daylight? Are we looking to the hills whence cometh our help? relying without subterfuge or reservation on the merits and mercy of the Redeemer, and the all-sufficient sacrifice offered up on the cross for sinners? or are we diminishing the value of that sacrifice, polluting the pure fountain of living waters, and gainsaying the word of God, by putting in some claim to heaven on our own account, and mingling some miserable amount of our own supposed merits with the costly ransom that has been paid by our Redeemer? It behoves us to see to this; for time runneth, and our work is before us. We cannot make ourselves pure, but we may go to the fountain that is open for sin and uncleanness. We cannot save ourselves, but we can go as supplicating sinners to that Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.

Is there aught to be done by us for the Redeemer's glory? let us do it, for time runneth. Is there aught left undone of duty, kindness, forgiveness, affection, and benevolence to our fellowmen? let us do it; for our work is before us. Stirring up our thankfulness towards God, and our good will towards mankind, let us be diligent, in every good word and work, encouraging one another in our way to heaven.

I should like to see the old clock in the Kendal

:

Museum and it ever I find myself in the neighbourhood of the lakes, it shall not be passed by without a visit from me. In the mean time, if the few meagre remarks here made should call forth salutary reflections in the minds of my readers, my pen will not have unprofitably commented on the impressive motto forwarded me by my unknown, kind correspondent. Gladly would I write a word of warning on their hearts; and willingly would I have the inscription, "TIME RUNNETH; YOUR WORK IS BEFORE YOU," graven on my own.

OLD HUMPHREY IN A

DIFFICULTY

WELL do I remember, that many years ago, a man of talents, a professional friend of mine, a member of a philosophical society, gave a lecture on phrenology to a goodly assembly of both sexes. In the course of his remarks, he pointed out the difference of structure in the head of a man and the head of a woman. Carried away by his subject, which was then comparatively novel, he made some observations which seemed to give the palm of intellect so necessarily and decidedly to man, that no small offence was taken by his female auditors, who were hardly disposed to concede that which he appeared to take for granted as a thing of course. The lecture occupied, I think, about two hours; but it took more than as many years to blot out the unfavourable impression against himself which it left on the mind and memory of his fair friends.

Now, though I have a very vivid remembrance of the penalty imposed for my friend's inadvertent transgression, yet I am about to set my

foot on ground almost as tender as that on which he ventured to tread. We are always persuading ourselves that we shall succeed where others have failed that we shall be able to stand where others have fallen; and it may be owing to this common infirmity that I now hope to find a way where many have lost themselves, and to reply to a difficult inquiry, without, on the one hand, giving offence, or, on the other, withholding just and profitable information.

It is a common thing with me to have questions proposed, and inquiries made, to which I do not feel equal to reply. In such cases, I usually pass them over, trusting to the consideration and kindness of my friends to put a fair construction on my silence. This course, however, cannot always be taken; and at the present moment I feel that I ought not to refuse a reply to the following questions, proposed for my consideration, by an intellectual and well-informed lady :

"When is the manifestation of a masculine mind unbecoming in woman?

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Why should woman be considered so inferior to man, as to be deemed an intruder the moment she begins to think for herself, and to express her opinion?

Why should not women acquire some of the characteristics by which men are pre-emi

nently distinguished, without losing any of their own?"

You will see at once that I am in a dilemma, that my position is one of considerable difficulty, and that it will require some little tact to maintain it with credit. Come, then, speed, with thy flying fingers; wit, with thy ready tongue; truth, with thine eagle eye; knowledge, with they mental stores wisdom, with thy thoughtful brow; and experience, with thy chastened judgment; assist me to give a meet response to my fair questioner. But, first, let me fancy her in the very imposing and picturesque attitude of sitting in an elevated chair, an ostrich feather or twain waving in her new cap with the crimson riband, demanding, with an influential toss of the head, an expressive consciousness of the rights of woman, and a resolute and inflexible determination to preserve them inviolable visible in her countenance, "Why should woman be considered so inferior to man, as to be deemed an intruder the moment she begins to think for herself, and to express her opinions?"

Willingly, had I leisure, would I ring a few lively changes on the musical bells of my imagination, as a kind of prelude to my graver strain; but old Father Time, as he passes me with his scythe and hour-glass, holds up his aged hand,