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 I trust in the dear Lord's wisdom, I long for the children's voices, Their tiny griefs and alarms. I can hear their merry prattle, I feel their breath on my cheek, And watch their sweet, quaint ways, That out of the darkness grows; 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. 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.' "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 Temper. 'Tis not what man does which exalts him, but what man would GOD denies a Christian nothing I HAVE always preferred cheer- sider as an act, the former as a habit "Life is wasted if we spend it 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 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 “O, I never handle the stuff," he replied, look A barrel of orphans' most pitiful moans; 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 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." "A barrel of headaches, of heartaches of 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 liquid damnation that fires inspires; perversion of these valuable instru- "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; YOUNG PEOPLE. Take Care. BY ALICE CARY. Little children, you must seek You are quite mistaken there. Just as sure as you're alive! What you have and what you lack, You will see reflected back; So, my little folks, take care. And not only in the glass Will your secrets come to view; So think less about your curls, Cherish what is good, and drive "O, wasn't that a good minister ing for ourselves. If children don't that some one must always be the thought there was something for How to Find Out a Person's Age. The figures at the top of the col- The following figures may be the forgiveness of sins." Which 1 Quiver. 8 16 32 9 17 33 10 18 34 15 15 "Will you ask my pardon?" said "How does it happen that there A young miss of this city, who "Oh, I don't know anything THE YOUNGER PEOPLE. The Squirrel's Lesson. "Time enough yet," his constant refrain; "Summer is still only just on the wane.' Listen my child, while I tell you his fate; 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 One always perfect, the other disgraced; he said, "I will climb by and by from the foot to the head." Listen my darling, their locks are turned One as a governor sitteth to day; 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,— 66 one ? And so |