was a false one; that it was the Antichrist, and the whore of Babylon, spoken of in the Apocalypse of John. This version was made in the year 1380, and was a very good one. Coverdale was the first who published a printed English version of the whole of the scriptures: he finished it on the fourth of October, 1535, (311 years ago,) and dedicated it to the king. Cranmer, by the authority of the king, in which he fulfilled his promise, published a new translation in the year 1539, out of which every clergyman was obliged to read a chapter every day. The Geneva bible, as it was called, because published by the Genevan exiles, was translated in the year 1560, under the sanction of queen Elizabeth. Several other translations were made about this time; but the one of the most importance and interest to us was that made in the reign of James the first, by his directions and under his regulations. The king, not agreeing with some notes in the Geneva bible (which was then in common use) against tyrannical princes, because he was much against subjects rebelling against their sovereign, or not submitting in every thing to his will, though he were a tyrant; and also because many words were translated differently from his views of church discipline, he appointed a conference, to take into consideration the best way of getting the scriptures translated. This conference was held A. D. 1604. Though many of the lords, temporal and spiritual, were against having a new translation, it was settled that there should be one, the translators of which should abide by certain conditions, the most important of which were, that they should keep as nearly as possible to Cranmer's translation, and that the words bishop, priest, deacon, &c., should be used instead of what the puritans had translated them. Fifty-four of the most learned men in England were appointed to assist in making this version, but seven of them died, leaving but forty-seven.

JOHN.

A BIBLE once, which long neglected lay,
Thus to its careless owner seemed to say:-
"Stop thoughtless youth, one moment's space resign,
And to my silent speech thine ear incline;
Here near thy bed I long have lain in view,
Though wholly overlooked till now by you.
Cease then thy faithful friend's advice to slight,
And though I am not yet thy chief delight,
If thou wilt hear, I can to thee impart

Those wholesome truths which purify the heart;
Keen pain at first they cause, but thou shalt find
I only wound, that God may heal the mind;
Come listen to my call, no longer stay,
Destruction, death, and hell, attend delay.
In me true wisdom reigns, and virtue pure;
All sorrows, griefs, and woes, my medicines cure;
When deep affliction fills thine eyes with tears,
My faithful promises shall calm thy fears;
Substantial peace I yield when death is nigh,
And fix thy hopes on bliss beyond the sky.
Ah! then will be the time that I shall be
Remember'd well, though now forgot by thee.

THE BIBLE PRIZED.

HERE Jesus, in ten thousand ways,
His soul attracting charms displays,
Recounts his poverty and pains,
And tells his love in melting strains.

Here sinners of an humble frame
May taste his grace, and learn his name;
"Tis writ in characters of blood,
Severely just, immensely good.

May this blest volume ever lie
Close to my heart and near my eye,
Till life's last hour my soul engage,
And be my chosen heritage!

THE BOY AND THE OLD BOOKS.

A BOY once entered a book store with some old books which he attempted to sell. He recommended them as being good books, and the bookseller offered him three cents apiece for them; but being unwilling to part with them for so small a sum, he concluded to take them to an auctioneer. This plan failed also, for the auctioneer could only get two cents apiece. After two or three weeks, the boy being in want of money which the books might bring, carried them again to the bookseller and sold them for the same price he had offered before-in all twenty-four cents.

Six months had passed since the books were purchased, when one day, as the bookseller was cleaning his shop, the old volumes caught his eye. Taking up one of them, he found it contained sermons, printed about a century before; and as he carelessly turned the leaves, he discovered a ten dollar bill which proved to be genuine, though twenty-five years old. He examined the book and found fifty such bills,

amounting to five hundred dollars; and having previously learned the boy's name and place of residence, he immediately addressed a letter to him, saying that he had something of importance to communicate, and desired that he would come and see him. After two weeks, having received no answer he took the first opportunity to ride out and make inquiries concerning the youth. He learned that he had changed his residence, and afterwards removed again, stating his intention to study. The bookseller addressed letters to him again, but with no better success.

Year after year passed away, and still the bookseller obtained no definite information concerning the boy of whom he had purchased the old books, when one day he was in the city of Boston, and was introduced to a clergyman, whose name he immediately observed, was the same for which he had so long sought. He informed him to his great surprise of the discovery of the money, and when he returned home, remitted to him the whole sum with interest, amounting to eight hundred dollars.-From America.

HONESTY REWARDED.

A NOBLEMAN travelling in Scotland, was asked for alms in the High Street of Edinburgh, by a little ragged boy. He said he had no change; upon which the boy offered to procure it. His Lordship, in order to get rid of his importunity, gave him a piece of silver, which the boy conceiving was to be changed, ran off for the purpose. On his return, not finding his benefactor, whom he expected would have waited, he watched for several days in the place where he had received the money, pursuing his occupation. At length the nobleman happening again to pass that way, he accosted him, and put the change he had procured into his hand, counting it with great exactness. His lordship was so pleased with the boy's honesty, that he immediately resolved on placing him in a school, and of afterwards providing him a suitable maintenance.

THE WATER-WAGTAIL.

THE name of this familiar and elegant little bird is, no doubt, derived from the incessant motion of its tail; a motion which it possesses in common with the wrens, but in a much greater degree, from the greater length of its tail. Its general form and colours are not unlike those of the magpie. The association of its name with water is owing to its frequenting the margins of ponds and ditches, where it meets, most generally, with those insects upon which it is accustomed to feed. In these situations, in the shaded stump of some tree, or upon the edge of the water, it mostly builds its nest. Its motions, as well as its figure, are peculiarly elegant and interesting, as it runs about on the edge of ponds, or wades in shallow waters, after the insect tribes it finds there. Wagtails have been noticed, particularly, to frequent those streams where women go to wash their linen, a custom not uncommon in France, where these little birds are known by the name of lavandieres, or washers.