to cover their feet from the biting frost, or a garment to shelter them from the piercing cold. And my sadness was greatly increased at the recollection, that vice lays at the foundation of a great number of these cases of wretchedness and misery. I felt pained to think that men will give themselves over so fully into the hands of the Tempter, until he robs them of their reason, their self-respect and their wealth; and then turns them over to the tender mercies of charity, or else to die and fill a drunkard's grave. Forcibly did the words of the wise man fall upon my ears and upon my heart-"Enter not into the path of the Avoid it, pass wicked, and go not into the way of evil men. not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fail."

WHO STOLE THE BIRD'S NEST?

"To WHAT! to-whit! to-whee!

Will you listen to me?
Who stole four eggs I laid,
And the nice nest I made?

"Bob-a-link! Bob a link!
Now what do you think?
Who stole my nest away,
From the plum tree to day?"

"Not I," said the cow; "moo-oo!
Such a thing I never would do.
I gave you a wisp of hay,
But I did not take your nest away."

"Not I," said the dog: "bow-wow!
I would not be so mean, I vow!
I gave the hairs the nest to make,
But the nest I did not take."

"Not I," said the sheep; "O no!
I would not treat a poor bird so.
I gave the wool the nest to line,
But the nest was none of mine."

"Caw! caw!" cried the crow;
"I should very muc i like to know
What thief stole away
A poor bird's nest to day."

"Cluck! cluck!" said the hen;
"Do not ask me again.
Why, I have not a chick
That would do such a trick.

"We all gave her a feather,
And she wove them together.
I would scorn to intrude
On her and her brood.
Cluck! cluck!" said the hen;
"Do not ask me again."

"Chir a-whirr! chirr-a-whirr!
We will make a great stir.
Let us find out his name,
And all cry, 'For shame!"

"I would not rob a bird,"
Said little Mary Green.
"I think I never heard
Of any thing so mean."

"It is very cruel, too,"

Said little Alice Neal, "I wonder if he knew

How bad the bird would feel."

A little boy hung down his head,
And went and hid behind the bed;
For he had stole that pretty nest
From the poor little yellow-breast;
And he felt so full of shame,
He did not like to tell his name.

BE WATCHFUL.

BY ANN.

WATCH ye therefore, for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning, lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping, and what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch."

To whom were those interesting words of our blessed Saviour addressed? To a few of his faithful disciples who had followed him from the temple up to the Mount of Olives. There he sat, and after telling them many important things that would befall them, and admonishing them to beware of false prophets and false teachers, he told them to "watch."

And what he said unto them, he says unto us all, "watch, lest the master of the house come suddenly upon us and find us sleeping." Oh, what an awful thing it will be for you, young man, if, when in the height of your dissipation and folly, when indulging in open violation of God's law, either at the midnight revelry, the intoxicating bowl, the card table, profaning the holy Sabbath, taking the name of the Lord in vain, or any other obscenity, 'the master of the house should come!' It will be a surprise of horror and dismay to you to find yourself before the dread tribunal of Almighty God, there 'to give an account of the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or evil.'

Oh! if another op'ning morn,

On earth should never smile on thee,
Wert thou to meet another dawn

In yon unknown eternity.

Shouldst thou with grief review this day
And tremble at Jehovah's rod?

Or wouldst thou calmly soar away
To welcome an approving God?

And you, young lady, interesting, amiable and accomplished as you may be-you who have had kind parents to watch over you, who have expended the means which God has given them, profusely upon you-these words are addressed to you also, Watch! Oh! we beg you for the sake of your never-dying soul, to "watch, lest the master of the house come suddenly upon you and find you sleeping!" Watch the insidious enemy of your soul in the many ways he presents himself to entrap you and draw you from God. In the gay and giddy dance, how he flatters you; into the whirlpool of fashion has he not carried you far? and how many flattering tales he has told you concerning this world's pleasures! He tells you that there is no harm in

taking a stroll or an excursion on the Sabbath day for amuse-
ment; in reading an interesting novel or romance; in deceiving
your friend with lying lips, or a deceitful tongue; all of which
are as false as himself. And when such sins are once indulged
in, they will leave a sting behind, and will be the means of pol-
luting your mind, of searing your conscience, and of blunting
your feelings to all that is sacred and holy. Take not the first
step to any of these vices; indulge not in the first act of them,
and you will feel thankful when you come to recline
your head
upon your dying pillow. For,

Can you find pleasure in pathways unholy?
Hope ye for comfort in wandering from God?
Anguish and shame wait the vot'ries of folly;
Earth has no comfort not found in His blood.

Then we beg you, young friend, watch. Take your Bible in your hand, Christ in your heart, and faith in your soul; and by the aid of the Holy Spirit to guide you, you shall find real, true and substantial happiness, such as the world cannot give you nor take away; for God says, "They that seek me early shall find me;" and, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all things else shall be added unto you." Then when the master of the house shall come, he will not find you sleeping, but watching.

Is there an aged man or woman, whose heads are silvered o'er with age, and whose faltering steps tell that soon life's ebb with them will be o'er, who may chance to read these lines, and who has not been watching his Lord's coming; if so, what a sad sight, what a gloomy thought. What can we say to such? O! aged father or mother, arouse from your lethargy; awake from your sleep, lest you sleep the sleep of death! Then, aged sire, watch; as the Saviour said unto his disciples, he says also unto you-Watch, for the night is far spent. Not only do we know of nought before us ere the Lord arrive, but we know of much behind us-hours, days, months and years have gone by, and yet that all-important work is not done. Perhaps you are a member of the church-did we say a member of the church! Yes, alas! too many there are that have lived to old age, and we fear have never watched as church members should do. When friends are waiting, the church expecting, the pastor praying, and even the spirits of loved ones departed and in glory, are watching with intense anxiety to see the dear aged ones become as little children, that they may enter into the kingdom of heaven surely they also ought to be in earnest. Therefore, watch, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh. Finally, humble christian, need we say unto you what the

Saviour said unto his disciples-Watch. Yes, fellow christian, there is as much need now for watchfulness and prayer, as there was in those days. We are told to "watch and pray lest we fall into temptation," and again, "if any one think he standeth let him take heed lest he fall." Oh, be wise then; fill with oil and trim your lamps, lest the bridegroom come and ye be not ready to meet him. Let us bow at the cross in humiliation and self-abasement, and through the grace of God, follow Jesus through evil as well as good report. It is but one day's reviling before men and then an eternity of glory in the presence of God and of the Lamb. Why shrink, then, from the world's reproach, when it is but a breath at the most, and when we know that it so soon shall cease? Why not rejoice that we are counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of Jesus, when we know that all that afflicts us here is not worthy to be compared to that glory which shall be revealed in us, in that morning when we shall be permitted to join those loved ones who have gone before us into that heavenly kingdom, and who are beacon stars to draw us onward and upward, to that eternal rest which is in reserve for the people of God-a blessedness which eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive. Then, fellow pilgrim, we say once more, 'Watch.'

My soul be on thy guard,

Ten thousand foes arise,

And hosts of sins are pressing hard
To draw thee from the skies.

Fight on, my soul, till death

Shall bring thee to thy God;

He'll take thee at thy parting breath,
Up to his blest abode.

ADIEU!

'THERE is something beautifully pious and tender in that word of sad import, "Adieu!" That is, "May God guard you, to God I commit you."

I NEVER cast a flower away,

The gift of one who cared for me-
A little flower, a faded flower-
But it was done reluctantly.

I never looked a last adieu,

To things familiar, but my heart
Shrank with a feeling almost pain,
E'en from their lifelessness to part.

I never spoke the word "Farewell,"
But with an utterance faint and broken, j
A heart-sick yearning for the time,
When it shall never more be spoken.

EMBLEMS.

BY REV. H. HARBAUGH.

A CIRCLE of radiating beams is generally seen, in pictures, surrounding the head of the Saviour or, eminent saints. It is called by several different names, as "THE GLORY," "NIMBUS," and "AUREOLE." It is the emblem of sanctity; and hence it is used to distinguish venerable and holy personages. It is said to be of pagan origin; images of the gods were decorated with a crown of rays to represent the emanations of the divine essence. When some of the ancient Roman Emperors assumed the honors due to divinity, they appeared in public crowned with a golden circle, an imitation of the rays of the sun. After it became common for the Emperors to wear the nimbus, it got to be considered at length merely as the emblem of power, without any reference to sanctity. Hence, between the 9th and the 13th century it was even used in pictures of Satan.

There was for a long time a prejudice against the use of the nimbus or Glory among the christians, on account of its use among the heathen. It is not exactly known when it was first introduced among christian emblems, but it is supposed not before the 7th century. No doubt the fact, that of old God appeared in the Shekinah to his people, where his presence was surrounded with a luminous glory, aided in rendering it acceptable to christians, and led gradually to its adoption. It must be confessed that, notwithstanding its origin, it is a beautiful Emblem, and very significant when surrounding the heads of holy personages, who are always centres of holiness and light. We would feel shocked should we see a picture of the blessed Saviour without the Glory surrounding it.

The FISH is placed upon Church steeples. Why? It is said that it is one of the earliest and most universal of christian Emblems. It became so by its symbolic connection with water as the element used in the rite of baptism. The seven Greek letters which constitute the word fish were also used to form the anagram of the name of Jesus Christ. The Fish was very extensively used as an emblem in the early church. It was placed "upon the sarcophagi or coffins of the early Christians; on the tombs of the martyrs in the catecombs; on rings, coins, lamps, and other utensils; and as an ornament in early christian architecture. It is usually a Dolphin, which among the pagans had a sacred significance.'

The CROSS. We need not tell our readers of what this is the