to is Egypt; and that the customs alluded to are characteristic of the modes of tillage there practised. Lowth's translation is perhaps still closer to the original, and at the same time more pointedly descriptive of the agricultural process observed in Egypt"A nation stretched out in length, and smoothed; a nation meted out by line, and trodden down, whose land the rivers have nourished." The epithet "smoothed" he thinks may refer "to the country's being made smooth, perfectly plain and level, by the overflowing of the Nile:" may we not add, probably also by some such artifical process as that referred to in the following extract, which also explains the terms "trodden down" in a very striking

manner.

The plough used in Ceylon, according to Colonel Campbell is "only what may be called a crooked piece of wood, something like an elbow; it merely tears up the ground as unevenly as if it were done by hogs. They then overflow the field with water. They plough twice before they sow; but before they give the first ploughing, they let in water upon the land, in order to make it soft and the easier to be worked. After it is once ploughed, they usually make up the banks; for if they were to put off doing so till after the second ploughing, the soil would have become mere mud, totally unfit for banking. These banks are indispensable, not only as paths for the people to walk upon through the fields, who otherwise must go in the mud, but also to keep in and contain the water overflowing the ground. They make these banks as smooth and level as a bricklayer would a wall with his trowel; for in this respect they pay great attention to neatness. These banks at the top are not above a foot in width. is ploughed, and the banks are finished, it is water, and remains so till the time for the second ploughing, when it becomes exceedingly muddy, as much from the trampling of the cattle as from the plough; for the more it is stirred up, the better. Sometimes they use no plough the second time, but only drive their cattle through and through the field, until the soil is made sufficiently muddy. The land being thus prepared, it is still kept overflowed with water, in order that the weeds and grass may be destroyed. They then soak in water for a night the corn which they intend for seed. The next day it is taken out and laid in a heap, covered over with green leaves and thus it

But after the land again laid under

:

remains for five or six days, so as to make it sprout. They then wet it again, and lay it in a heap covered over, as before, with green leaves and thus it is caused to shoot out its blade and roots whilst this process is going forward, they have prepared the ground for sowing,-which is thus done: they have a board, as before shown, about four feet long, which they drag over the land by a pair of buffaloes or oxen; not flat-ways, but upon its edge, which is so done, that the earth and weeds may be well mixed together; and it also levels and makes the ground so smooth and even, that the water afterwards stands equally over it. It still remains covered with water whilst the seed is growing, and until it is become fit for sowing, which is in about eight days after it was put into water to soak. The seed being ready, they let off the water, and with boards of about a foot in length, fastened to long poles, they dress the land over again; laying it very smooth, and making small furrows in it, that in case rain or other water should come in, it may drain away; for more water now would very likely rot the seed. They then sow, which they do with great evenness, strewing the seed carefully with their hands.

GOD AND MAMMON.

WHAT have you got by being so long a customer to the world, but false ware, suitable to the shop of such a merchant, whose traffic is toil, whose wealth is trash, and whose gain is misery? What interest have you reaped that might equal your detriment in grace and virtue? Or what could you find in the vale of tears that was answerable to the favor of God, with loss whereof you were contented to buy it.

The Enquirer.

QUESTION XVIII.-Spiritual profit.

MR. EDITOR,-Will you kindly insert the following question in that useful portion of your work "The Enquirer." An answer to it from yourself, or one of your readers, will greatly oblige,

Yours, &c.

P. G. G.

"Is it advisable for young persons just beginning earnestly to seek the way to Zion, to read, with a view to their spiritual instruction, other religious books besides the Bible, or would their time be more profitably spent, and their souls derive more spiritual benefit, by confining themselves to that blessed volume alone?"

POETRY.

391

DEATH.

In life's bright, sunny, cloudless morning,
When my young heart is beating high,
When o'er the future hope is dawning,
And joy is sparkling in mine eye,
Oh! can it be that I must die!
And like the floweret of a day,
Soon fade away?

Oh! must I part, and that for ever,

With all the cherished joys of earth?
Must the sweet ties of friendship sever,
Just when my heart hath felt their worth?
Oh! must I hush each strain of mirth
And find, while in my youth and bloom,
An early tomb?

My mother! who with pure devotion,

Hast watched o'er all my infant years,
And marked with fond and deep emotion
My wildest hopes, my darkest fears,
Alas! how bitter are the tears,
Which fail to ease my bursting heart,
For we must part!

Yet in these moments are there given
Sweet thoughts of comfort from above,-
My troubled spirit looks to heaven,
Where all is rest, repose, and love,
And like some weary, pensive dove,
Hopes soon to reach her home so blest,
And be at rest.

But ah, I fear !-my trust is failing,
For all is pure and holy there,
Doubt o'er my spirit is prevailing—

I cannot hope those joys to share-
If now heav'n's goldens portals were
Unclosed, how could I enter in,

Defiled with sin?

Brighton.

Oh! when my sins are all forgiven,
And washed in Jesu's blood away,
Then will I dare to think of heaven,

Nor fondly wish on earth to stay.
Oh Saviour! listen while I pray,
Now on my darkened spirit shine,
And make me thine.

And in the latest hour be near me;
Let not my trembling courage fail,
Oh! may thine own sweet presence cheer me,
While passing through the darksome vale,
Strengthen me when my fears assail,
And gently guide me by thy love

Safely above!

H. M. W.

HOPE ON!

HOPE on! though heavy clouds are o'er thee,
Though all is dark and dim before thee,

Though every earthly tie be riven,

Still keep thine eye of faith on Heaven.

Hope on! hope on!

Hope on! though sometimes tears may start,

Hope on! though storms may pierce thine heart;
He, who inflicts each grief and care,

Inflicts no more than thou can'st bear.

Hope on! hope on!

Hope on! through all the thorny way
Of life, for soon a brighter day
Will dawn, and tears no more will dim
Thine eye, for thou shalt reign with Him.
Hope on! hope on!

Hope on! still trusting in His name,
Who, while on earth, endured the same;
Despair not-though with grief opprest,
Remember! "This is not your rest!"

Hope on! hope on!

Hope on! nor o'er thy sorrows brood,
Still trust in Christ, the Great, the Good;

Think on His grace, and thou wilt see

He chastens, for He loveth thee.

Hope on! hope on!

Hope on! for shortly thou shalt sing
The conqueror's song before the King;
Thy woes, thy trials will be o'er,

When thou shalt land on Canaan's shore!

Hope on! hope on!

ELIZABETH.

WRITTEN IN A LEAF OF MILTON.

A Titian, or a Raphael the sublime,

-Their heaven-dipt pencils must be paled by time.
Even the marble wonder, he hath shared
The common lot ;-Apollo is not spared;
And never, to our ears, again shall rise
A St. Cecilia's angel-melodies,
Nor, touch'd by Palastrina's magic hand,
The full-voiced organ swell at our command;
Long ages past, the tones have died away,
But never shall a living thought decay;
And fresh, and fair as at their glorious birth
"We may call up those sounds not of the earth,"
And bathe our drooping spirits in delight
With all a Milton dreamt, of fair and bright.

E. L. A.

WRITTEN DURING SICKNESS AT MIDNIGHT.

'Tis midnight! mortals round are sleeping

Curtain'd by Jehovah's love

Guardian angels, vigils keeping

By commission from above.
With that curtain round me drawn,
With those guardian spirits nigh,

Midnight is sweeter than when morning dawn
Tinges with heauteous blush the eastern sky,
Or when the risen sun spreads wide his canopy.

'Tis midnight! stars in splendour beaming
Shed their influence on the night,
Brilliant corruscations* streaming,

Turn this northern gloom to light!

*The Aurora Borealis. In the more northerly latitudes, where these lines were written, this appearance is almost the constant attendant of clear evenings, and is sometimes peculiarly fantastic and beautiful.