was an illustration of what could be done by the right use of wealth and influence. In all plans tending to promote the temporal comfort and prosperity of the humbler classes, he cheerfully took part with his neighbours. At his country seat, during the holidays, while necessarily employed by affairs of state, he spent a large portion of his time in personally attending to the welfare of the poorest dependents.

For some years he was president of the Romsey Labourers' Encouragement Association, which annually gives prizes for length of service, ploughing, thatching, drilling, keeping cottages neat, the cultivation of gardens, and for general good conduct as male or female servants. At the last meeting, a few months ago, after distributing the prizes, he addressed the assembled labourers and their wives as "My friends and neighbours." Having spoken of the importance of the agricultural class, he went on to show that national prosperity was dependent on individual good conduct; and pointed out the duty parents owed to their children in giving them useful instruction, such as reading, writing, arithmetic, &c. In the course of his remarks, he said, "In the present day I do not think that instruction in writing is given in that way which would render it most useful. Children who are taught to write, are taught to make upstrokes fine and downstrokes bold; the consequence of which is that writing often looks like an area railing a little lying on one side, so that it is difficult for the eye to make out the letters. Children should be taught to write a large hand, to form each letter well, and never to mind whether it looks beautiful or

the purpose of being easily read, that is the thing which ought to be aimed at."

He enforced the value of mental arithmetic by an illustration:-" In the model school in Dublin the mental arithmetic class was called up, and the master asked the boys-urchins some two feet and a half high, and none more than twelve years old-many questions, which were answered most readily. At last he says, 'Now boys, eightpence a day, what is that in four years?' Now, that is exactly the sort of calculation that agricultural labourers have to make. In an incredibly short space of time four boys held up their hands as a token that they had made the calculation in their own minds. Three of them mentioned the same the fourth mentioned a different sum. sum;

The master said to the fourth boy, 'You are wrong.' The boy said, 'I am not wrong, sir.' 'Well,' said the master, if you are not wrong, prove it.' The boy said, 'In four years there is a leap year, and I have added 8d. for the leap year.' Well, I say that habit of calculation is a most useful thing, particularly for those who are engaged in industrial occupations."

In the education of the young, he strongly urged the importance of teaching good conduct: "Good conduct is taught in two ways; first, by precept, and then, more powerfully, by example. Now, you all can give your children good precepts, because the rules of good conduct in life are plain and simple. The difference between right and wrong, between good conduct and bad conduct, is instinctively known to all, and therefore you have the means of instilling

LORD PALMERSTON-TAKEN FROM A PHOTOGRAPH.

those principles into your children; but whatever good advice you may give your children, if the parents pursue a bad and reckless course of conduct, depend upon it the children will follow the example instead of following the advice. They will turn out ill, and probably worse than the parents whose example they are imitating. Where children see a man and wife quarrelling, the mother dirty, and the father drunken, and the house uncomfortable, it is not in human nature possible that those children should be, the girls clean and well educated, the sons sober, honest, and industrious."

On another of these occasions he gave the following useful hints to landlords and farmers, which deserve to be more widely circulated :"A farmer ought to be aware that he does not

on

prosper by grinding down those who labour his farm; that it is no real saving to give low

wages to those who work for him; and that he gains nothing by avoiding to employ labour in the winter months. It is human nature that a man will work better for an employer he loves, and who treats him well, than for a man who is niggardly and churlish, who just pays him as much as will keep body and soul toge ther, and neglects him in other respects."

Respecting labourers' cottages, he observed: "The effect of improving these dwellings is almost marvellous. You know that the comfort of a man's house depends upon the tidiness of his wife, and the mode in which she tries to make him comfortable. But there is a temper of the human mind which is called recklessness. When a thing seems impossible, it is given up

in despair. When a cottage is in such a state that it is impossible for the wife to keep it clean, she becomes a slattern; everything goes to ruin; the man is disgusted and flies to the beershop. If, on the contrary, the wife feels that she can, by a little exertion, make the cottage decent and respect able, she does so, and then the man enjoys the comfort and happiness of his home, stays away from the beer-shop, and the sum of money he would spend in liquor goes to the benefit of his wife and children."

In many other ways Lord Palmerston proved himself the true friend of the working classes. At a time when efforts were made in Parlia ment to infringe upon the working man's day of rest, he gave his power ful influence to protect the day which "was made for man." "It is the will of the people that the Sabbath-day shall be respected, and therefore I oppose motion.' He was also a friend and supporter of the cause of temperance, and gave good ad vice on several occasions as to sobriety and shunning drinking-shops.

this

Of Lord Palmerston it may be said that he achieved great success by the most humble and ordinary means. It was that which made his life in many respects an example and encou ragement to all. His unwavering loyalty, his industry, and persevering devotion to the public service, were qualities which might be imitated by every single person from the highest to the lowest. To borrow the words of a well-known preacher, "The changes of his life seemed to say to us, 'Never despair.' From a youth comparative obscurity, from a middle-age constant turmoil, passing through a career of

of

of

many changes, were attained at last that serene and bright old age, and that calm and honoured death, which, in their measure, if God should so permit, are within the reach of all."

An instance of his kindliness of disposition is represented in our engraving on the last page of this number. Whenever he passed through the toll-gate adjoining his estate, whether engaged in conversation, or deep in thought on important Government matters, he never omitted to acknowledge the salute and exchange a friendly word with the old gate-keeper. It may give additional interest to the picture to state that the horse represented is drawn from life, and was the favourite animal of the late Premier.

THE HIGHLAND BREAKFAST.

That other lads had nicer things;
But, light as any feather,
Without a stocking or a shoe,
He scampered o'er the heather.
He whistled in the morning,

He whistled through the day; So happy was his spirit,

His work seemed so much play: Not that he did it slightly,

Nor left it half undone :
No boy in all the glen for work
Beat Archie Cameron.

He guided wandering travellers
In safety by the bogs;

He tended sheep upon the moor;
He fed his master's dogs,
And never was he better pleased
Than when his iron spoon
He brandished like a sceptre
Every feeding time at noon.
For well he loved his "doggies,"
And well they loved him too;
And if ye want a faithful friend,
You'll ne'er find one more true
Than dogs you've kindly cared for;
Full oft they put to shame,
The fickle human friendship,

That isn't worth the name.

Just see him at the breakfast,
A king among his court;
As grave as judges they all look,

For eating is no sport.

And Archie keeps good order there, He'll have no misbehaving,

Nor let them growl, nor snatch, nor lose Their manners in their craving.

"Hech kelpie, sir!" he awful cries
To one that in a hurry

Had poked his head too forward,
But drew back in a flurry-
"Hech kelpie! is it like a dog

Of any pretty breeding,

To take a taste from out the tub?
Stand off! or lose your feeding!

"I'll gie your nose a handsome crack
To keep it in its place, sir!
Weel, weel! I'm glad I've put you down,
And made you look shame-faced, sir!
Come back again, and take your share,
This time I winna flog ye;

But you must mend your manners, mind,
And be a canny doggie!"

Happy Archie Cameron,

The merry Highland laddie!
He'd no home to call his own,
Gold nor. silver had he.
Not orphanage and poverty

Could cloud his life with sadness;
For the Father of the fatherless
Had filled his heart with gladness!

O Father of the fatherless,
How merciful art thou!

We thank thee, praise thee, at thy feet
In adoration bow;

Thy smile makes the true sunshine;
True joy is in thy blessing;

And none can harm the happy heart
It gladdens by possessing!

THE BIBLE ILLUSTRATED.

"In whom [Christ] ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, yo were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance."-Ephesians i. 13, 14.

A GOOD old man was one day walking to the house of God, with a New Testament in his hand, when a friend who met him said: "Good morning, Mr. Price."" "Ah, good morning," replied he; "I am reading my Father's will as I walk along!" "Well, what has he left you?" said his friend. "Why, he has bequeathed me a hundredfold more in this life, and in the world to come life everlasting." This beautiful reply was the means of comforting his Christian friend, who was at the time in sorrowful circumstances.

"He that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth is."-Matthew xii. 23.

A POOR Woman once heard a sermon in which the use of dishonest weights and measures was exposed. She went home much affected by the preacher's words. The next day, when, according to his custom, the minister went

among his hearers, and called upon the woman, he took occasion to ask her what she remembered of his sermon. The poor woman complained much of her bad memory, and said she had forgotten almost all that he delivered. "But one thing," said she, "I remembered: I remembered to burn my bushel."

"Thou shalt in any wise robuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him."-Leviticus xix. 17.

Their noisy clamour and evil | called to him and inquired the language so excited Whitfield's cause of his distress. He said he pious sympathy, that he could not had been unable, through mis rest. "I will go to them, and fortune, to pay his rent of twenty reprove their wickedness," said he. shillings, and his family were ju His companion remonstrated in being turned out of doors. "I vain. He went; but his words of that all you need?" said Mr. reproof did not seem to have any Wesley, handing him the amount: effect upon them: Returning to "here, go and be happy." Then his bed, he laid down to sleep. His turning to his companion he said. companion asked him: "Well, pleasantly, "You see now why our what did you gain by it?" "A carriage stopped here in the Lud soft pillow," he said patiently, and soon fell asleep.

"A man of understanding walketh uprightly."— Proverbs xv. 21.

ONE day Lord Eldon took a from Downing hackney coach Street to his own residence. Alighting hastily from the vehicle, he left behind him a bundle of papers containing important Government secrets. Some hours after the driver discovered the packages, and took them to Hamilton Place unopened, when his lordship, after a short interview, told the coachman to call again. The man did so, and was told that he was no longer a servant, but the owner of a

hackney coach, which his lordship had in the meantime given directions to be purchased, and presented to him, together with the horses, as a reward for his honour and promptitude.

"Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble."-Psalm xli, 1.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your atte which is in heaven."-Matthew v. 16.

WHEN Lord Peterborough ledge for a season with Fenelon, Ardbishop of Cambray, he was so pressed with his piety and virta. that he exclaimed at parting, " stay here any longer, I shall beco a Christian in spite of myself."

"Doth not Ho see my ways, and count all my steps?"-Jcb xxxi. 4.

A MAN who was in the habit going into a neighbour's cornic to steal the ears, one day took s son with him, a boy of eighty Yeas of age. After standing on th fence, and peeping through all

corn rows, he took the bag fa the child, and began his g

work. "Father," said the b "you forgot to look somewher else!" The man, dropping the. in a fright, said, "Which way, boy?" supposing the lad had seen som one coming. "You forgot to lo up to the sky, to see if God was noticing you." The father felt this reproof of the child so much, th he left the corn, returned home, and never again ventured to steal; remembering the truth his boy had taught him, that the eye of God always beholds us.