Year: 1877

One of the exquisite wonders of the
sea is called the opelet. 1t is about
as large as the German aster, with a
great many long petals of a light green
color, glossy as satin, and each one
tipped with a rose color. These love-
~ petals do not lie quietly in their
places, but wave about in the water,
while the opelet clings TO a rock.
How innocent and lovely it looks on
its rocky bed Who would suspect
that it could eat anything grosscr
than dew or sunlight? But those
beautiful waving arms, as you call
them, have use besides looking pretty.
They have to provide for a large open
mouth, which is hidden down deep
among them-so hidden that one can
scarcely find it. Well do they per-
form their duty, for the instant a fool
ish little fish touches one Of the rosy
tips he is struck with poison as fatal
to him as lightning. He Immediately
becomes numb, and in a moment stops
struggling, and then the other arms
wrap themselves around him, and he
is seen no more. Then the lovely
arms uuclose and wave again in the
water.


How like the opclct is sin 1t is
aTayed in all the fascinating colors
that the mind of the devil can conceive,
and many a professor Of religion is
too easily got into its benumbing in
fluences. A sharp bargain is the al
luring rock on which many q man foun-
ders, makes shipwreck Of truth and
honesty, and loses his soul. Oh
what a terrible thing is this little
"white lie"-deception in business
transactions; and how many men by
making use Of it fail Of gaining heaven
Cheating is stealing, for by either you
take that which belongs to another ;
but the devil uses deception to cngulf
those whom he cannot by outright
theft. Riches, honor, fame, power.
good-liying, and other worldly lusts,
are allurcments of the devil, and how
many in their eagerncss to gain them
and satiate their wicked ana unlawful
passions lose their hope of heaven
The world is the Lords, and whoever
takes more to himself than is his por-
ton steals it from the rest of man
kind, and for that sin will be account
able in the day of Judgment, the asser-
tions Of the devil and his emissalies to
the CONTRARY Notwithstanding. What
is Tore beautiful or seemingly harm
less than glass Of sparkling wine
Who would think that it could dc
harm! But, if you come within its
tolls, Sat last it biteth like a serpent
and 8tingeth like an adder" A person
may be just starting on vacation
among the mountains or by the sea-
side. His fancy paints the pleasures
he is to enjoy in the most glowing
colors, and he is in such high spirits
and haste that he for once neglects to
hold his hour of secret communion
with God. Perhaps he thinks his
mind is SO taken up with anticipated
happiness that it would be mere mock
cry to come before God; and, be-
side, what harm can come from only
once ncglecting duty. Let him be-
wore neglect Of duty is one Of the
devils best holds on him, and the sec
ond time it will be done more easily
that at first. The chances aje ten to
one that before he returns home he
will have done something which, if it
does not cause him to backslide out
right, will be q hindrance to him for
many day. Beware Of the things
which appear most beautiful and Sc
ductive, and always remember that
the love Of God can only be kept in
your heart by the expulsion Of every
earthly idol. NJ. &C.