green; its fruit is a small fig, which, when quite ripe, is of a bright scarlet colour, affording sustenance to the monkey, the squirrel, and the peacock, as well as to various kinds of birds. We can hardly form a proper notion of the extent of these trees. On the banks of the river Nerbudda, a banian tree grows, which if measured round its principal stems is nearly two thousand feet in circumference. It has three hundred and fifty large trunks, and more than three thousand smaller ones, and it is said that seven thousand persons may find ample room to repose under its shade; green wood-pigeons, doves, peacocks, monkeys, squirrels, and large bats find a shelter among its branches.

The banian tree flourishes, and throws out its green leaves beneath the radiance of the sun the Christian throws out his graces beneath the beams of the Sun of righteousness. The banian tree spreads wide his branches abroad, which taking root produce other trees: the Christian extends abroad his influence, his faith, his love, and his hopes, which, through

the influence of God the Holy Spirit, taking root in other hearts, promote their growth in grace. The banian tree becomes a grove of goodly trees, pleasant to gaze upon the Christian, blessed from above, impresses the hearts of others, spreads abroad the gospel of the Redeemer, thus multiplying the followers of Christ, till he forms a band, a goodly company of faithful worshippers. The banian tree brings forth fruit beautiful to the eye; and the Christian bears fruit, also, far more lovely than that of the tree of the field. The banian tree is a shelter to the creatures that seek its protection: the Christian man, too, by his love unfeigned, his fidelity, his zeal, his prayers, and his praises, is a shelter and protection to all whom he can assist and serve.

But

while we thus make a comparison between the Christian and the tree of the field, let us bear in mind, in reference to ourselves, that "a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit ;" and, also, that "every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire."

THE CYPRESS.

THE Cypress is a tall, upright, hardy tree, that shrinks not beneath the heat of summer, nor the icy breath of winter ; but, waging a successful war with the changing elements, endures for many generations. The leaf of this is bitter, and its scent and shade have been said to be unhealthy, if not dangerous. The fruit of the cypress is not larger than a common nut, round in form, and of an olive colour. Cypresses have been known a thousand years old, and some of them of gigantic growth. The wood is valuable; as it is very compact, and resists the worm and all putrefaction. The doors of St. Peter's Cathedral at Rome, the coffins of the heroes of Athens, the statue of Jupiter in the Capitol, and even the ark of God, have all been said to have been made of cypress; but whether the

gophir wood of the Scriptures and cypress are the same, is not quite determined. This tree flourishes on Mount Lebanon, as well as in the gardens of Constantinople. It was, doubtless, on account of its great durability, that in ancient times it was planted in churchyards, being a fit emblem of immortality. Let the aged yew, in mournful state

Its sombre branches spread,

And the cypress wave its dark green boughs
Where rest the silent dead.

But a more enduring record, and a more undying hope, will be found in the Holy Scriptures, for the resting place of the righteous; for Christ says, "I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also," John xiv. 2.

THE SYCAMORE.

THE Sycamore of the East grows to a prodigious size, and we have no tree here that approaches to it in bulk. It spreads out its leafy branches to an amazing extent, and beneath them the Arab loves to sit, screened from the sultry sun, relating to his companions some wonderful adventure, or listening indolently to some interesting tale. The sycamore partakes of the fig tree and the mulberry tree; for its fruit resembles the fig, and its leaf the mulberry leaf. The fruit grows from the trunk, and larger branches of the tree, clustering together like a bunch of grapes, and several crops are gathered in the year. In Egypt, the tree is much cultivated, forming a grateful shade over the roads to the towns and villages. It is often called the wild fig tree, and is of two kinds. Bear in mind, that in hot climates fruit