"Strange, there should be found Who, self-imprison'd in their proud saloons, Renounce the odours of the open field!"

But let us now leave the ferny common, the Scotch firs, the honeysuckles, the beautiful red heath with little bells, the birds, the bats, and the grasshoppers: let us go out of the imaginary mists and moonlight, into the little comfortable parlour, where the sofa and a table with tea and cakes invite us to conversation and a happy evening. Wherever we go, our friendly host appears to have a pleasure even beyond our own. It is because he sees in anticipation, in every place, the image of her who is dear to him:

It flits before him here and there;
He sees and feels it everywhere.

Let us describe the house, the bridal home. First there is the square hall, not very large in its dimensions, and not very small; but really just the size it ought to be. On one side are doors leading to the parlour and the kitchen; on the other side, doors leading to the staircase and the drawing-room; straight before you is a table with a glass case of stuffed birds and reptiles; while behind is the elegant little garden,-but more of that hereafter. This will be a sweet domestic home:

"Oh friendly to the best pursuits of man,

Friendly to thought, to virtue, and to peace,
Domestic life, in rural pleasure pass'd!"

Between the doors is a deer's head, with enormous antlers,-a fine specimen of the stag; and this is so firmly fixed that it serves as a depository on which to hang hats, coats, and cloaks. Between the other doors, on the opposite side, gleams a fox's head, with ruddy brown fur, sharp nose, and little sparkling eyes. Shall we go into the drawing-room? This is the best room in the house, loftier and larger than the others, with two windows, and such a charming prospect! As you look forth you see a bewitching interlacing of different-coloured trees and swinging boughs, and despair of ever being able, with your pencil, to give even a tolerable sketch of the place.

The paper of the room is crimson. A round table occupies the centre of the apartment; paintings, water-coloured drawings, and French prints, in handsome frames, adorn the walls, and little tables stand, here and there, covered with curiosities. There are, also, a few choice specimens of sculpture. In short, you

see profusion, without needless display, and feel that you are surrounded with gems, and that there is quite space enough to move about, without the fear of disarranging them.

The furniture, though new, has a companionable air and comfortable appearance, neither slight nor Frenchified, and good taste is not only here and there, but everywhere. As we proceed, we converse cheerfully with our agreeable host, in whose animated eyes we read the fair future that is treasured up in his exulting heart.

Let us mount the staircase. The house is only two stories high, but somewhat long. We soon find ourselves in another hall, resembling that below, with windows facing each other; the one to the back with a prospect of city spires in the distance, the other to the front, stretching over the grounds. Soon, in this bridal home, will the bridal pair participate

"Fire-side enjoyments, home-born happiness, And all the comforts that the lowly roof Of undisturb'd retirement, and the hours Of long uninterrupted evening know." This upper hall, which has a table and chairs at each window, can easily be converted into an occasional dining-room, or it would be a sweet, cool room for a teaparty on a sultry summer's evening. We sit down at one of the windows, open the casement, and enjoy the fresh breeze as it comes to us scented by the heathy common and the cornfields. We look down on the apple-trees-such appletrees! so abundantly laden! The plumtrees, too, seemingly borne down by the weight of the purple fruit with the bloom upon it, are quite a picture.

We will not attempt to describe the clean, airy bed-rooms, with their new furniture, pictures, and flowers. Would that thousands, who have, we fear, but dismal dormitories in the crowded city, could enjoy such clean and airy accommodation at the close of their daily toil! Descending again to the ground-floor, which shall we visit first, the flower or the kitchen-garden? If we visit the kitchen-garden, all the romance vanishes when we get among the apples, the plums, and the vegetables. And if we go at once to the fruit, it may look as if we were too impatient to regale ourselves! Well! we are among the dahlias, the roses, the sweet briar, the pansies, the hydrangias, the sweet-smelling mignionette, and the pink, purple crim

son, and scarlet. What are their names? that grow in clusters-I think it is verbèna-and the lovely, azure blue nemophila insignis. All the flower-beds are in the centre of a lawn of fresh, soft grass, and are cut into curious, elegant, and attractive forms. Round the sides of the flower-garden are peach, apple, and plum-trees. The creeper-covered summer arbour is approached by an archway of trees, and pleasant it is to be seated there, with the lawn, and the stands of growing geraniums and fuchsias spread out before you. While

Here the insect world resort;
Here they tell us in their sport,
Dancing in the summer ray,
That life, alas! is but a day!

On passing a wicket gate, we emerge into a spacious kitchen-garden, twice the size of that we have left, abounding in fruit and in vegetables of all kinds; asparagus, celery, and broccoli among them. Showers of apples, falling from the trees in windy days, find their way to the piggery, with cabbages, cauliflowers, lettuces, potatoes, turnips, and carrots. Everything seems to spring up in profusion, and the two pigs are already growing fat. The servants have been picking for us a huge basket of peas, to take home with us,, yet there seems to be quite as many left as when they began. There is a carriage-entrance to the grounds, and a coach-house, and stabling for six horses; but the carriage and horses are not there yet-every one should have something to hope forthese things are to come in their proper time. The watch-dog, between a Newfoundland and a shepherd's dog, is a capital fellow; and the smaller one, in his way, is not a whit behind him. The two cats are perfectly black, quite as fat as cats ought to be, and the pet canary is a famous singer.

But think not, ye bridal pair, while wandering through this fair retreat, we fall into the error of regarding the attractions of the bridal home as the elements

of happiness! Pleasant, yea delightful as they are, of themselves they are as nothing when compared with the peace and joy that can only be given you from above. The sunshine of the heart must be flung over the whole in adding to each other's joys, in bearing each other's burdens, and in helping one another on your way to heaven. You must "look upwards as you go onwards!"

"Think not the object gain'd, that all is done; The prize of happiness must yet be won." You must bring to this homestead of joy industrious habits, quiet graces, domestic virtues, and unaffected piety. The heart must be impressed, and the fireside hallowed with holy hopes and heavenly expectations. The word of God must be read with reverence, the song of praise must be heard, and the sabbath bell must be hailed with joy. You must live, and move, and breathe with a hallowed influence around you, and that will temper you for shine and shade. You will be grateful in prosperity, and prepared patiently to endure your allotment of worldly trouble. Fair as is the bridal home in its outward scenery, and its in ward luxuries and comfort:

"Yet neither these delights, nor aught beside
That appetite can ask, or wealth provide,
Can save you always from a tedious day,
Or shine the dulness of still life away:
Divine communion, carefully enjoy'd,
Or sought with energy, must fill the void.
Oh! sacred art, to which alone life owes
Its happiest seasons, and a peaceful close!"

How sweet, how tranquil, how consoling the quiet joys of a domestic country home, when contrasted with the feverish excitement of city gaieties; where, too often, the heart upbraids itself for its past enjoyment, and mourns over the remembrance of wasted and misspent hours. Unavailing regret and bitter remorse follow hard after fashionable follies from such temptations you may dwell secure in your peaceful retirement. Seek, then, the calmer relaxation and enjoyments that your judgment cannot condemn, and which your after reflections cannot but approve. This very delightful abode of yours; this bridal home, at one season lit up with summer's sun, and at another surrounded with winter's snows; will set before you the lesson that earthly scenes are changing: be prepared for changes! Expect not perfection in each other, but be ready to make large allowances. Agreeable persons, and attractive mind and manners, with varied acquirements, are not enough

of themselves to secure esteem and affection be it yours to manifest more enduring excellences :

"True bliss, if man may reach it, is composed Of hearts in union, mutually disclosed."

A husband, however urgent and energetic his business may require him to be, should unbend at home, and become the

of each other, will knit you in closer bands, and increase your mutual confidence.

Make yourselves acquainted with each other's prejudices and prepossessions, that you may avoid giving pain inadvertently, and be able to add to each other's pleasures. Foster each other's virtues, gently reprove each other's failings, and especially help one another in holy things. Your sabbaths and your seasons of devotion depend much on each other's piety. The support of a wife strengthens a Christian husband; the defection of a husband sadly weakens a Christian wife : "Consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works."

Love one another for life and for death; for earth and for heaven; for no love but this will endure amid the change of seasons, and the trials and temptations of the world. Practise no useless reserve towards each other, and make no confidants of others in regard to things which ought ever to be locked up in your own bosoms: an inattention to these points will cost you dear.

Avoid, as you would avoid the plague, the poor, pitiful spirit of striving for the mastery. This is a rock on which many a goodly matrimonial vessel has been wrecked. God's word has declared the husband to be the "head of the wife," and from God's word there is no appeal. The same Divine authority that says, "Husbands love your wives," says also, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands." Neither of these injunctions can be neglected without disturbing the other; for if the husband loves not his wife, how can he expect her willingly to submit to him? and if the wife submits not to her husband, how can she reasonably expect him to love her? Be of one mind in these points, for you cannot walk together lovingly unless you are agreed.

The following remark, though expressed in a homely way, is well worth your attention: "If you have made your calculations for fine weather only, go and bespeak an umbrella, for be sure you will have need of it. If you think to look at each other always with the same fond and affectionate regard that you have yet done, you will be mistaken. I tell you, in spite of your fairy dreams of unabated love, that if you go through the first year of your married life without a single heartburning, you will deserve to have your pictures framed and glazed,

and hung up in the market-hall for universal admiration. No! no! I will tell you the truth; however you try to flatter and deceive one another, you are a pair of poor, weak, erring, sinful creatures, requiring help from on high every moment of your lives, to keep you from inattention, from selfishness, from bitterness, and from hatred. If you really wish to love one another always, you must love God always-for none but God can preserve your affection, and enable you to bear each other's burdens."

Thus might we go on quoting and commenting by the hour, but we must not overwhelm you with our remarks. To sum up all mistrust yourselves; seek constantly for Divine aid to keep your feet from straying into crooked paths, and your hearts from wandering into evil ways. Fear God, and keep his commandments; hold in remembrance the sacrifice of the Saviour;-love one another, and bear one another's burdens:

tageously exhibited by comparison with that of his smaller congener. The latter, indeed, seemed to bear about the same relation to him, in point of size, that starlings do to rooks when seen together.

The raven's nest was placed in a fork on the very summit of one of the highest of these trees, while their hollow trunks were tenanted by a numerous colony of

lows:

A pair of these birds had built their nest on a lofty tree in the park, and, as a matter of course, were discovered by one of the keepers. Suffering them to remain unmolested during the period of their nidification, he waited until, deceived by his Machiavelian policy, the ravens treated his appearance, even when armed, with comparative disregard. Il did he repay their misplaced confidence! One day, when the period had nearly arrived at which an addition to the family was to be expected, and the eggs were in his opinion "got hard," a riflebullet, directed through the bottom of the nest, stretched the female bird lifeless within it; and shortly afterwards, her partner, who had been catering for her at a distance, was saluted on his return with a volley of shot, which laid him quivering at the root of the tree, and completed the success of the functionary, who in those days used to perform among the feathered tribe the triple duties of judge, jury, and executioner.

Years passed away, and the raven continued unknown in this part of West Sussex, until one day, in March, 1843, when riding in the park, near a clump of tall old beech-trees, whose trunks had been denuded by time of all their lower branches, my attention was suddenly arrested by the never-to-be-mistaken croak of a raven, and the loud chattering of a flock of jackdaws.

I soon perceived that these were the especial objects of his hatred and hostility; for after dashing into the midst of them, and executing several rapid movements in the air, he succeeded in effectually driving them to a considerable distance from his nest. During this manœuvre the superior size of the raven became more apparent than when viewed alone, and his power of flight was advan

which these entered were so near the ground that I had no difficulty in reaching them when on horseback, while others were situated at a much greater height. These conducted to the chambers in which the nests were placed, and which were generally far removed from the external aperture by which the birds entered their tower-like habitation. On thrusting my whip upwards into many of these passages, I found it impossible to touch the further extremity, while a few cavities of smaller dimensions were within reach of my hand, and contained nests constructed of short dry sticks, some of which were incomplete, while in others one or two eggs had been deposited. The next day I returned to the place on foot, provided with a spy-glass, for the purpose of observation. arrival, I found that the ravens absent, and that the jackdaws, availing themselves of this, had congregated in considerable numbers, and were as busily employed about their habitations as a swarm of bees; some carrying materials for the completion of their frail and yet unfinished nests, others conveying food to their mates, and all apparently making the most of their time during the absence of their tormentor. There being no cover or brushwood at hand, and the branches being yet leafless, I was unable to conceal myself effectually; but having sat down at the foot of the tree containing their nest, I awaited the return of the

ravens.

On my

were

Nearly an hour elapsed before the arrival of the male bird, and I was first made aware of his approach by the consternation which it appeared to spread among the jackdaws. Like most animals under similar circumstances, when conscious of the approach of danger, they rapidly collected their forces on a single tree, keeping up all the time an incessant chattering, each bird shifting its position rapidly from bough to bough, while the raven, who held some food in his beak, satisfied himself on this occasion with two or three swoops into the terrified