supplying food to the starving Irish. It really seems to me that there is the most anxious wish in the present Parliament to do all that can be done for the working classes. At the same time I confess that I think that the working classes themselves, and those members who are generally supposed to represent their views, do not take the best means of effecting their object. What the poor really want is employment, wages, maintenance, education, help, guidance: and what is it that your liberal statesmen would give them? Why, political rights. Instead of more bread and cheese and beef and beer, they would give an extended suffrage; instead of education they would give shorter Parliaments, instead of guidance and help, they would set them to govern the country! All this seems to me very much like giving a stone to them who ask for bread. Why do not the working classes join together in petitioning for what they really wanteducation for their children, instruction for themselves, wages, food, employment?

Robert. We hope to obtain all these things by getting political power.

William. Well, that seems a roundabout way of going to work, and not a very wise one either, for you may depend on this, that you will never get political power, if you agitate for it all your lives; whereas if you ask for reasonable laws for bettering your condition, there is every disposition to grant them. There could not be a better time than the present to ask straightforwardly for what you really want; you have a great many excellent friends ready to back your petition for anything that will really improve your condition. But your best friends will never assist you in your attempts to get political power, because they do not feel satisfied that, if you had it, you would make a good use of it: and I for one am inclined to think so too.

Robert. Well, if the working classes could really get their condition improved, I suppose they would not so much trouble their heads about political matters. What are the measures which you think we could get passed, that would really do us good?

William. There is a great deal to be said on that subject. We shall hardly have time to discuss it properly now; so, if you have no objection, we will postpone it for another occasion.

KINDNESS TO ANIMALS.

Do you know that part of London which once contained the famous gate of Tyburn, where so many have suffered death for the horrible crime of murder, and others for crimes of a less fearful

nature? A stone still marks the spot where this fearful gate of Tyburn once stood, and in this neighbourhood has risen a district abounding in fine and spacious houses, and containing various district Churches. Further westward stands the village of B- which was once considered as country," ," but is now closely connected with "town," by these new lines of houses and villas.

Beyond B- and almost in a line with it, lies N- H-11. But a few years ago, this now separate district belonged to the extensive parish of K, and was dependent on that parish for its schools and its Church. Now it possesses one of the most handsome district Churches about London, capable of holding fifteen hundred persons. Schools have also been built and are flourishing under the superintendence of the present Incumbent, and are maintained by the contributions of the parishioners of the district. I believe it is also in contemplation to raise a ragged school. By these means all classes will have the benefit of education, by which I do not mean mere reading and writing, but a knowledge of the Creed, the LORD's Prayer, the Ten Commandments in the vulgar tongue, and all other things which a Christian ought to know and believe to his soul's health.

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It would be out of place to dwell at present on the great blessing of being under the shadow of the Church, and on the many privileges afforded to us all, old and young, rich and poor. about to mention a little incident which happened during the building of S. John's Church, NH-ll, where a positive good has resulted to the whole parish, from the individual interest all members of the Church naturally take in so holy an edifice.

This Church stands on rather a steep ascent, and the brick carts, as they went up heavily laden, were a sore burden to the poor lean horses which dragged them. The inhabitants of L- Place used to look out of their windows to see how their new Church was progressing; and when they espied the poor horses staggering under their loads, and heard the bad language and swearing of the carters who flogged them on with their heavy whips, many a heart was touched; but whether from indolence or from fear of exasperating the drivers, it was long before any one interfered to take the part of these dumb and willing labourers.

One fine day Mrs. B. sat at her drawing-room window, and marked with horror and indignation, the brutal treatment a lad was inflicting on the horse which drew the cart under his charge. If she pitied the horse, she pitied the poor ignorant lad no less; for in nine cases out of ten, cruelty is the result of ignorance rather than of intention. The grievances of the horse were the first to be considered, so she rushed out of her house to find out the name of the owner, and to pray the driver to desist. I cannot say he attended to her; however, if she did not succeed in one thing, she

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did in another, for she found out the name of the owner, and sent to him without delay. Then she wrote to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and one of its active police was stationed next day to take the part of the ill-used horses, and to employ stringent measures with the drivers if necessary. I regret to say it was necessary, and the lad was taken up and fined by the magistrate. Not being able to pay the fine he was sent to the house of correction. In the meanwhile the master of the carts thanked Mrs. B. very much for having told him how badly his horses were used, when his eye was not on his men. As to the lad, his master finally advanced the money for him, and he was discharged at once, the amount being deducted from his wages. You will be glad to hear that Mrs. B. sent for him to her house, and succeeded in explaining to him his duties both to man and beast: he expressed his contrition, and promised not to be cruel any more. The matter terminated by his receiving a pair of shoes from this kind lady, after he had conducted himself well for a certain time; but far more valuable was the advice she gave him on the subject of humanity. This subject is not, I fear, dwelt upon enough in our schools, or a schoolboy would not be so often notorious for tormenting the brute and insect creation.

My good friend Mrs. B. thought the same, and began to consider how she could teach lessons of humanity to the children belonging to the national school for boys. The Clergyman of the parish, and the intelligent schoolmaster Mr. C., promised to support her; and for some time past all her talents and a large portion of her time, for she is not rich enough to give much money, have been devoted to this object. She has written dialogues for the boys to learn; she has taught them easy verses on the uses of domestic animals, and has never neglected an opportunity of assisting any distressed horses, dogs, cows, &c., which came in her way. You may suppose she does not always get a civil answer from the boys or men she has taken to task, but she pays little heed to that, and perseveres in her good and kind intentions. A great improvement has already taken place in the boys of her class at the national school, and by and by she will try and open the minds of the boys of the ragged school on the same subject. She is one of those who think a well-timed and judicious mark of approbation is cheering to the young.

One fine day last May, on the day when the subscribers to the society I have alluded to met to discuss the proceedings of the past year, and to lecture on the subject of mercy to dumb animals, Mrs. B. obtained the permission of the excellent Clergyman and of her coadjutor Mr. C., to let the first class of the boys attend the meeting. First she gave to each child a piece of cake, then she sent them all off, and joined them herself at the society's rooms. Many good speeches were made, and among the speakers were some of

the highest intellects of the day, and some of the first scholars, including the Lord Bishop of S. D- The boys returned to their homes delighted, and, we will hope, edified by all they had heard and seen, and Mrs. B. went back to her unremitting labours as before.

It is not long since I was present at a tea drinking given by her to those boys who had distinguished themselves in the school for general good conduct, and who had been invariably humane and kind to man and beast.

I never saw a more interesting sight. The twenty-four boys, averaging from ten to fourteen years of age, sat at a long table covered with tea and cake. The schoolmaster was at the foot of the table, and the Reverend Incumbent of the parish gave this little meeting the great advantage of his presence. (Were they not under the shadow of the Church ?) After tea verses and songs were repeated and sung: it was pleasant to see such a row of bright intelligent happy faces, and sweet clean faces too, though it was not Sunday. When the verses were finished, (and I assure you it took up some time to repeat the "Wood-mouse," and the "Donkey," and the "Fishes," &c., and some were called for twice by the small and select audience,) prizes were given, consisting of Prayer-books, and smock frocks for working days. After this the Clergyman gave a short address on the subject of humanity, in which he observed that charity and humanity were shown by the kind benefactress of these boys. One little boy remarked, "Sir, she is a Christian!" and surely this was a good remark, for charity and humanity ought to be a Christian's distinguishing virtues.

This little merry-making terminated in a prayer said by the Clergyman, after which he gave the blessing, and all joined in Bishop Ken's Evening Hymn.

I have dwelt thus long on the endeavours of an individual to promote the cause of humanity, and that individual a woman, and one whose worldly goods are not abounding, because it seems to me that each and all can do much in his or her or their sphere by a very little exertion. How few of our so-called pleasures are free from some feeling of regret-from some feeling that we are mispending or rather wasting precious moments, while our life is hurrying away to its end without any pause. It is in such innocent pursuits as these, which are in every one's power, that our pleasure is quite pure; and if our efforts be not always crowned with success, let us not despond, knowing that we are only doing our appointed work, and that our good intentions will bring us a blessing. Let us go on with increased vigour, feeling that we can often give time, when we cannot give money, for the support of our charities; and the education of the young is a most important charge, in which all are called to assist, if they would see such children as I have spoken of useful and intelligent members of society.

To mix with the poor is often the best method of humanizing them, and to enter the house of GOD with them, and to cheer them by our precept and example on their thorny paths, is an important duty which must bring its reward.

CHURCH INSTITUTIONS.

Ir is indeed matter of surprise, as well as of deep regret, that there has been as yet no great movement made by the Church in the direction of intellectual improvement. The sleep, from which in matters spiritual she has just been awakened, still continues in other respects to bind her fast. We long to see all, of whatever degree, who minister at her altars, and all who are partakers thereof, united in one holy bond of brotherhood, and presenting to the world the spectacle of a compact body, harmoniously working for the accomplishment of great and glorious objects. The sphere of action is wide and open. The mere removal of evils is a task of no ordinary difficulty, requiring no common exertions. But if the task is to be performed so as to be productive of lasting good, the removal of evil is only the letting of the ground, and the clearing it of rubbish, that so it may be prepared for the reception of good seed. Everything that affects the morals and relates to the temporal and spiritual well-being of the whole masses of the community, is an object to which the Church may fairly devote herself. Hence she may fairly (as she is now doing) unite with the civil power in efforts for sanitary regulations, and other kindred subjects.

There is, however, one subject not less important than any now agitated, for which only partial attention has been secured, and on which we would now write briefly. We allude to literary institutions for the benefit of members of our congregations. The powers which God has given to man—the powers of thought, judgment, reflection, and imagination, are given for a purpose, and are gifts, for the use or abuse of which account must hereafter be rendered. And in the distribution of these talents there has been exercised no partial hand. There is no monopoly of talent. It is found in all classes of society; in the lowliest and meanest, as well as in the highest and loftiest. As upon the just and the unjust fall the genial rains, and as for all alike the sun sheds his vivifying beams; so are seeds of talent scattered around by our Almighty FATHER, without distinction or stint. Though there are few words that contain a more humbling truth than those oft-repeated, but beautiful lines,

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,"

yet history furnishes us with the names of many who have lightened