1838.]

THE SECOND COMMANDMENT.

He dealt his blows with such good will,
So dextr'ously and with such skill,
That not a young one of the brood
Escap'd him in his wrathful mood.
Then, turning back,-"Now, Tom," says he,
"You'll say my actions don't agree
"With what but now I held as right;
"But, trust me, you're mistaken quite:
"For had I pass'd the young ones by,
"You know it, Tom, as well as I,—
"Though harmless now, they soon had been
"As vicious as the old ones seen;
"And I had been a fool indeed!
"To spread the venom'd viper breed."

He paus'd.-Tom, smiling, thus replied:
"Your reas'ning cannot be denied.
"And yet, methinks, you're but a fool,
"That cannot see the self-same rule
"Brings down upon the sinner's brood
"The wrath of the All-wise and Good.
"He sees the lep'rous spot begun,
"Spread from the father to the son;
"He sees them both in sin delight,
"Hence both are hateful in His sight;
"And hence, upon the children's head,
“The parents' sins are visited.”

"You're right," quoth Jack, "I see it clear!
66 The law, which seem'd to me severe,
"Is but the bad effect which springs
"From mingling with unholy things;
"But if the child, whose parents lean
"To deeds forbidden and unclean,
"Should hate those sins, and turn to God,
"He sure would 'scape th' avenging rod?
"I ask this not in scorn,-but seek

"To strengthen faith, too faint and weak;

66

For, Tom, I fear too much my pride

"Has to self-seeking been allied."

"Shake hands," quoth Tom, "be of good cheer,

"The humble pray'r our God will hear;

"The work His Spirit has begun,

"He will not fail to breathe upon;

66

'And, kindled by the Gospel light,

"Thy faith shall soon burn clear and bright.
"6 Your doubt the Scriptures answer well-

66 'You'll find it in Ezekiel.

"The soul that sinneth it shall die ;'
"Such is His word who cannot lie.
"The righteous child shall never bear
"The wicked parent's curse,-nor e'er
"Shall godless son the curse bring down
"Upon the righteous father's crown.

157

"And thus, though guilt and shame begun,
"Descend too oft from sire to son,
"The ways of God are justified,
"In spite of unbelieving pride."

Jack thank'd his friend;-and now the sun
Proclaim'd their daily labour done.
Jack took his spade, and Tom his fork,
Not loath to rest awhile from work;
And, still engag'd in serious talk,

Took, side by side, their homeward walk,
Wickham, St. Paul's, Essex.

SILENT PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL.

M. A. B.

I HAVE seen the sun with a little ray of distant light challenge all the power of darkness, and, without violence or noise, climbing up the hill, hath made night so retire, that its memory was lost in the joys and spritefulness of the morning; and Christianity, without violence or armies, without resistance and self-preservation,—without strength or human eloquence,-without challenging of privileges, or fighting against tyranny,-without alteration of government, and scandal (that is, without speaking ill) of princes; with its humility and meekness,-with toleration and patience,-with obedience and charity,with praying and dying, did insensibly turn the world into Christian, and persecution into victory.-Bishop Jeremy Taylor.

GENERAL MAXIMS FOR HEALTH.

RISE early. Eat simple food. Take plenty of exercise. Never fear a little fatigue. Let not children be dressed in tight clothes; it is necessary their limbs should have full play, if you wish for either health or beauty.

Avoid the necessity of a physician, if you can, by careful attention to your diet. Eat what best agrees with your system, and resolutely abstain from what hurts you, however well you may like it. A few days' abstinence, and cold water for a beverage, has driven off many an approaching disease.

If you find yourself really ill, send for a good physician. Have nothing to do with quacks, and do not tamper with quack medicines; you do not know what they are; and what security have you that THEY know what

1838.] EXTRACT FROM THE NORTHAMPTON HERald. 159 they are. Wear shoes that are large enough. Tight ones not only produce corns, but make the feet misshapen, and cramp them.

Wash very often, and rub the skin thoroughly with a flesh-brush, or coarse towel.

Let those, who love to be ill, drink strong green tea, eat pickles, preserves, and rich pastry.

As far as possible, eat and sleep at regular hours.

Wash the eyes thoroughly in cold water every morning. Do not read or sew at twilight, or by too dazzling a light. If far-sighted, read with rather less light, and with the book somewhat nearer to the eye than you desire. If near-sighted, read with the book as far off as possible. Both these imperfections may be diminished in this way.

Clean teeth in pure water, two or three times a-day; but above all, be sure you have them clean before you go to bed.

Have your bed chamber well aired; and be clean as to linen. Never have the wind blowing directly upon you from open windows during the night. It is not healthy to sleep in heated rooms.

Let children have their bread and milk before they have been long up. Thorough combing and washing and brushing the hair will keep it in order; and the washing does not injure the hair, as is generally supposed. Keep children's hair cut close until ten or twelve years old; it is better for health, and the beauty of the hair. Do not make children cross-eyed, by having hair hung about their foreheads, where they see it continually.-Mrs. Child.

EXTRACT FROM THE NORTHAMPTON HERALD.*

New Material for Road-making.—A good deal of interest has been excited by the proposed application of the substance called asphaltic mastic to the purpose of paving. In France it has been found to answer extremely well for paving and road-making, for covering in buildings as tiles, for arches of railways, and lining of common The mastic is a compound of two mineral substances the one being the native asphaltes of the Jura

sewers.

mountains, the other being bitumen, both being fused and prepared in certain proportions, and in that state, when used for paving, laid upon the ground, cleared for the purpose. Wood put down hexagonally upon a solid bed, and fixed together with this mastic, would, it is said, make excellent roads; no dirt would rise, no rain penetrate; so that the more rain the cleaner would be the streets. A pamphlet, entitled "Practical Observations, &c.," by Mr. F. W. Simms, Civil Engineer, late of the Royal Observatory, contains accounts of several places in Paris, and elsewhere in France, where the footpaths are paved with this material, described as a "beautiful mosaic." The stables of the cavalry barracks on the Quai d'Orsay are paved with the mastic, which after several years' use is found perfectly sound and uninjured, the horses' hoofs making no impression on it. It is understood that the arches it is about to be applied on are part of the Greenwich railway, with a view to preserve the arches of that extensive viaduct free from damp. Lord Duncannon also, as Commissioner of the Woods and Forests, has, it is understood, given up the road from Whitehall to Westminster-hall to be paved with this new material. Sir Robert Peel, in a letter, when in Paris, states that he had examined and greatly admired various places in that city which were paved with this mastic, of which the durability was such as to be unimpaired with the wear of years.

MR. EDITOR,

TOOTH ACHE.

I have taken in your book from the beginning, and I like it for the variety of subjects which it treats of; and in which it differs from most of the present periodicals. I was glad to see your article on tooth ache, in the February number. I have procured some of the first kind of powder recommended by you; and I like it particularly. I am sure that a great deal of suffering would be prevented, if proper methods of prevention were used; and I think the powder recommended will be of great use, in preventing the tooth ache. It is of great consequence for people to be careful and cleanly about their teeth

1838.] A VERY SHORT WAY TO evil and ruin.

161

while they are young. They should never, on any account, neglect to clean them the first thing in the morning, and the last at night; and it is very useful to wash them well at other times. It is not necessary always to use powder; but I conceive that the use of the powder recommended by you could never do any harm. It is well to be particular about getting a right sort of brush: those with hard hair, thinly set, do but little good, and sometimes do harm, by cutting and wounding the gums; those with long soft hair are almost next to nothing. The › best sort are those made of rather a soft hair, but so short, and thickly set, as to produce much friction, without wounding the gums. If the hairs be too long, they may be cut short with a strong pair of scissors. This is a good plan, too, after the brush has been used, and become too soft; for which remark, by the bye, I believe I am indebted to an early article in your own work.

Your constant reader,

M. Q.

A VERY SHORT WAY TO EVIL AND RUIN.

If you wish to be always thirsty, be a drunkard; for the oftener and more you drink, the oftener and more thirsty you will be. If you wish to prevent your friends from serving you, or raising you in the world, be a drunkard; for that will defeat all their efforts. If you are determined to be poor, be a drunkard, and you will soon be ragged and pennyless. If you wish your wife and children to starve, be a drunkard; for that will consume the means of their support. If you would be imposed upon by knaves, be a drunkard, and it will make their task easy. If you would become a fool, be a drunkard, and you will soon lose your understanding. If you are resolved to kill yourself, be a drunkard; that being a sure mode of self-destruction. If you would expose both your folly and your secrets, be a drunkard; and they will run out as the liquor runs in.

If you would get rid of your money without knowing how, be a drunkard; and it will vanish fast enough. If you would have no resource, when past labour, but the workhouse, be a drunkard; and you will certainly gain