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also in guarding the vineyard; and for this purpose small towers were built in them, Mat. xxi. 33. Mark xii. 1. or at least a cottage, Isa. i. 8. Vines were also trained upon the walls of houses, Psa. cxxviii. 1. Gen. xlix. 22. The Persian vine-dressers train them so at the present day. In vineyards, the vines are generally kept low, like currant bushes, and trained to stakes like espaliers. During the seventh year, vineyards were not to be pruned or dressed, Lev. xxv. 3, 4. The vintage was then as it is now, a time of mirth: it did not begin till after the harvest, Lev. xxvi. 5. Amos ix. 13. The grapes were gathered and put into baskets, Jer. vi. 9. they were then thrown into the wine vat, and at first trodden by men, as is now usual in many wine countries, and pressed, Rev. xiv. 18-20.

The juice of the grapes produced several sorts of wine. Some was little better than vinegar, as is the case with the common wines in France and other countries, which are rough and tart like the common cider drank in this country; see Ruth ii. 14. It was probably this wine which Solomon sent in such large quantities to Hiram, for the wood-cutters in Lebanon, 2 Chron. ii. 10.

The wine was generally mixed with water, also with spices; see Prov. xi. 2. 5. xxiii. 30. Psa. lxxy. 8. It was best when old, or on the lees, which means that the lees or dregs had sunk to the bottom of the vessel in which it was kept, Isa. xxv. 6. Poor people were allowed to glean grapes as well as corn, Lev. xix. 10. Deut. xxiv. 21.

The wine was kept in skins, or leather bottles, made either of the entire skin of a kid or goat, or of pieces of leather sewn together, and the seams covered with pitch. Water and wine are both carried in this manner at the present day in eastern coun

tries. There were also bottles or vessels made of clay by the potters; see Jer. xix. 1. 10. xlviii. 12. Isa. xxx. 14. margin. Dried grapes, or raisins were used by the Jews, 2 Sam. xvi. 1. 1 Sam. xxx. 12. 1 Chron. xii. 40. In Deut. xxviii. 39. the Jews were told that if they disobeyed the Lord, they should not eat of the vineyards they had planted.

The vines required care and attention in pruning, or they would not produce good fruit. To this our Lord refers, John xv. 2. where he so beautifully compares himself to a vine, and his people to the branches. The vines would not bring forth good fruit unless they were pruned, and the useless branches cut away. Thus we cannot bring forth good fruit, (that is, do what is right,) unless our evil habits and sinful inclinations are taken away.

There were several sorts of fruit common in Judea besides grapes. Among these were dates, 2 Chron. xxxi. 5. marginal reading. Also pomegranates, Deut. viii. 8. 1 Sam. xiv. 2. Cant. viii. 2. which are a very pleasant fruit; figs, these are mentioned in many texts; cucumbers and melons, these the Israelites had eaten in Egypt, Numb. xi. 5. and found them in the promised land.

Melons and cucumbers are much cultivated in eastern countries. Mr. Jowett mentions that they abound in Egypt at the present day. He says, “they grow in such abundance on the river side, that the sailors on the Nile freely helped themselves, and here and there was a small hut made of reeds, just large enough to shelter a man to protect the fruit; as is mentioned Isa. i, 8. 'a lodge in a garden of cucumbers.'” Sometimes, when there was a scarcity, the Israelites ate the gourds which grew wild in the fields, as 2 Kings iv. 39. My readers

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will recollect that our Lord cursed the barren fig-tree, Mark xi. 13. There is a sort of fig-tree in the east, called the sycamorefig, which bears fruit several times in the year, and not at any certain season. The words of our Lord seem to imply, that as the tree was then barren, it should continue so. As it stood by the wayside, it does not appear to have been the particular property of any one; and, in the sentence passed upon it, it has been considered a striking type of the condition of the unbelieving Jews.

One of the principal fruits cultivated by the Jews was the olive. It was particularly valuable, on account of the oil which it yielded when ripe; and, when cultivated with care, the fruit is much finer than on the wild trees. This is beautifully alluded to in Rom. xi. where St. Paul reminds the Gentiles of the inestimable benefits they receive from being admitted into the church of Christ.

The olives were cultivated in gardens separately; this explains what was said by Elisha, 2 Kings v. 26. Nehemiah complained of the wealthy Jews who withheld the olive yards belonging to their poorer brethren, Neh. v. 11. also 1 Sam. viii. 14. But olive-gardens are particularly to be remembered, as our Lord often went to one of them and prayed with his disciples.

How much, my dear reader, our Lord suffered for our sakes! Think often of his great love, and remember what you owe him for such love and mercy: "Love, so amazing, so divine; Demands my soul, my life, my all."

Dr. Clark gives a particular account of the Mount of Olives. He describes the beautiful and extensive view from the top of that mountain, where our Lord sat and

prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem. He also recollected the account of David's passing over it when fleeing from Absalom, 2 Sam. xv. and other particulars; and says, as he came down from the mountain, he "visited an olive-ground, always mentioned as the garden of Gethsemane. This place is not without reason shown as the scene of our Saviour's agony the night before his crucifixion." He there found a grove of aged olive trees of immense size, covered with fruit; although these cannot be the same trees that grew there nearly two thousand years ago, yet they have no doubt been produced from the original trees. It is "a curious and interesting fact, that we have clear evidence that olive trees have grown on this spot since the time of David, three thousand years ago."

Before ending what is said respecting the agriculture of the Jews, the reader may be reminded of the many allusions to these subjects in the scriptures. And as the methods of cultivating the ground are still so like what they were nearly two thousand years ago, these allusions explain to us many texts. I will only copy a few, as it will be a good exercise for my young readers to search for more texts of the same sort: "Ye are God's husbandry," or cultivated field. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap." "I am the good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine." "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”

Singular Escape from a Lion.-An Englishman, lately in Paris, a great amateur of lions, bears, tigers, and other ferocious animals, became acquainted with Monsieur Martin, and made frequent visits to his cele

brated menagerie. Martin had occasion to leave Paris, and in his absence he contrived, by bribing the keeper, to obtain his permission to walk in the interior, and amuse himself by feeding the animals through the cages. The keeper who was busily employed in serving out the food, had forgotten to close the gate of the lion's den. The gentleman happening to turn round, was horror-struck at perceiving the lion stretching himself within a few yards of him. Surrounded by a high wall, without arms to defend himself, his situation was not an enviable one. He fortunately happened to have his shuff-box in his hand, and threw the contents into the lion's face, which set him to sneezing, and gave the gentleman an opportunity of slipping into the den and closing the door, until the keeper could release him.

THE JACKALL.

This animal is to be found in the hot and temperate parts of Africa and Asia, and resides in forests. It is about the size of a middling dog, resembling the fox in the hinder parts, particularly the tail, and the wolf in the fore parts, especially the nose. Its legs are shorter than those of the fox, and its color is a bright yellow; whence it has been called, in Latin, the "golden wolf." In the scale of creation, it seems to rank between the wolf and the dog; as to the savage fierceness of the former it adds the

impudent familiarity of the latter. It may, however, be domesticated, and it then has all the fondness and playfulness of the dog, with which it also delights to associate. In its wild state, its cry is a howl mixed with barking, and a lamentation resembling that of human distress. These animals never go alone, but always in packs of from fifty to two hundred. They unite regularly every day, to form a combination against the other inhabitants of the forest; and nothing can escape them; for though content to take up with the smallest quadrupeds, they have courage, thus united, to face the largest. They seem very little afraid of mankind; but pursue their game to the very doors; enter insolently into the sheep-folds, the yards, and the stables; and, if they can find nothing else, they even devour harness, boots, or shoes, and run off with what they have not time to swallow.

Ever rapacious and insatiate, they not only attack the living, but scratch up the new made graves, disinter the bodies, and greedily devour them, however putrescent. They also follow caravans and armies, to feast on the remains of the dead. In the uninhabited parts of the country, this animal frequently pursues during a whole night with unceasing assiduity; keeping up the cry, and at length, by great perseverance, tires down its prey. Its cry operates as a sort of signal to the lions and other beasts of prey to sally forth on the flying animals, and it has thus obtained the appellation of the Lion's Provider.

There is another species of this animal, called the Barbary Jackall, or Thaleb, which is about the size of a fox, and one of the prettiest, most active, and most adroit of quadrupeds. It does not associate in packs, but always lives singly.

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This beautiful tree is a native of the island of Ceylon, and the Malabar Coast, and is said to be found also in the Marquesas and Friendly Islands. The stem of this tree is perfectly straight, and it gradually diminishes as it ascends. It is strong enough to resist the most violent tropical winds. It has no branches, and the leaves only spring from its summit. These leaves, which when on the tree are almost circular, are so large that they can shelter ten or a dozen men,

standing near to each other. The leaf is so light that an entire one can be carried in the hand; but as this, from its great size when expanded, would be inconvenient, the natives cut segments from it, which they use to defend themselves from the scorching rays of the sun, or from the rains.

As tents, the talipot leaves are set up an end. Two or three talipot umbrellas make an excellent shelter, and from being so light and portable, each leaf folding up to the size

of a man's arm, they are admirably adapted the sky had not a cloud over it. The goat for this important service. The chiefs, rambled through several fields, leaping over moreover, have regularly formed square the hedges and ditches with great pleasure, tents made of them. until he came into a farm-yard.

Another use to which these leaves may be put, is that they may be written upon like paper. The Cingalese write or engrave their letters upon them with a stylus, or pointed steel instrument, and then rub them over with a dark colored substance, which only remaining in the parts etched or scratched, gives the characters greater relief, and makes them more easy to read. The coloring matter is rendered liquid by being mixed with cocoa-nut oil, and when dry is not easily effaced.

The oil employed in the writing imparts a strong odor which preserves it from insects but this odor is changed by age. The talipot, however, appears to have in itself a natural quality which deters the attack of insects and preserves it from the decay of age even without the oil.

Sago is made from the inner parts of this tree, by beating the spongy part of the stem in a mortar.

Besides all the uses described, the Cingalese employ the talipot leaf extensively in thatching their houses. They also manufacture hats from it; these hats are made with brims as broad as an outstretched umbrella, and are chiefly worn by women nursing, to defend them and their infants from the heat.

THE GOAT IN THE WELL.

One fine evening, after a hot summer's day, a goat left his shed, where he had been put up for the night. He wished to take a walk and enjoy the delicious coolness after sunset. The moon was shining bright, and

In the middle of this farm-yard was a well. The lid of it was off. The goat came close up to the edge of the well and looked down. He saw something round and bright in the water at the bottom. It was the reflection of the moon that was shining in the sky. But this the goat did not know.

"What a curious round bright thing that is at the bottom of this hole," thought he. "What can it be? I should like much to know what it is." So he walked round the edge of the well, trying to discover which would be the best way to get down the hole and so reach the wonder.

At one side of the well stood the bucket that was used for the purpose of drawing up the water.

The goat was charmed. He thought this bucket would make a fine carriage, and he pushed it off the ground. He saw the rope by which it was held begin to unwind, and the bucket itself begin to go down. “Ah!" thought he "this is just the thing. I will jump in and go down, and satisfy myself as to what that bright thing is.”

Silly goat! in his eagerness to gratify his curiosity, he never thought of the way in which, when once down, he should get up again. So in he sprang, and down, down, down went the bucket, and then splash it went into the cold water.

The sudden dash into the water quite frightened him. The bucket was in a moment half full of water, and the goat found himself wet and cold.

He began to "na-an, na-an," piteously. The bright round thing which he had come after was gone; and all that he had got as

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