SHORT OBSERVATIONS. WHEN I see rich people care so much for their bodies, and so little for their souls, I pity them from the bottom of my heart, and sigh to myself, "We may be as surely ruined by riches as by poverty!" A man cannot call in a better physician than himself, if he will take all the good advice that he gives away to others. He who goes into his garden to look for cobwebs and spiders will no doubt find them; while he who looks for a flower, may return into his house with one blooming in his bosom. Have a care in climbing high trees and high stations: if you fall from the bottom bough it will shake you; if from the top one, it may break your neck. Who makes his bed of brier and thorn, The reptile in human form should be avoided with care; you may rub out the slime of a snail, but not the slime of a slanderer. If you would relish your food heartily, labour to obtain it; if you would enjoy your raiment thoroughly, pay for it before you put it on; and if you would sleep soundly, take a clear conscience to bed with you. The less you ask of your fellow sinners the better, lest their precious oils should break your head; but ask freely of God, for he "giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not." When a poor blind mole shall tear up from the ground the giant oak of a hundred years' growth, by burrowing under its roots, then shall the higgling and wriggling of the poor blind infidel overturn the truth of God's holy word. The crazy habitation of the body will decay: you may repair the broken tiles and damaged roof; you may rub up the dim window lights, and oil the rusty hinges of the doors; you may patch up and plaster over the shattered walls, and paint the outside of the tenement till the passer-by wonders at its fresh appearance; but, for all this, the old house must come down at last! The silence of the tongue is oftentimes the eloquence of the heart. When you are rich, praise God for his abundant bounty. When you are poor, thank him for keeping you from the temptations of prosperity. When you are at ease, glorify him for his merciful kindness; and, when beset with affliction and pain, offer up thanksgiving for his merciful remindings that you are approaching your latter end. Oh, how I love to see a dog's-eared, thumbmarked Bible! Not one that has been abused by the idle and careless, but one that has been used by the diligent seeker after salvation. Occupation cures one half of life's troubles, and mitigates the remainder. A manacled slave working at the galleys is happier than a manacled slave without employment. As a man may grow temporally fat who partakes not of spiritual food, so may he grow spiritually lean while feeding on turtle and venison. As the limpet clings to the rock of the ocean, so should the Christian to the rock of his salvation. ON REMOVALS. ALL who are in the habit of observing persons and things with any degree of attention, and reflecting on what takes place around them, must now and then be occupied with odd subjects. This is continually occurring to me, as those must be aware who have read that small part of my observations which has been made public. There is such a pleasure in giving way to the mood of the moment; such a luxury in indulging one's wandering inclinations in such matters, that I can hardly resist it; and for this reason it is, that the subjects which engage me are so unconnected one with another. Who ever read two papers of Old Humphrey's on the same subject? The worst of it is, that sometimes I get dozing and prosing over things which cannot be turned to much account, and then it vexes me. Oh the delight of feeling the heart beat against the bosom, and the pulse throb quickly with some high and holy, or philanthropic purpose! Those who have ever known what it is to be filled with a glowing desire to glorify God, or to compass some benevolent undertaking for the good of man, will acknowledge that all other designs are poor and pitiful in comparison. There are glorious moments at times mercifully vouchsafed to us, of this kind, when the lagging pen cannot keep pace with the beating of the heart; and when the beating of the heart is equally far behind the winged spirit, urging its way to the bright end of its high desires. Such seasons as these are the very sunbeams of life, the precious gifts of the Eternal. At the moment I write this, I am seated at the window; it is early. Two vans have been for some time opposite the door of the adjoining house; some hay has been shaken down on the ground for the horses, their bridles having first been unhooked from their collars; and five men are now busily employed in carrying out the furniture from the house, and placing it in the vans: heavy chests, corded boxes, chests of drawers, bedsteads, sofa, bookcases, tables and chairs. As the load gets higher, lighter things are added, cornices, bedding and blankets, |