the company of those vulgar and wicked boys to that noble and delightful child. You know, papa, that many children far better and greater than I am, consider it a great honor to be noticed by him, while Herbert, I am sure, felt even shame to be seen in his company. O papa, how shocking!"

My father listened to my recital with great interest, and though he asked me many questions respecting what had passed, he made no comment upon it till after evening service, when he took me by the hand and led me into the very green lane where the events of the morning had taken place. "I have been considering," said he after some considerable silence, "the circumstances you related to me this morning. They are very lamentable, and I do not see, that at present, any thing more can be done for Herbert; but while we justly abhor his conduct, let us examine how far we have behaved like him, perhaps we may learn a lesson that may come home to us."

"Behaved like Herbert, papa!" cried I, "behaved like Herbert surely I never did any thing so shocking."

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My boy," said my father, seriously, "I am the man, and you are the man.

Papa!" I repeated in astonishment, “papa!”

"Is there no Prince of nobler birth than your Arthur, and more comely than the sons of men; who is without spot and blemish, and who has saved you from death; yes, a viler death than the pool on the common? Is there no one of royal parentage who has clothed you with the garment of salvation, and made you comely with his own comeliness? Is there no Prince who has invited you to walk with him (as one man walketh with his friends) on terms of intimacy, which would delight the first-born sons of creation? who has been willing to instruct you in his own celestial lore, nay, intreated you to learn it; and not only this, but has lavished upon you a thousand present gifts, besides abundant offers of future favor, and who has promised to exalt you from your wretched habitation, not only to peace and comfort, but to honor and rank; yes, even to sit with him on his throne, and see his glory, and enter into it ?”

I took my father's meaning, and fixed my eyes on the ground as he thus proceeded.

«And have you never disregarded the invitations of this Prince? Have you never counted his service weariness? Have you never refused to open your door to him when he has knocked and asked for admission? Have you never preferred the companions and pleasures of your native wilderness before his society? Nay, more; have you never been ashamed of him, and at the very time too when he has tenderly offered to walk in fellowship with you as a brother, an honor which archangels would prize beyond their highest dignities? Have you never withdrawn from these wondrous condescensions, and madly run from his presence because you feared the ridicule and contempt of beings, whom he could crush as a moth by the breath of his mouth, did not his mercy and pity say,Forbear! Yes, my boy, you are the man, and in the conduct of Herbert see and abhor the frightful picture of your own wickedness, when your heart leads you to be ashamed of a Saviour."

The words of my father sunk deep into my heart, may they sink as deep into the hearts of those young persons who may read this little narrative, which, but for the lesson it teaches, would not be worth a repetition; for Oh, of all the detestable fruits of a fallen nature, surely none is so odious, and yet, perhaps, none so common in one form or other as to be ashamed of Christ and His cause. Let us diligently examine where and how it appears in our own hearts and lives, for so various are its modifications, and so subtle its essence, that where we least expect to see it, there we shall often find it most alive and luxuriant. While yet there is time, let us remember that awful denunciation in the Bible, Whosoever, therefore, shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.'

L.

ANGER.

WHAT is the difference between anger, wrath, and hatred?

I think I cannot better describe the difference than by comparing them to the degrees of grammar; anger is the positive, wrath the comparative, and hatred the superlative, degree.

EDWIN.

CAUSE AND EFFECT.

THE exercise of reason in drawing deductions from the cir cumstances which are constantly occurring around us, is the prerogative of man, and is one of the most delightful and useful occupations of youth. Observation and reflection are the keys that unlock the hidden stores of knowledge, and however abstruse the science, an acquaintance with its first principles, and a reference to them during the operations of observation and reflection, will guide the mind in drawing its deductions on sound and rational grounds. These first principles or elements of science have lately engaged the attention of the instructors of our youth, and produced those admirable systems of interrogative and collective teaching, which have eased the labor both of the teacher and learner. Upon this principle a small work has been completed, called “ Why and Because," and this is the principle on which Newton, Boyle, Locke, Watts, and others of our most eminent philosophers proceeded, and which is the natural operation of a sound mind when left to its own strength, unfettered by the trammels of technical phraseology, or fanciful theory.

In observing the various operations of nature, and their development in the sciences and arts, the EFFECT always proceeds from some CAUSE, which, on fixed and immutable principles or laws produces its effects with unerring certainty. A correct knowledge of the simple nature of these causes is therefore all that is required to form the data or axioms to which all effects may be ultimately referred. This knowledge is in itself plain, and easy of comprehension, if diligently studied and carefully remembered. For this purpose the shortest and simplest works should be consulted, of which Pinnock's Catechisms will be found one of the best of modern date. A few weeks devoted to their perusal will store the mind with a stock of correct ideas of causes. To these first principles all effects should be referred, and tried by the data they furnish, and reason will, with a surprising degree of facility, detect any fallacy in the conclusions drawn from the premises. Thus the observer proceeds step by step from the effect through the several principles of operation, till he comes to the original cause, in the first elements of nature. Were he on the

contrary to suppose a cause, he would soon be bewildered in an infinity of possible effects, and would scarcely arrive at the individual one that first attracted his attention.

In illustration of this principle let us take a single question, and its answer, as recorded in "Knowledge for the People; or the plain Why and Because, part 13. Botany," and published in the Mirror of Jan. 14, 1832.

"Why in the spring is the herbage under trees generally more luxuriant than it is beyond the spread of their branches? "Because the driving mists and fogs becoming condensed on the branches, cause a frequent drip beneath the tree, not experienced in other places; and thus keep a perpetual irrigation and refreshment of the soil."

Now here the whole effect turns on the condensation and fall of the fogs and mists on the soil, which is the cause. The questions then arise,-1. What are fogs and mists? 2. What is meant by their condensation? 3. Why when condensed do they fall?-Answers. 1. Fogs and mists are the steam arising from bogs, lakes, and rivers, drawn up by the sun, in the same manner as a wet cloth would send forth steam if held to the fire. 2. This steam, if received on a cold plate, hand, or branch of a tree, colder than itself, will become water again, because it will be reduced to its natural temperature, at which it assumes that form. 3. It drops from the branch because it is, as water, heavier than the air around it, and therefore falls to the ground by the law of gravitation, immutable in all bodies.

Thus, in order fully to understand this question and its answer, we have been necessitated to refer to data, or first principles founded on the nature of water and heat, and effect of the latter on the former, and the re-action produced by its absence; to this is to be added the effect of gravitation on the drops of condensed steam.

By this catechetically analytical method all phenomena should be examined, and the result will be sound deduction, and perhaps, in some cases, important discovery, since the field of science, so far from being exhausted, is still full of ample materials for the diligent enquirer. E. G. B、 Islington.

DEAR WILLIAM,

LETTER TO A NEPHEW.

IT is with feelings of the deepest sorrow, I hear that your illness has assumed so alarming an aspect. I received Mrs. D's. letter last night, and have lost no time in hastening to send my tribute of condolence on so melancholy an occasion, Mrs. D. informs me that you are unhappy, and I do not doubt it. I know, from painful experience, that it is the nature of sin to make its followers miserable. I trust that you are deeply convinced that you are a great sinner, because it is only those who are sick who feel their need of a physician; and it is a useless thing to direct a person to Christ, the great Physician, who does not feel a need of him; but judging from what I have heard, I think the latter is not your case. When I was attacked, about five years since, with palpitation of the heart, and expected that every succeeding attack would be fatal, the distress of mind under which I labored, can only be estimated by those who have passed through the same slough of despond." The thought of having to appear before that infinitely Holy Being, whose laws I had wantonly broken, and whose commands I had despised, filled me with unspeakable terrors, and caused me to cry, "What shall I do to be saved?" I mention these particulars, to shew you that I have been as miserable as you can possibly be. I will now endeavor to lay before you some passages of scripture, (together with remarks,) which were made a source of great consolation to me then, have been since, and are at this present moment; and I earnestly pray that they may be of equal service to you. It was a matter of great doubt to me, whether or no God was willing to pardon such a great sinner as I felt I was; for while reading any passage of scripture, wherein God has declared his willingness to pardon all that come unto Him through Christ, something seemed to whisper to me, you are not included in this gracious declaration." Some such thoughts may possibly lodge in your breast, for we naturally have such hard thoughts of God, (I mean those persons who feel their sinfulness,) that we conclude that He takes a pleasure in punishing his guilty creatures. But mark his declaration-" As I live, saith the Lord, I have no pleasure