How much misery would have been avoided in the history of many lives, had truth and sincerity been guiding and controlling motives, instead of prevarications and deceit? 66 Any vice," said a parent, in our hearing a few days since -“any vice, at least among the frailties of a milder character, but falsehood. Far better that my child should commit an error or do a wrong and confess it, than escape the penalty, however severe, by falsehood and hypocrisy. Let me know the worst and a remedy may possibly be applied. But keep me in the dark-let me be misled or deceived, and it is impossible to tell at what unprepared hour a crushing blow, an overwhelming exposure may come." THE STREAMLET. I saw a little streamlet flow, A thread of silver-soft and slow The valley smil❜d in living green, The swallow brush'd it with her wing, But not alone to tree or bird, It flow'd beside the cotter's door,' It blessed the labours of the poor. And would that I, could thus be found, A humble friend to all around, Like that pure stream, with tranquil breast; English Woman's Magazine. M. A. STODART. 1 NEAR the south-western extremity of England is a remarkable rock, called Saint Michael's Mount. This is situate in a bay of the sea, called Mount's Bay, and is near to the town of Penzance, in the county of Cornwall. This mount is similar to the one represented in our engraving. They both bear the same designation, Mont Saint Michel expressing the same in French, as Mount Saint Michael in English. The Mont Saint Michel is situate in a bay of the sea, near the extreme north-west part of France, and lies between the island of Jersey and the French coast. This mount is a majestic rock, rising in a vast plain of sand, which at spring-tides is covered by the sea, thus making the Mount then to be an island. An author has described it in the following manner. Let the reader imagine a desert of sand, consisting of eight leagues square-that is, twenty-four miles square-traversed by several rivers, the waters of which in some places spread into the form of lakes. Carry your eye beyond the desert of sand to the mighty sea, which may be known by its blue colour; and just before your eye arrives at the margin of the desert of sand, you will see a granite rock a quarter of a league in circumference, five hundred feet high, with towers erected thereon. This is Mont Saint Michel at the reflux of the tide. Then suppose the great desert of sand covered with water, and the granite mountain, with its buildings standing in the sea, this is Mont St. Michel four days before and after the new moon. Although the Mount may be travelled to from the mainland on foot, at low water, it is dangerous for those to attempt this who are strangers to the place, as there are quicksands in which many strangers have been lost. There is also much danger in case a fog suddenly arises. At such times the bells of the village churches on the mainland are frequently rung, to direct those who are on the sands, that they may escape from being surrounded and destroyed by the rising tide. On Mont Saint Michel there is a strong fortification, which has sometimes been used as a prison for state criminals. There is also a church, and a small town, inhabited chiefly by innkeepers, shopkeepers, and fishermen. A steep, crooked street, leads to the Abbey Church and the Castle. The fort is strictly guarded, and strangers are not admitted. The buildings are of considerable elevation, and dungeons have been excavated in the rock. These, however, are not now used. There is a telegraph on the top of the church, by which communications are made with Paris. The church, dedicated to Saint Michel, was first erected more than twelve hundred and forty years since about the year 706. Richard the First, Duke of Normandy, about the year 966, established here a monastery. About the year 1024, Richard, the second Duke of Normandy, built the church which now exists. In former times, many superstitious persons went on pilgrimage to this church, and did penance there-supposing that great benefits would result to them from such performances. The Romish priests found it advantageous, to their love of gain, to encourage those delusive superstitions. In the year 1423, the English besieged Mont Saint Michel, but were unsuccessful. They left behind them two large cannons, which are preserved and shown to visitors. We pray that war may never again exist between England and France. We most earnestly desire the reign of universal peace. MEMOIR OF JOSEPH ASHTON, OF MANCHESTER. THE subject of the following memoir, was the third and youngest son of James and Elizabeth Ashton, and was born at Ashton in Mackerfield, on the 17th February, 1830. In the year following his birth, his parents removed to Manchester, and, ever since, the family has resided in that town. As Joseph's parents were religious, he was favoured with religious training, which was much to his advantage. Being of an ardent and sanguine temperament, and of extreme buoyancy of spirit, Joseph's society was esteemed by facetious persons, to whom he was sure to impart pleasure and satisfaction. His facetious spirit many times caused fears to arise in the breasts of his parents in reference to his future welfare, for they were afraid lest its indulgence should restrain the influences of the Holy Spirit. Hence, they frequently saw it to be their duty to restrain the ebullitions of his naturally light spirit. It is not to be understood from the foregoing remarks that Joseph's natural vivacity, or sprightliness, led him into loose and dissolute habits, or to treat with levity religious subjects. When these were introduced, his naturally facetious spirit would settle down into serious and grave deportment. At other times he was cheerful and even mirthful in his deportment. He was strongly attached to the Holy Scriptures, his leisure hours being, in a great measure, spent in their study and perusal. In order to encourage such application, his father presented him with a very valuable Bible, having copious marginal readings and references. When Joseph received this present, he resolved carefully to read the entire contents of the sacred volume. This he did, and he became so fond of biblical studies, and desirous of impressing the whole of the Scriptures upon his memory, that having obtained a large ledger, he commenced transcribing the whole of the Bible, and had proceeded far on in his work before his parents were aware of his undertaking. Thus his mind became conversant with the Holy Scriptures, and enriched, as a casket of jewels, with the valuable truths of God's Word. The Bible was very familiar to him, and he was regarded by the other members of his father's family as their Scriptural referee. Another pleasing trait in the character of the subject of this memoir, was his attachment to the Sunday-school, which he regularly attended for a period of eight years, being seldom absent, except when hindered by unavoidable circumstances. During his attendance at school, he was an example for diligence and attention to his duties, and was seldom observed spending the time in trifling conversation. It was when engaged in these duties, that the natural levity of his disposition was overawed, or kept under proper religious restraint; for when in the house of God, either in the public services of the sanctuary, or in the subordinate duties of the Sabbath School, he was never known to exceed the bounds of prudence, but generally was serious. His attendance upon the public ordinances of religion was more the result of choice than of parental authority; having a relish for religious worship, he needed no compulsory measures to ensure his stated and regular attendance. This attachment to the house of God grew with his growth, and during his illness, when he had given up all hope of recovery, he was heard to say, "Two of my greatest comforts are gone-I am deprived of the chapel and the school." On the formation of the "Mutual Improvement Class," in connexion with the school in Grosvenor-street Association Chapel, he became one of its first members, and continued in association with it as long as his health permitted. During his connexion with it, he contributed |