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Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
VINA VINTON'S ANSWER. 
BY BOSE MAYFIELD. 
I writ be your bride, Ralph Rivers, 
You who are eo noble, true, 
I will watt »t home, oft praying, 
noping, trusting, all for you. 
And whan t idings R om the South-land, 
Almost crush our hearts with grief, 
I will seek the God of Battles, 
And He’ll grant me sweet relief. 
Oft at quiet ere, Ralph Rivers, 
I’ll wander to onr tryeting spot, 
Where last we saw the fresh spring blossoms, 
And plucked the sweet forget-me-not. 
Often will I list tn silence, 
For your voice so deep and strong: 
Yet I know your form so manly, 
Will be with the soldier-throng. 
It will lonely be, R alph Rivers, 
Through the weary summer days, 
Yet Duty’s pleadings will be many, 
And I’ll cheerful tread her ways. 
Yet I almost blush to think 
How my cowurd-heart repines, 
Knowing that, you'll nobly stand, 
Unflinching, In the battle lines. 
And if in that dread hour, Ralph Rivers, 
The life-blood from your heart should flow, 
Oh 1 terrible the thought! yet I 
Would look to God for strength, and go. 
I’d seek you ’m on gal. the wounded, dying, 
And gently press you to my heart, 
That yon might feel you still were cared for, 
I’d quench the life-flood that would start. 
I’d cheer your hours of pain, Ralph Rivers, 
A nd chant low songs you love, 
While with sweet words of sympathy, 
I’d bid you trust our God above. 
For long His love hath guided ns. 
And should my soldier-pride 
March o’er Death’s flowing river, 
I’d meet him as his angel-bride. 
Almena, Mich. 
Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
SMALL-SOULED PEOPLE. 
If there is any being of whom I feel in my 
heart to exclaim, “Good Lord deliver u9!” it is 
from a little, close-fisted, avaricious, penurious, 
stingy one. If a woman — O, shade of Done as ! 
how many “coats and garment*” of her giving 
or making will ever cover the hacks of the 
needy ? If a man, however intelligent, talented, 
handsome or rich all those qualities, sink into 
insignificance, if he has not a great , benevo¬ 
lent soul. 
There arc many noble men and women who, 
while honestly gathering wealth in one haDd, can 
open the other to all laudable calls ior aid, and 
help “ according to what they have.” But when 
the owners of thousands strive to relieve con¬ 
science by the gift of a few shilling*, I fairly 
detest them, and most heartily repeat the peti¬ 
tion, “Give me neither poverty nor riches.” 
You will easily distinguish such; for should 
you chance to make an appeal to them, which 
touches their purse, you feel a* if suddenly 
transported to Iceland, the air is so freezing 
about you; and you can see that, by u process 
almost as painful us tooth-pulling, they extract 
a dime or two just to get rid of you; and you 
know they think yon had better be at home, 
earning something for yourself, than around 
begging their money, that, year by year, is adding 
to itself such considerable sums of interest . The 
stingy young man i* al ways read}’ to accept cigars, 
el cetera, but never treats. lie will escort the 
ladies to concerts and lectures if/m—If not, he 
may possibly go himself, if his taste lies in that 
direction, but the girls may stay at home, or buy 
their own tickets, for all of him. If married, 
he’ll take time logo to all the “fairs,” “cele¬ 
brations,” Ac., but wile and children can stay at 
home. He can get around for nothing, — look 
over the fence, or sneak in on somebody’s ticket. 
Well, there’s safety for such animals iu one 
direction, - they will never spend their money 
making drunkard* of themselves; which is the 
only redeeming, consoling fact in the matter. 
With such a muii, comfort or pleasure for other* 
is nothing, if he can only make money, and hug 
it to his heart, with note, bond and mortgage. 
But who keeps the household in order? Who 
toils in the weary drudgery of the dairy ? Who 
is everlastingly darning stock lugs, mending coats 
and pants, and sowing on buttons? O, that’s 
nothing; wife has a dress or two a year, and all 
she wants to eat and drink, providing she cares 
little for tea and colfee. So Mr. Stingy pockets 
the dollars without ever offering one to her who 
has tolled early aud lute to help make them. No 
“pin money” does he voluntarily furnish; so 
wife and daughters, if a stick of tape or pair of 
shoe strings are wanted, must go to him like 
beggars for a few pennies, or stt< ’ them, if they 
can got a chance, from his pocket. I’ll warrant 
that every egg and bit of meat—every ounce of 
butter and sugar that is used, is dealt out with 
miserly hand by him. If I was the other “ halt ” 
of such a man, I’d hate him to death; and, sooner 
than marry a lUtl- ualed young man, I’ll comb 
an “old maid’s” head my “three-score years 
and ten.” 
“O, dear’.” say old Mr. Klosefibt, and Miss 
Pinch em, “ guess If you’d got a good deal 
moic’n you haw, you’d sing another tune. It’s 
always these folks who haint got nothing who 
preach about giving.” 
Well, riches are very desirable, but if to have 
them one must sacrifice all the noble qualities of 
love and benevolence, 1 prefer to forego the po.v 
session of them. What is wealth, when little 
ones half fed, half-clothed, are suffering at my 
door, if I cannot use It to bring one ruy of com¬ 
fort aud happiness to their hearts? 1! 1 cannot 
carry it to the humble home where some toil- 
worn, weary one lacks all the comforts of a sick 
room? Ah! what were hoarded gold, if when 
looking far away upon tented field or battle 
plain, 1 cannot reach forth my hand and nobly 
give to relieve the suffering, wounded, dying 
soldier? or, If only grudgingly, I give a dime or 
two to send the “gospel of peace” afar, or into 
the waste places at home? 
There i* something In the world besides self to 
live for, and bappv indeed are those who know 
how to use wisely tlv' earthly gifts God may 
bestow upon them. They will not climb fences 
and travel by-roads for the sake of avoiding the 
toll gates on Lite’s great highway, but will go 
straight forward, blessing and encouraging every 
poor pilgrim they overtake, and at Inst enter 
with joy the wide, open gate of Heaven, to pos¬ 
sess the Imperishable treasures there laid up for 
them. But alas! for him whose soul is so small 
you need a microscope of extraordinary power 
to discover he has one; there are few chauces of 
its ever being seen iu the beautiful land above. 
Chenango Co., N. Y., 1805. Bell Clinton. 
-*-*-•- 
Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
KEEP YOUR TEMPER. 
Why is it, that some people consider them¬ 
selves entitled to make a ridiculous exhibition 
of auger, every time things do not go just to suit 
them ? Unavoidable things are always happen¬ 
ing, vexatious enough, to be euro; and very often 
they are uot exactly unavoidable , but occur 
through some one’s carelessness, or neglect, or 
selfishness; but ou that, account shall I fly into 
a rage and make a whole household unhappy 
and uncomfortable ? Shall I slam the doors, 
bang the stove, throw the dishes, snap up every¬ 
body who speaks, and tear around generally ? 
Some things occur which would, or should, 
beget a righteous indignation ; and it is a tame 
spirit that can submit to a series or succession of 
unnecessary annoyance or inBult. But I am 
speaking c the innumerable and petty vexa¬ 
tions that >tnc to us all, in every family nearly, 
because Ii all families there are usually thought¬ 
less or si ash members, and besides, accidents 
arc liable in all places—mistakes, misunder¬ 
standing-, and these are bad enough; but to go 
into a passion and destroy, abuse and annoy 
innocent persons, is both cowardly and selfish 
to excess. 
If a thing has happened and can’t be helped, 
let it pass entirely, or with a quiet rebuke, if 
necessary, aud not go to storming, and blowing, 
and filling the house with thunderbolts and 
sledge hammers! Ah, the blessing of a meek 
and quiet spirit, the “pearl of great price!” 
Queechy. 
FEMENINE TOPICS. 
All women are good—good for something or 
good for nothing. 
A “ Dressmakers’ Company” has been or¬ 
ganized in London, with the object of mitigating 
the hardship* of sewing-women. 
Beauty has its privilges. A woman who ligs 
plainness ol countenance must not indulge iu 
the luxury of plainness of speech. 
Armenian women are noL allowed to speak 
above a whisper. The Boston Post thinks that 
they would want to go into the woods to 
“holler.” 
Going to the Legislative Assembly is now the 
fashionable thing for the ladies of Paris, and 
they form a liuc of crinolines before the doors 
are opened. 
St. Louis is asserting its claims to importance 
as a place for matrimonial infelicities. Seventy- 
two couples are seekiug divorces at the present 
term ot the Courts. 
The Western widows are calling indignation 
meetings with reference to the advent of Massa¬ 
chusetts girls. The male persuasion is too 
scarce for the home market. 
Tue ladles are going in for clubs. Poor dears; 
how little they think how they are “putting 
their little tocsles into it" by trying to place 
themselves on a club-footing.— Punch. 
As the good man saith, 60 say we ; but as the 
good woman saith, so it must be. 
[The French express the last idea more strong¬ 
ly _ (ftcfctnvie vent, JJieu le vent —(What woman 
wills, God wills).] 
An English hair dresser denounces the cus¬ 
tom of ladies covering their ears with their hair. 
He says that it is productive of diseases of the 
ear, preventing the circulation of air essential to 
its healthy action. 
A lock of Queen Elizabeth’s hair, with an 
original poem by Sir Philip Sidney on receiving 
it, has lately been found in an old folio volume 
of the. Arcadia, at Walton, England. The hair 
in color is golden brown. 
A war widow, iu Luwrencoville, Tioga Co., 
Pennsylvania, advertises to lay a wager, with 
any responsible person, that she can walk one 
hundred miles, without food, rest or drink. 
One-fourth of the proceeds is to be given to the 
Sanitary Commission. 
A friend of mine has a wile who inllicts up¬ 
on him every season two or three immense eve¬ 
ning parties. At one of these parties he was 
leaning against the chimney piece, when a gen¬ 
tleman, coming up to ldin, said, “Sir, as neither 
of us are acquainted here, I think we had better 
go home." 
Ehenezer Adams, the celebrated Quaker, on 
visiting a lady of rank, whom lie found, six 
months after the death of her husband, sitting 
on ft sofa covered with black cloth, and iu ail 
the dignity of woe, approached her with great 
solemnity, and gently taking her liy the hand, 
thus accosted her: " So, friend, 1 see that thou 
hast not yet forgiven God Almighty.” This sea¬ 
sonable reproof hud such an effect upon the per¬ 
son to whom U was addressed, that she immedi¬ 
ately laid aside her trappings of grief, and went 
about her necessary business and avocntiouB. 
IS DANCING AN INNOCENT DIVERSION 1 
“She said that Mr, Trot was the prettiest master 
in town; that she has seen him rise six or seven 
capers together with the greatest case imaginable; 
and that his scholars twist themselves more ways limn 
the scholars of any master in town Spectator. 
Perhaps some of the Rural reader* will re¬ 
member that, In our issue of March U5th, we 
published the view* of certain of our correspond 
cuts on “dancing.” These communications 
were occasioned by the previous publication, In 
our columns, of certain reflections upon the 
same subject by Gail Hamilton. We are aware 
that there is U0 social custom the propriety ol 
which is more botlv debuted than the one under 
consideration ; and hence we were not surprised 
at receiving several other letters touching the 
matter—extracts from two of which we propose 
to lay before our readers. 
Sarah Smith says of “Dancing and Card¬ 
playing 
“ Uaii. Hamilton *agely tell us that the cause 
of Christ does not waut the patronage of the 
world; that ii it (annot stand ou its own in¬ 
trinsic worth, it mast topple over; and yet, in 
the same article, she thinks it advisable to admit 
the frivolous aimnemcuts of the world into 
families aud social circles, in order to keep 
young Christians within the pule ol the church 
aud away from dissipation. 
“ A strange argument, verily! With the first 
position I agree thoroughly; hence with the 
second, I do uot. The hope of Heaven, the self- 
denial of our Redeemer's file, and more than 
all, Ida great sacrifice—the crown of thorns, the 
drops of blood, and the agonizing thorns—the 
remembrance of al these is not enough, but the 
Church must, open wide its doors to take in the 
allurements of the world iu order to hold un¬ 
stable hearts. 
“The observation and remembrances of my 
short life come up to refute the assertion that 
card-playing leads away from gambling, and 
dancing from dissipation. I well remember two 
boys who were ruined by llre-slde Card-playing. 
They were Intelligent boys, of quick, keen per¬ 
ceptions, and of course the game was doubly 
interesting to them on account, of Its intricacy. 
Well, in after years, when their business brought 
them to the viclniiy of one ot thoBe sinks of 
iniquity with which, unfortunately, all our cities 
are supplied, confident of their ability to win, 
they were induced to enter and try a game. 
We all know how easy it is, after the first step 
in wrong-doing, for poor human nature to glide 
on and on ! 
“Of course, I do not expect that all who 
while away their leisure hours at the whist- 
tabic, wifi become gamblers-perhaps not one 
iu a hundred is Urnptcd — but would it be a 
triflng thing if oiu In a thousand were ruined 
forever ?" 
This correspondent then proceeds to recom¬ 
mend, In place i<1 these popular amusements, 
certain intollect'j»-“ninueeiiH 2 i)t.. ” which, we 
arc afraid, would found on trial, to be intel¬ 
lectual tasks. Our friend seems, for a moment, 
to have forgotten that the question was uot how 
lectual tasks. Our friend seems, for a moment, 
to have forgotten that the question was uot how 
time could be most profitably spent, but whether 
dancing and whist-playing were innocent diver¬ 
sions, and as such could safely be indulged in 
by members of tbo Church. 
She proceeds as follows : 
“There is a class of people who indulge in 
sarcastic remarks at the expense of long and 
solemn-faced Christians; and we do not doubt 
but there arc well meaning professor* of religion 
who sometimes do filings which, in their inmost 
hearts, they feel to be wrong, through fear of 
growing into a likeness of this much-dreaded 
caricature. How much more happy and con¬ 
sistent would our fives he if we would heed 
Christ’s holy teachings more, and the worlds 
criticisms less! Understanding the human 
heart better than we understand our own, how 
earnestly did He warn His followers of the little 
Bins that steal away our hopes of that bettor 
land. It wa» not the spreading tig tree, or tower¬ 
ing palm that overshadowed the good seed and 
kept it from growing, but the little thorns and 
brambles, which, springing up with it, choked it. 
“Now, of all the round of life’s pleasures, is 
there one more alluring than dancing ? one 
better calculated to entangle the young heart 
in its mcBlies of vanity? How enchanting to 
youthful heart* are gracefulness and ease of 
manner*! When a desire for such empty bubble* 
lias onco usurped a place iu the heart, ulus ! lor 
the uet* of self-denial uud habit* of serious re¬ 
flection. Dear readers, even in a worldly point 
of view, our nation has too much gracefulness, 
too much uu»c of manners, too much bollow- 
hearlcdueb* and outside polish; and too little 
plain, mnuly, uprlfriit truthfulness. It is hearts 
that need cultivating in these day*, and not 
manners. The uopolished grace, aud dignity, 
aud ease, that an inborn consciousness of our 
Father’s approval will always* give, are mure 
beautiful than all the arts of the world, and may 
be worn without any of the envy or heart 
aching* that always follow in the train of earth's 
pleusure*. 1, too, lliiuk Christians are guilty in 
this matter. I aiu convinced that if parents 
would try more earnestly to tench their children 
to love less the praise and honors of tbo earth, 
and would show them how to win the peace 
that follows a fife of busy usefulness, there 
would be ltns need of Inventing amusements to 
pass away time; and that youthful hearts would 
lie more cheerful and happy, because they would 
be purer, and better, and nobler. 
“But one advocate of moral dancing, wishes 
that the thin part dam mails which divide the 
church and the world might be broken down. 
What a wish for one who expresses an Interest 
iu Christianity! Why, how full are all Christ’s 
teachings, aud thr apostles’ writings, of the 
doctrine that the church must be kept dLstimfi 
from the world, in order to retain its purity. 
No, rather may the thin partition walls which 
divide the world’s follies from the Christian’s 
life of faith grow thicker and stronger and 
higher, till Christ’s second coining shall free 
his followers from temptation.” 
Some ot the reflections above are eminently 
Bound and suggestive. The exception which is 
taken to the conduct of those Christians who 
are too much in the habit ot sacrificing their 
better judgments to the opinions of the world, 
is decidedly true and just. We cannot agree, 
however, with the sweeping denunciation of a 
de*ire for good manners aud a polished address. 
These things are both desirable in themselves, 
and, smoothing down the asperities of social 
intercourse, they tend to make t he society of onr 
fellows at once beneficial and delightful. We 
believe, with our correspondent, that the Ameri¬ 
can character ought to be “manly, upright and 
truthfulbut we do not think It at all necessary, 
in order to attain this, to decry case of manner, 
and dignity of address and carriage. The former 
Is essential—indispensable; the latter, becom¬ 
ing and attractive. Qur fair friend will also 
permit us to doubt that Brother Jonathan is 
quite the finished gentleman that she paints him. 
With reference to the case mentioned above, of 
young men having been ruined by card-playing, 
let us remark that it is unsafe to assume that to 
have been the cause of their ruin, unless it can 
be proved that they would not have become de¬ 
praved unless they had played cards. 
Let us hear E. W. Hicks on 
CHRISTIAN DANCING. 
“ Do you really think now that 11 you give the 
young pleasing pastimes they will gather around 
the altar? Isn’t that rather a poor motive for 
coming to the altar ? The Holy Spirit working 
on their hearts, and Jesus standing with out¬ 
stretched arms—hut they don’t budge; throw 
in the pastimes, and they yield! Many, too, have 
gone down to perdition because of ‘the unjust¬ 
ness of the church to their youthful longiugs,’ 
because they could not join the church and 
dance. Here then we have one well authenti¬ 
cated Instance where people lost their souls on 
account uf dancing. Will the advocates of that 
pastime give “this a ‘passing thought?’ 
“ The truth is, wc look at dancing and gaming 
theoretically, instead of practically; whereas 
there Is no such tiling in the world as theoretical 
dancing. When the muscles arc brought iuto 
play it becomes practical; and practical dancing 
is just the very article that i* commonly known 
by that name. So it Is with drinking. There is 
no harm in it, abstractly,—ami we have the 
apostle’s authority for taking ‘a little wine for 
our stomach’s saketherefore it is perfectly 
right to advocate the swallowing a good glass of 
rum once in awhile! But in these days, when 
the necessity of total abstinence is bo universally 
admitted, the Jolly of such a course neml not bo 
pointed out. A theoretical tumbler of liquor 
won't do anybody any harm—but empty a real 
dram down the throat, and it wifi make a man 
drunk. Everything, undoubtedly, was originally 
intended for man’s use and pleasure. But siuee 
then w have fallen: sin bus changed our nature 
into another channel, and a perverted nature will 
pervert its own pleasures. If this proposition 
be true, then human nature must be changed 
before certain pleasures can be safely indulged 
iu. Not merely the change that Is effected by 
regeneration, but a total aud radical change,- 
bucIi as we shall not experience until wc stand 
' on the other shore.’ Till* is a logical reason 
against, dancing; now let us have a spiritual 
reason. 
“ A truly Christian heart is the best guide for 
the conduct of the individual; and what does 
that heart say V Il l am not mistaken, the feel¬ 
ing is that, it lias no relish for these pastimes. 
Ami why should it not have such a relish ? If 
dancing and the love of God havo a mutual 
nllimty for each other, why should a feeling of 
disrelish be engendered? Certainly, if a Chris¬ 
tian goes to n ball and tlndr that the edge, of his 
religious enjoyment is blunted before it is over, 
he may fairly conclude that something is wrong. 
“ When the love of Christ becomes the motive 
power of the world, and every heart is conform¬ 
able to its teachings, then the church may 
dunce. But until that time, its practice and 
prayer must still he, ‘lead us not into tempta¬ 
tion.’” 
W'e believe that the remarks of our corres¬ 
pondent above are worthy of consideration, 
although they are very far from reflecting our 
own opinions. Let us briefly state a few views 
upon the subject. 
Dancing ami card playing are not, under 
proper restriction*, generally dangerous or 
harmful. In common with a great many other 
amusements, they become so only by excess 
and under peculiar circumstance!-. 
We arc opposed to that waning institution 
known us the “ball, uot because dancing istliu 
object for which young people meet together on 
such an occasion, but because late hours ami 
promiscuous dancing (which we decidedly frown 
on), are invariably incident to it. Iu the home 
circle, and at private assemblies of tin- virtuous 
aud refined, we think dancing and card-playing 
are uot objectionable amusements. Relaxation 
of some kind is positively necessary, and they 
seem to meet, the requirement* of the case. 
Without them, the only refuge of social Inter¬ 
course seems to be idle, uud too often, vicious 
conversation. Personal peculiarities will some¬ 
times, however, make an Innocent diversion 
positively dangerous. “Look lntothy heart and 
write !” if you discover that these, or any other 
amusements, awaken in you unluudablc desires or 
vicious inclination*, then avoid them. We pity, 
but wo cannot sympathize with such a person. 
We think that ‘neither of onr correspondent* 
represent the enlightened Christian scutlrnent 
of the day on thi* question. The policy «f 
Christ laulfv Is not to prevent proper enjoyment, 
but to moderate our transports, and to teach 
Unit, in all cases, the pursuit of pleasure must 
la- subordinate to the claims of duty. There is 
no danger, a* our correspondents seem to feat, 
that “the world” and “the church” will ever 
strike bunds; they may seem at time* to uet 
alike, but their motives are separated by “the 
whole diameter of being.” 
Sut Richard Steele says that ho “attempts 
to bring into the service of honor and virtue 
everything in nature that can pretend to give 
elegant delight ; and that them I* a strict affinity 
between ull thing* that, are truly laudable and 
beautiful, from the highest sentiment of the 
uoul to the most Indifferent gesture of the body.” 
|p$ingi 
Written for Moore's Rural New-Yorker. 
SPIRIT LONGINGS. 
BV MRS. H. M. C. 
Shall wo meet In Heaven 
Friends of by-gone years— 
Friends whoso precious memory 
Melts us Into tears ? 
Wide our lect have wandered, 
Varied paths to tread ; 
Some are nobly living— 
Some are with the dead. 
Oft in night's sweet visions, 
Or In waking dreams, 
Come your dear old faces— 
Almost real It socm-c 
Oh I these spirit visits, 
Which we love eo well, 
Bind our heart* still closer 
With a magic spell. 
Shall we meet in Heaven, 
Gathered in one fold. 
Walk the streets together, 
Paved with burnished gold ? 
Oh! these thoughts come o’er us 
With a silent power : 
Here we are but pilgrims— 
Pilgrims of au hour. 
May we who still linger 
On the earthly shore, 
Work for God, our Saviour, 
Glorify him more: 
Earnest in life’s battle, 
Valiant for the right, 
Nerved with high endeavor, 
Win the glorious tight. 
Then well meet In neaven 
Friends of by-gone years, 
Share the bliss Immortal, 
Free from doubt and fears: 
Up to thee, “Onr Father,” 
Our full hearts we’ll raise, 
While the dome of glory 
Echoes loudest praise. 
Granger, Allegany Co., N. Y. 
Written for Moore's Rural New-Yorker. 
STAND UP FOR JESUS. 
DY L. MC 0. 
These words were among tho last utterances 
of a Christian young man who died a few years 
ago in the city of New York. It is a warning 
that all should heed, and advice that every Chris¬ 
tian (should to) low. Not only when His cause 
seems triumphant, not alone when there is a 
special manifestation of His grace, should we 
Stand up for Jesus ; but most loudly should we 
proclaim Ills worth and attest the truth of His 
religion when Ilia cause seems to be languish¬ 
ing. The fortresses of Satan may be carried 
only by persistent activity and continued con¬ 
flict, and the merits of Christ constitute the 
strongest weapon in onr hands against them. 
What must be the exultation in the breast of the 
Christian, when ho stands before the Judgment 
Bar, if he has tho consciousness that he stood up 
for Jesus when the power of Satan opposed him 
and when the world seolfed at his Saviour. Wo 
may form some idea of the feeling* of the Union 
man at the South who stood up for Ills Country 
through all the struggle to overthrow our Gov¬ 
ernment. What satisfaction must lie foci, who 
occupies the Chair of State to-day, when he 
remembers how he stood up for hiB country 
and her lkur when his State aud friends deserted 
them. Then think’ how much more glorious 
and ecstatic is the joy of the redeemed soul in 
the presence of hi* God and Judge when Vie 
meets the approbation of Him who rule* In the 
Heavens: - “ Thou hast been faithful.” 
This life is a continued warfare against sin and 
unbelief. Those of U* who are soldiers, enlisted 
in tho Cause of Righteousness, may not only 
carry terror into the ranks that oppose us, by 
proclaiming the greatness uud power of our 
Great Captain, but we may thereby inspire each 
other with increased faith in His leadership. 
Some time ago, a friend was telling us how he 
had grown up Into a distrust of one of the com¬ 
mander* of the Army of the Potomac. He said 
he had become convinced that he was a weak 
and iuefllclcnt General, by the account* which 
were given of him by the public journals, and by 
the denunciations of eminent men. But when 
he came to converse with the soldiers who had 
fought under him, and heard them, as one mau, 
speak in his favor, his opinion of the mau was 
changed. He then perceived that be had been 
prejudiced against him. Now, Christian soldier, 
shall you hear your Great Captain reviled and 
denounced and you stand mute without a word 
in His favor? Your silence will be interpreted 
to mean an acquiescence in the denunciation. 
Then let us never neglect an opportunity to 
proclaim the glory, the goodness and the truth 
of Christ. Let us always “ stand up for Je-us-" 
Rochester, N. Y., 1806. 
■ ■ ■ 
LUMIN0U8 CHRISTIANS. 
Christians are said to ha “ light In tho Lord, 
and are required to shine as “ lights in the 
world.” In our admiration of what is bold, 
original, and piquant, wo sometime* undervalue 
n character that is remarkable only fur the gue e 
that renders It symmetrical and lustrous. 'U' 
hear a good deal about the mission of the church, 
but less of the style of piety demanded by the 
time* ; and nothing 1* more needed now, and al 
all times, than an Increase of Christian* « ,l ° l( 
their light so shine that others seeing their good 
works, may glorify our Father iu heaven. A 
follower Of Christ maybe incompetent ior eu 
terprises of great pith and moment, and yet be 
able to fill the sphere In which he moves with a 
beauty and a radiance that shall adorn the d<x- 
triucs of God our Saviour, and compel men to 
believe that he ha* been with Jesus. 
