FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS.

been happy seasons, but now they were made dull and gloomy to us all; and all this was done by a man who is called here "the whistling parson," from his love of that art, which he is always practising Sundays and working-days. One sabbath morning, lately, he was riding on his bay steed, whistling a ture as usual, which attracted the attention of a shrewd Scotchman whom he overtook on the road, who said, "Good morning, sir, will you please to whistle me that tune over again, it was a great favourite of mine in my own country." "What d'ye mean, man ?" "I want that tune over again you was whistling, sir." "I was not whistling, sir!" "Then if it was not you, it was your horse!" Such is the man who is holding us in bondage.

Pembrokeshire.

W. L.

We advise the writer and his friends to stick to their own work, and never mind the “whistling parson." In religious matters we must do as we sometimes do to get our bread, when, if we cannot get a honest living in one way, we try to get it in another. And so you. If you cannot get children to teach, try to teach men and women, especially the aged and sick. Do something, and do it well, and the blessing of God will rest upon your well-meant efforts. But do nothing out of strife or vain glory. Remember Jesus Christ always went about doing good.

Facts, Hints, and Gems.

Facts.

ABOUT FURNITURE IN ENGLAND.

TABLES stand first as the oldest.

Posts sunk in the floor, supporting cross beams, on which rough planks were laid.

STOOLS.-A round block from the body of a tree, supported by three legs. Cowper says:

"On such a stool immortal Alfred sat,
And swayed the sceptre of his infant realm."

CHAIRS. That of Bede, the Saxon bishop and historian, was like a coffin of rough planks without a lid, towards the bottom of which a shelf was fixed for a seat. King Edmund Ironside had a chair like the letter X, a cushion being placed where the beams cross, on which he sat.

CARPETS.-Rushes were used, till the days of Elizabeth, in royal palaces and noble balls.

TAPESTRY.-These were curtains

of needlework to keep out the cold winds, as windows were not then made up with squares of glass.

CLOCKS to tell the hour, were burning candles, or droppings of water, or round brass balls which dropped into a basin when the strings which suspended them were burned gradually away.

BEDS were formed by getting together plenty of straw, a log of wood forming the pillow. The last King Henry's servants slept in this way in the royal kitchen.

POTS. As late as 1698, pots to boil meat in, were let out at so much per boil, and this was called " pot penny."

FACTS, HINTS, AND GEMS.

ENVY NO MAN.-Perhaps if you To shew that Time, when once 'tis pass'd, knew all about him, you would not change places with him.

THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

The Children's Corner.

MY MOTHER'S HANDS. -“When a young man I travelled into foreign I was a little child," said a pious man, "my mother used to bid me kneel beside her, and place her hand upon my head while she prayed. Before I was old enough to know her worth, she died, and I was left much to my own guidance. Like others, I was inclined to evil passions, but often felt myself checked, and, as it were, drawn back by the soft hand on my head. When I was

lands, and was exposed to many temptations; but when I would have yielded, that same hand was upon my head, and I was saved; I seemed to feel its pressure as in the days of my happy infancy, and, sometimes, there came with it a voice to my heart-a voice that must be obeyed-'O do not this wickedness, my son, nor sin against God!"

THE DYING BOY.

IT must be sweet, in childhood to give back
The spirit to its Maker, ere the reart
Ilas grown familiar with the paths of sin,
And sown-to garner up the bitter fruits.
I knew a boy, whose infant feet had trod
Upon the blossoms of some seven springs,
And when the eighth came round, and
called him out

To revel in its light, he turned away,
And sought his chamber, to lay down and
die.

'Twas night-he summoned his accustomed
friends,

And, on this wise, bestowed his last request:

"Mother, I'm dying now!

There's a deep suffocation in my breast,
As it some heavy hand my bosom press'd:
And on my brow

I feel the cold sweat stand:

My lips how dry and tremulous, and my
breath

Comes feebly up. Oh, tell me, is this death?
Mother, your hand-

Here-lay it on my wrist,

And place the other thus, beneath my head, And say, sweet mother, say, when I am dead,

And when its blossoms bloom

I shall be gone away, my short life done;
And will you not bestow a single one
Upon my tomb?

Now, mother, sing the tune
You sung last night; I'm weary and must

sleep;

Who was it called my name? Nay, do not weep,

You'll all come soon."

Morning spread over earth her rosy wings-
And that meek sufferer, cold, and ivory pale,
Lay on his couch asleep. The gentle air
Came through the open window, freighted

with

The savory odours of the early spring-
He breathed it not; the laugh of passers by

To the good home you speak of, that blessed Jarred like a discord in some mournful tone, land,

But marred not his slumbers--He was dead!

THE ISLAND SHEPHERD.

THE poorest individual-he who moves in the humblest walks of life, is not overlooked by a wise and gracious Providence, nor placed beyond the reach of happiness. "The Lord

is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works." Psalm cxlv. 9. The poor of this world, in numerous instances, are "rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them that love him." James ii. 5. Yes! you may be happy, honourable, and useful, without riches, learning, or fame. If you are a subject of divine grace- "born of the Spirit," John iii. 8, your soul is endowed with those spiritual excellencies, which no gifts of nature can impart; you possess peace of mind which no money can purchase, and hopes which no adversity can blight or destroy. True religion will adorn your character, give a right direction to all your energies and pursuits, and render you a blessing to your connections and the world.

These remarks may be illustrated by the following simple facts, relative to a shepherd residing in the Isle of Wight. His family consisted of a wife and four children. His cottage

66

But

was situate in a fertile valley where sheep and cattle grazed. It was sheltered from the eastern winds by lofty hills, and partially concealed from public view by the foliage of fruittrees and wood-bines, which grew in the front of it. though seldom noticed or visited by strangers, it was not unnoticed by Him whose eyes are over the righteous." 1 Peter iii. 12. It had no spacious rooms or costly furniture; but it possessed greater attractions than many a splendid mansion. It was the abode of a truly pious couple, whose conversion had caused joy among the angels of God. Luke xv. 10. Humble indeed was their outward condition; scanty their means of support; and coarse their daily fare; but they were blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Eph. i. 3. Religion supplied every deficiency and sweetened every bitter ingredient of the cup of life. It sanctified their affections, and made them contented, cheerful, and happy. Their cottage was a house of prayer, and if its walls could speak, they would bear testimony to the fervour of their devotions, and the pleasure they enjoyed in communion with God. But their piety was not confined to devotion; it produced a hallowed influence upon their whole

66

THE ISLAND SHEPHERD.

deportment, and was beautifully exemplified in their daily conduct. It taught them to deny "ungodliness and worldly lusts," and to "live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." I Tit. ii. 12. Their holy lives were sufficient to convince the boldest infidel of the truth of christianity. Think not that religion made them gloomy. When the morning appeared, the shepherd cheerfully went forth to his labour accompanied by his faithful dog: he ascended the dewy hills to attend his flock, which fed upon them; and as he exercised his pastoral care, he could say with David, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters." Psalm xxiii. 1, 2. The cleanness and neatness of the cottage, together with the rosy-faced children, shewed the industry of his wife. When he returned home after the labours of the day, he was welcomed with expressions of affection. His home was the abode of domestic happiness; and while many spend their evenings at the alehouse, or at places of amusement, the shepherd's evenings were spent in a profitable manner with his family. The scriptures were read and explained to the children, who were trained up in the way they should go. Prov. xxii. 6. Their conversation was spiritual, and the evening closed with family devotion. The happy effects which this piety produced upon the children appeared in their sweetness of temper, respectful behaviour, and love to the christian sabbath. The shepherd and his wife were members of the Baptist Church at Wellow, of which the writer was the pastor, and such was their love to the house of God, that they were seldom absent from it on the sabbath-day, although it was some miles from their residence. Their love to souls was great, and this was evinced by their zealous and persevering efforts to save them. In the way of benevolence, they did more for the spread of the gospel than many in better circumstances. But they lost nothing by serving God. The shepherd was so much respected by his employer that he entrusted him with the management of his farm, which somewhat improved his temporal condition. The writer's first visit to their cottage was truly gratifying. It was to hear of the great change which had been wrought upon the shepherd and his companion through his instrumentality. They are still walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comforts of the Holy Ghost. From this brief sketch of the shepherd and his family, you may derive instruction.