so mechanical as I have described it, what would be the consequence of preventing it from flowing down my arm into this artery ?"’

"If the jumping I feel is caused by the blood pressing against the artery, it ought to stop when the blood is prevented from coming down."

"Then keep your fingers steady, and tell me what happens." While Mr. Beaufoy was speaking, he put his right hand into the top of his coatsleeve, and made a strong pressure against the artery. "How does the pulse beat now, Harry?" "Not at all, papa: it is perfectly still."

"Mr. Beaufoy removed the pressure, and again the pulse rose beneath Harry's fingers. The blood must come down from above, papa.'

:

"Certainly now we have tried an experiment upon an artery, I find your mother has sent for the surgeon to bleed her if she will allow you to be present at the operation, you may have an opportunity of witnessing an experiment upon a vein."

"I have no doubt she will let me stay, if I tell her that you desired me to ask; but now I must run and fetch your whip, for here is the horse.'

my being in the "I should like to

"Have you any objection to room, mainma?" said Harry: see an experiment upon a vein ?"

"Not the least, provided you make your ob servations in silence. I shall be very willing to answer any inquiries afterwards; but, you know, it would be unreasonable to trouble Mr. Sound

with a little boy's questions, since he cannot be supposed to feel any particular interest in your improvement."

Almost as soon as Mrs. Beaufoy had done speaking, the surgeon was announced; and Harry, silently taking his station beside his mother's chair, resolved to fulfil his part of the compact.

When the bright lancet approached the arm, his eyes were involuntarily averted; but he recovered himself in a moment, and beheld the blood flow with commendable philosophy.

When the surgeon thought the quantity taken was sufficient, he pressed his thum upon Mrs. Beaufoy's arm, about an inch below the orifice and the blood which before was flowing in a full stream, instantly stopped. Many boys would have failed to observe this; but Harry thought it the most curious part of the whole operation.

'The arm was soon bound up, the surgeon took his leave; and Mrs. Beaufoy, lying down on the sofa, desired Harry to come and sit beside her. "Well, my dear," said she, "did you clearly understand this experiment on a vein?”

"Not quite, mamma. I do not know why Mr. Sound tied that ugly red bandage round the upper part of your arm : it was so tight, that it must have hurt you.'

"It certainly caused an unpleasant sensation ; but it was necessary, in order to prevent the blood in the arm from returning to the heart. You saw that Mr. Sound did not attempt to make the incision, till the vein, having received a quantity of

blood from the arteries, appeared full and prominent it would not have filled in that manner, if the bandage had not prevented the escape of the blood. But did you observe how he stopped the bleeding?"

"Yes, mamma; to be sure I did. It was the very reverse of papa's experiment on the artery: that was stopped by pressure above, the vein by pressure below; and this is à real proof that the blood runs in opposite directions through the veins and arteries: nothing could be plainer; and I only wish that I could see the action of the heart and its valves!"

"Now I feel very differently," replied his mother. "I regard the concealment of our internal organization, as one of the benevolent arrangements of Providence. Were it possible to view, through the skin, the whole of this complicated mechanisin, the sight would completely frighten us. How should we dare to move, or stir a step, if we actually saw the heart pumping, the blood circulating, the lungs blowing, the tendons pulling, and all the intricate assemblage of fibres, tubes, valves, currents, pivots, and hinges, that sustain our frail existence! It is kindly and wisely ordered that these things should be hidden from our view."

"But how very curious the sight would be: I cannot imagine any thing to equal it."

"It could not be presented to us without engaging our whole attention; and if these motions in any degree depended upon ourselves, they

would leave us leisure for nothing else. Now, in a state of health, the vital functions are carried on insensibly, though they depend on the nice adjustment of so great a number of parts; and these must all be going right, for us to enjoy an hour of ease. It is surprising what great inconvenience is sometimes occasioned by the disorder of a very small part of this mechanism. I have read of a gentleman, who in other respects enjoyed pretty good health; but he had lost the power of using those two little muscles which lift up the eye-lids. Only think what a misfortune: whenever he wanted to look at any thing, he was obliged to push up his eye-lids with his fingers!" "I am sure, poor gentleman, he was exceedingly to be pitied!"

"And so should we, Harry, if we were in any way concerned in these operations. We should be continually on the watch-continually in fear that something would go wrong or be forgotten. We cannot, therefore, be too grateful to Him in whom we live, and move, and have our being, for that nice arrangement-that perfection of con trivance, which keeps every part of the human machine in action, without a thought or care of ours; leaving us at liberty to enjoy the blessings, and perform the duties of life."

CHAPTER IV.

"Whether with reason or with instinct blest, Know, all enjoy that pow'r which suits them best; To bliss alike by that direction tend,

And find the means proportion'd to the end."

POPE.

ONE morning, Harry prevailed on his mother to carry her work to the summer-house, where he read to her "The Transmigrations of Indur." "Is not this an entertaining story, mamma?" said he, as lie laid down the book. "Yes, my

dear; and I think it is ingenious as well as entertaining. Do you not admire the skill with which the writer has introduced so many curious particulars, respecting the habits of different animals?" "Oh yes, mamma. I know that whether Indur was an antelope, or a dormouse, or an elephant, he behaved like other creatures of the same kind-just as we find them described in books of natural history."

As Harry finished speaking, his attention was attracted by the humming of a bee, that was busily employed among the roses and honeysuckles, which were trained round the window. "Only look at this bee," said he : "look, mamma, how earnestly it works! Indur, with all his knowledge, could not have been more sensible of the importance of laying up a store for the winter."