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which was addressed by Messrs. C. Edwards and J. Bottenley, of Cross Lanes; J. Kershaw, J. Baum, and H. Leah, of Mythomroyd; and B. Robinson, of Luddendenfoot.

This was the first Missionary Meeting held at Mythomroyd since the school was established in the Odd Fellows' Hall; as a begining it gave satisfaction; 18s. 2d. was raised. The work thus begun, it is hoped, will go on and prosper.

C. E.

TRADES OF BIRDS, BEASTS, AND INSECTS. "PLEASE to tell me something to amuse me, uncle, will you; for I am so tired."

"But if you are so tired, Henry, what likelihood is there of your listening to me with attention?"

"Oh, I will not lose a word. I should never be tired of hearing you talk."

"Well, if I am to talk to amuse you, it must be about something entertaining. Suppose I tell you of the trades which are carried on by the lower creatures."

"Trades! Why how can they carry on any trade? Do you mean to say that beasts, and birds and such like,

carry on trade?"

"You shall hear:

"The otter and the heron are fishermen, though they never make use of a line or of a net. It is not very often that we catch sight of the otter, for he carries on his trade, for the most part, under water r; but the heron is frequently seen, standing with long thin legs in the shallow part of the river, suddenly plunging his lengthy bill below the surface, and bringing up a fish. You cannot deny that the heron and the otter are

fishermen ?"

"No, that I cannot; but never should I have thought of it, if you had not told me."

"Ants are day-labourers, and very industrious, too, in their calling; they always seem in earnest at their work.

Catch them asleep in the daytime if you can. They set us an example of industry.

"Ants freely work without disguise :

Their ways consider and be wise.”

“Go on, uncle, I am not half so tired as I was.” “You seem all attention, certainly, Henry. The swallow is a fly-catcher; and the number that he catches in a day would quite astonish you. Often have you seen him skimming along the surface of the brook and the pond ?”

“Yes, that I have; and swallows are as busy as ants, I think.”

"The beaver is a wood-cutter, a builder, and a mason; and is a good workman in all these trades. He cuts down the small trees with his teeth, and after he has built his house, he plasters it skilfully with his tail.”

"Well done, beaver! He seems to outdo all the rest."

“The wasp is a papermaker, and he makes his paper out of materials that no other papermaker would use. If ever you should examine a wasp's nest, you will find it all made of paper.”

"How many curious things there are in the world that I never thought of."

“Singing birds are musicians, and no other musicians can equal them in harmony. Hardly can we decide which has the advantage-the lark, the blackbird, the throstle, or the nightingale.

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“On feathery wing they freely rove,

And wake with harmony the grove."

“I am afraid that you are coming to the end?” ‘Oh, never fear. The firefly and the glowworm are lamp-lighters. Fireflys are not

but abroad, they light up the

seen in this country;

air just as the glow

worms do the grassy and flowery banks in country places here."

"Yes I have seen them. I shall not forget the lamplighters."

"The bee is a professor of geometry; for he constructs his cells so scientifically, that the least possible amount of material is formed into the largest spaces with the least waste of room. Not all the mathematicians of Cambridge could improve the construction of his cells."

"The bee is much more clever than I thought he was."

The caterpillar is a silk-spinner, and far before all other silk-spinners in creation. For the richest dresses that we see, we are indebted to the silk-worm. With what wonderful properties has it pleased our Heavenly Father to endow the lower creatures!

"I shall be made wiser to-day, uncle, than I have ever been before."

"The mole is an engineer, and forms a tunnel quite as well as if he had been instructed by an engineer. The nautilus is a navigator, hoisting and taking in his sails as he floats along the water, and casting anchor at his pleasure."

"I should never have believed that any one could have made these things out so clearly."

"Let me finish them by observing that the jackall is a hunter, the hawk is an expert bird-catcher, the leech an excellent surgeon, and the monkey the best rope-dancer in the world."

"Well done, uncle, you have amused me, indeed. I could listen an hour longer without being tired."

"Whether you remember what I have told you or not, about God's goodness to his lower creatures, you will do well not to forget his greater goodness to mankind, in his gift of reason, his gift of his Holy Word, and his gift of the Saviour, by whom alone a sinner can be saved. And now, as you are learning all you can as a scholar, let me advise you to set up at once the trade or calling of a schoolmaster, by teaching with humility and kindness those around you who may happen

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to know less than yourself. We all should be carrying on the calling of a school-master, teaching others by precept and example,

"Without a rod or angry word,

To love and glorify the Lord."

Child's Companion.

A CHILD'S INQUIRY ABOUT DEATH.

BY JOHN ST. CLEMENT.

"Why weepest thou, dear mother? and why does sister smile

no more?

And why are her soft, pallid cheeks, not dimpled as before? And why lies she so very still?-nor e'en my curls will hold:

And-oh! I almost shudder-her lip's so very cold."

"My child, thy sister sleepeth the long, long sleep of death; Thou never more will watch her look, or feel her sweet warm breath;

For God has ta'en her to himself, in mercy, truth, and love; And though you see her form lie there, her soul's in heaven

above."

"Then shall we never meet again? and shall I never see The brightness of her dear blue eyes, that almost spoke to

me?

And tell me, mother, must I die?-must I be buried too? And can there ever come a time when I must part with you ?"

"My child, I trust you'll meet again, in happiness and bliss. But mark! to reach that other world, you must be good in

this;

That when your latest hour has past, and death has summon'd me,

We there may altogether meet, if we Christ's children be.”

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BIRTHPLACE OF WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, Esq.

In the town of Hull, in Yorkshire, stands a high massive column, erected to the memory of William Wilberforce, Esq. A few years since, this gentleman took a very active part in public affairs, and was greatly esteemed on account of his great talents and virtues. He was the only son of Robert Wilberforce and his wife Elizabeth, and was born at Hull, on the 24th of August, 1759, in the house which is represented by our engraving. Mr. Robert Wilberforce was a merchant, and his father was twice elected to fill the office of Mayor in Hull.

William, the son of Robert Wilberforce, was from infancy of small stature, and had weak eyes, but he possessed a vigorous mind, and an affectionate temper. When he was at school he was a very excellent reader, and his master used to make him read aloud as an example to the other boys; and when he became a man, he was a very eloquent and persuasive public speaker. When he was nine years old his father died, and William was sent to reside with his uncle in the neighbourhood of London. William's aunt was a great admirer of the Rev. G. Whitefield, and