BAD BOOKS.
IT is often worse to read bad books than it is to keep company with bad boys. Actions grow out of our thoughts, and a bad book can, in a few minutes, damage us forever. One of England's greatest and best men says that when a boy, another boy° loaned him a bad book for just fifteen minutes. He never could get away from the vile impression made upon his mind by that book in so short a time. He shed many bitter tears over it, and tried to forget it, but the shadow lingered. God forgave him, but he could not tear from his soul the memory of that evil book. My young friends, if you will hear the voice of age and wisdom, do not read bad, trashy books and papers. They feed unholy, lustful thoughts and lure to dark deeds. They poison the mind, and corrupt the morals. They are worse on the soul than liquor is on the brain. If you fill your mind with the rubbish of nonsense and the filth of vile thinking, there will be neither room nor relish for the choice gold of truth and the diamond dust of pure thought. In the Bible you will find the loftiest sentiments expressed in a clear, captivating style. It is a fountain of pure thought and clear English. Read it much, love it more, and live out its blessed teachings for ever.
Pacific Methodist.
WHENE'ER a noble deed is wrought,
Whene'er is spoken a noble thought,
Our hearts in glad surprise,
To higher levels rise.
Honor to those whose words or deeds
Thus help us in our daily needs,
And by their overflow
Raise us from what is low!
Longfellow