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That's wrong or wicked, then I hear
This gentle tapping in my ear.
Think you 'tis mother's voice you hear,
Thus gently falling on the ear?

I know it is not mother's tone,
Nor father's, for, when they are gone,
It keeps on prompting just the same,
If aught I do that they would blame.
And, brother, don't it always tell,
In kindly notes, when you've done well?
Are not its whispers always mild,
When you have been a duteous child?
Yes, brother, that indeed is true,
I'm happy when those things I do
Which make my schoolmates look so kind-
"Tis then I have a peaceful mind!

God gave not to the bud or flower
This inward voice of wond'rous power,
Ah, no! it only has its birth

In us, who perish not with earth!

God gave it then? From heaven it came?
It dwelleth in my feeble frame?
What is it, brother, can you say?
It is awake both night and day?
Its name is Conscience, and 'twill be
A voice from which you cannot flee.
It keeps a registry within,
Rebuking those who live in sin,
And utters words of softest tone
To those who will its dictates own.
Oh, may I never make it talk
In angry tones! Sure, if I walk
In upright ways, in paths of truth,
"Twill be the guide of all my youth.

Yes, always heed its gentle voice,
"Twill never lead you into vice,
But like a sentinel within,

"Twill warn you of approaching sin;
And when you have been good and mild
"Twill call you an obedient child!
And yet, remember, guilty stains
Are only cleansed from Jesus' veins;
Born again your soul must be,
Or heaven's bliss you'll never see.

LESSON TAUGHT BY A BANTAM COCK. MR. JOSEPH MURRAY, colporteur, of Rashyhill Close, Falkirk, recently related the following interesting fact

A few mornings ago I was considering which books I should take out for the day, when my attention was arrested by a flock of sparrows flying about the opposite house in a very strange manner. I was curious to find out the cause, and, on opening the window, the mystery was explained. I was sorry to see that one of the young birds had fallen from its little warm nest which had been built under the tiles of the house. There the poor little thing lay on the ground, unable to fly, and the older birds unable to lift it up. A fine bantam cock, which appeared to understand what was wanted, walked forward, and very cautiously took up the poor little bird in his beak. He then mounted an empty cart, from which he flew upon the tiles, and, stretching his neck out over the edge of the tiles, placed his charge safely in its warm comfortable nest again. May not our readers learn a lesson from the pretty bantam? We think that both old and young will do well to remember it, as it teaches us to "Help one another!"

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INSPECTION OF MONASTERIES AND

NUNNERIES.

How constantly are cases coming to light which show the importance of the eye of the government looking everywhere, especially into those sad abodes of darkness and superstition, nunneries and monasteries. How many within those dark walls may be sighing for liberty, and suffering inexpressible tortures, who ought to have an opportunity of making their wishes known, and carrying them out. We long to see the day when the government shall pass a law ordering the inspection of religious houses. We think the following painful case well calculated to impress our readers with a salutary horror of convent life, and give it for that end, with a portrait of another victim of conventual cruelty, Barbara Ubryk.

The following is the substance of the information made public soon after the discovery of Barbara Ubryk's incarceration :

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About the 20th of July, an anonymous notice reached the Criminal Court at Cracow to the effect that in the convent of the Carmelite Barefooted Nuns, one of the order, named Barbara Ubryk, had been forcibly kept in close confinement in a dark cell for twenty-one years. The Vice-President of the Criminal Court, Ritter von Antohiewicz, immediately laid this information before a judge of inquiry, who, in company with the public prosecutor, repaired to the bishop, Von Galecki, with the request to permit them to enter the convent. Herr Von Galecki suggested to the judge that the notice might have arisen out of a false report; but when the officer of justice urged him to give him an ecclesiastical assistant, he declared that he

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