But

such a scratch as would puzzle the first scholar in the kingdom; such blunders in the spelling why any National School child could teach better, ay, and a deal better too. Some people would persuade our masters, that we should work better, without our heads being stuffed full of learning; yet I can't help thinking this won't do; for shouldn't a servant, sir, know how to read his Bible, as well as keep an account of what he spends? and how can he do this without writing and cyphering? and while he is about it, he may as well do it neatly and well, as in a bungling and slovenly manner. the michief is, that some who can read, will fancy that they know a great deal more than they really do, and they get to politics; for every one must have a touch at them now-a-day, and then they're done for; why I know some who think themselves a match for both Houses of Parliament, ay, and for his Majesty himself, and who can talk as much as any lawyer; but all the while, though I'm not over bright in my wits, I can see plainly they do not understand what they are talking about. As for myself, sir, though to be sure I now and then look into the papers, I never meddle with politics, no, nor will I while my name's Thomas Frognall! And why should I? for what does it matter to me, who's in, or who's out; what's doing here, or what's doing there? I leave these things to gentlemen who have got more time and education to study these things than I have. Now, I say, a servant can't employ his time worse than in fishing into things which don't concern him, and in looking for the faults of others, instead of being thankful for his own blessings. If he has got any spare time, let him read good and useful books, and especially his Bible; and leave politics to those whose business it is. But yet, sir, I don't mean, by what I say, to cry down newspapers altogether. I think there is some good in them; but then half they put in can't do any good to any body, but may do a great deal of harm, for there is so much trash that one may be ashamed to read it. I admire

too;

your selections, sir, very much, and all your book its a treasure to cottagers and servants, and I hope you may live many years to continue it. A few words more before I conclude. I wish young servants would but mind that good old proverb, "A rolling stone never gathers moss;" but now-a-days they have taken it into their head to be always a flitting, as if they thought to gain esteem by that: as to myself, I've lived about twenty years with my master very happily, and the butler is a steady man, that has lived above ten years; but as for the footmen, why I think we have changed above a dozen times; I never saw folks so hard to please in my life; on the least tiff with the cook they'd run to their master and give warning directly or, if he told them to do any thing the least out of the way, they'd say directly, it wasn't their business. Some time ago my master had a raw boy from the country, and had him taught to wait, and every thing else, and about five years after he had been here, he gave warning; and when asked why? he said he wanted to better himself. I beg your pardon for troubling you with this long letter, but I am sure you are a kind gentleman, and will excuse my freedom; but I can't well expect you will put it in, when you have so many gentlemen write to you; but perhaps you can say what I mean in your own words, without mentioning me, for I've had it on my mind some time to write to you.

So no more at present,

From your humble servant,

T. F. Coachman.

FEMALE SUFFERING.

An inquest was lately held at the Royal Oak, at Dartford, Kent, on the body of a new-born infant. It appeared that the mother of the child is the daughter of

a farmer, residing near Stroudwater. Under the promise of marriage, she was prevailed upon by a young man to accompany him to London, and afterwards into Kent, where he deserted her. On Thursday she walked from Down Hamley to Dartford, a distance of seventeen miles, intending to proceed by stages to her father's house in Gloucestershire. On arriving at Dartford she was prematurely delivered of the infant, which was still-born. The jury returned a verdict to that effect. The unfortunate mother, who is only twenty years of age, was ordered to be taken care of until her health is restored.

What crime can be more dreadful in its consequences than that of deceiving a female by false promises? What punishment can be too great for this crime? Let every female beware how she listens to those who would, in any way, tempt her to sin! A young woman who has any sense of religion will shut her ears against such persuasion. The sufferings which follow are dreadful; and so is the sin! Guilt, as well as misery, is with her who listens to the seducer.

THOUGH Our Saviour declared that of the day and hour of his coming knoweth no man, no not the angels of God, nor yet the Son, but the Father only; he shewed his disciples many signs, by which it may be known when the time draweth nigh. He is as a man gone a journey into a far country, and he has ap

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pointed to all his servants their work, and commanded them to watch, lest returning suddenly he find them sleeping. (Mark xiii. 34). But he vouchsafes to tell them, that when they shall hear of earthquakes in divers places; when they shall see signs in heaven, and in the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, they may know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Surely these things have begun to come to pass. We may indeed say that there is now distress of nations with perplexity. What wonderful changes and revolutions have passed lately in many of the nations of the earth; and if we look upon our own native land, we see distress among the people, and an evil spirit of discontent manifesting itself in acts of violence, causing much perplexity to the rulers of the country. Has all this roused us to be more watchful, or are we as the Pharisees, who could discern the face of the sky, but could not discern the signs of the times? (Matt. xvi. 3.) Let us take heed lest our hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and so that day come upon us unawares. (Luke xxi. 34.)

We should humble ourselves before God, whose hand is stretched out over us, to chastise us for our sins, and for our forgetfulness of him: nor let any individual think himself too mean to intercede with the Lord for his country, as Abraham interceded with him for Sodom. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James v. 16.)

Surely, when we see all that has passed and is still passing in the world, we should have our loins girded and our lights burning, and be as men who wait for their Lord. (Luke xii. 35, 36.) The time may be short; the Lord Jesus Christ may soon appear in great glory with all his saints to rouse the slumbering dead, and bring all before his judgment-seat." What manner of persons then ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness." (2 Peter iii. 11.)

But whether or not the coming of our Lord be near,

in one sense, Who knoweth what shall be on the morrow? For what is our life, it is even a vapour which appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth away. (James iv. 14.) "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass; the grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away." (Isaiah xl. 6, 7.) "In the morning it flourishes and groweth up, in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered." (Psalm xc. 6, 7.) We are not in darkness that this should come upon us unawares :-but are we walking as children of the light? Are our hearts concerned about "the one thing needful," and our affections fixed on things above? or are they set upon the cares, and riches, and pleasures of the world, forgetting "that the fashion thereof passeth away?" Are we reconciled to God through him who died for sinners? or are we enslaved by sin and Satan, rejecting the Gospel of his grace, and disregarding the love of God, who so loved us as to give his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life? (John iii. 16.)

"the time is short" to all of us.

Remember there is no work nor device, nor knowledge in the grave, whither we are all hastening. (Eccles. ix. 10.) To-day, while it is called to-day, let us not harden our hearts. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. (Isaiah lv. 6.) Behold now is the accepted time. Behold now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor. vi. 2.) Remember also the signs of the times, and forget not, that though the Lord will at his second coming make up his jewels, (Mal. iii. 17.) and gather together his elect from the four winds of heaven, (Matt. xxiv. 31.) he will be revealed in flaming fire, with his mighty angels, taking vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel. (2 Thess. i. 7, 8.) In vain shall such call to the mountains and to the hills to fall on them, and hide them from the face of him that sitteth upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.