discernible to the traveller's eye.

The ground was

the only bed; and the heavens, spangled with bright stars, the only curtain-so that as soon as the sun was set, (for night in the countries within the tropics comes on at once, and is not preceded by a twilight, as in our own,) he made a pillow of the stones of the place, and sought repose in slumber.

But Jacob had sinned, and was now being punished for that sin; but God would not permit his servant to be entirely cast down, or leave him without some encouraging manifestation.

It had before-time been promised to Abraham, that in his seed, which was Isaac, should all nations be blessed; and of the two sons of Isaac, God chose the younger, Jacob, to be the repository of his promises, and the ancestor of Christ.

And now, when he might be thinking that because he had gained the blessing by fraud, there would, probably, be no worth in it-God gave him a dream, at once cheering and encouraging, which, though it excited in him feelings of gratitude, filled him with apprehensions of the majesty of God.

And while he dreamed, he beheld a ladder fixed upon the earth, and reaching up into heaven, "and the angels of God ascending and descending on it." And the Lord stood above, and renewed the promises made to his

forefathers, declaring that the land on which he lay, an exile and a fugitive, should yet be given to himself and his posterity-that his children should be multiplied as the stars in heaven, and as the sands on the sea-shore-and that his divine protection should everywhere accompany him.

This, being probably the first vision Jacob had ever been favoured with, made such an impression upon him, that, when he awoke, he broke out into a rapture of wonder and admiration, exclaiming, "Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not ;" and he was afraid, and said, "How dreadful is this spot, this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" Then he rose up, and took the stone which he had used, and set it up as a pillar, and pouring oil upon it, called it holy ground, and gave it the name of Bethel, which is "the house of God," because the Lord appeared to him there. And he vowed a vow, that, "if God will be with me, and will keep me in the way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father's house in peace, then shall the Lord be my God."

He now proceeded on his journey, and coming near to Laban's house, saw, in a field, a flock of sheep, with their shepherds, standing by a well; and he said to the men, "Do you know Laban? Is he well?”

They said, "We do know him, and he is well;" but here comes Rachel, his daughter, with the sheep. Then Jacob, knowing that she was his cousin, ran and kissed her, and wept, thinking of his dear father and mother whom he had left, and should, perhaps, never see again. Then Rachel went and told Laban that Jacob had come; and he came to meet him, and took him home; and he lived with him many years, and kept his sheep. Jacob now became very fond of his cousin Rachel, and married her; and, after some time, they had a son, whom they called Joseph. Soon after his birth, Jacob entreated his uncle to dismiss him, and let him and his family return into his own country to his father. And God gave him great possessions of sheep, oxen, goats, and camels. Laban, when he saw that he had more cattle than he, was angry and jealous. Then Jacob took his family and his cattle and went away secretly, and had gone a great distance before Laban knew it, who then pursued after him, and overtook him; but God would not let Laban hurt him; so he only upbraided him for going away secretly, kissed his sons and daughters, blessed them, and departed.

But Jacob had now fresh troubles ready to assail him. For as he drew near unto Seir, where Esau dwelt, considering how he parted from him in anger,

sent messengers unto him to acquaint him of his wealth, and of his return to his native country, and his wish to be reconciled unto him before he passed over Jordan.

The messengers soon returned to Jacob, saying, "Thy brother Esau is coming to meet thee, and four hundred men with him." Then was Jacob very much afraid, and said, "Perhaps Esau is still angry, and is coming to kill me, and the mother with the children." Then he divided his company, and sent some on with presents to his brother, thinking to appease him.

Jacob prayed to God to deliver him from the wrath of his brother, and He heard his prayer. In the night he sent an angel to comfort him, and tell him that his name was no longer to be called Jacob, but Israel.

As soon as the morning dawned, Esau with his men were seen approaching. What shall we now expect? Will he not fall upon Jacob and slay him? No! He runs to meet him, falls upon his neck, and kisses him, and they both weep. Then Esau, after he had inquired concerning Jacob's welfare, departed, and Jacob. continued his journey.

What an affecting scene is this! Would all my young readers imitate this, and if a Jacob offend them, act the part of an Esau, and embrace, and weep!

The Brigand.

DARK chieftain of the heath and height!
Wild feaster on the hills by night!
See'st thou the stormy sun-set's glow,
Flung back by glancing spears below?
Now for one strife of stern despair;
The foe hath tracked thee to thy lair.

Thou-against whom the voice of blood
Hath risen from rock and lonely wood,
And in whose dreams a moan should be
Not of the water, nor the tree!
Haply, thine own last hour is nigh,
Yet shalt thou not forsaken die.

There's one, that pale beside thee stands,
More true than all thy mountain bands!
She will not shrink in doubt and dread,
When the balls whistle round thy head;
Nor leave thee, though thy closing eye,
No longer may to her's reply.

Oh! many a soft and quiet grace
Hath faded from her soul and face;
And many a thought, the fitting guest
Of woman's meek, religious breast,
Hath perished, in her wanderings wide,
Through the deep forests by thy side.