and supped comfortably in it. While he and his company were sitting safe and dry within, the noise of the rain, pattering on the leaves overhead, became agreeable music to them. History tells of another, the hollow of which served for an emperor, with fifteen of his friends, to sit and dine in, at the same time allowing room for their attendants to wait upon them. The emperor used to call it his nest. In Eastern countries, the plane seems to have been considered sacred, as the oak was formerly in Britain.

noble grove of these trees which adorn the plain of Antioch; and another records that he enjoyed a night's rest under planetrees of great beauty in the valley of Lebanon.

The plane is cultivated in Europe, and grows into a fine tree, though not to the very large size which it attains in the East. · It is said to have been first introduced into England by the celebrated Lord Bacon, who planted some at his country-seat, at Verulam, which were in a flourishing state more than a century after his death.

were carefully examined, to see if all the rules had been complied with. They had then to lay aside such parts of their clothes as might entangle them, or in any way hinder their course.

The place in which the racers ran, was about six hundred feet in length, and was hence called the Stadium. On each side was a large gallery, in which was seated a great multitude of spectators, who crowded from all parts of the country. The path which the racers were to keep was marked out by white lines or posts; and he who did not keep to those lines, or who took any unfair advantage, lost the prize, even though he were the first to reach the goal. The reward, which was a garland of leaves, was placed full in sight of the racers; and they were encouraged to exert themselves to the very utmost, by the cheers and shouts of the thousands who were looking upon them. When the judges had determined who was the winner, his name was proclaimed by the herald; the crown of leaves was placed upon his head; and he was conducted along the line in triumph, amidst the repeated applauses of the delighted multitudes.

Human life, including the careful performance of all its duties, is often compared to a race. Happy are those who so run this race, as to receive from the hands of the Supreme Judge the crown of eternal life!

in the wilderness of Palestine, and in the deserts of Arabia Petræa. Quails often remove, in very large flocks, from place to place; and, in their passage across the saa, to and from Africa, more than a hundred thousand have been killed at one time. Some are eaten while fresh; the rest are salted and dried for future use. They are easily caught. In the north of Persia, the men stick two poles in their girdles, and dress them up so as to look, at a distance, like the horns of an animal. They then crawl about the fields, with a hand net; and the quail, supposing them to be beasts, allows the men to come near enough to throw the net over it. We read in the Bible, that when the Jews, in their passage through the wilderness, clamored to have flesh to eat, God caused a strong wind to drive quails in very large quantities about the camp; and thus, by a miracle, provided more than a million persons with food for some weeks. God, however, was greatly displeased with the Jews on that occasion, because of their impatience and ingratitude, and destroyed thousands of them by means of a sore plague.

Be quick to forgive; be slow to offend.

192

ما

To Readers and Correspondents

s we are near the close of our halfyearly volume, it is proper that we occupy a column with a few words of chitchat with our patrons and corre spondents.

To the former we offer many thanks for their good nature in overlooking our faults, and making the best of our hum ble endeavors to amuse and instruct our readers. To the latter we must repeat the apology before offered, that, while we are in a foreign land, travelling from place to place, we can hardly receive their letters. We must forego the pleas ure of communing with them, by pen and paper, for a time, hoping that, when our travels are over, and when we have gath ered a little more strength and health by relaxation, we may resume our intercourse, and have the same shower of letters, by the mails, that once used to greet us.

To those who are very anxious to know our plans for the future, we say, confidentially, that we propose to conclude the story of " Jacob Karl" in about three numbers more: the adventures of "Chicama" will extend to four numbers, "Walks and Talks" will be a pretty long story, but will be finished before the close of the year.

We have lots of new cuts, designed to adorn our pages; and the next number will present a sample of the improve. ments, in that respect, which we intend to introduce into our work in future. We hope and trust that, if our friends have been content with us heretofore, they will have reason to be still more so hereafter.

Our Music, and other articles intended for this number, are necessarily deferred.