The picture at the head, is a representation of the cathedral at the city of York, built about four hundred year ago It is considered a noble edifice one of the finest in England. 66 THE OLD SEA CAPTAIN; OR, THE ARRIVAL OF THE FIRST STEAM PACKET. A FRIEND of ours, who fifty years ago was one of our play-fellows, having read the tale about the Queer Folks" at page 137, said, "I will give you another fact that I remember, and which occurred in the same town when I was a young man. we said, He did so; and here it is :— "Do," Nearly forty years ago, a report reached the town that upon a certain day in July, a vessel would arrive that would be propelled through the water by steam power, without the aid of sails. A respectable old Captain having established two tight sailing cutters that conveyed passengers and light lading from this port to Hull, fifty-six miles, in the short space of two days, which formerly, by the old heavy sailing sloops, occupied nearly a week, his vessels were great favourites both with himself and the public, and the idea of beating their sailing in speed was, by the Captain, said to be impossible. He had been upon the river and sea, man and boy, for nearly seventy years, and he was not to be hoaxed with such an absurd report as that! At length the day was named when this new and extraordinary vessel was to arrive, and almost all the inhabitants assembled to witness this great sight upon the banks of the Trent. Amongst the rest was the old Captain, laughing and joking with the good folks, and assuring them that the report was all a hoax. I was at the time standing close to the Captain, and I remember pointing out to him a dense column of smoke that arose in the air about three miles down the Trent. "Oh! my lad," said he, "it is only the smoke from the bone and oil mills at Stockwith. It was now nearly eight o'clock in the evening, and great was the anxiety of the people; the smoke from the steamer appeared to come nearer and nearer, and at last she made her appearance round the bend of the river, about a mile from us, and in a few minutes she passed the jetty, on which the Captain and myself and many others were standing, in gallant style, at the rate of eight or ten miles an hour. I shall never forget the extraordinary effect it had upon the old seaman; he turned pale, and trembled exceedingly, for he saw at once. that his favourite vessels were beaten past all recovery. The poor old gentleman went home, and the shock upon his system was so great that he was taken ill, and in less than a week was out upon that voyage from which no traveller returns. J. H. And each with sixty smaller I know that heaven intrusted THE FLOWERS OF HUMANITY. Το many this world appears a barren, cheerless spot. They see nothing in it to charm and delight—nothing to enliven, or elevate, or make the heart throb with thrilling and lasting emotions. Yet there are in it spots the most beautiful-places that might almost be supposed to rival the vanished beauties of Eden, -birds whose song is as sweet as those which sang among the branches of the Holy Garden, and flowers as lovely and chaste as those that bloomed on its banks. Again, when we look on the high mountains and wide-spreading forests of our world, we are filled with awe of their silent grandeur. But the little flowers and shrubs at our feet awaken calm and quiet emotions of satisfaction and delight. And so it is among us. When we stand in the presence of a man of years, and wisdom, and piety, we feel a degree of reverence and awe for his great superiority. But to children we can turn and look without any such emotions. They are the little human flowers blooming at our feet. They enrich the domestic scene, and fill our hearts with joy and hope. And But some flowers have no fragrance. so it is among children-they may look rosy and healthful, but how do they smell? We do not love the tulip so much as the rose, because it gives forth no sweet scent. A boy or a girl may be pretty and look well, like the tulip in its gaudy colours, if they have fine clothes; but how do they smell? How do you smell my young reader? Do you ask what I mean? I mean are you good-tempered with your brothers and sisters, obedient to your parents, and afraid of offending God? Do you love Jesus Christ, the blessed Saviour of our souls, who came from heaven to save us from our sins, that we, being made good and holy by his grace, might go, when we die, to dwell with him in heaven for ever? Think of this, I pray you, and then you will grow up as a beautiful, sweet-smelling plant, in the garden of the Lord. The world around will look more beautiful because you are in it; and when you die many will weep over your grave: but they will dry their tears when they think that you are only transplanted to a richer soil, where you will bloom in the paradise of God, in loveliness and grace for ever. "Then I'll not be proud of my youth or my beauty, Since both of them wither and fade; But gain a good name by well doing my duty,- |