THE WINTER SNOW-DROP. LIKE pendent flakes of vegetating snow, While still the cold north-east ungenial lours, Yet when those pallid blossoms shall give place So journeying onward in life's varying track, To childhood's pleasures and to infant friends. THE MAHOGANY TREE. THIS tree is one of the most elegant, if not the largest of the country in which it is found, and frequently grows in the crevices of rocks, and other places of the same description. The appearance of so large a vegetable production in such a situation is extremely curious and picturesque, and is to be accounted for from the construction of the seed, which is like that of the thistle, winged, or capable of being borne along by the action of the air, and in that manner deposited in holes and fissures in the rocks, where it speedily vegetates and springs up. As long as the plant remains young, the place in which it is found is sufficiently large for its growth, but as it increases in size, the roots gradually but irresistibly force asunder the walls of their rocky prisons, and throw off large portions of stone, thus by degrees penetrating into the very heart of the rock. It is not always, however, found in these situations, the largest timber being produced in some of the flat and marshy spots on the coasts of America; of this description is that known by the name of Honduras mahogany, which is much looser in texture, and of less value than that from the mountainous districts of Cuba and Hayti. This last kind is known in' commerce as Spanish mahogany, and is chiefly purchased for the purpose of being cut into veneers. The introduction of this wood into England took place about the end of the seventeenth century, in the following manner. A London physician of the name of Gibbon, had a brother the captain of a West India ship. On his return to England he had several logs of mahogany on board his vessel for the purpose of ballast, and, as his brother was at the time employed in a building project, he made him a present of the wood, supposing it might be useful; his carpenter, however, cast it aside, observing that it was of too hard a nature to be worked. Some time after, Mrs. Gibbon being in want of a box to hold candles, the cabinet-maker was directed to make it of this same wood; he, in his turn, made the same objection as the carpenter, and declared that it destroyed his tools. Being urged, however, to make another trial, he at length succeeded; and when the box was polished, the beautiful colour of its grain was so apparent and novel, that it became an object of great curiosity, and attracted the notice, among others, of the Duchess of Buckingham, for whom a bureau was made of the same material. Before this time it had been used partially in the West Indies for ship-building; but this new discovery of its beauty soon brought it into general use in the making of " furniture. The chief supply at the time we speak of, came from the island of Jamaica, and the wood it exported was of the finest description; but since then the constant demand has nearly exhausted the island, and it is now, as we have already said, chiefly brought from the Spanish main, and several of the larger West India islands. There is a species of mahogany in the East Indies, which grows to a much larger size than the American tree, it is also much heavier, but the colour of the wood is of a dirty red.Saturday Magazine. 1 PRINCIPAL MANUFACTURES OF ENGLAND. THE staple manufacture of this country is woollen cloth. England abounds in fine pastures and extensive downs, which feed great numbers of sheep; hence our wool has ever been a valuable article of trade; but we did not always know how to work it. We used to sell it to the Flemish or Lombards, who wrought it into cloth: till in the year 1326, Edward III. invited some Flemish weavers over to teach us the art; but there was not much made in England till the reign of Henry VII. Manchester and Birmingham are towns which have risen to great consequence from small beginnings, almost within the memory of man; the first for cotton and muslin goods; the second for cutlery and hardware, in which England excels all Europe. Of late years, too, fine and beautiful carpets have been fabricated in this country. Our clocks and watches are also greatly esteemed. The earthenware plates and dishes in general use, with the more elegant and ornamental sets for the dinner and tea tables of the wealthy, come from a very extensive manufactory, the seat of which is at Burslem, in Staffordshire. The principal potteries there were established by Wedgwood, who has made our clay more valuable than the finest porcelain of China; he has moulded it into all the forms of grace and beauty that are to be met with in the precious remains of the Greek artists. In the more common articles he has pencilled it with the most elegant designs, shaped it into shells and leaves, twisted it into wicker-work, and trailed the ductile foliage round the light basket; he has filled our cabinets and chimneypieces with urns, lamps, and vases, on which are traced the fine forms and floating draperies of antiquity. There is a great demand abroad for this elegant manufacture. Aikin. HUMAN LIFE. I WALKED the fields at morning's prime, The sky-lark sang his matin chime, And all was brightly glowing. "And thus," I cried, "the ardent boy, The scythe had left the withering grass, Like flowers which blossom but to die, Once more, at eve, abroad I strayed, O'er thoughts perchance too prone to grieve, For thus "the actions of the just," When memory hath enshrined them, E'en from the dark and silent dust Their odour leave behind them.-B. Barton. THE DUTIES OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS. It is the duty of brothers and sisters to delight in each other's society, and readily to share their comforts with each other. In other companions, treachery may lurk under the smile of complaisance, and speak in the compliments of flattery, but you will assuredly find sincerity in domestic intercourse. The kindness of the heart beams in a sister's smile, and speaks in a brother's praise. Your hearts must be sadly corrupted, if ever the remembrance of the scenes that passed under a father's roof ceases to interest you, and you find no pleasure in the sights of objects which recall these to your thoughts. . When you are tempted to envy a brother or sister, because they appear to enjoy more of the notice of your parents and friends than you, consider that this partiality may exist only in your own jealous imagination; or that if it is real, it is probably owing to their possessing that which you have never been at any pains to cultivate, and to their acting in a manner which you will not follow. It is the duty of brothers and sisters to admonish cne another for their faults. There are failings in the temper and defects in the manners, which are concealed with care from the eyes of the world, but which are apparent amidst the ease and the freedom of domestic life. If follies are not checked at home, or by strangers, they will settle into habits. The indolence from which the young were never roused has kept them all their after days in poverty; and the pride, which was never repressed, has rendered them odious. Never let affection render you blind to the deformity of sin, or induce you to palliate what you ought decidedly to condemn. It is the duty of brothers and sisters to sympathise tenderly with each other. Providence hath so framed the human heart, that it requires the aid and rejoices in the comforts of sympathy. We are bound to show pity to a stranger's sorrows, and more strongly is this required from us to a brother or a sister in affliction. How soothing to a sufferer's heart are the ministrations of a sister, and the word spoken by a brother in season; and how different are the feelings which are excited by the cold inquiries of a neighbour, and the anxious questions of affectionate relatives, eager to know his uneasiness, that it may be relieved! Let sisters consider how much the persuasive language of mildness and affection is adapted to form the roughest and most impetuous tempers to meekness and wisdom; and that their remarks may direct a brother's attention to sentiments full of beauty, and feeling, which he has overlooked. Brothers and sisters should vie with each other in promoting the comfort of their parents. "Honour thy father and thy mother" is a precept which God has placed at the head of the second table of the law, and which he has enforced by a promise of a long and prosperous life... You owe to your parents respect to their authority, com |