 and he went into the porch to listen4 ,yes1 it was ,john ,thorn's voice4 ,he was praying1 and it seemed to ,bob that he was praying for him4 ,he prayed for those who were sorely tempted1 and who had no strength to resist--who had never savingly heard the voice of the ,lord1 and who never used ,his name but in oaths4 ,that's me1 said poor ,bob1 with a groan4 ,after the prayer1 the hymn1 ,just as ,i am1 was sung1 and then a short address was given by the preacher4 ,needy sinners1 come just as you are1 said the preacher4 ,jesus died for sinners4 ,come with all your sins upon you4 ,don't try to wash off some of the biggest ones2 you will only make the dirty stains worse4 ,come just as you are4 ,you perhaps think of others--your old companions who will laugh at you1 and so you are ashamed4 ,were you ashamed of that mean act you did in the dark the other morning8 ,he knows all about it1 thought ,bob1 and he covered his face with his hands4 ,at that moment of supreme misery1 some one touched him on the shoulder1 and looking up in terror1 ,bob saw the man whom he had robbed gazing down upon him1 with his kind eyes full of pity and compassion for the poor sorrow-stricken man4 ,you've bin and told him1 hissed ,bob4 ,my poor fellow1 ,i have told him nothing4 ,god forbid that ,i should tell any one of the sin which you have confessed to me4 ,come in1 ,bob4 ,i am so bad and so dirty4 ,your clothes are dirty1 ,bob1 replied ,mr4 ,thorn1 glancing at ,bob's soiled and shabby garments4 ,i wonder that you go on wearing them4 ,they are too dirty to be washed4 ,too dirty to be washed1 sir6 exclaimed ,bob in amazement4 ,i have no others to change with1 or my gal would very soon have them in the wash-tub4 ,very true1 ,bob4 ,you have no clothes to change with1 but if ,i gave you a clean coat1 you would soon put it on1 aye8 ,yes1 indeed1 ,mr4 ,thorn4 ,then1 if you by faith come to ,christ1 in your filthy rags1 just as you are1 ,he will wash you in the fountain of ,his blood1 and will cover you with the robe of ,his righteousness4 ,and ,bob came4 ,he felt his guilt and misery1 and like a little child he asked for mercy4 ,need we say he found it8 ,we do not pretend to fix the exact day and hour of his conversion1 but this we know--the once dishonest man is now1 and has been for years1 a man of the strictest probity2 the blasphemer now worships the ,saviour whom once he despised2 and among that little band of ,christians in ,l----1 there is none more devoted to his ,master's service1 none more loving and gentle to wife and children1 and to all within the sphere of his influence1 than ,bob4 ,and under ,god1 ,i owe it all to ,mr4 ,thorn1 he would say4 ,had he1 a professing ,christian1 sent me to prison then1 could ,i have believed what he said of ,god's mercy8 ,mr4 ,thorn was to me the living witness of ,god's mercy in ,christ4 ,for if ye forgive men their trespasses1 your ,heavenly ,father will also forgive you4 ,just as ,i am1 without one plea1 ,but that ,thy blood was shed for me1 ,and that ,thou bidst me come to ,thee1 ,o ,lamb of ,god1 ,i come6 ,just as ,i am1 and waiting not ,to rid my soul of one dark blot1 ,to ,thee1 whose blood can cleanse each spot1 ,o ,lamb of ,god1 ,i come6 ,just as ,i am ,thou wilt receive2 ,wilt strengthen1 pardon1 cleanse1 relieve2 ,because ,thy promise ,i believe2 ,o ,lamb of ,god1 ,i come6 ,just as ,i am--,thy love unknown ,has broken every barrier down2 ,now to be ,thine1 yea1 ,thine alone1 ,o ,lamb of ,god1 ,i come6 --,from a ,tract4 ,,success4--,there is a glare about success which is apt to dazzle men's eyes4 ,when we see a man rising in the world1 a foolish high opinion is formed of his merits4 ,it is said1 ,what a wonderful man this must be to rise so rapidly6 forgetting that straw1 dust1 and feathers--things without value or weight--rise the soonest and easiest4 ,it is not always the good and great man who rises rapidly into wealth and notice4 ,a ,,good ,,example4 ,the following notice1 headed1 ,to the ,workmen of ,stoke ,works1 was recently issued by ,mr4 ,j4 ,corbett1 ,m4,p43-- ,it has been to me a matter of great pain and regret to receive from time to time complaints from grocers1 bakers1 and other tradesmen1 that the men employed at the works ask for credit1 and then refuse to pay their lawful debts1 thereby bringing a bad name upon the works1 and no good repute upon me as an employer4 ,now1 considering that the men employed here obtain higher wages than at any other salt works in ,england1 and receive their wages weekly1 ,i consider such conduct simply disgraceful1 particularly when evidence is brought before me that the money which should go to pay tradesmen for provisions for the wife and family is expended in drink1 too often leading to drunkenness4 ,i contend that workmen who receive their wages weekly should never get into debt1 and tradesmen ought to know that if men who regularly have their wages every ,saturday cannot pay one week1 they are in no better position to pay the week after4 ,i am determined to try to remove this stigma from ,stoke ,works1 and hereby give notice that any man or men who expend their wages in drinking or otherwise1 instead of paying their lawful debts1 are no men for these works2 and ,i do hope that any such men will take advice intended with the best feelings for their good and the comfort of their families4 ,a copy of this notice will be sent to the tradesmen of ,stoke ,prior1 ,bromsgrove1 ,droitwich1 and other places4 ,this is1 of course1 only intended to apply to those men who are guilty of the conduct herein complained of4--7,signed7 ,,john ,,corbett1 ,stoke ,prior ,salt ,works4 ,,it is better to be nobly remembered than nobly born4--,ruskin4 ,,the ,,dutch ,,and ,,their ,,country4 ,the enemies with which they had to contend were three--the sea1 the lakes1 the rivers4 ,they dried up the lakes1 imprisoned the rivers1 drove back the sea4 ,in order to drain the lakes they made use of the air4 ,the lakes and ponds were surrounded by dams1 the dams by canals4 ,an army of windmills put pumps in motion1 which turned the water into the canals1 which conducted it to the rivers and to the sea4 ,thus vast spaces of land buried under water were transformed as if by enchantment into fertile1 smiling plains1 populated by villages4 ,from #aejj to #aheh the amount of land reclaimed was #cee miles4 ,by the substitution of steam instead of windmills1 the great lake of ,haarlem was dried1 the furious tempests of which threatened the cities of ,haarlem1 ,amsterdam1 and ,leyden with destruction2 and the ,dutch1 in #ahhc1 seriously contemplated the prodigious undertaking of reclaiming the land buried under the ,zuyder ,zee4 ,the rivers did not cost much less labour than the lakes1 but the most tremendous struggle was with the ocean4 ,a great part of ,holland is below sea-level1 and the land has to be defended by dykes4 ,if these wonderful bulwarks of earth and of wood and granite were not there as monuments to attest the courage and perseverance of the ,dutch1 no one would believe that the hand of man1 even in the course of centuries1 could accomplish so great a work4 ,holland is an impregnable fortress4 ,the mills are the towers of its immense bastions1 the cataracts the gates1 the islands the advanced forts2 and she shows to her enemy1 the sea1 only the belfries and roofs of the edifices4 ,holland is a fortress1 and the ,dutch1 like people in a fortress1 stand on a perpetual war-footing with the sea4 ,an army of engineers1 dependent on the ,minister of the ,interior1 spy upon the enemy continually1 watch over the state of the internal waters1 provide for ruptures in the embankments1 advise and direct new works of defence to strengthen and support the old4 ,the danger is constant1 the sentinels ever at their posts4 ,at the first assault of the sea they give the cry of alarm1 and ,holland sends arms1 materials1 and money4 ,even when there is not a great battle raging1 there is always a slow1 silent struggle4 ,the innumerable mills are never quiet1 always pumping the rain-water into the canals4 ,every day the cataracts of the canals and rivers shut their huge gates against the rising tide1 which struggles to precipitate itself into the heart of the country4 ,but ,holland has done more than defend herself from the sea1 and master it4 ,the waters were her scourge1 but she has made them her defence4 ,when a foreign army invaded her territory1 she opened her sluice-gates1 unchained the sea and the waves1 and let them loose on the enemy1 defending internal cities with a fleet4 ,the water was her poverty2 she made it her wealth4 ,nature1 says a ,dutch poet1 refused all her gifts to ,holland4 ,men had to do everything in spite of ,nature4 ,it is enough to look at the monuments of the great struggle with the sea to understand that the distinctive characteristics of this people must be firmness and patience1 accompanied by a calm and never-failing courage4 ,,you can outlive a slander in half the time you can out-argue it4 ,,the soul that cannot entirely trust ,god1 whether man be pleased or displeased1 can never long be true to ,him2 for1 while you are eyeing man1 you are losing sight of ,god and stabbing religion at the very heart4--,manton4 ,,sunday ,,school ,,intelligence4 ,,clifton ,,sunday ,,school ,,anniversary4 ,special services in the above place1 on behalf of the ,sunday ,school1 were held on ,sunday1 ,july #bbnd4 ,two sermons were preached1 in the morning and evening1 by the ,pastor1 ,mr4 ,frederick ,marshall2 also an address was given by him in the afternoon4 ,text in the morning1 ,deuteronomy vi4 #f1 #g4 ,he spoke of the good of ,sunday ,schools in the cases of many that have left them and gone out into the world to earn their living4 ,it was his prayer that the ,lord would bless the labours of the brethren and sisters in the good work1 and that they might not be weary in well-doing1 for they have the promise1 they shall reap if they faint not4 ,he could rest assured that what was taught in the school was according to the ,scriptures4 ,he warned the young people to flee from temptations and from the appearance of evil1 and directed them to diligently search the ,scriptures1 and take them for a guide4 ,in the afternoon1 in the presence of a goodly number of parents1 teachers1 and scholars1 he spoke from the little word ,one4 ,he said that there must be a oneness between teachers and scholars1 or the school could not succeed4 ,he also said that each boy and girl1 as well as the teacher1 had his or her individual duty to do1 and he said that they all ought to try to do that duty well1 out of school as well as in4 ,in the evening1 the text was ,romans xvi4 #bf4 ,the sermon was listened to very attentively by a good congregation4 ,suitable pieces for the occasion were sung by the children4 ,on the following ,thursday the children had their annual treat4 ,on account of the previous wet weather1 it was feared that not a very enjoyable day was in store2 but ,he who is still the ,answerer of prayer was pleased to stay the rain1 so that a very pleasant day was spent by all present4 ,a ,,scholar4 ,,providence ,,chapel ,,sunday ,,school1 ,,burwash4 ,the first public meeting took place on ,wednesday1 ,august #hth4 ,the meeting was opened at two p4m4 by singing1 and then the ,superintendent read ,proverbs iv4 #a-ac1 and spoke in prayer4 ,the children then amused themselves for a time in the adjoining field4 ,they were called in again at four o'clock1 and after reading and prayer1 eight of the senior scholars recited from fifteen to thirty verses each of ,scripture1 and some hymns1 for which they were presented1 six with the ,clifton ,hymnal1 one with ,the ,sack and its ,treasure1 and the other with ,the ,morte ,stone1 kindly presented by ,mr4 ,j4 ,wilmshurst1 of ,cranbrook4 ,three of the junior scholars also said a few verses1 for which they were presented1 two with a ,new ,testament1 and one with the ,psalms4 ,at five o'clock about thirty persons sat down to tea1 most of whom were children4 ,in the evening ,mr4 ,j4 ,jarvis1 of ,mayfield1 preached a very impressive and encouraging sermon from ,hebrews xii4 #bd4 ,the ,sunday ,school was opened on the last ,lord's ,day in ,april with three scholars4 ,it now has eighteen1 and we trust that the ,lord will still prosper the good work4 ,s4 ,h4 ,,jarvis4 ,,carmel ,,chapel1 ,,fleckney4 ,the anniversary of the ,sabbath ,school in connection with the above place of worship was held on ,sunday1 ,july #bith1 when two sermons were preached by ,mr4 ,read1 who has now preached on these occasions for thirteen years4 ,both school-rooms and chapel were crowded4 ,special hymns were sung by the scholars1 and at the close of the sermon in the evening1 twelve handsomely-bound ,bibles were presented to six girls and six boys1 it being a custom to give one to each scholar at the age of sixteen4 ,mr4 ,read spoke very appropriate words as he presented the ,bible to each scholar4 ,collections were made at the close of each service1 amounting in the whole to ,l#af4 ,the school1 which now numbers #aij scholars1 was commenced about thirty years since1 when our esteemed ,superintendent1 ,mr4 ,j4 ,garner1 was the only teacher1 with five scholars4 ,the preaching of the truth of ,god in our village was begun by our beloved minister1 ,mr4 ,deacon1 thirty-four years ago1 in a cottage1 which has given rise to the building of two chapels1 and it is thought that the present one1 which has only been built ten years1 will have to be enlarged4 ,we are constrained to say1 with one of old1 ,what hath ,god wrought8 ,a ,,reader4 ,a ,,soft ,,answer4 ,a person went to the late ,mr4 ,longden1 of ,sheffield1 one day1 and said1 ,i have something against you1 and ,i am come to tell you of it4 ,do walk in1 sir1 he replied4 ,you are my best friend4 ,if ,i could but engage my friends to be faithful with me1 ,i should be sure to prosper4 ,but1 if you please1 we will both kneel down1 in the first place1 and ask the blessing of ,god upon our interview4 ,after they rose from their knees1 ,mr4 ,longden said1 ,now1 my brother1 ,i will thank you to tell me what it is that you had against me4 ,oh1 said the man1 ,i really don't know what it is4 ,it is all gone2 and ,i believe ,i was in the wrong4 ,,our ,,bible ,,class4 ,,ananias ,,and ,,sapphira4 7,,acts v4 #a-af47 ,in the second chapter of ,acts we learn how the ,holy ,spirit was1 on the ,day of ,pentecost1 just after ,christ's ascension1 poured out upon the apostles1 how they preached the ,gospel in languages they had never learned before1 and how three thousand of their hearers were led to confess their sins and believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,these were baptized according to ,his commandment1 and added to the company of disciples at ,jerusalem1 partaking of the ,lord's ,supper as ,he had bidden them1 and continuing in fellowship and prayer4 ,but besides all this1 they made a rule for themselves which ,jesus had not actually laid down for them4 ,the richer members gave up their money and goods1 and all shared alike4 ,thus beautifully did they obey the spirit of ,his new commandment1 ,love one another1 even as ,i have loved you 7,john xv4 #ab74 ,but this happy state of things did not long continue4 ,satan and sin soon interrupted its trustful1 unselfish course1 and we never find again that they that believed had all things common1 after the events recorded in ,acts v4 ,a man named ,ananias and his wife ,sapphira joined the ,church1 and seeing that others parted with their possessions1 they also sold a piece of land1 and laid a portion of the price at the apostles' feet1 pretending that they had given up the whole of the money received4 ,peter1 being divinely inspired1 detected the falsehood1 and ,ananias fell down dead at his feet1 was carried from the place of meeting1 and buried immediately4 ,sapphira1 ignorant of the dreadful fact1 came to a later service1 and repeating the lie to ,peter1 she also was struck with death in a moment1 and was borne to her husband's grave4 ,his seems to have been an acted1 hers a spoken lie4 ,in each case the falsehood was partly true1 but the intention was to deceive1 and this is the very essence of a lie4 ,it was hypocrisy4 ,they played a part1 like actors on the stage4 ,they pretended to be different people from what they really were1 and they wanted to be thought of as loving1 sincere1 and generous ,christians1 while they were false-hearted and hollow all the time4 ,may we never try to deceive others1 to make a false impression--to seem better than we are4 ,god sees and knows us altogether4 ,may it be our chief desire to have our hearts and lives right with ,him4 ,but why did such a terrible doom fall upon these two false ones at the very beginning of the ,christian era8 ,in the olden time ,god's judgments fell upon transgressors in a sudden and fearful way1 but under the gracious reign of ,jesus we might scarcely have looked for such a display of wrath4 ,yet1 though ,god is love1 ,he is also a consuming fire1 and there is not all that difference between the old dispensation and the present one which might at first appear4 ,david was forgiven ages before1 and these sinners were destroyed in ,gospel times4 ,then1 ,god was greatly to be feared in the assembly of ,his saints1 and still ,he must be had in reverence of all them that are about ,him4 ,but what were the effects of this awful occurrence8 ,great fear came upon the ,church1 and upon all who heard these things4 ,this is just what we should have expected4 ,and of the rest 7of those who were not true and whole-hearted7 no one dared to join that company4 ,so much the better1 just as the disciples were better off without ,judas ,iscariot4 ,a decaying corpse in the house injures the health of the living inmates1 and false professors have never done good1 but rather harm1 to the true ,church of ,god4 ,yet another result followed which we might not have hoped for--a large increase of believing converts4 ,multitudes of men and women1 believing on the ,lord1 were the more added to the ,church4 ,the more4 ,yes1 for this very reason--they saw and felt that the ,lord was there1 and loving ,him1 they wished to dwell in ,his presence1 and enjoy ,his protection and care4 ,oh1 how important motives are6 ,a thief in the company of innocent people may1 like them1 offer to be searched1 in order to avoid suspicion1 as ,judas asked1 ,lord1 is it ,i8 when all the disciples had first put the question to ,jesus1 but he could not thus escape the searching eyes that read his heart1 or the words of condemnation that fell upon his ears4 ,are we willing to be searched and tried by ,god8 ,but1 if we do desire to belong to ,jesus1 and follow ,him1 need we1 should we1 hesitate to unite with1 or remain among1 ,his people8 ,oh1 no6 ,though ,he is angry with the wicked every day1 and terrible to the hypocrites1 ,he is gracious and full of compassion to all who seek ,his grace4 ,will ,he plead against me with ,his great strength8 ,no1 but ,he will put strength in me1 said ,job 7chap4 xxiii4 #f74 ,and while ,he burns up all who rebel against ,him1 as the fire consumes briars and thorns1 they who would be at peace with ,him shall find peace by ,his own strength 7,isa4 xxvii4 #d1 #e7 and love4 ,yes1 and not only so--it is a blessing for us that ,he does know us altogether4 ,we are sometimes afraid to confess some secret fault to an earthly friend1 lest we should be loved less when the wrong thing is known2 and if we could hide ourselves from ,god1 how we might shrink from telling ,him some of our thoughts and feelings1 and this secrecy might ruin and destroy us4 ,but ,he does know all1 and knowing1 loves ,his children still1 so that we may pour out all our heart before ,him2 and while it will be an unspeakable relief to us1 it will be no news to ,him4 ,a sense of our own unworthiness will only precede the joyous assurance of pardon and blessing4 ,peter once said1 ,depart from me1 for ,i am a sinful man1 ,o ,lord6 and ,isaiah cried1 ,woe is me1 for ,i am undone 7,isa4 vi4 #e72 but ,peter's fear gave place to the clinging words of love--,lord1 to whom shall we go but unto ,thee1 for ,thou hast the words of eternal life8 7,john vi4 #fh72 while ,isaiah's cry of sorrow changed to the gladsome song1 ,behold1 ,god is my salvation2 ,i will trust1 and not be afraid 7,isa4 xii4 #b74 ,oh1 that we may be helped to cast ourselves by faith and prayer entirely upon ,him1 and1 like ,peter1 say1 ,lord1 ,thou knowest all things2 ,thou knowest that ,i love ,thee4 ,amen4 ,our next subject will be1 ,the ,good ,shepherd1 ,his ,lambs and ,sheep 7,isa4 xl4 #aa74 ,yours affectionately1 ,h4 ,s4 ,l4 ,,bible ,,enigma4 ,an officer of ,pharaoh4 ,a city built by ,cain4 ,a son of ,solomon4 ,a precious stone4 ,the mount where ,joshua built an altar4 ,a queen of the ,ethiopians4 ,the land of ,haran's nativity4 ,one of the seven ,churches of ,asia4 ,a duke of ,edom4 ,one whom the ,lord raised up to deliver ,israel4 ,a daughter of ,zelophehad4 ,the initials of the words do show ,what ,christ on earth had to pass through2 ,and all ,his people may prepare1 ,while in this world1 to have their share4 ,,thomas ,,tyler 7,aged #ac years74 ,potton1 ,beds4 ,,adversity borrows its sharpest sting from our impatience4--,bishop ,horne4 ,,prize ,,essay4 ,,the ,,blessings ,,conferred ,,on ,,england ,,by ,,the ,,accession ,,to ,,the ,,throne ,,of ,,william ,,of ,,orange1 ,,and ,,by ,,the ,,protestant ,,succession ,,thereby ,,secured ,,to ,,us4 ,the blessings conferred on ,england by the accession of ,william of ,orange ought long to be remembered by all those who love to worship ,god in the way their conscience tells them is right4 ,he came to ,england at a time in its history when it was especially in need of help4 ,he restored liberty1 both civil and religious1 and backed up ,protestantism4 ,the ,protestant people were greatly burdened by the cruelties of ,james ,,ii41 who1 it is said1 had a mind more devoted to the infliction of pain than had been since the ,romans conquered ,england4 ,here he persecuted those who held fast to the common prayer1 and in ,scotland put to death as many as would not adopt it4 ,he had two women tied to stakes and drowned in the ,solway ,firth1 because they would not repeat the ,apostles' ,creed4 ,by these incidents of his cruelty1 we plainly see the great blessing of liberty which ,god1 through ,william ,,iii41 bestowed on ,england1 and the great blessing which ,protestantism is to the land4 ,james having thus shown himself to the people1 and his cruelties being so great1 it is naturally to be expected that they would readily accept this new sovereign1 who was a good man1 and who had supported the ,protestants of ,holland all his life4 ,he had a right to the crown by his marriage to ,mary1 the daughter of ,james ,,ii4 ,england received a great blessing in the year #agja1 the ,act of ,settlement being passed by the consent of ,william and his ,parliament1 which shut out from the ,english throne all persons who were ,roman ,catholics1 or persons married to ,roman ,catholics4 ,the successor to him was ,queen ,anne of ,denmark1 and when she died1 leaving no child1 another agreement was formed1 placing the crown on ,sophia1 ,dowager-,electress of ,hanover1 and her posterity1 if they were ,protestants4 ,since this ,act was passed there has been no ,roman ,catholic on the throne4 ,if it had not been passed1 several ,romanist sovereigns might have reigned4 ,the ,protestant religion is a great blessing1 and the main cause of the prosperity of our nation4 ,romanism greatly impoverishes all countries which are its victims1 such as ,ireland1 where ,popery predominates4 ,never has the accession to the throne of a ,protestant king been more needful than it was then4 ,it is since then that ,england has won a name as a great nation and a brave people4 ,if ,protestantism is such a standing religion1 which has been through the water1 and not been overflowed1 and through the fire without being burned1 surely we ought to labour hard for the overthrow of that false religion which is the main curse of many nations in the world4 ,by the important incidents we plainly see ,god's overruling providence guarding us and our religion1 and1 as ,wickliffe said1 after one of his trials1 so say we again with still greater force1 ,the truth shall prevail4 ,,william ,,ernest ,,cray 7,aged #aa years74 ,pearl ,cottage1 ,carlyle ,road1 ,forton1 ,gosport1 ,hants4 ,we are sorry that no more of our young friends have sent ,essays for this month1 but our young friend has thereby the advantage of taking a second prize4 ,the writer of the above ,essay receives a copy of ,the ,reformation and its ,heroes4 ,the subject for ,november will be1 ,lessons to be ,derived from the ,history of ,daniel1 and the prize to be given for the best ,essay on that subject1 a copy of ,cowper's ,poems4 ,all competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age1 and that the ,essay is their own composition1 or the papers will be passed over1 as the ,editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information4 ,papers must be sent direct to the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings1 by the first of ,october4 ,,the ,,nails ,,are ,,gone1 ,,but ,,the ,,marks ,,are ,,left4 ,a little boy1 whose father desired to see him a good child1 was told one day that a nail should be driven into a post whenever he should do an act that was wrong2 and when he should do a good deed1 he might pull one out4 ,the little fellow tried to be good1 and1 though there were a number of nails driven into the post1 after a while not one remained4 ,how happy must ,benny have been when he saw the last nail disappear from the post6 ,his father was greatly pleased1 and was congratulating his son1 when he was surprised to see that he was weeping2 and very touching was the remark he made--,ah6 the nails are all gone1 but the marks are left6 ,was not this contrition8 ,,bible ,,subjects ,,for ,,each ,,sunday ,,in ,,september4 ,sept4 #b4 ,commit to memory ,isa4 viii4 #ab4 ,sept4 #i4 ,commit to memory ,isa4 viii4 #bj4 ,sept4 #af4 ,commit to memory ,isa4 viii4 #ac4 ,sept4 #bc4 ,commit to memory ,isa4 viii4 #ad4 ,sept4 #cj4 ,commit to memory ,isa4 viii4 #ag4 ,interesting ,items4 ,,god save the ,queen is now sung in eighteen languages4 ,,the cost of making a bank-note for any amount is less than one halfpenny4 ,,eight million baskets of peaches are expected from ,delaware and ,maryland this season4 ,,the ,pool of ,bethesda has1 according to the quarterly statement of the ,palestine ,exploration ,fund1 been authoritatively discovered4 ,,in the whole sky an eye of average power will see about #f1jjj stars4 ,with a telescope this number is greatly increased1 and the most powerful telescopes show more than #fj1jjj1jjj4 ,of this number1 not one out of each hundred has ever been catalogued4 ,,the oldest newspaper in the whole wide world is the ,king ,pau1 or ,capital ,sheet1 published in ,pekin4 ,it first appeared ,a4,d4 #iaa1 but came out only at irregular intervals4 ,since the year #acea1 however1 it has been published weekly and of uniform size4 ,now it appears in three editions daily4 ,,on an average each ,englishman writes forty letters a year1 each ,scotchman thirty1 and each ,irishman sixteen4 ,the average ,italian only posts six1 and the ,american twenty-one4 ,it must be remembered that in the country letter-writing is a rare pursuit1 and that the bulk of letters are written by business men4 ,,the tomato is1 perhaps1 used more as a relish than for its nutritive value4 ,uncooked1 it forms the prince of salads1 and it is one of the most appetising1 palatable1 and popular vegetables we have4 ,violent heat destroys the delicious flavour of this half fruit1 half vegetable1 so when you cook them1 be most careful to use only moderate heat4 ,,saving ,,the ,,buffalo4--,the buffaloes on the ,american prairies were thought to be nearly extinct1 thanks to the reckless destruction of big game in recent years2 but a happy find has been made of a herd nearly one hundred strong in a remote and uninhabited part of ,texas4 ,to prevent any danger of their annihilation1 an expedition of trained huntsmen is being sent to ,texas to drive the buffaloes into a given enclosure1 where the breed will be carefully preserved4 ,,thirteen thousand boxes gone astray1 thirteen thousand umbrellas left in railway carriages1 sixty-seven thousand different items of property lost on the railways of the ,united ,kingdom during the single month of ,august1 #ahhg6 ,the railway companies are not responsible for this property1 but to their credit be it said1 they afford every facility for its recovery4 ,,popery ,,in ,,portugal4--,a correspondent in ,oporto describes the ,romish ceremony of washing an image of ,christ in ,lisbon1 and adds--,if those who are drifting ,romewards could only see the depths of greed1 hypocrisy1 and deceit to which the ,church descends in these countries where she holds sway1 and how immorality1 infidelity1 and spiritual darkness rule among the people1 from high to low1 they would surely hesitate to introduce ,popish mummeries into free ,england4 ,,to ,,cure ,,feathers4--,the following recipe gained a premium from the ,society of ,arts4 ,mix a quantity of lime-water in the proportion of one pound of quicklime to a gallon of water1 mixing well1 and pouring off the clean lime-water for use as soon as the undissolved lime is precipitated4 ,put the feathers in a tub1 adding enough of the clean lime-water to cover them to a depth of three inches4 ,stir them about until well moistened1 when they will sink4 ,leave for three or four days1 and then pour the whole through a sieve to get rid of the foul water4 ,wash well in clean water1 and dry upon nets in a room where the air can be admitted4 ,cabbage nets will do well1 the feathers falling through the meshes as they dry4 ,about three weeks will finish the feathers1 which will only need beating afterwards to get rid of the dust4 ,,curious ,,custom ,,at ,a ,,city ,,church4--,the following extract from the last will and testament of ,peter ,symondes1 mercer1 dated ,april #bdth1 #aehf1 refers to a curious custom still observed on ,good ,friday at ,all ,hallows ,church1 ,lombard ,street3--,the parson and churchwardens shall every year1 upon the same ,good ,fryday1 divide the same raisons into threescore parts in papers1 and when the children of ,christ's ,hospital shall come upon ,good ,fryday as aforesaid1 then the said parson and churchwardens shall give unto every child a part of that so appointed2 and although this gift may be thought very frivolous1 yet1 my mind and meaning being hidden1 may1 notwithstanding1 be performed1 praying ,god to make all those children happy members of this ,commonwealth4 ,amen4 ,under directions in the same will1 each of the sixty boys also receives a new penny4 ,an ,easter card is also given by the churchwardens from the parish funds4 ,,the ,,earwig4--,the old-fashioned idea of the much-dreaded earwig is little more than a fallacy4 ,the original ,english word ear signified an undeveloped flower-bud1 especially among corn1 and wic commonly stood for a hiding-place2 so that familiar insect 7formerly written ear-wig71 through seeking its favourite dwelling beneath the closely-shielded bud ears1 has been universally accredited with propensities so deadly injurious to mankind of which it naturally stands wholly innocent4 ,in this manner popular superstition has often thrown a mantle of evil and dread upon surrounding objects1 harmless in themselves2 and so long as the vulgar lend credence to ill-founded traditions without instituting intelligent inquiry1 so long must such discrepancies continue to hold sway over the public mind4 ,,sheep-,,shearing ,,by ,,machinery4--,a public trial of ,mr4 ,p4 ,w4 ,wolseley's ,patent ,sheep-,shearing ,machine was recently made in the presence of a number of gentlemen interested in sheep-breeding and wool-growing4 ,the result--says ,the ,australasian--was a complete success4 ,the first test was upon a crossbred sheep with an average fleece4 ,the animal was closely shorn in four and a half minutes4 ,the second animal was shorn in the ordinary way1 and then operated upon by the machine1 with the result that1 in addition to the cut of the old-fashioned shears1 nine and a half ounces of wool were obtained4 ,it is claimed for the invention that it works faster than hand labour1 leaves no second cut1 does not injure the skin in the slightest degree1 and can be so regulated that the fleece can be removed of any length desired4 ,a ,,monster ,,trout4--,a monster trout was captured the last week in ,july in the river ,itchen1 at ,winchester1 weighing #af lbs4 #b ozs41 and measuring #cb inches in length and #ba inches in circumference4 ,the bait was a live minnow1 and he was not landed till two hours after he was hooked4 ,he had haunted the stream for years1 was almost as well known in the city as ,queen ,anne's statue in the ,high ,street1 and had acquired quite a reputation for the number of rods he had broken1 and the quantity of fishing tackle he had carried away4 ,his captor was a labourer named ,turpin1 who disposed of him for ,l#a to a fishmonger1 on whose slab it attracted almost as many visitors as a monarch lying in state4 ,he was in splendid condition1 and has now gone into the hands of a taxidermist for preservation4 ,a ,,rather curious episode in natural history occurred the other day on board the ,french steamboat ,abd-el-,kader1 during the passage from ,marseilles to ,algiers4 ,just as the vessel was about two hours out1 the skies became quite black with swallows4 ,it was then about six o'clock in the evening4 ,the birds alighted in thousands on the sails1 ropes1 and yards of the ,abd-el-,kader4 ,after a perky survey of the deck from their eminences aloft1 they descended coolly on deck1 hopped about among the sailors and passengers1 and eventually found their way into the cabins1 both fore and aft4 ,the birds were evidently fatigued1 after a long flight1 and allowed themselves to be caught by the people of the ship1 who gave them a welcome reception1 and provided them with food1 which they enjoyed heartily4 ,the little winged strangers remained all night on the vessel1 and in the morning1 at seven o'clock1 the head look-out bird had1 no doubt1 sighted the ,balearic ,isles1 for the whole flock made for land1 after having spent a comfortable and refreshing night on board ship4 ,,facts ,,about ,,london4--,london is the greatest city the world ever saw4 ,it has an influence with all parts of the world1 represented by the yearly delivery in its postal districts of #bie millions of letters2 it covers within the fifteen miles' radius of ,charing ,cross nearly #gjj square miles2 it numbers within these boundaries four million two hundred thousand of inhabitants2 it contains more country-born persons than the counties of ,devon and ,gloucester combined1 or #cg per cent4 of its population2 has1 on an average1 four fires every day amongst its #ejj1jjj houses2 has a birth in it every four minutes2 has a death in it every six minutes2 has #bcj persons every day and #hd1jjj annually added to its population2 has nine accidents every day in its #g1jjj miles of streets2 has #ee miles of new streets opened1 and #ag1jjj new houses built in it every year2 has a vast network of #b1ahd miles of sewers and pipes for its drainage1 and #b1jjj miles for its gas supply of #ee1jjj lamps2 has #a1jjj ships and #i1jjj sailors in its port every day2 has upwards of #hi1jjj persons annually taken into custody by the police2 has more than one-third of all the crime in the country committed in it2 has #be1jjj persons living in its common lodging houses2 has #dc1bhf persons annually arrested as drunk and disorderly4 ,it is further estimated that it comprises #ajj1jjj foreigners from every quarter of the globe4 ,it contains more ,roman ,catholics than ,rome itself2 it contains more ,jews than the whole of ,palestine2 it contains more ,irish than ,belfast2 it contains more ,scotchmen than ,aberdeen2 it contains more ,welshmen than ,cardiff2 it has as many beershops and gin-palaces1 the frontages of which would1 if placed side by side1 stretch from ,charing ,cross to ,chichester1 a distance of #fb miles4 ,it has nearly as many paupers as would occupy every house in ,brighton4 ,illustration3 ,,who ,,shall ,,have ,,it8 7,see page #bah47 ,,little ,,scotch ,,granite4 ,burt and ,johnnie ,lee were delighted when their ,scotch cousin came to live with them4 ,he was little1 but very bright and full of fun4 ,he could tell curious things about his home in ,scotland1 and his voyage across the ocean4 ,he was as far advanced in his studies as they were1 and the first day he went to school they thought him remarkably good4 ,he wasted no time in play when he should have been studying1 and he advanced finely4 ,at night1 before the close of the school1 the teacher called the roll1 and the boys began to answer1 ,ten4 ,when ,willie understood that he was to say ten if he had not whispered during the day1 he replied1 ,i have whispered4 ,more than once8 asked the teacher4 ,yes1 sir1 answered ,willie4 ,as many as ten times8 ,maybe ,i have1 faltered ,willie4 ,then ,i shall mark you zero1 said the teacher1 sternly2 and that is a great disgrace4 ,why1 ,i did not see you whisper once1 said ,johnnie1 that night after school4 ,well1 ,i did1 said ,willie1 ,i saw others doing it1 and so ,i asked to borrow a book2 then ,i lent a slate pencil1 and asked a boy for a knife1 and did several such things4 ,i supposed it was allowed4 ,oh1 but we all do it1 said ,burt1 reddening4 ,there isn't any sense in the old rule2 and nobody could keep it2 nobody does4 ,i will1 or else ,i will say ,i haven't1 said ,willie4 ,do you suppose ,i would tell ten lies in one heap8 ,oh1 we don't call them lies1 muttered ,johnnie4 ,there wouldn't be a credit among us at night1 if we were so strict4 ,what of that if you told the truth8 laughed ,willie1 bravely4 ,in a short time the boys all saw how it was with him4 ,he studied hard1 played with all his might in play time2 but1 according to his account1 he lost more credits than any of the rest4 ,after some weeks1 the boys answered ,nine and ,eight oftener than they used to4 ,yet the school-room seemed to have grown quieter4 ,sometimes1 when ,willie ,grant's mark was even lower than usual1 the teacher would smile peculiarly1 but said no more of disgrace4 ,willie never preached at them or told tales2 but somehow it made the boys ashamed of themselves1 just the seeing that this sturdy blue-eyed boy must tell the truth4 ,it was putting the clean cloth by the half-soiled one1 you see2 and they felt like cheats and story-tellers4 ,they talked him all over1 and loved him1 if they did nickname him ,scotch ,granite1 he was so firm about a promise4 ,well1 at the end of the term1 ,willie's name was very low down on the credit list4 ,when it was read1 he had hard work not to cry2 for he was very sensitive1 and he had tried hard to be perfect4 ,but the very last thing that day was a speech by the teacher1 who told of once seeing a man muffled up in a cloak4 ,he was passing him without a look1 when he was told the man was ,general ----1 the great hero4 ,the signs of his rank were hidden1 but the hero was there just the same1 said the teacher4 ,and now1 boys1 you will see what ,i mean when ,i give a little gold medal to the most faithful boy--the one really the most conscientiously perfect in his deportment among you4 ,who shall have it8 ,little ,scotch ,granite6 shouted forty boys at once2 for the child whose name was so low on the credit list had made truth noble in their eyes4 ,a poor man is better than a liar4--,the ,lantern4 ,,the ,,hyacinth4 ,the sweet-scented pink hyacinth which had been brought me was beautiful indeed4 ,it had not yet reached maturity1 nor as yet shown all its resources of vigour and of beauty1 but we took great pleasure in watching its gradual unfolding4 ,some of its beautiful double bells did1 in fact1 come out1 and gave forth their delicious perfume4 ,but one day there came a stop to its development1 which made us anxious4 ,some of the blossoms faded before they had fully displayed their lovely hues1 and the buds remained stationary in their leaves4 ,water1 sunshine1 soft spring air1 were not lacking to them4 ,the earth in the flower-pot was good1 and there was sufficient space for the roots to expand1 but it was speedily evident that the plant was dying4 ,at all events1 ,i said1 ,i'll save the bulb4 ,so saying1 ,i raised the plant out of the base1 using great precaution1 that ,i might not break the beautiful white-red threads1 which ,i shook1 in order to loosen them from the earth4 ,they had become wound together1 and formed a sort of nest1 in which crawled1 twisting themselves as they went along1 as many as eight worms4 ,it was certainly not to be wondered at that1 with eight worms at the root1 the poor flower should not have been able to thrive4 ,i removed the enemy at once1 and planted the hyacinth again under more favourable conditions2 but it is to be feared that the sap had been too much impoverished for it ever to thrive again4 ,i seemed to see a parable in the history of my plant1 and ,i could not avoid sighing4 ,why did ,i sigh8 ,because ,i have known so many young men and women who have disappointed the hopes felt about them in their childhood4 ,the careful culture these young people have had from tender and anxious parents has not succeeded4 ,these promising plants have been blighted because some gnawing worm1 which their friends had not remarked1 was at the root4 ,it was vanity--the desire to shine--it was deceit--untruthfulness--it was pride--rebellion of the will against all authority--it was covetousness--it was selfishness--it was----,but why should ,i continue the melancholy enumeration8 ,it is ,god who alone knows the secret enemies of our happiness4 ,the heart is deceitful above all things1 and desperately wicked1 says the voice of ,scripture2 who can know it8 ,out of the heart come evil thoughts1 says ,christ2 therefore how needful for all of us is the prayer1 ,create in me a clean heart1 ,o ,god6 and how cheering the promise1 ,i will give you a new heart1 and ,i will put a new spirit within you4 ,j4 ,y4 ,,words ,,and ,,deeds4 ,one of our party greatly needed some elder-flower water for her face1 upon which the sun was working great mischief4 ,it was in the ,italian town of ,varallo1 and not a word of ,italian did ,i know4 ,i entered a chemist's shop1 and surveyed his drawers and bottles1 but the result was nil4 ,bright thought--,i would go down by the river1 and walk until ,i could gather a bunch of elder-flowers1 for the tree was then in bloom4 ,happily the search was successful4 ,the flowers were exhibited to the druggist2 the extract was procured4 ,when you cannot tell in so many words what true religion is1 exhibit it by your actions4 ,show by your life what grace can do4 ,there is no language in the world so eloquent as a godly life4 ,men may doubt what you say1 but they will believe what you do4--,c4 ,h4 ,spurgeon4 ,,it is a great shame to a man to have a poor heart and a rich purse4--,chaucer4 ,,destruction ,,of ,,sodom ,,and ,,gomorrah4 ,he overthrew those cities1 and all the plain1 and all the inhabitants of the cities1 and that which grew upon the ground4--,,genesis xix4 #be4 ,the following extract from ,word ,pictures from the ,bible1 by ,g4 ,h4 ,taylor1 furnishes a good specimen of pictorial teaching1 and will serve to illustrate the lesson on the above subject3-- ,in the southern part of ,palestine1 and about thirty miles south-east from ,jerusalem1 stands the ,dead ,sea4 ,it is a lake of about forty miles in length1 with an average breadth of ten miles4 ,on the east and the west1 steep1 rugged1 and barren mountains of limestone rise up to the height of two thousand feet1 and enclose the waters as in a huge cauldron4 ,a death-like stillness prevails all around1 unbroken save by the scream of the wild fowl on the bosom of the lake1 or the footstep of some daring and solitary traveller4 ,its shores are deserted4 ,no human habitation exists within miles4 ,even the wandering ,arab approaches it with superstitious dread4 ,nothing can exceed the gloomy grandeur of its scenery4 ,rocks piled upon rocks1 like ruin upon ruin1 look down from the east and the west1 and are reflected in its sluggish waters4 ,in its immediate vicinity all vegetation languishes and dies1 and the shores are covered as with a coat of salt4 ,in the waters themselves no living thing exists4 ,everything contributes to the ideas of solitude1 silence1 sterility1 mystery1 ruin1 and death4 ,now there was a time when the ,sea did not exist--when the ground which it now covers formed part of a lovely1 extensive1 and fertile plain4 ,so lovely was this plain that it was likened to the garden of paradise1 on account of its fertility4 ,everything which was pleasant to the eye and good for food grew there4 ,there was one valley in this plain which was beautiful beyond all others2 it was the vale of ,siddim4 ,in this vale were built the cities of ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 ,admah and ,zeboim1 and some others4 ,now1 the fertility of the ground caused the inhabitants of these places to be very rich and very idle4 ,they forgot the goodness of ,god in placing them in such a lovely spot2 and instead of thanking ,him for ,his kindness towards them1 they gave way to such a beastliness and licentiousness of conduct as one cannot think of without shuddering4 ,their very name lives to our times to designate all that is filthy and abominable in the conduct of men4 ,they were not only licentious1 they were proud2 not only proud1 they were greedy and uncharitable4 ,although they possessed in such abundance all that was necessary for the happiness and sustenance of man1 yet would they not give anything to assist the poor and the needy4 ,the ,prophet ,ezekiel says1 ,behold this was the iniquity of thy sister ,sodom2 pride1 fulness of bread1 and abundance of idleness1 was in her and in her daughters2 neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy1 but was haughty1 and committed abomination before ,me4 ,all the worst of sins in the greatest excess were to be found among these inhabitants of the cities of the plain4 ,at this time there was living among them a man of the name of ,lot1 the nephew of ,abraham4 ,one evening1 as ,lot sat in the gate of ,sodom1 two angels1 in the form of men1 appeared unto him4 ,and ,lot1 seeing them1 rose up to meet them2 and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground2 and he said1 ,behold now1 my lords1 turn in1 ,i pray you1 into your servant's house1 and tarry all night1 and wash your feet1 and ye shall rise up early1 and go on your ways4 ,and they said1 ,nay2 but we will abide in the street all night4 ,they did not wish to enter2 but ,lot pressed them1 and they went in1 and he gave them some refreshment4 ,that very night the angels communicate to ,lot the intelligence that the ,lord had sent them to destroy ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 and all the cities of the plain1 for the sins of the people had become so great that they were an abomination in the land4 ,and the angels said unto ,lot1 ,hast thou here any besides8 son-in-law1 and thy sons1 and thy daughters1 and whatsoever thou hast in the city1 bring them out of this place4 ,this awful news must have made ,lot very anxious for the safety of his family1 and accordingly he goes out and tells his relations1 and bids them get up and leave the place1 for the ,lord is about to destroy the city4 ,but he seemed as one that mocked1 unto his sons-in-law4 ,lot entreats them like a kind father who desires the safety of his children2 but they only mock him in return--,why should to-morrow differ from other days8 ,who ever saw it rain fire1 or whence should the brimstone come8 ,or1 if such showers must fall1 how shall nothing burn but this valley8 ,and when the morning arose1 then the angels hastened ,lot1 saying1 ,arise1 take thy wife1 and thy two daughters1 which are here2 lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city4 ,how destruction hunts the wicked6 ,as soon as it is morning1 ,lot is told to hurry out of the guilty city1 lest he should be consumed in its iniquity4 ,lot looks upon it1 and thinks1 perhaps1 of his property which he must leave to perish4 ,he looks1 and lingers2 but the angels laid hold upon his hand1 and upon the hand of his wife1 and upon the hand of his two daughters2 the ,lord being merciful unto him3 and they brought him forth1 and set him without the city4 ,no sooner are they beyond the walls of the city than the angels say unto him1 ,escape for thy life2 look not behind thee1 neither stay thou in all the plain2 escape to the mountain1 lest thou be consumed4 ,the command terrifies ,lot4 ,escape to the mountain--to a wild1 barren1 desert spot1 where ,i cannot find food to eat1 and where the wild beasts may destroy me8 ,i cannot escape to the mountain1 lest some evil take me1 and ,i die4 ,behold now1 this city is near to flee unto1 and it is a little one4 ,oh1 let me escape thither1 7is it not a little one87 and my soul shall live4 ,the prayer of ,lot is graciously accepted4 ,see1 ,i have accepted thee concerning this thing also1 that ,i will not overthrow this city1 for the which thou hast spoken4 ,haste thee1 escape thither2 for ,i cannot do anything till thou be come thither4 ,therefore the name of the city was called ,zoar4 ,as ,lot enters the little city of ,zoar the sun is shining4 ,everything was as usual4 ,the sun is shining upon the cities and the beautiful vale of ,siddim4 ,the inhabitants1 heedless and careless as before1 are wantoning and revelling4 ,suddenly the windows of heaven are opened1 and floods of fiery rain pour down upon the guilty cities and all within them4 ,the ground takes fire2 the wicked inhabitants fly1 shrieking1 from place to place1 but all too late4 ,the swift devouring flames follow them1 and in a short time the cities1 the people1 all that was fair to look upon in the vale of ,siddim1 even the solid earth itself1 are in a blaze6 ,presently a noise like that of thunder is heard4 ,the earth1 like some huge animal1 opens wide its mouth2 the cities sink into its jaws and are swallowed up2 floods of water1 filled with sulphur1 rush over the place where they stood1 and nothing is seen but a thick cloud of smoke rising from the water4 ,that water is the ,dead ,sea4 ,these were not all the horrors of that dreadful day4 ,lot escaped into ,zoar1 but his wife1 who was behind him1 looked back1 and she became a pillar of salt4 ,the angel had told them not to look back4 ,god was at that time showing her the greatest mercy1 yet1 contrary to ,his commands1 she looked back1 and became a pillar of salt4 ,it may be that the swift flames overtook her as she loitered1 or that ,god1 offended at such ungrateful disobedience1 punished her on the spot by immediately turning her into a pillar of salt4 ,it matters not to us which way it was4 ,in either case it was the result of disobedience4 ,,the ,,bible ,,and ,,its ,,claims4 ,i do not know whether you have seen ,mr4 ,smiles' life of our late friend ,george ,moore1 but in it we read that1 at a certain dinner-party1 a learned man remarked that it would not be easy to find a person of intelligence who believed in the inspiration of the ,bible4 ,in an instant ,george ,moore's voice was heard across the table saying boldly1 ,i do1 for one4 ,nothing more was said4 ,my dear friend had a strong way of speaking1 as ,i well remember1 for we have upon occasions vied with each other in shouting when we were together at his ,cumberland home4 ,i think ,i can hear his emphatic ,i do1 for one4 ,let us not be backward to take the old-fashioned and unpopular side1 and say outright1 ,i do1 for one4 ,where are we1 if our ,bibles are gone8 ,where are we if taught to distrust them8 ,if we are left in doubt as to what part is inspired and what is not1 we are as badly off as if we had no ,bible at all4 ,i hold no theory of inspiration4 ,i accept the inspiration of the ,scriptures as a fact4 ,those who thus view the ,scriptures need not be ashamed of their company1 for some of the best and most learned of men have been of the same mind4 ,locke1 the great philosopher1 spent the last fourteen years of his life in the study of the ,bible1 and when asked what was the shortest way for a young gentleman to understand the ,christian religion1 he bade him read the ,bible1 remarking1 ,therein are contained the words of eternal life4 ,it has ,god for its ,author1 salvation for its end1 and truth1 without any admixture of error1 for its matter4 ,there are those on the side of ,god's ,word whom you need not be ashamed of in the matter of intelligence and learning2 and if it were not so1 it should not discourage you1 when you remember that the ,lord has hid these things from the wise and prudent1 and revealed them unto babes4 ,we believe1 with the ,apostle1 that the foolishness of ,god is wiser than men4 ,it is better to believe what comes out of ,god's mouth1 and be called a fool1 than to believe what comes out of the mouths of philosophers1 and be therefore esteemed a wise man4--,c4 ,h4 ,spurgeon4 ,,mankind',s ,,mistakes4 ,it is a mistake to labour when you are not in a fit condition to do so4 ,to think that the more a person eats the healthier and stronger he will become4 ,to go to bed at midnight and rise at daybreak1 and imagine that every hour taken from sleep is an hour gained4 ,to imagine that if a little work or exercise is good1 violent or prolonged exercise is better4 ,to conclude that the smallest room in the house is large enough to sleep in4 ,to eat as if you had only a minute to finish the meal in1 or to eat without an appetite1 or continue after it has been satisfied1 merely to gratify the taste4 ,to believe that children can do as much work as grown people1 and that the more hours they study the more they learn4 ,to imagine that whatever remedy causes one to feel immediately better 7as alcoholic stimulants7 is good for the system1 without regard to its after effects4 ,to take off proper clothing out of season1 simply because you have become heated4 ,to think that any nostrum or patent medicine is a specific for all the diseases flesh is heir to4 ,,postal ,,service ,,statistics ,the ,right ,hon4 ,h4 ,c4 ,raikes1 her ,majesty's ,postmaster-,general1 has issued the thirty-fourth annual report on the working of the postal services in the ,united ,kingdom for the year ended ,march #cast last4 ,the record starts with a table1 the figures of which convey some notion of the magnitude of the task undertaken4 ,it is estimated that during the year the number of letters entrusted to the department for delivery was #a1eab1bjj1jjj1 in addition to #ahh1hjj1jjj post-cards1 #chi1ejj1jjj book packets and circulars1 #aeb1cjj1jjj newspapers1 and #cf1gcb1jjj parcels1 making a gross total of #b1bgi1ecb1jjj4 ,compared with the previous year these figures show an increase of #c4f per cent4 in letters1 #d4h in post-cards1 #e4f in book packets and circulars1 #j4h in newspapers1 and #aa4h in parcels1 the increase in the total being #c4i4 ,it is calculated that the average number of letters addressed to each person was #da1 of postcards #e1 of book packets and circulars #aj1 of newspapers #d1 of parcels #a2 or a grand average of #fa4 ,the distribution of these figures over given areas was marked by the usual disproportion4 ,of the total delivery about #he per cent4 was in ,england and ,wales 7#bh per cent4 being in the ,london postal district71 #i4j per cent4 was in ,scotland1 and #f4j per cent4 in ,ireland4 ,the total number of letters registered was #aj1had1gbb1 being an increase of #j4c per cent4 ,the constantly growing work of the department necessitates an increase in the numerical strength of the staff4 ,the ,postmaster-,general shows that the permanent establishment consists of about #ef1dfj persons1 being an increase of #a1fji over last year4 ,of the #c1hgb females employed1 #gea are engaged as clerks in the central offices in ,london1 ,dublin1 and ,edinburgh1 and #c1aba as telegraphists1 counter-women1 sorters1 c41 throughout the kingdom4 ,in addition to this staff about #dh1ijj supernumeraries are employed in the country to assist in the general work of the ,post ,office4 ,of these #af1jjj are females4 ,the ,parcel ,post continues to be much used for the transmission of flowers1 game1 c4 ,it is calculated that over #ab1jjj parcels1 containing upwards of #de1jjj grouse1 were received in ,london last autumn1 and in the month of ,march vegetables in considerable quantities arrived in parcels from ,algiers1 while it was also noticed that in one week #c1ghg parcels containing hats were posted in ,london alone4 ,as an illustration of the use made of this service by certain firms1 it may be mentioned that two firms in ,london each posted #gj1jjj parcels at one time1 while a third posted #e1jjj parcels4 ,the total postage paid on these parcels amounted to ,l#a1hge4 ,the ,dead ,letter department1 as it is popularly known1 has been called upon to deal with #ac1dcf1fjj letters1 newspapers1 postcards1 packets1 and parcels4 ,these figures mark a decrease of #ghe1chg1 which is attributed firstly to the absence of a general election1 and secondly to the progress of education1 which causes letter writers to exercise more care and accuracy in addressing letters4 ,the report continues3-- ,of the total number received #dab1abb were unreturnable2 #age1djh were registered or contained enclosures of value1 and #be1gbf were wholly unaddressed4 ,of these unaddressed letters #a1eec contained money and cheques1 c41 amounting to ,l#g1aaa4 ,the careless and insecure manner in which the public send articles through the post is shown by the facts that no less than #bd1gbg articles of all sorts1 including #bhi coins1 were received1 having escaped from their covers or wrappers1 and that the addresses had become detached1 through insufficient fastening1 from #d1egh parcels1 many of which contained matter of a perishable nature1 which was thus lost to the owners4 ,during the year ended ,december #cast1 #ahhg1 the deposits in the ,post ,office ,savings ,bank numbered #f1iaf1cbg2 the amount being ,l#af1ece1icb1 as compared with #f1efb1cie deposits1 amounting to ,l#ae1fif1heb the year before1 being an increase of #cec1icb in number and ,l#hci1jhj in amount4 ,the sum credited to depositors for interest was ,l#a1bdd1jgd1 an increase of ,l#gd1dhd over the previous year4 ,the total amount standing to the credit of depositors at the end of the year was ,l#ec1igd1jfe1 being an increase of ,l#c1jii1gbg over last year4 ,this total is exclusive of the sum of ,l#c1cde1ajf ,government ,stock held by depositors4 ,the number of new accounts opened during the year was #gid1eib as compared with #geh1bgj in #ahhf2 and the accounts closed were #egd1beb as compared with #efb1dii4 ,dealing with the ,telegraph business1 it is shown that the number of messages forwarded during the year was #ec1djc1dbe1 being an increase of #c1aei1ghf4 ,a reminiscence of the ,queen's ,jubilee is fittingly recorded4 ,the events connected with the celebration caused an immense increase in telegraph work in ,london1 amounting to nearly #fj per cent4 over the ordinary average1 and on the day preceding the ,jubilee ceremony no less than #cj1eig local messages were transmitted through the central station1 the total number of messages dealt with on that day in the ,central ,office being #abd1bia4 ,,the most valuable1 pure1 useful1 and durable of all metals1 is tried gold2 so is tried faith1 among all the ,christian virtues4--,jackson4 ,,it is not enough in this world to mean well4 ,we ought to do well4 ,thoughtfulness1 therefore1 becomes a duty1 and gratitude one of the graces4 ,,nature ,,her ,,own ,,surgeon4 ,equally worthy of admiration1 and all but equally complex1 is the process by which ,nature repairs a fractured limb1 especially when the injury is such that the broken ends of bone cannot be brought exactly into their proper positions4 ,it is remarkable1 too1 how she adapts her process to the different habits of her patients4 ,in the case of a simple fracture1 if the parts that have been disjoined are set close together in their normal line--if it be the leg of a dog1 for example--there is first a hard sheath1 called a callus1 formed round the fracture1 and this callus permits a restricted use of the injured limb1 even before the two parts have grown together4 ,it is1 however1 only a temporary provision1 necessitated by the natural restlessness of the lower animals4 ,after the fracture has completely healed the callus gradually disappears4 ,a human case is treated differently4 ,here1 unless it be a broken rib 7which requires the provision in consequence of its incessant motion in respiration71 the healing takes place ordinarily without the formation of any outer callus4 ,sometimes the broken ends cannot be--or at all events are not--brought into their proper relative positions4 ,is it possible1 it may be asked1 that ,nature can provide the means for meeting such an emergency1 when1 that is to say1 the two portions of bone to be joined are all awry1 and something quite new--in fact1 a kind of bridge1 and a bridge not merely serving the purpose of a solid connection between opposite banks1 but like the bridges which carry the appliances of modern civilization1 connecting the nerves1 which answer to the telegraph wires1 and the veins and arteries corresponding to our water and other conduits1 has to be constructed8 ,nature's engineering is equal even to this task4--,quiver4 ,,about ,,swearing4 ,a ,,chat ,,with ,,my ,,boys4 ,some boys seem to think that it is manly to swear4 ,passing along the street1 one is shocked to hear oaths from well-dressed1 intelligent boys1 who evidently belong to cultivated ,christian families4 ,i am going to tell the boys a true story about swearing1 which ,i trust will influence them to break themselves of this ungentlemanly and wicked habit4 ,when ,i was a young lad1 said a gentleman1 ,i learned to swear4 ,i had a good ,christian mother1 and she had taught me what a heinous sin it is to use the name of ,god in vain4 ,but ,i heard other boys swearing1 and ,i thought it was very manly to swear as they did1 and ,i tried it too4 ,at first the words of an oath came stumbling along1 and ,i felt all the time ,i was using them that ,god would strike me dead4 ,but after a while ,i could swear as easily and fearlessly as some of my companions4 ,but ,i never swore before my mother4 ,i used the ,lord's name in vain so often that it seemed as if ,he had forsaken me1 and left me to my sins4 ,i became wicked and reckless4 ,when ,i was fifteen years old ,i went to sea4 ,my mother reluctantly gave her consent1 only because she knew that ,i would go without it if she did not4 ,my father was dead1 and ,i was her only son4 ,i had no idea then what my mother's feelings must have been2 now ,i realize what she must have suffered in parting with me4 ,when ,i went to sea ,i swore in the worst manner4 ,in fact1 ,i scarcely spoke a word that was not accompanied by an oath4 ,after a three years' voyage ,i came home4 ,my mother met me with great kindness and affection4 ,she had prepared a most tempting supper for me4 ,my trunk was being brought into the door1 when a misunderstanding between myself and the man who had brought it1 about the pay1 aroused my anger1 and1 forgetting where ,i was1 ,i swore as only a rough seaman can swear4 ,when oath after oath had passed my lips1 ,i chanced to look at my mother1 who stood near me in the hall4 ,her face was as white as the face of the dead1 and an indescribable expression upon it that ,i can never1 never forget4 ,i saw that she was falling1 and ,i put my arm around her to support her4 ,she shrank away from my touch1 and fell senseless to the floor4 ,i paid the man the price he demanded1 closed the door1 lifted my mother up1 and laid her on the lounge4 ,i thought ,i had killed her4 ,oh1 the feelings of remorse that filled my heart at that moment6 ,but she opened her eyes1 and seeing me standing before her1 said1 ',oh1 my son1 you have broken my heart6' ,i assured her with tears and kisses that ,i would never swear again1 but the habit had taken such strong hold on me that ,i found myself swearing unconsciously many times a day4 ,my mother did not enjoy the long-anticipated visit of her only son4 ,her spirit seemed crushed1 and ,i know she felt that she had lost her boy1 and a reckless1 wicked man had come home in his stead4 ,with many tears and kind words of pleading she bade me 'good-bye' when1 in a few weeks after1 ,i started on my second sea voyage4 ,at the first port at which we stopped after leaving home1 ,i received a letter from my aunt1 containing the sad news of my dear mother's death4 ,instantly that mother's face1 as it appeared to me on the evening ,i returned home1 was before me4 ,i threw myself on my knees in my cabin1 and pleaded for forgiveness4 ,i resolved with ,god's help to lead a different life4 ,but habits of sin1 that begin in cobwebs1 end in iron chains4 ,it was not easy to break away from them4 ,but every time ,i began to use an oath1 my mother's face1 as it looked that night1 came before me4 ,i shall never forget it to my dying day4 ,with ,god's help1 ,i have overcome that terrible sin4 ,i would give everything ,i possess could ,i only speak to her once more1 and tell her my sorrow and remorse4 ,but she is silent in the grave4 ,when the gentleman had finished his sad story1 he said1 ,when you are writing something for the children1 tell the boys this story ,i have told you1 and tell them always to remember that a sinful habit may begin as a cobweb1 but it will end as an iron chain about their souls4--,baptist4 ,,the ,,word ,,with ,,power4 ,jesus1 who lived above the sky1 ,came down to be a man and die4 ,and those kind hands that did such good1 ,they nailed them to a cross of wood4 ,and1 out of pity1 ,jesus said1 ,he'd bear the punishment instead4 ,an aged woman sat alone by the fireside1 when ,mr4 ---- came in1 and simply exclaimed1 as he looked out at the window1 ,the ,lord said1 ',i came not to call the righteous1 but sinners to repentance' 7,mark ii4 #ag74 ',not the righteous4' ,what a mercy that is4 ,no more was said1 and ,mr4 ---- left the room1 but at night1 when in bed1 the aged one said to her sister1 who occupied the same room with her1 ,mr4 ---- came into the room below1 and1 as if speaking to himself1 uttered these words1 ',i came not to call the righteous1 but sinners to repentance4 ,not the righteous4 ,what a mercy that is6' and he went out1 and said no more1 but they made the tears roll down my face4 ,there is hope for me4 ,a word in season the ,lord alone can give to be effectual4 ,then1 how good it is4 ,bless ,his holy name1 ,he shall have all the praise1 for ever and ever4 ,d4 ,f4 ,august1 #ahhh4 ,,the ,,precious ,,blood ,,of ,,christ4 ,a fountain fulness still remains ,of pardoning blood from ,jesus' veins1 ,though millions have its virtues tried1 ,and from its riches been supplied4 ,and yet it ever is the same ,to all that come in ,jesus' name2 ,not one that to it shall repair ,will ever perish in despair4 ,it makes the filthy sinner clean1 ,though vile as ,i or ,magdalene2 ,here ,david lost his crimson sin1 ,and thousands more as well as him4 ,manasseh here lost all his crimes1 ,and now in glory brightly shines2 ,also dear ,paul1 of sinners chief1 ,from this dear fountain got relief1 ,and writes so sweetly of its power ,to save e'en to a dying hour2 ,yea1 all the while he travelled here1 ,this fountain was to him most dear4 ,no saved sinner ever knew ,better than ,paul what blood can do1 ,for he himself its power had tested1 ,and on its efficacy rested4 ,and all the hosts around the throne ,bear witness to what blood has done2 ,their holy joy and heavenly bliss ,is concentrated all in this4 ,oh1 may this joy and peace be mine ,when called to leave the things of time6 ,to sing of ,jesus' love and blood1 ,and dwell for ever with my ,god4 ,b4 ,w4 ,,little ,,helps ,,by ,,large ,,hearts4 ,a friend had been sitting a little while by the bed-side of a poor woman--rendered utterly helpless from paralysis--reading the ,scriptures to her1 when the door was gently opened1 and three neatly-dressed little girls entered the room1 each carrying a small basket4 ,one of them approached the bed1 and after a few simple and kind inquiries1 held up the little basket she had in her hand1 saying1 ,my mother sent you this1 and hopes soon to come and see you4 ,the poor woman thanked the child gratefully1 and said1 ,put it away1 my dear1 for me4 ,the little girl seemed quite used to the employment4 ,she went over to a cupboard1 emptied carefully the contents of her basket1 and with a modest ,good-bye1 the three children withdrew4 ,the poor woman then gave an explanation to the friend who was present4 ,these little girls1 she said1 are the children of a very respectable butcher1 and every ,saturday afternoon their mother employs them to carry about to poor people scraps of meat and bones4 ,they are nice children1 and take quite a pleasure in doing it1 and they have given me1 and many others1 many a good dinner4 ,now1 who can calculate the amount of good resulting from the thoughtful charity of this mother8 ,we read thus of ,god's redeemed people--their works do follow them--not to heaven for recompense1 as some vainly imagine1 but on the earth4 ,continually we see the truth of this in the effects produced1 after the lapse of years1 from works done by those whose bones have long been turned to dust4 ,who can tell the influence this weekly act may have upon these three children1 if spared to grow up to womanhood8 ,and thus1 when their mother's place knows her no more1 her works will follow her4 ,,the ,,penny ,,piece4 ,i give the following from the lips of one who was well acquainted with the facts3-- ,a frost had been raging for thirteen weeks4 ,the consequence was that out-door labourers1 for the most part1 were stopped in their employment4 ,among these was a poor gardener who had a wife and five or six children4 ,he was at length reduced to great straits4 ,he had spent all but his last penny1 and had not the slightest prospect of more4 ,passing down a certain street one day1 he happened to see a poor man standing in the lobby of a church or chapel4 ,his heart yearned over him1 and he thought1 ,how ,i should like to help him2 but ,i have only a penny left for myself and family4 ,still1 he felt that he could not resist the inclination4 ,he instantly turned round1 stepped back1 and gave the man his last penny4 ,immediately there came a peculiar light and gladness into his soul4 ,instead of being burdened by his destitution1 he was relieved by it4 ,he was rich in his poverty4 ,that very night the long frost broke1 and in the morning he resumed his work4 ,he had not been long in the garden before his employer appeared4 ,addressing him1 he said1 ,i am sure you must have felt the effects of this long frost very much4 ,here is a sovereign for you4 ,the poor gardener felt amazed1 and1 to use his own words1 it was as though the ,lord said to him1 ,here's a sovereign for the penny you lent ,me last night4 ,reader1 it is written1 ,he that giveth to the poor lendeth unto the ,lord2 and again1 ,there is that scattereth1 and yet increaseth2 and there is that withholdeth more than is meet1 but it tendeth to poverty4 ,o4 ,j4 ,,bad men excuse their faults2 good men will leave them4 ,a ,,brand ,,plucked ,,out ,,of ,,the ,,fire4 ,while occasionally serving a destitute ,church1 between three and four months ago1 ,i was requested to visit a dying woman4 ,i found her in the most distracting agony of bodily pain1 but rejoicing at the same time in the consolations of the ,gospel4 ,my visits afforded me much pleasure and edification4 ,being informed that she had been once a most abandoned character1 ,i solicited a friend to collect from her own mouth the history of her life1 and since her death have been favoured with a very interesting and circumstantial account of this monument of mercy4 ,when young she was deprived of both father and mother1 but by friends was introduced into a genteel family1 where after some time she fell into shameful sin4 ,her friends abandoned her in her disgrace1 but after she had endured much suffering1 privation1 and want1 they were persuaded to receive her once more1 and at length provided another eligible situation for her4 ,thus restored1 she might have lived in respect1 but a particular circumstance which should operate as a warning1 especially to servants1 led her into a more dreadful course of iniquity than ever she had been guilty of before4#ab ,on the ,lord's ,day1 instead of going to any place of worship1 she contracted the habit of spending those sacred hours at the house of an acquaintance4 ,here she formed her most fatal connections1 and to this sin of ,sabbath-breaking she especially attributed her ruin4 ,a bad man persuaded her to accompany him to ,london4 ,here for some years she lived a most profligate life1 the circumstances of which cannot be detailed here1 further than that sin which brings its own reward found her deserted1 and in the ,lock ,hospital4 ,after a dreadful operation she somewhat recovered1 and went out1 but only to follow her old sinful course4 ,she was scarcely known to be sober for six years together4 ,her wretched course of life was a continual burden to her4 ,she often prayed1 if such an one could be said to pray1 that ,god would deliver her from it1 and accompanied her prayers with resolves to forsake it2 but all her resolutions were ineffectual till ,god's time of deliverance was come4 ,at length she determined to return into the country again4 ,she met with many distressing circumstances by the way1 and upon her arrival1 her friends would not receive her4 ,she was therefore obliged to apply to the parish1 being incapable of getting her living through her disordered state of body4 ,the overseers provided her a room in a house with another woman1 where1 soon after she arrived1 her complaint assumed an alarming nature1 and threatened speedy dissolution4 ,in the awful prospect of death she was seized with the most distracting horrors4 ,calling to the woman with whom she lived1 she cried1 ,i shall soon be gone1 and hell will be my doom6 ,the woman told her she was mad1 but she replied1 with earnestness1 ,i am not4 ,i know it will1 for ,i am not prepared to die2 and immediately asked her if she knew where any minister lived8 ,she had heard some whom they called ,methodists while in the hospital at ,london4 ,even then she could not laugh at them as many of her unfortunate companions did1 but was often much affected by their prayers and sermons1 and looked upon them as men living in the fear of ,god4 ,the recollection of this suggested the eager inquiry after them now4 ,but the woman said1 ,they cannot save your soul4 #ab ,young readers1 mark this dreadful example of sin1 and may the ,lord bless you with wisdom and strength to resist such temptations to evil4 ,if you would be spared suffering and shame1 and spare your best friends much sorrow1 be careful what company you keep1 and remember that ,god's eye is upon you4 ,illustration3 ,,she ,,procured ,a ,,lodging ,,with ,a ,,serious ,,female4 7,see page #bcj47 ,i know they cannot1 she replied1 but they can pray with me and for me to ,one who can4 ,go instantly and fetch one1 for ,i am going to hell4 ,the woman still continued to laugh at her1 and told the neighbours she was deranged4 ,one of them1 however1 more compassionate than the rest1 coming in1 said she knew a good man who lived near4 ,he was not a minister1 but she would go and fetch him4 ,make him promise to come1 said the poor creature1 before you leave him1 and then1 if he be a good man1 he will come4 ,while the person was gone1 she cried to the ,lord to send him4 ,he came and found her in the greatest agonies of mind4 ,she told him that she was the vilest sinner that ever lived1 described the course of life she had led1 and concluded by saying she saw hell before her eyes1 and that she should be lost for ever4 ,he pointed out the way of salvation by ,christ1 told her it was free for the vilest1 spoke of the encouragement there was for the chief of sinners who came to ,him1 prayed with her1 and left her a little more composed4 ,she made him promise to come the next day1 which he did twice4 ,in a short time after1 her sorrow was turned into gladness1 and she was enabled to rejoice in ,christ as her ,saviour1 whilst the young man who visited her was reading the verse-- ,look as when ,thy grace beheld ,the harlot in distress2 ,dried her tears1 her pardon sealed1 ,and bade her go in peace4 ,foul like her1 and self-abhorred1 ,i at ,thy feet for mercy groan2 ,turn and look upon me1 ,lord1 ,and break my heart of stone4 ,soon after this1 ,god removed the violence of her complaint1 and thereby gave her an opportunity of proving the reality of her conversion4 ,as soon as possible she went to the meeting1 but oh1 the persecution she now met with from her former companions6 ,she was obliged to remove from place to place to escape their violence4 ,they pelted her with stones1 broke her windows1 c41 because1 as they said1 she was a hypocrite4 ,but she was enabled to endure it with patience1 and after a time procured a lodging with a serious female4 ,now she seemed almost in heaven4 ,she could now go in and out1 none daring to make her afraid1 and could meditate in peace on the gracious dealings of ,god with her soul4 ,she became a member of the ,church in which she continued as long as she lived4 ,she seemed to grow daily in an affecting discovery of the evil of sin and of her own vileness1 and was often quite overwhelmed with a sense of the goodness of ,god1 both with respect to her temporal and spiritual concerns4 ,she was frequently enabled to rejoice in the ,lord with exceeding joy1 though labouring under the most dreadful pain1 being literally full of wounds1 the sad fruit of her former life4 ,she occasionally experienced great conflicts with ,satan1 but the ,lord graciously interposed1 and brought her off more than conqueror4 ,several months before her death she was grievously afflicted1 but in general very comfortable4 ,on the ,saturday preceding her dissolution1 a friend called to see her1 and inquired after the state of her mind4 ,she said she was happy in ,god1 longed to depart1 and could scarcely contain herself4 ,she was so filled with love to her blessed ,lord1 for ,his unbounded goodness to her4 ,on the ,monday1 the person with whom she lodged said she was very comfortable in her mind4 ,her spirit soared beyond the fear of death2 but through extreme weakness she could not speak much1 and on ,tuesday she departed1 we trust1 to sing the praises of that miraculous grace which snatched her as a brand from the burning4 ,,conduct is the great profession4 ,what a man does tells us what he is4 ,,admiral ,,pye ,,and ,,the ,,inquisitors4 ,admiral ,pye having been on a visit to ,southampton1 and the gentleman under whose roof he resided observing an unusual intimacy between him and his secretary1 inquired into the degree of their relationship4 ,the admiral informed him that they were not related1 but their intimacy arose from a singular circumstance1 which1 by his permission1 he would relate4 ,the admiral said1 when he was a captain he was cruising in the ,mediterranean4 ,while on that station he received a letter from shore1 stating that the unhappy author of the letter was by birth an ,englishman2 that1 having been on a voyage to ,spain1 he was enticed while there to become a ,papist1 and1 in process of time1 was made a member of the ,inquisition2 that there he beheld the abominable wickedness and barbarities of the inquisitors4 ,his heart recoiled at having embraced a religion so horribly cruel and so repugnant to the nature of ,god1 that he was stung with remorse to think that1 if his parents knew what and where he was1 their hearts would break with grief2 that he was resolved to escape1 if he 7the captain7 would send a boat on shore at such a time and place1 but begged secrecy1 since1 if his intentions were discovered1 he should be immediately assassinated4 ,the captain returned for answer that he could not with propriety send a boat1 but if he could devise any means to come on board1 he would receive him as a ,british subject1 and protect him4 ,he did so2 but being missed1 there was soon raised a hue and cry1 and he was followed to the ship4 ,a holy inquisitor demanded him1 but he was refused2 another1 in the name of his ,holiness the ,pope1 claimed him1 but the captain did not know him1 or any other master1 but his own sovereign1 ,king ,george4 ,at length a third holy brother approached4 ,the young man recognized him at a distance1 and1 in terror1 ran to the captain1 entreating him not to be deceived by him1 for he was the most false1 wicked1 and cruel monster in all the ,inquisition4 ,he was introduced1 the young man being present1 and1 to obtain his object1 began with the bitterest accusations against him2 then he turned to the most fulsome flatteries of the captain2 and1 lastly1 offered him a sum of money to resign him4 ,the captain treated him with apparent attention1 said his offer was very handsome1 and1 if what he affirmed were true1 the person in question was unworthy of the ,english name or of his protection4 ,the holy brother was elated2 he thought his errand was accomplished4 ,while drawing his purse-strings1 the captain inquired what punishment would be inflicted upon him4 ,he replied that it was uncertain2 but as his offences were atrocious1 it was likely that his punishment would be exemplary4 ,the captain asked if he thought he would be burned in a dry pan4 ,he replied1 that must be determined by the ,holy ,inquisition1 but it was not improbable4 ,the captain then ordered the great copper to be heated1 but no water to be put in4 ,all this while the young man stood trembling1 his cheeks resembling death2 he expected to become an unhappy victim to avarice and superstition4 ,the cook soon announced that the orders were executed4 ,then ,i command you to take this fellow1 pointing to the inquisitor1 and fry him alive in the copper4 ,this unexpected command thunderstruck the holy father4 ,alarmed for himself1 he rose to be gone4 ,the cook began to bundle him away4 ,oh1 good captain6 good captain6 spare me1 spare me6 ,have him away1 replied the captain4 ,oh1 no1 my good captain6 ,have him away4 ,i'll teach him to attempt to bribe a ,british commander to sacrifice the life of an ,englishman to gratify a herd of bloody men4 ,down the inquisitor fell upon his knees1 offering him all his money1 and promising never to return if he would let him begone4 ,when the captain had sufficiently alarmed him1 he dismissed him1 warning him never to come again on such an errand4 ,what must have been the reverse of feelings in the young man to find himself thus happily delivered4 ,he fell upon his knees1 in a flood of tears1 before the captain1 and poured a thousand blessings upon his brave and noble deliverer4 ,this1 said the admiral to the gentleman1 is the circumstance that began our acquaintance4 ,i took him to be my servant2 he served me from affection2 mutual attachment ensued1 and it has inviolably subsisted and increased to this day4--,from ,cyclopaedia of ,moral and ,religious ,anecdotes1 with ,introductory ,essay by ,dr4 ,cheever4 ,,child ,,heroism4 ,mother1 just look what ,i've come upon6 ,i found the small board at the back loose1 and beneath it1 this4 ,thus spoke ,julia ,white1 who was engaged in scrubbing out the single cupboard of their one room1 and as she uttered the words she held up a paper with two sovereigns wrapped in it4 ,why are you so prying1 child8 said the mother4 ,you would have been so much better without the knowledge of my secret4 ,now1 if your father should come home tipsy to-night1 you will be forced to tell him where the money is1 and ,i shall lose the whole of it4 ,wherever to hide it away from you1 ,i don't know4 ,poor ,julia looked frightened enough1 for she was only eleven years of age1 and her dread of her father1 who frequently showed himself a ferocious ruffian1 was extreme2 but there was no help for the case now4 ,the mother had to leave in little more than an hour to watch a patient to whom she was night nurse1 and there was no time to find another hiding-place4 ,to carry the money with her where she was going would scarcely have been safe1 so1 after seeing little ,nancy1 with the baby1 safely returned1 and giving the latter its meal at her breast1 the good1 hard-working woman departed to fulfil her engagement4 ,the children left alone1 the terror of the elder one could not escape the notice of the younger1 although she was only a little over seven2 and she at length said-- ,what can be the matter with you1 ,julia8 ,i know where mother's money is1 and am afraid father will come home and want it4 ,tell him you know nothing about it4 ,he always believes you4 ,nancy6 ,she had been rightly taught by a good mother1 and young as she was1 realized that this was not the course to take1 so1 kneeling by the side of her child sister1 she offered the following simple1 but heartfelt1 prayer-- ,dear ,jesus1 please don't let father come home to-night and want mother's money2 but if he should do so1 please help me not to tell him where it is4 ,the strength she had thus gained was soon put to a cruel test1 for into the neat1 cleanly room there quickly rushed the brute who represented all that she had ever known of father4 ,the scene that ensued was of a character not unfrequent in low ,london districts1 but none the less worthy of record4 ,poor little ,nancy1 dreading what might follow1 caught up the baby1 and fled with it into a corner of the room1 as the safest place of refuge1 for we ought to have stated that the ruffian had locked the door upon his entrance4 ,catching his eldest daughter's arm1 he said1 in not an over loud voice-- ,get me your mother's money4 ,meeting with no reply from the white-faced girl1 he next said-- ,do you know where it is8 ,but still there was no answer4 ,what followed seems dreadful to relate1 suiting better with the nature of ,south ,sea or ,african cannibals than with the natives of ,christian ,england4 ,first twisting the girl's arm round1 and causing her dreadful pain1 he next bestowed upon her with his brute strength a succession of awful blows2 but1 though she could not keep back her cries1 she did not yield to him in the least4 ,wearied at length1 he flung her from him on to the wall1 and during the ensuing five minutes1 with bursts of terrible oaths1 threatened that1 if she did not acquaint him with her secret1 he would kill her2 but1 mercifully1 the neighbours were enabled at the end of this time to break into the room1 or there is no telling what mischief might have followed4 ,but we cannot finish without describing the heroism of poor little ,nancy1 which almost equalled that of her sister4 ,dodging from side to side during the struggle1 now in this corner and now in that1 and shielding the baby with her youthful person1 she1 with wonderful activity and courage1 kept it from harm4 ,it seems something like divine retribution that this dreadful father this very evening received a terrible beating in the public-house1 and his system being unhealthy1 as the result of drinking habits1 he died in hospital of his injuries4 ,s4 ,,dennis4 ,,there is a pre-established harmony between the voice of the ,shepherd and the heart of the sheep4 ,if ye abide in ,me1 and ,my words abide in you1 ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you4 ,,little ,,kindnesses4 ,for the intercourse of social life1 it is by little acts of watchful kindness recurring daily and hourly--and opportunities of doing kindnesses1 if sought for1 are for ever starting up--it is by words1 by tones1 by gestures1 by looks1 that affection is won and preserved4 ,he who neglects these trifles1 yet boasts that1 whenever a great sacrifice is called for1 he shall be ready to make it1 will rarely be loved4 ,the likelihood is1 he will not make it1 and if he does1 it will be much rather for his own sake than for his neighbour's4 ,many persons1 indeed1 are said to be penny wise and pound foolish2 but they who are penny foolish will hardly be pound wise1 although selfish vanity may now and then for a moment get the better of selfish indolence1 for ,wisdom will always have a microscope in her hand4 ,a ,,drunkard',s ,,will4 ,i leave to society a ruined character1 a wretched example1 and a memory that will soon rot4 ,i leave to my parents1 during the rest of their lives1 as much sorrow as humanity in a feeble and declining state can sustain4 ,i leave to my brothers and sisters as much mortification and injury as ,i could bring on them4 ,i leave my wife a broken heart1 a life of wretchedness and shame1 to weep over my premature death4 ,i give and bequeath to each of my children1 poverty1 ignorance1 and low character1 and the remembrance that their father was a monster4 ,,we may as well attempt to bring pleasure out of pain as to unite indulgence in sin with the enjoyment of happiness4--,hodge4 ,,the ,,land ,,of ,,the ,,giants4 ,and we took all his cities at that time3 there was not a city which we took not from them1 c4--,,deut4 iii4 #d1 #e4 ,sixty cities in one small province6 ,can it be true8 ,has not the copyist erred in his arithmetic8 ,should it not be sixteen1 or six8 ,does it not appear improbable8 ,the province mentioned1 ,argob1 is not more than thirty miles by twenty2 and that within so limited a space there should be sixty cities1 besides unwalled towns a great many1 can scarcely be accepted literally4 ,now1 it is a great blessing1 for the confirmation of our faith in the truth of the ,bible1 and the silencing of those who delighted in making others to be of a doubtful mind1 that the literal truth of the statement is fully established--not by a comparison of parallel passages2 not by a new translation of the text2 not by the testimony of ancient historians2 but by the remains of the cities themselves4 ,there are they in ,argob1 the oldest specimens of domestic architecture in the whole world4 ,english travellers have visited the wild land of the giants2 they have penetrated into the rocky recesses of ,argob2 they have slept in the deserted homes of the ,rephaim2 and have come back to tell us that the stones reared by those ancient idolaters bear witness to the truth of the living ,god4 ,the ,rev4 ,j4 ,l4 ,porter spent a considerable time in exploring the cities of ,bashan4 ,at ,burak he lodged in a city of several hundred houses1 all deserted1 but all in good repair1 though built two or three thousand years ago4 ,the walls of these houses were five feet thick1 formed of large blocks of hewn stone1 put together without lime or cement of any kind4 ,the roofs were formed of long blocks of the same black basalt1 measuring twelve feet in length1 eighteen inches in breadth1 and six inches in thickness4 ,the doors were stone slabs hung upon pivots formed of projecting parts of the slabs1 working in sockets in the lintel and threshold2 the windows were guarded with stone shutters--everything was of stone1 as if the builders had designed each edifice to last for ever4 ,the cities have endured1 but the inhabitants have fled4 ,you pass the ruined gateway where stern warriors kept watch1 and from whose towers the watchmen swept the country and signalled the coming of the foe4 ,all is hushed4 ,rank weeds and grass1 brambles and creeping plants1 have overgrown the well-made roads2 and in the massive houses1 where once on a time happy groups assembled1 and children shouted with joy1 the fox and the jackal make their dwelling1 while owls and daws take possession of the roof4 ,here is a city that must at one period have contained at least twenty thousand inhabitants4 ,once its streets were noisy and bustling1 and the dealers made their shrewd bargains in the markets1 while the grandees dwelt in their stone palaces1 haughty of spirit1 as if the slaves who waited on them were of another flesh than theirs4 ,here dwelt the giants1 and after them ,jews1 and ,greeks1 and ,romans1 ,saracens and ,turks1 each leaving memorials of their presence2 but all gone--the whole abandoned to the wild birds and the beasts of prey4 ,there are palaces with thorns and thistles growing in the chief room2 there are temples with branches of trees shooting through the gaping walls2 there are tombs festooned with the rich luxuriance of nature2 there is everything to tell of desolation and decay4 ,you remember that we read in ,joshua that the kingdom of ,og1 the giant1 included all ,bashan unto ,salcah2 and the ,israelites took and occupied the whole land1 from ,mount ,hermon unto ,salcah4 ,this is the frontier city of ,bashan1 and is one of the most remarkable in ,palestine4 ,there are about five hundred houses still remaining1 a number of square towers1 a few mosques1 and a great old castle on the top of a hill4 ,but the city1 held at first by the giants1 and at last by the ,turks1 has long been deserted1 and the tread of horses on the paved street disturbs only a fox in its den or a wild bird in its nest4 ,the castle hill is about three hundred feet in height1 the base encircled by a moat4 ,the building itself appears to have been of ,jewish foundation1 though it is probable that the site was occupied by a still older fortress4 ,there is ,roman masonry in the work1 and the ,saracens have added to the beauty1 if not to the strength1 of the structure2 but though the exterior wall remains1 the interior is choked with rubbish4 ,the summit of the castle commands an extensive prospect--a varied1 romantic1 but wild scene of rugged rocks and luxuriant verdure1 comprising no less than thirty deserted cities4 ,on the right stretches ,moab1 on the left ,arabia2 behind1 in terraced slopes1 the hills of ,bashan--a sad and solemn scene of utter desolation4 ,,bible ,,enigma4 ,a son of ,gideon4 ,a king of ,moab4 ,an untruthful woman4 ,a man slain by ,god4 ,the son of a persecuted woman4 ,what did the ,israelites once desire8 ,a ,god-fearing man4 ,an officer of a king4 ,one of the ,apostles4 ,the initials will form a passage of ,scripture4 ,,alfred ,,clapson 7,aged #aj years74 ,reigate4 ,,our ,,bible ,,class4 ,,the ,,good ,,shepherd1 ,,his ,,lambs ,,and ,,sheep4 7,,isaiah xl4 #aa47 ,we know that ,jesus is the ,person of whom our text speaks1 because ,his herald and forerunner is described in the third verse1 and ,john the ,baptist applied the prophecy to himself1 when the ,pharisees wanted to know who he really was--,the voice of one crying in the wilderness1 ,prepare ye the way of the ,lord4 ,he came to teach the necessity of repentance1 to reprove the pride of the ,pharisee1 bringing low the hills and mountains of their self-esteem2 while the despised tax-gatherers and soldiers were taught how to rise1 by the grace of ,god1 to the position of honourable and useful members of society1 and thus the valleys were exalted 7,luke iii4 #f-ad74 ,god1 according to ,his promise1 sent ,his ,prophet to turn the hearts of the people in some measure before ,jesus ,himself appeared 7,mal4 iv4 #e1 #f74 ,and then1 though in a human form1 the ,lord ,god came with strong hand1 mighty to save4 ,his reward was with ,him1 and the recompense of ,his work was before ,him1 and ,he did then1 and does still1 feed ,his people like a shepherd4 ,it was the ,lord ,god who came among men2 but how did ,he come8 ,not with earthly pomp and glory1 and ,his heavenly majesty was but dimly seen4 ,i thought of this on ,july #agth last1 when the ,prince of ,wales went with the ,princess to open the ,great ,northern ,hospital at ,upper ,holloway1 ,london4 ,the ,royal party were attired in deep mourning1 on account of the recent death of the ,emperor ,frederick of ,germany1 and so quietly did their carriage pass along that many scarcely recognized them1 and nearly all who were looking expectantly for the ,prince's coming were greatly disappointed at the absence of a showy retinue4 ,yet he fulfilled all that he promised1 and more1 for he1 with his wife and daughters1 visited all the patients in the hospital1 speaking kindly words1 and doubtless giving real pleasure to those afflicted ones4 ,so1 when that infinitely greater ,one1 the ,prince of ,peace1 came1 ,he did all that had been predicted of ,him2 and though even ,his own disciples expected grandeur which they did not find1 and for a while were grieved and perplexed1 yet when1 by the outpouring of the ,holy ,spirit1 they better understood ,his mission1 they perceived that ,he had finished ,his work most gloriously1 and had done all things well4 ,the ,shepherd of ,israel1 then1 is the ,lord ,god1 of whom ,david sang1 ,the ,lord 7,jehovah7 is my ,shepherd3 ,i shall not want1 which ,jesus followed up by saying1 ,i am the ,good ,shepherd1 and am come that ,my sheep might have life1 and have more abundantly all the blessings ,my people enjoyed before ,i came into this world 7see ,john x474 ,he shall feed ,his flock like a ,shepherd4 ,jesus here appears as a ,king as well as a ,shepherd1 for good kings care for and defend their subjects1 but none can do as ,he does1 who is over all1 blessed for evermore4 ,all other shepherds must lead their sheep into green pastures1 or procure them food in some other way1 but ,jesus supplies ,his people from ,himself4 ,all the fulness of love1 grace1 and blessing are ,his own1 and as the poet sings-- ,on a dying ,christ ,i feed2 ,this is meat and drink indeed4 ,christ once crucified for the redemption of ,his loved ones1 but now alive for evermore1 is the life and joy of all who believe on ,his name4 ,and these sheep are divided into two classes--lambs1 and their parents4 ,those who are young1 inexperienced1 and weak1 like ,christ's followers were when ,he was on earth1 how gently ,he carried them1 guarding1 supporting1 and instructing so gradually until they became able to lead others in the ways of ,god4 ,and still ,he tends ,his feeble ones with special care4 ,he is kind and full of compassion1 and they who most need ,his protection are most sure to have it1 for ,he fully knows the need4 ,but the older sheep need the shepherd's consideration as much as the lambs of the flock4 ,those who have young ones to nourish and care for must be gently led4 ,the ,apostle ,paul said that the care of all the ,churches of ,christ pressed daily upon him 7#b ,cor4 xi4 #bh71 yet he could tell how the ,lord comforted both himself and his fellow-workers in all their trials1 so that they were enabled to comfort others2 and speaking from his own experience1 he could encourage his friends to cast all their care upon ,him who ever cares for all ,his people4 ,and it is ,jesus only who can really lead and feed ,his flock4 ,ministers of the ,gospel are called pastors1 shepherds4 ,as ,christ's servants1 they may be1 and often are1 the means of leading their hearers into green pastures1 and of restoring the wandering and the weak2 yet every true pastor is a sheep after all1 and all spiritual1 heavenly power and blessing must proceed from ,him alone4 ,i was much interested1 some time ago1 in a pretty little poem1 illustrated by the picture of a splendid ram1 standing beside his wounded little one1 calling loudly for the help he could not render2 and the shepherd1 hearing his cries1 hastened to the spot1 and carried the helpless little thing to the fold4 ,and methought1 ,is not this a beautiful parable for us8 ,if we are longing to help and heal the feeble1 the straying1 and the sin-sick1 and feel how little we can do1 let us seek to follow this sheep's example1 and call upon our ,shepherd-- ,whose ears attend the softest call1 ,whose eyes can never sleep4 ,he is the ,good ,shepherd1 for ,he gave ,his life for the sheep2 the ,chief ,shepherd1 possessing all the amiable and winning attractions that charm and draw the heart2 and the ,great ,shepherd1 almighty and unchanging1 able to save to the uttermost all who come unto ,god by ,him4 ,oh1 that we all may know ,his love1 which never can be fully known on earth1 and enjoy the sweet privilege of commending all our loved ones to ,his gracious care1 assured that ,he is able to do all that ,his heart desireth1 and that-- ,with heaven and earth at ,his command1 ,he waits to answer prayer4 ,our next subject will be1 ,the ,glory of ,christ1 as described by ,himself in ,john xvii4 ,yours affectionately1 ,h4 ,s4 ,l4 ,,the ,,power ,,of ,,kindness4 ,elihu ,burritt1 speaking of the power of kindness1 says1 ,there is no power of love so hard to get and keep as a kind voice4 ,a kind hand is deaf and dumb4 ,it may be rough in flesh and blood1 yet do the work of a soft heart1 and do it with a soft touch4 ,but there is no one thing that love so much needs as a sweet voice to tell what it means and feels2 and it is hard to get and keep it in the right tone4 ,,bible ,,subjects ,,for ,,each ,,sunday ,,in ,,october4 ,oct4 #g4 ,commit to memory ,rom4 ix4 #be4 ,oct4 #ad4 ,commit to memory ,rom4 ix4 #bf4 ,oct4 #ba4 ,commit to memory ,rom4 ix4 #bg4 ,oct4 #bh4 ,commit to memory ,rom4 ix4 #bh4 ,,prize ,,essay4 ,,charity4 ,paul says 7#a ,cor4 xiii4 #d7 that charity suffereth long1 and is kind2 charity envieth not2 charity vaunteth not itself1 is not puffed up2 and in the thirteenth verse1 ,and now abideth faith1 hope1 charity1 these three2 but the greatest of these is charity4 ,now1 this shows that charity is a very great and good thing1 and that we ought to desire to have charity above all things4 ,if we have not charity1 we are nothing4 ,charity means love1 and that is the greatest of all good gifts4 ,love supplies all other wants1 however hard they may be2 and so1 if we have not it1 we are not by any means complete1 for above all these things put on charity1 which is the bond of perfectness 7,col4 iii4 #ad74 ,this teaches us that charity is perfect above all things1 and that we are to love our enemies1 and pray for those that despitefully use us2 also1 we are exhorted to let brotherly love continue4 ,brethren1 let us walk together ,in the bonds of love and peace2 ,can it be a question whether ,brethren should from conflict cease8 ',tis in union1 ,hope1 and joy1 and love increase4 ,there would be fewer quarrels and less sin if every one had charity4 ,charity1 or love1 covers a multitude of sins4 ,flee also youthful lusts3 but follow righteousness1 faith1 charity1 peace1 with them that call on the ,lord out of a pure heart 7#b ,tim4 ii4 #bb74 ,in #a ,corinthians xvi4 #ad1 it says1 ,let all your things be done with charity1 which means that all our actions are to be done in love4 ,god is love4 ,jesus had charity or love when ,he was on earth4 ,his love knew no bounds4 ,when ,god sent ,his only ,son ,jesus ,christ down into the world1 it was done thoroughly out of love to sinful man4 ,jesus ,himself was full of love1 for ,he prayed for ,his persecutors when ,he was on the cross1 and said1 ,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do4 ,high beyond imagination ,is the love of ,god to man2 ,far too deep for human reason2 ,fathom that it never can3 ,love eternal ,richly dwells in ,christ the ,lamb4 ,if ,god so loved us1 ought we not to love one another8 ,charity is being kind and loving to one another1 and helping one another when we can4 ,if we are not kind and gentle to them1 we have not charity1 and do not love each other4 ,when people do ever such great things1 if they do it for self-praise1 and not for love1 it does not profit them anything4 ,if we love our neighbours as ourselves1 we shall never do them any ill1 but rather kill them by kindness1 even if they are inclined to resent our charity1 or love4 ,,jessie ,,martha ,,collins 7,aged #aa years74 #ai1 ,platt ,street1 ,pancras ,road1 ,london1 ,n4 ,w4 ,very good ,essays have been sent by ,ada ,dudley ,mote1 ,e4 ,b4 ,knocker1 ,a4 ,j4 ,wells1 ,h4 ,f4 ,forfeitt1 ,k4 ,e4 ,thomas1 ,w4 ,e4 ,cray1 ,c4 ,bowman1 ,b4 ,e4 ,j4 ,noakes1 ,a4 ,judd1 ,c4 ,lack1 ,winnie ,langman1 and ,f4 ,lawrence4 ,the writer of the above ,essay receives a copy of ,foxe's ,book of ,martyrs4 ,the subject for ,december will be1 ,the ,disobedience of our ,first ,parents and its ,results2 and the prize to be given for the best ,essay on that subject1 a copy of ,the ,loss of ,all ,things for ,christ4 ,all competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age1 and that the ,essay is their own composition1 or the papers will be passed over1 as the ,editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information4 ,papers must be sent direct to the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings1 before the twentieth of ,october1 in order that the ,volume may be completed for binding4 ,,answer ,,to ,,bible ,,enigma4 7,page #bac7 ,persecution4--#b ,,timothy iii4 #ab4 ,p otiphar ,genesis xxxvii4 #cf4 ,e noch ,genesis iv4 #ag4 ,r ehoboam #a ,kings xi4 #dc4 ,s apphire ,ezekiel i4 #bf4 ,e bal ,joshua viii4 #cj4 ,c andace ,acts viii4 #bg4 ,u r ,genesis xi4 #bh4 ,t hyatira ,revelation i4 #aa4 ,i ram ,genesis xxxvi4 #dc4 ,o thniel ,judges iii4 #i4 ,n oah ,numbers xxvii4 #a4 ,,minnie ,,legg 7,aged #ab years74 ,edinburgh4 ,,an ,,old ,,clock',s ,,advice4 ,a correspondent says that in his great-grandfather's house1 as he has heard his mother tell1 there was a clock on which was the following inscription-- ,here ,i stand both day and night1 ,to tell the time with all my might2 ,do thou example take by me1 ,and serve thy ,god as ,i serve thee4 ,the old clock remained in the family for many years1 but the time of which it told so faithfully at last conquered it1 as it conquers all things on earth4 ,interesting ,items4 ,,the ,national ,sunday ,league lament a deficit of ,l#aaj as a result of the band performances in the three parks4 ,,the oldest and biggest tree in the world is at ,mascoli1 near ,mount ,etna4 ,the trunk is seventy yards round1 and a flock of sheep can take refuge in it4 ,,jerusalem is rapidly becoming again a veritable city of the ,jews4 ,in #ahhj there were probably not more than #e1jjj ,jews there2 now there are more than #cj1jjj4 ,,the threepenny-bit may well be regarded as the church coin4 ,at the collection at ,dr4 ,parker's ,sunday evening meeting in ,queen ,anne ,street ,church1 ,dunfermline1 there were no fewer than #a1djj threepenny pieces4 ,,phonography1 as a system of shorthand1 is the best1 simplest1 soundest1 and most scientific of any in existence4 ,ninety-nine out of every hundred shorthand writers use it1 and none other should be learned4 ,,the buttercup blooms in unwonted places4 ,a horse belonging to a farmer near ,belford was having an old shoe removed1 when a buttercup was found to have taken root between the hoof and the shoe1 near the toe4 ,it was in full bloom4 ,,this is the day of rapid travelling4 ,a through railway service has been organised to run from ,charing ,cross to ,constantinople in seventy-six hours4 ,thus1 in three days and a half1 one will pass from the city of the ,queen to the city of the ,sultan4 ,,in ,england and ,wales the receipts for first-class railway season tickets last year amounted to ,l#gbj1hfb1 for second-class season tickets the receipts amounted to ,l#ffe1bjc1 and for those of the third-class 7including workmen's weekly tickets7 the amount was ,l#ceh1adb4 ,,among the rarities in ,dr4 ,williams' library in ,grafton ,street1 ,london1 is a tiny shorthand ,bible1 exquisitely written1 which is said to have belonged to an apprentice1 who1 suspicious of ,james ,,ii4's intentions regarding ,protestantism1 wrote the whole for himself1 fearing that he might be deprived of his printed copy4 ,,drs4 ,,chauvel and ,nimier now announce that1 in future warfare with the ,lebel rifle1 the surgeons will not be perplexed by having to extract balls from wounded soldiers4 ,these projectiles pass through the body1 bones1 and all1 even when fired at a distance of from #a1hjj to #b1jjj metres 7#a1ihj to #b1bjj yards74 ,a ,,fortunate ,,cobbler4--,it is announced that a ,blackburn cobbler has just come in for a windfall in the shape of property valued at ,l#dj1jjj4 ,he saw an advertisement some time ago with regard to some property in ,america1 to which he has proved himself sole heir4 ,he has left for the ,new ,world to take possession of his unexpected wealth4 ,,one day last ,august a boy1 nine years old1 went to a school treat1 and ran in several races4 ,on returning home he complained of headache1 and next morning was seized with pains and became insensible1 dying an hour afterwards4 ,the post-mortem examination showed that death was the result of syncope1 brought on by fatigue and excitement4 ,a ,,statement was made at the ,spanish ,armada ,convention at ,exeter ,hall1 recently1 to the effect that1 during #ahgh1 in the poor country of ,ireland there had been bequeathed to the ,roman ,catholic ,church no less than ,l#gej1jjj for masses for the souls of the departed4 ,doubtless ,mr4 ,isaacs had proof of this1 for he referred to it as an ascertained fact4 ,a ,,papyrus of extraordinary beauty and completeness1 of the fourteenth century before our era1 has been added to the ,british ,museum4 ,it contains certain chapters of the ,book of ,death1 carefully copied out by a scribe of ,thebes4 ,its remarkable feature are the illustrations4 ,the colouring of these is as vivid as if the work had been done yesterday1 instead of more than thirty centuries ago4 ,,an interesting discovery has just been made by ,dr4 ,tschakort1 ,professor of ,church ,history in the ,university of ,konigsberg1 who has found in the library there numerous manuscript sermons and commentaries by ,luther1 hitherto absolutely unknown4 ,they were written in the years #aeai to #aeba--that is1 at the very culminating period of ,luther's work as a ,church ,reformer1 after the burning of the ,papal bull1 and before the ,diet of ,worms4 ,,strange stories occasionally come from the ,black ,country1 but few are stranger than that which is related of a man living at ,bilston4 ,a collier lost his eyesight in ,december through the explosion of a blasting cartridge1 and the other week1 as he was being led home from a neighbouring village by a brother1 a terrific thunderstorm commenced4 ,simultaneously with a flash of lightning1 he experienced a piercing sensation from the eye to the back of the head and his sight was instantly restored4 ,,mildewed linen may be restored by soaping the spots1 and while wet covering them with powdered chalk4 ,,the ,dead ,sea1 at its northern end1 is but thirteen feet in depth1 but at the southern end it is thirteen hundred4 ,,chiswick ,,cemetery4--,the ,home ,secretary has ordered that a large tract of ground which has been recently acquired and added to the ,chiswick ,cemetery should be set aside for the use of the ,roman ,catholics of the district4 ,a ,,catholic total abstinence society has been brought into court in ,philadelphia under the laws against gambling4 ,they pleaded that a benevolent enterprise such as theirs1 though using lotteries1 could not be regarded as a swindling speculation4 ,if such things are allowed to be carried on by professedly good people1 said ,judge ,biddle1 it is inconsistent to call upon us to convict other people4 ,the relation between the grab-bag and the gaming-table is not inconceivable4 ,,on ,june #hth last1 a correspondent at ,shepherd's ,bush despatched a post-card from ,london1 via the ,brindisi and ,suez ,canal route1 to ,hong ,kong1 with the request that it might be forwarded to the addressee via ,san ,francisco and ,new ,york4 ,the card was duly received by the original sender a short time ago1 the time taken in its transit round the world being exactly seventy days1 which is about forty days less than the time taken ten years ago4 ,the card was franked for #ca_/b;d4 ,a ,,thanksgiving ,,day4--,dr4 ,franklin says that1 in a time of great despondency among the first settlers of ,new ,england1 it was proposed in one of their public assemblies to proclaim a fast4 ,an old farmer arose1 spoke of their provoking ,heaven with their complaints1 reviewed their mercies1 showed that they had much to be thankful for1 and moved that1 instead of appointing a day of fasting1 they should appoint a day of thanksgiving4 ,this was accordingly done1 and the custom has continued ever since4 ,,diphtheria4--,an ,american medical journal gives the following remedy for diphtheria1 and says that where it has been applied promptly1 it has never been known to fail4 ,it is simply as follows3--,at the first indication of diphtheria in the throat of the child1 make the room clean4 ,then take a tin cup and pour into it a quantity of tar and turpentine1 equal parts4 ,then hold the cup over a fire so as to fill the room with the fumes4 ,the patient1 on inhaling the fumes1 will fall asleep1 and1 when it awakes1 it will cough up and spit out all the membranous matter1 and diphtheria will pass off4 ,the fumes of the tar and turpentine loose the matter in the throat1 thus affording the relief that has baffled the skill of physicians4 ,as the remedy is so simple1 parents would do well to cut this out and preserve it4 ,,an extraordinary affray took place at ,manchester on ,sunday1 ,july #hth4 ,the members of several prominent ,orange lodges in the city were proceeding to a church1 where special services were to be held1 when they encountered in a narrow thoroughfare1 inhabited chiefly by ,irish ,roman ,catholics1 a band of men and women1 who rushed upon them with hatchets1 knives1 pokers1 and bottles4 ,two men were seriously injured1 and1 but for the timely arrival of thirty policemen1 the affray would probably have had a fatal termination4 ,,how ,,the ,,collie ,,reached ,,his ,,home4--,the following is a true story about a collie who took a hansom4 ,he was lost in ,oxford ,street1 ,london1 so1 after having spent some time in looking for him1 his mistress went home1 and what was her surprise1 when she arrived1 to see him in the hall4 ,the butler told her the story1 and it was this4 ,after the dog had been lost1 he saw an empty hansom1 which he got into2 and the cabby could not get him out1 for he showed his teeth4 ,he called a policeman1 who could not move him either1 but with some difficulty they read the name and address on his collar1 and settled that it would be best to drive him to his home4 ,they shut the doors1 and drove him home4 ,when he arrived1 the cabby rang the bell1 and asked for his fare 7which he of course got71 and then the butler opened the doors1 and the dog jumped out as if nothing had happened4--,from ,little ,folks' ,magazine for ,august4 ,,walking ,,from ,,edinburgh ,,to ,,london4--,mr4 ,ross ,fraser1 who1 accompanied by a collie dog1 started from ,edinburgh on ,august #aeth to walk to ,london in eight days1 an average of about fifty miles per day1 arrived in ,london on ,sunday evening about eight o'clock4 ,the pedestrian was awaited by a large concourse of people at ,shoreditch ,church1 and heartily greeted4 ,the route taken was from ,edinburgh via ,berwick1 ,newcastle1 ,durham1 ,darlington1 ,northallerton1 ,boroughbridge1 ,wetherby1 ,doncaster1 ,retford1 ,newark1 ,grantham1 ,stamford1 ,huntingdon1 ,royston1 ,ware1 and ,edmonton4 ,mr4 ,fraser seemed somewhat footsore on his arrival1 but the dog appeared in no way the worse for the journey4 ,the walk has not been accomplished in the time originally laid down1 as ,mr4 ,fraser's feet gave way owing to the unsuitability of his boots for the task he had taken upon himself4 ,after a rest on this side of ,berwick he resumed his walk1 and finished the journey in excellent health4 ,illustration3 ,,william1 ,,prince ,,of ,,orange4 ,,great ,,events4 ,the great events which occurred in ,august1 #aehh1 and ,november1 #afhh1 are worthy of our remembrance and grateful acknowledgment before ,god1 therefore we bring before our young readers1 in a special way1 the subjects of the ,spanish ,armada and the accession of ,william of ,orange1 which are of the greatest importance to all true ,englishmen4 ,the following extracts1 taken from an address1 by ,lord ,robert ,montagu1 at a commemoration meeting at ,leicester1 will give our young readers an interesting and truthful account of the great historical facts referred to1 in a very concise form4 ,he said there had been many commemoration meetings throughout the country1 and why did they hold them8 ,what were those meetings8 ,well1 if he were asked that question1 he should say that that meeting was a protest1 and it was a commemoration4 ,it was a protest against a conspiracy which had extended throughout the country1 and had lasted a great number of years--a conspiracy to introduce one ,romanizing practice after another into the worship of the ,church of ,england1 and endeavouring to assimilate1 by all means possible1 the ,church of ,england to the ,church of ,rome4 ,it was a protest against an attempt to reduce this country again1 and bring it under the domination of ,rome4 ,it was a protest against the attempts that all ,governments in recent years had had in hand1 and made--no matter whether ,liberal1 ,whig1 or ,conservative--to establish diplomatic relations with ,rome4 ,it was1 lastly1 a protest against an attempt1 now a few centuries old1 to ruin the backbone of ,protestantism in ,ireland--he meant the ,protestant landlords1 who were the chief friends of the union between ,england and ,ireland4 ,on all those points they protested4 ,but then that meeting was also a commemoration4 ,commemorations1 it was true1 might be good1 or they might be bad4 ,no one would ever think of merely commemorating bloodshed and slaughter1 but they often commemorated the deeds of daring and prowess on the part of their ancestors1 and they did so in the hope that others would follow their example4 ,he knew not whether that kind of thing was good1 because such commemorations tended to increase and foster national pride2 but there was one kind of commemoration which was absolutely and naturally good--he meant the commemoration of the signal mercies which ,god had vouchsafed to the land4 ,in doing so1 they were merely taking the advice of ,king ,david1 who1 speaking of his own people1 said1 ,they remembered not the mercy of the ,lord1 and so they provoked ,him at the ,red ,sea4 ,and so also the ,apostle said1 ,we have received mercies1 and therefore we faint not4 ,therefore1 what he 7the speaker7 proposed to do that evening was to ask them to consider the mercies ,god had shown to this country--great and signal mercies--in the year #aehh1 in the year #afhh1 and in the year #aghh2 and1 in doing so1 he hoped he should be able to bring this thought into their minds--that1 having received mercies1 they should faint not4 ,now1 first1 with regard to #aehh1 the commemoration of the ,spanish ,armada--the invincible ,armada1 as it used to be called4 ,they would remember1 doubtless1 from reading history1 that ,king ,philip of ,spain was one of the most powerful monarchs that ever existed4 ,the historian1 ,macaulay1 had told them that on his empire the sun never set4 ,king ,philip counted upwards of one hundred millions of subjects1 and he was by far the wealthiest sovereign that had existed since the days of ,darius1 and he was also a cruel and bloodthirsty sovereign4 ,they knew how many thousands he killed in the ,netherlands2 how many poor ,protestants he had slaughtered there4 ,he had burnt at the stake every one he could in his dominions who dared to study the ,bible4 ,well1 he it was whom the ,pope commissioned to make a crusade against this country1 to conquer it1 and reduce it1 so that it might again come under the domination of ,rome4 ,he was like ,pharaoh of old2 he had let the children of ,israel go1 and he repented himself of having done so1 and sent an army to bring them back to the slavery of ,egypt2 and so the ,pope1 not having an army of his own1 told ,philip1 who had the most powerful army and navy in the world1 to pursue those ,english who had escaped from the tyranny of ,rome and become ,protestants1 and to bring them back again under the domination of the ,pope2 and the ,pope1 in order to encourage the monarch1 promised him certain indulgences and two hundred thousand golden crowns as payment at the beginning of the expedition1 and the payment of another two hundred thousand golden crowns as soon as he set foot in ,england4 ,and the ,pope also1 in order to make the task easier1 set the ,jesuits in this country to stir up disaffection in ,england and ,scotland1 and with the same object sent a special messenger to ,ireland in order to cause a rebellion there1 and so call off the forces of ,england4 ,philip at once sent to the ,duke of ,parma1 his governor in ,belgium1 instructions to prepare an army and fleet to co-operate with the ,spanish force as soon as the ,armada should arrive in the ,english ,channel4 ,the ,armada consisted of #acf galleons1 and forty smaller vessels1 manned by twenty thousand marines2 and there was also something else sent4 ,what was that something else8 ,the ,chief ,inquisitor1 and #aej other inquisitors--,dominican monks--to act together1 and to use every possible engine of torture1 and in that way to convert the people of ,england to ,rome4 ,besides these1 ,philip sent the very pick of his army1 thirty-one thousand men and four thousand officers1 over-land to ,dunkerque to assist them in ,england as soon as he arrived4 ,here was the invincible ,armada1 and it was thought that such an ,armada could not be withstood by that little puny ,england1 for ,england was then but a small ,state1 and had no colonies4 ,the whole population of ,england then was not much larger than the population of ,london at the present time4 ,now1 as for the ,royal ,navy1 it consisted of twenty-eight ships2 and how were they to cope with the #agf ships which composed the ,spanish ,armada8 ,why1 it was impossible1 unless the hand of ,god should come down to protect the ,protestantism of ,england4 ,well1 on the #cjth of ,july1 the ,armada appeared off ,plymouth1 and ,drake and ,frobisher1 and ,seymour and ,hawkins1 and ,lord ,howard1 ,high ,admiral of ,england--who was not a ,catholic1 whatever might be said to the contrary1 but a ,protestant--determined to oppose the ,armada4 ,it was on ,sunday1 the #gth of ,august1 that the ,armada anchored in the roadstead of ,dunkerque1 and there waited for ,parma's fleet4 ,in the night1 a light southerly wind sprung up1 and eight ships were selected from the crowd of volunteer vessels that followed the fleet2 their masts were smeared with pitch1 and their hulls filled with powder and all kinds of explosive and combustible materials4 ,these ships were set fire to1 and sent down on to the ,armada4 ,what the ,spaniards ought to have done1 and what could have been very easily done1 would have been to cut their cables and allowed the fire-ships to pass them2 but the ,spaniards seemed to have lost their presence of mind4 ,however1 at length they cut their cables and ran into the ,north ,sea2 but the ,english followed them1 and there was a tremendous battle4 ,the ,spanish ships were so full of soldiers and sailors that every ,english shot told ten-fold4 ,five thousand of the ,spanish were killed and not one hundred ,english wounded4 ,a hasty council of officers was held on the ,duke ,medina's ship as to whether they should return to their anchorage off ,dunkerque1 or go back to ,spain by way of the ,orkneys1 and they determined1 like craven cowards1 to run round by the north of ,scotland and ,ireland1 and so on to the coast of ,spain1 because they dared not face the ,english in the ,straits of ,dover4 ,admiral ,seymour watched them4 ,they could not all pursue the ,armada4 ,a small squadron only went1 and when they came to the ,firth of ,forth1 ,seymour ran short of ammunition4 ,now what he wanted to show them was1 that it was not ,seymour that was protecting ,england1 but the ,almighty ,himself4 ,seymour had no sooner put into harbour than a hurricane rose up1 and subsequently the shores of ,ireland were strewn with the bodies of the dead1 and the wreckage of the galleons4 ,only a few reached ,spain to give mournful tidings of the disaster1 and then it was found that there was not a family in ,spain that was not in mourning for the loss of relatives4 ,as the ,egyptians were overthrown in the ,red ,sea1 so the ,spaniards were overthrown in the ,north ,sea2 and it was ,god that did all4 ,queen ,elizabeth and the ,english people knew that well1 for ,queen ,elizabeth struck a medal in commemoration of the event1 and the motto on the medal was1 ,god blew upon them with ,his winds1 and scattered them4 ,she took no credit to herself1 no credit to her navy1 no credit to the ,english people2 for it was ,god who did it all4 ,from that day the power of ,spain had dwindled and waned1 until ,spain had sunk to a fifth-rate power1 and nobody thought of ,spain in the councils of ,europe4 ,but what was the case with little ,england1 then with hardly any colonies8 ,god said1 ,thou hast been faithful in little things2 be thou ruler over ten great cities2 and now we had ten great colonies4 ,and now they would pass away from that subject1 and see what happened at the end of the next hundred years--in #afhh4 ,he must first remind them what was the state of things in #afhg4 ,there was then a ,roman ,catholic king upon the throne of ,england4 ,he was not only a ,roman ,catholic1 but was an avowed and sworn ,jesuit--,james ,,ii4 ,there was then1 also1 a conspiracy all over ,england--favoured by some of the bishops and many of the clergy--to introduce the ritual of ,rome into the ,english ,church4 ,there was then1 as there is now1 attempts to open up diplomatic relations between the throne and the ,vatican4 ,there was then an attempt to ruin the landlords of ,ireland1 so as to get rid of ,protestantism1 and separate ,ireland from ,england4 ,to whom did ,england look at that time for help8 ,there was then no great ,protestant ,germany2 but there was a small ,state1 smaller than ,england--he meant ,holland--but it was not similarly yoked4 ,it was here that the hand of ,god first began to show itself in the year #afhe4 ,on account of the action of ,louis ,,xiv41 who was the mainstay of ,roman ,catholicism in ,europe1 all the best soldiers1 generals1 and artisans in ,paris left ,france and went to ,holland4 ,in ,england ,james ,,ii4 gradually deposed ,protestants and substituted ,roman ,catholics in all positions of importance and influence4 ,the people1 becoming alarmed1 sought the aid of ,william1 ,prince of ,orange1 who had married a member of the ,english ,royal family2 and on the #ast of ,november1 #afhh1 ,william sailed on his mission to this country4 ,a strong wind was blowing1 which took him gaily on his journey2 and that wind not only sent him gaily on his mission1 but prevented ,lord ,dartmouth1 who was on the ,thames1 from getting out4 ,god was determined to show that success had not been arrived at by man2 and on ,november #fth1 in a fog1 ,william and his friends arrived at a distance beyond ,torbay4 ,when the fog lifted1 and the sunshine beamed forth1 ,william gaily sailed into ,torbay4 ,then there were two days of calm weather1 during which ,william landed his army and his stores1 and ,james's forces could not attack1 owing to the stillness of the wind4 ,still ,james might have struck a blow1 as his troops had converged at ,salisbury2 but ,god struck fear into his heart4 ,he dressed himself as a fisherman1 got into a fishing-boat1 and went to ,france4 ,but our forefathers did not say to ,william1 ,please take the crown and govern4 ,they said1 ,we have certain rights2 will you promise always to observe those rights8 ,if so1 you may sit upon the throne4 ,and ,william promised that he would do so1 and1 as they knew1 they had now the ,act of ,rights4 ,one of the clauses of that ,act was that1 if the sovereign became a ,roman ,catholic1 the throne should be instantly vacated4 ,it was settled that no communion should be held with ,rome2 that was to say1 that no diplomacy should exist between ,england and ,rome4 ,that ,act was passed1 and remained the same to this day4 ,he would read them what ,lord ,macaulay said of the two events to which he referred3-- ,the weather had indeed served the ,protestant cause so well that some men 7e4g41 ,bishop ,burnet71 of more piety than judgment1 fully believed the ordinary laws of nature to have been suspended for the preservation of the liberty or religion of ,england4 ,exactly a hundred years before1 they said1 the ,armada1 invincible by man1 had been scattered by the wrath of ,god4 ,civil freedom and divine truth were again in jeopardy2 and again the obedient elements had fought for the good cause4 ,the wind had blown strong from the east while the ,prince wished to sail down the channel1 had turned to the south when he wished to enter ,torbay1 had sunk to a calm during the disembarkation1 and1 as soon as the disembarkation was completed1 had risen to a storm1 and had met the pursuers in the face4 ,nor did men omit to remark that1 by an extraordinary coincidence1 the ,prince had reached our shores on a day on which the ,church of ,england commemorated1 by prayers and thanksgiving1 the wonderful escape of the ,royal ,house1 and of the three ,estates1 from the blackest plot ever designed by ,papists4 ,now they had seen ,god's mercy in #aehh and in #afhh1 and now let them turn to #aghh4 ,it was not so striking1 he would allow1 as the other events1 but it was not less real4 ,and why was it not so striking8 ,in former days men knew very well what the ,government did1 as there was no secrecy about it4 ,in these days nobody knew what were the views and the intentions of the ,government4 ,it was all done underhanded1 secretly1 and no one knew anything about it4 ,they gathered a little from the newspapers and tried to put it together as well as they could2 consequently1 that system having been in vogue in #aghh1 they did not know exactly what took place4 ,in the year #aghg1 ,charles ,edward ,catesby was a pretender to the throne1 and the ,pope was again anxious to bring ,england under him1 and he made secret allies of all the ,roman ,catholics to put this ,charles on the throne of ,england4 ,a body was to land in ,scotland1 and ,l#bj1jjj was to be given to the ,highlanders to rise in rebellion4 ,the ,french had an army ready1 and they were to land on the south coast of ,england and march to ,london1 so as to prevent the troops going forth to put down ,edward4 ,in that same year the ,prince ,regent did that thing which1 according to the ,act of ,william1 made him vacate the throne for ever4 ,he married a ,roman ,catholic in #aghg4 ,notwithstanding the fact that he tried to keep it a secret at first1 it afterwards leaked out through the indiscretion of a member of the ,house of ,commons4 ,pitt said at first that the ,prince ,regent had denied it stoutly2 but there were those present in the ,roman ,catholic ,church at the time he was married2 and when it was proved1 ,pitt then said the ,act of ,parliament prevented any one of the ,royal family being married without the consent of ,parliament1 and argued that the ,prince was not married4 ,he married a ,german princess1 and put her away1 and came to the throne as ,george ,,iv4 ,then came #aghh1 when ,god struck that ,charles with death2 and then an alliance was made between ,protestant ,england and ,russia to support each other against any ,roman ,catholic emperor4 ,this was not so striking a display of ,god's mercy as was shown in the case of the ,armada2 but in them all they saw the hand of ,god4 ,they saw great mercy in #aehh1 in #afhh1 and in #aghh1 for the protection of ,protestantism2 and what cared they whether in #ahhh ministers should try to bring them under the domination of ,rome8 ,they knew that ,god was a tower of strength1 and that they could rely on ,him4 ,let them think and meditate on ,his mercies1 and then they would not fail4 ,,the ,,fish ,,that ,,swallowed ,,jonah4 ,now the ,lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up ,jonah4 ,and ,jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights4--,,jonah i4 #ag4 ,upon the question as to what was the fish that swallowed ,jonah1 ,dr4 ,raleigh remarks 7,the ,story of ,jonah1 p4 #adh73-- ,the ,bible does not say that a whale was the prophet's jailer4 ,the infidel has said that1 and then has enjoyed the easy triumph of proving the natural impossibility of it4 ,jonah says 'a great fish' swallowed him4 ,our ,lord uses a phrase exactly similar4 ,he uses a generic term1 which includes the whale1 but is never applied to the whale particularly4 ,the dolphin1 the seal1 the whale1 the shark1 are all included in the term that is used1 and there is strong probability in the supposition that the white shark is the creature designated as the 'great fish4' ,sharks abounded in the ,mediterranean at that time4 ,they have been found there ever since1 and are found there still4 ,in length some of them have attained to thirty feet and upwards1 of capacity in other ways sufficient to incarcerate ,samson of ,zorah1 or ,goliath of ,gath1 as well as the probably attenuated prophet of ,gath-hepher4 ,it is related that a horse was found in the stomach of a shark1 and there are many instances of men being swallowed alive--not fabulous and doubtful stories1 but instances well authenticated4 ,one1 of a soldier in full armour4 ,one1 of a sailor who fell overboard1 and1 was swallowed in the very sight of his comrades4 ,the captain seized a gun1 shot the fish in a sensitive part1 which then cast out the sailor into the sea1 who was taken up1 amazed and terrified1 but little hurt4 ,every one knows that the shark is a most voracious creature4 ,its teeth are only incisive4 ,it has no power of holding4 ,it can snap and sever limbs1 or trunk1 or head1 sheer and certainly as though its jaws were a guillotine4 ,but in that case it secures only what is within the jaws4 ,the rest is apt to be lost4 ,its habit1 therefore1 is to swallow the prey alive1 that it may lose nothing4 ,thus ,god made the voracity of the fish the means of protection and safety to ,his servant4 ,,heart-,,work must be ,god's work4 ,only the great ,heart-maker can be the great ,heart-breaker4 ,if ,i love ,him1 my heart will be filled with ,his spirit1 and obedient to ,his commands4--,baxter4 ,,the great design1 both in judgments and mercies1 is to convince us that there is none like the ,lord our ,god2 none so wise1 so mighty1 so good2 no enemy so formidable1 no friend so desirable1 so valuable4--,matthew ,henry4 ,,talking ,,with ,a ,,man ,,seven ,,thousand ,,miles ,,off6 ,the longest wire in the world extends from #ah1 ,old ,broad ,street1 ,london1 ,e4,c41 to #bi1 ,cable ,street1 ,calcutta1 over seven thousand miles4 ,a telegraphic expert1 who visited the ,london end of the wire1 says3-- ,we have often heard of the wonderful line between this country and ,teheran1 the capital of ,persia1 a distance of three thousand eight hundred miles1 but we scarcely realized the fact that good signals were obtainable through so great a length of wire until recently1 when we availed ourselves of an invitation from ,mr4 ,w4 ,andrews1 the managing director of the ,indo-,european ,telegraph ,company1 to make a visit of inspection4 ,it was between seven and eight o'clock when we reached the office4 ,in the basement of an unpretentious building in ,old ,broad ,street we were shown the ,morse printer in connection with the main line from ,london to ,teheran4 ,the courteous clerk in charge of the wire1 ,mr4 ,blagrove1 informed us that we were through to ,emden1 and with the same ease with which one wires from the ,city to the ,west ,end1 we asked a few questions of the telegraphist in the ,german town4 ,when we had finished with ,emden1 we spoke with the same facility to the gentleman on duty at ,odessa4 ,this did not satisfy us1 and in a few seconds we were through to the ,persian capital1 ,teheran4 ,there were no messages about1 the time was favourable1 and the employes of the various countries seemed anxious to give us an opportunity of testing the capacity of this wonderful wire4 ,t4,h4,n4 7,teheran7 said1 ,call ,kurrachee1 and in less time than it takes to write these words we gained the attention of the ,indian town4 ,the signals were good1 and our speed must have equalled fifteen words a minute4 ,the operator at ,kurrachee1 when he learnt that ,london was speaking to him1 thought it would be a good opportunity to put us through to ,agra1 and to our astonishment the signals did not fail1 and we chatted pleasantly for a few minutes with ,mr4 ,malcolm ,khan1 the clerk on duty4 ,to make this trial of telegraphy complete1 ,agra switched us on to another line1 and we were soon talking to a native telegraphist at the ,indian ,government ,cable ,station1 ,calcutta4 ,at first the gentleman at the other end of the wire could not believe that he was really in direct communication with the ,english capital1 and he exclaimed1 in ,morse language1 ,are you really ,london8 ,truly this was a great achievement4 ,metallic communication1 without a break1 from #ah1 ,old ,broad ,street1 ,london1 to the telegraph office in ,calcutta6 ,seven thousand miles of wire6 ,the signals were excellent1 and the speed attained was no fewer than twelve1 perhaps fourteen1 words per minute4 ,,answer ,,to ,,bible ,,enigma4 7,page #bce47 ,jesus wept4--,,john xi4 #ce4 ,j otham ,judges ix4 #e4 ,e glon ,judges iii4 #ad4 ,s apphira ,acts v4 #a1 #b4 ,u zzah #b ,samuel vi4 #g4 ,s amuel #a ,samuel i4 #ad4 ,w ater ,exodus xvii4 #c4 ,e noch ,hebrews xi4 #e4 ,p otiphar ,genesis xxxix4 #a4 ,t homas ,acts i4 #ac4 ,,ruth ,,crowhurst 7,aged #i years74 ,hastings4 ,,memoirs ,,of ,,ellen ,,and ,,henry ,,hoad4 ,around the throne of ,god in heaven ,thousands of children stand2 ,children whose sins are all forgiven-- ,a holy1 happy band4 ,of the truth of these lines there can be no doubt in the minds of ,god's people1 and a very blessed truth it is4 ,there is a heaven of joy and love1 and in this heaven there is the throne of ,god1 and many dear children are standing around this throne1 singing praises unto ,god and the ,lamb4 ,their sins forgiven1 their sorrows gone1 their sufferings ended1 death past1 joy1 and peace1 and glory eternal now begun1 who is there that could not desire to be with them1 and to be as they are8 ,among this happy band we hope the two young ones--brother and sister--,ellen and ,henry1 whose names are at the top of this page1 are now standing2 and to give some reason of this hope is now our object in writing these few lines4 ,many1 alas6 have hopes of salvation and heaven for which their life and testimony can afford no solid ground for them to rest upon1 and whose hope will one day make them ashamed1 and1 like the flickering lamps of the foolish virgins1 will go out when the ,bridegroom comes4 ,ellen and ,henry were the children of praying parents1 and1 both of them being members of the ,church at ,bodle ,street1 their children attended the ,sabbath ,school connected with that cause4 ,the mother died in #ahhb1 of consumption1 and some of the children soon manifested symptoms of the same disease4 ,an elder sister kept house1 and as the younger ones grew up1 they had to go out to earn their bread4 ,ellen was sent to service soon after she was twelve years old1 and not living far from the school1 she was permitted still to attend2 and certainly she was a girl that needed no constraint in this matter1 for if her duties kept her on ,sundays until too late for the lessons1 she would even then take her seat with the class while she listened to the sermon4 ,how often children manifest a dislike to the house of ,god1 and how soon there is an enmity appearing against good things6 ,to many1 attendance both at school and the house of ,god is a burden1 and when they grow older they cast off all restraint and run wildly into sin4 ,to such1 parental control is hateful2 the wise counsels of father and mother are scorned2 the family altar1 if possible1 avoided2 and their inward idea is that1 when they leave home1 they shall then go on as they like1 and have their fill of pleasure4 ,if any such children are reading these lines1 let them pause and tremble1 for there is an ,eye watching their every thought1 and an ,almighty ,arm that can reach them2 and1 sooner or later1 there will be a bringing into judgment1 and who can say how soon8 ,but certainly1 with ,ellen1 it was her delight to go to the house of ,god4 ,the writer has met her many times on ,sunday mornings on her way1 her face bright and happy1 a stronger bond than duty binding her close to ,god's people4 ,in the autumn of #ahhg1 the fatal languor that often accompanies consumption appeared in ,ellen1 and1 though she bore up bravely for a little time1 she had at length to leave her place and go home4 ,going home to die seems hard for young ones like ,ellen to think of1 yet there is no staying the ,hand that strikes4 ,the summons must be obeyed4 ,in such a case the great question arises1 ,are we ready1 or are we not8 ,ellen's earthly home had no mother to welcome the child1 or to soothe her in her dying hours2 and no one can truly fill the mother's place at such a time4 ,but it was not to be long4 ,soon she was beyond the reach of mortal aid1 and want1 pain1 and care had passed away for ever4 ,the father gives the following particulars of what he witnessed in ,ellen1 and it is well indeed when parents can give such testimonies of their children3-- ,she was a very dutiful girl1 and very quiet--so much so1 that ,i seldom had to rebuke her2 always very attentive at school1 and1 when out at service1 she would attend the house of ,god if possible4 ,all this was very good2 but ,i wanted something further1 and when she first came home ill1 ,i wanted it made manifest that the ,lord had begun a work of grace in her soul1 and that she had been truly 'born again4' ,one morning1 as ,i went home from chapel1 ,ellen said to me1 ',father1 ,mr4 ,d---- has been to see me4' ,i then asked her1 ',did he talk to you8 and did you like what he said8' ,she answered1 ',yes1 very much1 and ,i should like for him to come again4' ,then1 bursting into tears1 she said1 ',i should so like to be able to answer him better1 but ,i cannot4 ,i should so much like to go to chapel again4' ,and when her sister asked her if she thought she should get better1 she said she did not know1 but should so like to go to school once more4 ,the night before she died1 ,i saw a great change in her1 and ,i asked her if she ever prayed to the ,lord for mercy4 ',yes1' she said1 'sometimes ,i wake up in the night and pray to ,him4 ,i should not mind death if ,i knew my sins were pardoned4 ,there is nothing to stop here for if ,i knew this4' ,the writer has seen her weep much1 when speaking to her of the certainty of death and the judgment1 the sufferings of ,jesus1 and the abundance of pardon through ,his blood4 ,can there be a more touching sight than to see a child fourteen years old weeping and praying in sincerity for mercy1 as a guilty sinner before ,god8 ,ellen died so suddenly that nothing further was gathered from her lips1 but we believe her end was peace4 ,she quietly passed away on ,february #ajth1 #ahhh1 aged fourteen years4 ,in connection with her and her prayers and tears1 these lines seem very sweet to me-- ,did ever mourner plead with ,thee1 ,and ,thou reject that mourner's plea8 ,does not ,thy ,word of truth remain1 ,that none shall seek ,thy face in vain8 ,henry was two years older than his sister ,ellen1 and1 like her1 had to commence work early1 and bear the yoke in his youth4 ,he had been a regular attendant at the ,sabbath ,school1 and was truly a promising boy4 ,quiet and serious he went on his way1 and read his ,bible1 which1 through faith in ,christ ,jesus1 is able to make wise unto salvation4 ,he was1 in the leadings of ,providence1 called to labour at a place where he had some work to do on ,sunday mornings1 and it was noticed that he seemed put out in his mind if he was ever prevented from attending school4 ,in the spring of #ahhh the same disease that cut down his mother and sister appeared in ,henry1 and he had to leave his place and go home4 ,the teachers of the school and the friends around could see his days on earth must now be very few1 and that he too1 like ,ellen1 had come home to die4 ,yet he went to school a few times after this1 and in ,may went to ,hailsham to spend a few days with some friends4 ,here we had an opportunity of observing him closely1 but he was scarcely able to say a word about himself4 ,he was failing fast at this time1 and truly it was sorrowful to see how feebly he moved about4 ,when visiting the field on ,whit ,monday1 where the ,sunday ,school children were having their treat1 what a contrast we beheld between the bright1 healthy1 happy children1 and the poor1 pale1 languid1 dying boy looking on6 ,soon after this he went back home1 and went out but little afterwards4 ,he gradually wasted in body and strength1 and could no longer attend the school1 though living but a few yards from it4 ,and now came the time of testing the matter1 whether there was anything of the work of the ,holy ,spirit in him1 or whether it consisted in merely coming and going to and from the house of ,god4 ,let our readers reflect1 this time of testing is coming to every one of us1 and we shall soon be brought where our young friend was--to lie down and die1 and thus appear before ,god4 ,we will now give some particulars of his last words and exercises1 and thus let our readers think for themselves what ground we have for our hope that this dear young lad is now in heaven4 ,his father writes thus of his concern--,i had watched him for some time1 thinking ,i could see some signs of concern1 and that he was different from what he had been4 ,i was almost sure he had been at times trying to pray1 but he would not let me see him if he could help it4 ,according as his illness came on he took more to his ,bible and hymn-book1 and they were his daily and hourly companions4 ,the friends in the school were much concerned about him1 and talked to him about his soul1 but could not get anything from him4 ,yet he seemed to like to hear them1 so ,i asked him if he did not enjoy what they said4 ,he said ',yes1' but did not wish to say anything wrong1 though he hoped that some of the things spoken were the workings of his mind4 ,i was very much concerned about him myself1 and my desire was1 that the ,lord would make it manifest that ,he had a favour toward him4 ,once1 when about my work1 ,i could not help asking the ,lord for this1 when these words came with some sweetness1 ',at evening time it shall be light'2 then ,i had a hope that the ,lord would appear for him4 ,soon after this he had these words come with some power1 ',when thou passest through the waters ,i will be with thee2 and through the rivers1 they shall not overflow thee'2 and then he expressed the hope that the ,lord would be with him in the river of death4 ,when he was confined to his bed he seemed very restless1 and being in great exercise of mind1 he folded his hands1 and we could see his lips move1 but could not hear the words4 ,once1 when ,i came home late from my work1 and went into his bed-room1 he called me to him and said1 ',i have had a blessed afternoon1 for the ,lord has been with me1 and ,i can leave you all now1 and everything of earth2 and ,i believe that ,i shall go to heaven4 ,i have prayed for you all4' ,i told him ,i was very glad--more so than if any one had given me gold1 and asked him how it came to pass--whether it was by any word coming with power or otherwise8 ,he said1 ',no1 but it was a sweet1 humbling influence which so softened my heart1 and drew my affections to the ,lord ,jesus4 ,it enables me to bear my sufferings better1 and ,i lie more comfortable4' ,a great change was seen in him after this4 ,his mind seemed much brighter1 and he laid more calm and quiet4 ,i told him that he perhaps might feel after this comfort some distress of mind again1 and he said1 ',i have been in distress of mind1 father1 and the ,lord has blessed me4' ,this was about a week before he died4 ,we thought he would have been taken away sooner1 and he felt so himself1 for soon after his deliverance he called us all around him1 and shook hands with us all1 and gave each one something to keep in remembrance of him4 ,i asked him then if he felt the ,lord was with him4 ,he said1 ',yes1 ,i fancy ,i can see ,him coming4' ,but he recovered from this1 and ,i then said to him1 ',the ,lord did not come as soon as you expected8' and he answered1 ',no2 but ,i must wait the ,lord's time4' ,he asked once that ,i would pray to the ,lord to come and take him1 and then asked his sisters to sing the hymn commencing1 ',how sweet the name of ,jesus sounds4' ,he then said1 ',oh1 now ,i could sing6' ,i asked him if he could sing that hymn4 ,he said1 ',yes1 if ,i had breath4' ,mr4 ,reed asked him if he could say that ,jesus had done all things well4 ,he answered1 ',yes1 ,i have said so1 and ,i can say it again4' ,he was then asked what his hopes for eternity were4 ,he soon replied1 ',nothing but the blood and righteousness of the ,lord ,jesus ,christ4' ,speaking to one of his sisters1 he said1 ',i hope that you pray to the ,lord to be your ,saviour1 and that you read your ,bible4 ,once ,i did not like reading it1 and when father made me come in to read1 it almost made me cry1 but now it is the best treasure ,i have on earth4' ,i asked him if he had anything to tell ,mr4 ,daw1 ',yes1' he replied1 'the first ,sunday after uncle was buried1 ,june #bdth1 #ahhh1 when he was preaching from this1 ,i know that my ,redeemer liveth1 ,i felt blessed then1 and the tears ran down my face1 but the feeling was soon gone4' ,the hymn commencing-- ,awake1 ye saints1 and sweetly sing ,the ascended ,saviour's love1 was very much blessed to him1 and he asked for it to be sung when he was once suffering much for want of breath2 then he said1 ',i feel as though ,i could jump into the arms of ,jesus4' ,about half-an-hour before he died he cried out1 ',oh1 what a mighty ,saviour6 ,i shall soon be before the throne1 and sing the praises of the ,lamb4 ,don't sorrow4' ,i said1 ',not for you1' and he replied1 ',no4' ,one remarking how ill he seemed1 he said1 ',i hope ,i shall soon be better4' ',when you get to heaven1' ,i whispered1 and he said1 ',yes4' ,at another time a remark was made about his pillow being hard4 ,he said1 ',it will be soft in heaven4' ,the last audible words from his lips were1 ',rest1 father6' and so he died on the #bbnd day of ,august1 #ahhh1 aged sixteen years4 ,here the father's narrative ends1 and truly we can hope that he went right to heaven1 and that for him to die was gain4 ,brother and sister now lie side by side in the pleasant burial-ground at ,bodle ,street1 awaiting the resurrection morning4 ,can we not1 to close these few lines1 also say the last verse of the hymn of which we have given the first-- ,on earth they sought the ,saviour's grace1 ,on earth they loved ,his name1 ,so now they see ,his blessed face1 ,and stand before the ,lamb8 ,j4 ,d4 ,,denied1 ,,yet ,,answered4 ,when ,augustine1 in his home at ,carthage1 resolved to visit ,rome1 his mother wished either to prevent him from going1 or to go with him4 ,he would listen to neither proposal1 and resorted to a trick to carry out his plan4 ,one evening he went to the sea-shore1 and his mother followed4 ,there were two chapels dedicated to the memory of the martyr ,cyprian1 and he pressed her to spend one evening in the church of the martyr1 while he would accompany a friend on board a ship1 there to say farewell4 ,while she was there in tears1 praying and wrestling with ,god to prevent the voyage1 ,augustine sailed for ,italy1 and his deceived mother next morning found herself alone4 ,in quiet resignation she returned to the city1 and continued to pray for the salvation of her son4 ,though meaning well1 yet she erred in her prayers1 for the journey of ,augustine was the means of his salvation4 ,the denial of the prayer was1 in fact1 the answering of it4 ,instead of the husk1 ,god granted rather the substance of her petition in the conversion of her son4 ,therefore1 said he1 ,o ,god1 ,thou hadst regard to the aim and essence of her desires1 and didst not do what she then prayed for1 that ,thou mightest do for me what she continually implored4 ,,honouring ,,the ,,lord',s ,,day4 ,the following interesting incident was related to the writer by a gentleman1 who had the narrative from the merchant himself to whom it occurred4 ,when a youth1 the latter obtained a situation in a provision store in one of the great mercantile cities of the ,united ,states4 ,on the first ,saturday evening1 he was told by his employer that he would be expected to be at his business post the next day1 the same as usual4 ,on the lad respectfully replying that he could not do so1 as he had always been taught by his friends to honour the ,lord's ,day1 he was bluntly told that1 if he would not do what he was asked1 he might come on ,monday morning and get his wages1 as there would be no further occasion for his services4 ,we may imagine how such a notice was calculated to discourage the youth2 nevertheless he kept to his resolution1 and1 after a ,sabbath spent in a right manner1 proceeded on the ,monday to get his discharge4 ,it was his duty to open the store1 and as he was on his way to it1 he noticed a man1 as the morning was dark1 trying to make out the inscriptions over the warehouse doors4 ,asking him what he wanted1 the man replied that he was a ship-captain1 and was looking for a provision store in order to get supplies for his vessel1 which was coming down the river with the tide4 ,the youth willingly1 forgetting his employer's unkind threat of dismissal1 at once told the stranger that if he would go with him to his master's premises1 he would be sure to find there the articles he was in search of4 ,on getting to the stores1 the captain selected a large supply of provisions1 for which he paid well4 ,in short1 it was an excellent commercial transaction4 ,when he came to pay the money1 the chief clerk1 who had now made his appearance1 made out the account1 and saw that the notes given in payment were those of good banks--a point of no small importance in those days of unsound ,american currency4 ,by this time1 too1 the stranger's ship had arrived at the wharf attached to the store1 and the goods were placed on board of it1 when it proceeded on its voyage4 ,at a later hour the youth's employer came to business1 and the clerk told him that the new lad had been doing an excellent stroke of business before others were astir that morning4 ,a very good price1 too1 he has got for the goods1 said the master1 as he looked at the invoice4 ,but1 he continued1 depend upon it1 he has been taken in1 and got bad notes4 ,no1 replied the clerk2 that's all right4 ,i attended to that myself4 ,presently the youth came up to his employer's desk4 ,well1 said he1 good-humouredly1 what do you want8 ,oh1 sir1 you told me ,i was to come to you to-day1 and get my wages and my dismissal4 ,nonsense6 rejoined the master2 go to your work1 and let me hear no more of that4 ,so to work he went1 and kept his situation1 and a good conscience4 ,when our informant heard the anecdote from him1 he had become a successful trader1 ,god having blessed his youthful conscientiousness4 ,this incident reminds us of another of somewhat the same character1 which was told us by a gentleman1 now dead1 who at the time held a very important position on the staff of one of our great religious societies4 ,when ,i was a youth1 so his narrative ran1 ,i was sent by my friends to one of the principal towns in an island in the ,west ,indies1 to be apprenticed as an articled clerk to a firm of solicitors there4 ,my connections at home1 although not ,evangelical ,christians1 respected religion1 and when ,i left1 they counselled me to be always particular in observing the ,lord's ,day and reverencing it4 ,illustration3 ,,well1 ,,what ,,do ,,you ,,want8 7,see page #beb47 ,on getting to my new situation1 the managing clerk1 at the close of the first week1 told me that ,i should be expected to put in my appearance at the office on ,sunday4 ,i told him that ,i had been always taught not to do any work on that day1 and that ,i meant to go to church4 ,to church ,i accordingly went4 ,on the ,monday1 when ,i returned to the office1 one of the partners1 a lively little man1 looked hard at me1 but said nothing4 ,the next ,sunday and the next ,i pursued the same course1 without any objection being made to it4 ,there were other articled clerks in the office1 and they1 seeing what ,i did1 gradually did the same1 without any opposition from the principals4 ,in course of time1 some of the partners ceased to come1 until at last the little man ,i have named was the only one who came1 and that for an hour or two4 ,even this in time ceased1 and the office was shut up on the ,sunday4 ,then1 more curious still1 the other solicitors in the town followed the example that our office had set1 till1 ere long1 no business at all was done on the ,lord's ,day by any solicitor in the place4 ,a third anecdote connected with the ,lord's ,day may here also appropriately be given4 ,the incident occurred to the grandfather of the gentleman who narrated it to us4 ,the late ,lord ,l---- was well known as a brave warrior during the ,peninsular ,war4 ,his lordship1 on his return to ,scotland1 was anxious to have some timber on his estate cut down1 that he might discharge certain pressing debts4 ,without giving any notice of his intention1 he called one ,sunday morning upon my friend's grandfather1 just as he was preparing to go with his family to church1 and asked him to walk with him over the estate1 that they might together see what timber was fit for cutting4 ,the grandfather respectfully replied that that day he had another ,master whom he must serve1 but that he would be ready at any hour on a working day to be promptly at his lordship's service4 ,his lordship merely said1 ,very well1 and named another day1 when the agent attended him1 and did the work that was wanted of him1 apparently to his lordship's satisfaction4 ,the matter seemed to have blown over1 when shortly afterwards the agent1 who had been many years in his lordship's service1 received a notice that he was wanted to meet ,lord ,l---- at the office of his man of business on a particular day1 and in a neighbouring town4 ,the request was an unusual one1 and much surmising took place among his friends as to what could be the meaning of it4 ,depend upon it1 said some1 who pretended to see farther than others1 his lordship1 though he said nothing at the time1 has taken offence at your refusal to work for him on ,sunday1 and1 now that the business is finished1 intends to give you notice of dismissal4 ,the day came1 and the agent kept the appointment1 when1 to his joyful surprise1 instead of giving a notice of dismissal1 his lordship told him1 with expressions of esteem1 that he desired to show his sense of the conscientious manner in which he had so long discharged his duties1 and that he had asked him to attend in order that he might settle a pension upon him4 ,the reader may imagine his happiness when he found all his fears at an end1 and had this proof of the approbation of his conduct by a divine and an earthly master4 ,the worthy man lived long to enjoy ,lord ,l----'s bounty1 having died at the age of #ajb4 ,on the anniversary of his hundredth birthday1 some of his neighbours1 by whom he was much respected1 entertained him at a public dinner1 and gave him a ,bible1 accompanied with the hope that he might have to the end of his pilgrimage the guidance of ,him who had guided him a hundred years4--,h4 ,m41 in ,friendly ,greetings4 ,,little ,,johnnie4 ,shall ,i vex your patience1 ,johnnie1 ,if ,i write again8 ,would you rather ,i should leave you ,brooding o'er your pain8 ,does your little heart grow tired ,of the outside noise8 ,will you never tell your sorrows8 ,must you hide your joys8 ,then ,i'll go to ,jesus1 ,johnnie-- ,go to ,him1 and say-- ,there's a weary child1 ,lord ,jesus1 ,needs ,thy love to-day4 ,listen to his father's praying2 ,see his mother's tears2 ,speak1 oh1 speak to little ,johnnie6 ,speak1 and hush our fears4 ,he was born a wretched sinner2 ,does he know it1 ,lord8 ,thou hast promises for sinners1 ,in ,thy precious ,word4 ,speak1 oh1 speak to little ,johnnie1 ,that our aching hearts ,may be comforted about him ,when his soul departs4 ,we have told him of ,thy mercy1 ,told him of ,thy wrath2 ,told him of the untold terrors ,of the second death4 ,but the voice that wakes an echo ,in the silent one1 ,and the hand that opens heaven1 ,jesus1 are ,thine own4 ,lord1 we cannot help repeating1 ,speak to him to-day2 ,hope1 nor prayer1 nor mercy cometh ,to the mouldering clay4 ,now the heart and flesh are failing1 ,now the need is true1 ,hell beneath1 and heaven above him1 ,stoop1 ,lord1 lift him through4 ,i have said all this to ,jesus1 ,johnnie dear1 for you2 ,tell your mother if ,he answers2 ,she is praying too4 ,oh1 if you but hear ,him whisper1 ,guilty sinner1 come6 ,break away to ,jesus1 ,johnnie2 ,he will take you home4 ,m4 ,a4 ,,chaplin4 ,galleywood1 ,chelmsford4 ,,bible ,,enigma4 ,a king of ,israel4 ,a king of ,moab4 ,absalom's general4 ,the son of ,ham4 ,a river4 ,a son of ,jacob4 ,a king of ,israel4 ,a priest4 ,abram's brother4 ,a precious stone4 ,a king of ,bashan4 ,something sent to various kings by ,god4 ,a servant of ,ahab4 ,an animal mentioned in the ,bible4 ,,winnie ,,langman 7,aged #aj years74 ,battersea4 ,,bible ,,subjects ,,for ,,each ,,sunday ,,in ,,november4 ,nov4 #d4 ,commit to memory ,ps4 cxxvii4 i4 ,nov4 #aa4 ,commit to memory ,ps4 cxxvii4 #b4 ,nov4 #ah4 ,commit to memory ,ps4 cxxv4 #b4 ,nov4 #be4 ,commit to memory ,ps4 cxxv4 #c4 ,,brimstone ,,or ,,sulphur4 ,the ,lord rained upon ,sodom and upon ,gomorrah brimstone and fire4--,,genesis xix4 #bd4 ,sulphur is one of the most inflammable substances known1 and will melt in fire but not in water4 ,the meaning of the word sulphur is1 the burning or fiery stone4 ,this substance is obtained in most parts of the world1 but is very abundant in volcanic regions4 ,it doubtless helps to feed those terrific fires of the earth which occasionally burst forth in all their fury1 pouring liquid lava upon the valleys beneath1 and overwhelming cities in destruction4 ,the smoke which issues from the craters of volcanoes is impregnated with sulphur2 indeed1 this substance is often found encrusted round the mouths of these burning mountains4 ,italy and ,sicily produce the best sulphur in a native state1 and in very large quantity4 ,this is imported into ,england1 is refined1 and in its respective processes produces the roll brimstone1 rock brimstone1 and flowers of sulphur1 all so well known in commerce4 ,sulphur also exists in some of our mineral springs1 as that of ,harrogate1 in ,yorkshire4 ,it is found in the combination of several metallic ores1 such as pyrites or sulphuret of iron1 and sulphurets of zinc1 copper1 and lead4 ,in some of its forms it exists in some plants4 ,this may be proved by leaving a silver spoon in mustard2 the colour of the spoon will soon be changed to a blackish tinge4 ,it is the presence of this principle in assafoetida which causes it to smell so disagreeably4 ,silver put into the same pocket with sulphur soon loses its brightness4 ,sulphur is applied to a variety of purposes4 ,it is largely used in the manufacture of sulphuric acid1 and forms about a tenth component part in the manufacture of ,english gunpowder4 ,as a medicine it is very useful4 ,there appears to be an allusion to its appropriation for gunpowder in ,revelation ix4 #ag1 #ah4 ,many eminent expositors of the ,revelation agree in supposing that the flashes of fire1 attended by smoke and brimstone1 whereby men were killed1 which seemed to proceed from the mouths of the horses1 were really the flashes of artillery4 ,the heads of the horses alone would be seen through the sulphureous smoke1 while in reality the flashes and smoke proceeded from the cannon4 ,the whole appears imagery of a battle scene1 and is thought to refer to the ,turks1 who first turned to account the invention of gunpowder in carrying on their wars4 ,the ,lord rained upon ,sodom and ,gomorrah brimstone and fire 7or burning brimstone74 ,as these cities were situated in the vale of ,siddim1 which1 as the sacred writer informs us1 was full of bitumen pits1 many learned men are of opinion that it does not detract from the supernatural character of this awful visitation to suppose that the wonder-working ,god saw fit to employ natural agencies in effecting the purposes of ,his will2 and it is thought that1 as sulphur exists in the neighbouring hills1 it might have been ignited by lightning1 and poured down like rain upon the vale below4 ,the quantity of pitch already existing in the vale would be set on fire1 and thus the cities would be destroyed1 and the character of the valleys thereby changed4 ,be this as it may1 the statement of the sacred writer is clear1 and we may safely interpret it as implying a shower of inflamed sulphur or nitre4 ,at the same time1 it is evident that the whole plain underwent a simultaneous convulsion1 which seems referable to the consequences of bituminous explosion4 ,in accordance with this view1 we find the materials1 as it were1 of this awful visitation near at hand1 for1 at the present day1 sulphur is found on the shores of the ,dead ,sea1 which occupies the site of the cities of the plain2 and the ,arabs obtain enough from the cliffs to make their own gunpowder4 ,irby and ,mangles collected on the southern coasts lumps of fine sulphur1 from the size of a nutmeg up to that of a small hen's egg1 which it was evident from their situation had been brought down from the neighbouring hills by the rain4 ,h4 ,h4 ,a ,,birthday ,,wish4 ,life is before you1 friend of mine2 ,what it may bring we cannot divine2 ,the path outspread is all untrod2 ,unknown are its windings to all but ,god4 ,the sun will shine with its gladsome ray1 ,and sometimes clouds overshadow the day2 ,your heart may be lifted with joy untold2 ,but remember the same is not yours to hold4 ,at your bidding it comes not1 nor does it stay2 ,but when ,one speaks it flies away2 ,and why is this8 ,that ,one is ,love1 ,and seeks to lead your heart above4 ,were earthly happiness all your own1 ,you never would wish a heavenly throne2 ,so joys are given1 they come1 and end1 ,as seemeth best to our ,lord and ,friend4 ,then let us entrust them to ,his care1 ,and of thinking them ours to keep1 beware2 ,let us seek in the gift the ,giver to see1 ,and trust to ,his love and wise decree4 ,should sorrow and sadness our path attend1 ,and dark seem the way to our journey's end1 ,let us look above to the ,hand that guides1 ,and trust ,his love whatever betides4 ,no sorrow is sent with purposeless aim1 ,but each has its destined end to gain2 ,he loves us so dearly1 and shed ,his blood ,to lead us up to the throne of ,god4 ,and think you that ,he would afflict ,his child ,with needless pains in this desert wild8 ,no2 though all that's sent we can't understand1 ,let us never distrust the guiding ,hand4 ,his wisdom is perfect1 ,his love divine1 ,and changeth not with the flight of time2 ,to the trustful heart that resteth in ,him ,he has promised joys that never shall dim4 ,a quiet peace surrounds its path1 ,surpassing all that the worldling hath2 ,may this be yours in that winding way2 ,may it lead you up to the perfect day4 ,,lewarn ,,clayton4 ,,insecurity ,,of ,,palestine4 ,they that sow in tears shall reap in joy4--,,psalm cxxvi4 #e4 ,the farmer in ,palestine had frequently to sow with an armed man attending him1 to prevent his being robbed of his seed4 ,a similar state of danger appears still to prevail4 ,tristram1 in his ,land of ,israel1 says3-- ,in descending the hill from ,bethany we saw an illustration of the wretched insecurity of the country1 in a drove of donkeys laden with firewood for ,jerusalem4 ,each ass was attended by a man armed to the teeth with pistols1 sword1 and a long gun2 and in one little valley--the only one beyond ,bethany where there was any cultivation--each ploughman was holding his firelock in one hand while he guided the plough with the other4 ,a ,,heroic ,,scotch ,,student4 ,a ship ashore6 ,a ship ashore6 was the cry which rang through the streets of ,st4 ,andrew's1 ,scotland1 one fearful winter's day some years ago4 ,this thrilling cry roused every inhabitant4 ,citizens1 ,university students1 and sailors1 rushed with pale faces and rapid steps along the street towards a bay to the eastward of the town4 ,standing on the shore1 the crowd was terror-stricken and paralyzed through beholding a vessel stranded on a sand-bank but a few rods from the beach4 ,she was shrouded in surfy mist2 the waves dashed furiously against her1 and broke over her decks with irresistible fury4 ,yet1 through the thick air and the driving sleet1 the people on the shore could now and then catch glimpses of the doomed crew clinging1 with the clutch of despair1 to the rigging of the wreck4 ,there were many bold1 brave men in that sympathizing crowd of spectators1 but none who dared to venture through the mighty surges to save those ill-fated sailors4 ,it seemed1 indeed1 to the stoutest heart1 too mighty a task for mortal man to attempt4 ,all could sympathize with the wretched ones2 none but ,god1 they thought1 could save them4 ,but there was one heroic soul in that eager1 wistful crowd who thought that man1 with ,god's help1 might snatch those perishing men from the door of doom4 ,he was a young man--a ,university student--strong in body1 but still stronger in spirit4 ,bring me a rope1 he cried2 ,i will try to save them4 ,a strong rope was brought1 and fastened about his waist4 ,followed by the prayers of many and the good wishes of all1 this chivalric youth struggled1 with desperate courage1 through the terrific surf into the deep water beyond4 ,then1 with the strength of a young giant1 guided by the skill of the experienced swimmer1 he slowly worked his way towards the vessel's side4 ,he had nearly reached it when his friends1 alarmed by the length of time and slowness of his progress1 began pulling him back4 ,then his courage rose to the sublimest height of self-sacrifice4 ,he forgot himself4 ,he would save the men clinging in desperation to yon vessel's shrouds1 or perish in the attempt4 ,grasping the knife that he carried between his teeth1 he cut the rope by which his kind-hearted friends were drawing him to shore and safety4 ,he buffeted the rough waves successfully4 ,he reached the breaker-swept deck of the stranded sloop4 ,after a word of cheer to the crew1 he took a fresh rope1 plunged anew into the surging waters1 and swam back to the beach4 ,but four days of starvation1 unrest1 and exposure had robbed those poor creatures on board the wreck of both courage and strength4 ,not one of them dared attempt to escape by means of the rope4 ,what6 then must they perish8 ,nay1 not yet4 ,the brave student will risk his life again in their behalf4 ,many speak harshly of their lack of pluck4 ,he pities their weakness2 he rushes into the surf once more1 struggles through the crested waves1 boards the sloop1 and brings off a man to the shore4 ,six times he makes the perilous trip1 and saves a human life each time4 ,the seventh time his charge is a boy1 so weak and helpless that he loses his hold upon him twice1 and twice he dives for him into the seething depths and brings him up4 ,finally1 he reaches the beach with a limp1 corpselike lad--the last of the rescued crew4 ,the crowd1 which had hitherto watched the gallant young hero's movements with breathless stillness1 now break forth into a loud1 triumphal cheer1 which neither the roar of the wind nor the thunder of the waves can drown--they recognize the presence of a genuine hero4 ,the name of this noble young scion of true chivalry was ,john ,honey1 one of the college friends of the celebrated ,dr4 ,chalmers4 ,his efforts on that memorable day cost him his life--not directly1 however1 for he lived a few years1 but the seeds of a mortal malady were sown by his humane exertions on that grandest day of his life4--,great ,thoughts4 ,,duties ,,of ,,brothers ,,and ,,sisters4 ,it is the duty of brothers and sisters to take a delight in each others' society1 and readily to share their comforts with each other4 ,the kindness of the heart beams in a sister's smile1 and speaks in a brother's praise4 ,the heart must be sadly corrupted1 if the remembrance of the scenes that passed under a father's roof ceases to interest4 ,it is the duty of brothers and sisters to admonish one another for their faults4 ,there are failings in the temper and defects in the manners which are concealed with care from the eyes of the world1 but which are apparent amidst the freedom of domestic life4 ,if follies are not checked at home1 or by strangers1 they will grow into habits4 ,the indolence from which the young were never roused has kept them all their after days in poverty1 and the pride which was never repressed has rendered them odious4 ,never let affection make you blind to the deformity of sin4 ,it is the duty of brothers and sisters to sympathize tenderly with each other4 ,the heart is so framed that it requires the aid and comfort of sympathy4 ,how soothing to a sufferer's heart are the attentions of a sister1 and the word spoken by a brother in season6 ,let sisters consider how much the persuasive language of mildness and affection is adapted to transform the roughest and most impetuous temper into meekness and wisdom1 and that their remarks may direct a brother's attention to sentiments full of beauty and feeling1 which he has overlooked4 ,brothers and sisters should vie with each other in promoting the comfort of their parents4 ,every one should cultivate respect for their parents' authority1 compassion for their infirmities1 attention to their wishes1 and be solicitous to give them all necessary aid1 and reverence1 and love1 undiminished as they witness the decline of their faculties4 ,how delightful it is to hear parents say of their children1 ,i cannot tell which is the kindest to me4 ,what peace such children are preparing for themselves when their parents shall have passed away6--,portia4 ,,the ,,child ,,and ,,the ,,emperor4 ,it is related of the late ,emperor of ,germany that1 when passing through a pretty country village once1 he stopped to visit the village school4 ,taking up an orange1 he said to the children-- ,to what kingdom does this belong8 ,to the vegetable kingdom1 answered a little girl4 ,and this8 continued the ,emperor1 holding out a gold coin1 which he had taken from his pocket4 ,to the mineral kingdom1 was the answer4 ,and to what kingdom do ,i belong8 he said1 expecting the little girl would answer with her former promptitude1 ,to the animal kingdom4 ,but after a pause and many blushes1 she replied-- ,to ,god's kingdom1 sire4 ,thereupon the ,emperor1 greatly moved1 and with a tear in his eye and much solemnity in his tone1 replied-- ,god grant1 my child1 that ,i may be counted worthy of that kingdom4 ,,our ,,bible ,,class4 ,,the ,,glory ,,of ,,christ4 7,,john xvii7 ,in the large1 upper room of that house at ,jerusalem1 where ,jesus had eaten the ,passover with ,his disciples1 and instituted ,his own new feast1 ,the ,lord's ,supper1 ,he had been speaking1 and they hearing1 most wonderful truths4 ,arise1 let us go hence1 ,he had said 7,john xiv4 #ca74 ,yet ,he arose not1 and they lingered still1 held fast in solemn wonder while ,he spoke the parable of the vine1 and warned and encouraged them concerning their future course when ,he had left them4 ,and then1 having assured them that ,he had overcome the world1 and bidden them rejoice in ,him1 ,he lifted up ,his eyes to heaven1 and prayed for ,himself1 for them1 and for all ,his people to the end of time4 ,a wondrous prayer6 ,he was just about to enter into ,his deepest sufferings2 yet ,he says not a word of pain or sorrow4 ,the glory that should follow1 the joy that was set before ,him1 fill ,his heart and tongue1 and all ,his prayer breathes of that reward--that crown of all ,his labours--the everlasting life of all ,his beloved ones4 ,he thought of ,his ancient glory1 the glory which ,i had with ,thee before the world was 7ver4 #e72 and that glory was connected with ,his dear people1 as we read in ,proverbs viii4 #bc1 where ,christ1 speaking as ,wisdom1 says1 ,i was set up from everlasting1 from the beginning1 or ever the earth was2 and ,then ,i was beside ,jehovah1 as ,one brought up with ,him3 ,i was daily ,his delight1 and ,my delights were with the sons of men 7ver4 #cj1 #ca74 ,the sons of men1 as yet unborn2 but ,his gracious eye surveyed them as they should in future days appear1 and ,he was then their ,elder ,brother1 the ,first-born among many brethren1 and in ,his image ,adam was formed as a man1 a little lower than the angels1 crowned with glory and honour1 and the lord of ,god's earthly creation 7,psa4 viii474 ,and ,jesus looked on to the glorious time when all ,his people1 though they have fallen1 and become sinners1 shall be purified and fully saved1 and be presented to ,god without spot1 or wrinkle1 or any such thing4 ,it was ,his glory1 before time1 to think of this2 it shall be ,his glory1 when time is ended1 to see all ,his desires fulfilled1 and all ,his wishes accomplished4 ,next1 ,jesus thought and spoke of the glory ,his ,father had given ,him 7ver4 #bd7--;given ,him in the world1 in the sight of ,his people4 ,in ,revelation xiii4 #h1 ,he is called the ,lamb that hath been slain from the foundation of the world--slain in pictures and shadows2 the firstling of the flock that ,abel offered2 the paschal lamb1 and all the numberless sacrifices slain of old by ,god's command1 pointed always to the ,lamb of ,god2 and ,he was glorified when ,his people1 in by-gone times1 like ,abraham1 saw ,his day1 ,his coming1 and ,his work1 and were glad in ,his salvation4 ,and ,jesus prayed that all whom ,his ,father had given ,him might behold ,his glory4 ,when8 ,not only in heaven1 but here4 ,as we read in ,paul's wondrous description of this sight1 we all1 with unveiled faces1 beholding as in a mirror the glory of the ,lord 7#b ,cor4 iii471 do not simply gaze upon it as on a lovely picture1 but are transformed as we gaze--are changed1 until we become like our ,lord1 and bear ,his image1 and reflect ,his glory1 as the face of ,moses shone when he came down from ,god on ,mount ,sinai1 and he did not know it until he found the ,israelites could not look at him unless he veiled his face1 for true holiness makes us humble and lowly1 and ,the more ,his glories strike our eyes1 ,the humbler we shall lie2 ,thus while we sink1 our joys shall rise ,immeasurably high4 ,and if now we see ,him thus by faith1 we shall see ,him as ,he is1 and be like ,him for ever4 ,oh1 that with yonder sacred throng ,we at ,his feet may fall2 ,join in the everlasting song1 ,and crown ,him ,lord of all4 ,but the prayer of ,jesus began with the earnest request for another kind of glory--,father1 the hour is come2 glorify ,thy ,son1 that ,thy ,son also may glorify ,thee4 ,the hour for which ,i came into the world--the hour of deepest woe1 yet most glorious victory4 ,glorify ,thy ,son by strengthening and sustaining ,him1 that ,he may glorify ,thee by accomplishing ,thy will1 and destroying the works of the devil4 ,was not the prayer answered8 ,hear the dying ,saviour cry1 with a loud voice1 on ,calvary1 ,it is finished6 and we behold ,him gloriously conquering in the very moment of ,his death1 and departing to receive the ,victor's crown1 and the grateful worship of all the redeemed1 as they sing1 ,worthy the ,lamb that was slain6 ,lastly1 ,jesus says of all ,his glory1 ,i have given it to ,my people1 ,my followers1 ,my friends 7ver4 #bb74 ,my glory1 ,my joy1 ,i share with them4 ,he is anointed with the oil of gladness above ,his fellows 7,psa4 xlv4 #g72 but to every good and faithful servant ,he will say1 ,enter thou into the joy of thy ,lord4 ,is ,his joy1 ,his glory1 ours8 ,do we delight in ,his salvation8 ,do we desire to follow ,him1 and1 like ,him1 do good to others8 ,do we long to see ,god's kingdom come1 and ,his will done on earth as it is done in heaven8 ,if so1 ,he has given us a share in ,his glory1 and we shall meet with all ,his saints around ,his throne on high-- ,and with one heart1 and voice1 and soul ,sing ,his redeeming grace4 ,then will ,his glory be complete4 ,oh1 that we may behold and enjoy it1 too6 ,amen4 ,our next subject will be1 ,gleanings from the ,book of ,ruth4 ,yours affectionately1 ,h4 ,s4 ,l4 ,,the ,,pitcairn ,,islanders ,,and ,,the ,,queen4 ,captain ,john ,lewthwaite1 of ,maryport1 has just returned to ,england1 bringing with him a present for the ,queen from the inhabitants of ,pitcairn ,island4 ,captain ,lewthwaite is master of the ,cairmont1 of ,glasgow1 and on his homeward voyage from ,vancouver ,island he called at ,pitcairn4 ,he found that the descendants of the mutineers of the ,bounty had received papers containing particulars of the ,queen's ,jubilee4 ,they said they were anxious to make ,her ,majesty a ,jubilee present1 and in the absence of anything more valuable they decided to send some straw hats of their manufacture4 ,they also sent other goods made of straw1 which they manipulate with a great deal of skill4 ,the presents were handed to ,captain ,lewthwaite by ,m',avoy1 the ,governor of the island1 and grandson of one of the mutineers4 ,the box containing the presents has been lodged with the ,vicar of ,peckham ,rye1 who acts as agent for the islanders1 to forward to the ,queen4 ,there are now one hundred and twelve persons on the island1 two-thirds being women4 ,they use no strong drink1 tobacco1 or money4 ,some time ago a harmonium was taken out to them1 and ,captain ,lewthwaite says one woman plays it remarkably well4 ,a ,,man that cannot mind his own business is not to be trusted with the king's4--,saville4 ,,prize ,,essay4 ,,lessons ,,to ,,be ,,derived ,,from ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,daniel4 ,the principal lessons to be derived from the history of ,daniel are--faith1 moral courage1 patience1 perseverance1 and the value of prayer4 ,daniel's faith was steadfast in ,god1 for1 in spite of all opposition1 he stood firm to his purpose4 ,this also shows his moral courage1 in standing alone before his ,god when all others were against him4 ,he truly manifested the feeling1 ,though ,he slay me1 yet will ,i trust in ,him4 ,envied and persecuted by many1 he knew that ,god was for him if men were against him4 ,it is a dreadful sin to conspire against a child of ,god1 for ,christ will say to such in the day of judgment1 ,depart from ,me1 ye cursed4 ,and again 7,mark ix4 #db7 ,he said1 ,whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in ,me1 it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck1 and he were cast into the sea4 ,daniel knew1 too1 the efficacy of prayer1 for he was taught by ,god ,himself2 and where ,god gives faith and a true spirit1 ,he is sure to call it into exercise4 ,daniel possessed an excellent spirit1 and was preferred by ,king ,darius1 who did not worship the true ,god1 and was prevailed upon to establish an idolatrous decree4 ,but ,daniel openly prayed to ,god4 ,this showed his confidence in ,jehovah's omnipotence and faithfulness1 and he was enabled to leave all in ,his hands1 feeling sure that all things would work together for his good4 ,it has been wisely said that not one spark of real saving faith can be kindled in our hearts but by ,god ,himself1 and if ,he does this1 ,he will give us the supply we so much need4 ,as a weak limb often grows strong by exercise1 so will our faith1 if it be of ,god1 be strengthened by the very effort we make in stretching it out towards things unseen4 ,daniel's chastening afterwards yielded the peaceable fruit of righteousness when the angel ,gabriel was sent to tell him he was greatly beloved1 and that he should stand in his lot at the end of his days4 ,oh1 what comfort this message must have brought to poor ,daniel6 ,happy shall we be if the ,lord speaks thus to our hearts4 ,,laura ,,creasey 7,aged #ad years74 ,sydney ,house1 ,sleaford1 ,lincolnshire4 ,good ,essays have been received from ,charles ,southon1 ,kate ,m4 ,bond1 ,alice ,j4 ,wells1 ,e4 ,w4 ,cray1 ,martha ,ramsay1 ,sarah ,hicks1 ,e4 ,b4 ,knocker1 and ,e4 ,r4 ,harris4 ,the writer of the above ,essay receives a copy of ,cowper's ,poems4 ,the subject for ,january will be1 ,what is the ,most ,desirable ,thing to ,possess in the ,spring-time of ,life8 and the prize to be given for the best ,essay on that subject1 a copy of ,the ,life of ,whitfield4 ,all competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age1 and that the ,essay is their own composition1 or the papers will be passed over1 as the ,editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information4 ,papers must be sent direct to the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings1 by the first of ,december4 ,,deeper than the love of home1 deeper than the love of kindred1 deeper than rest and recreation1 deeper than the love of life1 is the love of ,jesus4--,hamilton4 ,,nothing is easier than fault-finding4 ,no talent1 no self-denial1 no brains1 no character is required to set up in the grumbling business4 ,but those who are moved by a genuine desire to do good and benefit their fellows have little time for murmuring or complaint4 ,interesting ,items4 ,,the length of the ,thames from source to mouth is #bbj miles4 ,,the greatest height yet reached in a balloon is seven miles and a quarter4 ,,in #agjg it took two days and a half to get to ,oxford1 a distance of fifty-five miles4 ,,the number of ,bibles sold by the ,british ,bible ,society up to #ahha was #ajj1jce1icc4 ,,two millions and a half is the number of persons who are said to be slaves to ,sabbath toil in ,america1 and they generally receive no more than six days' wages for seven days' work4 ,,anna ,,swan1 the ,nova ,scotia giantess1 who1 with her husband1 ,captain ,bates1 the ,kentucky giant1 was an earnest member of the ,baptist ,church1 is dead4 ,she was seven feet nine inches in height4 ,a ,,great improvement in ,sunday observance in the army and navy has1 it is said1 taken place4 ,but there are old officers1 like the gallant admiral1 who deplore the fact that the service is going to the dogs1 because there is not so much pipeclay used on a ,sunday as there was when they joined the service4 ,,lord ,,sudeley1 of ,toddington1 near ,cheltenham1 has the following fruit trees planted in his grounds--,gooseberry trees1 #ic1jjj2 plum trees1 #bj1jhc2 black currant trees1 #afg1jjj2 apple trees1 #b1iai2 pear trees1 #heb2 damson trees1 #h1hde2 cherry trees1 #ecb2 red currant trees1 #aj1jjj2 raspberry trees1 #be1jjj2 cob nut1 #ajj2 strawberries 7acres71 #eb4 ,in addition1 #ajj ,scotch firs and #aj1jjj poplar trees4 ,,the ,,hampton ,,court ,,vine4--,this noble vine is more than a hundred and fifty years old1 and nearly as many feet in length2 its stem is thirty-two inches in circumference4 ,in a good season it will yield more than two thousand bunches of fine grapes1 weighing on an average seventeen ounces each bunch1 or1 in the whole1 nearly one ton4 ,they are of the finest black ,hamburg kind1 and are said to be reserved chiefly for the ,queen's table4 ,,running ,,away ,,with ,a ,,ritualistic ,,crucifix4--,it is stated that a crucifix adorns the eastern end of ,bourn church4 ,many of the parishioners are opposed to certain ,ritualistic practices1 and have shown their disapproval by leaving during divine service4 ,during the week the church is left open1 and on ,monday1 ,september #agth1 a young lady entered and took away the crucifix4 ,the lady1 having secured the crucifix1 proceeded to ,bytham ,station1 and thence to ,essendine4 ,arrived there1 she went into a friend's house and had a cup of tea4 ,in the meantime1 the ,vicar and the young lady's brother started in pursuit1 discovered the missing ornament1 and brought it safely back and replaced it in the church4 ,the event has created great excitement in the village1 and we understand that legal proceedings will be taken4 ,,wolves ,,and ,,telegraph ,,lines4--,it is believed in ,norway that wolves are frightened away by telegraph lines4 ,while a vote was pending on a grant to a new line1 a member of the ,storthing remarked that1 while his constituents had no direct interest in it1 they would support the grant because the wires would drive away the wolves4 ,it is stated as a remarkable fact that since the first telegraph line was established1 twenty years ago1 wolves have never appeared in its neighbourhood4 ,wolves1 it is known1 will not enter a roped enclosure4 ,,in connection with the ,mission to ,deep ,sea ,fishermen1 a hospital ship was launched from the yard of ,messrs4 ,fellows and ,son1 of ,great ,yarmouth1 on ,september #bith4 ,she is #ajj feet in length1 and of #aeb tons register4 ,she is to be fitted up as a hospital ship1 for the treatment of accident and illness among the fishermen of the ,north ,sea4 ,she is named the ,queen ,victoria1 and ,her ,majesty1 who takes much interest in the ,mission1 subscribed ,l#ej towards the cost of the vessel4 ,the launch was witnessed by a large number of people4 ,the ,queen ,victoria is the same type of vessel as those already in the ,mission service4 ,a ,,new ,,alpine ,,railway4--,a railway from ,visp to ,zermatt is about to be built1 an undertaking that has for a long time been considered impracticable4 ,from the year #ahia travellers will be able to reach the ,el ,dorado of ,alpine tourists in about two hours and a half from the main line in the ,rhone ,valley1 and step out of the railway carriage almost at the foot of the mighty ,matterhorn4 ,the line is already marked out1 and follows pretty closely the present bridle path4 ,it is to be narrow gauge1 without cogwheels1 and will cross the ,visp torrent five times4 ,the curves will be rather sharp1 and there are to be six small tunnels4 ,the capital for building the line is said to amount to six million francs1 and work is to be commenced this autumn4 ,the length will be twenty-eight miles1 and as ,zermatt is #c1afj feet higher than the starting point1 the incline will be over two per cent4 ,,an ,,ancient ,,document4--,according to a telegram received from ,lloyds' ,signal ,station at ,st4 ,catherine's ,point1 ,isle of ,wight1 a letter1 supposed to have been written #ajc years ago1 was picked up on the beach1 at ,rock ,end1 on ,october #crd4 ,the following is a copy of the document3--,office of ,ordnance1 #aath ,july1 #aghe4 ,gentlemen1--,his ,majesty's ship the ,trusty1 being ordered to be paid off at ,portsmouth1 you are1 by the ,board's directions1 to cause her powder to be taken on shore1 and lodged in ,his ,majesty's magazine1 under your charge4--,i am1 gentlemen1 your humble servant1 ,,aug4 ,,rogers1 ,secretary4 ,respective ,officers1 ,prondy's ,hard1 ,w4 ,a4 ,there is a memo1 on the back of the letter--#aath ,july1 #aghe4 ,aug4 ,rogers1 ,esq4 ,trusty paid off4 ,,the number of preserves in ,austria alone1 not counting those in ,hungary1 is stated at #ae1gfd4 and on these there were shot1 in #ahhg1 #cb bears1 #aac wolves1 #bd lynxes1 #i1dij stags1 #fj1beb roebucks1 #g1gji chamois1 #b1iih wild boars1 #bf1daa foxes1 #i1gbi polecats1 #a1jee otters1 #b1fgb badgers1 #ccc marmots1 and no fewer than #a1dci1acd hares4 ,wild rabbits are scarce in this country1 and are not counted in the general record1 but #bg1gig were shot in ,bohemia1 where there are most warrens4 ,the totals for feathered game are--#d1dih grouse1 #a1cjj wild geese1 #ajb1gdh pheasants1 #a1ccf1icd partridges1 #cd1ddh quails1 #ab1feb woodcock1 #g1fad snipe1 and #bh1iad wild ducks4 ,the birds of prey shot were #efa eagles1 #ch1faj owls1 #a1cfe horned owls1 and #ajf1cec hawks1 kestrels1 kites1 and vultures4 ,,the ,,rabbit ,,pest ,,in ,,new ,,zealand4--,the ,united ,states ,consul at ,auckland1 in a recent report1 describes the extent to which ,new ,zealand has been economically injured by rabbits1 and the cost incurred in endeavouring to exterminate them4 ,nothing1 he says1 could so overrun a country since the locusts in ,egypt4 ,the rabbits have so eaten out the ranges that the capacity for maintaining sheep has greatly lessened1 and the flocks have fallen off in numbers4 ,at the ,stock ,conference of #ahhf1 it was stated that rabbits reduced by a third the feeding capacity of land1 and the weight of fleeces had decreased by #a lb4 to #aa_/b lb4 each4 ,the number of lambs decreased from thirty to forty per cent41 while the death-rate increased from three to thirteen per cent4 ,since #ahhb1 when the ,rabbit ,act became law1 ,government has expended ,l#g1jjj on ,crown lands alone1 and it is estimated that during the last eight years private persons have spent ,l#b1djj1jjj in extirpating rabbits4 ,the methods generally in favour were fencing1 poisoned grain 7generally phosphorized oats71 and ferrets1 weasels1 and stoats4 ,large numbers of men have been hired from time to time to make war upon the rabbits1 and it is said that these rabbiters encourage the vermin in every way1 and have been caught killing the stoats and ferrets4 ,the bonus system has been found objectionable and expensive4 ,notwithstanding all that has been done1 in some localities the rabbits have continually increased1 and the damage has continued4 ,it is hoped1 however1 that as the country becomes more populous1 and the large tracts of land are occupied and cultivated1 the numerous herds of rabbits which now roam over the land will disappear4 ,,one ,,thousand ,,men ,,drowned4--,it is reported from ,china that the whole of the new embankment of the ,yellow ,river1 which was commenced last autumn at the spot where the old embankment gave way1 has been completely swept away by the summer floods4 ,it is said to have cost about ,l#b1jjj1jjj sterling 7#i1jjj1jjj taels74 ,as the floods rose1 it was seen that the strain was becoming dangerous1 and ,li ,hang-tsao1 the high official in charge of the work1 was sent for in hot haste1 but before he could arrive the whole bank went down before the flood1 and of the eight thousand feet of river wall lately completed1 not an inch remains1 and the waters are pouring unchecked through the immense gap into the ,honan province4 ,from eight hundred to one thousand labourers1 who were on the bank1 were also swept away and drowned4 ,it is reported from ,peking that all the officials concerned are being severely punished4 ,a ,,shark ,,story4--,sir1--,the following story may be of some interest to many readers of your valuable paper4 ,the sailing-ship ,grassendale 7registered #a1hjj tons1 and classed ,a#a at ,lloyds'71 with a crew of about thirty-five hands1 on its voyage from ,sydney to ,san ,francisco1 met with great numbers of sharks1 about twenty of which the crew killed4 ,one shark1 in particular1 had a quantity of young ones with her4 ,by some means the little ones were frightened1 and swam into its mouth4 ,naturally the crew were curious1 and tried to hook it1 which they eventually did4 ,when they cut it open on deck1 imagine their surprise to find no less than forty-two little sharks1 measuring from twelve to fifteen inches in length1 all alive1 and capable of swimming as well as ever--a most remarkable incident1 not heard of before1 even in ,america1 being1 to all appearances1 a shark's wonderful way to shelter their young4 ,this information the writer has received this week direct from his brother1 who is chief officer of the said ship1 and he can1 therefore1 vouch for its truth4--,yours truly1 ,h4 ,h4 ,,white4 ,rye1 ,october #ajth1 #ahhh4--,south ,eastern ,advertiser4 ,illustration3 ,,it ,,was ,,agreed ,,that ,,some ,,one ,,should ,,read ,,the ,,bible ,,to ,,her4 7,see page #bff47 ,,the ,,blind ,,widow4 ,cast thy bread upon the waters3 for thou shalt find it after many days4--,,ecclesiastes xi4 #a4 ,recollecting the feelings of discouragement and sadness which often oppressed my mind during the first months of our employment as district visitors and ,sunday ,school teachers in a retired village1 and the many instances affording cause for joy and thankfulness which occurred during the latter years of our residence there1 ,i am led to record one of them1 with the hope of encouraging my fellow-labourers in this interesting occupation4 ,one of the first cases which came under my own observation was that of a blind1 aged widow1 who lived a few steps from the church4 ,her husband1 who had been dead at this time about seven years1 had led an ungodly life1 and had fallen a victim to the habit of intemperance4 ,she was left with one son1 who was a lad at the time of his father's death1 and was soon after bound as a parish apprentice to a good neighbour1 a blacksmith1 with whom he afterwards lived as servant4 ,i think he was a good boy4 ,he had remembered and taken pleasure in what he had learned at the ,sunday and ,national ,school4 ,he was constant in his attendance at public worship1 and showed much dutiful affection and attention to his widowed mother4 ,in his spare hours he took care of her little garden1 drew water1 and tended the nursery of beautiful geraniums which adorned her windows2 and when he could1 he would come and read aloud to her on ,sundays out of the ,bible or some good book4 ,all the poor widow's happiness centred in ,henry4 ,it was her delight to do all she could for him2 and many a time have ,i seen her1 blind as she was1 bestowing her cheerful labour in making his shirts as white as snow4 ,she had one other son1 older than ,henry1 who had accompanied an uncle to the ,west ,indies1 and as she had never heard of them since1 she thought they had very likely both of them died in that climate1 so unhealthy to ,english constitutions4 ,mrs4 ,worthington was1 ,i think1 naturally an amiable woman4 ,many sorrows had subdued and broken her spirits1 for she had once lived near ,london in very good circumstances4 ,though in some degree acquainted with the leading doctrines of ,scripture1 and believing them to be true1 she was1 it seemed1 quite destitute of any hope towards ,god1 or true faith in our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 as her ,saviour and her ,friend4 ,to use her own words1 she had long ago given up herself for lost4 ,when ,i asked what led her to do so1 she replied that she knew she had not led a good life1 and that some neighbours had told her it was no use for such a person as she was to think of going to heaven4 ,in this sad state she was lingering on in a painful earthly existence1 without one hope of anything better beyond it4 ,there was a kind woman who lived in the next house who1 when able1 would lead her to church and back again4 ,there she paid attention1 and thus had many interesting ,scripture histories stored in her memory1 for she had never learned to read4 ,at length1 with her own consent1 it was agreed that some one should read the ,bible to her every forenoon4 ,she listened with earnest attention and much interest1 and at length found1 to her great joy1 that she was not excluded from hope in the mercy of that gracious ,god and ,saviour whose loving-kindness and tender mercy towards a lost and fallen race it reveals and declares4 ,she discovered with delight that she was one of those very characters that had moved ,his heart to pity1 and for whose redemption and happiness ,he had sent ,his only-begotten ,son into the world1 and spared ,him not1 but delivered ,him up for us all1 that ,he might make satisfaction for fallen sinners1 and lead such back as reconciled children to their ,father and ,god4 ,she received the gracious message with a sense of her own extreme need of its blessings1 and welcomed it with her whole heart1 as sent to her by the ,god of love4 ,i think the first word of promise which was fixed in her mind was the engagement which ,god makes1 in ,luke xi41 to give the ,holy ,spirit to them that ask ,him4 ,she felt that her mind was dark1 and her heart cold and dead towards ,god4 ,she wished it were otherwise1 and prayed for the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it was delightful to observe the heavenly light dawn in her once benighted soul1 and to behold the altered state of all within4 ,humility1 thankfulness1 hope1 and love all appeared in their loveliness1 and in various ways did she give incontestable evidence that old things had passed away1 and that all things had become new4 ,i remember calling one morning1 and finding her much out of spirits4 ,on inquiring the cause1 ,i found that1 it being the wake season1 some of her former friends and acquaintances had visited her4 ,it was their conversation which had grieved her1 consisting very much of scandal and detraction1 and she was greatly distressed at being obliged to hear it1 and felt that she had done wrong by listening to it1 so truly had her mind become conformed to the principles of the ,gospel of peace4 ,before her change of heart she was much disposed to murmur1 but when enabled to apprehend the love of ,god to her1 her spirit was filled with gratitude to ,him for all ,his undeserved mercies2 and however depressed her circumstances on earth might be1 she had the comfortable hope of eternal bliss in that world where all tears will be for ever wiped away1 and there will be no more want and pain1 for the ,lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them1 and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters 7,rev4 vii4 #ag74 ,one morning1 to my great sorrow1 ,i found her very ill4 ,she was suffering from an attack of paralysis1 which took away the use of her left side1 and very much affected her speech4 ,she was suddenly rendered almost helpless4 ,at first she was greatly distressed1 knowing that her own means were insufficient to pay any one to help her1 and that the only alternative was a removal to the workhouse1 a prospect which to her mind was full of terror and disgrace4 ,it became1 however1 quite needful1 for there was no prospect of amendment2 and in about a fortnight she was obliged to quit a home endeared to her by a long residence1 and the honourable independence with which she had occupied it1 for though often obliged to take only bread for her breakfast and supper1 she invariably paid her quarter's rent4 ,her faith in ,christ1 however1 soon gained the ascendancy over her natural regret and sorrow1 and she received this painful dispensation as her ,heavenly ,father's will1 and submitted to it with quietness4 ,the workhouse was about nine miles from our village4 ,it was a well-conducted one1 and favoured with the visits of some ,christian friends and a good clergyman4 ,the matron was a kind person1 and treated our blind friend with much consideration4 ,her son visited her as often as he could1 and paid her every dutiful attention1 so that her home there was1 ,i think1 more comfortable than the one she had left4 ,i never saw her afterwards1 but ,i occasionally heard of her4 ,she was almost entirely confined to her bed1 but quite able to enjoy and profit by the kind visits and ,christian conversation of some persons who visited the workhouse4 ,she found her ,god was present with her there1 and ,he fulfilled to her that beautiful promise made to ,his people of old--,even to your old age ,i am ,he2 and even to hoar hairs will ,i carry you2 ,i have made1 and ,i will bear2 even ,i will carry1 and will deliver you 7,isa4 xlvi4 #d74 ,a4 ,e4 ,h4 ,,terrible ,,experience ,,of ,a ,,shipwrecked ,,crew4 ,two seamen1 named ,john ,g4 ,crone and ,james ,r4 ,wilson1 late of the ,scotch barque ,henry ,james1 arrived a short time ago at the ,liverpool ,sailors' ,home1 and gave information of the loss of that vessel1 through which they underwent an extraordinary experience4 ,the ,henry ,james struck a coral reef near the island of ,palmyra1 in the ,pacific ,ocean1 and became a wreck4 ,in an hour the crew had to abandon her1 experiencing the greatest difficulty in getting away4 ,the shipwrecked people only saved what they stood in1 even the ship's papers and the captain's instruments being lost4 ,they were in a sad plight4 ,one boat containing provisions was swamped and the food lost4 ,the captain nearly lost his life by being thrown into the sea4 ,fortunately a box of matches was got ashore dry1 and with these a fire was lighted4 ,the island of ,palmyra was found to be uninhabited1 but a search next day revealed a number of small huts made of boards and leaves4 ,the island is about nine hundred miles from ,samoa4 ,the mate1 who had saved his sextant1 volunteered to go in a small boat to ,samoa to seek for aid1 and a boat was accordingly manned1 the mate having for his companions the boatswain and three seamen4 ,these poor fellows were three weeks in the open boat1 in a tropical climate1 and their sufferings were very severe4 ,they traversed about thirteen hundred miles1 and some days before arrival their food and water gave out4 ,their sufferings were then terrible1 and when they reached ,apia1 their condition plainly showed what they had passed through4 ,had their voyage been lengthened but a couple of days1 it is likely all would have either gone mad or perished from starvation4 ,the shipwrecked people on the island were in the meantime living on wild birds1 birds' eggs1 and on cocoa-nuts4 ,they had no arms with them1 and the only means of catching the birds was by sticks1 the men having to get within reach of the birds before they could be caught4 ,in the first days the only water the people had was what they caught by spreading out the leaves of trees4 ,the matches at last got wet1 and the poor people could not make their accustomed fire4 ,a powerful telescope glass then furnished a burning glass1 and enabled them to get fires once more4 ,altogether they were on the island six weeks4 ,at the end of this time the mail steamer ,mariposa called at the island1 and rescued the people from their island imprisonment4 ,the party included two ladies 7passengers7 and six children4 ,the ,board of ,trade have awarded a piece of plate to ,captain ,hayward1 of the ,mariposa2 a gold medal to ,mr4 ,hart1 first officer2 and a silver medal and a sum of ,l#b each to seamen ,barpark1 ,erving1 ,allan1 and ,driscoll1 in connection with the rescue of the castaways4 ,captain ,hayward1 who was bound to ,san ,francisco with mails and passengers1 voluntarily incurred the risk of a heavy fine for breach of contract1 and set off with the above-named crew in an open boat1 and rescued the unfortunate people4 ,,bible ,,subjects ,,for ,,each ,,sunday ,,in ,,december4 ,dec4 #b4 ,commit to memory ,ps4 xc4 #b4 ,dec4 #i4 ,commit to memory ,ps4 xc4 #d4 ,dec4 #af4 ,commit to memory ,ps4 xc4 #aj4 ,dec4 #bc4 ,commit to memory ,ps4 xc4 #ab4 ,dec4 #cj4 ,commit to memory ,ps4 xc4 #ad4 ,,he ,,went ,,wrong1 ,,but ,,he ,,found ,,mercy4 ,on ,sunday afternoon1 ,august #bfth1 #ahhh1 ,mr4 ,carr1 of ,leicester1 gave an interesting address to the scholars attending the ,zion ,sunday ,school1 ,trowbridge4 ,after singing and prayer1 ,mr4 ,carr took ,the ,prodigal ,son as his subject1 which he explained in a most interesting manner4 ,he said3-- ,once upon a time there were two brothers4 ,one of them ran away1 but he got into no end of trouble4 ,but while he was so wretched1 something occurred with him1 and by-and-bye he was brought back in peace to his father's house1 and was happy for ever afterward4 ,most of you know that this is the outline of the parable of ',the ,prodigal ,son1' and ,i am going to try and tell you the details of it4 ,i shall divide it into four parts4 ,the first one is ,ruin2 the second1 ,repentance2 the third1 ,return2 the fourth1 ,reception4 ,he was ruined4 ,by grace he repented1 returned to his father1 and was joyfully received by him4 ,first1 then1 ,ruin4 ,now1 there are steps leading to ruin4 ,you find the prodigal was happy at home at first4 ,like ,adam1 in the garden of ,eden1 ,god gave him a great many good gifts1 as ,he has given you4 ,he has given us life1 hearing1 eyesight1 and intellect4 ,the prodigal had a large portion of good gifts1 but what did he do8 ,he wandered away from his father1 and went into a far country4 ,do you like to be away from home8 ,remember this--if you do1 it is the first step to your ruin1 as it was with the prodigal4 ,he took his journey into a far country1 where he was far away from his father2 and so we1 in our natural state1 are far away from ,god4 ,do you ever think what a dreadful thing it is to be far away from ,god8 ,the prodigal wanted to be far from ,him4 ,but when there1 at a distance from his father1 he had no ,god to go to in his troubles4 ,he doubtless did not like the text1 ',thou ,god seest me4' ,if you are like this1 remember that every sin you commit is written in ,his remembrance book4 ,but the prodigal made up his mind not to trouble about that4 ,have you thus done so8 ,if so1 you will have to trouble about it some day4 ,there is a day coming when we shall all have to stand before ,god1 and it is a dreadful subject for those to think of who1 like the prodigal1 are now at a distance from ,god4 ,therefore1 we see that ,distance is the first step4 ,the next one is ,dissipation4 ,he wasted his substance--put his gifts to a wrong use4 ,have we wasted the good things which ,god has given us8 ,if so1 it is the road to ruin4 ,after he had thus wasted his substance by riotous living and falling into bad company1 there came another step1 namely1 ,destitution1 which we all have come to spiritually1 and ere long we who have life1 health1 bright eyes1 rosy cheeks1 and busy hands1 shall be going to the grave4 ,by-and-bye we shall have spent it all1 and we shall be nothing but a heap of dust and ashes4 ,but you find that1 when he had spent all1 there arose a mighty famine1 and he began to be in want4 ,he then fell into disgrace1 and went to a citizen of that country to see if he could help him4 ,he went into the fields to feed swine1 and he had not a friend to speak to--none to help him4 ,the hand of ,god had gone out against him1 and all his friends forsook him4 ,that is just the state of the ungodly4 ,but when he was in the very heat of this ruin1 something happened to him4 ,he was brought to ,repentance4 ,what was his first step to repentance8 ,he was brought to himself--that is1 a right understanding was given to him4 ,what had the prodigal a right understanding about8 ,about himself4 ,sin had made a madman of him1 but now he began to consider the extent of his misery4 ,how many of you have considered what you are in the sight of ,god8 ,you may be dead before next ,sunday4 ,where would you be8 ,in heaven or in hell8 ,the prodigal began to consider what his sin had done for him4 ,he said1 ',how many hired servants of my father have bread enough and to spare1 and ,i perish with hunger6' ,he knew he was perishing2 and we are1 if ,christ has not saved us4 ,the first step was1 a right understanding4 ,now comes the second step1 knowledge of the extent of his misery1 thirdly1 a felt sense that he was perishing2 then1 fourthly1 a wise resolution--',i will arise1 and go to my father4' ,he had been trying to make himself more respectable1 but found he could not1 but that he must go to his father just as he was4 ,thus he was brought to himself4 ,grace did this1 and if grace works in us there will be a willingness to go to ,god4 ,either you want to be near to ,god1 or1 like the prodigal1 you want to shun the very thoughts of ,god4 ,we are either on the road to ruin or salvation4 ,what did the prodigal say to his father8 ',father1 ,i have sinned4' ,he knew he was a sinner1 and that he had sinned1 and he confessed his unworthiness4 ,he said1 ',i am no more worthy to be called thy son2 make me as one of thy hired servants4' ,he was brought to repentance1 and he made up his mind to return to his father4 ,but his father was a long way off--too far for him to see him4 ,but his father saw him while he was yet a great way off1 and had compassion on him4 ,he did not say1 ',i see that naughty boy that wandered from me1 and got into so much trouble and sin1 and now ,i will punish him4' ,but he had compassion on him1 and did not say a word about his wicked ways4 ',he ran4' ,now1 look1 here was the prodigal creeping to his father1 but the father 'ran1 and fell on his neck1 and kissed him4' ,no doubt he had a dirty face1 but the father did not wait till his face was clean4 ,just as we are as sinners1 so the prodigal here was in all his rags4 ,he said to his father1 ',but1 father1 ,i am a vile sinner4 ,i have sinned against heaven and in thy sight4' ,thus he told his father just what he was4 ,now then comes the fourth part--his reception by his father4 ,when his father met him he took no notice of his sins1 did not answer him a word1 but he said to his servants1 ',bring forth the best robe4' ,that was the robe of righteousness4 ,here were manifested the riches of divine grace4 ,the prodigal had nothing but sin and grief1 but now his father gave him a better robe than he ever had before4 ,his first robe was not the best4 ,it was one of creature-righteousness1 but now he had lost it2 and when he was brought back by grace he had a better robe given him4 ,a robe of righteousness is better than one of creature-righteousness4 ,the best robe was brought forth1 and a ring was put on his finger4 ,a ring is something which has no beginning nor end1 and the ring is a most blessed emblem of eternity4 ,it has neither beginning nor end4 ,and a ring denotes love--love of the giver to the receiver4 ,this ring denotes a ,father's eternal love4 ,his father loved him1 all the time the prodigal was sinning against him1 with an eternal love4 ,and they put shoes on his feet--shoes of the preparation of the ,gospel4 ,they were shoes that would wear well4 ,the saints have a rough road to travel1 and therefore they need shoes of iron and brass4 ,then the fatted calf was brought and killed1 and they had a great feast and were merry1 and we do not read that they ever left off4 ,there is no end to the rejoicings over repenting1 returning sinners4 ,oh1 that we all may know what it is to be redeemed by grace6 ,this parable teaches us man's ruin1 ,christ's redemption1 and a ,father's eternal love4 ,m4 ,g4 ,,johnnie',s ,,christmas4 ,this1 and three other pieces of poetry1 including the one given last month1 were written for a boy who recently died4 ,after long and severe suffering he was seized with a fit4 ,he held up both arms1 and1 as the struggles ceased1 he looked up and said1 ,come6 ,come6 ,his mother asked him if he thought he should go to heaven4 ,he replied1 ,i'm sure of it4 ,jesus told me ,he would take me1 and ,he wouldn't have said it if ,he didn't mean it4--,,ed4 ,hang out the toys for the little ones2 ,pile up the raisins1 and take out the stones2 ,but nut1 and pudding1 and ,christmas tree1 ,says little ,johnnie1 are not for me4 ,if the children frolic ,i have to start1 ,with a bitter pain at my silent heart2 ,and my throbbing head is afraid to move ,at sound of the voices which most ,i love4 ,it is nice to feel1 though sitting here1 ,that mother is with me1 and baby dear1 ,for some of my little friends have lain ,on a hospital bed1 in lonely pain4 ,oh1 ,god1 my ,friend1 ,thou art surely kind1 ,and we1 poor sinners1 are weak and blind2 ,little we think1 and little know1 ,of the love that suffered for human woe4 ,we hail ,thy birth with a gladsome song1 ,but ,thou hadst sorrow life's journey long2 ,and ,thou hadst power ,thyself to free1 ,yet chose to suffer for things like me4 ,oh1 come to my heart this ,christmas ,day6 ,i am weak and weary1 and far away2 ,since help and mercy are ,thy delight1 ,oh1 come to my father's house to-night6 ,bring rest for my mother1 and joy for me2 ,my head will not throb as ,i listen to ,thee2 ,and my heart1 though too weak for a footfall below1 ,will bound1 without aching1 ,thy coming to know4 ,thou callest the children1 and ,i am a child2 ,thou callest the guilty1 and ,i am defiled2 ,they gather about ,thee in joyful array2 ,oh1 put me among them1 ,lord ,jesus1 to-day6 ,put one of my hands in that right hand of ,thine1 ,and hold out ,thy wounds to ,thy ,father divine2 ,he would not1 ,he could not1 say nay unto ,thee1 ,and ,i should for ever ,thy diadem be4 ,m4 ,a4 ,,chaplin4 ,galleywood1 ,chelmsford4 ,,answer ,,to ,,bible ,,enigma4 7,page #bee47 ,peace be unto you4--,,john xx4 #ai4 ,p ekah #b ,kings xv4 #be4 ,e glon ,judges iii4 #ad4 ,a masa #b ,samuel xvii4 #be4 ,c ush #a ,chronicles i4 #h4 ,e uphrates ,deuteronomy i4 #g4 ,b enjamin ,genesis xxxv4 #bd4 ,e lah #a ,kings xvi4 #h4 ,u rijah #b ,kings xvi4 #aj4 ,n ahor ,genesis xi4 #bf4 ,t opaz ,exodus xxxix4 #aj4 ,o g ,psalm cxxxvi4 #bj4 ,y oke ,jeremiah xxvii4 #h4 ,o badiah #a ,kings xviii4 #c4 ,u nicorn ,numbers xxiii4 #bb4 ,,ann ,,pickworth 7,aged #aa years74 ,sydney ,house1 ,sleaford4 ,,bunyan',s ,,death4 ,it was on the #cast of ,august1 #afhh1 that ,john ,bunyan left the ,valley of the ,shadow of ,death1 ,doubting ,castle1 ,vanity ,fair1 and all those other stages of the progress of a soul in its efforts to find rest and peace1 to cross the dark river that1 in his immortal dream1 flowed under the walls of the ,celestial ,city4 ,this is how ,mr4 ,froude describes the closing scene of his great life3-- ,his end was characteristic4 ,it was brought on by exposure when he was engaged in an act of charity4 ,a quarrel had broken out in a family at ,reading with which ,bunyan had some acquaintance4 ,a father had taken offence at his son1 and threatened to disinherit him4 ,bunyan undertook a journey on horseback from ,bedford to ,reading1 in the hope of reconciling them4 ,he succeeded1 but at the cost of his life4 ,returning by ,london1 he was overtaken on the road by a storm of rain1 and was wetted through before he could find shelter4 ,the chill1 falling on a constitution already weakened by illness1 brought on fever4 ,he was able to reach the house of ,mr4 ,strudwick1 one of his ,london friends1 but he never left his bed afterwards4 ,in ten days he was dead4 ,mr4 ,froude thinks that the exact date is uncertain2 but ,southey and other biographers generally fix it upon the #cast of ,august4 ,he was buried in a vault belonging to the ,strudwick family1 in the famous old ,nonconformist burial ground of ,bunhill ,fields1 where his monument--restored of late years by admiring and appreciative friends--may be seen any day by the passer-by1 on which runs this inscription--,mr4 ,john ,bunyan1 ,author of ',the ,pilgrim's ,progress1' ob4 #cast ,august1 #afhh1 aet4 #fj4 ,john ,bunyan wrote sixty books1 and lived sixty years4 ,his chief work1 ,the ,pilgrim's ,progress1 has been translated into seventy-two distinct languages and dialects1 and thus has had a wider circulation and been more read than any book next to the ,scriptures4 ,more than fifty years ago ,macaulay spoke of it as the only book of its kind that possesses a strong human interest--that1 while other allegories only amuse the fancy1 this has been read by thousands with tears4 ,what was true then is no less true now4 ,,extraordinary ,,story ,,of ,,the ,,sea4 ,a ,queenstown correspondent telegraphs that the ,national ,line steamer ,spain1 from ,new ,york1 which arrived at ,queenstown recently1 brings intelligence that an aged gentleman1 named ,murtagh1 residing in ,brooklyn1 received a letter on ,october #aath1 from one of the uninhabited islands of the ,south ,sea group1 ,ojee1 written by a friend of his1 named ,captain ,green1 who was supposed to have been lost at sea in #aheh1 in a vessel commanded by him1 called the ,confederation4 ,she sailed from ,new ,york1 in ,february of that year1 for ,australia1 and not having been heard of afterwards1 it was presumed that she had foundered with all on board1 numbering sixteen1 including two women4 ,the letter1 written on a soiled leaf of a ship's log1 was dated ,july1 #ahhg1 and had been put aboard a whaling barque which passed near the island about that time4 ,the writer observes that no doubt all hands aboard the ,confederation had been given up as lost4 ,he then relates how the vessel foundered in a gale after being nine weeks at sea1 and how her crew1 including himself and two women1 having taken to the boats1 after forty days1 landed on the coral reefs of the ,island of ,ojee1 there being no signs of habitation1 but an abundance of game1 fish1 fruits1 and water4 ,no vessel came near the place until one evening in ,december1 #ahfb1 when eight of the crew put off in a boat to intercept her4 ,the weather being very stormy1 they never returned to the island1 and ,captain ,green thinks they were lost4 ,he further states that the women became the wives of two of the remaining castaways1 and that although there had been several deaths on the island1 the population at the time he wrote consisted of twelve persons1 who felt quite contented4 ,they were1 however1 badly in need of clothing4 ,during thirty years1 they had communicated from the island with only three vessels1 and this letter had been four years written and ready to be sent by some ship4 ,captain ,green adds that he is sixty-eight years of age1 and in good health4 ,,pleading4 7,,ruth i4 #af47 ,intreat me not to leave ,thee1 ,lord2 ,what is this world to me8 ,no happiness can it afford1 ,o ,god1 apart from ,thee4 ,thou art the joy of my delights2 ,the ,life of life to me2 ,the comfort of my darkest nights2 ,yea1 ,all in all to me4 ,dark were this world without ,thee1 ,lord1 ,but1 lighted with ,thy love1 ,thy watchfulness1 ,thy tender care1 ,more fully here ,i prove4 ,more subject for my song above ,i gather day by day2 ,deeper experience of that love ,which guides my pilgrim way4 ,oh1 give me grace to serve ,thee1 ,lord1 ,each swiftly-passing day1 ,that ,i the approving word1 ,well done1 ,at last may hear ,thee say4 ,a ,,sower4 ,,the ,,anti-,,romish ,,book4 ,during the reign of that ,popish ,king1 ,james ,,ii41 the law in ,scotland was1 that no clergyman might preach1 and that no bookseller might sell1 any book that reflected on the ,romish ,church4 ,one of the ,royal messengers entered a bookseller's shop in ,edinburgh4 ,had he any books in stock written against the ,roman ,catholic ,church8 ,yes1 he had a ,book that reflected very severely indeed against that ,church4 ,might he sell it8 ,let me see it1 said the messenger4 ,the old bookseller went to his shelves and took down a volume--a ,book which does certainly speak very emphatically against ,romanism--the ,bible6 ,,bible ,,enigma4 ,my #a1 #aa1 #g1 #f1 #i1 #e1 a governor of the ,jews4 ,my #b1 #aj1 #e1 #ad1 #f1 the father of ,joanna4 ,my #c1 #ac1 a king of ,bashan4 ,my #d1 #f1 #ad1 #aj1 #i1 #aa1 a disobedient queen4 ,my #e1 #h1 #aa1 a priest4 ,my #f1 #d1 #aa1 #i1 #aj1 the city of ,hadad4 ,my #g1 #c1 #i1 #f1 #ab1 the brother of ,timna4 ,my #h1 #e1 #d1 #aa1 one of the twelve tribes4 ,my #i1 #c1 #g1 #f1 a son of ,issachar4 ,my #aj1 #e1 #ab1 the son of ,zephaniah4 ,my #aa1 #ad1 #b1 #f1 #e1 #h1 the surname of ,jacob4 ,my #ab1 #c1 #a1 #aj1 a city threatened with a plague4 ,my #ac1 #aa1 #aj1 #c1 #ab1 a river of ,eden4 ,my #ad1 #aa1 #d1 #f1 #ab1 a ,jewish month4 ,my whole is a precept given by an ,apostle to a ,christian ,church4 ,,thomas ,,tyler 7,aged #ac years74 ,potton1 ,beds4 ,,hop ,,picking4--,,the ,,last ,,pole4 7,frontispiece to ,volume47 ,the ,,little ,,gleaner no doubt is read and welcomed as well by the aged and middle-aged as the young1 for whom it is especially intended4 ,in the southern counties1 the readers of the ,,little ,,gleaner1 of all ages1 are more or less familiar with the last pole4 ,in the counties more north1 where we hope the ,,little ,,gleaner is read with equal interest1 many dear children have never seen that lovely and charming sight of ,nature in cultivation1 the hop garden4 ,to us who1 by the hand of ,providence1 are located in these hop-growing districts1 the hop gardens in the months of ,august and ,september are always interesting1 and share largely in our love and admiration for the products of ,nature and industry combined4 ,for the information of those not so familiar as ourselves with the hop plant under cultivation1 we would say that many hundreds of poor people find employment for a few weeks in the autumn at hop picking1 by which they are able to earn a little money1 which is useful in helping them to pay their rent and provide the necessaries of life4 ,this time is looked forward to1 year by year1 with deep interest by such4 ,among the customs and ceremonies of the hop gardens1 at the time of picking1 or gathering1 there is generally a little ceremony in pulling and picking the last pole4 ,in ,september1 #ahhf1 the writer of these lines was one of the pickers in a very lovely hop garden in ,kent1 and witnessed the pulling down of many thousands of these heavily-laden hop poles1 in all their fresh and lively beauty4 ,but lo and behold6 it came not only to the last day1 and the last hill 7or stool of three poles71 but to the last pole1 which was selected beforehand1 and remained standing until all the others were picked4 ,then comes the master himself1 and takes down this last pole1 amid the waving of hats1 and shouts of ,hurrah6 ,hurrah6 ,but was this all8 ,no1 no6 ,there were sad hearts that sighed as they remembered the days of adversity endured by them1 and as they wondered what was to be their next employment1 and how their table was to be supplied during the coming winter1 should it not be their turn to be gathered in like the poles that had passed under their hands4 ,but one poor1 trembling heart among the rest could not help thinking of that last great day1 when the last stone of that great temple not made with hands should be carried up with shouts of ,grace1 grace unto it6 and the following lines came softly into the mind-- ,the moon and stars shall lose their light2 ,the sun shall sink in endless night2 ,both heaven and earth shall pass away2 ,the works of ,nature all decay4 ,but they who in the ,lord confide1 ,and shelter in ,his wounded side1 ,shall see the danger overpast1 ,stand every storm1 and live at last4 ,what6 those poor bruised reeds who fear that they shall never hold up their heads again--shall they outlive the moon8 ,shall they outshine the sun8 ,however1 let us return to our subject--the last pole--and reflect4 ,we1 like the crowded poles1 all stand1 ,and all are sure to fall2 ,the dog and hook#ac are in ,god's hand1 ,and soon will reach us all4 #ac ,in hop gardens these are instruments used by those who lift the poles4--,,ed4 ,yes1 my dear young readers1 whatever may be those delightsome games of which you are so fond1 the last game will soon come4 ,yea1 how soon will be the end of all our earthly pleasures none of us can tell4 ,if we look forward to any day or time of some kind of pleasure1 it may seem to approach us very slowly1 but how soon do we look behind us1 and say1 ,alas6 that too has gone1 never1 never more to return4 ,in like manner also we miss a dear brother or dear sister1 a friend1 schoolmate1 or teacher2 perhaps a dear1 loving mother or father4 ,ah6 we say1 they will never return again4 ,sometimes we reflect with sorrow upon some unkind words or actions towards them--some pain and grief that we caused them4 ,perhaps we were too proud or too stubborn to ask their forgiveness while they were with us1 so we let the sun go down upon our wrath1 and now we can never forgive ourselves4 ,though they are gone1 we see them still-- ,we see their smiles1 we see their tears2 ,the grave can never hide them2 ,a few more days1 or months1 or years1 ,a few more sighs1 a few more tears1 ,and we shall lie beside them4 ,seeing that it is quite uncertain which of us will be the next to have our earthly ties cut1 and all our bloom and beauty stripped off1 may ,i ask my dear young friends what are their thoughts on the subject8 ,whether it is passed over with indifference1 presuming you shall be as well off in the end as other people1 or are there moments when thoughts arise like these--,oh1 if death should overtake me as ,i am--so careless1 so unconcerned1 so thoughtless1 and yet unpardoned6 ,oh1 if my name should be left out--and how can ,i expect anything else--so prayerless as ,i am1 for the most part1 and my performance so unlike prayer when ,i do make the attempt8 ,oh1 if ,i could but know that the dear ,lord had a favour towards me6 ,why1 if all the world were mine1 ,i would lay it all down this minute to be sure that ,jesus died for me8 ,and is there sometimes a little thought stealing from thine heart1 and a tear like a drop of the morning dew trickling from thine eye1 which says1 ,oh1 if ever ,i should be able to say1 ',bless the ,lord1 ,o my soul1' how ,i should leap for joy to be thus quite sure of being the ,lord's8 ,then1 if this is your feeling after ,christ ,jesus1 ,i will tell you how it will be with you some day4 ,the ,lord1 who has said1 ,seek1 and ye shall find1 will give you the desire of your heart1 even pardon and peace through faith in ,his blood1 and at last-- ,when shivering in the arms of death1 ,when friends shall watch thy parting breath1 ,though then thy lips can no more speak1 ,though deathly paleness clads thy cheek1 ,glory shall fill thy soul4 ,t4 ,g4 ,,our ,,bible ,,class4 ,,gleanings ,,from ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,ruth4 ,the ,book of ,ruth is supposed to have been written in the reign of her great-grandson1 perhaps by his own pen4 ,it is a beautifully interesting story4 ,as a fragment of history1 it is connected with the birth of ,david and of ,david's ,lord4 ,as a record of ,god's providence1 it shows how all things work together for good to them that love ,god1 to them who are the called according to ,his purpose4 ,the two chief personages in this ,book1 the hero and heroine of the narrative1 are ,boaz1 the near kinsman of ,naomi1 the mighty man of wealth in ,bethlehem1 and ,ruth1 the ,moabitess1 the stranger and foreigner1 who left her own people and her father's false gods1 and came to put her trust beneath the shadow of ,jehovah's wings4 ,we will look at the hero first1 because1 though the ,book is called by ,ruth's name1 all her honour was derived from her connection with ,israel1 the chosen nation1 to which ,boaz naturally belonged1 and because1 as we think of his riches1 his faithfulness1 and his kindness1 we cannot help exclaiming1 ,surely a ,greater than ,boaz is here6 ,he was the near kinsman of ,naomi's husband1 and the same ,hebrew word is called redeemer 7,job xix4 #be74 ,and how often we speak of ,jesus as the ,redeemer1 who gave ,himself a ,ransom for many4 ,the ancient goel1 or near kinsman1 had many important rights and responsibilities4 ,abraham was nearly related to ,lot1 and when the latter was taken prisoner1 his uncle took all his servants with him and went to the rescue1 because he was his near kinsman1 and he redeemed him by conquest1 through the help of ,god1 in whom he trusted 7,gen4 xiv474 ,if a man of ,israel died1 leaving no children to take his property1 his near kinsman1 if unmarried1 was expected to marry the widow1 and the children that they might have afterwards were to be called by the name and take the lands of the first husband4 ,if a ,hebrew became poor1 and sold his land--or1 still worse1 sold himself for a slave--his kinsman was expected to redeem him and his possessions if he could 7,lev4 xxv4 #be1 #dg-di74 ,thus ,boaz1 as ,naomi's kinsman1 redeemed her inheritance1 and married the childless widow of her son ,chilion1 the woman who was no longer to be called a stranger and a foreigner1 but a fellow-subject of ,israel's ,god and ,king4 ,so ,jesus--who redeemed ,his ,church1 ,his bride1 ,his people1 and secured to them the rich inheritance they had lost by sin--was1 and is1 the ,near ,kinsman of ,his beloved ones4 ,they were1 and always will be1 a people near unto ,him 7,psa4 cxlviii4 #ad74 ,his own kindred ,he called them when ,he came to redeem them 7,matt4 xii4 #ej74 ,his ,father loved them1 and ,he loved them also1 and the kindness of ,god the ,saviour was shown when ,he came down from heaven for their sakes4 ,kindness6 ,sweet word6 ,it means the act of a kinsman1 and ,god's kindness is loving-kindness1 the sweetest description we can possibly have of the tender pity and grace of the ,lord4 ,but the kindness shown by ,boaz was only a dim shadow of the love of the ,great ,redeemer from above4 ,he did not make much sacrifice apparently when he purchased ,naomi's inheritance and made ,ruth his wife1 but ye know the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who1 though ,he was rich1 yet for your sakes ,he became poor1 that ye through ,his poverty might be rich4 ,and more1 far more1 than this--,he suffered scorn1 and shame1 and death itself--the bitterest of deaths4 ,he gave ,himself--,he laid down the life that was so dear to ,himself1 so precious to ,his ,father--that ,he might redeem1 buy them back to ,god by ,his blood4 ,he endured their punishment1 ,he paid their debts1 and then1 since ,satan had made them his slaves1 like ,abraham1 ,jesus fought for ,his kindred1 only ,he fought alone4 ,he conquered the strong one1 and set the captives free1 and ,satan still must yield up his prey at ,christ's command4 ,the ,redeemer ever proves ,himself mighty to save those for whom ,he died4 ,then ,ruth furnishes us with a striking picture of one who is seeking ,jesus4 ,she was not a native of the promised land--not born of ,israelitish parents4 ,she reminds us of what ,paul says--we all are1 as sinners1 children of disobedience1 children of wrath1 far from ,god by wicked works4 ,but a change came over her mind and spirit4 ,the ,lord opened her heart to attend unto the things spoken by ,naomi4 ,a new1 a heavenly light dawned upon her1 and she saw the evil of idolatry and sin--the beauty of holiness and ,god--so that1 like ,moses1 she chose rather to suffer affliction with ,his people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season4 ,she would sooner lodge with ,naomi in poverty1 than dwell in comfort among her former companions2 and before she thought of being enriched and made happy by ,boaz1 she had chosen that good part which shall never be taken away from those who seek and find it4 ,the diligent shall be made prosperous1 and ,ruth gleaned in the fields of ,boaz before she knew anything of the relationship he bore to her late husband's family4 ,she was not ashamed to labour as a poor and needy woman1 and she gained a good supply of corn from her work by the special favour of ,boaz4 ,there is a remarkable little word connected with her choice of that field4 ,it was her hap to light upon it--a word not very often found in the ,bible1 which always traces everything1 great or small1 to the will and permission of ,god4 ,yet this syllable of three letters came of purpose into the record1 and teaches us that all the accidents of our lives1 pleasant as well as painful1 are directed and overruled by the ,lord4 ,things come to pass1 and we are filled with wonder1 but it is because ,he doeth all things well4 ,about thirty years ago1 one ,sabbath morning1 a group of youths were starting from ,clerkenwell1 intending to spend the day gathering blackberries in ,highgate ,woods4 ,it so happened that a dispute arose just outside the chapel where my late dear ,pastor preached1 and one lad refused to go any further with his companions4 ,to while away the time he peeped into the chapel just as the hymn1 ,when ,thou1 my righteous ,judge1 shalt come1 was being given out1 and he ventured to slip into a seat in the gallery4 ,he was so much impressed by what he heard that he came again1 was savingly converted to ,god1 was baptized1 and remained for many years an honourable member of the ,church4 ,his hap was to light upon a field of ,gospel corn1 and he received a rich blessing1 but his steps1 like ,ruth's1 were directed by the ,lord4#ad #ad ,from the ,memoir of the late ,mr4 ,john ,hazelton4 ,and we learn the benefit of wise1 ,christian counsel4 ,ruth needed ,naomi very much1 poor and lonely though she was4 ,from her she learned the good news of the rich man's kinship2 from her she received instructions how to act so as to ensure his protection and care4 ,her conduct1 strange as it would be to-day1 was in those early times quite in harmony with the behaviour of a virtuous1 modest woman1 but it has its chief charm when we see in it a picture of one who is seeking ,jesus4 ,some dear ,christian friend1 like ,naomi1 encourages and instructs the youthful seeker by telling of the love and grace of the ,saviour1 and saying1 as a beloved minister once said to a young person1 ,i cannot give you the blessing2 ,he can4 ,naomi wanted the help of ,boaz as well as ,ruth1 and all ,god's people1 old or young1 strong or weak1 need and crave the loving care of ,jesus1 but it is a privilege and joy to commend one another to ,him1 and tell of ,his goodness and grace who is rich unto all that call upon ,him4 ,in seeking ,ruth's happiness ,naomi found her own great joy 7see chap4 iv4 #ad74 ,in dutiful consideration for ,naomi1 ,ruth obtained a hundred-fold more than she could ever have hoped to find1 as an honoured wife and mother favoured with both earthly and heavenly prosperity4 ,those who honour ,god ,he will honour4 ,those who water others shall be watered themselves4 ,may we receive from the ,lord that spirit of love which seeks the welfare of others1 and the glory of ,god1 as well as our own happiness4 ,our next subject will be1 ,isaiah xxxv4 #h--,the ,king's ,highway1 and its ,travellers4 ,your affectionate friend1 ,h4 ,s4 ,l4 ,,the ,,editor',s ,,closing ,,address ,,to ,,his ,,young ,,friends4 ,dear young friends1--,we are nearing the close of another year1 and we may be nearer the close of our mortal career than we think4 ,what a mercy if we belong to ,christ6 ,if so1 we are blessed indeed1 for those who are ,his are forgiven their iniquity1 are justified from all unrighteousness1 are reconciled to ,god1 and made accepted in the ,beloved4 ,oh1 that you1 dear reader1 may enjoy that blessed portion6 ,then1 come poverty or wealth1 sickness or health1 life or death1 all will be well with you4 ,all such are the children of ,god1 and none besides4 ,to those who love ,him1 ,he will say1 ,come1 ye blessed of ,my ,father2 but to those who are without ,christ ,he will say1 ,depart1 ye cursed6 ,which will be your lot8 ,god grant that you may be taught to flee as sinners to ,him who died for the ungodly1 and who has said1 ,him that cometh unto ,me ,i will in no wise cast out4 ,we trust you will never find rest and peace only in coming to ,christ4 ,if our feeble labours in sending forth the ,,gleaner are but blessed to this end1 we shall be amply rewarded1 and we wish the ,lord to have all the glory4 ,dear young friends1 we do not ask you to join the ,salvation ,army1 so called1 but we hope you may be an army yourselves1 seeking to spread abroad good reading among both young and old2 and we believe that the ,,gleaner and ,,sower will be found most acceptable and adapted for such a purpose1 therefore we ask you to join the ,try ,army1 and shall be glad to receive the names of any who are willing to enlist1 to whom we will send sixteen ,magazines1 post free1 monthly1 for one shilling and twopence4 ,the postage rate1 however1 will not allow us to send a less number at a reduction1 but a larger number can be sent in proportion1 for schools4 ,the ,almanacks are nicely got up1 and will be found useful to put on walls in bed-rooms1 c4 ,we hope that you will get orders for as many as possible4 ,we will send fifteen for one shilling1 post free2 no less number can be sent at a reduction4 ,this we do to encourage our readers to obtain subscribers1 and to spread abroad the ,magazines4 ,the ,yearly ,volumes are very nice books for presents4 ,,gleaner1 picture boards1 very attractive1 three volumes1 four shillings2 ,,gleaner1 cloth1 also ,,sower1 cloth1 three volumes1 five shillings1 post free4 ,now1 dear young friends1 we hope you will become a ,try ,army1 and that we shall see pleasing results arise from your efforts4 ,we hope1 too1 if spared1 shortly to greet you again with ,a ,happy ,new ,year1 and may the ,lord bless you each and all with the best of all blessings1 that we and you may rejoice together in ,his mercy1 and live to show forth ,his praise4 ,trusting you will not forget us1 and that we may still be helped to pray and labour for your good1 we remain1 ,your affectionate friend1 ,,the ,,editor4 ,p4,s4--,scatter abroad our ,friendly ,words1 #as4 #f;d4 per hundred1 post free4 ,all are pleased to receive them4 ,,an ,,explanation4 ,in inserting the article1 ,the ,fish that ,swallowed ,jonah1 in last month's ,,gleaner1 we had no idea of controverting the testimony of ,scripture1 but merely to show that the quibbles raised by sceptics1 as to the truth of a whale being able to do so1 are at least very silly4 ,god could very easily prepare a whale for such a purpose4 ,but1 as sharks are included in the term used in the original by ,christ1 the word fish1 as in ,jonah1 would be quite as correct4 ,,the ,,editor4 ,,prize ,,essay4 ,,the ,,disobedience ,,of ,,our ,,first ,,parents1 ,,and ,,its ,,results4 ,in the ,bible it is said that ,adam was formed before ,eve1 and that they were both placed in ,eden1 where there was one tree of which ,god said they might not eat4 ,it is also said that ,adam was not deceived1 but the woman1 being deceived1 was first in the transgression 7#a ,tim4 ii4 #ac1 #ad74 ,probably the woman was by herself when the tempter came to her in the likeness of a serpent1 and told her that she would not die if she partook of the fruit which ,god had commanded her not to eat2 but if they took of it they would be as gods1 knowing good and evil4 ,with this saying the tempter succeeded in getting the woman to take the fruit of the tree of which ,god told her not to eat1 for she looked upon it as a tree good for food1 pleasant to the eyes1 and a tree to be desired to make one wise 7,gen4 iii4 #f71 and she wanted to be as ,god4 ,all this was instilled into the heart of the woman by the tempter1 and ,god being left out of her thoughts1 she now takes of the fruit of the tree1 eats of it1 and gives to her husband1 and he also eats of it4 ,such was the fact of disobedience1 which was most heinous in the sight of ,god4 ,thus they both fell from that happy state by this one act of disobedience1 and were no longer allowed to remain in paradise4 ,their life was forfeited4 ,man became dead in sin1 and was placed at a great distance from ,god1 no more in paradise1 but under the power of the prince and ruler of this world4 ,the result of this act of disobedience has filled the earth with pride1 self-will1 and violence2 for all the vice and misery that have ever been known in this world1 have been the result of disobedience4 ,all that descend from ,adam are born in his fallen image1 are sinners against ,god1 and judgment has come upon all men to condemnation4 ,but where sin abounded1 grace has much more abounded1 since ,christ1 the ,seed of the woman1 has come1 as ,god said1 and has bruised the serpent's head1 that as sin has reigned unto death1 even so might grace reign1 through righteousness1 unto eternal life1 by ,jesus ,christ our ,lord 7,rom4 v4 #bj1 #ba71 who hath abolished death1 and brought life and immortality to light by the ,gospel 7#b ,tim4 i4 #aj72 and by ,his act of obedience unto death1 even the death of the cross1 believers are made righteous in ,him--,for if by one man's offence death reigned by one1 much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by ,one1 ,jesus ,christ 7,rom4 v4 #ag74 ,,james ,,herbert ,,collins 7,aged #aa years74 ,commissariat ,office1 ,cork4 ,very good ,essays have also been received from ,ada ,cannings1 ,leonard ,lucock1 ,bessie ,hills1 ,e4 ,b4 ,knocker1 ,w4 ,e4 ,cray1 ,w4 ,a4 ,tooke1 and ,r4 ,a4 ,stevens4 ,the writer of the above ,essay receives a copy of ,the ,loss of ,all ,things for ,christ4 ,the subject for ,february will be1 ,why was ,saul ,rejected of ,god8 and the prize to be given for the best ,essay on that subject1 a copy of ,the ,life of ,john ,newton4 ,all competitors must give a guarantee that they are under fifteen years of age1 and that the ,essay is their own composition1 or the papers will be passed over1 as the ,editor cannot undertake to write for this necessary information4 ,papers must be sent direct to the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings1 by the first of ,january4 ,,if aught good thou canst not say ,of thy brother1 foe1 or friend1 ,take thou1 then1 the silent way1 ,lest in word thou shouldst offend4 ,interesting ,items4 ,m4 ,,de ,,lesseps declares that the ,panama ,canal will be opened in ,july1 #ahij4 ,,since the beginning of her reign1 ,queen ,victoria has been paid approximately ,l#cj1jjj1jjj by her subjects4 ,,the daily consumption of needles in ,america is said to be #d1bjj1jjj1 most of which come from ,redditch1 ,england4 ,,there are #c1ajj ,smiths enrolled in the city directory of ,philadelphia4 ,there are #bej ,john ,smiths and #caj ,william ,smiths4 ,,capture ,,of ,a ,,sword ,,fish4--,a specimen of the sword fish was captured1 a week or two ago1 in ,long ,reach1 ,milton ,creek1 ,sittingbourne1 by a bargeman4 ,the fish measured #e ft4 #b in4 from end of tail to tip of sword4 ,,caroline ,,herschel1 the accomplished partner of her brother's astronomical labours1 never could remember the multiplication table1 and always had to carry a copy of it about with her4 ,,there are now in the ,united ,kingdom #a1cej workmen's retail stores1 with nearly one million members1 and a capital of ,l#i1jjj1jjj1 besides some millions on deposit4 ,the sales last year to members were over ,l#be1jjj1jjj1 with ,l#c1jjj1jjj profits4 ,,valuable ,,remedy ,,for ,,erysipelas4--,one handful of sage1 two handfuls of elder leaves1 one ounce of alum4 ,the whole of the foregoing to be boiled in a quart of iron water from the blacksmith's forge1 until reduced to a pint4 ,to be used as a wash4 ,,thomas ,,emmitt1 a man employed on the permanent way of the ,lancashire and ,yorkshire ,railway1 has received intimation that a gold medal will be presented to him for his bravery in jumping on to a runaway engine at ,blackburn1 and stopping it4 ,,it is said that1 in #ahhg1 no fewer than #bb1aca human beings died from snake-bite in ,india1 and the number of cattle killed by snakes was #b1ead2 #dag1eif snakes were destroyed1 and #be1cfj rupees were paid by the ,government as rewards for their destruction4 ,,the question of the ,sunday opening of libraries is being excitedly agitated in ,bolton4 ,a week or two ago ,lord ,hobhouse addressed a meeting1 presided over by the ,vicar1 in favour of opening1 and quoted a letter in support from the ,bishop of ,manchester4 ,the clergy of the diocese have organized an opposition1 the ,vicar standing alone in support of the opening1 and recently1 at a large gathering1 a resolution against opening was carried with the wildest enthusiasm1 an amendment by a leading ,socialist being defeated4 ,,the probabilities of there being large coal deposits under ,london are discussed at considerable length by a correspondent of the ,times4 ,the speculations of geologists on the subject have recently been much assisted by several deep borings1 the principal of which have been those of ,kentish ,town4 ,a ,,boat drifted from its moorings off ,camia2 a fishing village nine miles from ,boulogne1 on ,tuesday evening1 ,october #afth4 ,an old fisherman1 named ,charles ,coffier1 was the only person on board1 and he had nothing to eat for four nights and three and a half days1 when the boat was driven by a breeze into ,hastings4 ,,the ,queen reads1 or rather1 has read to her1 the ,times and the ,morning ,post every morning4 ,copies are sent direct to her1 printed on specially thick paper4 ,her secretary goes through them1 marks with a blue pencil all the important items1 and these are then read to her by the two ladies who officiate as readers4 ,,sunday ,,school ,,anniversary1 ,,milton ,,street1 ,,hollinwood1 ,,lancashire4--,this was held on ,october #adth1 when two sermons were preached1 morning and evening1 by ,mr4 ,d4 ,smith1 of ,halifax1 and an address was delivered by ,mr4 ,j4 ,holgate1 of ,burnley1 special hymns being sung by the scholars4 ,the congregations were good1 and the services were much appreciated4 ,the collections amounted to ,l#ac #ads4 #aa;d4 ,c4 ,h4 ,w4 ,,roman ,,catholic ,,pilgrims ,,in ,,westminster ,,abbey4--,on ,saturday1 ,october #acth1 the ,feast of ,st4 ,edward1 ,king and ,confessor1 was celebrated in all the ,roman ,catholic churches in ,london1 and with more than ordinary pomp at that of ,,ss4 ,peter and ,edward 7which is dedicated to his memory7 in ,palace ,street1 ,westminster1 where a ,pontifical ,high ,mass coram episcopo was sung by ,dr4 ,j4 ,l4 ,patterson1 ,bishop of ,emmaus4 ,at the conclusion of the ,mass1 the congregation1 which included several persons who had come from ,preston and other parts of ,lancashire and different counties of ,england for the occasion1 formed a procession and wended their way to the ,abbey1 where they offered up prayers at the shrine of ,st4 ,edward1 ,king and ,confessor4 ,no opposition was offered to the pilgrims and devotees by the authorities of the ,abbey4 ,where is our ,protestantism gone to8 ,,chinese is spoken by #djj1jjj1jjj1 ,hindostani by something more than #ajj1jjj1jjj1 ,english by more than #ajj1jjj1jjj1 ,russian by more than #gj1jjj1jjj1 ,german by more than #eh1jjj1jjj1 and ,french by about #dj1jjj1jjj4 ,,will ,spain ever be tolerant8 ,the ,supreme ,court of ,madrid has confirmed the decision of a provincial tribunal condemning a ,spanish ,protestant to five days' imprisonment1 with a fine of one pound and costs1 for having persisted in remaining with his hat on when he met a ,catholic procession4 ,,an ,,army ,,of ,,spiders4--,a dangerous spider that is found on the pampas of ,central ,america1 and belonging to the ,lycoss species1 is thus described in a letter3--,when a person passes near1 say within three or four feet of its lurking place1 it starts up and gives chase1 and will often follow for a distance of thirty or forty yards4 ,i came once very nearly getting bitten by one of these savage creatures4 ,riding at an easy trot over the dry grass1 ,i suddenly observed a spider pursuing me1 leaping swiftly along and keeping up with my beast4 ,i aimed a blow with my whip1 and the point of the lash struck the ground close to it1 when it leaped upon and ran up the lash1 and was within three or four inches of my hand1 when ,i flung the whip from me4 ,the gauchos have a very quaint ballad which tells that the city of ,cordova was once invaded by an army of monstrous spiders1 and that the townspeople went out with beating drums and flags flying to repel the invasion1 and1 after firing several volleys1 they were forced to return and fly for their lives4 ,,the ,,whale ,,hunt ,,at ,,spithead4--,the little coast villages of ,bembridge and ,sea ,view1 in the ,isle of ,wight1 were thrown into quite a commotion on ,friday1 ,september #bast1 by the appearance of a huge whale1 between thirty and forty feet long1 off the mouth of ,brading ,harbour4 ,it was observed to be swimming about early in the morning1 and the little steamer ,island ,queen1 which runs between ,southsea and ,bembridge1 had an unpleasant meeting with the creature4 ,much to the alarm of the passengers1 the whale would keep company1 and for some time it was dangerously close to the little vessel4 ,it furiously lashed the sea with its tail1 and commenced to blow1 the result being that the captain1 who was on the bridge1 and many of the passengers were deluged with water4 ,no harm1 however1 was done1 and the steamer eventually got clear1 the whale swimming out to sea4 ,later on it again put in an appearance1 but by this time the islanders were ready for it1 and a large number of fishing-boats1 watermen1 and others put out4 ,the creature was surrounded1 and was at length shot4 ,it was then towed on to ,sea ,view beach1 where it has been visited by some hundreds of people4 ,at high tide the whale was partially covered4 ,its dimensions are as follow--length of fish1 #ce ft42 girth1 #bj ft42 length of mouth from point to top of jaw1 #g ft42 length of fins1 #d ft4 each2 width of tail1 #h ft42 supposed weight1 #aj tons4 ,estimated value of a sperm whale1 ,l#ajj4 ,the whale has been purchased by ,mr4 ,g4 ,drover1 of ,cowes4 ,,chimneys4--,in the year #abjj chimneys were scarcely known in ,england4 ,one only was allowed in a religious house1 one in a manor house1 and one in the great hall of a castle or lord's house2 but in other houses the smoke found its way out as it could4 ,the writers of the fourteenth century seem to have considered them as the newest invention of luxury4 ,in ,henry ,,viii4's reign the ,university of ,oxford had no fire allowed1 for it is mentioned that after the students had supped1 having no fire in the winter1 they were obliged to take a good run for half an hour to get heat in their feet before they retired for the night4 ,holinshed1 in the reign of ,elizabeth1 describes the rudeness of the preceding generation in the arts of life4 ,there were1 says he1 very few chimneys2 even in the capital towns the fire was laid to the wall1 and the smoke issued out at the door1 roof1 or window4 ,the houses were wattled and plastered over with clay1 and all the furniture and utensils were of wood4 ,in #afci a tax of two shillings was laid on chimneys4 ,,behind ,,the ,,scenes ,,in ,,the ,,post ,,office4--,how can one get admitted to the ,general ,post ,office1 and what departments are best worth seeing there8 asks ,a ,country ,cleric4 ,admission to that remarkably interesting building1 the ,general ,post ,office1 can be had on application to the ,secretary4 ,a banker's reference is necessary4 ,the sight is one well worth seeing1 and should on no account be missed by country visitors to ,london4 ,visitors are admitted at six in the evening1 and are shown over the telegraph department4 ,here may be seen the pneumatic tubes1 through which messages are received from many parts of ,london4 ,into this office run wires from ,belfast1 ,edinburgh1 and all parts of the ,united ,kingdom1 and the whole system is explained by an expert4 ,crossing the road one then enters the ,post ,office itself4 ,here one sees the blind men1 as they are called1 at work deciphering illegible addresses2 and men and machines stamping postmarks at the rate of from one hundred to three hundred a minute4 ,but in order to see the ,post ,office properly1 two or three visits should be made4 ,not one person in a hundred has any notion of the peculiar experiences of a letter between the times of its postage and receipt4 ,published on the first of every ,month4 ,price ,one ,penny4 ,,the ,,little ,,gleaner4 ,an ,illustrated ,monthly ,magazine of ,religious and ,general ,instruction for ,children4 ,the ,editor seeks as much as possible to make this ,magazine both interesting and useful to its readers1 and hopes that all true friends of the young will try to secure for it a still wider circulation4 99 99 99 99 99 ,published on the first of every ,month4 ,price ,one ,penny4 ,,the ,,sower ,is well adapted for general circulation1 since it aims to spread abroad the pure truth of the ,gospel of ,christ4 ,seeing how very industriously the abettors of error sow their tares1 lovers of truth1 with equal or greater industry1 should sow that truth which is able to make wise unto salvation1 through faith which is in ,christ ,jesus4 ,the ,editor earnestly solicits all who desire the spread of ,bible truth to help him in this work by increasing the circulation of ,,the ,,little ,,gleaner and ,,the ,,sower4 ,two1 four1 six1 or more copies of the above ,magazines post free of the ,,editor1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings4 ,london3 ,,houlston ,,and ,,sons1 ,paternoster ,buildings4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,friendly ,,words4 ,this is a little work of four pages1 ,,gleaner size1 which we publish monthly1 for the purpose of supplying friends with a sheet of short readings1 which will suit many who do not care to read page after page of a magazine or lengthy tract4 ,it has a front-page illustration1 which renders it very attractive in general distribution4 ,we hope our friends will spread them freely everywhere4 ,wherever ,i distribute ,,friendly ,,words1 ,i find they are most heartily welcomed and eagerly read4 ,i hope they will be widely circulated1 and that the ,lord will make them very useful among the masses4--,l4 ,t4 ,i am pleased to see how eagerly ,,friendly ,,words are received and read where ,i distribute them4 ,i only wish that all who desire the good of souls1 would spread them abroad wherever they can do so4--,s4 ,will other friends kindly try this plan8 ,they can have a good assortment at a small cost4 ,price #as4 #f;d4 per #ajj2 #c;d4 per dozen 7assorted packets at the same price74 ,post free from the ,,editor1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,annual ,,volumes of ,,gleaner and ,,sower4 ,these ,volumes are acknowledged to be most admirably adapted for ,presents1 where sound and interesting books are desired4 ,the ,,little ,,gleaner1 ,boards1 ,illustrated #as4 #f;d41 or six vols1 for #hs4 ,the ,,little ,,gleaner1 ,cloth1 do4 #bs4 do4 #ajs4 ,the ,,sower1 ,cloth1 do4 #bs4 do4 #ajs4 ,sent1 at above prices1 post free1 if ordered of the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings4 99 99 99 99 99 ,fact ,superior to ,fiction4 ,,our ,,young ,,people',s ,,treasury4--,vols4 ,i4 and ,,ii4 ,these little ,volumes contain a collection of interesting narratives1 setting forth the good old truths of the ,gospel1 and will1 we believe1 help to meet a want greatly felt in our families and schools1 as they supply sound ,scriptural reading in an interesting form1 without resorting to fictitious tales4 ,we earnestly commend them to all who seek the good of the rising race1 as books which may1 with the ,lord's blessing1 be of great spiritual use among the young4 ,price ,one ,shilling each1 or eight volumes for #fs4 #f;d41 post free1 if ordered of the ,editor1 ,mr4 ,t4 ,,hull1 #aag1 ,high ,street1 ,hastings4 ,,index4 ,,page ,about ,swearing1 #bbe ,admiral ,pye and the ,inquisitors1 #bca ,aged ,pilgrim's ,history1 ,an1 #ahc ,answer of ,george ,,iii4 to ,lord ,grenville1 #ff ,answers to ,bible ,enigmas1 #ai1 #bh1 #ei1 #hh1 #aac1 #adb1 #agd1 #ahe1 #bch1 #bdg1 #bga ,anti-,romish ,book1 ,the1 #bgc ,ask ,on1 #bjc ,be ,gentle1 #bh ,beware of ,thorns1 #aca ,bible and its ,claims1 ,the #bbb ,bible ,class1 ,our1 #bj1 #dd1 #fg1 #ia1 #aae1 #adj1 #afc1 #ahh1 #baa1 #bce1 #bfj1 #bge ,bible ,enigmas1 #da1 #ff1 #ia1 #ajf1 #acj1 #afe1 #agd1 #bac1 #bce1 #bee1 #bgc ,bible ,subjects1 #aa1 #ce1 #eb1 #ha1 #aag1 #ada1 #afe1 #ahg1 #bad1 #bcg1 #bee1 #bfh ,bible with ,pins in it1 ,a1 #ff ,biblical ,discovery1 #bi ,birthday ,wish1 #beg ,blind ,tortoise in the ,well1 #acj ,blind ,widow1 ,the1 #bff ,brand ,plucked out of the ,fire1 ,a1 #bbh ,brave ,rescue1 ,a1 #hd ,brimstone or ,sulphur1 #bef ,brother's ,dream1 ,a1 #ajc ,brought to the ,fold1 #aea ,budding of ,hope1 ,a1 #ea ,bunyan's ,death1 #bgb ,caring for the ,little ,ones1 #ej ,charcoal ,burner's ,star1 ,the1 #g1 #cj ,charlie ,coulson1 the ,drummer-,boy1 #agj ,child and the ,emperor1 ,the1 #bei ,child ,heroism1 #bcb ,child's ,prayer1 ,a1 #bb ,cingalese ,rock ,fortress1 ,a1 #aed ,clever ,boy and ,electrical ,machine1 #aad ,cost of a ,broken ,sabbath1 #acb ,counting the ,cost1 #abf ,cousin ,susan's ,note-,book on ,father ,chiniquy1 #ef1 #gf1 #aja1 #aeb1 #bja ,covenanter's ,escape and ,death1 ,the1 #adf ,day's ,work1 ,a1 #adg ,dear ,old ,times1 ,the1 #abd ,denied1 yet ,answered1 #bea ,destruction of ,sodom and ,gomorrah1 #bbj ,dirge of an ,englishwoman1 ,the1 #eg ,divine ,guidance1 #aei ,divine ,providence1 ,a1 #ii ,draw ,me1 #hc ,drunkard's ,will1 ,a1 #bcc ,dutch and their ,country1 ,the1 #bji ,duties of ,brothers and ,sisters1 #bei ,edison's ,phonograph1 #agb ,editor's ,closing ,address to his ,young ,friends1 ,the1 #bgh ,editor's ,new ,year's ,address1 #b ,enemies of ,god and ,his ,people ,scattered1 #dj ,experiences in the ,arctic ,ocean1 #eh ,explanation1 ,an1 #bgh ,extraordinary ,story of the ,sea1 #bgb ,facts about ,ocean ,steamships1 #aig ,famous ,dog1 ,a1 #hb ,few ,words from the ,dumb1 #ajh ,fish that ,swallowed ,jonah1 ,the1 #bdf ,flesh-,eating ,plants1 #hc ,flying ,foxes1 #ahj ,from ,darkness to ,light1 #cd ,fugitive in the ,himalaya ,mountains1 ,a1 #ajg ,generosity and ,love1 #ahe ,good ,example1 ,a1 #bjh ,great ,events1 #bdb ,great ,exhibition of #ahea1 #aif ,heroic ,scotch ,student1 ,a1 #beh ,he ,went ,wrong1 but ,he ,found ,mercy1 #bfi ,hint to ,boys1 ,a1 #aeh ,hint to ,parents1 ,a1 #da ,his ,title-,deeds1 #afc ,honouring the ,lord's ,day1 #beb ,hopeful ,case1 ,a1 #aie ,hop-,picking4--,the ,last ,pole1 #bgd ,house on the ,sand1 ,the1 #agc ,how a ,great ,mistake was ,discovered1 #ci ,how to ,select a ,boy1 #aec ,hyacinth1 ,the1 #bai ,incident in the ,life of a ,barrister1 #gd ,insecurity of ,palestine1 #beg ,interesting ,items1 #bc1 #dg1 #ga1 #ie1 #aai1 #adc1 #afg1 #aia1 #bae1 #bci1 #bfc1 #bhj ,is not a ,man ,better than an ,egg81 #bjd ,jesuit and the ,bible1 ,the1 #ih ,jesus ,loves ,me61 #afj ,johnnie's ,christmas1 #bga ,juvenile ,gems1 #abg1 #adh ,keep the ,star in ,sight1 #fe ,kenilworth ,castle1 #afa ,killed by ,lightning1 #ahb ,kindness to ,animals1 #id ,land of ,giants1 ,the1 #bcd ,let ,no ,man ,despise ,thee1 #df ,letter by a ,dying ,soldier1 #aid ,lines on the ,new ,year1 #e ,little by ,little1 #agi ,little ,helps by ,large ,hearts1 #bbg ,little ,johnnie1 #bee ,little ,kindnesses1 #bcc ,little ,scotch ,granite1 #bah ,lost and ,found1 #abb ,mankind's ,mistakes1 #bbb ,mary had a ,little ,lamb1 #aii ,memoir of ,carrie ,foord1 #age ,memoir of ,ellen and ,henry ,hoad1 #bdh ,memoir of ,emma ,beesley1 #aaj ,memoir of ,mary ,stubbs1 #gh ,model ,prayer-,meeting1 ,a1 #ahd ,modes of ,travel in ,persia1 #ge ,morning's ,walk in a ,country ,lane1 ,a1 #fc ,mummy of ,sesostris1 ,the1 #hd ,nails ,gone1 but ,marks ,left1 #bad ,nature her own ,surgeon1 #bbd ,new ,telephone1 ,a1 #bjc ,nothing to ,thank ,god ,for1 #aed ,old ,clock's ,advice1 ,an1 #bch ,old ,quilt and its ,story1 ,an1 #ab ,one ,link ,gone1 #ajh ,one ,poor ,stone1 #fb ,only ,once1 #d ,orphan ,bess1 #aih ,penny ,piece1 ,the1 #bbg ,pharisee and the ,publican1 #ic ,pitcairn ,islanders and the ,queen1 ,the1 #bfa ,pleading1 #bgc ,points to be ,aimed ,at1 #abd ,postal ,service ,statistics1 #bbc ,power of ,kindness1 #bcg ,prayer ,answered1 #aab ,precious ,blood of ,christ1 ,the1 #bbf ,priest and the ,lady1 ,the1 #afb ,priest's ,thoughts of ,roman ,catholic ,miracles1 #abe ,prince ,consort's ,opinion of ,popery1 #ff ,prize ,essays1 #ba1 #de1 #fi1 #ic1 #aag1 #adb1 #afe1 #aij1 #bac1 #bcg1 #bfb1 #bgi ,prompt ,kindness1 #ajf ,queer ,fisherman1 ,a1 #aee ,questions with ,answers1 #gg ,ragged ,tom1 #aci ,rare and ,costly ,bibles1 #bjb ,receiving the ,truth1 #acg ,red ,sea ,rock1 ,a1 #afa ,saved by ,grace1 #aef ,scotch ,thistle1 ,the1 #ee ,scripture ,enigma1 #aj ,sense and ,senses of ,animals1 #aca ,singular ,cause of ,death1 #ei ,soft ,answer1 ,a1 #baa ,soft ,pillow1 ,a1 #acf ,something about ,foxes1 #fj ,stage-,coach ,companion1 ,my1 #af ,stand ,back1 #afc ,sunday ,school ,meetings3-- ,burwash1 ,providence1 #baj ,clifton1 #baj ,fleckney1 ,carmel1 #baj ,gower ,street1 #ach ,greenwich1 ,devonshire ,road1 #hi ,hand ,cross1 ,zoar ,chapel1 #ahf ,hastings1 ,ebenezer1 #db ,trowbridge1 ,zion1 #ahg ,sympathy1 #bjj ,talking ,with a ,man ,seven ,thousand ,miles ,off1 #bdg ,terrible ,experience of a ,shipwrecked ,crew1 #bfh ,the ,day of ,small ,things1 #cf ,there is ,no ,rest in ,hell1 #ec ,this is the ,way2 ,walk ,ye in ,it1 #hf ,thou ,god ,seest ,me1 #hf ,thrilling ,scenes at the ,forth ,bridge ,works1 #fg ,touching ,incident1 #c ,two ,brave ,children1 #aeh ,two ,ways of ,descending1 #ajj ,under the ,london ,streets1 #bjj ,unseen ,protection1 #agc ,value of ,work1 ,the1 #ge ,visit to the ,idrian ,mines1 #hg ,what a ,tract may ,do1 #bf ,wisdom1 #aac ,wise and ,foolish ,builders1 #ij ,wonderful ,grace1 #ae ,words and ,deeds1 #bai ,word to ,self-,seekers1 ,a1 #fi ,word with ,power1 ,the1 #bbf ,transcriber's note3 #a4 ,punctuation has been normalized4 ,inconsistent hyphenation and spellings have been left as printed4 #b4 ,the illustration caption on page #bjd is missing text following 7see-- ,,what ,,do ,,you ,,know ,,about ,,mr4 ,,thorn',s ,,eggs8 7see #c4 ,page #bca having been on a voyage to ,spain--missing word on was added4