PARCHMENT-PAPER.-Paper is one of those substances of which it is scarcely possible to exaggerate the value and importance. How wonderful is it to reflect that, as the material productions of the soil, and the sustentation of life, depend mainly on the agency of animal and vegetable refuse, so one of our greatest comforts and conveniences, one of the most powerful agents in the advance of intellectual, social, and moral improvement, derives its origin from a no more dignified source than a pulp composed of old rags! The merits of paper are known to all; but it still has its defects. It is not strong enough or durable enough for important legal documents; and its fragility renders it incapable of bearing the wear and tear of the school-room or lending library in the shape of books, maps, &c. To the former of these deficiencies, recourse is had to the skin of the sheep in the form of parchment; but for the latter there has been as yet no resource; at least none before the discovery which it is our purpose to introduce to our readers. reme We are so accustomed to wonderful things now-a-days, that we seem almost to expect them in regular succession from month to month; still, our admiration is excited when we are told that a very cheap and simple process will give to paper the tenacity and toughness hitherto Bought in parchment alone. The assertion rests upon authority to which we feel bound to defer as fully competent in such matters. The only thing necessary for this purpose is, to provide a bath, in the form of some wide shallow dish, composed of dilute sulphuric acid, in the proportion.of two parts of acid to one of : soft water. The paper is drawn rapidly through this liquid, and immediately washed in fresh water, to remove the superfluous acid. ple of cohesion: we are not disposed to think It is asserted that a ring of this kind of paper has actually sustained a greater weight than one of the same size of thin parchment. This being so, it is clear that a great economy may take place in the preparation of legal documents, and in the books and other requisites exposed to rough handling; for the process of membranization is so simple, and the material used in it so cheap, that if done on the grand scale at the paper-mills, the extra cost will bo quite a minimum. Perhaps this may occupy & place in the cheap-literature questions of our day. At present, a "cloth cover for an octavo volume costs a shilling. One of parch ment-paper may probably be sold for half the money. While on this subject, we shall dwell for a moment on certain other modes of effecting changes in paper, which may be useful in many ways, and are, to say the least interesting in a scientific point of view. If a bit of good white soap be boiled in soft water until an oily fluid is produced, and two coats of this fluid are laid with a brush upon any sort of paper and when dry, coated again with a strong solution of alum, the paper so prepared will be converted into leather, without losing the appearance of paper. By this process, we have rendered even blotting-paper waterproof. The same may be done by using an albuminous substance, as the white of eggs, which the alum will also convert into leather. Other ideas of the same kind are actively working in those busy heads which have done so much to advance the material comforts of our species within the last quarter of a century; and it is quite possible that in this, as in many other things, we may be still only on the verge of imThis, when dry, is called "parchment-pa-provements to which no limit can be forseen at per; " and if science will accept a term from present.-Chambers' Journal. us, the process might be called "membranization,' It appears that, under the influence of the acid, the fibres of the paper suffer some sort of contraction, so that they lay hold of one another, and cling together on some new princi COAL USED BY THE ROMANS- -Did the Romans discover and make use of coal prior to their invasion of Britain ?-Notes and Queries. " トリ MY SISTER'S SLEEP. "The FROM an English periodical called Germ," which lived only a few weeks, but counted among its contributors an extraordinary amount of real genius. This beautiful pocm appeared anonymously:-Transcript. SHE fell asleep on Christmas eve. Upon her eyes most patient calms; Over the bed from chime to chime, With work to finish. For the glare And my tired mind felt weak and blank; I said, "Full knowledge does not grieve: Twelve struck. That sound, which all the years Hear in each hour, crept off; and then Like water that a pebble stirs. Our mother rose from where she sat. " So, as said angels, she did say: Because we were in Christmas-day, Though it would still be long till dawn. She stood a moment with her hands Kept in each other, praying much; A moment that the soul may touch, But the heart only understands. Almost unwittingly, my mind Repeated her words after her; Perhaps though my lips did not stir; It was scarce thought, or cause assign'd. Just then in the room over us, There was a pushing back of chairs, As some who had sat unawares So late, now heard the hour, and rose. Anxious, with softly stepping haste, She stoop'd an instant, calm, and turn'd; And all her features seem'd in pain And held my breath, and spake no word: And both my arms fell, and I said: We said, ere the first quarter struck, SHE rocks her baby to and fro, Crying aloud in anguish wild: So, God of mercy, take my child." For while she speaks, her arms enfold Should hear and rend it from her grasp. Since first the grim 'wolf' forced the door: An hour before the dawning. She lays upon her pallet poor, To seek a brighter dawning." The little corpse, and o'er it poured As I have found, alas! too late, I might have deemed the worst was past, RUTH BUCK. From Titan. ONLY A WOMAN'S STORY. June 3.-Once again I look upon green, growing, ever-fresh and sweet trees and flowers. The wind, too-how softly yet cheerily it blows in at this window- -even the wind has been a forbidden visitor, and I am thankful to feel its hand once more. I am like a little child; everything seems new to me, and bright, as though a mist of worldly cares had been wiped away since last I looked on Nature. When first thought of, it seems hard that women have so much necessary suffering; that it is part of their daily life; not, as with men, an accidental circumstance. But, in reality, how wonderfully wise and beautiful a dispensation it is! Pure and youthful feeling is indispensable to a woman. Yet, with her many wearing cares-small, it may be, but constant, and most difficult to remain noble under, because there is little that is great or glorious in the trials themselves, but only in the bearing them-how shall we keep this woman true to her own higher nature? Could we devise a better discipline than every fresh child brings to the busy mother? Death-awful, mysterious death seems to stand waiting for her for many days before the child is born. She sees all things through his shadow. "It may be there is no to-morrow for me," is an ever-recurring thought. "On whom can I lean for comfort? To whom can I leave all these dear ones?" my babe? One little fat fist is doubled, as Here come my two merry boys. I know July 1.-Robert and I had a long delightful walk last evening up our "glen." I found it rather steep; but then I had his arm to help me, and the breeze on that sweet green hill at the end of the glen was so refreshing. My little pet milk-wort, the harebells, and mountain-flax, that grow so luxuriantly there, seemed to give me a wel come to our favorite seat under the old blown-about thorn. We had a long talk about our children, and tried to settle how we were to educate them. When I see so many fail in that most difficult of all the tasks that God has set us, the making good men and women-I feel, oh, so fearful for our dear ones-so pure, and sweet, and guileless now! I have one great comfort: I have noticed that want of unity between the parents is the greatest cause of want of success in training up children. Children are very close observers (I have seen that in mine), and are more influenced by example than precept. Besides, when the heads of a household are at variance, there can be no consistent plan pursued. How thankful I am that we have not that misery to contend with! I could scarcely keep back the tears of joy and gratitude, when I thonght of all that, last evening. Robert was busy groping among the soft moss and wild thyme for little shells for the chil What woman is a sceptic then? The darker and nearer comes the shadow of death, the brighter shines the Light of lights, till the darkness becomes glorified, and death is swallowed up in victory. None know the true rest in God so well as those who have spent days and nights in searching after what is best for the future happiness of the dren. I wonder what were his thoughts? beloved, and have sought in vain. Plan after and I wonder, too, why I did not ask him! plan is laid aside, because it has some flaw in and why, when he said I had been silent so it; and then comes the thought, what chance long, he feared I was tired. I let him think is there that anything will happen as I have that, and not great love and joy, made me imagined? Look back, foolish soul, and see silent and pale. That is the way I always how different was the actual from the im- do when I feel deeply. I wish I could show agined or wished for! So struggles the spirit, and beats itself against the bars of fate, till, torn and weary, it drags itself to the feet of the All-wise, and there finds rest and peace. My little baby sleeps softly in her cradle by my side. How seems the world to thee, him my whole heart more easily; but he July 29.-Annie Malitus is coming to A 12 to our home. How happy she made us all," And what have I got here for my little pet? with her cheery ways. "She is so thought- A biscuit, I declare! I wonder if little ful of others' feelings," my mother used to Robby could sit on that stool and eat it, and look at this funny pocket-book of mine. And now for baby!" August 14.-Annie Malitus and Robert have gone for a long walk, so I have time to write a little in my diary. She is not at all like her mother; but is a lively, pleasant girl. She is very pretty; I cannot keep from looking at her. It is a pleasure to watch her slight, graceful figure moving about the room, or to see the sun shine on her bright brown hair. And so she managed to amuse them all, her tongue going fast to me between her chatter to them. "I have not seen you these many days, my dear," she said; "and I feel as though all were not right if I have not had a peep at you. I don't know what I should do without you, Gertrude." "Do I indeed, my dear?" she said; "and sure you do the same to me. That is strange. Well! it only shows my theory is right. And now I remember what I came for. I bring an invitation to your visitor (I hear she is so charming) from your father-inlaw and his daughters to spend a week with Baby has been ailing lately, and kept me It is very sweet to be over-appreciatedmore than ever at home. Do I sacrifice too makes me feel very amiable, and very humble. much to my children? He said so yester-I told her so, and how she seemed to fill the day. O, children, children-there is the place of mother-in-law to me. crack in too many households that lets discord in! Yet, if husband and wife are one, yet I over-appreciate you, you say; and I'm that can never be. But is it possible for a man to fully sympathize with an anxious mother's feelings.? Or can a woman, daily tried by small cares as she is, ever learn of him not to feel or fret about little troubles? O, what constant seeking to enter into the heart's bitterness, on each side what tender-them." ness for each other's special frailties-it must I thanked her for Annie, and then asked need. God give us such abundant love and what she meant by her theory. compassion toward each other. Often my Why, my dear, I've come to the concluhusband is grieved or anxious about things sion-now don't be shocked-looking round that seem to me of no importance; and I among my friends, and seeing that if you often feel inclined to smile at his anxiety want a favorable idea of a woman, don't go (have done so, I fear); but often the thought to her mother-in-law, and vice versa.- -Well, comes and stops me, that he feels it a trial- my dear, I've come to the conclusion, that he is troubled by it; my not feeling it does it can't be either mother or daughter-innot make him feel it less, but adds vexation law's fault." to vexation, or may make him hide his feelings from me next time, and so lay the first brick in that wall of partition which so many "It is, my dear, the putting mothers and I now pity have built in that same heedless daughters-in-law down one another's throats way. Often and often I think this-but, I-that's it!" she said, laughing merrily at fear, not often enough. her idea, and giving baby a toss so high, she looked almost frightened. August 21.-My dear friend Mrs. Elliot was here this morning. It is always a pleasure to see her bright face. I never feel afraid of her; never am uncomfortable if the room is ever so untidy. or the children ever so noisy-which is fortunate; for our boys are so fond of her, I cannot keep them away. "There, my dear," she said to Herbert, this morning, "is my best gold pencil-case; and here," feeling in her pocket, "is such a clean piece of paper. Pray, draw me a picture?" And so he was quietly set to work 66 "Indeed!" I said. then? "What is the cause, "Let a child see some jam, you know, my dear, and want it, and ask for it-perhaps steal it-and he thinks it very good. But cram that same sweet down his throat, and tell him he must eat it, it is his duty to like it-and how the child hates that same jam all his life! Don't you see the sense of it, my dear? I was laughing too much to answer-partly at my boys' looks of astonishment. "So you see, my dear," she continued, without waiting for my reply," my first way August 27.-Annie has gone to spend a of reforming the world in that matter would | planning for this evening. She thought I August 28.-Last night I waited and thing he wanted to see his father and Tom Robert said he could not stay, he had no more time to spare, and was gone almost without a word, only running back to tell me I am writing, for I cannot settle to anythat Annie was tired and hungry, and I had thing else. I have worked till the tears better send the children away; and, throw- dimmed my eyes too much; needlework ing a pair of gloves into Annie's lap, with is bad for a troubled mind-allows it to Please mend these before this evening, and dwell on sorrows it had better forget; over be sure and be in time," was gone. Well, and over again the same song goes in time when I write it down, there seems nothing to to the needle. I have read, but I read my be vexed about; I must have been in a cross own thoughts instead of the book. Oh, it is humor, for I even sent my little darlings bitter, bitter! but it is a lesson that must away angrily. come, sooner or later. It is sweet-it is the Annie soon told me what they had been greatest joy this world can give-to know |