ing to decrease, scowled upon William Tell in sullen silence. As the prow of the vessel was driven inland, Tell perceived a solitary table rock, and called to the rowers to redouble their efforts until they should have passed the precipice ahead, observing with ominous truth that it was the most dangerous point on the whole lake.

The soldiers here recognized their position, and pointed it out to Gessler, who, with angry voice, demanded of Tell what he meant by taking them back to Altorf. William, without answering him, turned the helm hard a-port, which brought the boat suddenly close upon the rock, seized his faithful bow, and with an effort which sent the unguided craft back into the lake, sprang lightly on shore, scaled the rocks, and took the direction of Schwytz.

Having thus escaped the clutches of the governor, he made for the heights which border the main road between Art and Kussnacht, and choosing a small hollow in the road, hid himself under cover of the brush, intending to remain in ambush until such time as the governor should pass that way. It appears that the governor had the utmost difficulty to save himself and his attendants after this sudden disappearance of their pilot, but at length succeeded in effecting a safe landing at Brunnen. Here they provided themselves with horses, and proceeding in the direction above alluded to, advanced towards Kussnacht. In the spot still known as 'the hollow way,' and marked by a chapel, Tell overheard the threats pronounced against himself should he be once more caught, and, in default of his apprehension, vengeance was vowed against his family. Tell felt that the safety of himself and his wife and children, to say nothing of the duty he owed to his country, required the tyrant's death. He instantly, therefore, showed himself, and seizing an opportune moment, pierced Gessler to the heart with one of his arrows."

Such is the tale which has been gathered from history, as we find it recorded in "Chambers' Tracts." We think it right, however, to caution the young that they must not believe all that is told in these historical tales. The leading facts may be true, but very often the writers of history, in order to make their tale appear a good one, or to please somebody, or for fear of somebody, have put into their tales what is not true. In this way most of the histories of nations have been corrupted. But what we say here about histories written by men, cannot be said of the histories of the book of God. What is there written is true-all of it. And it, indeed, is the only book of history in the world that is entirely true.

Again we would remind our young readers that the days of castles and barons are gone-never, we hope, to return. The people of this country do not build castles now. They are better employed in the peaceful pursuits of art, and industry, and commerce. Instead of building castles and dungeons, they are erecting workships and warehouses; and instead of going forth on crusades of war, they are going out on errands of peaceful commerce, taking to other nations

our manufactures, and bringing back their productions. This is as men should live-in friendship and peace with each other.

And better still, the gospel of peace and love is teaching both the rich and the poor to care for each other, and respect and love each other; for wherever the gospel prevails, tyranny on the one hand, and rebellion on the other, pass away. The time, we hope, is coming fast, and faster and faster may it come, when men shall not hurt or destroy each other any more, but dwell together in good-will and friendship-thankful to their Heavenly Father for the good things of his kind providence, and blessing his holy name for the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Though we are thankful that we can say these things of our own country, we cannot say as much of some European nations, in which tyranny still prevails, though not to the extent which it did formerly. Let us then all join in the prayer expressed in these beautiful lines

NOR in these islands of the sea alone

Be the Redeemer's cross and triumph known;
Father of Mercies; speed the promis'd hour;
Thy kingdom come with all-restoring power;
Truth, virtue, knowledge, spread from pole to pole,
As round the world the ocean waters roll!
-Hope waits the morning of celestial light;
Time plumes his wings for everlasting flight;
Unchanging seasons have their march begun;
Milennial years are hastening to the sun;

Seen through thick clouds by Faith's transpiercing eyes,
The New Creation shines in purer skies.

-All hail!-the age of crime and suffering ends;
The reign of righteousness from heaven descends;
Vengeance for ever sheathes the afflicting sword;
Death is destroyed and paradise restor❜d;

Man, rising from the ruins of his fall,
Is one with GOD, and GOD is All in All.

THE OLD WOODEN BRIDGE.

"TAKE care, little girl, how you go over the old wooden bridge! It is a rickety old thing, and some day or other we may expect it will fall, like all the rest of us, of old age and weakness; or perhaps a rough wind coming down the valley from the mountains may blow it down altogether."

"There! mind your steps, and look straight before you as you go along; dont look down into the water beneath for fear you should turn dizzy and stumble and fall over."

Well: but bridges are very useful and convenient. What a long way round about must that little girl have gone, if it had not been for that old wooden bridge. She could not have got down the steep rocks to the water, and if she had she could not have got over, for it is too deep. Yes, bridges-good bridges, safe and well built, are very useful and convenient. The people of some countries have invented curious ways for crossing rivers.

In South America some rivers are passed by means of a tarabita, which is a single rope, made of thongs cut from the hide of an ox, and consisting of several strands, which, when twisted, form a rope of six or eight inches in thickness. This is extended across the river, and fastened on one side to a strong post, and on the other to a wheel, that it may be straitened or slackened as occasion serves. From the tarabita hangs a kind of leathern hammock, large enough to contain a man, and suspended by a clue at each end, hanging in a loop over the tarabita. A rope is also fastened to it, and extended over the river, for drawing the hammock to the side intended; which, with a push at its first setting off, sends it quickly to the other side. This not only serves to carry over persons, but the burdens of beasts, and also the animals themselves, where the rapidity of the current, and the weight of a man passing over, must cause it to make a prodigious bend; and if it be considered that the passenger, when in the midst of his course, especially if there be a wind, is exposed to be swung from side to side, a bridge of this sort, sometimes above 90 feet long, must appear extremely frightful; yet the Indians run over it, loaded with the baggage and pack-saddles of the mules, laughing to see the Europeans afraid of venturing. The greatest part of these bridges are only for men and women, the mules swimming over the rivers: for their loading being taken off, they are driven into the water about a mile and a half above the bridge, in order that they may reach the opposite shore near it, they being usually carried so far down by the rapidity of the stream.

There are many curious bridges in the world; but the Chinese bridges may be looked upon as wonderful pieces of art, scarcely to be paralleled by anything of the kind in Europe. The most surprising of these structures is that which has obtained the name of the flying bridge, from its being built over a river from one mountain to another, and consisting only of one