And so it is when a sinner is brought by the Holy Spirit to return to God. With shame and sorrow he says, "Father, I have sinned." But God, who is rich in mercy, is ready to forgive. He will, for Christ's sake, hear prayer. Through His precious blood He will pardon sin. He will take off the ragged garments of sin, and put on the white robe of Jesus' righteousness, and receive coming sinners as His children. Then what sounds of joy are heard in heaven, when those who were lost are brought home to dwell for ever in their Father's house! Dear child, through the fall you are _lost_. Have you been truly brought as a penitent to Christ? If so, you are _found_. Do not forget this--all the while any one knows not what it is to come to Christ for mercy and pardon, he is lost. But the moment a sinner is truly brought to the cross of Christ for salvation, he is found. Are you among the lost or among the found? THE DEAR OLD TIMES. It is interesting to look over household and personal accounts of, say, a hundred and fifty years ago. Some of these, which deal with the expenses of Mr. Gervase Scrope, and of his son Thomas, both of Cockerington, Lincolnshire, lie before me; and from them I find that "my dark-coloured cloth suit, trimmed with silver buttons and loops, was made November 21st, 1730, and cost in all £17 17s. 6d." This included two pairs of breeches. The cloth for the suit cost 18s. a yard; but Mr. Scrope had a cloak in 1732, the cloth of which cost £1 2s. a yard. In 1729, however, he procured a cheap knockabout suit of clothes for £9 0s. 6d. Economy seems to have been necessary, for in 1731, "Tommy had a pair of breeches made out of an old scarlet riding-coat of mine." Boots and wigs were both dear; so also were hats. The squire's window-tax in 1748 amounted to £2 17s. Only in the matter of certain articles of food were the old days cheaper than the new. In 1754, eight lbs. of veal cost 2s. 4d., or 3½d. per lb.; a tongue cost 1s. 10d.; 31 lbs. of round and rump of beef cost 12s., or about 4½d. per lb.; a leg and saddle of mutton cost 4s. 7d.; a quarter of lamb cost 1s. 6d.; 22 lbs. of pork were bought for 5s. 6d.; and rabbits ranged from 6d. to 1s. a couple, according to size. But coffee was 6s. a lb., and lump sugar was 10d. Soap at this time cost 7s. 6d. a stone. Bread was sometimes cheap, but whenever war broke out, the price always went up to a terrible height, and much misery and distress must have resulted. In 1886, the average price of wheat in England was 39s. 4d. per imperial quarter; in 1810 it was 106s. 5d.; and in 1801 it was 119s. 6d.; or more than three times as much as it was two years ago. Those were indeed dear old times.--_Cassell's Saturday Journal._ POINTS TO BE AIMED AT. P unctual be throughout the day; O bedient to superiors; I ndustrious in every way; N ot haughty to inferiors: T ruthful in word, and trim in dress; S hun folly, and for wisdom press.