describe their adventures; I shall tell you of the great ocean that occupies nearly twothirds of the earth's surface; of the gales and tempests that sweep over its bosom, of the tides that agitate its surface, of the plants that grow in its depths, and the fishes of a thousand forms that glide amidst its glassy

waters.

The next picture relates to days of antiquity. In ancient times there were nations who executed beautiful buildings, chiseled fine statues in marble, and executed many other charming works of art. These nations, have long since perished, but some of their works remain; as they are interesting and instructive subjects of study, I shall sometimes introduce them to the notice of my older readers.

The next picture, relates to beasts of four feet, called quadrupeds; the next to fishes; the next to insects as bees, butterflies, &c; the next to serpents or reptiles, some of which are large enough to coil about a horse and crush it to death, as if strangled by a strong rope. The next relates to flowers, those beautiful bright things which decorate the face of the earth; and the next to the feathered tribes which fill the air with life and melody.

I

Of all these things I shall often speak. shall describe their forms, their colors, their habits, and the places where they dwell. These topics are full of interest; they are worthy of being studied by all, the young as well as the old. The God of nature has displayed wonderful powers in the creation of these his creatures, and we cannot better train our minds to love and reverence, than by considering these his works. In wisdom and in goodness has he made them all, and he who neglects or refuses to study them, passes by untouched and untasted some of

the sweetest pleasures, and richest joys that are afforded to the mind and heart.

My next picture represents in the foreground a man ploughing in the field, by which I would have you understand that I shall sometimes speak of tilling the earth, or Agriculture. The large building behind the ploughman, is a Manufactory by which you may suppose that I shall often speak of the arts of making cloths, hats, buttons, and other things. The ship in the distance, means that I shall sometimes discourse of Commerce, that is, the carrying of various articles of use or luxury, from one country to another across the seas.

The next picture displays a man getting into a stage, for the purpose of travelling; you may therefore expect to hear, not only his stories, but many others, relating to various countries. The next and last picture shows an old building in the distance, falling in pieces. The stones which compose its walls are broken and tottering, and seem to speak of days long gone by. And of these "olden times" it is my intention frequently to discourse. It is the business of History to describe what is past, and from history I shall draw many interesting tales. The world has been going on for near 6000 years, and many strange things have happened upon it. These furnish endless themes of interest and instruction, and I hope to amuse my young readers for many hours, with tales of the past.

Such then is my portrait, and such are some of my designs. I propose to use my best efforts to please, and instruct the young Perhaps too, I may occasionally have some thing to say, worthy the attention of older listeners. I humbly ask therefore, for the public favor. I ask for the favor of parents, for I will try to benefit their children. I ask

for the favor of children, for if they will admit me into their hearts, and trust me as a friend, I will tell them many pleasing tales, and open to them many new sources of enjoyment. I ask for the favor of all, and if there are any who are too wise or too learned to look into my pages, I will be content if they will drop a yearly dollar into my publishers' pocket.

TO THE PUBLISHERS.

I am very glad to hear that you are about to publish a little magazine, filled with pictures, for children. I cannot undertake to become the editor as you desire, for my quill is nearly worn to the stump, and the hand that guides it, must soon cease from its labors. But so long as my life is spared, I shall be happy to converse with my little friends through your magazine, and if you think my name may serve to designate the character and design of the work, you may use it as a part of the title.

There is no subject upon which I feel so deeply interested as that of juvenile education. As I get old, and my heart grows cold to other objects, it beats more and more warmly toward children; while the leaves and flowers which enliven the landscape, seem to fade and grow dim to my sight, the bright eyes of children, beaming with immortality, excite deeper and deeper emotions. I feel that I must soon take leave of all those objects which adorn the land scape, and never hold companionship with them more; but I frequently dwell upon the idea, that the separation, which must soon take place between me and my young listeners, is but a transient suspension of an intercourse which is destined to last forever.

But this half selfish thought, is not the only one which tends to excite a growing interest in my mind, toward children. I look upon them, as beings full of sensibility to hope and fear, to pleasure and pain, to sorrow and to joy, who have undertaken a long and hazardous journey. The great object of this journey is, Happiness, but the way to it is attended with doubt and uncertainty. The child, without education, begins his steps in darkness. Education is the lamp, which is to guide him; this is the light which is to point out the straight path, to detect danger, and display the hidden pitfall.

Now, while all the world are busy in devising railroads, and other easy methods, by which the body may travel with safety and celerity, it is natural that some attention should be paid to the means of aiding the Mind on its great journey toward that metropolis, called Happiness, for which we are all striving. And much attention is paid to this subject: but while the road to New York, or any other great city is plain and easy, and while the traveller to one of these places, seldom fails to reach his destination, more than half mankind, who set out for happiness, wander through life in the mazes of doubt and disappointment, and miss the true end of their existence at last.

Thus while the inferior journey is rendered safe and sure, the important one is difficult and dangerous. This doubtless arises, in part from the greater obstructions, which naturally lie in the way of the intellectual journey, but in part also, from the pervading error, of esteeming the inferior journey as the great one. Or to drop my metaphor, happiness the great end of existence is often missed, from a want of attention to education; and education is neglected from es

teeming it as of inferior importance to riches, and many other things. Parents will toil and strive and save, that they may amass wealth for their children, as if these were of the first importance, while they will neglect their education, without which, this very wealth is more likely to be a curse than a blessing. To return a moment to our allegory, they bring their children into existence, and set them forth upon the dark and dangerous journey of life, provided with every thing, except that important lamp, without which they will probably travel on in misery and end their career in disappointment.

But this false notion, is probably not the only obstruction in the way to happiness. There are doubtless other difficulties. Even if mankind were agreed that Education is of the first importance, still we might be in some doubt as to the true mode of conducting it. Our minds are probably under the influence of some prejudices, which have descended from a darker age, and which still linger there like the clouds of a storm that is passing away. Let every parent however, adopt two obvious maxims, and hold himself ready to act in conformity to them, and a general light will soon be shed over the obstructed path of life; viz. Happiness, the true end of existence, is an object of the mind and not of the body; and Happiness can only be secured by teaching and training the mind, so that it may not be deceived as to the true road to happiness, or tempted to depart from it. when it is known.

. I would not have it inferred from this, that in education, the body is to be overlooked. On the contrary, as the mind is its intimate ally, and is held in close sympathy with it, care should be taken to render it as

perfect as possible. I would, indeed not only make education include the intellect and heart, but the body should be trained and developed so as to impart to it the greatest degree of health, strength and hardiness. But still, I would have it regarded only as the instrument of the mind; its tenement, which for the comfort of the tenant, should be well constructed and carefully kept, but which is soon to be deserted for a more enduring residence.

Such Messrs. Publishers are some of the views I entertain, and you may well believe that they impart great strength to the interest I feel in children and in their education. Every new effort for this great cause, I look upon with favor, and as you seem to have undertaken this, with a due estimate of the importance of the work in which you are about to engage, I wish you abundant success.

The games with marbles, played by boys, are of great antiquity, and originated in imitation of the more manly games with bowls. In early times, before the invention of grinding marbles into a perfectly round form was known, boys used nuts in their stead. It is said of Augustus, when young, that, by way of amusement, he spent many hours in playing with little Moorish boys, cum nucibus, with nuts. This trifling cir cumstance presents us with a pleasing trait in the juvenile character of the greatest of all the Roman emperors.

There is a large manufactory of marbles in Holland. Pieces of stone, marble and alabaster are thrown into a sort of mill, from which they come out perfectly round and smooth.

THE BEE HIVE. Nature affords but few more decisive evidences of the wisdom and benevolence of the Creator, than may be observed in the labors of bees. An observer will scarcely know which to admire most, the wonderful manner in which these insects are adapted to their circumstances, or the unity, industry, loyalty and sagacity which prevail among them.

One of the most wonderful of the various employments of bees, is the ventilation of their abode. When you consider the numbers contained in a hive, the closeness of the atmosphere, and the small hole at which the air principally enters, you will readily conceive how soon it must be rendered unfit for respiration. What would you say, should I tell you that the bees, upon this

occasion, have recourse to the same instrument which ladies use to cool themselves, when an apartment is overheated? Yet it is strictly the case. The little creatures unite their wings so as to form a very proper sort of fan, and move them so rapidly that they can hardly be seen. When they are engaged in ventilating their hive, the bees, by means of their feet and claws, fix themselves as firmly as possible to the place they stand on. When one retires, another occupies its place; so that in a hive well peopled there is never any interruption of the humming sound occasioned by this action.

When the bees begin to work in their hives, they divide themselves into four companies: one of which roves the fields in search of materials; another employs itself

in laying out the bottom and partitions of their cells; a third is employed in smoothing the walls; and the fourth company brings food for the rest, or relieves those who return with their respective burdens. But they are not kept constant to one employment; they often change the tasks assigned them; those that have been at work being permitted to go abroad, and those that have been in the fields already take their places. They seem even to have signs by which they understand each other; for when any of them wants food, it bends down its trunk to the Bee from whom it is expected, which then opens its honey bag, and lets some drops fall into the other's mouth, which is at that time open to receive it. Their diligence and labor are so great, that in a day's time they are able to make cells, which lie upon each other, numerous enough to contain three thousand Bees. In the plan and formation of these cells they discover a most wonderful sagacity.

The danger of being stung by bees may be in a great measure prevented by a quiet composed behavior. A thousand bees will fly and buzz about a person without hurting him, if he stand perfectly still and forbear disturbing them even when near his face. It is said that a person is in perfect safety in the midst of myriads of bees, if he is but careful to keep his mouth shut, and to breathe gently through his nostrils onlythe human breath, it would seem, being particularly offensive to their delicate organs.

But there is one silly practice to which, I am sorry to say, bees are quite as much addicted as certain weak-minded mortals. I mean the practice of duelling! On a fine summer day, when the sun is beautiful and warm, duels may often be seen to take place between two inhabitants of the same hive.

Sometimes, the quarrel appears to have begun within, and the combatants may be seen coming out of the gates eager for blows.' In some cases, a bee peaceably settled on the outside of the hive is rudely jostled by another, and then the attack commences, each endeavoring to obtain the most advantageous position. They turn, dance about, throttle each other, and such is their bitter earnestness, that a person can come close to them without taking off their attention.

After rolling about in the dust, the victor, watching the time when its enemy uncovers its body, thrusts in his sting, and the next instant its antagonist stretches out its quivering wings, and expires. Sometimes the enemy is killed in the hive; then the victor always carries the corpse out of the city, and leaves it. These combats are strictly duels, not more than two being concerned in them.

We have only room for one more story about bees. In 1525, a mob of peasants attempted to pillage the house of a gentleman in Germany, who having in vain tried to dissuade them from their undertaking, ordered his servants to bring his bee-hives, and throw them into the midst of the angry multitude. The effect answered his expec tations: the peasants were immediately put to flight, and happy were those who escaped unstung.

The following cut represents a bee laying the foundation of the first cell.