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OH, WHEN WILL FOOLS BE WISE? 

** Help yourself first, and then—’’ 

The Prespyters to PALMERSTON. 
Tue Plague has come among us, 
Miserable sinners ! 
Fear and remorse have stung us, 
Miserable sinners ! 
We ask the State to fix a day, 
Whereon all men may fast and pray 
That Heaven will please to turn away 
The Plague that works us sore dismay— 
Miserable sinners! 
PatmeErston to the PRESBYTERS, 
The Plague that comes among you, 
Miserable sinners ! 
To effort hath it stung you, 
Miserable sinners ! 
You ask that all should fast and pray ; 
Better all wake and work, I say; 
Sloth and supineness put away, 
That so the Plague may cease to slay 
Miserable sinners ! 
For Plagues, like other evils, 
Miserable sinners ! 
Are Gop’s and not the Devil’s, 
Miserable sinners ! 
Scourges they are, but in a hand 
Which love and pity do command; 
And when the heaviest stripes do fall, 
"Tis where they’re wanted most of all, 
Miserable sinners ! 
Look round about your city, 
Miserable sinners ! 
Arouse to shame and pity, 
Miserable sinners ! 
Pray : but use brush and limewash pail; 
Fast : but feed those for want who fail ; 
Bow down, gude town, to ask for grace, 
But bow with cleaner hands and face— 
Miserable sinners ! 
All Time Gon’s Law hath spoken, 
Miserable sinners! 
That Law may not be broken, 
Miserable sinners ! 
But he that breaks it must endure 
The penalty which works the cure. 
To us, for Gon’s great laws transgressed, 
Is doomsman Pestilence addressed— 
Miserable sinners ! 
We cannot juggle Heaven, 
Miserable sinners ! 
With one day out of seven, 
Miserable sinners ! 
Shall any force of fasts atone 
For years of duty left undone ? 
How expiate with prayer or psalm, 
Deaf ear, blind eye, and folded palm ? 
Miserable sinners! 
Let us be up and stirring, 
, Miserable sinners ! 
Mongst ignorant and erring, 
Miserable sinners ! 
KIDD’S OWN JOURNAL. 

Sloth and self-seeking from us cast, 
Believing this the fittest fast— 
For of ail prayers prayed ‘neath the sun 
There is no prayer like work well done, 
Miserable sinners ! Pano: 
[The above seasonable reproof ought to be 
printed in letters of gold. The cant of the present 
day is enough to call down the vengeance of 
Heaven. If we have any “talents,” it would 
seem to be the “ one’’ “ hid in a napkin!’ 

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE. 
Symptoms of Early Winter—We seldom re- 
member to have experienced a finer November 
than the one just passed. Nearly the whole 
month was gloriously fine, and the farmers had a 
benefit, in consequence, that they will (we hope) 
never forget. 'Thereis seed enough in the ground 
now to produce a supply of food for many years to 
come. The first nipping frost was felt on the 
morning of November 18. The ice visible on the 
ponds near London, from one night’s cold, exceeded 
half an inch in thickness. In some exposed situa- 
tions it was fully one inch thick. The sun rose, 
beautiful in its brilliancy ; and the trees were 
decked with the most fantastic ornaments. The 
birds came to the windows to be fed, the leaves 
forsook the branches, people bustled merrily about, 
and burly “old Winter” seemed to give a hint 
that we must prepare to do him honor. It is sad 
to contemplate the cost of fuel; when we think of 
the poor, and of the privations to which they must 
of necessity be subject. But for this, we should 
glory in a severe winter; as we imagine it would 
go far to regenerate the earth, and banish the 
pestilence that has so long been raging amongst 
us. We observe that many of our winter birds 
have arrived; and of course we hear the murderous 
gun ‘‘ bidding them welcome.” Thrushes, black- 
birds, hedge-sparrows, robins (!), are falling victims 
to the iron tube by the hundred ; their murderers 
taking a comfortable seat by the fire, after their 
day’s “amusement,” to boast of their prowess! 
How strangely do some people set about enjoying 
themselves, and how “odd” their idea ofa “merry 
Christmas !”"—W. K. 

A Hint to Spirit Drinkers, ipropos of Christ- 
mas.—The following letter was lately received, 
in answer to an inquiry addressed to Mr- Cob- 
den as to “the best” mode of “ opening the 
trade in spirits.” ‘ Sir,—In reply to your inquiry, 
I venture to suggest that the best way of dealing 
with the monopoly of spirits is—to abstain from 
drinking them. This, for upwards of 20 years, I 
have done. Depend on it they are nothing better 
than slow poison, even if taken moderately ; what 
they are when taken in excess, the records of our 
gaols, lunatic asylums, and coroners’ inquests 
must inform you. And I am, sir, your most 
obedient servant, Richarp Cospren.—Midhurst, 
Nov. 9.” 
[This answer is every way worthy of attention 
just now. Hosts of people are greedily preparing 
to ‘lay in spirits” for the season,—laying in, at 
the same time, poison for their own destruction. 
It we only save ‘‘one”’ life, then will this hint 
not have been thrown away. Our “ spirits ” are 


