صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

waited, however, for a long time, but he found that there was still just as much water, and that his difficulty was therefore still the same. Thus it is with those who are afraid of undertaking any thing that is difficult; they put off their business from day to day, fancying that it will become easier; and thus, like the countryman, they waste their time without getting on at all. All is idleness and delay; nothing is done.

"He who delays his work from day to day, Does on a river's bank expecting stay Till the whole stream that stops him shall be

gone, Which, as it runs, for ever will run on."

you

con

Before you undertake any work, c sider well within yourself whether it is worth the trouble it will cost, and if have made up your mind that it is, then set about it with spirit and earnestness; and don't be afraid of little difficulties. There is nothing worth having that can be gained without trouble.

MAXIMS.

Delay breeds danger.

Never put off till to-morrow what should be done to-day.

The vain man in the Scriptures said he "had much goods laid up for many years." He who knoweth all things said, "this night shall thy soul be required of thee."

σε

Delay nothing,put off nothing,whatever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might."

The wise man's time is "to-day;" the fool's time is "to-morrow."

NATURAL HISTORY.
THE SALMON.

SALMON generally live in the sea, but they always go up rivers to deposit their spawn. This generally happens in the month of September, and so strong is the instinct which urges them on to this change, that scarcely any thing is sufficient to interrupt their progress, They spring up cataracts (or water-falls) of very great height, perhaps as much as twenty feet. After the eggs are deposited they husten back to the sea.

There is a great salmon leap in the river Shannon, in Ireland; it is curious to stand by the water side, and observe these fish taking their extraordinary leaps. They sometimes make several attempts before they can sueceed, getting nearly to the top, and falling backwards again. They are, however, very persevering, and at length accomplish their object;—as persevering people generally do.

SCRIPTURAL ENCOURAGEMENTS TO PRAYER.

Ask, and it shall be given you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Call upon me in the day of trouble, I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me, Ps. 1. 15.

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, Job xxii.

27.

They shall call upon my name, and I will hear them. I will say it is my people; and they shall say, the Lord is my God, Zech, xiii. 9,

USES OF AFFLICTION.
(FROM SCRIPTURE.)

Happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. For he maketh sore, and bindeth up; he woundeth, and his hands make whole, Job v. 17, 18.

Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now have I kept thy word. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes. I know, O Lord, thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me, Ps. cxix. 67, 71, 75.

Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 2 Cor. iv. 17.

The Almighty made all things out of nothing. From him were derived the splendour of the visible heavens : indeed all, both above and below, were not only made by him, but are preserved by his sustaining power, or they would instantly rush into confusion.Scriptural Notes.

THE WASP AND THE BEE.

1.

A WASP met a bee that was just buzzing by, And he said, little cousin, can you tell me why

You are lov'd so much better by people than I?

II.

My back shines as bright and as yellow as

gold,

And my shape is most elegant, too, to be

hold;

Yet nobody likes me for that, I am told.

111.

“Ah! cousin," the bee said, “‘tis all very true,

But if I were half as much mischief to do, Indeed they would love me no better than

you.

IV.

"You have a fine shape, and a delicate wing,

They own you are handsome, but then there's one thing

They cannot put up with, and that isyour sting.

V.

"My coat is quite homely and plain, ás you see,

Yet nobody ever is angry with me, Because I'm a humble and innocent bee."

« السابقةمتابعة »