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aterest it: thou makest it soft with showers: thou lessest the springing thereof the little hills rejoice on very side: the pastures are clothed with flocks: the vales also are covered over with corn, they shout for joy, hey also sing." Nay the very manner in which this lessing is made to descend, claims at onee our admiration nd gratitude*!

Even frost and snow have their uses. Hail is known > cool the air in summer, and experience has demonstratd, that "nature could not give a better covering than how to secure the corn, the plants, and trees from the ffects of cold in winter; and if a frost succeeds after a loughed field has been well watered by the autumnal ains, the particles of the earth dilute and separate, nd the spring then completes the making the earth ght, noveable, and fit to receive the kindly influence f the sun and fine weather.

Water-spouts at sea seem to proceed from the same ause as whirlwinds upon land, and if these serve the urpose of carrying up the superabundance of the electric luid from the earth to the atmosphere, as is with good eason supposed, their utility in the economy of nature nust be apparent.

With regard to those illusory appearances that we be old in the heavens, do they not teach us in a language plain, evident, and forcible, how easily we may be deceived by our senses, and of the consequent importance of placing our actions under the guidance of that REASON which distinguishes man from the brute creation, and was kindly given him as a lamp to his feet, and a light. to his path.

'Tis Reason our GREAT MASTER holds so dear;
"Tis Reason's injured rights his wrath resents;
'Tis Reason's voice obey'd His glories crown;
To give lost Reason life, He pour'd his own.

C. P.

* The rain in general descends in gentle showers, but in the case of thunder there is an exception, when it pours down with impetuosity and in torrents; but let it be remarked, that here it acts the part of a life preserver, for when once wet, our clothes become excellent conductors to carry off the electric fluid to the earth!

The tornado, the dreadful effects of which are so often witnessed in tropical climates, seems to be a species of whirlwind, and may be Supposed to answer the same purpose.

Evening Instructions;

OR, A

FATHER'S ADVICE TO HIS SON ON THE CHOICE OF A TRADE

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THE SADDLER.

SADDLES, of which there are different kinds, as the hunt ing saddle, the racing saddle, lady's saddle, &c. are, as it is well known, seats adapted to a horse's back, for the conven ience of the rider. They consist of a wooden frame, called the saddle-tree, on which is laid a quantity of horse-hair, wool, &c. and this is covered over with tanned leather, neatly nail ed to the wooden tree.

To keep the saddle steady on the horse, the crupper is at tached so as it may pass with ease under the creature's tail, and girths to prevent it from turning round. To support the legs of the rider in men's saddles, a pair of stirrups is also added, one of which is very useful in assisting to mount: and to prevent the saddle from galling the horse's back a saddle-cloth is commonly used.

The Saddler also makes all sorts of bridles, coach and chaise harness, and his chief implements are cutting knives, ham mers and pincers; but to complete one single article in the business, the aid of many different artisans is required, such as the Tree-maker, the Hardware-man, the Tanner, the Cur rier, the Embroiderer, and the Horse's milliner.

An apprentice to a Saddler, for the freedom of Edinburgh, is bound seven years; has nothing for the two first years, but gets 3s. per week the third year, and 1s. per week ad vanced at the commencement of each successive year till the end.-Journeymen make from 12s to 25s. per week.

OF DOING AS WE WOULD BE DONE UNTO "ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER YE WOULD THAT MEN SHOULD DO UNTO YOU, DO YE EVEN SO UNTO THEM FOR THIS IS THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS."-This sen tence is very fitly placed towards the close of our Saviour's admirable

dmirable sermon on the mount, as being, in a great meare, the epitome and sum of what the divine preacher bad here expressed more at large.

ATTERBURY.

DESCRIPTION OF THE

RUTHWELL PARISH BANK:

WITH HINTS REGARDING THE PROPRIETY OF ESTABLISHING INSTITUTIONS ON SIMILAR PRINCIPLES.

--

Communicated by the Writer to the Editor of the Cheap Mag.)

BOUT four years ago an institution was formed in the parish of Ruthwell, under the name of a Parish Bank, for e behoof of Tradesmen, Servants, and Labourers, the obct of which is, to afford persons in that rank of life an oportunity of laying up a sum out of the earnings of their own dustry, which may provide for the future necessities of isease and old age, or enable them to enter into the married ate with the advantage of a small capital. The experiment as now been fairly tried, and found to answer the views of e person who projected it*. Since the commencement of he institution, à sum has been accumulated by the RUTHWELL PARISH BANK, amounting to not less than £.760, which safely lodged in the office of the British Linen Company in Dumfries, and for which, by the benevolence of the directors f that bank, 5 per cent. per annum is allowed. The prinple on which this useful society is established, is extremely imple and well adapted for the accomplishment of its object. t merely presents facilities which could not otherwise be ob ined for laying up very small sums with security and profit, nd thus offers strong encouragement to habits of industry nd saving amongst the labouring classes, which cannot fail be highly beneficial. The manner in which this is effected sas follows:-A Governor, five Directors, and a Treasurer, re appointed under the superintendance of a standing Comittee and a general meeting. The governor or treasurer atends every Saturday, when the books are open for the reeipt of payments, and when, any sum not less than sixpence s received as a deposit, and entered to the credit of the con

tributor.

* There are besides this no fewer than three other institutions, ale and female, within the parish, on the pan of Benefit or Friendly cieties, in a flour shing condition, containing nearly 300 members, ugh the whole inhabitants do not amount to 1,200.

tributor. No interest, however, is allowed on any sum less than one pound, or on any odd shillings and sixpences. The money lodged may at any time be reclaimed with interest, the rate of 4 per cent.; but 5 per cent. compound interest is under the following circumstances, allowed to such as chus to withdraw their money after having been members for three years or upwards, viz.:

1st. On the event of their marriage.

2d. When they shall have attained the age of 56.

3d. In case of sickness, when a weekly allowance may made, proportioned to their wants, and to the amount of their contributions.

4th. If from any other cause the directors, or committee or general meeting, shall consider the possession of the mo ney advantageous to those demanding it.

5th. At the age of 56, a contributor may sink his money and receive an annuity of 10 per cent. per annum during life

As 5 per cent. is allowed by the bank on the whole funds it is evident from this statement, that there may be a smal annual sum of surplus interest; this, along with the contr butions of the charitable, (after paying incidental expenses such as books, &c.) forms a fund to be applied for the pur pose of giving premiums to regular contributors, when they shall have more than four children born after they began to contribute, or for affording them relief when they shall have become incapable of labour, &c. &c.

It will be observed, that the scheme is so contrived as t make it the interest of the contributors to continue their mo ney in the fund till it accumulate, without however prevent ing them from withdrawing it when they may think proper. They have a right, at ull times, to demand the common bank interest of 4 per cent.; whilst they become entitled to much more advantageous terms, under particular circumstances. The intention and obvious tendency of the whole scheme are to offer a BRIBE TO THE IDLE TO BECOME INDUSTRIOUS, in which respect its operation is directly the reverse of poor rates, which, though well intended, have been proved to be nothing less than a bribe to the industrious to become idle.

The society of gentlemen in Edinburgh, which have been so laudably and so successfully employed in suppressing pub lic begging, and in devising means for supporting the poor, without having recourse to poor rates, have expressed the sense they entertain of the utility of Parish Banks, by adopt ing a plan founded on the same principle.

To be concluded in our rest.

The Happy Medium.

THE spirit of persecution is an inveterate enemy to exnining matters of faith, and to the reformation of the ossest abuses; opposite to this is the spirit of contradiction, d the love of novelty and singularity, with which whoso er is smitten is ever framing new systems of religion and orality. Happy and wise is he who can keep at a proper stance from both extremes-he esteems the gospel to be e greatest blessing which God hath conferred upon us ⚫ carefully endeavours to understand and to practise it, id to recommend it to others. Acts of civility and huanity he exerciseth towards all, but avoids the society of ose who in their conversation and behaviour show a disgard to God, to truth, to probity, and to religion. His ith depends not upon human authority, fashion, and cus m; he reasons and judges and determines for himself, at never forgets the respect due to civil society, or hates 1ose who differ from him. Of all moral qualities the most aluable is piety-the next to it is prudence, and they must e joined together; for PIETY WITHOUT PRUDENCE BEOMES ENTHUSIASM AND BIGOTRY; AND PRUDENCE WITHOUT PIETY SINKS INTO KNAVISH CRAFT. Jortin.

JONAS HANWAY.

THIS excellent man, to whose writings we are indebted for the greater part of the Cottager's advice to his daughter in our first volume, devoted his time, his fortune, his powers of body and mind, to the service of his fellow-creatures. To improve the morals of the poor, to alleviate their distresses, and to provide for their offspring suitable instruction and useful employment, were objects he had much at heart; and a great part of his life was spent in promoting these benevolent views. It may justly be said of him, that, next to his reverence for the Divine Being, the love of human kind was the strongest feeling of his breast; and that when he had engaged in any office of general benevolence, no obstacles but those which were insuperable, could discourage his active perseverance. VOL. II.

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