and with your Bible, and you will find that at such seasons Jesus himself draws near, and gives strength and comfort to refresh the pilgrim on his lonely way.

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The three travellers separated at the foot of the hill Difficulty. Formalist and Hypocrisy each made their own choice. One took the way of Danger, the other that of Destruction: but Christian continued in the narrow way which " came straight from the gate," and 'lay right up the hill." We do not read that the thought of turning aside into an easier path once entered his mind. No; he went on with a bold heart, as you must do whenever your path of duty lies across the hill Difficulty, however steep and rough the hill may be. And this will not happen once only in your lifetime. The sin in your own heart, the evil example of others, many outward circumstances which will suggest themselves to you, will often raise such hinderances before you as you will find it hard to surmount. You experience this already, if you have set out on pilgrimage. Is it always easy to do right; easy to obey the command of God, or of your parents, when inclination and opportunity tempt you another way? Is it easy to keep down proud thoughts; easy at all times to do unto others as you would they should do unto you; easy to deny yourself, to control a hasty temper, to check and overcome a worldly spirit, to be meek and lowly in heart, to be diligent in all duty, to put away vanity and folly, to live always near to God? Yet a true pilgrim must not shrink from such difficult duties.

Dear reader, you can never climb the hill of Difficulty alone. Oh, when temptation entices you, when your own heart whispers you to consent, when the hill is "steep and high," and the path which winds round its foot seems green and flowery, remember always that there is One ever near to aid and strengthen you; One who pities your weakness, and who has been tempted as you are, who knows the heart of a child, and is ready to give you just the help you need. Only make trial of his compassion and love. Do not think for a moment of turning aside; but go on where duty leads you, trusting to your Saviour, and you will find refreshment and a pleasant resting-place, such as none but true and earnest pilgrims know.

Do you ask with doubt and self-distrust if such great and holy privileges may indeed be shared by one so young as you? Remember the promise given so long ago, but never yet found false: "I love them that love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.” Yes, young pilgrim, as you have enemies to encounter, and as there are hindrances in your way, so will there be grace and heavenly succour given to you; not for any merit of your own, but of God's free mercy and goodness. Do not then look forward with doubt and fear, but trust in the Lord with all your heart, and you shall find him a sure refuge" in every

time of trouble.

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The youngest saint shall win the day,
Though death and hell obstruct the way.

E. W.

Festoons of Bees, suspended from the Roof of the Hive.

No. 6.

WAX-BUILDING THE COMB.

THE substance of which the honeycomb is formed is wax. But where do the bees procure this material? And how do they use it in their work? The wax is produced from the honey, or other sweet, which the wax-maker bees have taken into their honey-bags. It first appears, formed in the shape of little scales between the segments or rings of the body of the bee, on the under side, when she is preparing to build her comb. The production of the wax by the bee is very singular, and for a long time it was scarcely at all understood.

When a swarm of bees go from an old hive, to take possession of a new one, they always

go laden plentifully with honey. There are several advantages in this course of the bees, which we may clearly perceive. The first is, that when they are filled with honey they are always good-tempered, and are seldom, if ever, known to sting. They are thus easily managed by the person whose place it is to hive them, as it is called; and, even if they settle on him, he has little to fear, as, unless really injured, or especially provoked, not a single bee will harm him. Then, in case of stormy weather occurring, and continuing for two or three days, so that the bees cannot go out for their food, this honey which they carry with them is most useful to them, and, indeed, prevents them from perishing with hunger. Then, again, they take this honey with them in order that they may be prepared with the wax and have it ready for building the comb. We see the instinct of these little creatures in these prudent arrangements.

The wax-makers thus furnished with their portion of sweet for their proposed work, they begin by suspending themselves in garlands or festoons from the roof of the bive. In a glass hive, thin slips of wood have sometimes been fastened with glue to the arch of the hive, at a little distance apart, as a support to the bees, because of the smoothness of the glass.

Those who first reach the top fix themselves there by the fore-feet; others, scrambling up the sides, join them by taking hold, with their fore-feet, of the hind-legs of the first; and thus they form a kind of chain, fastened by the two ends to the top of the hive, and serving as ladders, or a bridge, to assist others in ascend

ing. Thus they continue to arrange themselves; the festoons crossing the hive in various directions, or falling gracefully down from the roof; at length forming in the centre a thick cluster of bees, and hanging from the top to the bottom of the hive.

One object of the bees, in thus clustering together, is, doubtless, to raise the temperature of the hive; to make it so warm that the wax will soften sufficiently for them to work with it, and use it as they wish. Wax in hard, dry scales, and in a cool place, would be difficult for them to manage.

After arranging themselves in the manner described, the wax-makers remain quiet and motionless for nearly twenty-four hours. During this time the wax is forming; and at length it appears in thin scales on the under part of the body, between the rings. These scales of wax are secreted or separated from the honey, or syrup of sugar, which the bee had previously taken into her honey-bag.

When the wax is formed and ready for use, a single worker disengages itself from one of the inner festoons of the cluster, and makes its way to the roof of the hive, to begin the comb.

Wax-maker commencing a Comb.

It fixes itself near the centre, and then turns around, and with its head drives away the other bees, till a clear space is made, an inch