them that which we are sure they will esteem the best proof of our interest-namely, the power of enlarging and extending their work.

This is a work which it is in the power of all to help forward. Every contribution which has made provision for one single patient, has done something to lighten the load of human suffering, and to cheer and help those who work amongst the poor. We wish to see every Nursing Institution and every Convalescent Home possessed of an expansive power, which shall enable them under the pressure of any great necessity to increase their number of patients, and if possible to admit all who need admission, whether as paying or as free patients. As we are still thinking of the London Poor, and pleading on their behalf, we would earnestly ask the generous and kind-hearted to help the two Convalescent Institutions which at the present moment are pleading for assistancethe Sea-side Convalescent Hospital at Seaford, for those who, strong enough to bear the journey and sufficiently recovered to need no actual nursing, are requiring only the bracing influence of sea air and country exercise, to enable them to regain their usual strength; and the St. Andrew's Convalescent Home at Clewer, where those who, equally needing change of air, but scarcely possessed of the strength to enjoy it, may by God's blessing upon the kindest and tenderest of nursing, be gradually restored to their families, their homes, and their work.

IVANOVNA.

SECOND THOUGHTS ARE NOT ALWAYS BEST.

PERHAPS some will think it very presumptuous to call in question the wisdom of our ancestors, as shown in the old proverb, 'Second thoughts are best.' But is it good as an universal rule? Can we not all recall many occasions when the first generous spontaneous impulse to do a kindness, to speak a friendly word, to express sympathy which might have soothed a stranger's heart, was checked by the cold prudential second thought-If I do so it may be thought strange; or, I do not think I am called upon to do so; or, Perhaps I may be only repelled; and other similar arguments. And so we may lose many opportunities of comforting, consoling, or being of use to a fellow-creature, whose heart might be warmed by a stranger's kindness; the more welcome because unclaimed and unexpected. May we not lay it down as a general rule, that 'second thoughts' are best when the first tend towards evil; but that when our first prompts to good, let us act upon it, if possible, and not wait for the second, as the chances are, it will but chill our first warm impulse by conventional or worldly considerations. We believe that if this rule were acted upon, many kind thoughts would ripen into deeds, that are now nipped in the bud; and many pleasurable emotions would be awakened, and feelings of gratitude excited, as we pass along the daily path of life, not only in friends and acquaintances, but in strangers, who may never meet but once on their journey through life, but whom such acts would cheer and comfort, as the fragrance of the stray flowers that grow by the wayside refreshes the weary traveller.

These thoughts were suggested by a little incident that took place within our knowledge, and which we will relate, the more clearly to exemplify our meaning.

A lady was travelling in the winter on one of the northern railways. The weather was cold, but she did not suffer from it; she was comfortably shut up in a first-class carriage warmed with hot water, and had everything to shield her from the severity of the season. In the course of the journey she had to change to another line, and went into a small waitingroom till the train was ready. The only other passenger there was a respectable-looking person; perhaps she would not be called a lady, but decidedly of the middle class. She was bitterly cold, and was trying to get some warmth into her benumbed feet. They entered into conversation, and the last-mentioned individual in the course of it informed her companion that she had come from Liverpool that morning, and intended going on to Plymouth without stopping; and that, from economical considerations she had been obliged to travel in a third-class carriage, and spoke of how bitterly cold it was there, especially for the feet. The other passenger had in her bag a pair of warm woollen slippers, which she had not put on in the carriage in which she had been travelling.

She thought I will give them to this person, they may make her more comfortable.' But then came the second thought, No, I think not, why should I? And besides, she may think it odd if I offer them. It would be a strange thing to do to one to whom I am a perfect stranger.' And she tried to dismiss the idea, but it would not go; and she thought"Ah! here is an instance where second thoughts are bad, I will not listen to them.' With some hesitation the offer was made, and was at first met with the natural expression of not liking to deprive the owner of them; but when assured they had not been wanted during the journey, nor would be put on, they were gratefully accepted; and on the other expressing a hope they would keep her feet warm and make the rest of her journey more comfortable, she replied: 'I am sure they will; but it is not the feet only that will be warmed-kind words warm the heart, and that is better still.'

She was right; but we think it is a question whether the donor's heart was not as much warmed as hers was. So true it is, that it is more blessed to give than to receive.'

One other little example, and we will leave the subject to the consideration of our young friends.

On

One day, a little child, coming from an infant-school, was looking, with longing eyes, in at the window of a cake shop. A lady passing by observed her, and thought; 'Why should I not give that little thing a cake? it will make her happy.' She accordingly asked her if she would like one; and the little eyes sparkled with pleasure and surprise. being asked if she would have one large or two small ones, she chose the latter, because she had a sister at home. The little creature's delight when they were put into her hand was worth many pennies, and she went dancing along by the side of her new friend as far as their roads lay together, carefully carrying her precious treasure; for she would not touch the cakes till she got home, and every now and then casting grateful gleeful looks at her companion.

May our young friends try if they cannot find some of these stray flowers of life to cultivate and cherish. The pleasure they will experience in so doing, will well repay any little sacrifice.

N. S. M.

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNAL OF A

REFUGEE IN GEORGIA DURING

THE AMERICAN WAR.

June 8th. I think nearly half the inhabitants of the Confederate States are refugees. The coast has been long deserted: now all Northern Georgia is rushing down into the interior. The Yankees

burn the houses, and destroy everything they cannot carry away. They often come in raiding parties quite unexpectedly. I heard to-day of a family of eight coming from their plantation near Resaca, to a friend's house in Macon. They set off at half an hour's notice, bringing nothing but the clothes they had on. They ought to have gone earlier; but in the universal moving, friends sometimes do not like to take in refugees, unless the danger is imminent. Their house was burnt, with everything they possessed.

I found a great treasure the other day-a bit of an old Times' wrapped round something, and read every word of it with delight. It was a positive treat-so different to the poor, wretched, vapid, stilted newspaper writing in vogue here in the 'up-country'-the style that pleases the half-educated everywhere. I think of the thousands in England to whom the Times seems a daily necessary. All literature was from the North; and the greater part of it is utter trash. We have had lately the two first volumes of Victor Hugo's 'Les Miserables,' and Aurora Floyd,' printed on whitey-brown paper at Richmond, and in paper covers.

You can hardly imagine what a treat it would be to me to see some good pictures. To have the Art Union Journals would be an indescribable pleasure; so would seeing some churches, cathedrals, or other beautiful buildings, and hearing some organ music. Here we have the glorious woods and the solemn broad rivers; no description can give you any idea of them: everything man does here seems paltry by the comparison. The grey piles of handsome massive buildings in our old parks, seem quite in keeping with the grand old trees; but here the showy white-painted wooden houses look all the more common-place, from being situated among trees that will look no older when the houses have gone to decay. Instead of planting trees round their houses, as we do, people here build their houses where there are fine trees. People do not cling tenaciously to one spot. I do not think many people in America have died in the same house in which they were born-I mean people of average long life. They do not care more for their homes than we do for lodgings-perhaps not so much, for I do not think they would go to the same lodgings again and again, as English folk do when they like a house.

We tread here close upon the Indians. Mr. L. says there were a great many here when he was a boy, not more than forty years ago. Near, and in their burial-places, flint arrow-heads are often picked up. These burial-places are marked by large stones irregularly thrown down. Perhaps these Indians did not like the idea of their dead being trampled over, and their resting-places defiled by the 'pale-skin.' have heard some refugees say they could not bear to think of their loved ones' graves, on the ravaged plantations, desecrated by Yankees.

There is a report of a blockade-running company being formed. Our last war news is good.

Pulaski, July 11th. Once again in what I call my 'home,' for a two months' holiday. Your June 6th letter has just come, and all yours have arrived. The Confederate prospects are brightening; but two months is a long time to look forward into; we know not what may happen. The L-s have decided not to remove; I will tell you another time the reason why. Something decisive may occur before it would have been necessary; and the other plantation they think is now no safer than Sewatha. Sherman advances, and advances; Johnston retreats. We are daily expecting to hear of the evacuation of Atlanta. Giving up the large towns is the Georgian policy.

Refugees are flocking into Macon: the war is coming closer to us; and just now, communication with Richmond is cut off.

Several names I feared to see, are in the list of dead-among them S. F., who, you recollect, went back, after being severely wounded, to fight for two years more-a most noble fellow.

The thermometer is at 94°.

Pulaski, August 12th, 1864. I have often told you of the state of feeling among the elders-of the quiet depression, or restless anxiety, of the poor wives and mothers, whose darlings are away, and whose homes are threatened.

The young will be gay: the girls and boys here are as merry and happy in their holidays as if no trouble were in the land. They get lost in the pine woods when out riding; they dance every evening, spite of the heat; and their last entertainment was serenading us: the band consisted of several performers on combs, all playing in parts. Their light-heartedness is a great blessing to them, and I think to us elders too.

Two ladies went to Indian Springs on Thursday, July 28th. It was formerly a fashionable watering-place; but now people go only for health. Mr. L. escorted them, and stayed one day at Macon on his return, getting home on Saturday morning, July 30th. He heard a great many rumours of Yankees being expected at Macon; but there are so many false reports, that he gave no credence whatever to the stories. The train never comes from Macon to Pulaski on Sunday: we had no newspapers on Monday; but still were not alarmed, as that has occurred before. But on Tuesday, at daybreak, a messenger galloped up to say that our railway from Macon was cut; raiders were at Hawkinsville, ten miles off. The gentlemen went off immediately with their guns. The two boys, fourteen and twelve years old, were most anxious to be of the party, but were persuaded they could be of great use-protecting us. We ladies sat till one o'clock, hourly expecting the raiders to come and burn everything, when we were relieved by the return of the gentlemen, who told us that it was quite a false alarm. The danger was really all over by Saturday night, while we were unconscious, at ease, and secure; and we were being frightened quite unnecessarily on Tuesday. There was, in fact, fighting going on all day, Saturday, in East Macon. Stoneman, having 7000 men under his command, made a sudden attack on Macon, expecting a speedy success, for all the militia officers went to Atlanta months ago. But the old men and school-boys went out to fight, the convalescents in the hospitals showing them how-General Johnston among the latter all did their best, and so drove the Yankees back. In the

evening, Wheeler's cavalry (Confederate) arrived, pursued them, took about 1000 prisoners; and among them General Stoneman, who had boasted he would sup in Macon, but did not probably calculate it would be as a prisoner.

Indian Springs is about thirty miles north of Macon, and according to the map just in the line of way for the Yankees. The gentleman who was sole protector of a large party of ladies there, has been giving us a very lively picture of his perplexities. When he tried to remove his charge, he found the Confederate Government had seized every vehicle; not even one wagon was to be had. However, luckily, the Yankees passed the town, leaving it six miles on one side, for their own convenience in crossing the River Ocmulgee. They plundered and burnt all along the way. Among other mischievous acts, they have burnt a factory and two bridges-one a railway bridge over the Oconee, the other a road bridge. These two will be repaired in a few weeks.

(To be continued.)

HINTS ON READING.

AMONG the last quarter's books of the S. P. C. K. is a beautiful little tract called Old Christy, upon Contentment; a very good one, intended to be read aloud at mothers' meetings, called Govern your Temper; and a bright little one, by name My Greataunt's Cat, against making false excuses.

Selections New and Old, (Masters) have much of interest, and are well-chosen on the whole, though we own we do not like those Scriptural fragments from Herder— they give a sense of irreverence and sentiment. For the rest, it is a pleasant book to have lying on the table, and to take up at odd times.

Dear Mr. Editor,

CORRESPONDENCE.

BOOKS FOR READING ALOUD.

I send two lists of books for reading aloud in a Sunday school, the first adapted to elder children, of twelve or thirteen, the second suitable for boys and girls who are beginning to think for themselves. Those marked 2 might suit either class. The books marked with an asterisk are those from which a teacher would be able to extract much that is interesting, but which could hardly be read from beginning to end.