: him and thus wise men try all they can to promote peace and quietness; whilst ignorant and foolish men think that, by disturbance, they shall get great benefit; and, acting upon this notion, they always bring about harm to themselves and to others. I do not feel secure just now in employing my capital, as I do not know that I shall be allowed to reap the advantages of it; and, I am sorry to say that the workmen whom I used to employ are suffering on this account. Some people think we shall soon get out of our troubles. I hope we may; but, as I wish to prepare for all circumstances, and as I know that a good deal depends upon our own economy, I have just been thinking how little I and my family can live upon in the worst of times, and I have called in the help of the village shopkeeper in my calculations. She says that she can feed her children on rice pudding, giving them as much as they can eat, for one penny each-this for dinner. I suppose the other meals would cost less say, however, threepence a day, or one shilling and ninepence per week, and I don't despair, in the worst of times, of getting this, and as much more as will clothe me and lodge me;-and my wife and children must earn their share too. I hope we shall not come to this, but I thought, sir, you might like to know what you could live upon if your trade should fail; and, moreover, I thought the hint about rice might be good for some of your readers. NUNC. HOW TO TREAT BURNS AND SCALDS. MR. EDITOR, ; A DREADFUL accident by fire, which has just occurred in this parish, induces me to beg that you will enlarge on the advantages of the application of flour in cases of burns and scalds. I remember your having already mentioned this invaluable discovery; but enough has not How to treat Burns and Scalds. 15 been said to impress it sufficiently on the minds of those who have never seen its effects, and who are also perhaps strongly prepossessed in favour of certain oils, and other nostrums *, and who would therefore pass over, without consideration, the trivial mention of so easy and cheap a remedy. One of your correspondents has succeeded in his wish to have the remedies for those found drowned brought before the public frequently, and in urgent terms: I am equally anxious that sufferers by fire should have the same advantage; they are perhaps nearly, or quite as numerous, and their bodily pain greater. Even where flour has been recommended and tried, it has often failed of success, from the nature and principle of its action being unknown. People should be informed, that the object in view is to exclude † the air from the wound, and to absorb the moisture which arises in it. When the skin is broken, or entirely destroyed, the flour must be applied lightly, with a common kitchen dredging-box, and put on in such a quantity as may be found necessary to quiet the pain entirely. The pain is quieted as soon as the air is totally excluded, which is not always done until the flour is an inch thick, or more. A bandage should then be wrapped carefully over it, to keep it on; and, after an interval, should the patient complain of a return of pain, the bandage should be removed gently, so as to displace the flour as little as possible, and more should then be added, until the pain ceases again. This operation should be repeated and persevered in, until so long an interval has elapsed without pain that the cure is complete, the length of which must, of course, depend on the severity of the injury. Where the injury has been so great that there is no hope of saving life, yet the application of flour is most excellent in allaying the bitter agony of the sufferer, and admitting of a tolerably tranquil end. * Quack medicines. + Shut out. ↑ Soak up. I cannot forbear relating some particulars of the case to which I have alluded. During my walk, on Friday last, I met the village surgeon, who told me he was on his way to the workhouse, where, he understood, a child had been burned almost to death: that he had ordered it to be dredged with flour, and was on his way to inspect the case. I pursued my walk, hoping the circumstances were exaggerated, and on my return proceeded to the workhouse, where I found the child, a girl of six years old, (one of my little scholars, and who ought to have been at school when the accident took place,) shrieking with agony, an old woman sitting by the bed-side, quietly darning a stocking; having, as she supposed, fulfilled the doctor's orders, and done all that could be done. She had expended about half a dredging-box of flour on wounds that required half a bushel. I ordered her to bring a large quantity instantly, to procure another dredging-box, and to assist me in dressing the wounds properly; but my pen cannot describe the horrible spectacle which presented itself on removing the bed-clothes, the poor child was covered with deadly wounds, having scarcely any whole part in its body; yet her cries, which I heard before I entered the house, gradually diminished as the flour thickened, and in about ten minutes ceased entirely; to my earnest inquiry whether she felt any pain, she replied "No;" and she did not move from the posture in which I left her, until the expiring struggle released her, which was after about eleven hours, the whole of which would probably have been passed in a state of frenzy, but for my attendance, which was (humanly speaking) accidental. People are not sufficiently aware that the best means of extinguishing the flames is by throwing a carpet, a blanket, a coat, or any covering, over the person. Three old men were present when this poor child caught fire, and appear to have increased the fury of the flames by their efforts to extinguish them. Had one of them pulled off his coat and wrapped it round Self-Examination for Servants. 17 her, she might have been still alive, though her scars would have been a warning to children to obey those around them, who are continually desiring them, in vain, to keep away from the fire. Your constant reader, Rectory, Nov. 21, 1831. E. S. H. SELF-EXAMINATION FOR SERVANTS, BEFORE RECEIVING THE HOLY SACRAMENT. To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. SIR, AMONGST the number of excellent papers in your "Cottager's Monthly Visitor," on the Sacrament, I do not see any self-examination for servants. If you think the one I send, with the short prayers for mornings and evenings, worthy of insertion, I beg it may appear in your very useful little work. I am, Sir, your obedient humble servant, OSMONDSTON. "O LORD, my God, teach me to discover every secret thought, word, or deed, against thy divine Majesty; and purify my heart, I beseech thee, for the worthy receiving of thy holy Sacrament." Question 1. Have I, mornings and evenings, prayed to God to assist me in the duties I have to perform, and returned thanks for being preserved from the trials of the day, or the perils of the night? O God be merciful to me a sinner; and give me grace to see and abhor my evil ways. Quest. 2. Have I done my best to please those under whose authority I am placed, and not been impatient when reproved, but endeavoured to correct what was wrong and disagreeable in my behaviour? O God, be merciful, &c. Quest. 3. How have I behaved to my fellow-servants? Have I been willing to oblige and assist them, though inconvenient to myself, and not been overbearing and impatient to those in a situation beneath mine? O God, be merciful, &c. Quest. 4. Have I never tried to deceive the family I am placed with; nor been careless or wasteful of those things put under my care? When I have done wrong, have I openly confessed the truth, though it might occasion me anger? O God, be merciful, &c. Quest. 5. To my parents have I been kind and dutiful; assisting them when in my power, and always taking pleasure in consulting them, and comforting them? O God, be merciful, &c. Quest. 6. Have I taken every opportunity of going to church; and, when there, been attentive to the great duties I come to perform? O God, be merciful, &c. Quest. 7. Am I anxious to do all the good I can to my poorer neighbours; and willing to give my time and attendance when called upon? O God, be merciful, &c. Quest. 8. If placed in a family where religion is much thought of and encouraged, am I thankful? But if it is neglected, do I endeavour to keep up in myself a due sense of my duty to God, and pray to Him for support under every trial and temptation? O God, be merciful, &c. Almighty and everlasting God, who dost forgive the sins of all them that are penitent, and from whom no secrets are hid; grant me the assistance of thy Holy Spirit, to cleanse and purify my heart! Thou seest it is my earnest wish to lead such a life, that I may worthily appear at thy holy table; but so weak and erring am I, that, when led into temptation, I am constantly |