burst their banks, and the country far round is desolated with the wide sweeping inundation; at other times, God calls forth from the earth the sweet dew, and thus listens in secret to the prayers which the husbandman had uttered for rain. So also he operates in different ways for the salvation of man. Το some hardened hearts he speaks in thunder and lightning, as formerly from the top of Sinai; others he calls unto him, in a voice milder than the evening zephyr, and sweeter than the breath of morning: he awakens their slumbering faculties, and fresheneth their souls with the beneficent dew of his grace.

Let this gracious mercy of God raise in us ardent desires to imitate his heavenly goodness; let us use all our exertions to reclaim the wicked from their evil ways, and direct the steps of those who have strayed into the true path. But let us ever remember the merciful kindness of God, and after his example endeavour to recall the mistaken deluded children of iniquity, by mild persuasion and brotherly entreaties. We see how he refreshes the parched earth by his dew, and gives new life to vegetation. Let us then think upon the number of our fellow-creatures bowed down by affliction, and languishing for want of assistance; and let not their sighs pierce our ears in vain, neither let us turn away from their complaints, nor refuse the tear of sympathy to their misery when we are unable to relieve all their necessities. Let us by our kindness diffuse the cheering rays of consolation into the hearts of those that mourn, and pour blessings upon our fellow-creatures, abundant as the morning dew.

JUNE XVII.

Mode of Life and Labours of the Bees.

IN these gay and joyful days of summer, every thing in the animal kingdom is in motion, all is full of life and activity; but no creatures are so active for our advantage as the little republic of bees. Of all the insects with which we are acquainted, none are more worthy of our observation, or present us with a more agreeable and profitable spectacle.

Bees generally dwell in great numbers in hollow trees and cavities, or in a kind of basket called a hive, which men have formed to collect them together. They fly abroad, and disperse themselves over the country, and by means of their trunks or probosces extract honey and wax from the juices and stamina of flowers. This they bring to their dwelling, which they fill with hexagonal cells, in some of which they reside; others are destined to receive the eggs and hold their young, and others form the magazines where they deposit the honey which is to support them during the winter.

Amongst all these bees, which together form one large family, there is one greater than the rest, of the female sex, and on that account called the queen. To her alone all the young of one hive owe their existence; from the eggs which she has deposited in the cells little grubs are produced, which the working bees feed for some time with their trunks. These grubs remain in their cells, which are clothed with a covering of wax, for fifteen days, in a state of perfect repose; in this quiescent form they are called nymphæ. When the proper time is arrived, they open their cells, and come forth in the shape of young bees. Besides the queen, there are two other species of bees in each hive; the labouring bee and the drone. These latter are males, and impregnate the queen, as well as serve

her for a guard. Bees have fixed in their heads two antennæ or horns, which defend their eyes and warn them of danger; they have fangs or claws, which they use in their labours, and a trunk or hollow tube, that they can project from, or draw into its sheath at pleasure. This instrument, flexible and moveable in every direction, forces itself to the bottom of the cup of flowers, where it collects the honey, which passes through the tube into a little bag placed within their bodies, whence the honey is afterwards poured out into the cells.

Bees have six feet; with the two first and their fangs they form the wax which was the farina of flowers into little balls, and with their middle feet place them in a hollow which they have in their hinder feet, which are furnished with hairs that retain the wax, and prevent it falling off while they fly. Thus, laden with honey and wax, the working bees return to their hives without missing their way, though they sometimes fly the distance of several miles. When arrived at home, they meet other bees waiting to assist them to discharge their burthen, and then they all unite together to employ the provisions to the best advantage for the hive in general. With the wax they close up the crevices of their dwellings, to prevent any animal intruding; and they leave only such openings as are necessary for their own convenience. The queen and working bees have at the extremity of their bodies a sting inclosed in a sheath, which they use to wound and destroy their enemies; but when the sting remains in the wound which they make, it is generally fatal to themselves.

Every thing in these little animals is wonderful, and highly deserving of our attention. The structure of their limbs, so regular, and well adapted to their mode of life; the care which they take of their young; the art with which they construct their cells; and their activity, industry, and intelligence; all ex

cite our admiration, and bespeak the agency of a superior power. Thus, if we wish to meditate upon our Creator, contemplating a hive of bees will lead us to him, and call forth our adoration of that power, wisdom, and goodness, so eminently displayed in the production and operations of these little creatures.

JUNE XVIII.

External Parts of Plants.

In order to form a just idea of the inimitable art displayed in the vegetable kingdom, we must proceed by degrees. Our faculties are too limited to take in the whole at one view, or to acquire a perfect knowledge of it in this state of existence. We must therefore content ourselves with a few observations, and proceed from visible to invisible things; from simple and individual objects to those which are more complicated and general. Let us begin then with the external parts of plants, and first examine the roots. These are so constructed, that by means of the prin cipal root and the little fibres that proceed from it the plants are fixed in the earth. The pores of the root enable it to imbibe the aqueous and nutritious juices which the soil contains. From the root grows the stem, to which the plant owes its strength and beauty: its structure differs according to the nature of the plant; sometimes it is in the form of a tube, strengthened by different knots which are skilfully arranged; and in other plants the stem is so slender, that it requires a support round which it may twine and fasten itself by little hooks which proceed from it. In others the stem rises majestically like a pillar, and becomes the ornament of the forests, seeming to defy the winds and the tempests. The branches extend themselves like arms, and are regularly dis

tributed; they enlarge themselves, and divide into others which are collaterally disposed in the same order with the principal branches. The buds which sprout from them are small plants, which if inserted in the earth, will take root, and in time grow up like the tree from which they were taken.

The leaves, those lovely, beautiful ornaments of plants, are regularly disposed round the stalks and branches; and amongst thousands we can scarcely find two that exactly resemble each other; each one differing in structure, figure, size, and beauty. Leaves are either simple or compound, hairy or fleshy, smooth or curled and indented. The blossoms of trees, which form one of nature's chiefest beauties, are not less diversified than the leaves: some are simple, and have only one flower; others have several. They present every variety of shape and appearance: some of the petals are disposed carelessly round the plant ; others form circles, garlands, and clusters. From the centre of the flowers rises a little pillar, and sometimes several, which are hollow within, and round, or pointed, at the top: these are called pistils, and they are generally surrounded by lesser pillars called stamina, which support the anthers, containing a very fine powder, which is the farina or pollen. Many of the blossoms have a texture of an indescribable delicacy, with a most exquisite fragrance, and beautiful diversity of tints.

To the blossoms succeed fruit and seeds, which repair the waste of the seasons, and afford a very agreeable source of nourishment; they enclose under one or more skins or coats the germs of future plants. The external form of seeds and fruits varies as much as that of leaves and flowers.

All these parts of plants have their peculiar use and design; if the least of them be taken away, the plant loses a part of its perfection; either its beauty, growth, or increase, will suffer. Thus, all these several parts are essentially necessary for the com