THE EDITOR'S REPOSITORY. The Family Circle. A FRENCH OPINION OF AMERICAN LADIES.-The theory which makes of woman a queen in chains, governing by the graces of her charms and beauty, is in full bloom on the other side of the ocean. The first day and first pride of an American husband consists in securing pleasant idleness to his wife and providing the expense of her toilet. There are many female office holders in the United States, in the schools, in the public service, in the post-offices, in the telegraph bureaus, and even in the Government departments. They are mostly unmarried, a state very frequent in New England, which rivals Old England, so far as the quering race, which clears for herself a place in the sunshine. And if this disposition, as grumblers say sometimes, assumes the character of arrogance, we know that it is a weakness of all countries to carry their good qualities to too great lengths. THE AGED LOVER-No longer a lover! exclaimed an aged patriarch; ah! you mistake me if you think age has blotted out my heart. Though silver hair falls over a brow all wrinkled, and a cheek all furrowed, yet I am a lover still. I love the beauty of the maiden's blush, the soft tint of flowers, the singing of birds, and, above all, the silvery laugh of a child. I love surplus of her female population is concerned; they the star-like meadows where the butter cups grow, resign their positions when they marry. "I shall not with almost the same enthusiasm as when, with ringallow my wife to work," is the proud word of the lets flying loose in the wind, years ago, I chased the husband, which at the same time involves the depend-painted butterfly. I love yon aged dame. Look at ence of the wife. But, save an emancipation party formed under the auspices of Mrs. Stanton, the American women submit wonderfully well to their role of spoiled children, and are quite as worldly as our European women. They strive to eclipse them only by the extravagance of their toilets, of which they are passionately fond. Hence, notwithstanding the beautiful freedom of seeing and becoming acquainted with each other, which the young folks enjoy in America, we are much afraid that pure love, disregarding the expenses of an independent family establishment and bridal presents, has not yet been naturalized in any country in the world. Her American costume, it is well known, grants to young ladies the most unlimited freedom of action. Charged with watching over their own virtues and interests, they protect and preserve them only the better. Aware of the dangers of life, they are able to brave them; but we must say that this task is easy for them, thanks to the respect with which the lords of creation treat them. A young lady can travel from one end of the Union to the other without being insulted by shameful propositions. A young American girl already presents quite a different aspect from her French sisters. very costume looks somewhat more independent. The young ladies of the United States were the first to adopt the little masculine hats-they can hardly be called bonnets-which are put on the forehead, and leave visible the ungainly waterfall. They like to wear short skirts richly adorned with jet ornaments, and to incase their feet in high gaiters; the suivezmoi's of all sorts flow down their shoulders. If they are destitute of the timid gracefulness, the necessary uniform of our young girls in France, they possess, on their part, the gracefulness of liberty. They have firm faith in themselves. They walk as daughters of a con her. Her face is careworn, but it has ever held a smile for me. Often have I shared the same bitter cup with her, and so shared, it seemed almost sweet. Years of sickness have stolen the freshness of life; but like the faded rose, the perfume of her love is richer than when in the full bloom of youth and maturity. Together we have wept over the graves. Through sunshine and storm we have clung together; and now she sits with her knitting, her cap quaintly frilled, the old-style kerchief crossed, white and prim, above the heart that beat so long and truly for me, the dim blue eyes that shrinkingly front the glad day, the sunlight throwing a parting farewell kisses her brow and leaves I see, though no one else can, the bright, glad young upon its faint tracery of wrinkles angelic radiance. face that won me first, and the glowing love of forty years thrills through my heart till tears come. Say not again that I can no longer be a lover. Though this form be bowed, God imparted eternal life within. Let the ear be deaf, the eye blind, the hands palsied, the limbs withered, the brain clouded, yet the heart, the true heart may hold such wealth of love that all the powers of death and the victorious grave shall not be able to put out its quenchless flame. WHO RULES.-Fashion rules the world; and a most tyrannical mistress she is-compelling people to submit to the most inconvenient things imaginable for her sake. She pinches our feet with tight shoes, or chokes us with a tight neckerchief, or squeezes the breath out of our body by tight lacing. She makes people sit up by night, when they ought to be in bed; and keeps them in bed in the morning, when they ought to be up and doing. She makes it vulgar to wait on one's self, and gen teel to lie idle and useless. She makes people visit when they had rather stay at home, eat when they are not hungry, and drink when they are not thirsty. of all times when a child is inclined to show its confidence and affection. All its little secrets come out with more truth and less restraint; its naughtiness She invades our pleasures and interrupts our busi- through the day can be reproved and talked over with ness. She compels people to dress gayly, whether upon their own property or that of others, whether agreeable to the Word of God or the dictates of pride. She ruins health, and produces sickness, destroys life, and occasions premature death. She makes fools of parents, invalids of children, and servants of all. She is a tormentor of conscience, a despoiler of morality, and an enemy of religion, and no one can be her companion and enjoy either. She is a despot of the highest grade, full of intrigue and cunning, and yet husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, and servants, black and white, have voluntarily become her obedient subjects and slaves, and vie with one another to see who shall be the most obsequious. TELL YOUR WIFE.-If you are in any trouble or quandary, tell your wife-that is, if you have one-all about it at once. Ten to one her invention will solve your difficulty sooner than all your logic. The wit of women has been praised, but her instincts are quicker and keener than her reason. Counsel with your wife, or your mother, or sister, and be assured light will flash upon your darkness. Women are too commonly adjudged as verdant in all but purely womanish affairs. No philosophical student of the sex thus judges them. Their institutions, or insights, are the most subtile, and if they can not see a cat in the meal, there is no cat there. In coun less excitement, and with the tenderness and calmness necessary to make permanent impression. If the little one has shown a desire to do well and be obedient, its effort and success can be acknowledged and commended in a manner that need not render it vain or self-satisfied. We must make it a habit to talk to our children, in order to get from them an expression of their feelings. We can not understand the character of these little beings committed to our care unless we do. And if we do not know what they are, we shall not be able to govern them wisely, or educate them as their different natures demand. Certainly it would be unwise to excite young children by too much conversation with them just before putting them to bed. Every mother who carefully studies the temperament of her children will know how to manage them in this respect. But of this all mothers may be assured, that the last words at night are of great importance, even to the babies of the flock; the very tones of the voice they last listened to make an impression on their sensitive organizations. Mother, do not think the time and strength wasted which you spend in reviewing the day with your little boy or girl; do not neglect to teach it how to pray, and to pray for it in simple and earnest language which it can understand. Soothe and quiet its little heart after the experience of the day. It has had its disappointments and trials as well as its play and seling a man to tell his trouble to his wife, we would pleasures; it is ready to throw its arms around your go farther, and advise him to keep none of his affairs secret from her. Many a home has been happily saved, and many a fortune retrieved by man's full confidence in his "better half." Woman is far more a seer and prophet than man, if she be given a fair choice. As a general rule, wives confide the minutest of their plans and thoughts to their husbands, having no involvements to screen from them. Why not reciprocate, if but for the pleasure of meeting confidence with confidence? We are certain that no man succeeds so well in the world as he who, taking a partner in life, makes her the partner of all his purposes and hopes. What is wrong of his impulse or judgment, she will check and set right with almost universally right instincts. "Helpmeet" was no insignificant title, as applied to man's companion. She is a meet help to him in every darkness, difficulty, and sorrow of life. And what she most craves, and most deserves, is confidence-without which love is never free from shadows.-Review. PUTTING THE CHILDREN TO BED.-There are some mothers who think it a self-denial to leave the parlors, or firesides, or work, to put their little children to bed. They think that the nurse could do it just as well; that it is of no consequence who "hears the children say their prayers." Now, setting aside the pleasure of opening the little bed and tucking the darling up, there are really important reasons why the mother should not yield this privilege to any one. In the first place, it is the time neck, and take its good-night kiss.-Mother's Mag. BE HAPPY.-A cheerful temper, a kindly heart, and a courteous tongue, can not be too carefully or too sedulously cultivated. On the other hand, a disposition to be gloomy and captious, to be bitter and ill-natured, to be cynical and slanderous, can not be too cautiously avoided. The one habit, too, is as apt to grow and become powerful as the other. If we permit ourselves to look constantly on the dark side, and to view every thing with distrust and jealousy, we shall seldom be able to realize and enjoy any thing that is bright, beautiful, kindly, or generous. There is, moreover, nothing so calculated to impair health, deface beauty, and take away from the human countenance all those rosy, shining lights which are admirably suited to brighten and adorn, as a disposition to fret, vex, and be miserable. The soul is thus reflected through the human countenance, just as though it's often mirrored in the eye. A GOOD-NIGHT KISS.-Always send your little child to bed happy. Whatever cares may trouble your mind, give the dear child a warm good-night kiss as it goes to its pillow. The memory of this, in the stormy years which may be in store for the little one, will be like Bethlehem's star to the bewildered shepherds; and welling up in the heart will rise the thought: "My father; my mother-loved me!" Lips parched with fever will become dewy again at this thrill of useful memories. Kiss your little child before it goes to sleep. WITTY AND WISE. AN ANECDOTE OF MR. WESLEY.-At one time Mr. Wesley was traveling in Ireland; his carriage became fixed in the mire, and the harness broke. While he and his companions were laboring to extricate it, a poor man passed by in great distress. Mr. Wesley called to him, and inquired the cause of it. He said he had been unable, through misfortune, to pay his rent of twenty shillings, and his family were just turned out of doors. 'Is that all you need?" said Mr. Wesley, handing him the amount, "here, go and be happy." Then turning to his companion, he said, pleasantly, "You see now why our carriage stopped here in the mud." VANITY OF VANITIES.-Croesus, King of Lydia, who felt presumptuously proud on account of his power and riches, had dressed himself one day in his utmost splendor of apparel and royal ornaments, and, seating himself on his throne, exhibited his person to Solon, as comprehending within itself the substance and sum of all worldly glory. "Have you ever beheld," said he to the Grecian sage, a spectacle more august?" "I have," was the answer; "there is neither a pheasant in our fields, nor a peacock in our court-yard, nor a cock on our dunghill, that does not surpass you in glory!" MODEL COMPOSITION.-The Essex Statesman says a boy in South Danvers wrote the following composition his native town, which it thinks is very good for a schoolboy: upon South Danvers is in the United States. It is bounded by Salem and reaches to Middleton. Its principal river is Goldthwaite's brook, which empties into Salem Harbor. Its principal lake is the mill-pond, which is dry in Summer. Its principal productions are leather, onions, South Church, and George Peabody. South Danvers has many religious sects, among which are the Orthodox, who worship the minister, the Spirit. ualists, who worship every thing, and the Unitarians, who worship nothing. DREAMS GO BY CONTRARIES.-A nobleman and his lady, walking through a magnificent avenue in one of the finest parts of Ireland, were accosted by a poor woman as follows: "The lord bless your noble lordship and your gracious ladyship. I dramed a drame about you both last night. I dramed your lordship gave me a pound of tobacco, and your ladyship a pound of tay.” Ah, my good woman," says the peer, "dreams go by contraries." To be sure they do," says the woman; so it will be your lordship will give me the tay, and her ladyship will give me the tobacco." " PREACHING OLD SERMONS.-A "minister's man one of a class of persons of whom many anecdotes are told-was following the minister from the manse to the kirk on Sabbath afternoon, when the minister, glancing back, perceived a smile on the face of his old attendant. "What makes you laugh, James? it is unseemly. What is there to amuse you?" "O, naething particular," says James; "I was only thinking o' something that happened this afternoon." "What is that? Tell me what it was." "Weel, minister, dinna be angry wi' me; but ye ken the congregation here are whiles no pleased to get auld sermons fra' you, and this morning I got the better of the kirk session ony way." And how was that, Jamie?" says the minister. "Deed, sir, when we came out o' the kirk this forenoon, I kenned what they were thinking; and says I, 'Eh, but you canna ca' that an auld sermon this day, for it's no' abune six weeks since you heard it last.'" GOING OUT OF HIS WAY.-James I once went out of his way to hear a noted preacher. The clergyman, seeing the king, left his text to declaim against swearing, for which the king was notorious. When he had finished, James thanked him for his sermon, but asked what connection swearing had to do with it. "Since your Majesty came out of the way to hear me," said the clergyman, "I could not do less than go out of mine to meet you." NOT COMPLIMENTARY.-The congregation of Lunan, in Forfarshire, had distressed the minister by their habit of sleeping in Church. One day Jamie Fraser, an idiot, was sitting in the front gallery, when many were slumbering around him. "Look," said the minister, "you see even Jamie Fraser, the idiot, does not fall asleep, as many of you are doing." Jamie, not liking to be thus designated, coolly replied, "An' I hadna been an idiot, I would have been sleeping too." A POPULAR PREACHER-A chaplain in one of our penitentiaries missed a female hearer whose sentence had expired. In a few weeks he noticed her in her old place. "Why, how came you back into prison again?" he asked. "O, sir," she replied, "I wanted to hear you preach so much I could n't stay away!" FOR THE SAKE OF THE RHYME-In a church-yard in the north of England, is this epitaph upon one John Newtown: "Here lies-alas!-and more 's the pity, All that remains of John Newcity." To which is attached the following: "N. B. The man's name was Newtown, but it would not rhyme." DOCTORS AND QUACKS.-Dr. Jenner once sent a couple of ducks to a patient with the accompanying epigram: "I've dispatched, my dear madam, this scrap of a letter, To say that Miss Lucy is very much better; A regular doctor no longer she lacks, And, therefore, I've sent her a couple of quacks." "Yes, 't was polite, truly, my very good friend, Thus 'a couple of quacks' to your patient to send; Since there's nothing so likely as 'quacks'-it is plainTo make work for a regular doctor' again." IMPROVING SCRIPTURE.-In Warsaw, New York, resides Deacon M., a straightforward, honest old man, not generally accused of putting too fine a point on his expression. But the other evening, at a prayer meeting, he did attempt a refinement, and succeeded. Thanking the Lord for the "plainness of the way," he continued: "Yea, Lord, thou hast made it so plain that a wayfaring man, though a-a-little-below-the-average-could not err therein!" criptore Cabiart. THINK MORE OF THE RESURRECTION.-If we may judge of people's habitual thoughts by their public prayers, it is clear that the precious and glorious doctrine of the resurrection is not made much of by a majority of Christians. They think a great deal more of immediate bliss after death. Go into almost any prayer meeting, and notice how many prayers close with an earnest desire that after we have finished our earthly life we may be received to heaven; and how few make any hearty reference to the resurrection. It seems to be a habit of modern Christianity to set the heart on the glory immediately following death, and make only a cold doctrinal account of the awaking at the last day. It is not difficult to explain this. It is a blessed thing "to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord;" and as we are accustomed to put the "last day" far into the future, it is not strange that our hearts seize fondly upon the nearer bliss, especially as that is associated with so many loved ones not lost, but gone before." But this dismissing of the resurrection from our experience and our fervent worship is not right. We ought to love the doctrine. We shall, if we think of it rightly. It may satisfy our present desire of happiness to think only of the rest and joy of the intermediate state; but have we no heart to dwell on the glory of God in completing the work of redemption? We may say that heaven, after death, is enough for us; but is it enough for God's glory? Does it consummate his mighty plan of salvation? Moreover, if he has promised to us a higher glory at the last day, is it becoming in us to let it pass from our hopes, and to take up with any thing inferior? " Christianity is a revelation, and it was not revealed as reaching its end in death. What would one think of Christ's work if he had not risen from the grave? The apostles, whose mode of looking at this subject is our law, set their hearts upon the resurrection. Paul was "in a strait betwixt two," as to living and dying: but he never was in a strait about desiring the "redemption of his body." He says, Not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life." When he gives thanks to God, "which giveth us the victory," life does not mean the victory by which the soul is rescued, and the body left to decay; for "when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed in victory." THE TRUE VICTORY.-Victory over self is victory over the world. It is not the outward enemy, but the traitor within, that storms or undermines the citadel of spiritual life. Alas, that the gates are so often unbarred for the hosts of evil to enter! Alas, that the soul should so easily surrender, and suffer itself to be laid waste! As in the conflicts of nations, the conquering army reën forces its own strength by the muni tions of war taken from the vanquished foe, so does the victorious soul gather new force from every tempta tion. Yet the victory is gained-not by self-confidence and spiritual pride, but by humility and self-abnegation. The humble soul alone is truly strong, and safe from fall. What outward power can abuse him. who, while he reverences the nature God has given him, still is lowly in his own eyes, "esteeming others better than himself?" What circumstances or condition of life can be adverse to him whose will is merged in the will of God? On the strength that grows from selfdenunciation! O, the peace that flows in upon the will subdued, when the man, though "lord of himself," through entire mastery over his affections and passions, feels that all his "strength is in God," and in the might of him who overcame the world! To him the tide of life flows "like a broad river's peaceful might," through sunshine and through storm, bearing steadily on its appointed course. His abundant peace is not stoicism. Like that of his Divine Master, his heart is the home of all sweet affections. He is still a being of smiles and tears-tenderly alive to the joys of human sympathy, both in giving and receiving the blessed charities of life. At leisure from internal strife, he has a word of courage for the tempted, comfort for the sorrowing, reproof for the hardened sinner, hope for the penitent. Such lives are led by God's best children here below. Lord, evermore grant us the peace that springs from victory over selfish aims, and the absorption of our wills into thine. THE YOUNG CHRISTIAN.-In the wonderful change which takes place in the mind and feelings of the seeker after Christ-from the deepest distress on account of sin, or anxiety to find forgiveness and rest, to a state of joy and hope-to what can the remarkable phenomena be attributed, but the direct agency of the Holy Spirit? The soul feels that it is brought from a state of guilt to that of pardon; from utter darkness to light; from a condition of utter helplessness to a free and joyful soaring after God. Love, a Savior's love, fills the soul with joy unspeakable; and faith in him triumphs over every doubt, and silences all fear. God may have been long working in the soul; the change when the heart yielded wholly to the Lord may have been sudden and striking, the evidences bright and satisfying. This, however, is not always the case in instances of genuine conversion; but there are always to be found certain unmistakable proofs of the work of grace in every case of true believing. When the affections of the new-born soul are in a lively state, the young believer too often apprehends no coming dangers from without, feels no deep sense of insufficiency within. He is ignorant of the conflicts before him, the struggles that he must enter into in vanquishing his foes: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places;" and the strength and patience needed to labor unweariedly in his Master's service, cheerfully to endure afflictions, and through faith to triumph at the last. He will learn, however, that by the same way in which the divine grace was obtained, so is it also retained in the soul. A constant "looking unto Jesus" will bring him hourly supplies of grace and wisdom; and a firm determination to cleave unto the Lord will bring him rich and blessed experience. "That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, Thus shall the Christian's light shine before men, while he is laying up for himself a good foundation against the time to come, his motto being like the great apostle's "Through Christ strengthening me I can do all things." And like him, also, shall he find that "all things" are his-life and death-Christ, and the everlasting glories of his kingdom.-Christian Witness. Growing Love.—I am sure if we shall ever learn the breadth of Christ's love our love will grow broad; we shall no longer confine our love to our own Church, but shall care for all the Churches of God; we shall feel an affection not only for Christians of our own name, but to Christians of all names. Then our love will gain length also. We shall love Christ so that we can not leave off loving him. We shall persevere in love, we shall abide in his love as he abides in it. We shall constantly have the flame of our love going up to heaven. And then our love will acquire depth. We shall be humbled on account of our sinfulness, and we shall sink lower and lower in our own esteem, and our love will become deeper and more grounded as it descends more fully into the core of our nature. And their love will climb the hights. We shall forget the world and the cares thereof; we shall become Christians who lie no longer among the pots, but who have received the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. We shall attain to such a hight in our love, that we shall scale the mountain-tops of the promises, and with our foreheads bathed in the sunlight look down upon the world that still lieth in darkness, and rejoice that we are made heirs of light; till our love mounting to heaven shall there be in its hight as we appear before the great white throne and cast our crowns with many a song before him who loved us, with a breadth, and length, and depth, and hight of love that even in heaven shall surpass all measurement.-Spurgeon. TRUST GOD FOR SMALL THINGS.-We are too much like children who cry and make a great ado about sweetmeats and toys, while they can trust for clothing, general care, and a house in which to live. How many of what may be called the small things of this life and of religion we are anxious about, while the great concerns we leave with God! Now, why can we not commit ourselves into his hands for the small as well as the great? Let us not forget that he rules the atom as well as the world, that he feeds the humming-bird as well as the eagle, that he provides the crust as well as the feast, that he numbers the hairs of your head as well as the stars of the firmament. Shall he uphold all things, and not uphold you? Shall he clothe lilies and feed ravens, and not clothe and feed you? O ye of little faith? As a Christian, God has made over to you a crown that fadeth not away; and can you not trust him for a crumb which perishes? Has he clothed you with the garment of salvation, and will you not trust him for the clothing of the body? Has he provided a house for you in the heavens, which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God; and will you not trust him for a tabernacle, or a cottage in the wilderness? Has he given you himself, his Spirit, his Word, his grace, his promises; and can you not trust him to give you bread, friends, clothes, habitation, and all the necessaries of this life? Surely if he has given you the greater, he will give you the less. This is the very argument of St. Paul: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" GOD IN NATURE.-No one has a better opportunity of witnessing the wonderful workings of God in the wild field of nature than the farmer. His occupation brings him every day in full view of them. He is familiar with the progressive development of the young plant, and the matured beauty of its full growth. He is well acquainted with the sunshine and the shadow, the softly-falling dew and the heavy rain, the gentle breeze and the rushing tempest. Some, from their very familiarity with these evidences of Divine wisdom, lose all interest in them, and look on them with little more regard than the beasts that perish. Others, indeed, recognize the hand of God; look on its movements with awe and dread-but go no further. But it is only the Christian that can see in every thing the hand of a Father. Other men may wonder and admire; he can love and praise. Every-where around he sees the finger of God, and he rejoices to know that that God is his friend; and when, in the tempest or thunder-storm, men's hearts are failing them for fear, he can be in peace, knowing that he is a son of Him whom the winds and the seas obey. Truly, the Christian farmer possesses greater pleasures and more exquisite joys than other men have any idea of, and if they have not experienced these, they have never met true happiness. Reader, have you? CHRIST IN THE FAMILY.-That blessed word home will be invested with new and more sacred associations; it will have a fresh halo of light thrown around it, if Jesus occupy his true place in it, as the relation above all others; as the one who with self-existing light walks amid earth's lesser lights, from the grand. sire whose exhausted flame is glimmering in the socket, down to the last born child whose feeble life is like the taper that has just been lit. The familiar household words of home will be more precious if our home be Jesus' home, and his be the most familiar name, he the most frequent theme; for wherever he is admitted he diffuses a fragrance which perfumes all within its reach; whatever he touches he anoints with an oil which forbids the rust to eat, and the heavy wheels of life's daily work to creak. ROSES ON THORNS.-Instead of complaining that the rose has thorns, I congratulate myself that the thorn is surmounted by roses, and that the bush bears flowers. |