dying tree casts a dark shade over all within its sphere; like the inmates of the grave, it had been spared for many years, and exulted in its pride when spangled with dew drops, and revelled in its beauty as it reared its towering head to the morning sun, shared its warmth the whole of the day, and was yet young and lovely at its setting; it had been fanned by the breeze and shaken by the storm, but like he of whom it is the type, was now sinking beneath the withering hand of decay. Yonder a monument erected to the memory of some purse-proud man, whose name it was intended should survive even time; but the breezes had obliterated it, and the ruthless winds had scattered the proudly-emblazoned dust, and the monument had dwindled to half its size. You might perceive half lines that tell of his fame and wealth; but they are scattered like traditionary scraps of his memory in the village. By his side and around him lie the old and young, the rich and poor, the learned and the illiterate, but oblivion wraps her mantle over all; and soon gone is his fame, whose only monument is in the churchyard.

The next Lodge night the situation of Mrs. Mitford was taken into consideration. The Widow and Orphans' Fund was not in operation, nor as yet thought of. A gift from the Lodge was immediately proposed; and a suggestion approved of for an application to the next District Committee to allow a petition to go to the neighbouring Lodges for the benefit of the widow. It wanted some seven or eight weeks to the Committee. One inquired what the family were to do in the meantime; and another proposed a weekly allowance until the holding of the Committee, which I need not say was granted. At the Committee leave was immediately given for the petition to go to the other Lodges, which was headed by a donation of two pounds from his own Lodge, and after being out about three months, amounted to some eight or ten pounds; and in what was the best way of employing the money was the next question. Some suggested a sort of small business, but Mrs. Mitford thought, with a little of Gertrude's assistance, a mangle would be the best. Her wish was complied with, preferring to eke out existence by the drudgery of a mangle, than the hopes and disappointments of a retail business. We have seen with regret men's minds bend to many a low occupation, if there be a low occupation in the whole arrangement of society,-for if we are not indebted to the scavenger for genius and its fruits, we are for cleanliness,if we are not indebted to the husbandman for learning, we are for sustenance,and to eke from which a comfortable existence, would be as easy as to extract water from a desert, or the bee to suck honey from a briar; but society fosters pride of the worst description, not noble generosity, and oftener rewards ambitition than usefulness. A widow with a mangle is a sure sign of hard, upright struggling with the world, and tells what a change has been there. About two years previous to his death, Mr. Mitford had apprenticed Godfrey to a joiner, and Gertrude at this time was learning dress making, and neither of them had forgot their duty to their mother, but endeavoured to lessen her cares and toils by exerting themselves; whilst she almost forgot her bereavement in the kindness of her friends, and contentment of her children.

One evening, about three years after the death of Mr. Mitford, as Mrs. Mitford had finished the weary toil of another day, and the family were enjoying their evening meal with that rare visitant, contentment, Mrs. Mitford broke the silence with saying that she had been thinking of making Godfrey an Odd Fellow. On hearing this, his honest heart leapt within him, and the deep pleasure was visible in his sparkling eye. But a great difficulty presented itself,-how was the money to be obtained? Godfrey was but eighteen years old, and had served four years of his apprenticeship, and his wages and the income of the house were but small. After many schemes and suggestions -honesty not countenancing some, for domestic comfort was to be sacrificed,-pride preventing others, for assistance was to be asked,-and prudence disapproving of many more, Godfrey bethought himself of the Manchester and Salford District Provident Society, wherein small contributions might be paid weekly. This society is established for encouraging the industrious to save while they have it in their power, and smalll contributions, as low as a penny, (for which interest is allowed) may be deposited, the depositor having the advantage of drawing out when he chooses; the contributions are called for at the houses of the depositors, and Godfrey thought that this would be the best plan. It was agreed that sixpence a week should be paid into the society; so that in less than twelve months from the time it would amount to the sum required. The first payment was made on the following Monday, and with intense pleasure did he

weekly leave with his mother the odd sixpence for so odd, but yet so good a purpose; and whenever circumstances rendered him unable to leave the sixpence, regret would damp his gay spirits, and he would lose half of his usual cheerfulness. Time rolled on producing its mighty changes, ruthlessly blasting the fair promises of many, and as prodigally squandering its blessings and prospering for awhile the wild schemes of others. If he counted the minutes, he was overwhelmed with their number; hours seemed days, days were stretched into weeks, weeks into months, and months were magnified into years, so impatient, so longing was he for its arrival,—and willingly would he have foregone thus much of his existence. In about twelve months, the money, with the interest allowed, amounted to the sum required. Mrs. Mitford waited on an influential member of the Lodge, and on being acquainted with her business, was glad in having the pleasure of proposing so deserving a character; and Mrs. Mitford, in the best possible manner, showed her gratitude to the Order, in presenting her son to become a member of the Lodge from which she had received so much kindness, when kinduess was most wanted, and her family snatched from misery, and perhaps from ruin. He is indeed a friend who performs an act of kindness when there is not the least chance of its being returned. Godfrey was initiated as soon as he could be after application. The initiation ceremony was carefully observed by Godfrey, not with suspicion, for suspicion durst uot raise a whisper as to the place or character of those who had shown so much benevolence; and he thought whatever might be the practices of many in the world, they must be different here; if the licentious or abandoned had assembled here, their conduct must be changed; if drunkards had met, their enjoyment must be foregone; and our evil passions must give way, at least for a time, to the noblest principle, that of lessening human misery.

Orphans are like wild flowers! We admire the beauty and delicate forms of garden flowers, and feel pleasure in plucking the weeds that grow around them, and seem to claim their fellowship; but the pale hue, the wild gracefulness, and the strong form of the wild flower raises a loftier thought, and fills us with mingled emotions of pity and regret. They grow by the wayside, and the bee may either sip and cull their sweets, or the schoolboy pluck them with "rude delight." They spring up amongst thorns, and briars, and weeds, and seem like straggling stars in the firmament. We have gently plucked a flower from the wayside, and tenderly planted it in a garden; we have gently watered it when the rains descended not, and the dews were light; and oh ! how beautiful was the change! The mild soil of the latter now made its strong form as tender and fragile as it was before rough and unseemly; its hue became the brightest, its perfume the sweetest, and we made it the loveliest flower in the garden! But it was one that we had saved from "wasting its sweetness in the desert air," from being unnoticed and neglected, and perhaps plucked when in its beauty; and these thoughts were sweeter still. Orphans are like wild flowers, and blessed is the man, and thrice blessed" is the endeavour of him who seeks to snatch one orphan from the wayside of life, where vice and immorality reign, and places it where virtue may have its effects. He is the greatest honour to his country who devises the best means for the amelioration of its distress! and the best means are its prevention. One philanthropist is worth a hundred heroes! It is the worst principle of our depraved nature that spreads misery; but it is Heaven's highest attribute, pity, that relieves it! Amongst the foremost to relieve distress is Odd Fellowship. We see it walking through the earth with open arms, welcoming the stranger and forlorn; but amongst its special objects, are orphans. It is the noblest employment of our time and means in relieving distress; but to snatch one orphan from ruin and misery,-to save one drop from the stream of iniquity,—to protect and provide for it, when it cannot for itself,-to make it leap at every virtue, and shrink from every vice-is noble ! To comfort a man on the couch of sickness, to relieve him when in distress, and to shelter the wanderer, is noble too! but to be the widow and orphan's friend, is indeed grand-it is superlative!

(Chapter III. in our next.)

DEATH.-There is nothing more certain than death, nothing more uncertain than We should therefore be prepared for that at all times, which may must come at one time or another. We shall not hasten our death but sweeten it, It makes us not die the sooner, but the better.

the time of dying. come at any time, by being still ready,

PLANTS GROWING TOWARDS THE LIGHT.-If a tree is planted by art, or sown by nature, in a situation where is more exposed to danger-such as being uprooted by the wind-on one side than on another, it in no instance fails to put forth its roots in that direction in which they will afford it the greatest possible stability which can be afforded by the same exertion of growth. In like manner, we have many instances of the seed of a tree accidentally sown and vegetating upon the top of a ruin, sending down its roots along the wall for many feet, in order to reach the soil at the bottom, as well as of other roots insinuating themselves into the fissures of rocks, and moving tons of granite, in order to get a soil fit for affording them that nourishment which they draw from the ground. We have ourselves seen many instances of both of these, and especially of the latter, upon some immense masses of granite in the birchwoods near the seat of the late Macpherson, the translator of Ossian's Poems. The place is in Badenoch, in the upper valley of the Spey. So also we have seen instances of a common potato, which would not have raised its stem above a foot or eighteen inches if planted in the fields in free exposure to the air and light, climb more than forty feet in order to reach the single aperture in an old tower by which light was admitted; and in 1837, a dahlia root, which we had forgotten in a dark cellar, had grown to the height of two or three feet in the direction of the bottom of the door, the only place at which a glimmer of light was admitted into its prison-house.-Mudie's Physical Structure of Man.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE LIBYAN NATIONS.

[Taken from Herodotus' Book,-4, sec. 11.]

THE Libyan nations are these:-We begin from Egypt, and the first people we meet with are the Adrymachides, who for the most part follow the usages of Egypt, excepting in their dress, which is of the Libyan fashion. The women wear a bracelet of brass around each leg, allow their hair to grow, and when they catch vermin, give them a bite in return, and throw them away, a custom peculiar to these people; as is also the ceremony observed by them of presenting their daughters to the king before marriage. The Adrymachides extend from the borders of Egypt to a lake named Plunus.

Next to these are the Gilligammes, whose territory extends westward, as far as the island Aphrodisias. Midway on this coast lies the island Platea, on which the Cyrenæans founded a colony, and on the main land is the port of Menelaus, and also at Aziris, where they dwelt some time. Here the plant silphium (asafœtida) is first found; it belongs to the tract of country, extending from the island Platea, to the mouth of the Syrtis. The customs of these peoples are similar to those of the other Libyan nations.

Bordering upon the Gilligammes towards the west, are the Asbystes, who occupy the country above the territory of Cyrene, inland; for they no where approach the coast they are accustomed more than any other Libyans to drive chariots four-in-hand, and very much affect the manners of the Cyrenæans. Their neighbours on the western side are the

Auschises, who are situated inland, beyond Barca, yet approach the coast near the Evesperides. In the heart of their territory there is an inconsiderable people, called Cabales, who occupy a part of the coast near Tauchira, a city of the Barcæans; their customs are the same as those of the Gilligammes. Westward of the Auchises are the

Nasamones, a numerous people. During the summer season they leave their flocks on the coast, and ascend to a region named Augila, to gather dates; for palm trees grow there in abundance, and are all productive. They also catch locusts, which they dry in the sun, and then grind them to powder, which they mix with milk; and this is their beverage. They practice polygamy. Their oaths and enchantments are thus performed :-When they take an oath, they touch the grave of some person reputed to have been eminently just and virtuous; and for the purpose of divining future events, they repair to the tombs of their ancestors, and having pronounced prayers, lay themselves down to sleep upon the sepulchre, and if they have any dream, avail themselves of it. In contracting covenants, each party drinks out of the hand of the other; or if they have no liquid, they take earth and lick it. Next to the Nasamones are (once were) the

Psyllians; they perished in the following manner :-The south wind had dried up all their cisterns; and all the regions within the Syrtis are destitute of springs. After conferring together they, with one consent, set out to make war upon the south wind. I report what I was told by the Libyans. When they reached the desert, the south wind blew and overwhelmed them with sand. The Nasamones possess the territory of those who thus perished.

Beyond these people, towards the south, and in a wilderness frequented by ferocious animals, dwell the Garamantes, who avoid all intercourse with other men. They have no weapons of war, nor even know how to defend themselves. Towards the west, and on the sea coast, the Nasamones are bounded by the Maces. They shave their locks, so as to leave a crest of tresses growing on the crown of the head, each side being shorn to the skin. In war they carry shields formed from the skin of the ostrich. The river Cinyps, rising in an eminence called the hill of the Graces, runs through their country into the sea. This hill of the Graces is thickly covered with trees, though all the other parts of Libya, abovementioned, are bare. It is about two hundred furlongs from the coast.

The Gindanes are situated next to the Maces. The women of this tribe distinguish themselves by wearing a number of leather bands round their ankles, indicating, as it is said, the number of their admirers. The projecting coast in front of the Gindanes possessed by the Lotophages, who, as their name indicates, subsist upon the fruit of the lotus; this fruit is nearly equal in size to that of the mastick, and in sweetness

resembles the date. The Lotophages prepare a wine from it. Their next neighbours on the coast are the Machlyes, who also subsist, though not so exclusively, on the fruit of the lotus. They occupy the banks of a large river, called Triton, emptying itself into a spacious lake named Tritonis, in which is an island called Phla, where it is said the Lacedæmonians were destined to found a colony. The story is thus told ;When Jason had constructed the ship Argo, at the foot of Mount Pelion, and had put on board not only a hecatomb, but a brazen tripod, intending to proceed to Delphi ; he would have doubled Peloponnesus; but when off Mallea, a north wind drove him to the coast of Libya, and before he discerned the land, he found himself amid the shallows of the gulph Tritonis. While he hesitated by which way to effect his escape, a Triton, it is said, appeared to him, who demanding from Jason his Tripod, promised to shew him the passage, and to send him forth in safety. Jason consented, and the Triton, after making known to him the passage from the shallows, received the tripod, which he placed in his own temple, and there, seated upon it, predicted to Jason and his followers, their future fortunes. "What time," said he, "some descendant of those who now sail in the ship Argo, shall carry away this tripod, then, by an irrevocable fate, there must be an hundred Grecian cities around the Tritonian Gulph." The Libyan people of the vicinity hearing the prediction, are said to have hid the tripod.

Next to the Machlyes are the Auses, who share with them the shores of the gulph Tritonis, which divides the one people from the other. The Machlyes let the hair grow on the back of the head; while the Auses leave it entire in front. In an annual festival celebrated in honour of Minerva, the young women dividing into two companies, fight together with stones and staves. They say their ancestors instituted these rites in honour of the goddess whom we call Minerva, and whom they affirm to have been a native of their country. Those who die of their wounds on this occasion, they call false virgins. Before they finish the combat, they invest the most beautiful of the virgins, chosen by common consent, with a Corinthian casque, and complete Grecian armour; and placing her in a chariot, lead her around the lake. In what way they adorned these virgins before the Greeks inhabited their country, I know not; yet I should suppose they then used the Egyptian military garb. And indeed both the buckler and the helmet came, in my opinion, from Egypt into Greece. Minerva, they say, was daughter of Neptune, and the lake Tritonis: but having some cause of quarrel with her father, she gave herself to Jupiter, who took her as his own daughter. Such is the account they gave. These people are utterly shameless in their manners, and disregard all the bonds of family relationship.

I have now mentioned the maritime nations of Libya, who feed flocks. Beyond these, inland, the country abounds with wild beasts; and beyond that wilderness there is a ridge of sandy hills, extending from the Egyptian Thebes, to the Pillars of Hercules. Upon this ridge, at a distance of ten days' journey from each other, are found vast masses of crystalized salt, rising in the form of columns. From the summit of each column bursts forth, even from the very salt, a stream of fresh and pure water. A race of people have fixed their abodes around these springs, and are the last people towards the desert, and beyond the wilderness. Commencing from Thebes, and at the distance of ten days' journey, the first people are the Ammonians, who have a temple derived from that of the Theban Jupiter. For at Thebes, as I have before said, the image of Jupiter has the ram's head. In the territory of the Ammonians there is a spring, which in the morning is tepid, in the forenoon cool, and at mid-day extremely cold; at that time therefore they water their gardens. Again, as the day declines, it relaxes to its coolness, and by the time the sun sets, the water becomes warm, and the heat increases continually as the night advances, till it boils. From midnight till daybreak the heat subsides. It is called the fountain of the sun.

Beyond the Ammonians, along the sandy ridge, and after another journey of ten days, is found a pillar of salt, like that of the Ammonians, with a fountain of water, around which a people has settled. This region is named Augila; and here it is that the Nasamones come to gather the autumnal dates. Again passing forward ten days from the Augilians, is found another column of salt, with a spring, and many fruits, bearing palms, as also around the others. The people are called Garamantes, a powerful nation. They have formed a soil for culture, by spreading earth upon the salt. From hence to the Lotophages is not more, by the shortest road, than thirty days' journey. In the country of the Garamantes is seen a species of oxen, which step backwards as