rival them, and spoil their commerce. They boast that they are in possession of two eyes, while the rest of the human race have but one."

Emily." How is that, mama? I am sure we have all of us two eyes.”

Mrs. H." They mean to insinuate that they are the only people who profit by having a pair, or, in other words, that they are more clear sighted, more comprehensive and ingenious, than the rest of the world. They are undoubtedly very exact and curious in their imitations, of which the proof I will give is sufficient to convince you: a lady, with whom I was formerly well acquainted, a native of India, though born of European parents, sent by the Captain of one of the trading vessels, a shoe which had a small darn in it, as a pattern for others which she wanted to be made. When the commission was executed, and the shoes came home, not one of them but were darned in the same place, and in the same manner as the one she had sent. You may

suppose she was not very well pleased with their extreme exactness; but as there was no remedy, she was obliged to endure it, however unpleasant a mended shoe was to her sight. As I am a little fatigued with the length of our walk this evening, and your father will be waiting for his supper, we will return home.

WALK VIL

MRS. H.-" So much rain has fallen within the last four and twenty hours, that we must confine ourselves to the garden, the fields and shrubberies will be too damp for us to venture in them."

Eliza." When is the new chimneypiece to be put up in the drawing-room, mama?"

Mrs. H.-" I don't know, my dear, but soon I suppose. The masons I see are bringing in their tools, and making prepa ration's to begin; do you know that marble is taken from the earth? it is dug out of grounds which are esteemed very valuable by their owners, and indeed are truly so. Marble is not only very beautiful and ornamental, but serviceable. It is a remark

ably hard substance, very difficult to work upon and polish; at first it has a very coarse rough appearance, but it admits of a very fine polish, which is performed by rubbing it with a piece of its own substance and mason's dust. This operation is, I believe, only preparatory of that which is to follow; for it is only after having been some time under the hands of the workmen that it comes out with that beautiful smooth glazed look which so much attracts the eye."

Slate also is dug from quarries, as is Freestone, Lime-stone, and Portland-stone; of which great quantities are brought from Purbeck and Portland, in Dorsetshire.To Scotland are we indebted for the stones with which the streets of London are paved. There are many species of stone, all of which have their different uses. At some future time we will enquire into them.

"What a smoke arises!-oh! it is the gardener burning weeds.

"Even weeds are useful: when burned they are mixed with a certain quantity of lime, and are thrown upon the land to manure it. In places situated on the coast, they gather the sea weeds for this purpose; which when burned and mixed, are called kelp they are also very serviceable as

manure."

Eliza: "Oh! mama, I have been so frightened! such a spider was crawling upon me! did not you hear me scream?

Mrs. H." No, I did not indeed, my dear, and if I had, should probably, instead of pitying you for the terror you sustained, have blamed you for giving way to such unpardonable weakness. Pray which do you think was the greatest object of terror, you to the spider, or the spider to you? I dare say it ran from you as fast as it was possible. Suppose a spider could speak, and suppose it with its parents, it would probably say" Oh! mother, I have seen such a great ugly thing, higher than either of the bushes, upon which