its eggs its work is done, and, no more need of life, it quietly way."

this time Charlie had been siut he was not inattentive. Chara thoughtful boy, and, being an the other children, he looked into subjects than they did. Behad assisted his uncle occasionhis experiments, and he knew bout the instincts and habits of "I have been thinking, uncle," "Shall I tell you my thoughts?" tainly," said his uncle. "You always like to hear the thoughts young nephews."

3, out with your thoughts," said "Something solemn, I have no

any more of my time foolishly, nor smoke any more cigars, and thus uselessly wear out my energies, but do like the caterpillar, go to work and make a man of myself. The rest of you may do as you please, but if you take my advice you will follow my example, as I intend to follow the example of the caterpillar. The history of this moth has reproved me. I do not see why a despised little worm should do its duty in the world better than boys and men do, and, for my part, I am not willing that the caterpillar of the Luna Moth shall serve its God and its generation better than I do."

"Your thinking will do you good, Charlie," said Uncle Samuel, "if you give it such a practical turn as that. I hope that you will all love God better and serve and adore Him more, because He is so good and kind to all His creatures. Every lesson in Natural History, if it is properly improved, will make you better children. God speaks to you in His works as well as in His word. Look about you, even when you are enjoying your sports, and you will not fail to find something on which God has left the mark of His presence and His power.

THE GOOD WINE.

John ii: 1-10.

not for me," I blindly said, ord of comfort here I read." ast Thou shown me, even here, The lesson for my need.

sson of undoubting faith, ent in prayer, Thine hour to wait, wing no care too small for Thee, No work of love too great.

me to-night, as Mary came, nake my anxious burden Thine; -lead with Thee for these heart-guests, "See, Lord, they have no wine!"

while I praise Thee for Thy love, cer than wine" to me revealed, m not rest, until the cups

Alike for these be filled.

il, accepting Thee, they find e than all joys, all blessings past, ing, "O Bridegroom, Thou hast kept The good wine to the last!"

ait for Thine appointed hour,
miracle of power divine:-
ait-I pray "Remember these

Dear Lord, who have no wine!"
L.

GENIAL LETTER.-Dear Miscellany: a heart as full of joy at the return of gas the trees are of sap, I feel ind to send you a greeting from the of New England.

st autumn, instead of going with the to my Southern home, I determined ce the rigors of a Northern winter-not Connecticut or Massachusetts-where, ing a milder climate than their sister es, they wrap yon round with fogs, and through you with east winds, until y spark of caloric in your body is ched-but in the dry cold of New mpshire, where, in midwinter, the sun fails, for weeks together, to melt one -drop from the insensible icicles that er in long pendants from the houses. Yes, here-where were to be snow

drifts of fabulous height, where fences should disappear from view to be seen no more till spring, where Jack Frost and Boreas were promised, sweeping down from within the Artic Circle, binding the earth, streams, and rivers in icy fetters, and sportively nipping any luckless noses, fingers, or toes that came unprotected in their way-yes, verily, here I would make my temporary abode, even if I froze!

Having deliberately formed this heroic plan, I next proceeded to fight a friendly battle with my kind hostess for the possession of what was known in the house as the south attic-a gem of a spot, full of cosy comfort, with the sun pouring in at its one large window, while on every other side it was well sheltered from those grim enemies mentioned above. Having won a victory over this domestic foe, I hastened to take possession of my stronghold, where, fortified with books, writing-table, etc., I awaited the coming of the adversary. For some reason, however, the ice king delayed his advent. Morning after morning I awoke to find the air mild and the sky soft. Not a sleigh appeared; not a sound of merry bells was heard. At last I grew impatient. My friends smiled benignly, with the assurance that I would have enough of it before I was through.

On Christmas week there was a raid from the north pole that sent the mercury down to eighteen degrees below zero. I was jubilant. "Now it is coming in good earnest," said the natives; but, overpowered by some invisible force, the enemy suddenly retreated, leaving all mild and placid as before. Still the oldest inhabitant kept his mind easy by recalling past experiences. Certainly the snow and cold were only delaying for a bit.

January arrived, and everybody sung in my ears, "As the days begin to lengthen, the cold begins to strengthen." If exceptions prove the rule, then no doubt this familiar rhyme is true; but after waiting till the end of the month in vain, I remembered an adage to the effect that "All signs fail in dry weather," which, considering the empty wells and cisterns-no snow to melt, no rain falling-seemed to my mind rather more

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appropriate to the present case than the one first quoted. Still, hope was not extinct. "We shall have six weeks of good sleighing yet; you see if we don't," said the farmers, who, with their cords upon cords of wood to be drawn to market, began to watch eagerly for snow. And, sure enough, with February came a scant six inches, that set them in a bustle such as was never seen before. On all sides came pouring in the splendid split rock-maple, holding itself high above the plebean mixed and round birch and beach, that felt happy to be taken on almost any terms. But in three days the rush was; over, because the snow was gone! Now, I lost all patience, gave myself up to despair, and sat a disconsolate looker-on in Venice. Was I not cheated of my longanticipated enjoyment of a Northern winter? Others still continued to nurse a feeble hope, but I turned a deaf ear to their predictions-a course over which I now exult, as I sit in my attic, this middle of March, with the grass springing green, the robins singing all about, and reflect that the winter is over, without my having had one sleigh-ride or having seen one snow-drift; all my high resolves having come to naught, all my fond hopes blighted.

such things; you deal at the big store on the principal square, or shop on the secondrate street, where you get a variety and take your choice. But look inside just a moThe shopkeeper seems tidy and There are ment. She is not young. plain. marks of pain drawn clearly upon her face. She speaks gently, somewhat wearily. She does not press you with words to buy; but she looks as though she might be saying in her heart things like these:-"Oh! my good woman if you knew all, you would surely be my customer. My children have to be fed and clothed, and it is hard work for me to make the two ends meet when God makes the two ends of the year come together. Little profits I make; there is so much competition, and the large stores draw every body. If it were not for a few good friends who stand by me, I would have What would become of me to give up. think of that.

nd buy." It isn't much to step then into these little shops, and a few things you will want at ut you needn't beat the poor woce down. Don't tell her the goods rst quality, or that you can get ›ds for less money, or that they shioned. Don't look too sharply for she is sensitive and timid, and nd care-worn; poor thing! Like it is due to-morrow, and she hasn't ough to pay; or there is a new barur to get; or the coal is just out; tatoes are gone, and the children g, “Mother, why don't we have ore?" That is what makes her guid and listless a little. She can't thoughts here. Now, if she offers ething at less than it was marked, ke it at that; pay the full price, sure it is time to buy. This is place for bargains; but this is the you to deal regularly. Purchasing tle articles here will help a good nd you won't lose much. Lose Dear friend, you will be laying up where moth and rust do not corSisters, drop in often at these a

ores.

Always carry with you nd pleasant words, and praise for can justly commend, to throw in ou buy any thing. It will make the heart to sing, and the orphans shall me spirit and join the chorus; for, if ttle rooms could tell all their story, ould not be many eyes left dry, nor Hearts sleeping, while we stood and ts misery and mournfulness. A.

ESTIC LABOR AT A PREMIUM.-We ait awhile for our Chinese servants. mediately is the land to be flooded elestials, each one offering the sweat brow for a morsel of bread. Mr. r, of Boston, who accepted an agency duce these industrious and patient -s into the families of the Modern and its environs, is obliged to acedge that he is unable at present to any thing in that direction. He as a reason, that they are a timid

people. They do not dare to trust themselves singly to strangers. We are all harpies in their eyes, ready to seize on them body and soul, and devour them. They have no conception of the benevolence and the Christian philanthropy which, in spite of, and in the midst of, much wickedness and selfishness, really control our communities. On the Pacific coast they feel comparatively safe, because protected by societies among themselves, on the principle of mutual insurance companies, against suffering which might be occasioned by want of employment, by unpaid wages, by being left uncared for in sickness. This feeling of security would be wanting in settling in small numbers, at a distance from the mass of their fellow immigrants.

This difficulty is not so insuperable, however, as at first appears. The present urgent need of domestic servants will stimulate the enterprise of our people to find a supply. A way will not long be wanting to bring this needy people to our doors.

After a little more suffering from the existing order of things, a little more breaking down of wives under the impossibility of getting efficient service, if any, a hundred householders will easily be found, in any of our large cities, who will be ready to combine to bring within their reach a colony large enough to feel safe among us barbarians. There will also be more capitalists, we may be sure, who will, like Mr. Samson, bring them in companies of fifties and hundreds. Of these, a few may, very likely, be detailed for household service; or a few may come under their wing for the very purpose. By degrees a knowledge of our harmlessness will spread to those on the other side of the continent, and may even reach those who remain in misery and oppression in the father land. It would not be surprising if, notwithstanding present unfavorable appearances, a very few years should witness a great revolution in the conduct of affairs in our kitchens, through the introduction of the Asiatic element. GERTRUDE MASON.