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steady business of our own, and live economically in our families, than to blow bubbles for such as make themselves kings of business over us, first destroying our own business, and then making us the dependent slaves of theirs. When the Nebuchadnezzars who put up their image and make men worship it while they "feast and drink wine before the thousand," have all been reduced by a righteous retribution like their prototype, to "eat grass like oxen," the men who practice honesty, industry and economy shall dwell in the land, and verily they shall be fed.

BE GENTLE AND KIND.

Be gentle-be kind-be courteous and obliging-be forgiving. Put off that austere countenance-that hard, uninviting, unrelenting look. Banish that rough manner, and those sharp and hard words that you are wont to use so often, and which makes your neighbors, and your friends, if you have any, afraid to greet you. Hard words, says a writer, are like hail-stones in summer, "beating down and destroying what they would nourish were they melted into drops." We say again, then, be gentle, kind, pleasant-be smiling. Hear what the Poet says; how true it is, and how prettily he says it.

"The sun may warm the grass to life,
The dew the drooping flower,

The eyes grow bright and watch the light
Of Autumn's opening hour;

But words that breathe of tenderness,
And smiles we know are true,

Are warmer than the Summer time,
And brighter than the dew.

It is not much the world can give,
With all its subtle art;

And gold and gems are not the things

To satify the heart;

But, oh! if those who cluster' round

The altar and the hearth,

Have gentle words, and loving smiles,
How beautiful is Earth!"

TRUE. Profane swearing is abominable. Vulgar language is disgusting. Loud laughter is impolite. Inquisitiveness is offensive. Tattling is mean. Telling lies is contemptible. Slandering is devilish. Ignorance is disgraceful, and laziness is shameful. Avoid all the above vices, and aim at usefulness. This is the road in which to become respectable. Walk in it. Never be ashamed of honest labor. Pride is a curse-a hateful vice. Never act the hypocrite. Keep good company. Speak the truth at all times. Never be discouraged, but persevere, and mountains will become mere hills.

1857.]

Sin and Sorrow.

SIN AND SORROW.

BY THE EDITOR.

317

"SUICIDES AND THE CAUSES OF THEM-The Westminster Review has an article on this subject, from which it appears that in France, during the year 1851, there were 3,599 cases of self-destruction, of which 963, or more than one fourth, were ascribed to insanity of some kind; but of the remaining 2,636, grief for the loss of children caused only 46; grief at their ingratitude, 16; disappointment in love, only 91; jealousy, 23; the gaming table, only 6; shame and remorse, only 7; and sudden anger, but 1; while conjugal quarrels caused 385; the desire to avoid physical pain 313; pecuniary embarrassment 203, and want 179. Disgust with life, or fixed melancholy, caused 166: but there is a question whether this cause may not be classed as a species of insanity."

What an army to rush out to self-destruction. Three thousand, five hundred and ninety-nine in one year, in a single city! Enough to fill one of our medium sized towns, and even to constitute one of our American cities.

One fourth are ascribed to insanity of some kind. But what lies back of this insanity, as the cause of it. True, there are cases in which this great affliction seems to come upon men without its being possible for us to trace it to direct, personal, actual sin; yet it is well known that in most of cases it is the result of traceable sin. This is especially the case in Paris, the Sardis of sin. Sin is self-consuming; and in its last activities always turns in upon its subject in the way of self-destruction. If its own progress is too slow and miserable, it is aided by the desperate will and suicidal hand!

Look at the figures. "Conjugal quarrels" caused 385 of these suicides -a large proportion indeed. Enough to form a large congregation, had they been christians. But what lies back of these "conjugal quarrels?" Inconsiderate and impious marriages. Marriage is an ordinance of God for man's good, and not for his destruction. God never joined these unhappy pairs together to prepare them for such an end. They united without any acknowledgement of dependence on Him, or desiring His direction. The novelists are the gods which presided over these marriages, no doubt. Wo on those who enter this holy estate under such intructors, or with the inflated and unreal feelings which their vaporings inspire.

The 385 cases of suicide caused by conjugal quarrels do not show the extent of the evil in Paris resulting from the morbid social state induced by their corrupt fictions. We read annually besides of thousands of divorces! The social order seems to be unhinged by the storm of passion, and goes floating in wrecks.

- The same causes have been transported to our own land, and with them the evils which they produce have come upon us. The fashions which we get from France begin to cover the same hollowness and corruption, and thousands rush madly to ruin every year. After all, the old Bible is the best guide. Obedience to its just and sober views of social life confers more solid social happiness than all the hot-bed im

provements so insidiously commended by our light literature-oh how light!-and so greedily devoured by the gay and giddy.

OCTOBER.

SOLEMN, yet beautiful to view,

Month of my heart! thou dawnest here,
With sad and faded leaves to strew
The summer's melancholy bier.

The moaning of the winds I hear,
As the red sunset dies afar,
And bars of purple clouds appear,
Obscuring every western star.
Thou solemn month! I hear thy voice;
It tells my soul of other days,
When but to live was to rejoice,

When earth was lovely to my gaze:
O, visions bright! O, blessed hours!
Where are their living raptures now?
I ask my spirit's wearied powers-
I ask my pale and fevered brow!
I look to Nature, and behold

My life's dim emblems, rustling round,
In hues of crimson and of gold-

The year's dead honors on the ground;
And sighing with the winds, I feel,
While their low pinions murmur by,
How much their sweeping tones reveal
Of life and human destiny.

When spring's delightsome moments shone,
They came in zephyrs from the West;
They bore the wood-lark's melting tone,
They stirred the blue lark's glassy breast;
Through summer, fainting in the heat,
They lingered in the forest shades;

But changed and strengthened now, they beat
In storm, o'er mountain, glen, and glade.
How like those transports of the breast,
When life is fresh and joy is new;
Soft as the halcyon's downy nest,

And transient all, as they are true!
They stir the leaves in that bright wreath
Which Hope about her forehead twines,
Till grief's hot sighs around it breathe;
Then pleasure's lip its smile resigns.

Alas! for time, and death, and care!
What gloom about our way they fling!

Like clouds in autumn's gusty air,
The burial pageant of the spring,

The dreams that each successive year,
Seemed bathed in hues of brighter pride,

At last like withered leaves appear,

And sleep in darkness, side by side.

1857.]

Training.-Destroying Good.

319

TRAINING.

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TRAINING is not merely teaching a child what it ought to do; it is this and a great deal more. There may be a right teaching, which does no good; because along with it, there is a wrong training which does much harm. "Give me some of that," said a peevish-looking boy about seven or eight years of age, to his mother, who was seated on the deck of a steamer in which I happened to be lately. "Hold your tongue, Peter," replied his mother, "you won't get it." "I want that," again demanded Peter, with increased earnestness. "I tell you," said the mother looking at him, "you shall not get it. Is that not enough for you? Go and play, and be a good boy." 'But I want that," reiterated Peter, beginning to sulk and look displeased. What a laddie!" exclaimed the mother. Have I not told you twenty times never to ask for a thing when I say you are not to get it?" "I want that," cried Peter, more violently than ever, bursting into tears. "Here!" said the mother, take it and be quiet. I am sure I never, in all my life, saw such a bad boy." Alas! poor boy, he had more reason, if he only knew it, to complain of his mother. The same boy, Peter, grows up, probably, to be a selfish and self-willed young man. His mothersees it, and suffers from it; but she wonders how such a temper or disposition should show themselves in her Peter! and consoles herself with the thought, that, whatever is the cause of so mysterious a dispensation, from no fault in her could it have come, nor "from want of telling."

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DESTROYING GOOD.

ONE sinner destroyeth much good, is a maxim painfully illustrated every day and in all places. When the influence of such an one is enlarged by his wealth or position, the sphere of evil is enlarged. A wicked king may foment wars which may scatter death and desolation over whole countries; a corrupt nobleman may taint the morals of a whole neighborhood; an unprincipled legislator may cause the enactment of laws which may set aside the laws of God, and produce incalculable social evils. In private life, a wicked father may not only destroy the happiness, but the reputation, of his whole family; a profligate son may convert the once happy home into a place of tears; and an unscrupulous church member may embroil a whole congregation, and place formidable barriers in the way of the Gospel's success. In whatever relations men are associated together, one who is evilly dispose dmay exert a mischievous influence in corrupting the rest. Among all classes of men we find leading spirits who guide others in the ways of vice. He that becomes profane, intemperate, and licentious, can trace his downfall to the instructions or example of his companions. One skeptic, provided he has popular talents, and has a fluent tongue or pen, often drags hundreds into the shades of infidelity, and into the deeper shades of perdition.

BOOK NOTICES.

GUIDE TO THE ORACLES; or, the Bible Student's Vade Mecum. By Alfred Nevin, D.D. Author of "Spiritual Progression," "Churches of the Valley," etc. Lancaster, Pa.: Murray, Young & Co. 1857. pp. 341. This book is all that the title purports it to be; and yet we doubt whether the reader will judge correctly in regard to it from the title. After examining its contents we should say, instead of a "guide to the oracles," it rather furnishes the materials by which the reader is to guide himself through the oracles. The Book is certainly well adapted to attract the reader to the Bible; but its chief excellence is in furnishing the means of studying it. It contains a rare collection of Tables, Historical, Statistical, Chronological, &c., which are exceedingly valuable and convenient for reference to a Bible Student. We commend the Book to ministers, parents, and Sabbath School Teachers as an invaluable help. Dr. Nevin has truly said in his Preface to this Book, "every thing has been brought to bear upon its object within the Author's reach." It is accompanied by two valuable Maps, one illustrating the period of the books of Joshua and Judges, the other those of the New Testament. Messrs. Murray, Young & Co., the Publishers show their enterprising spirit, and have done themselves credit by the neat manner in which they have got up the publication.

PRAYERS FOR SABBATH SCHOOLS, AND HYMNS AND PRAYERS FOR WEEK-DAY SCHOOLS. By A Friend of Christian Education. Reading: Samuel Heckler, 1857, pp. 160.

A good idea. No doubt many teachers omit prayers in their schools, because they feel themselves unable to lead unto edification without some such aid as is here furnished. The Author gives evidence of understanding the true spirit and form of prayer; and has written with care and unction. The Hymns are well selected. We should be glad to hear that this little book had been extensively introduced. The Author has well said in his preface "every attempt, however humble, to promote the good cause of religious training, should be regarded with favor by all who feel a proper interest for the welfare of Church and State in time to come,"

THE FATHERS OF THE GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH IN EUROPE AND AMERICA. By Rev. H. Harbaugh. Vol. I. Lancaster: Sprenger & Westhaeffer. 1857. pp. 394.

This volume contains the Lives of the Reformers: Zwingle, Ecolampadius, Bullinger, Haller, Bucer, Melancthon, Farel, Calvin, Beza, De Lasky, Frederick III, Ursinus and Olevianus. In addition to these the Lives of the following Ministers who labored in the America Church among the Germans, from 1727 on. Weiss, Boehm, Gotschiey, Reiger, Miller, Bechtel, Antes, Lischy, Brandmiller, Rauch and Wirtz. The second volume continuing the Lives of the American Fathers is in the printer's hands, and will be published shortly. We merely announce this work, leaving the discussion of its merits or demerits to others. Price $1.

CATALOGUE AND CIRCULAR OF THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY INSTITUTE, for Young Ladies and Gentlemen, at Mechanicsburg, Cumberland county, Pa. I. D. Rupp and H. Coyle, Proprietors.

We are personally acquainted with the principal teachers in this Institute, and therefore feel free to recommend it to all parents who have sons and daughters to educate.

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