fore, his mother hid him in the house, in a room, so that no one but the family might about him. Perhaps God had kindly tol parents something of his future destiny: f Paul says, it was "by faith" that they hid believing that God could and would fulfil Hi poses, in spite of the King's wicked designs. soon perceived, however, that it was no longe to conceal their little boy in the house; for Ph had given strict orders to all his people to p command into immediate execution. Amram was the name of the child's father) made a "ark," or basket of "bulrushes," or reeds, grew on the banks of the Nile; and, in ord prevent the entrance of the water, coated the inside and outside with pitch, or slime. Wh was fully ready, the boy's mother took it t river-side, and laid it among the reeds, and p her lovely babe in it; commending him to the of that God who was Israel's Watcher, and never slumbers nor sleeps ;" and appointin sister to remain at a short distance from the to see what would become of her brother, and t accordingly. The cradle floated on the surfa the Nile, quite securely; for the Lord took ca it. Very soon a number of ladies were seen t to the river, “to wash," at the very place where ark had been left. One of them was distingui from all the rest by her dress, her manners, and respect which the others paid to her. This was Egyptian Princess Thermuthis, (so Josephus her,) the daughter of that King Pharaoh who

issued the cruel edict about the poor Israelitish boys, The Jews say that Pharaoh had no other child, and that Thermuthis was therefore the heiress to his throne. When she saw the cradle floating by the river's side, she sent one of her maids to fetch it to her. When she opened the cover, she was surprised to find a beautiful babe in it, who at that moment wept piteously. This moved the compassion of the Princess. She saw he was a Hebrew child; but, notwithstanding the law of her father, she determined to save him from a cruel fate. It was God who so disposed her heart. When the sister, who had been appointed to watch, saw the Princess with the ark, she came to her, to inquire if she should fetch a Hebrew woman to take the child, and nurse him: and when permission was given, she gladly ran home, and fetched her own mother; to whom Pharaoh's daughter gave the babe in charge, to nurse for her, promising to reward her handsomely. This the poor mother was overjoyed to do; doubtless, regarding this as an answer to her many prayers; for which she and her family would duly return their grateful thanks to the Lord.

How long she kept him, we cannot tell : but as the boy grew up rapidly, and became strong, she brought him again to the Princess, who adopted him as her own son; and, to commemorate the manner of his deliverance, called his name Moses, which means, "drawn out;" because she saved him from the river. She caused him to be educated in all the learning of the Egyptians; and it is not improbable that he was regarded as the intended occupant of

the throne of Pharaoh. But when he arrived a maturity, he renounced all the honours, wealth, and pleasures of Egypt; united himself with the enslaved Hebrews, and afterwards became, under God, thei great deliverer, their leader, and their lawgiver. He lived to be an aged man, and died in peace, honour ed by the Lord, and revered by his countrymen.

Do we not see in this narrative, the wisdom of God's providence, in causing the river to overflow its banks every year? Were it not for this, Egyp would become a perfect wilderness. We see also His goodness, in preserving Moses from death, and causing the heart of the King's daughter to pity him." What a great blessing it is to have pious parents! Those of you, dear readers, that have such, obey them, in return for their care. How easily can God frustrate the wicked designs of cruel men! Nothing is too hard for Him. O! be like Moses. Choose Christ, and His cause and people, rather than the world; and you will never regret your choice. You will lose nothing, but gain everything.

Lerwick, Shetland.

W. P.

THE DAY OF REST.

SWEET day of rest!

Before thy presence toil and care must flee :
The sadden'd spirit is no more oppress'd;
We gladly welcome thee.

We look on thee

As weary wanderers gaze when they behold

Their own dear haven, and the stormy sea
Its friendly shores unfold.

Thou guiding star

Amid the troubled sea of human life,

Thy light is clearest when the tempests are
Engaged in fiercest strife.

Token of love,

Sweetly thy radiance falls upon the sight;
Thou smilest kindly on us from above
The azure heaven's height.

Like the fair bow,

Which was of old set in the cloudy skies, Sweet hopes from out thy holy radiance flow, Array'd in heavenly dyes.

Gladly thy light

Was hail'd amid the fair, unfading bowers Of Eden, ere the sad and fated blight

Had fallen on its flowers.

When man had gone

To toil and wander o'er the dreary plain,

Thy tender radiance still upon him shone,
And cheer'd him and his pain.

For with its rays

Was join'd the memory of his ancient home; Its peaceful shades, its flowers, its happy days, And its clear, azure dome.

That memory still

Enriches thee with glory, day of rest, And drives from thee the thought of every ill Which can invade the breast.

Sweet day of rest!

Thou comest to our homes with blessings crown'd Where thou art honour'd as a welcome guest,

THIS name has been given to a kind of large insects, commonly called "walking leaves." Their wing-covers so closely resemble the leaves of plants, that the creatures are easily mistaken for the vegetable productions around them. They are natives of the East Indies; and belong to a family which naturalists have termed "Phasmidæ," or spectreinsects, some of which are destitute of wings, and have the appearance of dead twigs.