JAMES MONTGOMERY.

THE poet was born as long ago as November 4, 1771, at Irvine, in Ayrshire. His father was a Moravian minister, who, leaving his son in Yorkshire to be educated, went to the West Indies, where he and the poet's mother both died. When only twelve years old, the bent of the boy's mind was shown by the production of various small poems. These indications could not save him at first from the fate of the poor, and he was sent to earn his bread as assistant in a chandler's shop. He thirsted for other occupations, and one day set off with 3s. 6d. in his pocket to walk to London to seek fame and fortune. In his first effort he broke down, and for a while gave up his plan to take service in another shop. Only for a time, however, was he content, and a second effort to reach the metropolis was successful, so far as bringing him to the spot he had longed for, but unsuccessful to his second hope that of finding a publisher for a volume of his verses. But the publisher who refused Montgomery's poems accepted his labour, and made him his shopman. Fortune, however, as she generally does, smiled at last on the zealous youth, and in 1792 he gained a post in the establishment of Mr. Gales, a bookseller of Sheffield, who had set up a newspaper called the Sheffield Register. On this paper Montgomery worked con amore, and when his master had to fly from England to avoid imprisonment for printing an article too liberal for the then despotic Government of England, the young poet became the editor and publisher of the paper, the name of which he changed to the Sheffield Iris. In the columns of this print he advocated political and religious freedom, and such conduct secured for him the attentions of the attorney-general, by whom he was prosecuted, fined, and imprisoned; in the first instance for reprinting a song commemorating “The Fall of the Bastille ;" in the second case, for an account he gave of a riot in Sheffield. Confinement could not crush his love of political justice, and on his second release he went on advocating the doctrines of freedom as before, in his paper and in his books. In the lengthy period between those times and the present, the beliefs which James Montgomery early pioneered in England, have obtained general recognition and, as men became more and more liberal, our poet gained more and more esteem. He contributed to magazines, and, despite adverse criticism in the Edinburgh Review, established his right to rank as a poet. In 1797 he published "Prison Amusements;" in 1805, "The Ocean;" in 1806, "The Wanderer in Switzerland;" in 1809, "The West Indies;" and in 1812, "The World before the Flood." By these works he obtained the chief reputation he has since enjoyed. In 1819 appeared "Greenland," a poem, in five cantos; and in 1828, "The Pelican Island, and other Poems." This venerable poet now enjoys a well deserved literary pension of 2001. a-year. Men of the Time in 1852.

THE HOUSE OF PRAYER AND THE OPERA HOUSE.

It was towards the close of the London season of 1847. The days were growing longer and longer, and the sun at six o'clock was yet shining bright and warm, as I wended my way towards St. James's Park. At the bottom of the Haymarket, my attention was fixed by a densely-packed crowd wedged in

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beneath the piazzas, and stretching half-way across the broad street. It was a Jenny Lind night, and that crowd was gathered round the Italian Opera House. The outer doors had just been opened, and within I could see a forest of hats, showing that the entire area was filled to suffocation. Every one of the crowd was prepared to pay for the expected entertainment of the evening his 5s. or 10s. 6d., according to the part of the house which he proposed sitting in. Very many had been patiently waiting before the doors two hours; others, one hour; those upon the outside of the crowd, less. It was only six o'clock; the performance did not begin till seven. Still another hour's waiting!-another hour's crushing, pushing, quarrelling, in that dusty, rank throng! What energetic perseverance! And why? To secure a moderately "good place," at no small price, and hear Jenny Lind sing!

At length the inner door rattles. The bolt is heard withdrawn. The door flies back; the crowd rushes in-up the staircase. Fighting, struggling, shouting, entreating. Coats are rent; hats knocked off, disappear in the melee; the shrieks of women are heard, the remonstrances of men, and the clink of silver rapidly pouring in. Some seven minutes, and as many hundreds of men, and some few women, have battled their way up the stairs, and are seated in the Opera House.

What energetic perseverance! And why? To what end? To secure a moderately "good place," at no small price, and hear Jenny Lind sing.

Another half hour elapses. The crowd have arranged their dress-have fanned themselves cool-have seated themselves on the closely-packed benches -and, lo, the curtain rises-the opera commences!

What breathless attention! What fixed and staring gazes! What enthusiastic plaudits! With what contentment and warm expressions of gratification does the multitude separate at the close of the protracted engagement! This is the Opera House.

Behold the contrast. In a quiet street, and a little retired, stands the Baptist chapel. The lights through the windows show you that it is a service night-the weekly prayer meeting or the lecture. There is no one at the door -you may look in. It wants ten minutes to the hour of service, so there is no one there. You are a stranger, but never mind; take any seat you please. It is a week night service, and there will be room to spare, you know, in every seat. Five minutes pass, and two or three females enter. Presently another and another drop in. The minister enters the desk. There are now some fiveand-twenty or thirty present, chiefly females, either old or young women. The hymn is given out; and as it is sung, some few stragglers enter. words of "the sweet singer of Israel," perhaps, are being uttered, one or two others may come in. The service occupies an hour. Some few, indeed, hear to profit; but some are locked fast in the embraces of sleep; and the wandering eye or the thoughtful brow shows that the minds of others are with "the fool's eyes at the ends of the earth." At length the benediction is spoken. The scattered handful exchange some casual greetings or worldly inquiries. Each wends homeward his own way; the lamps are put out, and the chapel is left in solitude and darkness. This is the House of Prayer.

While the

Brethren, are we not herein verily guilty? This is the worship Satan gets from his servants; that the worship Jehovah gets from his. The one go for mere amusement-the other for highest benefit. The one pay dearly for their evening's pleasure; to the other all is open. The one is tiresome and hot, and

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RULES FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

unhealthy discomfort gain their ends; for the other is ease, almost luxury. Yet one is crowded, the other empty; one all enthusiasm, the other frigidity. What reproof should this contrast bring to us! How stifle, unheard, all excuses of want of time, which means want of inclination! Would that the Christian professor would borrow something of the energy which distinguishes the devotee of the world in his pursuit after pleasure.

Says the Latin proverb-" It is lawful to learn even from an enemy." Then let us learn from one glance at the Opera House these great lessons :—

1. To be more diligent in attendance upon all the means of grace (Proverbs viii. 34).

2. To be early at the sanctuary.

ings (Isaiah lii. 7).

Waiting for Him that bringeth good tid

3. To hear the Word in a less sleepy manner, and more devout attentive frame (Romans x. 17).

4. To minister cheerfully to the trifling pecuniary demands made upon us for conducting the worship of God (2 Cor. ix. 7).

"WHAT THOU DOEST, DO QUICKLY."

QUICK, young man! life is short. A great work is before you, and you have no time to lose. If you would succeed in business, win your way to honour, and save your soul, you must work quickly. The sluggard dies. The wheels of time roll over him, and crush him will he sleeps. Aim high, and work hard. Life is worth the living, death worth the dying, because worth the gaining.

Quick, ye men of might in the road of life. Your life is more than half gone already. You are going down the hill, and the shadows begin to fall around you. If ye have ought to do before ye die, do it quickly. The morning has fled, mid-day has passed, and the night cometh.

Quick, ye aged men, quick! Once you thought threescore years and ten to be an endless time, and that they could never pass away. They have come, they have gone, and what have they left? The days of pleasure are past, and the days of darkness are here. Have you left any work undone? Have you come to infirmities and trembling, with no preparation for death? Ah, quick, ye aged fathers and grey-bearded sires! Already are the messengers of death beginning to tender their services to bring you to the sepulchre of your fathers. With the feeble remnants of existence, seek for heaven. Be up and doing while life lingers, mercy waits, and God is gracious.-Am. S. S. Treasury.

RULES FOR THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

BEGIN and end every day with humble and earnest prayer to God, through the intercession of Jesus Christ.

Read carefully every day some part of the Holy Scriptures, and examine your heart and life by it.

Avoid, as much as you can, all wicked company, and all temptations to sin; and be ever in the way of duty.

Keep the Lord's day most religiously, both in public and private.

Think often and seriously, that God's eye is always upon you; and that you are continually hastening to death and judgment, to heaven or hell.

Labour with all your might to do your duty, but depend on God all the while for assistance and success, through his Spirit, and for acceptance, through his Son.

THE BLIND BOY AND HIS BIBLE.

An interesting little blind boy, about twelve years of age, became the subject of converting grace, and was very desirous to learn to read the Bible with raised letters prepared for the use of the blind. In a very short space of time he learned to run his fingers along the page, and read with ease and propriety. The highest object of his wishes seemed now, to possess a complete copy of the Bible for the blind, which consists of several large volumes. His parents were unable to buy one, but his pastor obtained one from a benevolent society. It was in several volumes.

Not long after the little boy received the books, his pious mother saw him retire to the room where they were kept, and she stepped softly to the door to see what he would do. And why do you think the dear little boy went alone to his room? His mother saw him kneeling by the side of these precious volumes, and lifting up his hands in prayer to return thanks to God for this blessed gift of his holy word. He then rose from his knees, and taking up one of the volumes in his arms, hugged and kissed it, and then laid it on one side, and proceeded to the next, and so on till he had, in this simple but pleasing manner, signified his love for each of those blessed volumes, which, through the medium of touch, had spread before his mind the wonders and the glories of God's revelation to man.

"The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."

TAKE CARE OF YOUR EYES.

THE eye is a delicate organ, and needs attention. All persons should be careful not to injure their sight through carelessness or imprudence; especially students and men whose occupation leads them to vast deal of book study. Want of attention to a few simple truths may occasion weak eyes, injure the optic nerve, and produce premature blindness, or an early failing of the eyes. We will present a few ideas as cautions to the careless.

1. Never read by a miserable pale light. Every copper saved by cheap poor lights is a direct tax upon the poor eyes with a vengeance.

2. Do not allow yourselves to read or study by lamp-light for hours together, without resting the eyes. No one will need this caution, perhaps, who employs his thoughts, as well as his eyes, in study. It is, however, very injurious to the eyes to pore incessantly over a book or paper a whole long evening without cessation.

3. Never study by the evening twilight. It causes unnatural expansion of the pupil of the eye, as the light of day is gradually diminishing, which is at the time painful, and in the end extremely injurious.

4. Last and most-Do not spoil your eyes by fine and miserable prints. We have ourselves two or three large volumes, Dick's Works, and others, in so small type, they have tried and pained our eyes so, that we are tempted to give them away to some one who will promise never to read them, and go and purchase good and fair editions of them.