"THE BEST THINGS ARE THE CHEAPEST."
"The best things are the cheapest;" that was what uncle John said the other day when we were all assembled in the sitting-room, watching the curling flames of the cheery wood-fire. "Why, the best things I find the dearest," remarked nephew John. But uncle John did not heed the interruption, and we listened while he discoursed as follows:— "Of things that are commonly desired for use, the prevailing idea is, that the best things always cost the most and are clear beyond the reach of poor people, so that only the rich can obtain them. This is a great mistake. Facts show that what is the best is the cheapest and most easily obtained. But what things are the best? Not those which are commonly reckoned as wealth, but those which are most needful and most useful. These are furnished by the Creator in such abundance that they are easily obtained and cost but little. Let people have their choice in what they want, and they would make such poor selections that they would soon be poor and miserable enough. A man might soon starve to death with a peck of diamonds by his side. A lady might shiver in the cold and freeze, with a costly gold ring on every finger, and as much glitter about the ears and neck as vanity and human weakness would desire. So with any amount of money in the banks, and bonds in the safe, a whole family can play bedlam in living earnest and know nothing of the sweet peace and comfort of a good and happy family. It so happens that the best things are those which the most are needed, and these are so abundant as to be very cheap indeed. "The first thing a human being needs on entering this world is plenty of pure air, and this he needs till the last moment of his life. An ordinary man with a pair of good lungs will use from fifty to sixty hogsheads of air in twenty-four hours. What an untold quantity there must be to supply every human being, and all the birds and animals that breathe. As it is unfit for use after it has once been breathed over, the Creator has so arranged that by a natural process which is all the time working a change, the air is purified. So necessary is this wonderful element that cubic miles of it fill the firmament above already for use. It comes unsought, and is better in its natural state than it could be made by any artificial means. Artificial perfumery is always expensive and never so good for health and common use, as the free, fresh air of heaven. Light can be made by artificial means, yet it is always expensive, and never half so good as the rich sunlight which comes free of cost to all who will open their eyes and see. If we go among the metals, we shall find that iron, which is so plenty and so cheap, is of far more value to all parties than gold and silver. We could get along without the gold and the silver, and some other fine metals, but not very563well without the iron and the steel. In food, the rich, costly delicacies are not the best. They cloy and enervate, while the cheap, plain dishes, which are more easily obtained, such as God has abundantly provided, give tone and strength to the system. The pure cold water, free and plenty, is better for health and happiness than all the wines and strong drinks that were ever made. Above all other human wants is the need of deliverance from sin and its terrible effects. This is as free as it is needful and glorious. With so many good things so abundantly provided for this life, and the gift of eternal life hereafter, people can afford to be cheerful and happy, and ought to be very thankful to the great Giver." When uncle John had ended we saw what he meant, and we all said, even to little Johnny, the best things are the cheapest. And what should we do if they were not?—Selected.