endeavoured to seize his leg, and not until his back was broken by repeated kicks did he give over his earnest and reiterated attempts to renew his sanguinary feast; and indeed, whilst in the agonies of death, the piteous screams of the child seemed to rouse him to vain efforts to regain his prey.

The ferret was of large growth, and much distended with the infant's blood; and although formerly of peculiar shyness, yet he lost sight of fear, and became ferocious in pursuit of the unfortunate infant. It appears the poor woman had left her child (about six months old), in a cradle whilst she went to market, when it is supposed the infant's cry had arrested the attention of the ferret, who managed to make his escape, and thus effected his purpose. There is good reason to believe he must have past more than half an hour in the indulgence of his appetite, from the cir cumstance of the neighbours having heard the piercing shrieks of the child for a long time without the slightest suspicion of the mother's absence.

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'Nature, enchanting Nature, in whose form

'And lineaments divine I trace a hand

'That errs not, and find raptures still renew'd,
'Is free to all men-universal prize.'

Cowper.

In surveying the works of nature, in admiring their beauty, their order, their seasons, and the thousand attractions they possess, I sometimes think that the divine Author of our religion viewed them with corresponding feelings; and this reflection always affords me pleasure. He selected a garden, having a brook in it, as a place of frequent resort; and, in a beautiful passage, we find him telling us to consider the lilies of the field, how they grow-they toil not;' he adds, 'neither do they spin, and yet Solomon in all his glory was not ' arrayed like one of these.' He delightfully reminds us how securely we may trust to his care and love, by desiring us to 'behold the fowls of the air, which neither sow, nor reap, nor gather 'into barns; and yet our heavenly Father feedeth 'them.' Then, again, he tells us that we are 'his sheep, and that He is our shepherd.' And at another time he illustrates his kindness and compassion by referring to the care and protection afforded by a hen to her chickens; and further assures us, that not even a sparrow falleth to the

ground without the knowledge of our beneficent Creator. These, and other illustrations of our Saviour's precepts, were taken from objects of nature, which probably immediately surrounded him, and may be admitted as a proof of the justice of the observation I have hazarded on the subject.

Throughout the whole of the New Testament the images taken from nature leave a stronger impression on the mind than almost any others. And sure I am that the close contemplation of those which assure us of the ever wakeful care and kindness of our Maker will bring with them a peaceful serenity of mind, which would be envied, if it could be justly appreciated, by persons who have hitherto thought but little on the subject.

I was occupied the other day, for a few moments, in reflecting on the benefits accruing to mankind, from a remarkable instinct impressed by the great Creator on that insignificant grub the silk-worm. What warmth and comfort does it afford to us! How useful, convenient, and, I may add, elegant, is the clothing we derive from it! But this is not all. Let us, for one moment consider how many thousands of persons are absolutely indebted to it for almost their very existence, in consequence of the employment it affords in nearly every country of the known world.

There is, however, another striking and interesting peculiarity attending the silk-worm, which I have not observed to have been hitherto noticed. It is the fact, that while the caterpillars of all the other tribes of moths and butterflies, when they have arrived at a certain state of maturity, show a restless disposition, and wander about and hide themselves in a variety of places in order to spin their cocoons, preparatory to their making their escape as moths, &c.; the caterpillar of the silkworm, on the contrary, may almost be considered as a domestic insect, and is content to remain stationary in the open tray, or box, in which it may be placed. After consuming its immediate supply of mulberry leaves, it waits for a further quantity; and when the period is arrived for spinning its cocoon, instead of showing any migratory disposition, it seems to place itself with confidence under the care of man for the providing it with a suitable place for its convenience and protection. In the fly or moth state, the female is quite incapable of flight; and the male, although of a much lighter make, and more active, can fly but very imperfectly. This latter circumstance insures to us the eggs for the following season, thus completing the adaptation of the insect in its different stages to the purposes it is destined to fulfil for our advantage. To my mind this striking peculiarity in the habits of the silk-worm beauti

fully illustrates the care and kindness of the Almighty, in thus making an apparently insignificant reptile the means of conveying so many important benefits to man.

The migratory disposition of the common moths and butterflies is not, however, without its use, though we may not so immediately profit by it. I have before observed, that the caterpillars hide themselves in a variety of places. These, in the pupæ state, furnish food for our soft-billed birds during the winter, who search for and feed upon them. Without such a resource many of them must perish during a severe frost. Numerous insects also lay their eggs in living caterpillars, who die before they change into pupae; so that the very existence, as it is well known, of some insects is perpetuated by the destruction of others.

In noticing these facts, it seems impossible to withhold at least that silent admiration, which the ways of Providence in the works of the creation claim from every one, by whom they are properly contemplated. Trifling as the relation may appear to some persons, it ought to carry the conviction with it, that we are under the care and guidance of an all-wise and bountiful Creator. Happy shall we be if this instructive lesson is not lost upon us.

I do not know that I can do better than introduce here the following fact, which was commu