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sledge-hammer and anvil were my enemies, and between the two I was cruelly treated, and found no pity. I was beaten by them unmercifully, and the blows I received at their hands would have killed an ox; as I said before, no one has endured the fiery trials through which I have passed."

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"Hold your foolish tongue," said a ploughshare, which had been sent to be repaired, less you can talk more wisely. Both you and I have been greatly benefited by the ordeal through which we have passed, and are valued highly by those who once might have despised us. Once we were useless pieces of iron, but now you are a useful horseshoe, and I am a respectable ploughshare."

Thus seasonably admonished, the horseshoe became silent, and was never afterwards heard to complain.

We seldom commit a greater error than that of repining at our trials and afflictions, for our heavenly Father often renders these the medium of his greatest mercies. "No chastening for

the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." The complaining horseshoe, though a fiction in the fable, is a fact when

applied to mankind; for multitudes of repiners have become dumb, when experience has proved the value of their bitterest trials. Fear the Lord, love him, and trust him, and then—

If properly improved, thy grief, and pains,
And heaviest losses, all will turn to gains;
Hope, peace, and joy, from trouble will arise,
To bless thee, and prepare thee for the skies.

THE NIGHT-SEASON.

When in the night I sleepless lie,
My soul with heavenly thoughts supply.

THE season of night is a season of quiet, tran-
quillity, and peace; the labourer has ceased his
work, and the tradesman his traffic. The tur-
moil of the day is terminated, and the hubbub
is over.
No more is seen the smoking chimney
and the hurrying throng. No longer is heard
the clicking loom and the clanging hammer.
The workshop, the counting-house, and the ex-
change, are closed. The stars light up the sky,
the moon walks forth in her majesty, and man
retires to his repose.

The night-season pours its oil and balm into the wounds that we daily receive in the battle of life. The disappointed spirit becomes more reconciled, the ruffled temper is soothed, the angry fires that glow within us expire for want of fuel, and sleep robs us of our cherished animosities. These are among the manifold blessings that night bestows.

The night-season is a necessary and pleasant

break into the daily routine of our lives. It gives relief to the screwed up energies of enterprise, and removes from the mind the weight of its responsibilities. It affords an interval of repose, an opportunity for thoughtfulness, a pause for preparation, and a breathing time in our wrestling with the world.

The night-season is a season of mercy conferred upon us by a merciful God, for a merciful purpose. Then gentle sleep falls upon us, refreshing our wearied bodies, and effectually restoring the disturbed tranquillity of our minds. Then exhausted nature sinks into oblivious forgetfulness of pain and care, and gains strength for its future exertions. Gently do we lie down, and sweetly do we take our rest, for the Lord sustaineth us.

Who is there that in his commerce with the world falls not into errors? The sleepless hours of night are often profitably employed in a calm revision of the occurrences of the day. Haply we have spoken hasty words, done unkind deeds, failed in paying due respect, and neglected those who have a claim on our attention. With our heads on our pillows, and darkness around us, we can rectify our mistakes, recall our angry epithets, determine to pay respect to all, and resolve to make restitution.

We

We have

In the day we are exposed to many temptations from which in the night we are free. retire, as it were, into our own hearts. no fawners to deceive us; no flatterers to praise us, and make us think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. Conscience and truth

speak, and will be heard. Truly the nightseason is a suitable time to catechise ourselves. Whence came I? Where am I? and Whither shall I go are in the night-season questions which sink into our souls.

We have troubles that are known only to ourselves, and to Him who knoweth all things; and in the night-season we spread them before the Lord. We supplicate his aid, feelingly, fervently, and vehemently, and make our vows unto him. We say, "Lord, if thou wilt give me the thing I desire," or, "Lord, if thou wilt remove the thing that I fear, then will I turn unto thee with full purpose of heart; then will I be thy servant for ever." The night-season is often a humbling season, an outpouring season for the soul, a season of mourning, of relief, of consolation and joy.

We have most of us lost some that we have loved; it may be a beloved son in whom we rejoiced, or a dear daughter in whom we delighted, or both; and in the night-season we

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