ANECDOTES, SELECTIONS, AND GEMS. sheweth," let him hit the nail upon the head! not very nearly, but altogether, and he shall be a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. WE. L. AN UNHAPPY MARRIAGE.-The Fiddler. It is now about thirty years since a seceder from the national religious establishment commenced preaching in a small dissenting chapel in an agricultural district. He was much followed, and many were awakened. Among those regarded as changed characters, was a man who had been a livery servant, but was then married, and employed as a farmer's labourer. He and his wife were soon united to the church, and no one doubted the sincerity of either. When in service he had learned to play on the violin, and after his marriage had attended the village wakes with this instrument; this, of course, was discontinued, and it was refreshing to hear "the fiddler," for so he was frequently called, pour out his fervent petitions, while the big tears rapidly succeeded each other down his cheeks. His wife had borne him two or three children, when God saw fit to remove her, as it is hoped, to a better country. This was a severe trial to the poor man, but for a season he seemed to bear it with submission, till at length it was discovered that he was paying attentions to a young woman of disreputable character. His friends remonstrated, but in vain, for he was soon married to her. This was the commencement of his downhill course, for soon he became less frequent at the meetings for prayer, and then he would occasionally take a journey on the Lord's-day. His family increased, and as might be expected from the character of the mother, the children were of the lowest and rudest class. Soon the mother was afflicted with a cancer, and after suffering for a long period, she fell a victim to that painful disease. Many were the trials of the surviving husband, and many were his friends, but still he wandered. At length, unable to provide for his family, he became an inmate of the work-house, where two of his children died. Here his conduct was so disorderly that the church thought it right to disown him; but even this produced no beneficial effect; on the contrary, he seemed to forget all his former friends, together with all his professions, and on his leaving the house, his fiddle was again called into requisition, and he is now seldom or never seen at the house of God, but frequently at fairs and other places of amusement, associated with the lowest of those who are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. "The way of transgressors is hard" "Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." COMPLETENESS OF THE SAINT IN CHRIST.-It is a great consolation when weighed down beneath a sense of our own ignorance, weakness, sinfulness, and unworthiness, to think of that scripture, "Ye are complete in Him." It is a good text for the poor and ignorant, the despised and the afflicted. You may be in want of everything, but you are complete in Christ. You may be ignorant of everything the selfapproving world calls knowledge, but if you love Christ you are complete in Him. You may be despised of the world, and your name cast out as evil, but if you are a child of God the despite of the world cannot harm you; you are complete in Christ. Your friends may all be taken from you, or may all desert you, but you are not the less perfect for that; you are complete in Christ. Your property may take wings and fly, and you may have to beg your bread, or to suffer from hunger and destitution, but still you are complete in Christ; in Him you are ANECDOTES, SELECTIONS, AND GEMS. with all its wonderful blessings. He is our light and life, our health and wealth, our sun and shield, our rock and refuge, our everlasting and exceeding great reward. Let the christian go about the world singing continually, daily, and hourly, "complete in Christ! complete in Christ!" hates, and almost the only thing SIN is the only thing which God that man loves. Oh Jesus, what hast thou not done! We dishonour God greatly, and deny his nature, by not expecting great things from him. God is nowhere to me, if he is not in my heart. Facts and Hints. VAIN EXPECTATIONS.-As one who attempts to carry water in a sieve or to catch the wind in a net, so is he who expects to find satisfaction and happiness in things of this world. perfect and entire. You may lose your health, but He is your strength. Again, you may suffer by lingering and painful disease-may be helpless and bed-ridden, but still you are complete in Christ. If you be a child of God and stay yourself on Christ, nothing can take away from this completeness, nothing can diminish it. No; blessed be God, nothing! Nor can anything add to it. If you had all the wealth that is in the universe, it would not make you more than complete in Christ. If you possessed the thrones of Europe, or could sway the sceptres of the world, it would not add to your completeness in Christ. If you had the learning of Scaliger, and the genius of Milton, they could add nothing to the perfection of your character as a child of God - they could not make your robe whiter, or your glory brighter-they could not make you more complete in Christ. In Him, and not in the world, are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And ye are complete in Him. Let this be the saint's triumph and independence, that he is complete in Christ. Let him say within himself, as the gaudy shows of the world pass before him, "Well, after all, what matters it, though I THE BIBLE.-In 1272, it rebe so poor and ignorant: in Christ quired fifteen years' labour for a I have all riches and knowledge.labouring man to obtain one single What matters who knows me here, or who knows me not-who cares for me here, or who despises me, if Christ deigns to know me: I am complete in Christ, I care not for anything else, I want nothing else, if Christ be made of God unto me wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. Complete in Christ! how transcendantly delightful is the thought! There is nothing in this wide world that we need but Christ. We are perfectly independent of the world in Christ. Having nothing, we then possess all things. In Him, and through Him, we have the glorious gospel, THE GOOD OLD TIMES.-1531,"Paid 14s. 8d.; the expence of bringing a heretic from London; and for one and a half load of wood to burn him, 2s; for gunpowder, Id.; a stake and staple, 8d." Records of the Corporation of Canterbury. copy of the bible. One may now be had for ninepence; earned by a boy, or a girl, in a day. CONSUMPTION.-The statistical reports issued by the Registrar General, show that 59,025 deaths from pulmonary consumption take place in England and Wales annually. PREPONDERANCE OF FEMALES.——— The last census, of June, 1841, shows the gross population in Great Britain of 18,664,761 persons, of whom 9,587,325 are females, and 9,077,436 are males. THE BRITISH ARMY Costs annually £8,330,000, a sum larger than the whole taxation of Prussia. THE FIRESIDE, OR POOR MAN'S FRIEND. The Fireside, or Poor Man's Friend. BE A GOOD NEIGHBOUR. by and witnessed this transaction, It is an outrage that I would not tolerate. I would build a strong dam by the side of my fence and drive the water back again upon him." This is the spirit of the AMONG the pleasant things which are enjoyed here on earth, one of the most desirable is to have good neighbours. And there are but few annoyances more vexatious than those caused by neighbours world. Let us see how this plan who are fault-finding, censorious, would have worked. In the first and disobliging. It is in vain for place,it would have enraged the inany man to pretend that he is dividual thus frustrated in his sorgoverned by the principles of the did undertaking. And the more gospel if he does not exhibit in his fully conscious he was that he was character the feelings inculcated in in the wrong, the more would his the precept, "Thou shalt love thy malignity have been excited. We neighbour as thyself." This should can better bear the injuries which teach us to do everything in our others inflict upon us than the conpower to avoid exposing a neigh-sciousness that it is our own disbour to trouble or expense, while it should be our great pleasure to confer favours. If your neighbour does anything that is trespassing upon your rights, quietly submit to it, unless it be of such a nature that you feel in duty bound to remonstrate. But be very careful never to be guilty of a similar wrong yourself. A man wished to drain a marshy pool in his garden, and very impudently turned the water in under the fence of his neighbour's garden. The neighbour whose rights were thus invaded was a christian. lle said nothing, but immediately employed a man to dig a trench and provide for the removal of the water. He greeted his neighbour, as he daily met him, with his accustomed cordiality, and was more careful than ever to set him the example of integrity and high-minded generosity. Whether the man who was guilty of this meanness ever felt ashamed of his conduct we cannot tell, but this we know, that the harmony which had existed between the two families was uninterrupted, and they lived side by side, year after year, in perfect peace. Said another one, who lived near honourable conduct which has involved us in difficulties. He immediately would have adopted retaliatory measures, and either have thrust his bar through the opposing wall, or have contrived some other scheme by which he might annoy his adversary. Provocations and retaliations would have ensued in rapid succession. A family feud would at once have been kindled, extending to the children as well as the parents, which probably would never have been extinguished. As it was, the christian neighbour governed his conduct by the principles of the gospel. He submitted to the wrong; and probably, by submitting to it in the spirit which christianity enjoins, converted the event into a blessing to himself, his family, and his neighbour. He let alone strife before it was med dled with. The harmony of the families was not disturbed. The occurrence was forgiven, and in a few days forgotten, and they lived years side by side in friendship, and prosperity, and perfect peace. Is it not better to follow the advice God gives than to surrender ourselves to the dominion of our passions? THE PENNY POST. The man who adopts for his motto, | great truth, that we are all members "I will not be imposed upon," who resolves to contend against any and every infringement of his rights, at all hazards, pays dearly for his inflexibility. He thinks he knows what course is best for his interests better than God, and acting accordingly, he must endure the consequences. He must live upon the boisterous ocean of contention, and his heart must be like the troubled sea, that casts up mire and dirt. The bible inculcates upon us the of one common family, having one common father, and we should regard every member of the human family as a brother and a friend. Let this principle get full possession of the heart, and we shall be continually casting oil upon the troubled waters of life. Neighbours will reciprocate kindness like affectionate brothers. They will overlook those infirmities to which we all are liable, and seek to promote another's wellfare as well as their own. The Penny Post. A POETIC EPISTLE. TO A YOUNG FRIEND ON THE MORNING OF Like gentle dew, on Charlotte's head and heart; In copious streams from Jesus may they flow, And peace, and joy, and holiness impart. United to the object of her heart, May she a prudent, happy wife become; In every station wisely act her part, An honour to her husband and her home. Meek and submissive as her God commands, May she consult his will, his comfort seek, With cheerful countenance and active hands, Which inward peace and holiness bespeak. And may her husband, happy in his choice, Love her as Jesus loves his church, his bride; Honour, support, and in her love rejoice, And cheerfully for all her wants provide. Charlotte, to all around a pattern give: Be thoughtful,'modest, careful, clean, and neat; To make your husband happy, daily strive; Seek grace to do so at the mercy-seat. Remember much will now on you depend: Begin aright, go on in promised strength; The Lord will certainly his blessing send, And you will be a happy wife at length. The tongue and temper hold in firm controul, All jealous thoughts and bickerings detest; Display true fortitude, a strength of soul, With dignity and cheerful love be blest. Much of your happiness will now arise. From mutual efforts for each other's good: The peace, the honour of each other prize, And live on Jesus as your daily food. Bear and forbear, and every fault forgive, For him your time and talents still employ. Conceal your husband's faults from all around, Nor dare to whisper any one defect; Let kind attention to his wants abound, Nor ever treat his wishes with neglect. Prefer his company to all beside, Study his temper, always try to please; Let nothing for an hour your hearts divide, Neglect will soon the warm affections freeze. Put not each other in the Saviour's place, For he is jealous of his people's love; And if he frown, or but conceal his face, The painful consequences you will prove. Seek first his kingdom, then each other's peace, Prize holiness before all earthly things: So will domestic happiness increase, For this from true religion only springs. Dear friends, I wish you all that God can give, And all that kindest human hearts desire; May you to Jesus' glory daily live, And after perfect holiness aspire. Then when the time allotted you below Is spent, and mercy calls you up above, May you to Jesus' arms with pleasure go, And all the fulness of his glory prove. J. S. THE CHILDREN'S CORNER. The Children's Corner. A NEW HAT OR A NEW BIBLE.Being at Holywell, the following anecdote was related to me. D. Pennout, Esq., of Dooring, near Holywell, asked J. Price, a child belonging to the sabbath-school, "Which will you choose, a new hat or a new Bible?" The boy being in great want of a hat, hesitating for a mo ment, the worthy gentleman said, "Take your time to consider." Then the boy, after pondering the matter, replied, "If you please, sir, I will have the Bible." But the kind gentleman imitating our Lord in his conduct towards Solomon (2 Chron. 1 chap.) gave the boy both a new hat and a new Bible. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all necessary things shall be added. Young Moses preferred the reproach of Christ before the treasures of Egypt, and he had his reward. "MY HEART TALKED."-A child, six years old, in a sabbath-school, said, "When we kneel down in the school room to pray, it seems as if my heart talked!" Little reader, is your heart engaged when you pro. fess to be praying, or are you careless? Remember that if your heart does not talk there is no prayer, for as the little hymn says, "God does not care for what I say, Unless I feel it too." SELLING NEGRO CHILDREN IN AMERICA.-Let little children in happy England read this. How would they like to be sold as slaves? Well may they sing and be thankful. "I was not born a little slave, And wish I were but in my grave, years; James, aged about eleven years; David aged about nine years; Cyrus, aged about nine years; Yellow Alex., aged about eight years; Black Alex., aged about eight years; Abraham, aged about five years," Negro children are usually valued by their weight, that being consider. ed a pretty good criterion of their health and strength. The custom, accordingly, is to place them in the scales. A likely boy will fetch from five to six dollars a-pound; but some go as high as nine dollars a-pound. When heaven's high arch resounds with praise, And each his adoration pays, According to an advertisement in a New Orleans newspaper, the following "orphan children" are offered Accept the thanks our voices raise, for sale:-"Jolin, aged about twelve My Saviour. |