“HOME LIFE IN THE BIBLE,” by Henrietta Lee Palmer, is the title of a large and attractive book of 401 octavo pages, illustrated with two hundred wood cuts, and printed on good paper, with handsome type. The book is full of the family. What is known of the habitations of the ancient Hebrews is brought out by the author—their mode of life, their food, their cookery, their dress, their amusements, their customs in marriage and in mourning, their education and their religious worship. We believe the book is worthy of study in every American household, and especially among the colored people of the South. * * * * * HOW LONG IS THIS THING GOING ON? In a New England village, not many years ago, the custom prevailed of making personal solicitation from the members of the church there located, for contributions to the several benevolent societies in regular order and at stated times. To this end certain persons were designated in each of several districts to visit all the resident members. A visitor in one of these districts relates that, after a strong presentation of the claims of the heathen world had been made from the pulpit, he was encouraged to visit a member of the church who had not been noted for his liberality, and to solicit funds in behalf of the work of evangelizing the dark parts of the earth. In response he received a donation of twenty-five cents. No other call was made on the individual referred to during the remainder of the year; but when the usual season for soliciting aid for foreign missions recurred, the visitor called again upon him asking for a contribution. He was met by the inquiry: “Didn’t I give you twenty-five cents for this last year!” Answer was made in the affirmative, when the rejoinder came, “Well, how long is this thing going on?” Of course, there was but one answer to make, and that to the effect that so long as men are born with depraved hearts, this process of the more favored children of the Highest contributing funds and efforts for the elevation and conversion of less privileged ones should not cease “going on.” Deut. xv., 11: “For the poor shal never cease out of the land. Therefore I command thee, saying, thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother; to thy poor and to thy needy in the land.” * * * * * * * * BENEFACTIONS. The late Hannah G. Russell, of Boston, willed $2,000 to the Boston University, to be used in clothing poor students of theology. Mrs. Sarah B. Jacobs, of Boston, has given $5,000 to the University of Vermont, for the endowment of five scholarships. Columbia College gets $500,000 from the estate of Stephen Whitney Phenix, making its aggregate endowment $5,300,000. Roanoke College, Va., is to receive $1,000 from the estate of Rev. Andrew Bigelow, D.D., of Southboro, Mass.