WHAT A BOY'S POCKET CONTAINED. AN urchin of seven summer's growth invited his mamma, the other day, to repair a slight accident to a pantaloon pocket, and to do this it became necessary to upset the contents thereof upon the floor, an inven. tory of which we proceeded to note down as follows: India rubber, a bottle cork, an old gas burner, one nine-pin, a part of an exploded fire cracker, an old match box, one old envelope, a bag of marbles, one hickory nut, a piece of silk cord, several pieces of twine and strings, the lid of an old pill box, pieces of chestnut hull, a piece of tin, a piece of gingerbread, some pieces of fancy colored paper, two old nails, a small picture book, a slate pencil, fa broken jewsharp, the remains of a pocket handkerchief, a penny whistle, a piece of shoe-string, two grains of corn, a pocket knife-handle, half a peach stone, two spotted chicken feathers, a piece of brickbat, a spinning top, a dead mouse, an assortment of buttons, with crumbs of bread, candy, and a mixture of sand, pebbles, and dirt generally. SAIL on, O Union, strong and great, With all the hopes of future years, We know what Master laid thy keel, Fear not each sudden shock, In spite of rock and tempest's roar, EDITORIAL SEED-THOUGHTS. "GATHER UP THE FRAGMENTS THAT REMAIN, THAT NOTHING BE LOST." WIESCHOEN LEUCHTET DER MORGENSTERN. There is of late years, among Christians worshipping in the English language, a growing taste for the old German Choral Hymns. The difficulty, however, of translating them, so as to retain the spirit of the original, is very great. This is best known to those who have attempted it over and over, and have always felt themselves constrained to cast their work aside. Such, we confess, has been our experience; and yet have we ever felt ourselves moved to try again. If but one effort in ten should succeed, it is worth all the labor, and abundantly justifies the attempt. Encouraged by the fact that some of our late translations published in the Guardian have been honored by a circulation in some of the most respectable religious journals in the land, we have here attempted a rendering of that beautiful hymn: "Wie Schoen leuchtet der Morgenstern." The author of this hymn is Philip Nikolai, who composed it in a time of prevailing pestilence, 1597. It celebrates the union of a believing soul with Christ,her heavenly Bridegroom, according to Psalm 45, and the Song of Solomon. A. Knapp, pronounces this the sweetest and most excellent of all German Hymns, and compares it with the 17th chapter of John. Dr. Schaf, who calls it a "favorite classical Hymn of the loftier choir," says, it is frequently used in connection with the solemnization of marriages, also on communion occasions, and at the couch of the sick and dying, and has a rich and blessed history. It is incomplete and incorrectly given in many German Hymn books. We have followed the carefully revised and critical copy given by Dr. Schaf in his new German Hymn book 1859, where it will be found p. 425-427. How lovely shines the Morning Star! The light in Judah shining. My Bridegroom and my King of grace, Holy, Great and glorious, Filling all the heavenly places. To Thee! Thou hast given Life of Heaven! I shall never Die-but praise thy love forever. All praise, join hearts and voices. My grateful heart rejoices. Honor to the King of Heaven. Amen, Amen! Come and meet me, Nearer to Thyself forever! A FEW QUESTIONS FOR A YOUNG CHRIS TIAN. 1. Am I proud? Do I look down disdainfully on any one? 2. Am I deceitful? Am I deceiving any one? 3. Have I been hypocritical in my words or actions? 4. Have I rebeled against anything that is good? 5. Have I entertained evil thoughts which have been suggested to me? 6. Do I really hate all sin? Does it humble me, and do I mourn over it and strive against all its motions in my heart? Does it wound and distress me when I see it in others? 7. Do I seek happiness in the things of the world-its riches, honors and pleasures? 8. Do I think of these more than of my salvation? 9. Do I ever neglect my religious duties on account of these? 10. Have I at any time so given my self to these as to make religion a secondary matter? 11. Have I been so taken up in these as to unfit me at the time for religious exercises? 12. Am I fond of low or vain amusements? 13. Am I fond of extravagant dress, in which is hidden a secret pride, and love of display before others? Do I renounce all those things in which ungodly people find their pleasure? 14. Do I act as if I felt that the world and the things that are in it are passing away? 15. Do I abhor all sins of impurity? 16. Do I avoid seeing or hearing anything which has a tendency to complete the heart? 17. Do I strive to keep my body in temperance, soberness and chastity? 18. Do I abhor unclean thoughts, and check them by prayer when they arise in my mind? 19. Have I ever joined in unclean conversation? 20. Do I sing, or listen to, low and wicked songs? 21. Do I avoid all books? corrupting 22. Do I shun all low company? 23. Do I keep in mind that my body is the temple of the Holy Ghost? 24. Do I call back my desires from all unholy and forbidden pleasures? DUELLING. The duel spirit got up in our capitol during the past winter, appears at first sight to indicate that the "code of honor," as it is falsely called, is reviving. But a more careful view of the character of those chivalric displays will convince the thoughtful that the opposite is the fact. As a general thing the parties concerned themselves acted under protest of their own better sense. In several cases those who under the impression that a vindication of the point at issue, or their own public standing, demanded a consent, were not backward in denouncing the whole business as "barbarous" and "rude." But what is most significant is the fact that the whole procedure in some of these cases indicated plainly that they were mere "flourishes." There was not near so much of the spirit of "fight" in the heart, as there was in the paper displays which attracted them. We unconsciously get the impression that the thing was not good earnest. The reputation of bravery without the actual use of the pistols, rifles, or bowie-knives, seemed quite acceptable in the case of the most violent. It is our impression that the fact, de monstrated in these several cases, that there are ways to calm down the fire, and get out of a difficulty "without loss of life or limb," will have its desired effect in rendering the "code of honor," more and more a code to be laughed at. When a boy in passing s graveyard at night is heard to whistle louder near it than elsewhere, it indicates, not that he is the more pleased, but rather that he is willing to pass home from mill some other way, as soon as such other way shall be open. ANGELS. The following beautiful lines are from Reed's New Pastoral: They tell us angels, good and ill, Attend our steps to guide, or mislead; If such be true, with what imploring words, And clasped hands, and piteous gaze of eyes, The one oft speaks that would persuade aright, And in the hour by us securest deemed, Whispers its fears and warns; the while the other With smiles assuring, safely strews the path With flowers which lead but to a field of thorns! If this indeed be true, the instinctive tear, The shudder or each inward faint recoil, Springing we know not whence, should be a voice To stay the swiftest step-should be a bolt Transfixing where we stand-a giant rock, Rising, like sudden gates of adamant, To bar our further course! Alas! too oft We lay our hand on the good angel's lip, And murmur, "Peace." NOTES ON NEW BOOKS. APPLETON'S AMERICAN ENCYCLOPEDIA, The design of THE NEW AMERICAN CYCLOPEDIA is to furnish the great body of intelligent readers in this country with a popular Dictionary of General Knowledge. It is the intention of the Authors that the work shall bear such a character of practical utility as to make it indispensable to every Ameaican library. Throughout its successive volumes THE NEW AMERICAN CYCLOPEDIA presents a fund of accurate and copious information on Science, Art, Agriculture, Commerce, Manufactures, Law, Medicine, Literature, Philosophy, Mathematics, Astronomy, History, Biography, Geography, Religion, Politics, Travels, Chemistry, Mechanics, Inventions, Trades. ENCYCLOPEDIA the best as well as the most recent, work of General Reference in the English language. AND THE PROTESTANT THEOLOGICAL The Eleventh part of this great work is before us, bringing the work down from the letter II, to the letter I. This part contains a large number of interesting articles, and fully sustains the high reputation which previous numbers have won. The translation, so far as we can judge, is natural, free and accurate; so much so indeed that we scarcely feel, while reading, that we are removed from the original expression to the distance of a second and different language. Dr. Bomberger certainly deserves great credit not only for the labor which he is expending upon this work, in giving it to the American republic of letters in an English dress; but, and for this es In History it gives not merely a catalogue of barren dates, but a copious narrative, under their appropriate heads, of the principal events in the annals of the world. In Geography and Ethnology, it embodies all the remarkable results of original investigation which so brilliantly distinguish the present century. In Biography it not only recordspecially, for the ability which he disthe lives of men eminent in the past, but devotes a large space to sketches of distinguished living persons, prepared by writers who, from locality, personal acquaintance, or special research, are most competent to do them complete and unbiased justice. Agriculture, in all its branches, receives the most careful attention. The Industrial Arts, and that Practical Science which has an immediate bearing on the necessities of daily life, such as Domestic Economy, Ventilation, the Heating of Houses, Food, etc., is treated of with the thoroughness which their great importance demands. The History of Religious Sects is given. All the latest intelligence on every topic has been procured, and the information brought down to the very day of printing. In fine, nothing has been left undone to render THE NEW AMERICAN plays in maintaining in all the parts, that naturalness and freedom-combined with rigid accuracy, which belong to the original copy. This work, when fully completed, we have no hesitation in saying, will be one among the greatest and most useful in the English language. The mechanical execution of Part XI, evinces the same good taste for which Lindsay & Blakiston are justly noted. THE INDEPENDENT, This Religious Weekly is conducted with extraordinary spirit and ability. Its success is truly wonderful. With a large circulation before, we understand that it has added about 10,000 to its list since the beginning of this year. As its name, so is its spirit-independent. Dr. Cheever, Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Mrs. Harriet B. Stowe, and John G. Whittier are Dr. among its regular contributors. THE MERCERSBURG REVIEW, Edited by Drs. Gerhart and Schaff. The April Number of this is received. Contents, I Constantine the Great, by Dr. P. Schaff. II. The Old Doctrine of Christian Baptism, by Dr. J. W. Nevin. III. The English Language by Rev. Edmund Emerson. IV. German Hymnology, by Prof. Porter. V. Religion and Christianity, by Dr. E. V. Gerhart, VI. What is a Catechumen, by Rev. H. Harbaugh. VII. Mansel's Limits of Religious Thought, by Dr. Gerhart. VIII. Recent Publications. The Review is published for the Alumni Association of Franklin and Marshall College, by Rev. George B. Russell, Pittsburg, Pa. Terms $3 per annum, in advance. THE following is One of Wordsworth's sweet sonnets, in which is displayed his graceful, meditative, and sympathetic mind. "It is a beauteous evening, calm and free; Breathless with adoration; the broad sun A sound like thunder-everlastingly. Dear child! dear girl! that walkest with me here, I WAIT FOR THEE. Tus hearth is swept-the fire is bright, The cloth is spread, the lamp is light, And now I wait for thee. Come home, love; come, thy task is done; The clock ticks listingly; The blinds are shut, the curtain down, The arm-chair to the fire-side drawn, The boy is on my knee. Ah, now along the cross, walk fast |