HYMN. CHILD of reason! whence comest thou? What hath thine eye observed, and whither has thy foot been wandering? I have been wandering along the meadows, in the thick grass. The cattle were feeding around me, or reposing in the cool shade; the corn sprung up under the furrows; the poppy, and the harebell grew among the wheat; the fields were bright with Summer, and glowing with beauty. Didst thou see nothing more? Didst thou observe nothing besides? Return again, child of reason, for there are greater things than these. God was among the fields; and didst thou not perceive Him? His beauty was amongst the meadows; His smiles enlivened the sunshine. I have walked through the thick forest; the wind whispered among the trees; the brook fell is taken upon a felt-web, and pressed between other cylinders, whence it passes over several heated cylinders, for the purpose of being dried, and is finally wound off in a continued sheet, upon a reel, prepared for the purpose, and then cut into the proper-sized sheets, for use. Instead of the roughnesses and knots being picked off by the women, after the sheets are made, as mentioned by Mrs. Barbauld, the pulp itself is cleansed from whatever would produce a roughness of the surface of the paper, by means of a machine called a pulpdresser. The manufacture of paper is a very curious and interesting process; and we recommend to our young readers to visit some paper-mill, when they have opportunity, and witness it for themselves. J. W. I. ** from the rocks, with a pleasant murmur; the squirrel leapt from bough to bough, and the birds sung to each other, amongst the branches. Didst thou hear nothing but the murmur of the brook? No whispers, but the whispers of the wind? Return again, child of reason, for there are greater things than these. God was among the trees; His voice sounded in the murmur of the water; His music warbled in the shade; and didst thou not attend? I saw the moon, rising behind the trees; it was like a lamp of gold: the stars, one after another, appeared in the clear firmament. Presently, I saw black clouds arise, and roll towards the south; the lightning streamed in thick flashes over the sky; the thunder growled at a distance; it came nearer, I felt afraid, for it was loud and terrible. Did thy heart feel no terror, but of the thunderbolt? Was there nothing bright and terrible, but the lightning? Return, O, child of reason! for there are greater things than these. God was in the storm, and didst thou not perceive Him? His terrors were abroad, and did not thine heart acknowledge Him? God is in every place; He speaks in every sound we hear; He is seen in all that our eyes behold; nothing, O, child of reason! is without God let God, therefore, be in all thy thoughts. THE YOUNG MOUSE. A FABLE. A YOUNG Mouse lived in a cupboard, where sweetmeats were kept: she dined, every day, upon biscuit, marmalade,* or fine sugar. Never had any little mouse lived so well. She had often ventured to peep at the family, while they sat at supper; nay, she had sometimes stole down on the carpet, and picked up the crumbs, and nobody had ever hurt her. She would have been quite happy, but that she was sometimes frightened by the cat, and then she ran, trembling, to her hole, behind the wainscot. One day, she came running to her mother, in great joy. Mother! said she, the good people of this family have built me a house to live in; it is in the cupboard; I am sure it is for me, for it is just big enough: the bottom is of wood, and it is covered all over with wires; and, I dare say, they have made it on purpose to screen me from that terrible cat, which ran after me so often. There is an entrance just big enough for me, but puss cannot follow; and they have been so good as to put in some toasted cheese, which smells so deliciously, that I should have run in, directly, and taken possession of my new * A sweetmeat, composed of the pulp of quinces, plums, apricots, &c., boiled into a consistence with sugar. - J. W. I. house, but I thought I would tell you first, that we might go in together, and both lodge there tonight, for it will hold us both. My dear child, said the old mouse, it is most happy that you did not go in; for this house is called a trap, and you would never have come out again, except to have been devoured, or put to death, in some way or other. Though man has not so fierce a look as a cat, he is as much our enemy, and has still more cunning. THE WASP AND BEE. A FABLE. A WASP met a Bee, and said to him, pray, can you tell me what is the reason, that men are so illnatured to me, while they are so fond of you? We are very much alike, only that the broad golden rings about my body make me much handsomer than you are; we are both winged insects, we both love honey, and we both sting people, when we are angry; yet men always hate me, and try to kill me, though I am much more familiar with them than you are, and pay them visits in their houses, and at their tea-table, and at all their meals; while you are very shy, and hardly ever come near them. Yet, they build you curious houses, thatched with straw, and take care of and feed you, in the Winter, in the Winter, very often. I wonder what is the reason. The Bee said, because you never do them any good, but, on the contrary, are very troublesome and mischievous; therefore, they do not like to see you; but they know that I am busy, all day long, in making them honey. You would do better, to pay them fewer visits, and try to be useful. THE MASK OF NATURE. WHO is this beautiful virgin, that approaches, clothed in a robe of light green? She has a garland of flowers on her head, and flowers spring up wherever she sets her foot. The snow which covered the fields, and the ice which was in the rivers, melt away when she breathes upon them. The young lambs frisk about her, and the birds warble in their little throats, to welcome her coming; and, when they see her, they begin to choose their mates, and to build their nests. Youths and maidens, have ye seen this beautiful virgin? If ye have, tell me, who is she, and what is her name ? Who is this, that cometh from the South, thinly clad in a light transparent garment? Her breath is hot and sultry; she seeks the refreshment of the cool shade; she seeks the clear streams, the crystal brooks, to bathe her languid limbs. The brooks and rivulets fly from her, and are dried up at her approach. She cools her parched lips |