THE FIRESIDE.

horse at some brambles, to pick the fruit.

"Brother Nelson," said he, as he did so, we ought to be thankful that there are plenty of blackberries; for this is the best country I ever saw for getting a stomach, but the worst I ever knew for getting food. Do the people think we can live upon preaching?" "At that time," says his companion, "Mr. Wesley and I slept on the floor; he had a great coat for his pillow, and I had Burkitt's Notes on the New Testament' for mine. One morning, about three o'clock, Mr. Wesley turned over, and finding me awake, clapped me on the side, saying, 'Brother Nelson, let us be of good cheer; I have one whole side yet, for the skin is off but one side." RICHARD REYNOLDS, of Bristol, the eminent quaker philanthropist, was remarkable for his unfeigned humility. A lady was one day thanking him for adopting an orphan child, and said, "When the boy is old enough I will tell him your name, and teach him to thank you;" when the good man replied, “Don't do that; we never thank the clouds for rain; teach him to thank God."

The Fireside.

FAMILY RELIGION.

COULD we assume the nature of soine benevolent spirit, and visit, unseen, the families of good men, what beautiful scenes of domestic affection and piety would present themselves to our view!-scenes which the heartless and repulsive spirit of infidelity, or the pride and profligacy of fashionable life, look down upon with contempt; but which do honour to human nature, and contribute, in no inconsiderable degree, to avert the curse of Heaven from a profane and demoralized world! O yes, it is a lovely sight, to behold the pious and intelligent parent reading the Book of life, and explaining, as he reads, the meaning of the sacred page. The children, rapt and motionless, hang upon his lips; while all give proof, by the fixedness of their attention, that an interest is excited in their hearts, and that they love to hear, from the voice of their beloved instructor, of that greater "Father which is in heaven," the Parent of angels and of men. The majesty and the goodness of God; the wonders of creation, exhibiting, in every department of animate and inanimate nature, the design and the wisdom of Him who formed them;-the misery brought upon the human race by sin, and the redemption of a fallen world by the atonement and intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ;—the grace of the Saviour who came to die for sinful men ;—the need of regeneration by the Spirit of truth and of power;-the duties of evangelical morality, and the happiness of a life adorned with Christian virtues;-the glories of the celestial state, and the blessedness of those who part on earth, with the hope of meeting again, when the whole family of God shall be gathered

THE PENNY POST BOX.

together in one;-and the ample recompense in store for patience and self-denial, and habitual piety, in "the rest that remaineth for the people of God;"-these are subjects which, being peculiarly appropriate on the Sabbath, have been the means of training up multitudes in religious families, to honour and usefulness in the present life, and of preparing them for happiness in the world to come.

The Penny Post Box.

EASY-GOING RELIGION.

"More the tempting calm I dread,
Than tempests bursting o'er my head,"

Is a sentiment which real Christians will be ready to adopt, for it is confirmed by Scripture and their own experience. But in our day many who profess religion think otherwise. They dont like "tempests" at all, and would rather have it always "calm." The fact is, they have adopted the profession of religion because it is now more respectable and fashionable, and more likely to advance their temporal interests. Such people mistake real religion altogether, and would forsake it in crowds if times of persecution were to return. A sensible writer says:

"The religion of the day is an easy-minded religion, without conflict and wrestling, without self-denial; a religion which knows nothing of the pangs of the new birth at its commencement, and nothing of the desperate struggle with the flesh and with the devil, day by day, making us long for deliverance. It is a second rate religion-a religion in which there is no large-heartedness, no noble-mindedness, no elevation, no self-devotedness, no all-constraining love. It is a hollow religion, with a fair exterior, but an aching heart-a heart unsatisfied, a soul not at rest, a conscience not at peace with God; a religion marked, it may be, by activity and excitement, but betraying all the while the consciousness of a wound hidden and unhealed within, and hence unable to animate to lofty doing, or supply the strength needed for such doings. It is a feeble religion, lacking the sinews and bones of hardier times-very different from the indomitable, much-enduring, storm-braving religion, not merely of apostolic days, but even of the Reformation. It is an uncertain religion: that is to say, it is not rooted on certainty; it is not the outflowing of a soul assured of pardon, and rejoicing in the filial relationship between itself and God. Hence, there is no liberty of service, for the question of personal acceptance is still an unsettled thing; there is a working for pardon, but not from pardon. All is thus bondage, heaviness, irksomeness. There is a speaking for God, but it is with a faltering tongue; there is a labouring for God, but it is with fettered hands; there is a moving

FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.

in the way of his commandments, but it is with a heavy drag upon the limbs. Hence the inefficient, uninfluential character of such religion. It does not tell on others, for it has not yet fully told upon the person himself. It falls short of its mark, for the arm that draws the bow is paralyzed." AN OLD DISCIPLE.

Facts, Hints, Gems, and Poetry.

Facts.

THE BRITISH HOUSE OF LORDS

Consists of-1 prince, 2 royal dukes, 3 archbishops, 25 dukes, 32 marquises, 158 earls, 30 viscounts, 28 bishops, and 158 barons—the total number of peers being 435. The Bishop of Bath and Wells sits also as Baron Auckland. The following clergymen have also seats in the House of Lords as lay peers-The Rev. A. E. Hobart, Earl of Buckinghamshire; the Rev. William George Howard, Earl of Carlisle; the Rev. William John Broderick, Viscount Middleton; the Rev. William Nevil, Earl of Abergavenny; the Rev. F. Twisleton-Wykeham - Flennes, Lord Saye and Sele; the Rev. Henry W. Powlett, Lord Bayning; the Rev. Alfred Nathaniel H. Curzon, Lord Scarsdale; and the Right Rev. Thomas Plunket, Lord Plunket. The heir presumptive to the title of Lord Arundel is his brother, the Rev. Everard Aloysius Conzaga, a Jesuit priest. There are 115 peers of Scotland and Ireland who have not seats in the House. The oldest duke is the Duke of Northumberland, aged 85; the youngest, the Duke of Norfolk, aged 16. The oldest marquis, the Marquis of Westmeath, aged 80; the youngest, the Marquis of Ely, aged 16. The oldest earl, the Earl of Onslow, aged 88; the youngest, the Earl of Charleville, aged 13. The oldest viscount, Viscount Gouth, aged 86; the youngest, Viscount Downe, aged 21. The oldest baron, Lord Brougham, aged 85; the youngest,

Lord Rodney, aged 8. The oldest member of the Privy Council is Lord Brougham, the youngest his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The oldest member of the House of Commons is Sir William Vernon, Bart., member for the county of Armagh, aged 83; the youngest the Earl of Tyrone, member for Waterford, aged 21.

Hints.

OUR LIFE.-Every man's life is a solemn reality. He ought to think much of it. It is his own; given to him to prepare for a happy eternity.

LOOK AT THE STARS moving on without haste, never tiring or resting; teaching us by Divine favour so to pursue our course until, like them, we shine in a higher sphere for ever!

TIME MISPENT is not lived, but lost. He lives long who lives well. Some live longer in seventeen years than others in seventy.

A LONG LIFE ON EARTH is at best only a longer lease which must soon expire; but God promises to them that love him an everlasting freehold in heaven.

THE WEB OF LIFE is a mingled yarn of good and evil. Make that web into a garment, and it would be too ugly to wear among the white robes of heaven.

A MAN OF FOURSCORE may be said by others to have lived a long life. But to himself the longest part of it was that between five and five-and-twenty.

MEASURE A MAN'S LIFE by his desires and he cannot live long enough; mea

FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.

sure it by the good deeds he has done and he has not lived long enough; measure it by his evil deeds, and he has lived too long.

ESTIMATE OF LIFE.-Some seem as if they did not know its value. They are like that rude Indian who has picked up a large diamond, but gladly barters it for a string of glass beads.

MEN DESIRE LIFE. There is nothing they covet more, for they are very fond of it; and yet how they waste it, as if it were good for nothing! Do you?

EVERY HUMAN LIFE is like a precious gem covered with dirt, but when washed and polished by the grace of God may shine with splendour on one of the many crowns of the Great Redeemer.

THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

The Children's Corner.

TO GIRLS.

I HAVE now a few words to say to you, for yon will be wanted as well as boys, that is, when you are old enough, and mother can spare you; and if she can she ought, for it will do you good to go out and learn many things which you might not learn or be willing to do at home.

And just as I said about boys, I say about girls. They are wanted, but they must be the right sort.

The GIRLS NOT WANTED are those who dont like work; who want telling twenty times how to do one thing; who give pert and sancy answers when told they have done it wrong; who turn sulky when desired to do it better; who are cross and ill-tempered, with_the children; and who will not get up when called in a morning. Such girls are not wanted.

The GIRLS WANTED are those who have made up their minds to do the best they can; who are pleased when told how to do a thing better than they did it before; who take notice of what is said to them, making once telling enough; who go about their work as if they loved to do it, and get it done as soon as they can; who so manage as to have all done by tea-time, and then sit down to do a bit of sewing, or read a book, or write a letter and tell mother how nicely they are getting on; who love the children and try to please them; and who only want calling once in a morning. Such girls are wanted.

Yes: and such girls as these are sure to get on and take better wages. But when a girl thinks more about crinolines, and veils, and parasols, and artificials, and finery, she is never likely to make much out; nay, she is more likely to get into mischief. The mistress will take care to keep her drawers locked if she has such a girl in the house. But she will never do that if she knows the girl is trusty, and more thoughtful about having good clothes than tinsel trumpery, unbecoming her situation.

It is an old saying, "As is the mother, so is the daughter;" and this, to a great extent, is true. From this we see how much depends upon the mother, who cannot expect her girl to do well if she does not teach her how, and set her a good example. Good and tidy mothers make good and tidy daughters, as careless and slovenly mothers make careless and slovenly daughters. If mothers wish to see their daughters grow up to be comfortable and respected by all who know them-and she is a queer mother who does not-she will spare no pains in bringing them up in such habits of industry and tidiness as shall prove a blessing to them all their life, and a comfort to herself in her old age.