THE CHARITIES THAT SWEETEN LIFE.

PLEASANT words! Pleasant words! Do you know, kind reader, how potent a spell lies in a pleasant word? Have you not often thought of its power to soothe -to charm-to delight, when all things else fail? As you have passed on through the journey of life, have you not seen it smoothing many a ruffled brow, and calming many an aching bosom? Have you not noticed it in the house, and by the way—at the fireside, and in the place of business? And have you not felt that pleasant words are among the "charities that sweeten life"? Ah, yes; and their influence has come over your own soul. Not long since, when you went bending to the earth, oppressed, and weary with life's manifold sorrows; when dark clouds have hovered over you, and blackness of darkness covered you; when you were ready to yield in despondency the pursuit of happiness, and give yourself up to unmitigated gloom; when no object of life seemed desirable, and even the friendships of earth were worthless in your eyes; when you would fain have passed the companion of your childhood, unnoticed, as you met him in the way,-O, you can tell how, in such an hour, the sound of a cheerful voice, one pleasant word, has dispelled the gloom, and given you to the world again-a man-a hopeful, trusting man.

You can tell us how like an angel whisper was the kind inquiry of that companion, and how the tone of cheerful sympathy sent the dark clouds rolling from your sky, and revealed the bright light of day-showed you that earth is not all a wilderness, nor man a being utterly deserted to wretchedness.

But they are few. Among the multitudes of earth, how small the number who habitually, and from principle, speak pleasantly ! You have met them. Now and then they have crossed your path, and I doubt not your whole soul has blessed them, as it ought, for the words which were balm to your wounded spirit. And did you not wish all were like them? Did you not feel that earth would be a paradise indeed, if all the tones of that matchless instrument, the human voice, were in harmony with the kind thoughts of a thoroughly kind heart?

You

But, friend, while you thus wished, did you resolve to add one to their number? Did you determine to imitate their example? Would I could persuade that it is your duty so to do that henceforth you should make it a study. think it a small matter, requiring little effort. I assure you it might cost you many a struggle ere you should learn to speak in pleasantness to all whom you might chance to meet, even in one short day; and if you accomplished it, perhaps it would be a better day's work than ever yet you

But

did; and you might lay your head on the pillow of rest at night with feelings akin to those of spirits round the throne.

O, learn this art yourselves, all ye who have felt its kindly influence from others. Speak pleasant words to all around you, and your path shall ever be lighted by the smiles of those who welcome your coming, and mourn your parting footsteps.

Mother, speak pleasantly to the little ones who cluster around you; speak ever pleasantly; and be assured that answering tones of joy, and dispositions formed to constant kindness, shall be your reward.

Sister, brother, friend, would you render life all one sunny day? would you gather around you those who will cheer you in the darkest hour? let the law of kindness rule your tongue, and your words be pleasant as the "dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended on the mountains of Zion."

Christian, follower of Him who is passed into the heavens, heir of immortal glory, would you honor the Lord who bought you? would you show yourself worthy the crown that awaits you, and the society in which you expect soon to mingle? strive to catch the tones which gladden that celestial city to which you haste. No discord mars those tones. No discontent nor fretfulness mingles with the sounds which by faith we hear.

Would you prove that, beyond a doubt, you belong to that company? that you will not be a stranger then, when you have laid aside the vestments of mortality? then imitate them in this thing: Go from this hour speak to those whom you meet as you would had you already taken your place among the happy ones on high, and believe me, your Christian character will rapidly improve. And you may hope to win many a soul to love and seek the religion which can so transform the spirit, and so rule the lips, that, amid all the vexations of this vexing world, no sound shall proceed from them but such as angels might delight in, and even He, whose name is Love, shall always approve.

ANON.

VENUS'S LOOKING GLASS.

Campanula Speculum.

LANGUAGE-FLATTERY, OR VANITY.

O, I know

Thou hast a tongue to charm the wildest tempers;
Herds would forget to graze, and savage beasts
Stand still, and lose their fierceness, but to hear thee,
As if they had reflection, and, by reason,
Forsook a less enjoyment for a greater.

Hold, Pharnaces!

No adulation; 'tis the death of virtue;
Who flatters is of all mankind the lowest,
Save he who courts the flatterer.

Alas! the praise given to the ear
Ne'er was nor ere can be sincere,

And does but waste the mind
On which it preys: in vain
Would they in whom the poison lurks
A worthier state attain.

I would give worlds, could I believe
One half that is professed me;
Affection, could I think it thee,

When flattery has caressed me.

Minds

ROWE.

H. MORE.

MISS LANDON.

MISS LANDON.

By nature great are, conscious of their greatness,

And hold it mean to borrow aught from flattery. Rowe.