which they may favour us, especially such as, by dwelling upon the obvious and familiar feature's of Nature's sublime or beautiful scenery, may tend to elevate the sentiments, purify the imagination, and carry the devout and pious heart from "Nature, up to Nature's God."

SEPTEMBER MUSINGS.

Let others boast the transient name
By pleasure to her vot'ries given,
Be theirs the court's unstable fame,
Be mine the balmy breath of Heaven.

O when did work of richest loom

Out-rival Autumn's varied dye?
Or where's the proud and lofty dome,

Can with Heaven's vault of azure vie?

Say, when did softest strain of love
Give more of Music to the gale,
Than that which fills yon leafy grove,
The lonely stock-dove's plaintive wail?
Did e'er the world's approving smile
Convey such rapturous sense of bliss,
As overflows our hearts the while

We gaze on such a scene as this?

Ah, no! then still I'll love the shade,
Avoid the world's vain joy or care,
And, seeking out some peaceful glade,
Find happiness with Nature there.

H.

LINES WRITTEN AT THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR.

How sad is the murmuring wind!

How mournful its wailings appear!

It seems to appeal to the mind,

Like a dirge of the vanishing year.

How swiftly the days have pass'd by,

Since on Spring's balmy breeze we regal'd,
Since Summer's sweet flowers met our eye,
And Autumn's rich livery we hail'd!

The trees wave their arms to the blast,
Every leaf from their branches is blown,
For spring-time and Summer are past,
And the glories of Autumn are flown.

Yet, tho' on the snow-mantled ground,
All the ravage of Winter we trace,
The moon sheds her lustre around,
And lends the cold landscape a grace.
And thus at the close of our years,

When the blossoms of pleasure decay,
And life's hues, in this valley of tears,
From our gaze are fast fading away;
When youth's sprightly season is gone,
Which no power shall ever renew,
When friends that we trusted upon,

Shall be hid in the grave from our view;

Tho' our locks may be silvery white

As the snow that in winter comes down,
If illumin'd by piety's light,

They will prove to the aged a crown.*

Q.

DOMESTIC RECEIPTS.

To clean Papier Maché Waiters, &c.

ARTICLES of this description require careful cleaning. They are, in fact, nothing more than highly-varnished paper-pulp, and, consequently, boiling water will cause the varnish to crack and peel off. Soap and water, moderately warm, is the best to remove stains and grease-spots; and they may be polished with a little sweet oil and a woollen cloth.

To imitate Ground Glass.

Mix powdered whitening, and linseed oil, to the consistence of white paint; then brush your window evenly over, as if painting. Afterwards take a dry dusting-brush, and gently touch the pane with the points of it; if carefully done, it will have the exact appearance of ground glass. The transparent appearance, or otherwise, of the glass will depend upon the quantity of oil used in the mixture. A little spirits of turpentine will dry it quicker, if necessary.

To extinguish a Fire in a Chimney.

Put a wet blanket over the whole of the front of the fire-place, or anything that will effectually stop the current of air.

"The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness."-Prov. xvi. 31.

To prevent the breaking of Lamp Glasses.

The French have a very simple method, but effective precaution, to prevent lamp glasses breaking by the sudden application of heat. Before they are used, a glazier cuts or scratches the base of the glass with a diamond, and afterwards sudden heat may be applied without danger.

To prevent the dangerous effects of noxious Vapours from Wells, Cellars, &c.

Before a person descends into a well, or place that has beeu closed any length of time, it should be first ascertained whether the air be such as he can breathe in. This may be done by letting down a candle---as where a light will burn, there a man can breathe; and should the air be foul, the place where the candle goes out shows how high it reaches. This air is what chemists call, carbonic acid air, being the same as that which proceeds from burning charcoal, and from brewing vats. This air being heavier than common air, sinks to the bottom, and may be expelled by the following methods:-Take a pair of bellows, with a long tube or pipe, which should reach almost to the surface of the water, or bottom of the well or vault, if dry. By working these, the fresh air will descend of itself to the bottom. A blacksmith's bellows, being largest, would be best, with a leathern engine pipe. What is called a wind-sail, used on board ship for ventilating the cabin and hold, is also a good thing. Another method has been found to answer very well; viz. to let down a bushel of quick lime, and to slack it by dipping it from time to time in the water; and if there be no water in the well, by pouring some down on it.

Cold Cream.

Two ounces of spermaceti, two ounces of hog's lard, two ounces of oil of almonds, four table-spoonsful of rose water; dissolve it on the fire, în a clean saucepan, and stir it till cold.

An effectual Cure for the Tooth-ache.

Take as much of the seed of henbane as will lie on the surface of a sixpence; put it on a hot heater, and place a bason over it; when it is consumed, fill the bason with hot water, and inhale the steam through a funnel, applying the mouth of the funnel to the hollow part of the tooth.

DEAN SWIFT, standing one morning at the window, observed a decent old woman offer a paper to one of his servants, which the man, at first, refused in an insolent and surly manner. The woman, however, pressed her suit with all the energy of distress, and in the end prevailed. The Dean saw, felt, and was determined to relieve her. He waited, therefore, some time for the servant to bring the paper; but to his surprise and indignation, an hour elapsed, and the man did not present it. The Dean looked out again. The day was cold and wet, and the wretched petitioner still retained her situation. The benevolent divine lost all patience, and was about to ring the bell, when he observed the servant cross the street, and return the paper, with the greatest indifference. The Dean now threw up the sash, and demanded what the paper contained. “It is a petition, please your reverence," replied the woman. Bring it up," cried the Dean. The servant, surprised, obeyed. The poor woman was instantly made happy, and the servant almost as instantly turned out of doors, with the following written testimonial of his conduct. "The bearer lived two years in my service, in which time, he was frequently drunk, and negligent of his duty; which, conceiving him to be honest, I excused; but at last, detecting him in a flagrant instance of cruelty, I discharged him." Such was the consequence of this paper, that for some years the man was himself a wandering beggar.

66

"The celebrated Hume, two or three days before his death, in a letter to his friend, expressed the greatest anxiety about some corrections in his "History of England." His friend, in his answer, (as if to intimate his opinion that much more suitable subjects should have employed his dying moments,) inquired what were the sentiments which he then entertained respecting certain important points of religion? But the inquiry was useless. Hume died before the letter could reach him.

The above anecdote may serve as an instance of what has been so often asserted, that men generally die as they live; and that if the grand business for which they were sent into the world be deferred till the hour in which they are leaving it, the awful probability is, that it will never be done at all.

A person one day observed to Menedemus, an ancient Greek Philosopher, "It is a great happiness to have what we desire." "It is a greater happiness," answered Menedemus, "to desire nothing but what we have."

Of course we must only apply this to the temporal blessings which God is pleased to bestow upon us, as we should never be contented with our progress in spiritual things, but daily ask the merciful Giver of all good, for fresh supplies of his grace; and by the light of his Holy Spirit, strive to "shine more and more unto the perfect day."

FEASTS AND FASTS OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND EXPLAINED.

The Annunciation.

March 25.-This day, commonly called Lady-day, the church hath set apart as a memorial of the annunciation, or declaration, which was made by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, who appeared unto her, and told her that she was highly-favoured of the Lord; and that she should be the mother of an universal and everlasting blessing, which all former ages had desired, and all future times should rejoice in. "For," says the angel, "thou shalt bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS." This uncommon salutation was no small surprise to the blessed Virgin, judging herself unworthy of so great an honour; moreover, she knew not how to unfold the mystery. But the angel satisfied her, by telling her, that this immaculate conception should be wrought by the powerful energy and operation of the Holy Ghost, "for with God nothing shall be impossible." Whereupon she gave a clear demonstration of her sublime faith, and perfect obedience, saying, " Behold the hand-maid of the Lord! be it unto meaccording to thy word." And thus the eternal Son of God became incarnate.

Palm Sunday, or the Sunday before Easter.

March 27.-This day begins the great, the holy, and the painful week on which our blessed Saviour, being determined to

VOL. I.