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near the church) in time of divine service, Sir John suffered the house to be put down as a nuisance. You would not believe how many poor families were able to brew a little cask when the temptations of those ale-houses were taken out of their way. Mrs. Jones, in her evening walks, had the pleasure to see many an honest man drinking his wholesome cup of beer by his own fire-side, his rosy children playing about his knees, his clean cheerful wife singing her youngest baby to sleep, rocking the cradle with her foot, while with her hands she was making a dumpling for her kind husband's supper. Some few, I am sorry to say, (though I don't choose to name names) still prefered getting drunk at the Lion, and going about in rags, and grumbling and getting into debt.

FEELINGS EXCITED BY A GENERAL SICKNESS.

THE following account is given by one who was in North America, during the time when a destructive fever was raging, and carrying off vast numbers every day.

"Great was the majesty and the hand of the Lord. Great was the fear that fell upon all flesh. I saw no lofty nor airy countenance, nor heard any vain jesting to move men to laughter; nor witty repartee to raise mirth; nor extravagant feasting to excite the lusts and desires of the flesh above measure; but every face gathered paleness, and many hearts were humbled, and countenances fallen and sunk, as of those who waited every moment to be summoned to the bar, and numbered for the grave."

It is strange, that, in a world where we are liable to be cut off at any moment, we can be careless

Anecdote of Sir Matthew Hale.

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about our future condition. The sight of death, when numbers are falling around us, will often lead men to reflect:-but why do they not always reffect? Though no destructive pestilence may be raging around us, yet we know that we must all die, and we know not when; "Why will not living men," asks the good bishop Horne, "think and act like dying men?"

ANECDOTE OF SIR MATTHEW HALE.

SIR Matthew Hale, when a youth, was too much addicted to the company of some loose and vicious young men, which he did not break off, till an alarming accident drove him to it. Being invited with some other young students to a merry-making out of town, one of them called for so much wine, that, notwithstanding all Mr. Hale could do to prevent it, he went on drinking, till he fell down before them like one who was dead. All who were present were greatly terrified, and did all in their power to bring him to himself again. This occurrence particularly affected Mr. Hale, who went into another room, and, shutting the door, he fell on his knees, and prayed earnestly to God, both for his friend that he might be restored to life, and that he him self might be forgiven for having countenanced such excesses. Moreover he vowed to God that he would never again keep company in that manner, nor do any thing to encourage drinking whilst he lived. His friend recovered, and Mr. Hale religiously observed his vow to his dying day. From "Friendly Hints to the Youth of both Sexes."

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PSALM XXVII.

JEHOVAH is my light, my life,
Shall man excite my care?
Jehovah shields me in the strife,
Then how shall I despair?

Though ills unnumber'd round us spread,
Though foes unceasing rave,

Though kindred,-parents,-all have fled,
Yet God is near to save.

One pray'r, great Lord of love and might,
One wish has long been mine;

To dwell for ever in thy sight,

To worship at thy shrine.

There, in thy sacred presence blest,

Far from the tempest's shock,

When will it be my lot to rest

On heaven's unshaken rock?

Sacred Songs, by William Peter, Christ Church, Oxford.

SAVINGS' BANKS AND BENEFIT SOCIETIES.

We are so friendly both to the system of Savings' Banks, and of Benefit Societies, if well conducted, that although we have already given many of our pages to the subject, we willingly reprint the following extract from the Times newspaper, which has been sent to us by a correspondent.

"In proportion as the distresses of the industrious classes have of late years increased, a more provident care for their future comfort has been inspired, ingenuity has been tasked to discover new methods of diminishing their chances of want, or multiplying their sources of relief, Among these, the chief are Savings' Banks and Benefit Societies.

"The advantages of the former to these classes of society, cannot admit of a doubt. With them the

Savings Banks and Benefit Societies.

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in life, e advantages, It makes their

habit of saving a part of their present earnings, as a security against future need, is a virtue. It manifests a power of sacrificing present gratification to distant good, which is creditable at once to their courage and their forethought. It shows a resolute and an honest wish for independence, which enables them to keep their without the temptation to take or to submit to mean complian prudence an incentive to th industry; and gives their friends and superi → a guarantee for their good behaviour in the very prorty which their frugality has enabled tem to ccumulate. The institution of establishme..: for receiving these fruits of their economy, and adding to their little stock by interest, without exposing the principal to the risk of loss, is perhaps the most easy, and in many cases, the best mode of securing the savings of the poor. It gives the parties the most complete command of their own funds; it enables them to calculate most clearly the results of their own prudence; it encourages economy by clearly showing the advantage of every slight addition; and it is least liable to be perverted for the purposes of idleness, fraud or combination. But this mode of providing against the necessities of the poorer orders in sickness, infirmities, or age, by a reserve out of their own earnings during the season of health and strength, is liable to some objections. The parties easily perceive that their accumulations must be considerable, before they can afford any certain means of securing them against want, and they are, therefore, often deterred from making a beginning.

To such irresolute persons, Friendly Societies, well conducted, present the most unobjectionable resource. They compose a kind of mutual-assurance associations, in which the smallest contribu tions become available, because payment is regu

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larly enforced, and in which, without injustice to any, the surplus mite of the strong and healthy goes to relieve the sick, or to provide for the destitute. Hitherto these societies, though they at an early period attracted the attention of government, and exercised the benevolent care of some persons in the higher classes, have been often very badly conducted, and not only failed in accomplishing their objects, but encouraged habits of improvidence and intemperance. From ignorance in forming their rules, or calculating the value of annuities, the scale of contributions has often become insufficient to answer the amount of the claims created, and the funds of the society have thus been exhausted on the first or second generation. From inattention to the character of the agents employed, treasurers and secretaries have misapplied or embezzled the money of the club; and from the monthly meetings and the annual feasts at the public house, the earnings of labour have been wastefully spent, and habits of intemperance formed, for which the benefits of the society scarcely formed a compensation.

"By the constitution of the new Benefit Societies, which were first instituted by the Rev. Mr. Becher, of Southwell, there is no chance that the contributions of the members will be insufficient for its necessary payments, that the funds will be endangered by bad management, or that the alehouse will absorb any of those savings which ought to form a provision for sickness, infirmity, or age. The honorary members enrich the funds by their donations or subscriptions, but can receive no emolument in return; and the ordinary members, as joint proprietors, are entitled to all the advantages arising from the contributions, which are vested in trustees, to be deposited in the Bank of England, for the use and benefit of the institution." From the "Times" Newspaper.

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