ADDRESS ON ARRIVING AT THE FIRST

YEAR OF OUR AGE.

We have now completed the first volume of "THE FRIEND OF YOUTH, AND CHILD'S MAGAZINE FOR THE NEW CHURCH;" and trust that we have faithfully fulfilled the promises of our Prospectus. It has been one great object of our efforts, to render the truths of the New Church attractive to the minds of children and youth; and it is hoped that in endeavouring to carry out this object, we have not deprived these truths of any of their genuine force by the admission of articles of too simple a character. We have, however, found some little difficulty in this respect, owing to a diversity of opinion on this point; some of our contents have been considered beyond the capacity of children. The bent of our Editorial mind, may perhaps have a leaning this way, and with a consciousness of it, we have always desired to be

favoured more freely with the aid of the ladies of the Church, who can so ably soften down the asperity of the male intellect. But it must also be recollected that the work is intended for the YOUTH, as well as for the CHILDREN of the Church; and, therefore, it is expected that it should contain matter adapted to the mind in its later as well as its earlier stages of development. However, such as it is, the Volume is before the public of the New Church; and the Second Volume will commence with the New Year, much upon the same general principle, but with as great a measure of improvement as our friends may be willing to suggest, and as may occur to ourselves; and we trust still further encouragement will be afforded to our efforts. We must also take this opportunity of thanking those of our friends who have so kindly assisted us by their literary endeavours, and request they will extend to us their favour for the year to come.

DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,

WITH the first day of the new year we present you the first number of a new work, commenced with a view to your welfare, and to aid in your improvement. We have been induced to accept the management of it, not because we think ourselves the best fitted, but because we feel, we trust, a sincere interest in you. You may think this strange, inasmuch as few of you know us, perhaps few of you ever may, except through these pages; but still we would wish to be regarded as your friend, and we come to you now, therefore, wishing you a Happy New Year! Few things please us better than to look on and see the young, mirthful and happy, enjoying their innocent recreations; and the only reward which we seek for our labour, is to know that, in the shape of this Magazine, we are welcomed in your little circles, and add to your enjoyment.

There is something about the new year

that is always pleasing to the young, and the idea must suggest to you thoughts that may be useful. The old year seems to leave us as a friend with whom we have long been acquainted, but it leaves us with a promise of better things, and when we hear the merry peal from the bells which announces to us that the first day of the new year is come, . though we may at first feel sad, yet we cannot but look forward to the bright and happy times we hope to see, before its last day reaches us. But we will hope that when the new year came to you, you had some other thoughts beside these, and that you did not quite forget to offer up the thanks of your hearts, as well as of your lips, to that good Being, to that kind Heavenly Father, Who preserved you through the year that is past, and has hitherto provided you with all that was needful for your happiness. You know that He is ever watching over you in tenderest love, with a far greater love than even your dear parents can feel, and all that He asks in return from you is, that you will allow Him to make you happy. But why should you think of this, and of raising your gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ, more at the beginning of a new year than at any other time? We will tell you. You know that when you walk from the town where you live to some other town or village, you see on the

side of the road, at certain intervals, large pieces of stone or iron, which say, To such a place miles, and these mile stones, as they are called, tell you just the position you are in; and you can calculate by them how fast you must walk to reach the end of your journey at a certain time. Now your birth-days, and new year's days, are just like these mile stones; they call to your recollection the place you are, we hope and trust, travelling towards, and are opportunities for you to ask yourselves how far you have gone during the year, and where you now stand.

You know also that when people are walking along the high road on a long journey, and do not wish to be benighted, they take out their watch and make up their mind that to reach their home early they will walk the next mile in so many minutes. If we were to ask you, it is most probable that we should find that most of you, at the beginning of the last new year, did just the same. You perhaps did not say, "I will go so far this year;" but we can fancy we hear many of you say, I said, "I will be a better boy, or girl, this year, than I was last. I will try hard, with the help of the Lord Jesus Christ, which I know He will give me if I sincerely ask it, to be less selfish, and to love my parents, my brothers, and my sisters more, and to try all in my power to make them more happy. I will try to love all, and