TO THE RESCUE. -A well-known writer, in a recent work, gives a thrilling account of the rescue of a man who had fallen into a crevass of glacier. He was the porter, who, sent on with an assistant in advance, had incautiously stepped on an ice. bridge, and fallen into the fissure. He had lain there an hour, when the writer and his companions were startled at seeing the solitary man standing immovable, saying that his comrade was dead, and indicating the spot where he had fallen. Peering in the darkness, they could see nothing; but faint moans betrayed the buried life, and instant preparations were made for the rescue. The porter had carried down the strong rope with him; but waistcoats, coats, and braces were hurriedly taken off and knotted together, and by their aid, Bennen the guide and the English traveller were let down from one projection to another, till they reached the bottom of the débris, a distance of forty feet. The fallen fragments had frozen together again, so that the man was enclosed in a solid mass of ice. They cautiously hewed it away, the severed pieces ringing significantly as they fell into the lower depths, on the edge of which they were standing. After remov. ing a layer of two or three feet thick, a hand appeared, white as the snow about it, and making its mute but powerful appeal. The head was laid bare, but the lips could utter only in. articulate sounds. The knapsack was cut off, the rope passed under the arms, and an effort made to pull him up; but so firmly was he imbedded, that not until the last foot was extracted could they lift him out of his narrow house. By pulling him from above, and pushing him from below, the poor fellow was lifted to the glacier; and these men, exhausted by an hour of severe labour, and drenched with dripping ice, carried him by turns to the cave of the Faulberg. spoke on the text, "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." He listened, merely because the preacher was once a sailor. Soon it appeared to him that the preacher saw and knew him, though he was sitting where he supposed himself concealed. Every word seemed to be meant for a description of him. To avoid being seen and marked, he several times changed his place, carefully getting behind the others. But, wherever he went, the preacher seemed to follow him, and to describe his course of life as if he knew it all. At length the discourse was ended; and the poor sailor, assured that he had been the single object of the speaker's labours, went up and seized | his hand and said, "Sir, I am the very man. That is just the life I have led. I am a poor miserable man; but I feel a desire to be good, and will thank you for some of your advice upon the subject." The preacher bade him pray. He answered, "I never prayed in my life, but that I might be damned, as when I was swearing; and I don't know how to pray. He was instructed. It was a day or two after this, while his mind was anxious but unenlightened, that Providence led me to him, while sitting on his chest. He said I showed him a verse of the Bible, as one that would guide him. I asked him if he remembered which it was. "Yes, it was, 'Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out."" Soon after this his mind was comforted with a hope of salvation through Jesus Christ. His vices were all abandoned. He became from that time a new creature in all his dispositions and habits; took special care to be scrupulously attentive to every duty of his station; gained the confidence of his officers; and, having left the service, continued an exemplary member of society and of the church of Christ. He was so entirely renewed that no one could imagine, from his appearance or manners, that he had been for twenty-five years a drunken, abandoned sailor. There, for a long time, every measure was employed to restore suspended animation, till at length the groaning ceased, and Bennen in agony exclaimed, "He is dead!" But the more sagacious Englishman, leaning over his patient, marked the gentle breathing, and felt the calm beating of the pulse. He was saved, this young, strong man, the only son of his mother, and she a widow; brought back by wise, tender hands, from the chill of death to the warm pulsation of life and strength. Dear friends, listen with attentive ears, and you will hear the faint moans of your sisters encased in the ice. folds of cruel superstitions. You will not hesitate when life depends on your action. If you cannot go down in the darkness to the rescue, there are brave, strong, heroic souls who are ready for the adventure-ready to peril their lives for the Master, and for those whom He has died to redeem. You will not hesitate to strip off your superfluities, to furnish the ropes which will enable them to reach the depths of the abyss. There is work to be done there demanding courage and discretion. Women bound hand and foot in the icy chains of idolatry are to be hewn out. Stroke upon stroke must fall even before the appealing hand is seen. Aid must be afforded, even after the head is freed, and sight is given to the eyes. These poor helpless ones must be lifted with strong tender hands into the pure air of Christianity and civilisation. They must be watched over and tenderly cared for, until the gentle breathing and the tranquil beating of the pulse give evidence of their new life. "Saved by the power of an endless life!" This is the reward that will abundantly repay hours of weary work and watch. ing. Saved through Christ! This is the joy that cometh in the morning, when the heaviness of the night has all passed away.-Selected. A CANNON BALL IN THE HAT.-A Transatlantic writer, after describing how, when a boy, he stole a cannon ball from the Navy-yard at Charles town, and with much trepidation, and more headache, carried it away in that universal pocket of youth-his hat-winds up with the following reflections, reflections which though philosophically trite, are in this manner conveyed with much force and freshness : "When I reached home I had nothing to do with my shot. I did not dare show it in the house, nor tell where I got it; and after one or two solitary rolls, I gave it away on the same day. But, after all, that six-pounder rolled a good deal of sense into my skull. I think it was the very last thing that I ever stole (excepting a little matter of heart now and then), and it gave me a notion of the folly of coveting more than you can enjoy, which has made my whole life happier. It was rather a severe mode of catechism, but ethics rubbed in with a six-pounder shot are better than none at all. "But I see men doing the same thing, getting into underground and dirty vaults, and gathering up wealth, which will, when got, roll around their heads like a ball, and be not a whit softer because it is gold, instead of iron, though there is not a man on 'Change who will believe that. "I have seen a man put himself to every humiliation to win a proud woman who had been born above him, and when he got her he walked all the rest of his life with a cannon ball in his hat. "I have seen young men enrich themselves by pleasure in the same wise way, sparing no pains, and scrupling at no sacrifice of principle, for the sake of at last carrying a burden which no man can bear. "All the world are busy in striving for things that give little pleasure and bring much care. I am accustomed, in all my walks among men, noticing their ways and their folly, to think, 'There is a man stealing a cannon ball;' or, 'There is a man with a ball on his head; I know it by his walk.' The money which a clerk purloins for his pocket, at last gets into his hat like a cannon ball. Pride, bad temper, selfishness, evil passions, will roll a man as if he had a ball on his head! And ten thousand men will die this year, and as each one falls his hat will come off, and out will roll an iron ball, with which for years he has worn out his strength in carrying." GLEANINGS. EDUCATION. Education does not | DISAPPOINTING CHILDREN. -- Never commence with the alphabet; it be- let a child know that you are disap. gins with a mother's look; with a pointed in its capabilities. If he is father's nod of approbation, or sign sensitive it will render him morbid and of reproof; with a sister's gentle unhappy, and cause an imperfect pressure of the hand, or a brother's growth, while it may not infrequently noble act of forbearance; with hand. put out the spark that with a little fuls of flowers in green dells; on hills patience and fostering care might and in daisy meadows; and birds' nests have been kindled into a brilliant admired, but not touched; with hum- flame. ming bees and glass hives; pleasant walks in shady lanes; with thought directed, in sweet and kindly tones and words, to nature, to beauty; to acts of benevolence, to deeds of virtue, to the sense of all good, and to God Himself. with WHAT FAITH SHOULD DO.-The Is raelites marching up to the edge of the Red Sea, till the waves parted before their feet, step by step, are often taken as an illustration of what our faith should do-advance to the brink of possibility, and then the seeming impossibility may be found to open. But there is another illustration in the New Testament, more sacred and striking-the women going to the sepulchre of our Lord. With true woman's nature they did not begin to calculate the obstacles till on the way, "Who shall roll away the stone?" and faith itself could not help them; but love did. A bond stronger than death drew them on, and "when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away. We may bless God that He can put into men's hearts impulses stronger than reason, and more powerful even than faith-such impulses that if they are going to Himself, they shall find that CONCERNING REBUKES. Does the teacher ever need to scowl at his scholars, or to speak sharply, in administering rebuke? We think not. Every such manifestation before children is belittling and weakening. Our scholars know when their conduct irritates. They know when they need correction. They rather expect, not to say delight, to see irritation and impatience in the teacher. If, instead, they are met by a gentle firmness of voice and a look of love-not so beseeching and imploring as to suggest "softness" to the youngsters who criticise emotions so cruelly; but of earnest, resolute love-the most reckless disobedience will be checked. It may not be checked once for all."He is able to do exceedingly abundIt probably will not be totally cured. But the teacher will have the final victory. The habit of gentleness in rebuke will have gained it for him. Scholars will respect the spirit they see to be in such a teacher. They can no more withstand it than a quarrelsome man can withstand his non-resisting Quaker neighbour, antly above all that we can ask or think." Reason, faith, love-but the greatest of these is love. We cannot help thinking of the instinct in the young blade of grass, which presses past the hard clod-its great stoneand finds itself in the midst of sunlight and spring. "LET HIM THAT HEARETH SAY, A SHEAF GATHERED BY A TEAR.An Indian guide in the Revolutionary СOME."-Unless in the sense of guardwar was fatally wounded. A Christian friend went to him and said, "Do you know anything about Jesus Christ ?" "Oh, yes, me know much about Him. Long time ago, very young, me go to see Indian Kaunaumeek [Brainerd]. In little log-house, all alone, pale man, look sick meet Indian-pray with him-make much prayer-talk out of spirit-book. Many times he look on Indian and say, 'Poor friend,' and his eyes all run down with tears." "Shall you join him when you die ?" "Oh, yes; me certain Jesus Christ never forget poor Indian. Me never forget Him one day. Me hope see Him and pale missionary before morn. ing. Me no fear. Inside eyes all open. Inside heart all smooth." And so he passed away, a sheaf gathered by a tear. A "SHABBY THING."-A young medical student tells the following anecdote: A fellow-student, a lad of great promise, of pre-eminence both in study and report, a generous, hearty fellow, kind to all, and dearly loved by every comrade, was struck down by a fatal disease, and died after a short illness. During that illness he was brought to the Saviour, and fell asleep resting in Christ. But a short time before his death he said to his medical attendant, "Oh, doctor, isn't it a shabby thing to give one's best days to the world, and only the last worthless remnant to the Lord Christ ?" The doctor, who dearly loved the young man, could make no reply, and the poor fellow burst into tears, these being almost his last words. If the tones of that young speaker's voice could but reach the thousands of young men living for pleasure and for self, wouldn't they at least stop and think whether they could indeed be guilty of this "shabby thing?" ing their peace of mind from being disturbed by temptation, and their purity from being stained by sin, those who find treasures in the Gospel do not hide them. On the contrary, they seek to make the great discovery known, and to communicate its benefits to all. There is no temptation to do otherwise, to keep it to ourselves, since it has blessings in the pardon and peace of God, enough for us and for all others. It is as if one of a caravan that had sunk on the burning desert, were, in making a last effort for life, to discover, no muddy pool, but a vast fountain-cool as the snows that replenished it in spring and pure as the heavens that were reflected on its bosom. He revives at the blessed sight, and pushing on to the margin stoops and drinks; yet ere his thirst is fully quenched, see how he speeds away to pluck his friends from the arms of death, and, hark! how he shouts, making the lone desert ring with the cry, "Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters!" None ever found Christ but they wished that others also might find Him, were ever saved without a desire to save springing up in their heartstheir's the spirit of Andrew, when he went to his brother Peter, saying, "We have found the Messias,"-of those who said, "Come thou with us, we will do thee good," "Arise, for we have seen the land, and behold it is very good." THE SINS OF YOUTH.-Young men do not remember, as they might, how the early firmness, the early resistance of temptation, gives its colouring to the whole future life. They do not mean to go far. They do not mean to pollute their souls without hope of recovery. There is a kind of lurking feeling, even if they do not confess it to themselves, that one day they shall be able to put off these pleasant vices, and address themselves in all serious. ness to a nobler, because a more self-cently taken from us whose Christian denying, life. life happily illustrated that symmetry so desirable in the followers of the Perfect One. And I do not question that there have been cases where the better thoughts have at length prevailed, where the Spirit of God has taken possession of the heart, and the spirit of evil has been cast out. I do not deny that there have been instances where a life of early profligacy has been succeeded by a life of devotion to Christ, where even the recollection of time wasted and talents abused may have given a tenfold zeal and earnestness to the faith of the man who has been set free from his chains, and brought into the liberty of Christ. A wise choice of means was his. Thoughtfully, cautiously, prayerfully were his plans laid for good-doing. All the obstacles were foreseen, the difficulties measured and weighed, and the forces provided for removing or surmounting them; and then in the strength of a pure aim and an almighty Arm he entered upon his work. An untiring perseverance was his. Patient of results, willing to wait and trust, he sowed the seed, cultivated the ground, and confidently looked for the perfected harvest. No indifference But even where it has been so, if you could read the inner history of such men, if you could see them on their knees bitterly upbraiding themselves before God for their youthful sins, if you could witness their hours of anguish, if you could hear them confessing how often and often the old temptations come back, come back with tenfold force because the tempter knows how often he has triumphed in the past, how even the very recollection of past sin is itself a fresh sug-cooled his ardour, no delay discouraged, gestion to sin-if you could see and hear all this, you would not dare, any of you, to make light of sin, or trifle with the grace of God. And even while we acknowledge the possibility of a restoration, of the return of the prodigal to his father, we cannot but tremble when we remember how often it has been otherwise.-J. S. Perowne, D. D. A WELL-BALANCED CHARACTER. Few even of advanced and aged Christians attain that well-balanced, beautifully-harmonised character which gives the sweetest charm to every grace. Marked excellences are found, but how often connected with as marked defects, grand qualities of head or heart, but marred by some infelicity of temper or incongruity of demeanour. An honoured worker has been re no seeming failure disheartened him. Quietly, persistently, hopefully he worked on, assured that the blessing would follow in God's good time. A gentle manner was his in all his varied agency for extending a knowledge of Christ. In daily intercourse' with his associates, with ministers, with Christian laymen, at home or abroad, in the ministrations of the pulpit, and in the domestic and social circle, he ever exhibited that gentle, chastened, loving spirit which reminded all of Him who was meek and lowly, and showed the power of grace in refining and ennobling human character. With these traits so blended and all subordinated to the will of the unerring Spirit of God, he accomplished a large work for the kingdom of his loved Saviour. He is blessed, and 'his works do follow him." |