operation of this habit in different families where it has been unhappily adopted, and the result has been, that it has proved most destructive to their peace and piety. If subjection on the part of a wife be a duty enjoined upon her by the authority of God, surely she ought to yield conformity to the will of her husband, where their mutual happiness and the religious improvement of their children are at stake. To demand or to require submission from him on this point, is no less unscriptural than indecorous; nor ought he to yield, unless he wishes to proclaim his own disgrace.

A spirit of most tender regard for your present and eternal welfare has dictated these hints, and I pray the Lord to bless them.

J. M.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS.

CHRISTMAS-DAY, or the day which by some denominations is celebrated as the natal day of the Redeemer of the world, when He was made man and dwelt among us,' used to be characterized by certain methods of salutation-such as, 'A happy Christmas to you,' or, 'I wish you a merry Christmas.' But these methods are now out of fashion. Happily, the failure of the custom by no means detracts from whatever real benefit has been brought into the world by the event which Christmas is intended to celebrate. But the merriest, or rather the happiest, Christmas which this world is to see, is at that time when there shall be a complete fulfilment of that part of the song of the angels who announced the birth of the Great Redeemer: On earth, peace-good will towards men.' These few

words, 'good will towards men,' are worthy the attention of every reader, who is either anticipating, or at this moment enjoying, the blessings of a Christmas festival.

There are many whose eyes will rest on these pages, to whom it may be said: God has seen fit to shower on your heads his choicest blessings; and the season of Christmas, which you are wont to dedicate to joy and festivity, calls upon you, while you are enjoying the good things your prosperity may afford, to think upon the wretched condition of those who are ready to perish. Before you raise to your lip the cup filled with mellow wine, or taste the delicious viands your table may supply, resolve to spare something from your superfluity to those who are suffering; ask yourselves if you know no poor and worthy family who might be made comparatively happy by the very crumbs which fall from your Christmas-table. Remember that in the cold and wintry season, there are many on whose lot the unfriendliness of poverty is added to the rigours of the season. Christmas-day, a day of festivity to you, is to many around you a day of weeping and of mourning. While you are enjoying

you, though thousands fall beside you, and ten thousand at your right hand,' or, if it touches you fatally, it shall be but for a brief moment, and then translate you to glory.

THE END.

Philadelphia:

Printed by T. K. Collins & Co.

49 Prune Street.

CLOSING THOUGHTS,

ON THE LATE DREADFUL VISITATION OF PESTILENCE.

As our labours for the present volume of the SOUVENIR will terminate with the article on which we are now engaged, we have felt it a sacred duty to ask the attention of our readers of all classes to a few serious thoughts, on a subject which either has been, or soon may be, of very deep personal interest. Except among our hitherto exempted brethren of the eastern states, there is scarcely a section of our country to be reached by our unpretending volume, which has not felt the pressure of the 'pestilence that walketh' comparatively in darkness;' and sure we are, that we may safely venture to ask our readers, before they close the volume, to follow us, while, for their good as our object, we offer a few suggestions.