again for their trouble. In Psa. cii. 6, David, in consequence of his being afflicted, friendless, and alone, compares himself to "a pelican of the wilderness."

NOVEMBER.

A GREAT change in the weather generally takes place this month. The air is raw, cold, and foggy, and there are frequent heavy rains. The trees are bare, and, the insects have disappeared, being either dead or having gone into their winter houses. The days are dark and gloomy. The farmers are very busy ploughing, sowing, and draining their lands. A fine opportunity is now afforded many who are variously employed in the day, to get instruction in the evening schools, or to improve their minds by reading useful books, or engaging in instructive conversation by the fireside.

What a delightful thing it is to see the elder girls of a family busy at needlework, or knitting, making or mending clothes, for themselves or brothers and sisters, and the elder brothers rendering the employment pleasant and profitable by reading some suitable books!

This month was anciently called Blot Monath, from a Saxon word blotan, which means to slay, for in this month oxen, sheep, and pigs were killed and salted for winter stores and presents. We call it November from novem, which means ninth, and ber, a shower, it being the ninth month of the year, according to the Roman calculation.

THE KINGS OF ENGLAND.

EDWARD II.- -1307.

KING EDWARD the Second, Caernarvon surnam'd,

Was chiefly for follies and sufferings fam'd; His favourites his time and affection engross'd, Till his queen prov'd untrue, and his sceptre was lost;

Depos'd, and despis'd, to the Tower he went, And from prison to prison was afterwards sent. There at leisure, he mourn'd over scenes that were past,

And by ruffians was cruelly murder'd at last!

MORAL.

How quick is the fall when the first step is taken! And he who forsakes, will in turn be forsaken.

THE TEXT BOOK.

PERHAPS many of the readers of this Magazine may possess one of those nice little books, containing a verse from the Bible for every day in the year, and may, perhaps, be in the daily habit of learning it. But I fear many have never considered the great value of their little books; and I am therefore going to relate a story, showing the good which, with God's blessing, was once effected by a Text Book. A little boy had one given him by his grandmother. It was a pretty little book, and he valued it very much, and always carried it in his pocket. One day he had the misfortune to lose it. He was very sorry, and I dare say shed a great many tears over his loss.

But

that little book had a great work to do. It was picked up by a young girl, the child of very bad parents, and carried by her to her mother. Attracted, perhaps, by the outside of the book, she was induced to look at its contents, and was much struck by them. Some verses described the dreadful nature and sad consequences of sin, and convinced her that she was indeed guilty in the sight of a holy God. When under the fear of His just anger, other verses pointed her to the Lord Jesus, "the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world," and the Holy Spirit led her to believe in Him. She found joy and peace, and became an altered woman. A'short time after she was taken very ill, and the clergyman of the parish was requested to visit her. Knowing that she had always hated everything relating to religion, and had been very rude to him whenever he had spoken to her on the subject, he almost dreaded to go to her now. But how great was his surprise and delight to find the change which had taken place in her. She now loved to hear of Jesus, and those things which she had formerly reviled were now all that gave her real pleasure. She never recovered, but died in peace, rejoicing in Him, in whom she had first learned to believe through reading the Text Book. If such be the effect of a few verses of Holy Scripture, how great must be the value of the whole Bible! May those who possess this treasure learn to prize it more and more!

E.

THE HARE.

THIS is a well-known wild animal found in all

parts of Europe. It has no weapons of defence, but is very timid, and has quickness of sight and hearing, as well as a swiftness of foot, which are well calculated to protect it from its enemies. Its chief enemy is man, who, in consequence of these very qualities, destroys it for the purposes of sport. The hare feeds on vegetables only, such as leaves and fruits, and sometimes does great injury in fields, gardens, and young plantations. It is about the size of a very large cat; its ears are long, its fore legs are short, but hind ones are long; the tail is very short. The flesh is considered a delicacy, and is called game. The Jews were forbidden to eat it, because in Deut. xiv. 7, it is mentioned among the unclean animals. Hares can be tamed, and then they become very amusing. An English gentleman, named Cowper, who wrote many very beautiful hymns, and was therefore called a poet, had three tame hares, which he kept for a long time, and they afforded him much amusement. He called them by the names of Puss, Tiny, and Bess. On another occasion we hope to give you a little history of these tame hares.

THE IRON DUKE.

SUCH was the title given to the DUKE OF WELLINGTON, who died on Tuesday, September 14th, 1852, at Walmer Castle, near Dover. As this person was considered the most re