do we ascend some oft-clambered hill, while we feel the tide of remembrance rush in upon the soul! There the golden hours of childhood passed listlessly away. In the vale below once lived our earliest and most affectionate friend, who sustained us when no other was able, who listened to our infant prayers, and loved to gaze upon the smiles of her children when coursing the butterfly along the daisy-mantled mead. Who that hath known the pleasures of remembrances like these can reflect upon those happy scenes without emotions of the most solemn yet delightful and inspiring kind?

There is, however, one thought which comes with the brightness of sunshine to cheer us amid the darkest gloom of family

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changes: it is the thought of a family meeting in the upper sanctuary, where parting will be unknown, where the changes of autumn, and the chilly blasts of winter, cannot enter, but where the stream of joy shall continue to run throughout eternal ages. To recognise each other on heaven's all-glorious shore; this is the prospect of the followers of the Lamb. Those who tread the same paths of holiness on earth shall receive a portion in the same paradise, their Father's house above: undivided in affection and piety on earth, so shall they be undivided in the participation of an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away. Bayswater.

CHAPTERS FOR THE YOUNG. BY THE REV. J. T. BARR. CHAPTER III.

THE HOP-GARDEN.

"O welcome again, and again to thine own! Time has given our music a lovelier tone. Sad was thy soul 'midst the world's heartless mirth;

Then welcome again to the place of thy birth."

WHO, that has passed through the beautiful county of Kent, on a bright September day, has not paused in his wanderings, to gaze upon the numerous hop-gardens which the eye may encounter in almost every direction? It is the opinion of many continental travellers, that the foreign vineyards, even those of the "sweet south," which luxuriate in sunnier climes, and under brighter skies, are not so lovely in appearance. The towering poles, placed at an equal distance from each other, and completely concealed by the creeping bine and graceful cluster of the plant, cannot be surveyed without exciting the most exquisite pleasure.

It is impossible for a stranger to conceive what scenes of bustle and confusion are generally witnessed in these gardens, during what is technically called the "hopping time;" and which is regarded as the poor people's harvest. Multitudes of persons, of all ages, having been previously engaged by the proprietor, or owner of the ground,―men, women, and children,-may be seen at the different bins, vying with each other to pick the largest quantity of hops. And as their ages and countenances vary, so their tempers and dispositions are widely different. Some are cheerful as the day, singing merrily at their work; others are morose and quarrelsome, never satisfied. Some may be seen with laughing faces; others with countenances stern and forbidding. Some are jocose and loquacious; others, sullen and

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silent. In short, here the righteous and the wicked meet together. It is no wonder, therefore, that the former (for there are few hop-gardens, at this important season, where there are not some pious persons) should suffer some spiritual declension, during the time of hopping.

I remember an affecting instance of this, which occurred a few years since; the particulars of which I will now present to my readers.

He

In a retired village, situated near the banks of the Medway, lived Henry C. At the time of which I am writing, he had attained the sixteenth year of his age. had just lost his father, who died of pulmonary consumption; and only three months previously, his mother had fallen a prey to a malignant fever. He was their only child. Having for many years experienced the power of inward religion, the effects of which were uniformly displayed in a strict adherence to the precepts of the Gospel, the happy parents unitedly strove to imbue his mind with Christian principles, and to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. The Spirit of God smiled upon their pious exertions, by producing a change of heart in the tender object of their solicitude; so that before they closed their eyes upon this chequered scene of mortality, they enjoyed the satisfaction of beholding their beloved Henry "walking in the comfort of the Holy Ghost."

A pious neighbour, of the name of Baker, who had known Henry from a child, appeared deeply interested in the welfare of the youthful orphan. He took him into his house; and with a view of placing him in circumstances which might enable him to provide for his future subsistence, he promised to teach him his own business, which was that of a watch-maker. The Minister of the chapel, where Henry and his parents

had statedly worshipped, was also kind and benevolent to him.

The hop-picking time was now approaching; and most of the villagers, young and old, were preparing for the "golden harvest." Some of the gardens were contiguous to the village. These were resorted to by persons whose domestic engagements compelled them to return home in the evening. Others lay at the distance of many miles. There multitudes flocked, with cheerful countenances, to labour during the season, which generally continues for the space of a month. On this occasion, and with this latter company, Henry had made arrangements to go, for the first time. There were two reasons which induced him to embrace this opportunity. The one was, there was but little business to be done in the village till the hop-pickers returned; and the other was, the delicate state of his health, which he flattered himself might be improved, by engaging for a few weeks in so healthful an exercise.

Previous to his departure, he called on his friend and benefactor, the Minister, who received him cordially, and gave him suitable advice. He cautioned him especially against forming too close an intimacy with the hop-pickers, with whom he would have to mingle; and exhorted him to beware of imbibing the spirit of those of his companions whom he knew to be thoughtless and dissipated, "lovers of pleasure, more than lovers of God." He then prayed with him, and earnestly wrestled with God to be a friend and protector to the fatherless youth.

Henry sobbed an adieu; and the next morning found him pursuing his new employment, with a hundred others, in an extensive ground, in the vicinity of Maid

stone.

For the first week, he felt tolerably comfortable. The novelty of the employment, the appearance of the hops, as they hung in gorgeous clusters on the lofty poles, touched by the mellow tints of an autumnal sun, and the beautiful scenery which the adjacent country exhibited, tended to keep his spirits buoyant; and he felt no regret on leaving for a season his native village. But as time rolled on, he became less cheerful, and longed for the time when he should return to his peaceful home. The obscene conversation of many of his companions, and the frequent oaths and imprecations which they uttered, shocked his ears. Their indecent behaviour also provoked his indignation; and he felt it to be his duty more than once to remonstrate with them on the impropriety of their conduct. But his reproofs were disregarded, or treated with levity and derision.

One morning, a pert, ill-looking youth, who was standing at the same bin with Henry, and who happened to be about the same age, began to use language the most blasphemous and profane. This was evi

dently done to create a quarrel with his companion. Though deeply annoyed at this fresh instance of depravity on the part of one so young, Henry prudently suppressed the emotions of anger, which he felt kindling in his bosom; and judging, that the offering any additional remonstrance to one who appeared to be too well schooled in vice, would be like "casting pearls before swine," he remained silent. This silence, however, only served to embolden the hardened youth. With one of the poles, which had just been stripped of its bine, he struck the unoffending orphan, and challenged him to fight. This outrage he also bore for a time, with exemplary fortitude; but as he continued to heap upon him the most disgusting epithets, and called him a dastardly coward, the forbearance of Henry was exhausted, and he rushed upon his persecutor with impassioned fury, and felled him to the earth, occasioning a wound, which for some time bled profusely. A scene of confusion immediately followed. Twenty or thirty voices were heard, simultaneously vociferating, "Well done, fighting Methodist! Where is your religion now?" When the tumult had somewhat subsided, and the different parties had resumed their labours, a coarse, vulgar-looking woman, whose intemperate habits Henry had often witnessed in his native village, declared that she would, that day, send information to Mr. Baker, and also to the Minister, that their pious favourite had been creating a fight in the hop-garden. Then turning her face, which beamed with a bitter smile, towards Henry, she exclaimed, with a cool, satirical chuckle, "Depend upon it, my lad, you'll have to go a-begging!"

It will be needless to recount the privations, the persecution, and the insults which the unhappy youth experienced, during the remainder of his sojourn in this hated place. These trials, however, were not so distressing to his mind as the bitter reflection that he had yielded to temptation, and thus given occasion to the enemies of religion to blaspheme.

At length, the season was over; and having received his hard earnings, he took his departure.

It was early in the morning, on the first day of October, when he began to retrace his steps homeward. The sun had just risen, and was lighting up the hills with his orient splendour. Not a cloud obscured the bright azure of the heavens; and the natural beauties of autumn presented to the eye a scene of fading grandeur. Henry had already passed through the town of Maidstone; and was slowly proceeding along the turnpike-road, in the direction of Blue-bell Hill, which stands about midway between Maidstone and Rochester. As he continued his journey, ascending with weary steps this celebrated hill, the surrounding country gradually developed itself to his view, till the

prospect became most extensive and magnificent. Here every object presents attractions which cannot fail to engage the attention of the traveller. Lawns, and parks, and handsome houses, embosomed in bowers of varied foliage, at once burst upon the sight. Spacious farms, with their rural homesteads, innumerable hop-grounds, fields, orchards, and richly-cultivated gaidens, may be seen, extending over a vast range of country; with many a village-spire tapering in the distant horizon; while, meandering through the wide and fertile valley, a narrow liver rolls along its tranquil waters. There are few prospects in this interesting county more attractive to the eye than this.

Before reaching the summit of the hill, Henry's strength began to fail; and, faint with the exertion of walking, he sat down on a green bank on the road-side. The sun, which rose in cloudless beauty, was now obscured; the clouds began to gather thickly in the east, and the atmosphere was chilling. He had no sooner taken his seat on the mossy bank, than he sunk into a pensive mood; melancholy forebodings took possession of his mind. He was yet eleven miles from his home. "And what shall I do when I arrive?" he muttered to himself: "how can I face Mr. Baker and the Minister, the only friends that I have in the world? They have received intelligence of my wicked conduct in the hop-garden, and doubtless with exaggerations. If they turn their backs upon me, I know not where to go. O God of my forefathers, do not thou forsake me!"

He was awakened from his reverie by a heavy peal of thunder, which reverberated in a thousand echoes among the hills. The rain began immediately to descend in violent showers. All nature, which in the early morning had been clear and serene, appeared now in wild uproar. He started from his seat, and hastened to the Blue-Bell inn, which was not more than a stone's throw from the bank where he had been resting. Here he took shelter; and, after remaining for the space of half-an-hour, an omnibus

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stopped at the door, and several passengers alighted. He soon learned that it was on its way to Gravesend, where the parties intended to embark in one of the steam-packets for London. A thought now arose in his mind, sudden and irresistible. He counted his money. He had more than two pounds. This would support him in London for some time, till he should succeed in obtaining a situation. "For," said he, "what is one place to me more than another, since my angel mother, and my sainted father, are taken from me?" Accordingly, he took his seat in the omnibus, and subsequently in the steam-boat; and within the space of a few hours arrived safely in the great metropolis.

He took lodgings for the night at a coffee-house, in the vicinity of Holborn, and the next morning proceeded to take a view of the public buildings, and other objects of attraction with which this mighty city abounds. At noon, he entered an eatinghouse in Bishopsgate-street, for the purpose of taking dinner; but, on searching his pockets for the purpose of paying for his meal, he found that his money was gone. The colour forsook his cheek, and a violent palpitation of heart instantly succeeded this dreadful discovery. Scarcely believing his senses, he cast round him a wild and vacant stare; then, bursting into a flood of tears, he sobbed aloud.

"Are you ill?" asked the waiting-maid, who appeared to be impatient at his delay. To her question he replied, that he had been robbed of his money. "You should have ascertained that," she said, indignantly, "before you ordered dinner: now, I suppose, I must be the loser."

THE CONSCIENTIOUS SERVANT.

A LADY had a nurse who was so conscientious in mending her children's clothes, that she could not, on one occasion, avoid expressing her surprise at the carefulness she manifested. Her reply was admirable: "Ma'am, I feel that what money I save in

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my master's family, I save for the poor; and this makes me mend and turn clothes as I never did before." Many masters and mistresses would have more to give away if their servants were thus mindful of the goods entrusted to their care.-The Servant's Magazine.

WILD HORSES.

WITH respect to the wild horses in the countries bordering the Volga and the Oural, little is accurately established. They

are said to associate in troops headed by a leader; but, from all accounts to be depended upon, they are by no means remarkable for beauty, though they appear to be fleet and hardy. In the Museum at Paris is the specimen of a wild horse from the country of the Bashkirs: it has a heavy, clumsy head, and short limbs; and the hair, of a dirty greyish white, is long and shaggy, and hangs in a beard-like manner under the lower jaw. Pallas describes a young mare caught in the country between the Jaik and the Volga, which became very docile: its limbs were strong, the head large,

the ears long and lying back upon the occiput; the hoofs small and somewhat pointed; the colour light bay, with a black mane and tail. In South America the rich plains extending from La Plata to Paraguay are tenanted by herds of horses, in a wild condition, the descendants of those originally introduced by the Spaniards. The horses are caught and broken in; and the singular mode in which their subjugation is effected is thus described by Captain Head:-"A man, mounted on a strong, steady horse, threw his lasso over the neck of a young horse, and dragged him to the gate. For some time he was very unwilling to leave his comrades, but the moment he was forced from them, his first idea was to gallop away: however, the jerk of the lasso checked him

in the most effectual manner. The Peons now ran after him on foot, and threw the lasso over his four legs, just above the fetlocks, and, twitching it, they pulled his legs from under him so suddenly, that I really thought the fall he got had killed him. In an instant a Gaucho was seated on his head, and with his long knife in a few seconds cut off the whole of the horse's mane, while another cut the hair from the end of the tail. This they told me is a mark that the animal has been once mounted. They then put a piece of hide into his mouth to serve as a bit, and a strong hide-halter on his head. The Gaucho who had to mount, arranged his spurs, which are unusually long and sharp, and while two men held the animal by his ears, he put on the saddle, which he girthed extremely tight; he then caught hold of the horse's ears, and in an instant vaulted into the saddle; upon which the man who was holding the horse by the halter threw the end of it to the rider, and from that moment nobody seemed to take any further notice of him. The horse instantly began to jump in a manner which made it very difficult for the rider to keep his seat, and quite different from the kick or plunge of an English horse: however, the Gaucho's spurs soon set him going, and off he galloped, doing everything in his power to throw his rider. Another horse was immediately seized; and so quick was the operation, that twelve Gauchos were mounted in a space which I think hardly exceeded an hour.”—Museum of Animated Nature.

THE CASTANHA-TREE.

MONKEY ANECDOTE.

BEHIND the house was a grove of fine trees, some apparently having been planted or ornament, others bearing profusion of various sorts of fruits. The one of all these the most attractive was that which produces the Brazil nut, called in the country" castanhas." Botanically it is the Bertholletia excelsa. This tree was upwards of one hundred feet in height, and between two and three in diameter. From the branches were depending the fruits, large as cocoa-nuts. The shell of these is nearly half an inch in thickness, and contains the triangular nuts so nicely packed, that, once removed, no skill can replace them. It is no easy matter to break this tough covering, requiring some instrument, and the exercise of considerable strength; yet we were assured by an intelligent friend, at the Barra Rio Negro, that the Guaribas, or howling monkeys, are in the habit of breaking them, by striking them upon stones or the limbs of iron-like trees. This friend related an amusing incident of which he had been witness, where the monkey, forgetful of everything else, pounding

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down the nut with might and main, in a fever of excitement, struck it with tremendous force upon the tip of his tail. Down dropped the nut, and away flew the monkey, bounding and howling fearfully. How long the victim was laid up by his lame tail our narrator was unable to inform us; but we thought one thing certain, that monkeys had changed since Goldsmith's day, inasmuch as, at that day, we are told that, the tip of a monkey's tail was so remote from the centre of circulation as to be destitute of feeling. When the castanha-nuts are fresh, they much resemble in taste the cocoa-nut; and the white milk, easily expressed, is no bad substitute for milk in coffee. This soon becomes rancid, and at length turns to oil. The nuts are exported largely from Para, and are said to form a very important ingredient in the manufacture of sperm candles.-A Voyage up the Amazon.

ESCAPES FROM SERPENTS.

RAGAPORE, a lonesome collection of huts, in the midst of woods and fields, is notorious for snakes: the first sight that greets the new arrival is, right in front of the low, mean, thatched bungalow allotted to him as quarters, a simple grey stone, a tombstone, placed there, as he will discover on inquiry, over the remains of a predecessor, who died from snakebite. I had not been two days in command of this outpost before I issued orders for a general onslaught of serpents; promising a slight reward for every one that was proved to have been killed in the two compounds (enclosures) surrounding my bungalow, and an adjoining one in ruins. Immense was my success, though a general prejudice prevails among the natives that the nag samp, or cobra di capello, takes notes of such individuals as are on the alert in seeking out its haunts for the purpose of extermination, and rests not till revenged on its pursuer. My jemadar, an intelligent Mussulman, declared that he knew several instances of the truth of this superstitious belief, and very gravely warned me against betraying too great a zeal in destroying this venomous species; asserting that it invariably retained a dawa (spite) against its persecutors. I was one afternoon preparing to take my usual ramble, and, snatching my cap from the table where it had been lying on some books, I was putting it on my head, when a snake jumped from it, tumbled down my cheek and breast, and fell on the mat at my feet, beneath which it concealed itself, before I could summon a servant. There, however, it was quickly despatched. It was a small grey snake, with white streaks down the back, a cobra manilla, and said to be very venomous. My next escape occurred not long after at Ellore, where I