ANOTHER YEAR HAS GONE.

A year has passed away, and another has begun its flight. Let us take advantage of the moment, to cast a backward glance, and consider a few things suggested by the occasion.

In the first place, let us remember that a year is gone; a year-a very considerable portion of our life, has passed irrecoverably down into the gulf of by-gone ages. We are so much nearer the goal to which our race tends: we have so much less of that precious time which is allotted for the discharge of the duties assigned to us, and to make up our account for the great reckoning at our entrance into another life. Regarded then as a mere abridgment of our span of years, it is a serious thing and may well awaken deep emotions in our hearts.

But the nature of our emotions, in reflecting upon the lapse of time, must depend upon the manner in which we have used it. Are we better? are we wiser? have we laid up a store of good memories -recollections of good deeds done-of injuries forgiven, of charities performed, of efforts to alleviate distress, to soften grief, to break the force of misfortune and turn aside the edge of disappointment? Have we sought to enlarge the boundaries of human knowledge, to disseminate principles of religion and morality, to set examples of truth, honor and honesty, and to weave mankind together, into one happy family, by the exercise of kind and gentle sympathies ?

Have we done these things?—then, the lapse of

time is no loss to us; on the contrary, it has resulted in positive gain. The spring, the summer and the autumn, though they have passed away to the husbandman, have left his garners full, and we in like manner have laid up a rich harvest for the future; a harvest, not indeed, of earthly fruits, but of those intellectual and moral stores, which are as essential to the welfare of the spirit within, as corn and wine to the outward man.

But if our year has been spent in mere selfishness;-if we have taken thought only for ourselves; if we have put forth no kindly efforts for the great family around us; if we have indeed gone farther, and indulged in malice, or wantonly injured others in their feelings or in their estate; if we have wounded by falsehood, or led astray by misrepresentation; if we have exerted our influence for the mere cause of a sect or a party; if we have inculcated by example or precept, either bigotry or illiberality, or in any way used our power to draw others astray from the path of love, charity or truth, then the departed year is an irredeemable loss. It has accumulated the great work we have to do, and has seriously abridged the space in which it must be done. It has doubled our task, while it has diminished our strength, incumbered our limbs, and shortened the day which precedes that night in which no man can work.

Let us draw a serious lesson from these hints. Let us remember that every hour that passes is full of moment: that time spent for ourselves, though

it may be necessary, is in some degree like water spilled upon the ground, which cannot be gathered up; while time spent in doing good to others, is like the farmer's seed, sown in good time, and in a good soil, and sure to produce an abundant return.

Let us remember too, that time spent in doing ill offices to others-in wicked or wanton injuries to the heart, or the purse of our fellow men, is like putting poison into the cup which we must ourselves drink.

Let us not be misunderstood; we do not mean to say that any man is bound to neglect his own affairs, or consider them secondary to the charity due to others. On the contrary, we esteem an industrious, persevering pursuit of the good things of this life, by honorable and honest means, worthy of praise. We believe the best way to future happiness, is straight forward on the plain turnpike that leads to earthly happiness. But we mean to affirm, and we would fain urge upon all within the reach of our humble influence, the doctrine, that in doing good to those who are travelling the same journey with ourselves, in cheering and helping them on their way is the wisest and surest, and shortest path to our present and permanent peace.

Perseverance."I recollect," says Sir Jonah Barrington, "in Queen's County, to have seen a Mr. Clerk, who had been a working carpenter, and when making a bench for the session justices at the Court House, was laughed at for taking peculiar pains in planing and smoothing the seat of it. He smiling observed, that he did so to make it easy for himself, as he was resolved he would never die till he had a right to sit thereupon; and he kept his word. He was an industrious man-honest, respectable, and kind-hearted. He succeeded in all his efforts to accumulate an independence; he did accumulate it, and uprightly. His character kept pace with the increase of his property, and he lived to sit as a magistrate upon that very bench that he sawed and planed."

Do as you wish to be done by. Follow this rule, and you will need no force to keep you honest.

S

HUNTERS IN A HOWDAH.

Although the elephant is not a native of Persia, at the present day, there is tolerable evidence that he was once employed in that country both in war and the chase. On an ancient arch, described by Sir R. K. Porter, are representations in bas-relief, of a boar-hunt, in which some of the riders are mounted on horses, and others on elephants, which are plunging on every side through the marshy

bushes.

The elephant is invariably employed in India in hunting the tiger. His delicate scent, his strength to make his way through the thickest covers, his sagacity, and especially his great stature, by which the hunter is lifted out of danger, render him peculiarly fitted for such a work. Horses cannot be brought to follow the track of a tiger; and camels are unable to defend themselves if attacked by the ferocious beast. The hunting party is generally numerous; and the sportsmen, seated in their howdahs, fearlessly proceed into the jungle, well-armed for the expected combat.

PERSEVERANCE IN DIFFICULTIES. We select the following from the delightful pages of "the Pursuit of Knowledge under Difficulties, published by the Society for the Diffusion of Use