various tribes in ancient times, are noticed as having lived on a species of soup, made of snakes and scorpions. Some barbarous nations, in modern times, feed on locusts, fresh or pickled; while the inhabitants of Madagascar are said to prefer locusts to the finest fish. But what must we say of the Cochin Chinese, who esteem putrid eggs as one of the greatest delicacies, and pay a much higher price for them than they do for fresh eggs! It is a standing joke against the French, that they dress and eat frogs-a dish, which I believe is now seen on the tables of some of the respectable hotels in our own country. I have been told likewise that a relish for these amphibious croakers prevails among the students of one of our colleges, and that the frogs have of late grown marvellously scarce around the borders of a certain pond. A story is told of a sailor, who could swallow and digest pen-knives, sometimes throwing half a dozen down his throat at a time. He finally killed himself however, in one of these dangerous freaks. What will you say, when I tell you that the Chinese gentry are passionately fond of birds' nests-the real nests of birds, similar to the swallow? This fancy for birds' nests prevails all over China, but can be indulged only by the wealthiest classes. Such is the extraordinary demand for this kind of food, that its cost is enormous; and, in China, to say that a man eats birds' nests, is equivalent to saying that he is a grandee or a very rich person. The following is a picture of the bird and nest, which are thus cult of access. The whitest nests are those, ments, could be written on it. The Chinese which bring the highest price. make furnaces of asbestos, which are very convenient. The only preparation, which the birds' nests undergo is that of simple drying, after which they are packed in small boxes. They are assorted for the Chinese market into three kinds, according to their qualities. The Chinese imagine that these nests are a very wholesome food, but probably their most valuable quality is, that they are perfectly harmless. THE ASBESTOS STONE. The asbestos stone is found in several places in Europe and Asia, particularly in Sweden, Corsica, Cornwall, and the island of Anglesea, in England. It is of a silky nature, very fine, and of a grayish color; insipid and indissoluble in water. It may be split into threads and filaments, from one to ten inches in length. It cannot be destroyed by fire, whence it may be employed for many useful purposes. In Europe, whole garments of this substance have been formed, by which men have been enabled to run into the midst of flames, without being singed. The method of preparing the cloth is as follows: the stone is laid to soak in warm water, then opened and divided by the hands, that the earthy matter may be washed out. This earth is white like chalk, and makes the water thick and milky. The process being several times repeated, the filaments are afterwards collected and dried; they are conveniently spun with flax. When the cloth is woven, it is softened with oil. It is then put into the fire; and the flax being burnt out, the cloth remains pure and white. It might also be made into paper; and from its property of resisting fire, wills or other valuable docu COURTESY A sweet word not only turneth away wrath, but it leads to knowledge, to wisdom, to honor, pleasure, and repose. It conducts to the best felicities of life, and attains the most gracious ends by the least laborious means. Yet what is it, but that engaging demeanor, proceeding from a disposition alike liberal to give as to receive what ought to be acceptable to the loftiest mind and proudest spirit? What is it but to gild our home with the smile of peace; and in our excursions abroad, to make the best of what we see and hear by the way? Where our road through life is rugged, it softens its asperities by temper or forbearance; and amidst the sullen silence of the brooding tempest, whether a storm of the elements over us, or the more furious and destructive hurricane of man's bosom, it is wonderful of what importance is this courteous amenity. It steals a sunbeam over the most gloomy parts of nature and society, and adds a ray to their brightest splendors. It is everywhere of inestimable price. Like the divine quality of mercy, it is twice blessed. It blesses him that gives, and kim that takes. THE MONKEY AND THE CHILD. My young readers have probably heard many stories about that mischievous cresture, the monkey. The following incident is said to have occurred on board a vessel at sea:-"Among the passengers was a female, who had at the breast a child only a few weeks old. “One beautiful afternoon, the captain perceived a distant sail, and after he had gratified his curiosity, he politely offered his spy-glass to his passenger, that she might obtain a clear view of the object. The lady had the infant in her arms; she wrapped her shawl about the little innocent, and placed it on a sofa upon which she had been sitting. "Scarcely had she applied her eye to the glass, when one of the sailors exclaimed, 'Good heavens! see what the mischievous monkey has done.' You may judge of the mother's feelings, when, on turning round, she beheld the animal in the act of transporting the little baby to the very top of the mast! "The monkey was quite a large one, and so strong and active, that while it grasped the infant firmly with the one arm, it climbed the mast nimbly by the other, without being hindered by the weight of its burden. One look was sufficient for the terrified mother, who almost instantly fainted away. "The sailors could climb as well as the monkey, but the latter watched their motions narrowly; and as it ascended higher up the mast, the moment they attempted to catch it, the captain became afraid that it would drop the child, and endeavor to escape by leaping from one mast to another. "In the meantime, the baby was heard to cry; and though many thought it was suffering pain, their fears on this point were soon put at rest, when they observed the monkey imitating exactly the motions of a nurse, by dandling, soothing, and caressing its charge, and even endeavoring to hush it asleep. "From the deck, the lady was conveyed to the cabin, and gradually restored to her senses. In the meantime, the captain or dered every man to conceal himself below, and quietly took his own station on the cabin stair, where he could see all that passed without being seen. This plan happily succeeded. The monkey, on perceiving that the coast was clear, cautiously descended from his lofty perch, and replaced. the infant on the sofa, cold, fretful, and perhaps frightened, but in every other respect as free from harm as when he took it up. The humane seaman had now a most grateful task to perform; the babe was restored to its mother's arms amidst tears, and thanks, and blessings." Price one dollar a year, in advance. Six cents single 50 cents a dozen. Each number being stereotyped, the back numbers can be supplied in any quantities. orders post paid, promptly attended to. All The postage on this Magazine is three quarters of a cent for 100 miles, and one cent and a quarter only, the greatest distance. 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