by mountains and the town, had a grand | and sublime appearance. As we began to ascend, two Italians, with a handbarrow and a chair, carried Mrs. Copcutt up to the top again for a few francs. We passed through a palace here, and at the piazza in front obtained a very splendid prospect of all the plain, with the city of Rome, and the dome of St. Peter's above all, and the green country, fringed by the distant Mediterranean, with the river Anio winding below. As our children wanted to see the Princess, we drove by her carriage through the crowd where they were waiting to see a horse-race, which came on soon after we left. As we descended into the plain, the Crown Prince of Germany, with his suite, passed us in their carriage. The road was very dusty, and we moved to let them go by. In less than half-anhour I looked back, and saw the Princess with her ladies coming, with clouds of dust. I, therefore, ordered our carriage immediately to stand still, to save them from our dust. We had thus a good view of her as she passed. We took off our hats and bowed, which she very handsomely returned. After some considerable time we passed them again as they were stopping at a house by the roadside, and she again nodded. In perhaps another half-hour, I saw them behind again, and ordered our carriage immediately to stop, as the dust was flying in clouds; and now, to return the compliment, just as the state carriage came within a few yards of us, they stopped their horses, let the dust settle, and then went slowly by. Altogether we were pleased with this little episode. Tuesday afternoon, May 8th. - We passed an ancient building, with a very striking front, having two beautiful Corinthian columns and capitals, supporting a handsome frieze, and mouldings with figures, but decayed by time. It was a small temple of Minerva, now used as a baker's shop. I passed it several times, and it was always interesting. After this we saw the church where the Popes were crowned, St. John Lateran. There was on its front, in Latin, a lying inscription, saying that this church was the head and mother of all the churches in the world. Nearly opposite was the Church of the Holy Cross, in which another Romish lie says that a stairway was brought from Pilate's house, in Jerusalem, on which Christ once cended, and no one is permitted to ascend except on their knees. We entered the door, and saw four men and three women devoutly and very slowly ascending. I could but look at them with pity and contempt. It was tiresome work, and they did not all reach the top while we waited. as Wednesday, 9th.—We went first to the Palatine Hill-one franc admission. It was on this hill Romulus first built Rome. A French guide went with us, and showed us part of the old city wall of Romulus, and an immense lot of ruins of ancient buildings. Among the rest was shown the Judgment Hall where Paul was brought before Nero. This may or may not be so; although it is probable, since there is enough left of the ruin to show that it was a place of judgment. (To be continued.) 66 SOME years ago, an effort was made to collect all the chimney-sweepers in the city of Dublin, for the purpose of education. Among others came a little fellow who was asked if he knew his letters. “Oh,'yes!” was the reply. "Do you spell?” "Yes," was again the answer. "Do you read?" "Yes." And what book did you learn from?" "I never had a book in my life, sir." "And who was your schoolmaster?" "I never was at school." Here was a singular case-a boy could both read and spell without a book or a master. The fact was that another sweep, a little older than himself, had taught him to read by showing him the letters over the shop doors, as they went through the city. A RAMBLE IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT. HE wish of many long years has at length been gratified, and some of the beautiful scenery with which the Isle of Wight abounds has been unfolded to our view. The remembrance of one morning's walk is still vividly impressed upon our memory, but which requires an abler pen than ours to do it justice. a Starting from Shanklin, where we were staying, we wandered past many rural cottage, admiring the lovely roses which grow in rich profusion in almost every garden; through the churchyard, admiring its ancient structure, which is only one of the many with which the island abounds. Most of these are well worthy of inspection, and do not fail to interest the visitor. Our road now lay up the steep ascent of Shanklin Down, walking up which, with the sun shining in all its summer splendour, proved to be hot and tiring work. But this was an agreeable change to the previous day, when we were overtaken with a storm of rain in endeavouring to reach the same point, which drove us back wet and discomfited; but this sunshiny day made everything that was beautiful appear still more glorious, and, when we at last stood upon the summit of the Down, 795 feet above the sea, the panorama which unfolded to our view was surpassingly grand. "A gaily chequered, heart-expanding view, Far as the circling eye can shoot around." The deep blue sea, rippling in the sunshine, studded with many a snow-white sail; fruitful fields rolling away in the distance, many of them filled with busy workers tossing the new-mown hay. Over many a hill and dale could be defined the distant shore of Hampshire, and ever and anon, as we pursued our path, fresh aspects of the lovely scene opened to our view. We were loth to leave it and descend again into the lowlands, so we seated ourselves on the mossy turf, that we might leisurely enjoy the enchanting scene. "How wondrous are the works of God, God's works in nature are grand indeed, but His work of redemption in saving sinful man is so grand that even angels desire to look into it; and when this earth, with all its beauty, shall give place to the new heavens and the new earth, and the saved of the Lord surround the throne, then, notwithstanding all the glories of that upper world, the work of redemption will still be the one object of wonder and praise. "Saints will not gaze at glory, But at their King of grace; Of Immanuel's land." After awhile we resumed our ramble, and soon found ourselves at the foot of the Downs entering the lovely village of Bonchurch; and such was its picturesque situation, that we can well believe it was once compared to "fairyland." It is a combination of wood and water, rock and dell, villas and cottages peeping out of lovely nooks, the climate so beautiful that exotics will bloom in the open air stalwart and vigorous. The old church, founded about 1070, hidden away amidst many an ancient elm, is one of the most antiquated in appearance that we ever saw. Altogether this spot strikes one as being one of the most charming places in this lovely island. Ascending the road from Bonchurch, we entered the wild and romantic scenery of the landslip, which took place in 1818, when a vast portion of the rocky cliffs gave way, falling towards the A RAMBLE IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT. Our way then took us to the top of a chine or chasm in the rocks, leading down a deep, precipitous path on to the sea shore. Through much that was wild and rugged, we reached the bottom, and found ourselves close to a pretty nest of fishermen's cottages, surrounded with trim little gardens, and their boats near at hand ready for the next voyage. How much interest one feels in these brave, hardworking men, who have to leave their happy homes to brave the perils of the deep! Well can we understand the anxious wife, on stormy nights, placing a candle in the cottage window, hoping it might prove a useful signal to the frail barque at sea; and at early morn, when the boat is sighted making for the shore, with what joy and shoutings do the little ones run along the sands to welcome the return of father's boat! (See illustration.) On reaching the bottom of the chine, we met a lad who was about to ascend, who told us we must do the same, as the tide was too far in to admit of our getting round by the sands; therefore we were obliged to retrace our steps, and, as we ascended, the dangers of the pathway were so apparent that we inquired of the lad if he ever came down on dark nights. "Yes, often," he replied, "when it has been so dark that I could not see a step before me." On expressing our surprise, he remarked, "But then I know the path!" Ah! that was the secret of his safety-he knew the path; but our young 143 friends are travelling a path still more dangerous-one which they have not travelled before-and can they reach the end in safety without God to keep them? Surely not, for He alone can guide us in that narrow way which leads to everlasting life. After reaching the top, and bidding farewell to the boy, we pursued our journey through scenes of a varied character, till we reached our temporary home, our minds full of the ramble which had yielded so much pleasure, and we trust, profit. Many other journeys we took that space forbids us to mention; but one was of especial interest, when our road led us past the cottage where once resided the "Dairyman's Daughter," whose interesting life is so well known to old and young. From thence we passed to Arreton Church to look at her grave. Seeing two girls in the churchyard, we gave them some copies of the LITTLE GLEANER, much to their delight. The grave we came to visit did not fail to interest us, as it does most visitors, few of whom, we fear, know anything of that distinguishing grace which was so conspicuous in the life of this interesting young woman. Well will it be for each and all of us if, when we approach the dark valley of death, we can say with her, "It is not dark; my Lord is there. He is my light and my salvation!" EBENEZER. JOWETT'S RESEARCHES. IN Eastern countries, earth is carried up and spread evenly on the roofs of houses, which are flat. The roof is thus made of earth, rolled hard and flat. On the tops of most houses are large stone rollers, for the purpose of hardening and flattening the earth, so that the rain cannot penetrate it; but upon that surface grass and weeds grow freely. It is of such grass that David speaks, as useless and bad, in the 129th Psalm: "Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up." THE TEMPTER. JANE RAND came in to speak | to Hattie Emerson. Hattie was keeping house while her mother was gone out. "Come, Hattie," said Jane, "I want you to go down the lane and pick some Mayflowers with me. My mother does not want me to go alone; but if you will go, I may. So do come, Hattie." "I cannot," answered Hattie; "I am keeping house. Mother has gone away, and she told me to stay at home." "Pshaw!" cried Jane," the house will keep itself; your mother will never know you left it. The flowers will all be picked if we don't go, and we shan't be gone a great while; we shall get back long before she does. Do go, Hattie!" 66 Oh, I can't!" said Hattie; "I should like to, but I can't. Are the flowers very pretty? How beautifully the sun shines!" "They are beautiful flowers," said Jane; "and we'll have the first pick; and we'll carry some to Miss Janeway. Come; one race down the lane. One, two, three, and away! Come, don't be set." "Mother told me not to leave the house," said Hattie. 66 Oh, she just said so. She'd let you take one scamper down the lane, I know. Come; and I've a pocketful of nuts, half for you; and two red apples-you shall have one. We'll eat them out on the grass." Hattie had a wistful, half-a-mind, wantto-go look upon her face. 66 I am sure I should like of all things to go, if" She stopped. "You can go if you want to, if or no if. Your mother will let you; besides, she'll never know it. Mothers need not know everything their children do; mine don't, I reckon," said Jane, with a sly, foxish glance in her eye. "Mine does," cried Hattie, shaking her curls, and, as it seemed, also shaking off the tempter's power. "You are tempting me to disobey and hide from my mother, Jane, and I shall not go this afternoon. You need not try to persuade me any more-I cannot go." Jane now saw in Hattie's face that it was of no use, so she flung herself out of the room in a pet, calling Hattie hard names; but Hattie did not hear them. In what character does Jane appear? In the character of a tempter. How she tried to make Hattie disobedient and unfaithful, by promising her good things! Oh, I wonder if boys and girls, when they tempt others to do wrong, remember whose example they are copying. They are copying Satan's. He was the first tempter. When he saw Adam and Eve good and happy in the beautiful garden of Eden, he crept into the garden to try and persuade them to disobey God. He made great promises to them, all the while knowing that, if they disobeyed, they would lose the friendship of God, be cast out of their lovely garden home, and become sinful and unhappy like himself. Do you ever try to persuade your companions to do what you know at the time they ought not to do? If you do, then you are a tempter, as Satan was, and as he still is. Be afraid lest you become more and more like him. Oh, pray to God with all your heart that He would keep you from following so dreadful an example. "Lead us not into temptation." Pray that you may not be tempted to become a tempter.--Child's Paper. |