Infinity of Space;—and Divisibility of Matter. 157

scope, numbers of stars are seen, which we could not perceive with the naked eye; and we believe, that, if we could go to the most distant of these, there would still appear as much space beyond us. But what, perhaps, seems still more strange, is, that, as we find no end of the greatness of the works of creation, if we look upwards, so we have reason to believe, that, looking downwards, there is no end of the smallness of created things; that is, matter may be divided over and over again, into less and less parts, and yet never come to end. This is wonderful,-the works of the Creator are all wonderful; they are quite beyond our understanding; -but they shew the infinite power of Him who made them. He is every where;-in the middle of all his works; let us ever praise and adore Him!

The following extract from a newspaper may give some notion of the smallness of the parts to which we can see that matter may be divided.

"Gold-beaters, by hammering, can reduce gold leaves so thin, that 282,000 must be laid upon each other to produce the thickness of an inch; yet those leaves are perfect, or without holes, so that one of them, laid upon any surface, as in gilding, gives the appearance of solid gold. They are so thin, that, if formed into a book, 1,500 would not occupy the space of a single leaf of common paper; and a volume of an inch thick would have as many pages as 1,500 volumes, with 400 pages in each. Still thinner than this is the coating of gold upon the silver wire of what is called gold lace. Platinum and silver can be drawn into wire much finer than human hair. A grain of blue vitriol, or carmine, will tinge a gallon of water, so that in every drop the colour may be perceived. A grain of musk will scent a room for twenty years, and will have lost very little of its weight. The carrion crow smells its food many miles off. The thread of a silk-worm is so small that many of them are twisted together

to form our finest sewing thread; but that of the spider is smaller still; for two drachms of it, by weight, would reach from London to Edinburgh, or 400 miles. In the milt of a cod-fish, or in water in which certain vegetables have been infused, the microscope discovers animalcules of which many thousands together do not equal in bulk a grain of sand; and yet Providence has supplied these with organs as complete as those of the whale or elephant. In a single pound of such matter, there are more living creatures than of human beings on the face of this globe. What a scene has the microscope opened to the admiration of the philosophic inquirer !"

CHILDREN'S BENEFIT CLUB.

THE following Regulations were made for the Children's Club in the parish of Layton. They may serve as a guide to other parishes, with such additions or alterations as particular circumstances may render expedient.

"Art. 1.-The intent and design of this Society is, to instil into the minds of the young, habits of frugality and foresight, to provide a subsistence for them during sickness, to assist their parents in apprenticing them out to service, to provide them with clothes, &c. when they have passed their sixteenth year, and left school, and a sum of money in case of death.

"Art. 2.-This Society shall not be confined to those children only who attend the charity school; but any child who is between six and sixteen years of age, and in good health, shall be allowed to become a Member. Each child shall pay one penny entrance money, and three-halfpence every week, to the master or mistress of the charity-school, between the hours of nine and ten o'clock every Mon

Children's Benefit Club.

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day morning; and any child who neglects to make the payment at the proper time, shall forfeit one halfpenny for the first transgression, one penny for the second, two-pence for the third, and for the fourth be expelled.

"N. B. Children who have sickly constitutions, shall be allowed to deposit their weekly payments of three-halfpence in this Society, and shall be entitled to have their deposits doubled, when they have passed their sixteenth year and any child who de posits more than three-halfpence per week, shall be allowed an interest at the rate of £5 per cent. for all money above that sum, if the funds are sufficient for that purpose.

"Art. 3.-Every Member shall be entitled to four shillings per week during sickness, and in case of death to thirty shillings: and when any Members have passed their sixteenth year, or before, if it should seem fit to the Managers of the Society, consisting of not fewer than two Honorary Members, together with the Treasurer and Secretary, they shall be allowed to receive from the funds of the Society the amount of their subscriptions, toge, ther with a sum equal to that amount from the Honorary Members' fund, which shall be expended either in enabling the Member to enter another So, ciety approved of by the Managers, or in the pur chase of clothes, working tools, apprenticing them out, or in any other manner which may seem most proper to the said Managers.

"Art. 4.-No Children shall receive the sick allowance, till they have been Members six months, after which time, if any Member become sick, he shall deliver, or cause to be delivered to the Treasurer, a certificate signed by the Surgeon, and Secretary of the Society, stating that such child is too ill to go from home; and every sick Member shall be visited by a Surgeon at least once a fortnight. No Members who are receiving the sick allowance

shall go out of their houses, or stand at the door of their houses, without permission from the Medical Attendant, which permission shall be signed by the Medical Attendant on the sick Member's certificate. Any Members who transgress the Rules of the Society, or who shall be known to Swear, use Bad Language, Lye, or Steal, shall be expelled from the Society, and forfeit all their payments, and not be again admitted, till they have given good proof of their amendment.

"Art. 5.-The Secretary shall audit the Accounts of the Society, visit the sick Members, &c.

"Art. 6.-The four Monitors of the Charity School shall be appointed Stewards, whose duty shall be to assist the School Master in receiving payments, and to inform him of any transgressions, which they may know to have been committed against the Regulations.

"Art. 7.-If the Parents of any Children, who are Members, leave the Parish, such children shall be allowed to receive the amount of their subscriptions in clothes, or any other manner approved of by the Managers.

Art. 8.-If the funds of this Society increase beyond what the Managers may deem necessary for the purposes of the Society, the overplus shall be expended in clothing for the Members."

W.

VERSES ON THE SUDDEN DEATH OF A RINGER.

To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. SIR,

We have lately had a new set of bells in our village. They were put up in harvest time; and different

Verses on the sudden Death of a Ringer. 161

sets of ringers were to chime for prizes. A young man, in the fields, was very anxious to finish his work, in order to try his hand at the heavy bell, and so got on the waggon to help to load it. The inclosed Verses relate the awful fact. That deep bell, which he wished to ring, was first tolled for him. May this awful event teach us all to be watchful;-may the living lay it to heart. Alas! Sir, so hard are our hearts that nothing seems to make a lasting impression on them! We see very awful things happen, and we begin to tremble, but, in a few days, all is forgotten, and we go on, just as if we were to live for ever in this world! But, whether we think of it, or no, whether we will hear, or whether we will forbear-the Judge standeth before the door;" and He has said, "Watch and pray, for ye know neither the day nor the hour, when the Lord cometh."-" What, therefore, I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch."

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May the grace of God awaken us all to a true sense of the uncertainty of our continuance in this world, and the necessity that lies upon us of seeking to be prepared for another.

'Twas the loveliest day, the brightest sun;
And the bells were gaily ringing,

And his wearying work he had nearly done,
And the harvest home was singing.

His days were strong in his manhood's prime,
And his health was all unbroken,

He hasted his work, the bells to chime,
And his wish he had gaily spoken.

He mounted the waggon his work to speed;
How little he thought on the ending,
For chanced to stir the labouring steed,
Whilst he to his work was bending.

A moment!-he fell!-the change was dread,
In an instant his life departed;

His work was done, he was with the dead,
And his widow was broken hearted!

F. V.