f Jtc 2Uvictm. 
Military History op Ulysses S, Grant. From April, 
ism, to April, 1865. Bv Adam Badeau. Colonel and 
Aid-de-C'ntnp to the General-in-Chief. Brevet. Brigndier- 
GeiioiiU U. 8. Army. Volume I. |8 vo.—pp. 683. J New 
York; D. Appleton & Co. 
General Grant is tUe foremost man of the times. 
Measured by the popular estimate, his life has been a 
splendid success. A more brilliant, career than his has 
been daring the past, five years never was witnessed, and 
we presume to say never will he witnessed. Much of his 
military history is still fresh in the minds of the people, 
as given by the Press from the time ho first assumed com¬ 
mand of a regiment until Lee capitulated to him as Gen¬ 
eral in-Cliief, but it, remained for some one having free 
access to official papers to give that, history in all its com¬ 
pleteness and truthfulness. Gen. Badeau was admirably 
qualified for the work, aud was afforded the most, ample 
facilities for performing it faithfully. The volume now 
before us bears every evidence of careful investigation on 
the part, of the writer. Its references to and qnqtations 
from official documents are frequent and 1'ulL It is, in 
fact, a history or the Armies of the Southwest, giving 
details of the movements thereof, and showing what part 
in the progress of the war they ful til led, As aids to the 
understanding of the campaigns those armies engaged in, 
numerous maps are given ; and Appendixes are added in 
which are reproduced the dispatches that passed between 
Geueral Grant and General Hallf.ck during the siege of 
Vicksburg, very many valuable letters aud reports, and 
also several reports of the rebe.l Geucral-in-Chiet', Brax¬ 
ton Bragg. A very excellent portrait of Gen. Grant 
forms the frontispiece. This volume closes with the pre¬ 
sentation of a Lieutenant-General’s commission to the 
successful soldier, and we shall look for the continuance 
of the history with much interest. In typographical finish 
the work is deserving of much praise. 
-*-«•-*- 
Two Thousand Miles on Horseback. Santa Fe and 
Back. A Summer Tour through Kansas. Nebraska, 
Colorado ami New Mexico, in the year 1866 . By James 
F. Mei.ine- [16 mo.—pp. 317.] New York: Hurd & 
Houghton. 
The author of the series of letters here given is an 
army officer, now serving on the staff of Gen. Pope. He 
has traveled widely, is keenly observant, likes adventure, 
and has a crisp, sententious style of writing which, though 
not always smooth and polished, is never prolix aud tire¬ 
some. The Far West is a great country, and one can see 
it, in all its details, to splendid advantage while in the 
saddle. Indians, buffaloes, grizzly b<*ar«, miners, squat¬ 
ters, Mexicans, hunters, all conic in his way, nr arc over¬ 
taken by him. Col Meline meets with all these, and 
introduces them to the reader, sometimes humorously, 
often suggestively and happily. A few passages might 
be more refined, wa think, but are perhaps not more 
coarsely drawn than the subjects of which they treat 
demand. For sale by Harrow & Kempsilall. 
-♦ » » 
Count Mirabeau; an Historical Novel. By Theodore 
Mundt. Translated from the German by Thekkse J. 
Radford, Illustrated. [8 vo.—pp. 273.] New York: 
D. Appleton & Co. 
lr this work is intended, as far as may be, for a truth¬ 
ful biography of Mihabeau, it is unfortunate that the air 
of a novel envelopes it. A piain. minute and truthful 
biography of the great French revolutionist would have 
intenser iutorcel than any romantic account of his career, 
and greater credit would reflect on the author if his labors 
had been in that direction. Historical novels oftentimes 
pervert real history in the winds of the young, aud stamp 
its characters with an impression which, if false, cun hard¬ 
ly he obliterated by staid and sober narrative. However, 
thiB Is a very readable book, and the impressions it leaves 
may be just. For sale by Adams & Ellis. 
- 4 —-*■- 
A Suggestive Commentary on the New Testament: 
St- Luke. By Rev. W. H. Van Douen. Volumes 1 and 
II. [12 mo.—pp. 520 and 558.] New York: D. Apple- 
ton & Co. 
The conception of this work is original, and its execu¬ 
tion seems to ns not thoroughly pleasing. It. is, however, 
what it claims to be,—suggestive. Among the abundant 
scripture commentaries it will hold a distinctive place. 
The text of St. Luke is given verse by verse, between 
which are interspersed such suggestions as the leading 
words uaturally call forth. These are in a disconnected, 
dogmatic style, which scarcely satisfies, yet may answer 
the purpose iutended. Sold by Adams & Ellis. 
-» » » 
PLAYtNoPORllic.il Stakes. A Novel. By Annie Thomas. 
Author of "Denis Donne,” “On Guard.” “Walter Gor¬ 
ing,” etc. With Illustrations. [8 vo—pp. 111.] New 
York: Harper & Bros. 
Miss Thomas writes with considerable vigor, and has 
won quite a reputation as au author of romances like the 
one before us. There is some very good character-draw¬ 
ing in this, and much excellent dialogue,—excellent be¬ 
cause commonplace, aud therefore natural. At least three 
or four of the characters are “ playing for high stakes," 
and the development of the story shows how they suc¬ 
ceed. For sale by Dewey. 
-- 44-4 - 
A Stormy Life. A Novel. By Lady Gkoruiana Ful¬ 
lerton, Author of “ Lady Bird," “ Too Strange not to 
be True," etc, Three volumes complete in one. [8 vo. 
-pp. 304.] 
Louisa Mitulbach finds iu the author of this book a 
rival. It is a historical romance of the old English times. 
The life of Queen Maroarkt is the stormy one pictured. 
It Is written in a quaint style, quite in keeping with a 
story of four hundred years ago, and possesses consider¬ 
able interest. For sale by Adams & Ellis. 
-4—- 
Napoleon and Bluchkr; un Historical Novel. By L. 
Muklbach. Illurftraied. [8 vo.—pp. 301] New York: 
D. Appleton & Co, Price $1.50. 
Those familiar with Miss Muhlbach’B previous novels 
will recognize in the title of this the character of the work. 
The uprising of Germany against Napoleon, after his re¬ 
treat from Moscow, and the progress of the war until the 
Emperor abdicated, are described in the. style of romance. 
The scenes shift rapidly from chapter to chapter, keeping 
up the interest to the last. Hold by Adams & Ellis. 
SrNorao the Same Old Sono. Song and Chorus. Poetry 
and Music by A. A. Hopkins. New Edition. Roches¬ 
ter: Shaw & Barnes. 
We happen to know that the author of this song con¬ 
siders it one of his sweetest and most expressive compo¬ 
sitions. It is much admired, aud is rapidly becoming 
popular. Sent, post-paid, by the Publishers, on receipt 
of thirty-five cents. 
-44-4- 
Harper’s New Monthly Magazine. New York: Har¬ 
per & Bros. 
Harper for February is really a magazine of good 
things. Its contents are made up of more than the usual 
variety, and abound in illustrations, The Easy Chair 
discourses of Dickens' first appearance in New York, 
of railroad eatiug houses, aud of Christmas gifts as only 
the Easy Chair can, and the Drawer is a very happy 
Drawer indeed. Bold by Dewey. 
-4-4->- 
Harper’s Bazar. A Repository of Fashion, Pleasure and 
Instruction. New York: Harper & Bros. $4 a year. 
The first number for Februury of this favorite Gazette 
of Fashion is upon our table, it is maguiflucntly illus¬ 
trated, containing etvmty-tij; distinct eugravings, mauy 
of which are very beautiful. The publishers evidently 
spare no expense to make the Bazar perfect in every 
respect, and worthy its immense popularity. 
—--- 
Folks and Fairies. Stories for Little Children. By 
Lucy Randall Comfort. With Eugravings. [Square 
16 mo.—pp, 20!).] New York: Harper A Bros. 
Here we have twenty-eight, pretty stories, prettily told, 
each of which inculcates some useful moral, The little 
volume is so tastily gotten up that it cannot but delight 
the little people, while its contents, we think, will have a 
good influence upon their minds. Sold by Dewey. 
Guild Court. A London Story. By George McDon¬ 
ald. [8 vo., paper—pp, M8.J New York: Harper A 
Bros. 1868. 
This is rather a mixed story, and in this respect resem¬ 
bles London life, several phases of which it aims to deline¬ 
ate. The general mural of the narraviou is healthful, aud 
the closing chapters quite interesting. Sold by Dewey. 
(Jnlttfatiflttal. 
Written for Moore's Rural New-Yorker. 
ANOTHER CHAPTER ON TEACHING. 
No small share of the older Rural readers are, or 
have been, country school teachers. Go into any 
public gathering, Instance a lecture room, and what 
a host of ex-teach era you can pick out of your own 
acquaintances, say nothing about the doubtfuls and 
unknowns. If a nation’s riches were in its teachers, 
surely this nation could boast of boundless wealth. 
Bat Instructors - , as a whole., are poor. Although 
the head rales the man, or should rule him, its ser¬ 
vices are the most poorly repaid, too ofteu, of all 
the man. (Since the great pedestrian feat of “ the 
immortal Weston ” commenced, and the walking 
fever generally began to rage, there has been more 
tongue and newspaper talk, about that hero’s 
“nether extremities” than there has about the 
work of all the heads of our State functionaries. 
But I have not yet walked into the school-room. 
With very many pupils in every school, to become 
a teacher is the highest idea of knowledge—the finis 
of learning — iufiuite wisdom. Mistaken children! 
But the children are not the only mistaken ones; 
many of a riper age—fathers aud mothers—place a 
schoolmaster upon the scales against all knowledge, 
all patience, all virtue, all toil, all goodness and fill 
government,—and I might as well say all time, for 
they talk as if he had jiower to halt father Time aud 
lengthen recitation hours indefinitely. If a stranger 
—one of the kind of men who think a teacher earns 
his money easy aud has his time to himself—would 
step into some of our district schools (and mine is 
by no means an exception,) and pass in review the 
different text-books therein, to say nothing about 
the several classes in same books, I think he would 
repent of his past conduct, and cease to envy the 
teacher’s money or time. Brain-work is not farm- 
work, but it U work, and that, of the most laborious 
kmd. A merchant told me the other day (he had 
tried teaching, he said,) if he must choose between 
teaehiug at a dollar per day, and digging potatoes at 
the same price, he would shoulder his hoe. Bat to 
go back to the school-room. 
Yon ask, “Why not consolidate your classes?” 
Reasonable, careless question. How many patient, 
striving beings have heard the same! Here is a 
school of thirty, among whom are twenty-five dif¬ 
ferent books. Each book claims a class, if that 
class be composed of only one, and, of course, must 
have a share of the time for recitations. Glasses are 
arrauged, Ac., and the first, day passes with dismis¬ 
sion nnd polite requests for uniformity of books. 
Next morniug come in answers to this purpose: 
“ If niv children can't go to school and study the 
books they have, they can study at home.” Enough 
said; and the wise man of the desk begins his 
labors with a hopeless energy that is soon infected 
through his school, aud the result is perfectly nat¬ 
ural,—he is never wanted as a teacher of that school 
after. The truth is, the patrons have ruined it, and 
thrown him among the ruins. So, until this foolish 
aud destroying conglomeration of text-books is 
remedied, there will remain a conspicuous blank in 
our school laws. 
Again, teachers are subordinates under Commis¬ 
sioners, who, perhaps, are one-term ex-teachers, and 
know little more about the art than those whom 
they have certified. H any functionary under this 
government has a duty—a grave and earnest duty— 
to perform, it is a School Commissioner. And if 
any man should know and do his work, he should. 
Commissioners are chosen and paid $800 a year to 
superintend the instruction of our children, and 
what work requires more faithful men? 7’hey in¬ 
form the teacher that object-teaching is expected, 
when there is uot, and never was, an object-chart in 
the school-house. Well, he can draw pictures on 
the blackboard,—plenty of time! 
Belleville, N. Y. o. a. c. 
-■» « «■ »«♦» - 
INFLUENCE OF NEWSPAPERS. 
A school-teacher who has enjoyed the benefit 
of a long practice of his profession, aud watched 
closely the influence of newspapers upon the minds 
of a family of children, states as the result of his 
observation that, without exception, those scholars 
of both sexes and all ages who have access to news¬ 
papers at home, when compared with those who 
have uot, are: 
1. Better readers, excellent in pronunciation, and 
consequently read more understanding^. 
2. They are better spellers, and define words 
with ease and accuracy. 
3. They obtain a partial knowledge of geography 
in almost half the time it requires others, as the 
newspaper has made them familiar with the locatiou 
of important pluccs and nations, governments, (fee. 
4. They are better grammarians, for, huving be¬ 
come so familiar with every variety of style iu the 
newspaper, from commouptaee advertisements to 
the finished aud classical oration of the statesman, 
they more readily comprehend the text, and conse¬ 
quently analyze its construction with alacrity. 
5. They write better compositions, using better 
language, containing more thoughts, still more 
clearly expressed. 
From these simple facts three important things 
can be deduced: 
1. The responsibility of the press in supplying 
literature which is both healthful in tone and like¬ 
wise uuderstandingly expressed. 
2. The absolute necessity of personal supervision 
of a child's reading by its parents. 
3. Having once got a good, able paper, no matter 
what the price, don’t begrudge it a healthy support. 
-^ - 
NEW CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS. 
The Constitutional Convention of this State has 
completed the article on Education. It provides 
that the. capital of the common school fund, the 
capital of the literature fund, the capital of the 
United States deposit fund, the capital of the Col* 
lege land scrip fund and the capital of the Cornell 
endowment fund, as it shall be paid into the treas¬ 
ury, shall be respectively inviolate. The revenues 
of the common school fund shall be applied to the 
support of the common schools. The revenues of 
the literature fund snail bo applied to the support 
of academies, and the sum of #25,000 of the revenue 
of the United States deposit fuud shall each year 
be appropriated to and made a part of the capital of 
the common school fuud. The revenues of the 
College land scrip fund shall each year be appropri¬ 
ated and applied to the support of the Cornell Uni¬ 
versity in the mode and fur the purposes defined by 
the act of Congress donating public lauds to the 
several States aud Territories, approved January 2d, 
1302, so long as the said University shall comply 
with the conditions of the act establishing the 
University; and the revenues of the Cornell endow 
menb fund shall each year be paid to the trustees of 
the Cornell University for its use and benefit. 
easing fot the fjoung. 
DWELLINGS FOR THE WORKING CLASSES, PEABODY SQUARE, LONDON. 
The buildings portrayed above are the third set 
which have been built in London from the quarter 
of a million of pounds given by Mr. Peabody —the 
generous philanthropist—into the hands of trus¬ 
tees for the purpose of affording better accommoda¬ 
tion, at cheaper rents, to the poor. The second of 
these buildings was opened to the public in 1866, 
and consists of four blocks of buildings, five stories 
in height, situated in Essex road, on the ground 
formerly called Ward’s place, Lower road, and com¬ 
prising 340 separate tenements of one, two, or three 
rooms, with baths and laundries, ample supplies of 
water and gas light, shafts for the removal of refuse, 
and perfect drainage and ventilation, at rents of 2s. 
(id., 4s., or 5s. a week. In Commercial street, Spit- 
al fields, is a similar set of dwellings, opened in 1864. 
This is a view of Peabody Square, Shadwell, which 
has been recently completed. The arrangement of 
the four buildings which here form the square is 
similar to that adopted at Islington. The height, 
however, is greater, as here there are five stories of 
dwellings and an attic or laundry ; whereas at Isling- 
fmions Sojiics. 
Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
THE STATE PRISON AT AUBURN. 
Business directing our steps through the neigh¬ 
boring city of Auburn, we economized our time, 
and accepting a courteous invitation from Col. 
Salisbury, its gentlemanly and efficient Agent and 
Warden, visited the Prison. Guided by one of its 
officers, we were soon iu the midst of its striped 
and industrious artisans, who were materially aided 
in their labore by the power of both water and 
steam. The blind, hatue, cabinet, mowing machine, 
hoot and shoe, and several other factories were 
severally in tarn visited, where in each iuveutive 
genius also performed its part, almost human. The 
boot and shoe department is the largest, employing 
two hundred and thirty men. 
A marked feature of the prison is its cleanliness 
iu every department. Its dining hall, kitchen, hos¬ 
pital and chapel were particularly noticed iu this 
regard. The cells, too, I must not omit to meutiou, 
including those under the special charge of the con¬ 
vict, who happens to be not only a cripple, but a 
person of color, whose immediate supervision for 
sixteen years past attest his fitness and fidelity. 
His cell, 42, graced with a strip ul carpet on the 
floor, and the walls with the likenesses of the late 
President Lincoln, Gen. Scott aud others, with 
some rare specimens of his own handiwork, is au 
especial place of interest to the visitor. 
The number of its convicts is 997, while 1,000 is 
the present capacity of the prison, with additions 
for three hundred more, to be ready for use the 
coming summer. Another noted feature is the gen¬ 
eral good conduct ou the part of the prisoners. 
But one, in the whole prison, was observed under 
discipline for misconduct, anil ho wearing at his 
work the irou bonnet. In part, no doubt, this is 
attributable to the wise commutaiion law, which 
shortens the term of service, in ft certain ratio, upon 
credits for continuous good conduct. This being a 
State law, an interesting question has arisen, as to 
whether its United States prisoners are entitled to 
its benefits, several of whom, if allowed such re¬ 
ward, will shorten their terms several months. We 
don’t believe the United States officers, to decide 
upon this matter, will hesitate one moment to allow 
them the full benefit of this beneficent provision. 
An additional tendency to good order is the acces¬ 
sion of a sprinkling of the late officers of the army, 
bringing with them the experience and benefit of 
army discipline. 
The general good health of the prisoners is shown 
by the fact that hurdly a half-dozen were in the 
hospital, and if this is “white man’s government,” 
one fact is patent, that the white men are the ras¬ 
cals, for there are imprisoned only eight or nine 
persons of color as exceptions to the rule. The 
wisdom of the change in the principal office,—that 
of Warden,—grows more and more marked every 
day, while the complete vindication of Inspector 
Barnum for making it is shown by a leading article 
in a late number of the Auburn Advertiser, signed 
by the Mayor and leading citizens of Auburn. 
S. N. Holmes. 
—- 
Eating Horse Flesh. —Tne first horse dinner in 
England has been held. The beast was eighteen 
years old and thirteen hands high, and after being 
butchered was served up to a select company in a 
great variety of inodes of cooking. It was pro- 
uounced excellent food, tine in texture, tender iu 
quality and unimpeachable iu flavor, with such u re¬ 
markable resemblance to beef that it would be diffi¬ 
cult to tell the difference between the two. It was 
further pronounced to be thoroughly wholesome, 
uutritious aud satisfying— which is more than can 
! be said for some other sorts of popular flesh. As to 
the moral justice of eatiug horse, one of the guests 
argued that if the horse is really the friend of man, 
eating him seemed the most innocent way of liv¬ 
ing upon one’s friend. 
-- 
How TO Shorten Life.— An eminent Dublin phy. 
sician says: “ If au end were put to the drinking of 
port, punch, and porter, there would soon beaneud 
of my worldly prosperity. Physiciuus, surgeous and 
apothecaries would be rulued, and disease would be 
comparatively rare, simple aud manageable. T wenty 
years’ experience has convinced, me that, were ten 
young men, when of age, to commence and continue 
daily drinking one glass of ardent spirits, or a pint of 
port or sherry, the lives of eight of them would be 
abridged twelve or fifteen years.” 
ton there are only four stories of dwellings and 
an attic. 
Each bwilding is 135 feet long by 33 feet wide, and 
contains forty-four tenements of two rooms and six¬ 
teen tenements of one room, which will bo let at 
rents varying from 4s. to 2s. per week. The wash¬ 
houses and baths on the attic floor are distributed iu 
a manuer somewhat different from that hitherto 
adopted, so as to afford greater accommodation to 
the tenant without any sacrifice of space. The 
buildings are situated at, the east end of a large plot 
of ground, which Is bounded by Love letup, High 
street, Elm row, aud Sun Tavern Gap. As the two 
latter approaches arc mean and inconvenient, the 
local Board of Works contemplate considerable im 
proveiuents in the neighborhood, by which the 
buildings will be rendered more accessible from 
High street, which is the principal thoroughfare of 
the district. The dimensions of the rooms, the 
water supply and drainage, are similar in all essen¬ 
tial particulars to those already carried out in the 
buildings at Islington. 
— — 
A CURIOUS CLOCK. 
Many years ago there was a clock made by one 
Droz, a mechanic of Geneva, which was renowned 
for its ingenious construction. The clock was so 
made as to be capable of performing the following 
movements:—There was on it a negro, a shepherd 
and a dog. When the clock struck, the shepherd 
played six tunes on his flute, and the dog approached 
and fawned upon him. The clock was exhibited to 
the King of Spain, who was greatly delighted with 
it. “The gentleness of the dog, is his least merit. 
If your majesty touch one of the apples which you 
see in the shepherd’s basket, you will admire the 
fidelity of the animal.” The king took an apple, 
and the dog flew at his hand and barked so loud 
time the king’s dog, which was in the same room 
during the exhibition, began to hark also, at which 
superstitious courtiers, thinking that it was an affair 
of witchcraft, hastily left the room crossing them¬ 
selves as they went. Having desired the Minister 
of Marine, who was the only one who flared to stay 
behiud, to ask the negro what o’clock it was — the 
Minister asked but received no reply. Droz then 
observed, that the negro had not yet learned the 
Spanish; upon which the Minister repeated the 
question in French and the black immediately an¬ 
swered him. At this new prodigy the firmness of 
the Mluister forsook him, and he retreated precipi¬ 
tately, declaring that it must he the work of a super¬ 
natural being. It is probable that in the perform¬ 
ance of these tricks Droz touched certain springs in 
the mechanism, although it is not mentioned in any 
of the accounts of his clock. 
EXPANDING THE LUNGS. 
Step oat into the purest air you cantiud; stand 
perfectly erect, with head and shoulders bock, and 
then, fixing the lips as If you were going to whistle, 
draw the air through the lips into the lungs. When 
the chest is about half full, gradually raise the arms, 
keeping them extended with the palms of the. hands 
down, as you suck in the air, so as to bring them 
over the head just as the lungs are quite full. Then 
drop the thumbs inward, and ufter gently forcing the 
arms backward and the chest open, reverse the pro¬ 
cess by which you draw your breath until the lungs 
are empty. This process should be repeated imme¬ 
diately after bathing, and also several times through 
the day. It is impossible to describe to one who has 
never tried it the glorious sense of vigor which fol¬ 
lows this exercise. It is the best expectorant in the 
world. We know a gentleman the measure of 
whose chest has been increased by this means some 
three or four inches during as many months. 
A RARE BIRD. 
The Red Bluff Independent says:—A few days 
since R. S. Betts of this place discovered about the 
margin of a pool, near Brady’s livery stable, a very 
singular bird, which, by a little skillful strategy, he 
succeeded in capturing. It is regarded as quite a 
curiosity, being the oQly one ever seen in this sec¬ 
tion of the country by any one who has yet exam¬ 
ined It. It has been pronounced by one «f our 
citizens, skilled in ornithology, to be a member of 
the “Rail family” (Ralus Carolinus,) a kind that 
occurs in many parts of the United States at par¬ 
ticular seasous of the year, and sought by sports¬ 
men for the delicious repast which they afford, and 
the tine sport of shooting them. The only mystery 
that remaius about this tittle - stranger is, how he 
chanced to make his appearance here, solitary and 
alone, where none of his family have ever been seen 
before. 
-- 
Electric Safety Lamp. —The danger of explo¬ 
sions in coal mines from the careless use of Sir 
Humphrey Davy's safety lamp has been frequently 
demonstrated. It is proposed to obviate this dan¬ 
ger by the introduction of a lamp composed of 
Geisf-ler tubes properly protected by wire aud driven 
by a small Rubmkorf coil aud battery, carried iu a 
knapsack ou trie back of the workman. These 
tubus have the air pumped out of them, and the 
light comes from a constant stream of electricity 
passing from one end to the other. If Uie glass 
breaks, no fire can be communicated to the out¬ 
ward gasses, as the connection with the battery la 
broken at the same instant, and no spark can pass. 
This kind of a lantern could be used by travelers 
for reading at night on the railroad, as the whole 
apparatus can be carried in a carpet bag and can be 
easily suspended from a hook. 
-- 
Three tons of dry laud contain one ton of water. 
LITTLE FEET SO GLAD AND GAY. 
Little feet, so glad and gay. 
Making music all the day, 
Tripping merrily along. 
Filling all my heart with song, 
Well I love your music sweet: 
Patter, patter, little feet. 
Sometimes anxious, I would know 
-Inst what way these feet must go; 
Praying oil that all be fair, 
Nor thorns or roughness anywhere; 
That (lowers may spring their steps to greet: 
Patter, patter, little feet. 
Bnt then I think that some have trod. 
Through thorns and briers, nearer God; 
Though weak in faith, still I would dare 
To Offer up the earnest, prayer. 
That Christ would choose whate’er is meet: 
Patter, patter, little feet. 
I press them iu toy hands at. night. 
And kiss them with a new delight, 
Believing that where’er they go, 
My tender Lord will lead them, so 
They'll walk at length the golden street: 
Patter, patter, little feet. 
-- 
Written for Moore's Rural New-Yorker. 
A LETTER TO THE CHILDREN. 
Young Friends, there is a right way and a wrong 
way through life. You arc more'easily influenced 
for good or evil than grown people, and the course 
you now take may lead you to honor, usefulness 
and long life, or to infamy, misery aud au early 
death. It is of the utmost importance to your¬ 
selves, your friends and society, that you be directed 
to take the true way, and form such habits as will 
keep you in this way and make you loathe any other. 
A dying mother once asked her little son to prom¬ 
ise her three things:—never to swear, never to drink 
liquor, never to use tobacco. He promised and re¬ 
membered bis promise, and kept it, and this led 
him in the right, way, and made an earnest and use¬ 
ful man of him, to a good old age. 
Swearing, liquor and tobacco lead to the wrong 
way, and each aud every one of you should shuu 
these tlilugs, and try to influence your companions 
to shun them. These are social evils, which afflict 
our land, and crowd our prisous with criminals, our 
asylums with lunatics, and our county-honses with 
paupers. 
The poor drunkard whom you have seen stagger¬ 
ing In the street, uttering profane or indecent lan¬ 
guage, was once a little boy like some of you, who 
then might have been directed by proper influences 
and exertion to take a better course. But when he 
drank the first glass of liquor, took the first oath, 
or the first morsel of tobacco, he did a ruinous 
thing. But he did not see it then,—he had no idea 
of becoming a drunkard! 
Dear boys, have moral courage to resist every evil 
temptation to which any misguided person would 
lead you. Moral courage is far better than physical, 
for it leads one to do right, if all around them are 
doing wrong. This is the courage most needed 
everywhere, to secure better health, and better 
morals, in individuals and societies. 
A Friend to Children. 
RUN FOR THE LILY-PADS. 
BY FRANCES LEE. 
“ How many of you boys ever went fishing ?” ask¬ 
ed the minister. 
Instantly fifty boys’ eyes sparkled, and fifty boys’ 
hands were raised. 
“ How many of you ever fished for pickerel?” con¬ 
tinued the minister. 
U p came most of the hands again—little hands, 
that, as the minister knew, had been nearly every 
one of them guilty of taking what was not theirs; 
for they belonged to boys who were in a Reform 
School, and most of them for stealing, some little, 
and somo much. 
u Did you ever have any trouble in getting the 
pickerel to bite ?” asked the minister. 
“ Yes, sir 1” cried the boys. 
“ Bo have I," he replied. “ I have fished for pick¬ 
erel a great many times; often in a certain pond be¬ 
hiud my father’s house, which was very clear and 
smooth, and covered with water-lilies. These lilies 
were very beautiful, lying with their pure white pe¬ 
tals and golden centers on their floating leaves; but 
I did not like to see them, for this reason ; when I 
trailed my line with a fat little frog or a nice minnow 
on it, if! saw a pickerel swim round and round, look¬ 
ing at it, and working his mouth and gills, I knew 
that pretty soon he would jump up and snap at the 
tempting bait, and then 1 hud him. If he once be¬ 
gan to look, I was sure of him; but if, instead, he 
turned, and swam off under a lily-pad, as many a fish 
did, I knew I had lost him, and there was no 
use skimming and dancing my line to that fish 
any longer. 
“Now, boys, I wont to tell you, when you see 
something yon wish for which is n’t yours, or when 
you feel like saying a bad word, or going where you 
know you ought u’t to go, do not stop to look at it 
or think about it, but just run for the Uly-pads."— 
Child at home. 
PAYING TRIBUTE. 
A short time ago Uncle Henry told me a little 
story which you would, perhaps, like to hear. 
“Iu a certain part of Scotland,” he said, “the 
pooT people, who lived on the land owned by a 
wealthy man, used to come yearly to pay their rent. 
What do you think this was? Why, just a pepper¬ 
corn ! It had been the custom for a long series of 
years for each oue to bring this pepper-corn on a 
certain day. It did not cost the poor man anything, 
nor did it make the landholder any richer; but it 
was a sign of tribute which they paid to him as 
their master. 
“ Now,” said my uncle, “ it is just so with those 
who swear. Every oath is a pepper-corn, which 
they give to the devil. It does neither party any 
good; it just shows who is their master .”—Child 
at Home. 
-«».»♦»■•-- 
Good Manners.—-S ome children seem to think 
good manners are of no consequence. They will 
answer “ Yes,” “ No," “ Well,” as if they never had 
beard of polite words or ways in their life. I like 
to hear little boys and girls say, 
“ Kes, sir,” “Yes, ma’am,” “If you please,” “I 
> thank you,” etc. 1 always think it sounds as if they 
were lovely and gentle and kind, as all Christian 
i children should try to bo. 
i I have a little niece who answers me so prettily, 
i and she is only five years old. She says, 
“Yea, aunty,” “No, Aunty," “Please, aunty,” 
etc. And her gentle voice and manner make me 
love her a great deal.— Young Pilgrim. 
