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THE PENNY POST BOX.

The Penny Post Box.

A WATCHMAKER'S ADVERTISEMENT.

FIFTY years ago there lived in the little township of Barton-in-theBeans, near Market Bosworth, a very remarkable man. He was once a poor ploughboy, but being very ingenious, became a watchmaker, and had an extensive business. He was also pastor of a large baptist church, whose chief place of meeting was in Barton. His name was SAMUEL DEACON. He was a useful preacher, and wrote many little books, chiefly in verse, which were very popular in the neighbourhood. I thought, as you have given us at page 48, "The Watchmaker's Monitor," you would insert "The Watchmaker's Advertisement;" for I think it will amuse your readers. The hand of my life stands at TEN O'CLOCK. CLOCKS and watches made and sold, Which we promise to uphold; Down from fifty pounds to five, Telling true as if alive.

Church and turret, spring and line,
Chapel, kitchen, plain or fine.
And lest you should sleep too long,
Clocks to wake you with a song.
Clocks to strike the hour, and
chime

Every quarter of your time.
Clocks to play a psalm on Sunday,
And a merry tune on Monday;
And on every other day,

What you please to have them play.
Clocks to fit a lofty hall,
Or a cottage low and small.
Clocks to suit the common sort,
Who've a slender purse and short;
And a stock of watches too,
Various prices, old and new.

| Jacks to turn about your meat,
While you make it fit to eat;
Which you may, as you desire,
Move about from fire to fire.
Knives and forks, and if you wish,
We can help you to a dish.
Cast steel razors, bright and thin,
Which will sever beard and chin.
Good umbrellas, fine and plain,
Proof against the sun and rain;
Very fit for young and old,
To preserve from taking cold.
Trays and caddies, spoons and bows,
Fit for London belles or beaux,
That the ladies may be able
Neatly to adorn the table.
Thimbles, too, of various sizes,
Good according to their prices.
Pins elastic; needles fine;

Scissors which will cut and shine.
Seals and hooks, and chains & keys,

Clocks and watches cleaned and Steel or gilded, as you please.

oiled,

Lest they should be gall'd and spoil'd,
And when hurt with rust or wear,
We the damage can repair.
Yea, when they can go no more,
We their youth can quite restore.
Instruments to let you know
When it will be rain or snow,
Hot or cold, or wet or dry,
If you doubt it only try.
Spectacles to help your sight
To discern by day and night;
People who are counted wise
Buy in time to save their eyes.

And another little thing-
Sterling gold-a Wedding Ring.
Gold and silver bought and sold,
French or sterling, new or old.
Metals of inferior kind
Here a ready market find.
Jobs in the mechanic line,
Executed rough or fine,
By the forge and furnace too,
Lathe and engine, file and screw.
If you ask, and wish to trade,
Where these articles are made,
We at once inform you then,
DEACON, BARTON, and his men.

FACTS, HINTS, Gems, and POETRY.

Facts, Hints, Gems, and Poetry.

Facts.

THE LEVIATHAN STEAM-SHIP. In the formation of the hull alone, ten thousand tons of iron plates have been necessary; each plate weighs about a third of a ton, and is fastened by a hundred rivets: there have, therefore, been 30,000 plates and 3,000,000 of rivets em. ployed. In addition to this, above two thousand tons more of iron have been used, and all together she will weigh above twelve thousand tons.

THE GREATEST RIVER IN EUROPE is the Danube, which takes its rise in the Black Forest in Germany, from whence to its fall into the Black Sea, it performs a course of above 1,500 miles, at a moderate computation, without including its windings and turnings. It has also several cataracts, the most remarkable of which is the Saw Russel, or Swine's Snout, near Lintz, so called from a prominent rock which overhangs a dangerous whirlpool.

THE FIRE-FLY is an insect common in Virginia and the Southern States of America. In its flight, at short intervals, it sheds a beam of apparent fire, or lightning, brighter than the glow-worm. It is so perfectly harmless that the children amuse themselves in following and catching it. It is said that three or four of these insects tied to the top of a stick, are used by travellers as a torch.

THE DROPPING WELL, at Knaresborough, in Yorkshire, is the most famous of all the petrifying waters in England. It drops from a porous rock, and the ground upon which it has fallen, for twelve yards long, is now changed into solid stone. A little rivulet, that runs from this

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A MAN OF INTEGRITY will never listen to any reasoning, however plausible, which his own conscience cannot approve. He must keep on good terms with it, even if he offend others.

FLOWERS OF RHETORIC in sermons or serious discourses, are often only like the blue and red flowers among corn. They may look pretty, but there is no food in them.

SLANDER, with its foul tongue, usually attacks the most worthy persons, just as birds always peck at the ripest fruit.

SLOTH makes all labour difficult, but industry easily surmounts the greatest obstacles. You may see examples of the evil of the one and the good of the other every day.

THE BEST SIGN of a happy man is his constant cheerfulness. He seems to live in a region like that above the clouds and storms-always bright and serene.

HE WHO, IN PROSPERITY, gives to every one without discrimination, will, if he fall into adversity, find from such but little sympathy or gratitude.

FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.

Gems.

WILFUL UNBELIEF is a dreadful and damning sin; but godly doubts and fears are the nurses of true faith. It was not until after Thomas had doubted the resurrection of his Lord that he exclaimed with wonder and joy, "My Lord and my God!"

WE MUST GLORIFY GOD in the state in which we are, or we could not expect that we should in any other state. If there be the heart to serve him our circumstances will not hinder it.

GOD ALWAYS PITIES US, and when he chastens us he always discrimi nates between our accidental imperfections and our wilful transgressions.

THE IMAGE OF CHRIST in the most timid and humble believer, is more pleasing and glorious in the eyes of God than the sun in the firmament when he shineth in his strength.

COVETOUSNESS never gets into our hearts alone; it always brings its evil companions with it; and they are never content until they have driven out all the good that was in us. So, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness."

WHEN CHRIST ATTRACTS a sinner to himself by any means, he then imbres him with his own spirit, and sends him to attract others. In this way the leaven of the gospel is spread from heart to heart.

ASSURANCE of our own personal salvation is the crowning blessing of the christian on earth. It springs from faith and obedience, and is revealed to us by the Spirit. All other assurance is downright delusion or proud presumption.

PORING OVER OUR SINS, and doing nothing but looking at them will keep our souls in bitter bondage. Look to Christ and believe, and then life, light, love, and liberty, will be your happy experience.

Poetic Selections.

"SOON AND FOR EVER!"

The dying words of a wife to her husband
were, "Soon-and for ever."

"SOON-and for ever!"
Christ's promise our trust,
Though ashes to ashes,
And dust unto dust;
Soon-and for ever

Our union shall be
Made perfect, our glorious
Redeemer, in thee.

When the sin and the sorrows

Of time shall be o'er:
Its pangs and its partings

Remember'd no more:
When life cannot fail,

And when death cannot sever;
Christians with Christ shall be
Soon-and for ever.
Soon-and for ever

The breaking of day

Shall drive all the night-clouds
Of sorrow away.
Soon-and for ever

We'll see as we're seen,
And learn the deep meaning
Of things that have been.
Where fightings without us,
And fears from within,
Shall weary no more

In the warfare of sin.
Where tears and where fears,

And where death shall be never;
Christians with Christ shall be
Soon-and for ever.

Soon-and for ever

The work shall be done,
The warfare accomplish'd,
The victory won
Soon-and for ever,

The pilgrim lay down
His staff for a harp.

And his cross for a crown.
Then droop not in sorrow,

Despond not in fear,
A glorious to-morrow

Is bright'ning and near;
When-blessed reward

Of each faithful endeavour...
Christians with Christ shall be
Soon-and for ever!

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MANY poor boys come all the way from Italy to England to try to get a living. Their parents there are very poor indeed, and so they let them come, for they have heard that England is a very rich country.

When they get here there are men in London who send them out to beg and bring what money they can get back to them; and all the poor lads often get is only a place to sleep in, and something to eat. They mostly send them out with some curious animal in their hands or in a cage-a tortoise, or a Guinea pig, or a little monkey, or a few white mice. The boy in the picture has got a tortoise under his arm.

When you see any of these poor lads, do not make sport of them; for they are strangers in a strange land, and cannot talk our language. If you were in Italy you would feel very awkward if you could not talk to the people at all, and so do they in England. It would be cruel to treat them unkindly, and I hope vou never will. You ought rather to pity them, and if you have a halfpenny or a penny to spare give it to them. You will soon see how their eyes will sparkle, and how they will try to thank you if you do. And if you do you will feel more pleased yourself than if you had spent your money in anything else.

WILLIAM CHURCHMAN, THE POOR CRIPPLE.

SOME years ago, soon after I had commenced preaching an occasional lecture in the village of Overton, I was casually informed, in conversation with a person, who himself made no great pretensions to a religious character, that he had accidentally conversed with a poor deformed cripple, living in a wretched cot in the neighbourhood of that place, whose name was William Churchman; who had much surprised him by his fluency in talking on religious subjects; and more so, because the man did not appear to have read any book but the Bible, nor to have attended any public worship, nor conversed with religious people of any denomination, so that he could not possibly conceive how he could have acquired the knowledge he appeared to possess.

My curiosity was much excited by this account, and I formed an instant determination to gratify it by visiting the subject of it on the evening of the following sabbath, when I was engaged to preach at Overton, which I could conveniently accomplish, as his residence was near the road by which I sometimes returned home.

It was a delightful summer evening: the sultry heat of the day had given place to the coolness of a gentle and refreshing breeze; the sun was just disappearing behind the hill, which was the boundary of the prospect to the west, and his mild declining beams gave a faint lustre to the woods that crowded its summit. The feathered songsters were chaunting melodious vespers, and to their thrilling airs the cawing rooks, the bleating flocks, and lowing herd formed a solemn and not unpleasing bass. The flowery meadows, clad in luxuriant herbage, and studded with variegated flowers, exhaled delicious odours. My own mind, warmed and enlivened by the subject I had been endeavouring to illustrate to my rustic auditory, was in a disposition calculated to enjoy the charming scene, while I walked towards the little group of huts, one of which I had been informed was the residence of the poor man and his widowed mother.

As I approached the cottage, its exterior gave me at once an idea of the wretched poverty of the inhabitants; the thatch of the decayed roof was pervious in many places to the rain of heaven,

"And to the pelting of the pitiless storm."

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