My joyful lips with praise shall flow,
My rescu'd soul with transport glow,
And, pleas'd from morn to eve, record
The blessings of Thy holy word.

E. M.

LETTER ON NATIONAL SCHOOLS.

To the Editor of the North Wales Gazette.
SIR,

I WILL thank you if you will say something in your
newspaper about a Meeting which was held in
our town on Monday, at the school room there.
You may put it in any how, so that it will not be
an advertisement, for I cannot pay for it-and I am
sure the school cannot afford it, for it is
so poor
can hardly pay the master, and find the books that
are right for the poor children to have-I'll only just
tell you what was done, and you may put it in what
words
you like.

it

There was a Meeting, then, of all the National Schools in the neighbourhood, and all the clergymen and masters belonging to them, and many others besides. There was Mr. Thomas Jones and Mrs. Evans, and their school from Amlwch; there was Mr. Cornelius Prichard and his school of Llanerchymedd; there was Mr. David Aubrey and his school from Llanbedr-goch; and Mrs. Williams with her school from Llandyfrydog. The gentlemen (after the scholars had offered a prayer, and sung a psalm) examined them first in the Scriptures, which they read, and then answered questions put to them as to the meaning; and then they made them read the English into Welsh, to see that they understood it, and indeed they did do this best of all, as I believe our clergyman thought, and he is reckoned to be one of the best Welsh scholars in all the country. Then they said Catechism, and

answered many out-of-the-way questions, which we never knew when I was a boy.

Now I think a great deal of good is done by such Meetings, both to the children and masters, for it is an encouragement to both. I am sure that the parents ought to think a great deal of it, and that every body who likes what is good, ought to do what they can to help these schools. Our town is not the same place it was: the streets are quieter a great deal, and where I used to have ten panes broken in my shop window in the year, I have not one now. The school has been a great blessing here, and people begin to see it; and they will see more of it as they find their servants and children better.

I will thank you not to say who wrote this letter to you; but when you come through Llanerchymedd, I shall be glad to be civil to you for your trouble; Mr. Prichard, the master, can tell you who I am, as I am at the school altogether.

Your most humble servant,

AN INHABITANT OF LLANERCHYMEDD.

3.

In works of labour, or of skill,

I would be busy too;

For Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do.

4.

In books, or work, or healthful play,
Let my first years be past,

That I may give, for ev'ry day,

Some good account at last.

Question. What does this Hymn guard us against ?

Answer. Idleness and mischief.

Q. What may we learn from the bee?
A. A lesson of industry.

Q. What does she do?

A." gather honey all the day
From ev'ry op'ning flower."

Q. And what is the honey which we are to gather?

A. Instruction from God's word.

Q. How does David, in Psalm xix. describe this instruction?

A. As 66 more to be desired than gold, yea than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey in the honey comb."

Q. And in what other way are we to shew our diligence?

A. "In works of labour or of skill.”

Q. What does St. Paul guard us against?

A. Slothfulness in business.

Q. And what does Solomon tell us is one feature

in the character of a virtuous woman?

A. "She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."

Q. Who will rejoice to see us idle?

A. Satan.

Q. What will he then lead us into?
A. Mischief,

Q. If we then mean what we say when we pray, that we may not be led into temptation, what must we avoid?

A. Idleness.

Q. You say that you would have your first years be past

"In books, or work, or healthful play." what do you mean by healthful play?

A. Those recreations which are good for my bodily health, and will not do harm to my soul.

From Dr. Watts's Hymns, with Questions and Answers.

VERSES ON THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST.

1.

WHEN gathering clouds around I view,
And days are dark, and friends are few,
On Him I lean, who, not in vain,
Experienced every human pain:

He sees my wants, allays my fears,
And counts and treasures up my tears.

2.

If ought should tempt my soul to stray
From heavenly virtue's narrow way;
To fly the good I would pursue,

Or do the sin I would not do ;
Still He, who felt temptation's power,
Shall guard me in that dangerous hour,

3.

If wounded love my bosom swell,
Deceived by those I prized too well,
He shall his pitying aid bestow,
Who felt on earth severer woe;
At once betrayed, denied, or fled,
By all that shared his daily bread.

4.

When vexing thoughts within me rise,
And, sore dismayed, my spirit dies,
Yet He, who once vouchsafed to bear
The sickening anguish of despair,

Shall sweetly soothe, shall gently dry,
The throbbing heart, the streaming eye.

5.

When sorrowing o'er some stone I bend,
Which covers all that was a friend;

And from his voice, his hand, his smile,
Divides me for a little while;

Thou, Saviour, seest the tears I shed,
For Thou didst weep o'er Lazarus dead.

6.

And oh, when I have safely past
Through every conflict but the last,
Still, still unchanging, watch beside
My painful bed, for Thou hast died;
Then point to realms of endless day,
And wipe the latest tear away.

MEDICINAL WATERS.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor.

SIR,

YOUR letter on medicinal waters in your last number, reminded me of a conversation which lately passed in our own neighbourhood between an apothecary and a gentleman whom he was in the habit of attending. The patient had just returned from Cheltenham, greatly benefited by the use of the waters. He remarked to the apothecary, that it was very odd that they could not compose a water which should contain the same ingredients as the Cheltenham waters, and in the same proportions. "We can," said the apothecary; "6 we can make you a bottle of salts which you may dissolve in water, and which will be exactly the same as Cheltenham salts."

"You can make such a medicine, can you?" said the patient.

A. Yes, Sir.