patience, temperance; to temperance, meekness; to meekness, brotherly love and the like; thus ascending by degrees, till at length the top of the ladder reaches heaven, and conveys the soul so qualified into the mansions of eternal glory."— Dr. South.

THE RETREAT.

Happy those early days, when I
Shined in my angel-infancy!
Before I understood this place,
Appointed for my second race;
Or taught my soul to fancy aught
But a white celestial thought;
When yet I had not walked above
A mile or two from my first love;
And, looking back at that short space,
Could see a glimpse of his bright face;
When on some gilded cloud or flower
My gazing soul would dwell an hour,
And in those weaker glories spy
Some shadows of eternity;
Before I taught my tongue to wound
My conscience with a sinful sound;
Or had the black heart to dispense,
A several sin to every sense;
But felt through all this fleshly dress
Bright shoots of everlastingness.
Oh how I long to travel back,

And tread again that ancient track!
That I might once more reach that plain
Where first I left my glorious train;

From whence the enlightened spirit sees
That shady city of palm-trees;

But, oh my soul, with too much stay,
Is drunk, and staggers in the way.
Some men a forward motion love,

But I by backward steps would move;
And when this dust falls to the urn,

In that state I came, retnrn.

Henry Vaughan,-died in 1695.

GLASS-WINDOWs began to be used in private houses in England, A.D. 1180: and Stained Glass for Churches in the fourth century after Christ, that is, in the reign of Constantine the Great, when they were to be seen in the Church of St. Paolo Fuori, le Mura. The oldest glasswindows at present existing are of the twelfth century, and are in the Church of St. Denis.

CHOICE OF COMPANY.-"Fly all commerce with corrupt society, not through hatred to the persons of those of whom it may consist, but from unwillingness to associate yourself with their vices. If you are under the necessity of living habitually with lukewarm Christians, who have no enthusiasm in good, redouble your vigilance over yourself, as well to win them to Jesus Christ by the force of your example, as to prevent yourself from being led away, to your own loss, by their dangerous indifference."-St. Ephraim.

A SHORT MEDITATION.

SUITABLE FOR

Good Friday or Easter Day:

The Incarnate God the Cause of our Hope.

(FROM ST. AUGUSTINE.)

0 HOLY and most gracious God, Who hast so loved and saved us; so quickened and exalted us; O holy and most gracious God, how sweet is the memory of Thee! Therefore the blessings of Thy goodness greatly delight me, in the pleasant affection of holy love, in the place of my pilgrimage, according to my measure; (2 Cor. x. 13) and whilst I live in this frail tabernacle, I long perpetually to desire and to consider thy wonderful love towards the children of men. Therefore "I will stand upon my watch;" (Hab. ii. 1) and with vigilant eyes make melody in my heart and in my mind, and praise Thee my benefactor and friend with all my strength.

Yet, O my God, most gracious and merciful -Thy grace and glory-Thy Majesty and love, surpass all the apprehension of the human mind. As the splendour of Thy glory is inestimable, so is the kindness of Thine eternal charity unspeakable; whereby Thou adoptest for

sons, and closely unitest to Thee, those whom Thou has created and regenerated.

I should indeed despair, by reason of my exceeding sins and vices and faults, and the infinite negligence which I commit in heart, in word, and wish, unless Thy Word, my God, had become flesh and dwelt among us.

Yes, He, who was given by Thee, even to death,-yea, the death of the Cross, took the handwriting of our offences, and fixing it to the Cross, crucified sin and death. And so, I breathe serenely in Him, Who sitteth at Thy right hand and maketh intercession for us. I trust in Him and Him alone, and desire to come to Thee in Whom we have risen again and again had life, even now we ascend into Heaven and sit in heavenly places. Praise to Thee,-glory to Thee,-honour to Thee, and to Thee giving of Thanks.

S.

PRAYER.

Go when the morning shineth,

Go when the noon is bright,

Go when the eve declineth,

Go, in the hush of night.
Go with pure mind and feeling,

Fling earthly thoughts away,
And in thy chamber, kneeling,

Do thou in secret pray.

Remember all who love thee,

All who are loved by thee,

Pray too for those who hate thee,

If any such there be;

Then for thyself, in meekness,
A blessing humbly claim,
And link with each petition,
Thy great Redeemer's Name.

But if it's e'er denied thee,

In solitude to pray;

Should holy thoughts come o'er thee,

When friends are round thy way;

E'en then the silent breathing,

Of thy spirit raised above,

Will reach His Throne of Glory,

Who is Mercy, Truth, and Love!

ANON.

SHORT TALES FOR LITTLE FOLK.

SUSAN LEE.

СНАР. І.

"PLEASE, Susan, hear me my Hymn," said little Fanny Lee to her sister, one Sunday morning. "I did'nt know it last time, and Miss Jones looked so sorry that I thought I would learn it better,"

"I hope you were sorry," answered Susan, "but now stand quite still and say it, for it is nearly time for School."

Fanny repeated the Hymn very reverently, as if she knew that she was speaking of God. She stopped a little before