cannot find some cause for thankfulness. Last week you were repining at your shoes being so shabby, and though I said nothing at the time, I was much grieved, because I could not afford to buy you a new pair. It cannot be pleasing in the sight of our Heavenly Father, who is so bountiful to us, and showers down upon us innumerable blessings, to hear us murmur, instead of raising our hearts in gratitude to Him. I think, said Bessy, grandmother would have done very differently; she would have said, "how thankful I ought to be that my shoes, though shabby, are so much better than poor Martha's, who sometimes goes with me to school; her's let in water, but I am better provided than she is.” Never, my dear child, allow discontented thoughts to dwell within your breast; whenever you feel them, pray to God to take them away. A contented mind will be a source of endless comfort to yourself, and not only to yourself, but to all around you: as you grow older you will be more and more sensible of the difference between an unhappy, desponding tone, and a cheering, hopeful reply. Remember, "a contented mind is a continual feast."

YETTA.

INTEMPERANCE." Whilst the drunkard swallows wine, wine swallows him; God disregards him, angels despise him, men deride him, virtue declines him, the devil destroys him. -Intemperance is the mother of all evil, the matter of all mischief, the well-spring of all vices, the trouble of the senses, the tempest of the tongue, the shipwreck of chastity, the consumption of time, a voluntary madness, the corruption of manners, the distemper of the body, and the destruction of the soul."

OBSERVATIONS ON THE MONTHS.

FEBRUARY.

"There is no radiant brightness seen
To pierce the clouds' opposing screen,
Or hazy vapour; and illume
The thickness of that solemn gloom;
Such is the garb―his natal morn
Oft times by February worn."

Mant's Months.

It was a custom among the Romans, at this season of the year, by religious ceremonials, to purify or cleanse all objects by offering expiatory sacrifices to their idols, which feast was called Februa or Februalis, hence the name of the month. By the Saxons, it was called Sprout kele, from the sprouting of the cabbage plant, which was the chief winter pottage herb of the husbandman. It was subsequently altered to Solmonath, because the Saxons, before their conversion to Christianity, offered pancakes to the sun; and Sol or Soul signified cakes or food.

The early part of this month is noted for its stern and chilly weather: the days gradually lengthen out their course, and at times the sun peeps forth with sufficient heat to melt the snow and ice, which descend in torrents from the hills, causing the rivulets and streams to overflow their banks, flooding the rivulets, uprooting trees, and causing terror and alarm around. If the month still remains severe and frosty, the various tribes of water-fowl may still be seen on the ponds and rivers; but if mild showers and a South wind prevail, sudden thaws will set in, and these

watery visitors will leave our shores for their usual habitations. The warm showers that succeed the Winter's frost, brings up the earth-worm in large numbers to the surface of the pasture lands, where the different tribes of vermivorous birds, who have just returned, may be seen searching for their prey; and the notes of the woodlark, the skylark, blackbird, thrush, wren, and chaffinch, and the tapping of the woodpecker, begin to resound from the woods, and indicate that Spring is near. The rooks return to their old haunts in the trees, and the raven and carrion-crow begin to build their nests. Towards the close of the month, as soon as the earth is softened, the busy moles begin to raise their hillocks on the land,-under the largest they make their nests of moss, in which they deposit their young.

The early flowers of Spring now begin to appear for to deck the face of nature, and the earth begins to assume something of its wonted hue; for the snowdrop, the crocus, and the first primrose, peep forth and raise their tiny heads as harbingers of the coming Spring. No flower, except perhaps the daisy, more touchingly recalls the days of our childhood than the primrose. Who does not remember the time when he

"Robb'd every primrose root he met,
And oftimes took the root to set;
And joyful home each nosegay bore,
And felt as he will feel no more?"

The name of this favourite is derived from the Latin word primus, first or prime, denoting its early appearance, hence the word primrose, welcomed by all, greeting us with its pale, though lovely tints, and for awhile dispelling the thought of Winter, with all his rising train-vapours, and clouds, and storms,

carries us at once to bright sunny mornings, lengthening days, and light showers, which, if they for awhile prevent us from wandering abroad, will make our rambles yet more pleasant when they are at an end. It is one of the pleasant sights of this month to watch the busy ploughman, and to mark the progress of his work

"Till all is changed, and hill and level down,
Assume a livery of sober brown:

and the preparations which are making for the approaching
Spring. If the weather is favourable, the farmer is busy
with sowing his beans, barley, and spring wheat; and at
night, the humble shepherd must visit his fold, to see that
the lambs are warm and sheltered from the cold which yet
prevails; and how strongly does this remind us of the
Good Shepherd, who is ever watching over us, to protect us
from the chilling blasts of this world, and He will gather the
lambs with His arms and carry them in His bosom.-
(Ps. xxiii., 1; John x., 11.) And so, from the least of God's
creatures, all may learn important and useful lessons; let
the eye or the mind be directed to whatever quarter it may.
there all things seem to speak with the same voice. Lift up
your eyes on high, and behold Who hath created these things.
Speak to the earth and it shall teach thee.
These are
precepts which ought to pervade the hearts and breasts of
all who for a moment contemplates upon the works by
which he is surrounded. A book is thus laid open to
us, at all seasons of the year, in which (if it be not our
own fault) we may read lessons of Divine instruction; and
he whose mind is stored with Scriptural thoughts and images
eannot walk forth abroad without having the things which

concern his peace suggested to him by the humblest employ. ments of the husbandman, whom he sees engaged in his useful labours; snd so holy resolutions, and faithful endeavours, are the fruit of such peaceful meditations as are thus suggested to the soul; and "Whoso is wise will ponder these things, and they shall understand the loving-kindness of the Lord." (Ps. cvii., 43.)

T. H.

Missionary Entelligence.

CAPE MISSION.

THE Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, has recently published a private journal, containing an account of the Bishop's Visitation, together with extracts from his correspondence, narrating his visit to the Island of St. Helena in March and April, 1849. Those who know anything of the apostolic zeal and undaunted energy which are so remarkably displayed in Bishop Gray, will need no assurance that this authentic record of his abundant labours is most deeply interesting. For a period of four months, in his wagon, on horseback, and on foot, he traversed his vast diocese, and accomplished a journey of 3,000 miles. Sometimes he had to swim across deep rivers with high and rocky banks, and sometimes to plod along a desolate Karroo country, barren and dry land, where no water is." On one day he had to toil over Alpine passes; on another, his course lay through endless valleys, and along almost impassable roads

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