REPLY TO "B."

MANSLAUGHTER-SLAUGHTER-MAN'S LAUGHTER.

THE word in Lord Macaulay's lines
Each reader easily defines

If carefully the whole he scan,
And then take off m-a-n-man.

Nine then remain, and well agree
In union with the former three
To make each tender heart feel sad,
Nor can the hardened one be glad.
But sure I have no need to tell
Twelve letters do manslaughter spell,
Or that, by leaving out the three,
Destruction in the word we see?

The ugly word doth plain define
How twelve involve much less than nine;
By slaughter brute creation dies,
And so the need of man supplies.

And more than that the Son of God,
When He forsook His high abode,
Was as a lamb to slaughter led
To Calv'ry, where for man He bled.
But how about the four and eight?
Oh, this is also soon made straight
If we our thoughts a moment fix
On Psalm one hundred twenty-six.

Read second verse, thereby we know
Man's laughter did no evil show,
But joy and peace with sweet accord
Bespoke the praises of the Lord.
Highbury.

E. COBB.

THE SPOILED CHILD.

ON the borders of Bedfordshire is situated a romantic and picturesque little village. It lies in a valley, through which runs a small stream, that winds its way under drooping willows at the bottom of the churchyard, and passes on thence to sing its melancholy song beneath the shade of some aged firs, at the lower boundary of the garden belonging to the parsonage-house.

I once had the happiness to spend a summer month in this delightful place, and the friend with whom I was staying being on very intimate terms at the vicarage, I became a frequent visitor there. The worthy man who then had charge of the parish had numbered his "threescore years and ten," and was hastening on the wheels of time to sleep with many whose bodies he had committed to the dust, and some of whom he hoped to meet in a better and happier state. As a man he was a pattern to all around; open, firm, and unflinching in what he believed to be right, but willing to be convinced of an error, and as ready to resign a wrong opinion as he would be to maintain a just one. To the poor he was a father and a friend; to the farmers an adviser and a counsellor; to the few rich he was a faithful monitor.

The evening before my departure from the village I went to take leave of my aged friend. I found him (as was usual with him at the evening hour) alone in the beautiful bower at the bottom of his garden. I entered, receiving a cordial welcome from the venerable man. He had been reading, but laid aside his book to chat with me. conversation soon turned upon this, my last

visit.

Our

“My young friend,” said he, “you have heard

many tales from me, and appeared pleased with them; if you have no objection, I will tell you one more before we part: perhaps it will afford you à lasting lesson through life. You are entering on the world, and I would help you, if I could, to avoid many snares into which I have fallen; for while travelling to this white head of mine I have learned many sad truths by experience. Let me exhort you to learn submission to the will of Providence from the following account.

:

"Having finished my studies at Oxford, I was ordained to the curacy of the parish church of a town in Somersetshire, and some time after married an amiable young creature, whom I had loved from boyhood the same is now my wife. At the time I was married I was in my twenty-sixth year; my spouse had just entered her twenty-fourth. Fourteen months after our union we became parents of a son, whom we named James, after myself. He grew healthy and strong till nearly four years old, when a fever, following a severe cold, prostrated him, and there was every prospect of his being taken from us by death. I was almost distracted with the thought of losing my boy; my dear wife bore it with more patience, and exhorted me, who should have strengthened her, to hope for the best, and submit to the will of God. Her entreaties were of little use; I would not be comforted. I prayed continually, without reference to the divine will, that God would spare the child; and at last I had the joy of seeing a favourable change. My spirits began to flow afresh, and everything was more pleasing around me. My boy recovered fast, and in the course of a month was able to take the air and be about a little. Another month made him quite strong. My wife and I were now happy with the prospect of a son who should be a blessing to our