during which time they endured dreadful famine; and when they fell into the hands of their enemies, the king of Babylon had no compassion on young or old, helpless children, women, or old men stooping with age, but had great numbers of them slain. And he had the walls of Jerusalem broken down, and the temple and the palaces burnt, and the gold and silver vessels of the temple carried to Babylon, together with all the Jews who escaped from the sword.

HARRIETTE.

Where is Babylon, Lydia?

It is no more.

LYDIA.

Nineveh, Tyre, Babylon, Carthage, once the glory of nations, and the pride of the whole earth, are now nothing but empty names.

HARRIETTE.

Is it possible! But perhaps you only mean that they are called differently now. The cities themselves remain, surely?

LYDIA.

No indeed, Harriette. "The place that knew them, knows them no more." I believe that even the exact spot on which

M

stood the famous city of Babylon, is the subject of doubt. If the situation of Babylonia itself will satisfy you, I can tell you, that it was bounded on the east by the river Tigris, on the south by the Persian Gulf, and on the west by Arabia; the nothern limit is uncertain. It was the most ancient kingdom in the world.

HARRIETTE.

Thank you for telling me so much. About what time were the Jews made captives?

LYDIA.

The ten tribes of Israel were carried into captivity about seven hundred and twenty years before the birth of our Saviour, and about two hundred and sixty years after they separated from the two tribes of Judah, which you may remember, took place in the reign of Rehoboam, the son of Solomon. These two tribes were also made captive about one hundred and thirty-five years after their countrymen. The passage in their history which I have been relating, is a sad example of the merited misfortunes and just punishment of those who, in their day of

prosperity, neglected the repeated warnings and offers of reconciliation vouchsafed to them by the Almighty. Those who will not perform their duty during the time of prosperity, must be taught virtue, by the bitter lessons of adversity. That the Jews really were amended by their misfortunes, appears from the book of Nehemiah, which describes them, on their return to Jerusalem, as assembling, with fasting and in sackcloth, to confess "their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers." Nor let us suppose that this was the only nation that ever" dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to God's commandments." They were conscious of being the chosen people of the Lord, and were so proud of the distinction, that it led them to commit many errors, and to forget God himself; and if we, presumptuously supposing that our creed alone is right, hold ourselves above all those whose faith differs, however widely, or in however small a degree from our own, we shall make as ill a use of our advantages, as the Jews did of theirs, at the period of which we have been speaking.

ON THE WORKS OF NATURE.

"These are thy glorious works, Parent of Good,

Almighty! thine this universal frame,

Thus wondrous fair!"

PARADISE LOST.

HARRIETTE.

OH! how sorry I am! This is the last Sunday we shall spend in the country this year!

ELLEN.

Yes, by the end of the week, we shall all be in town. Though the leaves are all fallen and the days are so short, I shall be sorry to go away.

LYDIA.

We shall miss the beautiful views, and the fresh air; particularly on Sundays. I always think it is more easy to be religious in the country than in town, there is so little to

distract our thoughts; and the sight of the blue unclouded sky, and fields, woods, hedges, and "every green thing," makes us think of Him who condescended to create even every blade of grass; and prepares us to attend to public worship, and the other duties of the day in a proper frame of mind.

HARRIETTE.

It often puts me in mind of some of Mrs. Barbauld's Hymns.

ANNE.

Does it? Tell me which of them?

HARRIETTE.

And

I cannot say any of them perfectly, but sometimes when I am going to church on a fine day, some short part comes into my head, such as, "The cattle can lie down to sleep in the cool shade, but we can do what is better; we can raise our voices to heaven; we can praise the great God who made us." "Flowers, when you open again, spread your leaves and smell sweet to his praise-Birds, when you awake, warble your thanks amongst the green boughs"-" Let his praise be in our hearts when we lie down; let his praise