Papa. The method of writing by this powerful agent is most strange. By this discovery both time and space are almost annihilated, and we may suppose there will be improvements in this invention beyond what, at present, we can conjecture. It is not long since the first steam-ship crossed the Atlantic, but now that is a common occurrence, and already it is in contemplation to lay the electric telegraph across the same ocean. Truly we may say with the Latin poet, "Quo cogis mortalia corda." What will not man accomplish?

John. Has there been any discovery of a railroad in the ruins of ancient cities?

Mamma. Nothing of this kind has as yet been found. The author of the railway system was Thomas Grey, of Leeds, in England, who was born about half a century ago. He was declared to be insane as late as the year 1820, but his perseverance at length succeeded, and the world has been benefited by the madness of Thomas Grey! But he appears to have been a neglected man, and but a few years ago earned his living by selling glass upon commission.

THE WAY TO STRENGTHEN BODY AND MIND.-Children should be taught in such a manner, as to be prompted unceasingly to the most vigorous exertion of their own talents.

The human mind is not a mere vessel, into which knowledge is to be poured. It is better compared to a bee, fed during the first periods of its existence by the labors of others; but intended, ere long, to lift its wings in the active employment of collecting sweets from every field within its reach. To such excursions, and to the accomplishment of such purposes, the mind should be early and sedulously allured. This is the only way to give it energy and strength. Without the active exercise of its powers, Without bodily exer

neither body nor mind can acquire vigor. tions, GOLIATH, six cubits high, would have been only a gigantic boy without mental efforts, NEWTON would have been merely an infant of days.-PRES. DWIGHT.

Editorial.

LESSONS FOR MOTHERS OR MATERNAL ASSOCIATIONS.

THE PRESENTATION OF THE BABE TO THE LORD.

abem

OST of our little readers will remember, that in our Lesson for the last month, we told them that the Shepherds went to Bethlehem, and there found Mary, and Joseph, and THE BABE, lying in a manger. When it was six weeks old, its parents brought it to Jerusalem, which was about six miles from Bethlehem, to present it to the Lord, and to offer a sacrifice, according to the requirement of the Jewish Law, which was "a pair of turtle-doves, or two young pigeons."

When the parents of this little babe brought him into the temple, a good old man came in whose name was Simeon, and he took the babe in his arms, and blessed God, and blessed his parents, for this child. Simeon was old, and about to die, and he rejoiced to see the Son of God before he died. While Simeon was holding the babe in his arms, a good old woman also came in, whose name was Anna. She was very old, and lived near the temple, and served God day and night. When she saw the babe, she praised God, for she knew it was the Saviour of mankind, and rejoiced to see him.

About the time the Saviour was born, there was a great stir

among the people. And there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him. There was a very wicked king in those days named Herod. He dwelt at Jerusalem; and when he heard about the Saviour, he was troubled, and all the people around him. Our Saviour was called a king, and Herod thought he would probably dethrone him; and he determined to prevent it. So he gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, and inquired of them where Christ should be born. They told him that he was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea, because the prophets had so predicted. When Herod heard this, he privately called the wise men, and inquired of them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and told them to go and search diligently for the young child; and when they had found him, to bring him word again, that he might come and worship him also. But Herod did not mean to worship him-he meant to kill him.

When they went to search for the babe, lo, the same star which they had before seen, went before them, to guide them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy, because they knew God sent it, to guide them to the Saviour. Ever since, the Saviour has sometimes been called the "Star of Bethlehem." We have a very pretty hymn, written by Henry Kirke White, about this star. It was a light which God placed in the sky, to guide these wise men to the Saviour. So the Saviour is called the light of the world, to guide all mankind to heaven.

HYMN.

ONCE on the raging seas I rode,

The storm was loud, the night was dark;

The ocean yawn'd, and rudely blow'd
The wind that toss'd my found'ring bark.

Deep horror then my vitals froze,

Death-struck, I ceas'd the tide to stem;
When suddenly a Star arose,

It was the Star of Bethlehem.

When these wise men came into the house, and saw the little babe with Mary his mother, they fell down and worshiped him. And when they had opened their treasures, which they carried with them, they presented unto him gifts-gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. After the wise men had seen the child, they were warned in a dream not to return to Herod, and they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and told him to take the young child and his mother, by night, and go into Egypt, for Herod would seek the young child, to kill it. So they took the child and went into Egypt.

But when Herod saw that the wise men did not return, he was very angry. So he sent his men, and killed all the young chil

dren in Bethlehem and all around-all that were under two years old. He thought the Saviour could not be over two years old, and if he killed all the little babes under that age, he would be sure to destroy the Saviour, who was to be king. O, how wicked! to kill all these little babes. How their mothers wept, and lamented, and mourned! How they loved their little babes, and how cruel this king must have been to have caused so much pain and suffering! But after all, Herod did not kill the BABE he meant to, for God had warned Joseph and Mary to take him into Egypt-away from Bethlehem—and Herod did not know that; so he killed all these little babes without accomplishing his wicked design.

QUESTIONS.

Where did the parents carry this little babe when he was six weeks old?

How far is Jerusalem from Bethlehem?

Why did his parents carry him to Jerusalem?

What sacrifice did they offer?

Were they required to do this by the Jewish Law?

When the mother of this little babe brought him into the temple, who were there?

What did they do?

Did the birth of the Saviour make a great stir at Jerusalem ?
Who came to see him from Jerusalem?

What guided them to the Saviour?
What is the Saviour sometimes called?
Did the wise men worship him?
What did Herod do?

Did Herod wish to worship the child?
Did the wise men return to Herod?

Why did they not return to Herod?

Where did the parents carry the child?

What did Herod do when he saw the wise men did not return?

Did Herod kill the little babe?

What did the mothers do when Herod slew all their little infants?