oft famitg ARE THE CHILDREN AT MIME? Each day when the glow of sunset Fades in the western sky, And the wee ones tired of playing, Go tripping lightly by, I steal away from my husband, Asleep in his easy chair, And watch from the open doorway Their faces fresh and fair. Alone in the dear old homestead That once was full of life, Ringing with girlish laughter, Echoing boyish strife, We two are waiting together; And oft, as the shadows come. With tremulous voice he calls me, " It is night! are the children home T" "Yes, love, I snsvrer him gently, "They're all home long ago;" And I sing in, my quiyaring treble, ,-.A !tong soaoft and low,. . Till the old man drops to slumber, With his head upon his band, And rtell to myeelf the number Some in the better land.. r, Home, where never a sorrow Shall dim their eyes with tears! Where the smile of God is on them Through all the sununer years! I know !—yet my arms are empty, That fondly folded seven, And the mother heart within me Is almost starved for heaven. Sometimes in the dusk .or evening, I only shut my eyes, And the children are all about me, A vision from the skies; The babes whose dimpled fingers Lost the vr,:ty. to my breast, And•the beautiful unes, - the angels, Passed to the world of the blessed ; With never a cloud upon theta, I see their radiant brows ; My boys thtt I Ova to ft0doltl: The red sword sealed their vows : Inn tangled Southern forest,. Twin Twin brothers, bold and brave,. They fell; and the flag they died for, Thank God! floats over their grave A breath, and the vision is lifted • Away on wings of light, And again we two are together, All alone in the night. They tell me his mind islailing, But I sm I at idle fears; He is only back with the children, In the dear and peaceful years. And still as the summer sunset Fades away in the'Wesf, And the wee ones tired of playing, Go trooping home to rest, My husband calla from his corner, " "Say, love! have the children come ?" And I answer with eyes uplifted, 44 Yes, dear, they are all at home !" —Atlantic Monthly for November. GRANDMOTHER'S NAP. BY MRS. F. S. SMITH. The old lady sat knitting upon a blue yarn stocking, although it was a hot July day, for she never forgot in the midsummer time the pinching seasOn that was to come when little "Ben" and Jessie would need a warm covering for their tender feet. The children were playing in the shadow of an apple-tree just outside the oplin door, and in sight of their grandmother, who was left to watch them while mother and father had gone to the neighboring village fur a few purchases. "Ben" was a mere baby, only two and a half years old, and Jessie's fourth birthday had just passed away. They could look into the room where grandmother was sitting, and feel a sense of her loving care and protection while the-,- played; and if Ben, little, fat, clumsy fel low, met with a tumble and a bruise ' he knew where to go for a gentle pat and kiss to make all well again. The children could see the old clock in the corner, and hear it ticking the passing time. They noticed the patch of sunshine upon the carpet, with the white "Tabby" lying there asleep, and now and then they went to sit in the doorway with their aprons full of grass, and little bits' of blue china, that they had picked up for a baby-house. They were, very neatly dressed,—Jessie in her simple light print, and her stockings white as snow, with soft kid ,shoes. Little Ben still wore his baby frock, with bib-apron, and his hair was brushed in one great curly roll on the top of his head, from the crown to the forehead. Jessie's was tied snugly with blue ribbon to keep it from her oyes. It would -be very nice to, write stories about children that were always good, but that is impossible. There is, nobody, in the world who does not sometimes `do wrong, and the only comfort is, that if we are sorry, and try hard not to commit the sin again ' God for Christ's sake will forgive us, and look upon us just as if we had never gone astray. When mamma kissed her little girl and boy "good-bye" to-day as she was going on her shopping-errand, she said, "You will be good children, and not plague grandmamma; and, Jessie, you must take the best of care of your little brother. You can play here in the door-yard, but you must not, open the gate, nor come outside of it, remember." The child said, "Yes, mamma," and when, she had watched "Old a-ray" down the road to the turnin g by the school-house, she and Ben went back to the step and the shadow of the apple-tree. Grandmother got up from her easy-chair and brought them each a doughnut from the stone jar in the pantry, and sat down again to her stocking, thinking of the olden times as the needles flew around and around, and the work grew beneath her nim ble fingers. The morning had been very sultry, and' as - the noontide drew near the old lady was so oppressed by the heat that she felt heavy : and drowsy, and although she tried to keep her eyes wide open, and her hands at their. full speed, her lids drooped, and the stock= THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1867. ing and the hands together fell idly upon her lap. Jessie was a busy little body. She must have something to do all the time; or mis chief would be to pay. She sat still for a minute, thinking, and then ran to ask grand mamma for another doughnut. As she drew near the door she heard the gate creak, and saw that it was unlatched and swinging upon its hinges. As quick as thought, she planned a walk outside. She must have known it was wick ed, for she went first and peeped in at the cottage-door to see if her grandmother wls observing her. The old lady's head was bowed upon her breast, and she was sleep ing very sweetly. Everything favored. The little girl did not stop to look twice, but went towards .the gate, leading baby Ben by the hand. " Pitty out here l" said the little fellow, delighted at the change and novelty. Jessie made him run as fast as his feet could carry him until they were out of sight of the house. It was 'a down-hill road, and seemed easy to their fresh young strength. Half way to the bottom wee a stile' by the roadside, and beyond; a 'meadow all golden and white with buttercups and daisies. . The children were in high glee as Itity wont through the stile to pluck the beanti ful.flowers. The grass' came almost up to baby Ben's head, and the white and yellow blossoms nodded to him such a glad welcome that the little fellow laughed and clapped his hands for joy. • For a while all .went on mer rily; onnugh4Bees s re bilttint around, with their strange, lulling music.; big but terflies with black win4g,s dotted brilliantly, and little yellow ones, light and airy, were flying about or, settling softly upon the flow ers. The children forgot everything but the beauty of tlke,scene before them. Jessie did not once think of the dear old grandmother, whONfdfildliivikeTrom her nap, and' be in a gretit fright;' - ivben - - She Missed her dar lings. The little glrl drew pen on and on chas ingthe bright insects, until -they reaLed-a fence that separated them, from. the woods. By this time the little feet were growing weary, and the hot sun shone too fiercely upon the uncovered heads. How refreshing the cool shady woods looked ! Jessie was hesitating whether to squeeze through the bars, when a squirrel whisking along just beyond de cided her, and she was over in a minute, pulling the little brother after her. The sqirrel led them a long chase, round and round among the trees, until they were tir ed enough. Besides, there were vines thick with briers, that tthe Jessie's neat frock and scratched little Ben's face; and the mos quitoes made red itching blotches upon his bare neck and arms till he cried for the dis comfort. "It isn't pitty any more. I want to go home, Jessie," pleaded the little fellow, look ing the very picture of sorrow. Jessie tried to cheer her little brother, though her own plight was forlorn enough. The pretty blue ribbon that bound her hair had been torn from her head as she pushed through the thick bushes, and the smoothly parted locks were tossed upon her forehead. A rag hung here and there from her frock, and one shoe was sticking fast in a marshy place that was hidden by green grass and mosses and ferns. Sheiat down upon a stump that the woodman's axe bad left, and taking tired little Ben in her arms, she soothed him as well as she could while her own heart was so full of trouble. Jessie.tlikought yearningliy,of the dear old cottage as she sat there, torn and heated, upon the forest stump, resting little Ben. "If only I had minded mother, and not gone outside of the gate," said she, "Benny and I would be cool - and nice now,, under the ap ple tree." There was the house-door still open, with the sun-patch upon the floor, andpussy and oTandmarama fast. asleep. The old clock was ticking sa loud that she seemed to hear it at this long distance. Little Ben's play things were scattered around. The baby house of blue china was upon the steps, and dolly lay comfortably upon her bed of grass. The home picture was too enticing, and Jes sie started up to return. It was hard tugging the little brotherover the way that had seemed so easy in coming. The meadow flowers had lost their attrac tions far him. All he wanted was to be "home with mother.," Who would bathe his hot face, and give him cool drink, and lay him to rest on his little snowy bed t "I'm sure I shall never do it again,'-' said Jessie, as she plodded over the hot road, up the hill that had been so easy to descend. Anybody who had seen the two neat little creatures going down would never have re cognized these as the same children. Meantime, grandmother had waked from her slumber quite refreshed,and as she look ed' at the clock and saw the hands point ing two, she recollected the children's din ner. "Little dears !" said she, her very first thought for their comfort. " How hungry they must be I" Then she went to the door to take a peep at them, for they were "the light of her eyes," as she often said. No little girl and boy outside ! Down the road she looked, for the open gate told its story. Only " Towser " was to be seen, running towards home, and behind him rolled the wagon with the father and mother of the little children in it. " Where are my babies ?" asked mother, almost before the horse stopped at the gate. She had her hands full of books and toys for to dear little daughter and son, whose hapfiness was her chief aim and pleasure. Of course it frightened her when they could not be found in the house nor about the grounds. When grandmamma, told about her nap, and about finding the gate open ; mother seemed to know in a minute where to look. "You'd better jump into the wagon, fath er," said she, "and go down the hill to the meadow-side, and maybe you'll see them ; they will be tired enough, I'll warrant. As she has never run away before, I think I shall have to pass it over this time. I don't believe she thought how naughty it was! Only I am so sorry she has begun to do wrong things." All this Jessie's Mother said to grand mamma, for father was off in a trice after his treasures He sad , two miserable-looking little chil dren dragging slowly towards him as he drove over the brow of the hill, Jessie with her 'one. shoe, and . a muddy stocking and torn dress, and tumbled hair; and dear, lit tle fat Ben, with tears and dirt commingled on his red and swollen face.. Jessie sobbed her penitence out upon her mother's breatzit, and received her forgiving kiss, and little Ben cuddled up in Grand mamma's lap after his bath, and fell asleep with the white pussy hugged closely in his arms. Mamma did not whip Jessie ' but she talk ed to her very seriously about her fault, and 'Made her understandbow surely sorrow fol lows sin, especially the sin of disobedience. The little girl promised to try and--be worthy her znother s confi . d am dente, if :she, ould only trust her again. "Even if I am left alone with little brother, and grapdtriamina wants t. 4; sleep in her chair, I'll shut .tbe gate if it Ries - open," she--said, ." and I'll watch Benny carefully while grandmanirna takes a good long nap.' To be sure mother trusted her again`, .and I know you will be glad to-learn that Jessie, proved faithful, and , led 'baby-Ben into no more eVil.—Sabbath' at Rome. WHAT PRINCE DID AND SUFFERED'. One day a friend .was wondering at the sagacity of the dog, and his master thought he •wotild show off his trick-4 in a still more original style; and so, calling Prince g to him,: be "Go home and bribg:Puss-to- me!" Away bounded Prince to the farm-house, and, looking about, found the you of the two cats, fair Mis,trOs l llaiky, busy clean g *hi te 411 e -.611 - tiviver Prince took her'igently,up 'by the nape of the neck, and cal-Agit her, hanging head and heels together, to the fields, and laid slier down at his master's feet. "How's this, Prince ? • sai&- the, master; "you didn't understand me. ,I _Baia ifie cat, and this is the kitten. Go right back, and bring the old cat." Prince looked very much ashamed of his mistake, and turned away, with drooping ears and tail, And-went back-to. the house. The ord. cal, was it,' - venerabLe, somewhat portly old dame, and no small lift for Prince; but he -reappeared with old Puss hanging. from his jaws, and set her down, a little dis composed, bat not a whit hurt' by her unex pected ride. Sometimes, toAry Prince's skill, his mas ter would hide his gloves or riding-whip in, some out-of-the-way corner; and when ready to start, would say, "Now, where have I left my gloves? Prince, 'good fellow, run in, and find them ;" and Prince would dash into the house, and run hither and thither with his nose to "every nook and corner of. the room ; and, no matter how artfully they were hid, he would upset and tear his way to them. He would turn up the corners of the carpet, snuff about the bed, run his nose between the feather-bed" and mattress, pry into the crack of a half-.opened drawer, and show as much zeal and ingenuity asA,policemaß, and seldom could anything be so hid. as to baffle his perseverance. • Many people laugh at the idea of' being careful of a doi's feelings, as if it were the height of absurdity; and yet it is a fact that some dogs are as exquisitely sensitive to pain, shame, and mortification, as any human beincr. See, when a dog is spoken harshly to, what a universal droop seems to, come over him. His head and ears sink, his tail drops and slinks between his legs, and his whole air seems to say, "I wish I could sink into the earth to hide Myself." Prince's young master, without knowing it, was the ineane of inflicting a most terri ble mortification on him at one time. It was very hot Weather, and Prince, being a shaggy dog, lay panting,.and lolling his tongue out, apparently suffering from the heat. " I declare," said young Master George, "I do believe Prince would be more com fortable for being sheared." And so forth with he took ,him and began divesting him of his coat. Prince took it all very obedient ly; but when he appeared without his usual attire, every one saluted him with roars of langhter, and Prince was dreadfully morti fied. He broke away from his master, and scampered °Thome at a desperate pace, ran down cellar and disappeared from view. His young master was quite distressed that Prince took the matter so to beast; he fol lowed him in vain, calling,"Prince! Prince!" No Prince appeared. He lighted a candle and searched the cellar, and found the poor creature cowering away in the darkest nook under the stairs . Prince was not to be com forted; he slunk deeper and deeper into the darkness, and crouched on the ground when he saw - his master, and for a long time re fused even to take food. The family all visited and condoled with him, and finally his sorrows wore somewhat abated ; but be would not be persuaded to leave the cellar for nearly a week. Perhaps by that time he indulged the hope that his hair was begin ning to grow again, and all were careful not to destroy the allusion by any jests or com ments on his appearance. - Stich were some of the stories of Prince's talents and exploits which Aunt Esther used to relate to us. What finally became of the old fellow we never heard. Let us hope, that as he grew old, and gradually lost his strength, and felt the infirmities of age creeping on, he was tenderly and kindly cared for in Memory of the services of his best days—that he had a warm corner by the kitchen fire, and was daily spoken to in kind ly tunes by his, old friends. Nothing is a sadder sight than to see oor old favorite, that once was petted and caressed by every member of' the family, now sneaking and cowering as if dreading every moment a kijk or a blow—turned from the parlor into the kitchen, driven from the kitchen by the cook's broomstick, half-started and lone some.—Airs. Stowe's "Queer Little People." A CALL TO YOUNG MEN William W. Tyler, the son of Prof. Tyler, after graduating at Amherst in 1864 with the second highest honor in his class, com menced his apprenticeship in the Ames Com pany's works at Chicopee, where he now is. studying the theory of the business and learning to do with his own hands all kinds of the work: We give this fact because should like to see the example of young Tyler imitated by two or three hundretrof the graduates of our colleges No - field 'of labor offers such prizes of wealth and honor to liberally educated young men as the Me chanic arts. None in which they can more beneficially serve with their trained intel lects the community and themselves. For labor requires ap,d,the world is urgent in its demands that herealter the men who work with their hands also.WOrk '4‘ - ith 'their brains. As inventors, as masters ofmachine shops, as managers.bf faatories. as 'engineers of great public works and as architects, our educated young men, if they will learn a trade, would find ample remuneration' and a broad margin for the display of genius and talent. No merchant i -no lawyer, no• physi cian,—we'leaVe out tbd Ministry becatise it is a vocation which requires a supernatural call,—has such a chance for the fame which lives from generation' to generation as the man who links his name With a beneficial in vention or'st;amt)sit4i- it:treat-pal:4k work. It is the Fultons, the Stephenses; the Brun nells, the -Bliss Howes• who now • build to theniselfea - :Mantimente' more- 'durable than b'ras's. Isto' kith in' tlmis:do „fy has a household immortality* wherever the, sewing-machine -lightens wo man's work his - The-great-want of--the--day is skilled-la bor, that is ; trained- bands-direoted l by train etl'brai 'And ' 6 y )t- 'l4ll who; hA v ng been liberally educated,,,ttirn from the orowd etirprofessipti - Sfttellator, trotVe • an_.; , firentic hsh s`oi a frge Yin (.1% - n&11 4 6 t us ters of their business,. will find-themselves befor4 emriy j - earB'in'p"ositione of li(Slior and profit. We are entering on a new era,-the-era of labor. All over the world th'e'" classes are seeking their. emancipation. In this country, the walling zieti; though far more advanced , thaw those of Europe, are dissatisfied with; their. position and their wages, and have organized a movement for their own benefit. The movement needs the direction which only educated men can give it; men of brains, who are themselves workers, and who, from living with,workmen, know their prejudices and their wants, are needed as leaders to give clear expression to the inarticulate demands of the laboring class, to adjust harmonious ly their relations to capitaliSts and to ele vate the laborers themselves'from the plane where life is only a struggle for existence. If a young man of education is a philan thropist, the broadest scope for the exercise of his vocation will be furnished to him, if he will but identify himself with the labor ing class. He must not stand without and patronize them, they will not stand that; but he must be one of them, able to say, "My hand is as skilful and as bard as your hand," and then they will let his brains di rect their movements. One of the ominous signs of the times is, that culture is separating itself in thought and action from the uncultivated masses. Even in the churches this sign is apparent. It excites uneasiness among those who be lieve that one of the distinctive marks of Christianity is that "to the poor the Gospel is preached." The highest service that a young man of piety and education, if, he be not called to the ministry, can render to his generation, is, to enter a shop and serve a regular ap prenticeship at a trade. Like the Moravian missionaries, who sold themselves as slaves that they might labor among the slaves of an island in the Wdst Indies, and found their reward in the conversion and love of hun dreds, so the young man who has the spirit to. turn from the glamour of false social and professional distinctions, and identify him self with the laboring class, will find not slaves, but earnest, devoted men, :who will gladly listen to his words if they be wise, and follow his lead if he be a leaden—Watch man and Reflector. EVIL EFFECTS OF EARLY RISING. It is tolerably certain, if early rising makes• one stupid and• sleepy through the day, that nature is protesting against an in fringement on her laws, and . in the "Life of Josiah Quincy" is a capital story of a joke passed by Judge Story on two of his friends addicted to this habit: I have related, in telling my father's tio ings as President, how he never failed to set the sleepy students an example of rigid punctuality at morning chapel. Be de serves the less credit, for this example, however, in that he . had contracted, long years before, the habit of rising every morn ing, winter and summer, at four o'clock, so that he bad been long astir before the pray er-bell rung out its unwelcome summons. This excess in early hours, however like every other excess, brought its penalty along with it. Nature Would not be cheated of her dues, and if they were not paid in sea son she would exact them out of season. Ac cordingly-, my father was sure to drop asleep, wherever he might be, when - his mind was not actively occupied; Sometimes, even in company, if the conversation was not es pecially abimatekand 'always:as soon as he took bis seat in his gig, or "sulky," in which he used, to drive himself, to town. It way good 'lll6k atd thd - pod inStilrct of his horses that carried him safe through ‘r many years One clay Mr. John Quincy Adams, who was addlu e ,i to the same vice of intemperate early ris ing, with much the same consequences, w a ., visiting my father, who invited him to p into Judge Story's lecture-room and hear hig lecture to his law class. Now Judge Story did not accept the philosophy of his tw,, friends in this particular, and would silt that it was a more excellent way to take out one's allowance of sleep in bed, am be wide awake when out of it—which he himself most assuredly always was. The judge received the two Presidents gladly , and.placed Ahem in the seat of honor on the dais by his side, fronting the class, and pro. ceeded with his lecture. It was not long be fore, glancing his eye aside to see how hi s guests were' irapressed by his doctrine, he saw that 'they were both of them sound asleep, and- he saw that the class saw it too. Pausing a .moment in his swift career of speech, he pointed to the two sleeping fig tires and uttered these words of warnio,; : "Gentlemen. yo h see before you a melancholy example 'of the evil effects of early rising!" The shout of laughter with which this judi cial °biter dictum was received, effectually aroused the sleepers,-and it is to be hoped that they heard and profited by the remain der of •the discourse. 00-OPERATIVE KITCHENS Co-operative kitchens are suggested as a remedy .for the chronic evils of housekeep ing. If a number of families living near to each other would club together and furnish a joint kitchen, and put it in the charge of an efficient cOok and steward, then each fam ily would be relieved from the worry of ser vants, the trouble of marketing and the ex -pease of, separate establishments. The food would be of an improved quality, better cooked - and furnished at a less cost than un der the'old system, and, what is more, there Would be more leisure and loth occasion for fretting; a change- which would reconcile the ladies of the family to the system. In Paris you can send out for your meals, and they are brought to you in a heated appara tus; but then you must pay the keeper of the restaurant his profit The co-operative kitchen would furnish 'every thing at cost, and the amount could be paid by assessment on each family, according to the number of mouths to be fed. PUBLICATIONS OF THE PRESBYTERIAN PUBLICATION - COMMITTEE, _ 1334 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. • Just Issued. roP, SABBATH SCHOOLS. Beggars of Holland and Grandees of Spain. By Rev. John W. Mears, RD. 477 pp., 16mo. Eight Illustrations and a Map. $1.60 A history, of the Reformation in the Netherlands, il lustrating the heroic constancy ofihe witnesses for the truth in Holland, and the cruelty of their Spanish persecutors. The efforts of Philip of Spain and the Duke of Alia to crush out liberty, civil and religious, from the Netherlands, and the resistance of the peo ple, led by William of Orange, form one of the most deeply interesting chapters in history. It is out that our young people should understand, Flora 'Morris' Choice. By the author of "Bessie Lane's Mistake," "George Lee," &o. 320 pp., 16mo. Four Illustrations. 1.25 In this tale the author contrasts simple, Christian life with the conformity to the world so prevalent and so debasing to society. It is designed for young hi dies and their parents. Shoe-binders of New York. By Mrs, J. McNair Wright : 237 pp., l6mo. Three Illustrations. 1.00 A thrilling picture of low life in New York City, il luminated by the loving labors of a Christian woman. It is shown that there is a power in the love of Christ, borne to the degraded, to raise them out of the depths of sin into a higher, holier walk. Weakness and. Strength; or, Out of the Deep. By the Author of "Peep at Eaton Parsonage," &c., &c. 295 pp., 18mo. Four Illustrations. .85 This is a narrative that will chain attention. The thought is made real that human strength is unequal to the reform of the life, that it is weakness, and that God's strength is equal to the work. Ancient Cities and. Empires; Their Pro phetic Doom. Ste description below. A book that should have a place in every library for Bible classes and older pu pils of the Sabbath-school. STANDARD AND MISCELLANEOUS Ancient Cities and Empires; Their Pro- Phetic Doom. By E. H. Gillett, D.D., Author of "Life and Times of John Hass," " History of the Presbyterian Church," "England Twe Hundred Years Ago." " Life Lessons," &c. Twenty-two Illustrations. 302 pp., 12mo. 1.7:3 Keith on the Prophecies did a good work for the truth, but modern research has opened rich stores or information then unknown, and a new book on the fulfilment of prophecy is called for. Such a book is this, enriched from many modern books of travel, and fully illustrated by wood cuts. Future Punishment. By the late Moses Stuart. 225 pp., 16mo. - 9 " ) An examination of all the passages in the New Tes tament in which terms relating to Future Punishment occur, including the kindred Hebrew words of tin , Old Testament. This work is one of great :value, and being entirely out of print has been reproduced. It 'will be found valuable by the popular reader as well as by the scholar. Life Les Sons in the School of Christian Duty. By E. H. Gillett, D.D. author of "Ancient Cities and Empires," "Life and Times of John Huss," &e. 407 pp., 12mo. 1.50 A new edition of an already popular book, now first issued by the Presbyterian Publication Committee. Parental Training. By Rev. William Bacon. 209 pp., 16mo. 60 ets. This book was announce*: on our April list; but an unavoidable delay occurred in the issuing of it. It is now in press. What Then P or, The Soul's To-morrow. 128 pp., large 32m0. 'Flexible muslin. By the same Matho'r as "Life Lessons," and, like that book, maw' issued in a second edition. Wm. M. Christy, Blank Book Manufacturer, Statipner and Printer, 127 SO= THIRD STREET, octal -2m pm - LA DE LPILLI.