THE FIRESIDE. The Fireside. MEMORY OF DEPARTED CHILDREN. IT is noteworthy that children, who are taken away by death, always remain in the memory of the parents as children. Other children grow old; but the one we lost continues in youth. It looks as we last saw it in health. The imagination hears its sweet voice and light step, and sees its silken hair and clear bright eyes-all just as they were. Ten or twenty years may go by-the child remains in the memory as at first, a bright happy child. Its young and beautiful form moves before us; and what is such a memory but an angel-presence? Certainly, next to seeing an angel, is seeing, with a parent's eye, such a cherished form. Amidst this world of ambition and show, who shall say that this is not a means, under Providence, of subduing and spiritualizing the mind? Thus, in order to cherish such a remembrance, we are at times willing to turn even from the charms of the living. The sigh becomes sweeter than the song. Sorrow subdued becomes a friend, and sacred joy is mingled with tears of holy recollection. Thus as grief ascends the mount of time, she seems to pass through a sort of transformation. The convulsive agony changes to passive sorrow; and querulous misgivings to quiet meditation. There must be distress: let, then, the gushing tears flow, for it is the course of nature; but, even with this, let there be the victory of christian faith, the glorious hope of our holy religion. For "Such a hope, like the rainbow, a being of light, And then there is another most serious and affecting consideration which ought not, nay cannot, escape the notice of a thoughtful parent. Jesus Christ sent his angels to fetch the soul of that child to heaven to see the face of his Father. That child is there now. Only there can you find or see that dear child of yours again. David, when his child died, comforted himself with the thought that though it could not now come to him, he should go to it. Can you take comfort from that thought? If you yourself love the Lord Jesus you may; and that child of yours now in heaven will be as a loadstone to draw your thoughts and your heart up to that happy home of peace and joy. Think in this way,-" Part of myself has been taken to heaven, and I must go too. My Father in heaven took my child in love to it and in love to me also; for now I feel that as one of my treasures is in heaven my heart must be there too. O! let me come to find my child again in heaven's eternal day." Thoughts like these may comfort fathers and mothers, when sitting by the fireside, and thinking of a sweet child now seen by them no more. Blessed religion, that can give such healing balm to wounded hearts! THE PENNY POST BOX. The Penny Post Box. FROM THE EDITOR TO HIS READERS. DEAR FRIENDS, We wish all of you a happier new year than the last; and it will be better than the year of your birth if this year you should die in peace, and so be ever with the Lord. But while we live let us live to the Lord. He who writes this has now been permitted, by the favour of God, to do work like this for a greater number of years than any other person he knows of now living. This he mentions, not for self-praise. God forbid that; for it is all of his mercy. He wishes, however, to go on so long as he can think good thoughts, and write good words, in doing all the good he can in this humble way. We want you to help us. Our thanks are due, and are now cheerfully given, to those who have written to tell us they will. First, to our old friends, whom we would not forget; and next, to our new friends, for the old ones are dropping off by weakness or death, and we want more young and warm-hearted volunteers in their place. One of these says: "I have only been a reader of your Pioneer for the last twelve months, but I hope I may be spared to read it for many more twelve months. I have taken many magazines of different kinds, but I may say that, in my opinion, there is none to be compared with it for character and cheapness. I feel sure that those who read one number will long for the next; and I pray that God may bless your little publication to many souls. I am going to take your advice in doing my part to get as many subscribers as I can for the coming year. P.S.-I should be very thankful if you would forward me a few specimen copies as samples." We wish to inform the writer that we sent the samples by post directly; and we desire to tell any of our friends who are disposed to make an effort to extend our circulation this year, that they will be furnished with samples on application to Winks & Son, Leicester. We want hundreds of new agents-the more the better; for we have reason for believing that the Pioneer is now doing much good in thousands of families, and would do more if it could be introduced where it is now unknown. You, and you only, can do this. We cannot. But we hope you will. The January number may yet be had of the Publishers. But if any difficulty is found, write to Winks & Son, Leicester. Again we tell our constant readers that we shall be pleased to receive letters from them on any subject that is suitable for our pages. They need not be troubled about either imperfect writing or imperfect grammar. All we want are good thoughts, which we will try to put into more perfect form if needful. FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY. Facts, Hints, Gems, and Poetry. Facts. OF NEWSPAPERS. TEN years ago 50,000 broad sheets were published daily. Now 500,000; the greater part at one penny. Small towns have now a weekly penny paper; three parts printed in London, the other in the place. The weekly penny papers, partly printed in London, are generally full of good matter, in great variety. Such papers do good. They promote a taste for reading, and diffuse sound information among the people. For less than the price of half a pint of beer, a man may have one in his own house for himself, his wife and his children. It is hoped that they will, therefore, be the means of keeping working men from those pest-houses-called beer-shops. Daily Country papers now give the latest telegraph news as early as the London papers. In large towns two hundred miles from London, the telegraph will enable a printer in Leeds to set up the first part of a speech before the speaker has ended it in London. In 1821 there were, in the United Kingdom, only 267 newspapers; in 1862, as many as 1,165 were published. Every restriction on publishing newspapers in a cheap form is now removed. The last was removed on October the 1st, 1861, when the tax on paper was repealed. Newspapers may now be sent to any part of the United Kingdom, or to any of our colonies, if a penny postage stamp is stuck on the outside after it has been wrapped in blank white paper, and tied round with a bit of string. But there must not be any writing but the direction. Hints SPEAK THE TRUTH, for though you may have to smart for it, your conscience will soon clap a healing plaster on the place. SET AN IDLE MAN to count the tick ings of a clock for one hour, and for the next he would prefer to fill a dung cart. THE VALUE OF TIME is best known by those who use up the fragments that others throw away. Five minutes, they find, will often earn a pennyworth of salt. LAZINESS is a thing of fast growth. At first only as a cobweb that a baby might brush away, it grows into an iron chain that a giant could not break. GRATITUDE has been called, "The memory of the heart." And truly it is twice blessed, for it blesses both him who gives and him who receives the favour. INGRATITUDE is not only a hateful thing in itself, but an injury to others, for it stops the flow of benevolence to those who need it. THAT MAN'S LIFE is most wearisome that is spent only on his own selfish pursuits. Let him try to do good to others, and his life will pass pleasantly enough. LOVE IN THE HEART is like the sun in the heavens-cheering in the morning, lovely in the evening, but warmest at noonday-blessing all it shines upon. AN EVIL ACTION can never be well done, and a good action may be so ill done as to make it look evil. MEMORY, with ill-natured people, is only as a row of hooks to hang old grudges on. They make a bad use of one of God's best gifts. CARE OF THE BODY.-When a man tries to keep his body clean and healthful, we may hope that he will try to do the same with his soul. Gems. FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY. THE CHRISTIAN RACE.-We must start from the Cross, and all the way round the course, keep our eye on it, and make it our winning-post at last. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE should be spent in getting a little farther from sin and a little nearer to God every day; but always by Christ helping us. THE CHRISTIAN'S TITLE to the favour of God is not earned by himself. It is a deed of gift from Christ who bought it for him at the price of his own blood. THE CHRISTIAN'S INHERITANCE is not yet in his possession. He has got his title to it, but he has not seen it yet. It is in reserve for him in heaven. THE CHRISTIAN'S PEACE is something that lies deeper down in his heart than anything else. "My peace I give unto you," said Christ, and it was his last best legacy. THE CHRISTIAN'S HOPE is no fancy without foundation. It is as an anchor for his soul, made fast by promises that cannot give way or be broken. How glorious is the rich man's state! 'Tis all that man can see below. Seest thou that carpet not half done, A stranger, ignorant of the trade, But still in every part it fits; THE CHRISTIAN'S JOY is unspeak- As when we view these shreds and ends, We know not what the whole intends; So when on earth things look but odd, Poetic Selections. THE TWO CARPET-WEAVERS. As at their work two weavers sat, "What with iny babes and sickly wife," All wants proportion, truth, and grace; What now seem random strokes will there "Thou'rt right," quoth Dick, "no more I'll That this world is so strange a jumble: HANNAH MORE. THE CHILDREN'S CORNER. The Children's Corner. "I SET OFF, AND COULDN'T STOP MYSELF.” WHEN I was a little boy-it must be sixty years ago-we children went with father and mother, and the servant, one summer evening, for a walk up a high hill just outside the town, to get buttercups and daisies. When we got to the top we could look all over the town, and trace the white river winding about among the green meadows, and see Lincoln Minster, twenty miles off, with its three towers; there were spires on two of them then, but they are gone now. Well; when we had got a handful of flowers we would give them to father and mother to take care of for us, while we lay down all our length and then rolled over and over to the bottom of the hill. Oh, it was such fine fun for us. But Mary, our servant, thought she would beat us all, for she went to one side of the hill that was very steep and set off to run down. Off she went, with her arms stretched out and her clothes flying about; we thought she would have tumbled head over heels, but she kept on her feet to the bottom. She was frighted, and mother said, Oh! Mary, how could you do so?" Why, ma'am," said Mary, "I set off, and couldn't stop myself." 66 I have often thought of Mary, and how foolish it was of her to set off down there; and if you saw the place you would say so too. Since then, when I have seer young people about to do a silly or a foolish thing, I have thought, "Ah! you are like our Mary, you are setting off, but you cannot stop." Mary managed to get to the bottom, but I have seen some tumble into mischief. Evil ways are like a steep hill; if you set off you cannot stop where you like; so dont set off. Dont begin to use bad words, for though you may stammer at first, they will come glibly enough after. Dont begin to tell lies. For though you may tremble to tell one at first, you will put on a bold face and tell many soon. Dont take a penny that is not yours, or one day you may be had before the Judge for stealing pounds. Learn these lines, and sing them when you are tempted to do wrong "Sin will not be always hidden, Though we fancy none can spy; Guard my heart, O God of heaven, Lest I take what is not mine: Guard my heart and hands from sin." |