61y famitg "NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP." In the quiet nursery chambers, Snowy pillows yet unpressed, See the forins of little children, Kneeling; white-robed for their rest, All in quiet nursery chambers, While the dusky shadows creep, Hear the voices of the children— " Now I. lay me down to sleep." , . In the Meadow' and the mountain Calmly; Shine the winter stars, But across the glistening lowlands Slant the moonlight's silver bars. In the silence and the darkness, Darkness growing still more deep, Listen to the little children, Praying God their souls to keep. " If we die"—so pray the children, And the mother's head drops-low (One, from out her'fold, is sleeping, Deep beneath the winter's snow,) "Take our souls ;" and past the casement Flits the gleam of crystal light, Like the trailing of his garments, Walking evermore in white. • Little souls that.•stand , expeetant, Listening at,the gates of life, Hearing far away the .murmur Of the tumult and the strife; We who fight beneath - those banners, - Meetibg Yanks of fdernen there, ' Find a deeper, broader meaning In yohr simple vesper prayer. When your hands shall grasp the standard Which to-day you watch from far, When your deeds shall shape the conflict In this universal war, Pray to 'Him, the God of battles, • Whose stion4.eye can never sleep, In the warring of temptation, • • • . ~Firm and t4tte your souls too keep. W hen the combat ends, and slowly When the smokes from out the skies, When, far down the purple distance, All the noise of battle dies, When tbe last night's solemn shadows Settle dark on you and me, May the)ove that never faileth Take our souls eternally. MINDING. Charlie, come in, I want you," said a sweet womanly Voice to a little boy who was playing marbles on the sidewalkin front of a nice brick house. Now Charlie '"was very busy, and in the midst of a delightful' game. Re was as hap py as could be. To quit his, play then was like quitting the table when. half trough dinner. Would he obey. We looked with interest to see what be — would do. What would you' have done ? harlie replied, " yes, mother," and pick ing up his marbleS, started off with a" smil ing face and a bounding step bp' the side yard, and in at the end door of the house. • A fine boy that, I thought, as I looked after him. I wonder wbo he is? What a beau 3iful thing At Janet be to have a, little boy or girl that will mind at °nee, and with a hap py loving heart!' I wondered what would become of that, boy, and wished to, see more of him and learn his history. , I used to wilk past that house' every week, and always thought of that blue-eyed, light:haired boy. The tharight of 'him made me happy. I sLW a great many naughty children.r Once I spent two ( or three days in trying t& fund - a naughty boy who ran away from ! his home, and overwhelmed his pti , enta with; grief; rand wharl'l'idund him, some one had stolen his • coat. and hat,. and , bundle of,clothes, and all the money he had. Once I chased after a truant, boy and girl for several, hours, and at last, late at night, found there in the woods, wet through, cold, and frightened l almost to death. They had disobeyed their` mother, and gone to plaY instead of going to school, and both of teem,e were sick,for several weeks in.consequerice of their `"folly, and exposure. A' boy that minds-Lhe is' a jewel. I had been in business a year or twb, and ' in that time had had several boYs.;. but it was next to impossible to find one that would , mind. At last I was quite out of patience, . and I determined that 1 would have no one . who could,not bring the best recommeuda . tion, and stand the closest test. Several ap plied for the place, but ,no one suited us. _At Jest came a, blae-eyeti,, flaxen 7 ,haired youth ""of „twelve years, with a bright, honest face. There was something engaging in his aspe9t. Rad.l seen him before? "What is your name ?" " ' I live 'in Franklin -.street. My father. is.a carpebter, but 'is lathe now, and cannot Work, and I 'have got mo ther's cownt to go into a store, if I can find a place." It was the very Charlie whom I bad seen playing at marbles. I remembered - die dr cathstaddilit4na;km.3w ",that he would mind. I did net need' a - I.6cOmm'enditibb for him, • ' but gave him the place, and twice as much pay as I had propoped to give. Charlie came to Work on Monday morn ing. It seethed hard for him, the first - Week of work, but lie.bebaved•like. a ma... The - boys in the next store came in and made his acquaintance. One morning Lheard two of them trying to persttadir-Chagtis to go off with thbrn down ou the viFliat4etrin the fore ' boon and see a boat-race that was to come Tiff. a " No," said., Charlie, " mother, told 'me to mind. nity .: business, and I -am paid for staying here, and don't think itright to go off without my employer's knowing it." That Was, a brave word, and I - thought More Of Char' We than ever. ,was _ten years.ago,, ,I,je has been ; With me ever since, and proved to 13 - 6 1 . the best ,clerk lever Yesterdayt we put up a rieW all& on it,idlarge-giltleiters, VasQl:tarliOtu,l,l name. Thl f store owe. „fle ia, ) Ackvf a PKOARSK9,tl4,Pr9Oisi?lg young many and if he lives,.wlll he a rich,' honored -Than , And all this because one brightmoritrsthe thieled his mother when gibe eattedifirri. aSch-litthrthings THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1860. treat results• come. Always mind, and it will be .always well with you.—Ladies' Re pository. THE BITTER KISS. Who would have thought there could be such a thing between a mother and her little daughter ! Yet I know there was, for a pair of coral lips told me of it this after noon. We were talking in' the class, and Flor ence asked—" If we say things in joke, and then explain right off, is that really lying ?" and wh4ile we are trying to make it clear-to children's minds, that lies are lies, and that truth is truth, a great many incidents came from the children's lips.' Daisy said she thought it was best-never to " make be lieve," but always say, vhat was really meant; Florence was somewhat unsettled in her mind, desired me to think it over a little, and answer next Sunday; and then it was that Mary told me about " the -bitter kiss." " I was a little bit of a girl," she said, "and mamma had told me not to touch a jar of mincemeat, which She had on- the table, ready to make pies. §),lddenly, some one called her to the hall-door, and the min ute I'beard her talking,ll just put my band right into the jar, and helped myself—then I jumped down-and ran into the play-room, and stayed a long time; I could .not go back to mamma, even though she had promised to mske me a little pie: I washed my 'hands and face, and was sure nobody could find it out. I did not remember that God saw me ! When mamma took me in her lap at night and stooped‘ down to undress me, she start, ed back, and her face was very red. She did not say anything then, but she told me afterwards she saw a bit of mince-meat clinging to my apron. She hOped accident, and did.not wish to say anything until she knew certainly; so she went on repeating our night's verses, until she seem ed to be thinking of the"mince-meat again;.. then sffe asked if I had touched it in play, and I said right off, no ma'am, Mamy did'nt take any; but my face felt so hot I had to take mamma's fan ' then she looked very sober, and stopped talking for a minute, when somebody dalled her and she went out. So I crept into-bed, not daring to ask' her to kiss me, and feeling as if I could not go to, sleep without it;—presently she came back, and stooping over me," , raised my lips' to hers.—ln a moment, I should have had one of ler sweet kisses, but her'eyes filled with 'tears, and her face grew very White, as she exclaimed, child has Eurety, told' a lie Oh, Mamy, your breath tells the story. That. , Avas bitten ' , Ms my little; daughter was going—to give her mother.: Oh, my child, my child!' Tlient,she`kneeled' down by my little bed, and called inie`t;b:her; and she put her arras:l;olnd, me, and . asked the SaviOur to forgive me and, every now' and then she , ihad t Ast l 9l4lo3 tears came so, fast. I shall never forget` that time, nor, the bitter kiss' I was going to give my, mother. . ., ; I havernlver J think best 'alivays , tb-tell- iihe-ilinth. feel about just as Daisy dOes;"and I gneiss Plbrence will too, when- she thinks about; it.: Then we talked it over a little , how that Mary's first sin ' stealing the, mince-meat,' led to the second sin, denying it; and so it! was best te 10. -,, tr*tb£o, l auCalways avoid! the first step that is wrong. Then the chil-1 dren learned, this, " Lying lips are, an abomination to the Lord, but they, that' deal • truly • are his delight;" , , and Florence, -rn,a,de up .her mind that she should not nee;:l' "time to think it over," but could decide; now t.hat.it-wias always hest, to "ideal truly."' —Tle 11:rational Baptist. ' ' THE MYSTERY OF SANCTIFICATION. • r , " 1 may be faint arid weary," , says the be liever,7,"lnitifir9Wcitiiiaot be. I may alter and fluctuate, as to my frames ; but my Thai dee'rner iblifichitrigeiftillPlYe same. I mighij Utterly fail and conic to nothing if left . 'toi mysillf; put the,Spirit of Truth hath....saidl I will never leave thee, nor forsake , my strengtit) either by charig-; ilienWiveitikileSe'intiAttrieifigtii;lit'by ing ine'*ith His own poNier. 11616‘viseto see and provide, for all my clangers l J'lle rich to relieve and succor me in , 004; He . is grabious`to hear and to anaw.er ailtay prayeris.; He is' omnipotent to deli-vett-Iml defend me from all,rnyepernies • Ile is faiihf ful to perfect and!perfoi fit! His own proi mike; 'He , Is eternal d Id' bless my poor depending soul with eternal td edness and immortality . Ob,..*hut &Wit and glorious Saviour for such a .mean and worthless dinner! Oh', what a brinntifuldrol graciously indulgent Friend for such a base and insignificant rebel !" What am I, when I compare , myself, and all I• myself; with what Lean conceive ciflpy,go,d,, and o wh a t Ile bath kindly promised, evento , me! What, a mystery am I to myself, tri Artrigersi to men ! A worm of earth to be like a star of. heaven.; a ,corrupti hie : sinner ,to be an A in ; corruptible saint; a rebel'lolletnude,afehil3 l ; an outlaw to become an'h'eir; .a deserverof hell to. be an inheritor of \ heaven; , a,strone h dd . of - the ddil' tO 6,1464:f n mf ple of God; 'an enemys:l4cl beggar 1;1 exalted to 6:throne, to be iv friencifibizwith God, one with Christ,' a possessor of Hiq Spirit, and of all His horibr ' PapPiiiese;,and glory forevermore; and all -rwithbut .any right to anYone thing on My part,.pqfiti, miseries aft lowest hell 1 Oh, what manner; and what,mAttfir,pf ? Lord, take' my. bealli k my soul my, all I can, run er aloe &MC:re, itndiq *Geld rentarrthee4 less.—Ambrose '" * ' .Man, is 9nejci,vdisrm both wnrlds doeeti his" body participates of the lower, hbi goul of the upper morld, hence, it,is that he finds. such tugging and; this,Way and that way, upwaT4 . l?nd dowutvarct;: , l39th worlds were contending - ter this initilus,ble 'prize, the,PreSin:ViAo4l.' A TEACHER'S COVENANT, The following covenant, which was pre pared for one of our best schools, is worthy of a wider circulation, and practical adop tion: Impressed with the responsibility of our positions, and feeling the need of •greater iaithfulness in the selvice ef our Master, we do, as teachers in the—Sunday-school, make the following engagements : 1. To be present ' in our classes every Sab bath at 2i o'clock, the:hour fcir opening the school, and- to remain through the entire session. 2. When unavoidably compelled to ab sent, or to leave our classes, we will provide substitutes, 'or give the superintendent time ly notice. 4)11 ', , 3. We will prayertully and studiously prepare our lessons athome, and attend the teachers' meetings with all possible punctu ality. 4. We will maintain a thorough supervi sion of all our scholars, visiting every new' scholar within a .- vireek •of his admission, and all others monthly if possible. 5. We will constantly remember that by example by instruction, and 'by prayer, we must aim to lead our pupils to Jesus; and then to usefulness in his service. Finally. We will do all this in humble de pendence on Min, who alone can crown our efforts with success. TZAIFIING TO ,17.1 LL. Only beginning the journey, Many .a rnile,to go, Little feet how they patter, Wandering to and fro. Trying again, so brairely, Laughing in baby glee; Hiding its.face in mother's lap, Proud as a baby can be. Talking the oddest language Ever before, was heard ; "pit mother — you'd hardly think so— Understands every word. Tottering now, and falling, Eyes that are going to cry, Kisses and plenty of love words, Willing again to try. Father of all, oh I guide them, The pattering little%feet,' While they are treading 'the up-hill 'road, Braving the dust, end heat. Aid them when_ tkeygro*, weary, Keep them in a pathway blest, And when the journey's ended, Saviour, oh 1, give thenz,rest. PLAYING LIKE A 611EISTIAN. heard of two little , ehildren oy and - girl-who used to ,a ' great, ; "deal to gether. They both becalm eenverted. One d 4., the boy came to his mother, tin,d , said, "Mother, I know' that 'Emma 'is a Chris tian." . "What makes you think so, my child ?" "Because r anatliet, slitgorapi like a Chris “pli t ys like a 'Chiristio:?""sald sr; the expression sounded a little odd. 1-pfl," l replied, the child,. ".1f you take ,evelrtbi ?jot; a:CA iiTY4 efore, sb.9 'vkas selfish ; and, if she didn't have everythingtheiniMvig;)she would w,on'A play witb ,, you ; you, ,are, an' usly'little boy!” . ' ' • A 'GOOD RE§OLVt. g when. am a man, will begin These words fell from the lips of 'a 'fine little fellow scarcely si years old. His r r ika l Mma had 'endeavored ti*ke`after impress„on hia, youthful mina ;ibe necessity ,of,early !piety;: but hitherto,• all her .persuasions' seemed in -vain. - 'When he uttered' these 'words, she said, "But, ttiY'dear; saPpose'you `do not live to be a man !"' Be rem'ained 'silent Air ° trlinUtes, with his ey9sfixecl on the ceiling, as if deep thought.; and then With'a resolute countenance ...added, ‘f Then mamma,..T.' had better begin-at : Now; my dear young readers, will.yon follow,7Eddie's example, and begin at once There is no time like thepresent for serving the I.4ord,,;;lfyou put it 9ff-,E!..:little longer, xon,will, perhaps, find, that you have it dot *IU - tie too long. YOU AIM-been Tre-! "quently• reminded in "tkiese ,Psges, and per hapsl , by tinncidents> occurring , around. , you, that the youngest is 'not toO•young to die. But neither are you - too young to give your mbeert.to Jesus. Ton go to ifrim.now,you .I*ll - not; regret .it .when,lyon 'become. men anawomen; ,, bit on the contrary, will-find -GIWs care and protection tq kl 9 dver l you at all,Anies, and that 'Ho