fed with hay, cut straw, barley, and beans, which are their common food.

It will be readily seen from the above, what a peculiarly favoured country this was, (as regards natural advantages) that Joseph had been conducted to; the reader also will at once perceive how the heavy rains in Abyssinia, flowing down the river Nile, being sent from thence by the canals through all parts of the country, was the cause of their abundant harvests: and this occurring for seven years in succession, produced the great plenty for that time, from which Joseph was enabled to lay up such a store; and then it raining very little, or perhaps not at all, in Abyssinia, for the next seven years, we shall be easily able to imagine a scarcity of corn in consequence.

As we go on with the history, we shall see how Joseph was assisted by God to carry out his plans for the relief, not only of the Egyptians, but the people of the surrounding countries; including his father and his brethren.

[TO BE CONTINUED.]

බශො

DOGS OF ST. BERNARD.

N the last chapter on Natural History, we gave our little readers a short account of the Domestic Cat. In our present one, we purpose to say a few words about one of a race of animals equally as domesticated, and much more the friend of man.

While the ice and snow of winter is on the ground, it is easy for us to think of the Dogs of St. Bernard, who have been known to save from death so many of our fellowcreatures. They are called by their name after the Great St. Bernard Mountain in Switzerland. Almost at the top of this mountain is a convent. The inhabitants of this convent are hospitable monks, whose door is always open to the weary traveller.

It frequently happens in these regions, that travellers are very suddenly overtaken by a snow-storm, and their path rendered quite impassible by the snow; and they would more often die of cold and starvation, were it not for these monks, who not only shelter and feed the stranger, but devote their attention to the dangerous task of seeking for

those unhappy persons who have been overtaken by these storms. The monks have a breed of noble dogs, called "The Dogs of St. Bernard," whose sagacity frequently enables them to rescue the prisoner from destruction.

The cold in these regions is so intense as frequently to cause a person to fall asleep,-he sinks upon the ground, and the snow covers him; but, although he may be covered over ten or twelve feet deep, the keen scent of these dogs discovers him, and they will scratch away the snow, and bark until they arouse the monks and the labourers to their assistance.

To provide in case the dogs should be unable to get assistance in time, one of them has a flask of spirits tied

round his neck, to which a fainting man may apply for support, and another has a cloak to cover him. These kind exertions are often successful; and even where they fail of restoring him who has perished, the dogs discover the body, so that it may be recognised by the friends. Our illustration represents one of these noble creatures, who having scratched up a dead body, is barking for assist

ance.

One of these dogs was decorated with a medal for having saved twenty-two persons, who but for his sagacity must have perished.

A story is told of one of these dogs, who having found a child unhurt, whose mother had been killed by the fall of a mass of snow, (or as it is called, an avalanche), induced the poor boy to mount upon his back, and thus carried him to the gate of his convent.

Anecdotes of Youth.

THE YOUNG HERO.

HARLES the XIIth of Sweden, when scarce seven years old, being at dinner with the queen, his mother, was handing a bit of bread to his favourite dog, when the hungry animal snapping at it too greedily, bit his hand in a dreadful manner.

The wound bled

The queen

copiously; but our young hero, without crying, or appearing to take any notice of what had happened, wrapped his hand in his napkin to conceal his misfortune. perceiving that he did not eat, asked him the reason? He thanked her, and replied he was not hungry. The party thought he was ill, and repeated their solicitations; but all in vain, although he was now grown pale with loss of blood. An officer who attended at table at last perceived the cause; for Charles would sooner have died, than betrayed his dog, which he knew intended no injury.