THE PENNY POST BOX. life of the Parisian than he would have if he had never been there. Indeed, he not unfrequently jumps to the conclusion that there is no home-life in Paris at all. He sees so many people out-doors so continually, sitting on the iron chairs, reading, in the Champs Elysees, and on the Boulevards, and everywhere-thronging the streets, gayly attired, and so evidently bent on pleasure, recreation, not businessso many ladies, so many children, so many servants-a never-intermitting crowd of strollers and gazers, unmistakeably French-that it is no wonder he concludes the people of Paris live out of doors, take their meals at restaurants, and only go under a roof at bed-time. It is true that the French have a never-faltering faith in the beneficence of the open air. In pleasant weather, no French mother permits her children to remain in-doors. Out-doors is the place for children, say the Parisians; and out they go, early in the morning, accompanied by nurse, and out they stay till the daylight is gone and the darkness falls (or as much darkness as ever falls on the brightly-lighted streets of Paris), only coming in at meal-times for a brief seance about the family board. It is true that the Parisian believes there is champagne in the air, and goes out whenever he can to quaff it. But there are homes in Paris, and in those homes families bound together by ties as firm as those which hold kith and kin in any land. The Penny Post Box. MAN'S SHORTCOMINGS. MAN is a wonderful creature, but if he equalled the beasts, birds, and insects, in their own peculiar powers, how much more wonderful he would be! If, for instance, he could swim like a fish, run like an antelope, glide like a serpent, gallop like a horse, climb like a monkey, spring like a tiger, and fly like an eagle; or if he could roar like a lion, sing like a nightingale, scent like a hound, hear like a rabbit, hold on like a leech, persevere like an ant, see as far as a bird, guide himself like a bee, jump like a grasshopper, sleep like a toad, and diet like an anaconda, what a marvel of creation would he appear! But, taking his shortcomings into consideration, he is not so very much, after all. Think of it! If a man's voice bore the same proportion to his own weight that a canary bird's does, his lightest word could be heard at a distance of eight hundred miles; and if, at the same time, he had, relatively to his bulk, the same jumping power as the tiniest flea, he could spring from New York City to China at a single bound. that would be something like! Ah! FACTS, HINTS, GEMS, AND POETRY. Facts, Hints, Gems, and Poetry. Facts. NEW ZEALAND. NEW ZEALAND consists of two large islands. In 1867 the European population was 218,637, of whom 133,000 were men, 85,000 women. The native population was 38,510. The distribution of the natives is, however, unequal. The northern island contains 37,107 of the natives, and the southern island only 1,433; or two to one European over the natives in the northern island. The northern island comprises the provinces of Auckland, Tamranaki, and Wellington. The southern island, the provinces of Southland, Otago, Canterbury, Nelson, and Marlborough. There are twenty-seven million acres in the northern island, and forty-two million in the southern. Hints. The only way to keep a secret is to say nothing. There is no pride like that of a beggar grown rich. Hope writes the poetry of the boy, but memory that of the man. If a man love his neighbours as himself, he would no sooner cheat nor rob his neighbour than himself. The richest man, whatever his lot, is he who is contented with what he has. God gives the birds their food, but they must fly for it. The best goods are always the cheapest. If fools ate no bread, corn would be cheap. Gems. They who begin by loving what they call Christianity better than truth, will |proceed by loving their own sect or the stroke to draw nearer to Him Many of the faults of children are the rude forms of excellencies that are not yet ripened. Do not measure the beginnings of Divine life in yourselves by the end of Divine life in other people. Dr. Alexander, after being a teacher of theology all his life, said, when he came to die," After all, the only two things that I now insist upon are, that I am a sinner, and that Jesus Christ is my Saviour." Poetic Selections. WAITING FOR THE SPRING. A silence reigns in the air; This burden seems to bring- Strong ash and sturdy chestnut, Hath ceased her quivering, I strain mine ears to listen, POETIC SELECTIONS-THE CHILDREN'S CORNER. O heart! thy days are darksome; -Once a Week. IF WE KNEW. If we knew the cares and crosses Sorely grievous day by day, If we knew the clouds above us Would we turn away all trembling, In our blind and weak despair? Would we shrink from little shadows, Lying on the dewy grass, While 'tis only birds of Eden Just in mercy flitting past? If we knew the silent story Quivering through the heart of pain, Let us reach within our bosoms Cherish good that still survives; On I WAS some time since at a railway-station, waiting for a train. the platform, seated on a form, was an old gentleman and two little children, whom I guessed were his grand-children. I could not help hearing the remarks he was making to them, which were spoken in a pleasant and loving manner. "Be sure," said he, "you do not forget the three "tentions,” Intention, Attention, and Retention." We might apply these "tentions" with much instruction in a variety of ways; but children, at school in particular, may profit much by remembering them. Let us take "Intention" first. If a boy has a sum to work out, or a lessson to learn by heart, he will not be likely to succeed unless he goes to it with a will, or unless he "intends" to do it. Secondly, "Attention." If he is to succeed, a boy must withdraw his thoughts from tops, balls, and kites, and such like; he must not chatter with his school-fellows, but he must for the time give his whole mind, or "attend" to the lesson before him. Thirdly, "Retention." It is of little use to learn anything unless we remember it, or "retain" it in the mind. So, boys and girls, try to remember the old gentleman's advice, "Be sure you do not forget the three 'tentions,' Intention, Attention, and Retention." LAST HOURS OF LADY JANE GREY. WE extract from Hepworth Dixon's new book, "Her Majesty's Tower," the following account of the last scenes in the life of the estimable Lady Jane Grey, who went out from one of its dungeons to execution, and whose cell is still pointed out to the visitor, as well as the block on which she laid her head to receive the blow of the executioner's axe. It is a fair specimen of Mr. Dixon's style. He says: "When it was known in the Tower that warrants were out, and that Jane would die on Monday morning, every one became eager to get some token from her, to catch a last word from her lips, a final glance from her eye. To Thomas Brydges, the deputy, in whose house she had lived nearly eight months, she gave a small book of devotions, bound in vellum, containing two scraps of her writing, and a few words by Lord Guilford; one of her notes being addressed to Brydges himself, in words which must have gone to his soul: Call upon God to incline your heart to His laws, to quicken you in His way, and not to take the word of truth utterly out of your mouth.' "On Sunday, Guilford sent to ask her for a final interview; but this sad parting she declined, as useless now, fit for stage heroes only, which they were not. She bade him be of good cheer; and seeing how weak he had been, it is only right to say that the poor boy took his fate quietly, like a man. Sunday morning she spent in prayer and reading; her book, a copy of the Greek Testament, in which she observed a blank leaf at the end, and taking up her pen, wrote some last words to her darling sister, Lady Catharine Grey, sad heiress of all her rights and miseries: I have sent you, good sister Kate, a book which, although it be not outwardly trimmed with gold, yet inwardly it is worth more than precious stones. It is the book, dear sister, of the law of the Lord; His testament and last will, which He bequeathed to us wretches, which shall lead you to eternal joy.' "Closing the sacred book, she gave it to Elizabeth Tylney, her gentlewoman, praying her to carry it, after she was dead, to Lady Catharine, as the last and best token of love. She then composed herself to prayer. "Early next day, before it was yet light, the carpenters were heard beneath her window fitting up the block on which she was LAST HOURS OF LADY JANE GREY. to die. When she looked out upon the green, she saw the archers and lancers drawn up, and Guilford being led away from the Lieutenant's door. She now sat down and waited for her summons to depart. An hour went slowly by; and then her quick ear caught the rumble of a cart on the stones. She knew that this cart contained poor Guilford's body, and she rose to greet the corpse as it passed by. Her women, who were all in tears, endeavoured to prevent her going to the window, from which she could not help seeing the block and headsman waiting for her turn; } but she gently forced them aside, looked out on the cart, and bade the dead youth her last adieu. 66 Brydges and Feckenham now came for her. Her two gentlewomen could hardly walk for weeping; but Lady Jane, who was dressed in a black gown, came forth, with a prayer-book in her hand, a heavenly smile on her face, a tender light in her grey eyes. She walked modestly across the green, passed through the files of troopers, mounted the scaffold, and then turning to the crowd of spectators, softly said: "Good people, I am come hither to die. The fact against the Queen's highness was unlawful; but touching the procurement and desire thereof by me, or on my behalf, I wash my hands thereof, in innocency before God, and in the face of you, good Christian people this day.' "She paused, as if to put away from her the world, with which she had now done forever. Then she added :— "I pray you all, good Christian people, to bear me witness that I die a true Christian woman, and that I look to be saved by no other means than the mercy of God, in the merits of the blood of His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, good people, while I am alive, I pray you to assist me with your prayers.' Kneeling down, she said to Feckenham, the only divine whom Mary would allow to come near her, Shall I say this Psalm ?’ The Abbot faltered, 'Yes.' On which she repeated, in a clear voice, the noble Psalm: "Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness: according to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences.' "When she had come to the last line, she stood up on her feet, and took off her gloves and kerchief, which she gave to Elizabeth Tylney. The Book of Psalms she gave to Thomas Brydges, the Lieutenant's deputy. Then she untied her gown, and took off her bridal gear. The headsman offered to assist her; but she |