POETRY. But this is not all; consider for a moment how many persons in all parts of the world are given employment in caring for the insects and in the weaving-houses. It must indeed require much attention when we remember that it takes eight thousand cocoons to make one dress. Even your dolly's sash is made in that way, and every necktie that is worn is first spun by a tiny worm. These little creatures are fed with the leaves of the mulberry tree cut in small pieces, and are so voracious that they require to be fed eight times a day; but they are such workers it is necessary, that they may spin two thousand feet in one cocoon, and this is so delicate that the same number of cocoons only weigh four pounds. Is it not wonderful how God has provided useful work for the many who must earn their daily bread, and that we should at first learn to make such beautiful material from a tiny worm? But the simplest thing is of use, and I doubt not that at some future day we will discover the method whereby God intends us to employ them all to our advantage. Poetry. "WERE THERE NOT TEN CLEANSED ?" Gone forth, my injured Lord! Of gratitude to Thee. Gone forth to live again Gone forth unarmed, unmeet, Because, forsooth, 'twas hard, Dare I condemn them, Lord? In countless measure down Blessings so rich and great, My trembling heart has asked, "Tis not for me to spurn ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS. Anecdotes and Selections. 66 THE REAL FIRE.-There is a beautiful legend told of the Venerable Bede, that pious and learned divine of Saxon England. When he was very old, and his eyesight was almost gone, one of his scholars led him to a heap of stones and told him they were people. It was enough for the aged servant of Jesus Christ. With fiery zeal he preached the gospel he loved, speaking as a dying man to dying men." When he ended with the usual words, "To whom be glory through all the ages," a voice rose from the stones, "Amen, Venerabilis Beda." The legend may not be truthful, but a certain contrast may be drawn. Instead of putting a voice into stones, there are those who turn people into flint by the way they speak. The only response they hear is the sigh of relief or the snore of repose. And the moment such results come, one of two things are necessary to a sincere man. He should either change his style or leave the pulpit. If the first is impossible, the last is certainly possible. But the first is not usually beyond one's attainment. The real fire of the preacher comes from above, like that which fell on Elijah's altar. It will kindle the soul when it is sought from heaven by intense and persevering prayer. Then the Bible will begin to glow. Then the needs of sinners will begin to weigh upon the heart. Then cold-drawn sentences, written in classic style, will be left in the study; and in the pulpit a man, redeemed and commissioned by Jesus, will warn, and call, and plead, and instruct men in such a way that there will be no inattention. His hearers will understand and heed the truth, and God will pour out His blessings, and of the richest kind. WATCH FOR OTHERS' SAKE.-Let us therefore be merciful, and imitate the cranes, who, when they set off for their appointed place, fly up to some lofty eminence, in order that they may obtain a view of the lands which they are going to pass. The leader of the band goes before them, chastises those that fly too slowly, and keeps together the troop by his cry. As soon as he becomes hoarse, another takes his place; and all have the same care for those that are weary; so that if any one is unable to fly, the rest gather together and bear him up till he recovers his strength. Nor do they take less care of each other when they are on the ground. They divide the night into watches, so that there may be a diligent care over all. Those that watch hold a weight in one of their claws, so that, if they happen to sleep, it falls on the ground and makes a noise, and thus convicts them of somnolency. Let us therefore be merciful as the cranes; that, placing ourselves on a lofty watch-tower in this life, we may look out for ourselves and others, may lead those that are ignorant of the way, and may chastise the slothful and negligent by our exhortations. Let us succeed alternately to labour. Let us carry the weak and infirm, that they faint not in the way. In the watches of the night let us keep vigil to the Lord, by prayer and contemplation. -Antony of Padua, A.D. 1195-1231. THE FIRESIDE. MRS. BROWNING AND HER DOG.-The following anecdote will not be laughed at by any but the unhappy wretches who have the mis. fortune to lead a dogless life:""Yes I have recovered my pet,' writes Mrs. Browning. "No, I have 'idealised' none of the dogstealing. I had no time. I was crying while he was away, and I was accused so loudly for 'silliness' and 'childishness' afterward, that I was glad to dry my eyes and forget my misfortunes by way of rescuing my reputation. After all, it was excusable that I cried. Flushie is my friend, my companion, and loves me better than he loves the sunshine without. Oh, and if you had seen him when he came home and threw himself in my arms, palpitating with joy, in that dumb, inarticulate ecstacy which is so affecting-love without speech! You had better give your dog something to eat,' said the thief to my brother, when he yielded up his prize for a bribe, 'for he has tasted nothing since he has been with us.' ́ And he had been with them three days, and yet his heart was so full when he came home that he could not eat, but shrank away from the plate and laid down his head on my shoulder. The spirit of love conquered the animal appetite even in that dog. He is worth loving, is he not?" เ LESSING'S FORGETFULNESS.-Lessing, the German author, was, in his old age, subject to extraordinary fits of abstraction. On his return home one evening, after he had knocked at his door, the servant looked out of the window to see who was there. Not recognising his master in the dark, and mistaking him for a stranger, he called out, The Professor is not at home. 66 Oh, very well,” replied Lessing; matter-I'll call another time!" The Fireside. 66 COVER UP THOSE BUTTONS." 66 66 no DURING the war a young officer came into a village in a South-western town, in the dusk of the morning, hungry and weary from an all-night's travel. He said to the first man he met, "Can you tell me where I can get my horse fed and something to eat?" "Why" replied the man over there they have plenty; but they are all Sesesh, and you had better cover up those buttons.' 66 The suggestion contained in this comes far more frequently in the days of peace. We hear it in various forms. "When you are in Rome do as the Romans do;" "Be not righteous over much;" Don't make yourself singular;" "Don't be so pious before folks;" "Keep your religion in the closet;" "It don't comport with proper humility to be parading it in public;" "Don't bore society with what is private." All this fine, accommodating sentiment is in the interest of hypocrisy, and he who yields to it is a craven. Christians have no business anywhere where religion may not be closer than your undergarment. Not as your cloak, but your full dress. We cannot go where piety is not the crown on the head. "Holiness unto the Lord" should be the THE PENNY POST BOX. frontlet between our eyes. It is not only bad manners, but deception, -nay, an outrage,-for any to invite Christian people where the company will not subordinate their unchristian ways, about which they can have no conscience, for the sake of the consciences of their guests, to whom they have pledged protection in their invitation. то GIRLS. BE cheerful, but not gigglers; be serious, but not dull; be commuicative, but not forward; be kind, but not servile. Beware of silly thoughtless speeches; although you may forget them, others will not. Remember God's eye is in every company. Beware of levity and familiarity with young men; a modest reserve, without affectation, is the only safe path. Court and encourage conversation with those who are truly serious and conversable; do not go into valuable company without endeavouring to improve by the intercourse permitted to you. Nothing is more unbecoming when one part of a company is engaged in profitable conversation, than that another part should be trifling, giggling, and talking comparative nonsense to each other.-Leigh Richmond's advice to his daughters. The Penny Post Box. BE PATIENT. Be patient with your friends. They are neither omniscient nor omnipotent. They cannot see your heart, and may misunderstand you. They connot know what is best for you, and may select what is worst. Their arms are short, and they may not be able to reach what you ask. What if they also lack purity of purpose and tenacity of affection; do not you also lack these graces? Patience is your refuge. Endure, and in enduring conquer them, and if not them, then at least yourself. Above all, be patient with your beloved. Love is the best thing on the earth, but it is to be handled tenderly, and impatience is a nurse that kills it. Be patient with your pains and cares. We know it is easy to say and hard to do. But, dear child, you must be patient. These things are killed by enduring them, and made strong to bite and sting by feeding them with your frets and fears. There is no pain or care that can last long. None of them shall enter the city of God. A little while, and you shall leave behind you the whole troop of howling troubles, and forget in your first sweet hour of rest that such things were on the earth. Be patient with your deferred hopes. The heart is sick, no doubt, but sick hearts must take the tonic of patience. All that is worth hoping for will come to the Christian. The hope itself is put in peril by the impatience that weakens and prostrates your strength. Here THE PENNY POST BOX. also you have no better resource than patience. You will reach next year just as soon by taking it quietly; the end of your preparation for life's work-your apprenticeship or college course-will come of itself. The end of all your labour is not far beyond, and need not be sighed for or impatiently expected. Clad in patience, you walk in an invisible armour, against which temptations to repine and murmur fall harmless. Put on patience against your hungry hope. Be patient with yourself. You are full of faults, and your life abounds in blunders. Do not lash yourself sore with selfdebasement. Some confidence in yourself is needful to your success. Be patient with God. It seems almost irreverent to counsel you so. And yet, you know that even against God you have cried out in your impatience. Your garden did not bloom in season, or bear fruit in abundance, and in your heart you said, “God will never reward me according to my works. He has flowers for others and fruit even for the ungodly, but me He leaves in want. When shall my turn come?" Be patient. He has one time and you have another. Your time is when you desire; His time in when you can use. He sees your day of real want; you see only the hour of capricious wishes. For Him and for you there is abundance of time. His years shall not fail, nor will yours. You can afford to wait. Be patient. MORNING DEVOTION. 66 It is remarkable what numerous examples we have of early rising in the Scriptures. Let any one take a concordance and look out the passages where it is mentioned, and he will be surprised at their number. Are not such examples binding on Christians? Abraham rose up early in the morning to offer sacrifices; Early will I seek Thee," said the Psalmist; and shall not Christians early rise to pay their vows unto God? Very early in the morning" the holy women came to the sepulchre to embalm the Saviour; and shall not His disciples seek their risen Lord early in the day? Christians! when are you most apt to neglect prayer, or to perform it hastly and unprofitably? Is it not when you omit early rising? When are you most prone to neglect reading the Bible, or peruse its sacred pages negligently? Is it not when you act the sluggard, and waste precious hours in indolent repose? At what season do you peruse God's word with delight, and call upon His name with fervour? Is it not when you rise early to pay your morning sacrifice? Nature, then, as well as Scripture, indicates the value of the morning for religious meditation, reading and prayer. Neglect not, then, united intimations. Experience shows the benefits of early rising. Profit by its voices. Let the dawn summon you from the bed of repose; let the orb of day witness you at your devotions, supplicating that the Sun of righteousness may arise upon you with healing in his wings. Thus your body will be invigorated, and your soul will be in health and prosper. "Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord." |