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THE HOME.

A Word Fitly Spoken.

Parents are frequently impatient with children because they do not understand matters, or quickly comprehend some hint or sign given at a special moment. A lady once complained of her little girl, who happened to be especially stupid at the wrong moment. An old gentleman rebuked her, saying, "If you had learned as much in every two years of your life as she has, you would be a wise woman by this time." That remark set her to thinking, and she never complained afterward because her child was not able to comprehend as quickly as she did. The child was probably as smart as its mother was at that age, and nothing more could be required. It was a word fitly spoken, and it bore good fruit.-Phrenological Journal.

A Beautiful Poem.

Here are some exquisite verses by an author whom we do not know. If the boys and girls do not

DREAM CHILDREN.

man and woman young again. Sad, grow up into beauty in an atmos
indeed, however stately, however phere of strife. Harsh, angry words
splendid, is the house without any are to their sensitive souls what
babies. And this the author of the frosts are to the flowers. To bring
poem knew well.
them up in the nurture of the Lord
is to bring them up as Christ him-
self would, and surely that would
be with infinite tenderness. The
blessed influence of loving speech
day after day and month after
month, it is impossible to estimate.
It is like the falling of warm Spring
sunshine and rain on the garden.
Beauty and sweetness of character
are likely to come from such a home.

I trust in the dear Lord's wisdom,
I do not question His will;
But oft as I sit in my chamber,
In the twilight calm and still,

I long for the children's voices,
I long for the clinging arms,
As unto my ear they whisper

Their tiny griefs and alarms.
And my silent room is peopled
With forms I can almost see,
The forms of the dear dream children
Who cluster about my knee.

I can hear their merry prattle,

I feel their breath on my cheek,
And my fancy again makes real
The dear ones my heart would seek.
And so I sport with my children,

And watch their sweet, quaint ways,
Till my heart grows heavy with longing,
And my eyes are dim as I gaze.
For alas! they are but shadows

That out of the darkness grows;
Only the frail dream children
That the heart alone can know.

Home Conversation.

But home conversation needs more than love to give it its full influence. It ought to be enriched by thought. The Saviour's warning against idle words should be remembered. Every wise-hearted parent will seek to train his household to converse on subjects that will yield instruction or tend toward refinement. The table affords an excellent opportunity for this kind of education. Three times each day the family gathers there. It is a place for cheerfulness. Simply on hygienic grounds meals should not be eaten in silence. Bright, cheerful conversation is an excellent sauce and a prime aid to digestion. If it prolongs the meal and thus appears to take too much

appreciate them now, they will Nothing in the home life needs when they are a few years older. to be more carefully watched and And when they are men and more diligently cultivated than the women, tired of work and lonely, conversation. It should be imbued perhaps with gray hairs beginning with the spirit of love. No bitter time out of the busy day, it will to come in their heads, they will word should ever be spoken. The add to the years in the end by inknow all that these verses mean. language of husband and wife, in creased healthfulness and lengthSome parents make their children their intercourse together, should ened life. In any case, however, think they are nothing but a bother, always be tender. Anger in word something is due to refinement, and expense and vexation, and the ten- or even in tone should never be still more is due to the culture of der little hearts are saddened and suffered. Chiding and fault-finding one's home life. The table should made heavy daily by being made to should never be permitted to mar be made the centre of the social believe they are in the way and are the sacredness of their speech. The life of the household. There all not wanted. Such cruel parents do warmth and tenderness of their should appear at their best. Gloom not deserve to have any children. hearts should flow out in every word should be banished, conversation One of the purest, sweetest enjoy- that they speak to each other. As should be bright and sparkling. It ments in life is romping and play-parents, too, in their intercourse should consist of something besides ing with a house full of merry with the children, they should never dull threadbare commonplaces. The young ones. It drives away for the speak save in words of Christ-like idle gossip of the street is not a time the heaviest care and the gentleness. It is a fatal mistake to worthy theme for such hallowed blackest gloom. It makes the old suppose that children's lives can moments.

The Bible.

and

murmurous.

my poverty." It has been sinners lecture-room. They do not conConsider how sweet is the tone that have saved the church. Souls sider that it is because of their of the Word of God. Consider that have felt weighed down to- temper, that it is because they are the life of Jesus; his childhood; ward perdition, and have stretched disputatious, or because they are his relations to his mother; the out imploring hands to God, using discontented beauty of his affections; his simpli- the Bible, have kept that book in These states are incompatible with practical power, while theologues the higher feelings. Where these were weaving systems out of it, states exist the higher feelings canand pulling it asunder, and making not blossom. it pugnacious. It has been preserved in being used by the great heart of humanity that needed it for food, and for medicine, balm, cordial, to assuage sorrow and grief. When you tell me that the church has preserved the Bible, I tell you that the Bible has preserved the

city and humility.
Now to take this benign life,
this exquisite history, this affilia-
tion of the Divine with universal
human want, this nature that formed
heart-loves, and loved in the name
of the Father of all, and brought
the Spirit of heaven to earth, shed-
ding gracious influences among men
as clouds shed rain upon the fields,
every drop being a bounty-to take

church ten thousand times over.

Be Kind.

"Polhemus, you look like a ghost. Have you had a spell of sickness?" "No, Magruder, there's nothing the matter with me but my microscope.'

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"Your microscope? What do you mean?"

"I was a happy man, Magruder, until my last birthday. My wife made me a present of a microscope, and in an evil hour I took it and

-Chicago Tribune.

this and tear it into texts, and ram
it into your guns, and fire them in-
to Calvinists, high or low, or into
Unitarians and Universalists; or to How many of us sit down and began examining the articles of
make every text a sword or spear account with ourselves, and say, food we eat and drink. Magruder,
or arrow with which to attack those "Because I am a Christian I must I've lived for two weeks on dis-
who chance to differ from you-carry myself in such a way that my tilled water. It's the only thing
how it is to discredit the Bible, and life shall be made agreeable and that isn't full of nameless horrors."
to set aside every proper use for profitable to those who are round
which it was created! And yet about me?" I think that one who
there be multitudes who think makes children happy, who makes THE juvenile mind of Saratoga
they know a great deal about the servants who wait upon him more develops itself as follows on the
Bible because they have chewed it self-respectful and joyous, who has current politics of the day: The
into pellets, and made heaps of a pleasant word for the expressman little daughter of the Democratic
them, so as to be ready at any who comes to bring him a package, candidate for a local office in that
time to get at their opponents on and for the drayman that brings a county was told to run and tell her
any doctrine, any experience, or load to his house, recognizing their aunt that "Mr. Young has got the
any ethical question. The Bible manhood, so that the next time he nomination," and the little one cried
has been cut up into weapons of meets them they turn their head out, "Oh, mamma, do they ever
war; and men think they are using almost expecting that he will bow die of it?"
the Bible properly when they are to them, because he has been so
using these. So it has come to kind and gentle to them-I think
pass that under the dominion of that a person who carries himself
theologues for whole ages the only thus carries himself in a way that is
use of the Bible has been to find profitable.
missiles; whole ages have passed
away without nutrition from this
source. The church would have
Many people wonder why they
swamped and gone down if it had have not more faith, more moral
not been for the poor widows; if it intuitions, and more spiritual joy.
had not been for Bible readers They wonder why the Bible does
who read from the heart; if it had not open up to them as it does to
not been for the suffering and some other people. They wonder
needy who cried, "O God! com- why they have not such experi-
fort me in mine affliction and in ences as they hear of in the class or

Temper.

'Tis not what man does which

exalts him, but what man would
do!-Browning.

GOD denies a Christian nothing
but with a design to give him some-
thing better. Cecil.

I HAVE always preferred cheer-
fulness to mirth. The latter I con-

sider as an act, the former as a habit
of the mind.-Addison.

"Life is wasted if we spend it
Idly dreaming how to die;
Study how to use, not end, it;
Work to finish, not to fly."

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TEMPERANCE.

What It Contains.

A BARREL OF WHISKY.

A drayman rolled forth from his cart to the street

A red-headed barrel, well bound and com plete;

And on it red letters, like forked tongues

of flame,

Emblazoned the grade, number, quality, fame,

Of this world renowned whisky from somebody's still,

Who arrested the grain on its way to the mill.

So there stood the barrel delivered, but I
Could see that a shadow was hovering nigh;
A sulphurous shadow that grew, as I gazed,

amazed,

I ventured to question this imp of the

realm,

Where Vice is the Pilot, with Crime at the

helm;

And asked him politely his mission to

name,

And if he was licensed to retail the same
Identical barrel of whisky which he
Was fondly surveying with devilish glee?

“O, I never handle the stuff," he replied,
"My partners mortal are trusted and tried;
Mayhap, peradventure you might wish to

look

A barrel of orphans' most pitiful moans;
A barrel of serpents that hiss as they pass
From the bead on the liquor that glows in
the glass.

My barrel! My treasure! I bid thee fare

well.

Sow ye the foul seed, I will reap it in hell!"

The Saloons and Young Men.

of these places this evening (and you will not think this too large an estimate), the number would be Is it not an ap sixty thousand.

palling thought? Sixty thousand young men subjected to such influences to the vile contamination of these body and soul destroying Joshua L. Bailey, in an address agencies. Great numbers of these before the Philadelphia Young young men come from the rural Men's Christian Association, reportions of our State. They have ferred to the saloon peril for left driving the cows and following men in that city as follows: the plow to seek the more stirring "Go with me along these streets life of the city. They have here and see other young men's associ- no settled homes; no paternal roof ation buildings. I do not think to shelter them; no fireside as they they are Christian Association had up yonder, with its cheerful buildings. I will not invite you welcome, where mother and sisters

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To the form of Mephisto. Though sorely to enter, but as you pass by you gathered and helped to while away may see through their many win- the evening hours. So they go out dows the mirrored walls and the upon the street for society, for enfrescoed ceilings and the crystal- tertainment, for companionship; spangled chandeliers, almost everyand too soon they are entrapped by thing that art can suggest to allure these merciless vampires, who are Feland attract. See how the young ever lying in wait for them. men are thronging those broad low-citizens, hundreds of such men doorways. are on our streets at this 'And many there be that go in thereat,' to the destruc"Up yonder, among the hills, I tion of their bodies and the ruin of see a quiet cottage; there is a light their souls. in the window, and the glow from "Almost under the shadow of the open fire rests upon tha faces this building, as though in mockery of each member of that family You will find that this barrel contains of our work, may be found these group. Evening prayer has just vestibules of the pit, fitted up in been offered, in which the absent the most costly manner, with cut one was not forgotten, and as the and stained glass windows and pic- last words are spoken I see rising tured walls and other artistic decor- from her seat in the corner one ations, to allure the steps of the whose thoughts have carried her to passers-by. In the name of art and the far-off city. Her eyes are suffused with tears, and her heart is beating with emotions she can suppress no longer, as with clasped hands she cries, 'Where, oh! where, is my boy to-night?'

At the invoice complete. I will read from this book.

something more

Than forty-two gallons of whisky galore."
And ere I could slip but another word in,
He checked it off gaily, this cargo of sin:

"A barrel of headaches, of heartaches of
woes;

A barrel of curses, a barrel of blows;

A barrel of tears from a work-weary wife; architecture, I protest against the

A barrel of sorrow, a barrel of strife;
A barrel of all unavailing regret;
A barrel of cares and a barrel of debt;
A barrel of crime and a barrel of pain;
A barrel of hopes ever blasted and vain;
A barrel of falsehood, a barrel of cries
That fall from the maniac's lips as he dies;
A barrel of agony, heavy and dull;
A barrel of poison-of this nearly full;

A barrel of liquid damnation that fires

inspires;

perversion of these valuable instru-
mentalities to the sole use of Satan
and his instruments.

"That mother's cry comes to you and me. We cannot answer it

"One word more: While we sit here in this hall to-night, considering what can be done to save young men, there are six thousand with the question: Am I my open saloons in this city, besides brother's keeper?' But we can an

The brain of the fool who believes it hundreds of other immoral places swer it by assuming the responsiof resort, each throwing out its bility which God has placed upon enticements. Supposing ten to be us, and going forth in the strength the average number entering each which He gives to 'lend a hand.'"

A barrel of poverty, ruin and blight;
A barrel of terrors that grow with the night;
A barrel of hunger, a barrel of groans;

YOUNG PEOPLE.

Take Care.

BY ALICE CARY.

Little children, you must seek
Rather to be good than wise;
For the thoughts you do not speak
Shine out in your cheeks and eyes.
If you think that you can be
Cross or cruel, and look fair,
Let me tell you how to see

You are quite mistaken there.
Go and stand before the glass,
And some ugly thought contrive,
And my word will come to pass

Just as sure as you're alive!

What you have and what you lack,
All the same as what you wear,

You will see reflected back;

So, my little folks, take care.

And not only in the glass

Will your secrets come to view;
All beholders, as they pass,
Will perceive and know them, too.
Out of sight, my boys and girls,
Every root of beauty starts;

So think less about your curls,
More about your minds and hearts.

Cherish what is good, and drive

"O, wasn't that a good minister
we had to-day?" said Johnny.

ing for ourselves. If children don't that some one must always be the
like to say much about good things, first to give in, and meeting his serv-
I guess they all like to have the ant more than half way with forgive-
minister remember them. I always ness and peace. What heart could
watch and see if they pray for young withstand such
a step toward
folks; if they don't I think they reconciliation. Truly has it been
won't have much in the sermon said of forgiveness that this is a
either. Then, of course, I don't bridge over which we all need to
listen as well as I should if I pass. Let us not break it down.
A glimmer of light and comfort
came to Martin Luther when the
old monk by his bedside read aloud
the solemn words, "I believe in

thought there was something for
me."-Selected.

How to Find Out a Person's Age.

The figures at the top of the col-
umns thus indicated added together
will represent the number of years
the person is old.

The following figures may be the forgiveness of sins." Which
made a source of considerable of us could stand before the God of
amusement and wonder, in this all, did He not blot out our failures
manner: Have the person whose and dismiss our trespasses? If we
age is to be found, state in what are feeling concerning any fellow-
columns the figures representing creature, "I have sustained a wrong
his age appear.
I cannot forget or pardon," let us
take the first right step by naming
the name we dislike at the Mercy
seat. In the time of Washington
a Christian man journeyed to the
general to beseech the life of a
neighbor sentenced to death. He
was told his "unfortunate friend"
must perish. "He is my worst
enemy," said the intercessor. "And
have you," asked Washington,
"walked sixty miles for your ene-
my's sake? I grant you his par-
What a revenge was this.—

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"Will you ask my pardon?" said
"Yes, and I prayed as hard as I a master to his servant with whom
could that I might be. When we he had disputed. The answer was
hear people praying for us it makes a surly negative. "Then I will
us think it is about time to be pray- ask yours," said his master, knowing

"How does it happen that there
are so many old maids among the
school teachers ?" asked a reporter
of a school teacher the other day.
"Because school teachers are, as a
rule, women of sense; and no wo-
man will give up a sixty-dollar
position for a ten-dollar man,"
was the reply.

A young miss of this city, who
recently began the study of geog-
raphy in a private school, was ask-
ed by her father what she knew
about New York Bay.

"Oh, I don't know anything
about that," was the reply, "but
can tell you all about Asia."

THE YOUNGER PEOPLE.

The Squirrel's Lesson.
Two little squirrels, out in the sun;
One gathered nuts, the other had none.

"Time enough yet," his constant refrain;

"Summer is still only just on the wane.'

Listen my child, while I tell you his fate;
He roused him at last, but he roused him

too late.

Down fell the snow from a pitiless cloud,

And gave little squirrel a spotless white shroud.

Two little boys in a school-room were
placed,

One always perfect, the other disgraced;
Time enough yet for my learning."

he said,

"I will climb by and by from the foot to the head."

Listen my darling, their locks are turned
gray;

One as a governor sitteth to day;
The other, a pauper, looks out at the door
Of the almshouse, and idles his days as

of yore.

Two kind of people we meet every day;

One is at work, the other at play,

age

"Hold on," cried papa; "Wait till change took place. The donkeys I come!" He had shut his red had their heads turned homeward. sun umbrella, and was beating his That meant supper, a night's lodgdonkey with it. Soon he came up ing, and no burdens to carry. to the children. You see, it was When they felt the two sticks and papa who had treated the little ones the red umbrella, and thoughts of "to a donkey ride. Usually some their cozy stable crowded in on small boys run behind these ani- their gentle minds, they just took mals and encourage them to go with the bits in their teeth and started a club. Papa had said that he off like mad, at full gallop. You thought his youngsters could man- never in your life saw two children the donkeys, and Frankie had and one father so much astonished. backed him up in this assertion. There was no thought of stopping. But even one mule can upset many Frankie and Alice held on hard, and calculations. Here they all were, shouted, "Fire! "Fire! Help! Papa! over a mile from their hotel, and Amen!" with all their might. the donkeys would not stir an inch. Poor papa was left far behind. Frankie alighted and cut a thick His congregation suddenly left him. stick for himself and a lean stick for He could render no assistance. His Alice. He gave his sister her stick, donkey flapped his ears, and the and then he yelled out: "Halloo! red umbrella waved in the air. But Whoa there! Get up! Go ahead! he could not keep up. Very soon I'll give it to you!" This was the children vanished from his Frankie all over, and papa and sight. When the procession scamAlice burst out laughing. The pered into Asbury Park, and Living uncared for, dying unknown-lad's donkey was pulling hard at the stopped suddenly at their accusend of the bridle. He would not tomed place on the beach, the donlet his valiant rider get on. The key boys laughed until they rolled. more Frankie pulled and shouted, over in the grass. The two chilthe more the donkey backed away. dren never laughed at all. They The unruly beast seemed to under- couldn't see the fun. When papa stand perfectly that he had only a arrived, leading his stubborn steed, boy to deal with. It was indeed a and whispering exhortations in his -Kindergarten. comical sight. When papa finished ear, the three wended their way to WHY, he won't go a bit! What laughing he caught Frankie's beast. the hotel, not very jolly, but somein the world can be the matter with Then he formed the children and what wiser than at the beginning of their donkey trip. Since that day him?" It was little Alice who donkeys into a procession. Alice Alice and Frankie have had many said this. She was sitting on a was first. Then came Frankie, a ride, in stages and buggies and donkey in the middle of a road, be- whose duty it was to punch Alice's wagons-in fact, in all sorts of tween Asbury Park and Long donkey with his stick. Papa vehicles, but never have they dared to undertake another donkey ride, Branch. The donkey was so small brought up the rear, flourishing his "Sunshine." that Alice's straw hat seemed like umbrella and saying quite a number an Ocean Grove tent over him. of large, learned words, which no A little child three years old lay "I wonder if big donkeys have any creature but a donkey could ever dying. Suddenly the dear child more won't-go in them than the interpret or understand. After gazes around him, places one little hand in his mother's, and stretches little ones," shouted Frankie, awhile papa shouted: "All aboard! the other out as if clasping another. Alice's younger brother, and there Punch, Frankie, punch with care, His lips move, and these are the was a roguish look in his eyes as he and the train will start!" precious words he utters: "One hand in mamma's and one in glanced at his papa, who was just the train did start. behind them on another donkey. quickly. It moved off as though Jesus'," and thus protected with the care of his two best friends, he Frankie's beast seemed to be stuck getting somewhere was the one sin- takes the step from one to the in the road, as if he grew there. gle aim in life. For a sudden other.

The busiest hive hath ever a drone.

Tell me, my child, if the squirrels have

taught

The lesson I longed to implant in your

thought!

Answer me this and my story is done,—
Which of the two would you be little

66

one ?

And so
It started

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