Page images
PDF
EPUB

To the Phillips' Church Infant Sabbath School, South Boston.—

The Sabbath morn's return brings not to me
Those fond delights with which I used to hail
Its happy dawn. For months, nay, years have passed,
Sweet little ones, since last I taught your lips
To lisp his name, who e'er beholds with love
His tender lambs; and who, when veiled in flesh,
Did lay his hand upon each cherub head,
Then gently fold them to his soothing breast,
And meekly say, "Of such my kingdom is.”
O, how I loved to hear your infant songs,-
Those sounds, so soft, they seemed like angels' notes.
I loved to watch the incense of your hearts,
As it arose in prayer; heaven's door seemed op'd,
And dews of grace to fall upon your heads.
And will these precious moments ne'er return?
Ah no! The passing months and years but serve
To bind them still more closely to my heart.
Do you remember when the hand of death
Took from your number two dear infant ones?
Can you recall the oft repeated tale

Of their last moments? with what peaceful joy
They soared aloft to realms of bliss on high?
For them I mourn not; they securely rest,
In Christ's paternal arms for ever blest.
For you, loved ones, exposed to life's rough sea,
The morn, the evening, and the midnight hours
Witness my bosom heave with sighs and prayers.
On thee, dear teacher, to whose watchful care
Belongs my little charge, more faithful far,

I fondly trust,-on thee, may Heaven's choice gifts,
And showers of grace, in rich profusion fall.

Importance of Educating every Child in the Land.

"If the time shall come when this mighty fabric shall totter, -when the beacon which now rises in a pillar of fire, a sign and wonder of the world, shall wax dim,-the cause will be found in the ignorance of the people. If our union is still to

continue, to cheer the hopes and animate the efforts of the oppressed of every nation; if our fields are to be untrod by the hirelings of despotism; if long days of blessedness are to attend our country in her career of glory; if you would have the sun continue to shed its unclouded rays upon the face of freemen, then educate all the children in the land. This alone

startles the tyrant in his dreanis of power, and rouses the slumbering energies of oppressed people. It was intelligence that reared up the majestic columns of national glory; and this alone can prevent them from crumbling to ashes."

Belknap Street Sabbath School.

We have obtained access to a great mass of interesting papers and facts, connected with the Belknap Street Sabbath school of this city. This school is composed of colored children, youth and adults, and is under the superintendence of Mr. J. F. Bumstead.

THOUGHTS SUITABLE FOR THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR.

The scholars and teachers were each requested to bring, in writing, on the last Sabbath of December, a thought suitable for the last day of the year. The following are selected from between eighty and a hundred that were presented.

"I think I have spent this year pretty well; and if the Lord spares me, I hope I shall spend the next much better."-“ I hope, for the future, to remember my Creator, and serve him

while I am young."- "What duty have 1 reluctantly perform

66

ed?"—"I am sorry that I have not made better improvement of my time."-"How stands my account with God?"-" Am I prepared to die?"-" What have I been doing to prepare myself and others for heaven?"_"This day is as a mile-stone: how far have I traveled? in what direction?"—" Where will the path in which I have, the past year, been walking, lead me if I continue in it?"-"A year is like a great ocean wave, bearing us onward to the shore of eternity."- Resolved-that I will try with all my might, not to carry one of my old sins into the new year."—"Resolved-that I will study my Sabbath school lesson, this year, more attentively." "The end of the year has arrived; and it reminds us that every thing in this world will have an end. Life will end. The earth will come to an end. Time itself shall end. But my soul will have no Heaven will have no end. Hell will have no end."

end.

FIRST BORN SABBATH SCHOOL IN BOSTON UNION.

It appears, from investigations made by the superintendent, that the Belknap Street Sabbath school,-instead of having been born in 1820, as always stated in the Reports of the Boston S. S. Union,-was born in the autumn of 1816; and consequently it became of age the last autumn. According to these statements, this school is the oldest child in the family by about six months, and fairly claims the honor of the first-born.

ITEMS FROM SUPERINTENDENT'S MEMORANDUM BOOK.

Of one scholar, Mr. F

said, "He wont tell a lie-I don't believe he can tell a lie." Notified a meeting which I called the teacher's exchange. The object is to converse about the lesson, and to help each other in understanding it. Exchange means something of a reciprocal character. We must be wil

some more.

ling to give as well as get.-Some of the infant scholars are so much attached to the school, that they come without their breakfast. Some say they would walk a mile to come, and When the bell struck to call to order, one of the scholars exclaimed to his teacher, "O, I'm sorry we have not more time."-Saw Mrs. during the week. Speaking about the weather, she said, "It has been a bad week to dry clothes; but it is very important to be contented. I like to have the weather come just as it does; and every time there is any change, it shows that there must be One who makes the change."

A Father's and Mother's Crown of Glory.

Dea. C - has rested from his labors; but his works do follow him. He and his companion were devoted, consistent Christians, and judicious, faithful parents. They had a large family of children, whom they endeavored to bring up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Of their four sons and twelve daughters, FOURTEEN were hopefully pious! Three have died; and the death of one of them was a scene of happiness such as few ministers are ever permitted to witness. Resignation, peace and hope glowed in the countenance of the dying; and just before the happy spirit took its flight, she burst forth into a song. How resplendent the crown of glory that will adorn that faithful father's and mother's head!

The Spirit Returning.

It must be cheering to every Christian heart, to notice the intimations here and there exhibited, that the Holy Spirit is returning to bless our Sabbath schools and churches. In several places we have heard that numbers of the young are either rejoicing in hope, or anxiously inquiring after the way of life and salvation. Shall not these intimations of good encourage every Christian parent and every teacher to anticipate a like blessing for the dear children and youth entrusted to their care and instruction?

[merged small][graphic][merged small]

This engraving represents the temple of Juggernaut at Orissa in Bengal. By examining the people on the steps, we can form some estimate of the immense size of this heathen temple. Question. Why is not my place of worship a heathen temple, instead of the temple of the Lord?

Lamentation over days misspent.

An old man in who had been for a long time intemperate, was hopefully converted a few years before he died. After his conversion, he spent much of his time in walking

the room in the most bitter and heart-rending lamentations: "O, that I should have been so unwise as to throw away all my precious time! O that I could recall my lost, misspent days!”

A WRITTEN TESTIMONY.

We have recently heard of another old man of about sixty, who has just made a profession of religion. He is dying with a cancer in the face; and at the time he united with the church, he was too feeble to go to the house of God to perform the solemn duty of confessing Christ, and he did it in his own dwelling. Being deeply sensible of his great guilt in having misspent all his best days, and fearing that some might be encouraged, by his example, to defer a preparation for eternity till old age, he sent the following written testimony to be read to the congregation on the Sabbath. We obtained a copy of this interesting document, from the pastor. It is almost like a voice from the dead. O that it might be read by an angel's voice, in every congregation in the land!

[ocr errors]

“I, hereby testify before God and to this assembly, that I sincerely regret not having given my heart to God while in the vigor of my youthful days; and I take upon me shame and confusion of face, that I should think of putting off confessing Christ till my feeble body is bowed down under the infirmity of age, and my usefulness, in a great measure, impaired by wasting disease. And I would take this opportunity of solemnly and affectionately recommending to all the impenitent part of this congregation, not to think, for one moment, of delaying repentance towards God, till they have nothing to bring to him but the rags and tatters of a life misspent. (Signed)

[ocr errors]

Miscellaneous Items.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

The abstract of "School Returns" for 1837,— -a volume of three hundred pages,-embraces all the towns in the State but eleven. From the abstract it appears that there are in the two hundred and ninety-four towns which have made returns, two thousand nine hundred and eighteen public schools; two thousand, three hundred and seventy male, and three thousand five hundred and ninety-one female teachers; one hundred

« PreviousContinue »