tracts the poison from his cup of sorrow, and tinges with the goldden hues of hope, the cloud which beshadows his path.

In the hallowed precincts of home, how much depends upon the countless and nameless acts of a kindly spirit! How often a kind word or a reproving smile will extinguish the spark of harsh feeling which else had been fanned by the rude breath of passion into a devouring flame! By warding off an unkind expression of hasty wrath with a forbearing and forgiving look, how easily we disarm all anger and restore the soul to serenity and love! Is there a quarrel-a fierce dispute-a war of words, in the family circle, how easily one gentle spirit will subdue the elements, and make the thoughtless destroyers of domestic peace hang their heads with shame, and heartily repent of their ill-considered difficulties.

Oh, my friends, it is these words of kindly remembrance sown along the dusty thoroughfare of life, which make the poetry of life, and which, falling upon a heart which has been broken up by vicissitudes, take deep root, and soon garnish the mind with flowers of perennial beauty.

PREPARATION FOR WAR.

The New Orleans Picayune comes out very strongly against the custom of wearing deadly weapons. It has frequently happened, in New Orleans and otherwheres, that the most intimate friends have imbrued their hands in each other's blood in moments of hasty passion, when had there been no deadly weapons about them (or in the vicinity) the dreadful deed would not have been done. Indeed it is thought that at least two thirds of the murders (and manslaughters) which are committed at the South, grow out of this pernicious custom of "going armed.”—It seems, then, that in cases of individuals, the often quoted saying—“ in time of peace prepare for war," in other words, in time of friendship prepare for strife, is proved to be highly dangerous. It tends to produce the very war it would avert. Instead of settling dif

ficulties, it multiplies and aggravates them. Why isn't it equally true with regard to nations? Why should they go armed?-Why should they belt themselves round about with pistols and bowie-knives? Do such things "make for peace?" Or do they not rather nurture a bloody and revengeful spirit? Let our com

mon-sense answer.

I am not sure but this peace question is the most important question before the people. It seems to me to include the whole circle of moral truths. My strong-minded friend John Pulsifer (of Lowell) said to me, the other day, that he had noticed this fact, -that every man who was converted to the principles of peace, became instantly a thorough-paced opponent of all slavery. My experience has been the same. And how could it be otherwise? How can a man embrace the principle of the brotherhood of the human race (which is the vital principle of the peace doctrine) and sanction any form of human enslavement? Will it be said that there are many true reformers who believe in war "under certain circumstances ?" It cannot be. Whoever is in favor of slaughtering his fellow men, whether aggressively or by way of retaliation, (or punishment,) can in no proper sense be called a moral reformer. He may be honestly opposed to specific evils, such as drunkenness, slavery, licentiousness, gambling, but so long as he advocates the old retaliatory doctrine of "an eye for an eye”—which is the essence of all war-so long his reform efforts will be worse than neutralized. It is idle for a man to tell me that he is doing a great Anti-Slavery work, when he would have the whole human race subject to a military despotism. I say a "military despotism"-because every military system, however mild, is a cruel despotism. For in time of war every man in the country is the abject slave of the soldiery,—and if the order comes from the commander in chief (whether he be a President or a King) to cut the throat of one's own mother, or blow out the brains of his wife, it must be obeyed at the peril of life. And in time of peace every one is compelled (also at the peril of life) to hold himself in readiness, "armed and equipped as the law di

rects," to commit the grossest acts of violence which the powers that be command. Now I call this despotic, most cruelly so,and no man who thinks it humane and brotherly, is competent to do much in the way of any reform. This war policy precludes the possibility of all faith, either in man or God. And, furthermore, it tramples upon the right of private judgment, and admits of no individual conscience. How then can any man be a consistent opponent of any species of tyranny or sin, who can give the least countenance to so atrocious a system as that of war in any of its "Protean variety of shapes"? You will say that war, even in its most offensive manifestations, is allowed, and defended, by our "Christian Churches," (so called) but when you will mention to me a species of villainy which that church has not (at some time) allowed and defended, then I will admit your statement (which is notoriously true) to be an argument against my position, and in favor of war.

I havn't time to pursue the subject, but throw off these rude suggestions in the heat of the moment, and in the hope that they may lead to deeper and wider views. The subject is one of immense importance and cannot be slighted by anybody with impunity.

THE DEVIL.

Start not, most timid reader, at the name of this thine old acquaintance; for why should'st thou be frightened at the name of so familiar and popular a character? Thou hast known him from thy youth up-a good looking and courteous personage, who could tell thee, an' thou would, many a forgotten reminiscence of thee and thine, and who is, withal, one of the blandest and most affable creatures in the world.

He moves in the best society, is rigidly scrupulous of his outward appearance, and prides himself no little on his knowledge of human nature, and his tact at ingratiating himself into the human heart. Polite to a fault, with a voice of the richest tone, and an

eye of the brightest glance; bewitching by his smile, and entrancing by his eloquence; with a mind laden with knowledge and overflowing with light, he has ever been one of the most popular and influential characters of the day. Full often has he taken thee by the hand, and led thee into green pastures and by the side of still waters, while thou, poor deluded soul, imagined thyself in the society of one of "Heaven's elect."

And yet thou tremblest at the mention of his name and the very idea of contact with him blanches thy warm cheek, and fills thee with terror. Mistaken soul! On the pages of the primer, and on the tablet of thy mind, this gentlemanly and accomplished Devil is painted, perhaps, as a poor fleshly body, gaunt and grim, having eyes of fire and feet that are cloven; with horns growing from his head, and barbed arrows from his mouth; with a long tail of many folds behind, and a long arm with many claws before; in short,

"a monster of such frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen."

slander on the

I tell thee, reader, such a picture is a gross personal appearance of the Dark Prince. He is "black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, or the curtains of Solomon."

Herein, thou should'st know, is the secret of his power-the charm of his life. Deformity has no attractions. Men are not drawn into any snare by repulsive and sickening leaders. They will not-unless barbarians indeed-worship at the shrine of any monster. No. He who would lead them captive must array himself in purple and fine linen. So at least thinks the personage in question, and he acts accordingly.

1. He comes in the gilded habiliments of pleasure. With smiling face and lightsome step he trips along, followed by a gay and thoughtless host, who sing and dance along the road to ruin, unconscious of their danger, and careful only of immediate and palpable enjoyment.

Lured on, step by step, from innocent recreation to unlawful

indulgence; from unlawful indulgence to gross licentiousness; from gross licentiousness to loss of self-respect and utter recklessness; with besotted mind, and broken heart, and withered body; their polite and fascinating conductor leaves them at the portals of the grave, where a press of other business obliges him to bid them a polite and affectionate good bye, promising—the only promise the deceitful wretch keeps—to meet them on the other side of the grave!

2. He comes in the flowing dishabille of the Idler. With a jaunty air, a mind at peace with all the world, an enviable indifference to all the storms and calms of life, an unwrinkled brow and a spotless hand, he allures many sons and daughters of industry from their toil, and soon teaches them to look upon work as a burden, and industry as a disgrace. Cunning and crafty, art thou, indeed, oh Devil, with thy oily tongue and bland address, and thou dost truly erect thy busiest work shop in the brain of the idle

man.

3. The Devil comes also in the "sober black" of hypocrisy. Gentlemanly, indeed, is he in this favorite character. In cowl and gown, with smooth face and smoother speech, he walks cautiously before the people, and gathers into his dark fold many a wandering sheep. Sympathizing with all sorrow, subduing all passion, regular in attendance upon Church, loudest in exhortation and longest in prayer, he soon wins upon the heart of the credulous, and ingratiates him into his black art. The name of his followers is legion. It needs not, oh reader, that we describe them to thee; for thou knowest them too well already. Neither is it necessary that we should show up the too fascinating Devil other suit from his many colored wardrobe.

in any In conclusion, see to it, oh ye people, that ye look not for his Majesty as a horned and bloated monster, but rather as a bloom

ing and accomplished courtesan.

Not in rags, not in deformity,

but in purple and fine linen, works he about all thy paths, and lurks he about all thy hearts.