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reputation, who gather the faults, blemishes, and infirmities of their neighbors into a Pandora box-and there pamper them, like a turtle for a holiday dinneruntil they are inflated to an enormous size; they are then thrown into the market, and astonish every beholder.

Devils blush, and angels weep over such a disposition as this. It is a canker worm in the body politicthe incubus of religion-the destroyer of reputation— the bane of peace in society-the murderer of innocence-a foul blot upon human nature-a curse in community, and a disgrace to our species.

Its baleful influence is felt, its demoniac effects are experienced, in all the walks of life. In the political arena-within the pale of the church, and in the domestic circle-its miasma is infused. The able statesmen-the profound jurist, the eloquent advocate, the pulpit orator, the investigating philosopher, the skilful physician, the judicious merchant, the industrious mechanic, the honest farmer, the day laborer, the humblest peasant, the child in the nursery; have all experienced the scorpion lashes of this imp of Satan. Nay, more-female character, basking in the sunshine of innocence, has often been withered, blighted, ruined; by its chilling breath.

Let each reader examine, and see if this propensity, so deeply rooted in human nature, is exercising an influence over his or her mind. If so, banish it from your bosom, as you would a deadly viper. Let its enormity be held up to children, by parents and teachers, that they may learn to dread, despise, and avoid it. Teach them charity, forbearance, forgiveness; and all the virtues that adorn our race. Teach them to

mind their own business-to correct their own faultsto cultivate their own minds-to think no evil of others -to speak evil of no one-and rely upon it, the rising generation will better obey the precept-JUDge not,

LEST YE BE JUDGED.

KNOWLEDGE.

Knowledge dwells

In heads replete with thoughts of other men ;
Wisdom, in minds attentive to their own.-Cowper.

THE stock, in the great store house of knowledge, has long been increasing in amount and variety. For some time past, the quantity of fancy goods, has far exceeded that of the coarser kind, fit for every-day use. So numerous have the manufactures become, and so much are the prices reduced, that by far the greatest numbers of the community have ceased to use homemade articles, and have put the machinery of their own brains in the garret. Whether this is an advantage to the intellect of man, calculated to increase its volume and strength, or, like luxurious living, enervate and weaken, is a problem I will not stop to solve. It is worthy the attention of abler pens than mine. To know ourselves, is of the highest importance.

Since the assortment in this great store house is so great, it requires judgment and skill, especially on the part of those who are confined to small purchases, in selecting that which will be most useful in the sphere in which they are ostensibly destined to move. I am aware genius cannot be limited, but close observation will enable us to determine, in some degree, the path,

circumstances and nature have marked out for usbumpology professes to determine to a certainty.

If you are confined to a small portion, let it be that of the most solid kind. Let your books be few, well selected, and thoroughly read. By a close observation of the laws of nature, in full operation around us; of things, as they meet our view; and of men, as they are ever moving before us; we obtain a treasure of knowledge, not found in the schools, so called, nor always clearly learned from books. That knowledge is of most importance, that leads us in the shortest road to truth. This is the kind that best answers the old definition of the term, Knowledge is power. Small draughts, if they are from the foaming top of the fountain, intoxicate, and require larger quantities to sober us. Draw from the bottom at first, you will come to the fumes and gases soon enough. A thorough common education, so termed by the literati, like common sense, is the easiest obtained and most useful.

KINGS.

The love of kings is like the blowing of

Wind, which whistles sometimes gently among
The leaves, and straightway turns the trees up by
The roots; or fire, which warmeth afar off,

And burneth near at hand; or the sea, which makes
Men hoist their sails in a flattering calm,

And to cut their masts in a rough storm.-Lilly.

ANY one who is familiar with the history of kings, from the most ancient, down to those who are now wielding the iron sceptre of monarchy, can appreciate the truth of the above lines. Their course has up

rooted nations-fire and sword have marked their career, they have been raised by the whirlwind of party spirit, riding, for a time, on the tornado of faction; and, by the same elements, often dashed to pieces. In a large majority of cases, the tenure of their crowns has been a mere rope of sand, and limited in its duration. Passing down from the Persian empire, less and less stability characterized monarchies, for many centuries. The number of modern European Kings, Queens, and Emperors, the most enlightened on the eastern continent, has been enormous. From A. D. 800, England has had fifty-six. From A. D. 768, France has had fifty. From A. D. 824, to 1603, Scotland had forty. From A. D. 800, up to the confederation of 1815, Germany had been favored with fifty-six. Prussia, from A. D. 802, to the present time, has had fifty-nine. Spain, from A. D. 858, to the present time, has had seventy-seven. Sweden, from A. D. 825, to the present time, has had forty-eight. In the year A. D. 1699, subdivisions commenced. From that time to the present, Denmark has had five. From A. D. 1706, Portugal has had eight. From A. D. 1701, Prussia has had five. From A. D. 1713, Naples has had seven. From A. D. 1720, Sardinia has had eight. From A. D. 1704 to 1805, Poland had twelve. From A. D. 1831, Belgium has had one. From A. D. 1805, Bavaria has had two. From A.D. 1806, Wirtemburg has had two. From A. D. 1806, Holland has had three. From A. D. 1806, Saxony has had three. From A. D. 772 to 1820, the Papal power has had one hundred and sixty-one heads, whose power, varied, at different periods, from absolute, over most of the kingdoms, to the control of Austria, Italy, &c.

The above numbers are substantially correct, and

the dates when each kingdom commenced, are believed to be entirely so. If variety is the spice of life, and the dispositions of kings, queens, and emperors; as various as their numbers have been, Europe has been spiced with a vengeance. This item of history is given, that the reader may be induced more highly to appreciate the freedom we enjoy.

How different from all other potentates, is the history of the KING of kings. Compared with the sublimity and grandeur of his advent and reign, all earthly pageantry is the shadow of a shade. His pathway illuminated by the morning stars, he descended to earth, and tabernacled in clay. The archangel's trump sounds the glad tidings of peace on earth, and good will to men. The shepherds heard the joyful news, echo reverberated the soul-cheering message, over the hills and through the dales of Bethlehem. The Prince of glory appeared in all the majesty of light and purity; Divinity, clothed in humanity-his wardrobe, all the Christian graces, crowned with love; his canopy, the heavens; his palace, all space; his throne, the hearts of his people; his lifeguards, legions of angels; his power, almighty; his kingdom, the universe; his subjects, the saints of all time; his tenure, ETERNITY. His laws are based on freedom-concise, plain, equal, just; as enduring as the immortal soul, freely and cheerfully obeyed by all his subjects, in every age and clime. His earthly career has been graphically portrayed by the master pen of inspiration, in five words, HE WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD. His rays of light burst upon the world, like lightning, glancing through the midnight gloom.

How unlike the pageantry of the greatest mon

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