OUR country, and especially New England, is the object of wonder to the world. The intelligence, energy, enterprise, virtue and piety of her people, attract the attention, secure the admiration and stimulate the imitation of the inhabitants of every nation and clime of the whole earth. And wherein is the secret of the New England character, which is thus widely known and extensively admired? Comparatively our country is a new nation. It is the youngest child in the great family of nations. How then comes it to pass, that she eclipses all others, so as to bring people from every clime to her shores to acquire information of the arts of life, and of those elements of national character, which, for stability and greatness, is the most remarkable of any character possessed by other nations of the globe? The secret of the acquisition of this elevated character is quickly expressed. We have it in the cut above. The influences of the temple of the living God, is the power which has made our country what she is. On these influences our pilgrim fathers relied for success when they landed on our shores to plant a new nation. Almost their first act was to build and dedicate a temple to the living God, and their example has ever been imitated by their posterity. The influences of the church are to excite to education. Education of the mind furnished by the school, and of the heart furnished by the church, have made our country what she is. A CHILD'S PRAYER. A DEAR little bright-eyed child, who has been lying upon the fur rug before the sanctum fire suddenly pauses in her disjointed, innocent chat; says little Blinkey has come to town, and that her eyes are heavy; creeps up to the paternal knee, and half asleep, repeats very touchingly to us, we must say, and certainly in the most musical of all "still small voices," these lines, which a loving elder sister has taught her: Jesus, tender Shepherd, hear me, Bless thy little lamb to-night; Through the darkness be Thou near me, Watch my sleep till morning light. All this day thy hand hath led me, And I thank Thee for thy care; Thou hast clothed me, warmed and fed me → Listen to my evening prayer. The prayer itself dies upon her lips, in almost indistinct, sleepy murmurs; only when Kitty, who has come for her, is taking her to the nursery, she says, half awakened : -take me, when I die, to heaven, Happy there with Thee to dwell! Since little Jose went up stairs, we've been thinking of this, and because it interested us, we thought we would jot it down. OUR country, and especially New Eng wonder to the world. The intelligenc virtue and piety of her people, attract the admiration and stimulate the imitati of every nation and clime of the whole is the secret of the New England char widely known and extensively admired. country is a new nation. It is the y great family of nations. How then con eclipses all others, so as to bring people her shores to acquire information of the those elements of national character, w greatness, is the most remarkable of an. by other nations of the globe? The s of this elevated character is quickly ex in the cut above. The influences of the se 151 ast to the poisoned nce go on thy way." nnot be confined to "word fitly spoken" death has set his icy d hushed the gentle id, a look, or Nature's ic chain with which ment, we are carried past. Again we hear arkled in the sunshine, stead, and the music of foliage. Old familiar im in death gaze lovrm, we give and receive its. Ah, blessed Mems these "kind words" is child, sister, or friend, heart of parent, brother ah! then, thrice blessed ome thronging back and the soul," that our tears ning and evening and at entle when we speak to r hath given us. cially, that gentle words subduing power. Speak ild have a holy influence ou would win those you 'r. who gladden your heart word find its way to the our words be kind to the youth. The time cometh ! separate you; but let the ch connects you with the SPEAK GENTLY. BY CLARA A. SYLVESTER. "Speak gently! it is better far "SPEAK gently to the child!" said a well-known voice by my side, "speak gently." It was many years ago, but well do I remember the sad, reproving look which met my own, as I raised my eyes from the perplexing problem upon which I had been puzzling for the last hour. I had been replying impatiently, even harshly to some childish questioning of my baby sister; and, though her cherub form was buried long ago, yet in this evening twilight, I can see her quivering lip and tearful eye, as she threw her tiny arms around my neck and sobbed, "I love you, dear sister!" How earnestly I promised my own heart, "I will never speak impatiently again;" but many tears can not wash away the bitter memory of thoughtless words, spoken to the loved and lost, or to those beloved ones who yet live to be soothed by my contrition! Kind words! How blessed is their influence upon the soul in life's sweet spring-time, and also in the winter of age! Have you never felt their potent charm, kind reader? When the cares and perplexities of this cold world of ours have left their impress upon heart and brow, has not some kind word, like "Sunshine in a shady place," calmed your troubled bosom, and dispelled your gloomy thoughts? Or when, indignant at real or imaginary wrongs, the spirit has been roused to anger, did a soft answer ever fail to turn away wrath? The voice which spoke to us in love's soothing tones, may have been silent long upon the bosom of the green earth, or in the depths of ocean; but memory whispers to the soul in the unforgotten accents of the buried loved one, saying, |