THE CONFESSIONS OF A PUBLICAN.

At a Temperance Meeting an individual, who had formerly been a publican, but who had become a member of the Society, addressed the Chairman in nearly the following terms:

"There is one incident I will relate. Sir, the last five years, a hard working mechanic, with a wife and several small children, came regularly, almost every night, to my house, and spent the evening in the tap-room. He came to drink, of course, and many a shilling of his earnings went into my till. At last he became a perfect sot, working scarcely one-fourth of his time, and spending all he earned in liquor. His poor wife had to take in washing to support herself and children; while he spent his time, and the little he could earn, at my house. But his appetite for liquor was so strong, that his week's earnings were usually all gone by Tuesday or Wednesday, and then I had to chalk up a score against him, to be paid off when Saturday night came. The score gradually increased until it amounted to three or four shillings over his regular Saturday night's pay, when I refused to sell him any more liquor until it was settled. On the day after I refused to sell him any more, he came in with a neat mourning breast-pin, enclosing some hair-no doubt, I thought, of a deceased relation. This he offered in payment of what he owed. I accepted it, for the pin I saw at once was worth double the amount of my bill. I did not think, nor indeed care about the question, whether he was the owner of it or not; I wanted my own, and in my selfish eagerness to get my own, I hesitated not to take a little more than my own.

"I laid the breast-pin away, and all things went on smoothly for a while. But he gradually got behind again, and again I cut off the supply of liquor. This time he brought me a pair of brass candlesticks. I took them, and wiped off the score against him. At last he brought me a large family Bible, and I took that too; thinking, no doubt, I could sell it for something.

"On the Sunday morning afterwards, having nothing to do, for I used to shut up my house on Sunday mornings, thinking it was not respectable to sell liquor then, I opened this poor drunkard's family Bible, scarcely thinking of what I was doing. The first place that I turned to was the family record. There it was stated that on a certain day he had been married to Emily I had known Emily when I was a young man, very well, and had once thought seriously of offering myself to her in marriage.

"Poor creature! I sighed involuntarily, as a thought of her present condition crossed my mind; and then with no pleasant feelings, I turned over the next leaf. There was the record of the birth of four children; the last made recently in the mother's hand. I never had such a strange feeling as now came over me. I felt that I had no business with this book. But I tried

to stifle my feelings, and turned over several leaves. I suffered my eyes to rest upon an open page, and these words arrested my attention: 'Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.' This was just the subject that, under the feeling I had, I wished to avoid; and so I referred to another place. There I read: 'Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath wounds? Who hath babbling? Who hath redness of eyes? They who tarry long at the wine. At last it biteth like a serpent, it stingeth like an adder.' I felt like throwing the book from me. But once more I turned the leaves, and my eyes rested upon these words: 'Woe unto him who giveth his neighbour drink; that putteth the bottle to his lips, and maketh him drunken.'

"I closed the book suddenly, and then threw it down; and then, for half an hour, I paced the room backwards and forwards in a state of mind such as I never before experienced. I had become painfully conscious of the direful evils resulting from intemperance, and still more painfully conscious that I had been a willing instrument in the spread of these evils. I cannot tell how I suffered during that day and night, nor describe the fearful conflict that took place in my mind between the selfish love of the gains of my calling, and the plain dictates of truth and humanity. It was about nine o'clock, I think, on that evening, that I opened the drunkard's Bible again, with a kind of despairing hope that I might find something to direct me. I opened at the Psalms, and read two or three chapters. As I read on, without finding anything that seemed to apply directly to my case, I felt an increased desire to abandon my calling, because it was injurious to my fellow-men. After I had read the Bible, I retired to my bed, but could not sleep. I am sure that during that night I thought of every drunken man to whom I had sold liquor, and all their beggared families. In the brief sleep that I obtained, I dreamed that I saw long rows of tottering drunkards, with their wives and children in rags; and a loud voice said, 'Who hath done this?'

"The answer, in a louder voice, directed, I felt, to me, smote upon my ear like a peal of thunder-Thou art the man.'

"From this troubled slumber I awoke to sleep no more that night. In the morning the last and most powerful conflict came. The question to be decided was-Shall I open my house, or abandon my trade for some other?" Happily I decided to do this. My next step was to turn my house into a grocer's shop. Then I went and joined a Temperance Society; and, what is better, never rested until I had persuaded the man whose Bible had been of so much use to me, to do likewise. Four of my oldest customers have already joined the Temperance Society, by my persuasion; and I am not going to rest until every man that I helped to ruin, is restored to himself, his family, and society."

Stereotyped and Printed by J. M. Burton, Ipswich.

PETER LEVISON;

OR, THE RUINED MINISTER.

PETER LEVISON arose from an obscure situation to the honorable office of a christian pastor. In early life he evinced a love to religion, and so favorable was the opinion formed by his friends of his piety and talents, that they encouraged hin to exercise his gifts among villagers, and afterwards recommended him to the committee of a collegiate institution. Having had but few educational advantages, his mind was uncultivated and his manners very uncouth. He no sooner entered upon his studies than he evinced a determination to improve to the utmost the opportunity afforded for the cultivation of his mind and the correction of his habits, as a christian and a minister. His close application to study, and corresponding consistency of behaviour, won admiration; his pulpit labours too were well approved, and the general observation made concerning him was, "Mr. L. is a very promising young minister."

The time at length arrived when Peter must enter upon public labours. An opening soon presented itself, and he entered upon the regular duties of the ministry. The scene of his labours was one of mingled trial and encouragement. The cause of religion was at a very low ebb, but there was a simplicity and honest affection amongst the villagers which animated his spirits, and inspired zeal for their welfare. He laboured hard to revive the drooping cause, and the fruit of his labours soon began to appear: congregations were enlarged, new places of worship were opened, members were added to the church, and his influence was soon seen in the reformed habits of the people. The village green was deserted for the house of God. One thing which led to this pleasing change doubtless was the regular visits of the minister to the poor and afflicted. The affections of the young, too, were excited by his regard for their welfare.

For several years this happy state of things continued, during which time the legitimate influence of a christian pastor over an affectionate and confiding flock was strikingly manifest; the people were in an emphatic sense HIS OWN; and so unbounded was their confidence in his judgment and piety, that they cheerfully laboured to carry out all his plans

for the Redeemer's cause. The praises of Mr. Levison spread through the neighbourhood, and there was scarcely a village or hamlet which was not occasionally favoured with his labours. He became popular, and was frequently called out on public occasions to advocate the cause of God before delighted crowds.

During all this time there was an enemy, secretly, insidiously, but most certainly, gaining an advantage over Peter, and preparing for an attack, which should one day lay him as low as his namesake, whose history is recorded in the volume of truth. Intemperance had desired to have him, that he might "sift him as wheat." But mark the progress of this foe, and observe the wily manner in which his end was accomplished.

The people amongst whom Peter's lot was cast were proverbially hospitable; and during the dark age of intemperance. there was no idea of hospitality or kindness apart from eating and drinking; hence, whenever the pastor entered the habitations of the people, almost the first remark was, "Now, Mr. L., what will you take?" The rich would particularize their various choice liquors, and the poor would contrive to have a glass of "good ale," or a little home-made wine, if not a drop of gin, for their beloved minister. This, gentle reader, is not intended as a satirical remark-it is a plain matter of fact; and I verily believe the people were honest in their expression of affection. They thought his labours were so arduous as to need extra support; and it was an axiom, that strong liquor would make a man strong, and fit him for hard work. They would have looked upon Peter as superhuman if he had performed all his labours on the cold water system. The pastor too had imbibed the opinion of his flock, and he also felt a gnawing pain at his stomach, which seemed to cry, "Give, give." In his pastoral visits, therefore, he cast aside all squeamish delicacy, and when asked what he would take, replied, if in the forenoon, "A little of your mild ale;” or after dinner, "A little cold gin and water;" or, if at night, “A bottom of brandy, with hot water and sugar;" that is, if he happened to be in the midst of this variety. With this RESTORATIVE and his pipe, he would sit and enlarge on theoretical or practical divinity, to the astonishment of the circle honoured with his company.

This habit of drinking strong drinks, to increase strength, and lull the inward gnawings, became inveterate, and on

sacrament days he would drink the leavings in the cup, or take a little extra from a broken bottle, after the solemn ceremony was concluded; and, on other days, would go from the pulpit to the spirit or wine bottle, to recruit the wasted energies of nature; and would often say, "This hard preaching will one day be the death of me." There were other occasions, too, when this habit was fostered; such as quarterly or annual meetings of ministers, ordination services, Bible, Tract, and Missionary meetings; and various other opportunities when ministers assembled, and when, in the parlour of some wealthy professor, or the dining-room of an Inn, these dear brethren would smoke their pipes and take a friendly glass together, and exhibit their loyalty and christian patriotism by drinking toasts.

And when Mr. L. went to preach charity sermons in largo towns, he was urged, before and after preaching, to step into the vestry, and take a glass of wine; for the deacons of these churches had not forgotten the injunction of Paul to Timothy ; and supposing that the "successors of the apostles" might be subject to "stomach" complaints, as well as the son of Eunice, they took care to have a little cupboard in the vestry, which would hold a few bottles of wine.

But mark the effect of these customs on the conduct of our hero. In time there was an evident change in his temper and general demeanor, both in the pulpit and out of it. Sometimes his preaching would be characterized by the appearance of that "wrath" which "worketh not the righteousness of God," and his hearers left the house of God under the impression that he had been in a passion. His visits to the poor, too, became less frequent, while he showed a more decided attachment to the habitations of the rich; and it was often remarked, that he preferred the company of the gentry, whose tables were loaded with decanters and glasses, or who occasionally sent him a few bottles of wine, that he might enjoy himself at home, or treat his friends when they came to see him. His conversation, too, was less of a heavenly character, and had a great deal to do with politics. I never shall forget one remark which I heard from the lips of a worldly-minded man, which, though intended as a compliment, was a sad reflection upon him. He observed, when speaking on the character of Mr. L., "He is very good company; he can enjoy himself with his pipe and glass, and he does not make a BORE OF RELIGION." This accorded with an observation I heard Peter make him