Certainly neither by sight nor touch, for then would these senses be constantly employed in superintending the operations of four hundred muscles, and their millions of fibres. Indeed, it is by no means probable that these senses are at all competent to the task, for such is the position of many of the muscles, that they are inaccessible, either to the eye or the hand. These duties then, the benevolent Creator has assigned to the sixth or muscular sense.

I will mention an instance of the loss of this sense, as given by Dr. Griscom. "A mother, while nursing her infant, was seized with a paralysis, attended by the loss of power on one side, and the loss of sensibility on the other. In this situation, she could hold her child with the arm that retained its strength, only when she looked upon the infant. The moment her attention was diverted thence, the flexor muscles relaxed, and the child was in danger of falling." The loss of this sense could be seen no where so clearly, as among those who are yet in all the vigor and buoyancy of youth. Reader, did you ever attend District School? If so, you remember what I cannot describe but poorly. Let us visit the time-tinged building near the close of a long, summer afternoon. How many anxious, how many impatient countenances are watching the sunlight, streaming in, at the dingy panes of a west window, as it moves toward a particular nailscratch upon the floor, the handiwork of some juvenile dialist. Who would not know that some mighty revolution is about to be effected in this little community? The hum of forty pairs of lips, which are plied with a rapidity précisely proportioned to their owner's zeal, is gradually dying away; the small folks have had their last ennui for the afternoon. The light has reached the mark-is on it-beyond it! Some are packing their books for the third time in ten minutes.

Even the "large" boys, on the back seats, look up from their copy, and as for the low seats, every occupant is a little model of attention.

Let us make the best of our way out, before they get their hats, bonnets, books and slates. Here they come ! Some skipping and jumping; others hopping like veritable treefrogs. What shouts of joy and exultation and sheer love of noise fill the air! One sets up a whistle that a regular "northeaster" might envy. Another gives a whoop worthy of Black Hawk or Tecumseh. Away they go, hither, thither, in all directions to their homes. Let us rob this little troop of their "sixth sense," and witness the result.

What a change! Now they come slowly out, one by one, peering and peeping about, one for his hand to put on his hat; another is closely watching the already ascending arm, to be assured that it reaches its destination; a third has advanced one foot, and is looking behind for its lagging companion; some drop their books, others their slates, and a singular appearance they make. Such is the importance of the sixth sense to the animate world; but, interesting as it would be to trace, still farther, the action of this sense, my limits forbid me to dwell longer upon it, and we must return to the muscles of expression. Some muscles are circular, as those which surround the eye or the mouth, called sphincter muscles, from a Greek word, signifying "to draw together."

Here is a drawing of the face, with its principal muscles:

1 Temporal muscle; this is the elevator of the the lower jaw, in mastication. 2 Orbicularis oculi; the circular muscle employed in squinting, closing the eye, and in producing tears. 3 Levator labii superioris; employed in elevating the upper lip. 4 Zygomaticus major, draws the lips upward and outward. 5 & 6 Zygomaticus minor; these muscles are exercised almost constantly by those who live laughing lives; they are employed in grinning by some animals when enraged. 7 Assistant Masticator. 8 Depressor anguli oris; this muscle draws down the angles of the mouth in fear, contempt, sneering and kindred feelings. 9 Mastoideus; this is much used by petulant persons and young ladies, who put on contemptuous airs, in throwing back the head. 10 Latissimus colli; this beautiful ribbon-like muscle depresses the lower lip and corrugates the skin of the neck. 11 Frontalis; it raises the eyebrows as in wonder; and wrinkles the forehead as in deep thought. 12 Corrugator supercilii; the action of this muscle produces a scowl. 13 Orbicularis oris; draws together the lips. 14 Levator labii inferioris lifts up the lower lip as in the act of pouting, produces a dimple, and may compress the lips so as to give an appearance of firmness.

It is calculated that a hundred muscles are called into action every time we breathe; and yet how few are conscious of the vast variety of machinery that is set in operation, each successive moment, night and day, year after year, till life is extinct!

CHAPTER IX.

The brain, the capitol of the mind-Its messengers—The nerves-Experiment-Nerve of expression-Illustration— Explanation of phenomena-Anecdote of Garrick-Conclu

sion.

Perhaps you inquire, "how the mind communicates its wishes to the muscles in different parts of the body?" This is a natural question, for we are not conscious that the mind ever leaves the brain, even for an instant, until it "returns to God who gave it, and the body to the earth as it was.”

Now, as the mind occupies the brain as its capitol, it must have messengers to bear its mandates to the members of the body, and also to communicate intelligence from its extreme parts. Of the nature of this communication, we are ignorant, but this we know, that from the brain, "that palace of the soul," issue in every direction, fine threads, called nerves, which, as so many avenues from the seat of power, to every portion of the territory, communicate with every muscle, and visit every point on the surface of the body.

These nerves are the scouts, the mental runners; they warn, if they do not defend; they unite mind with matter, the material with the immaterial; nothing escapes their notice.

Take a fine cambric needle, and make a slight puncture in the hand of your companion. There! You touched a nerve, and the mystic messenger communicated it to the brain. What next? His mind has become acquainted with the fact, and has issued a variety of orders; other machinery is put in motion; some muscles relax; others contract; the head turns, and your companion discovers you with the needle. His eye reflects your image; the tell-tale nerve communicates it at head-quarters. See! it has willed again; along the nerve the swift volition darts; the muscles obey; he smiles; all this, quick as thought!

But especially, we are bound by our subject, to notice those wonder-working nerves, coming out in front of the ears, and diverging over the whole face.

These nerves are the sole instruments of expression; the thousand strings of this wondrous harp of life. Independent of the nerves which bestow sensibility, both the motions in respiration and speaking, every indication of emotion in the man, and every demonstration of passion in the brute, are produced solely through the influence of this nerve. If the other nerves which wander in "live meander," over the face, are divided, sensibility is destroyed; but all the exquisite changes and shades upon this mental dial-plate, remain unimpaired. In the language of Bell, "it is when the strong man is subdued, by this mysterious influence of soul and body, and when the passions may be truly said to tear the heart, that we have the most unequivocal proof that it is the order of functions which we have been considering, that is then affected. These are not the organs of breathing merely, but of natural and articulate language also, and adapted to the expression of sentiment, in the workings of the countenance and of the heart." From the first gasp of the new-born in

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