MEMORY. "How sweet are the moments which Memory's pen As we dwell on the joys we may ne'er taste again, How sweet is the tear which flows fast from the eye, When remembrance awakens the mind To the thought of the friendships for ever gone by, The warm, and the firm, and the kind! O suffer the tear in the eye to appear, And forbid not the stream to flow on; 'Tis the dew-drop of heaven which falls on the bier Of the joy that was bright, but is gone. 'Tis the balm that affordeth a gentle relief To the heart overburdened with woe; And shall I forbid it to glisten in grief, Or deny it permission to flow. O forbid it, my God, that my folly should dare, When sorrow has blighted the hopes that were fair, Still, still there is hope in the sadness of woe, That death cannot separate love— That the spirits so closely united below, Shall unite in their raptures above." ANON. The Lord's Prayer: the Christian Instructed in its Import and Use. By the Rev. THOMAS NUNNS, M.A. London: Rivingtons; T. Harrison, Leeds. We have never seen a simpler and at the same time more comprehensive explanation of this Divine and Blessed Prayer, suitable for every age alike, unlettered or unthinking—as the case may be than the one which gives rise to this necessarily brief review. All explanations, which tend to bring more home to the hearts of childhood or youth, nay, even old agethe full force of its blessed words, so as to develope, in the praying soul, a just perception of their heavenly importmust ever be welcomed by the Christian and the Churchman. When everybody is exclaiming: "I wish I knew what religious tracts to get for my family, my children, my servants!" And," Do you know of any ?" is a customary question; we can do nothing better or with a more friendly intent than answer such questions, and endeavour to relieve such requirements, by pointing out this little Tract, which is full of edification for every one who thinks, and every one who prays; nay, even for those who, alas, never pray-as from its simple teaching and devout suggestions (heavenly grace assisting them) they too may be led to pray. S. The Canticles at Morning and Evening Prayer; arranged for Chanting according to the Pointing of the Book of Common Prayer. For use in Churches or Schools. Third Edition, improved. By the Rev. C. H. S. Nicholls. This useful little Tract we commend to all who are endeavouring to adorn the celebration of Divine Service, by Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs, and by melody poured out in praise of the Most High. To all whose Services, in their customary arrangement, admit of the Psalms being chanted, (as in most Churches they do happily now-adays,) this little work will be very useful, both from its simplicity and its cheapness. S. CHRISTMAS DAY. WE wish to our dear young friends a Happy Christmas; and that they may understand what we mean by wishing them a happy Christmas, we will tell them how a Christmas ought to be spent, and in what its happiness consists. Within doors we wish to see a family gathered round a bright fire, while every face shall beam with peace and joy. It may be, that the air without may be cold, and the frost keen and biting, or it may be that a fog will hang over the streets and houses; but, within the house, may there be warmth, and peace and joy of heart, amidst a God-fearing, praying, faithful family, trained by pious parents in the fear and love of the Saviour. But Christmas is not a time in which we are to remain inactive within doors. The family must leave their home, and enter their Heavenly Father's House. The Church gives testimony to the joy of the festival, when its lofty pillars are seen encircled with evergreens, the bright red berries of the holly shining through the dark green leaves, and the branches dispersed all down the aisles. It is a high and holy festival!-this, on which we commemorate the nativity of the Son of God. He was in the beginning with God, and was God: He was in the form of God, and thought it no robbery to be equal with God. He was from all eternity God the Son, From all eternity He dwelt in glory One with the Father. Heaven was His throne, angels His worshippers. But He unrobed Himself of His glory, and descended from His throne. He assumed our nature and came into our world. He was made flesh and dwelt among us. He took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in likeness of man. He was born of a woman. And His virgin mother laid her first-born son, God as well as Man, in a manger. At Christmas, we commemorate this birth; we meditate on the stable which was the first abode of the Son of God, and think of the lowly manger where the blessed mother laid her new-born Babe; and we are reminded of the shepherds who, while pursuing the duties of their humble calling, were permitted to hear the joyful hymns of praise, by which the angelic host celebrated the gift of a Divine Saviour to lost mankind, "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good-will towards men." We can imagine the father of a family, on returning home from Church, addressing his children thus:-" I have been thinking while we were at Church, that the hymn of the angels, teaches us the best manner in which we can spend Christmas. "Glory to God in the highest." We should render to God our worship and thanksgiving, with all reverence and humility, remembering that He dwells in the highest heaven, and we on earth, and this should raise our thoughts to the immense love of our Saviour, Who dwelling in the highestin the Glory of the Father, consented to become Man, being born of a Virgin, going through all the pains and inconveniences of infancy,—all the trials of youth, spending a life of trial, and undergoing a death of agony for our sakes, who think so little of Him! 66 On earth, peace."-Let us all endeavour to promote peace on earth, by keeping the laws both of God and man, and by setting an example ourselves of that peace which the fear and love of God can bring into a family. We are poor, we have had many difficulties to contend with; when work was scarce and food was dear, we knew not when we might have to leave our happy home, and depend upon the charity of others for our living, But, blessed be God, times are now better; and this Christmas we have more than ever to thank Him for: and this among the rest, that in all our trials, we never despaired, but always put our trust in Him, who is the God of patience and consolation. But now let us think of the last part of this heavenly hymn, "Good-will towards men." There are many who, at this Christmas time, |