evening." In the evening man returns to God, and his works, whether good or whether evil, do follow him. This solemn truth, that we are sent here to do a work, is in various ways set before us in the Service appointed for this day. First, we read, in the beginning of Genesis, of Almighty God's work in the creation of the world. Then we read of Adam, placed in Paradise, the garden in Eden, "to dress it and to keep it." Soon, alas! did he fall, and become subject to heavier toil, the earth being cursed for his sake, and bringing forth unto him thorns and thistles. God, however, in His mercy, did not desert him, and accordingly we read in the Gospel of the householder going out from morning till evening "to hire labourers into His vineyard." He went out early, and then about the third hour, and about the sixth and ninth, nor stopped till the eleventh. Such were His dealings with the race of man till the fulness of time was come; and in the last days, even at the eleventh hour, He sent His Son to gather together labourers for His work from all parts of the earth. And the history of those fresh Gospel labourers is presented to us in to-day's Epistle, in the pattern of St. Paul, who "went a warfare," who planted a vineyard; who ploughed, and thrashed, and trod out the corn; for necessity was laid upon him, and it was woe unto him if he preached not the Gospel;—nay, moreover, who kept under his body, and brought it into subjection, lest after he had preached to others, the end should come, and he should be a castaway. Thus the Service for this day carries us from the creation of all things to the judgment, and that with this one thought-the work which is put upon us to do. Adam had to dress paradise; fallen man to 66 eat bread from the blighted ground in the sweat of his face," the labourers worked in the vineyard, some through the "heat of the day," others in the eventide; and the Apostles and their followers ploughed, and sowed, and planted, in a different field, but still in their Master's service, as it was at the beginning. Thus the lesson put before us to-day contrasts with that of the Epiphany. We have ended the feast of grace, and are now come to the work-days; and therefore we read of man going forth to his work and to his labour from sun-rising unto the evening. Oh may we ever bear in mind that we are not sent into this world to stand all the day idle, but to go forth to our work and to our labour until the evening! Until the evening, not in the evening only of life, but serving God from our youth, and not waiting till our years fail us. Until the evening, not in the day-time only, lest we begin to run well, but fall away before our course is ended. Let us "give glory to the Lord our God, before He cause darkness, and before our feet stumble upon the dark mountains ;" and having turned to Him, let us see that our goodness be not as the morning cloud, and as the early dew which passeth away." The end is the proof of the matter. When the sun shines, this earth pleases; but let us look 1 Septuagesima. 66 towards that eventide and the cool of the day when the Lord of the vineyard will walk amid the trees of His garden, and say unto His steward, "Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first." That evening will be the trial; when the heat, and fever, and noise of the noontide are over, and the light fades, and the prospect saddens, and the shades lengthen, and the busy world is still, and the Lord shall come, "Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts;" then shall we "discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not." May that day and that hour ever be in our thoughts! When we rise, when we lie down; when we speak, when we are silent; when we act, and when we rest: whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, may we never forget that "for all these things God will bring us into judgment!" For "He cometh quickly, and His reward is with Him, to give every man according as his work shall be." The Cabinet. TRUE RESIGNATION. It has often struck me as very strange, that, amid all the instruction given to our youth, the grandest, and yet commonest occasion in life, the hour of sorrow, is left totally unprovided for. I should rather say, perhaps, that wrong notions are indirectly instilled upon the subject; at least, I know that it requires a parent's constant care to counteract that admiration which the boy, in his classical reading, imbibes of the heathen examples of fortitude. Such for titude is assuredly vitally opposed to the true Christian spirit. It is the sulky patience, which endures what it cannot avoid; the rebellious pride of the reptile, which defies and hisses in the very act of being crushed-Rectory of Valehead. He that thinks ill, prevents the tempter, and does the devil's business for him; he that thinks nothing, tempts the tempter, and offers him possession of an empty room: but he that thinks religiously, defeats the tempter, and is proof and secure against all assaults.-ED. YOUNG. Obedience alone would have retained men in Paradise; and no one can enter the kingdom of heaven but by obedience.-ST. ANSELM. In the Christian combat, not the striker, as in the Olympic contest, but he who is struck, wins the crown. This is the law in the celestial theatre, where angels are the lookers on.-ST. CHRYSOSTOM. Our life is but a day: it is now noon; who knows how soon it shall be night? I have a great way to go, and but little money to spend (a little time I mean); my care shall be to make it hold out.-BP. HEN SHAW. fering taught thee.-ST. AUGUSTINE. Christ taught thee suffering, and by suf Youthful sins are generally pleasurable, and so they continue till their bonds are firm; but the gilding soon wears off the chain.-BP. OF OXFORD. The Church is a living body, in which internal gifts of the Holy Spirit; but the are soul and body. The soul signifies the body, the external profession of the Faith, and communion of sacraments.-ST. AU GUSTINE. Poetry. THE BLIND GIRL'S LAMENT. The birds and flowers of spring; They tell me that the birds, whose notes Are not all beautiful. They tell me that the gayest flowers Are not the ones I know so well, My little brother leads me forth To where the violets grow; My mother's voice is soft and sweet, The very atmosphere seems love, MISS CAMILLA TOULMIN. Miscellaneous. DESTRUCTION OF INSECTS. The following is the result of experiments which I have made this year with gaswater, as applicable to the destruction or removal of many of the noxious animals with which our gardens are, and have been so unfortunately infested for many months past. I have tried it of various strengths, but I have reason to think that unless diluted in six times the quantity of pure water, it cannot be applied without injury to vegetation. At this strength it appears to be almost instantaneously destructive to snails, slugs, and earwigs, and drives away every species of worm, including that most destructive species known by the name of the rook-worm. Ants will not remain where it has been used, but they only retire just beyond the influence of the effluvia. It may be objected that the smell is abominable, but this passes off quickly, while the effect underground remains; as I have had the soil turned up several days after the gaswater had been applied, and found the smell nearly as strong as at first. I am not, as yet, aware what influence the water may have upon fruit, if touched by it, (as, for instance, the strawberry,) after it is set. -C. H. R.-Gardeners' Chronicle. THREE ANECDOTES OF NEWFOUND able to bring them both at the same time.A gentleman had a pointer and Newfoundland dog, which were great friends. The former broke his leg, and was confined to a kennel; during that time, the Newfoundland never failed bringing bones and other food to the pointer, and would sit for hours together by the side of his suffering friend. -During a period of very hot weather, the mayor of Plymouth gave orders that all dogs found wandering in the public streets should be secured by the police, and removed to the prison yard. Among them was a Newfoundland dog, belonging to a shipowner of the port, who, with several others, was tied up in the yard. The Newfoundland soon gnawed the rope which confined him, and then, hearing the cries of his companions to be released, he set to work to gnaw the ropes which confined them, and had succeeded in three or four instances, when he was interrupted by the entrance of the gaoler.-Jesse's Anecdotes of Dogs. A SAVAGE'S AFFECTION.-I witnessed in the family of a native, named Alligator, an instance of affection for a departed child, which, though it exhibited itself in this peculiar manner, was extremely touching. The wife had treasured up the bones of the little one, and constantly carried them about with her, not as a memento mori, but as an emotions whenever they swelled within her object whereon to expend her tenderest breast. At such times, she would put to gether these bones with a rapidity that supand set them up that she might weep over posed a wonderful knowledge of osteology, them. Perhaps, in her imagination, as she performed this melancholy rite, the ghastly frame-work before her became imbued with the comely form of infancy; bright eyes and a smile of ineffable delight hung where, once more sparkled in those hollow cells, in reality, was nought but the hideous grin of death.-Captain Stokes's Account of the Beagle's Discoveries in Australia. Better it is toward the right conduct of life, to consider what will be the end of a thing, than what is the beginning of it; for what promises fair at first may prove ill, and what seems at first a disadvantage, may CONTENTS. PAGE The Lord of the Forest, and His Vas- LAND DOGS.-Extraordinary as the follow-prove advantageous. ing anecdote may appear to some persons, it is strictly true, and strongly shows the sense, and I am almost inclined to add reason, of the Newfoundland dog. A friend of mine, while shooting wild fowl with his brother, was attended by a sagacious dog of this breed. In getting near some reeds by the side of a river, they threw down their hats, and crept to the edge of the water, when they fired at some birds. They soon afterwards sent their dog to bring their hats, one of which was smaller than the other. After several attempts to bring them both together in his mouth, the dog at last placed the smaller hat in the larger one, pressed it down with his foot, and thus was 23 26 29 31 The Work we have to do sects 32 Three Anecdotes of Newfoundland Dogs 32 32 A Savage's Affection "WILL ye indeed give this child unto the Great Deliverer?" said the old man. "Then follow me:" and he walked quickly along the narrow path; but seeing that Lisette and Sinda stumbled, and feared to follow him, "Alas!" he said, “ poor slaves of the evil one; ye cannot tread the beautiful paths of mercy and truth. Yet follow me:' and he showed them how to leave the mysterious path, and bade them follow alongside, skirting through the wood. Thus they hastened after, for between the trees they saw him plainly. The way was dangerous, for there was no beaten path; sometimes they stumbled over the roots of trees, sometimes over heaps of earth covered with green grass; and the sky was grey and clouded, and the light was fitful. Still they hastened on, and whenever Sinda failed, Lisette cheered, and urged him forward. But fast and firm behind them came a step, as quick, and far more determined; and, behold, the Lord of the forest was close upon their traces. And now the path within grew wider and fairer, and bright gleams of glorious light came streaming down the glade. Suddenly the vista opened, and a large edifice of fair proportions stood before their wondering eyes. Such a building had they never seen before; the walls were all of the purest white marble, curiously carved and wrought with arch, and niche, and quaint device: it was built after a marvellous fashion, for the whole structure seemed to rest on one corner-stone of great strength and beauty; on all the foundations round about were names engraven, and the head of the tall central tower was lost amid the clouds of heaven. The building lay east and west, for eve had fallen, and the rays of the declining sun fell on the open door before them. Over the eastern window gleamed a fair white cross, and this symbol was many times repeated in the decorations of the towers and buttresses, together with many others; one, in especial, composed of three lines, whereof each line was distinct, yet all together formed one mysterious figure. Through the open door floated strains of music, so sweet, that the poor fisher and his wife looked at each other in wonder and admiration and they came forth from the wood, and drew nigher to look upon these beautiful things. D The Lord of the wood still followed, but it was at a distance, for there was an enchanted circle round the building, and whenever his foot touched the consecrated ground he shrunk back as one in pain. Nor could Lisette and Sinda draw very near, and they had no power at all to enter in; for they felt they were not like the people who passed the unfolded door. These were all clothed in white garments, with here and there, perchance, a stain, whereon many a tear had fallen; they had crosses on their breasts, and they went on joyfully, with their eyes lifted up to heaven. Others came, too, having their garments dyed with deep, dark, ugly stains; and these stood at the door without, and wept bitterly, and beat upon their breasts, saying, "God be merciful to me a sinner." And the two poor vassals of the Lord of the wood could not even join themselves to these; they felt no penitence for sin-no desire to call upon the Great Deliverer: within them was but fear, and darkness, and despair. So they set themselves where they might look in at the open door, and so bright was all within that they could see what passed there with sufficient distinctness. The inside of the building was carved and decorated with as much care as the outside; there were tall clusters of graceful pillars, and rich mouldings, and curiously carved screens, and the light through the painted windows fell in a thousand hues on the tesselated pavement. But more lovely-more precious far-were the people assembled within that beautiful temple. Men, and women, and long rows of little children, in garments whitest of all, were there; a great and mingled host of all ages and stations-warriors, artisans, tillers of the earth, high and low, rich and poor together. The rich man whose wealth had been freely given to adorn that stately shrine, knelt in it beside the poor man, whose hand had toiled willingly in the work with humble mien and softened heart; and the poor man looked lovingly on his noble brother, and prayed for him to the Lord in His Holy Temple. Vested Priests stood by the Holy Altar; it was of wood, placed under the eastern window, covered with a fair white cloth, whereon were set bread and wine. While they looked in, the pealing music ceased; but the service still continued, and the listeners could hear distinctly the Priests, with deep clear voice, chanting forth these words: "Let the people praise Thee, O Lord; yea, let all the people praise Thee." Whereto, the people responded in full chorus, "O let the nations rejoice and be glad, for Thou shalt judge the folk righteously and govern the nations upon earth." And the Priests said again, "Let the people praise Thee, O God; yea, let all the people praise Thee." And the assembled multitude answered with one voice, "Then shall the earth bring forth her increase, and God, even our own God, shall give us His blessing." |