portion of the sky. It is the Milky Way, composed of millions upon millions of burning suns, each encircled by planets similar to our own.

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy work :" but were we to look upon the beauties of our earth alone, how numerous and wonderful are the objects which there strike our view. Look at the lofty mountains of Asia, the dangerous and precipitous rocks of Italy, the vast deserts of Arabia, and the rapid streams of America. Listen to the roaring billows of the boundless ocean; hear the impetuous wind dashing its furious waves against the flinty rocks, and see them wildly rising to the stormy sky. See there the lightning fash, hear now the thunder roll: but while conflicting elements appear to rend the rocks asunder, to burst the sky above our heads, and make earth tremble to its low foundations, remember who alone can say to the ocean, "Thus far shalt thou go, and no farther;" and to the winds, "Peace, be still."

Look now at the fruitful fields of waving corn, replenished, each revolving year, by the bountiful hand of Jehovah, and enriched with abundant and joyful harvests; at the verdant woods, which spread themselves over the different parts of our earth; at the peaceful vales beneath us, covered only by the soft carpet of Nature; and at those gentle streams which wind their way amongst the vallies.

How beautiful are the forms and colours of the flowers, and shrubs, and trees which adorn the vegetable kingdom! how refreshing and cheering the sweet perfume with which they embalm the air!

But not only here is the power of God exemplified. In order to see it more fully, let us descend into the bowels of the earth, and consider the splendour and variety of the mineral creation. How elegant and useful are the different metals and stones which are found in them! Look at the sparkling diamond, the crimson ruby, the golden topaz, the glittering emerald, as well as at all the rough and heavy substances which the earth contains.

But whatever wonders may be observed in the mineral creation, the character of animals is still more surprising. Possessed of a degree of perception called instinct, they are enabled to provide their food, prepare their habitations, and flee from any impending danger. Look again, at the feathered songsters, the inhabitants of the grove. Listen to the melodious notes of the nightingale, as it sings its evening song; and see the lark, as it soars on high. These all wait upon the Lord, that he may give them their meat in due season. That he giveth them they gather; he openeth his hand, they are filled with good; he hideth his face, they are troubled; he taketh away their breath,-they die, and return to their dust.

He is the

But nothwithstanding this, how much infe rior are all other animals to man. lord of creation, and claims a rank in a very great degree higher than that of irrational animals. He was made in the image and likeness of God. He rides triumphant in his little bark over the foaming billows of the swelling ocean. He knows how to convey his thoughts in writing, to persons who are far distant; and in printing, to posterity. Many other wonderful things he can do. Not confined to earth, his thoughts reach up to heaven. Not confined to time, he contemplates eternity. On the consideration of

all these things, we must be led to raise our feeble voices in aspirations unto Him "who covereth himself with light as with a garment, who stretcheth out the heavens like a curtain, who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters, who maketh the clouds his chariot, and who walketh on the wings of the wind; and who has so loved the world, as to give his only begotton Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life. W. H., aged 14.

Leeds.

CHILDREN AT PLAY.

I SAW a merry group one day,
Of fair young children at their play;
Whose laughter, innocent and wild,
Burst from the lips of each fair child,
As if their hearts were quite as free
As any merry hearts could be.

But soon it chang'd,-I thought I heard
A something like an unkind word;
A curly tress flung quickly back,
And then a sunny brow grow black;
The laughter ceas'd, and the low hum
Told me that there was mischief done.

Oh, little children at your play!
Do ye, too, tread the evil way ?
Have ye, too, felt the foe within,-
The sad and withering power of sin,--
Crushing your yet unblighted years,
Turning your laughter into tears.
Come, dear ones! kneel to God above,
And ask him (for his name is love),
To give you each his own rich grace,
And in your throbbing breasts to place
A tender heart,--and then you'll strive
In peace and harmony to live.

A MOTHER.

THE CHILD AND THE SINGING

THRUSH.

CHILD.

SINGING THRUSH, thy very name
Denotes thou art a bird of fame;
But I feel a wish to know

Why thou choosest the top bough,
When, with thy delightful singing,
Woods and groves around are ringing.
Does there not a spark of pride
In thy little heart reside?
Is there not some ostentation
In thy choosing such a station?

Singing Thrush, come, tell me why
Thou dost sit to sing so high?

SINGING THRUSH.

Little youngster, if I please,
I can tell thee now with ease;
And you in my tale may find
Something to instruct your mind.
the charge of pride disclaim,-
That did never taint my name :
I am free from ostentation,
Though I choose a lofty station.
When I pour my artless strains,
Making vocal dales and plains,
Though my singing may exceed
Many of a finer breed,

Yet I know not to disdain
Those of an inferior strain.
If God hath to me assign'd
Talents of superior kind,
Sure it would be wrong to hide
What his goodness hath supplied;
We should let our graces shine,
Glorying in a hand divine.
Now, dear little one, you know
Why I choose so high a bough.
'Tis not for myself I sing,
When I make the vallies ring
With my sweet enchanting song,
But to teach the thoughtless throng
That there is a mighty mind,
Uncreated, unconfin'd,

And direct their thoughts to soar
To that great Almighty Power.

S. S.