may be open to them; but they must have been taught and accustomed to read in them. Nothing is more common amongst us, than the use of bread and linen. How seldom do children know how either of them is prepared; through how many hands the corn and flax must pass, before they are changed into bread and linen! The same may be said of cloth, which bears no resemblance to the wool whereof it is formed, any more than paper, to the rags which are picked up in the streets; and why should not children be instructed in these wonderful works of nature and art, which they every day make use of without reflecting upon them? It is very agreeable, to read in Tully's treatise of old age, the elegant description which he gives of the growth of corn. It is admirable how the seed, fermented and softened by the warmth and moisture of the earth, which kindly retains it in her bosom, sends forth at first a verdant point, which, fed and nourished from the root, raises itself by degrees, and erects a hollow stalk, strengthened with knots; how the ear, enclosed in a kind of case, insensibly grows in it, and at last shoots forth in admirable form, fortified with bearded spikes, which serve it as a guard against the injuries of the small birds. But to view this wonder itself with our own eyes, to follow it attentively through all its different changes, and pursue it till it comes to perfection, is quite another spectacle. A careful master will find in this exercise, the means of enriching the mind of his disciple, with a great number of useful and agree

able ideas, and by a proper mixture of short reflections, will, at the same time, take care to form his heart, and lead him by the path of nature to religion.

LESSON XIII.

ROLLIN.

HYMN TO THE B. V. MARY.

AVE Maria! blessed Maid!
Lily of Eden's fragrant shade,
Who can express the love
That nurtured thee so pure and sweet,
Making thy heart a shelter meet
For Jesus, holy Dove?

Ave Maria! Mother bless'd!

To whom caressing and caress'd,
Clings the eternal Child;
Favour'd beyond archangel's dream,
When first on thee with tenderest gleam
Thy new-born Saviour smiled.

Ave Maria! Thou whose name
All but adoring love may claim,
Yet may we reach thy shrine:
For he, thy Son and Saviour, vows
To crown all lowly, lofty brows

With love and joy like thine.

Bless'd is the womb that bore Him! bless'd
The bosom where his lips were press'd,

And blessed too are they

Who hear his word and keep it well,

The living homes where Christ shall dwell,
And never pass away.

LESSON XIV.

THE ZEALOUS CHILD.

KEEBLE.

THE district in which we now are, contains a great many villages, at the foot of a mountain, which the Arabs call Jabel Chek, that is, the mountain of the old man, a name which they give it, because, for the most part of the year, it is covered with snow. On our arrival, we went to the house of a convert, an acquaintance, from whom we expected a warm reception. We were not disappointed; he received us with joy and affection.

As soon as he heard that the missionaries were waiting, he ran with haste to the door to receive us. He immediately took each of us by the right hand, which, after he had kissed, he placed upon

his head as a mark of respect. He then addressed the priest by whom I was accompanied, in terms such as these: "My father, thou art welcome; at the very time that thou wert coming, I had thee in my heart; the blessing of heaven has descended, and together with thy friend, enters my dwelling in thy company; I look upon this moment as the happiest of my life: come in, my father, come into my dwelling, where thou mayest command and must be obeyed." After the first interchange of civility, we were conducted to a large apartment, in which a great many persons were assembled. They kissed our hands in the same manner as the master of the house had done before. We took notice, among these Christians, of a very young child, not apparently more than five years old, who, having come up to us, went on his knees to beg our blessing. His baptismal name was John, and he was surnamed by his parents "The Riches of God." It is the custom of this country for the head of the family to give each child a surname soon after its birth. The Riches of God" was one of those fine characters, in which nature and grace seem to have combined, to impart, by his means, happiness and comfort to a Christian family. To a fine countenance and a charming ingenuity, he added a natural suavity of disposition, and an ardent desire of information. He asked us many questions on religious subjects; and, with a pleasing importunity, which is always delightful to a missionary of God, he entreated us to instruct him. Being aware that I

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was to be catechist in this new mission, I was convinced immediately how serviceable he would likely be to me. Whilst my companion went to visit the sick, and console the afflicted, I assembled the children, and taught them the catechism. The "Riches of God" soon became a young apostle. He went to all the places where the children usually played, and collected them together. God gave efficacy to the words of the young missionary; his play-fellows followed him. At the head of his little troop he came into the chapel, with his eyes cast down and hands joined. "Father," said he, "teach us to know and love the great God of whom you preach." His conduct inspired all the rest with a degree of modesty and docility. I could scarcely believe myself in the midst of unsteady children. They were rather like so many little angels, the sight of whom awakened the most tender affections, and excited me even to tears. But we were soon to separate from them; more pressing demands obliged our superiors to withdraw us. I cannot tell the reluctance with which we parted from so precious a little flock, or the regret which they expressed, when we were about to leave them. They bedewed us with their tears. The delights which we felt amongst them, are some of those choice consolations, which God bestows even in this life, on those who labour in his service, more, however, to animate their zeal, than to reward their exertions. LETTRES EDIFIANTES.