HUMBLE FRIENDS. KINDNESS to animals shows an amiable disposition, and correct principles. The inferior creation were given for our use, but not for our abuse or cruelty. Many of them add greatly to the comfort of domestic life, and also display qualities deserving of regard. The noble properties of the dog, the horse, and the "half-reasoning elephant," have long been known and praised. But among the lower grades of animals, especially if they receive kind treatment, traits of character are often discovered that surprise or delight us. Cats, so frequently the objects of neglect or barbarity, are more sagacious than is generally supposed. The mother of four young kittens missed one of her nurslings, and diligently searched the house to find it. Then she commenced calling upon the neighbours, gliding from room to room, and looking under sofas and beds, with a troubled air. At length she found it in a family in the vicinity, where it had been given by her mistress. Taking it in her mouth, she brought it home and bestowed on it her nursing cares, and maternal caresses for a few weeks, then carried it back to the same neighbour, and left it in the same spot where she found it. It would seem as if she wished to testify her approbation of the home selected for her child, and desired only to nurture it until it should be old enough to fill it properly. A cat who had repeatedly had her kittens taken from her, and drowned immediately after their birth, went to a barn belonging to the family, quite a long distance from the house. She so judiciously divided her time, as to obtain her meals at home and attend to her nursery abroad. At length she entered the kitchen, followed by four of her offspring well-grown, all mewing in chorus. Had she foresight enough to conclude that if she could protect them until they reached a more mature age, they would escape the fate of their unfortunate kindred? A little girl once sat reading with a large favourite cat in her lap. She was gently stroking it, while it purred loudly, to express its joy. She invited a person who was near to feel its velvet softness. Reluctant to be interrupted in an industrious occupation that required the use of both hands, the person did not immediately comply, but at length touched the head so abruptly that the cat supposed itself to have been struck. Resenting the indignity, it ceased its song, and continued alternately rolling and closing its eyes, yet secretly watching, until both the busy hands had resumed their employment. Then, stretching forth a broad, black velvet paw, it inflicted on the back of one of them a quick stroke, and jumping down, concealed itself beneath the chair of its patron. There seemed in this simple action a nice adaptation of means to ends; a prudent waiting, until the retaliation that was meditated could be conveniently indulged, and a prompt flight from the evil that might ensue. The race of rats is usually considered remarkable only for voraciousness, or for ingenious and mischievous inventions to obtain the gratification of appetite. A vessel that had been much infested by them, was, when in port, fumigated with brimstone, to expel them. Escaping in great numbers, they were despatched by people stationed for that purpose. Amid the flying victims, a group was observed to approach slowly, upon the board placed between the vessel and the shore. One of those animals held in his mouth a stick, the extremities of which were held by two others, who carefully led him. It was discovered that he was blind. The executioners suffered them to live! It was not in the heart of man to scorn such an example. Another of our ships, while in a foreign port, took similar measures to free itself from those troublesome inmates. Amid the throngs that fled from suffocating smoke to slaughtering foes, one was seen moving laboriously, as if overburdened. Climbing over the bodies of his dead companions, he bore upon his back another, so old as to be unable to walk. Like Eneas, escaping from the flames of Troy, perhaps it was an aged father that he thus carried upon his shoulders. Whether it was filial piety, or respect for age, his noble conduct, as in the previous instance, saved his life and that of his venerable friend. Sheep are admired for their innocence and meekness, more than for strong demonstrations of character. Yet the owner of a flock was once surprised by seeing one of his fleecy people rushing to and fro beneath his window, in great agitation and alarm. Following her to the pasture, where she eagerly led the way, he found a fierce dog tearing the sheep. Having put him to flight, he turned in search of the messenger, and found her in a close thicket, where she had carefully hidden her own little lamb, ere she fled to apprise the master of their danger. This strangely intelligent animal was permitted to live to the utmost limit of longevity allotted to her race. The instinct of the beaver approaches the bounds of reason. Their dexterity in constructing habitations, and rearing mounds to repel the watery element, surpasses that of all other animals. A gentleman, who resided where they abound, wished to ascertain whether this was inherent, or the effect of imitation. He took, therefore, to his house, an infant beaver, ere its eyes were opened. It was an inmate of his kitchen, where one day, from a leaky pail, a small stream of water oozed out upon the floor. Out ran the little beaver, and collected sticks and clay, with which it built a dam to stop the passage of the tiny brook. An Indian, going out to shoot beavers, saw a large one felling a lofty tree. Ere he gave the finishing strokes, he ascended a neighbouring hill, throwing his head about, and taking deep draughts of air. The Indian, who stedfastly regarded him, supposed that he was taking an observation of which way the wind blew, as when he made his last effort on the tree he made use of this knowledge to shelter himself from injury at its fall. He then measured the trunk into equal lengths for the height of the house he was to build, and loading his broad tail with wet clay, made a mark at each division. Uttering a peculiar cry, three little beavers appeared at their father's call, and began to gnaw asunder the wood at the places which he had designated. "When I saw this," said the Indian, "I turned away. Could I harm such a creature? No. He was to me as a brother." Among the insect tribes, the ant sustains a good character for foresight and industry, having been cited by the wise monarch of Israel as an example and reproof to the sluggard. When Dr. Franklin was on is embassy in France, soon after the American revolution, he one morning sat musing over his solitary breakfast, and perceived a legion of large black ants taking possession of the sugar-bowl. His philosophic mind being ever ready for experiments, he caused it to be suspended from the ceiling by a string. They returned. The sweet food was above their reach. It was worth an effort to regain it. One placed himself in a perpendicular position, and another mounted upon his shoulders. Others ascended the same scaffolding, each stretching to his utmost altitude. Down fell the line. Yet it was again, and again renewed. Then the Babelbuilders disappeared. Had they given up the siege? No. They had only changed their mode of attack. Soon they were seen traversing the ceiling, and precipitating themselves upon the coveted spoil, by the string that sustained it. Here was somewhat of the same boldness and perseverance that led Hannibal across the alps, to pour his soldiers down upon astonished Italy. Thus the spider that sought so many times to fasten its frail thread, and at length succeeded, gave a profitable lesson to King Robert the Bruce, when he ruminated in discouragement and despair on his failing enterprises. Parrots are generally considered as senseless repeaters of sounds and words, that convey neither sentiment nor feeling. Now and then, there seems some variation from this rule. A parrot who had been reared with kindness, selected as his prime favourite the youngest child in the family. By every means in his power he expressed this preference. The little girl was seized with a severe sickness. He missed her in her accustomed haunts, and turning his head quickly from side to side, called loudly for her. At length, the fair form, stretched in its coffin, met his view. In wild and mournful tones, he continued to utter her name. He was removed far from the room, but the shrill echo of his voice was still heard amid the funereal obsequies, pronouncing with frantic grief the name of his lost Mary. Ever afterwards, when the sound of the tolling-bell met his ear, the fountains of memory were troubled, and the cry of "Mary! Mary!" mingled with the mournful knell, till it ceased. Since so many interesting properties are discovered in the inferior creation, where, perhaps, we least expected them, it is well to search for such traits of character as deserve our regard, and consider them as humble friends, that we may better do our duty to them, and please Him who has entrusted them to our protection. MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF ALL NATIONS. HINDOO ADORATION OF THE SALAGRAM. Among the many forms which Vishnu is believed by his Hindoo worshippers to have assumed is that of the Sálagrám-an ammonitesstone, found in the river Gandaká and other streams flowing from the Himalayas. The reason for the worship of this is stated in one of the sacred books. "Vishnu created the nine planets to preside over the fates of men. Sani (Saturn) proposed commencing his reign by taking Brahma under his influence for twelve years. The matter was referred to Vishnu, who being equally averse to be placed under the inauspicious influence of this planet, requested him to call the next day. The next day Saturn could nowhere discover Vishnu, but perceived that he had united himself to the mountain Gandaká; he entered the mountain in the form of a worm called Vajrakita (the thunder-bolt worm). He continued to afflict the mountain-formed Vishnu for twelve years, when Vishnu assumed his proper shape, and commanded that the stones of this mountain should be worshipped, and become proper representatives of himself; adding that each should have twenty marks in it, similar to those on his body, and that its name should be Sálagrám." The Sálagrám is usually placed under a tulasi-tree, which is planted on the top of a pillar in the vicinity of a temple of Vishnu, or near a house. Tulasi, a female, desired to become Vishnu's wife, but was metamorphosed by Lakshmi into a tree, a small shrub, called therefore Tulasi, or holy basil (Ocymum Sanctum). Vishnu, however, promised to assume the form of a Sálagrám, and always continue with her. The Vaishnaya priests, therefore, keep one leaf of the shrub under and another over the Sálagrám, and thus pay their adorations to the stone and the tree. In the evening a lamp is placed near it, as appears in the engraving, which represents a person engaged in the worship at this singular shrine. RAMBLE THE FIFTEENTH. "Lord! thou didst love Jerusalem- c Lam, i. 1. Q recount some of the most important epochs in its history. 66 "The city of David" has undergone many changes. It is said to have been built by Melchizedek, who is mentioned in Genesis (chap. xiv. 18) as king of Salem; but modern commentators have rejected this opinion, on account of the statement of Jerome, who says that he saw the ruins of Melchizedek's palace, near to Scythopolis (Bethshean). There cannot be any doubt that Jerusalem existed B.C. 1451, because it is stated (a) that Adoni-zedek was king of Jerusalem. We find that, B.C. 1444, "Jebusi," which is Jerusalem," was given, with thirteen other cities and their villages, to the children of Benjamin (b) as their inheritance; in 1425 the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem, took it, and set the city on fire (c); in 1408 David took Zion from the Jebusites, and dwelt in the fort, and called Jerusalem the city of David (d); in 1402 David brought the ark from Kirjathjearim upon a new cart to Jerusalem, with sacrifices and dancing (e). In 1004 Solomon blessed the people, and consecrated the temple, with a solemn prayer from the brazen scaffold (f). In971, 'Shishak, king of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the treasures of the king's house: he took all; he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made" (g). In 826 Jehoash came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits; and he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord, and all the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria" (h). In 742 the city was besieged by Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, son of Remaliah, king of Israel, but they could not take it (i). In 710 Sennacherib invaded Judah, and took all the fenced cities, but retired when Hezekiah had given him three hundred talents of silver (£166,077 10s.), and thirty 66 talents of gold (£12,273 7s. 6d.) (k). In 610, Pharaoh-nechoh, king of Egypt, went against Jerusalem, slew Josiah, imprisoned Jehohahaz, and made Jehoiakim king in his stead: besides doing this, he put the land to a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold (1). In 599, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieged Jerusalem, and carried away all the princes, riches, and workmen to Babylon, and destroyed all the vessels of gold which Solomon had made in the temple (m). In 588 Nebuchadnezzar and all his host besieged Jerusalem, and built forts against it round about, and took the city, burnt it, and broke down the walls, besides carrying away a great number of the inhabitants into captivity (n). In 536, Cyrus, king of Persia, ordered the temple tobe rebuilt (o). In445, Nehemiah, having secretly viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and incited the Jews to build them up again, is mocked and threatened by Sanballat, the Horonite (p). In 324, Ptolemy, king of Egypt, captured it; in 168 it was plundered by Apollonius; restored by the Maccabees in 163 B.C.; and in 63 taken by Pompey. In the year of our Lord 70 the city was besieged, taken, and destroyed by Titus; rebuilt in 131 by the Roman emperor Adrian, who afterwards destroyed many parts of the city, and erected tem ples to the heathen deities. In 135 the Jews were finally dispersed, after having failed in a revolt againt the Romans, and the city became a Roman colony. In 326 Constantine and Helena built many churches throughout Judæa, especially in Jerusalem, and did much to restore the city, besides allowing the Jews to enter it once a year. In 613 the city was taken by Chosrau, king of the Persians, who slew 90,000. The city was retaken from the Persians, in 627, by the Greeks, under Heraclius. In 636. Khalif Omar took the city after a siege of four months, and the mosque of Omar was commenced. In 868 the city was taken by Ahmed of Egypt from the Khalifs of Bagdad. In 1073 the |