NOTICES OF BOOKS. 235 FRAGMENTS FOR SPARE MOMENTS. CHILDREN. I REMEMBER a great man coming to my house at Waltham, and seeing all my children standing in the order of their age and stature, he said, "These are they that make rich men poor; but he straight received this answer: "Nay, my lord, these are they that make a poor man rich; for there is not one of these whom we would part with for all your wealth."-Bishop Hall's Life. THE EFFECT OF COLD WORDS. Cold words will break a fine heart, as winter's frost does a crystal vase. HOW TO WEIGH A FRIEND. Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh a friend. PARENTAL AFFECTION. Call not a man wretched who, whatever else he suffers as to pain inflicted or pleasures denied, has a child for whom he hopes, and on whom he doats. Poverty may grind him to the dust, obscurity may cast its darkest mantle over him, the song of the gay may be far from his dwelling, his face may be unknown to his neighbours, and his voice be unheeded by those among whom he dwells; even pain may rack his joints and sleep may flee his pillow, but he has a gem with which he would not part for wealth defying computation, for fame filling a world's ears, for the luxury of the highest health, or for the sweetest sleep that ever sat upon a mortal's eyelid. THE BIBLE. There is no book upon which we can rest in a dying moment but the Bible. NOTICES OF BOOKS. The British Workman-The Band of Hope Review-The Band of PREFACE TO THE NINTH VOLUME.. WITH the Divine blessing, "THE MOTHERS' FRIEND" has continued through another year, imparting no other instructions-inculcating no other duties-enforcing no other examples on parents and children than those which are derived from the Sacred Scriptures. Our work is great, and the object we wish to accomplish is of no small importance to the world and the church. Could we prevail on mothers and teachers to go into their work energetically, prayerfully, and with a sincere and earnest desire to impress the great precepts and truths of the Gospel upon the young and tender mind, so that their precious charge might grow up under the influence of those truths, our object would be secured, and we should rejoice that our labours had been graciously owned by Him who alone can render any means and efforts conducive to human happiness and His own glory. Time is hurrying us forward-the last hours of another year are close at hand, and we feel the import of the solemn admonition, "Work while it is day." Should life and health be granted, we hope to pursue our work with |