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THE

HE Author of these pages makes no pretension to literary merit. Having had to toil in the coal-pit from being little more than nine till nearly nineteen years of age for selfsupport, he enjoyed few facilities for mental culture ;-yet, having been plucked as a brand from the burning, by the coagency of teetotalism and religion, he now desires to spend and be spent in furthering their benign principles. And if every man, after his own order, can do something to lessen human misery and augment human good, what should prevent our using the essential instrumentality, whether it be the platform, the pulpit, or the press? Printed thought can live after the thinker is dead! And if the author can fling one thought into the great arena of human action to encourage any dispirited combatant to battle on against error till truth shall triumph, his labour will not have been in vain.

Who knows but some forlorn and shipwrecked brother, on this turbulent sea of life, may be induced to lay hold on the plank that bears, and so reach the rest that remaineth for the people of God? Then eternity alone can reveal the joyful result!

I have inserted the lecture on "The Life Battle," by the late Mr. John Fenn Humm, because he died soon after its delivery. He did not live even to revise it. I heard that lecture delivered and witnessed its effects on a large audience, and, having a copy by me, have thus inserted it, believing it will do good. Mr. Humm was loving and beloved. Earth's pathway to eternity for him was short!-He died at twenty-four years of age.

"Not many lives, but only one, have we-one, only one; How sacred should that one life ever be-that narrow span Day after day filled up with blessed toil

Hour after hour still bringing in new spoil."

Yeadon, June, 1866.

HOME THOUGHTS.

"THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT.”

(T

HE title of this evening's lecture is rather novel and startling, nevertheless it forms correct wording for the foundation of what, I hope, will prove both a practical and a pleasing subject. Now-a-days we must have new titles for the discussion of old truths. The temperance advocate should be like the little busy bee, ever going about from flower to flower, extracting sweetness from each and carrying it to the hive for future use. Every thing that will either "furnish a moral or adorn a tale" should be industriously hived for service on the broad temperance platform.

The temperance lecturer, like the minister, is ever expected to bring out of his treasury "things new and old." He ought studiously to labour to find new, rich, and attractive dress for old truths, so that they may be kept in fashion and favour. Temperance truth ought never to get either stale or uninteresting. Hav

ing originated with God in Heaven, its feedingsources are consequently exhaustless. Infinite Wisdom having designed and planned the grand enterprize will still also watch over our progress, anticipate our wants, and supply an abundance of suitable material for the successful prosecution and completion of our mission.

"Our work is glorious, let us move
The trampled heart to raise,
To fill the earth with notes of love,
And Heaven with notes of praise:
And worlds to come shall bless the light
The temperance teacher gave,

And those who sought his name to blight
Shall bless his humble grave.

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'Tis a glorious work, deny it who can,-
The work of a faithful temperance man!"

Many persons wonder why we take such childish topics for speeches, and others mercilessly censure our doing so, saying, "the world is already too full of folly and nonsense without adding to the stock." Be patient, my brother! A wise man once said," the lips of the righteous know what is acceptable." And we too must discover which is the most acceptable mode to present our principles.

I remember walking one evening on Cheapside, in London, in company with a friend, when we overtook a walking advertisement on the same causeway. Two persons, who had walked before us for a considerable distance, also halted to read the large poster, pasted on boards, and hung, as unseeming bracelets, over the neck of

"Ah!"

the measuredly moving pedestrian. said one of the gentlemen, "look there,-Everybody is requested to attend the Temperance meeting to be held this evening in the Ragged School, in Spectacle Alley, Petticoat Lane, Whitechapel; to commence at 8-30 o'clock.Subject-The House that Jack built." Admission Free. "Well," continued he, "that puzzles my grandmother, the teetotallers will talk about anything I declare. They will no doubt be lecturing upon 'Jack up the Bean Stalk,' next." Well, I thought that a capital idea, for if ever we can get "Jack (Alcohol) up the Bean Stalk," I dare guarantee that there will be plenty of axes, and hands to wield them too, supplied by the United Kingdom Alliance to bring the Stalk down with Jack upon it! And, I think, however much he may be bruised, there will be found few sympathising friends who will have daring to publicly bind up his bleeding wounds! But I am afraid we shall yet have many a tough conflict before we get "Jack "" up so that we may have the universal honour of bringing him down! Never mind, 'tis our duty to work, without wearying, for the reaping season will come!

""Tis ours to save our brethren, with peace and love to win

Their darkened hearts from error, ere they harden into

sin;

But if man before his duty with a listless spirit stands, Ere long the great avenger takes the work from out his hands."

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