CHRISTMAS.

CHRISTMAS was close at hand in all his bluff and hearty honesty. It was the season of hospitality, merriment, and open-heartedness; the old year was preparing like an ancient philosopher to call his friends around him, and amidst the sounds of feasting and revelry, to pass gently and quietly away; and numerous, indeed, are the hearts to which Christmas brings a brief season of happiness and enjoyment. How many families whose members have been dispersed and scattered far and wide in the restless struggles of life, are then reunited and meet once again in that happy state of companionship and mutual good-will, which is a source of such pure and unalloyed delight, and one so incompatible with the cares and sorrows of the world, that the religious belief of the most civilized nation, and the rude traditions of the roughest savages, alike number it among the first joys of a future state of existence provided for the blest and happy! How many old recollections, and how many dormant sympathies does Christmas time

awaken!

We write these words, now many miles distant from the spot at which year after year we met on that day, a merry and joyous circle. Many of the hearts that throbbed so gaily then, have ceased

to beat-many of the looks that shone so brightly then, have ceased to glow-the hands we grasped have grown cold-the eyes we sought have hid their lustre in the grave; and yet the old house, the room, the merry voices and smiling faces, the jest, the laugh, the most minute and trivial circumstance connected with those happy meetings, crowd upon our mind at each recurrence of the season, as if the last assemblage had been but yesterday. Happy, happy Christmas that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recal to the old man, the pleasures of his youth, and transport the sailor and the traveller thousands of miles away, back to his own fireside and his quiet home!

PICKWICK PAPERS.

KNOWLEDGE.

“Knowledge," says Lord Bacon," is power." He has not said it is either wisdom or virtue. It augments the influence of opinion upon mankind; but, whether it augments it to good or evil purpose, depends upon the character of the information which is communicated, and the precautions against corruption which are simultaneously taken. As much as it enlarges the foundations of prosperity in a virtuous, does it extend the sources of corruption in a degenerate age. Unless the moral and religious improvement of the people extends in proportion to their intellectual cultivation, the increase of knowledge is but an addition to the lever by which vice dissolves the fabric of society. -History of Europe.

ALISON.

KNOWLEDGE is as food, and needs no less

Her temperance over appetite, to know

In measure what the mind

Wisdom to folly.

may

well contain

Oppresses else with surfeit, and soon turns

MILTON.

FREE TRADE.

WHAT a solemn humbug this modern political economy

*

is!

You talk about making this article cheaper, by reducing its price in the market from 8d. to 6d. But suppose, in so doing, you have rendered your country weaker against a common foe, or foreign foe; suppose you have demoralized thousands of your fellow-countrymen, and sown discontent between one class of society and another, your article is tolerably dear, I take it, after all. Is not its real price enhanced to every Christian and patriot a hundred-fold?

COLERIDGE.

66

POPULAR PREACHERS.

I Do not know a more painful sensation, or any expression which grates more harshly on one's ears, than when a person tells you he is going to hear Mr. Such-a-one." It proves so entire a want of right feeling with regard to the true object of assembling in God's house, and so utter a forgetfulness of the holy worship which is due to Him, that one cannot but have a fearful suspicion with regard to the spiritual condition of one who speaks so irreverently.

GRESLEY.

ONIY great unfaithfulness and very objectionable practices in his parish church, should induce a layman to leave it for another.

ARCHBISHOP SUMNER.