A THOUGHT FOR A PRAYERLESS MOTHER. 9 with notes of the instrument, the following as occasion requires, than to possess all stanzas: No room for mirth or trifling here, For worldly hope, or worldly fears, If life so soon is gone; If now the Judge is at the door, And all mankind must stand before Th' inexorable throne. No matter which my thoughts employ; A moment's misery or joy! But oh! when both shall end, Where shall I find my distined place? Shall I my everlasting days With fiends or angels spend? Nothing is worth a thought beneath, But how I may escape the death That never, never dies! How make my own election sure, Jesus, vouchsafe a pitying ray, Oh! write the pardon on my heart! The minstrel ceased. The solemnity of eternity was upon that assembly. Without speaking, they dispersed. The father wept aloud, and when left alone, sought the counsel and prayers of his daughter for the salvation of his soul. His soul was saved, and his great estate consecrated to Christ. I would rather be an organ of communicating such thoughts in such circumstances, and aid in the production of such results; I would rather possess wisdom thus to speak "You are the cause of it!"-Said a dying young man to his mother; "I am just going into eternity; there is nothing before me but misery, black despair, and you are the cause of it." You allowed me to violate the Sabbath with the gun and angling rod, and thus was I introduced to that career of crime, which, in ten years, has brought me to perdition. She turned from his bed, and with a heartrending groan, left the room. The day of judgment will disclose many similar cases. Without indulging children in immoral conduct, a mother may indirectly promote their everlasting ruin. Even while administering salutary advice, she may omit to supplicate a Divine blessing on their souls; and, if she do not ask, how can she expect to receive. Of what avail are her exhortations to prayer, so long as she neglects to pray? Does not example preach louder than precept? "God is not mocked." To every prayerless mother might not a dying impenitent child, while he gasps forth "To hell I must go," add the awful question-" Are you the cause of it ?” Our Young people. Don't become Rich Again. BY MRS. SIGOURNEY. "I've lost my whole fortune," said a merchant, as he returned one evening to his home; 66 we can no longer keep our carriage. We must leave this large house. The children can no longer go to expensive schools. Yesterday I was a rich man.— To-day there is nothing I can call my own." "Dear husband," said the wife," we are still rich in each other and our children. Money may pass away, but God has given us a better treasure in those active hands and loving hearts." and furniture, were sold; and she who had been so long mistress of the mansion shed no tear. "Pay every debt," said she; let no one suffer through us, and we may yet be happy." He rented a neat cottage, and a small piece of ground a few miles from the city. With the aid of his sons, he cultivated vegetables for the market. He viewed with delight and astonishment the economy of his wife, nurtured as she had been in wealth, and the efficiency which his daughters soon acquired under her training. The eldest one assisted her in the work of the household, and also assisted the younger children. Besides, they executed various works, which they had learned as Dear father," said the children, "do not look so sad. We will help you to get a living." “What can you do, poor things?" said accomplishments, but which they found he. "You shall see, you shall see," answered several cheerful voices. "It is a pity if we have been to school for nothing. How can the father of eight children be poor? We shall work and make you rich again.” I shall help," said the youngest girl, hardly four years old. "I will not have any new things bought, and I shall sell my great doll." The heart of the husband and father, which had sunk within his bosom like a stone, was lifted up. The sweet enthusiasm of the scene cheered him, and his nightly prayer was like a song of praise. They left his stately house. The servants were dismissed. Pictures and plate, carpets could be disposed of to advantage. They embroidered, with taste, some of the ornamental parts of female apparel, which they readily sold to a merchant in the city. They cultivated flowers, and sent bonquets to market in the cart that conveyed the vegetables; they plaited straw; they painted maps; they executed plain needlework. Every one was at her post, busy and cheerful. The cottage was like a beehive. "I never enjoyed such health before,' said the father. "And I never was so happy before," said the mother. "We never knew how many things we IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION. 11 could do when we lived in the big house," his wood-bine covered porch, in a summer's said the children; "and we love each other evening, than he had been in his showy a great deal better here; you call us your drawing-room. little bees." 66 "Yes," replied the father; "and you make just such honey as the heart loves to feed on." Economy as well as industry was strictly observed; nothing was wasted. Nothing unnecessary was purchased. The eldest daughter became assistant teacher in a distinguished female seminary, and the second took her place as instructress to the family. The little dwelling, which had always been kept neat, they were soon able to beautify. Its construction was improved; vines and flowering trees were planted around it. The merchant was happier under "We are now thriving and prosperous," said he; "shall we now return to the city?" "O no, no," was the unanimous reply. "Let us remain," said the wife," where we have found health and contentment." Father," said the youngest, “all we children hope you are not going to be rich again; for then," she added, "we little ones were shut up in the nursery, and we did not see much of you or mother. Now we all live together, and sister, who loves us, teaches us, and we learn to be industrious and useful. We were none of us happy when we were rich and did not work. So, father, please not to be a rich man any more." Sabbath-school Treasury. Importance of Education. If it be true that out of the 200,000 offences that every year occupy the attention of our courts of justice, one-tenth, or nearly 20,000, are committed by mere children; and one-fourth, or nearly 50,000, by youthful transgressors under twenty years of age, if it be true, as it is, that our expenditure for jails, houses of correction, and police, alone, amounts to a million of annually; and if, on the other hand, ignorance and intemperance are every where perceived to be the great engenderers of money crime; the one rising in savage hostility against every thing allied to order and religion, the other barricading every avenue by which light and truth seek to enter the poor man's home and heart, reason, justice, policy, and christian love, combine to urge us, night and day, in season, and out of season, individually, denominationally, locally, and nationally, to promote, by every means in our power, the sound and scriptural education of the people. B. & F. School Report. Six Considerations for Sunday School Teachers. FIRST.—The soul of each child is immortal. When the world, and all things in it, shall come to an end, the soul of each child in the school will be unspeakably happy or miserable. How important, then, is your charge! He that winneth souls is wise. Prov. xi. 30. SECOND.-Each child is a sinner, and by nature lying under the awful sentence of condemnation. Rom. iii. 23., Psa. xiv. 2, 3. John iii. 19.; 2 Cor. v. 19-21.; John iii. exhort them to flee from the wrath to come. Now then is the time to speak of Christ's love to sinners, and to point out his ability and willingness to save to the uttermost all who come unto God through him. Isa. xl. 6,7.; Eccles. ix. 10.; Heb. vii. 25. FIFTH.-Success belongs to God; but the use of suitable means belongs to us. And whether a teacher is permitted to see the fruits of his labours or otherwise, his duty is equally the same. It should be sufficient for us to know that at the time which pleaseth him, God will command a blessing. Eccles. xi. 6.; Acts i. 7. SIXTH.-Teachers are answerable to God for the diligent and faithful use of every talent which they possess. Math. xxv. 14-40. Ezek. xxxiii. 2-9.-Witness. The Last Question. A little boy, on his death-bed, was urging his father to repentance, and fearing he had made no impression, said—" Father, I am going to heaven; what shall I tell Jesus is the reason why you won't love him?” The father burst into tears; but before he could give the answer, his dear Sunday school boy had fallen asleep in Jesus. Dying Hours. Rev. John Wesley, M. A. The late Rev. John Wesley, after a life of unparalleled labours and usefulness, concluded his course, as might have been expected, in perfect peace and holy triumph. A short time before his departure, a person coming into the room, he strove to speak to him, but could not. Finding they could not understand him, he paused a little, and us." with all the remaining strength he had cried out, "The best of all is God is with And then lifting up his dying arm in token of victory, and raising his feeble voice with a holy triumph not to be expressed, he again repeated the heart reviving words, "The best of all is God is with us." CARPE DIEM. Rev. John Fletcher, M. A. The late Rev. John Fletcher (Vicar of Madely,) entered the valley of the shadow of death as one who feared no evil, He considered it as the high road to that incorruptible inheritance which is reserved for the saints; and looking forward with a "full of immortality," he saw beyond hope its limited gloom those everlasting hills of light and glory to which his soul aspired. A few days before his dissolution, he appeared to have reached that desirable point where the last rapturous discoveries are made to the souls of dying saints. Roused, 13 as if with the shouts of angels, and kindled into rapture with the visions of glory, he broke into a song of holy triumph, which began and ended with the praises of God's unfathomable love. A little before his departure, he said to Mrs. Fletcher and the servant, "Shout both of you! I want to hear you shout his praise!" He often repeated, with peculiar pleasure, "Jesus' blood thro' earth and skies, Mercy, free boundless mercy cries." He fell asleep in Jesus in the 56th year of his age. Poetry. On the termination of the year 1849, and the Thus prove my gratitude sincere, commencement of the year 1850. Another year has flown away, With goodness and with mercy crown'd; Kindness has mark'd each various day I still am with the living found! Great God! accept my thanks sincere, That I am spared another year. The lapse of years should make me wise, And constantly to watch and pray; To thee, O God, my eyes I turn, And seek, with all my soul, thy face: That I am spared another year, O let me not in folly spend, Th' uncertain remnant of my days; But ever keep in view the end, And act in all things to thy praise: Thus shall I happy be while here, And spend with Thee an endless year. Carpe Diem. (Paraphrased by Dr. Johnson.) Catch, mortal, catch the fleeting hour, Improve each moment as it flies; Life's a short summer, man a flower; He dies, alas! how soon he dies! |