ANECDOTES AND SELECTIONS.

strings, the frame of which was four feet high, which accompanied minstrel songs, or was borne in the dance. The lyre of tortoise shell, the double pipe, the trumpet, drum, and bell were common. Even of the bagpipe representations have been discovered, though none of stringed instruments like the violin played with the bow. In all delineations of social or worshipping assemblies, musical instruments very like our modern ones have a prominent place. The Hebrew music, at the time of the Exodus, was purely Egyptian; but it was much modified subsequently in association with Asiatic nations. In the temple of Jerusalem, according to the Talmud, stood a powerful organ, consisting of a wind-chest with ten holes, containing ten pipes, each pipe capable of emitting ten different sounds by means of finger holes, so that a hundred sounds could be produced by it. It was provided with two pairs of bellows and ten keys, so that it could be played with the fingers. According to the Rabbins, it could be heard a great distance from the temple.

JUDAS ISCARIOT.-In the "Crown of Wild Olives," John Ruskin thus characterizes, in his trenchant style, those who live only to make money, as imitators of Judas :-"We do injustice to Iscariot in thinking him wicked above all common wickedness. He was only a common money lover, and, like all money lovers, didn't understand Christ, couldn't make out the worth of Him. He didn't want Him to be killed. He was horror struck when he found that Christ would be killed; threw his money away instantly and hanged himself. How many of our present money seekers, think you, would have the grace to hang themselves, whoever was killed? But Judas was a common, selfish, muddle-headed, pilfering fellow; his hand was always in the bag of the poor, not caring for them. He didn't understand Christ, yet believed in Him much more than most of us do; had seen Him do miracles, thought He was quite strong enough to shift for Himself, and he, Judas, might as well make his little by perquisites out of the affair. Christ would come out of it well enough, and he have the thirty pieces. Now that is the money seeker's idea all over the world."

"NOT WORTH A STRAW."-Perhaps a straw is not as worthless as you think. Let us see. Straws are the stems of wheat, rye, oats, and barley. In order to wave to and fro in the wind, and yet bear up the heads of grain, they must be both light and strong. Let us see how lightness is secured. They are made hollow, you see, like quills; and yet not hollow through the whole length, for every now and then we find a knob or joint, which helps to brace up the sides and make them strong. The straw outside is hard, and looks shiny, as if it had been polished. It is polished, and that keeps the weather and the insects rom damaging it, besides adding to its strength. Polish! But where does it get polish? God gave these plants the power of drawing up hrough their roots this gummy sort of varnish from the earth. It is Hint.

There is nothing like it on the stem of the sweet pea or the

THE FIRESIDE.

currant bush, because they do not need it. But does it not show God's wisdom and knowledge in giving this power to one plant where it is needed, and withholding it from others where it is not? So you see that a straw even can show the wonderful power of our Creator, God, and speak his praise.

The Fireside.

A QUEER OLD LADY.

How differently people appear at different times, as, when we are sick or well, rejoicing or mourning, laughing or weeping. A few days since I met an old lady, who nodded very familiarly to me, and yet I hesitated to call her by name lest I should miscall it. She looked old, and yet young; soft and smiling, and yet wore stern frowns. She was fair in face, yet her hands were iron. It seemed as if the wind would blow her away, and yet she moved with the strength of an elephant. "Why, sir," said she, "you seem to stare at me, though you have seen me a thousand times before."

"That may be, madam; but I never saw you so loaded down with all sorts of things. I am curious to know about them. Would it be rude if I should ask you a few questions ?"

"Not at all. Ask away."

"Well, what are you going to do with those small, thin, ladies' shoes?" "Why, make the ladies wear them, to be sure.

"Not in this cold, wet season. Why, I can hardly keep my feet warm in these thick, double-soled boots. I must have overshoes. How can they wear such thin, cold-catching shoes?"

"O, sir, I have only to bring them to them, and the dear creatures put them on, and never hesitate a moment. They know me!"

"And those little half-dresses, hanging on your arm ?"

"They are to be put on little children in cold weather, or to walk out in-naked at the knees, naked at the neck, and hardly covering half the body. You can't think how eager parents are for these dresses." "What have you in this little tin box ?"

Lozenges, sir; troches, hoarhound candy-things that always go with thin shoes and thin dresses. And this bright, red box, sir, contains what is called 'conscience salve,' which I always keep on hand to rub on the conscience when any one feels that he has done wrong in obeying me. It's in great demand, sir, and a certain cure." "What have you in that bundle, madam ?"

"This? Why a few knick-knacks, which I sometimes distribute in Sabbath schools, in the shape of dialogues, speeches-things to make people laugh, and to prevent the school from feeling too serious, or thinking too much about religion. You must understand, sir, that I continually have to attend church and chapel to regulate things there,

THE PENNY POST BOX.

and see that the bonnets are right, the rings are bright, and the dresses complete; yet religion itself I hate as poison! And here is a box of the finest what shall I call it? It is a sort of wit and smartness, which I deal out to preachers, with which they spice their sermons, and become popular. I sell them by the gross. They are growing in demand, and they are a real saving of conscience and heart-ache. Warranted to keep in any climate-a kind of sensation powder." "Pray, madam, what are those screws for?"

Why, to pinch the feet, and make them look small, without regard to corns and bunions. They can't wear those little, dear little shoes except you have these pinchers to go with them."

"And that great heap of books in your arms?"

"Those! They are the latest, most exciting, and the weakest, most silly novels. But I hand them out, and shake my head with a smile, and crowds read them."

Well, madam, I'm very inquisitive, I know, but I do want to know what you have in that bag thrown over your shoulder.”

"A great variety of valuables-such things as 'late suppers'—in great demand, and which send people to the grave early, and thus make room for more. Then there are 'late hours,' and 'late rising,' and all manner of hair-dressing, and expensive dressing-things that ladies must have even if their husbands fail. Here are diamond pins and rings-just the thing to stir up envy and create extravagance. Here are gold watches, cigars, meerschaum pipes, gold-headed canes, eye-glasses, and all manner of things to suit all manner of people. And I laugh and coax, and frown and command, till I get them to wear and use them, and do just what I please. Now, I have stopped to talk with you a few moments; don't you see what a crowd have gathered round me-low necks, thin shoes, muslin dresses, tight boots; some on crutches, some coughing, some breathing short, all crowding to get near me, and when I move you will see how they all run, and rush, and crowd after me. O sir, I am the great power of the world. I rule kings and queens, beggars and philosophers. Don't you see?"

66

Truly, madam, truly. And now may I ask your name?"

"Name! FASHION, sir: my name is Mrs. PREVAILING FASHION! I thought everybody knew me !"

The Penny Post Box.

AN EVIDENCE OF ILL BREEDING.

THERE is no greater breach of good manners—or rather no better evidence of ill breeding-than that of interrupting another in conversation while speaking, or commencing a remark before another has fully closed. No well-bred person ever does it, or continues a conver

FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.

sation long with any person that does. The latter often finds an interesting conversation abruptly waived, closed, or declined, by the former, without even suspecting the cause. It is a criterion which never fails to show the breeding of the individual. A well-bred person

will not even interrupt one who is in all respects greatly his inferior. If you wish to judge the good breeding of a person with whom you are but slightly acquainted, mark such person strictly in this respect, and you will assuredly not be deceived. However intelligent, fluent, easy, or even graceful, a person may appear for a short time, if you find such individual guilty of this practice, you will find him or her soon prove uninteresting, insipid, or coarse.

Facts, Hints, Gems, and Poetry.

Facts.

ONLY a little more than one quarter of the globe is land.

The chief causes that determine the climate of a country are, its distance from the equator, its elevation, its nearness to the sea, the character of the surrounding country, and the nature of the prevalent winds.

Countries nearer the equator are the hottest; but Quito, which is just under the equator, has a very temperate climate. This is owing to the fact that Quito stands nearly 10,000 feet above the level of the sea, and is therefore the highest city in the world.

The sea remains nearly the same temperature all the year round. Hence some sea-side towns in England have less frost than those which are in the more central parts of the island.

In England the north-east wind is the most biting and bitter: the intense frosts of January this year came during the prevalence of north-east winds.

In the United States the cold is always the most severe when a northwest wind is blowing. This wind sweeps over the frozen regions round

Hudson's Bay, and in its passage to the
States is checked by no high gronnd.

More than one railway train was snowed up during the storms last winter. In one case a train was abandoned altogether, and the snow settled down upon the engine and carriages, until nothing was visible but the top of the funnel.

The difference in temperature when the thaw came was very great. In twenty-four hours there was a difference of nearly forty degrees!

Hints.

LOVE your neighbour, but do not pull down the hedge.

In the world you have three sorts of friends, your friends who love you, your friends who do not care for you, and your friends who hate you.

Old tunes are the sweetest, and old friends are the surest.

He who is everybody's friend is either very poor or very rich.

Sooner or later the strong need the help of the weak.

The beadle of the parish is always of the opinion of his reverence the vicar.

It is at the narrowest part of the defile that the valley begins to open.

FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY.