THE PENNY POST BOX. The Penny Post Box. TWO OLD WORKERS. PROVERBS do not always run on four legs. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," is one of these, for it is often made use of by an idle young fellow, who would play half his time if he could. No doubt rest from work is needful, and hence a rest-day was appointed by our Maker, at the end of every six days; and recreation is also pleasant, both for our bodies and our minds, when used in moderation. But yet as a rule, all grown-up people feel more satisfied to be at work, when work has to be done, for they then enjoy rest and recreation all the more. None are so miserable as those who have nothing to do. Then again it is very natural that an aged person should seek rest at the end of his days; and it may be that some must have it because of their infirmities. But when an aged man has health and strength, though he may have been working all his days, he dont like to sit still and do nothing. We have two of these "old workers" in England now, and they were both made Lords for their hard working. There is LYNDHURST, who, on his 88th birth day, in May, 1860, made a long and learned speech in the House of Lords. I remember hearing him plead fiftytwo years ago, when a barrister, at the quarter-sessions at Kirtonin-Lindsey, Lincolnshire. Then there is BROUGHAM, only a few years younger, who, in the same month, made a speech several hours long on all manner of subjects, when installed into the new dignity of Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh. A few words which then dropped from his lips caused me to write the above "I might perhaps claim the benefit of rest after so long a life of labour; but the real truth is-and I venture to utter it in the presence of many younger friends, as it imparts a useful practical lesson-as expressed by the great Christian poet, Cowper, 'A want of occupation is not rest, A mind quite vacant is a mind distrest."" This was noble in the "old man eloquent." I am getting an old man myself, and have worked hard in my way all my life, and I will as long as God gives me health and strength. The time will come, however, when, like Jacob, we must die. Well: for those who have feared and served God a rest remaineth-" And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." AN OLD Worker. My Workshop. FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY. Facts, Hints, Gems, and Poetry. Facts. ABOUT STORMS AND SHIPWRECKS. THE storms which swept over England in October, 1859, and in Feb. and May, 1860, will not soon be forgotten. Nearly entirely surrounded as England is by the sea, with rocky shores, or more dangerous sandbanks, our seamen are exposed to many perils. About 100 life-boats are stationed round our coasts ready to afford help either by night or day. These life-boats are manned by 4000 men, who in 1859 saved the lives of 227 persons. In 1859, as many as 1646 lives were lost off our shores by shipwreck. Eight hundred of these were lost in two vessels-the Royal Charter and the Pomona. One gold medal, twenty silver medals, and above £1000 were given during the year as rewards for saving lives. The gold medal for 1859 was given to Joseph Rodgers, the Maltese sailor, who swam on shore through the breakers with a rope from the Royal Charter, Oct. 25, by which twenty-five were saved, and all might have been had not the ship, broken by a heavy wave, gone down. The Life-boat Institution is an honour to the nation. It was formed thirty-five years ago, has expended £37,000, and saved the lives of 11,401 persons. Twelve new life-boats, with carriages, have been placed upon our coasts during 1859, and more are preparing. Hints. FASHION IS A TYRANT.-Her victims have lately been young ladies in muslin dresses, which, distended by crinoline, readily take fire. Never be her slave. A PRODIGAL can never be rich long. He always outruns his purse, soon empties it, and seldom is known to fill it again, for he does not know how. DO YOU SEE A MAN who sets a very high value on himself; he does he knocks down, and standing on so at the expense of others whom them, says, "See what a big man I am." NEVER BE TROUBLED because a proud man keeps you at a distance, for by so doing he keeps as far off himself. KIND WORDS are excellent capital to trade with in a world like this. They cost nothing, but they often return a good profit. AN ILLNATURED MAN can never be a friend of the public, for how can he love a thousand men who never loved one? like some of the pots in a doctor's outside but empty within. shop, labelled with grand words THE HEAD OF A VAIN MAN is A QUARRELSOME MAN is as much to be avoided as a loaded gun, which you. Nay he is worse, for his temby accident may go off and shoot per may go off at any time. NEVER BE A JESTER.-Wit is a dangerous thing to play with. A man who is always trying to make others laugh, does so at the expense of his own reputation. A mere buffoon or punster is a contemptible character. NOTHING IS MORE EASY than to do mischief, and this is why there is so much of it in the world. FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY. Gems. FAITH IS NOT PRESUMPTION.-I may believe that God will forgive me if I truly repent of all sin and trust in Christ alone. But I must not presume that he will if I do not. THE HOLY SPIRIT is given to them that believe, to show them the perfect righteousness and glorious excellence of Christ, assuring them that all he has is theirs. GODLY SORROW FOR SIN is the first sign of genuine religion in a man's heart. Only let this be felt, and he will readily listen to the glad tidings of salvation by Christ. WE OFTEN WONDER where heaven is, and what it will be. Let us not be anxious about either the one or the other. Jesus, the Saviour, will be there. That is enough. BANISHMENT FROM GOD will make the hell of the wicked. "Depart from me" is the most dreadful curse that can fall on any created intelligent being. IT 18 AN AWFUL FACT that many know and approve the doctrine of salvation by the atonement of Christ alone, who never felt its saving power in their own hearts. AFFLICTIONS AND BEREAVEMENTS come like stormy winds on the trees. They loosen our roots from the earth, and reminding us of our frailty, teach us to look for the land "Where winds and waves disturb no more.' HAST THOU HOPE-a good hope of eternal life by Christ. Hold fast by it, for it will be an anchor to thy soul by which thou will be able to outride all the storms of time. INWARD EVIDENCE.-If I feel that I fear God, that I reverence his word, delight in his worship, enjoy the communion of saints, and love the blessed Saviour, hoping I shall at last be with him for ever, then I may as much believe that I am born of God as that I did not make myself. Poetic Selections. THE RICH MAN AND HIS JESTER. Amusement in their idle hours, I've heard of one, of great renown, A servant answer'd, "Master's dead, The fool replied, "When master did He always would, you know quite well, Heaven is, they say, a long way off, He cannot be gone there, For while he lived he never did For there was much of solemn truth He is the "fool" who in this world OLD EPITAPHS. J. D. THE CHILDREN'S CORNER. The Children's Corner. THE POOR CHILD'S PRAYER. OUR Mary lived beside a brook, She gathered wild flowers all the day, The flowers that come before the May, At night, when Mary went to bed, I know not how to get more bread, Then Mary said, "Our Father dear, Give us our daily bread;" And thought that he her prayer would hear, And yet their table spread, For robin sits within his nest, The fox lies in the wood; God gives his creatures what is best, And all their daily food. E. O. S. DEATH OF THE BIG-DRUMMER. GEORGE M'NOUGHT, the big-drummer of St. Helena, having been brought, through Divine mercy, to see and feel his own sinful and guilty state, and having been led by the Holy Spirit to Jesus for salvation, had now been for several weeks in the hospital. He enjoyed a sweet and serene composure of soul throughout his illness. Though the "outward man" was perishing, "the inward man" was "renewed day by day." He rejoiced to do what his wasting strength would allow for the spiritual welfare of his comrades in affliction. He was visited by many of his fellow christians, and others also, to all of whom he spake, as he was able, of the worth of the soul, of the necessity of experimental religion, of the willingness of God to save, of the efficacy of the Saviour's blood, of the unspeakable comforts of grace, and the wonderful support of the Spirit. To those who were unconverted, he would speak particularly of the vanities of the world, and the awful danger of dying in sin. “Ah!" he would say, "What a miserable, guilty, lost wretch should I be now, had I all the world with me, and no Jesus! How much better am I off, having Christ with me, and but little or nothing of the world. Every day he strengthens me, sustains me, and is preparing me for heaven." Then he would tell of the bright prospect of glory that was spread out before him, and say, "All this for poor George, unworthy George; not the merited purchase of my own good works; oh! no, but the merited purchase of Jesus' sufferings, precious blood, and death." He seemed to be completely captivated with the charms of the Saviour's love, and would often repeat those sweet words of Dr. Watts': "Were the whole realm of nature mine, Demands my soul, my life, my all." His christian brethren, with great modesty, yet with great faithfulness, he would exhort to live near to God, and to fight manfully against the world, the flesh, and the devil. To do this, he told them, they must be stronger in soul than in body -must be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. To obtain this spiritual "might in the inner man," they must give themselves much to private prayer, spend much time with God, and as little as possible with the world. "Brethren!" he would say, "Walk with God, and dont go away from him; |