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THE CUCKOO.

THIS pleasant little harbinger of spring arrives in this country early in April, and takes its departure early in June. The common species comes to us every spring from Northern Africa, or Asia Minor, and returns in auIt is the habit of the cuckoo, in depositing her egg in the nest of another bird, that has made it such an object of curiosity. The nest of the bird that feeds its young with insects is always selected. Among others, the hedge-sparrow, the reed-sparrow, the tit-lark, the yellow-hammer, &c., have been recorded as the bird to whom the egg is committed, but the first seems to be most frequently chosen. It is well known that the young cuckoo very speedily contrives to get the sole possession of the nest, by forcibly turning out the others; and it should seem that this wonderful instinct is absolutely necessary for the self-preservation of the young bird, which, if it did not dispose of all other claimants, must perish for want; and, as it is, the poor little birds to whose lot it falls to supply the demands of their craving and gigantic nestling have a weary time of it.

EXTRACTS FROM THE PUBLIC NEWSPAPERS, &c.

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Gambling. Let every man avoid all sorts of gambling as he would poison. A poor man or a boy should not allow himself even to toss up for a halfpenny, for this is too often the beginning of a habit of gambling; and this ruinous crime comes on by slow degrees. Whilst a man is minding his work, he is playing the best game, and he is sure to win. A gambler never makes any good use of his money, even if he should win. only gambles the more, and he is often reduced to beggary and despair. He is tempted to commit crimes for which his life is forfeited to his country, or perhaps he puts an end, himself, to his miserable existence. If a gambler loses, he injures himself; if he wins, he injures a companion or a friend. And could any honest man enjoy money gained in such a way?—Ten Minutes' Advice to Labourers.

Prescription for Consumptive Cases.-Live temperately-avoid spirituous liquors-wear flannel next the skin-and take every morning half a pint of new milk, mixed with a wine-glass full of the juice pressed out of green horehound. One who has tried it says, "Four weeks' use of the horehound and milk relieved the pains of my breast, enabled me to breathe deep, long, and free, strengthened and harmonised my voice, and restored me to a better state of health than I had enjoyed for years."

A Tea Party.-Last night about 800 ladies and gentlemen from the northern and western parishes in and around London, drank tea together

in the two great public rooms of the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in commemoration of the establishment of the West London Auxiliary Branch of the new British and Foreign Temperance Society. The effect of such a great body sitting down to tea at the same time, was heightened by the addition of a good band of music in the gallery, and alternate festoons of banners and laurels. Each teetotal district was represented by a table surrounded with brethren from that locality. The tickets, which were sold for 1s. 6d. each, entitled the purchaser to tea and coffee, and bread and butter; and those refreshments were given to every one as much as they pleased. A great number of the women were remarkable for superiority of dress and their attractive countenances; and the whole presented a character of honest industry, frugality, and morality; and, consequently, of health and contentment.-Globe.

A labouring man, who had for many years been in the habit of chewing tobacco, applied to the office of the "Provident Man's Friend Society," in Bristol, saying that he was resolved to leave it off; and began by depositing a shilling a week, which he used to spend in tobacco. After having conti

nued in the practice of bringing his money several weeks, he once observed, "that as he found, since he left off the use of tobacco, he could do with less beer, he would add sixpence a week to his savings on this account." This prudent man continues regularly to bring 1s. 6d. per week to the office.-Northampton Herald.

Greenwich Fair.-The effect of the exertions of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, have been most conspicuous this year at Greenwich fair. Not a single warrant has been presented for hearing before the magistrates. The society had the assistant secretary, Mr. Belson, with two officers in attendance during the fair, and they were occasionally accosted by the various owners of donkeys and horses, who said that they should not trouble them this time; and it was generally observed that the animals, which were there for the amusement of the public, were treated with much greater kindness than heretofore.

Lives saved by the London Police and others.-The number of lives saved by the police from drowning amounted to 33 in 1836, and to 32 in 1837. Twenty-five lives were known by the police to have been saved by other persons in each of the same years. The number of lives saved by the police from fire was 23 in 1836, and 27 in 1837. Two lives only were known to have been saved by other persons in the two years. The police also rescued 40 persons from other kinds of death in 1836, and 57 in 1837.—Journal of the London Statistical Society.

Salt for Dairy Purposes.-An ounce and a quarter of salt added to one gallon of milk, on its coming from the cow, it is said will increase the quantity of butter from ten to fifteen per cent.

Green Tea.-Dr. Ruschenberger, in his "Voyage round the World," informs his readers that the Chinese only drink the infusion of black tea, and regard the green as unwholesome.

Forgiveness. He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he must pass himself; for every man hath need to be forgiven.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We have received the communications of D. I. E.; X.; Yorkshire; Y.; A Layman; D. S. W.; and T. H. H.

LIKE most of the immediate followers of Jesus Christ, the two Apostles, St. Simon and St. Jude, were natives of Galilee; their services in the cause of religion are commemorated by our Church on the 28th of October; and it seems the prevailing opinion that they travelled together, and suffered martyrdom at the same time. There is likewise great reason to believe, that Simon, as well as Jude, was a son of Cleophas, or Alpheus: if so, they were both brothers of James the less, and near relations of our Saviour. We read, in St. Matthew, that when the people were astonished at the wonderful works wrought by Jesus, they said "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary, and his brethren James and

Joses, and Simon and Judas ?" the term "brethren" being, as has been before stated, often given to those who were nearly allied. St. Simon, to distinguish him from Simon Peter, is called Simon the Canaanite, and Zelotes, or the Zealot; this latter name expressed his zealous and ardent temper, which prompted him to exert the greatest activity and energy in the cause of Christianity. It is also possible that he belonged originally to a certain sect of the Jews, called Zealots: if this was the case, his conversion to the doctrines of Christ was the more remarkable, as these zealots were peculiarly bigoted to the Jewish religion, and, under the name and pretence of zeal, had established many hateful and vicious customs, wholly contrary to the ordinances of the blessed Gospel. The only mention we have of St. Simon in the Holy Testament, is of his election by our Lord, to be one of the Twelve Apostles, among whom he continued till after the descent of the Holy Ghost, at the feast of Pentecost, when, being enabled like the others to preach the Gospel with miraculous power, he commenced his ministry, and travelled into Egypt and other countries of Africa. He then returned into Asia; and, in Mesopotamia, he joined St. Jude, with whom he proceeded to Persia, and, in that country, laid down his life for Christ's sake, as is supposed about the year 74. His companion Judas, or Jude, was also called Thaddeus and Lebbeus: these names might not only be used to distinguish him from Judas the traitor, but also to denote his earnestness in the cause of righteousness, their meaning being "a person zealous in praising God." It is not recorded at what time he became a disciple; and his name does not occur in the Holy Scriptures, except in the list of Apostles, and once besides in St. John's Gospel. It was during the Last Supper of our Lord with the Apostles, when he was addressing to them his farewell discourse, and promising to them his especial manifestation, that St. Jude demanded "Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world." Our Saviour in his reply explains, that, to those who "love Him and keep His commandments," an inward grace, and divine manifestation shall be for ever present; "If a man love me,” he

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says, "he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." The negligent and the worldly-minded, on the contrary, having not the love of God within their hearts, and living in constant disobedience to his commands, will not be included in this divine manifestation; it is to those alone who seek and pray for it, that God vouchsafes so glorious a blessing. Thus, after his resurrection, Christ thought fit to appear to many of his faithful followers, to console them by his presence and conversation; but he did not extend this favour to those unbelieving enemies, who had scorned and rejected him. On the separation of the Apostles, St. Jude, after preaching the Gospel in Judea and Galilee, travelled through divers countries into Arabia, zealously labouring to spread the blessed light of the Gospel, in all the lands that he visited. After this, he taught in Syria and Mesopotamia, and, in company with St. Simon, went from the latter country to Persia, where their labours met with great success; but, at length, in consequence of fearlessly and warmly reproving the superstitious and false worship, which prevailed in that country, they were cruelly put to death by the enraged inhabitants. Some accounts tell us, that they both suffered by crucifixion. St. Simon is frequently represented holding a saw, and St. Jude a staff, or cross, similar to that borne by St. Philip. We are informed, by ancient authors, that St. Jude was a married man, and that two of his grand-children, being brought before the emperor Domitian, bore testimony to the truth of Christ, and, while avowing their belief in Him, explained the nature of His kingdom. This cruel emperor was not only a persecutor of the early Christians, but felt particularly jealous of any persons, connected, as these descendants of Jude were, with the Saviour himself, and consequently who were of the lineage of David, from which he dreaded some temporal rival to appear;-their extreme lowness and poverty, however, saved them from the tyrant's wrath, and being deemed beneath his fears, and unworthy of his notice, they were dismissed in safety. St. Jude has left one Epistle, which, though addressed to, and calculated for all Christians, seems more especially