Pontypool Free Press and Herald of the Hills

FROM PONTYPOOL TO CALCUTTA BY THE REV. T. R. EDWARDS, (Late Student of Pontypool College.) 0 OCTOBER 22nd.—We are thankful to state that our unfavourable anticipations of last night were entirely groundless, for we enjoyed, almost all of us, sound and refreshing sleep. It is true some of us did get frightful dreams, far more terrible than English dreams but when compared with Monday night it was delightful. When we get up on deck we are informed that we are in the Bay of Biscay. How dreadfully this place has been painted, & what dreadful an- ticipations we had formed but we learn, as we cast a glance over its wilderness of troubled waters, that it is now gloriously calm to what it isusually. We were truly thankful for this, for the narrow escapes and wreck related of it, caused us to look upon it with horror. How grand it is to sit down on the deck and watch the waves as they come and go, engaged in their dreadful sport, chasing one another over the face of the briny deep-dashing violently against the ship's side—then springing backward n covered with foam—then buffetting one ano- ther, as if angry at the interruption—one in. stant more, and they settle down iu their place, and go on unmolested with their mad game. In this manner they have crossed the ocean and recrossed it ever since the beginning. And we were also greatly amused at seeing a num- ber of porpoises (a fish about as large as a hog) sporting in the water. They travel very swiftly —quite as fast as the vessel-and are, we were informed, able to go much faster, and the rate at which we are going is upwards of 12 miles per hour. It is curious to see them, after short intervals, springing up out of the water, and plunging immediately iu again. But it was grand to see them at night, just in front of the vessel, doubtless trying to outdo her, or, per- haps, to imagine themselves pursued by an enemy, and in his very teeth to show their fear- lessness by keepiug just in front of him, and cutting all manner of capers in the water. They are very easily discernable by being enveloped with a light like phosphorus and leaving along streak of fire, as it were, behind them. And it was also incomparably grand to to see the spray caused by the ship's speed converted into a mass of luminous milky fluid, and here and there a star, as it were, equal in brightness to those of the first maguitude, would flash beautifully for an instant and then disappear. In describing this we cannot but feel how much our words fail in conveying a just conception of its beauty, and those who have witnessed the same scene themselves cannot but feel how vain it would be to attempt to give a full description of it. To-day again sea. sickness has prevailed but many are" npw getting better by degrees. As regards ourselves weliave until now kept stu- diously silent, fearing that at last our turn would come, and that if we laughed at others they would laugh at its but as our good for- tune continues, we now feel certain we shall es- cape altogether, This has been the case with but few. Even the captain, we understand, has been a sufferer, OCTOBEtt 23.-Tilorougliiy enjeyed last night. There is now something very soothing in the motion of the vessel which invites sleep. This morning is delightfully fine. We are gradually getting into a warmer climate. Still iu the Bay of Biscay, but we 1iope to get out of it by i2 o'clock to-day. The sea is still beautifully calm for the i^ay. The waves ^re still rolling grandly one after another, and seem to press forward to catch a glimpse of our noble ship stemming them courageously. To-day nearly all the passengers are well, and turn cut to en- joy the beautiful weather, and the deck is all alívø with bright joyous faces. Oh, this is so cheering after he dreadful spectacle we witnessed when they were ill. AU now say that it is well worth undergoing the pain of illness to enjoy a day of this sort. The colour of the sea is ever-changing at one time it is of a dark sombre colour, at another time like a sea of molten lead, and then as the cloudy clear away, and the blue sky is visible, it is of a deep blue colour and when night sets in, and the moon shines forth upon the water, it is spangled across with a pathway of glittering silver light; and here and there, as the waves proudly toss gp one above the other, they are capped with patches like burnished sjlyer. We passed Cape Finisterre, the southern extreipity'pf the Bay of Biscay, about twelve o'clock, but did not see it in consequence of being too far out at sea. We have been very highly favoured in passing the dreadful Bay so successfully. The sailors ac- count for it by saying that tlio 11 Chyebassa has always been lucky bnt we are inclined to think that our wise and merciful Father, who holds the winds in His fist and the mighty deep in the hollow of His hand, has graciously willed it so. However, to His name be the praise, not only for this, but for all dispensations, whether favourable or unfavourable. OCTOBBR 24th.—Up early this morning, and thoroughly enjoying the fresh breeze blowing. We feel that we are approaching snnuier skies, for the sun even at seven in the morning is de- lightfully warm, and as we basked in its rays, we could not help thinking of friends at home shivering with the cold, or roasting themselves over fires. As the morning wore on, we were told that we were approaching land, and pre- sently we saw some object looming indistinctly in the distance, as if it were a cloud, which ere long shaped itself into two large rocks, rising precipitously out of the water. The one was of a conical shape, tapering gradually to a round point towards the summit. Beyond the rocks was an island, on which was a lighthouse. How welcome to us was land, after such a long time with nothing visible but sea sea on all sides. It was not long before we came to Cape Roca, which, mountain-like, extended far into the ocean. The ship's course Jay very near to it, in order that it might signal its safe arrival to a station built there for that purpose, from whence the news would be conveyed by telegraphic communication to England in half an-hour's time. So this gave us an opportunity of scru- tinising very closely the coast. It was of a very wild and rugged appearance, rising in steep precipices out of tho sea. On the top wo could discern villages and hamlets gleaming brightly in the sun, and far above them towered the mountain in rugged pointed peaks, capped with clouds of snowy whiteness. Ravines of pro- found depth appeared to us to abound and the hill-sides were beautifully clothed with olives. It was pretty to see tho windmills at work, of which there were a very groat number; we counted five within a very short distance of each other. Here, near the month of the Tagus, on which is situated Lisbon, the capital of Por- tugal,we saw a very great number of small Por- tuguese crafts. And what amused us was their comical-looking appearance. To give you an exact description would be impossible we have never seen anything like them. First of all we compared them to a great goose, with out- stretched wings and head erect, skimming swiftly over the sea then when we got nearer we compared them to three legs of mutton joined together at right angles. The vessel itself was like a tub, almost as broad as long. However, in the distance, they appeared more like fairy creatures than the miserable craft they are. A short time afterwards we sighted another cape, called Espichel, and hero we saw the last of Portugal. And as the land faded dimly away, we could not help saying-Poor Portugal sunk low in sin and ignorance, when wilt thou arise ? It has been said of the Spa- niard that he is'proud, ignorant, indolent, trea- cherous, revengeful, and cruel and that to make a genuine Portuguese we must add hypo- crisy to all the vices of the Spaniard. If this be true, their state must truly be wretched. To witness the injurious results of Popery, as main- tained by the bloody Inquisition, we have but to glance at the present state of Spain and Lis- bon, and we see their prospects as nations for a time blighted, and their villages in many places in a ruinous condition, whole districts almost depopulated, and their subjects steeped in the grossest ignorance. In speaking of Por- tugal, we almost forgot to mention the great earthquake which occurred at Lisbon in 1755, when in a few minutes the central portion of tho city, lying next to the river, with its 60,000 inhabitants, was completely destroyed. What a tale of horror this is How sad to reflect upon (To be continued).

Wheat maintains its price. Last week there were 36,553 quarters sold in the United Kingdom. This was the smallest quantity sold during any corresponding week for several years. The aver- age price last week was 50s 9d, compared with r, 9s 9d for the corresponding week last year. THE VALUE OF RAGS.—It is computed that over a million sterling is aunually made out of the mungo and shoddy trade and that as much cloth is made every year from old rags, with a proper admixture of low wools, as would supply the whole of the adult population of Great Britain with a new suit, and all the women with a good-sized cloth jacket, and all the children with one suit or dress.— Ifool Trade Reuiem. H ALLAN" LiNE.-Referring to a recent an- nouncement that tenders were being asked for the construction of a large passenger steamer of -5500 tons for the Allan Line, we are now in a position to state that the order for this steamer—to be called the Parisian"—has been placed with Messrs Napier, of Glasgow, the celebrated ship- builders and engineers. The Parisian" will be built of steel, made on the Siemens-Martin prin- ciple, and the material to be used in construction will be subjected to the most rigid tests both by Lloyd's and bv the owners' own Surveyor. The steamer is to have a double bottom on the same system of construction as was introduced by Messrs Allan in their new cargo steamer Buenos-Ayrean," now nearly ready for sea, and which is also to be adopted in the new Cunapd steamer Sahara." The design and specification of this magnificent addition to the Allan fleet embrace every ascer- tained improvement likely to secure safety, effi- ciency, and comfort at sea,, a, q the "Parisian" may be expected to take her place among the other well-known steamers of the Line in April, 1881. HOLLOWAY'S OINTMENT AND PILLS.-I)Lirin,(- every break of wintry weather exertions should be made by the afflicted to recover health before un- remitting cold and trying storms set in. Throat ailments, cough's, wh'eezings,asthmatical affections, shortness of breath, morning nausea, and accumu. lations of phlegm, can readily be removed by rub- bing this fine derivated Ointment twice a day upon the chest and neck. Holloway's treatment is strongly recommended with the view of giving immediate ease, preventing prospective danger, and effecting permanent relief. These all impor- tant ends his Ointment and Pills can accomplish, 'and will" surely prevent insidious diseases froili fastening on the constitution to displav themselves afterwards in those disastrous forms that will pro. bably embitter life till death itself is almost prayed for.

ST. JAMES'S HARVEST FESTIVAL. As announced in the FREE PRESS of last week, the annual harvest festival at St. James's Church was held on Thursday evening. The sermon was preached by the Rev John Griffith, M.A., Rector of Merthyr, who took for his text the 25th, 26th, and 28th verses of the 6th chapter of the Gospel ac- cording to St. Matthew: —" Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment ? Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they ? And why take thought for raiment ? Con- sider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin." The Rector ob- served that it would be a fortnight to-morrow even- ing since an experience of this kind happened to I him He was going to preach at a large church in I the neighbourhood of a large town some distance from here—he would not say where. When he got to the station and alighted from the train, he was met by his friend the clergyman of the parish. As they were within one or two steps of the clergy- man's house, a portly and elderly gentleman came up to them and said to his friend, Why do you have a harvest thanksgiving this year ? We have had no harvest to speak ofand he also added, H We have had no rent day, and I can get no rents from the farmers." His remarks struck him (the Rector) very much, more especially as he had been reading in the daily papers two or three days before a somewhat long letter reflecting upon the clergy for keeping a harvest festival this year. This letter stated that there was something inconsistent in it, under the circumstances, that they should sing these glorious hymns of thanksgiving, and that it was altogether out of place. Well, he thought a little over the matter, and when he got into the church he found a large congregation there. Putting these two matters together, he thought, as a min- ister of God, that he ought to call special attention to the subject. He said that a harvest festival was observed by all. The harvest, he admitted, had been a very poor one. He read in newspapers of last Monday a return of what the harvest would probably yield this year. The harvest in England and Wales was somewhat like 27 millions a year on the average, but this year it was computed at 6,700,000 of corn. But they had had during the harvest very bad weather. He noticed amongst the statistics that from the 19th of October, 1878, until the end of December there had literally not been seven days consecutive fine weather. They knew that things had not ripened at all as they used to ripen, and neither had they matured where they otherwise would. Let them return to the bad harvest, the bad weather, and the bad times. If they lived until the next year, or if they lived until Christmas, they would be going on to five years of bad harvests, bad weather, and bad times. What did all this mean ? He could only give it one in- terpretation, namely, that God thought they were very bad people. If they made observation he thought they would think they had been bad peo- ple. There was depression in everything, as it had become the fashion to call it now. Depression in agriculture, aggravated by a bad harvest; depres- sion in shipping j and depression, they knew, in trade generally. He never knew such things before, and he prayed to God he should never see them again. There was depression in mining, and depression in all things. Put all these together, and consider this:—With all this depression amongst them, in what year among all those which they or he could remember, ought they to hold a harvest festival with more fitness than in this year ? Was it only for the benefit they could de- rive that they put up those beautiful decorations ? He thanked God to see His house so well deco- rated. When they set about these decorations, did the heart go with the fingers ? Unless it did there was little use in setting- them up as a sacrifice to God. The use of a harvest thanksgiving service was to thank God for what he had given them. Supposing the harvest had been bad, it might have been worse. Above all things, when they came to thank God once a year, let them reflect if they had been acting during the past year as Christian men and women ought to do or again, ask themselves, rich and poor alike, Have we, in the year past, acted in the way in which rich and poor ought to act ?" When they had all these things placed be- fore them, and they remembered the suffering which they had endured in the past bad times, could they come to any other conclusion than that God was teaching them a lesson. He had said just I now that the bad harvest, and bad weather, and bad times had been all caused, because they, rich and poor, had been all bad people. Take the rich first of all. Since God created this world had they known such times as had been experienced for the last six, or eight, or nine years ? Within the record of man had they ever such times of prosperity as in the years he had indicated. It literally rained down sovereigns, but what good had it done them ? Everybody, whether honestly or roguishly, made haste tO-g-et, rich. and the rifVi ww until they were richer. Were there ever seen in the world such luxuries as they saw then ? Look at the gardens the upper classes were planting. Look at the purple and fine linen they wore, and their sumptuous living. Look at the roguery by which it was all done. Look at the banks that had smashed. There were men who actually dared not look at the Times, because it was honestly printed. They were living a charmed life, but to-morrow their works were closed. He wanted them to receive the sending down of God's almighty spirit upon that large congregation. So much for the rich. Look at the poor, as they were called— that was to say look at the people. They ate, they drank, they squandered the abundance of vfeaith which they were for a time receiving, by enriching- the publicang and brewers. Oh! the sins of the people during this period were something terrible. Men and women drank and fought, and he declar- ed to God that many and many a day, in broad daylight, he had to ;pull down the blinds of the window, least his family should see the sins en- acted before his door. Men fighting, and half naked women fighting and biting and tearing each other's flesh; Ah God was now talking unto them and him. The Old Testament had again been read, and practically unto them and him. He believed this, as certain as man or woman was called into this world, that man or woman, if he or she sins, will be punished in this world as well as in the next. The world, he thought, would be better if they more frequently took their text from the Old Testament. There they would learn that as certain as men and women were born into the world and they sinned, they would be punished in this world as well as in the next if they did not repent. This was the case with the hypocrites who have been found to have squandered the money where banks had smashed, but who would not read a paper on Monday because it was printed on the Sabbath, but who were now in prison. This was the reason he had taken this text that night. Here they were in a state of great depres- sion, in a state of bad times, bad weather, bad everything, but, thank God, that although this had continued for the last five years, there was now a probability of their tiding it over, and the diffi- culty being conquered, for Jesus Ghrist said unto them Therefore I say unto you take no thought of your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yot for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment." God watched them in all their troubles—and who were without troubles ? What times had they gone through Let them turn to God, everyone of them, and say H Oh God, we have been bad people, we have suffered greatly and we have suffered righteously, but don't with- hold thy smile from us." God wanted to impress upon them this fact, first of all it was utterly use- less to be anxious about worldly matters, for the reason that they would not help themselves; and then again that there was one above who would take care of them. Then take the lilies of the valley, and the sparrows which could not fall to the ground without His knowledge. When the storm raged, and the wind blew, and the breakers rolled, they expected every moment the ship would be tossed upon a rock, yet God enabled them to come to calm waters. Why should they distress Him now ? If their Heavenly Father had done this once, He could do it again, and why vex themselves about all these things when there was a God above who would take care of them all ? They lived in a Christian country. They also were well aquainted with Christian knowledge and the Holy wbrd of God, and was it not a wonder they did not make a more practical use of it? Just see what the Old Testament said, but it was utterly useless to quote Scriptures unless they applied them to themselves. Apart from this if they pretended to do so and did not mean it, it was their own dam- nation, knowing these things and not acting up to them was their own condemnation. Take it in this way, here is a iuan-&nd God knew there were plenty of them—whose heart was troubled aii«i 0vei,wuj.&Ui6ci.vi|lw to PyiiK) dire, and God alone knew how they Were to be met. Try to console that man, and say" Trust in the Lord, and He will find some way out of it." He would say Qh, its all very well, you ministers of religion know nothing about it," Business, it was true, was business and must be attended to, or the world would never go on. One who neglected his business sinned against God almighty, There was never a man or woman sent into this world but what had business to do, and woe betide them if they did not attend to that business. Solomon said there was a time for business, for relaxation, for pleasure, and for everything, but man was never created to torment himself from Monday morning to Monday again about his business; man was never made for that. Look at Jesus Christ. Wherever was there a man who attended more to business than Jesus Christ did, they were told of Him spending nights in prayer. Why did they as business men have so much anxiety when they need not; when they were trying to make the two ends meet in order to provide for their children. It was because they did not throw the burden of their troubles upon the Lord. How much better would the world be if they would but cast their burdens upon the Lord. There was one thing which astonished him more than anything else, the want of connection between faith and practice. One preached about it all his life, and yet there was not the impression there ought to be. Oh, put this to the test! How many were there then present who said this, Well, the times are very bad, distress is great, and I am in trouble beyond measure; but cheer up, come fair weather or foul weather, I know my Father is in command of the ship, and I know that in His own good time and His own good way He will bring the ship to port." Just take these bad times they had been speaking about. Has not God blessed their energies, and heard their prayers, and benefitted them. Was not the burden of their troubles growing less than when they had not a single farthing. The worst part of the business was that they professed to be believers, but did not act up to their belief. Wherever the unbeliever went care followed him. It followed him to bed, and was with him when he awoke in the morning. He must say a word. There were men and women in the world who filled their own souls with care when they had every reason to bless God for what He had done for them. Were there not such there ? Did they know what such sort of people reminded him of ? He had told them there were cares which they could not shake off without the help of God- cares which would not exist if they were Christians. Well, the cares of such men and women—and there were women amongst them—reminded him of pimples which grow upon the human body. They are very irritable, but if left alone they would soon disappear. Was it not a shame that in this world there should be men and women whom God had blessed in every way having these fancy cares ? Was it not a shame there should be in this Chris- tian country such a difference between faith and conviction ? He grieved that in a land like this ministers of the Gospel should be compelled to say so. But the reason why there was such a difference between faith and practice was because religion in the present day was not understood. He could re- member a state of things very different. The old people were very different, and they were religious. What was the religion of the present day ? He had no time to dwell upon it ? It was, in truth, a matter of fits and starts. It was a matter of emo- tion and feeling; it was a matter of sensationalism, and religion ought to be neither of these, but a matter of growth and culture, beginning at the root. That was what it ought to be. Unfortu- nately some foolish thing or another is done, and the agitation amongst the working people disap- pears. Sometimes there was a revival, but some foolish thing caused all the good that was done to collapse, and destroyed all that was originally ac- complished. This was the eleventh time he had preached in the last fortnight. He had seen that the religion of fits and starts would never do. It wasa'religionof sensationalism and show. The cha- pels were following the Church in this matter he was sorry to see. He thanked God to see the in- terest in religion taken by young men, but he wanted them to do something more. They had lessons upon lessons, but they seldom heard the word of God. Their religion was not the right thing it ought to be. The rottenness of trade and the bad times result from the consequence that it is rotten at the bottom. There was no true metal in it, but what some of them would understand as Brummagem ware." He would tell them what he meant. It was something like brass, made to look like it, but which was not brass. Pontypool was a dark country, and he believed it was dark nine months out of the twelve. They ought to try to remember what religion was, and so enlighten their darkness. He had said that religion was a business. Jesus Christ said it was, and if they did not attend to their business they would go wrong. They should attend to religion, or they would go wrong. They should be faithful in all, or they would snap the superstructure, and it would be their ruin. They must attend to their business in everything. They must do it in public prayer and in private prayer. In order to be a perfect citizen, they should in all things remember that each should be a perfect Christian. The collection, which amounted to Y,6, was made up of the following coins :—3 florins; 16 shillings 79 sixpenny pieces; 7 fourpenny pieces; 101 threepenny pieces; 269 pennies; 204 halfpennies; and one foreign coin, making a total of 680 coins.

THE RECTOR OF MERTHYR AT BLAENAVON. On Sunday, the Rev J. Griffith, M.A., Rector of Merthyr, preached two very eloquent sermons in Blaenavon Church in aid of the Church Fund. The sacred edifice on each occasion was literally Cl -1 in .0" • "1 .1-1.1. r"I' eluding the chancel, being occupied. In the morning the rev. gentleman took for his text the 5th verse of the 5th chapter of St. Luke's Gospel: And Simon, answering, said unto Him, Master, we have toiled all the night and have taken nothing; nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net." He commenced by saying many of those present would remember that the words were taken from that part of Holy Scripture which spoke of the great multitude of fishes., and he thought:the incident taught us two very important things. First, it showed what the efficacy of faith was and next, what faith could do under circum- stances that seemed apparently hopeless It gave a great encouragement to persevere in well- doing under similar circumstances, that is, when matters had become almost despairing. He had taken these words for his text that morning be- cause they were peculiarly fitted to them. and they tended to raise their drooping spirits, to cheer them up, and to lift up their hearts. He felt quite certain of this, that if there ever was a time when they required to be cheered, now was that time. Was there ever a time in the recollection of a$v man in the church when the times we^e HU, much depressed as at the present moment, or when we so much required lifting, up. ? There was never a time when everything was so depressed as at pre- sent. Look at the harvest,—loolc at the farmers everywhere what a terrible falling-off in the yield of corn! Look at the weather we have had. From the 9th of October, 1878, to the last week of September, 1879, there had not been seven days of consecutive fine weather; and what did that mean? Why this, that the Great God of Heaven had withdrawn His face from us. There is the same depression in ship- ping as in agriculture. He (the speaker) preach- ed twice in Liverpool every year, and the last time he preached there was the end of September. He had not seen such a state, of ^fifeirs" there' since he had known the place—for between thirty and forty years. There was nothing scarcely for the steamers to do. Coming home to ourselves, How has it been in manufacturing districts ? Just the same at Manchester as it is at Merthyr, There is depressiqn evesy^h«iii6. The hqryest is bad, trade is bad, and. the weather has been bad. And why so ? We do not want a Royal Commission to an- swer this question. It is because we have been bad people—that is the reason, We have been bad people, both rich ftnd poor 5 and God Almighty is at this moment speaking to us to mend our ways. H I gave you such prosperity as no human beings ever had before. How did you use it ?" Rich and poor, how did you use it ? For the past five years we have suffered much, and God is telling us now just in the same manner as he did to the Prophet Michael, Gather the people before me on the mountain; let me hear the charges they have against me- Bfovv is it they have forgot- ten me who has given them so many benefits ?" Rich and poor forgot God. It had literally rained down sovereigns in this country ) and the people, both rich and poor, gathered them together. And what did they «"p) ? The rich put on their purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day. Not only the upper, but the middle classes. Why, the tradespeople do not live in town now! The town is left to the clergy and the doctors. No- thing does so much good as the masters living amongst us. Why the mere example of the mas- ter going to church every Sunday with his wife and family has a wonderful effect. What is the consequence of all this ? We have had a univer- sal smash, and how do the people act P Oh, work- ing men, when it rained down "sovereigns did you take them yip and keep them for a rainy day ? No, you put them into à bag with holes in it you spent them in the tavern- He had often prayed to God Almighty not to send us.good times until the people knew how to use the times. The scenes that he (the speaker) had witnessed in his own neighbourhood were terrible. Public-houses were everywhere around. He had seen things on a Monday night—not after a, r>ay ortly3 but ««ery Monday—whleti were awful to witness. He had seen half-naked women fighting, and had been obliged to pull down the blmd unless it should disgust his wife and daughters. We do not want a Royal Commission to know what is the cause of the bad times. The reason we are having them is because God is teaching us, in order that we should do better. Let us hearken to the teaching; let us bend ourselves beneath His correcting rod. He believed God was beginning to turn, as we had a little ray breaking in, but God. only knows whe- ther it is only a ray. Let us have faith 'in Him, for without fjiith we can do nothing. Simon and his brethren had been out all night and had caught nothing, and were gashing their nets. Then up comes a young man unto them, who says, Launch out, and let your net down for a draught." Peter had only seen Him once before, and they were very tired and wanted a rest. When this young man said Launch," Peter might have said with some reason, No, Master, that is im- possible we cannot do it; the hour of fishing is over, the sun is high up in the sky." Peter said nothing of the kind; he never hesitated for a sin- gle moment, but let down the net. That shows to you what the efficacy of faith is. Sceptics say it was not a question of faith at all; Peter only did it out of compliment to the stranger. When you consider that they had been watching the whole night, and had caught nothing, and were very tired and weary, do you think that men in this condition would be in a humour to pay compli- ments ? Peter did it out of faith, and faith only- nothing else. The great point of Peter's charac- ter was honesty. Would we had more of it in the world now. See what a blunt, bluff, honest cha- racter Peter was. Was he a man likely to pay compliments ? Once, and once only, did this bluff, honest, character fail, and that was when he de- nied Christ. Once only did he do it-never after. Peter the coward became from that day a braveman. No cruelty or martyrdom, however terrible, caused Peter to deny Jesus Christ after that. Jesus Christ said to them that they should henceforth be catchers of men, and they forsook all and followed Him. Here again the sceptics come in, and what do they say on this point? You have been preaching now for nearly 1900 years, and you have been talking of the self-denials and the self-sacrifices of the Apostles, while it was only a boat and a few nets that they left." There are a great number of sceptics in the world, and they do a vast'amount of mischief. They find fault with the Bible and the preachers, and pull both to pieces. In a book called Lothair," writ- ten by a very clever man, the Prime Minister of England, there are these words, "Who are the critics ? Why, the critics are the men who have failed in literature and in art." It is an awful satire, and a very clever one. This is just the same with regard to the sceptics. They are men and women who have failed in their object in life. They want to be talked about, but they are not clever enough to be talked about. They will deny the God that made them. Do not listen to this sort of people. The sceptics say, These fisher- men left only a boat and a few nets." It was a deal more than that. It was leaving home andhearth, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and friends. Have you ever stood on a railway platform watch- ing the train leaving for Liverpool ? Gangs of men, young and old, their hearts torn asunder, going into the New World to earn the living which the Old World cannot give them. The old people say to themselves, "I shall never see them again." This is what the Apostles had to bear; they left everything to fol- low Him. That is what faith can do. If you ap- proach God Almighty, it will enable you to bear your trouble, if you can see the efficacy of faith. Preaching the Gospel appears very unsuccessful work. We cast our bread upon the waters, but although we may never find it again, we believe somebody else will. More people do not seem to come to the Lord's table than there did years ago. We do not see the grace of God working amongst them. Well, then, are we to say, under such cir- cumstances, we will have nothing more to do with it. God forbid we should ever say so. It is our business to let down the net. We must remember this. It is for part of us to sow and others to reap. We dare not leave off sowing. It is given to one to sow, and it is given to another to water. We must launch out; we must let down the net, and leave the rest to Jesus Christ. Supposing there is someone here who is anxious to lead a more Chris- tian life, and to attend the Lord's table; but it is so hard to do that at last he says, I must cease to struggle with the devil." Whatever you do, never do that. You may be nearer the devil than you ever were before, but take courage; remem- ber what Peter did, and apply this to yourself. Keep on praying, and have faith in Jesus Christ, and He will lift up your hearts under the circum- stances that appear almost hopeless. Depend upon it, whatever you may think, if you still launch the boat and let down the net, God in his own good time will fill it, so do not despair. Have faith in Jesus Christ, and He will cheer you up and bring you safely through all your troubles.

A French statist has come to the conclusion, after very laborious examination of the number of leaths from railway accidents in all parts of the world, that if a person were to live continually n a railway carriage, and spend all his time n travelling the chances in favour of his dying from -ailwav accidents would not occur until he was 960 fears old. John Martin Wall, accountant, was charged at the Mansion. House, London, a few days ago, with 'oloniously inciting a man named Wollett to em- bezzle the sum of £ 545 13s. 4d, the money of hia employers, Messrs. Ha wkes aud Co., brewers, Bishop's Stortford. The case waa adjourned for further evi- lence, and also to consider a point of jurisdiction raised by prisoner's solicitor. In a letter to the President of the Liverpool Law Societv. the Lord ChancqUor '^a rmgrh* to be not less than than three civil Assizes per year in Lancashire, but a fourth civil Assize is not possible with the existing staff of judges. The holding of the civil Assize in January, April, and August is, he says, in accordance with the view generally approved in Lancashire. CAPTAIN CARET.—Captain Oarey, who has been trying to effect an exohange from the 98th Regi- ment, has been unable to do so. He leaves Ports- mouth on December 13th in the troopship Malabar to rejoin his regiment. On the assembling of Par- liament several members intend to bring before the House a motion respecting the Carey court martial. CURIOUS CALCULATION.-At the meeting of the Monmouthshire Temperance Association, held at Ebbw Vale on Monday, Mr E. Grove, Newport, stated that, from the estimate of Mr Hoyle, if the public-houses of England were formed into one street, it would extend 750 miles, whioh would take a man by continual walking six weeks to traverse. There are certain strict families in America, among whom objection is taken to the use of the oldtfasbioned word "leg." Mr. Locker tells us a story of a young lady who happened to break that useful member, and whose little sister was sent for the doctor. The girl stated her case, Sister has broken her limb." What limb ? asked he of medicine. Confusion. "Was it the limb she threads her needle with r" Intense relief. Oh! no, sir, the limb she wears her garter on." ENGLISH CARDINALS.—Cardinals Howard, Manning, and Newman recently met at an at home" at the Duke of Norfolk's town-house, This is an incident unique in English history, "As far," writes "Atlas," of the World, "as I can asoertain, at no period sinoe the Reformation, and perhaps not even at any period previous to it, were there three English-born and English-speak- ing men in the Sacred College. Henry Stuarc got the red hat in 1747, Charles Erskine in 1801, Thomas Weld it 1803, Charles Acton in 1839, and. Nicholas Wiseman in 1840,11 A OUBIOUS MIXTURE.—In the official year ter- minating on September 30, 1879, the kingdom of Spain, exclusive of colonies beyond the seas, could boast of ninety-two dukes, two hundred thousand horses, eight hundred and sixty-six marquesses, two millions and a half of asses and mules, six- hundred and thirty-two counts, three millions of horned cattle, ninty-two viscounts, thirty-three millions of sheep, ninety-eight barons, four millions and a half of goats, sixteen thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine university stu- dents, and a million and a hlf rj hogsi. 5i BA w:- WOOB .—To make bricks without straw was in 'times past deemed an equivalent for an impossibility. But to build a house without wood very nearly approaches to the ancient puzzle. In Illinois, U. S., some ingenious person has discover- ed a method by which straw can be used for wood as a building material, and the invention has already attracted attention. Several sheets of the ordinary strawboard, as product papers mills, are passed through ft chemical solution which softens tfce fibre. These sheets are then rolled, dried, and when hardened come out in a block impervious to water, and they are capable of taking a high polish. It ip stated that when properly and carefully produced this straw is so like natural wood that it can with difficulty be dis- tinguished from it, The continuous demand for timber in America will be probably lessened should this ingenious plan become generally adopted.- CasselCs, Magazine THE REV JOHN SHEWARD, of Milton, Kent, writes October 29tb, 1878 My nerves were so shattered that I dreaded the simplest duties, and lost all energy and pleasure in the performance of them. Tbfl despondency I endured became almost nnbp^r^bio. Since taking COBDE^'§ fH.Lii! the change in my beilth for tljp better if very marked. J nave lost that horrible depression, my nerves are much stronger, and my general health very greatly improved. I cannot express how truly thankful I feel for the remarkable and pleasing change." COBDEN'S QUININE AND PHOS- PHOROUS PILLS give strength, energy, and vigorous vitality. Infallible in Neuralgia.—Ask for COBDEN'S PILLS," 2s. 9d. and 4s. 6d., and have no others. Any Chemist will get them if they are not in stock, or they will be sent, Post Free, on receipt of 33 or 54 stamps (great saving), by Susses; Pryg Co., 135, Queen's Road, Brighton. Local AgentE. B. FORD, Chemist, George Street, Pontypool. -2 PGIJTYBOOL Printed by HUGHES & SON, at their General Printing Offices, for the Proprietor and Publisher, HENRY HUGHES, Junior, of Penygarn, in the parish of Trevethin, and published at the FREE PRESS Office,Market St.—Nov. 15, 1879.

E LITTLE GOSSIP, IV ARCHIBALD CAMERON, J{"sings in all IlIjirmary JFard," <§c. -0*. X >.ats glow in the west, f the setting sun, -oujrht their green-boughcd rest, ■ s work is done. little Ktte, .ed from light-heeled play, sV all the late Lile day. "nd spoiled a curl; little thing; naughty girl the swing. humming top "er's o\vn 'po" gs down. S 3°. he nhis food: "rdie know him good? mellow dress, atle wing iing ousy bee .tion sped, ,,) t hier's knea ien to bed. 1, hushed dolly's cries 'et tresses peep; "quiring eyes sleep. ply ;ps given mity oughts for heaven. uircd whisperings CJOUB^" .md latest day; oP, their inl; > u :e clings refit stems ir ry, T.-ndon,

RIDDLE. middle for thee! 1 iay be .0 my friend, the pig, eedier far than he. ? beast I fear in the least; v aaster to me. i»h your wit, if it T may be. for fame, Tair to say, the ark I've made my mark, the present day. »il, I'm a friend to all, plainly see, ? day itemsay ■i they feel for me .end, without delay, who imay be, ry night, in the pale moonlight, t again of thec. I'll give, for as I live • > ildn't welcome me name I spell > ith an F and an L- uess what the rest may be. H. S.

ESTON HALL. BY "LIONEL." CHAPTER I. 'tis the dice-box! yes, he's there, he's there! ^.U, for this! he leaves me to despair! ^ve leaves truth his wife his child! for what ? ton's smile-the villain-and the sot! v ns the close of the last century, on a dark dismal December day, a man, whose age ut be between forty and fifty, was seated by fire, which burned brightly in thi handsome and spacious library of Breeston Hat In his hand he held a letter, which he had \¡ received from his only brother, who was ibfoad. The contents of the letter seemed sc him no little anxiety. More than once- c slowly and thoughtfully peruse that which Gently brought to him uneasiness of mind. t he became deeply buried in thought, and ong time gazed vacantly into the crackling Hose noise seemed entirely lost upon him. how long this fit of abstrac- 0 it had not been inter- locks at the door. self-possession, "Citations attendant master, contained the .n. f and n^ sici'ious statement:— a! n Randolph anxiously desires a. private in- .6" with Sir Charles Egmont, as he has an impor- communication to make to him, the nature of which ;hides the_cre/wsnce of a third party." -astilv scanned these words, his ly pale, and, turning to the aged od by awaiting his orders, he id, show the gentleman forward Id man proceeded as fast as age lie reception room, where Capt. v one of its fine bow-windows, all that came within the range eve. A few minutes later, and ilitary appearance was ushered of the Baronet, who rose from s unexpected visitor. Both be- ,e fire, which blazed cheerfully and gave out a comfortable a powerful counteraction to the ts of the unusually severe cold ed. Only a few words had illen the Baronet exclaimed: tain Randolph, in supposing 10 occasion of your visit to -red in the affirmative. harles, I fear that you are tidings concerning him." harles, your fear is not ill- iful duty to break such news fill you with sorrow. The ¡ng this visit are the most been my lot in life to ex- e or dead?" Charles ?" The Baronet's whilst his head drooped '1 breast. My brother! jut, in an intensely agon- 3 frame seemed to undergo which, however, did not he raised his head and re- ;ude. He seemed to sum- -power he possibly could 9 control his emotion. I am quite prepared to ave to say respecting my .old nothing, out of a kind is a brother." to the following account d to England from the iptain. Whilst staying your brother, whom I vounger days, when we the same regiment. We an old acquaintanceship > many strangers; and lent together. Captain him, had married a most ied shortly after giving His old fondness for y clung to him. Night ed to visit the gambling )uld often return greatly to the good luck he in- e. Notwithstanding the ed men he there encoun- le to hold his own against m as one of the shrewdest ance. But a terrible re- v-Inch he became penniless. perfect granger came one ?nted saloon, where Capt. ing for very high stakes, ir brother seemed to play a )is usual presence of mind n. Yet Fortune still at- ;n he roae to leave the rooui ious gains. Cut before he was accosted by one of his ates, who desired to intro- isitor. A slight conversa- hich your brother and the iown to a well-known and d game. The stranger for of his predecessors but :ses, lie proposed with an that they should increase il was eagerly accepted by and unsuspecting brother. ,rotlier suffered loss after ined. The stranger had in the excitement of the ced by Captain Egmont. liore far-seei n- observerz y, had seen the villainous whose passage from the >y them, amidst the noisy of all present. Whcu your brother became aware of the real facts of the case, his indignation for the moment knew no bounds. A quarrel arose between the stranger and your brother,—high words transpired, which resulted in an arrangement for a duel at early dawn next day. At the appointed time the two, accompanied by their secouds, met in a seclud ed spot some little distance without the precincts of the old-fashioned town. Each fired, your brother mortally wounding his opponent, who died within a few hours. From that time remorse seized your brother, and a strange look settled uponhisface. For several days he seemed wrapped up in a state of the deepest gloom, whilst at times his mind seemed to wander as he gave utterance to unintelligible expressions in a half-audible voice. I became alarmed, and sought to dispel his despondent feelings but all my remarks seemed only addressed to one lost in stupor. He ceased to frequent his former haunts, and kept his room. One night—the last I saw him alive-we were sitting together, when to my surprise your brother entered rea- dily into conversation, his mind often reverting to events long past. He appeared to have re- gained much of his usual cheerfulness. We parted shortly before midnight, your brother giving me a more than ordinarily warm pres- sure of the hand. The next morning he was found dead-stretched on the floor of his bed- room-a small phial containing a deadly poison lying by his side, whilst on a table stand- ing near there lay a letter addressed to myself, in which had been hurriedly written in a some- what illegible and tremulous hand the following brief words Dear Randolph, farewell! By the time you read thiq I shall have put an end to a miserable and misspent ex- istence. Life is no longer desirable, for dishonour and disgrace seem inevitable. Take my only son Rupert; let him never know his unhappy father's sad end. Seek out my brother, Sir Charles Egmont, Breeston Hall, and beg of him to receive the boy for the sake of his unfor- tunate and misguided father.' No sooner were the lifeless remains of your bro- ther discovered than the melancholy news spread with a marvellous rapidity through the town, awakening feelings of unfeigned pity for the untimely end of one who, in spite of his frail- tics, had nevertheless found many who could appreciate his frank and genial disposition. His death was the one pervading subject of conver- sation for several days. An enquiry into the cause of death ended in a verdict being given that Death was caused whilst in a state of temporary insanity,' this verdict being founded upon high medical testimonj*. Such, Sir Charles, is the painful history which I undertook to make known to you, out of respect to one I regarded as an old and true friend." The Baronet was deeply moved by all that he had heard, and it was with a faltering voice that he addressed the bearer of tidings so sor- rowful "Captain Randolph, I know not how to thank you sufficiently for the kindness you have extended to my poor and only brother. I feel grateful to you for breaking the news to me in the manner you have. I will receive tha boy." The Captain soon after rose to go, stating that he would ere long return, bringing with him the orphan boy. In the foregoing account of Captain Egmont's death we have seen the horrible fate of one who pursued and was misled by the fascinating vice of gambling, just as a weary traveller, wending his way on some dark and tempestuous eight, confidently follows and is misled by some ignis fatuus, which suddenly rises to view above the marshy ground over which the benighted wanderer may be passing. There was a time when the friends and near ralatives of Captain Egmont entertained bright hopes of a future brilliant career but alas he lived to rank as one of the long list of those who have made shipwreck of life's noble aspirations, by taking the first false step in the road to ruin. Would that those in the heyday of youth—those about to begin life in earnest-would ponder well be- fore taking the first step which tends to degra- dation and ruin for, this being taken, each suc- ceeding one becomes easier—men feel less and less power to placo a restraint upon their evil passions, until their passions gain the perfect mastery over them. Then their state becomes awful in the highest degree for they live on, subjected to the just abhorrence of all right- minded men and the fearful denunciations of an offended God. Would that more men pro- fited by the striking examples which are con- tinually being brought to their notice in the world around them.

,.FIAPTER 11. The stately Homes of England, How beautiful they stand, Amid their tall ancestral trees, O'er all the pleasant land The deer across their greensward bound, Through shade and sunny gleam, And the swan glides past them with the sound Of some rejoicing stream. IT may, perhaps, bo no unpardonable digression to give tho reader a description of Breeston Haill, and also 10 slightly touch upon the his- tory of its possessors. Within a distance of seven miles from the time-honoured and deeply- interesting city of Cresford, on the high-road to London, lies the picturesque village of Brees- ton. Few villages could be said to surpass it, situated as it was in a vale which has long en- joyed the reputation of being one of the most fertile & delightful spots in our land. Breeston well merits the praises which poets have sung, and the time and labour which artists have be- stowed in their efforts to depict on canvas the rich glimpses of scenery which so numerously abound in and around it. Standing in the midst of the village, the large and ancient 11 tl parish church rises to view, an object of inte- rest, with its high-embattled tower and consi- derable and well-preserved traces of olden styles of architecture, dating as far back as the Nor- man period. Within a stone's-throw of the church you beheld the grand old ruins of what had once been a most extensive and highly- flourishing abbey, pleasantly situated on the banks of the far-famed river Deene, whilst at a little distance higher up the river, you saw a truly pretty water-mill, which had gone on steadily grinding the produce of the neighbour- ing corn-fields for many generations past. At no great distance from the entrance to the church-yard etocd the commodious and com- fortable-looking old hostelry, which had once been high in repute, and been the scene of much hurry and bustle in the good old days when the stage-coaches noisily entered the village, ratted along over the rough pebbly streets, and pulled up at the door of the hospitable inn, to unburthen their heavy loads of human freight- I age4 who, fatigued with the journey, were in- variably inclined to avail themselves of that rest and refreshment which could now be so easily procured. Add to all this, the wild and romantic scenery of the neighbourhood, with Breeston Hall conspicuous in the distance, and you have an almost perfect landscape. The Hall stood in a northerly direction, at no very great distance from the village. The entrance to the Park was effected through an antiquated Jod)$e, which stood in a shady recess by the road-side. Within the pre- cincts of the extensive and well-wooded Park, whose stalwart trees had bravely withstood the storms of many centuries, you wended your way through a long avenue of lofty trees of singular beauty,which led to within easy distance of the Hall. As you emerged from the grateful shade of this avelluc,a delightful scene suddenly burst upon your sight.A few stepson advance brough t you to a simple rustic bridge of substantial dimensions, beneath which flowed the beautiful Deene, and, which winding about in a serpen- tine course, could be seen far in the distance, until it was finally lost to sight after entering some leafy dell. Ijear to the bridge might be frequently seen majestic swans gracefully dis- porting themselves in the gently-rippling$nd pellucid waters. You extended your gajze, and you beheld raised parterres, tastefully laid out with the rarest and most exquisite flowers. Here aod there your attention was arrested by the sight of sculptured figures, strikingly illustra- ting the ever-interesting subjects of ancient mythology, whilst in the background £ he towers of Breeston Hall soared heavenwards—a sight which could not fail to excite feelings of un- bounded admiration in the breasts of all who were not lamentably de$d to a sense of the sublime and beautiful. Magni^cent a? were tho external surroundings of the old ipansioti, stiU further beauties awaited one, privileged to wan- der through the spacious and splendid apart- ments of its interior. Immediately upon en- tering the Hall your attention was rivetted on complete sqits of armour, around which were Iratiged in perfect order battle-axes, long-bows, I cross-bows, casques, and halberlg, with other [ curious relics, pointing to ancient, and perhaps more honourable and less diabolical, modes of i warfare than those of modern times. Passing these interesting remains of bygone days you came upon the large;banquetting-hall, with an old gallery stili rem. ainiiig at one end of the room. Here, in past ages, musicians had sent forth sweet and soul-inspiriug strains of uiusic, whilst the space below had oft been the scene of revelry where mirth and jollity had flowed freely over the convivial bowl. Leaving this part of the hall, you met with statuary, rare and costly paintings, and chastely designed ar- ticles of vertu. Here the connoisseur of art en- joyed a rich feast, as, with a soul full of rap- ¡ ture, he intently gazed upon that vast collection of pictures, many of which showed signs of long-protracted and unwearied labours, aud also exhibited the most powerful effects which the highest talent of genius in art could produce. There you saw an original and unrivalled Cor- regio—though so rare—there you might find a Murillo, a Vandyke, or a Rubens. Here the antiquarian or lover of the unique might spend many happy hours amid the numerous grotesque and curious objects lying around him—objects which appear to have no charm for many in the world, for they seem too busily occupied with the things of the present time. The Hall had undergone many alterations, and received many additions since the time when it was first built. It presented a somewhat curious appearance, owing to an odd mixture of various styles of building, including those belonging to the Nor- man, Tudor, and Elizabethan periods. Yet, with its mullioned windows, its gothic roof, its mas- sive buttresses, and old-fashioned porch, it was far from being an uiipieising object on which to rest the eye. Adjoining one end of the Hall were extensive vineries and conservatories, full of the richest clusters of grapes and the choicest exotics. Without leaving the Hall, you easily entered this elysium of delights, one part of which was set apart as a pavilion. Here you found a pleasant retreat at all times, its interior being so admirably arranged with a regard to ease and comfort, that even one possessing the most fastidious taste could not very well find a reason for dissatisfaction. Surrounded as it was by the richest and most varied display of horti- cultural beauties, and containing as it did soft, velvety, couches and gorgeous divans, covered with costly tapestry and embroidered cushions, such a retreat would call forth praises even from one who had known something of the luxuries of Oriental life. We come now to the inhabitonts of this charming abode. It had long remained in the possession of the Egmont family, whose members claimed to belong to one of the oldest baronetcies in the Kingdom. Higher titles had been refused by more than one noble ancestor. They chose to retain that name and title which had been gloriously asso- ciated with so many of the most brilliant events of history, rather than adopt other titles which might tend to efface the memory of those deeds of which they had so much reason to be proud. The first ancestor, whose name appears in tho lengthy family pedigree, held some important office under the rather dyspeptic and weak- minded King John. Warriors had from time to time sprung up in the family. At Cressy, and Poictiers, at Agincourt, under Henry V. of ever-glorious memory, they were to be found, as well as in the troublesome and protracted wars of theRoses. Of these one, Sir Clifford Eg- mont, had proved a faithful adherent to the cause of Charles I., having fought valiantly in many fierce battles which were so persistently waged between Roundheads and Royalists; and when the unhappy monarch sought refuge in the loyal city of Cresford, Sir Clifford was near at hand. He even stood by the unfortunate King on one of the towers of the city walls, when he saw his army defeated on Rollow-mow by his victorious opponent. Later on, the for- tunes of the Eguionts had suffered various re- verses, chiefly owing to the insatiable love of gambling found in certain of the more reckless ancestors of the family; and a tradition handed down amongst the villagers made it known that more than one Lady Egmont as not exempt from this fascinating vice. However, for some years prior to the end of the eighteenth cen- tury, several noble Baronets had chosen the gentler walks of life rather than give way to the riotous living of some of those who had gone before. Thus they pre- vented the estates from being encumbered with the difficulties so frequently experienced by many ancient families of our land and at the time Sir Charles Egmont succeeded to the titles and estates, he found himself the possessor of a princely fortune. (To be continued.)