and wild clavy: the michaelmas daisy now begins to exhibit its flowers. 3d Week. The swift begins to depart, and lapwings congregate; the nightingale leaves this country, and the young redbreasts commence their sonorous lays. The mallow and hollyhock are now conspicuous in gardens, while the pond-weeds and knot-grasses blow by the sides of roads and ditches: the hop is now ripe for gathering, and the leaves of the beech begin to turn yellow. 4th Week.-Insects now abound, and afford a never-failing source of amusement and instruction to the lovers of entomology: various butterflies and moths attract our attention. Flies and wasps are now very troublesome: the harvest bug proves very disagreeable, particularly in some of the southern parts of the kingdom; the best cure for the bite is the spirits of hartshorn: the house cricket is very noisy; the stone-curlew clamours, and the wood-owl hoots. The fuller's teasel, the golden-rod, the colchicum, and the balsom are in flower the grape begins to ripen, and the sun-flower adds its stately beauties to the garden. Greenwich. W. ROGERSON. BRIEF ASTRONOMICAL NOTICES, FOR AUGUST, 1833. "THE Sun's wide empire, every circling star To where cold Saturn wheels his lazy team." THE SUN rises on the 1st at twenty-five minutes past four, and sets at forty-six minutes after seven: on the 12th he rises at forty-two minutes past four, and sets at twenty-seven minutes after seven. The Sun enters the sign Virgo on the 23d; and on the 27th he rises at five minutes after five, and sets at fifty-six minutes past six. The Moon rises on the 2d at nine o'clock, on the 5th at three minutes before ten, and on the 7th at half-past ten, at night she enters on her last quarter on the 8th, at one minute after six in the evening; and rises on the 10th about midnight. The Moon changes on the 15th, at thirty-nine minutes past two in the afternoon: she sets on the 18th at nine o'clock, and on the 21st at ten minutes after ten, at night; and enters on her first quarter on the 22d, at half-past six in the morning: she souths on the 25th at five minutes before nine, and on the 28th at ten minutes past eleven, at night. The Moon is full on the 30th, at four minutes before seven in the morning; and rises on the 31st at a quarter before eight in the evening. MERCURY is invisible. VENUS appears very beautiful in the east before sun-rise: she a quarter past one: she souths, during the month, about nine in the morning, and is visible to the naked eye in the day-time. MARS is invisible. JUPITER appears very bright in the south-east about midnight: he rises on the 1st at a quarter past ten, on the 19th at seven minutes past nine, and on the 31st about half-past eight, at night. SATURN appears very near the horizon in the west at the beginning of the month, but afterwards becomes invisible. Greenwich. W. ROGERSON. JUVENILE OBITUARY. DIED, March 1st, 1832, in the fifteenth year of his age, at Bailie, Brecknockshire, Walter, the eldest son of the Rev. William Davies. He was born January 27th, 1818, and evinced a considerable facility in learning when very young. He was taken by his parents to Redditch, in 1825, and placed under the care of Mr. Stormont, where he made considerable proficiency in English and Latin grammar, Arithmetic, &c. In May, 1826, a blessed revival of religion was experienced at Redditch, and the neighbourhood, when many young people felt the power of divine grace; and among others was Walter, though only in the ninth year of his age. He was made very happy, and retained his religious feelings for a considerable time, and indeed he never entirely lost them to the day of his death. In 1828 he was sent to Kingswood School, where he made considerable progress in learning; manifested a disposition to serve God; and was highly esteemed by his affectionate Governor and his kind family, as well as by his fellow-scholars. Mr. Smith, in his letters to his father, says of him, "He is a pious and an amiable boy. I shall be very glad if he recover, as I trust he will be a comfort to you and his tender mother. He always behaved well at this school, and was much respected." In May, 1831, he was afflicted with the measles; but he became sufficiently convalescent to be able to return home to St. Neot's. On his way home he took cold, and an inflammation of his lungs ensued. He so far recovered as to be able to return to the school in the beginning of July; but on this journey he got wet, took a fresh cold, and the inflammation returned. In September he was obliged to leave the school, and returned to Brecon ; but it was soon ascertained that his lungs were ulcerated, and but little hope of recovery was entertained. When he gave up this hope, he began earnestly to seek the Lord. On visiting him in February, I found him very ill, and extremely reduced. He was glad to see me, and expressed an ardent desire to see his mother once more; but that was impracticable. He was now convinced he should not live; and said there was nothing in the world he so much desired as to be assured that he was accepted of God. He tual things, by the conversation of those who visited him; and that it was with difficulty he could recal his thoughts; but that he was able to do so by "little and little;" and added, that this world was nothing to him. At family prayer he seemed to be much affected, especially when petitions were more immediately offered up on his behalf. The next morning, by conversation and prayer, he was much affected, and melted into tears. When we were left alone, he was free and open in conversation, and expressed an ardent desire for his own salvation, and that of his brothers and sisters; and requested me to tell them, from him, to remember their Creator as early as possible; and to meet him in heaven, whither he hoped he was going. On the evening of this day, while at family prayer, his soul was happy in God; and he said, "I feel no condemnation; the fear of death in a great measure is removed; I have faith in Jesus Christ, and am much comforted." His weakness was now become so great, that it was with difficulty he could converse at all. One evening I asked what he most desired I should pray for. He replied, after much thought, that he might be able to pray aright; that worldly conversation might have no effect on his mind; that he might have more faith; and that he might persevere to the end. Previous to this conversation a letter had arrived, bringing the painful intelligence that his youngest brother was dead; his brother John very ill; and his mother confined to her bed; which greatly affected him. When asked whether he was willing that I should leave him, he replied, "I see it necessary; and I shall do my best not to murmur, and to reconcile my mind to your departure." The morning of my departure being come, I entered his room about five o'clock, and asked, "Is Christ precious to your soul, my dear?" He replied, "O, yes! very precious." We all knelt by his bedside to commend his soul to God, my firstborn, with whom I was about to part, never to see him any more till the resurrection morn. I was about to return to my family, the mother was dangerously ill, the youngest child dead, and another heavily afflicted. The state of my mind cannot be described. The concluding scene must be given in a letter addressed to his mother. "After his father left, Walter's mind became more composed than we could have expected. He said that he felt the presence of God; and that God was love. His weakness became very great, and he remarked how necessary grace was in affliction. On the day before his death, he appeared very languid, and with a deathly countenance, he lifted up his eyes, and asked, 'What shall I do?' I replied, 'Look to Jesus: he will not forsake you.' He said, 'Do you think my case to be safe?' I replied, Do you depend on Christ alone?' He said, 'O yes!' 'Can you say, I the chief of sinners am, But Jesus died for me?' I wish you would pray with me.' After prayer he said he felt that he loved God; that God was love; and that he believed he would support him to the end. He hoped also that he should not have to suffer much pain, and that his death would be triumphant. His grandmother expressed a hope to his aunt, in the course of the evening, that the Lord would be tender to him. He, overhearing this, said, 'He is tender to me.' At twelve, he said, 'If it be consistent with thy will, Lord, I should like to die to-night. I believe I shall go to heaven. Christ is precious.' In a few minutes he said, 'I am ready, Lord; come quickly, and do not delay: but thy will be done, and not mine.' He then said, 'He is coming; he is coming;' and repeated, and, 'Vital spark of heavenly flame,' &c.; Lo! he comes with clouds descending,' &c. He continued in this frame for some time, when he called for some water; but before it could be put to his lips, he appeared insensible to all below, and in a few minutes his spirit took its flight, I have no doubt, to an eternity of bliss." Thus died this amiable and promising youth, aged fourteen years. WILLIAM DAVIES. POETRY. A FAMILY EVENING HYMN. To the Air, "O'tis the Melody." O COME! now pleasant eve Soon shall the day of life, We come, a household band, O let our prayers arise, To whom each heart belongs. We praise for former years, Ramsgate, Feb., 1833. ALL GONE! THE bauble bliss of infancy, ELIZA W. BRADBURN. When scarce a gloom o'ershaded The spring-time of my spirit's light, Those luscious hours I knew, And the skies were ever blue; The friends, the dearest friends, Alas, their summer smile of love, How soon did it depart! Those warm affections I had deem'd No mortal power could shake, Have all conspired to break! Friends, friendship, playmates, toys, The sweetest charms, the holiest loves, That mark'd life's morning dawn, The purely beautiful, and gay, And innocent;-all gone! BENJAMIN GOUGH. |