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IMPORTANT REQquisites in a WiFE. A knowledge of domestic duties is beyond all price to a woman. Every one of the sex ought to know how to sew, and knit, and mend, and cook, and superintend a household. In every situation of life, high or low, this sort of knowledge is of great advantage. There is no necessity that the gaining of such information should interfere with intellectual acquirement or even elegant accomplishment. A well-regulated mind can find time to attend to all. When a girl is nine or ten years old, she should be accustomed to take some regular share in household duties, and to feel responsible for the manner in which her part is performed-such as her own mending, washing the cups and putting them in place, cleaning silver, or dusting and arranging the parlour. This should not be done occasionally, and neglected whenever she finds it convenient she should consider it her department. When older than twelve, girls should begin to take turns in superintending the household-making puddings, pies, cakes, &c. To learn effectually, they should actually do these things themselves, and not stand by and see others do them. Many a husband has been ruined for want of these domestic qualities in a wife-and many a husband has been saved from ruin by his wife being able to manage well the household concerns.

NATURAL HISTORY.

ADVENTURES WITH LIONS.

BY C. W. WEBBER.

MOFFAT, the daring agent of the London Missionary Society in South Africa, who for twenty-three years was exposed to all the perils of general resident, and travelling supervision, of the Society's operations in that wild region, has given many striking and memorable anecdotes of the lion. We quote one, in his own language.

"Conversing with the party one evening, when sitting around the fire, on the conduet of children to their parents, I observed that they were as bad as lions.

They are worse,' replied Africaner. This he illustrated from the well-known characteristics of the king of beasts; or, more properly, king of the beasts of prey. Much has been written about African lions, but the half has not been told. The following trait in their character may not be intrusive, or partaking of the marvellous, with which the tales of some travellers are said to abound. I give it as received from men of God, and men who had been experienced Nimrods, too. The old lion, when in company with his children as the natives call them, though they are nearly as big as himself; or, when numbers together happen to come upon game, the oldest or ablest creeps to the object, while the others crouch on the grass; if he be successful, which he generally is, he retires from his victim, and lies down to breathe and rest, for perhaps a quarter of an hour; in the meantime, the others draw around, and lie down at a respectful distance. When the chief one has got his rest, he commences at the abdomen and breast, and after making havoc with the tit-bits of the carcass, he will take a second rest, none of the others presuming to move. Having made a second gorge, he retires; the others watching his motions, rush on the remainder, and it is soon devoured. At other times, if a young lion seizes the prey, and an old one happens to come up, the younger retires till the elder has dined. This was what Africaner called better manners than those of the Namaquas."

Here are others as droll from the same

source:

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Passing along a vale, we came to a spot where the lion appeared to have been exercising himself in the way of leaping. As the natives are very expert in tracing the manœuvres of animals by their footmarks, it was soon discovered that a large lion had crept towards a short black stump, very like the human form; when within about a dozen yards, it bounded on its supposed prey, when, to his mortification, he fell a foot or two short of it. According to the testimony of a native who had been watching his motions, and who joined us soon after, the lion lay for some time steadfastly eyeing its supposed meal. It then arose, smelt the object, and returned to the spct from which he commenced his first leap, and leaped four several times, till at last he placed his paw on the imagined prize. On another occasion, when Africaner and an attendant were passing near the end of a hill, from which jutted out a smooth rock of ten or twelve feet high, he observed a number of zebras pressing round it, obliged to keep the path, beyond which it was precipitous. A lion was seen creeping up towards the path, to intercept the large stallion, which is always in the rear to defend or warn the troop. The lion missed his mark, and while the zebra rushed round the point, the lion knew well, if he could mount the rock at one leap, the next would be on the zebra's back, it being obliged to turn towards the hill. He fell short, with only his head over the stone, looking at the gallopping zebra switching his tail in the air. He then tried a second and a third leap, till he succeeded. In the meantime two more lions came up, and seemed to roar and talk away about something, while the old lion led them round the rock, and round it again; then he made another grand leap, to show them what he and they must do next time. Africaner added, with the most perfect gravity, They evidently talked to each other, but though loud enough, I could not understand a word they said; and, fearing lest we should be the next objects of their skill, we crept away and left them in council.'

"The following fact will show the fearful dangers to which solitary travellers are sometimes exposed :-A man belonging

saw

to Mr. Schmelen's congregation, at Bethany, returning homewards from a visit to his friends, took a circuitous course in order to pass a small fountain, or rather pool, where he hoped to kill an antelope, to carry home to his family. The sun had risen to some height by the time he reached the spot, and seeing no game, he laid his gun down on a shelving low rock, the back part of which was covered over with a species of dwarf thorn-bushes. He went to the water, took a hearty drink, and returned to the rock, smoked his pipe, and being a little tired, fell asleep. In a short time the heat reflected from the rock awoke him, and opening his eyes, he a large lion crouching before him, with its eyes glaring in his face, and within little more than a yard of his feet. He sat motionless for some minutes, till he had recovered his presence of mind, then eyeing his gun, moved his hand slowly towards it; the lion seeing him, raised its head, and gave a tremendous roar; he made another and another attempt, but the gun being far beyond his reach, he gave it up, as the lion seemed well aware of his object, and was enraged whenever he attempted to move his hand. His situation now became painful in the extreme; the rock on which he sat became so hot that he could scarcely bear his naked feet to touch it, and kept moving them, alternately placing one above the other. The day passed, and the night also, but the lion never moved from the spot; the sun rose again, and its intense heat soon rendered his feet past feeling. At noon the lion rose and walked to the water, only a few yards distant, looking behind as it went, lest the man should move, and seeing him stretch out his hand to take his gun, turned in a rage, and was on the point of springing upon him. The animal went to the water, drank, and returning, lay down again at the edge of the rock. Another night passed; the man, in describing it, said, he knew not whether he slept, but if he did, it must have been with his eyes open, for he always saw the lion at his feet. Next day, in the forenoon, the animal went again to the water, and while there, he listened to some noise apparently from an opposite quarter, and disappeared in the bushes. The man now made another

effort, and seized his gun; but on attempt-
ing to rise, he fell, his ankles being with
out power.
With his gun in his hand, he
crept towards the water, and drank; but
looking at his feet, he saw, as he expressed
it, his toes roasted,' and the skin torn
off with the grass. There he sat a few
moments, expecting the lion's return,
when he was resolved to send the contents
of the gun through its head; but as it
did not appear, tying his gun to his back,
the poor man made the best of his way
on his hands and knees, to the nearest
path, hoping some solitary individual
might pass. He could go no farther,
when, providentially, a person came up,
who took him to a place of safety, from
whence he obtained help, though he lost
his toes, and was a cripple for life."

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"A Bushman," says Mr. James Backhouse, a Missionary of South Africa, residing near the Orange river, in the direction of Hardcastle Kloof, was hunting with some companions, and observing a considerable number of vultures soaring in the air, he concluded that some animal had been accidentally killed, of which he might possibly obtain a share; he therefore left his companions and repaired to the spot, where he found a hartebeest lying, off which he drove a number of these birds. On doing this, a lion, which he supposed had killed the hartebeest and satisfied its hunger, came from behind a neighbouring bush and growled at him.

obtaining a light, but such was his terror that, forgetting himself, he continued blowing at it till it scorched his face. The lion made a stand when he saw the flame, and as this increased when the burning grass was dropped into a dry bush, the lion fled. The Bushman, who had been thus detained from noon to sunset, lost no time, when the lion was sufficiently far gone, in also making his retreat; he said he had never run so fast before, and when he reached his companions he was pale and sick with fright."

These missionary stories most strikingly illustrate that mysterious power over "the beasts of the field" which is undoubtedly exercised by all beings, even though they be degraded Hottentots, who chance to bear the countenance which was stamped upon the human race as a "sign of dominion." Cumming, the famous African lion hunter, gives a still more extraordinary relation of an incident of the same class which happened to himself. Although this has generally been set down as an apocryphal anecdote, yet I am, from my own experience of animals, if not for many other reasons, disposed to believe it a real incident, and therefore give it as he tells it literally.

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Ruyter came towards me, and I ran forward to obtain a view beyond a slight rise in the ground to see whither the lioness had gone. In so doing I came suddenly upon them, within about seventy "Petrified with fear, the Bushman stood yards; they were standing looking back perfectly still. The lion walked round at Ruyter. I then very rashly comhim, so close as to brush him with his menced making a rapid stalk in upon tail, uttering at the same time a low them, and fired at the nearest, having growl; it went to a short distance and sat only one shot in my rifle. The ball told down, looking at the Bushman, who kept loudly, and the lioness at which I had his eye upon it and drew back a few fired wheeled right round, and came on paces; but when he drew back the lion lashing her tail, showing her teeth, and advanced, he therefore stood quite still making that horrid, murderous deep growl till the lion retired a little and lay down. which an angry lion generally utters. The Bushman seized the opportunity, the same moment, her comrade, who picked up a few straws of dried grass and seemed better to know that she was in the began to try to strike a light; but as soon presence of man, made a hasty retreat as the lion heard the tapping of the flint into the reeds. The instant the lioness and steel, it rose again and walked around came on, I stood up to my full height, the Bushman, brushing him as before; holding my rifle, and my arms extended, again the Bushman was still, and again and high above my head. This checked the lion retired. The Bushman once her in her course; but on looking round more plied his flint and steel, and again and missing her comrade, and observing the lion advanced from his retreat. At Ruyter slowly advancing, she was still this moment the Bushman succeeded in more exasperated, and, fancying that she

At

was being surrounded, she made another forward movement, growling terribly. This was a moment of great danger, I felt that my only chance of safety was extreme steadiness; so, standing motionless as a rock, with my eyes firmly fixed upon her, I called out in a clear, commanding voice, "Halloo! old girl, what's the hurry? take it easy; halloo! halloo!" She instantly once more halted, and seemed perplexed, looking round for her comrade. I then thought it prudent to beat a retreat, which I very slowly did, talking to the lioness all the time. She seemed undecided as to her future movements, and was gazing after me and snuff ing the ground when I last beheld her."

REV. RICHARD BAXTER. RICHARD BAXTER was born at Rowton, a small village near Shrewsbury, England, on the 12th of November, 1615. His father was a man of small property, but of an intellectual and religious character; and parental influence doubtless aided the contemplative and pious disposition which was early developed in this son. His advantages for obtaining knowledge during childhood were exceedingly circumscribed; but he afterwards compensated for this deficiency by unusual severity of application. In the station of Master of the Free School in Dudley, he made such exertions for the good of those entrusted to his care, and devoted his intervals of leisure so strictly to study, that his health and strength declined. Under the impression that his life would be short, he acquired such a sense of the vanity of earthly allurements and possessions, and of the surpassing value of the duties and consolations of religion, as never faded or forsook him.

At the age of twenty-five, he became the pastor of Kidderminster, and notwithstanding his feeble health, entered on a laborious course of pulpit duty and parochial visitation. There was at first but little to cheer him in his labours. Ignorance and profanity abounded; and the daily service of prayer rose up from few family altars. But during the sixteen years of continuance there, his efforts were so signally blessed, that he gathered a church of six hundred communicants; and

the Sabbath, which had long been so desecrated in that region, became marked by such strictness of observance, that those who during the intervals of divine worship passed through the streets, might hear from the open casements in summer, hundreds of families engaged in singing psalms, reading the Scriptures, or recapitulating the sermons they had heard. Their attachment to him was so strong, and so warmly reciprocated, that many years after his removal, when the bishopric of Hereford was offered him, which he declined, he expressed a wish to return to his old friends at Kidderminster; and for the love he bore their souls would have been willing to officiate as a humble curate among them.

The breaking out of civil war, involved him in many troubles. Believing that there were errors in the administration of government, he took part with the parliament, but used all his influence to promote regularity in the midst of disorder, and to repress the violence of sectarians. He opposed and lamented the usurpation of Cromwell, and in a private conference with him argued against the nature and illegality of his power. After the Restoration, when he was made one of the chaplains to Charles II., and treated by him with peculiar respect, he still spoke to the king of his measures, with the same boldness and freedom that he had used to the Protector. Whatever he supposed to be erroneous either in Church or State, he dissented from and reproved in such a manner, that those who opposed his judgment, applauded his sincerity. His practical piety, and warmth of devotion, allied him to the truly religious of all denominations, and inspired him with an enlargement of mind which raised him above the bitterness of petty controversy.

During the reign of James he suffered various persecutions. He was fined, sustained the loss of the greatest part of his fortune, and in consequence of his paraphrase on the New Testament, brought to trial for sedition, and imprisoned. These adversities he endured with fortitude, and as one whose heart was in heaven. For nearly twenty years, he was cheered by the sympathy and co-operation of a beloved consort, whom he married late in life, and who proved herself a kindred spirit. She

was the daughter of a distinguished magistrate of the country of Salop, by the name of Charlton, a woman of great piety, who cordially approved of all the sacrifices, which from a conscientious regard to duty, he voluntarily made. She shared, without repining, the hardships and privations attendant upon his persecutions, was his companion in prison, and his ministering angel until her death.

The last five years of his life, being released from confinement, he resided in London, in as much retirement as the performance of his ministerial duties would allow. When increasing weakness forbade him to leave his chamber, the approach of dissolution was contemplated with all that tranquillity and resignation which could be expected to flow from a life of such uniform piety. Once, when extreme pain prompted the wish for a speedy transition, he checked himself by saying with deep humility, "It is not for me to prescribe; when Thou wilt; where Thou wilt; and how Thou wilt." To a friend who inquired how he was when death visibly approached, he cheerfully replied, "Almost well;" and thus expired, on December 8th, 1691, at the age of seventy-six years.

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When we take into view the infirmity of his health from youth, and the disorders and adversities of his disturbed times, we are astonished at the number and extent of his writings. They almost form a library of themselves. Of his distinct treatises, the Biographia Britannica" reckons 145; of which four were folios, 73 quartos, 49 octavos, and the others of smaller and differing sizes. Their avails, which he received from the booksellers, were devoted to charitable purposes. They comprise bodies of theology, practical and theoretical, with many tracts on particular topics. Those of a peculiarly practical nature have been collected in four folio volumes. He was an author more than forty years; the "Saints' Rest" being written when he was but little past thirty, and his last book, "The Certainty of the World of Spirits," published the year of his death. Of his "Call to the Unconverted," which he was induced to write at the solicitation of Archbishop Usher, twenty thousand copies were sold in one year, and it was translated into

most of the European languages, as well as into the Indian tongue.

His "Saints' Rest" was composed under the humiliation of bodily weakness, at a distance from home and friends, with no book to consult but the Bible, and when for many weeks he was in daily expectation of death. "Therefore," said he, "did I fix my thoughts on this heavenly subject, which hath more benefited me than all the studies of my life." Flavel, in alluding to this work, during the last illness of its author, says :-"He is almost in heaven; living in daily and cheerful expectation of the Saints' Rest with God, and left for a little while among us as a great example of the life of faith." Many persons of eminence have expressed the happy effect produced upon their minds by the attentive perusal of the "Saints' Rest; and mention is made of

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a child whose piety was so much promoted by it, that he spoke of it with the greatest delight, and when in his last sickness, at the age of twelve years, said earnestly, "I pray, let me have good Mr. Baxter's book, that I may read a little more of eternity, before I go into it."

It was the happiness of Richard Baxter, amid much contention and obloquy, to retain the friendship and confidence of good men of all ranks and denominations. They considered him one whose whole soul was engaged in his profession; the springs of whose unslumbering action were ardent piety towards God and zeal for the best interests of his fellow-creatures. To these sacred objects few men have ever devoted more time and toil.

Though he sustained some rancorous abuse, it was his lot to be respected both by contemporaries and posterity. Among his firmest friends was Chief Justice Hale, who spoke in the highest terms of his learning and piety to the other judges on the bench; and while he lay in prison left him a legacy in his will, and severa manuscript volumes of his own handwriting. As an author Dr. Barrow testifies of him, that his "practical writings were never mended; his controversial ones seldom confuted." Bishop Wilkins affirms, that "he has cultivated every subject which he handled;" and had he lived in primitive times, would have been one of the fathers of the Church.

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