the young ladies and their brother would be at the dance at the castle.

I cannot say that I am very happy to hear the latter part of her information, said Augusta, as she turned from the door, since we shall certainly have some mischief if Frank Stanhope is of the party.

Mrs. Mason observed, that his was indeed a most unpleasant character; but hoped, as he grew up, he would see the folly of it. Having finished her business, she returned home.

On their way they were met by Mr. Mason, who amused the young ones by the following description of the moon, which had risen in awful majesty. You see, my dear children, in the moon several spots, some of them are dark, others luminous: the bright spots are probably high mountains; the dark ones seas or deep valleys. Hence we may infer that the moon is a body of considerable size: indeed, it is discovered by laborious observation, that it is two thousand one hundred and eighty miles in diameter. Can it be supposed then that so vast a body was only intended to light our earth at particular times, and to

cause the flux and reflux of our seas? Surely not. May we not rather suppose, that the Almighty has established an empire in that planet as well as in our world? but as this, my dear children, is merely probable conjecture, let us reflect only on the advantages we receive from it, in being able, from its light, to undertake journies, and transact much business in the night, which otherwise it would be almost impossible to perform.

Mr. Mason had scarcely finished speaking when they arrived at the parsonage, where they found a servant waiting to conduct Augusta and her cousins home.

After wishing their friends a good night, they departed, highly delighted with the pleasant day they had spent.

CHAP. VIII.

On entering the drawing-room where Mrs. Stanly was seated, Augusta and her cousins informed her how much they had been pleased with their visit and the agreeable walk they had had to and from R. At the same time repeating Mr. Mason's observations on the subject of the moon; and expressing a wish to know something respecting the sun.

Your wishes, my dear children, shall be gratified, said Mrs. Stanly. Put on your bonnets to-morrow morning as soon as you are dressed, and we will walk to the little temple in the pleasure grounds, and view the most charming sight in the world, the rising of that beautiful luminary.

They did not forget their appointment; but the next morning assembled at an early hour in the library. Their kind aunt being ready, they entered a broad gravel walk, which led through the plantations, at the

extremity of which, on a gentle eminence, stood the temple.

On entering it, they beheld the east clothed in the purple of Aurora; by degrees it took the bloom of the rose, and shortly after the rich colour of gold: the sun then appeared in all the splendour of majesty, and gradually rising higher and higher, all nature put on a different aspect. Every creature seemed to rejoice; and the birds with melodious songs of joy saluted the source of light and heat. The children remained for some time silent, enjoying the beautiful scene before them.

Caroline at length exclaimed, what would become of us if deprived of these exhilirating rays!

Mrs. Stanly. The earth would be reduced to a dismal uninhabited desert; nothing could compensate for its loss. The sun is the source of life, of sensation, and joy: without it we should languish out a miserable existence. Animals are revived and strengthened at its approach and seeds feel its effects, and open in the bosom of the earth.

H

1

Augusta. How charming is the perfume of the flowers; I think I never smelt them so sweet before. And look, mama, at the dew-drops that hang from the high grass; they sparkle like so many diamonds!

Mrs. Stanly. It is the pure air of the morn ing which makes the flowers so delightful; the sun not yet having power to absorb the vapours which refreshed them during the night.

Emma. How large is the sun?

Mrs. Stanly. From astronomical observations the sun is found to be more than ten hundred thousand times larger than our earth.

Caroline. How wonderful! What an immense distance it must be then from us!

Mrs. Stanly. Yes; it is supposed to be ninety-five millions of miles from the earth. Can we, then, too much admire the all-seeing goodness of God in placing it as he has done, regulating its motion with such infinite wisdom: for if it was farther off, we should perish with cold; and if nearer, be scorched with its heat.