SWEET WILL BE OUR REST. CHILD! the day is fleeting past,

And the night will soon be here, When to thee I shall be borne Slowly on my funeral bier.

Then, my darling, by thy side
I will lay me down to sleep;
All my longings will be hushed,
While dear ones above us weep.

And within this lowly bed,
Father, brother, sister dear-
All the loved ones of thy heart

Soon shall be beside thee here.

'Neath the mantle of the grave,

Slumbering on earth's quiet breast Till the morning light shall dawn, Sweet, my child, will be our rest.

May we wake, on that bright morn,
With a sin-forgiven heart-
Meet around the great white Throne
Never, never more to part.

LOOK AT HOME.

SHOULD you feel inclined to censure
Faults which you in others view,
Ask your own heart ere you venture,
If that has not failings too.

Let not friendly vows be broken-
Rather strive a friend to gain⚫
Many a word in anger spoken
Finds its passage home again.

Do not, then, in idle pleasure,
Trifle with a brother's fame;
Guard it as a sacred treasure,

Sacred as your own good name.

Do not form opinions blindly—
Hastiness to trouble tends;

hose of whom we've thought unkindly, Oft become our warmest friends.

A

THE PRACTICAL JOKER.

RTHUR M- — was a bright little boy of ten years, and his pleasant face and cheerful spirit seemed like a ray of heaven's own blessed sunlight in his mother's otherwise solitary dwelling. But I am sorry to say Arthur was not loved by his companions. He was a practical joker, and his little friends were in constant fear, when in his company, of having some very unpleasant trick played upon them. If they went to gather nuts or berries, he did love to kill a snake and throw it around some boy's neck, just for the fun of hearing him scream. When they went to bathe, they often found a frog in their pockets, or their shoes would be filled with angle worms. And he was sometimes so very cruel as to take away a boy's dinner, and fill his basket with stones.

These things were very annoying, and at length Arthur was left to play alone, or to go home to his little sister. Dear little Eliza was just beginning to go to school, and Arthur loved her very much. But his love of fun, as he called it, was sometimes so strong, that he would even overturn his sled, and throw the sweet little girl into the snow. His mother strove in vain to correct this cruel propensity, and she felt some anxiety on his account when a new father came to take charge of his education. His own father died when he was a babe, and of

course he had never known a father's love. But he was very much pleased when a pleasant, smiling gentleman came to live with them, and he was told he might call him father.

One morning, a few days after Mrs. M

was

married to Mr. L., Arthur was told to cut some potatoes, and give them to the cow. He obeyed very cheerfully, cut the potatoes, and carried them to the barn; but when he placed them before the cow, he turned a peck measure over them, so that the cow could not eat them. "My son,' said Mr. L. when he returned, "did you give the potatoes to the cow?" "Yes sir," he replied, but the merry twinkle of his eye led his father to suspect something wrong, and he very soon went to the barn himself. Arthur was frightened when he saw him go out, for he expected a whipping. But no notice. was taken of the joke, as he called it,

Soon there was a snow-storm; and when it passsed away, the snow lay piled in drifts on both sides the road. Arthur started for school the next morning, drawing his little sister on his sled; but when he came near the deep drifts, suddenly the sled was overturned, and Eliza was buried in the snow. Arthur sprang to take her up, and very tenderly led her back to the house. But his father stood at the window, and saw the whole transaction. Next morning Mr. L. said pleasantly, "I'll draw you to school this morning, if you like." Arthur was delighted. He thought his father was very

kind indeed. But when they came to the drift, suddenly the sled was overturned, and he was buried in the snow.

"You must learn to hold on better. than this," said Mr. L. "if you mean I shall draw you." And he quietly returned to the house, leaving Arthur to get out as he could.

"O! chicken for dinner! chicken for dinner! shouted Arthur as he returned from school and saw his favorite dish on the table, They were soon seated, and Mr. L. helped Arthur to a large plate full. But just as he was taking up his knife and fork, his father took up a large bowl that stood by his plate, and turned it over Arthur's dinner. At first he looked in surprise, but he immediately understood it. He was very hungry, but he did not dare to remove the bowl. The rest of the family began to eat, but he sat looking very red and unhappy. At length he burst into tears.

"Father," said he, "I never will put the peck measure over the cow's dinner again, and I'll never turn sissy into the snow again, if you'll let me eat my dinner."

66

Very well, my son," said Mr. L., removing the bowl; "you find practical jokes are not very pleasant when played upon yourself. Always remember that if you would be loved and respected, you must do by others as you wish others to do by you."