Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

it

Often has the

peans are unable properly to conceive. traveller to pass on day after day over burning sands, beneath the scorching beams of an eastern sun, without being able to obtain a drop of water to quench his raging thirst in all these journies, the camel is his constant, invaluable, and most patient companion. Its nostrils are so formed that it can close them at pleasure, and thus exclude those clouds of sand which the withering blasts of the Simoon so often waft across the trackless deserts; the powerful upper incisor teeth with which it is furnished, and preeminently adapted for penetrating and dividing the stunted herbs and prickly shrubs, which are the only nutriment the desert affords; its bushy tail effectually defends it from those swarms of flies, by which it must otherwise be continually infested and annoyed, while its hunch, however, may detract from the beauty of the animal, serves as a shield for its rider, and enables him to fix with more security and steadiness, those articles oftentimes of considerable weight, which necessity obliges him to convey across these boundless deserts. The admirable construction of the foot is, if possible, yet more remarkable, and more adapted to the necessities of its situation. There is no other animal which is capable of traversing with heavy burdens those wide plains, the surface of which is covered with soft, yielding sand, into which other creatures must necessarily sink. From this, however, the camel is effectually protected, the foot being covered below, by a thick, horny and elastic pad, which is divided into toes without any appearance of external division, and which is thus able to support the entire weight of the animal, and to give it stability on the ground. But, perhaps, the most curious provision is its cellular stomach, which is capable of carrying an almost incredible quantity of water, and which thus enables the animal to travel on for days without any fresh supply, and delivers it from that intolerable thirst which proves fatal to other beasts. The stomach apparently forming one large bag, is yet divided into two compartments by a strong ridge. From the ridge, eight muscular bands go off at right angles, and being intersected by other muscles drawn in a transverse direction, form a number of cells, between the coats of the second stomach, and opening into it by small square orifices at the top. When the animal is drinking, the powerful muscular band opens the second cavity, and when this is full, the water runs into and fills these cellular bags. This it is enabled to squeeze back into the stomach

whenever it wishes to relieve its mouth and throat, from the thirst caused by the heat of the climate and the fatigues of the journey. Our narrow limits prevent us from describing the no less astonishing contrivances by which this water is prevented from passing into the intestines, and the cud kept from falling into these cells. But we must ask, do not these arrangements prove to a demonstration the exist ence of a wise and kind God? Are they not the results of design? Can they have sprung from chance? Can any one who has studied these contrivances depicted in our engraving, lay his hand on his heart, and deny the existence of a skilful and benevolent God?

Trinity College, Dublin.

THE NEW EDUCATION BILL.

[ocr errors]

J. G. R.

One word more on this unchristian measure. About fifteen thousand petitions have reached Parliament against it. The bill has been altered, and we declare it to be in several respects the worse for mending;' it is as Cowper says, 'washed to fouler stains.' On some few points of detail amendments have been introduced; this we candidly acknowledge; but the vicious, the illiberal, the cruel, the unjust principles are retained. And their retention, in defiance of such a universal opposition, we regard as an insult added to an injury. Our belief is, that the bill cannot be reduced to scriptural equity. It must be either abandoned entirely, or enacted with all the bigotry and fury of the dark ages. We are on the eve of new times: the crisis is at hand. If passed, the bill will materially affect the temporal comforts of our factory population. Employment will be diminished by it, and wages will be reduced by it. Of this we are assured by the most enlightened and benevolent mill-owners of this district. With this, however, we do not now meddle. Interests beyond computation,-interests stretching into eternity are in peril; and with all our powers we summon the friends of education, of freedom, of justice, of religion, to impede the bill step by step, even till the last syllable of the Royal Assent shall have been uttered. But should it pass both Houses, may our God preserve our beloved Queen, from an act which would dim her crown, weaken her throne, and alienate from her those affections of the millions in which she is now enshrined! May the God of Esther send us deliverance by the hand of Victoria!! Manchester, May 19th, 1843.

MEMOIR OF WILLIAM LIPTROT,

Whose brief history we proceed to lay before our readers, was born on October 7th, 1826, and was sent two years back by his parents to the Sabbath School, in connexion with St. Paul's Chapel, Wigan. From this time down to the period when death terminated his earthly existence, he gave evidence of a continually increasing attachment to the School and love to the Teachers. He was regular in his attendance and in serious attention to the advice and exhortations of his instructors; he was a pattern worthy of universal imitation. It was not in vain that our young friend thus gave heed to the things that were spoken to him, for he was led to see that he was a sinner in the sight of God; and as a poor guilty sinner, he was directed to that Saviour who said, 'Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them nct, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'

Here he found rest for his soul, and when attacked by that sickness which brought him to a premature grave, he felt happy in clinging to Jesus as his only refuge. We pass over the events prior to his last sickness, with one single observation. It is this:-He was, as we are informed by his mother, an affectionate child, obedient to his parents, kind and considerate to his brother and sister, and ever studious to promote the comfort of all around him; and it is especially to be marked, that after the death of his father, which occurred about a year before his own decease, he never seemed so happy as when trying in some way to add to the comfort of his dear bereaved mother. In this particular too we commend his example to others, especially to the dear children of our Sabbath Schools.-Learn, we say, like him, to show piety at home. In February, 1843, he became unable to go to school, and it was very apparent that he must soon die. He felt assured of this himself, and for a time was much concerned on account of the destitute circumstances in which he foresaw his death would leave his dear mother, for he was the oldest of three children, and had hoped to assist her in their maintenance. But his hopes were about to be frustrated, and the thought of it gave him great pain, and caused him much anxiety. While thus perplexed, he was visited occasionally by his Pastor, the Rev. Wm. Roaf, and several pious companions and friends, who pointed out to him those precious promises of God's holy word, which were suited to his circumstances; and such was the consolation he thus derived, that his mind became calmly resigned to the will of God, and he thenceforward was enabled to comfort his dear mother, in the prospect of separation, by assuring her that God would take care of her, exhorting her at the same time steadfastly to trust and faithfully to serve Him. As death drew near, his confidence in the Saviour increased, and he was almost wholly employed in prayer and praise, often too, expressing a desire for his friends to pray with him. On one occasion he called his mother to his bed-side, and requested her to sit down while he spoke to her of the glories of heaven and of Jesus as his Saviour. He observed, 'I shall not be here long, but I have made my peace with Christ.' 'Do not grieve for me.' 'God is going to take me from you, but He is good and kind and will not leave you without a protector, if you only pray to Him and put your confidence in Him!'

This was on Saturday. On the forenoon of the following day, being Sabbath, he mentioned the names of several of his school

fellows, and said to his mother, 'They are singing in the school now. Next Sunday I shall be singing in heaven.' In the evening several of the scholars came to sing and pray with him, and he received much comfort. During Monday and Tuesday he spoke much of his approaching end; desired his mother to give his books to his little brother and sister, and said he hoped they would be good children, and a comfort to her after he was gone; advised her again to cast her burden upon the Lord by continual prayer, and endeavoured to console her mind, by reminding her of the assurances of God's mercy to all who trust Him. He said the angels were waiting to carry him to glory, and shew him the path of life. He also referred to glorious sights which seemed to be present to his view; he then sang two verses of the well-known hymn

'Farewell dear friends, adieu, adieu,

Still in God's ways delight, &c."

requesting that the whole of it might be sung at his funeral. In this peaceful state of mind he awaited the coming of his Lord, and in the evening of March 1st, after shaking hands and bidding farewell to his weeping friends who surrounded his bed, and pronouncing the Apostle's benediction, he calmly breathed his last, in the confident expectation of a blissful immortality. His remains were interred on the following Sabbath. A large concourse of his fellow-scholars and teachers assembled, and engaged in devotional exercises around the door of the cottage. They accompanied the corpse to the grave, and then returned to the house-there to comfort the widow-and there to vent their grief. G. C.

Poetry.

SUNDAY IS COME.

By the Rev. H. MARCH, Author of Sabbath's at Home,'' The Early Life of Christ,' &c.

Sunday is come! The morn is bright, The breeze is soft, the fields are fair; The lark pursues his heavenward flight, And fragrance fills the shining air.

Forth to the flowery meadow, boys; Up, laughing girls, away, away; ̧ Snatch while ye can life's fleeting joys, For Sunday is your holiday.

Enough have six days labour been,
Pent in the close and crowded room:
Come, trooping, to the rural scene,
With merry hearts,ye pris'ners come.'

Thus sings the world's philosopher,
And thousands listen to his lay:
But hark, another voice is here
Which thus proclaims the Sabbath-
day :-

This is the day the Lord hath made'
For his own glory and man's good;
Here grace and wisdom are displayed
By all ador'd, when understood.

Through ages He hath blessed it

To all who keep it unto Him;
And those hath marked with judgment
Who treat his day with disesteem.

[fit

Newbury, Dec. 6th, 1842.

The tempted youth that rove around

Corrupt each other as they go,
Uncheck,d, till dungeon walls resound
Their songs profane or shrieks of wo.
Nature's sweet face can raise the soul
Already purified from sin;
But none save God can vice control
Or make one human spirit clean.

Oh, gather to the house of prayer,
And teach these youthful minds to
know

The word divine, and thus prepare
A soil where holy truth may grow.

Sow, sow the seed by morning light,

Nor let thy hand at eve be stay'd
For sure, tho' not by power or might,'
Thy labour shall be all repaid.

Soon shall those fruits of grace appear-
Meekness, and purity, and love-
Philosophy could never rear,

But only influence from above.

Lord of the Sabbath, from on high
That life-imparting dew shed down,
The sower's seed to multiply,
His toil with harvest-joy to crown.

[ocr errors]

The Fine Arts.

THE LANDING OF WILLIAMS AT TANNA AND HIS MASSACRE AT ERROMANGA.

We lately gave our warmest commendation to the portraits of Williams and Moffat, which Mr. Baxter has prepared. This liberal and accomplished artist has requested our opinion on his other two Missionary Pictures. But after viewing them again and again, we feel utterly unable to express the deep emotions they excite. The eye stares and the heart throbs as we stand before them. The whole history of Missions does not afford two scenes more exquisitely touching than these; and the execution of the prints-the drawing, the engraving, the colouring-all perfectly correspond with the subjects depicted. In the first we see the Camden's boat touching the shore—the faithful native addressing his countrymen in favour of the missionaries-the intrepid Williams at the prow eager to land-the sailors resting on their oars wrapt in wonder-Mr. Cunningham astonishing and almost subduing the savages by the mirror-the luxuriant foliage the volcano belching forth its lava, and the Camden in the dim-distance. In the second we have scenery still more beautiful, but we can scarcely induce the eye to mark it, or wander for a moment from the murder of the sainted missionaries. The natives appear absolutely demoniacal. The party butchering Mr. Harris, and the swarms running down the hill to share in the feast are more fiendish than we could have imagined. In the front is Williams! He has rushed into the water while pursued by his murderers-his arm is uplifted to defend his skull to the last-his hat has fallen-his eye pierces the third heavens-while the mob blow the war whoop, draw the bow, poise the dart, and bathe their tomahawk in his brains. On this tragic event we do not enlarge. It has imparted an undying interest to the South Sea Missions; and Mr. Baxter, whose skill is perfectly unique, has in these prints not only immortalized his name as a first-rate christian artist, but has presented the most thrilling events of the missionary age in a shrine which must commend them to the sons of science, introduce them to the palaces of princes, and perpetuate them through all posterity.

Notes on Books.

THE GOSPEL HISTORY, Second Edition, in a series of Lessons-Narrative, Practical, and Geographical, on our Lord's Life and Ministry. By R. MIMPRISS. B. Wertheim, London.

The practical utility of Mr. Mimpriss' charts of our Lord's Life and Ministry, has been universally acknowledged. The author has succeeded in connecting events with their respective localities, and thereby giving them a real interest, such as a traveller feels in recalling the incidents of his journey, and the remarkable places through which he has passed."

The Gospel History before us is a harmonized series of Lessons in synthetic and chronological order: it gives a complete view of the Saviour's Life, from the manger of Bethlehem to the ascension from Olivet. Its sectional divisions are adapted to the numbers on the different charts by the same author, and to each there are suitable questions and exercises. The Practical Lessons unite precept

« EdellinenJatka »