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THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE.

CALL not this world a "vale of woe"

The epithet is too severe !

The poorest hearth might sometimes glow;
There's much the dreariest path to cheer:

Is not the Ruler of our sphere

His servants' Everlasting Friend? The brightness of existence here

Doth greatly on ourselves depend!
His sun irradiates rocks and meads,

Beams on "the unjust and the just;"
His hand supplies the wholesome needs
Of all who strive and humbly trust;
Be wholly "wretched" no one must,
And each may his estate improve;
All forms of animated"dust"

Were fashioned by a God of love.

Ye recreants, who, with jaundiced eyes,
Look on life's ills as on the grave-
There's good ye fail to recognise,

There's blessedness in being brave!
And ye who Luxury's table crave-
Ignore ye not a richer feast?

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wants;"

Not happiest they the most that have,
But such as really wish the least.
Earth's wond'rous storehouse doth not hold
Enough to meet the worldling's
The potent lord of wealth untold
Dissatisfaction's pennon flaunts,
As well as he whom Famine haunts-
Naught can a morbid craving 'suage;
Nor can aught outward Dives vaunts

Make tranquil or his youth or age.

Since then not in th' eternal lies

All that an Eden here creates-
Since Misery oft wears glittering guise,
And Fashion's idle mummery sates-
What wishes have we? loves aud hates?

Whence spring our acts? and what their end?

Peace watches aye at Virtue's gates,

And kindred joys her steps attend.

They find of happiness no dearth
Who daily, hourly sow the seeds;
Deep shadows fall on many a hearth

From home-born passions, self-wrought deeds:
The murmurer this conviction needs-

Much suffering hath no foreign cause,
But surely, though untraced, succeeds
Its subjects' breach of being's laws.
Then call not earth a "world of woe"—
It is not to the good, the wise!
Aye on its banks Hope's flowerets grow,
Light permeates its darkest skies!
One Providence doth all comprise,

And solid "peace" is theirs who feel
That "all things" which His truth disguise
Combine to "work" their highest weal.

'Tis even so! In every sphere

Some sunlight may to man extend;
While, if his aims and efforts here
Unto his Maker's glory tend,

That God will prove his changeless "Friend,"
His breast shall oft with gladness glow-
Sc much doth on ourselves depend,

Not one need be o'erwhelmed with woe!

CARACTACUS.

THE ANGEL "LOVE."

WHAT are the ties, O earth!

The thousand ties, that bind my heart to thee? What constitutes their might-their priceless worth? Who threw them round my spirit at my birth? Answer, oh! answer me.

Who forged that golden chain

Whose staple is the glorious Heaven above?
What sweetly circles me in hours of pain?
Oh! did I hear thee right? Say, say again,
'Tis "Love"-'tis "Love!"

Yes, Love alone hath form'd

Each magic link, each rivet bright and true; And when the tempest has around me storm'd My heart within hath been supported-warmed, Till light has broken through.

How strong is every link!

And watchful Love doth keep them bright and
clear.

Ofttimes she's raised me when about to sink,
Sweeten'd the bitter cup my lips must drink,
And dried the falling tear.

Sometimes there comes a gloom :

Death snaps my heart's most loved and cherish'd
tie,

Low lays my treasure in the narrow tomb,
Withers the flowers that erst did sweetly bloom,
And dims my aching eye.

And then, when sorrowing most,

Love pours her balm into my wounded breast,Tells me the missing link shall not be lost; 'Twas purchased at a high and holy cost,

And now is with the blest.

O Love, truly thou art

An angel sent from thy abode on high,
To elevate and purify the heart,

And draw it heavenward, when earth's joys depart,
And loved ones droop and die.

And thou wilt not be pent

Within the narrow limit of one breast:
Upon a world-wide mission thou wert sent,
Freely, fully, and sweetly to be blent

With trouble, toil, and rest.

Thou'rt not a stagnant pool;

But an o'erflowing, ever-running stream,
Bearing the breath of Heaven where thou dost roll,-
Shedding, o'er many a darken'd, gloomy soul,
A bright, refreshing beam.

O come, sweet Love, and free

The world of hate. All pride and strife remove.
The golden bonds of blissful unity

Link round each heart, until this life shall be
LUCINDA B.
A type of that above.

IMPUNITY oftentimes causeth impudency, but forbearance is no acquittance. The longer the hand is lifted up, the heavier will be the blow at last. Of all metals, lead is the coldest, but being Humble souls melted, it becomes the hottest.

know how to apply this, and proud souls shali sooner or later experience this.-Smooth Stones taken from Ancient Brooks, by the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon.

MISS MOCK MODESTY.

It was on the 10th of February, 18—, when two young maidens, full of fun and frolic, were busily engaged in sorting some of those charming trifles called valentines. The sorters were greatly amused; at first, by the beauty of design and delicacy of colouring of some of the pictures, and lastly, at some of the grotesque images of the commoner ones. These last would not be sent in love, but by persons wishing to annoy and wound the feelings of the receiver. There were some for ladies and some for gentlemen. These last were in divers ridiculous attitades-some stroking their stubby mousLaches, others smoking curious pipes, while their costume seemed to exhibit all the colours of the rainbow, and all the shapes and fashions ever invented. Va rious, too, were the dress and appearance of the ladies. Among them was a little old lady, dressed very youthfully in Teen, with a fan in her hand, which she was holding up to her cheek, which was highly rouged; with the other hand she seemed to be checking the progress of some gentleman who was courteously bowing to her. Underneath the picture was written, "Miss Mock Modesty," and some doggrel lines, deriding old maids in general (and the present old maid in particular) as useless, idle, chattering mischief-makers, and alluding to "listeners" in very rude terms.

"Yes; it will be better so; we will lay it aside till we have done, we may see the portrait of some more of our friends."

Now for a few words about "Aunt Meggy," who was to be favoured by her nieces with the elegant missive.

Aunt Meggy had been left an orphan at the age of 18, the eldest of four children. When her parents died, a consultation was held by the brothers of the deceased as to the propriety of giving up the business which her father had carried on for many years, and by which he had supported his wife and family. He had been enabled to save a little money, but not enough to keep his children without work. Two of these children had yet to be educated, and they must all either be indebted to their uncles, or Margaret, who had lately assisted her father, must devote herself entirely to the business, and try and keep a home, and pay for the two young ones' schooling. Margaret was most anxious to try to do this; she could not bear to be dependent even upon her near relatives. One of her uncles who lived near, promised to assist her with advice and counsel; to go to market for her, and help her with the management of the small farm attached to the busi ness; and without this aid, Margaret found she must have given up in a few months; but as time passed, and she grew accustomed to her work, it became "Oh, look at this, Bell !" said the eldest more easy and pleasant, though her's of the two girls. "Is not this old lady were no trifling duties. There was the just like Aunt Meggy about the eyes and business to manage, household expenses forehead ?" to watch, employment, alike useful and "Yes, that she is, Fanny; it is a capi-instructive to be found for her sister, who tal caricature; and that is just the way she looks when you are running on with your nonsense, and drawing rather too strongly on your imagination in relating

events.

"Let's send it to her; do-it will be such fun. She won't know where it comes from. Do send it."

"Well, then, you must direct it, or the directions will betray me."

"Oh, you could disguise your hand; but I will do it if you like."

was just at that age when girls most need a mother's care; and her young brother and sister to train to good habits of industry, obedience, and piety-to these she, who had so lately been a fellowplaymate, was now father, mother, and sister, all in one.

There came a time when her principles were to be tested. Margaret was a pretty girl, and there were those who, seeing how well she managed, how her business appeared to prosper, and the happy

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looks of her household, would fain have found a closer relationship with her; but she felt she had a duty to perform to her family, and she must not indulge in such day-dreams; though, when wearied with business cares, which were too heavy for her, and with family troubles she was not experienced enough to remedy, she would only have been too glad for a stronger arm to lean upon.

About four years after her parent's death she received an offer from one whom they had known well and respected much. It came at a time when she was particularly cast down. Her sister was about to be married and leave the neighbourhood for a distant county; that would leave Margaret to increased cares, while her brother and sister were still too young to assist her.

Mr. Sidney urged his suit, begging to be allowed to consult with her uncle; and to this Margaret gave a reluctant consent, for she knew her uncle did not anticipate such a thing, and would consider it very inexpedient. Her surmises were correct.

After Mr. Sidney's interview with him, her uncle had a long conversation with Margaret, pointing out to her the fact that if she consented to marry Mr. Sidney, she would deprive her brother of the means of establishing himself in life, for the business must, of course, be given up; and, when he left school, he must get a situation, or be apprenticed, and fight his way alone and unassisted, while the younger sisters must also leave school, and be put to some trade. If, on the contrary, Margaret would give up all thoughts of marriage till her brother was old enough to take her place, Annie might have a good education; and Herbert would have the means of providing a comfortable home for them, when he should need the old homestead himself.

Margaret promised to think it over, and she determined to deny herself for her orphan brother and sister. At first she indulged the hope that Mr. Sidney would wait for her, though she was too generous to wish for an engagement with him under such circumstances; but this hope was denied her soon, for Mr. Sidney removed to another town, and his feelings

added

Annie

of affection grew colder, and, though Mar-
garet had his esteem, yet he wanted a wife,
and was not very long before he married.
Margaret overcame her disappointment.
Her sister, after receiving a sound and
accomplished education, returned home;
Margaret
and her brother began to render her
assistance in the business.
began to look forward to the time when
she might leave it entirely to Herbert
These
when symptoms of spinal complaint made
their appearance in his frame.
increased, and he was soon unable to take
any active part in the duties of life; and
to Margaret's other cares were
those of nurse. Years passed on.
married, leaving Margaret alone with the
Days of toil now varied by
invalid.
nights of watching; for Herbert, in his
selfish love for Margaret, too often forgot
how weary she must be. At length he
was released from his pain, leaving Mar-
garet to weep his loss, and yet to feel the
comfort that she had done much to ren-
der that dying bed a happy and peaceful
one. Nights of watching had done their
work on her. She was no longer "pretty
"old maid
Margaret;" but a premature old woman,
whom gossips noticed as an
quite laid on the shelf." She was enabled
to give up business, and rented a pretty
cottage near her old home; and her
leisure hours were often employed in
working for her sister's children, and in
visiting the sick and needy around her.
Her nieces used often to visit her, though
they began to think themselves of age to
laugh at their aunt for being fidgetty and
old maidish.

After the valentine was posted, Fanny forgot all about it in more pleasing engagements, till one morning she received an invitation to spend a little time with her aunt, who was not feeling very well The invitation was accepted, and Fanny could not but notice a great change in her aunt.

She, who generally seemed so cheerful and active, was now dull and nervous, averse to seeing any one who called, and hardly to be persuaded to take her accustomed walks.

One day Fanny came upon her aunt unexpectedly, and what was her surprise to see the forgotten valentine spread out before her.

"Why, aunty, said she, "do you have valentines?"

"Yes, my dear, I am sorry to say so, for it is not at all pleasant."

"Why, aunty, I like having them, it is such fun, guessing who sent them.'

"It may be so to you, dear, for I presume you have never been troubled with such as this. Read it, dear. You will see I am held up to ridicule and contempt. Some one has been kind enough to enlighten me as to the estimation in which I am held, but I am sure I am innocent of listening,' and I have never intentionally made mischief. Whoever sent it, might have been more tender to an old woman's feelings, who will not be here long to

COLLAR IN GUIPURE EMBROIDERY.The collar being an essential article of dress, we supply the design for one, which will be found both rich and elegant when completed, although it does not require any great amount of work. Collars are now worn very small. The engraving shows the right size for any lady. The only difference that need be made is in the length round the neck, which can be adjusted by adding one or

trouble them."
My readers may imagine Fanny's feel-two more scollops if required.
ings for the sake of a little fun, she had
wounded one who had always been most
kind and indulgent to her. Her mind
went back to the many indulgences she
had received, to some of the acts of self-
denial she had witnessed in her aunt, and
she burst into tears.

I

"Nay, Fanny, my child, it is scarcely a weeping matter for you, at all events. can see all do not think so badly of me; you at least love me."

"Oh yes, aunt, indeed I do; but oh, do forgive me, for I sent this ugly thing. I did not mean to hurt your feelings, but when we were sorting them, this one looked a wee bit like you, aunty, about the eyes, so Bell and I thought we would send it. We did not mean any harm. Do, pray forgive us, and think no more of it."

In com

mencing the embroidery, the first thing is to put in the connecting lines (Venetian bars) with No. 8 Boar's-head Crochet Cotton. The outline must then be traced with No. 30 of the Perfectionné Embroidery Cotton, and worked with the same. The largest flowers are worked in raised button-hole stitch; the small holes are sewn round. The two lines which enclose the oval holes must be done in the fine button-hole stitch. When the embroidery is completed, the parts of the muslin which are under the connecting lines of the crochet cotton must be cut away, leaving the design clear and distinct. The proper material for this Collar is cambric muslin. Connecting lines, or Venetian bars, are worked by passing one, two, or more threads across any open space, and then covering them from end Aunt Margaret's face brightened, and to end with close button-hole stitch. she freely forgave her niece, but added, Raised button-hole stitch is worked by "For the future, Fanny dear, let all your passing a few stitches of thick soft cotton little jokes be good-natured ones, espe- the opposite way of the work for a foun cially to old people, for they live alone,dation before working the button-hole and are apt to take these jokes as serious stitch; the greater the number of threads affairs, and it is a pity to cause any one the more the work will be raised. any needless sorrow." Reader, take Aunt Margaret's advice; SCENT SACHET.-This elegant little send as many loving valentines as you sachet is one of the most tasteful arrange please, but do not rashly wound the feel-ments for introducing a pleasant perfume ings of any, for each heart has its share of sorrow, and it is cruel to add to it the ating of derision and contempt, and this often is caused from thoughtlessness, and

into the drawers in which young ladies keep the various articles of their wardrobes. It is made of bright blue seed beads and transparent white and gold