this so elevates and engrosses the whole man, that his eye is blind to the tears of bereaved parents, and his ear is deaf to the piteous moan of the dying, and the shriek of their desolated families. There is a gracefulness in the picture of a youthful warrior, burning for distinction in the field, and lured by this generous aspiration to the deepest animated throng, where, in the fell work of death, the opposing sons of valor struggle for the remembrance of a home, and this side of the picture is so much the exclusive object of our regard, as to disguise from our view the mangled carcasses of the fallen, and the writhing agonies of the hundreds, and the hundreds more who have been laid on the cold ground, where they are left to languish and to die. There no eyes pity them! No sister is there to weep over them! There no gentle hand is present to ease the dying posture or bind up the wounds, which, in the maddening fury of the combat, have been given and received by the children of one common father! There death spreads his pale ensigns over every countenance; and when night comes on, and darkness is around them, how many a despairing wretch must take up with the bloody field as the untended bed of his sufferings, without one friend to bear the message of tenderness to his distant home-without one companion to close his eyes!

bear the utterance of a single sigh to interrupt the death-tones of the sicken, ing contest, and the moans of the wounded men, as they fade away upon the earand sink into lifeless silence!-all, all goes to prove what strange and half-sighted creatures we are. Were it not so, war would never have been seen in any other aspect than that of unmingled hatefulness; and I can look to nothing but to the progress of Christian sentiments upon earth, to arrest the strong current of its popular and prevailing partiality for war. Then only will an imperious sense of duty lay the check of severe principle, on all the subordinate tastes and faculties of our nature. Then will glory be reduced to its right estimate-and the wakeful benevolence of the gospel, chasing away every spell, will be turned by the treachery of no delusion whatever, from its simple but sublime enterprises, for the good of the species. Then the reign of truth and quietness will be ushered into the world; and war, cruel, atrocious, unrelenting war, will be stript of its many and its bewildering fascinations.-Dr. Chalmers.

Mothers. If any thing in life deserves to be considered as at once the exquisite bliss, and pre-eminent duty of a mother, it is this,-to watch the dawning disposition and capacity of a favourite child; to discover the earliest buds of thought; to feed with useful truths the inquisitiveness of a young and curious mind; to direct the eyes, yet unsullied with the waters of contrition, to a bounteous benefactor; to lift the little hand, yet unstained with vice, in prayer to their Father who is in Heaven: But so, it is. The child, as soon as released from the bondage of the nurse, and needs, no longer a careful eye to look after its steps, and guard it from external injury, is too often surrendered to instructors, some of whom are employed to polish the surface of the character, and regulate the motions of the limbs; others to furnish the memory, and accomplish the

I avow it-on every side of me I see causes at work which go to spread a most delusive coloring over war, and to remove its shocking barbarities to the back ground of our contemplations altogether. I see it in the history, which tells me of superb appearances of the troops and the brilliancy of their successive charges I see it in the poetry which lends the magic of its numbers to the narrative of blood, and transports its many admirers, as by its images and figures, and its nodding plumes of chivalry, it throws its treacherous embellishments over a scene of legalized slaughter. I see it in the music which represents the progress of the battle, and where, after being inspir-imagination, while religion gets admised by the trumpet-notes of preparation, the whole beauty and tenderness of a drawing-room, are seen to bend over the sentimental entertainment; nor do I

sion as she can, sometimes in aid of authority, and sometimes in a Saturday's task, or a Sunday's peculiarity, but how rarely as a sentiment,-Their little

hearts are made to flutter with vanity, encouraged to pant with emulation, persuaded to contract with parsimony, alJowed to glow with revenge, or reduced to absolute numbness by worldliness and cares, before they have ever felt a sentiment of devotion, or beat with a pulsation of sorrow for an offence,or gratitude for a benefit, in the presence of God. Believe me, mothers, you have no right|| to expect that the sense of religion will be infused by the labors of others.

When parents have ceased to be teachers, religion has ceased to be taught.

THE GOD OF NATURE.

Lift your views to that immense arch of heaven, which encompasses you above-Behold the sun, in all its splendor, rolling over your head by day, and the moon by night, in mild and serene majesty, surrounded with that host of stars, which present to the imagination an innumerable multitude of worlds. Listen to the awful voice of thunder. Listen to the

devotion and reverence. Regarding then the work of the Lord, let rising emotions of awe and gratitude, call forth from your souls such sentiments as these : "Lord, wherever I am, and whatever I enjoy, may I never forget thee, as the author of nature! May I never forget that I am thy creature and thy subject! In this magnificent temple of the universe, where thou hast placed me, may I ever be thy faithful worshipper, and may the reverence and fear of God be the first sentiment of my heart." Blair.

VICAR OF WAKEFIELD.

It may seem like literary heresy, to call in question the excellence of such a popular and interesting work, as the Vicar of Wakefield. Yet it has always appeared to me liable to very strong objections, which militate against the judgment of the writer. That it has many uncommonly brilliant passages, elegant descriptions, and just and appropriate sentiments, is beyond a doubt. And what is of infinitely more importance, it is equally true, that the moral is excellent. But can the warmest admirer of Goldsmith deny that the character of duct is radically wrong in one most important Burchell is injudiciously drawn? that his conpoint, and in utter discordance with the beneficence ascribed to him? He sees a family, with whom he contemplates an alliance, beset by villainy of the most flagrant kind; and amely looks on, when, by raising his little finger in their defence, he could have saved them from destruction, and crushed their opThe letter which he pressor to the earth. writes to put them on their guard, is so studiedly ambiguous, that it did not require the arrant delusion under which the ill-fated fam

ily labored, to intepret its contents entirely to the prejudice of the writer. Indeed this is by different person would put upon it. And, when far the most obvious construction that any intaxed with baseness, and perfidy of the vilest kind, he does not condescend to exculpate himself, butallows them to consider his guilt as tacit

roar of the tempest and the ocean. Survey the wonders that fill the earth which you in habit. Contemplate a steady and powerful hand, bringing round spring and summer, autumn and winter, in regular course-decorating this earth with innumerable inhabitantspouring forth comforts on all that live-and, at the same time overawing the nations with the violence of the elements, when it pleases the Creator to let them forth. After you have viewed yourself, as surrounded with such a scene of wonders-after you have beheld, on every hand, such an interesting display of majesty, united with wisdom and goodness, are you not seized with solemn and serious awe?-is there not something that whispers within, that to this Creator homage and reverence are due, by all the rational beings whom he made? Admitted to be spectators of his works, placed in the midst of so many great ly admitted. He then departs, loaded with their and interesting objects, can you believe that detestation; and leaves the helpless and inyou were brought here for no purpose, but to immerse yourselves in brutal, or, at best, interesting victims to fall into the toils so artfully trifling pleasures; lost to all sense of the wonders you behold; lost to all that God who gave you being, and who has erected this amazing fabric of nature, on which you look only with stupid and unmeaning eyes?-No-let the scenes which you behold prompt correspondent feelings. Let them awaken you from the degrading intoxication of licentiousness, into nobler emotions. ry object which you view in nature, whether great or small, serves to instruct you. stars and the insects, the fiery meteor and flowing spring, the verdant field and the lofty mountain, all exhibit a Supreme Power, before which you ought to tremble and adore'; all preach the doctrine, all inspire the spirit of

reverence to

Eve

The

spread out to ensnare them. This is a radical error, and proves Goldsmith to have been extremely injudicious in the management of the plot of his tale.

EARLY AUTUMN IN NEW ENGLAND.-What can be more beautiful or attractive than this season in New England? The sultry heat of summer has passed away; and a delicious coolness, at evening, succeeds the genial warmth of the day. The labors of the husbandman approach their natural termination; and he gladdens with the near prospect of his promised reward. The earth swells with increase of vegetation. The fields wave their yellow and luxuriant harvests. The trees puk

the head of the innocent mechanic, when his arms were seized by a by-stander, who explained to, and convinced the enraged employer that his workman did not mean to insult him. The result was, the gentleman being glad that he had escaped the commission of murder, and that there was another who was as bad a speaker as himself, that, after the work was completed, the two orators sealed their amity by a hearty drinking bout.

forth their darkest foliage, half shading and The other responded, 'T-'t-t's a da-da-damn'd half revealing their ripened fruits to tempt awk-awk-ward one-b-b-ut I'll-d-d-do m-m-my the appetite of man, and proclaim the good-be-be-best for't. The gentleman, who is of a ness of his Creator Even in scenes of anoth- peculiarly sensitive and irritable disposition, er sort, where nature reigns alone in her own no sooner heard the reply, than, without saymajesty, there is much to awaken religious ing a word, he ran to a heap of stones that reenthusiasm. As yet, the forests stand clothed mained unused in the building of the well, and in their dress of undecayed magnificence.-seized the largest, and was about to fling it on The winds that rustle through their tops, scarcely disturb the silence of the shades below. The mountains and the vallies glow in warm green, or lively russet. The rivulets flow on with a noiseless current, reflecting back the images of many a glossy insect, that dips its wings in their cooling waters. The mornings and evenings are still vocal with the notes of a thousand warblers, who plume their wings for a longer flight. Above all, the clear blue sky, the long sunny calms, the scarcely whispering breezes, the brilliant sunsets, lit up with all the wondrous magnificence of light, and shade, and color, slowly setting down into a pure and transparent twilight. These, these are days and scenes, which even the coldest cannot behold without emotion; but on which the meditative and pious gaze with profound admiration; for they breathe of holier and happier regions beyond the grave.-Judge Story.

BRIEF SENTENCES.-To be ever active in laudable pursuits, is the distinguishing characteristic of a man of merit. There is an heroic innocence as well as an heroic courage.. There is a mean in all things. Even virtue itself has its stated limits; which not being strictly observed, it ceases to be virtue. It is wiser to prevent a quarrel before hand than to revenge it afterwards. It is much better to reprove than to be angry secretly. Norevenge is more heroic, than that which torments envy by doing good. The discretion of a man defers his anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. Money, like ma

no real use of riches,except in the distribution; the rest is all conceit. A wise man will desire no more than what he may get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and live upon contentedly. A contented mind, and a good conscience, will make a man happy in all conditions. He knows not how to fear who dares to die.

The following is copied from a Snuff Box made from a part of one of the beams of the Glasgow Cathedral, the only building of the kind in Scotland that was saved from destruc-nure, does no goed till it is spread. There is tion atthe Reformation:-"Respect me for what I have been. Once I was a young and hopeful plant of nature in the course of years I became tall, the birds of the air were happy under my shadow, and returned me their sweetest notes for my protection; by the hand of man I was cut down, and stripped of nature's robes: I afterwards became an arch in the Cathredral of Glasgow, and for upwards of seven hundred years have been a cover to the teachers of that sanctuary: I have screened alike the saint and sinner from the stormy blast but now I am an outcast from the house of God, become a gazing stock in the hands of man, and a part of my remains made a snuff box-1824."

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MISERIES OF A STUTTERER-A short time ago, a gentleman in the west of Scotland, had occasion to sink a well in his garden. After the well had been completed to a considerable, but necessary depth, he ordered a tradesman to be sent for to perform some operation at the bottom of the well. The gentleman was afflicted, in an uncommon degree, with an impediment in his speech; and it so happened that the messenger brought a person who poke as unintelligibly as his master. While the tradesman was occupied in the well, the gentleman unfortunately paid him a visit, and looking over the parapet, roared out" D-d-do yu-yu-you thith-thith-think yu-yu-you wi-wiwill ma-ma-k' a goo-goo-d jo-jo-b o' tha-tha-t?

OLD AGE. Every one wishes to reach an good old age, but few persons wish to be thought. old. The love of the vanities of this world, and the fears of death, are the cause of the first and the imperfections which accompany age, and render men a load to themselves and others, are the reasons of the second.

If we properly consider the subject, we shall readily conclude, that an honourable old age is the crown of a virtuous life, and that the white locks of an old man, free from reproach, are the laurels with which time has crowned him, and an homage paid to his virtues. Every old man, who leads a life agreeable to his age, merits respect, and the number of his years ought to be considered as so many steps he has risen above the follies of youth.

It sometimes, however, happens, that vice, though it generally quits us with age, still lurks in the heart of the old man, and gains sufficient influence to rekindle his passions. We must not then be astonished if such an old age, separated from virtue, becomes the object. of universal contempt.