THE FIRESIDE. THE PENNY POST BOX. Seven years of famine, once at God's command, Eight souls were saved, when, by Jehovah hurl'd, Nine leprous men, though heal'd, refused to raise What hope hast thou when God thy soul shall try? The Penny Post Box. ON BEING GIVEN TO LYING. As some people are sadly given to lying, especially when they are talking about some distant place, where they know those they are talking to have never been, and therefore cannot find them out, permit me to give your readers a copy of a Russian Fable, called, The Wonderful Bridge." "A nobleman, who had just returned from a tour through Southern Europe, one day took a walk with one of his friends. On the way, he spoke of the wonders he had seen in foreign countries, adding to the truth a good deal of invention. He was one of those Russians who are fond of vaunting foreign countries at the expense of their own, and he omitted no opportunity of comparing Russia very unfavourably with the lands he had just visited. Amongst other THE PENNY POST BOX. things, he spoke with much contempt of the variableness of the climate of Russia, which is sometimes as warm as that of Persia, and sometimes as cold as that of Iceland; and declared that, on the contrary, in France and Italy the weather never changed, but was always warm and sunny. He asserted that in those countries neither darkness nor winter ever came, but that the year was one perpetual day and perpetual spring. He added: "There, too, they neither plant nor sow; nevertheless their flowers and fruits are plentiful, and are the finest in the world. For instance, in Russia I never saw a cucumber longer than one's hand, but in Italy I saw one as large as a mountain!' "Indeed!' replied his companion; 'that was certainly a wonderful cucumber. I never heard of a greater marvel, though there are marvels everywhere. We find wonderful things in all countries, in Russia as well as in Italy. For instance, there is something just before us, the like of which, I feel convinced, was never seen elsewhere I mean the bridge we are coming to.' 'Ah, what of it, pray?' 'Why, it possesses this singularity-it will not allow a liar to pass over it. The moment a liar sets foot on it, it opens, and precipitates him into the river,' 'And is the river deep ?' 'It is the deepest in the province. Is not this bridge, with its determination to punish liars, as great a curiosity as the Italian cucumber, which was as large as a mountain?' 'As large as a mountain, did I say? Perhaps as large as a house would have been more correct.' "Well, certainly, a house is not so large as a mountain. Still a cucumber only as large as a house was a very great curiosity, though I do not think a greater than this bridge, which always refuses to let a liar cross over it.' 'No, not a greater, and, perhaps, after all, not so great a one as you think, for the houses in Italy are not nearly so large as ours; they are merely little cabins, in which you can but just stand upright, and which will not hold more than two or three persons at once.' 'Oh, well, if that be the case I shall insist that this bridge, which opens the moment a liar sets his foot on it, is the greater curiosity of the two. Still a cucumber as large as a hut, in which two or three persons could stand upright' The friends had now arrived at the foot of the Wonderful Bridge, and the nobleman here interrupted his companion. 'Stay' he said hastily, I recollect some important business. I cannot go any further to-day; I ought to have been at home an hour ago.' Ever since this was written-1819-the Russians have been accustomed to speak of a liar as one who "dare not cross the Wonderful Bridge.”" FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS. Facts, Hints, and Gems. Facts. DIGNITY OF LABOUR.-In early life David kept his father's sheep; his was a life of industry; and though foolish men think it degrading to perform any useful labour, yet in the eyes of wise men industry is truly honourable, and the most useful man is the happiest. A life of labour is man's natural condition, and most favourable to mental health and bodily vigour. Bishop Hall says, "Sweet is the destiny of all trades, whether of the brow or of the mind. God never allowed any man to do nothing." From the ranks of industry have the world's greatest men been taken. Rome was more than once saved by a man who was sent for from the plough. Moses bad been keeping sheep for forty years before he came forth as the deliverer of Israel. The apostles were chosen from amongst the hardy and laborious fishermen. From whence I infer that, when God has any great work to perform, he selects as his instruments those who, by their previous occupation, had acquired habits of industry, skill, and perseverance; and that, in every department of society, they are the most honourable who earn their own living by their own labour. WASTE OF LAND.-If we consider it to be a waste to employ land in the production of articles to be used in forming intoxicating liquors, the waste must be immense. A writer in a newspaper makes the following calculation: "There are 45,769 acres of land employed in the cultivation of hops, and one million acres of land employed to grow barley to convert into strong drink. According to Fulton's calculation, if the land which is employed in growing grain for the above purpose were to be appropriated to the production of grain for food, it would yield more than an annual four pound loaf to each of the supposed number of human beings in the world; or it would give three loaves per week to each family in the United Kingdom! If the loaves (each measuring four inches by twelve) were placed end to end they would extend 160,225 miles, or would more than describe the circumference of the globe six times!" But vast as this waste is it is a trifle when compared with that on the continent of Europe, where whole districts are devoted to the culture of the vine. Hints. SOMETHING MAY BE LEARNED even from those who may not in all things be as clever as yourself. A thrifty matron once said, "I never had a servant yet, however clumsy or stupid, from whom I did not learn something." JOKING AND JESTING.-You will generally find that the men who are the most ready to make jokes and jests on others, are the most unwilling to take back what they are so free in giving. A SELFISH MAN acts as if the world was made for him, and not he for the world. He would fain take in everything and give back nothing; like the desert of sand, which receives showers and sunshine, but gives forth neither fruits nor flowers. FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS. BODILY INFIRMITIES, like breaks in a wall, have often become avenues through which the light of heaven has entered to the soul, and made the imprisoned inmate long for release. CONTENTMENT is a pearl of great price, and be is a wise man who secures it, though at the expence of many things he would like to have. Gems. GOOD NEWS FOR THE GUILTY.God never pardons one sin, but he pardons all, and all for Christ's sake. Mind, you dishonour God more by not believing him when he says so, and he has said so, than ever you did by sinning against him; for if you do not believe his word you do all you can to make him a liar, which is horrible! WHEN ALL OUR SINS appear before our eyes in all their most horrid malignity and deformity, calling for our just condemnation, then is the time to turn and fix them steadily on the blood-stained cross of the Lamb of God. For the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. THE MERCY OF GOD is above all our sins or fears. You do not think so, perhaps; you wish you could. Well: he is able to do more than you can ask or think. CHRIST BORE OUR SINS in his own body on the tree. God, for Christ's sake, forgives our sins. Take away these facts, and you take away the sum and substance of the whole Bible. A TENDER CONSCIENCE is not soon satisfied. Only the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot unto God, can pacify it. WHAT A MERCY IT 18, that God himself assures us that he is more ready to forgive us, than we are to forgive ourselves, or to forgive one another. Poetic Selections. MAY GOD DEFEND OUR SABBATH-DAY. MY MANY WANTS. I WANT to live to bless my race, More grace and love within my heart; I want-oh God this want supply; R. C. THE BLACKBIRD'S SONG ON THE CHIMNEY TOP. EARLY one morning, two Sunday school teachers, passing along the street, had their attention fixed by a right merry sound-a whoop, a halloo, and a rantan-somewhere over head; then a prolonged "All up, sweep!" They looked up, and saw some little black thing perched upon a chimney top. Sure enough it was one of their hopeful pupils! The little fellow sung, just like a lark at heaven's gate, at five o'clock on a May morning, "The sorrows of the mind, Be banished from the place; To make our pleasures less." The teachers looked at each other, "Well," said they, "the sorrows of the mind banished from a sooty boy-banished from a chimney top! well, this is worth something: our black little pupil has, for once, given us a lesson about what we are to do with our sorrows of the mind,' if they should intrude into our 'place.' So good bye little fellow, till we meet you on sabbath day, with that sweet voice, a smiling face, and a skin as clean as a penny, that you may receive some more lessons from us." Take notice,-I lately saw some boys at a Sunday school whose skin was not as clean as a penny, and were they sweeps? If they had been there was no need of having a begrimed face, and ten dirty fingers on the sabbath day. Oh dear! LONDON: SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO. LEICESTER: WINKS AND SON. Sold by all Booksellers. PRICE ONE HALFPENNY MONTHLY. |