time she had learned to read and write at a national school. So far she had been well taught; but, in what was more important she seemed to have been quite neglected, for there was very soon a complaint that she had knocked down and beaten a little girl, and called her names. However, there was something straightforward in the way in which she took the lecture that followed, (not making the slightest attempt at xcuse or defence,) that gave promise of an

honest character at least, if not an amiable one. She was soon after kept at home to attend her mother in her last illness. Her father died suddenly about the same time, and she was now dependent on her brothers and sisters for comfort. From four o'clock in the morning she was working for them, and not allowed time to go to school. However, it was at this time,

when everything appeared so unpromising, that her mind was enlightened. She used to be sent out to watch the cattle, and every day used to meet, on the mountain, the daughter of a man who had the next farm to her brothers'. This little girl, also called Honor, was younger than herself, and more ignorant in every respect but one-she had learned to value the word of God; and, day after day, the two girls used to sit under a turf-stack, and read the Bible, and talk. The younger Honor was delighted to explain it. At last, Honor Heraghty resolved that she would again go to school. (It was a Scripture reader's school.) She begged to be taken back, saying that she was quite changed, that she now saw how wrong it was to be quarrelling, and that there should be no more complaints of her; and she kept her word. She was a pattern of attention, meekness, and gentleness, and also of firmness; for she had to struggle alone against the selfishness of her relations, who would have kept her at home to work for them. But she said that going to school and learning the will of God was what "agreed with her.'

The priest now took part against her (for the Roman Catholic priests are against the Bible schools and the reading of the word of God). He wanted to set up a new school, and threatened her brothers that he would have them put off the land if Honor was not made to attend it. Her only way of escaping was to go without her breakfast. When she returned she got no dinner. She was not allowed to wash her clothes, because it was known that her object was to please her mistress. She was therefore

blamed at school for inattention and untidiness, and beaten and abused at home by every member of her own family, from the bigoted elder sister down to the little Judy, whom she used to pet and love so affectionately. She had a very warm heart, and she suffered much; but she never complained. The neighbours only guessed what was passing. She grew pale, and thin, and weak.

At last, she thought they intended to keep her at home altogether, and not to allow her ever to see those friends from whom she loved to learn; and then she spoke to those whom she thought could and would protect her. In telling her history, which she could hardly do for tears, nothing seemed to hurt her feelings so much as relating how they had thrown her Bible into the road. Her protectors sent her away to a distance, where she had the blessing of hearing the Holy Scriptures explained by a clergyman, who interested himself about her at once. She was sent to a school, where she is taught everything that can be useful to her, and is going on to their satisfaction, who hope to see her some day doing credit to her principles, and teaching others the great truths, the knowledge of which she has found to be beyond all price.

One more fact will show her affection for those from whom she had received much unkindness, and her wish on all occasions to do right. When she was dressed in her new clothes, and ready to start for her new abode, she heard that her elder sister was very ill of a fever. She ran out of breath to her friends, having thrown off the new bonnet, to ask if she

ought not to give up all and stay to take care of her sister, and was only persuaded to go by being answered that Biddy should be properly attended to, and that she should hear how she went on.

REV. W. ASHE.

THE HIVE AND ITS WONDERS.

No. 12.

WAX-HONEY-INSTINCT OF THE BEE.

THE wax which we obtain from the industrious little bee is an article of great value. The combs, filled with honey, when taken from the hive, are first placed to drain, when the finest and purest honey runs from them. They are then closely pressed, to obtain the remainder; after which, all the particles of the comb are collected for the sake of the wax. To prepare the wax for use, the combs are put into a woollen bag, and the bag placed in a kettle of water over the fire. When the water has boiled for some time the bag is taken out, and the water is set aside to cool; the wax then rises to the top of the water, when it becomes solid and is taken off in a cake.

White wax is nothing more than the yellow wax bleached by exposure to the air, the heat of the sun, and moisture. Bees' wax is used for some purposes in medicine; and from it the finest candles are made.

The value of the little cells of wax, in the preservation of the honey, is very great. When the honey is taken from the comb, and poured into jars, it soon ferments in warm weather

and spoils, even when kept in a place much cooler than the bee-hive. Why, then, does the honey in the hive keep good? Because it is contained in these separate little cells, instead of being in one mass, as it must be in a jar. Each cell is entirely separate from the other cells; and each one, when full, is carefully closed from the air by a lid of wax. The quantity is so small in each, that it never ferments. What, then, could the bee do with the honey, if it had not the wax, and had not been taught to build the cells? She could not store it up for winter, or keep it for any length of time. But she prepares the wax, and builds the colls to contain the honey and to preserve it; and then collects the honey and stores it away in this remarkable manner.

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Wax is a substance which very quickly softens and dissolves, when heat is applied to it. An allusion to this property is evidently intended by the psalmist, when describing, as in his own person, in the twenty-second Psalm, the sufferings of the Messiah: he says, My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels." Again, in proclaiming the majesty and glory of the Lord, in the ninety-seventh Psalm, he exclaims: "The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.” The figure is a striking one, to point out how those who remain the enemies of the Lord shall be utterly destroyed and perish before him.

But not only is the wax prepared by the little useful bee, the honey is also a most important article for the service of man. The busy bee provides not only enough for the wants of her