A very striking instance of the value of a penny is set before us in that most wonderful system the penny-postage, the institution of which was a boon to the kingdom that cannot be too highly appreciated.  It enables rich and poor alike to bring their thoughts and desires into communication with each other, and so relieve anxious cares in regard to the health and wealth, the joys and sorrows of friends in an easy manner.  A penny stamp can convey all our requirements, whether for good or for evil, and many a large sum is now transmitted under its care.  I have been told that as many as 60,000 letters have passed through the travelling post-office of the London and North-Western Railway in one night.  How could this great correspondence ever have been carried on but for railways; and but for the foresight of Sir Rowland Hill this system might still have been in the background.  It is clearly in my recollection when 1 s. 1-1/2 d. was the charge for a letter from London to Edinburgh, and that was for what was then called a single letter; now you may send as much as you like under a certain weight for one penny.

Travelling is now also a thing within the reach of all, for you can travel for one penny a mile, and this at a rate of speed that could not be done a few years ago.  So much for railways.

Having begun with matters more especially affecting older people, it would be hard indeed to leave out the younger branches, and the means that are now employed not only for their comfort, but their amusement.  Among other requirements for them we may class their toys.  They are in a sense most needful, as well as useful, for our children, and from many of the ingenious toys now-a-days we can acquire a great deal of knowledge, useful to ourselves and of advantage to others.  The beauty of their manufacture is a striking instance of the ingenuity of man as applied to small things, seeing that toys, so to speak, are only made for a few days’ enjoyment, and are then almost certain to be broken.  But for their short and transient existence what an amount of mental energy has been brought to bear—­the fancy of the child has to be studied and provided for, in a way to please, gratify, and amuse, teaching the young idea how to shoot:  all this for one penny.  Look at the carts, horses, and other articles innumerable that are to be bought at the bazaars in London for a penny, and do they not bring before us in a striking manner what has been done for the benefit of the young.  These toys, which only cost a penny, have caused many hard and anxious thoughts, are the means of giving work to thousands, and enabling these thousands to live an honest and happy life by furnishing a paying living, while at the same time they minister to the acquirements of those who when young require amusement.  All this is done for a penny’s worth; but how divided is this before the wonderful toy is produced!  We have wood, iron, copper, tin, lead—­I may say, all the metals, even the most precious (for