LITERARY NOTICES.

MEMOIR OF REV. OLIVER A. TAYLOR. By Rev. Timothy A. Taylor, A. M. Boston. Tappan and Whittemore, 1853.

The subject of this memoir was born in Yarmouth, Mass., in 1801; made a profession of religion at the age of fifteen, commenced his studies, amid many obstacles and discouragements, in his eighteenth year, and graduated at Union College in 1825. Subsequently he went through a three years' course of theological studies at Andover, and was settled at Manchester, Mass., in 1839, and died at that place in December, 1851.

Mr. Taylor was a laborious, affectionate and successful pastor, an instructive, spiritual and faithful preacher, an unwearied student, an eminent scholar, a man of vital godliness, of uniform purity of life, and of an humble, sweet and gentle spirit. The eminence which Mr. Taylor attained in extensive scholarship, through many obstacles, is not only worthy of remark ånd of admiration, but should prove an incentive to the young student with similar difficulties besetting his path.

It is a very interesting and truly valuable memoir, and its compilation is worthy of a brother's affection.

YOUNG'S NIGHT THOUGHTS. A New Edition, by James R. Boyd. Published by A. S. Barnes & Co. N. Y. City.

The present edition of this wonderful poem contains, on every page, notes, in elucidation of its "learned and historical allusions, its recondite truths, its obscurities and intricacies," beside nine pages of introductory observations, thirty-seven pages devoted to the life of Dr. Young, and twenty pages of a critical estimate of his works. The entire poem is also divided into paragraphs, with appropriate heads. One of the objects of the author is to make the book, now "extensively used in seminaries of learning, more useful as a text-book for grammatical analysis and / rhetorical criticism." He has performed his task with great fidelity, throwing around this sublime poem new attractions, and greatly increasing its value. STRAY MEDITATIONS. N. Y. City. Published by A. S. Barnes & Co.

This is a volume of fugitive essays, mostly in prose, written by Rev. J. T. Thompson, pastor of the Broadway Tabernacle Church, N. Y. City. The author entitles the book, Stray Meditations; or, Voices of the Heart. They are written with a freedom and simplicity of style, and with an unrestrained utterance of the heart's emotions, which will commend them to the lover of genuine and pure thoughts. The volume is embellished with a fine portrait of the author.

PRIMERS. A. S. Barnes & Co., N. Y. City, have published, for the benefit of young scholars, Primers, in French and English, German and English, and Spanish and English, illustrated by numerous beautiful wood cuts. Amusement is here blended with instruction.

SHEET MUSIC.

The Gallant Yacht and the Loosing of the Silver Chord; published by O. Ditson. These are vocal pieces, with a Piano Forte accompaniment.

Farewell Grand March, Maybells and the Flowers and Spring Morning; all arranged for the Piano Forte. Published by G. P. Reed.

MOSES SMITING THE ROCK.

SEE ENGRAVING.]

EDITORIAL.

THERE were two occasions on which Moses smote a rock, and thereupon water flowed forth. The first time this miracle was performed was at Horeb or Rephidim, in the first year of the journeyings of the children of Israel in the wilderness, and the second at Kadesh. It has generally been supposed, by biblical commentators and geographers, that there were two places by this name; but it has been satisfactorily ascertained, by recent investigations, and particularly by the actual observations of Dr. Robinson, that there was but one, and that it should be located, as in the Illuminated Atlas of the Pictorial Bible, near Mount Hor, instead of the south-eastern border of Canaan.

Kadesh was a place of much interest, from the fact that here the children of Israel twice encamped, with the expectation of entering the promised land, and were twice sent back; first, in pursuance of the sentence to wander forty years in the wilderness, and second, from the refusal of the King of Edom to permit them to pass through his dominions.

When they arrived at this place it was in the fortieth year after their departure from Egypt. They had become exceedingly weary with their wanderings and their mode of life, and here fresh obstacles and trials beset their way. They were impatient to reach the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey; and, beside, there was no water for man or beast. Under these circumstances they became angry with Moses and Aaron, and murmured against them greatly. Their language was to this import: "Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord. Why have ye brought us into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die here? Wherefore have ye brought us into this evil place, which is no place of seed, or of figs, or vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink?"

To this ungrateful language, Moses and Aaron made no reply, but went from their presence to the door of the tabernacle, and fell upon their faces. God then commanded Moses to take the rod and speak to the rock before their eyes, and it should give forth water: Moses

smote the rock twice, the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank and their beasts also.

It was at this place that the Lord informed both Moses and Aaron that they could not enter the promised land, because they believed him not, to sanctify him in the eyes of the children of Israel. They probably partook, to some extent, of the same spirit manifested by the people, for it is stated in Psalm 106: 32, 33, that the people angered Moses on this occasion, and provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.

It was at this place, also, that Miriam died. Eusebius says that her tomb was to be seen near Kadesh, in his time. Aaron died in four, and Moses in eleven months afterward.

THE DYING CHILD.

TRANSLATED FROM THE DANISH OF ANDERSEN.

BY MISS HANNAH F. GOULD.

MOTHER, I'm tired, and I would fain be sleeping;

Let me repose upon thy bosom meek;

But promise me that thou wilt leave off weeping,
Because thy tears fall hot upon my cheek.

Here it is cold; the tempest raveth madly;
But in my dreams all is so wondrous bright;

I see the angel-children smiling gladly,

When from my weary eyes I shut the light.

Mother, one steals behind me now, and listen;
Dost thou not hear the music's sweet accord?
See how his white wings beautifully glisten!

Surely, those wings were given him by our Lord!
Green, gold and red are floating all around me;
They are the flowers the angel scattereth.
Shall I have also wings while life has bound me?
Or, mother, are they given alone in death?

Why dost thou clasp me as if I were going?

Why dost thou press thy cheek thus unto mine?
Thy cheek is hot, and still thy tears are flowing;
I will, dear mother, will be always thine!
Do not sigh thus; it marreth my reposing,

And if thou weep, then I must weep with thee!
O, I am tired, my weary eyes are closing;
Look, mother, look! the angel kisseth me.

CULTURE OF THE PASSIONS.

EDITORIAL.

As parents, you are, no doubt, troubled, in a greater or less degree, by the exhibition of anger, stubbornness, irritability and other evil and unamiable traits of character in your children, which you find exceedingly difficult to eradicate or repress. You tremble when you consider the disastrous consequences which may result from these unsubdued passions; and well may you tremble on a matter of so much moment as this; one involving not only your own happiness, but also that of your children, for time and eternity; for if these passions are not subdued by parental discipline, or, as they sometimes are, by self-discipline, as adult life comes on, they will gradually acquire strength, render their possessor miserable, make his associates unhappy, and eventually plunge him into temporal and eternal ruin!

But do not despair. You have helps pregnant with power for good, and you will eventually succeed, if you are patient and continue in well-doing. Be persuaded to give yourselves to unceasing prayer, not only for them, but often with them, and be careful that this is accompanied by an example always safe to be imitated by them.

These passions in childhood are not indicative of such depravity of heart as is indicated by falsehood, theft, &c. They are the natural impulses, inseparable from the season of childhood and youth. You must bear in mind that this season is one of great activity and energy; that the mind is impulsive and excitable, and that all the passions are inflammable, and ready to take fire at the least friction. And consider how it would answer to have things otherwise. Would it appear right to you to have your children without spirit, ardor and vigor, and moving about, whenever they did move, with the gravity and decrepitude of age? How would you quicken such children into activity? What would the middle of life and the old age of such children be? The celebrated HANNAH MORE says, "I do not dislike extreme vivacity in children. I wish to see enough to make an animated character, when the violence of the animal spirits has subsided by time."

You must not, therefore, aim to eradicate these elementary principles of the mind, but only to give them a right direction; to take them off the wrong track and put them on the right; or, what is better still, never suffer them to enter the wrong. But having assumed the wrong form, you will, by pursuing a process of mental transformation, see the stubbornness of your children taking the form of decision of character and fortitude.

From anger will come a hatred of whatever is mean and low, and a love of truth.

From extreme vivacity will come cheerfulness, playfulness, and whatever contributes to make one an agreeable companion.

From irritability and a disposition to cry at trifles, will come sympathy for the afflicted, sensitiveness and delicacy of feeling. From an impulsive spirit will come quick perceptions and intuitive energy of action.

From revenge will come justice.

From wildness and impatience of restraint will come force, courage, strength, firmness, perseverance, nerve and efficiency. From excessive love of play will spring activity in business.

From covetousness will come a desire for the acquisition of property, which is perfectly commendable, if, in the disposition of it, the law of God is observed.

From stinginess may come economy.

The word of God and the Holy Spirit will aid you in thus modifying or giving a new and healthful direction to all the evil, unamiable and rude dispositions or propensities of your children. An eminent writer says, that "The finest, richest and most generous species of character, is, perhaps, that which early presents the most repulsive surface. Within the rough rind the feelings are preserved unsophisticated, vigorous and healthy."

Mrs. Sigourney observes, that "There are instances on record to encourage and cheer parents with regard to the most unpromising children, and of whom, perhaps, they are tempted to say, in moments of anguish, that they have labored in vain, and spent their strength for naught. Dr. Barrow, one of the most learned and eloquent English divines, on whom the critical Dr. Johnson pronounced the strongest verdict of praise, conceived, in early life, an aversion to study, and became so addicted to idle and vicious company, that his father, in bitterness of spirit, exclaimed, 'Should it please God to