that when the sod has grown green over the silent resting-place of those who loved us, by many they are altogether forgotten: their looks of love, of gentle kindness, of fond affection, are buried with them in the dark tomb.

The Chinese are remarkable for cherishing the memory of the departed. Among the sacred rites which they observe, is that of visiting the tombs of their friends, to sweep the tombstones, clear away the weeds, and, according to a superstitious custom, make sacrifices and prayers to the dead. So ignorant are they of true religion, that they believe the souls which they address have the power to grant them riches and prosperity; and they entreat them to shelter and assist them, and make them continually happy.

When the ceremonies are completed, streamers of white or crimson paper are set up in token that the mourner has performed his duties.

The burial-places are at some distance from the towns, and generally on the side of a hill, where terraces are cut for the tombs. The mode of interment differs greatly from ours. The coffins are not put into the ground, but are covered with a mound of earth, or, if the relatives are rich enough, with stone, having a black marble slab in front, bearing an inscription in gold. So attached are the Chinese to these burial-places, that they never like to remove far from them, as distance would prevent the customary respect being paid to their departed friends.

Shrubs and plants are cultivated about the graves, which must give them a very picturesque appearance in a landscape; awakening at the same time thoughts of the certainty of death, in the midst of the beauty of creation and the toil of busy life.

White is the Chinese mourning colour; and they lament for the dead before the funeral takes place, with tears, and dismal howls, kept up by the women, very like the noisy lamentations of the Irish wakes.

Contributions are made by the friends of the bereaved family towards the expenses of the burial; they are forwarded in envelopes, which bear these words: "Respectful contribution to the coffining."

There is much in the character of this singular people to admire: but how sadly do we trace the absence of that hope of immortality which the Gospel alone can inspire. While

lingering on the memories of their fathers, no beam of faith unlocks the chambers of the grave, and sees in the resurrection of Jesus the pledge of the resurrection of his people.

Children, learn to prize your privileges; and when your father, mother, brother, or sister leave you, and go to heaven, remember that they who sleep in Jesus will God bring with him; and try and follow them, as they followed Christ.

J. H.

LYING TO CHILDREN.

THE Rev. Robert Hall had so great an aversion to every species of falsehood and evasion, that he sometimes expressed himself very strongly on the subject. The following is an instance, stated in his life by Dr. Gregory :

"Once, while he was spending an evening at the house of a friend, a lady, who was there on a visit, retired, that her little girl of four years old might go to bed. She returned in about half an hour, and said to a lady near her, "She is gone to sleep; I put on my nightcap, and lay down by her, and she soon dropped off." Mr. Hall, who overheard this, said, "Excuse me, madam: do you wish your child to grow up a liar ?" Oh, dear, no, sir; I should be shocked at such a thing." " "Then bear with me while I say, you must never act a lie before her: children are very quick observers, and soon learn that that which assumes to be what it is not is a lie, whether acted or spoken." This was uttered with a kindness which precluded offence, yet with a seriousness that could not be forgotten.

THE HEAVENS.NO. IV.

THE stars appear very small when seen by the naked eye; and it is only with the help of powerful telescopes that we are able to form some conception of their astonishing magnitude. Many of them are double; that is, there is

another sun connected with them; and these smaller suns are of various colours: some yellow, red, or blue. The North Polar Star is a double sun, and there is also one in the constellation of Orion. We can hardly conceive a more magnificent spectacle than two glorious suns performing their motions in space together, and combining their beneficent influences on the planets belonging to their system. What skill God has displayed in the arrangement of the different orbs, by which they maintain their proper distances in the heavens, and do not disturb the harmony of creation! Silently and solemnly they move along the vast expanse, and the principalities and powers in heavenly places are witnesses to their unfailing obedience to the laws impressed on them by their Maker. Variety is another characteristic of the works of God. All his worlds are not alike. There are suns which bathe the hills and valleys with a pure and stainless light, the rays of which have perhaps, like the rays of our sun, the peculiar property of producing colours to dye the lovely flowers, and mantle the trees with refreshing verdure. Other suns present a ruby or azure disk in the firmament, flooding their planets with blue or rosy light. An orb revolving between two suns, one white and the other red, must experience a great variety on its surface. If it has a diurnal rotation like the earth, it cannot have any night during one division of its orbit. Part of the day would be illumined by one sun and part by the other; presenting such varied and charming landscapes

as baffle our present powers of conception. We may indeed hope, if we are the children of Christ Jesus on earth, that when we depart to inhabit a better and holier world, we shall know and understand more of these glorious truths; and join all our ransomed powers to the universal hallelujahs of the realms of light, in ascribing blessing, and honour, and glory, and power unto the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God.

J. H.

THE LITTLE SISTER.

In the cottage there is weeping,
There's weeping in the hall;
And many a babe is sleeping
Beyond the mother's call.
And there's a lonely dwelling,

Where a widow mourns her child;
And its sweet calm face is telling,
That as it died it smiled.
There is a little sister

Stands sorrowing by the bed;
And softly she has kissed her,
And many a tear has shed:-

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"O mother, I can never

Sleep in our bed alone, Where she slept with me ever,

Now my sweet sister's gone." On her mother's bed she cast her, But waked before the day; Crying "Let me in, good master, O send me not away!