THE FIRESIDE. FOLLOWING A LEADER.-Mr. R. Rowly, of Shrewsbury, once saw a man upon the Acham bridge, over the Severn, driving a flock of fat lambs; and something meeting them, and hindering their passage, one of the lambs leaped upon the wall of the bridge, and his legs slipping from under him, he fell into the stream; the rest seeing him, did, one after one, leap over the bridge into the stream, and were all, or almost all, drowned. Those that were behind did little know what was become of them that were gone before, but thought they might venture to follow their companions; but as soon as ever they were over the wall, and falling headlong, the case was altered. Even so it is with unconverted carnal men. One dieth by them, and drops into hell, and another follows the same way; and yet they will go after them, because they think not whither they are gone. Oh, but when death hath once opened their eyes to see what is on the other side of the wall, even in another world, then what would they give to be where they were!- Baxter. GREAT TALENTS ARE THE GIFT OF GOD, and are, therefore, highly to be valued; but the pride with which they too often inspire their possessors is extremely dangerous. It would be much better for you to be poor and ignorant, and satisfied with those around you, than to have superior abilities, and look down with scorn on those whose merits and talents you think inferior to your own. Your qualifications, however extraordinary, are not your own work; and if you pervert them, they will only turn to your own condemnation, and double your guilt in the sight of God. Think less of your learning, your wit, your taste, your science, and your attractions, and pray to God to add humility, and all the christian virtues, to your character; for, without these, your brightest talents can only serve to dazzle the world, but will avail nothing to your own salvation. The Fireside. THE LIGHT AT HOME. THE light at home! how bright it beams When through the dark and stormy night, THE PENNY POST BOX. How cheering is that twinkling light, That loving hearts will greet him there; The light at home! whene'er at last Since Mary gave her parting kiss; The light at home! how still and sweet When the rough toils of day are o'er! The blessings that those beams impart, Around the light at home! The Penny Post Box. THE INFIDEL PAINTER. A YOUNG man travelling through the country in search of employ ment as a painter came to a village where he succeeded in getting a few weeks work. It soon became evident, from his mode of life, that his habits were of a dissolute character. Late hours at the ale-house often made him late at work on the morrow: on these occasions he was naturally fearful that his employer might discover his absence. One morning, being unusually late, he anxiously inquired of one of the cottagers, at whose house he was employed, whether his master had yet been there. He had not; and again he escaped detection. The woman to whom he spoke was a christian; and eager in seizing every opportunity of usefulness, she thought it a fit occasion for reproving this man's sinful practices. She told him that although he had escaped detection by his employer, the eye of God was upon him: from it there was no escape; and 1 1 THE PENNY POST BOX. that what that eye beheld would be remembered, and would witness against his sins at the final day of account. To this he replied by declaring his disbelief in the existence of God, and scoffed at the idea of a future state and a future account. She contented herself by saying, that however he might blind his conscience and reason now, he would certainly find at last that God, and heaven, and hell, were solemn realities. On his leaving work she presented him with a tract, entitled, "The Death-bed of Three Infidels," with the request that he would read it; and succeeded in obtaining his promise to do so. Nor did she fail to implore the Divine blessing, that this young man's eyes might be opened by the Spirit of God to see his lost state. On the following morning he went to his work, but he appeared unusually reserved and sullen. Towards evening he spoke on the subject. "If this be true," said he, "I am a lost man; there is no hope for me." That night, for the first time, he was absent from the ale-house. His reflections were painful in the extreme. In this state he passed several days, during which he had frequent conversations with his pious counsellor, who, with much earnestness, directed him to the Lord Jesus Christ. Having completed his engagement with his employer he took his departure, with many admonitions from his pious friend, who also presented him with a tract suited to his case, called, "The Gospel Invitation." A short note was received a few weeks after his removal thanking his kind friend for her instructions. After this, nothing was heard of him for several months, when one morning the following interesting note was received by her : "Dear Friend,-It is with a thankful heart I write to thank you for your kind advice and for the tracts. Had it not been for you I might have been yet in the road to hell; but, thank God, I am in the way to heaven, with a bright prospect of a glorious resurrection at the last day, and am waiting for my Lord to fetch my soul away. The tracts have been the means of my brother's and two sisters' conversion. Thank God for it! And five more of my companions in sin are now seeking mercy. Go on, my dear friend, and be not weary in well doing; for in due season you shall reap if you faint not. What could I now do without Jesus? He is my guide in affliction; and now my heart and flesh are failing, he is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. O! my friend, while you are reading this paper I may be in eternity. Do accept my thanks for your kindness; and may God reward you sevenfold. So no more from the once infidel painter, but now a believer in Christ Jesus." Yes: many a time when one who fears God has spoken a kind word to some despiser of religion, he has been met by a sneer. Let such be moved from this little narrative to be always abounding in the work of the Lord, for only by so doing can they hope to save souls from death. Never give up doing good. W. J. T. FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS. Facts, Hints, and Gems. Facts. ABOUT MANUFACTURING PAPER. More People can read.-Hence more books are required, all of which are made of paper. The Manufacture for 1854 was estimated at 200,000,000 pounds weight. more spirit, but as the matter is now managed, the operations of the manufacturers are hampered and crippled by excise regulations. No man likes to go to work with an exciseman at his heels or at his elbow. Hints and Gems. The Price of paper for books was much higher during the year 1854 By Lady Mary Warwick —1666. than formerly. The Manufacture of Lint for the army is supposed to be one cause of the rise in the price of paper, as both lint and paper are made from white rags. Our supply of rags is chiefly from Germany, Hungary, or Italy, and other continental countries. Some other material than rags is what is greatly needed in order to a cheap supply of paper. One thousand pounds reward has been offered for such a material. Various other substances have been tried; and some have produced a paper nearly as good as that from rags. A Supplement" of the Times newspaper was lately printed on one of these new papers. THE ALMOST CHRISTIAN is the unhappiest man; having religion enough to make the world hate him, and not enough to make God love him. HUMILITY.-O Lord, who givest grace to the humble, give me grace to be humble. THE TRUE MEASURE of loving God, is to love him without measure. LUTHER SAID, Christ's cross is no letter; yet it taught him more than all the alphabet. WE SHOULD MEDITATE of Christ's cross, till we be fastened as close to him as he was to his cross. CHRIST PRECIOUS.-By how much the more Christ made himself vile for us, by so much the more preExperiments are making for clear-cious he should be to us. ing off the ink from printed waste WE NEED EVERY DAY blood for papers, so as to make them fit for our hearts, as water for our hands. use again. TAKING UP THE CROSS.-He that The British Government are urg-takes up Christ's cross handsomely, ing their consuls in foreign lands shall find it such a burden, as wings to ship off all the rags they can, or to a bird, or sails to a ship. seek out a substitute in some of the vegetable productions of those countries, The Tax on Paper would, there can be little doubt, have been taken off ere this, had not this tiresome and ruinous war broken out; and the manufacture of paper would then have been entered upon with IT IS A GREAT HONOUR to be almoner to the King of heaven. WHO WOULD NOT STARVE & lust to feed a saint ? TO GIVE, is the greatest sensible delight: how indulgent, then, is God to annex future rewards to what is so much its own recompense. FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS. TO BE LIBELLED for Christ is the best panegyric. GOD CHASTISES whom he loves, but he loves not to chastise. SIN BROUGHT DEATH into the world, and nothing but death will carry sin out of the world. IF ALL MEN'S TROUBLES were brought into a common store, every one would carry back what he brought, rather than stand to a share of an equal division. THOUGH TIME be not lasting, what depends on it is everlasting. THE BEST SHIELD against slanders is, to live so that none may believe them. HE THAT REVENGES an injury, acts the part of an executioner. He that pardons it, acts the part of a prince. HE LOVES GOD too little, who loves anything with him, which he loves not for him. SO SPEAK OF GOD, as though men heard thee; so speak to men as knowing God hears thee. No MAN ever yet was a loser by God, and you shall not be the first: you shall not lose your pleasures, but exchange them,-defiling ones, for pure, and clean, and ravishing. CANNOT GOD, think you, who is a spirit, so fit an object for our souls, and give them as great pleasures as any object of our taste and sight? DARE TO BE GOOD, resolve to be so thoroughly; and if you do not find it much better than I have told you, never take my word or trust me more." Poetic Selections. THE GOOD PHYSICIAN. How lost was my condition Can cure a sin-sick soul! The worst of all diseases Is light compared with sin; On every part it seizes, But rages most within: 'Tis palsy, dropsy, fever, And madness all combined; And none but a believer The least relief can find. From men great skill professing Some gave me up for lost; And all my hopes were crossed. At length this great PhysicianHow matchless is his grace !Accepted my petition, And undertook my case: For sin my eyes had sealed, A dying, risen Jesus, Seen by the eye of faith, And saves the soul from death: |