its spears. The wounds thus inflicted are sometimes serious; for the points of the spines are exceedingly fine and hard, and evidently intended by the Creator as weapons against its enemies.

A gentleman, sometime ago, was wounded through his boot by the spine of an irritated porcupine, and the wound, for some time, assumed a threatening appearance. The spines are frequently two feet in length, that is the longest, but some of the shorter are more strong and formidable. The spines bear some resemblance to the shaft of a large feather; but more solid and enamelled, thick in the middle, and tapering at each extremity to a point. The most formidable of these darts are placed upon the back; the head, tail, and other parts of the body being less defended by them, as the animal, like the hedgehog, has the faculty of rolling itself together, and thus repelling its hardiest adversaries. When undisturbed, the spines of the porcupine recline regularly backward; but when irritated, they are elevated, and at all points present themselves against all foreign interference and intrusion.

Though the porcupine is found in the hottest climes of Asia and Africa, varieties are found in many parts of Europe, as Spain, Italy, and Sicily.

The general height of the porcupine is about sixteen inches, and it exceeds two feet in length,

though its forest of bristles makes it appear larger than it proves to be. The legs are very short; the eyes are small; and the head bears a strong resemblance to that of a hare. In its natural state, the porcupine lives upon insects and vegetables. Those which are shown in this country feed upon fruits, bread, and milk; but they do not refuse meat when it is offered them, and probably they partake of animal food occasionally in their wild state. When hunted by dogs or wolves, the porcupine is said to avoid them, sometimes, by climbing up a tree, It is hunted frequently both by the natives of India and of America, for the sake of its flesh and its quills, with which they embroider their dress and furniture with elegance and skill.

Though porcupines are not known to fight with other animals, they have sometimes fought with each other with great fury, biting and devouring one another. Almost all the animals of this family are of recluse and nocturnal habits; they lie dormant also during the winter months, as do their cousins, the hedgehogs of this country. They burrow deep into the earth, and provide themselves a comfortable retreat far removed from mortal vision. From this retreat they emerge to the surface, as the shadows of evening veil the face of nature. The colour of the porcupine is a grizzled black; the legs are entirely black, and the spines are beautifully marked with rings, alternately black and white.

These creatures, which form a link in the ever-varying and ever-wonderful creation, add their testimony, with all others, to the wisdom, power, and goodness of God. May this short sketch lead the thoughts of the reader afresh to the wonder-working Jehovah, who is ever glorious in all the works of his hands!

THE SOLDIER'S RULE.

Tyler.

If you would have friends, you must show yourself friendly. I knew an old soldier of the American revolution, who told me the following story :

"I once had a neighbour, who, though a clever man, came to me one bright hay day, and said, 'Squire White, I want you to come and get your geese away.' 'Why?' said I, 'what are my geese doing? They pick my pigs' ears, when they are eating, and drive them away; and I will not have it.' 'What can I do?' said I. 'You must yoke them.' 'That I have no time to do now,' said I. 'I do not see but they must run.' 'If you do not take care of them, I shall !' said the clever shoemaker, in anger; 'What do you say Squire White?' 'I cannot take care of them now, but I will pay you for all damages.' 'Well,' said he, " will find out a thing I guess.'-So off he went, and I heard a terrible squalling among the geese. The

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next news from the geese was, that three of them were missing. My children went and found them terribly mangled and dead, and thrown into the bushes. Now,' said I, 'all keep still, and let me punish him.'

In a few days the shoemaker's hogs broke into my corn. I saw them, but let them remain a long time. At last I drove them all out, and picked up the corn which they had torn down, and fed them with it in the road. By this time, the shoemaker came in great haste after them. 'Have you seen anything of my hogs?' said he. 'Yes, sir, you will find them yonder, eating some corn which they tore down in my field.' "In your field?' 'Yes, sir,' said I; 'hogs love corn, you know they were made to eat.' 'How much mischief have they done?' 'O, not much' said I.-Well, off he went to look, and estimated the damage to me, to be equal to a bushel and a half of old corn. "O no,' said I, 'it can't be.' 'Yes,' said the shoemaker, and I will pay you every cent of damage.' 'No,' I replied, 'you shall pay nothing. My geese have been a great deal of trouble to you.' The shoemaker blushed and went home. But in the winter, when we came to settle, the shoemaker was determined to pay me for the corn. 'No,' said I, 'I shall take nothing.' After some talk we parted. But in a day or two I met him in the road, and fell into conversation in the most friendly manner. But when I started on, he seemed loth to move, and I paused.

For a moment both of us were silent. At last he said, I have something labouring on my mind.' Well, what is it ? "Those geese-I killed three of your geese; and I never shall rest till you know how I feel. I am sorry,' and the tears came in his eyes. 'O, well,' said I, never mind; I suppose my geese were provoking.' I never took anything of him for it. But whenever my cattle broke into his field, after this, he seemed glad,-because he showed how patient he could be."

Now, said the old soldier, conquer yourself, and you can conquer anything. You can conquer with kindness where you can conquer in no other way.

SMALL MATTERS.

The

THE nerve of a tooth, not as large as the finest cambric needle, will sometimes drive a man to distraction. A musquito can make an elephant absolutely mad. The coral rock, which causes a navy to founder, is the work of worms. warrior that withstood death in a thousand forms may be killed by an insect. The deepest wretchedness often results from a perpetual continuance of the most petty trials. A chance look from those we love, often produces exquisite or unalloyed pleasure.