cesses, were wonderful to behold; and Annie thrilled to listen to the deep, mysterious sea-tones that came out of them when she put the mouth to her ear.

nette grew along by the side of the sweetbriar. | tints—their fluted surfaces-their winding reOf course the bees would find their way to these honeyed stores, and as Annie watched them sucking the flowers, she wondered if this one or that one was a worker, or a drone, or a queen-bee, and tried to see how they carried away the honey from the flowers; but their movements were too quick for her, and she was rather timid of the bee-sting.

The butterflies also interested her exceedingly, more than ever they had done before-what lovely wings, what varied colours, and what beautiful markings they displayed!

"Do you like this garden, Annie ?” said Miss Everitt.

"Oh!" replied Annie, "angels might live here." "And you, Margaret,-does this please you?" said Miss Everitt, as Miss Walton came towards them with her bouquet.

"We have quite as good at Manchester," said Margaret, disdainfully.

"But that does not lessen the beauty of this." "Oh, roses and geraniums are common enough." "And so are light, and life, and truth, Margaret; but they are not the less to be valued, are they? Let us thank God that He has made the most precious things the most common."

But Margaret had neither eyes to see, nor ears to hear, the glories of God's creation. Where there is not peace within the soul, we cannot enjoy or understand nature.

Mr. Beatson led the party to his fruit garden, and showed them his hothouses; and then they walked about his shrubberies. Returning to the house, he opened a room filled with natural objects, carefully arranged: the walls were covered with stuffed birds; and there was a cabinet of shells, of every size and form; and another of geological specimens.

All these things led on the party to tea-time; and they were not sorry to scent the fragrant China herb, as the servants carried the tea-trays out to tables placed under the trees at the top of the garden of roses.

I cannot describe how the seed-cakes, and the plum-cakes, and the tempting bread and butter were relished, or how the ham and veal pasties were assailed; but this I know, there was plenty of laughter, every face was radiant, and the sun shone bright, and the birds sang, and a proud and gorgeous peacock came with two pea-hens as if to look after stray morsels, and reward the liberal company with an occasional view of its long sweeping tail, shaken out and upspread in all its marvellous beauty. It was then a sight indeed, to view it pace slowly and majestically along, its elegant neck, and graceful head and breast, displaying the most superb tints conceivable.

And then, how the blackbird sang in that old apple-tree! it had so loud and thrilling a voice; and the pigeons could not be overlooked, for they, too, came about the tea-tables looking for crumbs. Pretty creatures they were-a silver-grey one, with soft, yet brilliant eyes, particularly pleased Annie; and George Beatson, with Miss Everitt's leave, gave it to her, and undertook to convey it himself.

The

Annie was very happy until she saw Frederick sneering at the pigeons and at George. envious and ungrateful boy wrote in pencil a few words, and thrust them into Annie's hand; she Annie, who could not bear the sight of a caged opened and read, George Beatson, D.S. (doctor of bird, was charmed with the opportunity of view- stupidity)-F. F. Q. (fool of the first quality). ing, close at hand, the graceful and airy forms of Annie blushed with vexation, and tore the paper the tenants of the groves. But when she beheld, and threw the pieces away. "Is this the way in the centre of the room, the vast pinions out-you requite kindness, Frederick ?" she said to spread of a mountain eagle, and observed its him, indignantly. kingly aspect amongst all the lesser tribes of the feathered race, she was struck with admiration. The owls, too, very much amused her, they were such odd-looking creatures she thought; but she was most delighted with the splendid parrots, and the smallest of all birds, the tiny humming-bird, one species of which appeared as small as a hazel

nut.

The collection of shells had been brought from many climes, and many shores; their delicate

Ada Temple was close by; she picked up the pieces and read the words, and showed them at once to George, who certainly looked pained, but he was above small vexations, especially on this day; so he returned the paper to Frederick, saying, "You have had trouble enough since you came amongst us, Fred. This was silly of you, but I shall make no mischief; only try to enjoy yourself while you are with my friends here."

"It's a dull affair," said Fred.

ing.

"I am sorry you find it so," said George, colour- | days, but I shall go to-morrow." The Curate made no answer. It is sad to think how one unamiable spirit may cast a cloud over the brightest and happiest scenes.

"I do indeed! roses and stuffed birds are no novelty to me."

"And is novelty essential to your enjoyment?" Always."

66

"Well, perhaps," rejoined George, embarrassed, "I may yet find something that will entertain you."

"Don't trouble yourself-I don't think it likely," said Frederick.

The discomfited George said no more. Turning, Ada Temple was at his elbow.

"Are you weak enough to be disturbed by that ill-natured boy, George ?" she said. "Meet him with the contempt he deserves."

"Ada, take care!" exclaimed Fred., threateningly, his face white with evil passions, and his hand clenched. "You have meddled too often with

my affairs."

"Why, what will you do ?"

All felt that something unpleasant had occurred: the Curate and Miss Everitt looked distressed, George uncomfortable, Ada Temple indignant, Annie unhappy, Margaret sullen, and Frederick haughty and defiant; the other children were whispering together. But the kind host and hostess exerted themselves to restore the spirits of the company. Mr. Beatson told laughable anecdotes of his experiences in foreign lands, and his lady distributed fruit and nuts. (To be continued.)

THE IRISH SAILOR BOY.

VOLNEY BECKNER, an Irish sailor boy, was born at Londonderry, in 1748; his father had been a fisherman of that place, and was so poor that he did not possess the means of giving his son a regular school education. What young Volney lost in this respect was in some measure compensated by his father's instructions at home. These instructions chiefly referred to a seafaring life, in which generosity of disposition, courage in encountering difficulties, and readiness on all occasions, are the most important qualities. While yet a mere baby, his father taught him to move and guide himself in the middle of the waves,

He clenched his hands, and moved close to her, still threateningly; but George seized his arm, and Ada called to the Curate, who was examining some flower-roots with Mr. Beatson. "That unhappy boy again!" exclaimed the Curate; "I am quite at a loss to understand how it is no answer comes from his father. I really must send him home." He beckoned Frederick down one of the garden paths, and said to him, sternly, "I have borne with your bad conduct, sir, as long as I am able; justice to the other pupils now demands that I free my school of a boy upon whom kind-even when they were most agitated. He used to ness and punishment are alike wasted. You must return home."

66

Sir, that is what I intend to do, to-morrow. My father writes to me to that effect."

"I have written to your father on the subject, and he has not answered my letter."

"He has answered it to me, sir, and wishes my sister and myself to return immediately."

"But Miss Everitt will not permit Margaret to leave her before she has direct instructions." "She must go with me, sir, to-morrow," said Frederick, in determined tones.

"Let me see your father's letter." "I have destroyed it. It would not have pleased you."

throw him from the stern of his boat into the sea, and encourage him to sustain himself by swimming, and only when he appeared to be sinking did he plunge in to his aid. In this way young Volney Beckner, from his very cradle, was taught to brave the dangers of the sea, in which, in time, he moved with the greatest ease and confidence,

When Volney was about nine years of age, he was placed apprentice in a merchant ship, in which his father appears to have sometimes sailed, and in this situation he rendered himself exceedingly useful. In tempestuous weather, when the wind blew with violence, tore the sails, and made the timbers creak, and while the rain fell in torrents, he was not idle at his post. The squirrel does not clamber with more agility over the loftiest trees than did Volney along the stays and sail-yards. When he was at the top of the highest mast, even in the fiercest storm, he appeared as little agitated as a passenger stretched on a hammock. The little fellow also was regardless of

OUR HISTORIC TREASURY.

have to mould the future life of the nation, during their generation, it is most essential that they should study the history of past times, for the better they understand these, the wiser will they think and act for the times that are to come.

about to seize his prey. In this terrible extremity, what strong men would not venture to attempt, filial piety excited a child to execute. Of all the varied and important subjects which Little Volney armed himself with a broad and it is our intention to introduce to the notice of our pointed sabre; he threw himself into the sea; youthful readers, none can be more important than then diving with the velocity of a fish, he slipped history; for our boys and girls will soon cease to under the animal, and stabbed his sword in his be boys and girls, and as it is they who will body up to the hilt. Thus suddenly assailed, and deeply wounded, the shark quitted the track of his prey, and turned against his assailant, who attacked him with repeated lounges of his weapon. It was a heart-rending spectacle-on one side, the American trembling for his little girl, who Our Historic Treasury will be stored by Aunt seemed devoted to destruction; on the other, a Mary, a well-known historical teacher, whose generous mariner exposing his life for a child not "Cabinet Pictures from English History," pubhis own; and here, the whole crew full of breath- lished in "The Family Friend," have delighted less anxiety as to the result of an encounter in and instructed a very numerous and intelligent which their young shipmate exposed himself circle of young readers. We are sure, therefore, to almost inevitable death to divert it from his that our narratives, depicting striking events of father.

The combat was too unequal, and no refuge remained but in a speedy retreat. A number of ropes were quickly thrown out to the father and the son, and they each succeeded in seizing one. Already they were several feet above the surface of the water. Already cries of joy were heard-"Here

they are! here they are!-they are saved!" Alas! no-they were not saved: at least one victim was to be sacrificed to the rest. Enraged at seeing his prey about to escape him, the shark plunged to make a vigorous spring, and darting forward like lightning, with the sharp teeth of his capacious mouth he tore asunder the body of the intrepid boy while suspended in the air.

Thus perished, at the age of twelve years and some months, this hopeful boy, who so well deserved a better fate. When we reflect on the generous action which he performed in saving the life of his father, and of a girl who was a stranger to him, at the expense of his own, we are surely entitled to place his name in the very first rank of heroes. When pressed by emergencies let us cast aside all selfish considerations, and think on the heroism of the Irish sailor boy.

former days, will be welcomed, especially as those points will be selected that have most vitality for the intellect, heart, or imagination of the young. Our first subject will be one, the interest of which can never be surpassed, nor the importance, especially to you, dear boys and girls, for by its operations you are taught to read, and indulge in those intellectual pleasures which we and others provide for you.

PRINTING AND ITS INVENTORS.

MY DEAR BOYS AND GIRLS,-Aunt Mary now addresses you in her own person, earnestly soliciting your best attention, and delighted to have once more the privilege of entertaining and instructing you.

We shall begin our narrative of Printing and its Inventors, at Haarlem, a fortified city of North Holland, twelve miles from Amsterdam. There, between the years 1370 and 1440, there lived a rich citizen and magistrate, named Lawrence Coster, who dwelt in an elegant house in the market place, opposite the royal palace. It was the custom for the rich citizens and people of leisure in Haarlem, on afternoons and holidays, to walk in the wood contiguous to the city; and Laurence being there,

Little was it understood then, that the "mystery" of printing, like the wise serpent which swallowed up all the other serpents, was to put an end to all trade mysteries, for this is its inevitable tendency, and to make public for the good of all, whatever is desirable to be known.

cut letters out of the bark of a beech tree, and | Such were the feelings then entertained toward afterwards inking them with common ink, took those who betrayed the secrets of a trade. impressions on paper, in the manner of a seal. In this way he formed a few lines of reading for his own amusement, and for the use of the children of his brother-in-law. This succeeding so well, he attempted greater things, and being a man of genius and reflection, he invented a thicker and more adhesive ink, as the common writing ink was too thin, and made blots. He had letters cut in wood, at first using blocks with words cut on them, and afterwards moveable letters, that might be transposed in any way; thus he was able at last to produce books on paper, or vellum, printed or impressed with wooden types held together by threads. His inventive genius, however, proceeded no further. His press was shaped like the common wine presses. The leaves were printed on one side only, and every two leaves were pasted together, to conceal the blank sides. He died at the age of seventy, leaving the art of printing by moveable characters in the state described.

The age of Lawrence was the age of trade "mysteries," from which strangers were to be as jealously excluded as if they formed part of the modern empire of Japan. It was often dangerous to one's personal safety to attempt to encroach on the forbidden precincts, as in the instance of the silk manufacture, which was not introduced to England from Italy without many "hair-breadth 'scapes," and even sacrifice of life, for trade has had its martyrs as well as religion. Of course, every trade mystery must have its workmen, but these took oaths of secrecy, the breach of which was regarded as a very great crime, and, if possible, punished accordingly.

The next inventor of Printing, and the man who is now everywhere regarded as the principal originator of the modern art, was John Guttenberg, or Guttemberg, a citizen of Mentz, or Mayence, on the Rhine, where he lived with John Faust and Peter Schoeffer, in a house since well known as "The Printing Office."

Guttenberg was born about the year 1400, of noble and wealthy parents. When he was twentyfour years of age, he went to reside at Strasburg as a merchant. There he lived for many years, during which he expended almost all his substance in printing experiments, until, struggling with difficulties, and meeting obstacles on every hand, he was about to give up his cherished hope of producing books by impression, when he returned to Mentz and took into his counsel John Fust, or Faust, a rich goldsmith of Mentz, who supplied the money for working out his ideas. These two soon began to print books, as Lawrence Coster had done, from wooden tablets and letters. But this was a small triumph compared with that which was soon to follow, for never were energy and perseverance, joined to inventive talent, more wonderfully successful, or more wisely directed.

John Guttenberg, assisted by Faust and Schoeffer, made at last the invaluable discovery, that letters cut in metal might be advantageously used for imprinting copies of books, and at once they turned their attention to the Bible, then a book unknown, except in manuscript, very costly.

One of Lawrence Coster's workmen, named Jan, who assisted at the press under oath, thinking he had learned enough of the art to practice it for himself, watched his opportunity, and one Christ- And so, between 1450 and 1455, was printed mas Eve, while the family and the other workmen in large letter cut in metal, the celebrated Latin were engaged in celebrating the festival, he packed Bible of six hundred and thirty-seven leaves, up a number of the types and other materials, and known as the Mazarine Bible, which was the first fled with them to Mentz or Mayence, a city on important specimen of printing from metal types. the Rhine. Another of Lawrence's workmen, A distinguished writer says, "It is a very striking when he was old, speaking of his former master's circumstance, that the high-minded inventors of inventions, often described with great feeling and this great art tried at the very outset, so bold a earnestness, the numerous trials and experiments flight as the printing an entire Bible, and executed made by Lawrence, and when he came to that it with astonishing success. It was Minerva part of the narrative describing the robbery, he leaping on earth in her divine strength and radiant would burst into tears, lamenting his former in- armour, ready at the moment of her activity to timacy with "so vile a miscreant," and exclaim-subdue and destroy her enemies." ing, that if Jan were still alive, he would with [In our next, we shall give particulars of Caxpleasure execute the thief with his own hands. | ton, and Printing in England.]