The rook, though still a worshipper of nature, is now their daily visitor.

He has always been accounted a moral bird, who never did anything to discredit his clerical garb, but he has his weaknesses, and for instance-a young lady was staying in the house who was warmly attached to him, and, one day, on the lawn, she gave him her ring to play with, he accepted it in his beak, gave a hop and a wriggle, and off he flew with it. It was a most valuable diamond ring and yet this delightful young person was as cheerful as possible under her loss, she was rather amused about it than otherwise. She was interested in the rook, and really it looked as if he was going to be married. She was rewarded for her good nature, for the impudent fellow soon brought back the ring, and next morning, when he tapped at her casement, and carried in with him a delicious perfume of the morning roses and the newly-mown hay, he paid her a much longer visit than usual. So much for pets.

AN ENVIABLE GIFT.

Richard Crashaw sent George Herbert's book of sacred poems intituled 'The Temple,' to a gentlewoman, with the following lines :

Know you, Fair, on what you look?
Divinest love lies in this book,

Expecting fire from your eyes

To kindle this his sacrifice.

When your hands untie these strings,
Think you've an Angel by the wings-
One that gladly would be nigh

To wait upon each morning sigh,

To flutter in the balmy air

Of your well-perfumed prayer.

These white plumes of his he'll lend you,
Which every day to Heaven will send you,
To take acquaintance of the sphere,
And all the smooth-faced kindred there!
And tho' Herbert's name do owe
These devotions, Fairest, know
That while I lay them on the shrine
Of your white hand, they are mine.

BLACK BLOOD.

A lady of my acquaintance, a brunette, happened to show her maid one of those little sticking-plaster profiles which they used to call Silhouettes. It was the portrait of the lady's aunt, whom the girl had never seen; and she said quite innocently, 'La, ma'am, I always thought as how you had some black relations, you are so dark-like yourself, you know.'

THE BIBLE.

'What is there (in that romantic interest, and patriarchal simplicity, which goes to the heart of a people) equal to the story of Joseph and his brethren, of Rachel and Laban, of Jacob's dream, of Ruth and Boaz, the descriptions in the book of Job, the deliverance of the Jews out of Egypt, or the account of their captivity and return from Babylon? There is in all these parts of the Scripture, and numberless more of the same kind, to pass over the Orphic hymns of David, the prophetic denunciations of Isaiah, or the gorgeous visions of Ezekiel, an originality, a vastness of conception, a depth and tenderness of feeling, and a touching simplicity in the mode of narration, which he who does not feel need be made of no penetrable stuff.

'There is something in the character of Christ, too (leaving religious faith quite out of the question), of more sweetness and majesty, and more likely to work a change in the mind of man, by the contemplation of its idea alone, than any to be found in history whether actual or feigned. This character is that of a sublimed humanity, such as was never seen on earth before or since. This shone manifestly both in His words and actions, we see it in His washing the disciples' feet the night before His death, that unspeakable instance of humility and love, above all art, all meanness, and all pride, and in the leave He took of them on that occasion,

"My peace I give unto you; that peace which the world cannot give, give I unto you," and in His last commandment that they should "love one another." Who can read the account of His behaviour on the cross, when turning to His mother He said "Woman, behold thy son," and to the disciple John, "Behold thy mother," and "from that hour that disciple took her to his own home," without having his heart smote within him! We see it in His treatment of the woman taken in adultery; His religion was the religion of the heart. We see it in His discourses with His disciples, as they walked together towards Emmaus, when their hearts burned within them; in His Sermon from the Mount, in His parable of the Good Samaritan, and in that of the Prodigal Son. In every act and word of His life a grace, a mildness, a dignity and love, a patience and wisdom worthy of the Son of God. His whole life and being were imbued, steeped in this word Charity.

'It was the spring, the well-head from which every thought and feeling gushed into act, and it was this that breathed a mild glory from His face in that last agony on the cross, "when the meek Saviour bowed His head and died,” praying for His enemies.

'He was the first true teacher of morality, for He alone conceived the idea of a pure humanity. He redeemed man from the worship of that idol self, and instructed him by precept and example to love his neighbour as himself, to forgive his enemies, to do

good to those that curse us and despitefully use us, He taught the love of good for the sake of good, without regard to personal or sinister views, and made the affections of the heart the sole seat of morality, instead of the pride of the understanding, or the sternness of the will. In answering the question "Who is our neighbour?" as one who stands in need of our assistance, and whose wounds we can bind up, He has done more to humanize the thoughts and tame the unruly passions than all who have tried to reform and benefit mankind.' William Hazlitt.

"Tis very vain for me to boast,
How small a price my Bible cost;
The Day of Judgment will make clear
'Twas very cheap, or very dear.'

Michael Scott.

ALMOST TOO CEREMONIOUS.

A gentleman walked up to another gentleman, who was standing before the fire in a Coffee Room, and immediately said, 'I beg your pardon, Sir, but may I ask your name?' 'I am not in the habit, Sir,' said the other man, 'of giving my name to strangers, but, as you are so pertinacious, Sir, my name is Thompson, Sir.' 'Then, Mr. Thompson, Sir,' said the first speaker, 'now I know your name, I beg, Sir, to inform you that your coat tails are on fire.'