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THE FIRESIDE.

The Fireside.

RULES FOR PRESERVING HEALTH AND AVOIDING DISEASE.

PURE AIR-CLEANLINESS-BODILY EXERCISE-AND TEMPERANCE IN ALL

THINGS.

THESE are the main points. Do all you can to secure them, for they bring health, cheerfulness, and happiness; and drive away fear, dullness, and misery.

PURE AIR.

Open all the doors and windows of every sleeping room every morning to let the air go through. In every sleeping room all the covering of the bed, down to the top sheet, should be turned down to the bed foot, that the whole bed may be made sweet with the fresh air.

CLEANLINESS.

Wash your own body, or as much of it as you can, every morning. If you have not convenience or opportunity for bathing it in water, sponge it, or at least rub the skin all over with a rough towel. This will keep the pores of the body clean and open. Much of personal health depends on doing this. You will always feel fresher and stronger after a good washing or rubbing.

Keep the house clear of all litter and dirt by sweeping it two or three times a day. Every room ought to be washed out once a week at leastoftener in summer. Whitewash every room twice a year at least, at spring and fall.

BODILY EXERCISE.

Be on foot as much as you can, and as often as you can, in the open air. Dont get into a way of sitting so much. Even if sewing, or knitting, or reading, sometimes stand up a few minutes. Going up and down stairs is good exercise, but half an hour's walk in the fresh air is better.

TEMPERANCE IN ALL THINGS.

Let what you eat be good of its kind even if it be plain. Bad food, though cheap, is always dear, especially if it be bought to save the money to buy ale, or beer, or spirits with it. Try if good spring water, pure and clear, will not do, and do better. Try it-perhaps you think it will notwell try it, and if it will, use the money it would cost in buying good food and clothing. To eat little good food, and wear scanty clothing, and spend your money in buying drams of spirits, is the way to prepare yourself for fever and cholera, which always come and lay fast hold of such people first.

Thus you will best be prepared to

AVOID DISEASES.

But should they come-When there is any fever or small-pox in your house, keep the rooms well aired, and separate, if possible, the healthy from the sick. Do not then go or send your children into other people's houses unnecessarily, nor let others come into yours.

Whether the patient dies or recovers, wash every article of clothing or bedding used. Get a bottle of solution of chloride of lime, sprinkle the bed and floor with it, and keep a plate of it on the floor. Bury the dead without any unnecessary delay.

THE PENNY POST.

The Penny Post.

EPISTLE TO A YOUNG MARRIED COUPLE. THE Writer here in much affection sends, Some plain advice to his young married friends; Should you the friendly hiuts receive, they may Subserve your interest in a future day:

Your various duties learn and always move
By rule -and let your actions spring from love;
Yourselves, your tempers, to each other suit,
And rather yield than carry on dispute;
Be emulous for that exalted sense

Which fears to give and scorns to take offence.
Should small disputes arise, in patience wait,
A little time will set the matter straight.
If one speak harshly, in an angry fit,
The other must be deaf, and silent sit.
Never lose sight of what the Scriptures say—
The man should rule in love, the wife obey.
Let all dissension in the closet end,

Nor ever bring them up before a friend.

Your mutual duties study when alone;

And when with others, prove your hearts are one.
Careful attend God's worship every day,
Nor suffer trifles to create delay;

Duties performed in proper time and place,
Add to Religion a superior grace.
Consult each other always-often pray
For heavenly guidance, lest you go astray.
All vain and trifling conversation shun,
And rather speak of what the Lord has done.
Early to sleep retire, and early rise,
Lest you neglect your morning sacrifice.
Be firm and regular, whate'er it cost,

Good works ill done will prove but labour lost.
Be frugal, prudent, yet not meanly near,
The christian show in all you eat and wear;
At home, abroad, keep this in constant view,
Not what you may but what you ought to do.
Within the compass live-this rule attend;
At first set out as you would wish to end.
If children be your portion, thankful be,
They may be blessings for eternity;
Be tender, not indulgent; use the rod.

Yet curb with reason; thus you're taught of God.
In short, like Jesus live who for you died,

Walk in his steps together side by side;
And God, who first the band connubial joined
Of our first parents, bless your heart and mind,
And bring you to that holy state above,
Where marriage is unknown, but all is love.

THE CHILDREN'S CORNER.

The Children's Corner.

THE LITTLE ROBIN.-I was employed one day in making some kids of thorns; the weather being very severe, and the ground covered with snow; when to my surprise a robin came and settled on my knee, and pecked the buttons on my clothes. It appeared that hunger had forced it there. I felt in my pockets and found some crumbs of bread; I held the crumbs in my hand, and it flew from my knee to my hand, and sat on my fingers and pecked the crumbs out of my hand. I had not enough to satisfy the little creature. I saw a man passing with a basket and asked him if he had any bread; he said, yes. I went about fifty yards to the man, and the robin flew after me. The man said he would take it home, but he could not catch it. He gave me some bread, and I went back to my work. The robin flew after me, and I began to feed it as before. I held the bread in my hand, and it sat on my fingers and ate the bread out of my hand till it had eaten its fill. It continued with me all day. The night came on. When it was my time to go home, I tied up a bundle of sticks and lifted them on my shoulder, and was about to bid my companion good night, when, to my surprise, it flew on my shoulder, and rode with me for about half a mile, sometimes on my shoulder, and then on my head, and then on my sticks, and it seemed as if it would take its abode with me. But I disturbed it, perhaps with walking, for it flew into the hedge and I saw it no more.

I was much pleased with this little circumstance, and I thought I would tell your young readers of it, hat they might learn to treat these pretty creatures with kindness, and remember that the eye of God is upon every creature, and his ear is open to its cry. He saw the wants of that little robin, for "not even a sparrow falleth

to the ground without his notice." How much more then is the eye of God upon his creature man. We are possessed of a soul that can never die, but when the body is dead it must appear before God and give an account of the deeds done in the body, whether good or bad. You have awfully sinned against God, my young reader, and unless you repent of your sins, and forsake your sins, and seek for pardon through Jesus Christ, you will never be happy in this world nor in the world to come. Let me intreat you to ponder the path of your feet. How awful it is to live without God and without Christ in the world! Let me intreat you to seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. If you seek him he will be found of you. He waiteth that he may be gracious. Believe on the Lord Christ, and thou shalt be saved. Your sins, which are many, will be all forgiven, for "the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Make him your Friend, and he will not forsake you in that hour when you bid adieu to all around you. He will be with you through the dark valley of the shadow of death, and will safely bring you to glory.

TO A ROBIN RED-BREAST THAT
LODGED IN MY CHAMBER,
WELCOME, pretty harmless creature,
From the cold and blust'ring wind;
Here, each night, thy tender nature,
Safety, warmth, and rest, shall find.
When the sun's returning rays

Drive night's gloomy shades away,
With thy soft harmonious lays,
Here salute the cheerful day.
To my chamber when I come,

Let no fear invade thy breast;
Still my house shall be thy home,
At my table thou shalt feast.
Unconfin'd, or go, or stay;

No one here shall thee molest:
All my kindness thou'lt repay,
With thy music, tuneful guest.

THE SABBATH-BREAKERS.

I was standing by the side of my mother, under the spacious porch of Dr. Beatty's church, Union-street, Glasgow, awaiting the hour for afternoon service. A holy calm hung over the city; no discordant noise broke the solemn stillness of the day of rest and worship; scarcely a whisper was heard in the assembly of waiting worshippers who crowded the broad pavement on which I stood. All seemed profoundly impressed with the solemn and sacred character of the day, the place, and the occasion which had called them together. It was, in short, a sabbath in the land of Knox and Chalmers. I had been in this position probably ten or fifteen minutes, when I observed two young men turn a corner and walk towards the church. They were dressed in their working clothes, unshaven and dirty, and slightly intoxicated. As they passed the church door they assumed a swaggering, irreverent gait, laughed, and finally commenced singing a profane song. Some of the bystanders expressed their horror at the occurrence, others wondered what had become of the police; but my mother turned to me, and said, "Follow those two men and invite them to a seat in our pew."

I soon overtook them and delivered my mother's message. One laughed scornfully and began to swear; the other paused and pondered; he was evidently struck with the nature of the invitation, and probably also with the earnestness and simplicity with which it was delivered. His companion again swore, and was about to drag him away. But he still paused. I repeated the invitation, and in a few seconds he looked in my face and said, "When I was a boy like you, I went to church every Sunday. I have not been inside of a church for three years. I dont feel right. I believe I will go with you." I seized his hand and led him back to the house of God, in spite of the remonstrances and oaths of his companion. The doors were now open, and the church was filling 1apidly; we entered, and I conducted him to the pew where my mother was already seated. A most excellent sermon was preached from Eccles. xi. 1: "Cast thy bread upon the waters; for thou shalt find it after many days." The young man was attentive, but

seemed abashed and downcast.

At the conclusion of the service he hastened out of the church, but he was closely followed, and soon overtaken by

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THE SABBATH-BREAKERS.

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my mother, who kindly said to him, “ Have you a bible, young man?" No, ma'am; but I can get one,' was his reply. "You can read, of course," said she. “Yes, ma'am.” “ "Well, take my son's Bible until you procure one of your own. Read it attentively during the week, and come to meeting again next Lord's-day. I will always be happy to accommodate you with a seat."

He put the bible in his pocket and hurried away. At family worship that evening my mother prayed fervently for the conversion of that young man.

Next Sunday came, and the next, but the stranger did not appear. My mother frequently spoke of him, and appeared grieved at his absence. He had doubtless been the subject of her closet devotions. On the third sabbath morning, while the congregation were singing the first psalm, the young man again entered our pew. He was now dressed genteelly, and appeared thin and pale, as if from recent sickness. My mother looked at him with great earnestness, and a gleam of satisfaction and thankfulness overspread her pale intellectual features. Immediately after the benediction, the stranger laid my bible on the desk and left the house without giving my mother an opportunity she much desired of conversing with him. On one of the blank leaves of the bible we found some writing in pencil, signed "W. C." The writer stated that he had been confined to his room by sickness for the previous two weeks. He declared his inability to express the gratitude he felt towards my mother, for the interest she had manifested in his spiritual welfare: he asked to be remembered in her prayers, and concluded by stating that he was an Englishman, and would return to his native land in about ten days.

Years rolled on: my mother passed to her heavenly rest; I grew up to manhood, and the stranger was forgotten.

In the autumn of 18-, the ship St. George, of which I was the medical officer, anchored in Table Bay. Between us and Penguin Island, I observed a man-of-war which I had seen before and knew well; it was her majesty's brig Chanticleer of ten guns, Commander Forbes, on a surveying expedition. The surgeon of the brig, Dr. F. had been my preceptor, and I resolved to pay him a visit. He received me with his usual warmth and kindness. After dining with the gun-room officers, he proposed that on the following day, which was the sabbath, we should attend meeting in Capetown. "It will remind us,"

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