given into custody, and as the geese at Rome had saved the capital by their cackling, so the little squirrel had saved his master's property by lodging in his coat-pocket.

No creature is too small sooner or later to be of use.

WONDERS OF GERMINATION.

Some seeds when put into the earth germinate quickly, others slowly; some even stay there a long and very variable time before they appear on the surface.

Linnæus says;

"When but a boy my father had given me a garden within his own, where I reared all sorts of plants in great numbers. Among others I remember very well a particular thistle, which for many years my father had in vain made every effort to destroy completely, the same ground bringing forth every succeeding year new individuals of the detested species, although their predecessors had invariably been burnt. I have now learned the cause of what appeared unaccountable to us then. It must have been the presence of latent seed coming to light from time to time, as I know that seeds, when consigned to the earth, may remain. there during two, three, and even ten or twenty years without losing their power of germination.

A plant which had not been seen for forty years in the Botanical Garden

of Upsal, reappeared there spontaneously in the year 1731, after the ground had been dug up. Another plant, a lobelia, reappeared and flourished after lying buried in the earth twenty years. Cucumber seeds have been kept forty years, and even fifty years without losing their germinative power. The railway excavations everywhere have brought to light, plants supposed to be extinct.

Corn found in the ruins after the fire of London has been raised: wheat

which has been enclosed in the wrappings of an Egyptian mummy bas been reared, and has reproduced fruit in Germany; Indian corn taken from the tombs of the Incas has done the same thing in America. It has been observed that when the virgin forests of America had been burnt down and the land plowed up, an entirely new flora has appeared; a fact which has been accounted for, by the supposition that the seeds bad been burred for ages, in depths beyond the reach of vegatation.

The ground or earth nut (Arachis) is the fruit of a plant growing in South America not unlike our bean. After the flowers fall off, the young pods bend until they reach the ground, where they bury their seeds three or four inches under the soil. These nuts contain an extremely sweet fixed oil, like that of almonds, which if they were allowed to ripen above ground, would become rancid and useless, and the seeds would not germinate when planted. The negroes of South Carolina make these earth nuts their principal food.

The seeds of the pine and fir trees are protected in a similar manner. On account of their oily nature, too much heat would be apt to make them rancid and sterile; therefore the scales of the cone, which, while the tree is in flower are spread out, when the seed is ripe close one over the other like the tiles of a roof effectually shutting out the rain; and in proportion as winter approaches and the cold increases, the scales tighten more and more round the seeds they defend. About the beginning of April, when the returning sun sends forth his warm rays, the scales of the cone open, and let the seeds fall to be received into the bosom of the tepid earth, where the vernal showers draw out their roots.

The subterraneous pea (Lathyrus

subterraneum) bears very few blossoms upon its flower stalks, having no leaves, and bearing no variegated flowers like the others but white ones.

These white flowers produce fruit, which is immediately consigned to the earth, and thus screened from devastation by birds. It would appear that the colored flowers are for show and the white ones for use. The seeds of the clover are protected in the same way.

Certain seeds, owing to a curious arrangement of their various parts, have a tendency to move about. If a seed of a plant called the crupina (a kind of a centaury) is placed in the palm of the hand, it will be sure to move off; and if put between the stocking and the back part of the foot, it will work its way over the body, and at last get out, either at the collar or at the sleeve. These movements are made by the projecting bristles with which the seeds are armed, moving al. ways in one direction, like feet. The seeds of the sterile oat (Avena nuda), after it has been gathered into the barn will wander out of their seed cups, and if the weather is damp, march off in a body, like a regiment of flies, to the nearest wall, where they will fix .and take root. The explanation of this apparently marvellous phenomenon is extremely simple. grain is surmounted by a long spiral bristle or awn, which is very sensitive to every change of the weather, and which lengthens or contracts according as the air is moist or dry. Thus, a forward motion is produced like a snail putting out his body and then pulling its shell after him. The seed is prevented from going backwards, by the small spines placed backwards, covering the awn. If the seeds or spores of any of the ferns are dropped on a piece of paper and examin d with a microscope, they are

Each

seen

to jump about and disperse themselves like small insects.

Some plants propagate by means of their roots and sprouts. The mangrove fir-tree (Rhizophora males) is found growing on the low marshy parts of all tropical seashores. The fruit germinates in the seedcup while hanging on the tree, and grows downwards until it reaches the ground, where it takes root in the mud. Each plant in its turn multiplies and spreads in the same way: and Linnæus asserts that a single plant, if preserved from destruction, would in course of time, multiply so as to cover the entire habitable surface of our globe.

Linnæus, keeping within reasonable limits and calculating what would be the effect of a single plant producing constantly only two successful bearing seeds each season, finds th tin twenty years there would be one hundred and ninety-one thousand two hundred individuals. "What then," he exclaims, "would be the astonishing effect of such a multiplication continued over more than sixty hundreds of years!"

About the year 1660, the Christian Fathers at Paris possessed a root of barley, bearing forty-nine stalks and more than eighteen thousand seeds. Ray counted thirty-two thousand seeds in a poppy-head, and three hundred and sixty thousard on a tobacco plant. Dodart is said to have counted five hundred and twenty nine thousand seeds on a single elm-tree, and yet these plants are far from being the most fecund. The number of spores produced by a fern is almost incalculable.-All the Year Round.

To converse with a person of mean understanding, is as difficult as to tra vel on foot with a lame man.

er

THE NEW BIRTH.

Rev. A. C. Thomas gives the following expereince in his Autobiography: I was called as a comfortto an excellent Episcopal lady. She was none the better or happier for all the prayers and conversation of her own clergyman who had visited her. Her difficulty related to the new birth. She was suspicious she had not been born again, for she had never experienced any of those deep agonies and wrestlings of which she had heard so much among converted people. She had tried to feel so, but could not. In this extremity, and while in her last illness, her daughter solicited my attendance, first informing me of all the circum

stances.

"Your tenderness of conscience," said I, after the subject had been gently introduced, "your tenderness. of conscience, accompanied by my knowledge of your exemplary life, is a sufficient proof to me, that you have been born again. But let me proove it to you by the New Testament."

"If you can prove it by that, I shall be very, very happy," was the reply of the invalid.

"Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ?" said I; and when she answered, "Yes, I do," the testimony in 1 John 5: 1, was read to her: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God."

"Thus far, however," I continued, "you have only Head Religion. Do you love God and your fellow beings?" was the second question; and when she answered, "I am not sensible of any other feeling than love for God and love for man," she listened to 1 John 4: 7: "Every one that lov eth is born of God."

"Heart religion is thus added, worthy mother and all that we need seek to complete the new birth, is

Life Religion. It is expressed in 1 John 2: 29: “ Every one that doeth righteousness is born of God." What farther do you need for the fullness of your joy? Head and Heart and Life, are renewed from above, by the Faith and Love and Righteousness of the kingdom of heaven. Whoever seeks to disturb your trust, or to create doubts and fears within you, is of anti-Christ.

The excellent woman was comforted because she was instructed, and her spirit shortly passed away in the serenity of Gospel hope.

THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH NOT A "CATCH-ALL."

We need to feel and to make the world understand that we are not a "catch-all" for every person who has rejected the old hell and damnation theory. I know that our creed lines are so loose and our spirit of toleration so great that almost everything from Calvinism to Ingersollism, and worse, is preached in our name.

So

I do not wonder we are called atheists, infidels, materialists, etc., although all of these epithets are far from our true position. But notwithstanding these few skyrocket theorists and an occasional faint display of theological pyrotechnics within our lines, we do and should stand for a faith and line of work distinct and clearly defined. There should be no doubt as to what we, as a denomination, believe and stand for. I protest against every professor of liberal thought, that vague term which more often means liberal thoughlessness, against persons believing nothing in particular, and seldom ever attending any church or recognizing our ministers, except to be married or buried; I protest, I say, against such people being called Universalists any more than they are Baptists, and they are not wor

There is a certain wealthy lady in New York who is continually on the watch for opportunities to do good, and is never without pensioners on her bounty. Her deeds of charity that are performed in such a way they would not be likely to get into the newspapers, and many a poor, despondent creature has been raised out of the depths by her substantial and generous sympathy.

Recently her seamstress was taken so ill that she could not attend to her duties, and was obliged to remain in bed. Her place might easily have been supplied, but Maria ha long been one of the household, and Mrs. R had her interests at heart. Her active philantrophy expressed itself in this way: She had two cots put up on the fourth floor of her elegant mansion, and there the poor sick woman was installed, with Mrs. R-'s own physician in daily attendance.

Maria's rooms were closed, and her two children occupied the cots at night; the boy, who was learning a trade, going in and out to his daily task, and the girl remaining at home to watch and wait upon the mother.

No cares nor anxieties pressed upon the invalid for the period of four weeks, and Maria declared that never in all her life had she seemed so near heaven as she was during that length of time.

It was indeed a heavenly deed of charity, one on which angels must have looked down with approval; and hen reference was made to it, Mrs.

remarked: "Why, I couldn't

have slept in my bed at night, if I had not provided for Maria's comfort, and looked after her during her ill

ness."

This is simply an isolated instance, but hundreds of similar cases can be cited to disprove the theory that the rich are selfish and grasping, and inconsiderate of their poorer neighbors. Almost all have pensioners on their bounty, and are taxed in many ways that the world in which they move knows nothing of.

Blessed are those who realize their positions as stewards, and who never fail to do good as they have opportunity.

"To pity distress is but human,” says Horace Mann; "to relieve it, is God-like."

HURRY AND HASTE.

"Never do anything in a hurry,” is the advice given to attorneys and solicitors by Mr. Warren. "No one in a hurry can possibly have his wits about him; and remember that in the law there is an opponent watching to find you off your guard. You may occasionally be in haste, but you need never be in a hurry; take careresolve- -never to be so. Remember always that others' interests are occuppying your attention, and suffer by your inadvertenc- by that negligence which generally occasions hurry. A man of first-rate business talents-one who always looks so calm and tranquil that it makes one's-self feel cool on a hot summer day to look at him-once told me he had never been in hurry but once, and that was for an entire fortnight, at the commencement of his career. nearly killed him; he spoiled everything he touched; he was always breathless, and harrassed, and miserable; but it did him good for life; he resolved never again to be in a hurry --and never was, no, not once, that

It

he could remember, during twentyfive year's practice! Observe, I speak of being hurried and flustered-not of being in haste, for that is often inevitable; but then is always seen the superiority and inferiority of different men. You may indeed almost define hurry as the condition to which an inferior man is reduced by haste. I one day observed, in a committee of the House of Commons, sitting on a railway bill, the chief secretary of the company, during several hours, while great interests were in jeopardy, preserve a truly admirable coolness, tranquility and temper, conferring on him immense advantages. His suggestions to counsel were masterly and exquisitely well-timed; and by the close of the day he had triumphed. How is it one never sees you in a hurry?' said I, as we were crossing the long corridor, on our way from the committee room.

'Be

cause it's so expensive,' he replied, with a significant smile. I shall never forget that observation, and don't you."-Warren on Attorneys and Solicitors.

IS THERE ANY FUTURE PUNISHMENT FOR SIN?

All Universalists affirm that punishment is inflicted in a parental spirit, and for the restraint and correction of the sinful, whether confined to this world or extending into the next. And we maintain that the whole race of mankind will finally be emancipated from the bondage of sin into the glorious liberty of the sons of God. But whether retribution is limited to this life, or is continued in the next, with us, is an open question. Some believe that those who depart from this state in the love of evil will require a protracted and painful discipline, while cthers suppose that the light which will break upon the sinful as they leave

the earthly shores and enter upon the spiritual state, will bring them immediately to repentance, and peace. On this matter, as in all churches where freedom exists, a difference of opinion prevails. And each man is at liberty to speak for himself, upon this question, and questions like it, without censure or fear. One thing, is plain, virtue is self-rewarding, and sin self-punishing, by the same just and beneficent law. For no good deed that we may now do, therefore, for no sacrifice we may now make, can we look for a special recompense in the future life. Nor can the evil doer here escape the natural and certain issue of his evil deeds, and on that ground, require punishment, hereafter.

But the reward of virture is twofold. We are happier now for every righteous deed we perform, and for every unselfish and heroic purpose which animates and thrills the heart, We find now, as we faithfully adhere to the right and true, and renounce all pleasures, and all lures, which come between us and the law and love of God, an ample recompense, which no power or event can take from us. But in this conquest of our lower nature, and this cultivation of our higher, we gain in our spiritual insight and force, and every day and hour are multiplying the talents which God has given us, and deepening in our own souls the fountains of life and peace. Our happiness depends upon our inward condition rather than upon any specific acts, which we do or leave undone. And this we estimate-putting out of our minds all selfish thoughts of work and pay-as the moral compensation which God gives to all who seek to know and to do his will. He gives us increasing spiritual power, and ever growing freedom and peace.

On the other side, "The wages o