and wondered whether the dark patches which could just be discerned with the naked eye, were really “the man-inthe-Moon and his bundle-of-sticks," which he was said to have gathered on a Sunday; and we also remember how little trustworthy information we received from our more intelligent neighbours in answer to our inquiries. Some one had, indeed, been heard to say, that " an astronomer named Herschel had a telescope so big that he was able to see sheep grazing in the moon!" which of course was a hoax, but was all we could learn on the subject. Since that time, however, we have picked up some more valuable information, which we shall now endeavour to communicate. If our young friends cannot understand all we write after reading it once over, they must read it again, or even a third time, until they do understand it.

Influence of the Moon.-The inhabitants of the Earth have in all ages revered the Moon, in return for the genial influences she sheds on our world. Like the Earth, she receives light from the Sun, part of which is again reflected, or thrown off, and comes to us as Moon-light. Our long winter-nights would be much more gloomy if not occasionally cheered by her presence; and although the modern applications of science have provided an excellent substitute for moon-light, yet our readers who are favoured with gas must remember that all the inhabitants of the world do not live in large towns. We ought also to consider the great blessing a moon-light night must be to the thousands of ships' crews which now plough the trackless ocean. But perhaps the Moon affords the mariner still more service in enabling him to determine his longitude with greater accuracy than by any other method—that is, his distance East or West from Greenwich-a blessing which only a sailor can properly appreciate.

Nor must we forget to mention the tides, which are caused principally by the attraction of the Moon exerted on the great extent of water in our large oceans, pulling them up to the height of several feet; and thus, at least, i rendering many of our shallow rivers navigable which would not otherwise be so.

After pointing out these good influences, we may just mention also that the Moon has been blamed for producing many very mischievous effects; such as, blighting young vegetables, injuring newly-cut timber, causing fresh meat to turn putrid, making poor lunatics more furious, and even spoiling the complexion of fair ladies! But we may briefly state that, after all the evidence has been carefully examined by eminent scientific men, our fair attendant has been declared perfectly innocent; many of the effects being easily traced to other causes, while the rest have been proved to be entirely without foundation. The moon is also understood by many to exert considerable influence on the weather; and weather-tables, based on the hour at which the Moon happens to be at 'full' or 'change,' have been printed and circulated by thousands! One of these, slanderously imputed to the late Sir William Herschel, is very often met with in common Almanacks. Long-continued observations have clearly shown that these tables are of no value whatever; and that, with the exception of one meteorological fact, the Moon has no appreciable influence on the weather. The fact we allude to, is the power the Moon seems to possess, when about 'full,' to clear away light clouds. We have frequently observed her rise when the sky appeared to be covered with haze and light clouds, which have gradually disappeared as the Moon has risen to some height above the horizon. Our readers may observe this interesting phenomenon for themselves in future.

Distance.—The Moon is our nearest celestial neighbour; and hence we have been able to obtain a more intimate acquaintance with her than with any other of the heavenly bodies. Its mean distance may perhaps be most simply stated as about equal to the length of a line that would reach 9 times round the earth, or, more correctly, 237,000 miles,—only about one-four-hundredth part of the distance of the Sun.

Dimensions.-The Sun and Moon appear to be of about equal size; and here a very instructive lesson may be learnt. It can easily be proved that objects appear to

decrease in diameter just in proportion as they increase in distance. We have already said that the Sun is about 400 times more distant from the Earth than the Moon, consequently, the Sun must be about 400 times larger in diameter to appear equal in size at that great distance, which is nearly true; the real diameter of the Sun is 882,000 miles! while that of the Moon is only 2,160 miles. If we take the diameter of the Earth at 7,912 miles, we find that the area of the Earth's surface is about 13 times greater than that of the Moon ;* and the bulk of the Earth about 49 times larger. Were the Earth and Moon constructed of materials of the same weight, or density, it would require 49 times the weight of the Moon to balance the Earth. But that is not the case; the density of the Moon is little more than one-half that of the Earth. It would require 88 Moons to balance the Earth in a pair of scales. We thus see that the Moon is comparatively small, and also comparatively light, and hence we need not wonder at the Earth being able to swing it around so easily once in a month.

Revolution round the Earth.-The Moon revolves round the earth, like a stone in a sling moves round the hand of a boy, once in about 27 days; but as the Earth is at the same time moving in the same direction round the Sun, the Moon appears to require about 29 days;-that is to say, from 'New Moon' to 'New Moon,' and is called a lunar month. The Moon does not move in an exact circle round the Earth, but is subject to many very complicated variations which we dare not here attempt to describe. To become acquainted with all the inequalities and oscillations in the Moon's motion, the reader must become acquainted with the labours of Newton, Laplace, and the more recent researches of Professor Hansen. Notwithstanding all her variations, which amount to about sixty or seventy, her motions are now so well understood by astronomers that the time of an eclipse a hundred years

The superficial area of the Moon is about equal to the whole American continent, that is, North and South America together.

hence can be predicted without any danger of serious

error.

Rotation on its own axis.-It is a very remarkable fact that the Moon makes a revolution on its own axis in exactly the same time that she revolves about the Earth. The consequence is, that during the whole of her monthly revolution, she always presents the same face to the Earth. A few young astronomers, remarkable only for their dulness, have argued that the Moon does not revolve on her axis, otherwise we should occasionally see her other face. Even during the early part of the present year one of our scientific periodicals devoted several pages, week after week, to the publication of letters on this subject from men who stand high in other departments of knowledge, but who certainly have no claims to astronomical eminence. To deny that the Moon turns on its own axis once a month is equivalent to calling in question the beautiful phenomena of the Seasons, as the physical principle involved is the same in both cases.

What the other surface of the Moon is like we cannot tell for the reason just mentioned, being unable to see it. The most recent investigations appear to show, however, that the centre of rotation—that is, the centre of gravity, or point on which the Moon is supposed to turn,-is probably several miles nearer to the opposite side. That, in fact, the visible hemisphere is a large mountain some 8 or 10 miles higher than the general surface on the invisible side.* This cannot be set down as firmly-established, as it yet remains to be seen whether subsequent observations with our highly-improved instruments shall confirm the supposition. It may be truly said to be an investigation of the most refined character, and attended with considerable difficulty. Its confirmation may in some measure account for the bleak, barren aspect of the visible surface of the Moon, which we shall have occasion to

*

Lagrange, a French astronomer, attempted many years ago to demonstrate, that some inequality in the Moon's form, was the cause of her always presenting the same face to the Earth; but at that time, his results were not confirmed by observation.

speak of presently. Making allowance for the comparative sizes of the two globes, this would be equal to a mountain about 30 miles high on the Earth;—many of our readers already know the barren nature of mountains only 3 or 4 miles high. It is very amusing to see the readiness with which the advocates of a "plurality of worlds" are availing themselves of this latest announcement of Professor Hansen to people the opposite side of the Moon with inhabitants closely resembling ourselves; with an atmosphere, and seas, like our Earth; and anything else their fancy may happen to dictate. We shall have occasion to refer to this again when speaking of the Telescopic appearance of the Moon."

We shall not attempt, however, to convey our readers in imagination up to the Moon until next month.

"To ask or search I blame thee not, for heaven

Is as the book of God before thee set,

Wherein to read His wondrous works."

Milton.

J. W.

LITTLE "ALIE."

"MAMMA, when will it be spring?" said Althea Cearnestly. She was almost three years old, and I had never seen a more beautiful child; her cheeks and lips full and red with health, her blue eyes kindling with excitement, and her form so plump and round, that when I lifted her to my knee, she said, "I fat as butter."

"Why are you so anxious that it should be spring, dear?" said I, supposing that it was on account of the sunshine, birds, and flowers. "Alie will go to church in spring," was her reply. "Why does Alie wish to go to church?" "God is there," she replied solemnly. "Do I you love God, Althea?" "O very, very much." "Tomorrow will be spring, darling." And she ran away singing, "To-morrow, to-morrow, I shall be so happy to-morrow." But she was not quite satisfied. In a few minutes she returned, saying, "Mamma, can I go to church to-morrow, and hear them pray, and sing, and