IN about two hours, the barking of dogs was heard at a distance, and soon afterwards the whole herd of deer could be seen about a mile off, winding slowly along the mountains. They now approached the fold, which was a large space cleared of the bush wood, and enclosed by branches of the dwarf birch and aspen, stuck round to prevent the deer from straying. The whole troop advanced in a throng, snorting and clattering their hoofs together; but their keen sense of smell soon made them aware that there were strangers near; and instantly there was a general commotion amongst them. With some difficulty they were prevented from escaping again into the open plains, and at length brought within the fold, where the men and women, bringing their bowls from the tent, began the operation of milking. Before each deer was milked, a cord, or noose, was thrown round the horns, by which the animal was secured and kept steady. The quantity of milk which each deer gave was not more than a teacup full, but it was extremely luscious, as rich as cream, and of a fine flavour. It was midnight before the herd were milked, the sun had left the heavens about half an hour, but a deep orange tint remained along the verge of the horizon, so that at that season of the year there was in that country scarcely any night at all. The deer were at length turned out from the fold, and, spreading themselves along the sides of the mountains, were soon out of sight. They produced whey and curds for supper; and to these the whole party sat down. Fingers were used instead of knives and forks; and the Laplanders greedily dipped

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their hands down into a large pot, and grasped up handfuls of curds and whey, which they eagerly devoured.Green wood was now placed on the fire, the only escape from the smoke being a hole on the top of the tent. Those who were unaccustomed to it were nearly stifled; the Laplanders squatted down before the fire; two children lay down on rein-deer skins, and fell fast asleep, and about twenty dogs were lying in all directions. One of the men went out to watch the deer, and another was to take his turn in two hours afterwards. It was curious to remark, how, upon a signal given by the person who was going upon guard, one-half of the dogs started up, and followed him, whilst the rest took no notice of the call, as if well aware that it was not their turn to stir until the second man was going out.-Chiefly from Travels in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

READ AND REMEMBER.

THE following little history was related by the Rev. T. Collins, Rector of Timsbury, Somerset, at a meeting of the District Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.

After mentioning that several real conversions had taken place amongst the profligate portion of his parish, he stated that, under the blessing of God, these changes from a life of sin to a life of holiness had been greatly aided by the following awful circumstance. A fine young man of the parish, on the day of the General Fast, (Wednesday, March 21, 1832,) when all the people were flocking together to the church, was asked, Whether he was not also going? he replied, with an oath, that he was not, nor should be, till he was carried there, adding, "and that will not be very soon."

On the following Sunday he was carried there a corpse. In blowing up the stump of a tree out of the ground, he was struck by a splinter, which, though he was sixty yards distant from the tree, killed him on the spot. Be. wise in time; "consider this ye that forget God, lest he suddenly pluck you away, and there be none to deliver you."

E. of S.

ON approaching Teheran, about four hundred miles north of Ispahan, Captain Blisset was met by a body of cavalry, commanded by a nobleman of high rank. He was mounted on a fine horse, and surrounded by a body of running footmen, one bearing his pipe, another his shoes, another his cloak, a fourth his saddle-cloth, &c., the number being proportioned to his rank. The troops, who were well mounted, went through various evolutions as they advanced, dividing into parties, and going through the different movements of a mock engagement.-Travels in South-Western Asia.

NATIONAL SOCIETY.

THE cause of national education is prospering. When we hear persons abusing the church and clergy, as if they were doing nothing for the instruction of the people, we cannot help, at once, concluding that these accusations come from persons who are altogether in ignorance of the subject. We sometimes hear people say, that nobody in

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this nation cares much about religion, and that very few people are to be seen in our churches. Now those who talk in this way may have some reason for thinking that they are speaking the truth; for, as they never go to public worship themselves, they have no opportunity of judging of the real fact, by seeing the number of assembled worshippers. It is true that the act of going to church does not of itself prove a man to be a truly devout character; but it is one of the means by which we are encouraged to believe that there is a regard for religion: and we may, without any want of charity, conclude, that, where any man is in the constant habit of neglecting public worship, there cannot be a work of religion going on in the heart. Now, if we look through the whole of this country, we shall have great reason to speak boldly in opposition to the accusations of the enemies of religion,— for there has not been a time, in the memory of man, when our churches and chapels were better filled than they are at present. We have no sort of doubt that there is a very strong and anxious feeling throughout the country in the cause of religion; and, though the still small voice of piety may not be heard amidst the din of political controversy, yet we fully believe, that a regard for the religion of Christ, and a devout earnestness in the cause of truth, prevail to an extent which may give us good reason to hope that the Almighty will look graciously on this nation, and bless and preserve us, and spare his people in the midst of a crooked generation, in which we must confess, to our shame, that, to a fearful extent, iniquity still prevails.

And, as to the education of children, those who say that the Church has been idle, are speaking in irance of the truth.—When we speak of what the Church has done, and is doing, we are not making an invidious comparison between the exertions of the Established Church and those of dissenters ;-for we honour the efforts of all who are seeking to promote the cause of religion and piety; but those scoffers, who act and speak without any reference to Christian principles, or any desire to see these spreading in the world, are full of accusations against all who are anxious for the promotion of Christian truth,VOL. XIII. No. 1.

C

a regard for which can alone make a nation prosperous, or give peace, and comfort, and hope to the heart of man. We have good reason to believe that the cause of Christian education is proceeding in this country with such success as to cheer the minds of all who love the truth, and desire to see it spread.

If any one thinks, that, in the midst of these exertions, the Established Church is behindhand, let him look at the last Report of the National School Society, and he will find that there are more than nine hundred thousand of children receiving religious education under the Church.

-A letter from the King has commanded the clergymen of every parish to recommend the great cause of national education to the people; and we doubt not that they will cheerfully lend their aid in so good a work. When every parish in the kingdom lends its help, the whole sum collected may be expected to be large. The first expense of establishing a school is often too great for a single parish, which could well carry on the work if a room were built, and the first expenses paid. It is in lending such aid, that the sums at the disposal of the society have chiefly been employed. The whole of the collection made by the last King's letter, about nine years ago, was expended in the building of school rooms, and we doubt not that a very important benefit will be the result of the present appeal to the charity of those who wish to see young children brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord. Every person will have an opportunity of lending some help; and those who have little, by giving cheerfully of that little, may collectively be the means of aiding the cause to a noble extent, and have the satisfaction of having some share in a work from which the most important good may reasonably be expected.

V.

ADVICE OF A NATIONAL SCHOOLMASTER TO HIS BRETHREN THE TEACHERS OF NATIONAL SCHOOLS.

IN a country infested by wolves, a wise shepherd knows that he cannot, alone, protect his sheep; he therefore gets some good stout active dogs to help him.-Just so, fellow schoolmasters, a wise teacher seeks for support from the