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MY MOTHER'S BIBLE.

THIS book is all that's left me now!
Tears will unbidden start;
With faltering lip and throbbing brow
I press it to my heart.

For many generations past,

Here is our family tree;

My mother's hands this Bible clasp'd—
She, dying, gave it me.

Ah! well do I remember those

Whose names these records bear;
Who round the hearth-stone used to close
After the evening prayer,

And speak of what these pages said,
In tones my heart would thrill!
Though they are with the silent dead,
Here they are living still!

My father read this holy book
To sisters, brothers dear,

How calm was my poor mother's look,
Who loved God's word to hear;

Her happy face-I see it yet!

What thrilling memories come !

Again that little group is met
Within the halls of home!

Thou truest friend man ever knew,
Thy constancy I've tried!

Where all were false I found thee true,

My councellor and guide.
The mine of earth no treasures give
That could this volume buy;
In teaching me the way to live,
It teaches how to die.

G. P. MORRIS.

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THE REASON WHY.

A LITTLE boy ran to his mother, saying, "Oh! mother, I have such a pretty thing. It is a piece of glass, and it is all red. When I look through it every thing looks red too-the trees, houses, green grass, and your face, and even your blue eyes.

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Yes, John," replied the mother, "it is very beautiful; and let me show you that you can learn a useful lesson from this pretty thing. You remember, the other day, you thought every body was cross to you. You said father, sister, and I were all the time finding fault with you. Now you were like this piece of glass, which makes every thing red, because it is red. You were cross, so you thought every

body around you was cross too. But when you get up in the morning in a good humour, loving and helping every body, they too will seem kind and loving toward you. Now remember, my boy, and always be what you wish others to be kind, gentle, loving; and they, seen through the beautiful colour of a kind disposition, will seem more beautiful than ever."

PLEASANT VISITS TO KEW GARDENS.

No. 6.

IN our last number we conducted our readers into the Palm House, and gave some account of the betel, talipot, cocoa nut, date, and wax palms. There are a few other palm trees which claim our notice before we pass on to the other wonders of the place.

One of the most useful trees of this tribe is the oil palm, from the coast of Guinea, in Africa. It agrees in its general character with the cocoa-nut tree. The stem is nearly thirty feet in height. The stalks and leaves are edged with strong thorns, which give to the trunk the appearance of being guarded with great double-edged swords. The leaves are twelve to twenty in number, and are nearly erect, forming a splendid upright crown. The fruit has the smell of violets, and is of the size of an egg. Large bunches of this fruit, of a beautiful rich yellow and red colour, contrast finely with the bright green of the graceful leaves. A valuable article of commerce is obtained from the fruit, known as palm oil, which serves

the natives of Africa as butter, medicine, and a supply for their lamps. In England, it is largely used in making a superior kind of candles and воар.

The doum palm is called the "gingerbread tree," because the thick, soft, brown rind of the fruit is supposed to be like gingerbread. The kernels are made into beads. Only small specimens of this tree are found in Kew Gardens.

The vegetable ivory palm, or, as it is sometimes termed, the " negro's head," from the shape of its fruit, grows in large forests in America. The nuts at first contain a clear liquid, which often serves to refresh the weary traveller. This liquid becomes like milk, then thickens into cream, next to the substance of butter, and at length is converted into hard pieces as white as ivory. From these pieces of vegetable ivory, heads to walking sticks and umbrellas, buttons, and trinkets are often made.

The cabbage palm has a slender stem, though it grows to more than one hundred feet high. The "cabbage" is formed by a cluster of young leaves at the top of the tree. It is tender when boiled, and serves as a very agreeable vegetable. A tree which has been fifty years growing is often cut down for the sake of a single cabbage, which cannot be otherwise reached. The long trunk of the tree is used as a water-pipe, and is said to become, when buried, as hard as iron.

The fan palm is in great abundance in South America. The Indians suspend its large and strong leaves, like hammocks, from tree to tree,

one over another, as so many stories to a house. In the rainy season, when the rivers overflow their banks, they live in the upper story; and covering the lower with clay, they light their fires thereon and cook their food. The traveller by night, in sailing along a river, sees the flames of these fires in long rows, hanging as it were in the air. But, besides a dwelling, a supply of pleasant liquid is obtained from the tree, and the pith yields an abundance of sago; so that the poor natives of the part of the world where it grows find in it a dwelling, and food to eat and drink. Other species of the fan palm are natives of other lands.

The true sago palm is a native of Asia. From the heart of the tree is gathered the useful article called pearl sago, used by English housewives in making puddings, but which in the east is made into bread. The stem reaches to nearly forty feet in height. It is a singular fact, that this palm, when young, is covered with prickly thorns, which protect it from wild hogs and other animals. These drop off when the enlarging plant ceases to make it a tempting food for them. This tree, whose scientific name is Sagus farinifera, is cut down when the pith containing the sago is ripe; the root then sprouts again, forms a trunk, and in due time yields another supply. How great a proof is this of the care of God for his creature man!

Then there are the wild date palm, from which sugar and a strong drink called toddy are made in the East Indies; the tall caryota urens, or "burning palm," because its fruit causes a stinging sensation when applied to the

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