A NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION. (CHILDREN'S PAGE.) EORGE MAY'S New-Year's present pleased him. It was a writing-desk, with paper, pens, pencil, and a knife. He thought it was so kind in his father to buy that; exactly what he most wanted; yet George could not remember having wished for it in his father's hearing. Would you like to know what was the first use of his new desk? He carried it up stairs to his chamber, opened it on the little table, sharpened his pencil, sat down, and carefully wrote in rather a large hand on a sheet of fresh paper : "A NEW-YEAR'S RESOLUTION.-I will try to do as well as ever I can in everything. "GEORGE MAY." He A good beginning, was it not? I suppose all thoughtful persons begin the new year with wishes and resolutions of improvement. George had begun to think, and to think seriously. wanted to be a great deal better boy. The words of his dead mother often came back to him, and it was his wish-it was his purpose-to be what she used to instruct and pray for him to be, a Christian boy. One evening his father happened to open George's desk and read what his son had written."I am glad to see that, my boy," said his father, patting his shoulder. George looked up from his Latin. "I do try to do as well as I can, father," said George, "but I find I don't do well at all." "Perhaps you begin at the wrong end," said Mr. May. "I am afraid I do," said George, gravely; "but what do you mean by the wrong end?” "Trying to make yourself better, George. We must be helped and saved by Jesus Christ. Our own efforts alone can do nothing. If you could have made yourself good, you would not have needed a Saviour. He promises you light; He promises you strength; He promises to take away your sins, and give you His Spirit, which will lift you up to all that is right and good. "Yes, father, that is just it," said George; "I need somebody to give me a lift.” And what George needs we all need-somebody to lift us up and help us along. That great Somebody is Jesus Christ; and all real amendment must begin with Him as well as end with Him. Oh! shall we know of such a Friend, and not go to Him? Waken, O God! my trifling heart, Its great concern to see, That I may act a wiser part, And give the year to Thee. So shall my course more grateful roll, If future years arise; Or this shall bear my happy soul To bliss that never dies. HINTS FOR THE HOUSEHOLD. A WARM BATH FOR A CHILD (NOT Fill a tub two-thirds full of warm water, so as not to flow over when the child is put in, and wrap the child in a small blanket. Keep this on while in the bath, to protect it from draughts of cold air. Mothers who have not tried this plan have no idea how it takes away fear from a young child, and adds to its comfort. In trying the heat of water or poultices, do not trust to your hand, which is hardened by exposure and work; but to some part more sensitive, such as your arm or cheek. TO AVOID INFECTION. In visiting any case of infectious disease, always keep to the windward of the sick person; that is to say, take care that the current of air passes from yourself to the patient, and not from the patient to you. Always have a fire in the sick room, the windows being kept open in summer, the door being kept open in winter. The floor of the room should be kept well scrubbed. Chloride of lime and other disinfecting powders are all good, but nothing is really so good as cleanliness and plenty of fresh air. VENTILATION. Every person needs a certain amount of fresh air to sustain life it has been ascertained that a full-grown person every hour spoils, by breathing, as much fresh air as would fill two sacks; it is therefore most important that houses should be thoroughly ventilated, both in the day by opening the windows, and also at night by keeping the door of the bedroom ajar. People are generally far too much afraid of letting pure air into their sleeping-rooms. When the air has passed through our lungs in breathing, it becomes positively poisonous; and in a small room with the door and the window shut, the same air must be breathed over and over again, which is extremely hurtful. POTATO DUMPLING. Peel some potatoes and grate them into a basin of water; let the pulp remain in the water for a couple of hours; drain it off, and mix with it half its weight of flour, season with a little pepper, salt, and chopped onion. If not moist enough, add a little water. Roll into dumplings the size of a with flour and throw them into large apple. Sprinkle them well When you obboiling water. serve them rising to the top of the saucepan they will be boiled enough. BOOKS RECEIVED. The Cottager and Artisan, 1869 volume. (Religious Tract Society). Until the Shadows Flee Away.-Marian Temple's Work.-Four Years in a Cave.-Jem the Tinker.-The First Christmas Tree (W. Oliphant & Co.). The Children's Annual.-Ralph Saunders. (Book Society). The Animal's Friend (Partridge & Co.). He Died for Me. By O. Winslow, D.D. (J. F. Shaw & Co.). Home Visitor. (Hunt & Co.) SOME time since, two young ladies, the only surviving children of a widowed mother, had, through the grace of God, been led to know and love and trust the Lord Jesus; and they now wished to be united in communion with those who were His professed followers. The minister who was instrumental in their conversion was much pleased with the conversation which he had with these young people. He was convinced from what they said, as much as words can convince any one, that they were sincere and humble followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. Addressing to them some appropriate words of encouragement, he commended them in prayer to the grace of God, telling them that he would take an early opportunity of calling on their mother, that he might inform her of the change which they had undergone, and to ascertain her views in reference to it. In the course of a few days he called on this lady, and told her the purpose of his visit, of which he found she was previously aware. In reply to his inquiries she assured the minister that it was to her an occasion of great pleasure that her daughters were so religiously disposed; and she fondly dwelt on the fact that they were to her all that a mother could wish-she could not be too thankful that God had given her such children. [FEBRUARY, 1870. VOL. VII. No. 2.] While she was thus speaking, she broke off the conversation somewhat abruptly, and to the minister's great astonishment she began to pace up and down the room. From some cause or other she was evidently in the greatest distress of mind. For a while she did not give utterance to the feelings by which she was so powerfully and painfully affected; but at last she stood still before the minister, and with tears streaming down her face, said, “I am now left quite alone, sir. Oh, sir, what will become of me? My husband has gone to heaven; my dear children who are gone are safe in heaven; and now these dear children are going to heaven, and I am left quite alone: I am not going myself. Oh, sir, tell me what I must do!" She was overpowered by the conviction that she was still in a state of impenitence and unbelief, and thus separated from those she loved most and best. Her husband, a godly man, had gone to heaven; some of her children had gone also; and now these, her surviving and much-loved daughters, were on their way to the same happy land; and she was left behind-to use her own words, "left quite alone." She was distressed beyond measure by the perception to which she had at last attained of her true position before God, and her inquiry was, "What will become of me? What must I do?" The minister gladly availed himself of the opportunity which was thus presented to him of preaching the gospel of Christ. He pointed out the way of salvation through the Lord Jesus. He told her that there was no need that she should be left behind-left alone. He reminded her that Christ, who had saved her husband, who had saved her children, who had saved a great multitude which no man could number, was as willing as He was able to save her as well. He assured her that her long-continued indifference and impenitence in the past, if she was truly anxious and earnest now, would constitute no obstacle to her closing with the offers of salvation; that it was still "a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." The interview was blessed to the mother's salvation; and instead of being separated from her husband and her children, instead of being left-as she feared she would be quite alone, she became more truly joined to them than she had ever been before. Now they were all members of the same spiritual family, were heirs together of the grace of life. "Yes, they are one-though some, we know, Are one with those above; In that bright world are mansions fair, |