passion to their infirmities, attention to their wishes, solicitude to give them all necessary aid, and reverence and love undiminished by the decline of their faculties; and in the performance of those duties your credit and peace of mind are deeply interested. It is a delightful encomium, when heard from the lips of parents about children, "I cannot tell which of them is kindest to me." Happy is that dwelling in which there is not one root of bitterness among the olive-plants around the table, and where there are no children of whom parents can complain as having disappointed their hopes and broken their peace.-Belfrage. A GOOD CONSCIENCE. GRANT me, O God! that sweet repose To serve thee with a quiet mind; O! it is conscience, clear and calm, And cures each wound except from sin. Of hamlets or of loftier halls The genial blaze though round were gloom, Polwhele. THE TEA-TREE. THE history of commerce does not, perhaps, present a parallel to the circumstances which have attended the introduction of Tea into Great Britain. This leaf was first imported into Europe by the Dutch East India Company, in the early part of the seventeenth century; but it was not until the year 1666, that a small quantity was brought over from Holland to this country, by the Lords Arlington and Ossory. The tea plant is a native of China or Japan, and probably of both. It has been used among the natives of the former country from time immemorial. It is only in a particular tract of the Chinese empire that the plant is cultivated; and this tract, which is situated on the eastern side, between the 30th and 33rd degrees of north latitude, is distinguished by the natives as "the tea country." The more northern part of China would be too cold; and farther south the heat would be too great. There are, however, a few small plantations to be seen near to Canton. The Chinese give to the plant the name of tcha or tha. It is propagated by them from seeds, which are deposited in rows four to five feet asunder; and so uncertain is their vegetation, even in their native climate, that it is found necessary to sow as many as seven or eight seeds in every hole. The ground between each row is always kept free from weeds, and the plants are not allowed to attain a higher growth than admits of the leaves being conveniently gathered. The first crop of leaves is not collected until the third year after sowing; and when the trees are six or seven years old, the produce becomes so inferior that they are removed to make room for a fresh succession. The flowers of the tea tree are white, and somewhat resemble the wild rose on our hedges: these flowers are succeeded by soft green berries or pods, containing each from one to three white seeds. The leaves are gathered from one to four times during the year, according to the age of the trees. Most commonly there are three periods of gathering; the first commences about the middle of April; the second at Midsummer, and the last is accomplished during August and September. The leaves that are earliest gathered are of the most delicate colour and most aromatic flavour, with the least portion of either fibre or bitterness. Leaves of the second gathering are of a dull green colour, and have less valuable qualities than the former; while those which are last collected are of a dark green, and possess an inferior value. The leaves, as soon as gathered, are put into wide shallow baskets, and placed in the air or wind, or sunshine during some hours. They are then put on a flat cast-iron pan, over a stove heated with charcoal, from a half to three quarters of a pound of leaves being operated on at one time. These leaves are stirred quickly about with a kind of brush, and are then as quickly swept off the pan into baskets. The next process is that of rolling, which is effected by carefully rubbing them between men's hands; after which they are again put in larger quantities on the pan, and subjected anew to heat; but at this time to a lower degree than at first, and just sufficient to dry them effectually without risk of scorching. The tea is then placed on a table, and carefully picked over, every unsightly or imperfectly dried leaf that is detected being removed, in order that the sample may present a better appearance when offered for sale. The names by which some of the principal sorts of tea are known in China are taken from the places in which they are produced, while others are distinguished according to the periods of their gathering, the manner employed in curing, or other extrinsive circumstances. It is a commonly received opinion, that the distinctive colour of green tea is imparted to it by sheets of copper, upon which it is dried. For this belief, there is not, however, the smallest foundation in fact, since copper is never used for the purpose. Repeated experiments have been made to discover, by an unerring test, whether the leaves of green tea contain any impregnation of copper, but in no case has any trace of this metal been detected. The Chinese do not use their tea until it is about a year old, considering it too actively narcotic when new. They drink the infusion prepared in the same manner as we employ, but they do not mix it with either sugar or milk. Vegetable Substances. TO AN INFANT. SWEET infant, when I gaze on thee, Thy glance of animated brightness, Of Reason in her first revealings; I know the spell to soothe thy sadness, Can soon transform thy grief to gladness! Beyond the fondest mother's kindness- To realms where peace endures for ever!—Anon COURTESY AND POLITENESS. CARE should be taken to cultivate, in all intercourse with friends, gentle and obliging manners. It is a common error to suppose, that familiar intimacy supersedes attention to the lesser duties of behaviour; and that, under the notion of freedom, it may excuse a careless, or even a rough demeanour. On the contrary, an intimate connexion can only be perpetuated by a constant endeavour to be pleasing and agreeable. The same behaviour which procures friendship, is absolutely necessary to the preservation of it. Let no harshness, no appearance of neglect, no supercilious affectation of superiority, be encouraged in the intercourse of friends. A tart reply, a proneness to rebuke, a captious and contradictory spirit, are often known to embitter domestic life, and to set friends at variance; it is only by continuing courtesy, and urbanity of behaviour, that we long preserve the comforts of friendship. You must often have observed, that nothing is so strong a recommendation, on a slight acquaintance, as politeness; nor does it lose its value by time or intimacy, when preserved, as it ought to be, in the nearest connexions and strictest friendships. In general, propriety of behaviour must be the fruit of instruction, of observation, and reasoning; and it is to be cultivated and improved, like any other branch of know-., ledge or virtue. Particular modes and ceremonies of: behaviour vary in different places. These can only be learned by observation on the manners of those who are best skilled in them. But the principles of politeness are the same in all places. Wherever there are human beings, it must be impolitic to hurt the temper or pain the feelings of those you converse with. By raising people up, instead of mortifying and depressing them, we make ourselves so many friends, in place of enemies.-Mrs. Chapone. DECEIVING PARENTS. LOUISA MORTON, and her young companion, Ellen Sturgess, were returning from school together one afternoon. "What book is that?" inquired Ellen, perceiving that her companion had in her hand a volume which did not look like a school-book. "The Romance of the Forest!" she continued, reading, with some surprise, the lettering upon the back of the book. "Does your mother allow you to read such books as that, Louisa ?” "Why no; she does not exactly allow me to read such books; but she does not know that I have them," replied Louisa; so I am very 66 |