--Henry N. Cobb.

Anxiety is the poison of human life.

Beware, as long as you live, of judging men by their outward appearance.

--La Fontaine.

Appearance--Thou art after all what thou art. Deck thyself in a wig with a thousand locks; ensconce thy legs in buskins an ell high; thou still remainest just what thou art.

--Goethe.

A man's reception depends very much upon his coat.

APPEARANCES OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD.

Sometimes our estimate of men and women On short acquaintance is very much at fault.

A gentleman and his wife--Pierrepont by name--passengers on one of the great Atlantic steamers, not knowing any of the other passengers, kept very much to themselves; he usually reading aloud to his wife, and she occupied in some needle work; for this, they were commented upon, and not very favorably, and generally were called the "stupid couple." Little did these same passengers know the true character of that gentleman and lady. An incident that occurred on board soon proved the bravery and heroism of the one, and the gentleness and self-sacrifice of the other. The captain had with him his only son, a boy of some eight summers, a great favorite of all on board from fore to aft. The little fellow, climbing on the side of the ship, somehow fell overboard. The lady happening to be on the other side of the deck, saw the child climb up, and immediately missed him. She quickly laid her hand on her husband's shoulder, looking in his eyes, and cried out, "Oh, save the boy, he has fallen overboard." In one moment he was on his feet, kicked off his canvas shoes, threw his hat on the deck, and turning his face toward the bridge, where he knew some of the ship's officers were always stationed, he called out in a voice which rang like a trumpet call over the ship, "Man overboard." Then, with a quick run and leap, he cleared the rail, and the broken twisting water of the ship's track had closed over him. He was on the surface again in a moment, and taking a glance back at the ship to know his position, stretched out into a long steady stroke in the direction where he knew the child was.

Instantly the captain's hand was on the engine-room telegraph, and down into the depths of the ship went the signals. First to "stop," and the tremor all over the ship ceased. The bell rang again, and the index moved to "astern-slow;" then in a minute or two, to, "half;" then he called out to the second officer--"Man overboard! Stand by to lower away the gig," which was quickly obeyed, and four hands, a coxswain, and a man for the boat's bow were instantly off and rowed fiercely.

In a little while Mrs. Pierrepont--who was on the bridge with Captain Hood--said, "Do you see them; are they together?"

"Yes," replied the captain, "I believe they are." But his voice was now broken, and he took hold of Mrs. Pierrepont's hand. "I have watched my child from here with the glass, till at last he floated so low that I could scarcely see him, and just as he seemed sinking your husband dashed across the spot where he was, and I saw by a wave of his hand towards the ship that he caught him. He is now waiting for the boat."

It was getting dark when they returned. The child, who was shivering, was immediately carried away to have a warm bath, and a little later was in the saloon with dry clothes on, as merry as if nothing had happened.

When Pierrepont stepped on the deck, a rush was made at him, and both hands were shaken till he thought his arms would be pulled off.

The captain said all he had to say in a very few words, and with a hand-grasp which said more than words.

A man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honor, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it.

--Eccles. 6, 2v.; Saint Luke 12, 20v.

To love applause is praiseworthy; to seek it is weakness.

Eat an apple on going to bed, and you will very soon send the Doctor begging his bread.

Appointments may be given, Not the capacity to fill them well.

Dr. Johnson to Boswell--"If general approbation will add anything to your enjoyment, I can tell you that I have heard you mentioned, as a man whom everybody likes. I think life has little more to give."

If you arbitrate a dispute between two of your friends, you are sure to make an enemy; if you arbitrate between two of your enemies, you are sure to make a friend.

--Bias, a Greek.

Never contend with one that is foolish, proud, positive, testy; or with a superior, or a clown, in matter of argument.

ASKING AND BESTOWING ASSISTANCE.

Those who are constrained to solicit for assistance are really to be pitied; those who receive it without, are to be envied; but those who bestow it unasked, are to be admired.

Associates--A man should live with his superiors as he does with his fire; not too near, lest he burn; nor too far off, lest he freeze.

--Diogenes.

If you always live with those who are lame, you will yourself learn to limp.

--Latin.

Never forget that if you are not interesting your audience, you are fatiguing it.

100

BEAUTIFUL.

The beautiful are never desolate, For some one always loves them.

101

Beauty of face is but a fleeting dower, A momentary gleam, a short-lived flower, A charm that goes no deeper than the skin; Beauty of mind is firm enthroned within.

102

There is the beauty of infancy, the beauty of youth, the beauty of maturity, and, believe me, ladies and gentlemen, the beauty of age.

103

Beauty with selfishness, is a flower without perfume.

104

What is beauty? 'Tis the stainless soul within That outshines the fairest skin.

--Sir A. Hunt.

105

FRAGILE IS BEAUTY.

Fragile is beauty: with advancing years 'Tis less and less, and, last, it disappears. Your hair too, fair one, will turn grey and thin; And wrinkles furrow that now rounded skin; Then brace the mind and thus beauty fortify, The mind alone is yours, until you die.

106

Beauty without kindness dies unenjoyed and undelighting.

--Johnson.

107

O bed! Delicious bed! That heaven upon earth to the weary head!

108

Generally men are ready to believe what they desire.

--Caesar.

109

The kindest benefactors have no recollection of the good they do, and are surprised when men thank them for it.

110

A beneficent person is like a fountain watering the earth, and spreading fertility; it is, therefore, more delightful and more honorable to give than receive.

--Epicurus.

111

There is no benefit so small, that a good man will not magnify it.

--Seneca.

112

To receive a benefit is to sell your liberty.

--Laberius.

113

He who receives a benefit should never forget it; he who bestows one should never remember it.

114

To act always from pure benevolence is not possible for finite beings. Human benevolence is mingled with vanity, interest, or some other motive.

115

Bereavement makes the heart tender and sympathetic.

116

If you wish to become acquainted with your betrothed, travel with him for a few days--especially if he is accompanied with his own folks--and take your mother along.

--Unknown.

117

The Bible is The Index to Eternity; He can not miss Of endless bliss That takes this chart to steer his voyage by.

--Herbert.

118

The following lines of Sir Walter Scott are said to have been copied in his Bible:

Within this awful volume lies The mystery of mysteries. Oh! happiest they of human race, To whom our God has given grace To hear, to read, to fear, to pray, To lift the latch, and force the way; But better had they ne'er been born Who read to doubt, or read to scorn.

119

Remember, that in prayer, you are speaking to God; that in reading the Bible, God is speaking to you.

120

FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE.

The learned prince of Grenada, heir to the Spanish throne, imprisoned by order of the Crown for fear he would aspire to the throne, was kept in solitary confinement in the old prison at the Palace of Skulls, Madrid. After thirty-three years in this living tomb, death came to his release, and the following remarkable researches, taken from the Bible, and marked with an old nail on the rough walls of his cell, told how the brain sought employment through the weary years.

The 35th verse, 11th chapter of John, is the shortest.

The 9th verse of the 8th chapter of Esther is the longest.

The 8th verse of the 97th Psalm is the middle verse of the Bible.

Each verse in Psalm 136 ends alike.

The 37th chapter of Isaiah and 19th chapter of 2d Kings are alike.

The word "girl" occurs but once in the Bible, and that in Joel, 3d chapter and 3d verse.

The word "Lord" is found 1853 times, the word "Jehovah" 6855 times, the word "reverend" but once, and that in Psalms 111th chapter and 9th verse.

The four most inspiring promises are in John, 14th chapter, 2d verse, 6th chapter and 37th verse; Matthew, 11th chapter and 28th verse, and in Psalms, 37th chapter and 4th verse.

The finest chapter is in Acts, 26th.

--Christian Observer.

120a

THE BIBLE.

Who, coming to this sacred book, with a sincere desire to know God's will for the direction of his life, will say that he can not find it? Who, desiring to be instructed in the way of salvation "through faith which is in Christ Jesus," will consult its pages, and say it is not made plain to him? Who, coming to it for equipment of his spiritual life, will say that there are still needs of that life which are left unprovided for? Who, seeking direction in the way of the life everlasting, can doubt that, if he faithfully obeys its teaching, he will reach that goal? The Scripture fulfils the ends for which it was given; no higher proof of its inspiration can be demanded. * * * * * What the closing verse of the 20th chapter of John's Gospel says of that book: "But these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye may have life through His name," may with equal truth be applied to the Bible as a whole.