palace, when he selects the handsomest for him.self, and sells the remainder to his subjects. The purchaser is allowed no choice, but receives the wife selected for him by the king. But the whole story of man's regard for woman in unevangelized lands, is told in the simple language of the Modean of Siberia, who, at the close of the marriage ceremony, places the bride on a mat, and conveys her to the bridegroom, saying, "There, wolf, take thy lamb."

It is not in all heathen countries, however, that wives are obtained by money or its equivalent. In some tribes more romantic customs prevail. The New Hollander fixes his eye upon some female of a tribe at enmity with his own. He steals upon her at some moment when no protector is near, and deals out blows with his club, upon her head, neck, back, indeed every part of her body, till she becomes insensible; and then drags her by one of her arms, (the blood streaming from her wounds,) over rocks, hills, stones and logs, with all the violence and ferocity of a savage, till he reaches his tribe. The scene that follows, admits not of description. Suffice it to say, the poor violated woman becomes the wife of her ravisher,—is admitted to his tribe,-and (notwithstanding the singularity of the courtship) is. contented with her lot, and rarely leaves her husband and her home.

That genuine love may exist, even among these rude barbarians, and sometimes be exhibited in the purest forms, admits not of doubt. Mr. Barrington (who had long resided in Parametta) mentions an instance that fell under his own observation, pleasantly illustrating this fact. "A brother of twenty-three, and two sisters of twenty and fourteen respectively, dwelt together affectionately in a cave near the city. On returning one day from hunting the kangaroo, just as the darkness of night mantled the heavens, and while the forked lightning played vividly around him, at the mouth of the cave, his eye caught the form of his younger sister, bleeding on the ground. Troubled before at the warring of the elements, his soul was now in agony. He endeavored to raise her up, but she was senseless. A't length, however, his efforts were successful, and, with returning animation, she exclaimed, 'Dear brother! our sister is torn from us,-a wretch came to the cave, beat her cruelly with his club, and caught up one arm to drag her away,-I laid hold of the other to prevent him, but the moment he saw it, with a single blow, he knocked me to the ground, where you have now found me.' The night was passed in the anguish of grief and amid harrow

ing purposes of revenge. Morning came. Together they sought the tribe of the offender. A little before reaching it, they met the sister of the very man who had committed the outrage, gathering sticks for a fire. A fine opportunity was thus presented for revenge. The brother (bidding his sister to hide herself) flew upon the young woman, with club in hand, and with all the ferocity of a savage in his heart. The victim trembled; but knowing his power, she stood firmly, and looked him in the eye, when, (like the lion of the forest, meeting the eye of intelligent man,) he paused,-he gazed,-enchantment was on him: she saw it,-dropped on her knees and implored his compassion. Revenge softened into love; throwing down his club, he clasped her in his arms, and vowed eternal constancy. This nobleness won her heart. He called his sister, who thirsted still for the stranger's blood, and said to her, 'She is now my wife.'"

"Nor force nor interest joined unwilling hands,

But love consenting tied the blissful bands."

All three now love each other tenderly, and (under the instruction of a Christian friend) read the oracles of God, and cherish the spirit that breathes from the bosom of Jesus.

POLYGAMY PREVENTS THE ENJOYMENT OF THE HUSBAND'S AFFECTION. Conjugal love may be disturbed, or it may be diminished, or it may be maddened into phrensy, or it may be annihilated,-but it cannot be divided. Abraham may become the husband of Hagar, but his heart is with Sarah. Jacob may be the protector of Leah, but he loves Rachel. Elkanah may deal kindly with Peninnah, but his affections are with Hannah. Good men these, and faithful to their marriage-vows, though borne away into the transgression of the original law of Heaven, by the strong current of the popular sentiment of the age in which they lived. Then, though Heaven interfered not to prevent the practice, it never sanctioned it by law; and if it were not condemned by statutes and penalties, it was powerfully rebuked by its effects. and consequences. Never did it fail, in the most auspicious circumstances for its indulgence, to produce domestic discord and wretchedness. Jealousy, bitterness, and strife, are its invariable attendants, even when associated with faith as strong as that of the patriarchs, and piety as ardent as that of the sweet singer of Israel. Its inconsistency with the spirit of the gospel has expelled the practice from every Christian and; and its incongruity with reason and expediency, has stamped it with infamy. But it still prevails among the higher classes, in nearly every part of the unevangelized world.