this evening I stand my ground against the cry which I have heard, then may I stand more firmly against another, and another, and another cry; and thus will your case be every day becoming worse, and your chance for heaven will every day become more desperate, and your contempt and carelessness about divine things will grow upon you from one day to another; and your whole life may be one continued resistance to the mercy and grace of that God who is now plying you with messages of love, and entreating you to turn to the paths of peace and of pleasantness. Oh! hold out no longer, lest in return for his cry being unheard by you all your lives long, you will at length send forth a fearful and a piercing and an exceeding bitter cry when death stares you in the face, and the terrors of the coming hell draw near to your affrighted soul, and the cry be disregarded, and the gate of mercy be shut, and the Spirit have left you to the fruit of your own ways, and an everlasting seal be set on that fountain which is now flowing out so freely, and to which you are now invited, that you may wash out your sins in the blood of the Lamb. Return unto God and he will return unto you. Seek him while he is near. Call upon him while he is to be found; he will receive you graciously, he will love you freely, if you will go to him now, and put yourself under the protection of his Son Jesus Christ, and under the bidding of him as the Master whom you have chosen, and whom alone you are determined to serve." We hope these solemn warnings and kind persuasions will be seriously thought about by our beloved young friends. "NINE o'clock is come again; Hark! the bell begins to ring; Some are on the Jack-and-Jill; Jem and Joe, and Bill and Tom, Nanny, Gussy, little John, Charley, Polly, noisy Fred, Now they crowd the school-room door, "Last boy in, and ring no more; Leave outside your noise and mud." Now they hasten to their places; Forgotten all the games and toys; Side by side smile different facesWhat a lot of girls and boys! "Hands behind, and sit upright; Call his name who dares to speak; Give fixed attention, hearing, sightLet every one instruction seek." Now the Scriptures have been read"In your places without noise !" Round the room in circles spreadWhat a lot of girls and boys! Reading done, 'tis half-past ten, Some fresh study each awaits; Now the "music class," and then "Drawing, mapping, blackboards, slates:" India-rubber, pencil, chalk, Something every mind employs; All the little hands at work What a lot of girls and boys! Time to write, half-past eleven, Writing every hand employs; Wyton, Hunts. Some at small, some text, some round- Twenty minutes-"Finish lines, Clean your pens, and show your books :" All the blots, mistakes, and crooks. There they go! those little feet, With their games, their mirth, and songs. There they go! each has a home, Each some parent's fond desire. Sorrows, too, with each a dart Which shall pierce those girls and boys!. There they go! the future men, Who one day will rule the world! There the future mothers, when We into the past are hurled. There they go! a world is there, In those laughter-loving eyes. Growing in those girls and boys! F. C. |