came.

ness indescribable, and to the worldly inconceivable, in earthly friend-he who is more to thee than all the a pious woman's love for one who is joined to her in world beside, should be hindered and not forwarded in wedlock, and re-joined to her in Christ. Milton's im- seeking this salvation. A word of thine may save, a agination, apt and fervid as it was, could never sketch word may kill. Fly to the throne of grace, and linger a scene so enchanting as those which spring from the there. Plead for a sanctified heart. You cannot act sanctified endearments of pious households.

unless you feel. A cold heart cannot yield the fruits True, this purity of affection may also be demanded of our holy religion. Live near the cross, be saved of the husband; but if he fail, let not the wife copy thyself by its power, and then thou mayest hope to his example. Let her not forget that the husband may become a savor of life to thy companion. be sanctified by the believing wife. Her purity may But perhaps you profess no religion, feel none, and attract him to the all-cleansing fountain. So it was practice none. As a wife you draw your companion with Mrs. M. For years she walked alone, with no into fashionable associations, and encourage him to staff to lean upon but the comforting rod of Jesus. neglect and to forget his soul. Alas! what sorrows are But this sustained her amidst trials severe as the fur- you probably treasuring up for yourself, and what woes nace heated seven times hotter than it was wont. Her for your family. Emily-not long since wedded to a husband's moods were changeable, and his assaults on man whose turn of mind had become religious, is striher religion were varied many ways. But she neverving to win him from his serious—or what she calls wavered. He cursed and she blessed. He scorned gloomy habits. She invites to her saloons the gay and and she was meek and humble. He raved like a mad- the godless, and compels her husband to mingle with man about "lazy preachers,” lying Methodists, and them. They reciprocate the favor, and he must wait swindling Church members; but she made no answer. on her abroad. She is succeeding to her heart's con She prayed, wept, and prayed on, year after year, and tent. Her “ James is becoming cheerful.” She hopes hoped against hope for her poor wicked husband. Re- to see him the gayest of the town. Probably she will; vival after revival brought one and another and scores and no wonder if he becomes the most profligate and of her neighbors to the foot of the cross, but her hus- | depraved. He is a reformed drunkard, and his sobriety band raved on. Yet she prayed, and prayed, and hoped. is his safe-guard. Let him lose a sense of his religious All had given up her husband as judicially hardened in obligations, and the chances are not a few that he will sin, but she did not give him up. Another revival plunge into every excess, and ruin both himself and

She besieged the throne of grace in his behalf. his family for time and eternity. She “loves her husOn a certain Sabbath he consented to go with her to band, and can't bear to see him gloomy.” Alas! if church. The sermon was over, and mourners were she loved him with a pure heart, she could not bear to called to the altar for prayer. M. stood with his foot seduce him from God, and lead him by the soft attracon a bench, his elbow on his knee, and his cheek on tions of woman's overpowering charms down to perdihis clenched hand, his eyes fixed in a fierce gaze upon tion. Love is sometimes worse than hatred. It kisses the floor. My friend pointed to him and said, “He's and yet betrays. a hard case, but something ails him.” In a minute a Faithfulness and submission on the part of the wife faithful follower of Christ, who had courage enough to need not be enlarged upon. They spring from love, suffer for his Master, approached and whispered in his and where this is ardent and pure, those will be sponear. He glared fiercely around, and then raising him-taneous. As faith always brings forth fruit, so bridal self up, came forward with a firm step, and cast him-love always produces a reverential manner towards the self down at the altar. In thirty-six hours he was a husband. We say always; for those occasional fits of

When his pious wife saw what God had affection which some ladies display towards their huswrought, her fortitude forsook her. She burst into one bands, interrupted now and then, almost daily, with fits flood of joy after another, weeping like an infant; and of angry passion and words of rude reproach, deserve it seemed as though she who had so patiently sought not to be called love. The softened feelings which now the blessing now bestowed, would expire under the and then occur in the changing moods of the maniac intense joy of its fruition.

might as well be called by that sacred name. She, Have you, reader, such a husband-unbelieving—therefore, who is wanting in fidelity and reverence hostile to the religion of Jesus Christ? Do not falter. towards her husband, may justly be accounted a stranShow him your faith by your works. Let all your ger to those affections, without which a lady in wedded tempers be controlled by grace. Live much in your life is worse than a shrew. She is a monster; and a closet. Let your love for him be sanctified, and let no woman without discretion is to be preferred before her. provocation disturb the meekness of your heart. Re- | She may have brought her husband a rich dowry in member that your husband looks at you to learn what goods and chattels, and landed estates--she may display religion is. He does not go to the Bible, nor to the all the graces and charms of woman, and may have closet, but he goes to your daily life, and from it he added to personal attractions a highly gifted and culinfers that religion is or is not what it claims to bem tivated mind, but she is stripped of that jewelry of the sanctifying power to the heart.

heart, without which her companion is more to be O look to thyself, lest by some misdeed of thine-pitied than the galley slave, or the prisoner on the some act or word, dishonoring to Jesus, thy dearest scaffold.

new man.

348

THE LITERARY STANDARD.

Original.

ently be echoed and re-echoed with hearty good will, THE LITERARY STANDARD. subject only to the dissentient envy of a rival, or the

What a beautiful writer is Doctor Coates! His miscalculating, fractious negative of some anti-partizan themes, too, are of a most interesting and novel stamp. book. The author, once started, shall live, if he deserve “The lightning of the sea” is a tableau vivant of sur-to live. Having commenced his recognized career, he passing beauty; and in reading it we contemplate many shall then go on and run his course with the true taste wonders of nature which our eyes have never beheld. which mere arbitrary opinion shall in vain attempt to And these tremendous and uncommon appearances, fit-gainsay. For hath not the thing a standard? Yes, ted to appall the sense, his science, “smoothing the surely it hath. And just as much as any one author raven down of darkness till it smile,” makes plain and hath, in popular commendation, exceeded the fair ratio natural to our startled apprehensions. It is some few of his own merit, even so much must he discount at months since we read this theme. It may be found in some after day-the day of settlement when the subone of the current periodicals, not now recollected ject falls into proper hands—when public opinion shall which. There is also in a series, perhaps in the same have balanced itself, and a fair appreciation shall be the book, “The wonders of the land and sea." And the ligitimate result. Only at the running down we shall latter seems to be the element in which the writer espe- see that tendency to take too great discount for that cially rejoices himself—and his readers. He writes, as which had once been current above par; but this, too, we have said, with taste, tact, science, gusto; yet have shall settle itself. Justice shall be exacted, and on the we never seen a single line penned in admiration. other hand justice shall be rendered. What, say you,

But few things are of more equivocal authority than created the excess? It was not a genuine result, for popular favoritism—the favoritism of the hour. Yet to no excess is so. It was but the echoing in of all the neglected there is redress, and time shall test the indiscriminately, either with or without the right of genuine and the false encomium. Our observation suffrage. The thousands possessing no literary freeholds more strongly in regard to authorship than in any hold yet gave spurious votes, and were counted—they other walk before the public. We must explain; for raised the shout and swelled the acclamation, which we do not intend to assert that there is any grudging or was indeed a thing “full of noise and sound, importing withholding of praise to its object, when once recog- nothing." nized; for then the tendency is in the other extreme, And so it was, and so shall be; for however much and it is almost matter of course that the commenda- critics or cavilers may disagree, there is a truth in the tion shall outswell the merit. But there seems to be a thing contested, a reality in genius which can and ultibackwardness in discovering or a slowness in acknowl-mately must find its degree in the appreciation of its edging a writer's merit in the outset. At the same fellows.

C. M. B. time that the favorite, who has already taken rank, is bepraised out of all measure, lauded, adulated, and lionized, a far superior writer, perhaps, shall not yet have DRAW NIGH TO GOD. elicited a single commendation.

How may the soul approach God? She comes with But how happens this? The few, or perhaps an hallowed affections, with ardent aspirations for entire individual of “weight and state,” expresses a pointed conformity to God. God is everywhere. It needs admiration for a new writer, perhaps his friend, whom but the holy heart to feel and to enjoy his presence. he wishes to serve; may be his heart betrays his taste, God is everywhere. It was a lesson of my childhood; or he makes too great allowance for his youth, or for cir- but I found not God, until I found holiness; until I cumstances-may be his own proper enthusiasm passes exercised faith in the blood of cleansing. Now I know for more than it is worth—at any rate it creates a sym- it is only the pure in heart that see God. The purer pathy which is contagious—and that acclamation tells the heart, the nearer its approach to God. My soul for the author, which is in reality but of themselves. cries out unceasingly for purity; for greater and greater Others being cool, and perhaps equally incapable of degrees of purity; so shall I come nigher and nigher enthusiasm as incompetent of a judgment, are yet am to God. From all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, do bitious of literary opinion, they, too, take up the word, thou cleanse me, O my Father. My heart, is it not and with proffered accordance, bestow unmeasured and thine? O do thou take possession of my mind also; unexamined praise. All this fills the public car for the of all its powers and faculties, and sanctify them wholly time. Like the idolater of old, they first “ make” their to thyself. Take my memory, my imagination, my idol, and then “fall down and worship it.” But it is reasoning powers, and reign supreme over all. Bring not a discriminating service, neither shall it abide; for thou every thought into captivity; into subjection to the light of truth shall sweep it away. Truth, though thyself. Enlarge my capacities, so that I may more impugned, can never be impaired! And thus it falls, and more understand, and be enabled to perform all thy and time decides; for it is only in the commencement, will concerning me. Thou art the Author of mind, in the early season of authorship, that a fine writer the mind of minds; immense is thy eternal mind. O shall be liable to be misprized or unprized. And this receive my mind, depressed and darkened in its fallen happens out of the remissness of some proper authority state; O receive it, and restore it to thyself a pure mind, to commence and sound the note which should pres-ll and let it evermore expand itself in thee.

350

AMANDA'S LAST HOUR.

BY MRS. HARLAN.

A FACT.

Original.

Long has it been since her last hour, and long
AMAN'DA'S LAST HOUR. Has she slept shrouded in the gloomy vault;

The summer rose has faded o'er her breast,
The withered grass droops on her lowly grave,

And autumn's leaves are scattered widely there, 'Twas winter. Gloomy clouds shrouded the scene,

Sad emblem of the faded bloom beneath.
And chilling snows came on the stormy blast,
And bright streams were congealed, and every flower
And spirę of grass had faded; and the songs

Original.
Of birds echoed not in the leafless wood.

THE FLOWER.
The door was shut--a bright fire lit the hearth,
And there were circled round the fair and gay,
Whom I had often met in happier days.

To India's sultry clime a man went forth,
But young Amanda, whose enchanting smile Bearing upon his lips the eternal words:
Had cheered so late that melancholy place,

“Peace upon earth, good will to all mankind," Was changed; for she was wasted by disease, And burning in his heart the love of ChristAnd her once roseate cheeks were deadly pale. The love of precious souls. The Gospel of Sometimes her eyes rested on vacancy;

The Son of God, dispensed by his own servant, But oft she turned them to her sleeping child,

With influence sweet, drew Asia's tawny sons While gushed affection's warmest, fondest tears.

To listen and believe. Her moans were low and saddening, like the tones

Won by the accents Of an Æolian harp in ruin laid,

of the good man, a Hindoo worshiper When every passing breeze severs a chord,

(On whom the Spirit of the Lord had breathed, And its low music in sad murmurs tells

And bade “the dry bones live") approached and thus 'That soon the last worn trembling chord will break, Address'd the messenger of heaven: "Father, And its soft melody for ever cease.

I have a flower, a precious flower, and long

Has been my search to find or strive to find A kind physician, by her lowly couch

One worthy of so rare a gift. Alas! Of suffering, bent with deepest interest,

My labor has been fruitless-earth's cold sons Still pressing the warm cordial to her lips,

With careless eye look'd on my offeringAs if unwilling to resign a form

The scorching gaze of beauty, and the blast So fair and loved to death's relentless power.

of Time's rude winds have withered my poor flower. I was beside her when a fearful change

Tell me, 0 man of God, if in your land Came o'er her features. A triumphant smile

There dwells one worthy of this precious giftPlayed on her cheek, and a strange brightening glow

One who would cherish it with fondest love, That seemed to be the first faint dawn of heaven,

Restore its wonted freshness, and upon Gave a calm lustre to her closing eyes,

Its blighted leaves effuse the dew of life.” A moment ere they darkened into death.

The missionary's heart beat high with hope

He read the import of the heathen's story The blast of death blew colder-life's worn chord

In his expressive face, which told of woe, Resisted it no longer, but gave way,

Affections blighted, manhood's hopes put out. And the last sigh passed from her dying lip.

He points the Hindoo to the Lamb of God, Her parting shade, released from the pale clay,

Tells him of Jesus and his matchless love, Fled to her native heaven, to mingle there

So vast, that though possessed of earth and heaven, With bright celestial forms, where ceaseless joy

For us he condescends to shed his blood. Beams from God's throne o'er the wide realms of bliss, The Hindoo's soul, melted with love divine, And pain, and death, and sorrow, are no more.

Pours forth with streaming eyes his thanks to God, I looked, and she was silent; yet the smile

And thus exclaimsStill sat triumphant on her bloodless lip,

“() that I knew where I And a cold tear hung on the silken lash

Might find this Savior! He alone is worthy Of that bright eye, now closed to weep no more.

To possess all 'hearts. To him I give my flower, There was a calmness on her marble brow,

Which is my heart, my broken contrite heart! Serene as summer's sea, when not a breeze

Lead me, O man of God, to my RedeemerMoves even lightly o'er its quiet breast.

Let me behold his face, and die in peace!"

The Hindoo's offering found a sweet acceptance; The clouds passed off from the wide horizon, The heavenly gardener watered well the plant The evening sun looked feebly from the west,

With showers of grace, restored its pristine glory, And disappeared behind the snow-topt hills And then transplanted it to bloom in heaven. The hour closed, Amanda was no more.

P. P.

NOTICES.- EDITOR'S TABLE.

351

NOTICES.

To regions blest above the sky,
ELEMENTS OF CHEMISTRY, including the most recent Dis-

To worlds unknown by lapse of years.
coveries and Applications of the Science to Medicine, and Phar.

Then should the toys that tempt me now, macy, and the Arts. By Robert Kane, M. D., M. R. I. A., Pro

From my enraptured bosom fly; fessor, &c. An American Edition, arranged for the Use of

In faith and grace my soul should grow the Universities, Colleges, fc., in the United States. By

Till death be lost in victory." John Draper, M. D., Professor of Chemistry in the Univer The following is selected from amongst others as proof of sity of New York. Pp. 704. Harper & Brothers.-“ Nothing her skill in poetry at a mature age. new,” is no proverb in chemistry. This science is yet in its

THE ISLES OF THE GENTILES. non-age--perhaps in its infancy. On this theme new books are

Calm on the bosom of the deep necessary as a new one on geography was called for after Co.

A thousand beauteous islets lie; lumbus had revealed a new world. Kane's Elements are in

While glassy seas that round them sleep,
excellent repute among European scholars; and the best mas-

Reflect the glories of the sky.
ters of the science in America proclaim its worth with a strong
and full verdict. The work is sufficiently commended, and

How radiant mid the watery waste
without our warrant will be deemed worth its price by all who

Their groves of emerald verdure smile, study chemistry, either for speculation, amusement, or for

Like Eden-spots, in ocean placed,
practical aims and uses.

The weary pilgrim to beguile.
A DISCOURSE IN REPLY TO "TRACTS FOR THE PEOPLE, No. Graceful through forest vistas bright,
IV." By Rev. John E. Edwards, of the North Carolina Con-

The fair Mimosa's shadows spread;
ference.—" Tract for the Times, No. IV,” is an anonymous And 'gainst those skies of amber light,
pamphlet, in which the writer attempts to prove that Metho-

The palm-tree lifts its lowering head.
dism is no Church, but a society, without sacraments, minis Alas! that in those happy vales,
ters, or divine warrant, in its origin, progress and design.

Meet homes for pure and heaven-born love,
Mr. Edwards replies to this charge with sufficient skill and

Unholy discord still prevails,
success. It is not, however, certain to our mind, that such

And weeping peace forsakes the grove.
anonymous assaults on Methodism require any answer, except
in peculiar circumstances, as where the poison is really and

Alas! that on those lovely shores,
manifestly diffusing itself, and averting the regards of those

Where earth and sky in beauty shine,
who are friendly to the Church. This was probably the case in

And Heaven profusely sheds its stores,
Newbern where the discourse was delivered.

Man should in heathen bondage pine.
MEMOIR OF MRS. MARY LUNDIE DUNCAN: being Recollec-

O haste! ye messengers of God,
tions of a Daughter by her Mother. New York: Robert Car-

With hearts of zeal and tongues of flame,ter. 1842.- This is one of the most valuable sketches of female Go! spread the welcome sound abroad, religious character extant. The infancy, youth, and maturity

That allmay bless Messiah's name.' of Mrs. Duncan's life were equally attractive. She was truly

That where the smoke of offerings base, an example of what nature and grace can do to render the per

From idol fanes obscure the day, son, manners, and tempers of a human being lovely and ad.

May rise the incense of a race
mired. We cannot attempt, in a brief notice, a delineation of

Whose souls are taught by Heaven to pray.
the charms of her character, but must direct the reader to ob-
tain the book, and by its perusal be led, as she will, to crave When shall the solemn Sabbath-bell
and seek the mental and moral graces which adorned this meek

Chime through those plains at morning prime,
disciple of Jesus. The following lines, composed by her at the And choral hymns of praises swell
age of twelve, show singular aptness in a child for versifica.

Through those deep woods in notes sublime ? tion.

Soft mingling with the wave's low moan,
"How sweet are those delightful dreams,

The sound shall float o'er ocean's breast,
That charm in youth's first days of bloom!

To tell the wave-tossed wanderer lone,
And sweet those radiant sunshine gleams,

* The ark of mercy here doth rest."
That wander through surrounding gloom.
And bright are fancy's fairy bowers,
And sweet the flowers that round she flings;

EDITOR'S TABLE.
When in gay youth's romantic hours

OHIO ANNUAL CONFERENCE.—The recent session of this
She shows all fair and lovely things.

body in Hamilton was of unusual interest, for two or three reas But ah! there is a land above,

ons. It was peculiarly harmonious. Scarcely a word was spo. Whose pleasures never fade away;

ken during the eight days of its sittings which did not savor of A holy land of bliss and love,

brotherly love. A gentleman who had seen much of life and Where night is lost in endless day.

of verbal discussion, remarked to us that it was the most har.

monious body of men he had ever seen. This concord did not And in the blaze of that blest day,

grow out of circumstances. There was more perplexing busiAll earthly bowers we deemed so bright,

ness than usual. Discussion was free and frequent, and someMust fade, as when the sun's first ray

times animated; but it was always in the spirit of that wisdom Dispels the darkness of the night.

which is pure and then peaceable. The harmony was that spoWhy should my soul so fondly cling

ken of by the apostle-"the unity of the Spirit.” The preach To joys that bless my pilgrimage ?

ers were imbued with the influences of the Holy Spirit. That The joys of-heaven I ought to sing,

was it which maintained amongst them such strict and unvaIts raptures all my love engage.

rying concord.

Another interesting fact in connection with this conference, Why should my spirit fear to die?

was the reported increase of the last year. More than fifteen What though the river may be deep!

thousand had been added to the Church. There was an inWhen past, I never more shall sigh;

crease of more than ten thousand. This is beyond precedent. My eyes shall then forget to weep.

And what rendered this increase the more grateful is, that a O! for faith's bright and eagle eye,

large proportion of those added were regenerated persons. To pierce beyond this vale of lears,

The testimony of the ministers plainly indicated that there