THE FIRESIDE. FORBEARING ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE.-None are perfection here; and you must not expect it. You will see faults in your friends. Expect this, but let it prepare you to bear with them, rather than be indignant when they appear. It is said by a deep-seeing writer, that when the angels come to try one, they explore his mind only to find the good therein, that they may excite it to activity. Be, then, your friends' angel; explore his mind for the good it contains, and seek to cherish and strengthen it. Looking intently at what is good in him, you will not be likely to see faults looming up and assuming a magnitude beyond their real dimensions. But when faults appear, as they assuredly will, compare them with your own; and as you would have him exercise forbearance towards you, do you exercise that grace towards him. Be wise in your love; wisdom and love are married partners; if you separate them, neither is a safe guide. But if you keep them united, like a rower who pulls both oars, you will glide swiftly and safely forward towards the haven where you would be. D. Q. M. THOUSANDS OF MEN breathe, move, and live-pass off the stage of life, and are heard of no more. Why? None were blessed by them; none could point to them as the means of their redemption; not a line they wrote, not a word they spoke, could be recalled, and so they perished: their light went out in darkness, and they were not remembered more than insects of yesterday. Will you thus live and die, O man immortal? Live for something. Do good, and leave behind you a monument of virtue, that the storms can never destroy. Write your name, by kindness, love, and mercy, on the hearts of thousands you come in contact with, year by year, and you will never be forgotten. No; your name, your deeds, will be as legible on the hearts you leave behind, as the stars on the brow of the evening. Good deeds will shine as brightly on the earth as the stars of heaven.-Dr. Chalmers. The Fireside. THE SCOLD RECLAIMED. THE REV. JONATHAN SCOTT, formerly Captain Scott, while he was in the army was useful to one of the soldiers, for whom he entertained a considerable esteem. Some years after he left the regiment, the soldier came to him (having then also left it, and being married) and begged his solution of a case of conscience. His wife, he said, was so exceedingly ill-tempered, and she studiously tormented him in such a variety of ways, that she was the great burden of his life; and, notwithstanding all the kind methods he had used to reduce her to a better disposition, she was not at all improved, but grew continually worse and worse. Mr. Scott exhorted him to try what a redoubled affection and kindness would do; observing to him that the command of Christ to husbands was, THE FIRESIDE. "to love their wives," and that "even as Christ the church;" and though he met with many provocations and insults and much ingratitude from her, he still continued to love her, setting us an example in which we should follow his steps. This advice did not appear to satisfy the man; and he went away much dejected, resolving, however, if possible, to follow it; since, though it had not hitherto succeeded, he could not but consider it as founded on the word of God. He accordingly increased his attention; and, as an instance of his kindness, the next Saturday evening brought to his wife his whole week's wages, and, with an affectionate smile, threw them into her lap, begging her entire disposal of them. This would not succeed. She threw the wages in a volley, accompanied with many bitter execrations, at his head; and afterwards continued in the practice of every spiteful and malicious trick that she could devise, or, according to the poor man's own conclusion, that satan himself could suggest to render his life miserable. Some years elapsed, during which he sustained, as patiently as he could, this base and undutiful treatment, when Providence favoured him with another interview with his kind friend and father, Mr. Scott. This happened most opportunely, at a time when a neighbour had been telling him a recipe for the cure of refractory wives; and, as a strong recommendation, mentioned that he had tried it on his own wife with the happiest effects. He therefore came to Mr. Scctt, with a countenance bespeaking a considerable degree of confidence, which led Mr. Scott at first to hope that his former advice had proved successful; but he was undeceived by being informed that, through the extremely vicious disposition of the woman, it had operated in a direction and to a degree precisely the reverse of what was expected from it. Upon being asked why he smiled and looked so pleasantly, he said, he believed he had really found out a remedy, which, if it should meet Mr. Scott's approbation, would not fail of effecting a cure; for it had been tried by a neighbour of his on a wife, who, though she had been in all respects as bad as his, was, by one application only, become one of the most affectionate creatures living. "And what is this excellent remedy ?" said Mr. Scott. "Why, sir, it is a good horse-whipping! You hear, sir, what good effects have been produced; do you think I may venture to try it ?" Mr. Scott inferred, from the man's whole behaviour, that nothing would afford him a higher gratification than his concurrence; and his mortification on Mr. Scott's refusal was proportionate. He gravely replied, "I read, friend, nothing about husbands horse-whipping their wives in the Bible, but just the reverse; namely, love, which I before recommended; and I can by no means alter the word of God; and, doubt not, if you persevere, it will be attended with a happy result;" accompanying his advice with exhortations to more earnest prayer. The man, though he left Mr. Scott both with a mind and countenance very different from those with which he came, resolved to follow his direction, for THE PENNY POST BOX. his esteem of him was very great. Providence calling Mr. Scott some time after to preach at Birmingham, his old friend, who then resided there, came into the vestry to him after he had done, and, with a countenance expressive of exalted happiness, took him by the hand, and said that he had great reason to bless God for the advice he had given him; and that he had not been induced, by his weak importunities, to alter or relax it, adding, that his wife, who then stood smiling approbation by his side, was not only become a converted woman, through a blessing on his kind attentions to her, but was one of the most affectionate and dutiful of wives. The Penny Post Box. "CHURCH FESTIVALS." Ir is a fact that I have noticed now for many years, that wicked" ness comes out and walks abroad more openly and with a more brazen front at those seasons which Romanists and Church-folks call the "Festivals of the Church"-Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide-than on any other days of all the year. As a christian man I dont like this, and hereby enter my strongest protest against it. The wickedness is bad enough, but that it should come forth under cover of a religious observance, is what I dislike above all. I am not one of those who object to a working man and his children having what is called a holiday. Not I. For instead of begrudging them the enjoyment of sober and harmless recreation, I feel much pleasure in witnessing such scenes. But what I object to is this popish custom of Church Festivals, for they are popish, and among the very worst parts of it, and it is time that Englishmen, with bibles in their hands and "no popery" on their lips, were well rid of them. What have we to do with such monstrous mockery as keeping Christmas and Easter in remembrance of HIм who came and died for our sins by running into more sin, or keeping Whitsuntide in commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit, by the indulgence of every unholy passion of which fallen human nature is capable? Such times and seasons are not fixed by Holy Scripture; and this all comes of man's meddling and ordering what is not ordered of the Lord. I have been led to make these remarks from what I saw last Whitsuntide, both in town and countrypublic-houses and beer-shops full of sots and noisy quarrelling fellows! And what was more painful to me I observed many staggering along the road who were not ragged dirty drunkards, but decently-dressed labouring men, who seemed as if they must, as it was Whitsuntide, get drunk for once. Oh! shame on Englishmen that they should thus degrade themselves. Let every sober christian set his face as a flint against these uncommanded popish preposterous "Church Festivals." L W. F. J. FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS. Facts, Hints, and Gems. Facts. NEWCASTLE COLLIERS always wash and put on clean flannel when they come up; and you may see them sitting quietly at the door, nursing a baby, and reading a magazine. How much better than rolling off in their dirt to a beer shop! THE SLAVE TRADE all along the western coast of Africa is now nearly abolished. So we hear: and blessed be God for it! IRELAND IS GOING TO AMERICA. -As many as 12,000 emigrants from Ireland landed at New York in four days. POISON. To counteract poison, put a large tea spoonful of ready made mustard in a cup full of warm water, and drink it off directly, and it will clear the stomach. HUMAN BODIES.-It is calculated that as many as eighteen millions of human beings die every year, and that the average weight of all their bodies is 624,300 tons. THE GRAVE buries every error, covers every defect, extinguishes every resentment. From its fearful bosom spring only fond regrets and tender remembrances. Who can look on the grave of an enemy and not be sorry that he waged war with such a handful of dust! THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH has been laid down from Wales to Ireland. THE FIRST ENGLISH NEWSPAPER was published in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. It was called the English Mercurie, and dated, July 23, 1588. ORIGIN OF BANKS.-The first bank was formed in the city of Venice in 1150, and was called the "Chamber of loans." The first English bank was formed in London in 1694. Hints. REVERSE THE PROVERB.-" All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy." Does it? Well, reverse it, "All play and no work will make him duller." GREAT HEIGHTS are not only reached by angels but by creeping things. Let no man despair. Creep on, and you may reach the top yet. At all events you may get high enough. TRUE GREATNESS.-Let men in humble life remember, and rich men never forget, that "Honour or shame From no condition rise, For there true greatness lies." FRIENDSHIP.-Be slow in choosing a friend. But when you have found one be slower in changing him. BE COURTEOUS to all men for it costs nothing; but you had better be only quite intimate with a few. CONSCIENCE. Some men dont follow the dictates of conscience, but they drive it, as a man does the horse in his gig, before them. DONT STAND STILL with your arms folded, hoping good luck will pay you a visit with his hands full. Strip off your coat, roll up your shirt sleeves, and go to work at once. That is the way to get on. WISHING WITHOUT WORKING brings in nothing but disappointment, vexation, ill temper, and rags! EARLY RISERS are generally good workers, but they are early resters. You cannot burn a candle at each end. If you try you will grease your fingers. THOUGHTS AND WORDS influence one another. If you use bad words they will bring back bad thoughts. If you can keep your tongue in order, you will be able, with more ease, to keep your heart in order. Gems. FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS. AN INQUIRY.-How often has Jesus Christ knocked at the door of thy heart, O reader, and how long wilt thou keep him waiting. Perhaps he is giving the last knock now! USE OF THE TONGUE.- Use it for two purposes above every other-in praising God for his mercies, and in telling others of the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. Were all tongues only so used, what a fire of mischief would die out. REJOICE EVERMORE.-Yes and we should if we had more faith in the word of Christ. Only think what he is preparing for us. Oh for stronger faith! THE DEPARTING CHRISTIAN. FAREWELL! vain world, I've had enough of thee; long a brighter, better world to see; I long to reach my bright, my blessed THE GRACES of real christians-I as peace, love, hope, patience, are like the leaves of certain trees; the more you press them the sweeter the fragrance. WARRANT FOR PRAYER.-What-I long for perfect fellowship with God; ever warrant you have for praying I long thy promised rest, O Lord, to share; at all, you have to believe that your I long for glory-When shall I be there? prayers will be answered. THE LIGHT OF REASON never yet led any man to see his own sinful state in the sight of the Holy God. The Word and Spirit of God reveal clearly the solemn fact. NEITHER HAS REASON ever yet led any man to discover the full excellence of Christ. The Holy Spirit takes of his glory and shows that glory to our admiring souls. READY FOR FLIGHT.-Stand upon the edge of this world, said John Wesley, ready to take wing, having your feet on earth, but your eyes. and heart towards heaven. GOING TO HEAVEN.-Idle wishes will never land us there. If we would go to heaven when we die, we must seek for a title to heaven while we live. DEATH CANNOT TOUCH the eternal life that is in the christian, but it separates him from sin for ever. SONGS OF HEAVEN. How vast that heavenly temple is ! THE PENITENT'S PRAYER. WITH my burden I begin : Lord! I come to thee for rest: THE PILGRIM'S PRAYER. WHILE I am a pilgrim here, Show me what I have to do: |