house-and most weeks I spend several shillings a-week. At least, I could save all that I did not take with my meals or work; all the rest was only indulging myself, while my family had no share at all. Well, to be short, I quite resolved with myself that I would give up the publichouse entirely, let who liked laugh or jeer, and that I would not enjoy myself apart from my family; and with this determination in my mind I at length fell asleep.

Next morning, my children, who had heard me get up, called out “A happy new year, papa. We wish you a happy new year. Now we are to have the magazines." "Yes, my dears," said I, "that you shall; a happy new year to you, too;" and I thought and hoped they would have a happier new year, for I would spend my Saturday evenings with them, instead of wasting in the public-house the money I ought to spend on them. I had very soon to try the strength of my determination. At work every one was wishing another "a happy new year," and most were proposing to begin it happily, as they thought, by a party at the public-house I had not recollected this, as New Year's Day was Wednesday, and I thought I could slip off unnoticed on Saturday; but now all had agreed to join, and I should be the only one who would look unneighbourly and mean if I did not go with the rest. I avoided answering at first. thought of home what would my wife say? She, kind soul, would bid me do what I liked, only not stop late, or take too much; but I knew she would wish me at home. I thought of my resolution, but hoped if I went this once, which was not a regular thing, I might still keep off on Saturday; but then, again, I was quite certain that it would always be hard to do differently from the rest-the words of my children, "It would not cost more than a pint or two of beer," would stick in my mind; yes, I thought 1 may take for them and myself several of the penny and twopenny magazines during the whole year, for what I should spend to-night,—and, worst of all, I know that if I break my resolution once, I may easily be persuaded to break it once more; that thought happily made up my mind. I said plainly and at once, I would not join. Your numerous readers, who, like myself, work with companies, will understand in a moment the kind of replies I got from several of my fellow-workmen. "I was becoming a teetotaller; "I should soon be a saint;" "John would be preaching and praying soon;" such remarks, not to mention more revolting ones, I heard in abundance, when they, to their suprise, found I was quite firm in my resolution not to go. Much harder, however, was it to resist the good-tempered entreaties of others who were always friendly with me, and who reminded the rest that I had always been "a good fellow." I quietly told them that I would tell them my reasons another time. I said little all that morning, but turned over in my mind what I would do. A plan soon occurred to me. I determined to go to the children's Teacher, whom

I knew by sight, get the right name of the magazine the children wanted, and of as many others as would make up a certain sum for the whole year; then to go to the bookseller's to get the first number of each, which would of course be out that day, and pay the money for the whole year down, for each of them. I saw the Teacher going home to dinner; he was exceedingly pleased, for I told him the whole; and by his advice I got two different halfpenny magazines for my two children, who were old enough to read them easily, besides John Cassell's Working Man's Friend, a penny magazine belonging to the Religious denomination at whose Sunday school my children attended, the Family Friend, and the Appeal. All these I easily obtained at the bookseller's as I went back to work, and carried with me wrapped up in paper to the workshop, and laid them with my over-coat and hat. As it happened, and, indeed, as I half-wished, the unusual shape and look of the parcel led one of my friends to ask me what it might be ? I told him he should see if he liked to look in after tea as he was going to "The White Horse." My concealing the matter excited a little curiosity, and it seemed generally supposed that it had something to do with my not going to the frolic that evening. However, I said nothing, and we all left at five o'clock, with no further words about it. I forgot to say I had told my wife at noon-time of what the others were going to do, and she, supposing I was going, as a matter of course, only cautioned me "not to let myself down among them, for they would lead me on to what I would repent of." I said nothing to her then. So when tea was over I got up, and she thought I was going out, and looked as much as to say again, "Take care." However, I went to my coat, took out the parcel, sat down again, and bid them all come round the fire. Every eye was fixed on the parcel,—some little time was occupied in setting the younger ones to open it without cutting the string; the biggest boy at last shewed them how to slip it over the end of the parcel, and out peeped the coloured cover of the magazines. "Oh, the magazine! the magazine! papa has got the magazine already!" shouted three or four little voices; but how great was the pleasure when it was found that the oldest two had one each, besides several others for the common good, you, if you are a parent, as from some of your own pieces I suppose you are, can well understand. When the pictures had all been looked at, I took one of the magazines, and looking out a tale in which I thought all would be interested, I began to read it to them; my wife ́meanwhile amusing the youngest of all with some of the pictures on her knee. Oh! I did feel the sweetness of preferring my family to the public-house, and spending my money on what all enjoyed, rather than selfishly gratifying a depraved taste, and injuring body and mind too. Well, while we were thus engaged, in came three of my friends of the better sort, whom I mentioned before, who were going on to "The White Horse." The children soon ran up

to them, for they knew them well, and told them about the magazines, and shewed them those that were their own. "Oh, John, this then, was the parcel you were so secret about at the workshop, is it?" said one of them; 66 why, you had no need to put off telling us what it was till now.” "Well," I said, "perhaps I had not; but I thought it was of no use raising a laugh at myself for nothing." I then told them the whole tale of my children's request, and my thoughts and resolutions in consequence, and how difficult I found it not to give way in the morning; this, I added, was the first word my wife had heard of what I now told them, and I asked them whether they did not think my New Year's Day Evening quite as happy a one as that at "The White Horse;" and this to boot, that every month we should have the new magazines, and something worth reading all the month, and all worth binding up for books at the year's end; while, by always pursuing the same course, I should save at least a shilling or two every week, and perhaps £3 or £4 a year, for the use of my family. My friends agreed most cordially that I had the best of it. I need not tell you what my wife's looks said-tears were the only words she could use. My friends were rising to go; but two of them said, "No; they would sit an hour or two with me, and take home their money to their wives and families too;" the other said he had no excuse for stopping away, but he hoped he should think of it another time. A very pleasant evening we had-my wife and children, and our two friends-and we all agreed that thus far, at least, we had a "Happy New Year."

But this is not all. I soon began to think the teetotalers I had so often laughed at right, and that I might save several pints of beer daily; and I have found water a more strengthening drink than strong beer. Strong beer used its strength against me, but water has made me a heartier, healthier man than ever. I soon too, followed my children (alas, I ought to have led them!) to the place of worship where they were taught; and ob, how different did religion look when I heard it enforced by those who loved and practised it, to what it did when I heard of it only from the scorn and jeers of ignorant and conceited infidels. I trust I am not deluded in hoping that I am a sincere follower, however imperfect a one, of the blessed Saviour. I can only say, in conclusion, that my dear children's wish has been indeed fulfilled, for the past year was certainly the happiest I have yet known; I only wish that very many may have one like it this year, and that they may leave for ever that Poor Man's Family Curse, the public-house, and take up with the House of God instead, preferring to spend their money on their families' comfort, to swallowing it down, away from home, in pleasure below a swine; then, truly, will they have a "Happy New Year."

J. M. Burton and Co., Printers and Stereotypers, Steam Press, Ipswich.

1

A MANCHESTER HOME.

BY A BAPTIST MINISTER.

MANY intelligent and philanthropic men are engaged in visiting the poor, and endeavouring to discover the best means of improving their physical and moral condition. In a recent number of the Manchester Times, we find an account of some visits made in that town, by a gentleman of evident experience and piety. We need not say he saw much that shocked his feelings, and convinced him that "ignorance, drunkenness, and irreligion" are the bane of the poor. Writing of one home he says :—' "We looked in, and saw a number of articles lying in confusion. Pots and pans were heaped together, on a table, and two or three old chairs were clinging together as if for mutual support. One woman was stretched at full length near the fire place, evidently drunk; another was lying on a bed in a similar condition; while a younger female, with disordered hair and dress, seemed to be attempting to make some arrangements of things. She turned to us, and began to mak an apology for the state of the room, saying, "You see we have been flitting." "Yes," our friend replied, “and I am sorry to see that drinking has been connected with your removal." The words were no sooner uttered, than the woman in bed raised herself on her elbow, and began to assail us with a torrent of the most profane and abusive language, telling us that poor folks could not get a sup of drink, but some sneaking and meddling persons would come and find it out; and threatening that if we did not leave the room instantly, she would make us go down stairs faster than we came up. We kept our ground, however, and addressed a few remarks to her; but this only increased her exasperation and cursing, until, finding that we were not to be frightened by her violence, she stopped her ears, and thus escaped from the sound of our words of expostulation and warning. As we arrived at the street, we stopped for a minute to look on the painful spectacle of five women in a public house before us, engaged in a fight, and tearing each other's faces and hair with the utmost fury. Alas! what degradation and wretchedness had we this afternoon beheld."

So much for Manchester. Go with us, reader. We will show you another home which we know well. It is a back room, and very small, dirty and repulsive to the sense of smell. There is no fire, though it is winter; there is no nurse, though a sick girl

lies on a pallet of straw placed on the floor. An old sack covers her. She is cold, ill, hungry, hopeless. Her father is a drunkard, and came in last night, and took from his child's tender form an old sheet which a friend had given her, and pawned it for drink. Her mother is absent; her brother is a thief; her sister is in prison, and she, this young girl, reader, is perishing, and all through an accursed passion for intoxicating liquor.

It

We write for your profit. Are you using strong drink? is the curse of the people, and the destroyer of souls. Is it right, then, to use it? You are, probably, the head of a family-a Christian parent. The home-pictures just given have affected you. Strong drink caused the sorrows and sins you deplore. It is not right to use it, and we, therefore, ask you to adopt the following family pledge :

"Being fully persuaded that the custom of using alcoholic beverages is unnecessary and pernicious; that, in our land, it is the instrumental cause of the greater part of crime punishable by law, open wickedness, and secret sin; that it is prejudicial to society, socially, civilly, and religiously; that it is injurious to the health of body and mind; that it causes the loss of a vast amount of life and property; that it produces drunkenness, which paves the way for the commission of unnumbered sins; that it sends annually about 60,000 of our fellow-citizens into the drunkard's grave and a lost eternity; that it is the greatest barrier, in our land, to the conversion of souls, the progress of the Redeemer's kingdom, and the revival of vital godliness; that it is attended with, or productive of almost all evil, and no good;;-we of this family, for the greater glory of our God, our own greater safety, usefulness, and happiness, and the greater good of the church and the world, do hereby, from this time, sincerely, deliberately, and voluntarily resolve to abstain from giving, receiving, or using any of these drinks; and in token of this our family agreement, do now adhibit

our names.

The adoption of such a pledge will surround your family with a safeguard, and increase their strength, beauty, and peace.

We trust, reader, that you will cheerfully adhere to the foregoing pledge, and thus make Temperance your household word and friend.

The Family Argument is taken from Drummond's Stirling Tracts-a Series worthy of perusal.

Societies may receive 24 Sixpenny Packets of Tracts and Hand Bills in any part of London, by a post-office order for 10s. 6d., or 50 packets for 21s., being sent to Richard Dykes Alexander, Ipswich. All Country Booksellers may obtain Tracts through William Tweedie, 337, Strand, London.

J. M. Burton and Co., Printers and Stereotypers, Steam Press, Ipswich.