To both, "Remember the design of your union, to promote each other's honour, comfort, and usefulness in this life; and to be a preparation for a better. You are to walk together as fellow-travellers through the paths of time, whether smooth or rugged; and as fellow-heirs of the grace of life, helping each other by prayer, counsel, sympathy, and forbearance."

"Always keep in view the termination of your union— 'till death us do part.' This will keep you sober and moderate in your worldly enjoyments and expectations, and, at the same time, will preserve you from such conduct as would embitter the parting moment, or add an unnecessary pang to the grief of the survivor."-Sent by Y. Copied from "Useful Hints."

CAOUTCHOUC RICK-CLOTHS.

A NEW Covering for hay, straw, &c. has been presented to the Agricultural Society of Paris, which has been found to have answered exceedingly well during the late heavy rains, not only in repelling the wet, but also having the desirable quality of preventing insects from depositing their ova. This covering, which is very simple, consists of a piece of strong canvass, similar to that used for ships' sails, in the shape of a marquee, well saturated with a dilution of caoutchouc, or Indian rubber, with spirits of common turpentine. It renders the canvass quite water-tight, and more elastic, and the preparation can be made at a trifling expense. The government, wishing to make trial of it at the late camp of Compeigne, had several of the soldiers' tents prepared with it, and, from the report of a board of officers appointed to make the experiment, it has proved so efficacious in repelling the damp, that it is to be adopted throughout the French army when encamped.-New Farmer's Journal.

THE LABOURER'S NOON-DAY HYMN.

Up to the throne of God is borne
The voice of praise at early morn,
And He accepts the punctual hymn
Sung as the light of day grows dim.

1838.]

ST. MATTHEW XVII. 8.

Nor will He turn His ear aside
From holy offerings at noon-tide;
Then, here reposing, let us raise
A song of gratitude and praise.

What, though our burden be not light,
We need not toil from morn to night;
The respite of the mid-day hour,
Is in the thankful creature's power.

Blest are the moments, doubly blest,
That drawn, from this one hour of rest,
Are with a ready heart bestowed
Upon the service of our God!

Look up to heav'n! the industrious sun
Already half his race hath run;
He cannot halt, nor go astray ;—
But our immortal spirits may.

Lord! since his rising in the east,
If we have falter'd or transgress'd,
Guide from Thy love's abundant source,
What yet remains of this day's course.

Help with Thy grace, through life's short day,
Our upward and our downward way;

And glorify us for the west,

When we shall sink to final rest.

93

WORDSWORTH.

ST. MATTHEW xvii. 8.

"And when they had lift up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only." How desirable is it to have our distracting thoughts so banished and subdued, as to see "Jesus only!" Without this, we cannot be vigorous, practical Christians. Learn, then, to look away from yourself entirely, and to "stand fast in the Lord." Divest yourself of all fretful care about the future, for that is safe in His hands. Yea, having committed "the keeping of your souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator," you have no occasion to tremble even at death itself. Think of those words, "I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also." Oh the blessedness of that peaceful position of mind, in which every thing that is seen by us, is seen in Christ; not looking at the winds or waves, or ourselves, but Jesus only! The disciples seeing no longer Moses or Elias, but Jesus only, may serve further to suggest to us in

struction with respect to viewing Jesus as the true Lawgiver, and the true Restorer of all things. How happy is it, when the believer at length perceives that he has his sufficiency in Christ alone, and needs no other support. He then walks at liberty, keeping Christ's commandments with his whole heart. The peace of God which passeth all understanding, keeps his heart and mind by Christ Jesus. The terrors of the law no longer appal him, and yet he now learns to keep the law universally and more stedfastly than ever.-From " Elijah the Tishbite," by the Rev. F. W. Krummachee, D.D.

PLATE GLASS.

A Discovery by Accident.-The chief discoveries in the arts have been made by accident. It is related that the discovery of glass-making was effected by seeing the sand vitrified on which a fire had been kindled. The discovery of the manufacture of plate-glass is said to have been equally accidental. Blancourt relates that a person who was melting some of this material in a crucible accidentally spilled it, while fluid, upon the ground. The metal ran under one of the large flag stones wherewith the place was paved, which obliged the workman to take up the stone in order to recover the glass. He then found it in the form of a plate, such as could not be produced by the ordinary process of blowing. The man's attention being roused by this fact, he was unable to sleep, and, conceived at once the superiority of this method for forming mirrors, and immediately commenced experimenting, and, before the day appeared, had proved the practicability of the improvement, which the purest chance had thus placed within the sphere of his observation.

QUALITY OF MILK DURING MILKING.

SEVERAL large coffee cups having been successively filled from one cow, till she was quite dry, the following results appeared, great care having been taken to weigh the cups.

In every case the quantity of cream was found to

1838.]

MISERIES OF INDOLENCE.

95

increase in proportion as the process of milking advanced. In different cows the proportion varied, but in the greater number the excess of cream in the last cup, as compared with the first, was as sixteen to one; in some it was not so considerable; therefore, as an average, it may be called as ten or twelve to one. The difference in the quality of the two sorts of cream was no less striking; the cream given by the first drawn milk was thin, white, and without consistence, while that furnished by the last, was thick, buttery, and of a rich colour. The milk remaining in the different cups presented similar differences that which was drawn first was very poor, blue, and had the appearance of milk and water; that in the last cup was of a yellowish hue, rich, and, to the eye and taste, resembling cream rather than milk. It appears, therefore, from these experiments, that if, after drawing off seven or eight pints from a cow, half a pint remains in the teats, not only almost as much cream will be lost, as the seven or eight pints will furnish, but that of the best quality, and which gives the richest taste and colour to butter. The fact has been corroborated by chemical experiments, and holds good with respect to goats and asses.-Blacker's Essay on the Improvement of Small Farms.

MISERIES OF INDOLENCE.

NONE SO little enjoy life, and are such burthens to themselves, as those who have nothing to do. The active only have the true relish of life. He who knows not what it is to labour, knows not what it is to enjoy. Recreation is only valuable as it unbends us: the idle know nothing of it. It is exertion that renders rest delightful, and sleep sweet and undisturbed. That the happiness of life depends upon the regular prosecution of some laudable. purpose or laudable calling, which engages, helps, and enlivens all our powers, let those bear witness who, after spending years in active usefulness, retire to enjoy themselves. They are generally a burthen to themselves.Rev. W. Jay.

SUBSTITUTE FOR COFFEE.

GATHER acorns when quite ripe, keep them for a short time in a dry place; then take off the husks, cut the acorns into small pieces, and roast, grind, and prepare them as coffee. This preparation is becoming in general use throughout Germany, and is much recommended as a tonic, and for its nourishing properties.-Family HandBook.