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stinct directed to the same purpose, took place in Gloucestershire.-A pair of Moor-hens had built their nest on the side of a pond. It being found ne cessary to raise the water for the purpose of washing sheep, the Birds, to prevent the nest from being filled with water, collected a number of sticks, and placed them under the nest, for the purpose of raising it, and when the water returned to its proper level in the pond, the nest was seen in the situation described, and was visited by many people, who were curious to see this remarkable instance of contrivance in the Birds.

The contemplation of the works of Creation, affords us an inexhaustible source of praise to the Maker and Preserver of all. Our Blessed Saviour, taking advantage, even of the most trivial circumstance, to draw some instruction for his Disciples, represents to them the tender care of the Deity for every part of his Creation: and that a sparrow could not fall to the ground without the knowledge of our Heavenly Father. This surely should teach us to

cast all our care upon him, for he careth for us.' Let no man, even the humblest, suppose that he is unnoticed by the Almighty: St. Peter observed, that God is no respecter of persons, but in every nation, he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted by him..

H. C.

We are much obliged to the two Correspondents who have sent us the above communications. It is a truly delightful employment to trace the directing and protecting hand of a gracious Providence, as displayed in the works of Creation, whichever way we look. Whenever we apply this reflection to the case of birds, the beautiful remark of Paley on Birds sitting on their eggs, instantly occurs to our mind. That so lively, flitting, active a creature as a bird, should seem actually pinned down for weeks together, is the very last thing we should expect.

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But there is need of this, and Providence makes it to But we must make the extract from Paley. "An animal formed for liberty, submits to confinement, in the very season when every thing calls her abroad: what is more, an animal delighting in motion, made for motion, all whose motions are so easy and so free, hardly a moment, at other times, at rest, is for many hours of many days together, fixed to her nest, as close as if her limbs were tied down by pins and wires. For my part, I never see a bird in that situation, but I recognize an invisible hand, detaining the contented prisoner from her fields and from her groves, for a purpose, as the event proves, the most worthy of the sacrifice, (to her) the most im-. portant, the most beneficial."

On the outside of Mickleham Church is a Tablet, with the following Inscription:

In this Church lie the remains of Mrs. Roe, for many years a most excellent school-mistress, in this Parish, who taught, with ability and diligence, all under her care, both by precept and example. Out of respect for her worth, and gratitude for the assistance she gave him, in instructing the young to perform their duty to God and their fellow-creatures during the time he was Rector of this Parish, the Dean of Canterbury places this Stone. 1814.

A VILLAGE DIALOGUE.

"How do you do, Smith?" said Mr. Barton, the Minister of a retired Village, as he entered the neat cottage of a parishioner, and sat down by his fireside, I have called to wish you joy of the good for tune, which is said to have befallen you, during my

The Rev. Gerrard Andrewes, D. D.

absence from home. I hear you have had a little farm, and some money left you by an uncle of your wife's, I hope it is true.

Smith. I am very much obliged to you, Sir, what you have heard is very true. .

Mr. Barton. And is it true, Smith, that you are going to leave this place, and live at your farm?kona Smith. Yes, I think of doing so, Sir. Having heen used to farm work, I believe it is the best thing: I can do. The farm house is a good one, and wilt be more comfortable for my family than this. What is your opinion, Sir?

Mr. Barton, Though I shall be truly concerned to lose so respectable a parishioner, I quite approver of your plan. Your boys are growing up, and will soon be able to assist you in farming; and your girls may, even now, be useful to their mother, who is such a steady, industrious woman, and so discreet in the management of her children, that I make no doubt she will bring them up to be patterns for Farmer's daughters. But what is the matter, Smith, you do not look so cheerful as I expected to see you..

Smith. Why, no Sir, I dare say I do not, for to tell you the truth, I much question whether this good luck, as it seemed to be, will not in the end, prove the contrary to us all.

Mr. Barton. How so Smith. I cannot understand this; explain yourself.

Smith. Why, Sir, in all the years that my wife and I have been married, we have never had any disputes, and our study has been to bring up our family to the best of our ability. We have kept out of debt, by working hard, and we have always been mindful to teach our children to do every thing for themselves as soon as possible, that they may be able to get their own living when they are old enough. This, Sir, it is still my wish that they should do : for though we are now better off in the world than we ever expected to be, we have not enough to live like

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gentlefolks, without employment. In my opinion, a young woman cannot be more respectably placed, than as a servant in a good regular family. UnluckHly, Sir, my wife has taken it into her head, that our two girls should now be in a higher line, and that the learning they have had at the National School is not enough. She wants me to send them to Boarding School, where they may learn to play music, and dance a little, and do as gentlefolks children do. Buf, indeed Sir, I cannot help thinking they will be a great deal happier, and better too, if they are kept in their own station of life, and don't have any high notions put in their heads.

Mr. Barton, I am sorry, Smith, that there should be any difference of opinion between your wife and you on this subject, as I am sure, you both are anxious to have your girls happy and good; but, indeed, if you do not act according to your own notions now, you will be very wrong: and I hope that: when Dame Smith comes to think a little more about it, she will see the folly of bringing up her girls as you say she now wishes to do, and of having them learn things that can never be of use to them. But, how long does your wife intend they shall stay at school?

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Smith. Only a year, Sir. She does not wish them to stay longer than that; it would cost so much.

Mr. Barton. Cost so much? Yes-I will tell you what it would cost, Smith! It would cost you, not only more money than you can spare, but all the comfort that you are looking forward to have in your girls when they are grown up; and it would," most likely, cost them all their happiness, for they would have ideas put into their heads, that would make them discontented with their own plain home, and with every body about them. Tell your wife. what I have been saying; and tell her, also, that even if she still thinks herself right, it is so ne

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cessary for the happiness of married people, for each to give up occasionally their own inclinations to oblige the other, that I hope she will give up her's in this instance to oblige you. I can assure her that your plan is the most prudent, and the most likely to make the whole family happy. Good night, Smith-I hope I shall soon see you in as good spirits. as you used to be, settled in your farm, with your cheerful family around you.

G. H.

DIFFERENT OPINIONS

I HAVE often hinted to my readers that I have received many more letters than I could make room for in my little book. My friends, besides other useful matter, have often been so kind as to favour me with their opinons as to the conduct of the Monthly Visitor, and I hope that their advice has not been wholly lost upon me. I own I have been sometimes a little puzzled at some difference in the opinions of the observations of my friends. I shall now give some of their communications in an abridged form to my readers, that they may see that, having received so much good advice, it must be wholly my own fault if I go wrong.

SIR,

I AM very glad to have met with a little work like yours-it is very clever and entertaining: but pray do not give us any extracts from newspapers. What have your readers to do with newspapers? Besides, Sir, we do not think your selections well chosen, nor your remarks good.

I am, Sir, yours, &c.

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