Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

on the lynx. The bramin was near enough to hear the crashing bones, and was making off in great terror, when he met an English soldier, armed with his musket. He pointed eagerly to the place where the tiger was making his bloody repast. The soldier levelled his gun, and laid the tiger dead. "Brave fellow !" exclaimed the bramin. "I am very hungry," said the soldier, "can you give me a beef-steak? I see you have plenty of cows here."

on the happiness of inferior beings, we cannot on that account be justly accused of inhumanity. To set our foot on a worm needlessly; to crush a spider that in no way incommoded us, would be cruelty; but to remain within doors, in a state of idleness, lest we should tread on the countless creatures, too small to be perceived, that throng our pathway, would justly entitle us to the charge of affectation and folly. It is necessary that we should eat and drink, but, in satisfying our appetite, what" Horrible!" cried the bramin; "what! numberless creatures we destroy. To lay I kill the sacred cows of Brahma !" down a rule which would enable us to "Then kill the next tiger yourself," said know precisely how far, in every case, to the soldier. carry our benevolence, would perhaps be impossible; but if, with a high and holy reverence to our heavenly Father for our own personal blessings, we habitually regarded all creatures as His creatures, there would be little danger of our erring widely in the exercise of inhumanity, while a sincere desire to obey Him, in all things, would prevent our permitting an overscrupulous refinement to interfere with the discharge of our several duties. The following tale is well calculated to reprove unreasonable fastidiousness :

THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM.

MANY and great were the trials with which Abraham was visited, and many circumstances would have led him, had he not been possessed of a lively faith in God, to have despaired of the fulfilment of the Divine promises respecting him. It was promised that his seed should be as the stars of heaven for multitude, and yet he was at an hundred years old without any children; but against all human hope and A venerable bramin, who had never in probability, he believed with a joyful hope his days eaten any thing but rice and milk, on the security of the Divine word. And and held it the greatest of crimes to shed when, at the Divine command, he was the blood of any thing that had life, was some years afterwards called to offer up his one day meditating on the banks of the son, yet his faith rose far above even Ganges. He saw a little bird on the ground parental affection, and he reasoned thus picking up ants as fast as he could swallow. with himself, that God was able even to "Murderous wretch!" cried he, "what raise him from the dead, and restore him to scores of lives are sacrificed to one glut-life again. Thus, he "staggered not at the tonous meal of thine!" Presently a sparrow-hawk, pouncing down, seized him in his claws, and flew off with him. The Let us also be strong in faith, remembramin, at first, was inclined to triumph bering that thus it becomes us to give over the little bird; but, on hearing his glory to God. He who has promised, is cries, he could not help pitying him. able to perform. He has already done "Poor thing!" said he, "thou art fallen that for us, which we had much less into the clutches of thy tyrant !" A stronger reason to expect, than we now have to tyrant, however, took up the matter; for a hope for any thing that remains. He defalcon, in mid-air, darting on the sparrow-livered his Son Jesus for our offences, to hawk, struck him to the ground, with the redeem us by his blood from final and bird lifeless in his talons. Tyrant against everlasting ruin. C. J. M. tyrant," thought the bramin, "is well enough." The falcon had not finished tearing his prey, when a lynx, stealing from behind the rock on which he was perched, sprung on him, and, having strangled him, bore him to the edge of a neighbouring

66

promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God."

LOVE TO CHRIST.-He that loveth Jesus Christ most, is like unto God. Matt. iii. 17, 1 John v. 1.-Dr. Owen.

JOHN DAVIS, 56, Paternoster Row, London

thicket, and began to suck his blood. The bramin was attentively viewing this new display of retributive justice, when a sudden Price . each, or in Monthly Parts, containing Five

roar shook the air, and a huge tiger, rushing from the thicket, came like thunder

Numbers in a Cover, 3d.

W. TYLER, Printer, 4, Ivy Lane, St. Paul's.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][merged small]

AMONG the singular animals of the order | umbrageous foliage of the branches during quadrumana of Cuvier, the loris (loris the day, but rouses up on the approach of tardigradus) is one of the most interesting. darkness, and begins its ghostlike prowl in The quadrumana, of which the monkeys quest of food, which consists of fruits, are the prominent example, are all arboreal large insects, and small birds. As in all in their habits, and generally distinguished nocturnal animals, its eyes are large and by their activity and rapid evolutions among full, and from the dilatation of the pupil the branches, bounding from one to another during twilight, glisten with a peculiar with inconceivable address and vigour. lustre. Not an insect, not a bird escapes They are here, and gone, before the eye the scrutiny of those glaring orbs. Slowly can mark them. To this description, how- and imperceptibly as the minute-finger ever, the loris is a striking exception, its traverses the dial-plate, does the loris admotions being slow, and languid in the ex-vance towards his prey; and not less surely treme. The loris is a small animal, of the is the fixed mark attained. What in the size of a half-grown cat, covered with delicately fine and thick fur, of a reddish brown colour, a dark mark encircling the eyes, and extending down the back, while a white line passes down the forehead. It inhabits the forests of Ceylon, Java, Hindostan, &c., where it sleeps among the

VOL. III.

case of other animals is done by rapidity of motion, is in this attained by a contrary proceeding. No abrupt motion, no quick advance excites alarm, no noise of an approaching foe rouses the slumbering bird upon her perch; the victim is grasped before the danger is suspected.

In captivity, the loris is timid and gentle; its usual position, during the day, while sleeping, is to hang suspended by its hands, the head being folded on the breast, and the body drawn together. On awaking in the evening, which it does gradually, its first care is to clean its fur, by licking it in the same manner as a cat. Its fur, indeed, which we have noticed as very fine, is intended, no doubt, to protect the animal from cold, to which the peculiar slowness of its motions may be supposed to render it, even in its native climate, very susceptible. In our latitudes, it suffers much from the reduced temperature and frequent changes, so that it is with difficulty kept long alive. Its sense of hearing is very

acute.

In its general contour, the loris is moderately stout; but the limbs are slender, and, as in the monkey and lemur, furnished with hands for grasping. The head is round and broad, with short pointed muzzle; the ears are wide, but concealed in the fur. The hinder limbs are larger than those before; the tail is wanting.

Though several accounts have been published of the manners of these remarkable creatures, while in a state of captivity, little is known of the details of their instincts and habits in their native woods. Night, the period of their active existence, co-operates with their unobtrusive forms, and the seclusion of their haunts, to shroud them from the observations of man.

M.

OLD HUMPHREY ON AIDING THE MIS

SIONARY CAUSE.

As I hold the highest title on earth to be that of a servant of God, and the most important employment that of making known to sinners the salvation that God has wrought for them through his Son Jesus Christ, so I cannot but estimate very highly the character of an humble-minded, zealous, conscientious missionary. Men undertake, endure, and achieve much when riches and honours and reputation are to be attained, but where is the worldly reputation of him who goes, with his life in his hand, to make known to barbarous lands the glad tidings of salvation? Where are the honours and the money-bags of the missionary? In many cases toil and anxiety, hunger and thirst, reviling and violence, danger and death await him; but where is his earthly reward? I want you o ply yourselves with these questions, and then I will ask you if you have ever done any thing for the missionary cause?

Old Humphrey is no party man; he pleads not in particular for this or that missionary institution. Support them all if you like, if God has blessed you with the ability; but at least neglect not to do something for one of them, lest you should be held guilty of overlooking the ignorance and darkness of those who live without God in the world, knowing nothing of the grace of the Redeemer.

Are you rich? If so, have a care; for where much is given, much will be required. Riches have not only their power, but their responsibility also. Have you never read how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven? Have you never heard the injunction, "Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that ye may be received into everlasting habitations?" Come, come ! let Old Humphrey do you a kindness, by persuading you to be liberal to the missionary cause. Never is a man more successfully employed in promoting the welfare of his own soul, than when engaged in doing good to the souls of others.

Are you poor? Never mind that, you must be poor indeed if you have not a prayer in your heart for the heathen; and if you have a prayer for them in your heart, you will soon have a penny for them in your hand. I have just been reading of an old woman who was so very poor that she could not spare even a penny to assist the missionaries, though her heart was in the cause; but mind ye, "where there is a will, there is a way.' She was a spinner of yarn, and, knowing no better plan, she determined to spin an extra hank of yarn every week, and thus contribute her penny to the good cause. Come, come! let us imitate the old woman in her labour of love; let us spin another hank of yarn, and give another penny to the missionary cause.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

There are hundreds among us, who, when invited to make themselves useful, when required to put their shoulder to the wheel, their hand to the plough, or their fingers into their purses, begin "with one consent to make excuse.' They really have so many things to attend to, and already give so much away, that it is not in their power to do or bestow more for the glory of God, and the welfare of their fellowmen. Now if it be really the case with you, that you go to the extent of your means, Old Humphrey has not another word to say about the matter; but if you talk thus merely to excuse yourselves, if you cavil at the cause you are urged to

support, merely to prevent the parting with a small portion of your abundance, look to yourselves, for you stand in slippery places.

Over and over again have I observed, that they who are the first to tell the aged beggar to go to his parish, are the last to pay the parish rates; and that they who are forward to condemn the missionary cause abroad, saying "charity begins at home," are the most backward to assist in spreading the gospel, or in opening their purses for the benefit of the poor of their own neighbourhood. Depend upon it, you will never have your sick bed, nor your dying hour embittered by the thought that you have done your part to send the missionary, and the Bible, to the heathen world, though I am not quite so certain that the consciousness of having neglected to do so will not create a parting pang.

Many have I known who have done too much for their own selfish gratifications; but never have I met with one who had done too much for God's glory. Show me a man that loves his bible, and I will show you one that would delight to spread bibles all over the world. Show me a man whose soul magnifies the Lord, and whose spirit rejoices in God his Saviour, and I will show you one whose heart will leap within him to lend a helping hand to the missionary, that he may go forth and proclaim glad tidings of great joy to all the people on the face of the earth. If, then, you have any pity for the sinner, and love for the Saviour, promote the missionary cause.

It is a glorious sight to see a merchantman under weigh, her sails filled with the breeze, and her colours flying in the winds of heaven! She goes not forth carrying thunder and lightning to blast the image of God in desolating war, but to bear abroad the blessings of peace. Her cargo is to benefit the bodies and souls of men; our merchandise and our missionaries may go together. Here may be seen on board the same ship, a wrapper of flannel and a bundle of religious tracts; there a bale of cloth, and yonder a box full of bibles!

lence, and tell them that you are men and brethren by your exertions in their favour? Yes, yes! you may never be moved by the feeble voice of Old Humphrey, but you will not, you must not, you cannot resist the appeal of millions of fellow-beings from across the heaving ocean, who are destitute of the means of grace, and the hope of glory.

CHEMISTRY.-No. V.

NITROGEN AND HYDROGEN.

NITROGEN is a substance very commonly found to be a component part of bodies, and as it has resisted every effort that has been made to decompose it, is considered an elementary principle. It is somewhat lighter than atmospheric air, of which it is the chief ingredient, and is distinguished by its negative qualities, which are in many respects directly opposed to those of oxygen. An atmosphere of pure oxygen would excite a violent action of all the animal functions, and nitrogen, or azote, as it has been sometimes called, is incapable of supporting life at all; but the union of the two is exactly adapted for the purpose; for the nitrogen acts as a neutralizer of the properties of oxygen, and renders it fit for respiration. Oxygen is a supporter of combustion, so energetic and rapid, that the eye can scarcely bear the intensity; but nitrogen is incapable of supporting combustion, and a lighted taper plunged into this gas is immediately extinguished; it therefore acts, in atmospheric air, by its negative properties, as a corrective of the energy of oxygen. Nitrogen exists in all animal substances, and is the principal agent in converting vegetable into animal matter.

To obtain nitrogen, mix iron filings with a little sulphur, and moisten them with water, which being done, place the compound in a glass bottle or other vessel, and cork it so as to prevent the access of atmospheric air. The oxygen of the enclosed air will be absorbed by the ingredients, in a few days, and nitrogen will be the residium. This gas may also be made by digesting animal flesh in diluted nitric acid.

Old Humphrey cannot help urging you to join hand and heart in the missionary cause. Shall the negro lift up his emancipated hands in prayer, and the Hottentot and the Caffer unite in praise? Shall the HYDROGEN resembles the two substances Hindoo and the Ceylonese forsake their to which we have already referred, in idolatry, and the inhabitants of the southern being only found in a gaseous state. sea rejoice in the hope of eternal life, and is the lightest body in nature, and in the you have no share in the work? Will not doctrine of definite proportions, it has you bid them God speed by your benevo- | been designated by some chemists as 1.

It

|

[ocr errors]

into contact with it. The gas will continue to burn with a blue lambent flame, as long as the decomposition goes on.' It is necessary to proceed with care in making this experiment, for if the atmospheric air enters the bottle, either through the cork or otherwise, an explosion will take place.

ON THE HEART, AND CIRCULATION OF

THE BLOOD.-NO. IV.

Hydrogen, or inflammable air, as it was formerly called, is one of the constituents of water, that compound being formed of one volume of oxygen to two of hydrogen; but in consequence of the extreme levity of the latter substance, it requires eight parts of oxygen, by weight, to one of hydrogen, to form this measure. It must not, however, be supposed that these two gases will combine and form water, when they are merely presented to each other, for they are then only mixed in the same way as oxygen and THE arteries of the system may be all nitrogen in atmospheric air. But if an regarded as ramifications of one great ignited taper be applied to the mixed trunk, the aorta. An artery is easily known gases, they will explode with great vio- by the character of its structure, its parietes lence, and, entering into chemical combi- being firm and stout, and consisting of three nation, produce water. When oxygen | layers ; an inner, which is very smooth; a and hydrogen, in the proportions to form middle, which is by far the most considerwater, are mixed together, and forced able, and of a tough fibrous texture; and through a small jet, upon a burning suban outer, which is simply membranous. stance, the most intense light and heat are produced. It is in this way that the light now used in some places for the exhibition of the microscope, is produced.

Hydrogen is one of the principles that enter into the composition of oils, fats, gums, and resins. It resembles nitrogen in its property of extinguishing combustion and destroying animal life, though it is itself capable of combustion. This gas, being so much lighter than atmospheric air, is used for the purpose of filling balloons. If a light bag of any substance impervious to gas, or in other words, airtight, be filled with hydrogen, it will become lighter than the atmospheric air, bulk for bulk, and will consequently ascend, in obedience to the laws that govern floating bodies. A thin bladder or the craw of a turkey will make a very good hydrogen balloon.

The following method of making hydrogen gas may be easily practised by the chemical student. Take a small quantity of sulphuric acid, and add to it four times its weight of water, and place it in a large phial. "The temperature of the mixture will be so much raised by the union of the water with the acid, as to enable the iron to decompose a part of the water. If a hole be neatly made through a cork, which fits the mouth of the bottle, and a piece of tobacco-pipe, with a very small orifice, be fitted into it, and the whole cemented into the bottle with a mixture of resin and bees' wax, the hydrogen gas, as it is separated from the water, will pass in a continued stream through the pipe, and may be set on fire by the flame of a candle being brought

|

After ramifying more minutely than we can well comprehend, so minutely, indeed, as to spread like the finest network over every part of the body, they gradually terminate in veins; but so imperceptible is the transition, that it would be hard to say at what precise point the artery terminated, and the vein began.

Veins are not, however, the only terminations of arterial tubes: on the skin, and on various external membranes, multitudes open into what are termed exhalent vessels, which pour out a serous fluid; the mouths of these minute vessels, which are abundant on the skin, are termed the pores, whence the perspiration insensibly exudes, which is essential to the maintenance of health. It is also by these extreme ramifications, termed capillaries, that the various secretions are elaborated from the blood in a manner which leaves us entirely in the dark. Let a bone be fractured, it is by these minute tubes that the osseous matter is furnished in order to effect a re-union; nay, the bone grows from youth to maturity by the supply deposited from these agents, which permeate the bones themselves, and are infinitely spread over the membrane (periosteum) which envelopes them. But why do we speak of the bones? not these only, but the flesh, the skin, every part of the body, the transparent humours of the eye, all are derived from the blood, all are deposited at its expense, all are elaborated by minute arterial ramifications. The various glands of the body, as the salivary, for instance, where peculiar secretions are effected, are organs where coils and meshes of arterial tubes are concentrated to carry on their work; so that the

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »