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WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

X. Y. Z.

Two of my girls-fine ones of course-consented to exert themselves in favour of the Guardian. Both of them went to work, as in all such cases we should do, in good earnest, and the result was that each obtained about half a dozen of new subscribers. This is the plain story, told in the shortest and plainest way; but every story has also its moral its side stories, if I may so call them, which are not less important than the main story itself, and should by no means be passed over in silence.

What then are these side stories? or, perhaps better, what have these noble-hearted girls done? If my impression is not wrong they have accomplished a three-fold work-and a good work.

In the first place, they have, by their noble act, fairly tested their moral courage, and given full proof of their capacity to do good, which I consider of immense importance. Young ladies, generally, are very diffident, and entertain but small hopes of being able to do good in the world. Indeed, the great majority of them are so distrustful of themselves, that, even where they would like to accomplish something nice, the task appears so hard that they instinctively shrink back from it and conclude that they cannot do what seems to them so desirable. This feeling of modesty is worthy of all praise; and the Guardian, if I mistake not, seeks very earnestly to foster this rare and beautiful jewel in the female character. We do not, therefore blame young ladies for being modest. We rather admire this excellent trait in their character and bearing. We love to see young ladies modest and retired; only we do not wish them to be so to excess. What we mean by this, is, that we do not wish them to yield so far to this feeling as to render them faulty and neglectful of clear and palpable duties. The generous desire of doing good must lead them to bear up somewhat against the current of their feelings, and so discharge the duties which may at any time claim their attention. Now this, I believe, my two noble girls have done in the present case. They are both young, and modest to a virtue; but they are also brave, as is shown by what they have accomplished. They have tried their strength, and have met with encouraging success; and this success of their first effort will be to them a guarantee of success in any like enterprise hereafter. This is one of the good effects of their work; and is it not deserving of the highest regard?

But, in the second place, three young ladies have rendered an interesting and important service to their youthful companions. They have prevailed on them to take a Monthly Magazine, which, every time it comes, will bring them reading matter of the best and most useful kind, and thus afford them infinite delight. How many a lonely hour will be spent, during the coming year, in reading those lessons of wisdom and

of grace, which the Guardian, always faithful and true to its motto, will bring to their homes. If the person who plants a tree or even a shrub in the garden of another, deserves to be classed among the benefactors of our race and to be held in grateful remembrance, how much more is this honor due to such as kindly furnish a thoroughly religious maga zine to a fellow pilgrim on life's perilous way, and so plant the seeds of eternal life in the soil of the virtuous heart! The Guardian thus put into a family, will be there like an angel of protection to the innocence of youth, and save the attentive, serious, and honest readers of its pages, from many a sinful snare, perilous temptation, and even from everlasting damnation! O, who can estimate the service which these two noblehearted girls have rendered to the dozen or more readers of the Guar dian whom they have induced to subscribe for it! They have done a good work, for which they deserve the lasting gratitude of their youthful companions.

Finally, I must not forget to notice yet, very briefly. the service which my girls have rendered the Guardian itself. For ten years past this faithful messenger of peace has been out on its mission of mercy, without any pretensions except such as were fully warranted by the law of modesty. Nor has the Guardian often and clamorously asked for the co-operation of its friends, as is too much the fashion of papers and journals, now-a-days. It has indeed asked, from time to time, the aid of its friends, but always in a genteel and modest way. Great has been the service, which the Guardian has rendered the cause of truth and religion since it first made its appearance. Not only has the editor himself been earnest, serious and industrious in ministering to the wants, spiritual and intellectual, of its readers; but also many others; they are still engaged in the good cause, have aided him in this pleasant work; and some also who have gone to their long home, contributed their crumbs of the "bread of God" to feed the spiritual hungry souls, and prepare them, thus, for their "re-union in Heaven," and the feast of the blessed in that eternal State to which they have already attained. How many a noble patron of the Guardian, and constant contributor to its pages, already in Heaven, looms up before my vision as I write these lines-this public tribute to their merits!

The Guardian richly deserves the patronage and co-operation of all the friends of God and of piety. It is engaged in a good and noble cause Its efforts have been and still are extensively blessed. Peace follows in its wake. "Life, Light, Love"-have constantly gleamed upon its pages; and all who encourage or aid its circulation, participate in sending their blessed influences to the homes of its many readI am, therefore, heartily glad that my two noble girls have so generously aided in the circulation of the Guardian, and hope that many others, inspired by their example will be induced to go and do likewise; and to each of such may there be an OLIVIAN wreath and ANGELIC bliss!

ers.

LOOK UP.-" Look up" thundred the captain of a vessel, as his boy grew giddy while gazing from the topmast. "Look up !" the boy looked up, and and returned in safety. Young man, look up, and you will suc ceed. Never look down and despair. Leave dangers uncared for, and push on. If you falter, you lose. Look up! Do right, and trust in God.

EDITORIAL SEED-THOUGHTS.

"GATHER UP THE FRAGMENTS THAT REMAIN, THAT NOTHING BE LOST."

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concerning the child Jesus, which began, In dulci jubilo." Dr. Alt farther tells us that the production of this kind of mixed poetry, can be traced back to the X century; and that as early as the XIII century hymns of this kind for sacred use, and also songs of a social or humorous character, are plentifully found. We have seen this "In dulci

merly in use in this country.

A very singular hymnological taste prevailed in the XIV and XV centuries, which indulged itself in composing and singing mixed hymns, half Latin and half German. These hymns were great favorites with the people. As a speci-jubilo" in some old Hymn Books formen, we give-in the original Latin and German, with such a translation as we have been able to make of the German and Latin into English-the following Christmas Hymn, which was a great favorite; an honor which it deserves for its simplicity of style and beauty of sentiment.

This hymn is attributed to Peter Dresdensis (properly Peter Faulfisch) who died as teacher in Prague, A. D. 1440. In regard to this singular custom of rhyming German and Latin together in the composition of hymns, some information is furnished us by a remark made on this Christmas Hymn in the Hymn Book of Bopelius, 1682. It runs thus: "This Peter Dresdensis was the first one who attempted to introduce German Hymns into the churches. But as this was contrary to the custom of the Roman church, he was not permitted to carry out his design. At length, after many solicitations, the Pope allowed him to go so far as to compose and introduce Hymns in which German and Latin should be mixed. This he did, preparing a goodly number of the kind, of which some are still in use, as: "In dulci jubilo," and "Puer natus in Bethlehem, dess freuet sich Jerusalem." "This statement, however," says Dr. Alt in his cultus, "modern researches have shown to be incorrect. For as

regards the hymn, 'In dulci jubilo,' Hoffman in his History of German Hymnology, p. 152, has shown that this hymn is much older that it is mentioned in a manuscript of the XIV century containing the life of Henry Suso, who died A. D. 1365, in which it is related that one day, to comfort him in his sufferings, celestial youths came to Suso, one of whom sang a joyful little hymn

I.

THE ORIGINAL.

In dulci jubilo

Nu singet und seid froh,
Aller unser wonne

Liegt in praesepio;
Sie leuchtet vor die sonne
Matris in gremio,

Qui est A et 0.

O Jesu parvule,

Nach dir ist mir so weh,
Troeste mein Gemuete,
O puer optime,

Durch aller Jungfruun Guete,
O princeps gloriae,
Trahe me post Te.

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TRANSLATION OF BOTH LATIN AND GERMAN.

In songs of sweetest flow,
Now sing, and lose your wo:
There your heart's best treasure
Lies in a manger low;

That glory none can measure:
On Mary's bosom, lo!
Lies the A and 0.

O Jesus, lovely boy!

I sigh for Thee, my joy:
Banish all my sadness

O sweetest, noblest boy,
By the Virgin's gladness;
O prince of glory, me,

Draw ever after Thee.
Mother and daughter one,
If, through thy blessed Son,
Thou had'st never found us
Joy in heaven begun,
Guilt would now confound us-
We would be undone!

O what He has won!

Where else such joy-O say?
Yonder, far, far away,
Where angelic voices

Chant the heavenly lay:

Where their host rejoices
In the brightest day.

O, to join their lay!

WORTHY OF ALL ACCEPTATION.

The most interesting and important business transacted at the late convention of editors, was the adoption of a report made by Mr. Getz, from a committee appointed at the last meeting of the Union to consider certain propositions. Among these was the proposition in regard to the personalities of the press." What a blessing to the land would it be if the principles adopted on this subject would be put into universal practice. The action passed is worthy of being printed in every paper in the land in letters of gold, and worth more than the gain of much fine gold" should all editors value them. Here is the report:

ON THE PERSONALITIES OF THE PRESS. -We assume that the profession is degraded and the public injured, by the frequent personalities indulged in by the press, particularly when leveled at each other. Can they not be avoided in the main, with decided advantage to the cause advocated? Do not opprobrious

penalties among editors take away the just influence that every press should exercise in the community in which it is established?

To the questions embraced in this proposition, we unhesitatingly return an affirmative answer.

All personal disputes, whether oral or writtrn, are offences against propriety, and injurious to the public manners; and they become more so, in proportion to the wider circulation and more permanent shape that are given to them by their appearance in print. With the private quarrels of editors, the public have nothing to do; and they can never be justified, and rarely, if ever, excused, in thrusting them under their notice. The habitual, or even occasional resort to personalities, whether against each other, or against any individuals whose position in the community may render them subject to the censorship of the press, is degrading to the editor who indulges in them, and brings disgrace upon the profession at large. They are acceptable only to the morbid appetite of vulgar and ignorant minds, who delight in whatever tends to cast reproach upon the names, or to defame the character of their fellow-men.

The personalities of the press waken and destroy its just influence, as the disseminator of general information, and the exponent of political principles, by converting it into a mere vehicle for the utterance of private prejudices, dislikes, hatreds and resentments. They can be avoided, and it should be one of the first duties of this Editorial Union to require of its members a pledge to abstain from and abandon them. If we wish to command the respect of those who look to us as public instructors, so to speak, we must first learn and determine to respect ourselves, and this we can never do while we permit ourselves to be turned from our proper sphere of duty, to engage in the debasing work of personal controversy.

A LITTLE SECRET SLIPPED OUT.

At a late convention of editors a report was presented by a committee appointed for that purpose on the question as to what matter ought to be published gratuituously, and what should be paid for? Among other things the committee says: "Recommendations of candidates for office, BEING MOSTLY WRITTEN

BY THE CANDIDATE HIMSELF, OR AT HIS INSTANCE, come within this class of communications, and should be subject to the same treatment."

Modest! Wonder whether Washington wrote his own recommendations! We have long known that politics have assumed such form that, in general, men seek the office, instead of letting the office seek them; but we have all along been too innocent to believe that candidates wrote their own recommendations. We have not the least hesitation in saying that a man who can condescend to that, by that fact, declares himself unworthy of the office he seeks. We hope there are many exceptions to the rule, by this editorial convention declared to be general. If what is here said be true, and we have no reason to doubt it after so explicit an avowal, there is good ground for the remark of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, that what ails the Union is that it has swallowed too many politicians, and not being able to digest them, they lie heavy on its stomach and make it sick. We would regard the kind referred to as particularly hard to digest!

SATURDAY EVENING.

There is a feeling with which all persons are acquainted by sweet experience, but which we cannot describe except by calling it the Saturday evening feeling. It comes over soul and body as the quiet foreshadowing of a blessed rest. Work is done! There is an ebbing of energies. The stress of earnest concern is taken from limbs and faculties. There is a coming home of thoughts that were out, as Noah's weary dove came back to the ark. Six days of labor are past. As over all creation, so over all our worn down energies, comes the power of the words which we do not understand but feel: "God rested." There seems to be an influence, wider, broader, deeper than our own individual life, which whispers to the very heart of our cares: Rest! And behold this is the preparation, for the Sabbath draweth near. This Saturday evening feeling is the prophesy of it, which gives us a foretaste of its peace, before its fulfillment. How interesting is this point of time! Looking back on labors past, and looking forward to a rest to come, a lovely undefined feeling made up of gratitude for the past, peace in the present, and hope

for the future, steals over the spiritand this is the Saturday evening feeling.

SOLEMN AND GOOD ADVICE.

A murderer who was lately executed in Delaware, closes his confession with these words: "I beg leave to say to my friends and associates, beware of lagerbeer saloons and strong drink.

It weakens the mind, spoils the memory; Hastens on age and willful poverty; Drowns thy name, and makes thy better part To foes a laughter, and to thy friends a shame." It was in a lager-beer saloon that the murder was committed, though he had no malice against the person with whom he entered and whom he killed. drowned his heart and brain in lagerthen came the fearful deed which the admonition to avoid the beginning brought him to the gallows. How wise

of evil.

A NOBLE SENTIMENT.

He

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