Suppose we should philosophize a little, and enter into the chemistry of this wonderful circulation. What steps did the water take to mount so high? That crest which floats so proudly on the brow of yonder cloud clung to an iceberg once, or moved in wild eddies at the beck of wintry winds, or lay buried in a snowbank in Labrador, perhaps. Whence this curious change, and this translation, not less strange, of place? Why, a ray of light, which, for aught I know, had glanced upon a thousand worlds,—been drunk in, it may be, by the Tuscan artist's eye, or illumined a Newton's ken,commissioned on a humbler errand now, lights on that cold cake of ice, or insinuates itself into the bosom of that snowy bank, holding in its folds another ray, which has power to melt the icy fetter, and liberate the imprisoned drop. But still its freedom is not perfect. It can flow in liquid currents, and move within certain limits. Now for the power to rise aloft. If ever it does its office in fields of dew or falling rain, it must escape, by some means, from that ever downward force which, while it permits it to run in brooks and floods, or roll in waves, does by no means allow it to rise one inch above the surface. Whence the buoyant power? How shall this feeble drop escape from the jurisdiction of that great law which claims each material atom as its subject? Only one mode can possibly be devised. Messengers must be despatched, as numerous as the soldiers in Xerxes's army, from a station ninety millions of miles distant. All those trackless, intervening wilds they must range over, and come to that little drop, with a commission from the king of day,-for what? Not to infringe upon that law which holds the drop a prisoner, for no natural law will ever be infringed on, while the Deity holds the elements together, but to procure it leave to range, under the general protection of that law; to purchase for it, if I may so speak, a running furlough to discharge a particular office at a distance. And what is that office? Why, to stand over your father's cornfield, and to drop down there and make bread. Do you not see that bread rains down from heaven? Perhaps you did not know that that drop cost so much,—that a million messengers had to be despatched through expansum to obtain for it leave to water your mouth, or make the grass and grain grow. These drops that you thought so little of are not to be treated lightly. Be careful, young friend, how you dash along among that blowing clover, nodding with dew, as though these little diamonds might be trampled on. Why, each one of them cost more than any pearl in the orient, and is worth more, if you could obtain but one. Who does not see that fruits and flowers, which please the palate and charm the eye, and grain and grapes, furnishing substantial aliment for man and the inferior animal tribes, are all reared and nurtured at immense expense, fostered by a care far reaching and provident, contriving numberless expedients, and making them all to bear on man's physical well-being? "Moses gave you not that bread from heaven." A man less meek than he might have owned that. David expresses the truth beautifully in the 104th Psalm,-" These wait all upon thee; that thou mayst give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created; and thou renewest the face of the earth." Read over the whole of this Psalm, and see how much of a philosopher the sweet singer of Israel was, with all his poetry and taste. We wish you to acquire the habit, young friends, as you look out on this fair earth, as you walk beneath flying clouds, and feel the sunshine and the zephyr, when raindrops are falling, and in the evening when the dew distils, when blossoms ripen into fruit, when harvests nod,-of feeling, as these bright scenes pass by you on the wings of fleeting time, that this is God,-the operation of the Most High. "These, as they change, are but the varied God. The recipes for making a good child. A. H. Exodus 20: 12.-Proverbs 1: 8, 9.-Ephesians 6: 1–3. The Christian Sabbath Scholars. The influence of young Christians upon one another is perhaps of a more decided character than that exerted under almost any other circumstances. It is directly good or directly bad. While they are fitted, if they will, to help each other in their heavenward course,—if they do not do this, they inevitably serve to weaken the growth of piety, and lead to the formation of feeble and inefficient character. Their Emily and Maria were members of the same Sabbath school. At the ages of fifteen and seventeen, they became, as was hoped, interested in the salvation of Christ. There was no particular interest, at that time, in the church and society with which they were connected, and their individual feelings were the absorbing theme of their thoughts. They were constant at meetings, attentive to instructions, and seemed hungering and thirsting for the bread and water of life. At this promising period, they were introduced to one another, by one who knew the rich benefits of Christian intercourse, and thought acquaintance under such circumstances might tend to elicit such intercourse, and advance the growth of grace in their hearts. acquaintance soon became friendship,-friendship ripened into intimacy,-they became bosom companions. Eagerly and tenderly were they watched by those who anxiously longed and hoped that they might grow up to be perfect ones in Christ Jesus. Thus they went on for a little season, until it was apprehended by some of these watchers in Israel that their religious interest was declining. The solemn appearance which they had worn in the house of God was exchanged for an air of comparative listlessness. At the social prayer meeting they entered with less zest than formerly into the exercises of prayer and praise; and when the hour had passed, they were not unfrequently seen bending their steps on some excursion of pleasure. What was the cause of this sad alteration? Was it the effect of that acquaintance from which good only had been expected? It was even so. Had their communion with one anoth VOL. VII. 23* er been what it should have been, their interest would probably have been increased rather than diminished; but they had pursued a wrong course, and blind to the change which was working within them, they went on in the same path. The chief cause of this unhappy influence was, their unwillingness to express their own feelings, and to converse freely of serious things. Emily had never enjoyed the benefit of religious conversation, for none of her friends were Christians; and, therefore, habit could not in her, as it often will, counteract natural feeling. But she was the elder of the two, and Maria looked and waited for her to speak first. She, it is true, was blessed with pious friends and pious instructions at home; but she was very diffident,-easily influenced, ever ready to be led, but never leading. She could not, of course, as she thought, introduce serious subjects. They did, indeed, at first, speak of meetings and duties, but there was no freedom felt,-it was all awkward and constrained, very soon their hours of intercourse were filled with idle chat. They exchanged notes,-but writing on themes on which our lips are sealed will not convey all the benefits of Christian intercourse. They still loved each other fondly, and sought every opportunity to be together. Their conversation was altogether on worldly topics; and would not, must not such converse have an influence upon their feelings? And as their interest was damped, the ardor of their first love thus chilled, -must not their appearance, their lives, undergo the same unhappy change? It could not be otherwise. The friends of both warned and affectionately entreated; but they saw not the poison which was working death in them, and the kind admonitions were unheeded; and it was not till the ardor of their attachment was cooled by separation, and the providence of God had mercifully placed them both under other and more decidedly Christian influence, that the character of their piety resumed its vigor and interest. My young friends, beware of close intimacy with any, even with a fellow-Christian, unless you will cultivate a freedom in religious conversation. Spend your hours of intercourse in talking over your trials and fears, your encouragements and hopes, and then and then only will you find that friendship lends its aid in strengthening the godly character, in elevating your joys, increasing your faith, and helping you forward in your strife for Christian perfection. AMY. Essex South Sabbath School Society. Gloucester (Sandy Bay) Sabbath school, under the superintendence of Dea. L. Gott, numbers 42 teachers, and 332 scholars, average attendance, 245; over 18 years of age, 40; volumes in the library, 300. Two teachers and 19 scholars have become pious during the year. Some interesting particulars respecting the state of this school, during the winter and spring, were published in the April No. of the Visiter. Howard St. Sabbath School, Salem.-This school, superintended by Mr. S. Driver, Jr., embraces 20 teachers, 150 scholars, of whom about 26 are over eighteen; the average attendance is about 90. One teacher and five scholars have been hopefully converted the past year. Number of volumes, 200. JUVENILE MUSIC. We think, says the superintendent,-a good library will do much to promote the interest of a Sabbath school; but to form the school into a juvenile singing choir, and teach them to sing the praise of God, will do more, very much more. This measure we have long tried with much success, and can testify to its benefits. Many a little heart has been touched by the thrilling tones of music. The sweet sentiment of juvenile hymns, when sung, cannot fall unheeded upon the infant ear. DEATHS. Two of our female teachers have been removed by death, during the last year. Both of them were followers of the Lamb. One was deprived of reason in her last moments, so that she could not corroborate the testimony she had given in health of her love to Jesus; but we doubt not she was removed to a better world. The other gave pleasing evidence of her preparation for heaven, and was enabled, to the very last, to express her entire |