When one of your number abuses the rest, and you are tempted to injure and beat him, wait till you have said to yourselves, “He is still our brother; and though he has done us wrong, why should we strike or injure him?”

When you see a companion in trouble, and one to whom your assistance can do much good, recollect he is a brother, or she is a sister, and fly to help him.  And oh! if all, both old and young, would act upon this principle, how different would be the aspect of affairs from what it now is!  Then the kingdom of God would dawn upon us.  Then the wolf and the lamb would lie down together, and the lion eat straw like an ox.  Then we should be like little children, and the blessing-smile of Jehovah would shed upon us choicest benediction.

[Illustration]

FORTUNE-TELLING.

A DIALOGUE FOR EXHIBITIONS.

BY JULIA A. FLETCHER.

Sophronia.  Come, girls, let us go and have our fortunes told.

Eveline.  Oh!  I should like it of all things; where shall we go?

Sarah.  Let us go to old Kate Merrill’s.  They say she can read the future as we do the past, by hand, tea-cups, or cards.  Come, Mary Ann.

Mary Ann.  Excuse me, girls, if I do not go with you.  I do not think it is right to have our fortunes told.

Sophronia.  Not right? why not?

Mary Ann.  Because, if it had been best for us to know the future, I think God would have revealed it to us.

Sarah.  Oh, but you know this is only for amusement.

Eveline.  Of course, we shall not believe a word she says.

Mary Ann.  If it is only for amusement, I think we can find others far more rational and innocent.  But depend upon it, girls, you would not wish to go, if there were not in your minds a little of credulous feeling?

Sophronia.  Well, I am sure I am not credulous.

Mary Ann.  Do not be offended, Sophronia; I only meant that we are all of us more inclined to believe these things than we at first imagine.

Sarah.  I think that Mary Ann is right in this respect.  I am sure I would not go if I did not think her predictions would come to pass.

Mary Ann.  Certainly; I could not suppose you would spend your time and money to hear an old woman tell you things you did not believe.

Eveline.  Well, I am sure I do not see any harm in having a little fun once in a while.

Sophronia.  No; and I think it is very unkind in Mary Ann to spoil all our pleasures with her whims.  She is always preaching to us about giving up our own way for the comfort of others, and I think she ought to give up now, and go with us.

Sarah.  Now, really, Sophronia, I think you are the one that is unkind.  If Mary Ann is wrong, it is better to convince her of it kindly, and I am sure she will acknowledge it.