American women, says the Herald of Health, is living too much in the darkness when indoors. The rooms are kept dark to save the carpets and keep out the flies, and as a consequence both the house and the occupants lack the benefits of the fresh air and sunshine. Houses from which

the sun is excluded are not wholesome. There is always a damp depressing condition in them that makes itself evident at once to a sensitive temperament. The minds and bodies. of all who live in such houses are affected by it. Both health and spirits are depressed.

A

HUMMING-BIRD'S UMBRELLA.

In front of a window where I worked last summer was a butternut tree. A humming-bird built her nest on a limb that grew near the window; and we had an opportunity to watch her closely, as we could look right into the nest from the window. One day there was a very heavy shower coming up, and we thought we would see if she covered her young during the storm; but, when the first drops fell, she came and took in her bill one of two or three large leaves growing close to the nest, and laid this leaf over completely covered the nest. Then she flew away. On looking at the leaf, we found a hole in it; and in the side of the nest was a small stick that the leaf was fastened to or hooked on. After the storm was over, the old bird came back and unhooked the leaf, and the nest was perfectly dry.--American Sportsman.

DOT'S HAPPY THOUGHT.

so it

Why do we love God, was the question put to a Sunday-school one. morning. Nearly all were attentive to the words of the speaker, but nobody seemed ready to reply. Not a hand was raised. There was silence for a few moments as the superintendent directed a look of inquiry first to one group and then another.

"Very well, children," now he said, "you need time to consider the subject, don't you? I will give you a week. Think it over carefully, all of you, and be prepared to tell me next Sunday."

A dear little girl, one of the very youngest pupils (I will call her Dot,) thought out an answer all by herself after she went home. Then sitting down by her mother's side, she printed it neatly on a piece of note-paper, making a complete sentence, I am glad to say, which was the proper thing to do.

Here it is, a clear statement, happy thought indeed, Dot's first composition, as it was read aloud by Mr. L., the pleased superintendent, at the following session of the school:

"WE LOVE GOD BECAUSE HE GIVES US SO MUCH GOOD THINGS."

The

Very well done for a little child, sincere and sweet. Probably very few even of the older pupils answered more frankly and wisely, many grown people would not. love which we feel for our benefactors is grateful love, or gratitude. As God is our greatest Benefactor, he should receive the most of our gratitude. But more than this, we should learn to obey him and to trust him at all times, enduring hardships, pains and sorrows with cheerful courage, loving him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, because-for, this

WORDS AND DEEDS.

They do the least

Who talk the most;
Whose good designs

Are all their boast!
For words are dew.
They do the most
Whose lives possess
The sterling stamp

Of righteousness;
For deeds are true.
And if the heart

Be pure and good,
The life will be

Just what it should-
Not dew, but true.

HOW CHARMING the young would be to talk to, with their freshness, fearlessness, and truthfulness, if only -to take a metaphor from painting -they would take more of grays and other neutral tints, instead of dabbing on so ruthlessly the strongest positives in color.

It

LIFE IN THE POLAR REGIONS. is impossible to form an idea of a tempest in the polar seas. The icebergs are like floating rocks whirled along a rapid current. The huge crystal mountains dash against each other, backward and forward, bursting into a roar like thunder, and returning to the charge until, losing their equilibrium, they tumble over into a cloud of spray, upheaving the ice-fields, which fall afterward like the crack of a whip-lash on the boiling sea. The sea-gulls fly away screaming, and often a black shining whale comes for an instant puffing to the surface. When the midnight sun grazes the horizon, the floating mountains and rocks seem immersed in a wave of beautiful light. The cold is by no means so insupportable as is supposed. We passed from a

heated cabin at 30 degrees above zero to 40 degrees below zero in the open air without inconvenince. A much higher degree of cold becomes, however, insufferable, if there is wind. At 15 degrees below zero, a steam, as if from a boiling kettle, rises from the water. At once frozen by the wind, it falls in a fine powder. This phenomena is called sea-smoke. At 40 degrees, the snow and human bodies also smoke, which smoke changes into milllions of tiny particles like needles of ice, which make a light, continuous noise, like the rustling of stiff silk. At this temperature, the trunks of trees burst with a loud report, the rocks break up, and the earth opens and vomits smoking water. Knives break in cutting butter. Cigars go out by contact with the ice on the beard. To talk is fatiguing. At night, the eyelids are covered with a crust of ice which

must be carefully removed before one can open them.

THE SHEPHERD AND THE EAGLE. The sea-eagle catches his prey by hovering above the water, until he sees a fish, when pouncing down upon it, he raises it up in his claws, and sails away with it to his nest, where he devours it at leisure.

One day, a contented shepherd watching his flocks on a hill-side, overlooking a river frequented by salmon, saw one of these mighty birds hovering over the water. He heeded none of the smaller fish, but at last pounced upon one of enormous

size.

The shepherd wondered to see that in place of flying off with his quarry, he was violently flapping his wings on the water, and on going to the spot he found the eagle drowned, but having the large salmon, also dead, in his claws.

The fish had proved stronger in its

own element, than the bird of prey between air and water, and so the shepherd carried home both the eagle and the salmon.

Thus it is that the ambitious and greedy are often fishing for the contented, and themselves falling into destruction and a snare.

"TRY." A gentleman traveling in the northern part of Ireland heard the voices of children, and stopped to listen. Finding that the sound came from a small building used as a school-house, he drew near. As the door was open, he went in and listened to the words the boys were spelling. One little boy stood apart looking very sad. "Why does that boy stand there?" asked the gentle "Oh, he is good for nothing," replied the teacher. "There is noth

man.

ing in him. I can make nothing of him. He is the most stupid boy in the school." The gentleman was surprised at his answer. He saw the teacher was so stern and rough that the younger and more timid were nearly crushed. After a few words to them, placing his hand on the head of the little fellow who stood apart, he said: "One of these days, you may be a fine scholar. Don't give up. Try, my boy, try." The boy's soul was aroused. His sleeping mind awoke. A new purpose was formed. From that hour, he became anxious to excel; and he did become a fine scholar. It was Adam Clarke, who became the eminent Wesleyan minister and commentator. The secret

of his success is worth knowing: "Don't give up; but try, my boy, try."-Examiner.

THE CREATOR does not intend that the greater part of mankind shall come into the world with saddles on their backs and bridles in their mouths, and a few ready booted and spurred to ride the rest to death.

DEBT IS a horse that is always horse that is always throwing its rider. Fools ride him bare-back, and without bridle.

AT A recent school board examination in England some extraordinary answers were given to the examiners by the children. One questioned in natural history replied: "The hog has five toes on his fore feet, and four toes on his hind feet; the cow has no toes, and cannot bark." In the same connection it may be remarked that it appears not advisable to ask the newsboys in the lodging. houses too many questions in their Scripture schooling. In reply to a

worthy exhorter, who lately asked one of the lads, in speaking of the Good Samaritan, "What made the priest go by on the other side?" a boy answered: "Oh! because the man was robbed already." To anand mother forsake you, who will other, who asked, "When your father take you up?" a little fellow replied, in all earnestness: "The police, the police."

A CERTAIN circuit judge was always sure of meeting some cutting or sneering remarks from a self-conceited lawyer when he came to a certain town in his rounds. This was repeated one day at dinner, when a gentleman present said: Judge, why don't you squelch that fellow?" The Judge, dropping his knife and fork, and placing his chin upon his hands and his elbows on the table,

remarked: "Up in our town a widow woman has a dog that, whenever the moon shines, goes out upon the steps and barks, and barks away at it all night." Stopping short he quietly resumed eating. After waiting some time it was asked: "Well, Judge, what of the dog and the moon?" "Oh the dog died and the moon keeps on shining," he said.

IT is astonishing how much one without money may give. A kind word, a helping hand-the warm sympathy that rejoices with those who rejoice and weeps with those who with those who

weep.

WRITE YOUR name with kindness, love and mercy on the hearts of the people you meet year by year, and you will not be forgotten.

We are acquainted with nothing valuable which has not its counterfeits. We might offer a reward to any one who would point us to an exception. We know that all the virtues, and all the correct sentiments or doctrines, together with every excellent trait of character or lovely grace, may be counterfeited; therefore piety, or true religion, cannot be made a solitary exception, for it is made up of correct principles, lovely doctrines, lovely graces or traits of character. MEN SELDOM die of hard work; activity is God's medicine. highest genius is willingness and ability to do hard work. Any other conception of genius makes it a doubtful, if not a dangerous, possession.

and

The

HOPE IS a pleasant acquaintance, but an unsafe friend. Hope is not the man for your banker, though he may do for a traveling campanion.

"YOU ASK me," says the worldrenowned English tenor, Sims Reeves, "How I have been able to put such pathos and feeling into a song and make a great success of it, when other

singers would fail altogether. It is because I have always studied my words. I have read them, and phrased them in every possible way, asked myself what they meant, and interpreted them according to my feeling. I walk up and down, trying this line and trying that, until I feel that I have struck the right idea. But I am never satisfied. Nowadays singers do not study elocution sufficiently, if at all. In a recitative, for instance, the words are sacrified to the music. In my method they are of equal importance."

THE LESSON OF A DREAM. John Wesley was once troubled in regard to the disposition of the various sects, and the chances of each in reference to future happiness or punishment. A dream, one night, transported him in its uncertain wanderings to the gates of hell.

"Are there any Roman Catholics here?" asked the thoughtful Wesley. "Yes," was the reply.

66

"Any Episcopalians?" "Yes." "Any Presbyterians?" "Yes." "Any Congregationalists?" "Yes," again was the answer.

"Any Baptists?" "Yes."

66

Any Methodists?" by way of a clincher, asked the pious Wesley. "Yes," to his great indignation, was answered.

In the mystic way of dreams, a sudden transition--and he stood before the gates of heaven. Improving his opportunity, he again inquired:

"Are there any Roman Catholics here?" "No," was replied.

"Any Episcopalians?" "No."
"Any Presbyterians?" "No."
"Any Congregationalists?" "No.”
"Any Baptists?" "No."

66

Any Methodists?" "No." "Well, then," he asked, lost in wonder, "Who are they inside?" "Christians!" was the jubilant answer.

OFFICES OF MANFORD'S MAGA

ZINE.

St. Louis, Mo., No. 421 North Second St. Chicago, Ill., No. 243 South Leavitt St., to which all letters should be addressed.

EDITOR.

MRS. H. B. MANFORD.

ASSOCIATE EDITORS.

REV. G. S. WEAVER, D. D., Chicago, Ill. REV. T.'H. TABOR, New Salem, Ill.

CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS NUMBER. REV. W. TUCKER, D. D., Camden, O. MARY A. TOMLIN, Prairie du Chien, Wis. REV. E. CASE, Canaan, Me.

REV. FIDELIA W. GILLETTE, Rochester,
Mich.

REV. G. W. LAWRENCE, Janesville, Wis.
REV. AUGUSTA J. CHAPIN, Hillsdale Mich.
EUGENE F. CARNEY, Galesburg, Ill.
REV. MARY H. GRAVES, Hinsdale, Ill.

THE MAGAZINE.

TERMS OF THE MAGAZINE are the same as usual, $1.50 per annum. Size-64 pages. NO DISCONTINUANCES until all arrearages are settled. We shall be glad to correct any errors that may occur in our statements concerning bills sent to subscribers. We ask them to be free to communicate with us. We earnestly solicit continued patronage and return sincere thanks to all who have-or will-stand by the MAGAZINE.

1885.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR to all our readers! A prosperous and peaceful year may it be to all who begin it with good resolu tions and kind acts. But with all our ardent wishing for the success and joy of our many dear friends, aye, for the whole

world, we cannot refrain from mingling fear with hope for the future, when we recall the events of the departed year. Affluence and poverty, victory and defeat, life and death have been the sweet morsel or the bitter portion of all, as a wise Providence may have determined. In the contemplation of subjects both serious and sad, it is well to pause and greet the New Year with a kindly welcome, sure that in the chances and changes of time the law of compensation will prove itself in our favor though the clouds of adversity may lower, and the waves of trouble encompass us about.

If the year just vanished has robbed us of many things loved and prized, it has also added to our possessions in a higher sense than earth values. If it has taken one from the family circle and left a vacant chair at the hearth and at the board, it has added one more to the number above who, crowned and glorified, watches and waits our coming. If it has disappointed expectations in worldly aspirations, it may have more than compensated the loss in the development of spiritual riches. If it has caused mourning, it is that we should learn and rejoice in the consolations of the blessed Gospel that speaks of a time when all tears shall be wiped away. If it has taken a tender babe, it is that we may learn, "Of such is the kingdom of Heaven." If a companion, whose strong right arm and ready counsel was our shield and strength, it is that we may receive the Comforter who abideth forever. If burdens heavy have been laid upon us, let us consider Him who said: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me."

To sum up the whole; whatever has