take offence at this fault: they find it difficult to make allowances for the poor, and to consider how deeply the sense of what he ought to receive from the rich, is graven upon the poor man's heart, by the biting tooth of daily and hourly toil, anxiety, and want. God grant that in this country both classes may cultivate more diligently their respective duties. May the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted; exalted to know God, and to be admitted to a claim, if he acts like a Christian, of obtaining a Christian's reward! But let the rich rejoice in that he is made low; that he is taught to know, that, as the flower of the grass, he shall pass away; that he is called not to live in careless luxury, but to execute a trust to be God's steward for the relief of God's dearest children, the helpless, the aged, and the infirm that he is bound to visit the fatherless and the widow in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Let the poor man remember that Christ too was poor; that Christ was perfected by suffering; let him remember that he must not speak evil of his brother, nor judge his brother that he must give honour where honour is due: let him remember that "the Spirit of God lusteth not to envy;" that "having food and raiment" we ought to be therewith content. Let him remember that the institution of Property is good for all; and that even his lot (beside its inestimable advantages, the power of hearing Christ's Gospel preached, the possibility of inheriting eternal glory) is far better and safer, than that of whole nations, where the distinction of rich and poor is unknown. ; REAL heart-felt submission to the will of God, in pain, sickness, crosses, every thing, never was the work of a man's own spirit; and when it comes from above, in answer to prayer, is full amends for all we can suffer.-T. Adam. EDWARD TO ROBERT. Hazelwood, July 25. MY DEAR ROBERT,-I am very glad you are enjoying yourself so much, and very impatient to hear more of your travels, the account of which entertained and interested me extremely. I hope you keep a journal, and note down all the places you pass through, that we may find them in the map when you come home, and hear what you thought about them. One day since you have been out, how I wished that you had been at home! A very entertaining old gentleman dined with us, who had spent a great many years in India; and he was so good as to tell me several things about elephants, which had come under his own observation, and which you, who are so fond of natural history, would have been much pleased to hear. Two of the stories which struck me most, I wrote down for you when he was gone, as nearly in his words as I could, and here they are: "One of our generals in India had a young elephant about four feet high, which was accustomed, when he was at dinner with his officers, to come round to each for pieces of bread, rice, &c. It happened, that the elephant in his round came to a young officer, and to attract his attention put his trunk into his pocket: the officer incautiously, instead of giving him any thing, pricked his trunk with a fork. The elephant snorted and continued his round, and soon after left the room: in a little while he returned, and came unobserved behind the officer, who, on account of the heat, was sitting with his shirt collar unbuttoned. Remarking this, the elephant put his trunk down the officer's back, and immediately blew from it a vast quantity of ants, which most severely revenged the insult. "Mr. Hastings, governor of India, wanting to take possession of some important post, was once under the necessity of sending out a body of troops in the rainy season, when every rivulet, that used to be dry in summer, is swelled, by showers ten times heavier than people in this climate have any idea of, to a stream a mile or more across. After encountering very considerable difficulties, the army found itself between two rivers, where it encamped for the night. The men were so worn out with fatigue, that with their utmost efforts they could only get the commander's tent up. During the night, the rain was so heavy, that it forced the poles of the tent through about eighteen inches of firm ground into a morass, or bog beneath. The discovery of this excited many fears for the elephants, lest by their enormous weight they should break through the shell of earth, and so be buried in the morass. Shortly after, an alarm was given that one of the largest of the beasts had sunk, nothing but his head and shoulders appearing, the rest of his body being covered with the mire. After some consultation, the drivers began beating the animal, but to no purpose; upon which one of the aides-de-camp approaching with a spear, pricked the elephant just underneath the junction of the head with the trunk. The enraged animal, making a great effort, struck at the officer with his trunk, but this exertion only plunged him still deeper. The elephant was now given up for lost; when a native coming up, remonstrated with them upon their cruel treatment of the animal, and ordered the soldiers to go to a village near at hand, and bring the roofs of some of the houses, which in that country are made of split bamboo. Several were accordingly brought and laid before the elephant, who with his trunk placed them under his body; others were supplied till the animal refused any more; then laying himself upon his side, he continued in that position for about five minutes, all the bystanders concluding that he had given up the point; when suddenly, by a mighty exertion, he disengaged his fore-feet, and then, the bamboos proving firm, stalked majestically out upon the firm land, amid the shouts and acclamations of the whole army. "Don't you think these elephants must be very nearly as wise as we are? I wonder they will consent to be at our command, considering their amazing strength too. I have nothing else to say, but that I am Your affectionate brother." (From Miss Edgeworth's "Juvenile Correspondence.") LOVE IS THE FULFILLING OF THE LAW. As fire set to a forest is wont to clear away every thing, so the fire of love, wherever it is received, consumes and makes way through every thing that is hurtful to the divine harvest, and renders the soil pure and fit for the reception of the seed. Where there is love, all evils are removed. There is no love of money, the root of evil, where there is no self-love; there is no boasting, for why should one boast over his friend? Nothing makes a man SO humble as love. We perform the offices of servants to our friends, and are not ashamed; we are even thankful for the opportunity of serving them. We spare not our property, and often not our persons; for dangers too are encountered, at times, for him who is loved. No envy, no calumny is there, where there is genuine love. We not only do not slander our friends, but we stop the mouth of slanderers. All is gentleness and mildness. Not a trace of strife and contention appears. Every thing breathes peace. For love, it is said, is the fulfilling of the Law. There is nothing offensive with it. How so ? Because, where love exists, all the sins of covetousness, rapine, envy, slander, arrogance, perjury, and falsehood, are done away. For men perjure themselves in order to rob; but no one would rob him whom he loved, but would rather give him his own possessions. For we are more obliged, than if we received from him. Ye know this, all you that have friends, friends, I mean, in reality; not in name only, but whoever loves, as men ought to love, whoever is really linked to another.— St. Chrysostom (Hom. vii. on 2 Tim. Oxford "Shall we be so mindful of our common base houses, deputed to so vile employment, and be forgetful towards the House of God, wherein be treated the words of our eternal salvation, wherein be ministered the Sacraments and Mysteries of our Redemption? The Fountain of our Regeneration is there presented unto us; the partaking of the Body and Blood of our Saviour Christ is there offered unto us and shall we not esteem the place where so heavenly things are handled? Wherefore, if ye have any reverence to the service of God, if ye have any common honesty, if ye have any conscience in keeping of necessary and godly ordinances, keep your churches in good repair, whereby ye shall not only please God, and deserve his manifold blessings, but also deserve the good report of all godly people. (From the Homilies.) THE ABSURD FINERY OF COUNTRY GIRLS. АH! we are polished now! The rural lass, |