Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic]

Ancient two-horse chariot. Designed from various sculptures and paintings.

[blocks in formation]

tained. It appears, however, that the aboriginal inhabitants of Canaan were trained to that mode of warfare, long before their land was invaded by Joshua. Thus we read:-"The children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel,' Joshua xvii. 16. But here it should be observed, that the chariots were only

B

[ocr errors]

4

NEW YEAR'S PEAL.-UNCLE BARNABY'S CHAPTER OF MORTALITY.

that a month's exchange of occupa- | sire. Before she died, all her children tion and diet with one of his plough- and grandchildren were gathered around men would cure all his ailments. A her, like those of the patriarch Israel, to similar prescription, rather more tersely receive her parting blessing and admoniexpressed, has been frequently given by tions. The funeral sermon was preached a celebrated physician to his patients, but from the closing verses of the ninety-first I have not heard of many cures effected psalm, a portion of Scripture which was by it. That class of valetudinarians can eminently verified in her character and seldom be sufficiently convinced of its experience. Blessed be God for pious efficacy to induce them to give it a fair ancestors, and may piety like her's descend trial. However, boys, it may be worth and multiply through all the generations your remembering; and if, in future life, of her descendants! your maladies should not yield to ordinary remedies, at least give it a trial: it is, 'Live upon sixpence a day, and earn it.' "Miss sixteen years of age, the intimate friend of my sister, afterwards Mrs. Tatnall. I recollect her a fine, lively, rosy girl, as much so as my own sister; but she became pallid, feeble, and sickly, and died, universally lamented by her family and friends. My sister visited her frequently during her illness, and was much affected by her death, which the medical gentleman, on a subsequent examination, alleged to have been brought on by tight lacing. Whether or not this was correct, it had a very happy effect on both my sisters, who, notwithstanding the tyrannical laws of fashion at that day, ever after yielded the formation of their persons to the graceful simplicity of nature.

66

My grandmother, a choice old lady, of the race that is now nearly extinct. I can fancy I see her now, seated in her richly-carved, high-backed chair, with her large silver buckles, a stiff full dress of rich silk; apron, cuffs and handkerchief of the finest French cambric; a massy gold watch hooked on her apron string; several mourning rings on her fingers, her silvery hair smoothed back; then a delicately white little cap, and over it a black lace hood, which I believe was the symbol of widowhood, (the portrait of Mrs. Katherine Henry, the wife of Philip, and the mother of Matthew Henry, has always put me in mind of uncle Barnaby's description of his grandmother,) her gold-mounted spectacles in a tortoise-shell case, and a large Bible, with crimson velvet covers and gold clasps lying open before her. These were trifles in themselves, but they fixed themselves in my memory; happily not alone, but in connexion with many holy sentiments, many portions of Scripture read and affectionately pressed home upon me by my venerable ancestor, or committed to memory by me at her de

"My cousin Edward —, and a young friend, Lawrence, were drowned by the upsetting of a pleasure boat. What an affecting lesson on the frailty and uncertainty of human life! In the midst of life we are in death. What a signal instance of preserving goodness have I to acknowledge, in that while others were taken, I was spared. I was to have been of the party, but was prevented by a slight indisposition. Will the life thus distinguished yield any revenue of praise to its Preserver and Benefactor? and am I prepared to resign it, if some other accident or disease should attack me, from which I am not to escape? Let me remember that a respite is not a reprieve, and that

Safety consists not in escape

From dangers of a frightful shape,
An earthquake may be bid to spare
The man that's strangled by a hair.

God has smitten others, and he thereby
Prepare to meet thy God.

warns me.

"Old Richard , my late grandmother's coachman. He had lived in the family nearly threescore years, and had seen three generations. His worth and fidelity rendered him truly honourable, and gained for him deserved honour. Richard was born at the time of the great fire of London, and at three days old, had been thrice removed with his mother from the spreading devastation. He often spoke of the goodness of God in preserving both lives under circumstances so peculiar. In his childhood and youth, it was Richard's privilege to associate with some of the confessors of Charles the second's reign. His parents attended the ministry of the excellent Richard Baxter: indeed, he received his name as an expression of the respect of his parents for that holy man; and many prayers were offered that he might resemble him in spirit, and these prayers were not offered in vain, accompanied as they were by parental instruction and example. Richard embraced and exemplified the same

« PreviousContinue »