up-hill business. Longer too must be the probation, than must needs have been the case had no suspicion been previously awakened-some might have been content to remain where injudicious treatment had put them. How many are thus kept down, perhaps eternity may reveal.* Many doubtless, had they been treated as deserving of confidence, might really have been worthy of trust-instead of being branded with disgrace and infamy, first suggested by harsh and injudicious mangement. It is possible for some to conclude to enjoy the game, as well as to have to bear the name.

Trust the human heart more, and you will find it more worthy of your trust. But tell a child you suspect it on all occasions for lying, and it will soon learn to gratify your suspicions. Call a man rascal whenever you speak or deal with him, and he may show you before long the power of suggestion; as the ostler who stole the oats from the trough after the priest had put him on the plan, by asking whether he had not done Like begets like. Put man upon his honor, and he will be more likely to show some indications of it, than if this trait in his character be entirely ignored in your estimate of him. The world might be better if it were not charged with being worse than it really is. To reform it, you must at least assume that it has some redeemable quality-something to graft the good on.

So.

In a trial for a good name, it is not a disadvantage, if the trial be fair, to have it very strict. Hence we think it rather fortunate than otherwise that we had to win our's according to the most rigid rules. As we said before, we were hired to a strict farmer, up at the first streak of dawn, the day was early begun. Late in the twilight we returned from the field. If all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, Jack would never get very smart at such employments as fell to out lot. And yet we rather liked it; for to a strong healthy body, with which we were blessed from our childhood, we also added the desire to gain a name.. Not so much for ourself, for then we knew not its value-but for the sake of our mother, who would thereby be made happier in the relief of the apprehensions awakened by the prophecies above mentioned.

Hard work is not the worst calamity that can fall to the lot of boys from twelve to fifteen years of age. Along with the men-yes, there was a satisfaction in working with the men-along with them we bore "a hand. To "make a hand" in the harvest field is the first triumph of the boy, who wants to be rated with the men. To plow, to mow, to reap, and to cradle transfers the boy to the sphere of manhood. Country life has its honors, as well as the battle-field or the bar, or the forum. Some

*Since writing the above the following item from the Louisville Journal attracted my attention. It tells of the harsh treatment of a promising son by an injudicious father, who for a slight offence treated him as a convict for crime. Read the result:

"As soon as released, the dishonored boy, broken in pride and spirit, fled from his home, and nothing was heard from him until at length he turned up in the California courts, accused of burglary. He was acquitted, and about a year since returned to the Atlantic States going from one to another of our large cities, and plunging into every species of dissipation and vice. A few months since he was arrested in one of our principal cities for arson and robbery, had his trial, and received for his sentence ten years solitary confinement in the penitentiary-and but last week was brought back to the home of his boyhood, one of a gang of thirty chained felons, in charge of the sheriff. He met at the prison's threshold his own father, still the warden. And so near father, mother, brothers and sisters -he must serve out his long and dreary term of punishment."

1858.]

Working for a Good Name.

9

of these are dearly bought. The youth who would be as a man before his time, has odds against him. So we found it; but it was necessary to establish the fact that we were not "good for nothing." To do this, the swarth may at times grow indistinct before the swimming eyes, in the overtaxed body; the sickle may be unsteady in the hands, or the pitch-fork may not always obey the will in sending the sheaf up to the right point-and even the appetite may fail, but the victory will be none the less sure and sweet. A good name for industry, may demand a test like that. Such labor was not indeed exacted of us, but being voluntary to some extent, it only served the better purpose, to win favor the sooner and establish what was sought to be gained.

Long and weary months were thus passed. The months were counted because by the month the wages rated. Along with the toils of the field, came good and kind usage in the house. The family had hearts. They showed more sympathy than we had felt for years. This kept the spirit willing and cheerful. Meals were relished and night's sleep was refreshingly sweet. The mornings did seem to come so soon after we got to bed! But we never thought of doubling the voice that called in the early morn, at the stairway below, "boys !" We knew what it meant; it was enough. Not many minutes after we were all expected to be at our places.

Places! why, every thing had its place in that house, and about the barn and the sheds. Every plow and harrow and rake had its appropriate place. Every horse had his place in the stable, every cow her place at the trough; so too the axe, and the maul and wedges, the augers and the hammers, could each be found in its place. Every boy had his own nail on which to hang his hat; and each had his regular seat at the table, or around the big fire-place. Such discipline as that, is worth more than money to any boy. A good name for order and regularity, was gained in this way. What was hard at first soon became a well regulated habit, and so a pleasure.

Cheerful spirits make hard work light. Kind looks and kind words make the strictest regimen, not only tolerable, but agreeable. Continual scolding sours and destroys the best temper, of those who receive it as well as those who give it. Perverse and impudent as we had grown under former harsh treatment, here under even strict rules, we grew cheerful and obedient. There are some natures, which harsh treatment so chafes as to destroy any disposition to good that may be in them. Had we remained where we were first placed on leaving home, we had in all human probability been a ruined boy. But thanks to a merciful Providence, that deals wisely with us, if we will but submit to His leadings! That farm discipline was not a chance passage in our life. The Lord was, in His own good way, bringing us by a path we knew not, to labor hard in His own vineyard. In working for a good name, we did not start out to obtain the highest good. Yet the good Lord, who forgave the servant the whole debt, because he only asked for time to pay it, often also gives greater blessings than we seek for or desire.

When the time was expired for which we had bargained to work for the farmer, he told us as we had been "a good boy," he would give a half-dollar more than we had agreed upon as our wages. This wa worth more than so much money. It was a certificate from a man whos

recommendation would go far in that community. It opened up for us the way to any place a boy might ordinarily aspire to. Besides it hushed the slanders that had been previously heaped upon our name. It is hard to gain a good name, especially when once lost but it is worth the trial be it ever so hard. It is a satisfaction we would not sell at first

cost.

Work for a good name!

HOMEWARD BOUND.

BY REV. B.

BAUSMAN.

[OUR readers have been frequently entertained and instructed during the last year and a half, by very interesting articles from the Orient, under the title of My Pilgrim's Pouch." It is generally known that the author of these articles is the Rev. B. Bausman, of Lewisburg, Pa., who has made a very extensive tour through Europe and the East. We have the pleasure of furnishing the following beautiful sketch written on the Mediterranean, while departing from the sacred shores "homeward bound." We have understood that Mr. Bausman has kept an extensive journal of his travels and observations in the lands which our Saviour and his Apostles once trod; and we are sure that we speak the sentiments of all who have read his mature and judicious articles furnished for the Guardian, when we express the hope that the treasures of his journal may yet be given to the public in the permanent form of a volume. ED. GUARDIAN.]

FEW luxuries are more refreshing to the traveler in the East than suddenly to emerge out of murky, burning wastes into shady groves, where murmuring brooks and singing birds fill the air with Nature's melodies. So we rode wearily over the eastern slope of the Anti-Libanus, where the Arabs extorted stunted crops from the meagre soil. The enervating sirocco had infused langor into every limb, until respiration itself almost required an effort. From a sterile mountain eminence the vast plain of Damascus opened to our view, and the grand park which envelopes the capitol of Syria was opened out before us.

We encamped an hour from the city on the banks of the Pharphar. The next morning we rode through winding paths, among mulberry gardens, pomegranates, apricots, willows, and tall, silvery poplars. The air was redolent with sweet odors, turtles and cuckoos cooed and flew from tree to tree, the waters, led out into many irrigating channels, diffused a fresh breath into the atmosphere. We passed through a double archway into a broad irregular street in which grain merchants had piled up their possessions, and mechanics and manufacturers kept up a busy clattering. Another gate led us into a large burying-ground. The graves were all walled over, with small vases at the end, which contained water and a bunch of green leaves. Then we entered another street, rode through crowded bazaars, while our dragoman went before, shouting "to the right, to the left-on, on," to make way through the crowd, and took up our quarters in "the street called Straight," where Saul of Tarsus lodged when Ananias was sent to him.

Damascus is one of the oldest existing cities of the world. Hither

1858.]

Homeward Bound.

11

Abraham pursued the four kings and smote them at Hobah, "which is on the left of Damascus." His steward, Eleazor, was of Damascus. David vanquished and Solomon lost Damascus. The conversion of Saul near Damascus, by a miraculous interposition, associates it with one of the most remarkable events of New Testament history. The city at present has a population of 150,000 to 200,000. It is famous for its manufac tories of silk. The Damascus steel, famous in all the world, is no longer made here. The streets are narrow and many of them roofed. They wind and crook into almost interminable lengths, lined with shops and bazaars containing every imaginable article of traffic. It was the month of Ramadan in which all strict Mahommedans fast. Between sunrise and sunset, not a morsel of meat or drink is tasted. To endure this severe privation with less discomfort the night is converted into a season of feasting. The cafes are crowded till after midnight, and social festivities are prolonged till morning. Towards morning they retire and sleep till towards noon and even later. About this time the bazaars were thronged with almost impenetrable masses. Two mule drivers met each other, one had to retreat to let the other pass. If a camel kneels under his torturing burden the narrow street is made impassable to all beasts of burden. When one rides through the street on horseback, his servant runs before him shouting, "to the right, to the left, on, on." Without this it would be impossible to get through the crowds without injuring them.

The houses are all built of unburnt brick. Outside they look like mud walls. We called on a wealthy Greek to get a peep into the domestic life of Damascus. We were led through a series of apartments of great splendor. The floors were of mosaic, and the walls ornamented with gold and inlaid with shining shells. Gorgeous as the whole looked from a certain distance, a closer examination disclosed many rude blemishes in the finish. We were then led into a large hall with an open front, and invited to seats on the divan, where coffee was served up and richly Narghiles to indulge in a few innocent whiffs. Smoking in the orient seems both a less filthy and injurious practice than in the occident. The narghile is a pipe in which the poison is extracted from the tobacco by making the smoke pass through water. It is singular how one accommodates himself to the most opposite customs of different countries. How ludicrous one would feel at home to squat down cross-legged on the floor of a splendid parlor and gravely suck smoke from a bottle of water through a two-yard-long hose, and instead of doffing his hat doing the agreeable by occasionally bringing his hand to his breast and head. The second house we called at resembled the first in its arrangement. The lady of the house received us, and attended by a servant showed us her shining apartments. She was handsomer than most of her sex here. She had a profusion of gold coins braided into her hair, which dangled carelessly over her shoulders, while her head was wreathed with a coronet of flowers. She walked on stilt shoes, which added six inches to her height and gave her a shuffling step. The general arrangement of all the houses is the same. A small door admits you into a very ordinary entry, which leads into a square open court in the interior. In the centre of this fountains play into a reservoir, where trees and fruit diffuse their flavor and flowers their balmy fragrance around. Oranges bloom

while they are yellow with ripe fruits. Around the square court all the apartments extend with windows opening upon it. There are no windows on the outside. All the domestic life and comforts are inside of the mud wall, like a city within its fortifications. The rude exterior contrasts strangely with the profusion of comfort and embellishment of the interior. One of the most splendid houses I saw in Damascus, that of a Jewish millionaire, had the outside appearance of a mud-plastered enclosure, while the interior vies with the splendor of royalty.

To see an assemblage of the social life of Damascus, we visited a large cafe one night. A vast crowd had collected in a somewhat rude apartment, with fountains playing into a central reservoir as usual. In the centre was an elevated platform on which a small band entertained the crowd with screeching music. The most were smoking. From an occidental point of view, it was a dry affair-much smoke and little talk. But these people have their own way of making themselves agreeable. Of course there were no females present. On ordinary occasions woman is excluded from the social enjoyments. Her social privileges are little better than those of her slaves. She is even denied a place in the Moslem religion.

The Mohammedans are scrupulously frequent in their ablutions. To the thoroughness of their baths I can bear testimony from experience. Calling at a large bathing establishment one morning, I was led into a large hall, with, of course, the omnipresent fountain and reservoir in the centre, over which was a lofty dome painted with trees, cottages and gushing springs. I was led on a raised platform, wrapped in towels, and asked to thrust my feet into stilt shoes; then with a man at each arm, led like a prisoner through a series of marble-paved rooms, each successive one growing hotter, until the hot vapor made me sweat most profusely. I was set down beside a basin under a deluge of water, which at the time felt as if it would scorch the skin off; then a lank, muscular Syrian, laid me down and scraped me with something like a worn off fuller's card. Then he poured a tub full of lather on my head, and then made me pass through the squashing operation of two strong rubbers. Then followed another shower of hot water. Then I was led back into the first chamber where I passed into new hands and was muffled in fresh towels and laid on a divan. Then a fellow pulled at my skin as if to pull it loose from the body, twisted my fingers and toes to crack the joints, and scraped the soles of my feet. Rolled into dry sheets I was laid on a divan, and while resting from their well-meant tortures, they brought me a glass of sherbet, a kind of ice lemonade. It being the fasting season of the Mohammedans, this was given as a special favor. I then began to feel the luxury of the operation. A sense of fresh, buoyant life, seemed to enter at every pore It is quite natural that one should feel as if he had never been clean before, after such a scorching, fulling, lathering, joint-cracking, skin-tearing, bone-stretching operation. The American missionaries at Damascus have a difficult field to cultivate. They labor chiefly among the Greek and Roman Catholics and the Jews. A Mohammedan changes his religion at the peril of his life. They have collected an encouraging little congregation, among whom are several men of marked influence. From a lofty mountain top we took a last view of Damascus, on the morning we left. The vast plantation of