Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-04-29
Children's department.
THE MAGNET.

Do any of my little friends know what q
magnet is?
There are two kinds one is the natural
magnet, and is found only in few parts Of
the earth it is called natural, because God
made it just as it is. The other kind is called
artificial, because men make it. They were
long time finding out how to make it, but
by great deal of hard study and practice in
experimenting, they at length succeeded in
making pretty good imitation of what God
had already made.
The magnet looks like piece of iron or
steel, and possesses some very peculiar prop
critics. For instance, little needle made out
of it, and placed on pivot, so as to be easily
turned, will point north and south. Is not
this wonderful? 1t is one of the wonders of
God, and no man can account for it, that is,
tell the reason why. Truly does the psalmist
say, "How unsearchable is His wisdom and
His ways past finding OUT" But, you will
say, what if the magnetic needle does point
north and south-what good does that do any
body? 1 will tell you. When ship is
out in the ocean on dark night, and the
captain cannot tell which way to steer her
course, he looks at his little friend, the mag
netic needle, swung on its little pivot, and it
never fails to tell him. So, too, traveller,
who has lost his way in the great desert or in
the woods, may look at his little friend, and
be told silently, yet surely, which way to 60.
Since it has been known to mankind many
thousand ships have been brought safely into
port by its use. Ten thousands of precious
lives have been saved by it.
When 1 was little boy, gentleman
stopped one night in the town where lived,
and showed the people magnet, the first one,
perhaps, that most Of them had ever seen.
When he placed it one side of table, and
then placed little, common needle on the
other side, the needle began to quiver and
move little, as if blown by gentle breeze !;
placed little nearer the magnet, it would
move perceptibly toward it, that is, the mag
net would attract or draw the needle; placed
still nearer, the needle would jump and cling
to the magnet, so that, in trying to remove it,
you would think they were glued together.
The blade of common pen.knife, when
placed against the magnet, would also stick
to it, and, if allowed to remain little while,
when pulled off, would partake of the magnets
nature or power of attracting needle or 9th
er similar metallic substance so that you could,
by holding the blade near a needle, make it
quiver, and the needle, placed against the
blade, would stick to it, and so you could, in
the same way, pick up tack or shingle
nail with the knife.b blade.
This all seemed very wonderful to me, but l
never thought, until long years afterward,
how very much the magnet resembles the
great God who made it, and how much you
and I, little reader, resemble the common,
little needle. Did you ever think oft? Take
your New Testament, and turn to the fourth
chapter of James and eighth verse. 1t says {:
"Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw
nigh unto you" Now, compare this little
verse with what I have told you about the
magnet and the needle, and ask your father
or mother to explain to you the meaning Of
the verse. They will tell you that the best
and happiest people on earth are those who
draw nig Oh to God, and to whom God draws
nigh Yes, and all the saints in Heaven and
the angels of God draw nigh to Him, and are
unspeakably happy forevermore.
May this be your portion and mime. B.