of the day those of early morning are the best for the loveliness and fragrance of flowers. The house of their uncle, at which these young friends were visiting for a few days, was one of those square substantial well-built mansions such as were in the fashion of erection about one hundred years ago; and its gardens were laid out in the taste of those times. They covered a large space of ground in front, extending along the sides as far as the back of the building, and were separated and hidden from the outbuildings by a high wall, along which fruit trees of various kinds were trained. No sooner had they commenced their walk than their attention was attracted to a lovely moss-rose tree, some of whose blossoms were full-blown and others just expanding. Perhaps of all the flowers in our English gardens none is more truly beautiful than a moss-rose, just opening its bright red blossoms from between the green clasps of the bud! Perhaps it was after an early morning walk in the gardens of Sir Thomas Abney, at Newington, that Dr. Watts returned to his quiet study and wrote "How fair is the rose! what a beautiful flower! The glory of April and May." But was it so, that in the good doctor's days roses bloomed in their glory so early as April and May? We seldom see a single rose in bloom even in May now. We should be almost disposed to alter the second line to "The glory of June and July." The fourth line might easily be made to rhyme in tune. But perhaps we had better let it alone. Passing along they found many more garden beauties; to give the names of which would fill one of these pages; some of them old-fashioned English flowers, and some of them newly domesticated. And some how or other, though many of us like to see any new specimens of the Great Creator's handywork, yet, after all, we do love our old English garden flowers. We were most familiar with them when we were young, and we hail their resurrection from their wintry sleep, as old friends risen from the dead! For they come in the same form, dressed in the same colours, and give forth just the same sweet smells which they did when our little fingers gathered, and our little hands held fast, a posy of them in the days of our happy childhood. Yes! childhood and flowers are always happy companions; and the recollection of those days of infantile delight often cause pleasing visions to float before the eyes of weary age. Indeed, who can forget the days of his childhood, when sunshine and flowers were his joy? Our friends, still following the gravel walks-for the dew was still thick on the lawn-next visited, what is called, the kitchen garden. It was on the south side of the building, and kept with great care. Here were all kinds of vegetables coming up in their season to furnish the table with food. Flowers are for ornament, but these are for use, and we cannot do well without them. Oh, how good is our Heavenly Father in giving, not only flowers to delight our eyes and regale our smell with their scents, but food of various kinds convenient for us-adapted to our taste, and suitable to our sustenance ! Thoughts like these were in the minds of our young friends when they returned and sat down to the well-spread breakfast table, and they were confirmed when, after the repast, their uncle, having rung the bell for all the servants, opened the good old book, and read a psalm expressive of gratitude to Him who loadeth us daily with his benefits. Then kneeling down he offered thanksgiving to God, not only for these mercies, but for the unspeakable gift of his own Son, by whom "Salvation, peace, and joy, INSECT WONDERS. INSECTS are not so many rude scraps of creation scattered up and down without significance or destiny. Many of these little beings are among the most finished specimens of the Creator's skill; wonderful in their minuteness, displaying the most inconceivably delicate organisms, all perfectly formed, and operating with the exactest precision; and in some instances decked in such splendour and perfection of colour, that while they may excite the utmost admiration, are still far beyond the reach of the artist's skill. The common fly is an instance of this wonderful and delicate organism to which we have just referred. Who has not marked the difficulty, though the movement might be as rapid as lightning, of laying his hand upon one of these little creatures. They are protected, not so much by their strength or swiftness, as by their power of sight. Having many enemies and no place of retreat, they have need to be vigi lant, and always on the out-look. The head, however, is a fixture, incapable of being turned in any direction. But to more than compensate for the difficulty and danger of this incapacity, the fly is armed not merely with a retina, but a legion of eyes, each fly being said to possess no less than eight thousand. By means of this amazingly perfect and delicately arranged apparatus, she sees on every side without any motion of the eye or movement of the neck, every object within the range of vision. "The dress of insects," says Hervey, "is a vesture of resplendent colours set with an arrangement of the brightest gems. Their wings are the finest expansion imaginable, compared to which, lawn is as course as sackcloth. The cases which inclose their wings, glitter with the finest varnish, are scooped into ornamental flutings-are studded with radiant spots, or pinked with elegant holes. Not one but is indued with weapons to seize their prey, and dexterity to escape their foe; to despatch the business of their station, and enjoy the pleasure of their condition." The strength of some insects is exceedingly wonderful as compared with their size. There is no other animal whose muscular capacity can be put in competition with that of the flea. On a moderate computation, it is known to leap to a distance of at least two hundred times its own length. There is not the slightest proportion between the force and size of the insect tribe. Had man an equal degree of strength with one of those nimble and disagreeable companions, the renowned power of Samson would sink into insignificance. A flea has been known to draw a chain a hundred times heavier than itself, and its devouring capacity is of equal magnitude, for will eat ten times its own weight of provisions in a day. Many deeply interesting experiments have been made in illustration of the strength of this little animal. "Mr. Boverick, an ingenious watch-maker, who some years ago lived in the Strand, London, exhibited to the public a little ivory chaise with four wheels, and all its proper apparatus, and a man sitting on the box, all of which were drawn by a single flea. He made a small landau, which opened and shut by springs, with six horses harnessed to it, a coachman sitting on the box, and a dog between his legs, four persons were in the carriage, two footmen behind it, and a postilion riding on one of the fore-horses, which was also easily drawn along by a flea. He likewise had a chain of brass, about two inches long, containing two hundred links, with a hook at one end, and a padlock and key at the other, which the flea drew very nimbly along." "In the year 1578, and the twentieth of queen Elizabeth, Mark Scaliot, a blacksmith, made a lock, consisting of eleven pieces of iron, steel, and brass, with a hollow key to it, which altogether weighed but one grain of gold. He likewise made a gold chain, composed of forty-three links, which he fastened to the lock and key, and having put them about the neck of a flea, they were drawn with ease, which being done in her Majesty's presence, he put the lock and key, flea, and chain into a pair of scales, and they altogether, weighed but one grain and a half." Spiders are of various sizes; but there are some which are immensely larger than any known in this country, and which are not only disagreeable and dangerous, but even frightful. |