and Venus are nearer the Sun than the Earth, and are called inferior planets; while the others, which are all at greater distances than the Earth, are called superior planets.

These different planets, again, move round the Sun in different periods of time. The time in which the Earth performs its journey is called a year, and is, in round numbers, 365 days. The sizes, distances, lengths of years, and general appearances of each planet will be given separately.

The subject of the present chapter is the planet Mars, which is at present a very conspicuous object in the heavens. During the present month (May) it may be seen nearly due South, at about eight or nine o'clock in the evening. It will easily be picked out from among the neighbouring stars by its dusky red, or fiery colour. The Moon may serve to point out its position in the heavens, as it passes very near it on the evening of Wednesday, the 14th of the present month. The motion of the Moon among the stars may also be observed at the same time, by noting its distance from the "red planet," one or two nights before and after the 14th. By observing the position of Mars among the neighbouring stars for a few weeks, it will be seen to move away gradually towards the East, on its journey round the Sun. These will be very interesting observations, and we have no doubt many of our young readers will keep "a sharp look out" for them.

Mars is the nearest superior planet to the Earth ;-that is, it moves round the Sun at a greater distance than the Earth, as the following figures will show the distance of the Earth from the Sun is about 95 millions of miles; while Mars is about 145 millions of miles. At the present time, when Mars appears so bright, it is situated at a dis-! tance of only about 50 millions of miles from the Earth: sometimes it is as much as 240 millions of miles distant. Mars performs its revolution round the Sun in 687 days. Its diameter is 4,100 miles-a little more than half the diameter of this Earth. It turns on its axis like the Earth; the length of its day is 24 hours 373 minutes.

Respecting the nature of its surface, the woodcut which accompanies this article will convey a very good idea of its appearance, when viewed with a powerful telescope. When compared with the appearance the Earth would present if seen from the same distance, a striking similarity will be observed. The outlines are no doubt the boundaries of sea and land. It is generally supposed that the appearance of the planet is owing to the redness of its soil it may, however, be due to the colour of the atmosphere with which Mars is no doubt surrounded. The darker portions of the planet have a greenish tinge, and are supposed to be sea; the lighter portions, land.

The most remarkable feature in the appearance of Mars, and that which bears the strongest analogy to this Earth, is the whiteness of its polar regions. There is nothing unreasonable in the supposition that these white spots are masses of snow and ice, as in the polar regions of our own planet. A comparison of the two planets, as shown in the woodcut, will convey a better idea of the strong resemblance of the two worlds than several pages of descriptive writing. The engraver has performed his task very faithfully.

Taking the whole appearance of Mars into account, it seems quite reasonable to suppose that it is suitably adapted for the reception of inhabitants very little different from those which inhabit this Earth. As we do not feel justified, however, in venturing far into fields of conjecture at present, we will gladly leave the planet to the mercy of our readers, to be peopled with intelligent beings, or left as a great blank patch in creation, as their fancy may dictate.

At the same time, we confess we feel ourselves gradually drawn forward, when talking about seas, to suppose there are also fishes; when thinking about the atmosphere of Mars, we begin to fancy birds and animals, which live and breathe in much the same way as those which we see on every part of our own globe. Moreover, as we believe the Creator takes as much care of the planet Mars as of the Earth, we cannot help thinking it highly probable that

He may have made one class of beings" after his own likeness," on which he bestows as much care as on us; and it is also quite possible, that they may be much more grateful to Him for his care than many of us are.

SUNDAY, THE HAPPY DAY.

J. W.

Now, my dear little Charlie," said his mamma, must begin to put away the toys, because, you know, this is Saturday evening."

"Oh yes, mamma, so it is. I had almost forgotten it; and then to-morrow is 'the happy day.' Oh, I am so glad it is come again so soon."

The Noah's Ark was brought and put by in the closet, also the maps and games of all sorts; and last of all, the rocking-horse was carried safely up stairs, and stowed away in the lumber-room.

"Now, dear mamma," said Charlie, "all is quite tidy and ready, ready for Sunday; may I come and sit beside you, just a little while, before I go to bed? and you will find me a text to learn for to-morrow. I should so like something about Sunday being the happy day."

"Well, my darling, I will find you a very short one. It is in the 58th chapter of Isaiah, 13th verse: 'Call the Sabbath a delight.' Will that be what you wanted ?"

« Oh yes, dear mamma, that is beautiful, and so very short that I shall hardly have to learn it at all."

"And now, good night, my dear boy; try and recollect, when you wake to morrow morning, that it is God's day, and that we are to keep it holy."

Little Charlie soon fell asleep; and when he awoke the next morning the sun was shining brightly into his room, and the sweet birds were singing, as though they too felt that Sunday was a happy day.

It was always Mrs. Brown's custom to have her little boy into her room before breakfast on Sunday mornings, and to pray with him for a blessing on the day. anxions that her dear child should from his earliest

She was

years

be taught to love the Sabbath, and to look upon that day as the "best of all the seven." For this end she tried to make it as interesting as possible to him, and he now looked forward to Sunday as one of his happiest days.

After breakfast he repeated his little text, and alsɔ the first verse of a favourite hymn, beginning

Around the throne of God in heaven,

Ten thousand children stand," &c.

His great delight was to get his Bible, and ask his mamma to find him something to read that he could understand, or to sit at her feet while she explained some history which was more difficult. The story which had been chosen for this morning was that of the three Jewish children in the fiery furnace, and Charlie listened with eagerness to the account of their wonderful deliverance from the painful death which threatened them. At the house of God the dear child was very quiet an solemn in his behaviour; and though too young to understand all he heard, yet he tried to remember in whose house he was, and that the eye of God was upon him in an especial manner while there.

Bible stories, texts, and the singing of hymns, generally closed the day, and, the last thing, his mamma again knelt with him, and prayed that it might please God to bless the lessons of the day, and to prepare them both by his Holy Spirit for the eternal Sabbath above. Several Sundays passed away in this manner, when one morning, on awaking, Charlie complained of a sore throat. Means were used to remove it, but it grew rapidly worse; and the flushed cheek and beating pulse told that fever was gaining ground.

The dear child seemed more than usually calm, and seeing his mother in tears, stroked her face with his little burning hand, and said, "Mamma, why do you cry?" Mrs. Brown feared to tell him what she could hardly realise herself, and for a moment was silent. "Mamma, am I going to die, do you think?" said the little one. "You are very ill, my darling child," replied his mother " and we cannot tell whether it may please God to restore

you or not." This was said in a trembling voice, and Mrs. Brown watched with anxiety what would be the effect on the little sufferer. He looked at her very earnestly, and at last said, "Mamma, won't it be always Sunday in heaven?" "Yes, darling, it will." "Oh, then I am so happy, because I do love Sunday here; and to have it always Sunday-oh, mamma, I shall call it a delight!" My sweet child, do you feel afraid when I tell that you we don't know if it will be God's will that should get well." "No, dear mamma; Jesus will take care of me, and then I shall stand 'before the throne of God in heaven,'

you

Mrs. Brown repeated

"What brought them to that world above,

That heaven so bright and fair,

Where all is peace, and joy, and love?—

How came those children there?

Singing, Glory, glory, glory!"

Charlie added, putting his little hands together, and raising his eyes—

Because the Saviour shed his blood,

To wash away their sin;

Cleansed in that pure and precious flood,

Behold them white and clean,

Singing, Glory, glory, glory!"

He had spoken almost more than he had strength for, From this time fever and began to complain of his head. increased to a high degree, and he was soon quite delirious. His head was shaved, and every means used; but all in vain. Friday and Saturday passed in this way, and on the morning of Sunday every hour was expected to be his last. It was again a bright and beautiful day, and the sun shone with great brilliancy into Charlie's little room. His happy day was indeed come; and as his mother and father watched their little one, the remembrance of his delight at the return of Sunday, although in some respects

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