Year: 1861

why? SEQ the bright sunlight is fading, and
how the shades of night are quietly stealing
over scenes that all day have seemed so
bright and cheerful. Are not the sunny
hours of busy life and activity more cheer
ing than the darkness and gloom that now
is settling down upon usY There is a reas-
on and one which is fully understood by
those who are called away to spend the
the hours of each passing day in the various
pursuits of active life


Let us for time go and sit by the metro
politan window and notice attentively the
passing throng. How much may close
observer read in the countcnanccs that
pass before him. There we sec children
tripping goily along, whose smiling faces.
bright eyes, and quick steps plainly tell Of
happy hearts, bounding now with JOY, as
thoughts arise Of "homc" and its attendant
joys; of a smiling mothcr watching for The
return of her little treasures; and kind faith
or, who looks up from his paper to greet
them home again,


Look again. The crowd is increasing
What promiscuous assembly! Gentlemen
of leisurcs, clad in broadcloth; ladies of
fashion, arrayed In satins and silks; and tho
laborers, whose threadbarc garmets scarce
protect the wearer's person from the un-
feeling gaze of the passer-by. All are on
the move-sometimes passing and rc-pass-
ing in their eager haste, They are "going
home" In Imagination we can almost see
the homes to which they are hastcning.-
What a variety they present! The thought
here arisesi what variety of characters
are before us, each one who passes differs
as much in heart, mind and daily actions,
from those who surround him, as he differs
in outward appearance. Passing, passing,
still-thc tread of many feet, the hum of
many voices, still sound upon our ears.


Look now at that old gentleman who
passes so quietly along. Time has silvered
his hair, and marked deep lines upon his
| check and brow, yet it is pleasant face TO
| look upon--one which almost causes you in
| voluntarily to say God bless that old man.
There is peaceful look in that frank coun-
tenance; benevolence seems to be written up
on his noble brow; his pleasant smile and
mildly beaming eyes speak of kind heart
within, which delights in good works.
Surely he has happy home to which he
will be welcomed by kind old lady in
snowy cap and neat home dress, whose aged
face will light up with a sweet smile, as her
good companion of many years enters their
peaceful home, and fervcntly says, "Thank
God far my wife and my home!'


| Now noti ce what a change! Gaze kindly
on the one who passes now-how weary
and pale she looks.-her sad countenance
awakens your pity, and her dress bctokens
| poverty and want. Her step is slow and
languid; no bright light beams from her
heavy eyes, and her lips seem compressed
as if with pain. Poor tired one!-would
that we might offer some word of pitty!-
oh, that instead of watching you pass so
wearily on your way, We might arise and
go forth to relieve you in your Distress
Alas! that such noble impulses should be so
often checked,


! But see! there are others, too-many who
seem almost as weary and sad as the one to
whom we have been giving our silent SYM
pathy. If this awakens curiosity,-if you
wonder from what place these tired NOR
tails comc-think of the factory a square OF
two distanti cast your thoughts upon the
wearysome life OF toll and privation they
daily drag through with there, and you will
| n Of ,lx
those faces are so pale and thin-why they
walk so YEARLY, and their eyes look so dull
ard heavy. They are "going home" now
for little whilc-ah! how soon will they
be called again within those gloomy walls
With the morn's returning light labor be-
gins anew God help them to bear with
patience their many burdens herc!-thcre
will be an end Of sorrow there in that home
to which we are all Fastening!


1t has now grown quite dark. We can
no longer discern features. The crowd is
decreasing. Here and there, two or three
pass by, engaged in conversing on different
topics, the subject of Union or dis-Union
predominating of course. Now and then
one solitary wanderer hastens along; some
are well clad, while Others less fortunate
press on trying to forget poverty by musing
on 'homc," which, though it be humble, is
still home-rendered doubly dear by the
presence of one who left her own child
hoods home to become the light of anoth.
ers. Yes, though you are poor in what the
world calls money" and "distinction," YET
you may be rich in "love and the true pleas.
ures of home" Be thankful for that which
the heart can appreciate.


We draw the curtains now, and return to
our own village home-thanllful that we
too have a cheerful, happy home.


"Going homev' How sweet those words
are to the traveller who has been long sepa,
rated from so dear place! The months OF
years Of absence have passed away, and
now he is "going home!-going home al
lastl 'Tis happy hour indeed when he
really starts home-but a happier one when
he arrives there, and is gladly welcomed by
those near and dear to him


How happy is the child, when after an
absence of even short duration, to return
again to home and parents. This
thought opens the way for another, of q
more serious nature. We are all travellers
And whom our Heavenly Father calleth, VIC
| ol 4l,a