thing, and so and so appear to be desirable; what think you ? Our indifferent friend, true to his colour, says, "Hem! I don't know; I don't care much about it." " Well, what would you suggest? "Oh, I don't care what!" There are many such characters in the world. Now, I ask, what is the effect of such conduct? The anxious friend would be crest-fallen. Or if, from frequently experiencing such conduct, he was not disheartened, yet he could not pursue his enterprise with the same energy as if his indifferent friend had acted cordially; he would feel cramped, his efforts weakened. Some say, and even boast of it, "I ca I care for nobody, because nobody cares for me." To such a man I would say, "And serve you right too, while you give such a cause." If we wish to make ourselves pleasing to others, we must let them see that we care for them, by showing them the small courtesies of life, which show themselves by affectionate tones and kind looks, and little acts of attention, giving others the preference in every little enjoyment, at the table, in the field, walking, sitting, and standing. In reference to daily avocations, much may be said. Enter a large establishment, workshop, or yard. Inquire the character of those engaged. Take the foreman; what is his character? His employer says, "That man is an honour to any establishment. He came here when a youth, and was of an industrious and persevering turn of mind. By his attention and perseverance he rose step by step until he is now my right-hand man. I would not part with him on any account." Take another instance: "He at one time conducted himself with propriety, but grew careless, taking no interest in his duties, sunk from bad to worse, till he is now an eyesore to the place. Unless he reform, dismissal will be the result. He heeds not rebuke, and when remonstrated with, in the face of dismissal and exposure, will presume to say, 'I don't care!'"' See, then, what close application has done for one, what indifference has done for the other! One exalted, the other abased; one lifted up, the other brought down! How frequently, when men in business make a failure, we hear the cause was indifference; efforts were allowed to droop, stagnation of business ensued, and ultimately a stoppage. Even the friends of the unfortunate man say, "He was too indifferent to get on in the world." We never hear of an indifferent man rising to eminence by his own merit. Upon the other hand, the men who have succeeded in life, have been, almost without exception, diligent. We might instance statesmen, philosophers, merchants, and others. Indifference cherishes a disregard for the Divine commands, and a disrelish for holy things. To "love the Lord thy God with all thy heart;" "Delight thyself in God;" "Seek first the kingdom of heaven;" "Be watchful;" "Be vigilant," and such like expressions from Holy Writ are received as an idle tale, and eventually are totally rejected. Men become indifferent to their best interests, imbibe sceptical notions, live as if there were no future to spend, no heaven to win, no hell to shun; as if another world were a vision, and immortality a fancy. But when death presents itself to such a character, what a spectacle ! If indifference only affected men and their interest on earth, we should have just cause to shun it as a deadly enemy; but how much more so when it stunts spiritual growth, leads its subject astray, lulls its victim into apathy and a disregard to the Divine commands, and encourages procrastination till men are undone ! If indifference is so much to be condemned, and the expression, "I don't care "" attended with such evil effects, how desirable that mankind should eschew both, work while it is day, and put their whole soul into their labours! The Letter Box. THE PRINCESS ROYAL. Do A CHRISTIAN lady writes us :—“ I enclose a copy of a letter which I sent to the Princess Royal a day or two after her marriage, and of the answer which was sent to me. you think it would do any good if put in the CHRISTIAN'S PENNY next month? If so, it is quite at your service. In common with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, I was very sorry to see that part of the first Sabbath was to be spent in the playhouse; and I seemed impelled to testify against it. That text came with power to my mind, 'My word shall not return unto me void.' May the Holy Spirit follow it with his blessing, and may her Royal Highness be brought to the feet of Jesus, and learn of him, and be 'made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light;' and he shall have all the glory." COPY. "Jan. 27, 1858. "May it please your Royal High ness to pardon the liberty I thus take of addressing you. "I thought it might be a support and comfort to you to know that there are thousands who are servants of the King of kings, who take a deep interest in you, and who will follow you with their prayers when you leave our beloved country. "Among all the costly and valuable presents which have been poured upon you, I can venture to say there is not one of more real value than this, which I presume to bring as the tribute of respect and love; for it is able to make wise unto salvation,' and will, if searched with a prayerful spirit, lead to heaven, to glory, and to God. Permit me to beseech you to read a portion of it every day. "It is with pain and sorrow I see that some part of the first Sabbath in your new home is to be spent in the theatre: this surely cannot be true, for Prussia is a Protestant country. Pray do not sanction the breaking of the third commandment, and thus help to bring reproach upon us, as a people who profess to take the Bible as our guide. "I an a Protestant Dissenter, and also a loyal and devoted subject of our beloved Queen, and pray that Heaven's blessing may rest upon every member of the Royal Family; but to secure this, we must keep close to the word of God. "And now, may every blessing, spiritual and temporal, attend your Royal Highness, and your illustrious Husband; and prosper you with all happiness, is the sincere prayer of your Royal Highness's humble servant, "EM——, "A Sabbath-school Teacher. "To Her Royal Highness "the Process of Prussia." This lette was accompanied with a present of a small Bible, also a copy of the verses, "Holy Bible, book divine." REPLY. "Buckingham Palace, "Jan. 31, 1858. "Madam,-Iam commanded by her Royal Higiness the Princess Frederick Willam of Prussia, Princess Royal of England, to convey to you Her Royal Highness's best thanks for the kind feeling evinced by your offering, as well as by your letter. "Allow me on my own part to add, that, as you suppose, it is indeed not true that her Royal High THE WEEKLY OFFERING. WE have received the following, which we beg to commend to the churches generally, for their imitation. "The friends of the Independent Chapel, Barnard Castle, having agreed to adopt the weekly offering system for the support of the Gospel at home and abroad, offer the following explanations, and solicit your concurrence in the same:- "I. They assume that the preaching of the Gospel, and the maintenance of religious worship, are of Divine appointment, and should be supported by the free-will offerings of those who participate in their benefits. "II. They believe that the most effective plan of doing this, and which has Scripture authority, is by the weekly offering: 'Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him,' 1 Cor. xvi. 2. "III. The practical working of the plan is as follows:-A box is placed in the chapel porch, to receive the offerings. All are desired to contribute weekly what they can afford. Should sickness, and other circumstances, necessitate absence, the amount may yet be laid by, and the whole brought on the first opportunity. By this plan every one seat or pew, on application to the deacons. "V. The funds thus received will be applied in support of the ministry, for necessary repairs, and incidental expenses. A Sabbath-day's offering will be set apart for each of the following objects, when special sermons will be preached-the Sunday-school, the London Missionary Society, and the County Association.. "It is intended to continue the anniversary services and tea-meeting as usual, the proceeds of which will be applied to the general fund. "N.B. If any prefer to contribute as usual, that is, by seat-rent or subscription, they are desired to intimate the same to the deacons." The Christian Household. THE MOTHER'S MANNERS MOULD THE CHILD. THERE is no disputing this fact; it shines in the face of every little child. This coarse, brawling, scolding woman will have vicious, brawling, fighting children. She who cries on every occasion, "I'll box your ears! I'll slap your jaws! I'll break your neck!" is known as thoroughly through the children as if her unwomanly manners were openly displayed in the public streets. These remarks were suggested by a conversation in an omnibusthat noble institution for the student of men and manners-between a friend and schoolmaster. Our teacher was caustic, mirthful, and sharp. His wit flashed like the polished edge of a diamond, and "I can always tell the mother by the boy. The urchin who draws back with double fists and lunges at his playmate if he looks at him askance, has a very questionable mother. She may feed and clothe him, cram him with sweetmeats, and coax him with promises; but if she gets mad, she fights. She will pul him by the jacket, she will give him a knock on the back, she will drag him by the hair, she will call him all sorts of wicked names, while passion plays over her face in lambent flames that curl and writhe out of the corners of her eyes." And we never see the courteous little felbw with smooth locks and gentle manners, in whom delicacy does not detract from courage and manliness, but we say, "That boy's mother is a true lady. Her words and ways are soft, loving, and quiet. If she reprove, her language is, 'My son,' not, 'You little wretch!' Plague of my life!' "You torment!''You scamp!'" She hovers before him as a pillar of light before the wandering Israelites, and her beams are reflected in his face. To him the word mother is synonymous with everything pure, sweet, and beautiful. Is he an artist? In after life the face that with holy radiance shines on the canvas will be the mother's face. Whoever flits across his path with sunny smiles, and soft, low, voice, will bring his mother's image freely to his breast. "She is like my mother" will be the highest meed of his praise. Not even when the hair turns silver, and the eyes grow dim, will the majesty of that life and presence desert him. HEALTHY WOMEN. THE following remarks by Dr. C. M. Fitch contain some very useful truths and suggestions. Speaking of the hereditary causes of consumption, the doctor remarked: "I believe it to be utterly impossible to find a perfectly healthy child born of delicate, sickly parents. The unsound constitution of the parents is usually transmitted with increased intensity to the offspring, and no character of morbid predisposition is more surely and more unfailingly transmitted than a predisposition to pulmonary consumption. When we consider the influence that the mother's health must exert on the health of her children, it is strange so little attention should be paid to the physical education of girls. Why, from the hour of her birth, is a female child to be subjected to one eternal imprisonment? Why is she to be cooped up within doors, confined to work and nursing her doll, and taught to consider it quite unladylike to move faster than the dignified gait of some animated dowager? Turn your girls out of doors, let them play ball and trundle the hoop, and laugh and shout as much as they please; they will be finer ladies for it at thirty, even if not guite so graceful at fifteen ? "By the laws of Lycurgus, the wise and immortal lawgiver of the Spartan republic, the most especial attention was paid to the physical education of women; and no delicate, sickly woman was allowed to marry on any account. Supposing a provision like this was carried into effect here, what an army of unmarried ladies we should very soon see! "If a young man wants to choose a wife, let him invite the lady he has in view to take a walk, a very long one, and when he comes back, |