PREFACE. THESE Thoughts are like the work of the little creature that frames to itself a shelter by piecing together tiny fragments of sand and shells into a kind of irregular mosaic. For wherever I could use the words of others I have done so, feeling strongly the force of the Chinese proverb, "Man's words are as an arrow, straight to the mark; woman's are as a broken fan:" they start, indeed, from the heart, the true starting-point, but they are very apt to lead in a different direction from that intended. Such as they are, however, I have written them out, in the hope that some more qualified person may be inclined to take them up and write something better worth, thereby doing real service to God, and conferring on his fellow men a blessing, the full value of which could hardly be estimated. L I. ZECHARIAH VIII. 4, 5. In Memoriam. A. C.—C. S. L. "Know ye the land? 'tis not an earthly home, It is not possible even to tell over the "infinite meanings that cluster round the word home," rooted as they are in the very depth. of our holiest affections. "The joys that crowd the household nook," sympathy that brings us the certainty of Home, home to sigh when we're sad ! the unconquerable feeling for our fatherland, the young conscript's deep sadness, the exile's unutterable yearning, The strength whereby The patriot girds himself to die, these all have "one fountain, deep and clear," in that love of home and country which is indeed one of the truest holiest feelings of man's heart. And how intensely He felt this love, who took our nature upon Him, that He might show what it ought to be in perfection as He the second Adam might make it, His own words, His tears, have taught us! And when He came near, He beheld the city, and wept over it. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, if thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day the things that belong unto thy peace." Even thou,-thou that killest the prophets, thou that wilt say, "This is the |