to interfere with him, but Prudence got over the stile into the next field, and I went with him, and mean to do the same next time. Shall I help you over the gate, Miss Ruth ?"-John Ploughman.

LOVE OF FINERY.

THE Countess of Waldegrave, some time since, at a school examination at Wigton, delivered an admirable address, in the course of which she said, "There is a subject which I believe a great many will join with me in thinking important in these times in which we live, and that is the subject of female dress in all ranks of life, but especially among those who attend our schools. I regret to say that there is a great deal of what may be called useless finery among the young girls of the present day, and I should think that probably mothers are a little to blame in that particular. I have observed this passion to be on the increase during all my life; and, as God's mercy has spared me through eighty years, I think I may speak from experience on the subject. I must say I think it is a great mistake on the part of mothers to dress their children to the utmost extent of their means, instead of inducing them to lay by their pence for what is called a rainy day, or to collect clothing for winter; in place of which they allow their girls to spend all their little money, and what they can add of their own as well, on what I should call unnecessary and useless finery. I am very glad to find that you educate the children well here, and I am delighted to see that needlework is made a particular point of examination in many of the schools; because, in seeking for female servants, we all want those who can be useful in those particulars, as well as

in knitting and darning, for which I have had pleasure in giving prizes in my own county on various occasions. Now, while children are taught to spend all the money that they can get together on little bits of finery, the first thing a mistress has to teach her young servant is to dress neatly and properly and respectably, and thus correct the great mistake of mothers who help their children forward in unnecessary outside clothing, while very often, I regret to say, the inside is exceedingly deficient. I therefore hope that mothers who have such opportunities of having their daughters educated, will earnestly strive to give them that degree of propriety and neatness in their dress which is always respectable, useful, and efficient. I trust you will excuse me, coming from such a distance as I do, for making mention of what many, if they would speak out, really feel in their hearts. I am often told by mothers, 'Well, ma'am I can't help it. My girl will go to the second-hand shop and get these bits of things, where they are cheap. And it is only a penny flower, and a flower does not wear out so soon as a ribbon.' Well, but that is not neat, nor is it desirable: and when they get ino service, most mistresses will object to that kind of finery, which is not suitable to the station in which it has pleased God to place them. I hope my female friends will excuse me for giving them these hints, for they are the result of long experience."

The wearing of gay or costly apparel (said a minister) naturally tends to breed and increase vanity. By vanity I mean the love and desire of being admired and praised. Every one of you that is fond of dress has a witness of this in your own bosom; whether you will confess it before man or not, you are convinced of this before God. You know in your hearts it is with a view to be

admired that you thus adorn yourselves, and that you would not be at the pains were none to see you but God and His holy angels. Now, the more you indulge this foolish desire, the more it grows upon you. You have vanity enough by nature; but by thus indulging it you increase it a hundredfold. Oh, stop! If once your aim were pleasing GOD alone, all these ornaments would drop off.(Read 1 Tim. ii. 9; 1 Pet. iii. 3; Rom. xii. 2; 1 John ii. 15-17).

ABSTEMIOUS DIET.

MANY cases of illness, both in adults and children, may be readily cured by abstinence from all food. Headaches, disordered stomachs, and many other attacks, are often caused by violating the rules of health; and, in consequence, some parts of the system are overloaded, or some of the organs are clogged. Omitting one, two, or three meals, as the case may be, gives the system a chance to rest, and allows the clogged organs to dispose of their burdens. The practice of giving drugs to clear out the stomach, though it may afford the needed temporary relief, always weakens the system, while abstinence secures the good result without doing any injury.

Said a young gentleman to a distinguished medical practitioner in Philadelphia, "Doctor, what do you do for yourself when you have a turn of headache or other slight attack?" "Go without my dinner," was the reply. "And if that does not cure you, what then?" Go without my supper."

"

Go

But if that does not cure you, what then?" without my breakfast. We physicians seldom take medicines ourselves, or use them in our families, for we know that abstinence is better, but we cannot make our patients believe it."

Many cases of slight indisposition are cured by change of diet. Thus, if a person suffers from constipation, has a headache, slight attacks of fever or dyspepsia, the cause may often be removed by eating rye mush and molasses, baked apples, and other fruits.-Domestic Receipt Book.

THE MUSEUM.

DEAR CHILDREN,-I dare say most of you have seen or heard of the far-famed British Museum. I have been thinking that perhaps you would like me to tell you something about a museum with which I am a little acquainted. It is far superior to the British Museum. I will not tell you where it is situated, but it was built by a wise and good king a long while ago. The plan was drawn by the king himself, and is in every part perfectly harmonious. The workmen employed in this magnificent structure were taught by the king, and, when engaged with their work, they were entirely dependent upon him for his assistance, so that his presence was required the whole of the time the building was going on. The whole building is perfectly harmonious, even in the minutest parts; not one single brick is laid contrary to the original plan. The building is remarkably strong, being built with the most durable materials; and, though it has, since its erection, as well as while the work was going on, met with the most violent opposition from many parties, no one has ever been able to damage or destroy the least part of it.

Although it has been standing for several centuries, the least indication of decay or loss of beauty cannot be seen by the closest observer. The interior is, as I have told you, a museum, and is a very beautiful one, too. There are in it the

choicest jewels, the most rare precious stones, gems, &c., which can be equalled nowhere else. I cannot tell you a hundredth part of what is in it. One man who, perhaps, saw nearly as much of it as any one, declared it to contain unscarchable. riches. There is also a very rich provision made for those who enter, by the king, of the best and most wholesome food, being brought from the king's own table.

Perhaps you will be surprised to hear that by most of the inhabitants this museum is little esteemed. Some say that the king never drew the plan, but that the workmen did it themselves, and deceived the people by saying it is the king's work. They never look at it themselves, and try their utmost to prevent others from looking at it. Others will acknowledge it to be the king's work, yet scarcely ever give themselves the trouble of going to see it. Others will speak loudly in its praise, admire the harmony and beauty of the building, and yet be satisfied with viewing the outside. But there are some who enter the inside. The king himself keeps the keys, and none can go in without him. When they have once seen the inside they are not again easily satisfied with the mere outside, you may be sure. Sometimes they go, and find the door shut. They look for the king, but he doesn't come, and they return greatly disappointed. Sometimes they go because they are hungry, and, being poor, can get nothing to eat, and they know that if the king would unlock the door, and take them in, they would have an opportunity of eating as freely as they chose of the things provided within, which things are quite free. Sometimes the king sees a poor hungry person at the door longing to get in, and he takes his keys and opens the door for him. He then goes in with