did you get that wood? The wood is not and rung his hands helplessly. How could he yours-you have stolen it from me." hope that the old fisherman would risk his life "Master forester, I have not stolen it!" to rescue the unhappy child! stammered Semnon. "Do not lie, old man," replied Ithamar. "I felled wood only yesterday; it lies in the forest yonder; you have taken it from that heap. Give it up!" "But look," rejoined Semnon, "they are all small, dry twigs, which I picked up as I found them, scattered beneath the trees, and half buried in snow." 66 They are all stolen, I say!" With these words Ithamar tore the bundle furiously from the old man's back, and threw it over the bridge into the stream. "Now the dispute is at an end," he said, with a scornful laugh, and hurried angrily into his house. Semnon gazed at him sorrowfully, and then staggered toward his cottage, his eyes filled with tears. After some days, the air grew warmer. The ice upon the river was broken up, and caine crashing down the current, piling itself against the wooden buttresses of the bridge. Huge masses of ice and broken timbers hemmed the course of the stream, and swelled its rushing waters. Then Challisson, Ithamar's son came from the city, and wished to cross the bridge. But he started backward, irresolute, and terrified, as he gazed upon the fearful spectacle. Semnon who was near by advised him not to risk his life in the attempt. Ithamar saw this. But Semnon, with the snow-white hair, sprang boldly into his boat, impelled it bravely through the broken ice, and drifted timbers of the bridge, tore the boy from the wild torrent, and brought him happily to his father on the shore. "I here bring thee thy son," he said mildly in a tone which would have tamed even a wolf. "See he is safe and well, only a little frightened." Ithamar did not venture to lift his eyes from the ground, but stood alone abashed and silent. “ Forgive me, worthy old man," he said, at last while a stream of tears coursed involuutarily down his rude cheeks," forgive my inhuman conduct.". "For what have I to forgive thee?" replied Semnon, with a friendly air. "Have I not just had ample vengeance upon thee ?" "So, then," cried Ithamar, "an act of benevolence was thy revenge, much injured man!! Is it thus, indeed, that the upright avenge an injury.-New York Organ. Let NEVER waste arguments on people who don't know logic from log-wood, which is the case with half the folks who love disputation. The best reply to a stolid dogmatist is to say, "Certainly - no doubt of it it's as clear as mud." There is no poser like sprightly acquiescence to your eternal wrangler. "Come boldly across!" he cried, "the bridge him have his own way, and you confound him will not break just yet. Heaven knows what at once. Leave him to himself, and you make the old grumbler will put into your head next. him so uncomfortable that he will leave you; Come over!" "a consummation devoutly to be wished.' Challisson ran across. A crashing sound Conviction seldom comes of personal dispuwas now heard, and the bridge tottered; an-tation, in which the battle is waged much oft other crash and it sank into the water, carry- tener for victory than truth, except the coning with it the unfortunate boy. An angry viction that the other party is very dull, malediction broke from the lips of the father, or very dishonest. Besides, few persons a cry of lamentation from the old man Sem- take their opinions through argument in the non, both heard above the tumult of the wa- first place, and Dean Swift said, with the utmost truth, that "it is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into." These are our sentiments, and we cordially tender them to captious, quarrelsome bigots, who can see no truth or beauty in ters. The boy cried fearfully in the stream, and screamed for help. Clinging to a beam, half crushed by the ice, the current bore him onward. The despairing forester ran along the bank, stamped upon the ground, and called the laws of nature or of God. For the Miscellany. 66 LET THERE be light." BY REV. S. FLEMING. tions, and under successive dispensations of the Divine moral government, "give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ," establish and unfold the great principles of the Redeemer's kingdom, and roll on the affairs of earth, for the opening retributions of the future and eternal world. To this end, natural, intellectual, and moral light are made subservient; all things, all knowledge, every useful art, invention and dis THIS was the august announcement which broke upon the chaotic elements of the material heavens and earth, when as yet they were without form or void, and darkness brooded over the face of terrestrial nature. I will not at tempt to determine the period of time when this fiat was first uttered. It is common, in-covery, contribute to the ultimate and grand deed, to refer it to a period some six thousand years ago, when it is supposed by many; yet, as I think, erroneously that the earth began to be. end. Now God, so far as appears in all he has done for his creatures, works progressively; i. e., instead of bringing a work to maturity at The declaration no doubt appropriately ap- once, as he might have done, he has unfolded plies to the first creation or production of light, all his works and designs, under laws of prowhen the material universe was created. "Let gression, by series of developments. The stulight be," was the sublime fiat which revealed pendous existences which adorn the visible the visible, starry heavens, when they first em- creation were brought into being to be perfectanated from the hand of Jehovah. It is equally ed gradually. The re-fitting of the earth as appropriate as applied to those successive pe- man's residence, we have reason to believe ocriods, when world after world, and system af-cupied successive periods, it may have been ter system, lit up the vault of immeasurable many thousands of years before man was space, and started in their wonderful career, placed upon earth as lord of this lower creawheeling around the throne of the Almighty.tion. It seems to have been such a law of Whatever the nature of material light is,whe-progression by which the earth was prepared, ther it be a separate primary element,an absolute at one period, for the dwelling place of a highcreation, or the result of a chemical combina-er order of beings at another period. Thus, tion, an emission, a production, its entrance according to the disclosures of geology, which upon our world, so far as appears from the Di-are reconcilable with Revelation, the earth exvine Record, was gradual. At first, it was a twilight; and it was not till the fourth creative period, termed day, had opened, that the void was penetrated, the waters and gases were divided, the sun and moon were visible, and successive day and night began to mark the diurnal reckoning for all time. isted for countless ages before it was fitted to be the abode of man, and that the successive creations have proceeded from the lower to the higher orders, finished or completed in the creation of man. So scientific and moral light in the world have been progressive. There has been the Light was the emblem of knowledge and beginning of times, the laying of foundations, virtue. It is applicable, as such, to science and the infantile period, the " blade," as in the Pamoral truth, in the sense of discovering to the triarchal dispensation; then the period of dismind the facts which become the condition of cipline, of growth, the developing period, the its exercise. And as natural light was intro-"ear," as in the legal dispensation; and then duced into the world by a law of progression, so "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness," ordained that science and art, truth and religion, under a corresponding law of progression, should gradually reveal to the mind that knowledge which should develop and enrich it, and that spiritual light or truth, shining upon the heart, should by successive revela the opening of the "fullness of times," the perfecting, maturing period, the "full corn in the ear," as in the Christian dispensation. It is so in the history of the individual, intellectually and morally. It is so in the history of the world. Subordinate and tributary to the perfection of things, the full triumphs of science and re ligion, all the lights of knowledge, all the dis-sculpture, from the arts, from steam power, and the electric wire. Let the earth be restored to its primeval order and beauty and happiness, the nations bound together as one, coveries of the age, are to be made; and it would be interesting and profitable to follow out the history of the world, from the view now taken, and observe the successive Eras and let Jesus reign from the rising to the setwhich have marked its history,-the stand-ting sun. points of observation from which the world has advanced to its present stage. But we can only at present suggest the application of this announcement to some instances which discover to us the Divine method of introducing light into the world. F FRIENDSHIP. BY C. W. W. iscellany How much is expressed in that one word "Let there be light," seemed to issue from but rarely found. Like the genial rays of the -Friendship. 'Tis a jewel of priceless worth, the throne of Jehovah, as the first ray of prom- bright and dazzling sun, it dispenses its holier ise fell upon the altar of sacrifice after the fall, influences around, giving hope and encourageand as the translation of Enoch taught a future ment to the unfortunate in the hour of trials existence. "Let there be light upon the dis- and adversity through their weary pilgrimage persion of the human family to people the in this world of cares and troubles. Whether earth, and upon the giving of the law from at home or abroad, among strangers in a Mt. Sinai. "Let there be light," as prophet strange land it affords us sweet consolation to and bard opened visions of the future and sung know that Friendship directs us in the path of the triumph of Israel. "Let there be light," duty, and actuates us to perform those nobler as the wandering Israelites inscribed upon the and higher attributes of love and good will torocks of the wilderness the events of this exo-wards each other that God in his infinite wisdus, to be deciphered by the traveler of the dom has endowed us with. Behold man as he nineteenth century, and thus to furnish indu- starts out for the first time to seek a livelihood bitable evidences of Scripture verity and faith-in a far distant clime-taking leave of the home fulness, and substantiate the record of God's of his childhood-separating from friends and ways to his chosen people. "Let there be companions of his youth; or perhaps Lidding light," as the world's conqueror presses his tri- farewell to a kind and affectionate mother, a umphant career to the Indies, opening the way beloved wife, a doating sister, and a dearly befor the lights of civilization. "Let there be loved brother. As he takes leave of home, light," as the "fulness of times" has ushered in sweet home, perhaps for the last time, he casts the dawn of a new and blessed era, in which one lingering look of regret and sorrow behind the angel having the everlasting Gospel to preach is flying forth on his peaceful mission, iar to him in his youth, and thoughts come as his eye fals upon some object that is familto proclaim a world redeemed. "Let there be crowding on his memory, till at last his soul light," upon the translation of the Bible by and heart are unburthened and he gives vent Wickliffe, the first triumphs of the Press, in to his feelings, as Friendship's tears course issuing that Word, and pouring its benign radown upon his manly cheeks and sparkle like diance upon a darkened and tyrannized world. dew-drops upon the verdant fields in the bright "Let there be light" upon the discovery of a and dazzling sun-light. His course is onward, new world, when old associations were broken temptations beset him on every side, he strugup, and the spirit of unbounded enterprise gles with all his power and strength, he wresburst the shackles of a civil and religious des- tles with the world till Friendship finally comes potism. "Let there be light" as the spirit of to the rescue encouraging and assisting him, missions goes forth to bless the nations with and pointing him to a brighter and happier the Word of Life, and the light of truth which world, where the wicked cease from troubling, dissipates error and ignorance and sin. "Let and the weary are at rest. Though poverty there be light," from geology, astronomy, and and distress overtake him in his earthly career philosophy; from language, hieroglyphics and I through this dark and dreary world, though objects seemingly insurmountable meet him on every side, Friendship, true as the needle to the pole, that points the mariner to a safe harbor, guides him on, giving life and elasticity to his movements, and animating and encouraging him in the path that leads to fortune, honor, and renown. By a straight-forward and consistent course through life, Friendship secures him friends on every side. All, honor and respect him for those noble qualities which constitute true politeness. How his heart swells with pride, and his pulses throb with pleasure and delight, when in a strange land he finds one whose feelings are in harmony with his own, who sympathizes with him in his misfortunes and whispers sweet words of consolation to his weary soul, and thereby sheds the sweet and tender influence of God's love on mankind, and the Angel of Hope whispers those beautiful words of Friendship, Love and Truth inspiring him with feelings of pleasure and delight. And with feelings of awe he raises his eyes to Heaven, and exclaims in the language of him that doeth all things well" "LOVE ONE ANOTHER." HEAVENWARD AFFECTION.-If you will go to the banks of a little stream and watch the flies that come to bathe in it, you will notice that while they plunge their bodies in, they keep their wings high out of the water, and after swimming about a little while, they fly away with their wings unwet through the sunny air. Now, that is a lesson for us. Here we are immersed in the cares and business of this world; but let us keep the wings of our soul, our faith and our love out of the world, that with these unclogged, we may be ready to take our flight to Heaven. Let our friends circulate a subscription paper among their friends and neighbors Our subscription might be doubled with a very slight effort on the part of subscribers, and each one interesting himself or herself in this matter would feel much better for the effort. Some have sent in their own subscription, and that of a friend or friends recently. We would be glad to express our thanks to those individual. ly, had we time and space, but they are gratefully remembered by us. ers. WOMEN OF THE OLDEN TIME.-A correspondent of the Newburyport, (Mass.) Daily Union, writing from Ryegate, (Vt.) describes as follows, two ladies residing in that town, who are shining examples for the females of our day and generation : Among the old persons now residing here, I met a Mrs. Whitelaw, formerly Mrs. Harvey, the mother of Peter Harvey, of Boston, whose name has so often been before the public as the confidential friend of Daniel Webster. She is now eighty-five years of age, and has, in her day, been a remarkable woman. As she came into this place when it was an entire wilderness she must have also witnessed many remarkable events. Her first husband was the agent of a Scottish company, who purchased and settled Rye ate. She thus has been the wife of two of the first men of what are now two wealthy and populous towns. The first husband was nearly forty years old when they married; yet she was so young the united ages of her children, combined with her own made but sixteen years, and when her young acquaintances called to see her, the husband would tell her that she might "get the babies asleep and go out twelve other children, of whom she calls Peter and play! She was afterwards the mother of "my baby." Another lady, a Mrs. Broek, now ninety years of age, was among the first settlers. Being in good health and retaining the power of her mind, she remembers the whole history of the country around with great distinctness. She seems to have been equally well adapted to living in and peopling a place as the one named above, and has now liv new cendants. She can say to her daughter, what ing no less than five generations of her desbut few could ever say-" Arise, my daughter, and go to thy daughter,for thy daughter's daughter has got a daughter." THE NORTHWESTERN CHRISTIAN ADVOCATE. This paper continues to grow better. We congratulate Bro. Watson in view of the prospects of usefulness his paper presents. This and the Christian Herald are among the best religious papers which come to us. We find it difficult to get engravings at this season of the year. We shall endeavor to Intemperance and crime are twin broth- obtain one for the May and one for the July and September numbers. We are simplifying matters, so as to be able after a season, to sit down comfortably, and have a little converse with our readers without disturbance or interruption. In making an effort to do the greatest possible amount of good we were not able at once to thread our way, so as to arrive at the point designated precisely at the moment intended. For this reason, in our last emission we were compelled to treat our readers somewhat cavalierly, or, at least to give them only a passing word,-but we intend now to have our regular chat each month. We cannot do very well without it. Whatever it may be to our readers to receive our work silently from our hands,—-to us it is a matter not to be thought of. Only think, after greeting you for twenty times with smiles to be compelled to stand up stiff as a post and with a face long drawn, and clouded, to hand out the Miscellany without a word-we can't stand it, and we won't. So kind reader, give us your hand, and if you have smiles, prepare to show them now. We know the value of a smile, and appreciate it. We consider nothing worse, except positive crime, than that spirit which would banish smiles from the world. Without them it would be a world of darkness, of unhappiness, yea of positive misery. A real smile which springs from the deep of the heart is a token and proof of purity. There may be a counterfeit-what is there of intrinsic worth that has not been counterfeited? but it is easy of detection. One year as dark as night, and as blank of happiness as the life of a devil, we lived without a smile. And the world has not wealth enough to compensate us for another. It was a year of sin and sorrow and shame, from which the infinite compassion of the Infinite alone could save. In that hour a smile would have been worth mountains of gold. Reader, are you abiding under the shadow of the Almighty? appreciate your happy position, and look not away from the Redeemer of the world for pleasure, but "let your eyes look right on,"-" ponder the paths of your feet," and let your souls be satisfied with the fatness of God's house-with the pleasures which flow unceasingly upon the Christian heart. With all our gettings, let us seek nothing more zealously than wisdom. will give joy and gladness in the walks of life, and will comfort us in the hour of dissolution. It We have received within a few days some very encouraging letters from our litera. ry friends. These came very opportunely. What with excessive labor and care, and afflic tion in our family circle in the sickness of a beloved daughter, we have been a little more than usually blue for a few weeks past! But with such friends as we find we have, we can tolerate the blues no longer. We have concluded to dismiss his Highness, and seek a companionship more agreeble. Thanks, many thanks, for the many assurances that our work fills an important place, and supplies a desideratum in the literary world. We shall hold on our way, and the only change we mean to make in the Miscellany, is to improve it as fast and as much as possible. TO CORRESPONDENTS. We are very grateful to correspondents for their kindly attentions. We are very desirous that all our contributors should remember us at an early day. If we do not get a communication by the first day of the month as a general thing, it may not be looked for in the next month's issue. It takes time for us to arrange matter, and we intend, as a general thing to have the printing for each month, done at least ten days before the time for issuing the number which is the first day of the month. We are a little later this month, as we have been making arrangements to set our own type hereafter And in starting a new office there are many things which cannot be foreseen, by which delays are occasioned. But promptness may be expected hereafter. FARMER'S COMPANION AND HORTICULTURAL GAZETTE, a practical and Scientific Agricultural and Family Journal for the West. Published at Detroit, at the low price of fifty cents a year. The last number presents a very handsome appearance. Success to all Agricultural papers we say. The more the better, if they are well supported, and the Farmer's Companion gives evidence that it is thriving. CHAS. FOX, J. C. HOLMES, Horticultural Editors. |