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And I was right too. It seems somebody had hidden the clerk's mutton-chop in one of the cupboards for a bit of fun. When he found he had wrongly accused my dog he was sorry, and tried to make it up by throwing Punch the bone, but that indignant quadruped would neither look at him nor his bone. I, however, didn't keep up my ill feeling so long, and, would you believe it, the clerk seen s to like me all the better for having interfered in the dog's behalf. I heard him telling another the next day "how pluckily the young rascal snatched the ruler and took the dog's part."

But I must wind up. It is Saturday evening, and I have to make the post-bag up for father. Please remember me to Instone. Your affec. friend, CHARLIE THORNTON.

Letter No. 69.

From BEN BARLOW to TOM BLUNT.

Waterside House, Worcester,

Dec. 15th, 187-.

DEAR TOM,

I am glad to hear you are turned drummer. I shall be glad to hear you play, I am sure. Ted says he should think the least you can do is to bring the band to meet my train at Hammerthorpe, and play "See the conquering hero comes all the way to Woodbourne.

By the way, what do you think about the weather for the holidays? Of course it is too early to judge yet, but I'm afraid we shan't get much skating. I hope your father won't run much water off for the next few weeks. Ask him to please let the mill-pond be as full as possible for the holidays.

With kind regards to yourself, andfall inquiring friends, I am, yours truly, BEN BARLOW.

Letter No. 70.

From BEN BARLOW to Mrs. BARLOW.
Waterside House, Worcester,
December 18th, 187-.

MY DEAR MOTHER,—

Are you and father coming to our breaking-up on the 23rd? The Doctor told us he was sending out the invitations to-day. I hope you will come, for I have learnt a recitation to give on the occasion. And besides us boys, Mr. Macpherson will give a reading, and sing. He can do both splendidly.

I haven't time for much more. Our examination begins on Monday morning, and I want to be quite ready for it.

With love to yourself, to father, and to Clara, and Helen, I remain, your dutiful son,

BEN.

Letter No. 71.

From MRS. BARLOW to BEN BARLOW.

MY DEAR SON,

The Laurels, Woodbourne,

December 19th, 187-.

I fully intend availing myself of Dr. Tasker's invitation to your breaking-up entertainment on Thursday next, and if your father can spare the time he will accompany me.

I hope you will do yourself credit in the recitation, and I do not doubt but that you will.

Your sisters are quite elated at the thought of their big brother coming home so soon for the holidays. They join me and your father in sending love to you. Your own

MOTHER.

Letter No. 72.

From BEN BARLOW to CHARLIE THORNTON.
Waterside House, Worcester,

MY DEAR CHARLIE,

Dec. 20th, 187—.

Thanks for your long letter. I am glad to hear of your advance in the office. I wonder you didn't make that clerk remember hitting you or your dog, even though he was elder than you.

We shall hold our public breaking-up on Thursday. Mother is coming, and I shall return with her. So I shall soon see your face again, old boy, though I suppose you will not have much leisure to Yours in haste, BEN BARLOW.

spend with me.

Letter No. 73.

From TED INSTONE to BEn Barlow.

MY DEAR BEN,—

3, Brighton Villas, Regent's Park, London, Dec. 24, 187—.

I got home late last night. Found all well except Ernie, and he is better than usual-looks quite lively. His rabbits are doing first

rate.

Excuse more now. I am going out to a party almost directly, so must say good-bye. Yours affectionately,

TED INSTONE.

P.S. The compliments of the season to you, old chum.

Letter No. 74.

From BEN BARLOW to TED INSTONE.

MY DEAR TED,

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Mother and I got home safely about seven o'clock. All at home are well, and of course the house is decorated with holly and ivy, and

everything looks bright and warm and jolly, as it ought at Christmas. I have not seen many of my old schoolfellows yet, but those I have seen have been particular to inquire about you.

Wishing you and all your friends "A merry Xmas and a happy New Year," I remain, yours very truly,

BEN BARLOW.

FOOTPRINTS OF GOD IN NATURE.
By GEORGE PACKER.

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HE benefits we receive from this animal are both numerous and important; and of all the creatures with which man has to do there is none more innocent and gentle, and none that so combine efficiency and variety of service with inexpensiveness of maintenance. The sheep is found in most of the habitable parts of the world, with varieties of structure and character that most exactly adapt it to the climate in which it lives, and the food by which it is supported. Whether these differences have existed from the beginning, and were ordained by the Creator to fit the animal for its surroundings, or whether, as is most commonly thought, these differences have been developed by climatic and other similar influences, makes no difference to the argument being pursued in these papers. If pre-ordained by God, then we see a gracious design in its simplest form, whereby the Almighty, by slightly varying types of the same animal, bestows the same advantage on men in all parts of the world. If, on the other hand, these varieties are produced by the exigencies of food, climate, and mode of life, and every species has descended from one original stock, then the Divine power wisdom are even more conspicuously seen in the creation of an animal that has a latent power of adaptation practically inexhaustible. The original animals of which it is supposed all the rest are mere varieties, are still found in large flocks in the high mountain regions of Persia.

and

It would be impossible here to give any idea of the innumerable species that exist throughout the world. Perhaps the mest extraordinary of them is the long fat-tailed sheep that flourishes in parts of both Asia and Africa. The tails of these animals are so heavy and so long that as they move from place to place they have to drag them behind them on the ground. If the sheep of "Little BoPeep" that were unfortunately lost, were of this kind, it is by no means superfluous to relate that on their return they brought their tails behind them; for at the Cape, and in other parts, the fat of these appendages is greatly relished as an article of diet, and rascals who are not equal to stealing a whole sheep sometimes lop off

a few tails.

Sheep afford us in England an excellent supply of good food and warm clothing, and, besides, find ample employment for tens of thousands of people in the factories of Yorkshire and the West of England. Every handful of wool that grows on the back of the sheep contributes to the support of quite an army of staplers, dyers, pickers, scourers, carders, spinniers, warpers, weavers, clothiers, &c. The raw material is tumbled and tossed about from one to another until a score different sets of workmen have wrung a living out of it; and then comes the turn of the merchant. He sends it to various parts of the world, and as he requires ships for this purpose, we come upon an entirely new set of artisans-engineers, shipbuilders, and sailors-who in part are set to work by the quiet-looking creatures that graze on our commons. England has always stood unrivalled for the manufacture and exportation of cloth. Even as far back as the days of Edward III. cloth to the value of £150,000 was exported annually.

But when we have deprived the sheep of his coat he immediately begins to grow another. It is no cruelty to take from him his wool if only it be done at the right time. Providence plainly intends it as a special gift to man, for if it is not cut off it will proceed to drop off of its own accord. It is like hair on other animals, intended to keep the sheep warm during the winter; but just as in the spring other animals cast off their hairy coats, and men themselves leave off their clothing, so the sheep is then better without his wool than with it. Wool differs from hair in the fineness and uniformity of its growth. Every filament of wool seems to keep pace with every other in the various parts of the body; the whole crop springing up, and advancing uniformly together. Unless previously shorn, the whole falls off together, leaving the animal Covered with a short coating of young wool, which in its turn will undergo the same changes.

When we are hungry and kill the sheep, we get the tender and succulent mutton; but every part of the body is brought into some use. The skin goes to the parchment-makers, and supplies the durable material on which important legal documents are engrossed. What the parchment-maker cannot use the glue-maker picks up, and supplies that useful article without which cabinet-makers and joiners would be at a loss to unite pieces of wood that are too small to be nailed together. One part of the animal supplies us with materials for candles, and another with soap, so that the sheep is the source, if not of "sweetness and light," yet of cleanliness and light, and cleanliness and sweetness are always understood to be near neighbours, if not closely akin. The horns are not thrown away, for they are used in the manufacture of buttons; nor the feet, for from them is obtained a valuable oil, and indeed they are greatly relished as food by the poorer parts of the population. Besides furnishing us with coats, the sheep supplies us with neat and comfortable gloves for our hands. The services he renders to us are indeed many and valuable, and hence the sheep is highly esteemed by every nation.

And what are the wages the sheep receives? Why truly he eats up a little grass, often getting a subsistence out of fields that have been cropped close by other animals. And even the fields whence he gleans his scanty meals he enriches by the manure he deposits; so that his cost to the farmer is in an inverse ratio to the services he renders.

Very large flocks of sheep are to be seen in the agricultural counties of England, but in Spain flocks consisting of as many as 10.000 sheep are not at all uncommon. So obedient and gentle are these creatures that forty shepherds with as many dogs are quite sufficient to have charge of these large flocks.

Sheep were an important part of the wealth of the ancient Hebrews. The first mention of them is in Gen. iv., 2, where we are told that Abel was a 66 keeper of sheep." Many of the leading characters of Holy Writ were shepherds. Both sheep and lambs were extensively used in the sacrificial offerings of the Temple service. Sheep flourished in Palestine in immense numbers in Biblical times, and sheep-shearing and other duties in connection with the keeping of sheep are frequently alluded to. The docility of the sheep, its uniform meekness, gentleness, and obedience, have furnished the basis of some of the most beautiful metaphors of the Bible. Our Saviour is called the "Lamb of God" partly in allusion to the sweetness of His nature, and partly on account of the lamb being one of the chief sacrifices of the Temple. The duties of the shepherd, to feed, to guide, to succour, to defend, have furnished the most striking figure by which Christ's care for His people is expressed: "I am the good shepherd; I lay down my life for the sheep."

With this sketch terminates our notice of the animals. Next year we must strike a fresh path, which we hope will be followed with interest and profit by our young friends. But if we have only noticed in detail a few of the animals with which the earth abounds, it is not because all the others could not be treated in the same manner and for the same purpose. A reverent and thoughtful study of the uses and habits and purposes of every creature would yield us the same or greater reasons to admire the goodness and wisdom of God. Very true are the words of Cowper :

"Philosophy baptised

In the pure fountain of eternal love
Has eyes indeed; and viewing all she sees
As meant to indicate a God to man,

Gives Him the praise, and forfeits not her own."

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