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ROADS.

We all know what roads are; for we have all travelled on them, and have felt the advantage of them. But, although this be true, some things may be said about roads which are not frequently thought of; and yet they are very important, and ought to be considered by every one. Such is the ungratefulness and wickedness. of our hearts, we do not properly value those comforts which we enjoy every day what we have not worked for, nor paid for, we are apt to think lightly of. I have seen a little girl throw away her bread, because there was no butter upon it if that child had known what it was to be hungry and to have no bread to eat, she would have valued her unbuttered crust more.

Now, I want you to feel the value of the common roads you walk on. Just think what a great deal of trouble and money it costs to make these roads: hills have sometimes to be dug down; valleys to be filled up; the ground to be made even; stones to be broken into small pieces, and laid along, so as to make the road hard, or the horses' feet and the heavy wheels of carts would sink in the mud.

Then hedges must be planted by the road side, or walls built to keep the cattle out of the way; and mile-stones and guide-posts placed to show travellers which way to turn when several roads meet.

There are many kinds of roads; some are called high roads, coach roads, or turnpike roads. Then there are occupation roads, lead

ing to some field or farm-house, and no farther. And we have narrow roads, called footpaths, leading over steep hills, or by the sea-side, or through fields, where horses and conveyances cannot go.

What should we do without roads? Think of the time and the trouble of climbing over hills, wandering over fields, and scrambling over loose stones, to get from one town to another. All this is spared by the beautifully wide and level roads we everywhere see. There is no country in the world that has such good roads as our country, Great Britain.

Turnpike roads are kept in order with the money paid by travellers who have to pass through the turnpike gates. Between small towns, the roads have sometimes no turnpike gates; these roads are made and repaired by a rate, or tax, on every one who owns a house or land in the parish. Occupation, or private roads, are, of course, kept in order by the persons to whom they belong.

When we are walking in a nice shady lane, or riding on a fine hard road, let us be glad, and thankful to God, that we live in a country where we can so easily visit our friends, and travel from place to place with so much comfort. In the Bible, we read of two very remarkable roads: a narrow one, and a broad one. One is a good way, the other a bad one: one leads to heaven, the other to hell. The Bible also says, that all men are walking in these two roads; there are no others, so that we ourselves are in one or the other of them. How may we tell in which road we are walking? The " narrow

H

way," means a holy life; such a life as God commands us to live. When we believe in Christ, and love the word of God and the sabbath day, and delight to pray to God and to praise him-when we honour and obey our parents and teachers, and strive to do good to every body, and to make every body happythen we may hope we are walking in the " nar

row way.

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The "broad road" is just the contrary to the narrow one: persons who are walking in it do not care to obey God, they honour not the sabbath, and have no love for their Bibles. The broad way is the way of the world; there may be some few pleasures in it, but they do not last long, and they will give us no comfort when we grow old, or come to our dying bed. Persons who walk in the broad road learn to be idle, and selfish, and proud, and ungrateful to friends and parents. They also learn lying, and stealing, and drunkenness, and other vices, which send the soul to hell. Oh, who would not try to shun this broad road?

The way to heaven is called a "narrow way," because those who walk in it are guided and kept by God's laws. When a road is made, you know there are hedges and walls on each side, to keep travellers upon it; they do not think of going off the road, for they would then lose their way, if they were strangers in the country. Just so, in the way which leads 'to heaven, we must do those things which the Bible tells us to do ; the commandments of God are as walls and hedges, to keep us walking in the right way. People may fancy they have more pleasure

and more liberty if they go their own way; but it is a bad liberty, and will lead to a bad end. Much better is it to follow Jesus Christ, who says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life," John xiv. 6. Jesus is a good Guide; if we tread in his steps, he will lead us safe to heaven.

The way of the wicked is called the "broad road," because so many choose to walk in it, with nothing to guide them; they are like wanderers over a wide common, where there are no hedges to mark the line they should follow. Every traveller goes as he likes; they all think they are going right, till suddenly, one by one, they fall into the dreadful pit of hell.

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If the wicked could speak to us from that awful place, they would cry loudly, "Follow not our steps; lest you also come to this pit of torment." But all who have tried the " narrow way," find it a good one. God himself tells us it is so, and says, Wisdom's ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." is the path which Jesus followed when he was upon earth; and, what is best of all, it leads to heaven. Oh, let us all strive to enter in at the strait gate; for "wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat," Matt. vii. 13.

WHAT Country is famous for the best roads?
How are roads made?

How are they kept in order?

Name the different kinds of roads.

Of what use are roads?

How many roads does the Bible describe ?

What is the difference between them?

What characters walk in them?

Is there no middle way ?

Why is God's road called "narrow?"

Are there many walking in it? Matt. vii. 12. What is required of those who walk in the narrow way?

Whither does it lead?

Does the broad road give any pleasures?

How long will they last?

Where does the broad road end?

What can keep us from choosing this fatal road?

GAS.

HAVE you ever walked at night through the streets of a large town, after the lamps are lighted? How brightly they burn, and what a blaze comes from the shop windows! it is nearly as light as day. Whence comes all this light? What is in the lamps? It is gas.

What is gas? Have you ever observed that sometimes, when stirring the fire, you strike with the poker a piece of fine large coal, so as partly to break it smoke comes puffing out; then, all in a moment, it turns into a bright flame. This is gas; and gas is a kind of air extracted from coal. I will tell you how you may make gas. If you take a long tobacco pipe, and fill the cup full of pieces of coal, then place this part of the pipe between the bars of the grate, so that the narrow tube may point to you, as soon as the coal gets hot, gas will stream out at the end. If you apply a candle to this, it will burn brilliantly, till all the gas is taken out of the coal. This is only an experiment which

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