come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me;" the whole of the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth chapters of St. John's Gospel set forth this life for us.

Believe in the infinite love of Christ, and, looking away from your unworthiness, come now to Him. Finally, as the greatest personal favour you could possibly grant, I beseech you thus to come to Christ. Norwood, October, 1867.

OUR SERVANTS.

How much we hear about them! Ladies seldom meet without discussing the subject. If we were to draw conclusions from what we frequently hear, we might suppose that there really was no good in our servants, but that they were, as some affirm, only "necessary evils." But surely this is not the case, or at any rate it need not be. Let us who are mistresses ask ourselves a few questions. Do we pray for them? It is better to talk to the Lord about them, than to grumble at them. A few minutes in our closets of earnest pleading with God on their behalf, will do more than hours of scolding and fault-finding. Then, again, do we try to make them feel that we love them; that we are interested in their welfare, and that we would do anything in our power to help them? The power of love is almost irresistible, when rightly directed. It must not be too familiar, or lavish, or fitful, but constant, well-balanced, heavenborn love. Depend upon it if this were brought to bear upon our servants, many a stubborn will would be subdued, and many an awkward temper would yield to its melting influence.

Again, have they time to pray and

to read God's Word if so disposed? and do we send them regularly to the House of God, especially on the Sabbath? Our servants need their Sabbath at least as much as we do. They have to work harder, and in most cases have had fewer spiritual privileges, and on this account we ought to cultivate an earnest, loving way of speaking to them about their souls. A short time ago, a wealthy lady was conversing with a Christian Minister about her servant, and as she had many complaints to make, the Minister said, 66 Madam, have you ever spoken to her on the subject of religion ?" "No," said the lady, is such a queer girl, I fear I should not be able to make anything of her." And this, we fear, is but a specimen of the conduct of many of us who profess and call ourselves Christians. A slight excuse is sufficient to satisfy us, and so we close our eyes to many of the great duties and responsibilities which properly belong to us; but let us be resolved to pursue a different course; let us try a year of prayer, of holy living, of solemn warning, of earnest entreaty, of diligent attendance on all the means of grace within our reach, both on our own part and that of our servants, and who shall tell the result? Certainly it will be one of good to us, and have we not every reason to hope that it will be also to our servants? Ilkeston.

AMELIA.

DEFECTS IN OUR COOKERY.

GOOD simple cookery is almost unknown amongst our poorer classes, whereas in France it is universally practised. Made dishes are not, as a rule, indigestible; in fact, the stomach will often gratefully receive

the delicate chef-d'œuvre of the culinary artist, when it would revolt at coarser fare. Our cookery in lodging-houses is detestable, and may be summed up in one word-grease. Our cookery in farm-houses may be stated in two words-boiled pork. In our middle classes very little skill is shown in the preparation of food, and amongst the poor none whatever.-The Food Journal.

CHEAP DAINTIES.

PLENTIFUL as blackberries proverbially are, and delicious as is their flavour, it is a fact to be deplored that so many bushels are actually wasted every year for want of gathering, and this even in close proximity of many poor villages. Then, again, the gourd, vegetable marrow, or pumpkin, are plants easily grown on almost any rubbish heap, and the fruits are often produced in great abundance, and

might be preserved in sugar for winter use.-Ibid.

SANITARY STUPIDITY.

THE prevalence of epidemic disease and its ravages are a standing disgrace to the sanitary legislation of England. With all our knowledge of the laws of epidemics, with all our literature on the subject, in spite of our convictions, in spite of the most positive proofs that infection may be checked, if not stamped out, by isolation, permissive laws administered by local authorities, negligent, if not ignorant, of their duties, allow small-pox and fevers to follow their course without more let or hindrance than the precautions suggested by medical attendants or nuisance inspectors, precautions which may be advised, indeed, from a sense of duty, but which they know it will be impossible to carry into effect.-Ibid.

ASCENSION DAY.

A SONNET.

BY POMPILIUS APEX.

MINDFUL of Jesu's parting word,
His servants tarried for their Lord;
Nor was their patient waiting vain,
For in their midst He stood again.
Again they gather'd by His side,
And, following where He chose to guide,
In converse with their risen Head,
As far as Bethany were led.
They stay'd not there, but onward went,
When, lo! on Olivet's ascent,

As each some pressing question brought,
Some fuller revelation sought,
He slowly rose beyond their sight,
And vanish'd in supernal light.

PENTECOST.

A SONNET.

BY POMPILIUS APEX.

BENT in the little chamber there,
The friends of Jesus are at prayer;
They all believe the promise nigh,
The power-enduement from on high.
A mighty rushing wind they hear,
On every head bright forms appear;
Like cloven tongues of fire they shine,
And prove their origin Divine,
As they new powers to all impart,
And prompt to holy toil each heart;
Sending the labourers away,
To bear the burden of the day,
And, everywhere, within their reach,
The Gospel of their Master preach.

TREES, AND THEIR TENANTS.

I. THE WILLOW.

THERE are few of us, I should think, without some mental links which connect the willow-tree with associations either pleasant or painful, for it is one of the most memorable of trees. When we were but small in proportions, and childish in thought, we were perhaps taken into a country church, decorated at Easter, as was the wont, (and, indeed, the thing is still done, though not so harmlessly now, since these floral decorations have acquired a new significance,) and as we gazed upon the "palms" laid in the windows, some sagacious individual may have thought it needful to inform us, that these so-called "palms" were not palms really, but the flowering branches of willow. Or, being a few years older, we may have gone forth in search of these with our playmates, and shouted gleefully as dragged down the boughs, gay with the promise of approaching spring. Or, in the first flush of manhood, we may have spent many a pleasant hour occasionally moving along the windings of some willow-hung stream, in a boat, and watching the birds and insects which fluttered amongst the trees and pliant stems. To some, the willow yields antiquarian reminiscences; they stand beside one, and think of old Izaak Walton, and can say with him,—

"We sometimes pass an hour
Under a green willow,
That defends us from a shower,
Making earth our pillow."

we

To others, again, the willow is dear because of its poetic memories; they may often have laughed over Tennyson's "Amphion," wherein he describes the effects produced upon the trees by the tuneful bard, who could draw them after him, in the days of yore, if we might give credence to the legendary tale. Amongst the rest, the "shock-head willows," so it is said, were tempted from their moist resting - places, and

"gallopaded" wherever Amphion chose to lead them. Or, looking at a graver aspect which the willow bears, they remember that it is the emblem of despairing love. So that Herrick, taking up the symbol, puts these words into the mouth of a disappointed one,—

"A willow garland thou didst send,
Perfumed, last day to me;
Which did but only this portend,

I was forsook by thee."

But to the botanist the willow and sallows are interesting, because they furnish him a curious puzzle; for there is very great difficulty in distinguishing the species and varieties one from another. So that in order to make a study of them, places have been set apart for the cultivation of willows, called "salictums." One rather celebrated was at Woburn; and in a botanic garden at Vienna, as many as three hundred sorts were brought together. A good number of varieties may be seen along many of our own streams, the Thames and the Cam being especially famous for their willows and osiers. Amongst all, however, there are only five species which, with us, reach the size of trees, and these are easily made out. There is the Duke of Bedford's Willow, (S. Russelliana.) a light and airy tree, cheerful to look upon, and of quick growth. Of this species was the one associated with worthy Samuel Johnson, which was blown down in 1829. This stood at Lichfield, and was of good proportions, the head being particularly large. After it fell, some person hunted up a bough of it, which had been thrust into the ground as a hedge-stake, and this being found in a flourishing condition, was forthwith planted on the same spot, and remains as a memorial. The bark of the Bedford Willow is richer than many other species of willow in a peculiar bitter substance, called salicine. This is not quite so potent and so efficacious as the well-known quinine, which is yielded by Peruvian bark, and yet it is highly valued in some of the marshy districts. The

villagers, not being experts in chemistry, do not extract the salicine from the bark in its crystalline form, but obtain it by pouring boiling water upon it, and drinking the infusion. And, as has been already observed by a writer upon botany, there seems a special providence in the case; God has so ordered it that, in the localities where, through the moisture in the air, fevers and agues prevail, the remedy is to be got without much difficulty.

The Crack or Red-Wood Willow, (S. fragilis,) may have received its Latin name because its wood was not thought to be durable, and this has indeed been strongly asserted by some, and as VOL. XVIII.-Second Series.

W.CHESHIRE

strongly denied by others. But a Scotch botanist who has had some experience, declares that there is no wood like it for making light and fast sailing vessels; and it is valuable also in roofing. This willow thrives in damp, clayey ground; but it is liable to a singular disease which affects the top of the tree, so that it becomes what is called "stag-headed;" the upper branches die off, though it still throws off long annual shoots, and, to appearance, is right enough in other respects. One reads with some interest, the statement that in Sweden and France a red dye is drawn from the roots, and used to tinge the Paschal or Easter eggs. A great many persons think that the

K

White Willow is the most elegant of the tribe. This tree grows to a considerable size, but too frequently, in our English counties, it is disfigured, and stopped in its advance by the plan of pollarding. One of the principal reasons given for this is, that the twigs and boughs are very useful for fuel. In the north, and also in Scotland, the White Willow receives rather better treatment. It is often found growing aslant; the cause is, that unless it is sheltered by its brethren, or by other trees, it has a hard task to keep to the perpendicular should it be on hilly ground. But it does not seem to suffer in a poor soil. Of the White Willow (S. alba,) a pleasing writer says: "When growing on the banks of a river, or on the margin of a purling brook, it forms a beautiful and interesting feature in the landscape, giving to the scene an air of lightness and grace, by means of its silvery and plume-like foliage." The wood and the twigs of this willow are largely used. The inner bark has been proposed as a possible substitute for flour in a time of distress, and, ground with a portion of oatmeal, it makes not unpalatable bread. The twigs were employed by the ancient Briton Britons for those "bascandæ," which became famous in old Rome, and they are still made into baskets and fancy articles. The large, broad leaves which the Goat Willow (S. caprea) displays, at once distinguish it from the rest, and it is one of the earliest to open out its blossoms, which appear before winter has taken its departure. This willow gives a different effect to the view, not only because its leaves are of a different size and shape, but are also darker on the upper side, while the under surface has a cottony clothing. A downy substance also follows the flowers, and wraps round the seeds: this has been tried as a substitute for cotton, and many a little bird finds it very acceptable as a lining for her nest. In Germany, some ingenious folks have attempted to make it into paper. If undisturbed, the Goat Willow will sometimes reach a height of forty feet; we more frequently, however, see it kept

down, by its being lopped or clipped, so that it may form part of a hedge or plantation of underwood.

Before we touch upon the active and voracious dwellers upon the various species of willow, one other form claims our notice. This, the fifth and last willow which, in our land, attains the proportions of a tree, is the Babylonian Willow (S. Babylonica.) How frequently we see this placed beside the tomb-stone, or memorial pedestal, expressive of the grief of the mourner, with its delicate and pendent boughs! Yet surely, in the cemetery or churchyard, we ought ever to accompany it with the cypress and the poplar, whose spiry tops, pointing upwards, tell of celestial hope in the future, and raise the thoughts, even in the present, from earth, and its transitory sorrows. Though some have doubted the fact, there is every reason to believe that this is the tree upon which the Israelitish captives suspended their harps, while, like the willow, they bent towards earth, as they recalled to mind the city and country of their fathers. Travellers have found the Babylonian Willow abundant in several places on the banks of the Euphrates, near the spot which has given its name to the tree. It also flourishes in other parts of Asia, as in China, for instance, where it is a great favourite.

The willow furnishes a home to hosts of insects, and is a temporary attraction, especially during the season of flowering, when there is a constant traffic of bees and flies on sunshiny days. And the life of many a "busy bee" is saved by means of the supply of honey which it obtains from the willow bloom, for at that season the tenants of the hive occasionally revive from their half-torpid condition in the winter, and few flowers, save the willow, are to be found in the month of March. Of the caterpillars which feed upon or in the different willow-trees a long list could be made out; longer, perhaps, than any other tree affords, saving the oak. Most of these produce moths, and not butterflies, though two notable species of the latter are produced