It appears, at the first shock against the mountain, the jib-boom was thrown over the bows into the vessel. The second shock carried away her bowsprit. Had it struck us on either side, or had it struck the hull, we must have perished. After the bowsprit was carried away, the stem of the ship must have been held down for an instant by the overhanging column; and her not immediately rising in front gave the idea to the most experienced that she was stove in, and was filling with water. But the sails being backed and the helm put hard up, she turned from the enemy, and swinging clear, received the last shock on her larboard quarter. That instant she was free.

And now was the contest between despair and hope. The carpenter reported that the hull was sound, and that the bowsprit could be repaired; but then she may have sprung a leak, and the foremast was in danger of falling. The word was 'to the pump.' The pump was rigged and wrought. It was a moment of painful suspense until the pump was sucked, showing that all was tight. Then hope gilded the countenance of our captain, and all hearts began to live in its radiance. Still we waited to hear the crash of the foremast as the vessel was rolling in the sea, but it stood firm. Daylight, ever delightful to those on the deep, and peculiarly grateful to us, soon appeared. We found ourselves going on our way, alive, and with every reasonable confidence of future life.

The most

We stood amazed at our deliverance. careless among us were constrained to attribute our preservation to a kind and merciful Providence; while the multitude cried out unhesitatingly, 'It is the Lord who hath saved us; thanks and praises to His holy name.' Then every countenance was

lighted up with joy, every heart was full of gratitude to God and love to one another, and many purposes were formed of reformation in the future. The Times, Oct. 6, 1836.

LESSON 76.

FROM THE NATIVITY HYMN.

But peaceful was the night,

Wherein the Prince of Light

His reign of peace upon the earth began: The winds, with wonder whist,

Smoothly the waters kiss'd,

Whispering new joys to the mild ocean, Who now hath quite forgot to rave,

While birds of calm sit brooding on the charmed

wave.

The shepherds on the lawn,

Or ere the point of dawn,

Sat simply chatting in a rustic row:

Full little thought they then,

That the mighty Pan

Was kindly come to live with them below;.

Perhaps their loves, or else their sheep,

Was all that did their silly thoughts so busy keep.

When such music sweet

Their hearts and ears did greet,

As never was by mortal finger strook; Divinely-warbled voice

Answering the stringed noise,

As all their souls in blissful rapture took:

The air, such pleasure loth to lose,

With thousand echoes still prolongs each heavenly close.

Such music (as 'tis said)

Before was never made,

But when of old the sons of morning sung, While theCreator great

His constellations set,

And the well-balanced world on hinges hung; And cast the dark foundations deep,

And bid the weltering waves their oozy channel keep.

Ring out, ye crystal spheres,

Once bless our human ears,

If ye have power to touch our senses so; And let your silver chime

Move in melodious time;

And let the bass of heaven's deep organ blow; And, with your nine-fold harmony,

Make up full concert to the angelic symphony.

For, if such holy song

Enwrap our fancy long,

Time will run back and fetch the age of gold; And speckled vanity

Will sicken soon and die,

And leprous sin will melt from earthly mould And hell itself will pass away,

And leave her dolorous mansions to the peering day.

Yea, truth and justice then

Will down return to men,

Orb'd in a rainbow; and, like glories wearing,

Mercy will sit between,

Throned in celestial sheen,

With radiant feet the tissued clouds down steering;

And heaven, as at some festival,

Will open wide the gates of her high palace hall.

MILTON.