THE FARMER AND HIS CHILD. BY THE EDITOR. Before his field the farmer stood, Just then his little son and heir From the field came, gaily singing; He had gathered cockle and poppies there, And a wreath he was homeward bringing: "O, father, see !" was the urchin's call, "Our blessed Lord has made them all!" -From the German of Julius Sturm. MR. FAWCETT, the Postmaster-General of Great Britain, was made totally blind, when a young man, by the bursting of a gun; but is one of the best informed men of the day; a profound mathematician, and widely read in literature and history. He can handle a rod and fly with wonderful success. An attendant guides him to the door of the House of Commons and there ready hands are always to be found to direct the sightlessa minister to his place. When he is addressed he turns his head, as though he could see the person to whom his reply is directed. The most remarkable feature about his speech is his command of facts and figures. He is greatly aided by his wife, whose attainments are almost equal to his own. WIT AND WISDOM OF JOHN PLOUGHMAN.-Keep such company as God keeps. Old foxes are caught at last. To desire happiness is natural; to desire holiness is supernatural. A good friend is better than a near relation. Boast not your wisdom; Satan knows more than you. If the love of God sets us at work, the God of love will find us wages. Fretting cares create grey hairs. Keep your hand out of the fire, and yourself out of a quarrel. When an old dog barks, there's reason for it. Open doors invite thieves. The breath of prayer comes from the life of faith. Make your pudding according to your plums. Be not all rake nor all fork, all screw nor all cork. If you say nothing, nobody will repeat it. " PRINCE BISMARCK, it is said, has become so stout of late that he can no longer occupy an ordinary dining chair, and sits accordingly on a low sofa, with his famous dog lying at his feet. He likes to exhibit his accomplishments to visitors, and it is related that one day on receiving a visit from Signor Manlini, the present Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, he sat down at the piano and played a composition of his own, remarking in an off hand manner that in Prussia politicians found time to cultivate the arts." "So they do in Italy," replied the Italian, and going to the piano he played over from beginning to end, and entirely from memory, the piece which he had just heard Prince thousand-ministers who adhere to the Bismarck play for the first time. teachings of the Bible." Yet it is true, on the other hand, that the declarations of one faith-filled man of God are more influential than the doubt and sneers of fifty thousand infidels. "One man and God are always a majority."-S. S. Times. It is true, as Dr. John Hall says, that the utterances of one minister who expresses his disbelief in the Bible are likely to be "more widely published than those of ten thousand-ay, fifty Do not blow hot and cold with the same breath. God's livery is a very plain one; but its wearers have good reason to be content. If it has not so much gold lace about it as Satan's, it keeps out foul weather better, and, besides, it is a great deal cheaper. Fun ought to be cherished and encouraged by all lawful means. People never plot mischief when they are merry. Laughter is an enemy to malice, a foe to scandal, and a friend to man. OUR CABINET. A KIND LETTER. Henry W. Longfellow was recognized as the foremost of American poets. His recent death has called renewed attention to the excellence of his character, and the purity of his literary work. As our tribute to his memory, we venture to publish a letter which we once received from him. It is a good illustration of the habitual courtesy and kindness for which he was so eminently distinguished. We had ben informed that Mr. Longfellow contemplated the publication of a revised edition of "The Poets and Poetry of Europe," a volume con taining biographical sketches of poets who have written in various modern languages, with translations of their most characteristic poems. As we had recently published original versions of two of the minor poems of the Allemanian-German poet, John Pe er Hebel, we ventured to send these to the distinguished editor, thinking it possible that he might find occasion to use one or the other of them in his new edition. A few days afterwards we re-letter to Rev. Dr. Morse, relative to a ceived the following very kind letter: grandson of President Finley" is rena letter to Rev. Dr. Morse, relative to, and grandson of President Finley." We once wrote an article in which we referred to the Low-church party in the church of England. Imagine our feelings when we made to call it in print, "the Slow church party." Fortunately, the article was anonymous. a 66 dered Cambridge, Feb. 3, 1880. were My Dear Sir: I am much obliged to you for your letter, and for your translations from Hebel, which are quite charming, particularly the "Song of the Cherry Tree." ERRORS OF THE PRESS. In the early days of printing it was difficult to get a book through the press without a large number of typographical errors. A thin volume of one hundred and seventy-two pages, entitled The Anatomy of the Mass, was published in 1561, which was followed by fifteen pages of errata. The pious monk who wrote it informs his readers in the preface to the Errata, that the printers' blunders in his little book were caused by the peculiar machinations of Satan. In these days of careful printing -rrors have become much less frequent, but with all that printers and proofreaders can do, it seems impossible to avoid them altogether. When the work is done hastily, and the proof not carefully read, these errors are sometime sufficiently ludicrous. We have before us an auction catalogue, printed in 1860, in which Alex. Hamilton is called "Abe Hamilton," and the name of the Hon. K. R. Van Rensselaer is given as "Honk. R. Van Renssalaer." In the same pamphlet the phrase Should I ever make any additions to the "Poe's and Poetry of Europe," I shall be only too happy to insert these pieces. Publishers do not look with a very friendly eye upon translations, but a small volume devoted to Hebel alone, would command attention and be successful, I think. With many thanks, Yours very truly, HENRY W. LONGFELLOW. Prof. DUBBS. 66 In a review article we said: "Luther once prayed that the Lord would put poets into the pulpit to aid in reforming the worship of the church." The compositor made it posts. We fortunately discovered the error in the proof. Otherwise, it might have been unkindly suggested that the petition of the Reformer had at last been granted. RHYMELESS WORDS. It is well-known that there is no fect rhyme, in the English language, to the word month. A young man who was supposed not to be aware of this fact, was once asked to complete a stanza beginning: wards connected himself with a new French congregation. In official docuper-ments he calls himself a German, and would no doubt have preferred to belong to a German church, if there had been one in New York in those days. His cruel death left no shame on his memory, and some of the most eminent people in the country are numbered among his descendants. "I need Thine aid in every hour, And every week, and month." He was equal to the occasion and immediately wrote: "For I believe the Lord's a tower, To which the righteous runn'th. It was not a perfect rhyme, but the thing was very neatly done. Recently some one has collected the following additional rhymeless words: silver, have, bilge, kiln, coif, rhomb, scarce, culm, oblige, gulf, cusp, scarf, microcosm, fugue, and the verb mouth -fifteen in all. No doubt fifteen, or fifty more, might be found. EDUCATION. Sterling says: There is a tendency in modern education to cover the fingers with rings, and at the same time to cut the sinews at the wrist. The worst education which teaches self-denial is better than the best which teaches everything else and not that. JACOB LEISLER. Much light has recently been thrown on the early history of this unfortunate man, who, in 1689, was made Governor of New York by a popular movement in behalf of William of Orange. He held his position for two years, but was afterwards condemned to death for treason, by his political enemies, on the ground that he had interfered with the king's prerogative in accepting his office without a royal commission. It has been proved that he was a native of Frankfort, in Germany, and that one, at least, of his relatives was a Reformed minister who had studied at Geneva. As he spoke French, it has been supposed that his people may have belonged to the French Reformed church which had been founded in his native city. In New York he was at first a member of the Dutch church, but after ANECDOTE OF JEMIMA WILKINSON. A hundred years ago the name of Jemima Wilkinson was well-known throughout America, but it is now so generally forgotten that it may be well to preface our anecdote with some account of this remarkable religious enthusiast or impostor. She was born of Rhode Island, in the year 1758. In a Quaker family, at Cumberland, her 18th year she devoted herself entirely to religious contemplation, finally becoming very ill and falling into a deep trance which lasted thirty-six hours. About midnight of the second day she rose up, as if from a refreshing sleep, insisted that Jemima Wilkinson had passed into the angel world, and that her body was reanimated by a spirit whose mission it was to deliver the oracles of God to mankind. She called herself "The Universal Friend," and by this name she was afterwards known to her disciples. She now began to preach and made many converts, with whom she travelled from place to place for the purpose of establishing societies. Her discourses were mostly exhortations to chastity and temperance, and her teachings differed but slightly from those of the orthodox Quakers. She was, however, very pretty, and always dressed in magnificent style, affirming that it was the will of God that the "Universal Friend" should be arrayed in a manner becoming a celestial visitant. In 1782 Jemima visited Pennsylvania, where she founded several societies, one of which was located in Worcester township, Montgomery county. Finally she settled in Yates county, New York, where she lived in great elegance, almost worshipped by her disciples, until her death, which occurred in 1819. Her sect was soon afterwards entirely broken up. It was immediately after her visit to Pennsylvania that a little incident occurred, which has escaped the attention of her biographers. With a large company she had crossed the Delaware near Easton. One of the boats had been upset, and the company presented a forlorn appearance when they arrived at Stewartsville, New Jersey. As they could not be accommodated elsewhere, they received permission to spend the night in a mill belonging to David Lerch, sr., but before retiring Jemima announced her intention of preaching next day. In the morning she appeared in all her finery, wearing, as usual, besides her female attire, an embroidered waistcoat, a stock, and a white silk cravat. After her sermon she called on her audience for any remarks they might feel inclined to make, and Mr. Lerch said: "I have nothing to say against your preaching, but I do not like your fine clothes. Surely, the meek and lowly Jesus was not arrayed in such splendid garments." FORGIVING ENEMIES. "Sir!" replied Jemima. "Have you not read that our Saviour had a seamless coat for which, at the crucifixion, the soldiers cast lots? Unless it had lots for it?" It is hard to forgive your enemies, 'been exceedingly fine-finer than any but it is harder for your enemies to forof their own garments-would the sol-give you. We mean to say that, while diers have gone to the trouble of casting it is hard to forgive those who have wantonly injured you, those who have committed the crime require special grace to enable them to feel kindly towards the victims of their wickedness. The conscience of the sufferer is clear, and he may, therefore, the more easily forgive and forget the injury; but the man who has done him wrong is reminded of his act whenever he sees the injured one, and his very appearance is a reproof, which rouses his lowest passions. Such feelings prey upon the mind that entertains them, and in the long run the man who has done the injury is sure to be the greatest sufferer. It was hard, on the spur of the moment, to find an answer to these questions, and Jemima evidently enjoyed her triumph. Though her hearers may not have accepted her reasoning, they were convinced that her fanaticism was mixed with a considerable tion of Yankee "cuteness." propor number which we might choose to mention. Thus, for instance, we might take the number four, which is generally regarded as very ordinary, without any magical potency whatever. Yet in the Scriptures, we find that there were four rivers in Eden; four evangelists; four beasts in the Apocalypse; four "notable horns," in Daniel's visions; the field which the sower, in the parable, went forth to sow, was of a four-fold character; and there are "four angels bound in the great river Euphrates." So, in a more general way it might be observed that the ancients used to enumerate four elements-water, fire, air and earth; four ages in history-golden, silver, brass and iron; four ages of man childhood, youth, manho d, and old age; four winds; four cardinal points; four celebrated monarchies, etc. The number of these coincidences might be greatly extended, but we think these will serve to show the danger of founding mystical theories on the frequency of certain dates and numbers, whether in sacred or secular history. THE NUMBER FOUR. Certain numbers have been termed sacred, on account of the frequency of their occurrence. Among them three and seven are most usual, and we frequently read long series of remarkable coincidences based on their recurrence. Now, we have no desire to deny the fact of the remarkable frequency of these numbers, but it has occurred to us that in a less degree, very similar things might be said concerning almost any FLATTERING EPITAPHS.-Charles Lamb, when a little boy, walking in a church-yard with his sister, and reading the epitaphs, said to her, "Mary, where are all the naughty people buried?" SUNDAY-SCHOOL DEPARTMENT. LIST OF BOOKS APPROVED BY THE ID. LOTHROP & CO., Publishers, Boston. The Sunday School Bureau is doing good work. The following is the second list of books which they have examined and found worthy of admission to the library : D. APPLETON & CO., Publishers, N. Y. Electa, Mrs. N. Conklin, $1.50, p. 399. Mother Herring's Children, L. S. Meade, $1, p. 204. The Palace Beautiful, Wm. W. Newton, $1.25, p. 348. Duties and Duties, Agnes Giberne, $1.25, p. 361. Was I Right? Mrs. O. F. Walton, $1, p. 362. The Broken Looking-glass, Maria L. Charlesworth, $1, p. 313. The Red Nightcap, A. L. O. E., 50c., p. 154. Mabel's Stepmother, Author of "Win and Wear" Series, $1.25, p. 426. Aunt Judy's Tales, Mrs. Alfred Gatty, 90c., p. 291. BeAllhind the Scenes, Mrs. O. F. Walton, $1, p. 346. The Martyrs of Spain, Author of Schönberg Cotta Family, $1, p. 400. Fritz's Victory, A. L. O. E., 50c., p. 152. Wise Words and Loving Deeds, E. Souder Gray, $1.50, p. 415. Nora Crena, L. T. Meade, $1.25, p. 316. Nettie's Mission, Julia A. Matthews, $1, p. 150. Margery's Stone, do., $1, p. 144. Rosy Conroy, do., $1, p. 160. Boys and Girls Playing, and other Addresses to Children, Bishop Ryle, 75c., p. 193. Water Gypsies, a Story of Canal Life in England, L. T. Meade, $1, p. 279. Pebbles from the Brook, Rev. Richard Newton, $1.25, p. 312. Rue's Helps, Jennie M. Drinkwater, $1.50, p. 386. Take Care of Number One, Rev. P. B. Power, $1, p. 263. The Circle of Blessing and other Parables from Nature, Mrs. Alfred Gatty, 90c., p. 153. Hester Trueworth's Royalty, Author of "Win and Wear" Series, p. 337, $1.25. Blind Man's Holiday, 90c., p. 263. May Dundas, Mrs. Thomas Gildart, 90c., p. 299. The Truant Kitten, A. L. O. E., 50c., p. 154. Florence Egerton, 90c., p. 392. Ministering Children, Maria Louisa Charlesworth, $1.50, p. 408. Sun, Moon, and Stars, Agnes Giberne, $1 50, p. 299. Master Missionaries, A. H. Japp, LL. D., $1.50, p. 398. Heroism of Christian Women, J. M. Darton, $1.50, p. 373. Leaders of Men, H. A. Page, $1.50, p. 298. Oliver of the Mill, Maria Louisa Charlesworth, $1.50, p. 380. HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN & CO., Publishers, Boston. Stories and Tales, Hans Christian Andersen, $1.50, p. 532. The Lord's Prayer, Washington Gladden, $1, p. 192. Marjorie's Quest, Jeanie T. Gould, $1.50, p. 356. The Children's Crusade, George Zabriskie Gray, $1.50, p. 240. Hawthorne's True Stories, $1.25. Tom Brown at Rugby, Thomas Hughes, $1, p. 405. Boston Town, Horace E. Scudder, $1.50, p. 243. Breathings of a Better Life, Lucy Larcom, $1.25, p. 288. A Summer in Leslie Goldthwaite's Life, Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney, $1.50, p. 230. Little Classic, Life, Rossiter Johnson, $1, p. 208. Little Classic, Childhood, do., $1, P. 227. Little Classic, Humanity, do., $1, p. 264. Little Classic, Heroism, do., $1, p. 243. The Manliness of Christ, Thomas Hughes, $1, p. 160. Patience Strong's Outings, Mrs. A. D. H. Whitney, $.50, p. 233. Faith Gartney's Girlhood, do., $1.50, p. 348. Childhood Songs, Lucy Larcom, $1.50. Stories from Old English Poetry, Abby Sage Richardson, $1. Seven Little People, Horace E. Scudder, 75c., p. 240. ROBERT CARTER & BROS., Publishers, SHELDON & CO., Publishers, N. Y. The Rollo Books, by Jacob Abbott, in 14 vols., about 190 pages each, illustrated, price $8.75; the titles of the volumes are: Rollo Learning to Walk; Rollo Learning to Read; Rollo at Play; Rollo at School; Rollo's Vacation; Rollo's Experiments; Rollo at Work; |