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THE PENNY POST BOX.!

Oh, and is life so brief? And are its ties,
Its holiest ties, so frail and vanishing?
Pass but a few short years, and shall we too
Be missing in our places? Gracious Lord!
With noble purpose and eternal hope

Encompass thou our spirits, guide us on,
From race to race, from light to purer light,
To the high source of being; till our hearts,
Thirsting for holiness and glory, rise
On wings of faith above this fading scene
Of mortal suffering, and expand in love
To Him who is our Saviour and our God!

The Penny Post Box.

OUR NEW NOBILITY.

I WANT to say a word or two in the Pioneer about them. But, who are they? some may say. I will tell you. I call them our new nobility to distinguish them from the old nobles, who, many of them, got their titles and lands by their swords. Lately, however, a new way has been opened to titles and honours in our country. Several distinguished men, whose forefathers were little better than slaves to the barons, have worked their way up to the highest seats of honour in the land. And it is the glory of old England that this way is open to every lad born on the island. The town in which I live sends to Parliament two members whose fathers were poor men. Many a Lord Mayor of London went there a poor boy. And perhaps the greater number of our richest manufacturers and merchants, whose incomes are now greater than many noblèmen, were once, or their fathers were, hard-working men in humble life. I was reminded of this the other day when, in a large manufacturing town, I received an invitation from one who had once been one of my own errand boys to come and dine with him. I found him, with his amiable wife and interesting family, in a handsome house furnished in a superior style. There was a party to dinner, and he placed his old master at his right hand, and was not ashamed to tell the company of our former connection, and how I had looked sharp after him when he was lad, and a good deal more of a complimentary character. He now employs between 3000 and 4000 hands, and being little more than thirty yet, I should not be surprised if one day he is sent to Parliament, for he is a man of tact and talent. Now he was under great disadvantages when a lad, for his father was an Italian refugee, who fleeing from Austrian tyranny, was nationalized by entering the English army. There was also another, and another, and another, at the same table that evening, all of

FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.

whom had worked their way up, with God's blessing, to fill the important office of ministers of the gospel in some of the largest and most prosperous churches in the kingdom. I was delighted with all this, and thought these men are old England's true nobility, for he is a truly noble man who, by industry, civility, and perseverance, honestly works his way to competence, especially when, as in this case, success is referred to the Divine blessing, and a disposition displayed to consecrate a portion of the wealth which God had given him to the promotion of his glory.

I could relate other instances of the wonderful things doing by men of this class at Bradford and Halifax, but must wait for time and space. OBSERVER.

Facts, Hints, Gems, and Poetry.

Facts.

OF TWO THINGS I HAVE SEEN.

Young Men I have seen, cultivating a young moustache, with a cigar stuck in their mouths, strutting about the streets as if they were lords. But when I have talked with them, I have found that their tongues could say nothing worth hearing, for their heads were empty. You may safely calculate that if you see a profusion of hair and a cloud of smoke outside the head of a young man, there are few brains within.

Young Women I have seen too, trotting about the streets, who make up for moustache and cigur, with artificials and a queer little thing stuck on the back of their heads. When I have asked, I have found that at home they have not a chest of drawers or anything to put into one; and they can neither make nor mend, boil a cabbage, or mix a pudding!

And then I thought to myself, what sort of husbands and wives will these young folks make? fie! I dare not think of it. jong enough and you will

But
Live

see!

They will turn out poor creatures, depend upon it. May be in seven years time you will find their names in the parish books. For such folly always meets with its own reward.

Hints.

WASTE OF WEALTH may be recovered-of health seldom-of time

never.

IF MEN PRAISE YOU, suspect their judgment-if they censure you, suspect your own.

THE FACTS OF OUR LIFE are unalterable. We may wish they had not happened, but they will remain facts for ever!

EVERY DAY every man is doing good or evil, that will spread, and bless or curse many more.

DOING WRONG multiplies itself, like figures in arithmetic, the last figure making the former stand for many more. So sin multiplies sin. BAD MEN even in prosperity, are unhappy. Gold cannot pacify a guilty conscience.

A HARD BATTLE any man will find it to put down and subdue his own conscience, for sooner or later it will spring up and revenge itself.

FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.

DESPAIR is an ugly demon, born of hell, and nursed by fear, laziness, and impatience. Never indulge it either for this world or the next.

LAUGHTER is all very well now and then, but if you would be always

Poetic Selections.

GREAT IN LITTLE.

A TRAVELLER through a dusty road
Strewed acorns on the lea,

And one took root, and sprouted up,
And grew into a tree.

laughing you will always be laughed Love sought its shade at evening time

at.

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GOD'S JUSTICE was never so awfully displayed as in the death of his own Son, whom it struck with full force. No created being could

have borne that stroke.

CHRIST TASTED DEATH FOR US that he might pardon us, and purify us. He that is not purified is not pardoned, and cannot be saved.

DEPEND ON CHRIST, not only for salvation, but for your daily bread. He who shed his blood to save your soul, will surely take care of your poor body.

IF WE ARE CHRISTIANS We shall soon be with God in heaven. What manner of men then ought we to be in all holy conversation and godli

ness?

OUR TWO GREAT LESSONS are, to believe all that God has said, and love all that God loves. Faith and love makes us like Jesus, and to be like him is the great end of our existence.

To breathe its early vows,

And age was pleased, in heats of noon,
To bask beneath its boughs:

The dormouse loved its dangling twigs,

The birds sweet music bore;
It stood a glory in its place,
A blessing evermore!

A little spring had lost its way
Amid the grass and fern;
A passing stranger scooped a well,
Where weary men might turn;
He walled it in, and hung with care
A ladle at the brink,-

He thought not of the deed he did,

But judged that toil might drink.
He passed again,-and lo! the well,
By summers never dried,
Had cooled ten thousand parching tongues,

And saved a life beside!

A dreamer dropt a random thought;

'Twas old, and yet 'twas new-
A simple fancy of the brain,

But strong in being true;
It shone upon a genial mind,

And lo! its light became
A lamp of light, a beacon ray,

A monitory flame.
The thought was small-Its issue great,
A watch-fire on the hill,
It sheds its radiance far adown,

And cheers the valley still!

That thronged the daily mart,
Let fall a word of hope and love,

IF JESUS WERE NOT GOD, we could A nameless man, amid a crowd not comfortably trust in him; when we know our state, and feel our danger, we can trust in no one but God: Hence Jesus is the great object of our trust. "God with us."

GOD LOVES TO SEE US HAPPY, therefore he has provided for our happiness both in this world and the next; now we are to rejoice in Christ Jesus, and then we shall rejoice with him.

Unstudied, from the heart;

A whisper on the tumult thrown-
A transitory breath-

It raised a brother from the dust,
It saved a soul from death.
Oh, germ! oh, fount! oh, word of love!
Oh, thought at random cast!
Ye were but little at the first,
But mighty at the last!

CHARLES MACKAY.

THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

The Children's Corner.

LADS AT WORK IN THE GARDEN.

WHEN a boy gets to be twelve years old, he should begin to think what trade he would like to follow. If he can go to school two more years all the better, for it is a pity and a fault to take a lad away from school when he is only twelve. Some take them away when they are only ten; but that is a very bad plan, and the poor lad will suffer for it all his life. Boys, and girls too, should always go to school as long as they can. It is often the only thing some parents can do for their children, and they should do it as well as they can. Never before twelve, but until fourteen if possible, should be the rule.

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Well: another thing; when a boy is twelve, he should begin to do a little work of some kind, if it is only to put him in the way of it. He should not spend all his time in play or at school. He should be taught to work a bit too. His play-days and school-days will soon be over, and then he will have to work like all the rest of us. And so it is a good thing to let him try his hand at it before he goes for good. These two things, worth more than money, are the best, as regards this life, parents can do for their children-give them a good schooling, and teach them how to work. If father has a bit of garden, let him set the lads to work there sometimes. He cannot do better. Then, with a clear head, and a strong arm, and a civil tongue, any lad may make his way in old England.

And the hope of our hearts for our country is the lads! If they are brought up as they should be, our land, for ages to come, under God's blessing, will be great, glorious, and free. But if they grow up ignorant, and idle, and sottish, we shall sink. Let us all help to bring up a race of "true born Englishmen"-men who, like their fathers, fear none but God; who hate skulking from work, love honest labour, keep the sabbath, and prize the bible-Then we may shout

"OLD ENGLAND FOR EVER."

OLIVER HEYWOOD.

OLIVER HEYWOOD was a minister of the seventeenth century. His little stock of money was once quite gone; the family provisions were consumed; and Martha, a maid-servant who had lived in his family many years, and who often helped them, could now lend no more from the little savings of former days. Mr. Heywood still trusted that God would provide: when he had nothing but the Divine promise to live upon, he said,

"When cruse and barrel both are dry,

We still will trust in God most High."

When the children began to be impatient for want of food, Mr. Heywood called his servant, and said to her, "Martha, take a basket, and go to Halifax; call upon Mr. N., the shopkeeper, in Northgate, and tell him I desire him to lend me five shillings: if he will be kind enough to do it, buy us some cheese, some bread, and such other little things as you know we most want. Be as quick as you can; for the poor children begin to be fretful for want of something to eat. Put on your hat and cloak, and the Lord give you good speed. Meantime we will offer up our requests to Him who feedeth the young ravens when they cry, and who knows what we have need of before we ask Him." Martha observed her master's directions; but when she came near the house where she was ordered to beg for the loan of five shillings, through fear and bashfulness, her heart failed her. At length Mr. N., standing at his shopdoor, and seeing Martha in the street, called her to him, and said, “Are not you Mr. Heywood's servant?" She said, "Yes," He added, "I am glad to see you. Some friends at M- have remitted to me five guineas for your master, and I was just thinking how I could contrive to send it." Martha burst into tears, and for some time could not speak. The wants of the family, their trust in Providence, this well-timed supply, and a variety of other ideas breaking in upon her mind at once, quite overpowered her. At length she told Mr. N. upon what errand she came, but that she had no courage to ask him to lend her poor master money. She made haste to procure the provisions, and, with a heart lightened of its burden, ran home to tell the success of her journey.

Though she had not been long absent the hungry family had often looked wistfully out at the window for her arrival.

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