a true story, and happened at a mine near Swansea.

You may, perhaps, wonder that God in his providence should send a pigeon on such an errand; but does he not do more wonderful things every day for our benefit? Does he not send the sun to light us by day, and the moon and stars by night? Does he not give us flowers in spring, fruit in summer, grain in autumn, and frost and snow to fertilize the ground in winter? The morning dew and the evening breeze are a part of his manifold gifts.

If

Yours is a dangerous employment; but the more dangerous it is, the greater is the necessity that you should prepare for another world. God sent a pigeon to the miner at Swansea, to save his body from destruction, perhaps this Testament may be sent by him that your soul may be saved. Read it, and pray over it, that Divine grace may make it a messenger to guide you to glory.

A CALL ON ONE PASSIONATE AND

HARD-HEARTED.

Harry! Harry! I have followed you into your shop to tell you that you have acted the part of a cruel, hard-hearted tyrant. The way in which you have beaten the poor little lad,

now crying at the corner, is a disgrace to you. Cowardice and tyranny too often go together; and you deserve to be pointed at for the one, and soundly punished for the other. You are hammering away at your anvil as though that would make amends for your cruelty; but if you do not learn to conquer your passionate temper, some day or other you will smart for it, even though you should be the best workman in the world.

John Stratford was a smith by trade, and as clever a fellow, perhaps, as ever took a hammer in hand, but his cleverness did not keep him from the gallows. He did not control his passions, and was led on to commit murder, for which crime he was hung at Norwich. The iron-work of the drop on which he suffered was forged by his own hands, and the very bolt, the withdrawing of which launched him into an eternal world, was his own workmanship. Have a care, Harry, that the same passionate and cruel disposition does not bring you to the same end. I am often obliged to speak hard words to you. The Bible says, 66 Anger resteth in the bosom of fools," Eccles. vii. 9; and, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer," 1 John iii. 15. Your wrath has been cruel, and your anger outrageous; but you are in God's hands, and he can smite you harder than you can smite

those whom you oppress.

Beware, Harry,

beware!

A CALL ON AN INTEMPERATE MAN.

I cannot tell whether or not you have ever seen a paper called "The Temperance Tree;" at any rate, I will leave one with you. It will speak for itself; and, therefore, all that I have to do is to hope that a Divine influence will accompany its contents to your heart.

66 THE TEMPERANCE TREE.

"Temperance supports reason, improves memory, nourishes the body, embellishes every natural grace, increases strength, purifies the blood, and brightens the brain. It preserves man in the dignified moral character he is designed to maintain in the world; guards the senses from being perverted; enlivens the soul; locks the purse from the greatest thief; and qualifies a man to be the companion of the good. It is a wife's joy and children's riches. It makes men respected and beloved, and with holds them from injuring the gifts of their Creator.

"The word of the Most High has commanded all men to live soberly. He who obeys this command, will watch over the Temperance Tree,

which, through Divine grace, will not fail to bud, to blossom, and to bring forth fruit to the good of man, and to the glory of God."

A CALL ON A PORTER.

You are about to start off, I see, and a pretty package that is which you are about to lift on your shoulder. I could no more carry it than you could carry a cart-load of coals. Ah, well! The back is fitted to the burden, and practice makes perfect in every line of business. It is well for those who carry all their burdens on their backs, and none in their bosoms; but one word with you before you set off.

Can you run as fast with your load as you can without it? No, that you cannot. Now a weight on the heart is heavier than a load on the back, and of all weights that we carry, sin is the heaviest. If, then, you wish to run the heavenly race set before you, to finish your course with joy, and to find the end thereof eternal life, cast away your sins; they are a dreadful burden to carry, and get heavier the longer they are borne.

Did you ever see a thornbush, in the spring, so covered over with blossoms, that not even the point of a thorn could be seen? I dare say you have; but for all that the thorns were there,

and if you

even in the very heart of the bush; have looked on the same tree in the winter, when the blossoms were gone, you must have noticed not only that it had thorns, but also that it abounded with them.

Now, this is just the case with the wicked; they have their pleasures, and sometimes appear so happy that you might almost suppose no care was in their hearts. Alas! keep your eye upon them; for as surely as the bush lost its blossoms, and exposed its thorns, so surely will their enjoyments vanish, and their sharp-pointed troubles appear. There is no text in the word of God more true, than that "There is no peace unto the wicked," Isa. xlviii. 22. You may put it down as a certain rule, that sinful possessions turn out in the end to be sorrowful companions.

"Like the crackling of thorns that just blaze and expire, Such pleasures can satisfy never;

They give only a spark, and then all becomes dark-
The blackness of darkness for ever."

A CALL ON A MOTHER.

I am quite pleased in having called just now, for I see that your little girl is reading the Bible, and I know you try to explain it to her. May all the precious promises it contains be her portion.