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SCRIPTURE EXPLANATIONS.-No XXX, "And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder."-Isa. xxii. 22.

How much was I delighted when I first saw the people, especially the Moors, going along the streets with each his key on his shoulder. The handle is generally made of brass, (though sometimes of silver,) and is often nicely worked in a device of filigree. The way it is carried is to have the corner of a kerchief tied to the ring; the key is then placed on the shoulder, and the kerchief hangs down in front. At other times they have a bunch of large keys, and then they have half on one side of the shoulder, and half on the other. For a man thus to march along, with a large key on his shoulder, shows at once that he is a person of consequence.

"Raman is in great favour with the Modeliar, for he now carries the key." "Whose key have you got on your shoulder ?" I shall carry my key on my own shoulder."

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The key of the house of David was to be on the shoulder of Eliakim, who was a type of Him who had the " government upon his shoulder; the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."Roberts.

ALLOTMENT LABOURERS.

A MOST laudable union has been entered into by forty labourers, who hold allotments of land of Bolton King, Esq., M.P., in the parish of Tamworth, in Warwickshire,

the form of which we insert :

"We, the undersigned, agree to dig and plant, each according to our share, either by labour or by a subscription in money, the ground of any of us who may be unable to do it for himself on account of sickness, and for the widow of any of us for two years after the death of her husband."

(Signed by all of them.)

The proprietor of these allotments has lately stated, that, during two years, two only of his tenants have applied for parochial relief, and those were cases of accident, by which they were disabled; and that at present there are two widows left with large families, whose allotments are cultivated for them according to the agreement, they and their children doing the lighter work. These widows, of course, receive parish relief; upon which, with their own labour, and the advantage of their gardens, they can maintain their families decently and comfortably, very different

from that state of hopeless poverty into which they would otherwise have been plunged.

THE MISSIONARY AT THE GRAVE OF HIS CHILdren.

THE REV. J. S. Meissner, Moravian missionary in Labrador, observes, " We have known what it is to mourn over the loss of beloved children, having accompanied two to their resting-place during our service in this distant land. I was once standing by the grave of my departed children, under a brilliant sun and cloudless sky, when suddenly a light shadow passed over the green turf. Looking up for the cause, I beheld a snow-white gull winging her lofty flight through the air. The thought immediately struck meThus it is with the dear objects of my mournful remembrance. Here indeed

lies the shadow, but above is the living principle. Nor was the reflection without comfort to my wounded spirit.”

THE CREATOR.

By Him were all things created that are in heaven and in earth, visible and invisible, Col. i. 16, 17. And because of the great notions and apprehensions that were then in the world, especially among the Jews, (unto whom the apostle had respect in this epistle,) of the greatness and glory of the invisible part of the creation in heaven above, he mentions them, in particular, under the most glorious titles that any other could or then did ascribe unto them: "whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by Him and for Him" the same expression that is used of God absolutely, Rom. xi. 36, Rev. iv. 11, John i. 1-3. And those that are not under the efficacy of spiritual infatuation, cannot but admire at the power of unbelief, the blindness of the minds of men, and the craft of Satan in them who deny the Divine nature of Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. iv. 4.—Owen.

JOHN DAVIS, 56, Paternoster Row, London, Price d. each, or in Monthly Parts, containing Five Numbers in a Cover, 3d

W. TYLER, Printer, Bolt-court, Fleet-street.

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BOTANY.-No. XIX. CARYOPHYLLEE.

SAGINA PROCUMBENS.

THIS order has for its representatives the lovely pinks and cloves of our gardens. But as cultivation often increases the beauty of a plant, at the expense of its botanical properties, by changing the parts more immediately concerned in preparing the seed into petals, which are more showy but less essential, it is better to look for a general outline of the characters which connect the members of this group with each, in the lychnis, or catchfly. The calyx is divided into four or five segments, which are often united into a tube, as in the pink and soapwort, (saponaria officinalis.) The petals are four or more, frequently five in number, inserted at the base of the germen, or nascent fruit. These have their borders sometimes variously divided; as we see in the meadow pink, a flower that ap

VOL. III.

pears on the margins of brooks and other moist places, in the early part of spring. The border of the petals is curiously jagged; which, with the conspicuous redness of their dye, cannot fail to render it a matter of easy recognition to the botanical inquirer. The seed-vessel is generally simple; that is, without division, with a central pillar, which is studded with many rows of seeds.

Many, who have looked but a little into the subject, are aware, that the introduction of the pollen into the seed while growing, is necessary, in order to render it fertile.

In the caryophylleæ, since the seeds are supported by a pillar, which ultimately becomes free at the top, it is essential that a communication should be established between the style, which is the conductor of this fertilizing material, and the seeds; this is done by a number

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of threads, which seem as if let down from the roof of the capsule to the seedbearing pillar below it.

There is nothing more striking, in a diligent contemplation of the works of God, than the depth of the resources, and the choice of expedients, which the Creator has been pleased to employ. A right philosophy leads us to conclude, that the Deity is infinite in wisdom, as well as in power; the believer has the highest possible proof of it in his own salvation; but the student of vegetable nature finds a never-ending variety of instances, which exemplify and press upon him the conviction, that there is no limit to the multitude of those processes by which he can bring about any of his purposes. That countless number of forms exhibited by flowers, whether they embroider the meadow, adorn the sloping sides of our hills, or grow in the retirement and moisture of the wood or the rill, have all the same object to effect; namely, to serve in the protection and maturation of the seed. In fact, the science of botany, when considered fundamentally, is but the reckoning up of the various methods which the Creator has thought fit to make use of in bringing a seed to perfection.

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But, to cite a few more instances, to illustrate this order, let us imagine ourselves walking by the side of some ditch, under the shelter of a hedge, in the month of April. We may observe, that under the covert of the bushes there is a copious display of snow-white flowers, ornamenting the bank without intermission. These flowers, we see, are borne by slender stems, which, at intervals, are furnished with pairs of narrow leaves. A closer observation shows that it has five petals, deeply cloven, ten stamens, three styles, and a capsule, which encloses a column paved with seeds. This is the stellaria holostea, or greater stitchwort. If, after surveying the flowers, we examine the leaf, we shall find one of its specific distinctions is the delicate teeth, which may be felt by passing the hand along the edge of the leaf.

The chickweed, which grows so abundantly in all cultivated ground, and in all situations where the soil is good, belongs to the genus stellaria. It may easily be known by the small fresh green leaves, and its small white flowers, which correspond in structure with the species just described. If the collector, when he has gathered a plant, should entertain any

doubts about its identity with the chickweed, he has only to examine the stem, when he will find, if it be truly the herb in question, that a crest of hairs runs along one side of the stem, from its summit to its base. By this singularity the plant is easily determined.

There is a tall red flower, very com. mon in our hedges, the lychnis dioica, or campion, which may be known by its agreement with the general characters given of this order, and by having the top or mouth of the tube formed by the petals, crowned with little coloured processes, like stunted petals. The singularity of this plant consists in this, that one plant furnishes stamens, and another a seed-vessel; whence it is said to be dioecious.

Amidst the standing corn, the corncockle (lychnis githago) often forms a conspicuous object, distinguished by the hoary appearance of its leaves, red flowers, and the length of the divisions of the calyx.

The mouse-ear chickweeds (cerastium viscosum and vulgatum) are ever at hand as we are passing through the fields, by the side of the footpaths. The small white flower, and small rough leaf, somewhat resembling a mouse-ear in shape, will distinguish them. The capsules burst at the top, and form a circular ring of ten teeth, which are bent back. This pretty little circumstance is the diagnosis, or distinguishing trait of the

cerastium.

On heaths, and by the sea-side, we may pick up the sand-worts, (arenaria,) known by their narrow fleshy leaves; and, in connexion with the general characters of this order, by the capsule parting into from three to six valves or points at the top.

The last example we shall mention, and of which we have given a figure, is the chickweed breakstone, (sagina procumbens,) an humble plant, which may often be seen growing in sandy places. The stem, by leaning upon the ground, is tempted, by the moisture of the earth, to throw out additional roots; hence it presents itself as a small tuft of branches, closely attached to the ground. stamens in this plant are reduced to four, but the seed-vessel, opening at the top, and the general habit, connects it with the order before us. The collector should arrange these plants in a book by themselves, which would afford him an opportunity of tracing their common points of

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THINGS are not exactly what they appear in any case; but, in some cases they are as different from what they appear as one thing can be from another. To know this in age is well; but could we know it in youth, it would be invaluable. This, however, cannot be expected: it is experience, and sometimes bitter experience only, that can correct our mistakes in this particular. Our very outward senses lead us astray, until they are assisted by knowledge and judgment, from the days of our infancy: a child thinks that the sun and the moon are no larger than they look to be. In his estimation, they are about the size of a pot-lid, or a wooden trencher. You may tell him, if you will, that they are bigger than the house; but you must tell him so many times over, before he will believe you.

A counterfeit looks very much like a golden coin, but there is a great difference between them, and when we have mistaken the one for the other, we feel sadly disappointed. It is so with a thousand things in the world they are not half so valuable as they seem to be.

In the days of my youth, when playing with half a dozen of my companions, we saw something at a distance that shone as bright as a diamond; and a pretty scamper we had to get hold of it. A high hedge, a deep ditch, and a boggy field, lay between us and that which had so much excited our attention; but had the hedge been higher than it was, the ditch deeper, and the field ten times more boggy, they would not have hindered us from obtaining the prize. After tearing our clothes, splashing ourselves up to the neck, and running till we were out of breath, we found that which glittered in the sun's rays like a diamond to be nothing more than a bit of glass; a piece of an old broken bottle! Now I will venture to say, that you have many a time given yourself as much trouble as I did, and got nothing better than a piece of a broken bottle for your pains.

and if you have ever climbed up a mountain half as high and as steep as he found the Skiddaw to be, you will know that the undertaking was not an easy one. Oh, how mountain, to rest myself, before I had many times did I turn my back to the clambered half-way up its rugged sides! I did reach the cloud at last, but had not much reason to congratulate myself. That which appeared from Keswick vale a beautiful blue cloud, was, when I approached it, nothing more than a thick mist. Not only was it without beauty, but it hindered me from seeing any thing that was beautiful. The lovely valley, and the magnificent lake below me, were completely hidden from my view; and I came down from the Skiddaw in a much worse temper than I went up. I was very silly for thus being put out of temper; and must confess that since then, often has Old Humphrey got into a mist in following out the foolish inclinations of his heart. How has it been with you?

What a world of trouble we give ourselves to attain what is of little value! and disappointment works no cure; the failure of yesterday prevents not the expectation of to-day, and the blighted promise of to-day destroys not the hope of to-morrow.

Again, I say, that things are not what they appear, and we willingly allow ourselves to be cheated from childhood to old age, by running after or climbing to obtain what is any thing but the thing we take it to be. Oh that we could use this world as not abusing it, remembering that the fashion of it passeth away! but no! In vain the wise man tells us of the things we seek, that "all is vanity and vexation of spirit." In vain an apostle exhorts us to set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth." Disbelieving the assertion of the one, and disregarding the exhortation of the other, we still, like children, run after bubbles, that lose their brightness the moment they are possessed.

Old Humphrey is ashamed to think how keen a relish he has for the very things which have deceived him again and again. The glittering will-o'-thewisps that surround him, look so like friendly tapers in hospitable dwellings, When a young man, Old Humphrey that he still follows them, till the bogs they once saw a beautiful olue cloud resting on lead him into convince him of his misthe side of a very high mountain in Cum- take. We may safely conclude, that berland, called the Skiddaw, and he thought" all is not gold that glitters," nor all pure it would be a very pleasant thing to climb that looks like snow. up close to it; so he made the attempt:

But while we thus complain that things

are not what they appear, are we ourselves what we appear to be? Though I have been speaking of other matters, this is the question that I wanted to come to. This question, brought home to our hearts, is like cutting the fingernail to the quick; taking a thorn out of a tender part; or, indeed, touching the apple of the eye; but it is worth while putting it for all that. Other people may pose us, but the closest method of questioning is, to question ourselves. Are we, then, what we appear to be? For if we are either ignorant of the evil of our own hearts, or railing against others when we are more guilty than they are, it is high time that such a state of things | should be altered.

Were the Searcher of all hearts to put the inquiry to you and to me, Art thou what thou appearest to be? would not the reply be, "If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse. Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth."

SPIDERS AND THEIR WEBS.-No. III.

THE geometric spider of our gardens (epeira diadema) is as remarkable for the beauty of its markings as it is for the lightness and filmy delicacy of the webs it constructs. Who, that has walked abroad on a fine autumnal morning, with his senses alive to nature's thousand charms, can have failed to notice the threads and circular net of this artist, laden with pearly drops of dew, hanging in profusion along every hedge-row and on every bush, and noticing, can have failed to reflect on Him who has taught

"The wild bird how to build its nest,
The insect weave its web!"

The mode in which the geometric spider constructs its net is very curious; and some points, connected with the subject, are not yet quite understood. Its first object is to construct the outline, which it does by passing from one leaf or sprig to another, fixing its threads as it proceeds, and thus encircling a considerable area. This outline it strengthens by fresh additions, until a due degree of toughness is produced, keeping the whole in the requisite degree of tension, by securing the line to every possible object.

The outline thus formed, the next step is to fill it up by radii, like the spokes of a wheel. To do this, the spider fixes a thread to a convenient part of the outline,

which she traverses until she reaches the opposite spot to that where she fixed her thread; all this time she was drawing out her line, keeping it distinct by one of her hind feet, so as to prevent its being glued to the threads along which she walked : this thread she now fixes; it crosses the middle of the area. She now alters her plan, and begins at the middle of this diagonal thread, where she fastens another, carrying it to the nearest part of the outline, to be there secured. From the same spot, which is to be the centre of the net, she again carries another thread to the outline, and so on until the number of radii are completed; generally from twenty to thirty. Having assured herself that each thread is sufficiently strong, which she does by pulling at each separately, and replacing such as may be found faulty, the spider next proceeds to form the concentric circles; beginning at the centre, she spins a ring, attached to each radius at a little distance from the centre point; this is followed by others at a very small interval from each other: the interval, however, increasing as she proceeds from the centre to the circumference. The whole of these circles being finished, she now returns to the centre, and bites off the point at which all the radii were united, so as to make their security depend the elasticity of the net is most probably on the circular threads alone; by this mode increased. In this central spot the spider takes her station, on the watch for prey. This is, however, by no means an invariable rule; for she always spins a cell in some retired spot, in which to lurk unobserved, having threads of communication from her retreat to the centre of the net, the vibrations of which serve to inform her of the capture of her booty.

So far all is tolerably plain; but we have yet to account for those long lines, stretched to distant points, which it was impossible for the spider to have personally visited. These lines sometimes pass from the web to distant branches; sometimes from one branch to another; we have seen them yards in length, passing from a hedgerow to trees a considerable distance, and at various degrees of elevation, from the ground.

| The explanation of the fact is thus solved by Mr. Blackwall, who says, “I have thoroughly satisfied myself, by observation and experiment, that in such instances spiders invariably avail themselves of currents of air, by which their lines are sometimes carried to a surprising distance. If the geometric spider be placed on twigs, set

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