the leaves dance over the graves there now, in dismal confusion; and there used to be some old rooks in the trees, but it is cold winter-time, and they have gone away; but these little children sleep there still, they cannot now sit upon their mother's knee; they cannot listen to their father's story, they are singing now the praises of Him who was once a child like themselves; but we want to tell you what that gravestone says of one of them; after stating his age, it adds the last words of Henry were "He sees what children dwell in love, "And marks them for his own." and often, when we are full of thought, and care, and anxiety, with the things of this world, we pass by that church yard, and stop to read that gravestone: we have read it over and over many times, yet, it always has something fresh and pleasing in it. Would that we could take all by the hand who read this paper, and wish them “ a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year!" Oh, that we could sit with them, and tell them all we know about Jesus! what he has done for them, what he is now doing for them, what he can do for them; we would have such a sweet party! We would sit in the midst, and then we would tell them such sweet stories, and would remind them of such a glorious world, to which, if they, also, "dwell in love," they are destined! There is no winter there; the Redeemer of the whole human race reigns in power, and great glory; the Prince of peace, and the Saviour of mankind. : Then let us entreat you, dear children, to endeavour to love him always be reading of him in your bibles; always be thinking of him; and, when you kneel down at your mother's lap, and put your little hands together in prayer; pray to Him: He loved little children, and He still loves you; you have not any such friend as He is. He only can make you really happy, here or hereafter, pray to Him; draw near to Him, and he will draw near to you. The elephant is the largest of quadrupeds; his height being from eight to fourteen feet, his length is ten to fifteen feet. His form resembles that of a hog, his eyes are small and lively; his ears are broad, long, and pendulous. He has two large tusks, and a trunk, or proboscis at the extremity of the nose, which he uses to take his food with, and, in cases of necessity, for attack or defence. With this he can untie the knots of ropes, open and shut gates, by turning the keys, or pushing back the bolts, and pick up even the smallest things from the ground. His sense of smelling is so acute that he will discern food in the pocket of a spectator, and he can dexterously take it out with his proboscis. His legs are thick and long, and his feet are divided into five rounded toes. His colour is a dark ash brown: there are, however, elephants of a white, or cream colour. In a state of nature, the elephant is neither fierce nor mischeivous, but peaceable, mild, and brave, and exerts its powers only in its own defence, or in defence of those of its own kind, with which it is social and friendly. They often assemble in large troops; and, as they march, which is mostly in quest of food, the forests seem to tremble under them. In their passage they bear down the branches of trees, which, together with roots, herbs, and leaves, are their common food: they have no objection, however, to grain, and fruit, but will not eat either fish or flesh. In a state of captivity, they will drink ale, wine, and spiritous liquors, for which, indeed, they seem to have a strong predilection. The young elephant is thirty years old before it attains its full growth. When the dam wants to cross a river with her young, she takes it up in her trunk, and carries it safely over. The engraving represents one of these huge animals swimming, with his driver, or mohout, and two other men on his back. The elephant, it is said, sometimes swims deep in the water; so very deep, that only the end of his trunk can be seen out of it; for he has the power, as you probably know, of breathing through the tip of his trunk. With this long tube for breathing through, he trusts himself fearlessly to his native rivers, not only the smaller ones, but even the Nile, and the mighty Ganges. Where the water is not too deep, he can, of course, walk along on the bottom, only keeping the end of his trunk out of water. There is sometimes not a little danger in crossing rivers on the back of the elephant, for the huge animal, unconscious of what may happen to his keeper and others, whom he carries, will often sink so low that the passengers are obliged to stand upright on the highest part of his body, exposed to be washed off by the current, or thrown off by any sudden jerk or motion which he may happen to make. The elephant is so attached to its keeper, that the sight of him, even after the lapse of many years, will induce it to relinquish its recovered liberty, and return to a state of subjection. A female elephant, belonging to a gentleman in India, broke away from her keeper, and was lost in the woods. The poor man was supposed to have sold the elephant, and the cruel consequence was, that his wife and family were sold for slaves, and he was sentenced to work on the roads. About twelve years afterwards, he was sent into the country, to assist in catching wild elephants. One day he fell in with a group, in which he thought he saw the elephant that had brought him into so much trouble, and he determined to go up to it, in spite of the remonstrances of his companions, who pointed out to him the danger of his rashness. But he persisted, and he was in the right. As soon as he came near the animal, she knew him, gave him three salutes, by waving her trunk, and then knelt to receive him on her back. She next helped to secure the other elephants, and also brought with her three young ones, which she had produced, during her absence. The innocence of the keeper was now acknowledged; and, as some atonement, for what he had suffered, an annuity was granted him for life. The elephant is found in both Asia and Africa. In many parts of Asia, they are trained to carry burthens, and are made extremely useful. |