own seas, or rather from the sea around the Channel Isles, we procure the Haliotis or Sea-ear to use it in the decorations of papier-maché work; and other and larger kinds of the same curious genus are brought from the shores and islands of the Pacific Ocean for the same purpose. They furnish the deepcoloured and richer-hued dark green and purple mother-ofpearl; the brighter and paler kinds are derived from the shell of the pearl-oysters, almost all inhabitants of tropical regions. The nacre of pearls themselves is identical with the substance of these shells. These jewels of animal origin, so highly prized for their chaste beauty, are only the rejected or superabundant secretions of a shell-fish, consisting of concentrically disposed layers of animal matter and carbonate of lime. In most instances they are consequences of the attempts of irritated and uneasy mollusks to make the best of an unavoidable evil; for, rendered uncomfortable, their peace of mind and ease of body destroyed by some intruding and extraneous substance, a grain of sand perchance or atom of splintered shell, the creature incloses its torturing annoyance in a smooth-coated sphere of gem-like beauty. Would that we bipeds could treat our troubles so philosophically, and convert our secret cankers into sparkling treasures! It is not to be wondered at that the naturalists ascribed the production of pearls to other causes than the true one, believing them to be congealed and petrified dew, or rain drops falling from heaven into the cavities of gaping shell-fish, thereby supplying the poets with a suggestive hypothesis, out of which many a beautiful verse and quaint conceit has sprung. There is, indeed, a version peculiar now to the poets, but originally derived from the fanciful dreamings of unobservant zoologists. To it belongs such pretty, but imaginary actions as the voyages of the nautilus floating with outspread sails and paddling oars on the surface of unruffled seas, the terrestrial expedition of the Cuttle-fish and the dew-drop theory of pearls. Long after such errors have been investigated and exposed, they retain a tenacious hold of more popular treatises. Capital Punishment. THE suns of eighteen centuries have shone Since the Redeemer walked with man, and made The fisher's boat, the cavern's floor of stone, And mountain moss, a pillow for his head; And broke with publicans the bread of shame, Altar and shrine and priest,—and incense dim At His own altar binds the chain anew; Priests, pale with vigils, in His name have blessed. Hung gloating o'er the pincer's burning grips, And the grim horror of the straining wheel; 381 382 CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. Fed the slow flame which gnawed the victim's limb, The image of their Christ, in cruel zeal, Through the black torment-smoke, held mockingly to him! The blood which mingled with the desert sand, The shrieking curses of the hunted Jew- Of Smithfield, and that thrice accursed flame When guilt itself a human tear might claim,— Bear witness, Oh Thou wronged and merciful One! When the great truth begins at last to find An utterance from the deep heart of mankind, CAPITAL PUNISHMENT. Have found an echo in the general heart, Grope in the shadows of Man's twilight time, Why cite that law with which the bigot Jew The Flamen's knife is bloodless, and no more Urge to its loathsome work the Hangman's hand? 383 -a pagan brotherhood! WHITTIER. Ellwood's Description of George Fox. THIS holy man was raised up by God in an extraordinary manner, for an extraordinary work, even to awaken the sleeping world, by proclaiming the mighty day of the Lord to the nations, and publishing again the everlasting gospel to the inhabitants of the earth, after the long and dismal night of apostacy and darkness. For this work the Lord began to prepare him by many and various trials and exercises, from his very childhood : and having fitted and furnished him for it he called him into it very young, and made him instrumental, by the effectual working of the Holy Ghost, through his ministry, to call many others into the same work, and to turn away thousands from darkness to the light of Christ, and from the power of Satan unto God. I knew him not till the year 1660: from that time, to the time of his death, I knew him well, conversed with him much, loved him dearly and honoured him truly and upon good experience can say, he was indeed an heavenly minded man, zealous for the name of the Lord and preferred the honour of God above all things. : He was valiant for the truth, bold in asserting it, steady in his testimony to it; immovable as a rock. Deep he was in divine knowledge, clear in opening heavenly mysteries, plain and powerful in preaching, fervent in prayer. He was richly endued with heavenly wisdom, quick in discerning, sound in judgment, able and ready in giving, discreet in keeping counsel: a lover of righteousness, an encourager of virtue, justice, temperance, meekness, purity, chastity, modesty, humility, charity and self-denial in all, both by word and example. Graceful he was in countenance, manly in personage, grave in gesture, courteous in conversation, weighty in communication, instructive in discourse free from affectation in speech or carriage. A severe reprover of hard and obstinate sinners: a mild and gentle admonisher of such as were tender, and sensible of their failings: not apt to resent personal wrongs: easy to |