THE FIRESIDE. to which he himself was responsible. Instead of relying on man for aid, every man looked directly up to God to forward the work. God was thus exalted, his power was confessed; and very soon, in a few years, the standard of the cross was carried to the remotest extremes of the then known world." A PECULIAR SAVIOUR.-Every Saturday evening Dr. Staughton appropriated to conversation with persons who were distressed on account of their sins. It was his joy to point the trembling sinner to Christ. He used to say his Saturday evening engagements were a sweet prelude to the sabbath. One evening a lady was among his visitors. He had been stating a number of encouraging considerations to her mind, which seemed to produce but little effect. They were all adapted to the case of inquiring sinners, but she felt as if she had no part or lot in the matter. At length she said, "Ah! sir, mine is a peculiar case." His reply gave instant relief to her mind: "And Christ is a peculiar Saviour." JACOB'S GOD.-A gentleman once said to a minister of the gospel who was by no means in affluent circumstances, "Sir, you have a very large family: you have as many children as the patriarch Jacob ?" "True," answered the minister, "and I have Jacob's God to provide for them." The Fireside. PULLING ONE WAY. A STORY is told of a bridegroom who rejoiced in certain eccentricities. A day or two after his wedding, he requested his bride to accompany-him into the garden. He threw a line over the roof of their cottage. Giving his wife one end of it, he retreated to the other side, and called out, "Pull the line!" She pulled at his request as far as she could. He cried, "Pull it over!" "I can't," she replied. "Pull with all your might!" shouted the whimsical husband. But in vain were all the efforts of the bride to pull over the line as long as the husband held on at the opposite end. But when he came round and both pulled at one end, it came over with great ease. "There," said he, as the line fell from the roof, "you see how hard and ineffectual was our labour when we pulled in opposition to each other; but how pleasant and easy it is when we both pull together. It will be so, my dear, through life. If we oppose each other, it will be hard work; if we act together it will be pleasant to live. Let us, therefore, always pull together." In this illustration, homely as it may appear, there is sound philosophy. Husband and wife must bear and concede, if they wish to make home a retreat of joy and bliss. One alone cannot make home happy. There must be a unity of action, sweetness of spirit, a great forbearance and love in both husband and wife, to secure the great end of happiness in the domestic circle. THE PENNY POST BOX. The Penny Post Box. CONSCIENCE DEMANDING RESTITUTION. WHEN We listen to the voice of conscience we do right, for it is a faithful monitor when we allow it to speak out. But some smother its voice, and will not allow it to speak. Such are said to have "their conscience seared with a hot iron." But when permitted to speak, the native power of conscience is great, and it often wins its most noble triumphs by its perseverance. When any one has done wrong, it tells him of his sin, and is always upbraiding him with it, and never lets him rest until it has compelled him to make all the restitution in his power-a case of this kind lately came under my notice. Let me tell it. A few days ago a young woman went into the shop of a tradesman of my acquaintance, and, appearing much agitated, said to him, "Sir, I wish to speak to you alone." Having taken her into an adjoining room, to his great surprise she thus addressed him, "Eleven years ago I lived in your family as servant, and robbed you; since which time I have been much distressed in mind, and have not been able to find peace. I have of late prayed earnestly that the Lord would shew me what I ought to do, and have been convinced that it was my duty to come to you and confess my sin, and restore to you the amount of which I robbed you, with interest. Here is the money." The astonished tradesman took the money, and commended and rewarded her for her honesty. She then retired, relieved of a heavy burden. Let the mental sufferings of this young woman teach young people that dishonesty always brings its own punishment. If you would have peace of mind, never take what is not your own. Be upright in all your dealings, whether as servants or apprentices, and do not steal even the most trifling thing; but remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, "He that is unfaithful in that which is least, is unfaithful also in much." And dont forget that verse of a hymn which I hope you have been taught― "Tis a foolish self-deceiving, By such tricks to hope for gain; -All that's ever got by thieving, Turns to sorrow, shame, and pain." If at any time you should be overcome by temptation, and be guilty of theft, be not afraid or ashamed of promptly confessing your sin, and restore at once your ill-gotten spoil. Ask forgiveness of those whom you have injured, and especially of that Great Being who saw all you did, and before whose tribunal we must all shortly appear. Peterborough. T. B. FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS. Facts, Hints, and Gems. Facts. EVILS OF INTEMPERANCE. The Hindu Intelligencer, an East Indian paper conducted by natives, says, "Of all the vices which Europeans have brought with them to this country, intemperance in drinking is perhaps the worst." China.-Christian missionaries in China are of opinion that the general use of opium will prove a greater obstruction to the spread of the gospel than the influence of Buddhism and Confucianism united. Australia. A friend of temperance in the colony says: "I regret to state that since the discovery of the gold-mines, intemperance has been on the increase." Ceylon. In this lovely island a noble effort is making to rescue the natives from the ravages of intemperance. As the taverns were haunts of crime and centres of pollution, half of them have been abolished. Madagascar.-In this large island there are said to be at least four millions of people who never drink any other beverage than water. United States.-The action of the State of Maine in suppressing the general sale of spirituous liquors has been imitated by the States of Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, Michigan, and the Minnesota territory. Grog shops are closed, liquor debts abolished, young people preserved, and drunkards made sober of necessity. Paupers and criminals have been reduced one-third. New Brunswick.-A law came in force, June 1, 1853, by which the sale of wines and spirits, except for religious, medicinal, chemical, or mechanical purposes, is, under heavy penalties, forbidden. Hints. GOOD OR EVIL-To do evil for evil is human. To do evil for good is devilish. To do good for evil is Godlike. ONLY LET A MAN, who has health and strength, say, my own right arm, and God's blessing, shall secure all I need, and he is in the right way to success. BUT LET A MAN try to persuade himself that he shall never get on at all, and he is just in the way to be a poor helpless creature all the days of his life. WHAT A MAN WORKS FOR he always enjoys, and far better too than he does who is dependent on the bounty of others. NEVER BE HEARD rejoicing in the downfal of others, either as regards their property or their reputation. It may make you dizzy, and then you may fall too. ALWAYS BE GLAD when you see an industrious, sober, and virtuous man, surrounding himself and his family with the comforts of life. They are his reward, and he ought to enjoy them in peace. NEVER ENVY THE RICH; especially if they have got their wealth by doubtful means. Depend upon it a house so built is rotten at the foundation, and may soon come down with a dreadful crash. THE BEST PREVENTATIVE OF CHOLERA, or any other such disease, is temperance and cleanliness. Cholera always looks for and finds its first victims among the dirty and the drunken. THE BEST PREPARATION FOR CHOLERA is to have the mind in peace, keeping yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Gems. FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS. THE TWO WAYS.-We must now, at this time, be going either towards heaven or towards hell. We cannot be going two ways at once. let conscience say which way you are going. Now, IN OUR VARIOUS TROUBLES, through the great mercy of God, we often get through better than we expected, and far better than we deserved. A BELIEVER IN JESUS with a shattered earthly tabernacle, is like a valuable picture in a broken frame. FEAR AND HOPE. He who lives without the fear of God, is very likely to die without hope in Christ. BETTER FAR be a Lazarus in rags on earth, and then in heaven, than be a Dives in purple on earth, and then in torment. THE REASON WHY so many fear death is they feel they are guilty. Why not seek for pardon of God by Jesus Christ at once, for this is the only way of getting rid of the dread of death. GOD UNCHANGEABLE. - Yes, it must be so. He cannot, like us, be of one mind one day and then of another mind another day. Couple this with the fact that God is loveunchangeably love. FAITH BRINGING COMFORT.--Lord, I have no life but in Thee; no joy but in Thee; no salvation but in Thee; but I have all these in Thee; and how can I but be comforted? THE EYE OF GOD.-If the wisest of men form a low estimate of their best services, how must those services appear to the eye of the holy God. Verily we are all unprofitable servants. DEATH'S COMMISSION runs thus in the case of the guilty, "Take him away and imprison him for the judgment;"-but for the penitent thus, "Bring him up hither that he may share in my joy." Poetic Selections. PRAY. Ir pains afflict, or wrongs oppress, Or cares distract, or fears dismay, If guilt deject, or sin distressKelief is yet before thee-Pray! WE ARE PASSING AWAY. O LET the soul her slumbers break, Let thought be quicken'd and awake; Awake to see How soon this life is past and gone, Our lives are rivers, gliding free Thither all earthly pomp and boast WATCH OUR SALVATION COMETH. DARKNESS Overspreads us here, But the night wears fast away; Jacob's star will soon appear, Leading on eternal day! Now 'tis time to rouse from sleep, Trim our lamps, and stand prepared, For our Lord strict watch to keep, Lest he find us off our guard. Let us for salvation wait; Every hour it nearer comes! Death will break the prison gate, And admit us to our homes. DEATH PREPARING THE GRAVE. DEATH is still working like a mole, And digs my grave at each remove; Let grace work too, and on my soul Drop from above. Then he may work in his dark cell, LOOK UP! LOOK UP! Look up, look up, with hopeful eyes, Though all things seem forlorn; The sun that sets to-night, will rise Again to-morrow morn. The clouds are often spread above, THE GRATEFUL SABBATH SCHOLARS. AFTER an examination of the scholars at a school anniversary, one of the bigger boys, in the name of all the rest, stood up and repeated the following verses. THERE is a way where thousands go, There is a Book that God has given, And, but for you, we too had trod Had they but friends to show the way, Long as our grateful hearts shall beat, O may his grace your care reward, DUKE HAMILTON, from a child, was remarkably serious, and took delight in reading his Bible. His mother, the Dutchess, told a relation that, when he was playing about the room at nine years of age, she said to him, "Come, write me a few verses, and I will give you a crown." He sat down, took pen and paper, and in a few minutes produced the following lines: "As o'er the sea-beat shore I took my way, I met an aged man who bade me stay; 'Be wise,' said he, and mark the path you go, |