On

If this precaution be neglected, we may, through deceptive appearances, receive false impressions of persons and of things; and by communicating them (in all honesty on our part) to others, produce on their minds also impressions anything but correct, thereby perchance entailing much disappointment and unpleasantness. the other hand, if possessed of a tolerable degree of clear sightedness, penetration, and judgment, we may be able to discover, for instance, the true character of a person feigning to be our friend, but under the guise of friendship hiding deceit and hypocrisy, and acting in direct opposition to the dictates of reason as to what a true friend should be.

There are numerous illustrations to be drawn from nature of the folly of trusting to appearances. In gazing at the ocean on a fine summer's day, we might be tempted to think that so beautiful and glassy a surface could never be agitated or angry. Let us view it again in the dead of night. Now it is rushing, foaming, roaring, its smooth surface lashed into a thousand furious waves, dashing up mountains high. In this instance appearances are deceitful-not to be trusted. So with the magnificent mausoleum which the hand of wealth has reared to the memory of some great one of the earth. The exterior decorated, sculptured, and emblazoned, the interior full of corruption.

Then, again, this fact is illustrated by many incidents in history. We will take one only:-L'Amiral de Coligni, an eminent Protestant, who lived in the reign of Charles IX. of France, through trusting to the apparent friendship of those around him, became the victim of a base conspiracy, and was cruelly murdered. Although he was warned that plots were formed against his life, the noble admiral rejected with disdain the suspicions on the grounds of which his friends tried to induce him to ensure his safety, placing firm

confidence in the kind and amicable d few days after the predictions of the portment of the king towards him. But around him were fulfilled; for as he leaving the Louvre he was attacked by assassin, and dangerously wounded. ` il trusted to outward appearances.

of such fatal results, it becomes us to seek Then, since this habit may be productio something real on which to repose our tidence and hopes of happiness. Since in this world is so unreal and empty, thoughts should aim higher, even to the sures will be true and lasting, where a anticipation of the life above, where plea our friendships will be pure and constant and where the source of our happiness w be the presence of the great "I AM," unchanging God and Saviour. ZELICA

DEW.

Who does not admire the bright crys drops that in the early morning gliste and sparkle on every leaf and flower and every blade of grass? Who, careless childhood, has not felt a delight i beholding his face in these countless mir rors of dew, or in bathing his hands in the fresh cool moisture?

as if in modest consciousness of the adde The flowers droop their heads gracefay beauty bestowed by nature's diamond orna ments. "The morning roses newly washed with dew" give forth a sweeter, fresher perfume. The birds, as they fly and ho among the trees and grass, chirping and twittering cheerily, pause to sip the mois ture, and then break forth into some swer carol, as if expressing their gratitude for the pleasant beverage. How each blossom delights in its morning bath, and how thankful it seems! Eager they are to ejoy it while they may, before the sun come to rob them of their treasures. For th sun loves the dew-drops too; and when he has assumed his full sway, they must yield for the present. to his will, and leave the buds and flowers

tender nurslings of the earth. Throug Dew is, indeed, part of the life of the days of dry weather, when no shower of rain comes to freshen the land, the flowers owe their beauty, their existence to the dew. Yet few, perhaps, consider its inportance, apart from the charm it adds to the aspect of nature; and still fewer refleet on its origin.

The vapour of the air is condensed into dew by coming in contact with substances colder than itself. After sunset the warm

earth radiates its heat into the air, and the surrounding vapour becomes chilled by contact with the cold surface, and settles on it in clear liquid drops. This occurs only when the night is fine, and free from clouds; for, at such times, there is nothing to prevent the radiation of heat from the ground, whilst clouds act as an obstruction to the heat; consequently on a cloudy night no dew falls.

Dew is always most plentiful in open situations, where there are no houses, trees, &c., to check the escape of the heated air; while, on the other hand, the ground be neath a tree in full foliage remains dry.

ANNA GREY.

SWEET little Anna Grey!

Anna was the youngest pet of five children, and reached her fifth year without discovering any of the wilful, passionate propensities that generally develope themselves even in infancy.

Anna (or Nanna, as was the self-chosen, favourite name by which she liked to be called) was a lovely child, slight and active, with deep blue eyes and clear, transparent complexion. From infancy she possessed an unchildlike influence over her sometimes turbulent brothers and sisters. Her soft It is a wise adaptation of Providence voice would rouse them from many an evil that those things which require most mois- temper that for the time obscured the pleature radiate heat most freely, and collect sure of their play or duty. When a mere the largest quantity of dew; grass, vege-baby she one day observed a frown and an tables, and the leaves of plants, which are unlovely look upon the face of her sister dependent upon it for sustenance, part with Amy, and going to her she looked into her their warmth rapidly and abundantly, face and saidwhile polished metal and smooth stones are bad radiators of heat.

In all cultivated ground, also, a large supply of dew is yielded; for loose soil readily throws off its warmth, and the genial moisture sinks down to nourish the seeds and roots lying embosomed in the earth. How little we consider the wise Arrangement of these seeming trifles! We pass by, and think not of such trivial things, and yet God heeds them, and forgets not the use of even a drop of dew.

ornaments.

On a gusty night the wind evaporates the dew as it falls, ad in the morning the fairies are disapointed of their mirrors, and the flowers of their fresh glittering But they may hope for them again: whether with dew-drops or showers of "gracious rain," they will be nourished and refreshed as often as they need it; for in this beautiful, most beautiful world, no flower or leaf, no blade of grass, is ever overlooked-each is provided with the exact quantity of moisture necessary to its HOPE DOUGLAS.

existence.

"ALL the varieties of matter which are essential to the existence of living forms are in a constant state of circulation. Each has its appointed round of duty at one point or other of which it is sure to be found. And while the motions of all the wheels are prescribed, and a restless activity imposed on every particle of matter, all contingencies are guarded against which might interfere with the final accomplish ment of the one simple design.-Professor Johnston.

"Gentle Jesus, meek and mild-not like sissy Amy."

A bright smile from both children showed that, at least for the time, Satan's reign was over.

Mrs. Grey, who overlooked the scene, thanked God that she had at least one peacemaker amongst her little ones. About a year after this the faint colour began to fade from Nanna's already angelic face, the little form grew still slighter, and it soon became evident to all that Anna was one of God's early chosen lambs! The face grew sweeter than ever, with its fair hair curling back from the delicate features: and the parents clasped to their bosoms, with mournful earnestness, the bud that to them had been sweetest and fairest.

At last Nanna grew so ill she could not leave the house, but would lie almost motionless for hours. One day her mamma was sitting by the fire with her eyes closed, thinking her darling was asleep, when she was aroused by a little hand touching hers. Looking up she saw Nanna had risen and stood with her earnest eyes fixed upon her mother's.

"Does mamma think Jesus wants Nanna?" she said softly.

Mrs. Gray answered

Would my little one wish to leave us if Jesus did?"

"I love you all, mamma; but if Jesus Christ does want me, I should like to go."

"Well, my dearest, I think it very likely Jesus will fetch you soon," said Mrs. Grey, sadly.

Nanna said no more then, but shortly afterwards added

ELIZABETH STUART, QUEEN OF BOHEMIA.
BY THE AUTHOR OF "ARABELLA STUART."

CHAPTER II.

of the wild and inextricable complications of German politics at this period. We must confine ourselves, and that succinctly to the kingdom of Bohemia.

IN the court of the Elector Palatine, there resided a bigoted old Calvinist divine, named Abraham Sculletus, who proved Bohemia, inhabited by a Sclavonic race, himself the evil genius of discord and had been both a hereditary and an elective misery, and obtained a certain and most monarchy; but for some generations past unfortunate ascendancy over the minds of it had been under the sway of the empire, Elizabeth, and her husband. He was a though the nobility nominally claimed the native of Silesia, and had been educated in right of electing their sovereign, and, if the principles of the Hussites, and after necessary, of changing the whole dynasty. trying his fortune throughout Protestant The Emperor Matthias, a bigoted Roman Germany, he at length settled down at Catholic, had given offence to his protestant Heidelburg, as chaplain to the dowager- subjects by proscribing their worship and electress Juliana, and was by her transferred shutting up their churches; and the states to Frederick, as spiritual director. At the of Bohemia, encouraged by the example of famous Synod of Dort, he distinguished Hungary, which were in open revolt, himself by proscribing the Arminians, and refused, when convened according to counselling the execution, or rather the custom by the imperial deputies, to vote judicial murder of the patriot Barnevelt, the usual supplies. Indeed, they addressed that indelible stain upon the memory of a spirited remonstrance against the arbiMaurice of Nasaus. Sculletus returned to trary interference of the Jesuits, and comHeidelburg inflated with presumption, arro-plained that their privileges were violated. gance, and visionary schemes of ambition; amore dangerous counsellor could not well

have been

He began to consider his fanatical dreams as direct inspirations from heaven; he drew auguries from meteorological phenomena, he framed predictions founded on mysterious passages of the apocalypse; and of Frederick himself he never ceased to prophecy his speedy accession to royal

power.

These complaints, however, were received with undisguised contempt; a violent clamour arose, and the Emperor's commissioners were hurled from the window into the ditch of the castle, a descent of eighty feet, but the fall of the intended victims was broken by the water or mud of the moat, and they miraculously escaped with little injury, one by one crossing the Moldan, the others by gaining refugo in a neighbouring dwelling.

Of course Frederick and Elizabeth were Of course this outrage prevented anyaware of these divinations, and they were thing like a hope of accommodation, and not displeased; Frederick caught the en- Count Thurn, the leader of the insurgents, thusiasm of the fanatics who interpreted all addressed the feudal nobles of Bohemia in kinds of absurdities as auguries of the a style well calculated to flatter the pride Divine will; and Elizabeth, naturally of an and win the confidence of an excited and aspiring nature, was inclined to welcome generous people. "I do not," he exclaimed, all that promised to her beloved partnerpropose myself as your chief, but as your increase of honour and dignities. Perhaps companion in that peril which will lead the taunt of her weak-minded mother was us to happy freedom or glorious death ! not forgotten; perhaps she remembered but By our example liberty shall spread to too well the decisive title of "Goody Pals-every part of the empire; and though there grave," once applied to her in the English be some appearance of violence in our conCourt, perhaps she had dreams of future duct, yet reason and piety will excuse the intercourse with her own relations, ming-fact. There remains now no room for ling with them as a princess, not only of repentance, and no plea for forgiveness. royal birth but of royal power, and royal The die is thrown! it is too late to recall what is past, your safety depends alone on unanimity and courage, and if you hesitate to burst asunder your chains, you have no

state also.

It would be vain in this brief account to attempt to give the reader any just idea VOL. VII. NEW SERIES.

FF