nember, with a grateful heart, that all things are under the guidance of a God, as kind and loving, as sreat and powerful; of one

“Too wise to err, too good to be unkind.” With a lightened heart and strengthened faith vould Moses return to the people of Israel; for God vad told him that he would bring them out of bondige, and “redeem them with a stretched-out arm, ind great judgments.”

Having received directions to go in before Phaaoh, and request him to “let the people go,” Moses obeyed; and during this interview, the power of God was displayed before the King, by the rod of Aaron being changed into a serpent. On witnessing this, Pharaoh called the “wise men and the sorcerers" together; and they, by the aid of some power possibly derived from the evil one, "did in like manner with their enchantments:" but Aaron's rod (now a serpent) swallowed their rods; thus showing the superior power by which he acted and performed miracles.

Unmoved by this display of more than human power, the King still refused to permit the departure of the people. Moses, therefore, again sought an interview with Pharaoh; and, for this purpose, went down to the river, to wait the arrival of the Monarch, who was wont to repair thither at certain seasons. Again making his request, and again receiving a denial, Moses and Aaron did as the Lord commanded: they lifted up the rod, and before Pharaoh, and in the sight of all, “ the waters that were in the

river were turned into blood.” This must have presented a most fearful scene; the waters of the river, streams, ponds, and pools, no longer clear and refreshing to the thirsty people, but changed into blood. The fish of the river died, for they drank of the curse.

The water of the river Nile was famed for its peculiar excellence. But now the blessing was no longer such ; for they “could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt."

And how felt the proud King now? Could he longer refuse to let the people go; still maintain bis will, in opposition to the express command of the all-powerful Lord of earth and heaven? Even so; for we learn that “ Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.” Moses and Aaron now received a fresh commission: to ask permission for the people's departure, and to threaten the infliction of another plague should be still refuse compliance.

The seven days were passed since the waters had become blood; and now, Aaron having stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, an immense multitude of frogs came up and covered the land, entering into the houses of the Egyptians, and into their “kneading-troughs," and their ovens. The magicians tried their powers; and, though permitted by God to increase the plague, they could not remove the scourge.

This hateful state was more than Pharaoh's pride could support; and while he felt the weight of the

ifliction, he called for Moses, and besought him to ntreat of the Lord the removal of the frogs, saying, And I will let the people go, that they may do acrifice unto the Lord.”

M. A. Cooke. (To be continued.)

PAPER-REED. Any of our young friends that live near a papernill will do well to ask leave, some day, to go and ee in what a curious way the paper-makers proluce the beautiful sheets on which we write our etters, or print our books. But when you have lone that, you must not think that Moses wrote Genesis, or that David wrote the Psalms, on paper ust like what we have. In those old times, they used i very different kind of paper. If one of the men who lived then were to see a cart-load of rags, he would never think that they were going to be turned into paper; and so, if you were taken to Abyssinia, Egypt, or Syria, and by the side of a stream were to see growing a number of long reeds, from three to six feet high, with a three-cornered stem, and a bunch of long grassy leaves, you would never think of that as being a thing to write upon. But from that reed was made the paper on which the great men of ancient Egypt, and the neighbouring countries, used to write.

The stem of the reed has a number of thin coats ; and the ancients used to peel these off, and cut

them into strips. Then they placed them close together on a board, and pasted another layer over them crosswise, so as to make it solid. This was pressed and dried in the sun, and then was polished, either with a shell or some other hard substance. Then they glued together a number of these sheets, so as to form a roll. These rolls

ere from ten to thirteen finger-breadths wide ; id of all lengths, up even to thirty feet. In our y the papyrus, or paper-reed, has become scarce Egypt. This useful plant was fit for other purposes beles paper-making. The root was sweet, and Luld be eaten. The sails of boats were made Gm it by the ancient Egyptians; and the Priests .. that nation are said to have worn shoes made

it.

Papyrus appears to have been the best writing aterial known to the ancients; but parchment also is used, and even linen. We have reason to be ad that paper-making was discovered ; for with

t it, we never could have had such cheap books, - such cheap postage.

TOM AND HIS TEACHER.
ONE winter's eve a Teacher sat,

As he was wont to do,
Amid his little group, to chat

Of things both good and true.
The conversation turn'd that night

Upon the better land :
He told them of the angels bright

That dwell at God's right hand;
And of the dazzling crowns saints wear,

Which God to them has given ;
How palms of victory they bear,

When taken up to heaven.