cause, but so far without success. I had learnt before of his many acts of charity to my wife and family. I was indebted to him,

and had for him a real respect. I was prepared to receive any counsels this time in my discomfort and grief.

"If it were possible to regain your watch," said he, with a bland smile, "would you consent to give up your evil ways and become a member of our good cause?"

"It is not likely that I shall find my watch," I replied; "but if by so doing I could regain it, I would never touch drink again for the remainder of my existence."

"Then," said he, "you are henceforth a teetotaller," producing the very watch from his vest pocket. My surprise and joy were unbounded. In spite of the people about, I could not restrain my tears of gratitude at the recovery of my mother's watch.

The way in which the benevolent minister became possessed of it is easily explained. Like most temperate men, he was an early riser. Taking his morning walk, as usual, he passed the aforesaid "Ship," where he found the watch, but not the money. The latter perhaps my shipmates could account for. He recognised the watch at once, having seen it in my possession many times before.

In the course of the morning he had been to the wretched hovel we then call our home, learned from my wife my neglect and their want, which he provided for, and then he started in search of the neglectful and drunken husband. How he found me I have already stated. We returned home, and related all to my injured wife. Kneeling all together, I responded to the minister's prayer; I begged her forgiveness for the past, promising amendment for the future. That was a great day of rejoicing to her. My benefactor became a constant visitor to our new home; and when the good old man died, some years ago, few regretted him more than myself and family.

I gave up the sea from the time of my reformation, and obtained employment in London through my wife's relatives. By perseverance and industry I have worked my way up; and I shall always thank Divine providence, using my mother's watch and the good old minister, for lifting me from the mire of dissipation, and bringing me within reach of the saving sound of the gospel.-Sunday at Home.

WHAT IS RITUALISM?" The whole system is one of Church instead of Christ-priest instead of Gospel-concealment of truth instead of manifestation of truth-ignorant superstition instead of enlightened faith-bondage wherein we are promised liberty— all tending to load us with whatever is odious in the worst meaning of priestcraft, in place of the free, affectionate, enlarging, elevating, and cheerful liberty of a child of God."-Bp. McIlvaine.

GLEANINGS.

ECLIPSE OF FAITH.-The moon in an eclipse complained to the sun, "Why, O my dearest friend, dost thou not shine upon me as usual?" "Do I not?" said the sun. "I am sure I am shining as I always do. Why do you not enjoy my light as usual?" "Oh, I see," said the moon; "the earth has got between us." This is the trouble with every backslider.

HAPPY HOMES.-The ordination of Providence is that home should form our character. The first object of parents should be to make home interesting. It is a bad sign whenever children have to wander from the parental roof for amusement. Provide pleasure for them around their own fireside and among themselves. The excellent Legh Richmond pursued this plan-had a museum in his house, and exerted every nerve to interest his little flock. A love of home is one of the greatest safeguards in the world of

man.

WORK WITH THE YOUNG.-If it be possible and proper sometimes to transplant full-grown trees into a garden, yet he is a foolish man who relies on such a process for the garden's own beauty and usefulness. With seed and sapling will be his hopeful work. And so it is of the spiritual. Sermons preached to adults have their uses, but with them alone the gospel will never subdue the world. Gospel ministrations have other and more efficient forms: parental precept and example as a positive priesthood in the household; Sabbath-school instruction and supervision as an under-pastorate in the church ;-these are far mightier means of grace. A gospel dispensed in the mother's simple story, in the father's simple prayer, in the cradle hymn, in the teacher's exposition. Oh! these are mightier in their converting power on the young heart than an apostolic sermon or a seraph's psalm upon congregations of gospel-hardened and impenitent men!-Words

worth.

BASIL WOODD, referring to the deep affection of his mother, says: "This is a subject on which I hope I shall never think without heart-felt gratitude to her, and to God who so favoured

me.

The whole of her deportment was calculated to win my early attention to religion. I saw in her what religion could do: how happy, how cheerful, how humble, how holy, how lovely in life and afterwards in death, how full of mercy and good fruits, it could render the possessor. As I was the only son of my mother, and she was a widow, she might perhaps lean to the side of overindulgence: yet, if my heart does not deceive me, I am indebted, through divine grace, for that inestimable benefit-the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ-to the impression of her great and tender kindness, her uniform example, and particularly her pious and affectionate letters when I was about thirteen years old."

DEATH, THE GATE OF LIFE.

RE death's dark emblems suited for the grave
Of him who dwells in Heaven's unclouded light?
For souls arrayed in robes of dazzling white,
Shall blackest palls and plumes funereal wave?
Shall lilies, drooping with untimely blight,
Torches reversed, whose flame is quenched in night,
And columns shattered, our compassions crave
For those whom Christ by death did fully save;
Who, now made perfect, serve, and in His sight
Drink of the fountain of supreme delight?
Rear high the shaft, new life thereon engrave!
Turn up the torch, it never burnt so bright!
A richer hue and scent the lily gives;—
Not till the Christian dies he fully lives!

NEWMAN HALL, LL.B.

THE SPOILED CHILD.

HE valley that is bounded by the Land $—— hills is remarkable for its beauty and fertility. A sluggish stream winds slowly in its serpentine course through the midst of it, and waters a succession of wellcultivated farms. John C was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the valley. Everything was neat and well arranged in his dwelling, and the whole farm displayed the hand of the tasteful and diligent cultivator. His mind was one of a high order, his judgment discriminating, and in his whole deportment there was just such a dignity and air of pleasantness as one might expect to find in a Christian who had long walked with God. His house was five miles from the village church; and yet no man was more punctual in his attendance. It was never recollected, that he was in any instance late. No ordinary storm would prevent him from being, summer and winter, in his place. The domestic arrangements of his family seemed in all respects befitting his Christian character and profession; and his wife, endowed with singular prudence, was a true help-mate. Every morning and evening the whole family was assembled around the domestic altar, and the worship of the Most High engaged in with great reverence.

Here were the elements of happiness, usefulness, and honour, apparently combined. Surely his neighbours would say, Mr. Cmust be a happy man; rich in this world's goods, and rich in the grace of God; honoured in the church, esteemed and respected by all, possessed of a fine constitution, and enjoying uninterrupted health: what is there to disturb his mind or mar his peace?

But it had been long observed by the pastor that there was some secret worm at the root of his joys; and it became at length manifest to all his intimate friends. The grace of God will indeed

carry a Christian through any affliction, and will give buoyancy to his mind and spirits in the darkest and most distressing hours. But of all the sorrows which befall a Christian, that which comes nearest to his heart is the outbreaking of wickedness in his children.

The fact of an eminent Christian having a profane child, always calls forth marked attention, as something which the public did not expect in such a family; whereas, none wonder that wicked and profane children should proceed out of wicked and profane families. The Christian parent, however, in the hour of sorrow for the waywardness of his children, will make great searchings of heart into the causes of it. He believes the promise of God, and seeks not to pervert or modify its import :- Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." He bemoans his delinquencies in many, yea, in innumerable instances, which the eyes of the world have never perceived, but which his own delicate conscience promptly discovers. Such was the fact with the father whose character we have been describing. No enlightened Christian, perhaps, was ever more ready to admit his shortcomings, or more earnestly prayed to regain the ground he had lost, and subdue what had hitherto baffled his skill.

It was on one of those beautiful days in autumn, when everything in the country is smiling under the profusion of the divine beneficence, that Dr. F―, the pastor of the parish of Bpaid a visit to Mr. C- -, who was a ruling elder in his church. He found him sowing his field with the winter grain, and would not permit him to desist from his labour, but walked side by side with him, discoursed on general topics, and finally on the state of the church.

While they were thus engaged, the only son of Mr. C————, a lad about seventeen years of age, approached to mock: he groaned, made grimaces, or laughed aloud, as he walked immediately behind his father. This he continued to do in defiance of the solemn rebukes of the pastor, and the entreaties and threats of his too indulgent parent. An end had thus been put to all conversation; and the aged father wept in silence, and sought to conceal his tears as he hurriedly sowed his field.

This ebullition of youthful fury had been caused by the father's peremptory refusal of the usual liberal supply of money. Like too many parents, foolishly indulgent, he had yielded to the dominion which his only son possessed over his affections, and had given liberally and often. This only created an appetite for more. And having learnt that the present solicitation was made to enable him to take the lead at a "frolic " in the tavern of the adjacent village, he had positively refused him. The young man now left his father's presence with a threat that he would have money, and just the sum he needed; if not by one way, he would by another.