The churchman's monthly companion, ed. by T.K. Arnold

Tenderness and hospitality are the universal characteristics of the Irish. They have also a certain easy politeness of manner towards strangers, which, in the higher classes, somewhat resembles that of the Parisians, but is met with just as often in the huts of the poorest beggars.

In many countries, the stranger, who enters the hut of a poor family, is stared at in dumb astonishment by the inmates, till they become familiar with him. Not so in Ireland. Dirty and ragged as they are, they offer what they have, without embarrassment, to the most fashionably-dressed visitor; and, although they never forget the respectful address, "your honour," yet they always appear to consider him, what he really is their guest and equal.

When I parted from the Sullivans, I was accompanied to the door by many a warm "God speed ye," and by the most cordial thanks for the honour I had done them by my visit, and for the sympathy I had expressed for the unfortunate son and brother. The two little ones had, in the mean time, lighted a couple of dry fagots, by way of torches, and accompanied me out over their irregular mountain path. When at last I sent them back, and bade them farewell, I saw them for some time standing together on the hill-top, throwing the light of their torches before me on my path, while their clear, sharp, childish voices echoed around, as they shouted "Take care, your honour! take care. God speed ye!"-Kohl's

Ireland.

1. Think not to put off God by frequenting prayers, and sermons, and sacraments, whilst thy brother has an action against thee in the court of heaven.-South.

2. Surely, Nature gives no man a mouth to be always eating, and never saying grace.-South.

MOSES AND THE EGYPTIANS.

II.

The Israelites making bricks.

Pharaoh said to his people, "Come on, let us deal wisely with them (the children of Israel) lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land." These words agree exactly with the state of things in that country. The inhabitants of the neighbouring deserts have always been the natural enemies of fruitful and cultivated Egypt; and it is never in greater peril than when these enemies find allies among its own inhabitants. Pharaoh, therefore, had good reason to fear that a foreign people, like the Israelites, who lived together in a district on the border of Egypt, might, if they felt themselves strong enough, join themselves to some of the wandering Arabian tribes, and make themselves free. The measures Pharaoh adopted for oppressing the Israelites are exactly in the spirit of these princes, whose proud severity against hated and despised foreigners knew no bounds. One of them, Sesostris, placed upon all his buildings erected by captives an inscription showing that no native citizens had been engaged in this servile employment 1. Another

writer tells us, that he also harnessed captive kings to his chariot. Upon the sculptures in one of the temples, representing the triumphal return of Remeses III. after his conquests in the eastern war, there appear three captives tied under the axle of his chariot, whilst others, bound by ropes, walk by the side of his horses, as an offering to the deity of the place.

The particular way in which Pharaoh embittered the life of the Israelites was by 'hard bondage in

! Diodorus.

2 Pliny.

3 Wilkinson.

mortar and in brick,' and we find that in the preparation of these bricks straw was used. It is stated by all writers, that the use of brick was universal in Egypt for all buildings except the temples: and it appears, from the impressions found upon many Egyptian bricks, that they were made under the direction of the king, or of some privileged person. But the most remarkable agreement with the account in the Bible is the fact, that a small portion of chopped straw is found in the composition of the Egyptian bricks. This is proved (says Rosellini) by an examination of those brought from Thebes, on which is the stamp of Thothmes IV., the fifth king of the eighteenth dynasty. "The bricks," he says, "which are now found in Egypt belonging to the same period, always have straw mingled with them, although in some of those that are most carefully made, it is found in very small quantities."

But this is not all. Rosellini believes himself to have discovered in a tomb at Thebes, a picture of the Hebrews actually engaged in making brick. His own description of it is this. "Of the labourers, some are employed in carrying the clay in vessels; some in mixing it with the straw; others in taking the bricks out of the mould, and placing them in rows; others still, with a piece of wood upon their backs and a rope on each side, carry away the bricks that are already burnt or dried. The difference between these men and the Egyptians appears at the first view their complexion, their physiognomy, and their beards, make it impossible for us to be mistaken in supposing them to be Hebrews. They wear at the hips the apron which is common among the Egyptians, but there is also represented as in use among them a kind of short trousers resembling the ‘linen breeches' which reached ' from the loins to the thighs." "Among these Hebrews are four Egyptians, very

That is, the cast of their countenance.

5 Exod. xxviii. 42.

My strength is gone ;-my days are told: "Ah! never more shall I behold

"The faces that I love.

O Father, bless

Thy servant in his deep distress."

Lizzy, as softly as she can,

Slips behind the aged man,

And whilst tear-drops dim her eyes,
Prepares for him a glad surprise:
The milk and bread that she had stored,
And all her precious, fragrant hoard
Of gather'd fruit the little maid
By that old man's side hath laid.

Soft and lightly back she stole,
That little maiden, true and good;
With tears she wish'd not to control,
Unseen, amidst the leaves she stood: