THE PERILS OF FALSE HOOD. IN the beautiful language of an eminent writer, "When once a concealment of deceit has been practised in matters where all should be fair and open as the day, confidence can never be restored, any more than you can restore the white bloom to the grape or plum which you have once pressed in your hand." How true is this, and what a neglected truth by a great portion of mankind! Falsehood is not only one of the most humiliating vices, but, sooner or later, it is certain to lead to many serious crimes. With partners in trade, with partners in life, with friends, with lovers, how important is confidence! How essential that all guile and hypocrisy should be guarded against in the intercourse between such parties. How much misery would have been avoided in the history of many lives had truth and sincerity been controlling motives instead of prevarications and deceit. 'Any vice," said a parent in our hearing a few days since, "any vice, at least among the frailties of a milder character, but falsehood. Far better that my child should commit an error or do a wrong and confess it, than escape the penalty, however severe, by falsehood and hypocrisy. Let me know the worst, and a remedy may possibly be applied; but keep me in the dark, let me be misled or deceived, and it is impossible to tell at what unprepared hour a crushing blow and overwhelming exposure may come." The Fragment Basket. THE WORLD. The world! the world! 'tis all title page! there's no contents. The world! it all depends on a foolish fancy. The world! it is all deceit and lies. The world! it is all vexation-in getting, in keeping, in losing it; and whether we get or lose, we are still dissatisfied. The world! a very little cross will destroy all its comforts. The world! 'tis only a tedious repetition of the same things. The world! will yield us no support or consolation when we most want it, namely, in the horrors of a guilty mind, and in the approaching terrors of death. The world! is unsuited to the godlike powers, infinite passions, and immortal capacities of a soul. The world! is fickle, variable, and unstable as the wind; 'tis always fickle, always changeable, always unstable; there is no steadfastness in its honours, riches, pleasures; 'tis all a lie, all a lie for ever. The world! it never satisfies; we ever wish for change, whether we are high or low, rich or poor; we are always wishing for some new variety to cheat the imagination; the witchcraft of polluted pleasure decays in a moment, and dies. The world! its pleasures are exceedingly limited, and under most painful restraints, attended with bitter remorse, and followed with a horrible dread of bad consequences; the pleasures of impurity are mixed up with cursed disgusts and selfloathings, and have most dreadful damps and twinges of mind when the momentary witchcraft of plea sure is gone for ever.-Ryland. STRENGTH OF EARLY IMPRESSIONS. A rich and respectable Jew of Silesia employed a Christian nurse in his family. She was a pious woman, sincerely devoted to the Lord. When she rocked the little girl in the cradle, or bore it in her arms, instead of singing silly songs, she repeated, in a mild voice, the solemn and harmonious hymns of her church. As the little child grew she seemed to take pleasure in the hymns, and as the nurse remained, several years in the service of her father, she had time to conceive for her a strong attachment. The seed sown in the heart of the child was not lost. Hidden from the eyes of men, it sprouted and grew under dew from on high. At the age of sixteen, the young girl was led irresistibly to ask to become a Christian. She took no rest till a Protestant pastor took her under his instructions, and soon after she had the pleasure of being admitted to the holy sacrament of baptism. Often she attested afterwards that her nurse was the principal instrument of her conversion. The hymns sung to her in her childhood had left on her mind impressions so deep that nothing could efface them. counsel to pious parents. A THE DEATH OF CHILDREN Till we see our children in suffering, we never fully understand the Divine comparison, so full of condescending kindness, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him." Our feelings then become a commentary to us, as if written on our hearts with the very finger of God, on such gracious assurances. And when little children are taken away from us, how precious are the Saviour's words," Of such is the kingdom of heaven." On such occasions he seems to say, with the smile of pity ing love, "Suffer your little children to come unto me."-Wardlaw. BEING A CHRISTIAN. It is a great thing, Sire, to be a king, and especially of such a country; and yet I doubt not that you regard it as above all comparison greater to be a Christian. It is, indeed, an inestimable privilege that God has granted to you, Sire, that you should be a Christian king, and that you should serve him as his lieutenant, to uphold the kingdom of Jesus Christ in England.-Calvin to Edward VI. THE HOMELY WOMAN. 66 Beauty," says Lord Kaimes," is a dangerous property, tending to corrupt the mind of a wife, though husband. A figure agreeable and it soon loses its influence over the engaging, which inspires affection without the ebriety of love, is a much safer choice. The graces do not lose their influence like beauty. At the end of thirty, forty, nay, fifty years, a virtuous woman who makes an agreeable wife charms her husband more than at first. The comparison of love to fire holds good in one respect, that the fiercer it burns the sooner it is extinguished." Poetry. STANZAS FOR THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR. O God of our fathers, to thee 'Midst realms of ineffable light; Suns, seasons, and systems revolve, Sustain'd by thy wisdom and might. Thy power is controlling the spheres Where saints robed in majesty dwell; Thy love is enliv'ning our years; Thy goodness what mortal can tell? Fresh-born from the womb of old time New visions of mercy we trace; A vista, bright, glorious, sublime, Is lit by the beams of thy grace. Our kindred, how many are gone To join the crown'd harpers above! Pure victors, they stand round thy throne, Pour forth the sweet anthems of love. Now ended their sorrows and sighs, Their tears are all wipèd away; No storms of temptation arise, Their pleasures can never decay. Thy militant church has to mourn The loss of the pious and brave, Whose counsels were treated with scorn, Their enterprise mortals to save. They lived for thy glory on earth, They labour'd that others might live; Oh, help us to walk in their path, That we their reward may receive. Our moments are flitting away, Our friends are departing around; Man lives-but it is to decay, And start at the grasshopper's sound. The dark day of death is at hand, The trials of time will soon cease; Oh, bring us to that better land Of sunshine, enjoyment, and peace. O God! we adore thee for all Thy mercies, so sov'reign and free; Whatever on earth may befall, Oh, help us to lean upon thee. When life's final struggle is o'er, The pulses have ceased to play, Oh, land us on that happy shore To live through an infinite day. THE STORMY NIGHT. Now the wild winds are abroad, Ocean, earth, alike are awed; Gathering clouds portentous frown, Gracious God, whose power presides The Children's Gallery. LITTLE JESSIE. So she was called from her birth. Being a very fragile frame, in her family circle she was an especial favourite, though none of them entertained the hope of her being spared to womanhood. Quick and lively, with a mind full of inquisitiveness, she increased, if not much in stature, yet in "wisdom and knowledge, and in favour both with God and man." There appeared in her, as reason dawned, a natural love for spiritual things; and, for one so young, a holy perception of the great realities connected with salvation. The Bible, prayer, and the house of God, when she was able to be present, all gave her unspeakable delight; and her remarks in reference to the things relating to the soul and eternity, while deeply interesting to her fond parents, were, at the same time, very suggestive. She appeared like one "sanctified from the birth." If at any time she at all behaved unseemly, a look, or holding up a finger, would almost break her heart. One day she had acted rather improperly, and a little reproof from her mother had been gently administered, but her peace of mind was gone. When she had been some time in bed, heavy sobs were heard from her chamber; her mother entered, and inquired what was the matter. "I am afraid," said she, that I have been very naughty today." "Well, dear," it was replied, 'then pray to the great God to forgive you." "But I cannot pray," she said. "Well, shall mother pray for you?" This met the case, and the mother and child were kneeling together at the bedside, seeking pardon and peace through Jesus Christ; after which she retired to rest," and was no more sad." The day before she died, some question was asked her relative to her state of mind, when she said, "There is one thought that almost overwhelms me." "What is that?" said her kind aunt, who was supplying the place of her now sainted mother. "A never-ending eternity!" When reminded of the hope which the Gospel encouraged her to cherish in reference to it, her countenance brightened, and her eyes were raised, as if she indeed participated in it. When a passage of Scripture or verse of a hymn was named, a pressure of the hand told the interest she felt; she was prevented by her disease from much speaking. Her aunt said, "If there is anything that you wish to say, perhaps you will name it as you are able." She immediately replied, as if already arranged, stating what should be done with her books, pocket-money, etc. On account of her physical feebleness she never went to school, and sometimes was confined to the house for weeks and months together, but she never murmured at her lot; calm and peaceful, she would attend to reading, writing, and needlework, making advances in each, and doing what she attempted methodically and well. When she could go out on the Sabbath, it was a high treat, On the day of her departure it and the expression of her counte- was asked, "How long have you felt nance told of the enjoyment within. the value of religion?" She said, Her mother died early on Christ- in broken sentences, "1841-that mas-day morning, 1841, and almost illness I had in the spring." Her her last words were, "Oh that each aunt said, "But I think you were of my dear children may be a child convinced that you were a sinner, of God!" When her surviving and that you needed a Saviour, parent brought Jessie down stairs in before that time." She replied, "Í the morning, and told her her dear am not quite sure." It was said, mother was dead, her little eyes, nigh" What a mercy that you were led to bursting, gave vent to a flood of tears, while she exclaimed, "I did not bid her good bye last night!" From this time she was more serious; she spent many hours in reading and communion with God, in which she took great delight. Her Bible and solid Christian biography were her chosen companions. "The Life and Times of the Countess of Huntingdon " charmed her much during the latter period of her life; she read thoughtfully, and pondered much, the steps of that eminent lady and her numerous correspondents. All who knew her, and witnessed her spirit and conduct, considered her a child of God, a genuine Christian, ripening apace for a better world, while her weakness and cough increased, and it was evident that her "days on earth were numbered." to seek a Saviour then; perhaps, if you had not been afflicted, you might have remained careless; and what if you had to seek him now for the first time?" "Oh, I should deserve-but I do deserve-" she was unable to finish the sentence. Her aunt said, "This poor body has often been a sad hindrance to you in serving God." "Yes," she said, "and it is so now;" adding, though much oppressed in breathing, "I find it hard work to wait, I feel as if I would not wait; but this is Satan." to think about their eternal state." | or thoughtlessly drawn forth. She replied, "Oh, if it were but one! perhaps it may lead Elizabeth" (her eldest sister) "to decide for God; my love to her is very great; I pray that she may tread in the steps of her dear mother, and that we may all meet in heaven." came." Towards the evening she was cheerful but restless, and rather suddenly at last "the Bridegroom "Good bye," she said to all, calm and tranquil, as if for only a short absence. Are you happy, dear," said her father. A grasp of the hand and a nod were the only response, and then all was over. Her head rested on the bosom of her aunt, while we doubt not her spirit was carried by angels to Abraham's bosom. Thus died little Jessie, aged twelve years. May all your young readers be really concerned to follow her as she followed Christ. OMEGA. Sept. 5, 1856. SAVE A TEAR. NOT long ago two friends were sitting together engaged in letter-writing. One was a young man from India, the other a female friend, part of whose family resides in that far-off land. The former was writing to his mother in India. When his letter was finished, his friend offered to enclose it in hers, to save postage. This he politely declined, saying, "If it be sent separately it will reach her sooner than if sent through a friend, and perhaps it may save her a tear." His friend was touched with his tender regard for his mother's feelings, and felt with him, that it was worth paying the postage to save his mother a tear. Would that every little boy and girl, every young man and every young woman, were equally saving of a mother's tears. Young people! they are too precious to be wantonly Un kind words, rude behaviour, impertinent or discontented language, disobedience or indifference to her orders, want of feeling and consideration, will draw forth bitter, scalding tears from a mother's eye. When tempted to any conduct contrary to the tender love and dutiful and cheerful obedience due to a mother, think of the conduct of this young man, and save your mother a tear. A MISSIONARY'S WIFE. THE BLIND BOY'S SOLILOQUY. The glorious sun at morn doth rise, His glories; no, they 're dark to me. The moon, attendant orb, at night trees Printed by William Tyler, Bolt-court, Fleet-street. |