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in which we may examine ourselves, and in our attempts to improve our character we can have all the advantage of "practising before the glass."

We desire, in this series of articles, to conduct the reader, by God's direction, into those illustrations of divine truth which the Bible points ont to us in the kingdoms of nature. We have works which treat of the Sovreigns of the Bible, the Women of the Bible, the Mountains of the Bible, and the Bards of the Bible. There is still another field open. We propose to till it; and what fruits we gather we will cheerfully share with our readers. We will begin, in our next, with THE BIRDS OF the Bible.

RELIGIOUS OBLIGATIONS.

How little do we feel the obligations we owe to our Maker. Man is but a chemical organization, in a physical point of view, and yet how sublime, how majestic are all parts of this earthly tabernacle made. Each member, each organ, has its peculiar duty and function to perform; and, as a whole, the harmony that exists in their united actions, has surpassed the vilest intrigues of infidelity.

But, withal, the brute beast possesses the same similarity of organs, and members, and by a natural impulse, instinctively acts, to a certain extent, with the same force. Yet that noble part of man, the conscience-the supreme will-places him above every living being. He thinks, he acts, according to its dictates; and, with the assistance of judgment and memory, is fitted to occupy a sphere in this world, to which nothing can aspire, but the image of his Maker itself.

If then our position is such an exalted one, would it not be rational to infer, that this mind owes certain duties and obligations to its maker. Such an inference would be rational, just, and reasonable. Nevertheless man, this noble specimen of God's creation, and Christ's redemption, will frequently sink below the brute creation. Moping on the brink of a vast eternity, reckless of all obligations, reckless of all duties; and in old age, lift up his eyes, and with a sort of vanity, say within himself, "My Lord delayeth his coming." Oh, can it be that such a noble being as man can sink to such a degraded state! Alas, we daily see it. His hopes are extinguished in the dark abodes of misery and ruin, now and forever. "Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivereth from death." E. K. B.

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And oft he stroked my head with fond delight.-H. K. W・ гE.

A true and faithful School Teacher deserves more at the hands of parents, than the dollars and cents which are paid him as his wages. He deserves their respect, and has strong claims on them for those various little acts of kindness which makes it so pleasant to labor for those from whom they proceed. The spirit of love toward each other must pervade the hearts of teacher and scholar, if the teaching and learning is to be of the right kind; and nothing will better bring about this result than acts of confidence and kindness from parents toward the teacher. This will enable the teacher to love the parent; and the child, observing the esteem in which the teacher is held by the parent, will learn by the example to love him likewise.

It is easy to see, that love in the teacher towards his scholars, is necessary to give him a fit interest in them. If he is treated as a hireling, he will soon feel as an hireling, and will be lead, even against his conscience, to labor as an hireling; and instead of being anxious each day, that the children should advance in learning, he will only be anxious that the sun should go down as quick as possible.

We believe there is far too little affectionate co-operation between parents and teachers in our schools. In some cases, the fault may lie with teachers, for we well remember the time when we took no pleasure in the presence of our teacher, because of his arbitrariness, and false, selfish, distant dignity— but in far too many instances, the fault lies with the parents.

It may be said that some teachers are not worthy of confidence and love. True; but such should never be elected as teachers. Happily the time is past when drunkards and men of vicious and polluting habits, can sit in such high and responsible places! It is beginning to be felt, that as teachers of children make among the first and deepest impressions upon their minds and hearts, they ought to be of pure lips, pure habits, and pure lives. Let those neighborhoods, which are blest with such teachers, render them all that attention and kindness which will make their labors successful, and their stay among them of the most pleasant character. In doing so, parents will not only fulfil a duty of gratitude to those who labor for the highest interests of their children, but will, in the end, be themselves the gainers in the speedier intellectual and moral advancement of their children.

H. H.

VOL. IV.

FEBRUARY, 1853.

No. 2

MY MIND TO ME A KINGDOM IS.

THE author and date of this excellent composition are not known; but it is quoted by an author in 1559, as a well known production.

My mind to me a kingdom is;
Such perfect joy therein I find,
As far exceeds all earthly bliss,

The God of nature hath assigned!

Though much I want that most would have,
Yet still my mind forbids to crave.

Content to live, this is my stay;

I seek no more than may suffice;

I press to bear no haughty sway;

Look, what I lack my mind supplies,
Lo! thus I triumph, like a king,

Content with what my mind doth bring.

I see how plenty surfeits oft,

And hasty climbers soonest fall;
I see that such as sit aloft,

Mishap doth threaten most of all;
These get with toil, and keep with fear
Such cares my mind could never bear.

No princely pomp, no wealthy store,
No force to win the victory;

No wily wit to salve a sore,

No shape to win a lover's eye;
To none of these I yield a thrall,

For why?-my mind despiseth all.

Some have too much, yet still they crave;
I little have, yet seek no more;

They are but poor, though much they have,
And I am rich with little store;

They poor, I rich; they beg, I give;

They lack, I lend; they pine, I live.

I laugh not at another's loss,
I grudge not at another's gain;
No worldly care my mind can toss,
I brook what is another's bane;
I fear no foe, nor fawn on friend,
I loathe not life, nor dread my end.

I joy not in no earthly bliss,

I weigh not Croesus' wealth a straw; For care, I care not what it is

I fear not fortune's fatal law; My mind is such as may not move For beauty bright, or force of love.

I wish but what I have a will,

I wander not to seek for more, I like the plain, I climb the hill,

In greatest storms I sit on shore, And laugh at them that toil in vain To get what must be lost again.

I kiss not where I wish to kill;

I feign not love where most I hate; I lack no sleep to win my will;

I wait not at the mighty's gate

I scorn no poor, I fear no rich,

I feel no want, nor have too much.

The court nor cart I like nor loathe;
Extremes are counted worse than all;
The golden mean betwixt them both
Doth surest sit, and fears no fall;
This is my choice; for why? I find
No wealth is like a quiet mind.

My wealth is health and perfect ease;

My conscience clear my chief defence;

I never seek by bribes to please,
Nor by desire to give offence.
Thus do I live, thus will I die;
Would all did so, as well as I.

HUMILITY.

THE bird that soars on highest wing,
Builds on the ground her lowly nest;
And she that doth most sweetly sing,
Sings in the shade when all things rest;
In Lark and Nightingale we see
What honor hath humility.

THE RELIGIOUS CHARACTER OF WASHINGTON.

BY REV. E. HEINER, D. D.

THERE is no one who has shared so largely in the esteem and confidence of the American people, as GEORGE WASHINGTON. Indeed, he who was "first in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen," is the admiration of the whole civilized world. The name, and deeds, and character of Washington will never be forgotten. His illustrious career will be gratefully remembered by millions of freemen in all coming time, and his glorious christian example will be imitated by every sincere lover of virtue and the Bible. The young men of America, especially, should study well the religious character of Washington, and make it a model for their own. We have thought that a few brief extracts from authentic records, touching the pious sentiments and practises of him who has been fittingly styled "The Father of his Country," might be acceptable and useful to the readers of the Guardian generally, but particularly so to those young men who are accustomed to look over, with some degree of interest, the pages of this work. Although the fame and character of Washington may be as familiar to us "as household words," yet almost every thing concerning him may be brought again and again to the review of our minds with great satisfaction and pleasure.

There is in every Sunday School Library, or at least there ought to be, a most excellent "Life of Washington," compiled and written for the American Sunday School Union, and published by that excellent Institution, in 1842. To this "Life," and from "Sparks' Life of Washington," we are chiefly indebted for what we may here record of the moral and religious character of Washington.

RULES OF CONDUCT.

Among his manuscript School Books, there is one containing thirty folio pages, filled with various subjects written upon by himself, when only thirteen years of age; and amongst them, under the head of "Rules of Behaviour in Company and Conversation," one hundred and ten rules are written and numbered. A few of these rules are as follows: "Associate yourself with men of good quality, if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone, than in bad company." "Speak not evil of the absent, for it is unjust." "Use no reproachful language

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