Look well as you descend the stairs, The very chairs are tied in pairs, The dinner-bell peals loud and well, How oft I say, "What shall I do If I could find a good receipt, But what to do with these wild boys, Is really quite a grave affair— "Boys will be boys"-but not for long; This thought-how very soon our boys How soon but tall and deep-voiced men More gently we should chide the noise, TRUE HUMILITY.-A Morovian missionary went to the West Indies to preach to the slaves, and toiled long without success. They rejected him because he was free. Moreover they were always at their toils, and he could not reach them. He allowed himself to be sold as a slave, and went with them to the fields, and became one of them, and thus he won their hearts, and they listened to his teachings. So Jesus came down to earth, and lived and toiled among men that he might win them for heaven. THE OLD YEAR. BY THE EDITOR. "Think we, or think we not, Time hurries on So says Blair. And One wiser than, Blair says that "our days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle." And every succeeding year they seem to speed more swiftly in their flight. Our life, like a train crossing a mountain, moves on at a moderate speed till it reaches the summit. But once it turns over the top, on the downhill side, it runs faster and faster as it approaches the base. How far Christmas days seem apart to children! How far they seemed to us in childhood! How near together now! To old people they come in less than half their former time. Another year has rushed into the great gulf, whither all the years past have gone. How much shorter it seems, now that we look back upon it, than it did as we passed through it moment after moment! A year that is past seems like a dream, and the recollection of what it was "like a tale that is told." To our everlasting Father "a thousand years are but as yesterday, when it is past, and as a watch in the night." The past year has borne to us its varied mercies, blessings in the form of joy and of sorrow. It has brought its marriage feasts and funeral repasts, its birth-days and its death-days. Some hopes have changed to glad fruition, and others have faded and vanished, giving place to something better, like a morning cloud before the rising sun. Many who a year ago mingled in the mirthful glee of this festive season, fresh with health and hope, are now sleeping their last sleep under the snow. Some hearts are this day sorrowful for their going. Many a Rachel is weeping because her child is not; many a child is sorrow-stricken because father and mother have forsaken it-have been removed from the homes of earth. How many have died without a saving faith in Christ among the thirty millions who have during the year been swept into eternity! All who died in Christ remain joined to Him, and to His people on the earth. "All joined to Him, their living head, In many a happy home the holiday festivities have been mingled sadness, because of the absence of the sainted dead. "I be lieve in the communion of saints,"-in a common participation in all sanctified Christian enjoyments, " by saints on earth and all the dead." Unnumbered mercies have crowned the past year. Thankfully we peer after it, hurrying into the distant past. Many wise and useful lessons it sought to teach us. Alas, that many have been so poorly learned! Our tribulation ought to have worked patience. The goodness of God ought to have led us to repentance. The chastenings of God ought to have led to our correction in righteousness. We should have ended the year wiser and better than we began it. It was designed to be a school-master to lead us to Christ. On every day's page did God's finger write something for our direction. Angels have been our ministering spirits, whom our Father has charged to keep us in all our ways towards the better land. Not fretfully nor with feverish repinings should we part from the old year, but penitently, because of neglected privileges and time unimproved. And thankfully, for the countless mercies of God's providence. Beyond these "Let the dead Past bury its dead." God alone sees into the future, and controls all events. Hopefully we should enter upon the new year. Whatever this year may bring to us, be it health or sickness, life or death, it must all come from His merciful hands. Every day's duties and privileges are designed to bring us nearer to God and nearer to heaven. All the aspirings of the believing heart are God-ward, through Jesus Christ, The end and aim of all piety is to become Christ-like. Our lives are hid with Christ in God. Our life-work is, through calm and storm, to draw nearer to God. Let this, too, be our aim this coming year. Then will it be all the same whether next NewYear's day shall find us on earth or in heaven. "Though, like a wanderer, the sun goes down, Yet in my dreams I'll be Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee. Then with my waking thoughts, bright with Thy praise, Out of my stony griefs, Bethel I'll raise; So, by my woes, to be Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee. And when, on joyful wing, cleaving the sky, Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee." WHAT I HAVE SEEN. I have seen a woman professing to love Christ more than the word, clad in a silk dress costing $75; making up and trimming of same, $40; bonnet or (apology for one), $35; velvet mantle, $150; diamond ring, $500; watch, chain, pin and trappings, $300; total, $1,000,-all hung upon one frail, dying worm. I have seen her at a meeting in behalf of homeless wanderers in New York, wipe her eyes upon an expensive embroidered handkerchief at the story of their suffering, and when the contribution-box came round, take from a well-filled porte-monnaie of costly workmanship, twenty-five cents to aid the society formed to promote their welfare. "Ah," thought I, "dollars for ribbons, and pennies for Christ." I have seen a man, who had long been a member of the visible Church rush to his business after a hastily swallowed breakfast, without a prayer in his family for God's blessing through the day, spend hours in the eager pursuit of that which perishes with the using, speaking not a word save of stocks, of bonds and mortgages, and when business hours are over, return to his home exhausted and petulant, to turn away from a sad story of want and suffering with, "I am tired, and cannot hear it!" I have seen him sleep away his evening without a pleasant word for wife or children, and retire to rest with no more apparent thought of God, his Maker, than if his meeting with Him at the last great day were an idle tale. "Ah," thought I, "days and years for mammon, but not a moment for Christ."-Christian at Work, THE WOUNDED SOLDIER, "On the 8th of October the chloroform began to give out at Metz. A few local druggists had tried to make it; but the product was not fit for use, and the real article was scarce. At the temporary hospital of the polygon redoubt, where I was on duty, we had hardly a litre and a half left. As we did not know how long the siege might yet last, it was our urgent duty to be sparing with it. On the morning after the fight at Ladouchamps, there was a terrible influx of wounded, and we had our hands full. A chasseur of the guard is brought into the operating-room, with his hand badly shattered. It is found necessary to take off the bone to which the little finger is attached-the fifth metacarpal. The man comes in on foot, still holding fast his gun, which he carries slung over his back. 66 Well, my good friend, we shall have to have a bit of an operation." "I know it, major, that's what I'm here for." "Would you like to be made insensible?" "Oh, dear, yes. I've suffered so much all night that I don't think I could stand it." "Are you very particular about it?" Why, is it very scarce now-that stuff that puts you to sleep?" "We have scarcely any left." The chasseur reflected a moment in silence, then suddenly"Keep it for those who have lost legs or arms; but be quick." He put his poor cravat still bloody, in his mouth, lay down and held out his hand. The operation over "Did it hurt you much?" "Yes, but what can you do? We poor fellows must help one another."-Aldine. OUR BOOK TABLE. The Heidelberg Teacher and Lesson Papers for Sunday-schools and families, is a Sunday-school monthly Magazine, published from the office of the" Christian World," in Cincinnati. It is intended for the use of Sunday-school Teachers of the Reformed Church. We are pleased with the first number. Its contents of 32 pages comprise a variety of apt and instructive reading matter. The subscription price is $1.00 a year, payable in advance. From the same office The Leaves of Light, a neat semi-monthly Sunday-school paper, is published. The first number presents a neat and attractive appearance. The pictures and reading matter are well adapted to interest and benefit children. The price of the paper is 100 copies to one address, per year, $25.00; 50 copies, $14.00; 25 copies, $8.00; 10 copies, $4.00; and one copy, 75 cents. We cordially commend the enterprising spirit of our western brethren. They deserve, as we feel confident they will receive, a liberal support. |