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thorns that are in the pillow of him who is steeped in crime, unless he has seared his conscience, and strangled reflection. And to the awakened sinner, how dreadful is the pillow! In the darkness of night, he seems to see the gleaming fires of vengeance, blazing from the throne of an offended Deity. But, from that same pillow, he can look to a bleeding Saviour, find pardon for all his sins, and bathe his enraptured soul in the fountain of redeeming love. On the pillow, the good man commends himself to God for safety while he sleeps, and awards to Him his gratitude when he wakes. On the pillow, nature is refreshed by sleep, let that pillow be of feathers, wood, or stone-sleep, the semblance of death, but the preserver of life. Let all make good use of the pillow.

PRESENCE OF MIND.

THIS is a rare and useful quality, constitutional with some, and greatly improved in others, by frequent and repeated exposure to danger. This is strongly exhibited by our Aborigines, who are trained to perils from childhood. Long familiarity with persons and things, often changes their first appearance materially. The principle of self preservation, the first law of nature, is the main spring of presence of mind, in time of personal danger. A naturally timid person may become so accustomed to danger, that what he once dreaded, he no longer fears. The reverse sometimes occurs-exposure to perils increases fear and paralyzes all the powers of the man. Some men can never be depended on as soldiers or sailors-owing to constitutional fear.

The man who is blessed with original presence of mind, will exhibit it on his first exposure to sudden and imminent danger, and the greater the danger, the more brightly will this quality shine. At a single glance, the peril and the remedy are lighted up before him, as with a lightning flash in the darkness of night, and his energies of action receive a supernatural vigor, and are nerved to double the strength he could exert on ordinary occasions. At fires, on the water, at raising buildings, on the highway, and in numerous other situations of peril, I have witnessed feats of strength, performed at a moment when life was in jeopardy, that clearly proved my assertion. Other instances I have witnessed, where safety depended upon a single momentary act, not of strength, but the result of pure presence of mind-the only thing that could have been done to save life, so far as human judgment could determine.

From what I have seen, heard related, and read; I am inclined to believe this quality is more common in the female than in the male sex; and so designed by an all wise Providence, for the protection of our species, when in a helpless state. An instance occurred in India about thirty years ago, of remarkable presence of mind in a lady. Several ladies and gentlemen went on shore, and had seated themselves near a junglethe lady in question sitting a few feet farther out than the rest. Suddenly, a huge tiger sprang at her-she instantly spread an umbrella in his face, which so discomfitted him, that he retreated, and the party escaped unhurt. In the history of the early settlement of our country, and of the border wars, many thrilling instances of presence of mind are recorded, on the part of

both the settlers and savages. These were not unfrequently exhibited, in a remarkable degree, by females, especially mothers.

In the time of battle, both on land and water, this quality has often decided the contest against all previous probabilities. Among those who possessed this natural gift to a high degree, were Washington and Napoleon, men whose dispositions and desires were at perfect antipodes to each other. In the midst of the din of battle and the clash of arms, at a single glance, they could see the position of the contending armies, and coolly calculate the advantages to be gained by sudden changes and manœuvres, and as quickly order them. A commander who has this quality, has a decided advantage over one who has not, and, with an inferior force, often achieves astonishing victories, especially if his officers and men are imbued with the same gift. Perry could leave his disabled ship, and, calm as a summer morning, pass to another vessel in an open boat, through a storm of iron hail, and weave for himself a wreath of glory, enduring as the pages of history.

In other spheres of life, not fraught with dangers to the body, presence of mind is an indispensable requisite to success. Shining wit is a species of presence of mind.

This quality should be possessed by the judge on the bench, the lawyer at the bar, the orator in the forum, the minister in the pulpit, who preaches, and does not read his sermons, the physician, with whom we trust our lives, and the surgeon, in his responsible operations.

Those who practice humbuggery successfully, are found to have a large share of this quality, coupled

with impudence and dishonesty of a high order. It is also possessed, in a preeminent degree, by successful blacklegs, pickpockets, burglars, robbers, and others who stand high on the calendar of crime. Like other strong qualities, when perverted from good to evil purposes, this gift becomes a dangerous agent with those who are corrupt in principle and practice.

My advice is, to keep cool under all circumstances, if possible. Much may be effected by cultivation-we should learn to command our feelings and act prudently in all the ordinary concerns of life-this will better prepare us to meet sudden emergencies with calmness and fortitude. If we permit our feelings to be ruffled and disconcerted in small matters, they will be thrown into a whirlwind, when big events overtake us. Our best antidote is, implicit confidence in God.

PRESS.

No one can too highly appreciate the magic power of the Press, or too deeply deprecate its abuses. As newspapers have become the great highway of that intelligence, which exerts a controlling power over our nation, catering the every-day food of the mind, I will confine my remarks to these vehicles of knowledge, and their conductors.

No course of reading is better calculated to show the present state of society, than the perusal of the various newspapers of the day. The variety and quality, size and quantity, have increased to a mighty flood. Comparatively, we have the omnibus, that admits every thing for money; the stage coach, a little more particu

lar; and the private coach, neat, cleanly, and uncontaminating. We have the political party sheets, some of whose editors are often goaded on by demagogues, to the most disgraceful venality; acrimonious, calumniating; assailing persons, more than measures; placing party interests above public good. The political discussions of the present day, are seldom characterized by reason, logic, courtesy, or common sense. This is an evil that editors can, and should correct. They can give a harmonious, or a discordant tone to society. But few of the corps editorial, seem to feel the high responsibility resting upon them. Their whole aim should be, to enlighten and improve mankind, and avoid all publications, calculated to produce ill blood, or lead to erroneous conclusions. Their papers should be standards of truth, promoters of peace, cementers of union, inculcaters of pure morality, disseminators of sound logic; free from personal invectives and animadversions on private character, and rigidly just, in their discussion of public men; chaste in language, free from scandal and calumny; calculated to improve the mind, correct the head, and better the heart. Public good never requires an editor to expose domestic relations, and exaggerate minor faults, promulgate false charges, or echo inuendoes. Politics, as conducted by some of the leaders of the parties of the present day, have become disgusting to the genuine patriot, who deems the good of his country, paramount to party triumph. The old landmarks of '76, have been discarded by many, and too frequently are our laws, and even revised, and new state constitutions, based on party principles; if not a sandy, at least, a very problematical foundation.

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