such refulgent splendor would be of little use in the economy of Jehovah's empire, unless surrounding worlds were cheered by their benign influence. Every star is therefore concluded to be a sun, no less spacious than ours, surrounded by a host of planetary globes, which revolve around it as a centre, and derive from it light, and heat, and comfort. 3. Nearly a thousand of these luminaries may be seen in a clear winter night by the naked eye; so that a mass of matter equal to a thousand solar systems, or to thirteen hundred and twenty millions of globes of the size of the earth, may be perceived, by every common observer, in the canopy of heaven. But all the celestial orbs which are perceived by the unassisted sight do not form the eighty-thousandth part of those which may be descried by the help of optical instruments. 4. Dr. Herschel has informed us that, when exploring the most crowded parts of the milky-way, with his best glasses, he nas had fields of view which contained no less than five hundred and eighty-eight stars, and these, too, continued for many minutes; so that "in one quarter of an hour's time there passed no less than one hundred and sixteen thousand stars through the field of view of his telescope." 5. It has been computed that nearly one hundred millions of stars might be perceived by the most perfect instruments, were all the regions of the sky thoroughly explored. And yet all this vast assemblage of suns and worlds, when compared with what lies beyond the utmost boundaries of human vision, in the immeasurable spaces of creation, may be no more than the smallest particle of vapor to the immense ocean. 6. Here, then, with reverence, let us pause and wonder! Over ail this vast assemblage of material existence God presides. Amidst the diversified objects and intelligences it contains, he is eternally and essentially present. At his Almighty fiat it emerged from nothing into existence; and by his unerring wisdom all its complicated movements are perpetually directed. Surely that man is little to be envied who is not impressed, by such contemplations, with a venerable and overwhelming sense of Creative Power. DICK. LXXXV. THE INVENTION OF PRINTING. JOHN GUTENBERGEL - RUPERT, AN USURER. Razpert. FRIEND John, what's wanted now? Ah! I can guess Tis the old story John. I bring you good security. Rup. A family ring-solid, and set with diamonds. But shall have the money. you John. I shall redeem the ring. Rup. John. Recollect, When, John? As soon As I have perfected my great invention. Rup. Ah! John, that great invention, much I fear, Should'st thou succeed, the copyists who now Will persecute thee-make it out (who knows?) John. Let them murmur! Think, Master Rupert, of the good locked up In this invention. Look upon this book: It is the book of books, the Bible. Know'st thou How long it takes a writer to complete A copy such as this? John. As long as that. Now, by this plan of mine Rup. John, thy wits are wandering. Thou 'rt but a dreamer. John. I can make it plain To any mechanician, what I say Is but the sober truth. Ay, Master Rupert, So multiplied and cheap, that every peasant Tell thy good wife to put thee straight to bed, I may not live to see it: - after years An epoch from the day when here, in Mentz, Rup. 'Tis for posterity thou 'rt laboring, then! Posterity will put upon thy back No coat to shield thee from the winter's cold. Posterity will give no single meal, Though thou wert starving. Why shouldst thou, then, Labor for such an ingrate as this same Vain, unrequiting herd-posterity? John. The noble giver finds his solace in The act of giving in the consciousness, See Exercises undo the twenty-ninth elementary sound, page 41 He has conferred upon his fellow-men -- Did he confer his boon: and so he quails not, Rup. John, thou 'rt a riddle. Where, then, is thy reward for all thy pains? John. My friend, the little good that we can do, In our short so'journ here, will not alone Shed comfort on this transitory life But be (such is my faith) a joy hereafter! Osborne LXXXVI. THE BIRD-CATCHER. A little boy was once told he could catch a bird by dropping salt on its ail. The following lines were written on seeing him try the experiment. 1. GENTLY, gently, yet, young stranger, Ere the bird perceives its danger, On it slyly steal. Silence! ah! your scheme is failing No pursue your pretty prey; 2. Caution! now you 're nearer creeping, Golden sights that bird is seeing- Nest of green, or mossy bough; 3. How your eyes begin to twinkle! Now stoop down and softly sprinkle Yes, you have it in your tether, 4 Hear it hark! among the bushes, Laughing at your idle lures! 5. On what captures I've been counting, Thus have children of all ages, Seeing bliss before them fly, Found their hearts but empty cages, And their hopes on high! Laman Blanchard. ΕΙ 1. In my younger days, bell-ringing was much more in fash. ion among the young men than it is now. Some fifty years ago, about twenty of us, who dwelt in the vicinity of the ca-the'dral, formed a club which used to ring every peal that was called for. But my bell-ringing practice was shortened by a singular accident, which not only stopped my performance, but made even the sound of a bell terrible to my cars. 2. One Sunday I went with another into the belfry to ring for noon prayers, but the second stroke we had pulled showed us that the clapper of the bell we were at was muffled. The rem edy was easy. "Jack," said my companion, "step up to the |