Potatoe Flour.

549 "knoweth whereof we are made, he remembereth that we are but dust ;" and that, with every trial, he will, if we seek for it aright, send us strength according to our need. A. A. S.

RECEIPT FOR SAVING COALS.

TAKE the ashes and small cinders which fall from the fire, and mix them very well with water, till they are like bricklayer's mortar; then put them on the back part of the fire. They make, together with coal, a most pleasant fire. If the grate be of cast iron, be careful, in putting on the wet fuel, not to throw it on the iron back, lest it should crack. This method is practised in Yorkshire with great success. If the rich would give some of their ashes, which are often half cinders, to their poor neighbours, and tell them how to use them, it would be a charity.

Method of preparing the mortar.-Draw the ashes to the front of the fire-place, and having made a hole in the middle of them, pour in water to suit the quantity of ashes: then let them soak a few minutes, and they will mix themselves without being touched: for if touched at first, they will daub the hearth, but by giving them time to mix, little wet will remain. Or you may mix them out of doors.

Reports of the Society for Bettering the Condition of the Poor.

POTATOE FLOUR.

THIS, mixed with one-third of wheaten flour, is a great improvement to household bread, and is very light of digestion. To prepare it, place a fine cullender, or coarse sieve, in a pail of clean water, so that it be two inches in the water; pare the potatoes, and then

may

grate them into the cullender, shaking or stirring the pulp in the cullender, so that the flour may fall to the bottom of the pail. When the refuse that remains behind stops the washing of the flour into the pail, remove it. About a gallon of potatoes is enough for a pail of water. After the water has stood twelve hours, pour it off. The flour will be in a cake at the bottom. Dry it slowly before the fire, rubbing it occasionally between the hands to prevent its being lumpy, and it will be fit for use.

(From the Literary Gazette.)

SONNET.

ON THE APPROACH OF CHRISTMAS.

FAST fades the warning year: each sacred day
Upheld with rites and gambols quaint of yore,
(Now theme alone for antiquarian lore,)
Michael's and Martinmas, have pass'd away.
His aspect grave, lo! winter 'gins display;
Then hail, best festival! come, Christmas hoar!
Whether in dazzling snow, like that array
Of saints beheld by John on Patmos' shore * ;
Or dark with lowering clouds, such as o'erspread
In sight of Israel, Sinai's rocky head.

Bring heavenly thoughts, pleasures without alloy;
And while, elate in heart with holy joy,

Our sires and dames of thy glad tidings tell,
With many a carol shall we greet thee well.

Folkestone.

OWEN OTTWAY.

USES OF THE BRAMBLE.

THIS shrub, which we are in the habit of despising, possesses several advantages which deserve attention. Its roots, when dried in the shade, cut into small fragments, and taken in the shape of a weak infusion," or

Rev. xix. 14.

tea, "form one of the best specifics" (remedies) "against an obstinate cough*."-Its long branches can be used for cords, and its fruit produces an excellent wine; as follows-five measures of the ripe fruit, with one of honey and six of water, are taken and boiled; the froth is skimmed off-the fire removed, and the mixture, after having been passed through a linen cloth, is left to ferment. It is then boiled again, and allowed to ferment in suitable casks. In Provence (in France) "blackberries are used to give a deep colour to particular wines."-Horticultural Register for September, p. 39.

(Sent by a Correspondent.)

"GOD IS LOVE."

1 John iv. 16.

(From a Volume of Sacred Poetry.)
CHRISTIAN! say, why weepest thou,
Why droops thy sad and mournful brow?
Why is thy look so like despair,
What deep, sad sorrow, lingers there?

Thou mourn'st perhaps for some one gone,
A friend,-a wife, a little one,-
But mourn not, for thou hast above
A friend in GoD-and " GOD is love."

Is it remorse hath laid thee low,
Is it for sin thou mournest so?
'Tis thine to bear a heavy grief,
But mourner,-there is still relief.

There's One above can pardon give,
Who gave His life, that thou might live,
Seek then for comfort from above,

And pray to GOD,-for " GOD is love."

*We do not pretend to be answerable for any receipts which are sent by Correspondents, nor should we recommend any experiments in medicine to be tried, till good advice is first taken to be sure that the prescriptions can do no harm, if they do no good.

Hath cold unkindness wounded thee,
And friendship proved a mockery?

Oh! turn thy thoughts from earth to heaven,
Where no such cruel wounds are given.

In all the varying scenes of woe,
The lot of fallen man below,
Still lift thy tearful eye above,

And trust in GoD,-for " GOD is love."

Sweet is the thought 'mid time's swift pace,
That earth is not our resting-place,

Precious the promise of the Lord

To all who love His Name and Word.

Then weeping Christian, dry thy tears;
Comfort on every side appears;

An

eye beholds thee from above,
The eye of GOD-and "GOD is love."

(Sent by C. S. R.)

ERRORS IN OUR HOPE FOR ETERNITY.

It is a common and fatal error, the pernicious influence of which has too often been seen to prevail even on the bed of death, when the immortal soul was about to appear in His presence, "who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity," that those men need not fear respecting their eternal salvation, who though perhaps it cannot be denied that they have lived in forgetfulness of God-habitually neglecting prayer, and the serious observance of the Sabbath-dishonouring his holy name by swearing-or using it lightly in common discourse -have yet, they plead, done no harm to any body. How distressing it is to a reflecting mind, to hear such a character as this say, "I am not afraid to die, for I have never hurt any body. I have done the best I could for my family, and been always ready to do a good turn for any poor body that wants it." Now allowing all this to be true in a worldly sense-and that the persons who plead this, have been honest, sober, kind, and industrious-I must still maintain, that (however little they may suspect it) they have grievously

Errors in our Hope for Eternity.

553

failed in those very points of duty, of which they make their boast. Such of them as are parents, in not taking care of the souls of their children, and bringing them up, both by precept and example in the fear of Godand all in not setting a good example to those around them; and the real injury they have done to their neighbour in this way-they will never fully know in this world. But however blameless and benevolent some may be in the eyes of their fellow-creatures, I would ask that man who rested upon this, his hope of heaven, "Which is the first and great commandment?" Did not that God who said, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," say also, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy mind, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength?" And have you loved God? Have you even desired to love him? And how did you shew your love? We always endeavour to please those we love, we are often thinking of them, and delight in their society, and in converse with them. What proof have you then to give of your love to God? Did you endeavour to please him? Did you delight in praying to him, and prais ing him? and in hearing his Holy Word read and preached? Was He continually in your thoughts? Did you delight to think of Heaven, as of a place where you should see God," and be able to love and serve him better than you can do in this world?--Alas! No, your heart testifies, that you "cared for none of these things"

66

-that your thoughts, your time, and affections, were wholly occupied by other matters. My son, give me thine heart," is the command of God-and he alone is worthy of it. But where has your heart been, my friend? Perhaps deeply engaged in heaping up richesor in following after pleasure-or perhaps your whole heart and thoughts have been employed about your children, thinking only of their advancement in this world; but conscience whispers-not with God. Then, though you may plead that you have done your duty to your neighbour, yet since you have so sadly negNO. 12.-VOL. XI. B b