A Talk about Tithes, between two Farmers. 189

A. Why, we cannot be worse off for this, and perhaps a good deal better. But what can be the reason why so many tracts are now sent about, trying to set the people against the clergy and the church.

O. Why these come from men, you may be sure, that have no religion at all. Some of these see, that if they could upset the clergy they should do an injury to that religion which they hate: others think, that if the church property were taken from the clergy, it would come to them.

A. Yes: but they are mistaken there; for if the landlord had no tithes to pay to the clergy, I don't suppose he would make a present of them to the writers. of these books. But, however, there are some good people, who would like to see things different in the Church from what they are.

O. And to such people every one should be glad to listen with the greatest attention. But the present clamour does not come from such as these, but from a set of people who care not the least about religion,who are never seen in a church, and who know nothing at all about the clergy, as to what they teach, or how they act. If the clergy can settle the matter so as to do what is fairest among themselves, it will be well for them; but I know it cannot be made easier for the people than it is now. Let you and I, my friend, remember that we ourselves, as well as the clergy, "must all stand before the judgment-seat of Christ." Let us be thankful that we have the means of worshipping God; and that, in every parish in this kingdom, there is an opportunity, at least once a week, of offering up our prayers together, and of hearing the word of the Lord. Let us be thankful for this, and let us consider it as 66 a talent committed to our charge," of which we must one day "give an account." It is an easy thing to find fault with others, if that delights us, but let us "look at home," and see how all is there. Let us look to the salvation of our own souls, and we shall then have no pleasure in

looking at the faults of others, or in disturbing ourselves about those things which belong to others,-we shall be glad to see that set right which was wrong, or that which is good, made still better; but I never yet knew a man who was so quick at seeing all that is wrong in what concerns others, equally anxious to see what was wrong in himself, and equally desirous that there should be amendment there.

A. No; I believe that is too true, and though we must allow that every reform that is really an amend'ment is good, yet the true way to such amendment is that every man should wish the reform to begin first in himself. V.

NOURISHING FOOD.

Cheap Bread,-Remove from the flour only the coarsest flake bran: boil five pounds of this bran in rather more than four gallons of water; so that, when quite smooth, you will have three gallons and three quarters of bran-water; with this knead fifty-six pounds of flour, and add salt and yeast as for other bread. The fifty-six pounds of flour used in this way, will produce as much bread as sixty-seven pounds four ounces of flour used with plain water; and when ten days old, if put into the oven for twenty minutes, will appear quite new again.

Rice and Wheat Bread.-Simmer a pound of rice in two quarts of water till it becomes perfectly soft; when it is of a proper warmth, mix it thoroughly with four pounds of flour, yeast (four large spoonfuls), and salt as usual: knead it particularly well, and then set it to rise before the fire. Some of the flour should be reserved to make up the loaves. Thus, eight pounds and a half of exceedingly good bread will be produced. If the rice should require more water, it must be added,

Selections from different Authors.

191

as some rice swells more than others: give it plenty of time to simmer.

American Flour requires almost twice as much water to make it into bread as is used for English flour, and therefore it is more profitable; for a stone of the American, which weighs fourteen pounds, will make twenty-one pounds and a half of bread, but the best sort of English flour produce only eighteen pounds and a half.

See Cottage Comforts (p. 76, 77.) by Esther Hewlett (now Copley), an unpretending but valuable little work.

(Sent by a Correspondent.)

SELECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT AUTHORS.

I ENVY no quality of the mind or intellect in others; not genius, power, wit or fancy; but if I could choose what would be most delightful, and I believe most useful to me, I should prefer a firm religious belief to every other blessing; for it makes life a thorough discipline of goodness; creates new hopes, when all earthly hopes vanish; and throws over the decay, the destruction of existence, the most gorgeous of all lights; awakens life even in death, and from corruption and decay calls up beauty and divinity; makes an instrument of torture and of shame the ladder of ascent to Paradise; and, far above all combinations of earthly hopes, calls up the most delightful visions of palms and amaranths, the gardens of the blest, the security of everlasting joys,-where the sensualist and the sceptic view only gloom, decay, annihilation, and despair-Sir Humphrey Davy.

If calamities befall us for other men's sakes, so that we bear the punishment of their faults, and of offences which we have not committed, we come the nearest to the sufferings of our Saviour himself, which is a great honour and glory to us; and if we do imi

tate his meekness, and humility, and patience in the bearing of them, thus so far imitating him as he hath put it into our power to do; we shall be sure of such a happiness as shall be more than proportionable to the afflictions we have undergone.-Lord Clarendon.

EXTRACTS FROM THE PUBLIC NEWSPAPERS.

Sagacity of a Dog.-A short time since, as Henry Wakeman, a carpenter of this town, was driving a pig home from Gloucester market, the animal became tired, and he was obliged to leave it in a field near Staverton Bridge. He arose early on the following morning for the purpose of looking after his pig, and when he arrived at the Golden Valley he was surprised to find his favourite bull-dog (which had followed him the day before) chasing the pig at a rapid pace towards Cheltenham. It appears the dog had gone to his kennel as usual the previous night, but had got up before his master and set off before daylight, for the purpose of recovering his property.-Cheltenham Chronicle.

Reform is the great subject now :-and we trust that all will be ordered for the best. Upon the old plan, however, an honest, sober, and industrious man could generally do well for himself :—and no new plan can give prosperity to an idle, careless, and drunken fellow.-C.

The English labourers have been quarrelling with machinery as thinking that it injures them. The Scotch labourers are equally opposed to any attempt at labour without the advantage of machinery. The Scotch generally know what they are about. -Country Paper.

Where a man is taxed one penny by government for the support of his country, he taxes himself one pound by his extravagance, for the ruin of himself.-Stage Coach Companion.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received the communications of C. L. H.; W. D. L.; Ignota; L. S. R.; A Worcestershire Correspondent; M. O. M.; S. L. A.; K.; F. V.; J. C.; a Friend to the Cottager; C. S. R.; Laicus; C. R.; Omega; X. Y.; C. H. N.; and Anon.

We are much interested by B. A.'s letter. It is a difficult, and a very delicate point. We shall bear the subject in mind. There is much consolation, and perfect security in Prov. iii. 6.

THE

Cottager's Monthly Visitor.

MAY, 1831.

FAMILY RELIGION.

"Hear ye the word of the Lord, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel.”—Jer. ii. 4.

If you are the father or mother, the master or mistress of a family, consider, that it is not sufficient to read the Bible, by yourself, or to pray in your closet. This is enough for an individual member, in a household; but more than this is required from the head. "All the families" are commanded to "hear the word of the Lord," and the disregard of this injunction, will lie as heavy guilt upon the heads of such families. This passage is not the only place in Scripture, where the subject is mentioned-there are other texts to the same effect, and examples laid before us, that we may be excited to "go and do likewise." The command, which we receive by the mouth of Moses, is very express-" And ye shall lay up these my words in your heart and in your mind, and ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in the house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down and when thou risest up." Joshua did not merely say, "As for me, I will serve the Lord," but, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." As the master of his own family, he was answerable for their joining in the worship of God. As the head over the whole family of Israel, he was bound NO. 5.-VOL. XI.

K