a whitish ground; and when the animal is standing still and viewed by a spectator in front, it resembles the trunk of a withered tree; the hinder parts being entirely concealed. THE MANNERS OF THE JEWS, FURNITURE-MODE OF SITTING. The walls of the rooms in houses of the higher ranks were covered and adorned with hangings of cloth, silk, or leather, of various sorts and colors. The ceilings were often ornamented with carving and paint ing, or gilding, which is alluded to Jer. xxii. 14. Haggai i. 4. At the present day the walls are in general merely white-washed. The floors were generally of tiles and plaster; but as chairs are seldom or never used in the east, they were covered with carpets. They are so at the present day, and the people sit cross-legged, or recline at length upon them. Along the walls were placed mattresses or couches to recline upon, and pillows or bolsters, which are mentioned Amos vi. 4. Ezek. xiii. 13. One end of the room was raised higher than the rest; here the bed was placed: this may explain 2 Kings i. 4. Ps. cxxxii. 3. also what is said of Hezekiah, 2 Kings xx. 2. and of Ahab, 1 Kings xxi. 4. They both appear to have turned their faces from their attendants, and towards the wall, though from very different motives; one that his earnest prayers might not be observed, the other to conceal his disappointment. The furniture of houses in the east always was very simple, and in general still is so; it consists of but few articles. Chairs were not used; they usually sat on mats or skins; these also served for bedding, while a part of their clothes was used for a covering. This explains why a man was to return his neighbor's garment before night, see Deut. xxiv. 12. Exod. xxii. 26. The bedding of the paralytic, Matt. ix. 6. probably was only such as is just described. The rich had carpets, couches, and sofas, on which they sat, and lay, and slept. These couches were often very splendid, and the frames ornamented. In the latter times of the Jewish nation, they laid or reclined on couches while taking their meals, their heads towards the table, and their feet in a contrary direction. These particulars explain Amos vi. 4. Luke vii. 36. 38. and John xiii. 23. and other passages. The other articles of furniture were but few in numher. The furniture of the prophet's chamber prepared for him by the Shunamite, 2 Kings iv. 10. probably was more than usual; but we read it was only a bed or couch upon the floor, a table, a stool, and a candlestick. Pots, pans, and dishes of earthenware or metal, with a few chests and boxes, supplied the place of many articles with which our houses are crowded. A very necessary article was the hand-mill, but this was only two flat stones. The kneading-troughs, described Exod. xii. 34. and even those used in the east in the present day, were small wooden bowls, or leathern bags. There were many sorts of earthenware vessels of different shapes and sizes, from the smallest size to the large ones mentioned John ii. 6. When Dr. Clark was at Cana, in Galilee, a few years since, he saw several large stone water pots, like those just mentioned, containing from eighteen to twenty-seven gallons each. Cups and vessels of gold or silver, to drink out of, were used by kings and princes, 2 Chron. ix. 20. Gen xliv. 2. &c. but the Jews of old, like the modern Arabs, kept their water, wine, milk, and other liquors, in bottles, or rather bags, made of skins, which could be patched and mended when old. Such were the bottles of the Gibeon ites, Josh. ix. 4. This is an important circumstance for my young readers to remember, as it explains the allusion of our Lord, Matt. ix. 17. Mark ii. 22. Luke v. 37, 38. which texts have often been objected to by ignorant infidels, who think that what they daily see at home must resemble every thing in former times, and in other countries. If the new wine fermented after it was put into the leather bottle, it is evident that an old worn skin would be more likely to burst than one which was new and strong. This was the sort of bottle opened by Jael, Judg. iv. 19. Sometimes those bottles are made of the entire skin of a kid or other animal, but more frequently they are square bags made of large pieces of leather, which will hold several gallons of any liquid; so that Abigail's two bottles (or skins) of wine, 1 Sam. xxiv. 18. were not out of proportion to the rest of her present, as two glass bottles of the present day would have been. The Psalmist, when describing himself as wasted with affliction and trouble, compares himself to a bottle in the smoke, Psa. cxix. 83. A leathern bottle, if hung in the smoke for a length of time would become shrivelled and dried up. THE CROW AND THE PITCHER. Do my young readers recollect the old fable of the crow and the pitcher? In a little work called "Flowers of Fable," we find the following illustration to the story. Although they improve by age, still when occasionally presented, they may not be unacceptable: A Crow, ready to die with thirst, flew with joy to a Pitcher, which he beheld at some distance. When he came, he found water in it indeed, but so near the bottom, that, with all his stooping and straining, he was not able to reach it. Then he endeavored to overturn the pitcher, that so at least he might be able to get a little of it; but his strength was not sufficient for this. At last, seeing some pebbles lying near the place, he cast them one by one, into the pitcher; and thus, by degrees, raised the water up to the very brim, and satisfied his thirst. MORAL. Necessity is the mother of invention; and that which cannot be accomplished by strength, may be achieved by ingenuity. MAHLON DAY, New York. COLLINS & HANNAY, New York. JOHN WILEY, New York. MARSHALL & BROWN, Providence. it can hardly be said of fables as of wine, that Sold by all the principal booksellers in the United States The first land in the new world seen by Columbus was the island of San Salvador, called by the natives, Guanahani. The three caravels steered towards this island at sunrise. It was covered with trees, and watered by many beautiful streams. Crowds of the natives, in utter astonishment, ran from all parts of the shore. Columbus, richly dressed, embarked in his cutter, with the masters of the other caravels, carrying the royal standard in his hand. When they had all landed, they erected a crucifix, and kneeling before it, returned thanks to Heaven for so happy an issue to so perilous an enterprise. When Columbus rose, he named the island San Salvador, and took possession of it in the name of the king of Spain. The poor natives stood about in silent wonder, at a ceremony which they could not understand. When the ships first appeared to them at sunrise, hovering about the island, they had supposed them to be sea-monsters, and watched their motion with the utmost anxiety. Their terror was increased, when they saw the boats gliding over the water, and strange beings, clad in shining armor, and bearing emblazoned standards, land upon the beach. They fled in confusion to the woods, but no attempt being made to pursue them, they regained confidence and returned to the beach. During the ceremony of taking possession, they approached the Spaniards with the utmost reverence, throwing themselves on the ground, and making signs of adoration. Their dress, complexion, and arms, were all new and strange to the poor creatures. The scarlet cloak of the admiral was a great attraction to them. By degrees they became more confident, and examined the hands and faces of the strangers, with a simple astonishment. seen. managed them with great skill, and when upset, they would right them with the greatest ease, and empty them by means of calabashes which they carried for the purpose. They brought with them balls of cotton. yarn, tamed parrots, and cakes of cassava bread; which they were anxious to exchange for fancy caps, beads, hawks' bells, and even for pieces of earthen ware, and broken glass. But the most attractive article they displayed was in shape of golden ornaments. Columbus eagerly inquired about the places where gold was found. From their signs and answers, he imagined, that at a short distance to the southward there dwelt a king of great wealth who was served in vessels of gold. This monarch he supposed to be the one described by a famous traveller in Asia, as living in the gold covered palaces of Cipango. The Europeans were almost equally surprised at the novel scenes before them. They found fruits and flowers, that they had never met with in any other country. The climate about them was delicious, and the soil fertile beyond description. No appearance of wealth or civilization was to be The natives were naked, and marked with various kinds of paint. Their complexion was of a tawny copper color. Long, uncurled, black hair hung over their shoulders, or was bound in tresses about their ELLEN AND JUDITH; OR WHICH heads. They were friendly, gentle and artless. Their only weapons were lances, pointed with a fish-bone, or flint, or hardened at the end by fire. They were ignorant of the use of iron, and many of them received slight wounds by catching hold of the Spanish swords. As Columbus imagined that he had touched at an island on the extremity of India, he called the natives Indians; and this name, originating in a mistake, has been applied to all the aborigines of the new world. IS HUMANE? There was once a little girl, who always seemed to feel great pity for those who were in want of food or clothing. If she was walking in the street with any of her friends, and a beggar came near, she would entreat to have money given her, to give to that poor creature. At home she begged cold meat or halfpence of her mamma for all the beggars that came to the house; so that this little girl was praised all day long for being so very humane, and she began to think herself one of the best children in the world, and boasted to her playfellows, both of her good name, and of the great deal of money she got from her mamma for poor people. One day Ellen, for thus she was called, had a girl about her own size and age to play with her, whose name was Judith. She was a quiet, modest child, who did not boast of any good that she did. She had no mother to indulge her wishes, and the friends she lived with could not afford to give money to all who asked for it. Ellen's mamma was going out to pay a visit, but she left the children a large piece of rich plumcake to divide between them, that they might play at making feasts. Before this cake was touched, a poor woman, with an almost naked child in her arms, sat down on the step of the door, and seemed ready to faint. The children saw her, and ran to the door to ask what was the matter with her. She told a sad story of having been sick at a great distance from her home, and that she was now on her way to the place where her friends lived, but that, having walked from daybreak without tasting a morsel of food, she felt herself not able to go a step farther. "Poor woman!" cried Ellen, "you shall not want food long, and I am glad you came to our door, for we take care of all the poor people." And away she flew down stairs to seek the cook. But the cook was gone out, as well as her mistress, and what was worse, had taken the key of the pantry with her, so that the house-maid could not get any thing to give. "Then pray, Mary, lend me a penny," said Ellen, "and you shall have it back again the moment mamma comes home. But Mary had not a penny, nor yet even a half-penny. Ellen was quite angry with her, which was of no use, for the house-maid could not give that which she had not. So Ellen ran back to the door, and said, "O poor woman, I am very sorry I have nothing for you: mamma is out, and the cook has locked up all the bread and meat. Do come again in two hours, pray do, for mamma will be at home then, and I will get both money and food for you. Go away now, my dear, good, poor woman, for indeed I have nothing to give you." "Yes you have," said quiet Judith: "There is our plumcake; give her that." Ellen pulled her by the frock, and with an angry look, and in a sort of whisper, bid her hold her tongue, and not talk about the plumcake, which was not a fit thing to give a beggar. "I know very well," said Judith, "that it is not so good for her as bread or meat would be, but she is starving, and we have nothing else to give; so look as angry as you will, Miss Ellen, half the cake was for me, and that half she shall have. I have no right to meddle with your share.” In spite of Ellen's tears, who began to cry at the thought of losing any of the rich plumcake, Judith cut it in half, and breaking that half into two pieces, put one into the hand of the woman, and the other into that of the child. A grateful smile spread over the face of the poor woman, while the little hungry babe gave a scream of joy. After eating the cake, and drinking a draught of beer which the housemaid brought her, the woman was able once more to proceed on her journey. Ellen's pleasure for the evening was at an end. She wanted to make feasts, and half the plumcake was gone. She called Judith a fool and a busy-body, and wished the woman had been a hundred miles off. But Judith, though she loved plumcake dearly, and seldom had such things given to her, did not regret that she had parted with her share. Had it not been for Ellen's ill-humor, she would have been more happy that evening, than if she had feasted on the best plumcake that ever was made. |