ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

WHAT IS "6 APPLE-PIE ORDER?"-Does it mean in order, or in disorder? We rather incline to the latter, and think it means, or meant originally, in a muddle. We think, too, that it has nothing to do with "apple" or "pie" in the common sense of the words. We believe it to be a typographical term, and that it was originally "Chapel-pie." A printing house was and is to this day called a chapel-perhaps from the Chapel at Westminster Abbey, in which Caxton's earliest works are said to have been printed; and "pie" is type after it is "distributed," or broken up, and before it has been re-sorted. "Pie" in this sense came from the confused and perplexing rules of the "Pie," that is, the order for finding the lessons in Catholic times, which those who have read or care to read the Preface to the "Book of Common Prayer" will find there expressed and denounced. Here is the passage: "Moreover the number and hardness of the rules called the Pie, and the manifold changings of the service, was the cause that to turn the book only was so hard and intricate a matter, that many times there was more business to find out what should be read than to read

Those

it when it was found out." To leave your type in "pie" is to leave it unsorted and in confusion, and "apple pie order," which we take to be "chapel-pie order," is to leave anything in a thorough mess. who like to take the other side, and assert that "apple-pie order" means in perfect order, may still find their derivation in "chapel-pie;" for the ordering and sorting of the "pie" or type is enforced in every chapel" or printing-house by severe fines, and so chapel-pie order” would be such order of the type as the best friends of the chapel would wish to see.

66

A

AN ILLITERATE PULPIT.-Admitting ignorant, sordid, illiterate persons to this function is to give the royal stamp to a piece of lead. I confess God has no need of any man's parts or learning, but certainly then he hath much less need of his ignorance and ill-behaviour. blind man sitting in the chimney corner is pardonable enough, but sitting at the helm he is intolerable. If men will be ignorant and illiterate, let them be so in private and to themselves, and not set their defects in a high place, to make themselves visible and conspicuous. If owls will not be hooted at, let them keep close within the tree, and not perch upon the upper boughs.

GOD IN NATURE.-Ask the world, the beauty of the heaven, the brilliancy and ordering of the stars, the sun that sufficeth for the day, the moon the solace of the night; ask the earth, fruitful in herbs and trees, full of animals, adorned with men; ask the sea, with how great and what kind of fishes filled; ask the air, stocked with what multitudes of birds; ask all things, and see if they do not, as it were by a language of their own, make answer to thee-God made us.

SINCERITY. My son, give me thy heart; whatsoever else we tender unto God, if this be wanting, it is but the carcass of a duty.-Ezekiel Hopkins.

THE FIRESIDE.

WORLDLY PLEASURE. No worldly pleasure hath any absolute delight in it; but as a bee, having honey in the mouth, hath a sting in the tail. Who sees an ox grazing in a fat and rank pasture, and thinks not he is near to the slaughter? Whereas the lean beast that toils under the yoke is far enough from the shambles. The best wicked man cannot be so envied in his first shows as he is pitiable in the conclusion.-Joseph Hall.

SECTARIANISM. I hate dividing principles and practices, and, whatever others are, I am for peace and healing; and if my blood would be sufficient balsam, I would gladly part with the last drop of it for the closing up of the bleeding wounds of differences that are amongst true Christians.-Matthew Henry.

THE ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN.-It is not harder to keep the flies out of your cupboards in summer from tainting your provision, than Satan out of your consciences. Many a sweet meal hath he robbed the saints of, and sent them supperless to bed.—Gurnall.

PREACHING.-The true learning of a gospel minister consists not in being able to talk Latin fluently, or to dispute in philosophy, but in being able to speak a word in season to weary souls.—Philip Henry.

PRECEPT AND EXAMPLE.-Though the words of the wise be as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, yet sure their examples are the hammer to drive them in to take the deeper hold.-Thomas Fuller.

HUNGER AND FRUITION.-Desire is love in motion, as a bird upon the wing; delight is love at rest, as a bird upor the nest.-Matthew Henry.

The Fireside.

SUNSHINE FOR THE CHILDREN.

DID you ever take the thermometer out of doors when the snow was over the earth, and see how the tiny thread of quicksilver began to contract itself? It could not help it, the atmosphere was so cold. But bring it into the warm sitting room and hang it above the chimney piece, and how quickly it begins to feel the warmth and expand itself. Just so young hearts are all cramped and chilled in the atmosphere of fault finding and fretfulness. They grow narrow and selfish, and most unhappy as well as unlovely. It is not at all the atmosphere God designed the young heart to develop in. Bring the same nature out of the cold into the warm atmosphere of love and kindness, and see how soon it will begin to feel the influence. Children's hearts are

THE PENNY POST BOX.

fully as sensitive as quicksilver to the atmosphere about them. There are certain people who carry with them the air "that it is a great misdemeanour in a child that he has not grown up," and they feel called upon to be especially severe on such delinquents! How quick children catch the impression, and how glad they are to avoid any further offence by keeping well out of the way! Pity the poor things when this is impossible! Sitting out in the freezing cold for an hour is no comparison to the discomfort. Such people have a sharp rebuke for every sound which betrays the buoyant child's spirit within, a frown for every movement. If they could suddenly transform themselves into wooden images, they might barely be endured, that is, if they could be stowed into imperceptible space in some invisible corner.

There are many good people who do not go to such lengths in their dislike for children, who yet make their little lives wretched while in their presence by continual reproof and fault-finding. Now and then there may be a child so playful and heedless that he will bear up under the pressure, and we feel thankful for the indifference; but by far the larger number grow morose and sour, or sink down into a dreary wretchedness that makes the heart ache to witness.

Even if you live in a cottage, give the little hearts by your hearthstone plenty of sunshine. Let it flood the little home-room with its light, and rest assured when you die there will be many to rise up and call you blessed. Bad temper goes down the family line for generations, and acts and reacts on thousands of outsiders. Plenty of warmth, pure air, and sunlight are the rules for growing healthful, beautiful plants; and the same rules apply to the moral growth of the young plants of immortality.

The Penny Post Box.

MORAL COURAGE IN EVERY-DAY LIFE.

HAVE the courage to discharge a debt while you have the money in your pocket.

Have the courage to do without that which you do not need, however much your eyes may covet it.

Have the courage to speak your mind when it is necessary you should do so, and to hold your tongue when it is prudent you should do so.

Have the courage to speak to a friend in a "seedy" coat, even though you are in company with a rich one, and richly attired. Have the courage to make a will and a just one.

FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.

Have the courage to tell a man why you will not lend him your

money.

Have the courage to "cut" the most agreeable acquaintance you have, when you are convinced that he lacks principle. "A friend

should bear with a friend's infirmities," but not with his vices.

Have the courage to show your respect for honesty, in whatever guise it appears; and your contempt for dishonest duplicity, by whomsoever exhibited.

Have the courage to wear your old clothes until you can pay for

new ones.

Have the courage to obey your Maker at the risk of being ridiculed by man.

Have the courage to prefer comfort and propriety to fashion, in all things.

Have the courage to acknowledge your ignorance, rather than to seek credit for knowledge under false pretences.

Have the courage to provide entertainment for your friends, within your means-not beyond.

Facts, Hints, Gems, and Poetry.

Facts.

THE TIN MINES in Devon and Corn-
wall were known to the ancient
Phoenicians. In the reign of King
John they were leased to Jews.

TIN is used in Britannia metal, Mosaic gold, pewter, printer's types, and bell-metal.

There are more than one hundred mines of copper in Cornwall.

The most productive lead mines are in the north of England, chiefly near the mountain of Cross Fell. There are one hundred and seventyfive mines in this region, the most valuable belonging to Greenwich Hospital.

The greatest amount of iron is got in South Wales, the Forest of Dean, and South Staffordshire. Between eight and nine hundred thousand tons are smelted in these districts alone. The Northumberland and Durham

coal field is more than eight hundred square miles in extent.

The total annual production of coal in the kingdom is sixty-six million tons!

Salt has been got at Droitwich ever since the time of the Romans.

Black-lead was first found in Cumberland in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.

The first alum works were established in this country near Whitby, Yorkshire, in the time of Charles I.

Fuller's earth has been dug up for centuries near the little village of Nutfield, in Surrey.

Hints.

BETTER the feet slip than the tongue.

EVERYTHING is of use to a house

keeper.

HE that goes bare foot must not plant thorns.

FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.

LEAVE JESTING while it pleaseth, of the Bible, salvation, may be found in brief passages, and may be appropriated by the smallest faith. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and the whole Bible. thou shalt be saved, is the kernel of

HE IS NOT POOR that hath little, but And in this narrow pass of life

profess it, the third to despise counsel. On guard, on guard! the trumpet-voice