American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-04-27
Aelieiolls department.
The Influence of Books,

gentleman not long since refusing a rich
ly bound copy of apopular butdangerous
theological work, which had been offered
him for his lbrar. "It-is not said he,
''that | fear its effects on my own mind,
but only lest it should hurt and unsettle
others of the household who are less fixed
and decided in their views"
Seneca calls books his friends, and hints
somewhere that we should be alike care
ful in our choice of them as in choosing
our most intimate companions. While
Plutarch tells us, with much quaintness,
that ''we ought to regard books as we do
sweetmeats, notwholly toaim at thepleas-
antest, but chiefly to respect the whole>
some; not forbidding either, but approx
ing the latter most" Milton has called
good book the precious life-blood Of
master spirit"
To have dangerous books lying on our
tables islike leayingsomuch poison about;
while good books are Gods messengers.
Servants are apt to look into the books
which are left in their way Visitors take
them up in idle moments-while waiting
fordinner. or on wetdays-and are struck,
perhaps, By some line or passage which
God brings home to their hearts with the
lightning fash of conviction. Many a
one has traced his or her first serious
thought about religion to book thus ac-
cidentahy, or rather providentially, taken
up and read On the Sabbath day we
should be especially careful not to leave
any temptation to break it in the way of
others, and have nothing on our tables
but Sabbath books
A young Christian, speaking Of the day
when she first seriously resolved by Gods
help, to renounco the world and give her
self wholly to Jesus and to his service,
writes thus: son the afternoon Of that
ever to be remembered Sabbath was left
alone, and, feeling very restless and un-
happy, looked around for amusement.
A little paper On Eternity lay on the
chimney piece; read it and fot that |
must pray In the evening, sad and
unsettled. she again had recourse to a
book this time it was the 'Iife Of Brain
erd." Had she been able to find any other
! books about she would doubtless have read
them in preference: but she lived in a
pious family. who were very careful about
these things 1t pleased God to bless
that. little tract and that holy life to the
warning, strengthening and confirming of
his poor weak child. and that night she
openly declared her belief in Jesus, and
her earnest desire to live hepceforth to
his glory.
''I cannot force mysorvauts to read good
books" said dear old friend, <but al
ways take care that they shall have them
to read, and who knows but that some day
they may be blessed to them?"
On the same principle the wedding
present which she invariably made all her
young friends on the day of their mar
riage--and she had a great many friends
for every one loved her-was a Bible
"If they do not think much of it now"
she would say sooner or later the season
is sure to come when they will find out
its value"
| remember once giving book to a per-
son in whom I took deep interest In
spite of its gay and hansome binding, it
was a serious book and prayed feryent-
ly to God thathe would be pleased to bless
it to her. Happening to call at the house
nearly three months afterwards-for
left town in the interval-I found it living
upon the drawing-room table with the
leaves still uncut. My young friend col
ored when l pointed it out to her, and
pleaded in excuse her numerous oraape-
ments. When | was gone. as she has