We are now in a position to understand why a stone, thrown into the air, soon falls again. Obviously, because the great mass of the earth exerts a strong attraction upon it. It is no doubt true that this attraction is mutual, that the stone, in its turn, attracts the earth with an equal force, and accordingly we might expect to see the earth rising to meet it as it falls. But it must be remembered that the space through which the earth moves, in obedience to this attraction, is small in proportion as the earth itself is large. Hence it is imperceptible.

The attraction of the earth, generally spoken of as gravity, acts powerfully on all terrestrial objects. By it our houses, our goods, our cattle, and even our own bodies, are made to rest firmly on the ground, instead of flying off into empty space. But for it, bodies would have no weight, for their weight is simply the force with which the earth attracts them. Thus, as if by an invisible chain, held by an invisible, but Almighty hand, we are bound to the world given us for a habitation; and not only so, but the whole frame of nature is linked together by the same all-pervading influence, by which also the motions of all its parts are directed and controlled.

QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION.

What is matter? What is its opposite? Name some of the general properties of matter. What is meant by impenetrability? Give an example of impenetrability in liquids, in gases, in solids. Explain compressibility, dilatability, contractibility. Give examples of each. On what other property do these last mentioned properties depend? Explain the term density. Is matter supposed to be infinitely divisible? Is there any practical limit to its divisibility, and if so, what is it? In what class of substances has artificial division been carried farthest? Give an example. What is meant by inertia? Why does a rolling stone stop? Give an example of inertia as it effects living bodies. What counteracts inertia? What are the several effects which a force may produce? When does it not produce motion? What is the subject of Natural Philosophy? Give examples of different kinds of force. Of what use is friction? What is cohesion? Of what use is it? What is the attraction of gravitation? How is it affected by distance? by mass? Mention some of its effects at the earth's surface, and in the heavens.

HUMAN LIFE.

[SAMUEL ROGERS, a distinguished poet, was born near London in 1762, and died in 1855. He was trained as a banker, which profession he continued to pursue through life. His writings are remarkable for elegance of diction, purity of taste, and beauty of sentiment. His larger works are, "The Pleasures of Memory," "Human Life," " Columbus," and "Italy."]

The lark has sung his carol in the sky;

The bees have hummed their noontide lullaby;
Still in the vale the village-bells ring round,
Still in Llewellyn-hall the jests resound;
For now the caudle-cup is circling there,
Now, glad at heart, the gossips breathe their prayer,
And crowding stop the cradle to admire
The babe, the sleeping image of his sire.

A few short years—and then these sounds shall hail
The day again, and gladness fill the vale;
So soon the child a youth, the youth a man,
Eager to run the race his fathers ran.

Then the huge ox shall yield the broad sirloin;
The ale, now brewed, in floods of amber shine;
And basking in the chimney's ample blaze,
'Mid many a tale told of his boyish days,
The nurse shall cry, of all her ills beguiled,
""Twas on these knees he sat so oft and smiled."

And soon again shall music swell the breeze;
Soon, issuing forth, shall glitter through the trees
Vestures of nuptial white; and hymns be sung,
And violets scattered round; and old and young,
In every cottage-porch, with garlands green,
Stand still to gaze, and, gazing, bless the scene;
While, her dark eyes declining, by his side
Moves in her virgin veil the gentle bride.

And once, alas! nor in a distant hour,
Another voice shall come from yonder tower;
When in dim chambers long black weeds are seen,
And weepings heard where only joy has been;

When by his children borne, and from his door
Slowly departing to return no more,

He rests in holy earth with them that went before.
And such is human life;—so gliding on,

It glimmers like a meteor, and is gone!

ROGERS.

THE VOICE OF THE SHELL.

I have seen

A curious child, who dwelt upon a tract
Of inland ground, applying to his ear
The convolutions of a smooth-lipped shell;
To which, in silence hushed, his very soul
Listened intensely; and his countenance soon
Brightened with joy; for murmurings from within
Were heard- -sonorous cadences! whereby,
To his belief, the monitor expressed
Mysterious union with its native sea.
Even such a shell the universe itself
Is to the ear of Faith; and there are times,
I doubt not, when to you it doth impart
Authentic tidings of invisible things;
Of ebb and flow, and ever-during power;
And central peace, subsisting at the heart
Of endless agitation.

WORDSWORTII.

THE VISION OF MIRZA.

On the fifth day of the moon, which I always keep hóly, after having washed myself' and offered up my morning devótions, I ascended the high hills of Bágdad, in order to pass the rest of the day' in meditátion and prayer. As I was airing myself on the tops of the mountains, I fell into a profound contemplation' on the vanity of human life; and passing from one thought to another, "Surely," said I, "màn is but a shadow, and lífel a dream." Whilst I was

thus músing, the Genius who haunts the mountain' came to me, and, taking me by the hánd, said, with a look of compassion and affability, "Mirza, I have heard thee in thy soliloquies; follow me."

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He then léd me to the highest pinnacle, and placing me on the top of it, "Cast thy eyes eastward," said he, “and téll me what thou sèest." "I sèe," said I, “a huge válley! and a prodigious tide of water rolling through it." "The válley that thou seest," said he, "is the Vale of Misery, and the tide of water that thou seest' is párt of the great Tide of Eternity." "What is the reason," said I, "that the tide that I seel rises out of a thick mìst at one end, and again loses itself in a thick mist at the other?" "What thou seest," said he, "is that portion of Etérnity which is called time, measured out by the sún, and reaching from the beginning of the world' to its consummation. Examine now this séa, and tell me what thou discòverest in it." "I see a bridge," said I, "stánding in the midst of the tide." "The bridge thou seest," said he, "is human Life; consider it attentively." Upon a more leisurely survey of it, I found that it consisted of threescore and ten entíre arches, with several broken arches, which, added to those that were entíre, made up the number about a hundred. As I was counting the arches, the Genius told me that this bridge consisted at first of a thousand arches, but that a great flood swept away the rést, and left the bridge in the ruinous condítion I now beheld it. "But tell me fùrther," said he, "what discòverest thou on it." "I see multitudes of people passing over it," said I, "and a black cloúd' hanging on each end of it." As I looked more attentively, I saw several of the passengers dropping through the bridge into the great tide that flowed underneath it; and upon fúrther examination, perceived there were innumerable tráp-doors that lay concealed in the bridge, which the passengers no sooner tród upon than they fell through them into the tíde, and immediately disappeared. These hidden pitfalls' were set very thick at the entrance of the bridge, so that throngs of people! no sooner broke through the cloúd' than many fell

into them. They grew thinner towards the middle, but multiplied and lay closer together towards the end of the árches that were entire. There were indeed some persons, but their number was very small, that continued a kind of hobbling márch' on the broken àrches, but fell through' one after another, being quite tired and spént' with so long a walk.

I passed some tìmel in the contemplation of this wonderful structure, and the variety of objects which it presènted; and as I looked, my heart was filled with a deep melancholy. "Alàs," said I, "mán' was made in vain! How is he given away to mísery and mortality!" The Gènius, being moved with compassion towards me, bid me quit so uncomfortable a prospect. "Look no mòre," said he, "on mán in the fìrst stage of his existence, in his setting óut for eternity; but cast thine eye on that thick míst' into which the tide bears the several generations of mórtals that fall into it." I directed my síght' as I was òrdered, and (whether or no the good Génius strengthened it with any supernatural force, or dissipated part of the míst that was before too thick for the eye to penetrate) I saw the valley opening at the further end, and spreading forth into an immense ócean, that had a huge rock of adamant running through the midst of it, and dividing it into two equal parts. The clouds still rested on one half of it, insomúch' that I could discover nothing in it; but the other appeared to me a vast òcean' planted with innumerable íslands, that were covered with fruits and flowers, and interwoven with a thousand little shining séas' that ran amòng them. I could see persons dressed in glorious hàbits, with garlands upon their heads, passing among the trèes, lying down by the sides of fountains, or resting on beds of flowers; and could hear a confused harmony of singing bìrds, falling waters, human voices, and musical instruments. Gladness gréw in mel upon the discovery of so delightful a scène. I wished for the wings of an eagle that I might fly away to those happy seats. But the Genius told me that there was no passage to them, except through the gates of death' that I saw opening every moment upon the bridge.