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did not turn that of Father Matthew, it was because his heart was too sincerely identified with the cause to allow him to give play to vanity.

If the term is applicable to the nineteenth century, and if results are a test of a heavenly mission, Father Matthew thus proved himself" an Apostle indeed," by his rapid and effectual victories gained in the cause of human nature as exhtbited in the lower strata of Irish society. It destroys, no doubt, some part of the illusion of the halo that ought to surround an Apostle's brows, to find that in consequence of his reckless and thoughtless expenditure on medals, a man like Father Matthew was brought to the degradation of an arrest for debt by a Sheriff's officer; but even here the degradation is considerably diminished by the fact that the man whose duty it was to serve the writ upon him, knelt down to receive his blessing while executing his duty. Such a scene as this could never have occurred in any other part of Her Majesty s dominions but Ireland; and it does not say much for the real and solid generosity of his countrymen, and especially of the heads of the Roman Catholic Church, to have left him thus responsible for debts incurred in a cause, which, if it was calculated to benefit Protestant Ulster at all, could not fail to work ten times as much good among the Papists of Connaught and Munster.

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The rest of the Apostle's story is soon told. In spite of his arrest for debt, all went on merrily and successfully on the whole for a few years, his creditors being secured the ultimate payment of their claims in full by heavy insurances on his life, the premiums on which were paid out of a wellearned pension bestowed upon him by the Government as a public benefactor. But the unhappy autumn of 1846, which brought with it the potatoe-blight and famine in its train, wrought sad mischief to the Temperance cause in Ireland. Hundreds, and perhaps thousands of those who had stood firm to the "pledge" in the summer of comparative prosperity, broke faith with the "cause" in the wintry day when famine and fever stalked across the land, and when the temptation to recur to strong drink in the face of death wrought in Paddy the same recklessness of consequences which (if we may believe Thucydides) marked the populace of Athens when the plague broke out in the city. Though very many of his converts stood firm and never wavered, yet Father Matthew could not look unmoved upon the partial overthrow of his work, and with the decay of the movement began the break up of his constitution. The work in which he had rejoiced so much now began to tell on him. In 1852 a premonitory attack of apoplexy gave the first sign of his approaching end. He rallied, and went abroad for change of scene and air; but he never afterwards was the same man that he had been. He recovered partially during a visit to Madeira in 1854 and the following year, but it was only a temporary improvement; the last bright flickering of the candle 'ere it burned down into the socket. He returned to Ireland only to sink into his grave. He died early in December 1855, and a public funeral at the cemetery at Cork reminded the world again of the wide popularity of the once familiar name of " Father Matthew."

Our readers will be anxious to know whether it is the opinion of his

biographer that the work which the "Apostle" was raised up to perform is likely to be permanent. This question, Mr. Maguire, in his biography, answers in the affirmative. "Father Matthew," he writes, " taught his generation this great lesson, that, as a rule, alcoholic stimulants are not only unnecessary, but also injurious to man; that drunkenness is an odious and disgusting vice; that poverty and misery, and disease and crime, are its offspring; that the man who altogether abstains from strong drink is safer than the man who is moderate in his enjoyment of that which is so full of risk and danger; and that not only is there no possible safety for those liable to excess and unable to resist temptation save in abstinence, but that there is social, moral, and physical redemption to be found in the pledge, for the most confirmed and abandoned drunkard. This is a grand lesson to have taught, and this lesson, which has become part of the world's wisdom and experience, cannot be obliterated-certainly not from the memory of the Irish people."

It is our hearty wish, and doubtless that of every honest Englishman, that this estimate of the results of Father Matthew's mission may not prove to be exaggerated. But when we reflect on the fickle and capricious character of the inhabitants of the sister isle, we are disposed to be somewhat sceptical, or at all events, we desire to see the expected fruits borne out by the test of experience, more especially when we see that in spite of his apparently strong conviction to the contrary, a latent doubt on the subject appears here and there to crop out in the interesting work of Mr. Macguire, on which we have drawn so much for our materials- -a man who is singularly qualified by his antecedents to form a sound judgment on social questions affecting Ireland. If permanent good should result, none will rejoice more sincerely than ourselves and we could only desire that an Apostle, as great and as good, might spring up in each of our large cities, both in England and Scotland, and attempt to bring about a similar achievement.

WATCH, MOTHER, WATCH!

Mother, watch the little feet

Climbing o'er the garden wall,
Bounding through the busy street,
Ranging cellar, shed and hall.
Never count the moments lost :
Never mind the time it costs :

Little feet will go astray:

Guide them, mother, while you may.

Mother, watch the little hand

Picking berries by the way,

Making houses in the sand,

Tossing up the fragrant hay.

Never dare the question ask,
"Why to me this weary task ?"
These same little hands may prove
Messengers of light and love.

Mother, watch the little tongue
Prattling, eloquent and wild;
What is said and what is sung,
By the happy, joyous child.
Catch the word while yet unspoken ;
Stop the vow before 'tis broken :
This same tougue may yet proclaim
Blessings in a Saviour's name.

Mother, watch the little heart

Beating soft aud warm for you ;
Wholesome lessons now impart ;

Keep, oh keep that young heart true;

Extricating every weed,

Sowing good and precious seed :
Harvest rich you then may see,

Ripening for eternity.

A DYING BOY'S REQUEST.

"A man noted for his ungovernable temper and proneness to dissipation," says an intelligent professional gentleman, "employed me as his attorney. He was a good paymaster, but exceedingly disagreeable in his deportment, often drunk, and most profane in his language. He called one day, and seemed much subdued-much altered from his usual deportment. After stating his wants, he was about to leave my office. I asked what was the matter with him, he seemed so changed. He stopped, hesitated, but made no reply. I asked him again what could have occurred to make such an alteration in his whole demeanour. "Squire,' said he, 'something has occurred; I am indeed an altered man. I had a little son, about nine years old; he was dear to me as the apple of my eye, and, at times, when I went home intoxicated, I abused my wife, drove her and the children from the house, broke the furniture, and did all in my power to render my family as miserable as myself. This little boy, when I was at the height of my anger, would watch me, and when I would sit down, would steal up to my knee, climb up on my lap, pass his little hand through my hair, and tame me down irresistibly: when my wife and children would fearlessly come in, knowing from experience that my little son had subdued me, and I was in his power. Well, squire, my son took sick; it was evident to me he would not I sat by his bed-side; he was in a doze; the tears gushed from

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my eyes as I watched him; my heart was sad indeed! He awoke, he turned his face towards me.

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"I am afraid, my son, I am going to lose you-you are going to die.' “Well, father, I know I am going to die; but I am not afraid to die, for I shall go to Jesus.'

""To Jesus! Why, what do you know about Jesus?'

"Why, father, you know mother used to send me to the Sabbath school at the corner, and the teachers told me all about Jesus, and taught me how to pray; and for this reason, father, I was never afraid of you when you came home drunk, and abused poor mother and the children; I saw that you could not injure me. Now, father, I am going to die, and should die quite happy if you would promise me to do two things.' "Well, my son, what are they? If it is in my power, I will do them.' Father, promise me you will drink no more whiskey; this is the cause of all poor mother's distress; and if you would not drink you would be a good man, and mother and the children would be so happy. Well, father, now promise me that you will pray "'

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"Pray! why I don't know how to pray!'

"Father, kneel down by my bed, and I will teach you how to pray! Squire, I knelt down; he prayed; I followed, repeating his words— my heart was broken; he led me, I know not where, or how, or how long; but this I know, that light, comfort, peace, and joy filled my soul as I rejoiced in a sin-pardoning God. My wife came in, the children followed, and all fell on their knees around the bed; we all rejoiced, and when I raised my head to bless the instrument of my conversion, he was dead! His spirit had been wafted away with the glad news of my repentance to heaven; he was an eye-witness to that joy which is among the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. His hands were clasped if in prayer, and a sweet smile sealed his lips in death.”

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DO YOUR DUTY.

By E. J. OLIVER.

On the 20th of October in the year 1805, England gained the battle of Trafalgar, a victory which will never be forgotten till history itself has passed away. The principal figure in the engagement, and the one which is so inseparably connected with it, that we cannot think of the one without the other, is that of Lord Nelson. About 12 o'clock on that memorable day he gave the signal for action, in a sentence that has never been surpassed for expressing so much in so few words, "England expects every man will do his duty." The effect upon the sailors was electrical, and well were the expectations of their country realized. We can imagine the cheerful and hearty. response which the gallant fellows gave to those words. Each man seemed nerved with super-human energy. The enemy,

were looked upon almost with contempt.

Victory seemed already written on their flag, and in a short time they rode the seas triumphant. But great as was their success, it was purchased at a high price; he who had been the guiding spirit of the action, whose energy and courage had done so much to inspire those under his command, died in the hour of victory, it is said as brave men love to die. His name has been recorded by universal consent as one of the noblest and bravest of England's heroes; and the words he uttered such a short time before his life was sacrificed on the altar of duty, have been indelibly written on the heart of the nation. Taking them as our text, we would say a few words to the members of our Bands of Hope; for their application is as universal as their fame, and speak as well to the young as to the old.

When these sailors enrolled themselves in the Navy, they pledged themselves to serve faithfully their country and their commander. You, by signing the declaration of your Band of Hope, have become a part of the Society, and your duty is to keep inviolate the pledge you have made. If one of the sailors the moment the enemy came in sight were to hide himself in the cabin, or desert his ship, he would be called, and very justly so, a coward; if in addition to his desertion, he were to join the enemy, he would become a traitor. Now it appears to me, that you are in a very similar position to them. While you keep your pledge, attend your meetings, and do as much as you can to aid the good work, you are acting honourably, and will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have done your duty. But if on the other hand, as soon as you get into company where wine or any kind of intoxicating drink is being handed round, you try to evade being asked to take any, or if asked, make feeble objections and become ashamed of being a Teetotaller, instead of at once firmly declining to drink, do you not think you are very much like the sailor who hides himself in the cabin? Would it not be better, at once boldly to avow your principles, and though your friends may not see the question in the light that you do, they will be sure to respect you for your courage in daring to be singular, in the face of an old-established custom. Remember, that one temptation fairly conquered, is better than a dozen resolutions, and if you succeed once, you shall come forth from the ordeal strengthened for fresh trials that may possibly await you. Do not think that I would have you rush heedlessly into danger for the mere sake of displaying your strength of purpose. Valor is a great thing,

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