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city, and proclaim before him, 'Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour!'"'

Then the king said to Haman,—— "Make haste, and take the robes, and the horse as thou hast said, and do even thus to Mordecai, the Jew, who sitteth at the king's gate."

The

The heart of Haman stood still when he heard these words. Must he exalt the enemy whom he came to destroy! Must he show himself to the world as groom to the despised Jew He rushed from the king's presence almost a maniac. Haman could not resist the king's mandate. humiliating ceremony was enacted, and then, with his head covered in anguish, he fled to his own house, where the gall and bitterness he had so well pent up in his bosom, burst forth with tremendous violence.

The queen's chamberlain now arrived to escort Haman to the banquet. Arrayed in his most costly robes, and smoothing his brow, Haman followed him into the queen's presence. With joyous eyes he gazed at the magnificence around him, and at the royal feast which was awaiting him. Unsuspecting the queen's knowledge of his arts against her nation, he advanced with a confident smile to the raised seat occupied by his royal master and Queen Esther. That smile was the last the face of Haman wore.

"And now that we are assembled at thy request," said Artaxerxes, "what is thy petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted thee, even were it half my kingdom, for I have sworn it."

Then Esther, the queen, kneeling before him, said,

"If I have found favour in thy sight, O king! and if it please my lord, let my life be given to me at my petition, and that of my people, at my request. For we are all sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish!" "And who is he," said the king in his anger, "who doth presume in his heart to devise anything against thy life? I understand thee not. Who are thy people?"

How sank the heart of Haman within kim!

"Know then, O king, I am a Jewess! My adversary is this wicked Haman, who

hateth me and my kin, and hath beguiled thee to give us all to slaughter."

Then was the king's wrath too great for words, for he remembered the scene in the temple, and saw through the designs of Haman. He cast a withering glance upon his ungrateful favourite, which caused him to shrink and writhe with despair,

"Ho! my guards!" cried the king, rushing to the door of the hall. He was met by soldiers, who brought in chains the two chamberlains, Bigthana and Teresh, who had conspired against him.

"Here are the men whom thou didst command to be examined, O king," said the head officer, "I have brought them that they might receive their doom at thy royal hands, for they have confessed the wicked Haman did hire them with rich gifts to practise against thy life and the queen's."

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"Seize the villain!" cried the king, in a voice of thunder. Bring him forth, and let him die like a dog!"

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Behold, my lord," said the officer, "there stands without a gallows fifty cubits high; if it please thee, we will hang him thereon."

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Ay, hang him there! and afterwards the others," said the king, who returned to the banquet-hall.

The wretched Haman had sunk upon his knees before the queen, to implore her protection, and finding she was turning from him, grasped her hand, and entreated her to hear him.

"Ha, wretch!" cried the king when he entered, "wilt thou insult the queen before our eyes? Away with him to death!"

Haman was dragged forth and hanged upon the gallows which had been prepared for Mordecai. The Jew was called into the king's presence.

"Here is my signet-ring, Mordecai," said the king. "It was once Haman's, it is now thine. Take it, and with it all the wealth, and power, and rank of Haman. I cannot revoke iny decree, but thou shalt have soldiers and arms to defend thy people against those employed by the wicked Haman, who seeing this preparation, will not dare to strike. Save as many as thou canst. I have promised to Nehemiah the government of Judæa. See that he hath men and money to rebuild his holy city,

for I would do all I can to recompense mv queen and the Jews for my unjust decree." Then bounded the hearts of Esther and her uncle for joy. Kneeling to the good king, they kissed his hands in devout thankfulness for his generous conduct, and then lifting their eyes above, poured out their grateful souls to the Giver of so much good, who had shown Himself so powerful to save!

THE MORAL.

Esther is another beautiful example of the duty we owe our guardians and aged relatives. Although it was exceedingly distasteful to her, to leave her quiet home and face the snares and dangers of a court, yet she did not refuse to obey her uncle when he requested her to become one of the candidates. Her patriotism and her trust in God are worthy of our great commendation. When in all the state and dignity of royalty Esther did not forget Mordecai, whom she cherished and obeyed, as if she were still the lowly Haddassah.

"Oh. Story," said the king, "I remenber him. That is a rare fellow indeed!'' Then, turning towards him, he talked to him very freely and familiarly. "Pray, Mr. Story," said he, 66 you were in Monmouth's army in the west, were you not?" He, according to the advice given him, made answer presently, "Yes, an't please your majesty."

"And you," said he, "was a commissary there, were you not?"

And he again replied, "Yes, an't please your majesty."

"And you," said he, "made a speech before great crowds of people, did you

not?"

an't please your majesty." He again very readily answered, "Yes,

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haven't forgot what you said, let us have Pray," said the king to him, "if you some taste of your fine florid speech; let us have a specimen of some flowers of your rhetoric, and a few of the main things on which you insisted?"

Whereupon, Mr. Story told us that he readily made answer, "I told them, an't please your majesty, that it was you that

THE HONEST REBEL AND THE fired the city of London."

KING.

IN "Calamy's Memoirs," there is an account of a man named Story, who was condemned for being in Monmouth's rebellion, but was reprieved by the interest of a friend with Judge Jeffreys, and subsequently removed to Newgate. He was Soon afterwards ordered to be brought before the Privy-council, in the same plight in which he then was, which was truly miserable. The keeper advised him, in case the king was present, that the wisest way for him would be to answer the questions put to him in a plain and direct manner, without concealing anythingadvice which he strictly followed.

When he was brought into the Councilchamber, he made so sad and sorrowful a figure, that all present were surprised and frightened; and he had so strong a smell, by being so long confined, that he was very offensive.

When the king first cast his eyes upon him, he cried out, "Is that a man, or what else is it?"

Chancellor Jeffreys told his majesty, that that was the Story of whom he had given his majesty so distinct an account.

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"A rare rogue, upon my word," said the king. And pray what else did you tell them?"

"I told them," said he, "an't please your majesty, that you poisoned your brother."

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Impudence, in the utmost height of it," said the king; "pray let us hear something further, if your memory serves you? "*

"I further told them," said Mr. Story, "that your majesty appeared to be fully determined to make the nation both papists and slaves."

By this time, the king seemed to have heard enough of the prisoner's speech; and therefore, crying out, "A rogue, with a witness!" and cutting off short, he said, "to all this, I doubt not but a thousand other villanous things were added; but what would you say, Story, if, after ali this, I should grant you your life?"

To which he, without any demur, made answer, that he should pray heartily for his majesty as long as he lived.

"Why, then," said the king, "I freely pardon the past, and hope you will not for the future, represent your king as inexorale."

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THE WORK-TABLE FRIEND.

SWISS LACE COLLAR. Materials.-The finest Brussels net, and bookmuslin, with the point-lace cottons and embroidery thread, No, 70. of Messrs. W. Evans & Co.; also two yards of fine pearl edging.

THIS pattern is in the same style as the Swiss lace collar in No. 72 of the Old Series of the Family Friend. The pattern, which must be drawn on the muslin, is entirely in that material, the ground being net, and the open parts of the flowers in Point Lace stitches. Among these is one that is quite new to our readers. It is called Brussels spots. Bars and cross bars are made, as for English lace, but instead of the round spot worked where these cross each other, a loop of thread is made, over another needle, between every two threads, by tacking a tight buttonhole stitch on the cross. Four of these loops will be made at every cross, and will

produce the appearance seen in the engraving. This stitch must invariably be done with the finest of the point Lace Cottons, namely No. 150 Boar's-head.

The English Lace is to be done with No. 100, and the English bars (seen in the bud), in Mecklenburgh 121.

After the muslin and net are tacked together, the outlines are to be traced entirely in embroidery cotton. They are then to be sewed over, in No. 70 Boar'shead, with a thread of No. 80 Mecklenburgh held in. A double line of tracing is to be made for the scallops, forming the edge of the collar. It is to be run within that in the engraving, and covered with button-hole stitch done in the embroidery cotton. The pearl edging is to be added.

We give the section the full size for those who like to draw it themselves; but the pattern, prepared and began, will be sent, with embroidery cotton, for 3s. 6d.

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DEEP CROCHET EDGING, BY MRS. PULLAN.
DEEP CROCHET EDGING.*

: on the 2nd of the 6 Ch of the next, 6 Ch

THIS edging is suitable for trimming+repeat. skirts, &c., for which purpose No. 16 or 20 of W. Evans & Co.'s Boar's-head crochet cotton will be suitable. For children's drawers and frocks, No. 30 of the same manufacture may be used.

Make a chain of the required length, the number of stitches being divisible by 32, with a few over, if the work is to be done in a length. For drawers, and anything else, when the exact quantity for each piece can be ascertained, it is desirable to close the chain in a round, and

work round on it.

1st Row.-Dc.

2nd Row.-4 Dc, 3 Ch, miss 3, 4 Dc, 6 Ch, miss 5, 1 Sc, 11 Ch, miss 9, Sc on the 10th, 6 Ch, miss 5, + repeat, 3rd Row. 2 De on the first two of 4 Dc, 2 Ch, miss 2, 3 De on 3 chains, miss 2, 2 Dc, 6 Ch, miss 4, 1 Sc, 5 Ch, miss 3, 1 Sc, 4 times, 6 Ch, miss 4+ repeat.

4th Row. Begin on the first Dc of last row. +4 Dc, 3 Ch, miss 3, 4 Dc, 6 Ch, miss 4, 1 Sc, 7 Ch, miss 1 loop, Sc on the centre of the next, 7 Ch, Sc on the centre of the next, 7 Ch, miss 1 loop, Sc

*For Instructions in Crochet terms, see No. 67, of the Family Friend, Old Series..

5th Row. 2 Dc on the first two of 4 Dc, 3 Ch, miss 3, 1 Dc, 3 Ch, miss 3, 2 Dc, 6 Ch, miss 4, 1 Sc, 9 Ch, miss the next loop, and Se on the 3rd of the 7 Ch of the following loop, 3 Ch, miss 1, 1 Sc, 9 Ch, miss 1 loop, Se on the 2nd stitch of the next, 6 Ch, + repeat. 6th Row. Sc on the first Dc of the last row, 9 Dc on the next 9 stitches, Sc on the next. 3 Ch, miss 3, 1 Sc, 5 Ch, Sc on the 5th of 9 Ch, 18 Ch, miss the small loop and Sc on the 5th of the next 9 chain, 5 Ch, Sc on the 3rd of 6th Ch, 3 Ch,+repeat.

7th Row. Sc on the first Sc of last row, 5 Ch, miss 3, Dc in the 4th, 3 Ch, miss 1, De in the 2nd, 5 Ch, miss 3, De in the 4th, 7 Ch, miss 3 of the 18 Ch, 5 De, 2 De in each of the next 2, 5 more Dc, 7 Ch, + repeat.

8th Row.+ 11 Dc, beginning on the 3rd chain, after the first single crochet of last row, 3 Ch, miss 6, Sc in the 7th, 3 Ch, miss 4, Sc on the 5th, 5 Ch, miss 4, Sc on the 2nd, twice, 5 Ch, miss 2, Sc on the 3rd 5 Ch, miss 1, Dc on the 2nd 5 Ch, miss 1, De on 2nd, 3 Ch, miss 4, Sc on the 5th 3 Ch, + repeat.

9th Row. Begin on the third of the 11 Dc. 7 Dc, 6 Ch, miss the 1st chair

of 3, Sc under the 2nd, 3 Ch, Sc under the next loop, 5 Ch, Sc under the next, 7 Ch, Sc under the next, 7 Ch, Sc under the next, 5 Ch, Sc under the next, 3 Ch, Sc under the next, 6 Ch, + repeat.

10th Row.-Begin on the 4th of the 6 chain before the De stitches. + 1 Sc, 1 Sde, 9 Dc, 1 Sdc, 1 Sc, 4 Ch, Sc under the next loop, 5 Ch, Sc under the next, 7 Ch, Sc under the next, 9 Ch, Sc under the next, 7 Ch, Sc under the next, 5 Ch, Sc under the next, 4 Ch, + repeat.

11th Row-Begin on the first Se stitch. Se on Sc, 5 Ch, close into a loop, 1 Sc, 1 Sdc, 1 Dc, 5 Ch, close, 3 Dc, 5 Ch, close, twice, 1 Dc, 1 Sdc, 1 Sc, 5 Ch, close. These 5 chains, closed into a loop, form a picot. Slip-stitch all the rest of each pattern, making a picot on the centre of every loop, and on every Sc stitch.

CANARY BIRDS.

BY HENRY WILSON.

THE canary birds now kept and reared throughout the whole of Europe were originally natives of the Canary Islands. There they are still found in pleasant valleys, and on the delightful banks of sparkling rills and small streams. But for some two hundred years they have been bred in Europe.

About the beginning of the sixteenth century, a ship was wrecked on the coast of Italy, which, in addition to merchandise, had a multitude of canaries on board. These birds, thus obtaining their liberty, flew to the Island of Elba, the nearest land. There they found a propitious climate, and multiplied very rapidly. Had not man interposed, by hunting them for cage birds, until they were entirely extirpated, they would probably have naturalized themselves there.

In Italy were found the first tame canaries, and there they are still raised in vast numbers. Within the last hundred years they were so uncommon and expensive, that only princes and people of great wealth could keep them. But at the present day these birds are raised in all our cities, and most of the towns, and sold at moderate prices.

In its native island the plumage of the

canary bird is said to be more beautiful than that of our tame ones; but its song is less melodious and varied, consisting of fewer notes, and uttered at longer intervals. The original colour of this bird in its wild state was gray, merging into green beneath; but by domestication and climate it has been so changed that canaries may now be seen of almost every hue.

Most commonly they are of some shade of yellow; but some are gray, others white; some are reddish-brown, or chesnut-coloured, others are beautifully shaded with green. These are the prevailing colours, but they are blended in various combinations, and thus present every degree of shade. Those the most prized exhibit the most marked and regularly these various shades.

The one most generally admired, at present, is yellow or white upon its body, and of a dun yellow colour, on the wings, head, and tail. Next in degree of beauty is that which is of a golden yellow, with black, blue, or blackish-gray head, and similar wings and tails. There are also gray ones, with yellow heads, or with a ring about the neck; and white ones, with a yellow breast, and white head and tail. Those which are more irregularly marked, are less esteemed.

The Canary bird is five inches in length, of which the tail comprises two inches and a quarter. Sometimes the female is not easily distinguished from the male; but the latter has generally deeper and brighter colours, the head is rather thicker, the body is more slender throughout, and the temples and space around the eyes are always of a brighter yellow than the rest of the body.

In selecting a bird, those are best which stand upright on the perch, appear bold and lively, and are not frightened at every noise they hear, or every thing they see. If its eyes are bright and cheerful, it is a sign of health; but if it keeps its head under the wing, it is drooping and sickly.

Its song should also be particularly noticed, for there is much difference in this respect. But as it often depends on the peculiar taste of the purchaser, no directions can be given for its application. In respect to the notes of these birds, there is much difference. Some of them have very fine notes, but if the song is not fine,

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