ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

A PEACE HERO.-In a small tract entitled "Illustrations of Peace Principles," we find the following anecdote of the author of a "Kiss for a Blow:"-" He was in an hotel in Philadelphia, and there engaged in a conversation on non-resistance. An officer present became enraged, and struck him. H. C. Wright took no notice of the assault, but proceeded with his remarks in defence of non-resistance. In a few moments, the officer struck him again. Friend Wright still preserved his equanimity, and continued the conversation. His assailant struck him a third time, and nearly knocked him down. He recovered himself, and though mucli injured by the blows of his opponent, took him by the hand, and said, 'I feel nó unkindness towards you, and hope soon to see you at my house.' He then left the company, and returned home. H. C. Wright saw his assailant much sooner than he expected; for he was called up at dawn, next morning, by the very man who had struck him the previous evening. He exclaimed, as he entered H. C. Wright's room, 'Can you forgive me? I have been in agony all night. I thought you would strike again, or I never should have struck you." Perhaps some violent spirit will say, 'H. C. Wright was a pusillanimous fellow. He ought to have knocked the fellow down. I would have done so.' Was Christ 'pusillanimous? Was Paul 'pusillanimous ?' Is forgiveness pusillanimity? H. C. Wright was not 'pusillanimous.' He that is slow to anger, is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city. It requires a large portion of true courage to suffer in a righteous cause.

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THE SCEPTIC SILENCED.-A devout minister was once asked by a sceptic if he followed preaching to save souls; and on replying that he did, the caviller rejoined, "Did you ever see a soul?" "No." "Did you ever hear a soul?" "No." Did you ever taste a soul ?" "No." "Did you ever smell a soul ?" "No." "Did you ever feel a soul?" "Yes, thank God," said the preacher. Well," said the cavilling doctor, "there are four out of the five senses against one that there is no soul." So the matter might have dropped; but the preacher, as subtle in understanding as he was pious in heart, turned the table upon the cavilling doctor, and being informed that he was a doctor of medicine, asked:-"Did you ever see a pain ?" "No," was the reply. "Did you ever hear a pain ?" "No." "Did you ever taste a pain ?" "Did you ever smell a pain ?" "No." "Did you ever feel a pain ?" Yes," said the doctor. "Well then," rejoined the preacher, "there are, you see, also four senses against one to prove that there is no such thing as pain; and yet, sir, you know that there is such a thing as pain, and I know that there is a soul. And what is better, I know who came into the world to save souls, and that he has saved my soul." The doctor appeared confounded and walked off.

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"No."

ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

A SOFT ANSWER TURNETH AWAY WRATH.-The horse of a pious man in Massachussetts happening to stray into the road, a neighbour of the man who owned the horse put him into the pound. Meeting the owner soon after, he told him what he had done, and added, "If I ever catch him in the road hereafter, I'll do so again." "Neighbour," replied the other, "not long since I looked out of my window in the night, and saw your cattle in my mowing ground. I drove them out and shut them in your yard. I'll do it again." Struck with the reply, the man liberated the horse from the pound, and paid the charges.

AFFLICTION FROM GOD IS FOR HIS CHILDREN'S GOOD.-A tenderhearted father walking with his little son, suppose in the city, when he perceives him gaze up and down, and wander from him, withdraws himself behind some pillar, or hides himself in some corner of the street; not that he means to lose him, but to make him cry and seek after him, and keep closer to him afterwards. So does our heavenly Father with us; he corrects every son whom he loves; he hides himself, and, as it were, pulls in the beams of his gracious favour for a time, when we are rambling about in our thoughts, and roving in our imaginations; but it is to make us cry after him the louder, and keep closer to him for the time to come, and to walk more circumspectly than before.

GOD ONLY TO BE SEEN IN CHRIST JESUS.-A man cannot behold the sun in an eclipse, it so dazzles his eyes. What does he then? He sets down a bason of water, and sees the image of the sun shadowed in the water. So seeing, we cannot behold the infinite God, nor comprehend him; we must then cast the eyes of our faith upon his image, Christ Jesus. When we look into a clear glass, it casts no shadow to us; but put steel upon the back, then it casts a reflex, and shows the face in the glass. So when we cannot see God himself, we must put the manhood of our Lord Jesus Christ, as it were a back to his Godhead, and then we shall have a comfortable reflex of his glory.

REST.-Far better than rest of body is rest of soul! It is wretched to be a slave, to groan, bleed, and toil; but far worse to be satan's bondman, dragging about an evil conscience and an aching heart! Rest from this cannot be had but by coming to Jesus! And, if we come, he will lighten every other load. Are you poor? Come, and he will make you rich for ever! Are you sick? Come, and he will cure your worst disease! Are you sad? Come, and he will wipe away your tears! Are you bereaved ? Come, and he will be to you a brother in adversity, who changes not, and never dies! Is sin a burden? Oh, then, come to Jesus, and he will take it all away! Do you dread the day of judgment? Come, and that hour will be the dawn of life and glory!

THE FIRESIDE.

The Fireside.

THE HOUSE OF CONFUSION.

THE writer of these verses says, "I am a labouring man who have read your works for years, but never before ventured to send you any of my bits of composition. Perhaps these lines may admonish

some."

PRAY tell me do you ever see

A house where all is wrong;
Where all the inmates disagree,
And squabble all day long;

Where all is bustle, strife, and noise,
And never ending din;

Where girls are diff'ring with the boys,

And snap, and snarl, and grin ;

Where each one would as monarch reign,
With undisputed sway,

And treat the others with disdain,

If they will not obey;

Where each one has great fault to find

Except with "number one,"

And wishes you to bear in mind
That he himself has none;

Where everything is out of place;
Where all is upside down;
Where industry has lost the race,
And sloth obtains the crown;

Where each one gives to anger vent,
In language low and mean;
Where all that's heard is discontent,
And strife is all that's seen?

Why those who let the devil raise
Such tempests in their breast,
Must live in torment all their days,
And die devoid of rest.

May all our habitations be

Places of peace and rest;

May order, cleanliness, and love,

Make all our firesides blest.

G. E.

THE PENNY POST BOX.

The Penny Post Box.

ALL HAIL TO THE SABBATH!

'THE enclosed verses on the sabbath are for your Penny Post Box. I am a police constable in the metropolitan force, and I composed them on the sabbath while on duty one night in Hornsey Wood fields, near London. Being a subscriber for the Pioneer, as I see one page monthly devoted to the writings of working men, I have sent my mite."

ALL hail to the sabbath! that sweet day of rest;
That day of all others the dearest and best;
'Tis a glorious charter, deny it who can,
The sabbath of rest to the labouring man.

All hail to the sabbath! the birthright of all,
Of rich and of poor, of great and of small;
For the gift of the sabbath to us sinful men,
Let us tell of God's goodness again and again.

All hail to the sabbath! appointed for man;
To preserve it unsullied let every one plan;
Let us each join together with heart and with hand,
To keep holy the sabbath throughout all the land.

All hail to the sabbath! the light of the week;
For blessings untold on that day we will seek;
We will knock at the door of God's mercy in prayer,
And for the last sabbath our spirits prepare.

All hail to the sabbath! that bright pearl of days;
In anthems to Jesus our voices we'll raise;
We will rest from our labours and sing of God's love,
And look forward with joy to the sabbath above.

All hail to the sabbath! a brook by the way,
Of which we may drink on each holy day;
Its waters are bright, refreshing, and clear:
Then let us partake of them while we are here.

All hail to the sabbath! we've not long to stay;
This is not our rest, we are passing away;
In mansions of glory we hope soon to reign,
And sing of God's goodness again and again.

FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS.

Facts, Hints, and Gems.