ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

your sabbaths as holy days, and have those days witnessed your regular attendance at the house of prayer? How has it been with you in your souls? Have you been diligent in the perusal of God's Holy word? Have you been constant in the habit of private prayer? Have you been led to see your sinful and dangerous condition? Have you experienced a sense of Divine pardon? Have you had joy and peace through believing in the Saviour? If you can reply in the affirmative to all these questions, then the past has been to you a happy year. But, if, on the contrary, its sabbaths and its weeks have been spent mostly in the service of satan and the world, oh, what a fearful account have they carried into eternity. Oh what a dreadful reckoning will one day be brought against you. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, at the recollection of neglected duties, violated sabbaths, and unimproved privileges. But God has in mercy spared you to see one more year. Now resolve, that by his grace it shall not be another wasted year. Seek the Saviour now-to day! And then you will for ever remember 1860 as the new-birth-year of your soul for ETERNITY.

THE COMPANY OF BOOKS.-It is chiefly through books that we enjoy intercourse with superior minds; and these invaluable communications are in the reach of all. In the best books great men talk to us, give us their most precious thoughts, and pour their souls into ours. God be thanked for books. They are the voices of the distant and the dead, and make us heirs of the spiritual life of past ages. Books are the true levellers. They give to all that will faithfully use them, the society, the spiritual presence, of the best and greatest of our race. No matter how poor I am; no matter though the prosperous of my own time will not enter and take up their abode under my roof-if Milton will only cross my threshold to sing to me of Paradise, and Cowper to talk to me of faith, hope, and charity, in his loving gentle spirit. I shall not pine for want of intellectual companionship: and I may become a cultivated man though excluded from what is called the best company where I live. Nothing can supply the place of books. They are cheering or soothing companions in solitude and affliction. Let every man, if possible, gather some good books under his roof, and ONE above all others for daily use.

THE FIRST METHODIST LAY PREACHER.-A young man, Mr. Maxfield, had been engaged to assist in holding prayer meetings. Lady Huntingdon encouraged him to exhort the people. He did, and several received decided benefit. Mr. Wesley hearing of this irregularity was alarmed, and he came up to London for the purpose of stopping him. But Mr. W's venerable mother perceiving that he was disconcerted, said, "John, you know what my sentiments

THE FIRESIDE.

have been-take care what you do with respect to that young man, for he is as surely called of God to preach as you are. Examine what are the fruits of his preaching and hear him also yourself." This good advice was taken. The prejudice of the good man was subdued, and John Wesley was satisfied.

A LOVER OF MENS' SOULS travelling on a steamboat distributed tracts. While they were taken and read by many, a Gentleman took one, and folding it up, cut it with a penknife into small pieces; then holding it up in derision, threw it away. One piece adhered to his coat; he picked it off, and looking at it, saw the word 'God.' He turned it over; on the other side, 'Eternity. They stood out as living words before him, 'God,' 'Eternity. He went to the bar, called for brandy to drink to drive them away, but in vain. Then to the gaming table, then to social intercourse and conversation; but those solemn words haunted him wherever he went until he was brought a penitent to the feet of Jesus. What an encouragement to the Christian traveller to sow seed by the wayside. In preparations for a journey, never forget the package of tracts. Scatter them, that you may thus win souls to your Saviour.

THE UNBELIEVER'S CREED.-Much as he hates creeds, the unbeliever has a creed of his own; something like this-1. There is no God. Matter is God, and God is matter. But it is no matter whether there be a God or not. 2. The world was not made at all; it made itself. It never begun and will never end. 3. Man is only as a beast; his soul is as his body, and his body as his soul; and both die together: 4 There is no religion, no heaven, no hell, no judgment; all we have to do is to eat and drink, sleep and die. Such is the wretched, hopeless, Godless, Christless creed of the unbeliever.

The Fireside.

TO MOTHERS.

TEACH your children to be just and honest in all their dealings as they grow up in life, for you know how necessary this is, even to their worldly interests. You must always deal justly with them, and use them to be just towards each other. Have no favourites; but treat all alike. Let actions be praised or blamed as they are in themselves right or wrong, not as done by one child or another. Do not let them wrong one another, even in play. If a child has

THE FIRESIDE.

anything that is called his own, do not let another child deprive him of it, or use it without his leave. It is well if you can induce him to be kind and willing to share what he has with his brothers and sisters; but you cannot compel him to be kind; and it would be unjust and injurious to force him to sacrifice what is his own for the gratification of another. Be very careful to train your children to strict honesty in reference to property borrowed, or found, or in any way coming into their possession. Remember the example of good old Jacob, who returned the money that was found in the sacks, saying to his sons, "Carry it again in your hands; peradventure it was an oversight." Gen. xliii. 12. Remember the anecdote of the little boy who found a halfpenny. While at play before his native cottage he picked up a halfpenny, and ran in, overjoyed with his prize, to give it to his mother. To his great surprise, instead of sharing his pleasure, she seemed perplexed and distressed. She explained to him that it was not his property, and very feelingly portrayed the distress which the loss of even so small a sum might occasion to the owner, whom she expressed an earnest desire to find. The child entered into her views, and was not less pleased than herself, when, shortly afterwards, a neighbour's child was seen anxiously looking along the road in search of a halfpenny with which she had been sent to buy milk. It was promptly restored to her; and her gratitude and pleasure, together with the sentiments and conduct of his own mother, made an indelible impression on the mind of the little boy. It was almost the last lesson she was permitted to give him; but it exerted a powerful and salutary influence over the whole of his future life. In the workhouse, of which he shortly afterwards became an inmate, he soon established a character for strict integrity, which recommended him to notice and preferment while in the house; and after he left it, he was taken into the service of a tradesman as an underling boy, to open and close the shutters, and other menial offices; but he gradually rose to a post of honour and trust; and, at length, became himself a prosperous tradesman. He always ascribed his respectability and success in life, under God, to the principles of integrity so early instilled into his mind by his mother. By way of contrast to this the mother of a family once asked the writer if she had ever read a certain book; and offered to lend it to her. The book was produced. It bore the name of a friend of the writer, who was recently dead. The person in whose possession it was found, carelessly remarked-"Yes; it belonged to poor Mrs. S. She lent it me more than ten years ago; and I dare say she forgot where it was, for she never asked me for it; and now she is dead I suppose it is mine. I might as well put my own name in it." What sense of honesty could be planted in the breasts of the children of such a mother? If you owe any thing, or borrow any thing, or find any thing, or injure any thing that is the property of another, pray let

THE PENNY POST BOX.

your children see that you have a conscientious and earnest desire to render every one their due, and make amends for any injury; and teach them to do the same.

The Penny Post Box.

ONE OF MY DREAMS.

MR. EDITOR, I do not think you dream much, as I rather suppose you are an active enterprising man, who, when he gets to sleep at all, sleeps in good earnest.* It is not so with your humble servant -I am very apt to dream, and sometimes my dreams are rather troublesome guests; but I cannot say this of one I had recently, which from its peculiarity I will tell you, and if you like you can tell it to your readers. This is it:

In my revels of thought I saw the great apostle of the Gentiles coming down to earth again; and, behold, he made his way direct to the British Isles. Whether he had been here before I cannot say, but on reaching the ground he began at once to proclaim the salvation which is by Christ Jesus. A great crowd gathered round him. He ascended a mound near, and in the most thrilling strains unfolded the mysteries of redeeming love. For a long time I could scarcely turn an eye on the multitude, I was so chained down by his bold and overpowering eloquence. Sometimes he would rise to the third heavens, and open the very throne of God and the Lamb to view; then he would descend and hover around the cross and the sepulchre, and rapidly accumulate arguments and appeals from the life and death, the resurrection and ascension, of the glorious Saviour. He told how free the offers of salvation are, and called on the whole multitude to yield their hearts to Jesus. Then wielding the terrors of the Lord he came down upon his hearers like a resistless tempest; and seemed to lash their consciences with the very surges of hell! While he was pleading thus I looked round on the people-and, oh! what a sight it was. Many faces were flooded with tears: numbers exclaimed, “What shall we do!" and wrung their hands with grief. The emotion increased-some fell prostrate on the ground, and writhed under the anguish of a guilty conscience. One man who had been for many years a notorious sinner attracted my special attention. He was lying on the ground, and cried, “I am undone! I am undone! Lost! lost! lost!' The apostle approached him, and bade him hush his wailings, since Christ came to save sinners, even the chief. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (he said), and thou shalt be saved." The man fixed his eyes on him and said, "Is that true? Is there salvation for me ?" "Yes (said the Apostle), full and free salvation." W. B.

*True, as to the sleeping!-ED.

FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.

Facts, Hints, Gems, and Poetry.

Facts.

AN ARAB OF THE DESERT is a

of years have brought neither change nor improvement. And so he will continue until the faith of his great ancestor, Abraham, dwells in him. Hints.

THE MOST IDLE WORD a man may speak, is as a seed cast into the soil of Time, to bear its own fruit in Eternity.

TO RENDER GOOD for evil is God. like; to render good for good is man-like; to render evil for evil is beast-like; to render evil for good is devil-like.

BE CAUTIOUS-for if you would avoid doing things unlawful, you must sometimes deny yourself those which may be lawful but not expe dient just then.

TO FOLLOW A GOOD EXAMPLE is very well, but to set one yourself is much better.

strange being. On entering a house he removes his shoes, but not his cap or head cover. He mounts a horse on the right side, while his wife milks the cows upon the left side. Writing a letter, he puts nearly all the compliments on the outside. His head must be wrapped up warm, even in summer, while his feet may go naked in winter. Every article of merchandise, which is liquid, he weighs. He reads and writes from right to left. He eats scarcely anything for breakfast, about as much for dinner, but after the work of the day is done, sits down to a hot meal of meat swimming in oil, or, better yet, boiled butter. His sons eat with him, but the females of his house wait till his lordship has done. He rides his animal when travelling, his wife walking behind. He laughs at the idea of walking in the street with his wife, or of ever giving up his seat for a woman. He knows no use for chairs, tables, knives, forks, or even spoons, unless they are wooden ones. Bedsteads and fireplaces may be placed in the same list. If he be an artizan, he does his work sitting, perhaps using his feet to hold what his hands are engaged upon. He drinks cold water NEVER ATTEMPT TO DO, even by from a sponge, but never bathes in perseverance, what is really imposit, unless his home be on the sea-sible. That were as foolish as an shore. He is rarely seen drunk- attempt to mop up the ocean of too seldom speaks the truth is de- catch all the drops of a rain-cloud ficient in affection for his kindred in your apron. -has little curiosity and no imitation-no wish to improve his mind -and no desire to surround himself with the comforts of life. As his fathers were he is now. Thousands

IF YOU ARE IN COMPANY where immoral or pernicious sentiments are uttered, however they may be daubed over, never fail to unmask them, and expose their mischievous tendency.

PERSEVERE in pursuing a good object if nothing but difficulties are in your way. You will find them all give way to perseverance, and your reward will be in proportion with your toil.

EVERY MAN, thongh he be poor, can maintain his own dignity. Con scious dignity is not pride. He is proud who would debase another to exalt himself.