May we who live, to meet our God prepare, M. S. E. THE IVORY COTTON REEL. A SHORT time ago being engaged on a delicate peice of needle-work, I had need of a peculiar kind of cotton which I had not at that time in my possession; so I requested my little brother to procure me some from a neighbouring town. He readily complied with my request, left me and presently returned with what I needed. Before he gave it me however, he threw his arms around my neck, and said "I have a favor to ask of you; will you give me the reel when it is empty ?" (It was made of ivory and tastefully carved.) I could not refuse, and without hesitation gave him the promise of it. The dear boy was very pleased, and exclaimed "thank you my sister" and was bounding out of the room: he had scarcely reached the door, when he returned, saying, "and if I am not in the way when you empty it, be sure and save it for me." I nodded assent. He was soon down stairs, and before many minutes had elapsed, I heard his merry voice, as he played under my window. To day I have used the last needle-full off of my ivory reel, but where is he to whom it was promised? alas! burning tears roll down my face as I write. His loved form moulders in the grave! How uncertain is life! and what a warning this little incident contains. Death may be near even to those who are now blooming in health. Little readers "prepare to meet your God," for "in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." M. S. E. "THE PULPIT ROCK." In the Isle of Wight, of which some of our young readers have already heard, is a beautiful village called Bonchurch, near Ventnor, a lovely and romantic strip of land formed by a succession of landslips, by which hundreds of acres have separated from the high downs above, and slid down towards the sea. These high downs rise from six to eight hundred feet above the level of the sea, and completely shelter the village from the northern winds, terminating at their base above the village in a perpendicular cliff of about fifty or sixty feet in height. The edge of this cliff continues for a considerable distance, until it is interrupted by a projection of the cliff in the form of a pulpit, on account of which, it is called the "Pulpit Rock." From its peculiar position, I had often thought of the lovely scenery which might be viewed from its summit, and this made me wish to reach it. It was not long before I had an opportunity of doing so, and I lost no time in carrying out my desire. It was a beautiful day, and although autumn had in some measure lightened the burden of the branches, and changed the verdure of their foliage into sear and yellow leaves, it had not diminished the grandeur of the scene. It had rather, as it were, unveiled its beauty, and laid open its attractions, so that while pursuing my journey to the rock, up a path by no means easy of ascent, I was presented with many a pleasant view of the landscape beneath, which, had it been in the beginning of summer, the thick high hedges would have hidden from me. With joyous feelings I approached nearer and nearer to the spot, which having at length reached, to my surprise I saw it was altogether a different place from what it appeared to be from the road beneath. I now found it was an isolated crag, and the means of communication with it to be only a wooden bridge thrown from the down and lodged on its surface, and to my disappointment I also found it in such a dilapidated state that I dare not venture to go over it. I had therefore to descend and climb up its rough sides, by which means I attained the summit of the "Pulpit Rock." But now what a beautiful panoramic view presented itself to my admiring gaze. Before me was the grand and vast Atlantic ocean, stretching itself in one mighty expanse, until it seemed lost in the clouds of the distant horizon, and bearing on its ever-heaving surface the ships which plough the mighty deep, and trade from shore to shore. Around me was a scene of wild magnificence, too romantic for the pen to picture, or language to describe. Immediately below, spread over the scene, were a number of curiously and elegantly built villas, with their beautiful lawns, fanciful gardens, shady bowers, and pleasant walks, with numerous fishermen and labourers thatched cottages. Behind me were the sloping downs on which the flocks of sheep were quietly feeding, while on either hand were seen, amidst noble trees and unfading evergreens, the ridgy precipice, and the abrupt fragments of the fallen cliffs. Above me was the sun, shining forth in all his majesty and splendour, and whose rays were reflected by the crystal stream which was winding its course through the landscape-the whole was scenery far surpassing description, and which must be seen to be fully realized. Resting there, I meditated and admired the prospect. It was to me a scene of high enjoyment, and I descended from the "Pulpit Rock" delighted, and I trust, edified by the splendid view I had obtained. My dear young reader,-What a wide field of contemplation does nature spread before us. What a volume it unfolds to our view, upon every leaf of which is written, "GOD IS WISE AND GOOD," |