little Marie; and as he went to bed the night after they returned from Liverpool, he thought that he should not have enjoyed his excursion half as much without his dear kind Uncle John.

H. D. R.

THE TREES OF THE BIBLE.

IN olden time Palestine was adorned with a great abundance of wood, the loss of which now gives many parts of it a bare appearance. Modern travellers however, tell us that there is still forest scenery to be found; and the frequent mention of different kinds of trees, by the Old Testament writers, shows that these trees were in their day familiar objects. Such of them as are not found in our own country, are to the ordinary reader mere names, not presenting any distinct image to the mind; and it is only when we gain some acquaintance with the characteristics of each, that we feel the force of the comparisons or descriptions in which they

occur.

The cedar is often seen in England, but it is so small here, compared with "the cedar of Lebanon," that it conveys only a faint idea of that tree. Its timbers were preferred for buildings of magnificence, such as Solomon's Palace and the Temple. Its vast breadth made each of its wide-spreading branches almost a tree in itself, and hence it became a favourite image of growth, vigour, and strength. The perfection and symmetry of the foliage contributed to give the same impression, as well as the rich green colour. The cedars that are still found on Lebanon are spoken of with enthusiasm by travellers who have visited them.

The cypress is believed to be the wood out of which the ark was built, and was used by the ancient Phoenicians in the construction of their ships. It grew plentifully on Mount Lebanon, and is referred to, not only under the name of gopher-wood (as in the ark), but by other designations which are often translated fir, as Ezekiel xxxi, 8; 1 Kings, vi, 15. Among some of the heathen

nations it was accounted a sacred tree, probably on account of its elegant flame-like shape.

The palm tree is the translation of a Hebrew word meaning tall. It has been called, in the East, the most useful of trees. It grows commonly 40 feet high, and is said sometimes to reach nearly 100 feet. Its thin branches spread out like an umbrella, and the dates it produces are nourishing and delicious food. A branch of palm was a symbol of victory among the Romans, and of immortality among the early Christians.

The olive-tree is an evergreen with thick, pointed, bright leaves, and was much cultivated by the Jews. The fruit was eaten, and also used to produce the much-valued oil. In the garden of Gethsemane are found aged olive-trees, which pilgrims reverence as the trees under which Christ prayed the night before he died. The plane tree, though not common, is yet found in Palestine, and is referred to by the word translated chesnut, in Genesis xxx, 37; Ezekiel xxxi, 8.

It is described as a noble tree, with bold and massive foliage, long round boughs and elegant form, and covering a vast area with its pleasant shade.

Most of the fruit-trees mentioned in Scripture are known amongst us, if not by their growing here, at least by our acquaintance with their fruits.

The pomegranate grows partly wild, eight or ten feet high, with scarlet flowers, and gold-coloured fruit. This fruit is like a large orange, and has a refreshing odour. Each fruit contains many seeds, which has made it a symbol of productiveness.

Some of the vegetable products spoken of in the Bible did not grow in Palestine, but were imported thither. Such was the cassia or cinnamon, which was brought from India, and formed part of the spices used in making the holy ointment. There were different

JAMES WATT.

(Continued from page 67.)

IN 1763 a clumsy little model steam-engine was put into the hands of Watt to repair. The boiler was somewhat smaller than an ordinary tea-kettle, the cylinder only two inches in diameter, and he considered the whole a mere plaything. When he repaired it, he saw that an engine so constructed could never supply steam fast enough, and from this time he commenced a long course of experiments, which led at last to his great discovery. He soon acquired such a reputation for his knowledge on this subject, that he was employed to plan several engines in different places, whilst at the same time he was frequently making new experiments to lessen the waste of heat from the external surface of the boiler, and from that of the cylinder. "It was thus, in the beginning of the year 1765," writes his friend Dr. Black, "that the fortunate thought occurred to him of condensing the steam by cold in a separate vessel, or apparatus, between which and the cylinder a communication was to be opened for that purpose every time the steam was to be condensed; while the cylinder itself might be preserved perpetually hot, no cold water or air being ever admitted into its cavity." As he was taking a walk one Sunday afternoon, this capital improvement flashed on his mind at once, and filled him with rapture; and he immediately made a hasty trial of it, which satisfied him of its value, employing for this purpose a large brass syringe which he borrowed from a friend. One of Watt's valued friends says that at this time he was studying Italian and German, in order to read useful scientific works in these languages. Concerning his discoveries, he said of him-" Another circumstance endeared Mr. Watt to us all: he was without the smallest wish to appropriate knowledge to himself; and one of his greatest delights was to set others on the same road to knowledge with himself. No man could be more distant from the jealous concealment of a tradesman; and I am convinced that nothing but the magnitude of the prospect which his improvement of