of this popular saying by a statistical intimacies and connections, drawing statement. It is asserted that "when together remote families, forming God sends mouths he sends meat." friendships among those who knew But from the inquiries of Dr Philips Kay into the actual earnings of agricultural labourers in Norfolk and Suffolk, we learn that the average annual in come of the unmarried is £25 128. 4.; that of the married being £36 78. 2d. The latter sum, however, is required for an average family of five persons, and arises from their united labours; so that unless the married man can support a wife and three children upon £11 58. 91d, he must deny himself numerous comforts enjoyed by him who has not ventured upon the "holy and happy" state of wedlock. Prudence, therefore, requires you to think seriously before you marry. And yet the Registrar-General informs us that 2.3 per cent. men, and 13 per cont. women, are married under the age of twenty so that, out of each hundred married men and women in England, there are fifteen individuals who have rushed into matrimony with a speed which most men deem unsafe, and which the public finds most costly; for these premature unions are sad replenishers of the workhouse. If their history were known it would probably be like that of a damsel we knew, and who was always sighing for marriage, because she would find rest to her bones."

Well, married she was; and on her mistress visiting her a year afterwards, and inquiring if she had now "found rest to her bones,"-the answer was, Yes, ma am, to my jawbones !" Poor Kitty had wedded a weaver, and was starving.

We cannot close without a word on

NATIONAL MORALS.

Consider, we beseech you, the nature of the blessings conferred on man when God gave him woman to be a help-meet for him- his second self and mysterious half-his counseller in perplexity- his solace in distress — his guardian angel, whose untiring love keeps unremitting watch over his fame, his fortune and his life Nor is this all. Marriage is not only a private blessing, but the greatest of public benefits, the grand civilising and conciliating influence which forms new

not each other, surmounting the barriers of creeds in religion, and of party in politics; and thus playing the part of one whose office it is to introduce all the members of the human race to each other, to abate their prejudices, and be the general peace maker. Think of this; contrast with it the miseries of licentiousness as seen in France, where M. Guerry states, that the annual number of natural children is 67,876, and of suicides 1800; and that of every thousand crimes of poisoning, murdering, and assassination, adultery causes 64, and concubinage 53; the infanticides being 118. Yes; when men and women, bound together by no tie save that of lust, take to living in socialist communities, we may be sure that infants-being felt to be a restraint upon parental wantonnesswill be "harmlessly extinguished," and their remains deposited in the vases with which some incarnate fiends propose to ornament the gardens of "the new moral world; " in which, as in a hot-bed, the seeds of every vice shall germinate, we doubt not, with amazing vigour, until an indignant people sweep the antichristian and unnatural abomination from the face of the earth.

Such are specimens of one of the most valuable tracts that has seen the light for many a day. Mr. Esdaile, as might be supposed, traces all evil to one source, and directs all men to another source for the cure. He has no confidence in mere legislation, or education, or economic arrangements, or anything but the diffusion of the Gospel, whereby men are brought to fear God and work righteousness.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET. Or all other parts of the body (says Dr. Robertson), there is not one which ought to be so carefully attended to as the feet. Every person knows from experience that colds and many other diseases proceed from the "wheel of

the system," and that the circulation | in soles and uppers, should be worn by of the blood may be easily checked all. Water-tights are not good, if they there. Yet, for all this, although every are air-tights also; India-rubber overperson of common sense should be shoes should never be worn, except in aware of the truth of what we have wet splashy weather, and then not stated, there is no part of the human very long at once. It is hurtful to the body so much trifled with as the feet. feet to wear any covering that is airThe young and would-be-genteel-footed tight over them, and for this reason cramp their feet into thin-soled, pinch- India-rubber should be worn as seldom ing boots and shoes, in order to display as possible. No part of the body should neat feet, in the fashionable sense of be allowed to have a covering that enthe term. tirely obstructs the passage of the carbonic gas from the pores of the skin outwards, and the moderate passage of air inwards to the skin. Life can be destroyed in a very short time, by entirely closing the pores of the skin. Good warm stockings, and thick-soled boots and shoes, are conservative of health, and consequently of human happiness.

There is one great evil against which every person should be on his guard, and it is one which is not often guarded against-we mean the change of warm for cold boots or shoes; a change from thick to thin-soled shoes, without reflecting on the consequences that might ensue. In cold weather, boots and shoes made of good thick leather, both

The Fragment Basket.

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. There have been many illustrations of this truth. A gentleman, by putting a pinch of snuff on the nose of a bull dog, made the animal sneeze, and let go his hold, when mere strength could not succeed.

He

A most pleasing illustration of the power of knowledge has lately appeared in the newspapers, which record the preservation of twenty-eight persons, who were wrecked last September, on a desolate coral rock in the Pacific Ocean, about two hundred miles south of Tahiti. Under a burning sun, and without water, they must soon have perished, but for the knowledge and skill of a passenger-Mr. Philip Beal, son of Rev. W. Beal, of Exeter. obtained a boiler and leaden pipe from the wreck; a fire was kept up under the boiler, supplied with sea water; the steam was condensed by means of the pipe, and ultimately twenty-five gallons of fresh water were supplied daily, besides a surplus, which enabled them to supply two boats, by which they all escaped safe to New Holland. Thus knowledge, with the blessing of Him who hears the mariner's cry, and gives knowledge of witty inven

tions, was of more avail than mere force, or the treasures of California, could have been. Let our young men learn the importance of storing their What a minds with all useful truth. gratification must it be to Mr. Beal, to know that he has been made the instrument of saving twenty-eight lives!

When this

The observation of the Missionary Moffat's mother deserves to be remembered and acted on by all. excellent man of God was employed by his mother, in his boyish days, in ways which he then thought unfit for one who said he intended to be a man, she would reply, "Lad, ye dinna ken Little whar your lot will be cast." did Mr. Beal think that his lot would be cast on a coral rock, and that his knowledge would be the happy means of preserving so many from destruction.

DO YOUR OWN THINKING.

No matter what others have thought, no man can be a man until he thinks for himself. Read if you please, converse if you wish, listen to the expressed opinions and thoughts of every one that comes in your way; but, after all, think, speak, and act on your own individual responsibility.

Poetry.

A VOLUME entitled, "Sacred Lays," has just been published by the friends of Mrs. Prince, formerly Theodosia Baxter, a collateral descendant from the family of the celebrated Nonconformist Divine, the well-known Author of the "Saint's Rest." There is much in these homely verses that is remarkably spiritual and refreshing, as illustrative of the working of an intelligent woman of genuine piety. The following are specimens:

The Children's Gallery.

ACCOUNT OF THE DEATH OF TWO CHILDREN. SOME few years ago, a boy, I suppose about six years of age, was seized with scarlet fever. His whole frame was so disordered, that he could not be touched even in the gentlest manner, without occasioning him excruciating pain. It was horrifying to hear him, when any

one was under the necessity of lifting or turning him, utter the most shocking blasphemies. A religious person, who lived in the immediate neighbour. hood, one who is earnestly desirous of doing all the good in his power, especially to the young, went to see this

afflicted child; and while he endea voured to speak to him of his need of a Saviour, and to direct him to Jesus, the unhappy child, with the most horrid oaths, ordered him to go about his business. I was called to visit him. Having heard of his dreadful condition, I felt a sort of horror as I approached the door, but how was this horror increased, when on entering the house, and before he saw me, I heard him imprecating damnation on his mother, calling her by names I dare not mention; and all this because, while gently laying him on the bed, she occasioned him pain. When he saw me, he restrained himself, but did not speak to me. His countenance was like one in passion and suffering, every feature appeared distorted, and expressive of anguish. I shortly addressed the parents, who though now doing all in their power for his relief, had yet, the father especially, set him the awful example of imprecating damnation; and after entreating them to consider their ways, and begging all present to take warning by such a dreadful example, I prayed, and left them with a heart full of sorrow. The child died next day. As death approached, he became more quiet, because his strength failed. This unhappy boy was of a quick understanding, far beyond his years. was struck with him when he was about two years old; he gave such answers as astonished me; but there was a sauciness and impertinence altogether disgusting, which made him disliked by every person except his foolish parents, who considered his insolence as wit, and the display of a manly mind. Happy are those child-est joy. Her disease made rapid proren who have parents and guardians that can discern, and timeously check what is wrong in them. I myself heard the father of this poor boy, a few months before his death, when displeased with the behaviour of the boy, use the same imprecations, and call him by the same names, as when dying he used to his mother. Oh that these and all such may take warning, and that the Lord may sanctify such alarming providences, especially to careless parents and wicked children; I hope my young readers will all pity the case of this poor boy, and beware!

of being led away with the error of the wicked. I shall now relate to you another case of a more pleasant nature.

There was a fine little child of little more than three years of age, who was seized with rash fever, which carried her off in the course of a week. She was by some years the youngest of six children, and was much beloved by her parents, especially by her father. She herself looked for death at the commencement of the disease, and told every one of the family she was now to die. Her mother said to her, "You would not like to leave me, and father, and John," &c., naming the rest of the family. Her answer was, that she loved them all, but she was going to the good place. Her disorder had not then assumed any symptoms of danger, yet still she spoke of her death as certain. One day, her father being from home, she expressed to her mother her wonder what father and mother would say when she died and went to the good place-she seemed at a loss to know its name. Her mother reminded her of the beginning of the Lord's prayer, "Our Father who art in heaven." This expressed all her desire; she found in these words both the source and the place of her happiness. In raptures she exclaimed, "Aye, aye, II will go to our Father who is in heaven. ." Indeed, her happiness was indescribable, and she said to everyone, "I am going to our Father who is in heaven." No sooner had her father entered the room on his return, than she cried out, Father, I am going to our Father who is in heaven,' tidings, in her estimation, of the great

as

gress that night, and carried her off next day. She died with sweet composure, having learned, young as she was, to put her confidence in God. When about to expire, she shook hands with every individual in the family, and departed.

I might mention another fine girl, who died at twelve years of age, belonging to another Christian family; who gave evidence by her language that she rejoiced in believing the Gospel. What a mercy it is to have godly parents! The parents of both these children were of the generation who