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diff --git a/10853-0.txt b/10853-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aee30ca --- /dev/null +++ b/10853-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2939 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10853 *** + +The Baldwin Library + +RMB + +University of Florida + + +FROM THE LIBRARY OF + +PAUL & VIRGINIA CROWLEY + + + +OUR GIFT. + +BOSTON: + +ABEL TOMPKINS, NO. 38 CORNHILL. + +1851. + + + +Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1850, + +By ABEL TOMPKINS, + +In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of +Massachusetts. + + + + +DEDICATION. + +"We offer no words of inspired thought, +No gems from the mines of wisdom brought, +No flowers of language to deck the page, +No borrowed glories of Muse or Sage; +But an offering simple and pure we bring, +And a wreath of wild roses around it fling; +Not culled from the shades of enamelled bowers, +But watered by love's own gentle showers. +In tones of affection we here would speak; +To waken an echo of love we seek; +We mingle our tears for the early dead, +To the land of spirits before us fled. +While a moral we humbly would here entwine +With the flowers we lay on affection's shrine, +We pray that the light of religion may dawn, +To brighten our pathway each coming morn. +Then with love for each other OUR GIFT we bring, +And love for the memories that round it cling, +And trust in the hopes that are lighted here, +To burn with new brightness each passing year. +And as Time moves on with unceasing tread, +And the flowers of youth are withered and dead, +May no sigh of regret to the past be given, +As it peacefully fades in the light of Heaven." + + + + +PREFACE. + + +"OUR GIFT" has been prepared as a token of affection for our Sunday +school Pupils, and it is hoped that it may serve a similar purpose in +the hands of other teachers. It has been said, that "_He who gives his +thought, gives a part of himself_." It was this idea that suggested the +offering we now bring. We do not claim for it especial excellence. We +are aware that its pages have not uniform merit. When we state that they +are from the pens of twenty-five different teachers, few of whom are +accustomed to write for the public eye, we offer the only apology for +the imperfections of the work, which, in our judgment, the circumstances +of the case demand. If this explanation shall not cause the critic to +throw the work aside, we would welcome him to whatever pleasure he may +find in its perusal. Of the defects which it contains, we prefer to +share jointly the responsibility; and have, therefore, omitted to attach +signatures to the several articles. The shorter paragraphs, scattered +through the work, embody ideas from several contributions which have +been excluded by its narrow limits. Such as it is, we present it to the +public generally, and especially to our pupils, as a slight token of the +ardent love we bear them, humbly praying that the moral lessons it +contains may find a place in their hearts, and contribute to the +formation of such a character as involves within itself the highest form +of blessing. + + +TEACHERS OF THE SCHOOL STREET UNIVERSALIST SUNDAY SCHOOL, BOSTON. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +Dedication +Preface +Remember me +Honor thy Parents +Uncharitable Judgment +Boys become Men +To the Portrait of Father Ballou +Susan's Repentance and Appeal to her Elder Sister +Little Emma +The Old Sabbath Schoolroom +The Hunter, and his Dog Jowler--A Fable +Take Care of your Books +My Niece +Teachers' Library +Scholars' Library +Agatha +Responsibility +Duty of Parents +A Scholar's Remembrance of the Pic-Nic of 1850 +Rain Drops +Obey the Rules +The Ways of Providence +To Alberta +The Discontented Squirrel--A Fable +School Street Society +The Example of the Bee +The Morning Walk +True Satisfaction +Female Education +One Family +Summer Thoughts--A Fable +A Talk with the Children +Uncle Jimmy +The Child's Dream of Heaven +The Influence of Sabbath Schools +Memory +Selfishness +Trouble +Revenge +A Biographical Sketch +The Sabbath School Boys +Fear of Death +Ill Temper +Reading +A Sabbath School Excursion +Christ and Duty + + + + +OUR GIFT. + + +"REMEMBER ME." + + +"Remember me!" How swift the tide + Of memory glideth o'er the past; +Those sunny hours so quickly sped, + Perchance a few with clouds o'ercast. +But memory hath more lasting flowers, + Which Time's rude hand can ne'er efface, +The sweets we cull from friendship's bowers, + The gems affection's altar grace. + +"Remember me!" In youth's bright morn + Those simple words so lightly spoken, +Far into future years may reach, + And wake a spell which ne'er is broken. +A star to gleam in Memory's sky, + A line on Memory's page to glow, +A smile to offer at her shrine, + Or tears which from her springs shall flow. + +"Remember me!" As one by one + The cherished ties of earth are torn, +The magic spell which Memory weaves, + Shall long in kindred hearts be worn. +And when the last farewell is said, + A solace to each heart shall be +The memory of that love which spoke + In parting tones, "Remember me!" + + + + +HONOR THY PARENTS. + + +CONVERSATION I. + +"Honor thy father and thy mother." + +"Well, Clara," said Mary, as they left the church, "shall we go now and +take a walk before we go home? Look, there are William Johnson and +George Field waiting to see which way we shall turn, in order to +accompany us." + +"Not this afternoon," answered Clara, "I think we had better go home." + +They continued their way homeward until they reached the street where +Clara lived, and were about to part, when Mary asked her companion at +what time she would meet her the next morning to take a long walk, +adding that William and George would go with them. + +"I will ask mother," replied Clara, "and if she is willing, I will meet +you at six o'clock." + +"How is this," said Mary, "you never used to say you would ask your +mother; besides, there can be no possible objection to our going to take +a walk." + +"True," rejoined Clara, "there can be no objection to our taking a walk; +but we have never told our mothers that William and George are in the +habit of going with us." + +"Well, I don't see any _great_ harm in their going with us," continued +Mary, with a tone which indicated that she did not see _any_ harm +_whatever_ in it. + +"Perhaps there is not, and yet, Mary, I have thought that there might +be; therefore, I prefer to speak to my mother about it." + +"And pray, Miss Clara, what has made you so conscientious all at once?" + +"I will tell you, Mary. You recollect that on the last Sabbath, our +pastor took for his text, the fifth commandment." + +"Yes, I do." + +"Well, something which he said, caused me to think more about these +words than I ever did before; and the more I think of them, the more +convinced I am, that we do not consider and reflect upon them so much as +we ought to." + +"Let me see," said Mary, "Honor thy father and thy mother;"--"Well, I +am sure I do honor my father and my mother; I obey them when they give +me a command, and I love them with all my heart. What more can I do?" + +"So I reasoned before, but when I sat down alone in my chamber, a good +many things came to my mind, to convince me that I was wrong." + +"Well," added Mary, "let me have the benefit of your reflections." + +"Why, in this very instance of going to walk, I had always asked my +mother's consent, and she had given it; but I never told her where we +went, or who went with us, which now appears to me wrong. Our mothers +are much older than we are, and have had much more experience than we +have, and there _may_ be wrong in doing what appears to us quite +harmless." + +"For the life of me," interrupted Mary, "I cannot think there can +possibly be any harm in such a slight occurrence. However, say nothing +to your mother to-night; but go with us to-morrow morning, and then you +can mention it to her, and see what she says." + +"I beg your pardon, Mary; but you said just now, you could not see what +possible harm there could be in so slight an occurrence, and yet your +request to put off mentioning this to my mother, shows that you have +some misgivings on the subject." + +Mary reflected for a moment. "Clara," said she, "if you have no +objection, I will go home with you, and hear what your mother will say." + +"I shall be delighted to have you," was the answer. + +Mary Winthrop and Clara Spaulding had arrived at the ages of fourteen +and fifteen years, a time of life which is peculiarly critical for +girls. At no age do they more require the advice of a mother, and at no +age are they less inclined to seek it. This would seem to be a natural +disinclination, so prevalent is it. These were both good girls, but, as +may be judged from the conversation we have just related, Clara was the +more thoughtful, while Mary was very apt to act without much reflection. +She possessed, however, this noble trait; she was always ready to +acknowledge her error, when it was pointed out to her, and would +endeavor to avoid repeating it. + +Mrs. Spaulding had reached home when the girls entered. She was a woman +of excellent sense, and a mother indeed to her children. Mary frankly +told her all the conversation which had passed between Clara and +herself, and then waited for her opinion. + +"It makes me truly happy," said Mrs. S., "that you have come to me in +this free and open manner; and I am very glad that my dear Clara has +reflected so much upon the text. In itself, there is not much harm in +taking a walk with William Johnson and George Field, and yet it is not +proper for you to do so, without the knowledge and consent of your +parents. William and George are not bad boys, and perhaps would be +called by people generally, good ones; still, I have remarked a certain +levity in their manner, which if only occasional, might be called good +humor, but which, recurring as it does at all times and on all +occasions, the Sabbath not excepted, makes me fear that their training +at home is not what I should desire to have it. For this reason, Mary, I +am not willing that Clara should be often in their company, nor do I +think your mother would differ from me, should you ask her." + +"I wonder," said Mary, "how Clara came to think of this slight +circumstance of a walk, in connection with the commandment, 'Honor thy +father and thy mother.'" + +"I thought she had sufficiently explained that, herself," replied Mrs. +Spaulding. "I wish both of you, and not only you, but all young persons, +would think a good deal more on this subject. I remember when I was of +your age, that many things occurred which I omitted to mention to my +mother, but which it would have been much better for me, if I had told +her. Sometimes these concerned my bodily health, and I am sure that if I +had informed her of them at the time, I should now have a much better +constitution than I possess. At other times, I neglected to ask her +advice about what I thought were small matters; but the result proved +that I should have been saved much trouble had I consulted her." + +"In fact," continued Mrs. S., "the command to honor thy father and thy +mother, is far more comprehensive, and exacts many more duties, than the +young, and, I am sorry to say, the old too, are willing to recognize. +The young are too apt to think, when they get into their teens, that +there are a great many things about which there is no need of asking +their parents' advice and counsel; that they know, _then, about_ as well +as their parents what they ought to do; and, by the time they get to be +eighteen or nineteen years of age, _a good deal better_. But, my dear +children, it is not so. And the young who reason and act thus, will soon +cease to honor their father and mother. No! The Almighty Father, in +giving this as one of the ten commandments to the children of Israel, +knew the vanity of our nature. He knew how unwilling the young are to +learn from the experience of the old, and he therefore proclaimed this +command, that they might have it constantly before their eyes. + +"I have said, this is a comprehensive command. To honor thy father and +thy mother is not merely to show them outward respect. It embraces +numberless duties, and among them this; the duty, while you are young, +of doing nothing without their knowledge and consent, when you are in a +situation to ask it. + +"Be assured of one thing. If you are about to go anywhere, or do +anything, and a doubt arises in your mind whether it is necessary to ask +your mother's permission, be certain that you ought to ask it. The very +doubt in your own mind is sufficient evidence of the fact. + +"Get into the habit of talking with your mother upon every subject; your +diversions, your studies, your health. Never conceal anything from her. +Is she not your mother? Did she not give you being? Who then shall you +look up to, if not to her?" + +"O," interrupted Mary, "I have sometimes begun to talk to my mother +about many things which I did not exactly understand, but somehow or +other she was not willing to answer my questions." + +"Perhaps," said Mrs. Spaulding, "you did not take a proper occasion, or +she may have been very busy about something else. You ought always to +endeavor to take a proper time for everything. At the same time," she +continued, "I am sorry to say that there are some mothers who think +children cannot be talked to, and reasoned with, till they are of age. +This is a mistaken idea. Children have reasoning faculties, and the +sooner we begin to converse with them accordingly, the sooner will those +faculties be developed. With this view, we ought always to encourage +them to give us their confidence on all occasions, gratify their +curiosity, and allow them to talk upon every subject to us. If we do not +act thus, they will soon abstain from that frank manner with which +children ought always to lay open their whole hearts to their parents." + +"O yes," cried Mary; "there is Emma Woodbury,--I do not believe she ever +asks her mother's advice." + +"No," said Clara, "and there is Jane Clifton's mother,--" + +"Stop, my dears," interrupted Mrs. Spaulding, "these remarks of yours +remind me that there is another subject, about which I should like to +have a conversation with you; and if your mother, Mary, will give you +permission to come home with Clara, after school to-morrow afternoon, I +will tell you what it is." + +"O yes, I know she will," replied Mary. "Indeed, yesterday, I should not +have thought of asking her; but now, after what I have heard from your +lips, I shall not do anything, or go anywhere, without asking her +consent." + +"I am glad," responded Mrs. Spaulding, "that you remember this lesson so +well. Now, Mary, you had better go home; and may neither of you ever +think otherwise than seriously, of the divine command, to 'honor thy +father and thy mother;' and remember that few persons have ever come to +harm when they grew up, who in their youth obeyed it." + + + + +UNCHARITABLE JUDGMENT. + + +CONVERSATION II. + +"Cast out the beam from thine own eye, then shalt thou see clearly to +cast the mote out of thy brother's eye." + +Mary's mother cheerfully gave her leave to go home with Clara, the next +day. She knew and highly esteemed Mrs. Spaulding, and was very glad that +her daughter should be intimate with her family. + +Mrs. Spaulding greeted the girls with a smile and a kind word; then +said, "Mary, you began last evening to make a remark about Emma +Woodbury. Will you tell me what you were going to say?" + +"Certainly," replied Mary; "I was going to say that Emma scarcely ever +asked the advice of her mother, or her consent to do anything or go +anywhere; and I know a great many girls who act in the same way." + +"And I," added Clara, "intended to say that Jane Clifton's mother was +one of those whom you spoke of, as never conversing with children in a +rational and reasoning manner." + +"I guessed as much," said Mrs. Spaulding. "I told you," she continued, +"there was another point upon which I wished to say a few words to you. +Can you think what it is?" + +"I cannot," said Mary. "Nor I either," said Clara; "certainly, I see no +harm in the words we uttered." + +"True," responded Mrs. Spaulding, "there was no harm. It was not the +words you spoke, but the tone in which they were spoken, that attracted +my attention; as if you were _glad_ to be able to point out somebody to +whom the reproof could be applied. This failing is a common one, and our +Savior may have had it in view, when he said to his followers, on the +mount, 'Cast out the beam from thine own eye; and then shalt thou see +clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother's eye.' My object now, my +dear children, is to caution you against a failing, which is almost +universal, namely, of seeing distinctly and reproving faults in others, +while we appear to be quite unconscious that we ourselves are in the +practice of the same or worse defects. + +"This blemish develops itself in a variety of ways. The pastor preaches +an excellent sermon, wherein is contained some allusion to faults which +ought to be corrected. If the people had treasured up in their hearts +all his exhortations, they would not have forgotten one which he has +often endeavored to impress upon their minds; I mean, the duty of +self-communion, self-examination; and when he should have occasion to +allude to faults, they would, one and all, ask themselves, 'Am I guilty +of this wrong? Let me see; and if I am, let me correct it in future.' +Instead of this, how frequently do we hear such expressions as these: +'The remarks in the sermon this morning applied to Mr. A or Mrs. B, very +well, and it is to be hoped they will see it, and profit by it.' Now if +such individuals, instead of trying to find others who are guilty of the +wrong indicated, would only carefully look within themselves, ten +chances to one they would find that they deserved the rebuke as much as +any one else. + +"Children insensibly contract the same bad habit of looking very sharply +for the faults of others, never once thinking that they may have some, +which, if not precisely the same, may be even worse. Thus if the pastor, +superintendent, or one of the teachers, addresses the Sabbath school, +calling the attention of the scholars generally to any fault, each +scholar ought to ask himself at once, 'Is it I?' and not look round +complacently and ask, 'Who _can_ it be?' or say, 'I guess the speaker +means to refer to Lilly A or Edgar B.'" + +"Well," said Mary, "I must confess that I have done this often, and +without being conscious of any wrong feelings; some how or other, I did +not consider that the reproof belonged to me; or ever ask myself if I +had committed the fault which was exposed." + +"For this reason, I remarked," continued Mrs. S., "that children +insensibly contract this habit from their parents; and the defect +extends to physical as well as moral errors. Not long since, I had an +interesting conversation with Mr. R., a well-known philanthropist and +physiologist, who is devoting his life to the alleviation of some of the +ills of human existence. He told me that, a short time before, he +delivered a lecture to parents on the physical training of their +children, and pointed out the great mistakes which are often made. On +retiring, said he, I overheard many remarks, but not one spoke as if I +had addressed him. Every one could point to some one else who might well +profit by the lecture; but not one would believe that I meant to say to +each individual present, as Nathan said unto David, 'Thou art the man.'" + +"I am sure," observed Clara, "I never felt the full force of this saying +of our Savior before, although I have read it a hundred times. I shall +read the whole chapter again, carefully, to-night." + +"And so will I," added Mary. + +"Do so, my children," said Mrs. S., "and read in the same careful spirit +the whole Sermon on the Mount, and all our Savior's teachings. Many +people, old and young, read the New Testament because they are told to, +without thinking that there is an active, living principle in it, a +thought to be treasured up and carried out in our daily lives, in almost +every word the Master uttered. Those who _do_ read it in the true +spirit, find new pleasure and new instruction every time they peruse it. + +"And finally, to come back to our subject, when you hear your +schoolmates making uncharitable remarks about others, use all your +influence, especially by your own example, to make them correct the +habit. And when you hear a sermon in church, or an address in the +school, where any faults are exposed, ask yourselves if the rebuke +applies to you; and if it does, set about correcting the fault +immediately. Do this always. 'Cast the _beam_ out of thine own eye,' +correct your own errors, then will you see clearly to 'cast the _mote_ +out of thy brother's eye.'" + +Mary returned home that evening well pleased with the two conversations +she had taken part in; and better still, she and Clara profited by them. +I am happy to add, that their schoolmates are gradually correcting many +evil habits by the good example of these two girls; and thus Mary and +Clara have the double satisfaction of improving their own conduct, and +of being instrumental in improving that of others. + + + + +BOYS BECOME MEN. + + +If you were to be boys always, and didn't need to know anything more +than just enough to enable you to enjoy your sports from day to day, it +would not be so necessary, perhaps, as it now is, to attend strictly to +your every-day studies; though the influences of the Sunday school would +be necessary, even then. Boys cannot enjoy their sports together, unless +they are truthful, just, and kind; and it is in the Sunday school that +these graces are most successfully acquired. But boys will become men; +and all the knowledge they can acquire in boyhood will become +serviceable in manhood. Therefore, boys should be diligent. + + + + +TO THE PORTRAIT OF FATHER BALLOU, +HANGING IN MURRAY HALL. + + +O, much-loved features! Faithful counterpart + Of one we love, and cherish, and revere; +Thy gentle influence shed o'er every heart, + And be thy spirit ever present here. + +Look from thy quiet resting-place on us, + With that familiar smile so dear to all, +Which ever seems to speak of happiness, + And every mourner would to hope recall. + +Thro' childhood's sunny days and youth's bright morn, + Mid changes and mid sorrows, thou hast been +A light to guide, a hope to cheer and warm, + And to the heart bring joy and peace again. + +And for thine honored form how fit the place, + Where childhood's ear instruction would receive; +Preside o'er all, lend all our efforts grace, + To learn God's love, and on his word believe. + +Thy Master's faithful servant! Who, in love, + Took little children in his arms to bless; +While looking down from his bright home above, + Through thee diffusing peace and holiness; + +May his pure spirit ever with us dwell, + Shedding o'er all our thoughts its heavenly ray; +Our hearts attune the song of praise to swell, + And o'er our darkness pour eternal day. + +And when thou'rt left alone, to bear the name + Of him whose faithful emblem thou art made, +May thou through ages still endure the same, + Though all around thee shall decay and fade. + +May his dear memory, which through thee shall live + Long in the places which his love has blest, +Shine as a beacon, life and light to give, + And hope at last in God's eternal rest. + + + + +SUSAN'S REPENTANCE AND APPEAL TO HER ELDER SISTER. + + +I once knew two sisters, the only companions of a widowed mother, who, +though they had no relatives and but very few friends, and should +therefore have been the more closely united in heart, were in the habit +oftener of harshly rebuking and blaming, than of encouraging, assisting, +and comforting each other. I often wondered at this, as they both had +many estimable traits of character, and could only account for it, not +excuse it, by the fact, that they had been much separated in early life, +and, since their reunion, had had to encounter many obstacles, and bear +the weight of many heavy disappointments. I confidently hoped and +believed that the good sense of one or both of them, would in time lead +them to see their error, and the sin of thus fretting and irritating +each other. Nor was I disappointed. The younger, whose conscience was +the most sensitive, first made the discovery, and immediately began +trying to remedy the evil, and to induce her sister to aid her in the +endeavor. Imagining some of her thoughts and feelings, I have put them +in rhyme. + +We have done wrong, dear sister; and I'm very sad to-day: +For I have felt how far we've strayed from wisdom's blessed way; +Have felt how much of angry strife hath dwelt within our hearts, +And how, when _that_ has entered in, Life's happiness departs. + +We have done wrong, dear sister; for we have not patient been, +But answered often hasty words by hasty words again; +And when we should with gentle acts have soothed each other's care, +We've made by cold indifference our lot more hard to bear. + +We have done wrong, dear sister; I remember how we've grieved +Our widowed mother's anxious heart, so long of joy bereaved; +O, were we loving, good, and kind, and all our murmurings o'er, +Might not the smiles come back again and light her face once more? + +I know our lot in life, thus far, hath not been smooth and fair; +That often much of toil and ill has fallen to our share; +But why, dear sister, why should we _ourselves_ the load increase? +Why, by our jangling and our strife, shut out all joy and peace? + +And more: we have offended God; this day I feel and know +We have forgotten his commands, and gained us nought but woe. +O join with me as, filled with grief, most earnestly I pray, +That he will yet be merciful, and take our sin away. + +"Love thou each other;" "love all men;" "and love shall make you free;" +Thus said the Savior, Jesus; and let this _our_ watchword be; +Let us each other love; and pray that gentle thoughts may come, +And gentle words and acts may make an Eden of our home. + +Forgive me now, dear sister, all the anger I have shown, +And all my past unkindness, through the years already flown; +I'll love thee faithfully and true, and lay all harshness by; +To be my loving sister, then, wilt _thou_ not also try? + + + + +LITTLE EMMA. + + +One Saturday afternoon, little Emma came into her mother's room, and +said to her, "Mother, may I go with Abba to her Sunday school? She says, +they are all so happy there." + +"My child," said her mother, "why do you wish to leave your own school +and go to a strange one?" + +"Because, mother, Abba has often told me what a good school they have, +and how much she loves it." + +"Well, as you are very anxious to go, I will grant your request this +once, on condition that it must never be repeated." + +The next morning, this pleasant little girl was up very early to make +ready to go with her friend to the new Sabbath school. + +She was delighted with all she saw and heard; and when the pastor took +her by the hand, she said to herself, "I wish mother would permit me to +come here every Sunday. I will ask her, at any rate." After the school +was dismissed, she went home, revolving in her mind what she should say +to obtain her mother's consent. + +Her mother observed how thoughtful she appeared, and said to her, "Emma, +how did you like Abba's Sunday school?" + +"Oh, mother! I was so happy; do let me go there. They sing so sweetly, +and the pastor was so kind. He had an affectionate word for all. Their +superintendent, too, was so pleasant, I know I should love him." + +Her mother said to her, with a very sorrowful countenance, "Do you know, +my child, that they teach very erroneous doctrines there, in regard to a +future life? They teach that all will be eventually holy and happy, both +the good and the bad." + +"But, mother, I should think it would make us all happy to believe so. +The minister told us that 'God is Love;' and that cannot be a bad +doctrine. I am sure I would much rather think so, than that he would +hate any of us, for you have often told me that hatred was very wicked. +I cannot think that a good and wise being would do that which you have +taught me is wrong. Then they all seem to love each other dearly. They +are like a pleasant family of brothers and sisters. Do let me go, will +you not, dear mother? I should be so happy." + +Her mother said many things to convince her that it was not right to +change her school. But she was very unhappy, and said so often, "Do let +me go," that her mother consented to gratify her; thinking, perhaps, +that she would soon tire of it. + +Sunday came, and Emma was nearly the first one there; so anxious was she +to be in season. + +She entered the schoolroom with a bright and happy face, and when the +superintendent came to her, she said, "I have come to join your Sabbath +school. Will you receive me?" + +To add to her joy, the superintendent gave her a seat in the same class +with her friend Abba, who was a very kind and good little girl; and she +found a number of others in the class who were very glad to see her +there. One little girl lent her a book to study, and when the teacher +gave her a lesson for the next Sabbath, she said, "I have a lesson now. +Fanny lent me her book, and I have already learned a lesson from it." + +This pleased her teacher very much; for she thought that there were many +little girls who would have been very glad of such an excuse to put off +their lessons. Ever after, she was very constant in her attendance, +always had her lessons very perfect, and never stayed at home, even if +it chanced to be a rainy clay; for she would say, "My teacher will be +there; and I am sure if she is there, I can go. Besides, I know it will +make her very happy to see me always in my place." + +In this way did this good little Emma continue to go on, acquiring +knowledge, and gaining the love and good-will of all who knew her. She +was always happy and cheerful; kind to her parents, obliging to her +brothers and sisters, ever ready to assist the poor and destitute, +having a kind word and a happy smile for all. And this she learned from +that one great and ennobling truth, that "God is Love." + + + + +THE OLD SABBATH SCHOOLROOM. + + +A PARODY. + + +How dear to our hearts is that old Sabbath schoolroom, +Which each Sunday morning presents to our view; +The seats, the piano, the portrait that's near it, +And ev'ry loved thing which our memory knew. +Our dearly-loved pastor, his wife who comes with him, +Our Superintendent, and dear Mrs. G., +The teachers, the pupils, and faithful Librarians, +We each Sabbath morning invariably see. + That old Sabbath schoolroom, that dearly-loved schoolroom, + That blessed old schoolroom where all love to be. + +That old Sabbath schoolroom we hail as a treasure; +For often, when weary and anxious with care, +We've found it the place of a heavenly pleasure +We seek for with ardor, but find not elsewhere. +How eager we enter, with hearts that are glowing, +And quick to our places,--we all know them well,-- +And then with our song-books, and souls overflowing, +The anthem of praise we unitedly swell, + That old Sabbath schoolroom, that dearly-loved schoolroom, + That blessed old schoolroom where all love to be. + +Blest truth,--from our teachers with joy we receive it,-- +That God is our Father, our Savior and Friend! +There's nought so alluring could tempt us to leave it, +Though fraught with all pleasures the fancy can lend. +And when far removed to some distant location, +The tears of regret will intrusively swell, +As mem'ry reverts to our former vocation, +And longs for the schoolroom we all loved so well. + That old Sabbath schoolroom, that dearly-loved schoolroom, + That blessed old schoolroom we all love so well. + + + + +THE HUNTER, AND HIS DOG JOWLER. + + +A FABLE. + +A famous hunter in the woodland country had a dog which was particularly +fond of certain kinds of game, but exceedingly averse to other kinds of +much better flavor. Now it happened that, whenever the hunter wished to +give chase to moose or deer, Jowler was sure to scare up a woodchuck, or +some still filthier game, leaving the deer to make good his escape. + +Day after day thus passed away, leaving the hunter's labors no suitable +reward. It was in vain that the hunter expostulated with his dog. +Neither threats nor blows were of any avail. When the master would hunt +one thing, the dog was sure to be hunting something else. + +At length, both master and dog seemed to tire of their constant +conflict, and to desire some adjustment, whereby each might accommodate +his own taste to some extent, and yet live in harmony with the other. +With this view, a friendly conference was held, in which Jowler appeared +so tenacious, that the hunter well-nigh despaired of any adjustment +whatever. + +It was, however, finally agreed, that Jowler should hunt game to his own +taste five days in the week, and devote the remaining hunting day to +such game as his master preferred. Jowler, however, was careful to +stipulate that, if he chanced to find himself ill, or not in hunting +trim, on the sixth day, he should be considerately dealt by, and not +forced to go beyond his strength. + +The arrangements being fully made, a paper was drawn up containing the +articles of agreement, and both Jowler and the hunter affixed their +names thereto. Jowler, no doubt, congratulated himself on having it all +to his liking five days out of six; while the hunter, perhaps, flattered +himself that the taste of venison one day in the week, would so improve +the standard of Jowler's tastes, as to bend him, at length, altogether +to his own wishes. + +For a while, things seemed to promise well, under the new arrangement. +By and by, when the day for hunting venison came round, Jowler was sick, +and told his master he couldn't hunt that day. So his master very +considerately excused him, according to the terms of their agreement. + +It was not long, however, before Jowler refused to hunt for another +reason. He said, he had followed his own game with such constancy and +alacrity for the five days, that he was too much exhausted to hunt +venison on the sixth day. He must rest from any farther fatigue; and +claimed the continued indulgence of his master, by virtue of their +contract. + +The hunter urged in vain that Jowler had virtually violated the +contract; for although it was stipulated that he should not be compelled +to the chase to his personal detriment, yet it was implied, of course, +that he should use the same precaution to be in hunting trim on the +sixth day, as he did to be so on the other five. While the fact was, he +purposely deprived himself of rest during the five days, that he might +be compelled to employ the sixth as a day of rest, thus virtually +appropriating the whole time to his own service. + +Jowler, however, pretended not to be convinced of his wrong. Nor did his +dishonesty stop here. His master soon discovered that, while he was +pretending to be unable from his excessive fatigue to hunt venison, he +was really continuing to hunt his own game, as on the other five days. + +Thus did he go on, his old loves gaining strength day by day, and +impelling him to a total disregard of his contract in order to indulge +them, until his master would bear with him no longer, but drove him from +his door. + +Having deprived himself of the care of so good a master, he soon fell +into still greater irregularities; and a neighboring shepherd, +suspecting him of committing depredations upon his flock, killed him, +thus terminating his vicious career. + +Moral.--Excessive engagedness in worldly labors six days in the week, is +no sufficient excuse for the neglect of public worship on the seventh; +and a vicious love, continually indulged, is quite sure to root out even +our good resolutions. + + + + +TAKE CARE OF YOUR BOOKS. + + +Suppose you loan a book to a friend, would you not consider it his +imperative duty to take the best of care of it, as though it were his +own, and return it in as good condition as it was when taken? Certainly +you would. Then the same duty devolves upon you, as a member of the +Sunday school. The school lends you books, and expects you to take good +care of them, and return them early. This is no trifling duty. If you +have a right to be negligent, every other scholar must have the same +right, and the Library would be speedily ruined. Thus your negligence +greatly wrongs others. Therefore, children, _take care of your books_. + + + + +MY NIECE. + + +I know a darling little girl, + With silky, chestnut hair, +Which falls in many a dancing curl, + Around her shoulders fair. + +Her eyes are very dark and soft, + And round their curtained bed, +I've seen the fairy smiles full oft + Their radiant beauty shed. + +Her very tears are like the rain + Which falls in summer's hour; +Quick turned to glittering gems again, + As sun succeeds to shower. + +This witching child is very small; + Her feeble, tiny hands, +Can scarcely tend the mammoth doll, + Which so much care demands. + +Then, though her voice is very sweet, + She does but little more +Than simple childish songs repeat, + And prattle baby lore. + +She cannot skip, for ah! she's lame; + One soft, white foot denies +Its aid, her body to sustain, + And weak and powerless lies. + +Yet, strange to say, a crown she wears, + Which claims our homage mute; +And in her hand a sceptre bears, + Whose sway we ne'er dispute. + +From whence doth come the wondrous power + She never fails to wield-- +Making strong hearts and wills, each hour, + To _her_ light wishes yield? + +If but a touch of grief appear + To veil that bright, pure face; +If sickness cast its shadows there, + Or pain its dark lines trace; + +How anxious every means we take, + The ill to drive away! +And cheerfully, for her dear sake, + Would watch both night and day. + +And when the light of coming health + Brightens that clear, dark eye, +What joy is ours! priceless wealth, + Earth's gold can never buy. + +She makes us cast aside our book, + Though filled with learning rare; +To work is vain, when fun's arch look + Those beaming features wear. + +Whence is this spell? I can but think + That, in sweet childhood's hour, +E'er yet the soul has learned to drink + From knowledge' fount of power; + +Or felt what virtue is, or known + Life's sins, not yet begun; +Or seen how thick life's path is strown + With dangers it must shun; + +A spirit pure doth come, to dwell + In these fresh-bursting minds, +Who weaves round them the powerful spell + Our hearts so firmly binds; + +Our holier thoughts through them to wake; + Our earth-dimmed vision clear; +And through _their_ purity, to make + _All_ holy things more dear. + +If so, where speeds that spirit, when + The soul has gathered strength-- +The child, become with busy men, + A busy man at length? + +Where has _our_ childhood's spirit gone? + How have _we_ lost the charm, +Thus thrown around life's early morn, + Keeping us safe from harm? + +Ay! whither speeds it? Rather say + Is it not always by, +Though, through the dust of life's noonday, + We may not see it nigh; + +Nor when dark clouds of sin would veil + _All_ glory from our sight; +And make both heart and hope to fail, + And brightness turn to night? + +But when, midst virtue's clearer air, + The eye no hindrance knows, +How radiant stands the angel there! + What holy gifts bestows! + +My darling niece, whose form of grace + Has made these thoughts arise, +I'm sure this angel oft I trace + In those clear depths--thine eyes. + +And bursting forth from my full heart, + My prayers to heaven ascend, +That earth's dark changes ne'er may part + Thee and thy angel friend. + +That purity may always be + The medium, clear and bright, +Through which may ever shine on thee + Heaven's own unclouded light. + + + + +TEACHERS' LIBRARY. + + +The Teachers' Library connected with the School street Universalist +Sunday school, was commenced in 1841, when 67 volumes were collected for +that purpose.--Great care has been taken in selecting volumes for this +library. At this time, 1850, it numbers 194 valuable books. + + + + +SCHOLARS' LIBRARY. + + +The foundation of the Scholars' Library, connected with the School +street Universalist Sunday school, was laid in the year 1835. The number +of volumes, in 1840, amounted to 400, of which 100 needed repairing. +Some 50 volumes were added during 1841. Additions continued to be made +from year to year, till the spring of 1850, when the number was +increased to 700 volumes. + + + + +AGATHA. + + +Little Agatha was a Sabbath school scholar. She lived in a rural +district of Scotland. Her father's dwelling was surrounded by trees and +flowers, and near by a little sparkling rivulet wandered onward, now +murmuring along by its rocky bed and dancing over bright pebbles, and +now wending its way silently through the valley, journeying onward to +mingle with kindred waters. + +Agatha loved to roam through these shady glens, and often would she +stand upon the margin of the little stream, and, gazing down, fancy that +she saw a beautiful little angel in the pure waters. She sometimes +waited a long time, hoping it might speak to her, little dreaming that +her sweet angel was but the reflection of her own innocent face and +golden ringlets from the mirrored surface. She loved the little brook, +and walked among the wild flowers upon its banks, herself as pure and +innocent as Spring's earliest blossoms. She was never lonely in her +rural bowers; for the brook, the birds, and the flowers, ever spoke to +her heart in tones of love. + +But one day her teacher told her that wicked spirits were ever flying +about, trying to lead away little children into their company, and make +them as wicked as themselves. This much disquieted Agatha, for she had +never learned before that aught existed save innocence and joy. At +first, she feared to wander out alone, into the "great temple of +nature," as she was wont, lest she should meet some of those malicious +beings. She dared not look into the pure waters, fearing that, instead +of the beautiful angel which so often met her gaze, hideous forms might +rise and drag her away into their bad company. + +But her heart was soon quieted again; for her teacher also told her, +that good beings come down from the Spirit-land, to watch over little +children, and drive the wicked ones away. So Agatha no longer feared to +visit her favorite haunts, for she besought the good spirits to be her +guardians. And when at night she retired to her little couch, she prayed +the kind angels to watch over and protect her from evil spirits. And her +prayer was answered, for none but good spirits ever visited the heart of +Agatha. She was always punctual at Sabbath school; and one day after +looking around in vain for one of her mates, she was very much troubled +to learn that she had been led a long way off, by a company of evil +spirits. She longed to tear the unfortunate victim from their grasp; but +her teacher told her, that the celestial beings alone could save her, +and she must pray to them. + +So Agatha went home, and walked out among the flowers, thinking the +celestial spirits would delight to linger in so pure a spot, and +kneeling amid a cluster of roses, she prayed them to fly to the rescue +of her misled companion. And everywhere that Agatha thought pure enough +for the abode of the good spirits, would she go and pray that her friend +might be restored. At night she would look up to the stars, and entreat +the same good beings to come down from their pure, bright dwellings, and +lead back the straying one. Her prayers were soon answered, and when she +next went to Sabbath school, she was almost overjoyed to find her little +friend at her accustomed place. Little Mary (for she it was who had been +led away) seemed very happy to get back again. She kissed her +schoolmates, and said she would never leave them more. But she told them +a sad tale of Sin-land; how the evil ones would not suffer her to sleep, +lest, in her slumbers, the good spirits might visit her and take her +away;--that they would not let her walk among the flowers, for good +spirits are there. And for a long time they watched her very closely, +and directed her steps in their pathway. + +But, at length, when she become faint and weary, the ministering angels +came to her assistance, took her in their arms, and folding her weary +limbs in their white robes, bore her back to her anxious companions. No +one rejoiced more than did Agatha, that the heavenly messengers had led +Mary back. + +Their teacher said that her school was a little garden of flowers, which +she was rearing for heaven. But Agatha was the most innocent flower +there, and ready to bloom in the garden of paradise. The kind heavenly +guides thought her too pure for earth, and they would fain have her +companionship in their purer regions. So they bore her away on wings of +love to their heavenly home. + +May every Sabbath school scholar be, like Agatha, led by celestial +spirits. + + + + +RESPONSIBILITY. + + +That teacher alone, whose eye is open to the immense value of religious +influences, and who perceives the importance of trifles in morals, can +properly feel his great responsibility, or be qualified to guide the +young in the way of life. + + + + +DUTY OF PARENTS. + + +Parents should see that their children understand their lessons, and +that they commit them perfectly. They will thus both aid and encourage +the superintendent and teachers. + + + + +A SCHOLAR'S REMEMBRANCE OF THE PIC-NIC OF 1850. + + +How bright, my dear mother, this sweet summer morning, + Does everything round me appear; +The sun the tall steeples with gold is adorning, + And lights up the skies blue and clear. + +All freshly around me the west wind is blowing; + And, mother, I smell the sweet hay +Which was left on the Common from yesterday's mowing; + How I wish they'd not take it away. + +I'm sure 'tis too pleasant of school to be thinking, + Its tasks this bright day I should hate; +Much better I'd like the fresh air to be drinking, + Than puzzle o'er book and o'er slate. + +O if it were Pic-nic to-day, my dear mother, + How happy and gay I should be! +How joyful without any studies to pother, + Away in the woods to roam free. + +I'm sorry 'tis over; how great was my pleasure + The whole of that beautiful day; +I jumped, and I danced, and I sung without measure, + But ah! it so soon passed away. + +How well I remember the time of our starting! + How quick the large cars we did fill! +How screamed the shrill whistle, the signal for parting! + How we flew by town, river, and hill! + +We reached the sweet grove which in stillness was waiting, + Its numerous guests to receive; +We rested one moment, while we were debating + What wonder we first should achieve. + +"Let us make some green wreaths! let us gather wild flowers!" + Said some; and they bounded away. +"Let us fill up with music and dancing the hours!" + Said others, more lively and gay. + +And soon every part of the wild wood was ringing + With sounds full of mirth and of glee; +Some dizzily high in the free air were swinging, + While others climbed up the tall tree. + +When called from our sports, to our dinner we hasted, + And sat on the green grassy ground; +How keenly we relished each morsel we tasted, + While fanned by the soft air around. + +Then came a loud summons, the signal for choosing + Our Queen by the mystical ring; +We crowned her with flowers; nor feared her abusing + The honors her station might bring. + +We sang some sweet school-songs, and then our loved pastor, + With other dear friends who were there, +Told us kindly of Jesus, the Savior and Master; + Of God, and his fatherly care; + +Who planted the trees that were waving around us, + And the wild flowers growing below; +Who all our life long with rich blessings had crowned us, + And watched us where'er we might go. + +Then, mother, I heard all around me a whisp'ring, + And soon I found out what it meant; +When to hallow our Pic-nic, the sweet rite of christ'ning + Its soft, holy influence lent. + +Forth from the glad circle, their sweet infants bringing, + Came parents, with mild, thoughtful mien; +What deep, tender thoughts in all bosoms were springing! + How solemn, how sacred the scene. + +And I could not keep back the hot tears, my dear mother, + Which came thick and fast to my eyes; +For those babes made me think of my own darling brother, + Now gone to his home in the skies. + +When this service was over, my playmates came round + And drew me away to the wood; +No longer light-hearted and merry they found me, + For thoughtful and sad was my mood. + +So on the soft turf I sat silently thinking, + Of days when dear brother was by; +While slowly and surely the bright sun was sinking, + Far down in the clear western sky. + +Ring, ring, went the bell; and then, O, what a hustling! + All knew 'twas the signal to part; +What searching for bonnets and boxes! what bustling! + All hurrying, eager to start. + +We left ere the shadows of evening were dimming + The broad fields and woods all around; +And with our swift steam-horse, again we went skimming + Through village, and meadow, and town. + +We soon reached the city, and after the saying + Of cheerful "Good night," to our friends, +We sought our own home without further delaying, + And the rest night to weariness sends. + +'Twas a blest, happy day; and oft in my dreaming + That cool, shady grove do I see, +With its bright little spots where the sunlight lay gleaming, + And all that was pleasant to me. + +And much do I hope, when again, my dear mother, + The summer shall come with its flowers, +Our teachers will kindly allow us another + Such Pic-nic, mid Nature's green bowers. + + + + +RAIN DROPS. + + +"O mamma, how fast it rains! Do see those bright and sparkling drops, as +they fall so rapidly on the green walks and beautiful flowers! Just see +how revived that little fainting flower looks on the farther border. It +was but yesterday I thought it would die. It drooped its head as if to +avoid the rays of the scorching sun; but now it is as fresh as any on my +little bed. Who was so kind, mamma, as to send this gentle shower, +purposely, as I should think, to save my favorite flower?" + +"'Favorite,' my child, did you say? I thought you loved them all." + +"Oh, I do; but this one looked so sickly and faint, and I have watched +it so anxiously, that it really seems dearer to me than all the rest; +just as when we are sick, mamma, you watch us the more constantly, and +love us the more tenderly. But who did send the rain, mamma?" + +"It was God, my child, who caused the gentle showers, not only to cheer +your heart, by making the little flower revive, but to bless all his +children. Have you forgotten your little verse, about God sending 'rain +on the just, and on the unjust?'" + +"O no; I remember it well. I think he is very kind to remember +everybody. I am sure I shall always love him." + +"I hope you always will. He is a lovable being. He delights in those +that are good, and is always ready to cheer and bless them." + + + + +OBEY THE RULES. + + +A careful regard to all the rules of a Sabbath school,--the rules +touching the library, those concerning the time of entrance, the general +exercises, the demeanor of the pupils and the recitations,--will greatly +facilitate the business of the school, relieve the officers and teachers +of much of their labor, and make the school itself beautiful for its +order and harmony, and invaluable for its usefulness and success. + + + + +THE WAYS OF PROVIDENCE. + + +"God moves in a mysterious way, + His wonders to perform; +He plants his footsteps in the sea, + And rides upon the storm." + +We may understand by Providence the all-providing care of God over his +creatures. He is our staff. Without his aid and support, we should sink; +all our efforts would be of no avail. Without his sustaining power, we +could not endure the cares and troubles attending this life. He cares +for us in the broad day, urging us to resist temptation. He watches us +by night, that no harm shall befall us. Mighty was the power of our +Savior at the marriage feast, when he turned water into wine, and many +were the miracles he performed during his stay in this world, in healing +the sick, the lame, and the blind. The ways of God appear mysterious to +us, because we cannot understand his motives. We know that all he does +is right, and for our good; therefore we should not indulge a murmuring +spirit at anything that may happen to us. It is our duty, as we cannot +understand His manifold ways, and all-wise purposes, to study deeply the +Holy Scriptures, and be willing to be taught by those wiser and better +informed than ourselves. We should confidently rely in God's wisdom and +knowledge, which are so much greater than ours; yielding all things to +him; looking forward to that bright and happier world, where there is no +sorrow, and striving to make ourselves worthy of his love, which is +unbounded. + +Philanthropy.--He is the wisest philanthropist who employs his energies +and resources in the promotion of virtue. + +Preparation For Death.--He who is prepared to live, is prepared to die. +And he who thinks and feels aright, is prepared for both. + + + + +TO ALBERTA. + + +And thou art gone, Alberta, + No sound shall wake thee now; +The dreamless sleep thou sleepest, + Death's shadow on thy brow. + +Like a bright summer flower. + Borne by rude winds away, +Whose odors yet shall linger, + Though the fair form decay,-- + +So, long thy spirit, wafted + In fragrance back to earth, +Shall bloom in memory's bowers, + Mid plants of heavenly birth. + +We tune our harps to sadness, + And songs of sorrow sing, +And to the Father's altar, + A mournful tribute bring. + +No more thou strowest flowers + Of sunshine o'er our path; +Thy song forever silent, + Thy voice is hushed in death. + +Yet not for thee we sorrow, + Thy sorrows all are o'er; +Thine earthly journey ended, + Thou'st reached that happy shore, + +Where spirits blest are waiting, + To welcome thee above; +There evermore to lead thee + In realms of peace and love. + +And hand in hand with angels, + Around God's throne to stand, +Warbling sweet anthems ever, + Amid that heavenly band. + +Farewell! we would not wake thee, + 'T were vain to wish thee here; +A Father's arms receive thee, + Sleep on, nor danger fear. + +Rise! and in Jesus' kingdom + Thy blissful station take; +A Father's house is open, + To life immortal wake! + +OBT. Alberta Richardson, aged 8 years and 4 mos.; a beloved member of +the 2nd Universalist Sabbath school. + + + + +THE DISCONTENTED SQUIRREL. + + +A FABLE. + +In a wood, pleasantly situated in the southern part of ----, there lived +a squirrel. One day, as it was viewing the departure of some migratory +birds from its neighborhood, it could not prevent the escape of a deep +sigh, accompanied with the exclamation, "O dear! I wish some land fairy +would make me a bird. I could then soar to a great height, or dart +swiftly through the air. Even if I were a little fish, to play about in +the water, I should be much better satisfied than in living here all my +life, and having nothing to do but gather nuts and acorns." + +At that moment, a fairy, who was near, having heard the soliloquy of the +discontented squirrel, immediately complied with its wish, and changed +it into a beautiful bird. This amazed the poor squirrel very much, and +when it attempted to call the attention of its companions by its +customary chatter, its scream ended in a song. + +The squirrel now thought its happiness was complete, and it concluded to +make use of its wings by a visit to some distant land. It had not gone +far before a storm arose, and it was obliged to take shelter in a tree. +It now began to wish it was in its snug little nest with its former +companions. + +The storm was soon over, and our bird again started on its journey. But +just then a hungry hawk, who had watched it for a long time, pounced +upon it. Fortunately, the fairy, who was near, seeing the bird was +sufficiently punished for its folly, took compassion on it, changed it +into a squirrel again, and placed it safely in its own tree. The +squirrel was ever afterward contented. + +Moral.--Every one should be contented with his lot; for every station in +life has its own ills. + + + + +SCHOOL STREET SOCIETY. + + +This Society, which has exerted an influence in the Universalist +denomination second to that of no other, was incorporated December 13, +1816. The meeting for organization was held at the Green Dragon tavern, +on the evening of January 25, 1817. Major John Brazer was chosen the +first Moderator. The Standing Committee consisted of John Brazer, Dr. +David Townsend, Edmund Wright, Daniel E, Powars, Lemuel Packard, Jr., +Levi Melcher, and John W. Trull, who were directed to ascertain where a +suitable lot of land could be procured on which to erect a house of +worship. After examining several lots, the one was selected on which the +church now stands, in School street, and it was accordingly bought about +the first of May following. + +The original means for building the church, was a subscription for +shares of one hundred dollars each; one hundred and thirty-nine shares +being taken by forty-three persons. Of this number, after a lapse of +nearly a third of a century, the following are still spared to us, as +willing supporters of the Society and cause to which they devoted the +meridian of their days, to wit: William Barry, Daniel E. Powars, Winslow +Wright, Joseph Badger, Caleb Wright, John W. Trull, Samuel Hichborn, and +Job Turner. + +On Monday, May 19, 1817, the corner-stone was laid, and within it was +deposited a silver plate, the gift of Dr. David Townsend, with this +inscription: "The Second Universal Church, devoted to the Worship of the +true God: Jesus Christ being the chief Corner Stone. May 19, 1817." The +building of the house was carried forward with energy, and on the 25th +of August the Chairman of the Committee was directed to address a letter +to Rev. Hosea Ballou, asking him if it would meet his approbation to be +considered a candidate for the office of pastor. The house having been +completed, it was voted to dedicate the same on Wednesday, October 15, +1817. The Rev. Thomas Jones was invited to preach the sermon, and Revs. +Edward Turner, Hosea Ballou, and Paul Dean, to conduct the other +services as might be mutually agreeable to them. In consequence, +however, of the Cattle Show at Brighton taking place on that day, it was +afterwards thought expedient to postpone the Dedication until the +succeeding day. + +On the day following the Dedication, the Society met for the purpose of +selecting a pastor; and the Standing Committee were instructed, by a +unanimous vote, to invite the Rev. Hosea Ballou to that office, at a +weekly salary of twenty-five dollars. This vote was communicated to him +in an appropriate letter from the Chairman of the Committee, to which +the following reply was received:-- + + Boston, Oct. 24, 1817. + + Sir,--The call of the Second Universalist Society in Boston, + inviting me to the labors of the Christian Ministry with them, + together with the liberal terms which accompany said invitation, has + been duly considered. And after weighing all the circumstances + relative to the subject, so far as my limited mind could comprehend + them, I have come to the conclusion that it is my duty to accept + their call on the conditions therein stated. I largely participate + the "peculiar pleasure" afforded by the consideration of the + unanimity of the Society, and entertain an humble hope that, with + the continuance of this harmony, we may long continue to enjoy all + spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. + + + The Society's most humble servant in Christ, + + Hosea Ballou. + + To John Brazer, Esq. + +He was publicly installed on Christmas day, December 25, 1817. Sermon, +from John xx. 24, and the Fellowship of the Churches, were given by Rev. +Paul Dean; Installing Prayer and Charge by Rev. Edward Turner, and the +Concluding Prayer by Rev. Joshua Flagg. + +At the annual meeting in May, 1818, the thanks of the Society were +presented to Lemuel Packard, Jr., Esq., for his generous donation of a +chandelier for the use of the church. The clock now in the church was +the gift of John Brazer, Esq., probably during the time of the building +of the church. + +In the summer of 1822, Mr. Ballou received an invitation to become the +pastor of the Second Universalist Society in Philadelphia, at a larger +salary than he was then receiving. In a letter to his Society, Mr. B. +states, that they are under no engagement to him beyond the term of six +months; and that, his salary being barely sufficient to support his +family, he felt bound to lay the invitation of the Philadelphia Society +before them for their assistance, in any decision he might make in +regard to it. The Society was accordingly called together, and by a +unanimous vote his salary was raised to thirty dollars a week. This vote +being communicated to him, he informed them in reply that the salary +voted him was fully and abundantly satisfactory to him, and that he +accepted it with pleasure. + +During the year 1836, the Society built the vestry in the attic story of +the church, and the following year, 1837, the interior of the church was +altered by a new pulpit, ceiling, introduction of gas, painting, &c. at +an expense of nearly five thousand dollars. And in the year 1840, the +Society purchased the organ now in the church. + +During the first years of the existence of the Society, the singing was +considered of a superior order; and it may be interesting to some of the +younger members of the Society to know that, in 1833, the Standing +Committee approved of the selection, by the choir, of Miss Charlotte +Cushman, as the leading female singer. Mr. Win. Barry, one of the +original proprietors, and at present one of the oldest men of the +congregation, conducted this part of public worship for several years. + +In 1840, the subject of an associate pastor was first brought forward; +and, in 1841, commenced those unfortunate difficulties in regard to it, +which continued with little interruption until the fall of 1845, when +the proprietors were called together to act upon a proposition to sell +the meeting-house and wind up the affairs of the Society. This +proposition was, however, rejected, by a decisive vote of more than two +to one, out of one hundred votes cast. During this period, the pulpit +was supplied one half the time by Father Ballou, and the other half by +Rev. T.C. Adam, from May, 1842, to May, 1843; by Rev. H.B. Soule, from +May, 1844, to May, 1845; and the other two years by the Standing +Committee. + +That portion of the Society who voted against the proposition to sell, +had, early in that year, taken counsel together in regard to the future +prosperity of the Society. Father Ballou expressed a willingness to be +relieved from all active duties as pastor of the Society, other than +those he might choose to perform as senior pastor, and also to +relinquish his salary if the Society felt that with their whole means +they would be able to secure the services of one who would again unite +them together. Accordingly, September 28, 1845, the proprietors were +called together, and his proposition was accepted. They also unanimously +invited the Rev. E.H. Chapin to become junior pastor, at a yearly salary +of two thousand dollars; and on the 8th of November the following +acceptance of their call was received by the committee through whom the +invitation was tendered. + + Charlestown, Nov. 8, 1845. + + _Brethren:_-- + + The invitation to become associate pastor of your Society, which you + have extended to me, is hereby accepted. Preliminaries relative to + the time when I can assume my connection with you must be the + subject of future communications. And that God may bless this + decision to your good, to mine, and to his glory,--is the prayer of + + Yours, Fraternally, + E.H. Chapin. + + To the Committee. + +Br. Chapin was installed January 28, 1846. The sermon was preached by +Father Ballou, from I Peter iv, 10 and 11. Rev. Messrs. Cook, Hichborn, +Streeter, II. Ballou 2d, Skinner, Fay, and Cleverly, took part in the +services. At the annual meeting in May, 1846, a committee was appointed +to express to Rev. Hosea Ballou the feelings of high regard unanimously +cherished towards him by the Society, in consideration of his long and +valuable services as their pastor; and to assure him that their prayers +for his welfare were still with him in his relations as senior pastor of +the Society. To this, the following reply was received by the committee. + + Boston, May 25, 1846. + + Messrs. Benajah Brigham, + Joseph Lincoln, and Bela Beal, + + _Brethren_:-- + + After having enjoyed so many years of pastoral connection with the + Second Universalist Society in this city, and having served the same + so long a time with constant solicitude for their spiritual + prosperity and with a consciousness of my many imperfections, I find + that words are insufficient to express the satisfaction I feel on + the reception of the unanimous vote of the Society expressive of + their approbation of my services, as pastor, and their prayers for + my happiness in my present position as senior. You will, brethren, + accept my thanks for the acceptable manner in which you have + communicated the vote of the Society to me, and assure the Society + of my fervent prayer for their spiritual prosperity under their + junior pastor. + + In the bonds of the Gospel, + + HOSEA BALLOU. + +At the annual meeting in 1847, the Standing Committee were directed to +invite Father Ballou to sit for his portrait, and that the same, when +finished, be placed in Murray Hall. This work was successfully executed, +and Father Ballou expressed himself highly complimented by the action of +the Society in regard to it. + +Early in 1848, the Society were called together to act upon the +following letter from Brother Chapin. + + Boston, Feb. 5, 1848. + + _Brethren_:-- + + After, as I trust, deliberate and proper consideration, I have + concluded to take up my connection with your Society, and accept of + the invitation from New York. I might extend this letter to great + length and yet not express the feelings with which I do this act. I + can only say that I do so with the utmost kindness and with deep + gratitude, and shall always cherish, with unalloyed satisfaction, + the harmonious season we have passed together. I invoke God's + blessing upon the Society you represent, and to you personally + tender the warmest sentiments of personal regard. + + Fraternally yours, + + E.H. Chapin. + To the Standing Committee. + +At the same meeting, February 20, 1848, Rev. A.A. Miner was invited to +become the junior pastor of the Society, at the same salary which had +been paid Brother Chapin, and on the 15th of March, the committee +received the following letter, accepting the invitation. + + Lowell, March 15, 1848. + + _Brethren_:-- + + The invitation which I received at your hands, to become associate + pastor of the Second Society of Universalists in Boston, has been + duly considered, and is hereby accepted. Although this decision + seemed compatible with my duty, it has not been arrived at without a + severe trial, both on account of the existing ties it will sever, + and of my conscious unfitness for so responsible a station. + Trusting, however, in Him who is always able to help us, + + I remain, + + Yours in the Gospel, + + A.A. Miner. + + To the Committee. + +On the last Sunday in April, Brother Chapin preached his farewell sermon +from the text, "And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word +of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an +inheritance among them which are sanctified." Acts xx. 32. Brother Miner +was installed May 31. Sermon, by Mr. Chapin, from John x. 10. The other +exercises were performed by Rev. Messrs. Dennis, Mott, Ballou, H. Ballou +2d, Fay, Streeter, and Cook. + +Under the ministry of Brother Chapin, the Society was united and +prosperous; and under the present ministry of Brother Miner, that union +and prosperity are unabated. May the favor of God grant them a long +continuance. + + + + +THE EXAMPLE OF THE BEE. + + +The little bee, by instinct alone, is taught the necessity of faithful +labor. In the summer, it collects honey from every flower, that it may +have a supply of food for the approaching winter, when the flowers have +all faded. But children have reason, instead of instinct, to guide them; +and should be industrious in childhood and youth, in gathering the +sweets of knowledge and virtue for spiritual sustenance in the winter of +life. + + + + +THE MORNING WALK. + + +Children, in the early morning, +When the sun's first rosy ray, +Bright'ning on the distant hill-top, +Gilds the tall spire o'er the way, +Raise the heavy, sleepy eyelid, +Welcome cheerfully the light; +Nature's time for rest and slumber +Passes with the hours of night. + +While the air is freshest, purest, +And the city seems at rest, +Rise, and while the eye beams clearest, +Roam with me, an out-door guest. +And abroad we'll gayly wander, +Till the hour for breakfast calls; +Passing through those streets that lead us +To our lofty State House halls. + +Enter now our glorious Common! +On its beauty gaze awhile! +As the glowing sunshine greets it, +See the "face of Nature smile!" +On the broad, smooth walks tread freely, +Sentinelled by stately trees, +Whose green leafy boughs o'erarching, +Herald every passing breeze; + +Casting, too, at brightest mid-day, +O'er these paths a pleasant shade; +Blessings on our City Fathers, +Who this wise provision made. +Here, just opposite the fountain, +On this block of granite rest; +While with eye and ear attentive, +Admiration is expressed. + +See the living spray-drops leaping, +Crowned with dancing diamond light; +Midway hangs the bright-hued rainbow! +Is it not a dazzling sight? +And in what a gay confusion +Do the waters meet below! +Now compare this stone-paved basin +With the "frog-pond," years ago! + +Rustling leaves, and murmuring fountain, +Fill with melody the air, +Blending with the wild birds' singing,-- +Such sweet sounds can banish care. +Notice, how the grass is laden, +Thickly gemmed with sparkling dew, +Which at eve so gently falleth, +Thus its verdure to renew. + +Viewing these fair works of Nature, +With the art of man combined, +Are our thoughts not tending upward +To the Author of mankind? +Yes, with grateful hearts we thank Him, +For our lives so truly blest; +Asking strength to meet time's changes, +Faith to think them for the best. + +We must learn life's varied lessons, +Their deep meaning must unfold; +Sad or merry, they will yield us +More true wealth than mines of gold! +Hark! the breakfast bell is calling! +Hasten to your homes away! +Let us hope to meet here often, +Welcoming the early day. + + + + +TRUE SATISFACTION. + + +To the faithful teacher, there is no greater pleasure than is afforded +on each returning Sunday, by his labors with his class. Wielding +Christian truth in the full exercise of human affections, he moulds the +young heart as with a hand divine. + +Punctuality.--One of the beauties of the Sabbath school is the +punctuality of its scholars and teachers. + + + + +FEMALE EDUCATION. + + +In ancient days female education was almost entirely neglected, and +woman's intellectual powers were left to slumber. Her mind was a barren +waste, exhibiting no rich, luxuriant verdure, diversified only by a few +outward accomplishments, which served to please the fancy of the +stronger sex. The Spartan woman, distinguished for her sternness of +character and warlike disposition, looked with shame upon a son who +could return from battle unless victorious, ever teaching him, from his +earliest infancy, "to conquer, or to die on the battle-field." All the +gentle and amiable qualities of the heart were repressed in their +growth; and, while Sparta offered to her _sons_ the rich boon of +intellectual culture, her _daughters_ were thought unworthy of the gift. + +And Athens, that great and mighty city, exercising a most powerful +influence over the civilized world, distinguished for her legislators, +her philosophers, and her historians,--what was the condition of woman +there? The slave, rather than the companion of man, she knew not that, +were the storehouse of knowledge opened for her, she could come forward +and stand on an equality with the "proud lord of creation!" Rome, too, +the metropolis of the world, denied to woman her proper station in +society, not dreaming of the hidden gems of thought which lay +undiscovered beneath the thick incrustations of ignorance and +superstition. + +But _now_, all the precious gifts which learning can bestow are justly +extended to _her_ also; and man, with his increase of knowledge, has +wisely learned to respect the mental abilities with which God has +endowed her; has found that she may, like himself, ascend the steep hill +of science, enjoy its pleasures, cull its sweetest flowers, and drink of +the pure and living waters from the inexhaustible fountains of +knowledge. + +And what has caused this change? The bright star which appeared to the +"wise men of the East," eighteen hundred years ago, heralding a Savior's +birth, foretold also woman's release from the thraldom which had bound +her. It was to her a star of promise, telling her that the strong chains +of ignorance and superstition which bound her, should be broken asunder +by the gentle influences of the religion of the lowly Jesus. It is +Christianity which has raised her from the degradation which was once +hers, and induced man to acknowledge her equality with him. + +Education exalts and refines the mind of woman, and enables her to +contribute to the happiness of those around her. It is that which +renders her the dutiful and obedient daughter, the kind and affectionate +sister, the trusting and loving companion, and the fond and tender +parent. The old adage, "woman must be _ignorant_ in order to be useful," +has been long thrown aside among the rubbish of the past, and remembered +only as a relic of the superstitions of other days. _Home_, with its +duties, is woman's sphere of action; and, to fulfil properly those +duties, _she must be educated_; she must not be kept in intellectual +bondage, but must be fully awakened to the responsibilities of her +station. It is she who watches over our infancy, guides our childhood, +presents to our infant minds the rudiments of knowledge, and cheers us +in our progress by showing us the honors which attend those who acquire +_true wisdom_, and therefore must her mind be early taught to comprehend +the duties which devolve upon her. + +A broad field is that of Education; and while she strives to make +acquisitions in the various branches of knowledge, let her not forget +that _better_ education of the mind and heart. Talent, without virtue to +guide, is like a ship without sails or rudder, exposed to the wild winds +of the storm on the broad expanse of the ocean. What sadder spectacle +can there be, than to behold a mind employing its talents and its +learning in endeavoring to lead its fellow-beings away from the paths of +rectitude, disregarding the laws of God and man, and refusing to +acknowledge the Source that gave it birth? From such an example we turn +with sorrow and disgust, and gladly look to those good and noble ones +who have adorned their sex. The names of Hannah More, Maria Edgeworth, +Felicia Hemans, Letitia Landon, Harriet Martineau, and a host of others, +show what woman can do when properly educated; for they are equally +distinguished in private, for their amiable and domestic qualities, as +in public for their high intellectual attainments. Let woman follow +their example, never failing to embrace all opportunities presented to +her for moral and intellectual improvement. + + + + +ONE FAMILY. + + +We are all brothers and sisters of one great family, and should always +treat each other as such. If you suffer provocation, let the remembrance +that it is a brother who has injured you, prevent retaliation, and +secure for him entire forgiveness. He who can forgive injuries, puts +himself beyond the reach of harm, and secures a peace of soul more +valuable than the gold of Ophir. + + + + +SUMMER THOUGHTS. + + +A FABLE. + +I suppose most of the readers of this little volume have been in the +country the past summer. As you beheld the green grass, the fine +spreading trees, and the beautiful flowers that sprang up in your +pathway, perhaps the feeling came over you that you could be far happier +in the country than in the city. We are very apt to suppose that change +of place will produce a more delightful state of feeling; forgetting +that in a little time we should become familiar with all these objects, +and then we return again to our former selves. + +Precisely so it is with children in the country. They come to this busy +city, and eagerly gaze at the varied shows which attract the eye, and +would prefer to exchange situations with _you_; but by and by they +become wearied with sightseeing, and the home they have left rises +before them as a pleasanter abode than any other dwelling, however rich +or elegant. Thus they learn to be _happy at home_; and this is a most +valuable attainment. + +But, in order to be permanently happy, we must have something to do. +There are other lessons to be learned besides those we commit in the +schoolroom. The whole world, indeed, is a school, and we are daily +committing our tasks. These teachings are preparations for our future +happiness. + +You have all noticed the growth of a tree. At first, only a little twig +springs out of the ground. And so with the flower. You deposit only a +tiny seed; but in a little time a shoot springs up, and by natural but +slow processes the twig becomes a large shady tree, and the shoot a +beautiful blooming flower. Though they grow very slowly, yet they never +_rest_. Day and night the hidden processes are going on which help to +promote their growth. Just so it is with the minds of children. They are +daily acquiring those habits which will eventually make the whole sum of +their characters. But then, great care is requisite how they form these +characters; that they may spring up in fair proportions, making their +possessors worthy members of society. + +I will illustrate this by a fable, which occurred to me as I walked over +the beautiful garden of a friend, with whom I spent a few weeks the past +summer. We will suppose, for our present purpose, that the flowers have +an articulate voice. + +A stately dahlia grew in a cultivated garden. There were many of the +same species of flowers, but no other had the peculiar variegated tints +of this particular one. Every one, in passing by it, was attracted by +its beauty. It seemed as if vain of flattery, although we know it had no +ears to hear, for every day it seemed to increase in size and beauty. +With its lofty head, it gained a supremacy above all its neighbors, and +the heavy shower and furious wind failed to soil its petals or bend its +graceful form. + +Away off in the farther corner of the garden, under a hedge, bloomed a +simple white clover. It was entirely unheeded by the multitude, although +it gave a sweetness and fragrancy to the air, which made the invalid +stop to inhale it. In its modesty it bloomed, in its lowly bed it sought +no observation, and was passed by as a simple white clover. By and by +the mower's scythe passed that way and levelled it among common grasses. +It was gathered in the general mass of hay, and became a part of the +sustenance of the master's cattle. + +The dahlia was plucked by the horticulturist, and placed in a glass +receptacle, among kindred flowers, where it was gazed at for a time; +then it faded and was thrown among common rubbish. During their lifetime +we will suppose them to have conversed together. + +"I," said the dahlia, "am queen of this garden. I attract every eye that +passes; while you, little clover, are hidden by the tall grass, and +liable to be crushed at any moment." + +"Well," replied the clover, "let it be so _now_; but look at our _final +end_. You will be placed in a glass, plucked from your native stem, +where you will wither and die as a worthless thing; while I shall be +felled by the scythe, after I have reached my maturity, and then a +thousand tiny seeds will I strow around me; so that, another reason, I +shall bloom all about the hedges, and my usefulness will be appreciated. +And pray where will you then be?" The dahlia blushed, and hung its head +for shame. + +Here, children, is a fable designed to illustrate pride and humility. +Which appears the most beautiful, because the most useful? I know you +will prefer humility to pride. If so, you must remember that the +peculiar traits you now cultivate are forming within you the one or the +other. By a thousand little kind acts, you can diffuse happiness in your +homes; and all the while you are disseminating these virtues, you are +acquiring these lasting graces, in _yourselves_, which will spring up, +like the violet and sweet clover, leaving a fragrancy and beauty +wherever you have trodden. + + + + +A TALK WITH THE CHILDREN. + + +Dear children,--although I am _almost_ a stranger among you, yet I feel +a true interest in your welfare. It gives me great pleasure when I enter +the Sabbath school to meet your happy countenances and smiling faces. +Children, you do not assemble together for the purpose of passing an +hour that perhaps might pass unpleasantly elsewhere. It is for a higher +and nobler purpose. It is to gain useful and religious instruction from +the _Bible_, the best of all books. You should not be content with +learning and reciting your lessons, but you should try to remember what +you learn. And when you grow up to be men and women, you will never +regret it. It is in the _Bible_ that we are taught to love God, and all +mankind. + +When we enter the Sabbath school, may we learn to say, To-day is the +Sabbath day, ever blessed and beautiful; welcome to its holy and happy +influence! Welcome, thrice welcome, the day of sweet repose, and sweeter +meditation. Spring is sometimes compared to childhood. In spring, when +the brooks fall gurgling down the mountain side, when the earth begins +to be covered with its verdant robes, when the birds are joyfully +singing around, the trees gently waving in the breeze, and all is gay +and gladsome, we sometimes wish that it could always be spring. So in +youth, we sometimes wish we could always be young; but it cannot be. But +as each season in its turn, spring, summer, autumn, and even winter, +clothed in its robes of snow, has its own pleasures, so each season of +life is wisely invested of God, with its own peculiar joys. + +Though it is now spring-time, it will soon be autumn with you, when you +must impart that useful knowledge you will have gained in spring and +summer. Now is the time for you to store up that knowledge. If our +childhood and youth are rightly employed, age will compare no more +unfavorably, as regards its joys, with youth and middle age, than does +winter with spring. Endeavor, then, to acquire that useful knowledge +that will teach you so to live that you may set a good example to all +around you. Children, this beautiful world we live in was made for you. +It is filled with beauty, and when we look around upon it, our hearts +within us say, how great and good is our God! How wonderful are all of +his works! The beautiful in nature is all the production of his power. +He spoke this world into being, and decorated it with sun, moon, and +stars. Beauty and loveliness are stamped upon everything that he has +made. But no scene in the outward world transcends in loveliness the +Sabbath school, where the young come to receive Christian instruction. +And now, dear children, make this wise resolution; to love your Sabbath +school, your parents and teachers, all the world, and especially your +heavenly Father, better than you ever have before; and you will be +better and happier children. + + + + +UNCLE JIMMY. + + +It was Saturday afternoon. The boys were enjoying their sports, when one +of them espied Uncle Jimmy coming towards them. "Look, boys," said he, +"Uncle Jimmy is coming. We will ask him to stop and tell us some +stories." + +Now Uncle Jimmy was a very aged man, bowed down with years, and so +feeble that he could not walk without the aid of his cane. When the +weather was mild, he used to take short walks, and the children were +always happy to see him. They all claimed the privilege of calling him +Uncle. One little boy ran forward to assist him, and led him to a seat +beneath a shady tree. Ball and hoop were soon forgotten, as they eagerly +pressed round the old man, to show him their respect; for he always had +a word for each of them. + +"Do not let me interrupt your sports, boys; I am fond of seeing you at +your plays. I had once as many playmates as yourselves, and enjoyed them +as well." + +The little boy who assisted him to his seat, replied, "We had rather +hear you talk to us, if you please, sir; for we have not seen you for so +long a time." + +"True, true, I have been housed up, and it is rare, nowadays, that I +walk so far as this. I'm glad to see you all so well and happy. If you +wish to keep so, be always temperate, and do not neglect your duties. +Whenever conscience whispers to you, 'I have done my duty,' you will +enjoy the sports allowed you. + +"I have now in my mind the memory of an old friend. It is indeed +pleasant to think of him. He was remarkable for his industry, even when +very young; yet at play he was as merry as the merriest of us. His mind +and his heart were in it. He became a very superior scholar. Some of you +may think that it was because he had superior talents, that he thus +excelled in scholarship. It is true, he had rare talents; but by his +industry he made every talent ten talents; and he always exercised his +powers for the good of others, for he was benevolent in his disposition. +I am proud to think of him, when in his prime. Young and old were +benefited by his instruction, and he was universally beloved and +respected; for he had become a useful preacher of the word of God, and a +devoted minister. His example of industry and perseverance exerted an +extensive influence upon others, and changed in some measure the whole +face of society in the community in which he lived." + +Many more stories did Uncle Jimmy relate to the children, which I have +not time to repeat now. The afternoon was far spent ere any of them +wearied of hearing him; and many a good lesson did they receive, which I +trust was as "good seed, sown on good ground." I trust my little readers +will as readily listen to the counsels of the aged, and as respectfully +heed their advice, as did these children. In this way, you will give +promise of becoming wise and good. + +The children waited on Uncle Jimmy to his home; and, when they left him, +he prayed God to bless them. + + + + +THE CHILD'S DREAM OF HEAVEN. + + +Mother, I dreamed of heaven; +And all around were choirs of angels, singing +Hymns of praise; and children joining hands, +And looking so bright and happy, that I wished +I could be always with them. And in their midst +The Savior stood and blessed them, saying, +"Suffer little children unto me to come." +Then all around were flowers so sweet, dear mother, +That the whole air seemed filled with fragrance, and +The birds were warbling sweetest songs of love. +The sky was fairer than our sky, dear mother; +And the sunshine seemed more bright; and as it beamed +Upon the angels' forms, they looked as though +All made of light. And then I looked for those +That left us, who, you said, had gone to heaven, +To join the angels round the throne of God. +There I saw sister, and my little brother +We long since buried in the dark, cold ground, +Whom I had thought I never more should meet. +They looked, dear mother, as they used to look, +When they were well and happy; ere disease +Had robbed them of their beauty, or death's seal +Fastened upon their features. And their faces +Beamed with a brightness never seen before. +I asked if they were happy, and if I +Could join them; or if they would return +To us again; and told them, mother dear, +How lonely we had felt since they departed, +And left us in our grief; and how we missed +Their pleasant voices and their merry laugh; +For though you said 'twas wrong to wish them back, +I could not think but you would welcome them. +They were too happy in their angel home, +To think of coming back to earth again; +And neither, said they, could I stay with them, +Because my time was not yet come. But they +Would look upon us from their high abode, +And ask our Saviour's blessing on us both; +And soon his arms would open, and his voice +Would call on us to follow them; and they +Would welcome us to those bright realms above, +Where they, with angels, now have found a home; +Where all shall find a home, a resting-place, +After the toils of earth. Where skies are bright, +And spring forever reigns. Where flowers shall bloom +In never-fading freshness, nor be touched +By winter's frost. And, more than all, where love +Unites all hearts in one great brotherhood, +Nor separation comes to break the chain. + + + + +THE INFLUENCE OF SABBATH SCHOOLS. + + +"Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined,"--is an adage as true as +it is ancient. One's character, happiness, and usefulness, during his +whole life, depends, in no small measure, upon early education. The +child taught to disregard the Sabbath, and lightly to esteem the +instructions of the Sabbath school, grows to manhood devoid of aught +that can entitle him to the society and respect of the good and +virtuous. With a soul shrouded in midnight darkness, he gropes his way +through life, and at the grave sinks into oblivion, "by none esteemed, +by all forgot." However we may hope for such a soul, through the mercy +of God, as we surely do, it is not now qualified to enter upon and fully +appreciate the purity and joys of Christ's kingdom. + +We seldom hear of the execution or imprisonment of one who regarded in +youth the Sabbath school. Indeed, I think it impossible for one who has +been successfully taught to reverence and to love the teachings of Jesus +of Nazareth, to become an outcast from society. It is true, envy, with +its envenomed tongue, and malice, with its still more poisonous breath, +may assail even such a one; but their shafts will fall harmless at his +feet. The shield of his soul they cannot pierce. They cannot eradicate +from the heart the influence of the high and holy lessons which it +received in youth. Its many sources of enjoyment they cannot destroy. + +Pleasant and important, therefore, are the duties of teachers. The +directing of tender affections, and the development of youthful powers, +are intrusted to their hands. If they perform their duties faithfully, +they may have the satisfaction of seeing the pupils of their charge +useful among men, devoted to right, and obedient unto God. Such an +office is lovely. It is more than lovely, it is holy. It blesses him who +fills it. It exalts his affections, ennobles his purposes, and enlarges +his heart. + +Do we not see the fruit of this labor in our own school? In the kindness +and love of the children for each other, in their faithfulness in the +duties of the school, and in their respectful and affectionate bearing +towards their teachers and all others, do we not recognize some of the +fruits of Sabbath school culture? And may we not expect that such +children will be beloved, honored, and useful among men? + +Do we not also see some of the fruits of these influences in the +fraternal regard of teachers for each other, in their devotion to their +duties as teachers, and in their distinguishing virtues as Christians? +Have we not, especially, seen the fruit of these influences in the +enduring patience, calm hopefulness, and cheerful trust, of one of our +number whom we have just followed to her resting-place? The Lord +make us faithful, that our end may be like hers. + + + + +MEMORY. + + +"O Memory! thou wak'ner of the dead! +Thou only treasurer of vanished past! +How welcome art thou, when bright hope is fled, +And sorrow's mantle o'er the soul is cast! +Back o'er those days too beautiful to last, +Thy gentle hand will lead the saddened thought; +And though the tears may trickle warm and fast, +Yet thy sweet pictures with such peace are fraught, +The heart, beguiled, exclaims, 'This is the fount I sought.'" + +Memory! Who has not felt its influence! Who of us would wish to part +with its delights and quiet teachings! Beautifully adapted is the +twilight hour to the cherishing of the recollections of the past. It is +then that the hum of busy life is hushed, and all nature seems resting +from its toil. Then, in undisturbed peace, rise before us the loved ones +we have cherished, and whose memories, like guardian angels, always +attend us. We recall every affectionate word and kindly deed, however +trivial or little heeded at the time. And how sweet then are our +thoughts, and our recompense, if we have never caused them an unhappy +moment! Half the bitterness of affliction is removed by such blessed +memories. Then let us make them ours. Let us so live that it shall be +possible for us to cherish them. Then will they bring to us many happy +hours, and sweet solace to the suffering heart. Each moment, as it flits +by, enters its record upon the tablet of memory, to be read with joy or +sorrow at some future moment. + +Then let each moment find some worthy deed to perform, or kind word to +be spoken, that shall cause a glow of pleasure and satisfaction when +memory recalls it. All memories are not alike pleasing; yet each may +have its mission to perform. Past sin may bring pain with its +recollection. It comes as a warning, lest we should transgress again. +If, then, we would treasure up for ourselves pleasant memories for the +future, we must guard well the present moment. + +It is equally cheering to feel that we ourselves have a place in the +memory of our friends. What a motive it should be to us, then, to live +in such a manner that their memory of us may be as "the memory of the +just," which the Scriptures declare to be "blessed." + + + + +SELFISHNESS. + + +The selfish man wrongs himself in attempting to wrong others. In filling +his pockets unjustly with gold, he drives away joy from his soul. He +forgets his relationship to angels, and only remembers his affinity to +brutes. + + + + +TROUBLE. + + +Worldly trouble is the tonic of the soul. Affliction at once humbles us +and gives us a relish for spiritual food. Those providences which teach +us the insufficiency of earth, make us lean on heaven. + + + + +REVENGE. + + +Revenge is the putting out of one's own eyes for the sake of putting out +the eyes of another. + + + + +A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. + + +In admiring the virtues and moral excellence of one who holds a high +rank in society, who fills a distinguished place in the State, or +occupies a responsible seat in the halls of science or in the church, we +are liable to be swayed in our judgment. His social position is a kind +of magnifying lens, through which all his virtues are viewed. But when a +comparatively obscure individual from the humbler walks of life claims +our attention, we are better able to estimate his virtues at their true +value. + +Such a one we meet with in the subject of this brief sketch. Miss Hannah +S. Shedd was born in Boston, February 5, 1826. The death of her father, +preceded as it was by the death of her mother, left her an orphan at the +age of eight years. She was the second of three surviving children by +their father's second marriage, all of whom were left in charge of a +half sister, who was the eldest of five children by a former marriage, +and who was all to them that a mother even could be. + +One of the parents was an Episcopalian in sentiment, the other a +Universalist. The elder children were attendants upon Universalist +worship in the School street Church, while the younger attended one of +the Baptist churches of the city. Hannah, the subject of our sketch, +continued under the influence of Baptist doctrines and worship until +about fifteen years of age, when at her own earnest solicitation she was +permitted to attend the Universalist church, and become a member of the +School street Universalist Sunday school. + +The influence upon her feelings of the change in regard to a place of +worship, was very marked. She was naturally inclined to religious +meditation and reflection, but was never satisfied with what she had +been accustomed to hear. Nor can she be regarded as singular, in this +respect. However true it may be that Christianity is adapted in its +simplicity to the susceptibilities of the young--and I believe this is +eminently true--it is equally true, that the ordinary partialist +interpretations of it are not thus adapted to their susceptibilities. +The young are not satisfied with these. The clearer their perceptions, +and the more comprehensive their thought, the greater is their +dissatisfaction. It was so with Hannah, even when but a child. + +But when the hungerings of her soul found their appropriate aliment in +the ministrations of the venerable Hosea Ballou, then the sole pastor of +the church to which she turned for peace, the change was in the highest +degree salutary. Her satisfaction was very great. She also found great +pleasure in accompanying her eldest sister to the Rev. Mr. Streeter's +Friday evening meetings; and so highly did she prize these religious +privileges, that she could scarcely submit to be deprived of them for a +single evening or Sabbath without shedding tears. + +Her natural amiability and generosity of disposition--a generosity +especially marked in her demeanor towards her eldest sister, who had +become a mother to her--made the Universalist interpretation of +Christianity to be to her indeed the "bread of life." Not only did she +seek for this spiritual nutriment in the regular ministrations of the +sanctuary and in the conference meeting, but she turned also to the +Sabbath school with the same fond devotion to Christian truth. + +During the connection of the Rev. Mr. Soule with the School street +Society, he established a Bible class, of which Miss Shedd became one of +the earliest members. She has often spoken to the writer of this of the +great profit she was conscious of having derived therefrom. She was also +one of the earliest members of the class formed by the present junior +pastor of the Society, Rev. Mr. Miner, and in the discharge of her +duties in that capacity she showed uncommon clearness of perception, and +not a little vigor of thought. + +At the age of fourteen she left school and took up the needle that she +might aid her sisters in gaining for the family an honorable +maintenance. She has been known to ply the needle with all diligence +till ten o'clock at night, and then turn to her Sunday school book to +make preparation for the Sabbath. If this is an example of too severe +application to toil, it shows at the same time a devotion to spiritual +culture in the highest degree commendable. + +Strict integrity and a strong sense of justice characterized her even in +her childhood. A little circumstance bearing upon this point I will +relate. She had been to an apothecary's shop for some medicines, and on +reaching home found that she had received back more change than was due. +Of her own accord she proposed to return it, nor would she willingly +delay for a moment the performance of so manifest an act of justice. She +received from the apothecary the highest encomium, and a reward for her +integrity. In all her transactions she showed the same scrupulousness in +matters of right, and thus became a bright example for all children to +imitate. + +She was not less remarkable for her obedience to the wishes of her +sister, than for her regard for justice. She not only obeyed, but obeyed +readily and cheerfully. And so sensible is that sister of her great +excellence in this respect, now that she has passed away, that she +cannot speak of her but with the deepest emotion. + +She seemed to have very little power to bear disappointment. Her +feelings were very tender, and her sensibilities great. Disappointment, +therefore, brought the ready tear to her eye; and solicitous affection, +if possible, removed the pressure which had caused it. But some of the +later revelations of her life indicated rare ability to endure +disappointment, and to cherish hope even in the audience-chamber of +death. Thus will it appear in the end that her heart was full of +Christian confidence and holy trust. + +In the course of June, 1850, it was observed by her friends that her +health was manifestly declining. She was advised to leave her employment +at once, and seek in relaxation and change of scene the reestablishment +of her health and the restoration of her accustomed vigor. Accordingly +accompanied by her brother, she spent some three weeks of the month of +July in various parts of Maine; but health did not come back to her. +Disease was too deeply seated to be beguiled away. + +She returned to her home but to languish and die. When the news of her +mortal illness reached the Sabbath school, in which she had now been a +faithful and beloved teacher for about a year, it produced the most +intense interest and solicitude. All felt that a dearly beloved sister +had become the victim of the destroyer. That, however, which was a +source of unmingled grief in the beginning, became a sanctifying power +in the end. + +When first informed that it was feared her disease would terminate +fatally, she betrayed the deepest emotion, with scarcely the utterance +of a word. Her natural sensibility made the weight upon her spirits seem +insupportable. But when the first shock was past and her powers had had +time to rally, she was found equal to the trial that awaited her. That +truth which she had long loved, and which had produced very little of +that Christian display by which the world judges, had wrought silently +but powerfully upon her understanding and her heart. It had begotten +hopes in a naturally hopeful spirit, stronger than death itself. + +When her pastor from time to time spoke to her of the labors and +sacrifices of Christ, of the love of the Father and of the blessedness +of immortality, leading her sometimes to meditate upon the highest forms +of Christian truth, the smile of satisfaction that played upon her +countenance, showed not only that her powers were equal to the effort, +but that her heart was satisfied with its fruit. + +Her disease, which was consumption, was of a very painful character, +especially as regarded difficulty of breathing. She was compelled to sit +up continually, almost to the hour of her death. Yet in the moment of +expected dissolution, so generous was her nature, her heart was yearning +for blessings on others rather than herself. At one time just before her +death she requested her pastor to remember in his prayer an absent +sister, that she might recover from a critical illness; and in one of +his last interviews with her, she desired him to "attend her funeral and +comfort her brothers and sisters, and especially that sister who had +been a mother to her." "_Oh, Hannah has always been a good girl_" burst +from the lips of that sister,--an involuntary tribute to cheerful, ready +obedience, and true excellence of heart. She had given some little +memento of affection to each of the family and friends, and enjoined +upon her brother, who still remains with the sisters, to "be sure and be +kind to them," when she quietly fell asleep. + +Thus died an excellent young woman, Oct. 2d, 1850, aged 24 years and 8 +months. The strength of her trust and the depth of her Christian +experience could be seen in her meek submission to suffering, in that +remarkable patience which allowed not a word of murmuring to escape her +lips through the whole progress of her disease, and which enabled her to +believe that every providence of God is ordered in perfect wisdom. + +Humble in her outward position, her spiritual attainments were of the +most exalted character. The stores of excellence treasured in her heart +were made manifest in the hour of great trial, and the Christian +instruction to which she was accustomed to apply herself, begat the +holiest resignation and the most confident trust. + +The fact that this good was in no small degree wrought in the Sabbath +school, should lead the Sabbath school teacher to understand the dignity +and importance of his office, the opportunities he enjoys for directing +the affections of the young heart, and the necessity of a large measure +of Christian attainment to qualify him for the successful discharge of +so great responsibilities. May the example of our departed sister be +sanctified to the good of all thus employed. + + + + +THE SABBATH SCHOOL BOYS. + + +"What do we go to the Sabbath school for?" asked a little boy of his +companion who was some years older than himself, and who had, as I +discovered by their conversation, attended the school for a long time, +that is, compared with the time which many children, boys especially, +think it of any use to go to the Sabbath school. Some boys when at the +age of twelve or fourteen years, think they are too old to receive any +benefit from Sabbath school instruction. Hearing the question of this +little boy, and observing the look of intelligence and sincerity in his +companion, and being desirous of knowing what answer would be given, I +remained within hearing of their conversation, and will try to present +to the scholars in our school, through the medium of "Our Gift," the +good reasons which he gave to his little companion, (who was his younger +brother,) why he went to the Sabbath school. + +_Eld. B._ I go because I like to go, and I like to go because I always +enjoy myself there better than I do anywhere else. I find pleasure in +the singing, in the prayer, and in the lessons. The lessons are not hard +to learn when I understand them, and the learning of them is even a +pleasant task; for my teacher has a way of making our lessons +interesting to us, in hearing us recite. He asks us questions about the +subject of the lesson before using the book, and he generally finds some +interesting matter relating to it, and we become so much engaged that +the time is gone before we are aware of it, and we have to stop and wait +for the next session of the school. + +_Young. B._ I like the school too, though I have been only twice. How +old was you when you first went to the Sabbath school, brother? + +_Eld. B._ I was seven years old, and I am now fourteen; and I mean to +continue till I am able to take a class myself. I want to have the +pleasure of being a teacher in our school, and I hope soon to do so, for +the school is increasing very fast in numbers. There are a good many +small children coming into the school, and I think that I shall be +wanted, for I observe that there are not male teachers enough. Sometimes +one teacher has to attend to two or more classes, and the time of a +session in the school is not sufficient to do this with much advantage. +What did you learn in twice going to the school? tell me that, and then +we shall know, at least, what you went to the Sabbath school for. + +_Young. B._ I will tell you. After I had said a short lesson, my teacher +gave me a little piece called "The Child's First Hymn," which she said +she found in a paper published in England. It was published for the +children of the Sabbath schools of Old England. She said it would do for +us, the children of New England, and wished me to learn it. + +_Eld. B._ Well, brother, I am sure you have improved the few times that +you have attended the school. Have you learned the hymn? and how do you +like it? Let me hear you repeat it. I should like to know what the +children are taught in the Sabbath schools of Old England. Will you +please to repeat it to me? + +_Young. B_ I will. I did as well as I could. I have learned the hymn, +and am much pleased with it. I think of it the last thing when I fall +asleep at night, and awake in the morning with it on my mind. But I will +repeat it to you, and you will see that I have not been to the Sabbath +school, though for so short a time, for nothing. + +_The Child's First Hymn._ + +Listen, Father, to my prayer, +Guard me with thy tender care; +Teach a humble child to know, +The path of duty here below. + +Set a watch upon my heart, +Lest an evil thought should start; +Make me gentle, kind and good, +Through the Savior's cleansing blood. + +All I have, and all I see, +Ever comes, great God, from thee; +Help me from my earliest days, +In thankful hymns to sing thy praise. + +Bless my parents with thy grace, +On my kindred turn thy face; +Through the darkness of the night, +Give me rest till morning bright. + +Teach me day by day thy will, +With pure love my spirit fill, +Till I'm fitted for that rest, +In the mansions of the blest. + +_Eld. B._ It is indeed a very pretty hymn, and I am glad you have +learned it so well. I hope you will never forget it. Here comes my +teacher; and as it will be ten minutes before the school commences, we +shall have time for conversation. + +Here the teacher drew near and spoke to the boys:-- + +_Teach._ Good morning, my boys; how do you do, this fine morning? + +_Eld. B._ Good morning, sir; we are well, I thank you. + +_Teach._ You are in good season this morning, and I am glad to see that +you are. It is so much better to be before our time, than to be a little +late. We get along so much better with the business of the school, and +have time to converse together. Besides, to be in school at the opening +of the exercises, shows that you value and wish to improve its +privileges. + +_Eld. B._ We were talking about the school, and why we go there. I told +my brother that I went because I like to go. Will you please to tell us +the advantages of attendance on the Sabbath school? + +_Teach._ I will, my dear boys, so far as I can. It is well to know what +we are doing, how we are accomplishing our work, and what is to be the +result of our labors. + +_Eld. B._ I am very often asked what I learn at the Sabbath school, and +I sometimes answer that I learn what there is in the Bible, and that my +lessons are subjects derived principally from that book. + +_Teach._ You answer rightly so far. You might add, also, that you learn +by the example of others. Do you see punctuality? You will learn to be +punctual. Do you see system in the arrangement of the school, in the +method of instruction, in the library department, and in the general +discipline of the school? You will be orderly and correct in your +deportment. + +_Eld. B._ As I am almost old enough to be a teacher, and desire to take +a class as soon as I am wanted, I should like to know the best way to +make my scholars interested in their studies, so that they will attend +and be correct with their lessons. + +_Teach._ It is often the case that children feel no interest or pleasure +in the school, because they do not understand its object. They may +recite well, so far as to repeat the words of the lesson, yet if it be +above their capacity, they will not be benefited. + +_Eld. B._ This has been the case with me sometimes. After I had recited +my lesson correctly by the book, I have felt that I did not know much +about it, and did not understand what I had learned to repeat. + +_Teach_. It is of great importance in teaching that the subject should +be presented to the pupil in the simplest form possible, that he may be +profited by his instructions. I read an anecdote the other day which +illustrates this matter, and I will repeat it to you. "It is related of +Dr. Green, of Philadelphia, that in early life he was one day +returning from the services of the sanctuary, and was accosted by a +woman in the humble walks of life. She found difficulty in understanding +him, and took the liberty of giving her youthful pastor a hint. 'Mr. +Green,' says she 'what do you think is the great duty of the shepherd?' +'No doubt, to feed the flock, madam,' was the reply. 'That is my notion +too,' she added, 'and therefore I think he should not hold the hay so +high that the sheep cannot reach it.' This admonition was kindly +received, in the spirit in which it was given, and had an influence in +making him afterwards 'hold the hay lower.'" This fact should cause you +to see to it, as the old lady did with her pastor, that your teachers +present their instructions in such a form that you will understand them. +The hay may be of very good quality, but it will give no nourishment to +the hungry sheep if it is beyond their reach; it will not benefit them +any more than if it were not provided at all. So with your lessons. If +you do not feel an interest in them, if they are beyond your reach, they +may be of no benefit to you. No lasting principle is gained, but the +whole may be lost, as the words of the lesson are lost to memory and +forgotten. + +_Eld. B._ What are the results of attendance on the Sabbath school? + +_Teach._ That question we answer, partly in faith, and partly by +knowledge. Faith is good;--and we know that our school is a good school; +we know that we enjoy ourselves there; and we know what is learned there +is good. It is there that divine influences and joyful communions fill +with gladness the hour. We enjoy them, and if we could say no more, we +think that this would be sufficient. + +_Eld. B._ That is true. + +_Teach._ But that is not all; the results go still further. They are not +confined to the hour passed in the schoolroom. The scholar is better and +happier for having been there. Is it not so with you? + +_Eld. B._ Yes sir; I always feel better when I have been to the school. +When I have said my lesson, conversed upon the subject of it, and +obtained my library book, I am always glad to have been there. + +_Teach._ Your answer is full of hope and promise; for if you now find +your enjoyment in learning the things of the Kingdom of God, those evil +days will never come to you, when you will say you have no pleasure in +them. The Sabbath school scholar who is prompt in his duty is in a safe +path,--one which, while affording happiness by the way, results in the +fulness of joy. To him the example of Christ is an example of love and +goodness, drawing him to the Father by these divine influences and +attractions. "He sees God, not only as the Creator, but as he is +manifested in the world, by his providence, which shows us that he not +only _made_ the world, but that he _makes_ the world; that he is the +same in the creation of the flowers and streams as in the creation of +storms and tempests; that he is not far off, but near, ever blessing us +with the favors of his parental providence; that his power is over +everything; that motion is his power, for there can be no motion without +mind; that God is present in the child. It cannot live by bread alone. +Communion must be held with God--spirit with spirit." + +It is recorded of our Savior that he was led into the waters, and was +buried in baptism; the Spirit descended upon him; he heard the +encouragement of that voice which proclaimed his Sonship to the Most +High, and in the enjoyment of that holy time he came up from the river. +Then came the tempter; in the strength of the spirit of the baptism, he +resisted the temptation, and was victorious over all its forms. So with +the object and mission of our Sabbath schools. You are led to the river +of divine truth, that you may be baptized in its pure waters. You are +there shown the Father, and we trust that when you go out into the +world, you will, in the strength of your Sabbath school baptism, resist +and overcome all temptation to wrong, and being always engaged for the +right, and living in the light of the gospel, you will pass through life +undefined; thus may a Christian character be the result of your +attendance on the Sabbath school. + + + + +FEAR OF DEATH. + + +He who rightly understands life, will not fear death, he who has learned +to trust, will never cease to hope. He who always cherishes a love of +right, will never be without God in the world. + +Treasures.--Knowledge and virtue are the greatest treasures in the +universe. + +Gratitude.--Every faithful Sabbath school teacher has the unfailing +gratitude of his class. + + +Faith is the eye with which the mind surveys the future. + + + + +ILL TEMPER. + + +It was the season of vacation, when children's minds are given to play, +instead of study. It was during this interval, that a little girl, whom +we will call Jane, came from a neighboring town to visit one of her +school-mates, another little girl, whose name we will call Emily. + +The disposition of Emily was very different from that of Jane. She was +always pleasant and kind, willing to confer favors upon others, even +though she should not receive the same in return. Jane was ill-tempered, +told wrong stories, and did many things which rendered her a very +disagreeable companion. Her parents could see no fault in her, therefore +she was permitted to give way to her temper, which was the cause of her +losing friends and gaining enemies. When she was in these violent fits +of passion she would accuse her companions of things which would wound +their feelings very much. During vacation, Emily accepted an invitation +which had been given her to spend a few days with Jane. + +She enjoyed herself very much while there and invited Jane to come and +see her. Soon after Jane went to visit Emily. The first part of the +time, she enjoyed very much; but as her visit was drawing to a close, +she gave way to a violent fit of temper. She took this opportunity to +relate to Emily many things her parents said about her after she had +left them. She told her that if she knew what her father and mother said +about her, she would never visit them again. Whether they did talk about +her, or whether it was Jane's ugly temper, that led her to taunt Emily, +I do not know. But it caused Emily to feel very much grieved, because +she was not conscious of having done anything which would cause them to +talk about her. Emily has never visited Jane since, nor has she desired +to. She thinks that those who treat her well when she is present and +talk about her when she is absent, cannot be her true friends. Thus we +see that those who govern their temper, and endeavor to make themselves +pleasant and agreeable, are much more loved and respected than those who +give way to this wicked passion. + + + + +READING. + + +In my experience, both as teacher and scholar, I have observed among the +young those who read a great many books, but at the end appear but +little wiser. They may have a confused and indistinct recollection of +events and characters, and may be able perhaps to follow out the plan of +a story. Out of the mass that they have read they may have retained a +great many facts; but being without connection or object, they are +nearly useless. Bad habits are formed, their reading is to no purpose, +and their time, therefore, misspent. + +I fear there are too few among those whose years should enable them to +understand and appreciate the objects for which we live, that do +appreciate them. There are too many who suppose that reading is only a +very pleasant amusement. They think of printing as a very ingenious +invention, and have no thought higher. They may look about and see a +great deal of misery and unhappiness; but its alleviation is nothing to +them. "The great mission of life" is something that is very well to be +talked of in the pulpit, and ministers and reformers will accomplish it, +no doubt. But life has no responsibilities for them. + +One of our first duties is to seek our own moral and intellectual +culture. Let both these portions of our nature be cultivated together. +Do not separate them, for by so doing both are threatened with danger. +Heart without mind is generally weak, but mind without heart is always +dangerous. Do not suppose because you have left the schoolroom and no +longer have lessons set, and are no longer reprimanded if they are not +committed, that your education is finished. Rather regard the _school_ +as the place where you shall learn to study, life as your term-time, and +consider your education finished when there is nothing more for you to +learn. It is not necessary that study should be confined to books. +Accustom yourself to study actions and their influences and effects. +Public lectures, conversations, in short, every event of your life, will +present questions, and your own mind, with a little reflection, will +present the answers. If it does not, do not let the fear of ridicule +prevent your asking. + +But it is through books, chiefly, that we are to look for improvement. +Every person should appropriate some part of each day to reading. Young +persons should early be taught the advantages of a method for +appropriating their time. Let each duty have its time. In this way much +time is saved. Let the time you appropriate to reading be one that will +be the least liable to interruption. Defer it not, if it can be avoided, +till late in the evening, when you are wearied with the fatigues of the +day. + +At the present day, when books are so easily obtained, there is no need +of the excuse of inability to procure them. Circulating libraries are +easy of access,--though caution should be used in selecting from +them,--and each Sabbath school has a library open for all. There has +been much said, and much written about books of fiction, whether they +may be read with safety by the young. Fiction as such need not be +condemned, though works of fiction should be sparingly read. But if read +at all, let them be selected by persons of experience. There is much in +the current fiction of the day that is pernicious and unfit for +publication. + +But if we set aside the light reading, there are standard works enough +to furnish reading for one generation. The better newspapers of the day +should be carefully read. The newspapers of this week are the history of +the world for this week. In each particular branch of literature there +are books without number, not only worthy of perusal, but deserving of +careful study. In history we have Rollin, Hume, Smollet, Prescott, +Macaulay, and Robertson. Philosophy, theology, and science, each in its +turn, brings names as illustrious. + +But there is one book above all others. Never complain for want of +reading while we have such historians as Moses, poets before whom +Shakspeare dwindles into insignificance, philosophers of a higher and +holier school, and truths that exceed the most astonishing fictions. +Where has Scott a heroine that can compare with Ruth? Grand as are the +beauties of the Bible, life-giving as is its wisdom, and imperishable as +are its truths, it is too frequently left unread. + +As a general thing, too much is read; more than can be well retained. +One page well read is more beneficial than a whole volume merely glanced +over. Never read the second line until the first is fully understood. +Make the author's sentiments your own. In reading history it is highly +important you should have a clear idea of the locality where the events +occurred. I have found by experience that the best method deeply to +impress what I have read, is to have at hand writing materials, and +after each reading write out as fully as possible whatever new idea has +been presented. But in all that you read, keep in view the great object +of your reading,--_Self Improvement_. + + + + +A SABBATH SCHOOL EXCURSION. + + +The morning breaks. A hundred voices rise, +In shouts of gladness echoing to the skies. +The happy time draws near, the day is fair, +To festive scenes and rural joys repair. +Bright expectation gleams from every face, +And lighter footsteps bend with eager pace; +Children and parents, pastor, people, all +With one accord obey the welcome call; +And hand in hand, along the path they wind, +As heart responds to heart a greeting kind, +To hold in verdant temples high and broad, +Commune with Nature and with Nature's God. +Far from the city's worn and narrow streets, +To sunny slopes embowered by Nature's sweets, +How blest the change; to breathe the scented air, +Steals for the moment every sense of care, +Its healing powers to all new life impart, +Expand the mind and elevate the heart. +But now arrived at the appointed place,-- +A rural spot adorned with every grace, +Which Nature from her bounties could bestow, +To make the world a paradise below,-- +Our party pause a moment to reflect; +Then towards a path their several steps direct, +Which leads the way to some sequestered seat, +Secured by foliage from the noonday heat; +Or to the various sports their tastes incline, +Where art and nature, toil and skill combine +To give to all a welcome warm and kind, +That every weary heart sweet rest may find. +Here a few friends in social cheer are met, +Discoursing topics which such scenes beget; +And there a crowd, intent on sports more gay, +In lively measure tread the hours away. +Some roam in groups through fields and meadows green, +And laden with the fragrant spoils are seen, +Bedecked with crowns from Flora's own fair hand, +A radiant company from Fairy-land. +Apart from this another group behold, +A burden sweet their little arms unfold-- +Lilies, fit emblem, when by childhood twined, +Of purity and innocence combined. +But hark! what sound is pealing through the air? +A summons from their sports to join in prayer; +Come one and all, your voices mingle here, +To bless His presence who is ever near. +From east and west they come, from south and north, +From every path and thicket issuing forth, +Till all together seated once again, +The songs of worship and of praise begin. +Up to the throne of Heaven their prayers ascend, +Together rich and poor their voices blend; +While with their songs unite the feathered choir, +With gratitude each spirit to inspire, +Till hill and valley echo all around, +And "God's first temples" with His praise resound. +And look! for now again the scene is changed; +A group before that rustic altar ranged, +With bended knee the throne of grace implore, +On infant heads its showers of love to pour; +That infant tongues may lisp the praise of God, +To guide their feet in paths by Jesus trod. +Sure, angels hallow scenes like this below, +And holy spirits at that altar bow, +Like winged messengers from Heaven, to bear +These offerings, and ever guard them there, +That every bud of promise reared below, +May bloom in Heaven, and to perfection grow. +But fast in scenes like this the day is spent; +Again toward home their weary steps are bent. +Weary with pleasure, they reluctant go, +Once more the toils and cares of earth to know: +But purified, and strengthened for the strife +Of labor, and the busy scenes of life; +While the remembrance of those happy hours +Shall deck the barren path of toil with flowers; +And praying each that as the years roll on, +Laden with pleasures soon forever gone, +Each year shall bring but added virtues forth, +And leave behind the impress of their worth; +Till every heart to innocence be tuned, +Nor sinful pleasures ever dare intrude, +To mar the image God has made and blest, +With means of pleasure, happiness and rest; +That all may find, in holy joys and pure, +Relief from care, for every sorrow cure; +And live to be in holy pleasures blest, +Till earthly toil is changed for heavenly rest. + + + + +CHRIST AND DUTY. + + +It is profitable for us to meditate on such a character as Christ's, if +by dwelling upon it we become even in one respect like him. The more we +know of him, the more we shall love him; for his character is love. We +should imitate the example of Mary, who was first at the door of the +sepulchre where Jesus was laid. She had great love for him, and her +faith in him was as strong as her love. She was not a stranger to the +miracles which he performed while here on earth. She had seen him, and +she knew that in him perfection dwelt. So we should try to be first in +doing any act of kindness or benevolence, not in a spirit of unholy +emulation, but from a love of doing good. By cultivating this spirit we +shall be happy in life, and prepared for death. We shall be far happier +than those who seek worldly honors; and more than all, we shall leave a +name behind us more precious than fame or wealth can bestow. When I was +young as are many of you to whom I am now speaking, I had not the +privilege of worshipping God as we now do. I was taught that a greater +part of the human family will be destroyed, and will have no part in the +heavenly kingdom. But thanks be to God that he has now opened the eyes +of many to see him a Father to the fatherless, and a sure help in time +of need. When such thoughts take possession of the heart, we view him in +his true character. + +In order to serve him as we ought, we should commence in youth. Christ +said, "they that seek me early shall find me." The whole life is short, +if happily spent in his service. We have every encouragement to trust +wholly in his kind care and keeping, for his watchful eye is ever over +us. If you seek Christ in youth, nothing will be lost, but much will be +gained. When I look back upon the early days of my life, I regard them +as lost to the true service of Christ. It was impressed upon my young +mind, that God was filled with anger and wrath; and still I was told +that I must love him with my whole heart. I am sorry to say it, but I +fear I had no true love for him at that time. If the path in which I +have walked has been desolate and dreary, I do not desire that others +should walk in it. If God is seen in his true loveliness, the young, as +well as the old, will love his holy name. + +In this regard, I think much good can be done in the Sabbath school, and +many profitable and lasting impressions may be made upon the young mind. +I cannot think we meet together every Sabbath in vain. The blessing of +God will surely rest upon us, and we shall be profited by our +assemblings. We must not be forgetful of God, for he is not forgetful of +us. When we lie down on our pillow at night, we ought not to close our +eyes to sleep without thanking him for his kind care of us through the +day; and in the morning we should thank him for his watchful care +through the night. + +In time of sorrow and trouble we at once fly to him. This is right; but +still it is our duty and privilege to call on him in time of prosperity +as well as in time of adversity, never forgetting to seek his divine +blessing. Without this we cannot enjoy life, or be prepared for death. +And when the days on earth are all passed, and we are called to lay +ourselves on the bed of death, if we can but look back upon a life well +spent, it will smooth the pillow of pain, and make even death itself +sweet. + +Salvation is the right direction of all one's powers and activities. + +Hope is the sunshine of the soul. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Our Gift +by Teachers of the School Street Universalist Sunday School, Boston + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10853 *** |