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be crushed into annihilation, no ribbons high places, and the suffering among the or silks to be ruined by the unrestrained lowly? Has love for our fellow-beings, operation of these elementary principles! as children of the same Father, "brethHaving spread out our wet garments ren of one family," and heirs of immortal before the fire for the purpose of drying life, been smothered out beneath the them ready for a final repacking, and weight of unloveliness, the degradation having made such arrangements for per- and brutality which swarmed upon our sonal comfort as our unfavorable sur- senses from the overcrowded population roundings will permit, while the beloved, of long occupied countries? Has belief nothing daunted by the "plashy state" of in the final triumph of good over evil, things outside, makes an inspective tour amid the sickening incongruities, the of the town, here in this dingy back room jarring discords of human weal and woe, let us sit down for a season of quiet med- thrust upon our consideration, died out itation upon our past experiences, and the from our soul? Has a dreary scepticism lessons which they have yielded from in regard to the capabilities of the race their varied pages. for improvement and full redemption, even among those classes who are now so crushed down into bestiality, or variously and imperfectly developed in the scale of sentient existence, apparently without design, without order or justice, taken captive our judgment? Has reverence for that which is holy, and confidence in the reality of that blessedness ever the attendant of genuine cheerful piety, been cast away, and the glittering vanities, the selfish plausibilities of to-day, allowed to usurp that place which only a trust in the higher spiritual instincts of our being can worthily fill?

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At length arrived at the terminus of our wanderings upon the shores of Thither-side," from whence we are so soon to embark upon that long oceanvoyage which, with all the possibilities of disaster associated with it, looms up fearfully distinct before our vision (for we are constitutionally a sad coward while voyaging upon the high seas, and great indeed must be the longing and dear the object that could tempt us to launch forth upon the "trackless deep "),—here, in this seclusion, sitting down amid the thronging memories of past months of wayfaring, what lesson, O soul! wilt thou carry back to the old life of childhood's home, now beckoning us back to its loving folds again? What influence, gathered from its strange scenes and varied experiences, will be brought to bear upon the current of future thought and life as the result of this acquaintance with foreign lands? Let us endeavor to define our position mentally and spiritually, as we halt here by the wayside for a few moments, standing, as it were, upon the verge of two worlds, the Old and the New. Are we better or worse for this wandering, nomadic life, finding as we have our home and interests in the place and among the people where night might chance to overtake us? Has faith in the GOOD ALL FATHER, as sole and beneficent Ruler of all the affairs of nations as also of individuals, been weakened, or wellnigh obliterated from the soul while contemplating the servility of people, the despotism of rulers, the wickedness in

If this is the case with us, then in truth have we cause to lament over something in the way of growing wickedness, worse than "learning to deny the petitions of beggars and the eating of little birds," which we had previously summed up as the measure of foreign iniquities engrafted upon the old stock brought with us from native land. But and if in shaking off certain superstitions as unworthy of a sentient, responsible human being living in the noonday light of the gospel dispensation, we still retain love and reverence for things pure and holy; if our charity is enlarged and our sympathies expanded into quicker and warmer pulsations; if, under all the heaps of inconsistencies and rubbish of centuries, we see the foundations of that one TRUE CATHOLIC CHURCH laid deep and strong; beneath whose glorious arches, spanning the earth from one end to the other, every devout soul aspiring to the pure and the true in thought or life, be it Pagan,

Moslem, Jew, or Christian, - all, all find protecting shelter; all are recognized as its members! If, looking below the surface of apparently conflicting elements, we faintly discern how seeming discrepancies are in a measure equalized, discords modified into harmony, contradiction reconciled; how, in matters of climate, natural situation, temperament, and condition, all matters pertaining to the outer machinery of life are kept in proper equilibrium and governed by a just law of recompense, a "so much rendered" "for so much received,"―if, added to this lesson, we have learned to love our own country better because loving it more intelligently, if we learn to prize and improve its privileges more fully, in short, if we are led to a more perfect confidence in the reality of "that world which puts this world right," correcting all its evils, and finally turning the last wail of woe and jarring discord into holy joy and rapturous harmony, then truly may we believe that these journeyings through distant lands have not been made in vain; that our time has not been wholly misspent!

When the sun deigned to smile again upon Liverpool, we sallied forth to make our last purchases and found ourself indulging in favorable mental comments upon the desirableness of the goods, their reasonable prices, the well-ordered system of trade, and courteous manners of salesmen with whom we had to deal.

The broad, handsome streets, the noble edifices, and cheerful air of the city, contrasting so pleasantly with the murky atmosphere of London in its brightest aspect, gives the stranger a pleasant impression. In fact, we were no less pleased than surprised at the cleanliness and beauty of the city, which we had expected to find a crowded, noisy place, reeking with ill odors and begrimed with smoke and filth, as such seaports are wont to be where an immense amount of commercial business is carried on. But Liverpool, we are told, has been greatly improved during the last twenty years, and its sanitary regulations are on a scale suitable to its population and extent.

EMBARKING FOR HOME.

by ten o'clock luggage and passengers were all aboard, and we steamed out of the harbor, making the port of Queenstown the next morning at seven; here we were to stop during the day for mails and passengers, and taking advantage of this opportunity of setting our feet on terra firma once more, we joined a party of excursionists, took the railway for Cork, and from thence hired a jauntingcar (one of those queer one-horse vehicles, where the passengers sit two on a seat each side of the car, not vis-a-vis, but directly the reverse). In this novel mode of conveyance, we made a trip to BlarneyTM Castle and its environs. The freshness and beauty of the green fields, the clear bright air and loquacity of our Hibernian driver, who, by the way, was a miracle of temperance, not even tasting of the common beer of the country,rendered this ride quite charming and healthful to mind and body. The gentlemen of our party bravely tugged up the old half-ruined tower, which is situated so picturesquely among the green fields and near a small lake that gleamed like a silver star on the bosom of the emerald earth. A fringe of forest bordered one side of the view, while, peeping out here and there, a poor cottage or hovel was seen, where, upon bare earthen floors and in various stages of poverty, lived the cultivators of the soil.

"Have you kissed the 'Blarney Stone'?" was the first question, as the party descended without broken limbs from the perilous stairs. The reply was promptly given in the affirmative; but we have grave doubts upon the subject until this day whether the kissing of one's cane extended over the battlements so as to touch the sacred stone could really be the orthodox way of performing that ceremony, or would be capable of producing the magical effects which the virtue of that stone is said to communicate to the seeker. Know you, O courteous reader, that the happy mortal who kisses this stone is ever gentle-tongued and persuasive, — whose word is always believed? Thus saith the tradition. But as in this case the male sex will be more likely to obtain

The morning rose cool and breezy, and the potent charm than the gentler femi

custom our ship's arrival was telegraphed to the port whither she was bound. Right happy were we when emerging from the region of fogs and icebergs, both of which are fraught with such danger to the mariner, and happier still the next day after leaving Halifax, at the close of a prosperous voyage of less than ten days (exclusive of stops on the way at the latter place and at Queenstown), to land in safety upon the shores of our loved native land once more, after these long journeyings upon the ocean-parted Thither-Side!

Lilfred's Rest.

THE SHORTENED VISIT,

M. C. G.

"WHY have you come home so soon?" said Mrs. More to her daughter Julia. "Was not Susan at home?"

"Yes, ma'am," said Julia, "she was at home."

"Why did you leave her? I hope you have not left in a quarrel."

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nines, from the difficulty of reaching the Boston and New York, and according to necessary point, we shall decide as a matter of principle. that the canes used as a medium of communication are without doubt non-conductors; for who is willing to accord to any of the sons of Adam such advantage over their sisters in the way of persuasive speech as an acknowledgment at this point would imply? Returning from Cork to Queenstown by the river Lea, we reached the ocean steamer at evening, and in another hour were again ploughing our way far out upon the deep. Of the details of this voyage until we made the port of Halifax it is needless to particularize. Suffice it to say there was the usual amount of sickness, of eating and drinking, gaming, amusements, and gossiping. A choice little library of British classics was no mean addition to the bill of fare, and was a source of daily comfort when we were able to leave our berth. About this time, certain evil-disposed rats, who had taken free passage in the " Arabia" when she was in the Crimea, continued to make nightly depredations upon the passengers' boots and leather gaiters, they evidently having a predilection in favor of leather as an article of food, or else, as is most probable, being on scant rations, took this method of eking out a subsistence. Taking this view of the subject, we nightly stuffed a big rat-hole in our state-room with crackers, and the result proved highly successful in respect to the gaiters at least, while we had the satisfaction (?) of knowing that the rats in our department must have been in a better condition, physically speaking, when we landed than before starting upon that homeward voyage! At Halifax we stopped several hours, which afforded us an opportunity of visiting the town and fortifications, the former looking insignificant and almost squalid with its array of small old wooden buildings scattered here and there, without order and without beauty. The forts however are models of strength and apparently kept in excellent condition. At this station we left a number of Her Majesty's soldiers who had been sent over on the " Arabia,” and here, too, fresh news was received from

No, mother; I did not leave in a quarrel, but I left to avoid getting into a quarrel. Susan was so unreasonable that I was afraid that if I stayed I should be provoked to quarrel with her."

"Did you tell her why you left her?" to tell her that perhaps you wanted me, Yes, mother. At first I was going but then I thought that would not be right; so I told her the real reason."

should always avoid temptation when we "You did right, my daughter. We can with propriety; when we cannot avoid it, we must pray for grace to resist

it."

A GENTLEMAN was surprised, during the late frosty weather, to see his little daughter bring home from the Sundayschool library a grave treatise on “Backsliding." "My child," said he, "this is too old for you; you can't make anything of, it." "I know it, papa," was the reply, "but I thought I could when I took it. I thought it would teach me how to slide backwards.”

THE reapers are the angels.

317

SHUTTING DOORS.

"DON'T look so cross, Edward, when I call you back to shut the door; grandpa feels the March wind. You have got to spend your life shutting doors, and might as well begin to learn now, Edward."

"Do forgive me, grandpa. I ought to be ashamed. But what do you mean? I am going to college, and then I'm going to be a lawyer."

"Well, admitting all that, I imagine Squire Edward Carter' will have a good many doors to shut, if he ever makes much of a man."

“What kind of doors? Do tell me, grandpa."

"Sit down a minute, and I'll give you a list.

"In the first place, the door of must be closed against the bad language your ears and evil counsel of the boys and young men you will meet at school and college, or you will be undone. Let them once get possession of that door, and I would not give much for Edward Carter's future prospects.

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The door of your eyes, too, must be shut against bad books, idle novels, and low, wicked newspapers, or your studies will be neglected, and you will grow up a useless, ignorant man. close them sometimes against the fine You will have to things exposed for sale in the shop windows, or you will never learn to lay up money, or have any left to give away.

"The door of your lips will need especial care, for they guard an unruly member, which makes great use of the bad company let in at the doors of the eyes and ears. That door is very apt to blow open, and if not constantly watched, will let out angry, trifling, or vulgar words. It will backbite sometimes worse than a March wind, if it is left open too long. I would advise you to keep it shut much of the time till you have laid up a store of knowledge, or, at least, till you have something valuable to say.

"The inner door of your heart must be well shut against temptation; for Conscience, the door-keeper, grows very indifferent if you disregard her call, and sometimes drops asleep at her post; and when you may think you are doing

ruin.
very well, you are fast going down to

"If you carefully guard the outside doors of the eyes and ears and lips, you will keep out many cold blasts of sin, which get in before you think.

will be a serious business,
"This shutting doors,' you see, Eddie,
your well-doing in this life and the next
one on which
depends."

SPEAKING CROSS.

you

betWhat

You gain nothing by a harsh word. put his elbow through the glass? What if that boy broke the pitcher, or thets to him? Does it make him more Do you mend either by applying harsh epicareful in future? Does he love ter? Hark! he is murmuring. care how much I break." He talks thus says the boy? to be even with his master. It is very "I'm glad of it; I don't wrong in him, we know; but it is human fore him by you. nature, and the example has been set be

Say to the careless boy, "I am sorry; what will be his reply? "It was an acyou must be more careful in future," and cident, and I will be more careful." He will never break another pitcher or glass love you a thousand times more than if he can help it, and he will respect and when you flew in a rage and swore vengeance on his head. Remember this, ye who get angry and rave at a trifle.

TOUCH a man's heart, and you lay hold of the helm that steers him; you reach a power that lies deeper than appearances, and behind reason. Thence proceed the shapings of circumstance, the interpretations of outward existence, and the inteheart are the issues of life." rior scenery of the soul; for "out of the

A GOOD library is an important part of can be found to procure books for that every Sunday-school, and no better place purpose than at Tompkins and Co.'s, 25 Cornhill, Boston.

now two dollars and fifty cents a year.
THE price of the Ladies' Repository is

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SINCE our last issue, the old year has departed, and the new year has taken its place, the old year with its joys and its sorrows, its failures and its successes, its good and its evil. To how many has it brought sorrow which no words could picture! to how many joys equally inexpressible ! both, perhaps, now forgotten, like an old song that is out of fashion, but making their mark deeply while they remained. It is well for us that the deeper, more poignant our griefs, the sooner they exhaust themselves. It is well that the mind is so soon attracted by new scenes and new objects; otherwise, how would all the world be in mourning! It is well that we lose sight of what falls down under our feet, in looking at what rises up before our vision.

"The American people will have to march to severe music, and it is better for them to face it in season. A few years ago, it did not seem difficult first to check slavery and then to end it without bloodshed. I think it cannot be done now, or ever in the future. All the great charters of humanity have been writ in blood. I once hoped that of American democracy would be engrossed in less costly ink; but it is plain now that the pilgrimage must lead through a Red Sea, wherein many a Pharaoh will go under and perish."

What a prophecy, and how soon fulfilled! Even he did not dream how soon the music would sound and the dance of death begin. And the dancers, yet unwearied, foot the measure still; but we see on one side signs of weariness, whose increase will soon bring submission, when the trumpet of victory shall tell the world that Liberty is triumphant. So mote it be!

The year that is past has, for all its cloudsbeen a glorious and triumphant one. All who love the Lord and his created works cannot but sing "hallelujah" to the tale that is being unfolded by the weeks and the days that go by us now. May the year on which we are entered open wide the illuminated book, and we see only blessing and happiness for all!

TRIBUTES TO THE OLD YEAR.

It was reading an account of another brilliant victory won by our arms that suggested this thought,- -a victory over which the whole land rejoices, and is gay and glad, looking not down into the trenches and on the ramparts, where lie the dying and the dead. And that, too, is well. The struggle is for the freedom of a race and for the preservation of liberties which, for all time, are to be the inheritance of the oppressed, wherever the sun shines or the shower falls. What is it, then, though perhaps hundreds, nay, thousands, of one generation are swept away, so that countless generations to come reap the benefit of their immolation? WE have received from our correspondents The prize is worth the struggle and the sacri- several tributes to the old year, of more or less fice; the goal is worth the race. We are reap-merit, from which we select two or three which ing what our fathers and ourselves had sowed, -a bitter, bitter harvest. The generations of our successors will, we fervently pray, reap a glorious and blessed harvest of happiness and joy and freedom for all our sowing in tears. The time has come. The sun and the showers had nourished and made fat the dragons' teeth with which they had filled the soil, and it needed a dauntless husbandman to mow down and consume the horrid crop. Few of us, perhaps, anticipated the result of our early sowing; but some have been prophetic. As long ago as 1859, a great American preacher in writing from Rome, thus speaks :

will please our readers.

The first, from one whose pleasing pen has often contributed to the pages of the "Repository," has some touches of considerable merit.

THE DYING YEAR.

Step softly! for that aged form

Outstretched before us here,
With silvery beard and snowy locks,

Is the departing Year.
Hark to the cold wind's mournful wail,
As it rushes wildly past!
And voices strange and wild are heard
To mingle with the blast.

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