16 



KIDD'S OWN JOUENAL. 



PROSPECT AND RETROSPECT. 



Good sense and learning may esteem obtain ; 

 Humor and wit a laugh, — if rightly ta'en : 

 Fair virtue admiration may impart, 

 But 'tis good-nature only wins the heart. 



Stillingfleet. 



The drying-up a single tear has more 



Of honest Fame than shedding seas of gore. 



Byron. 



A PLEASING RUMOR HAS REACHED US, 



that we may anticipate a large influx of new 

 subscribers to our Fifth Volume, — this pre- 

 sent number affording an excellent oppor- 

 tunity for their joining our standard. We 

 bid all and each of these new-comers a hearty 

 welcome ; and as it is only natural that they 

 should wish to know something of us and of 

 our objects, we will here offer a few brief 

 observations. 



Our Journal was established with a view 

 to make people " think." To accomplish 

 this, we have presented everything in its 

 own proper color and shape ; invariably 

 declaring the truth, and leaving people to 

 draw their own inferences. It is only by 

 calm and dispassionate reasoning that we 

 could ever hope to make converts. Abuse 

 is a feeble weapon ; nor is assertion much 

 better. W r e love to " prove" all we advance; 

 and herein has been our success. The 

 amount of good we have effected during the 

 past two years, is almost incalculable. In 

 that period of time Four Volumes have seen 

 the light. We will leave them to speak for 

 themselves, and for us. They are " bound " 

 to do so. 



Here we would observe, that the one great 

 object of our life is to make people natural. 

 It is the hardest task we could have under- 

 taken ! The world we live in is made up of 

 deception. Habit sanctions it ; and Use has 

 become a second nature. Whilst breaking 

 a lance at the follies of the world, we incur 

 the most deadly resentment of some, the 

 anger of others, the contempt of a few, — but 

 the praise of all good men. These last hold 

 up our hands, and keep us brave in the battle. 

 Our Retrospect then is a delightful one. 

 We have won a great victory, and planted 

 our standard high upon the necks of our 

 enemies. The immense efforts made to anni- 

 hilate us, by certain parties, have been a great 

 failure. They feel it, and now slink away 

 abashed. Perseverance has triumphed over 

 spleen and malice ; and the Public now 

 recognise this Journal as — their " own." 



Now for our Prospect. This is so entirely 

 in the hands of those who wish us well, — 

 whose dear families have derived lasting 

 benefit from a perusal of our pages, that we 

 cannot see cause for anything but rejoicing. 

 Our sentiments stand recorded. And as for 

 our plain-speaking, it is so thoroughly esti- 

 mated, — our honesty of purpose so apparent, 

 that nothing more remains to be added. 

 As regards the features of the Journal, 



they will remain unchanged. Natural His- 

 tory will, of course, have its usual place. 

 Popular Science, too, and the Domestic 

 Arts and Virtues, will be introduced as usual. 

 In addition, all that can tend to make Society 

 good, amiable, natural, and happy, will be 

 most sedulously cared for. 



We have often said, and we now repeat it — 

 that all time which is not properly occupied 

 is time thrown away. Nor can we consider 

 anything worth living for, unless it be the 

 pleasure experienced from being made useful 

 to our fellow-men. For this do we live. In 

 this do we delight. 



" HOW DO I LIVE ? "—LISTEN ! 



Living friendly, feeling friendly, 



Acting fairly to all men, 

 Seeking to do that to others 



They may do to me again ; 

 Hating no man, scorning no man, 



Wronging none by word or deed ; 

 But forbearing, soothing, serving, 



Thus I live, — and this -my creed. 



Harsh condemning, fierce contemning, 



Is of little Christian use ; 

 One soft word of kindly peace 



Is worth a torrent of abuse. 

 Calling things bad, calling men bad, 



Adds but darkness to their night ; 

 If thou would'st improve thy brother, 



Let thy goodness be his light. 



I have felt, and known how bitter 



Human coldness makes the world ; 

 Ev'ry bosom round me frozen, 



Not an eye with pity pearled. 

 Still my heart, with kindness teeming, 



Glads when other hearts are glad ; 

 And my eye a tear-drop findeth 



At the sight of others sad. 



Ah ! be kind — life hath no secret 



For our happiness like this ; 

 Kindly hearts are seldom sad ones — 



Blessing ever bringeth bliss ; 

 Lend a helping hand to others, 



Smile though all the world should frown ; 

 Man is man — we all are brothers, 



Black and white ; yes, red and brown. 



Man is man, through all gradations ; 



Little recks it where he stands, 

 Or what his creed, through all the nations 



Scattered over many lands. 

 Man is man by form and feature, 



Man by vice and virtue too ; 

 Man in all one common nature 



Speaks and binds us brothers true. 



J. HOBBINS. 



THE IMPORTANCE OF A WORD. 



The Chinese have a saying, — that an unlucky 

 word dropped from the tongue, cannot be brought 

 back again by a coach and six horses. 



