distant in Invernesshire. And to blend the lovely with the sublime in this enchanting scene, Loch Katrine lay like a mirror among the nearer northern mountains; and to the south, just at our feet, reposed in queenly beauty, Loch Lomond, bestudded with

"All the fairy crowds

Of islands that together lie
As quietly as spots of sky
Among the evening clouds."

Having deeply enjoyed this bewitch-
ing scene, we descended the moun-
tain, and arrived at Rowardennan inn
at eleven at night.
Hull.

HENRY.

THE BOY WHO COULD NOT SAY "NO."

BY JOSEPH ALDEN, D.D.

"HAVE you had a pleasant visit, my son?" said Mrs. Alston to her son Thomas, as he returned from a visit to George Ransom.

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we ought never to say it unless truth required it."

Mrs. Alston then went into an explanation of her meaning. Instead of repeating her remarks, I shall tell you what happened to Thomas the next day.

He went to spend the afternoon at a farm house at some distance from his father's. He was told to return early, as it was Saturday afternoon, and preparation was to be made for the sabbath. He had not been there long before the boys said, "Let us go down to the flat rock, and go in swimming."

"Mother said that I must not go into the water unless father is with me," said Thomas.

"Well," said one of the boys, "that don't hinder your going down to the rock with us; you can see us go in; your mother has not forbidden that."

"If he can't go in, he had better not go down," said another boy. "So, seeing that he ought not to go

"What was there to render it unpleasant? You have had a fine afternoon for it."

"I know that, but George is so cross; he says No to everything you say to him. I would not be like him for a great deal."

"I should be very sorry to have you like him so far as he is unamiable and obstinate, but I should like to have you able to say No more frequently than you do."

"Wish me to say No more frequently than I do! I thought it was not polite to say No, and that

make some swings under this tree."

"No, no," replied the first speaker, "let us go in swimming." A majority being in favour of this plan, they proceeded to the flat rock. Thomas rather reluctantly accompanied them.

The rock projected into a small, clear stream. The bottom was covered with pebbles, and the little fish were so tame that they sometimes approached the toes of the bathers.

The boys, all except Thomas, were soon sporting in the water.

"Are you not coming in?" said one to Thomas. Thomas shook his head.

"Oh, now," said the boy in a coaxing tone, "don't be a fool now; what hurt is there in coming into this shallow water? It will do you good."

"There will be hurt in his disobeying his mother," said the boy who tried to prevent his coming into the water.

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"You be still, Bill," said the tempter, or I'll duck you till you are. If your mother knew how shallow the water is, she would be willing to have you go in. She only meant that you shouldn't go into deep water. Come, come in; I know she would be willing if she knew all about it."

Thus urged, Thomas began very slowly to undress, and at length plunged into the water and enjoyed the sport with the rest.

"I knew," said one, "he would get him in if he got him down here."

When they had remained in the water for a long time, much longer than was proper, they came out and dressed themselves, and returned to the house. It was now towards evening, and Thomas remembered that he was told to come home early. He accordingly set out, no efforts being made to detain him. The boy who induced him to go in bathing was going in the same direction, and set out with him. When he reached his home, he asked Thomas to stop and play a little while with him.

"I cannot, mother told me I must come home early."

"It is early yet; the sun is more than two hours high. Come and see my young pigeons."

but I must go home, for it is most night."

They went and saw the pigeons, and then the boy insisted that Thomas should go with him after the cows. He went, and it was sunset before they got back, and dark before Thomas got home.

In consequence of not being able to say No," he had disobeyed his mother, and made her and himself unhappy. He very frequently did this, almost as frequently as some bad boys who have no regard for the authority of their mother.

One of the first things a boy should learn, is to say No in its proper place; that is, firmly to refuse to do what is wrong. The wicked soon find out when one is not able to say No to their proposals, and they will be continually leading him into evil. You should resist at the outset; say No at the beginning. Thomas ought not to have gone to the rock. If he had not gone there, he would not have disobeyed his mother by going into the water. He should not have stopped a moment with the boy on his way home. Then he would have reached home in season. If we do not resist temptation at the outset, we are almost certain to fall.

the superabundant moisture, and drying the surface of the earth. So common is rude and boisterous weather now, that the old adage yet stands good, "If it comes in as a lamb, it will go out like a lion." The effect of these winds, and the drying property of the air this month, is to prepare the ground for the casting-in of seed, and the proper germination of the grain. In this we see a gracious provision of our all-wise Creator for the proper supply of the wants of his creatures. It is in reference to this that the old proverb has no doubt arisen, "A peck of March dust is worth a king's ransom."

With this month commences our spring quarter, and every lane, field, hedge, and wood, of our beautiful native land is seen assuming its vernal dress. The days are rapidly lengthening, and by the end we have equal day and night, while the temperature advances six degrees. We are often favoured in this month with days of great brilliancy and warmth, all pressing in the revival of vegetable and animal life around. In our gardens, some of the earliest spring and winter flowers have already begun to fade and give place to those belonging to more genial days.

The red and white mezereons, referred to last month, are now in all their glory, which, though growing wild in some parts of England, such as the woods of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, and other counties, and diffused over all Europe, from Lapland to the Mediterranean, is still one of our most favourite

garden shrubs. The dwarf-almond (Amygdalus Nana), is also in full bloom, and a great ornament to every spot where it is planted. The Japan quince (Pyrus Japonica) has come out into fuller flower; the China rose (Rosa Semperflorens) is beginning to adorn our dwellings; and about many a retired rustic arbour the evergreen virgin's bower (Clematis cirrhosa) hangs its early blossoms.

Many of the early flowering bulbs, too, give life and gaiety to our gardens. The crocus, in all its hues; the daffodil, large, small, single, and double, with the whole tribe of narcissus; many of the irises, as the Chalcedonian (Iris Susiana), the snake's head (Iris tuberosa), and the Persian (Iris Persica); the gay Van Thol tulip (Tulipa suaveolens), the star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum Arabicum), the elegant crown imperial (Fritillaria Imperialis), the pretty little dog-tooth violet (Erythronium Dens canis), and the garden hyacinth (Hyacinthia Orientalis), are amongst the list of those most common at this time.

Of herbaceous plants we have several of the heaths, as the Mediterranean (Erica Mediterranea), hepaticas, fumarias, many beautiful anemones, with primroses, polyanthuses, early auriculas, and various violets. Indeed, we might draw out a pretty lengthy list of the beautiful and fragrant flowers now coming forth to hail returning spring.

Nor are our woods and fields behind our more favoured gardens. There, may be seen the wild anemone (Anemone nemorosa), the barren

The trees and shrubs, too, in the woods and lanes, are making rapid progress, and the horse-chestnut, some of the poplars and other early trees, expand their buds. The roundleaved willow is in full bloom, providing its so-called "palms" against the coming Easter festival; the hazel hangs out its tassels, and the honeysuckle is in full leaf.

Various animals and insects now come forth from their winter torpidity. The dormouse, the hedgehog, the squirrel, and the toad, all wake up, and creep forth to life and sunshine. Several moths, butterflies, and beetles may now be seen gaily playing about in their proper haunts. Bees come out too in quest of honey, and on fine sunny days may be heard merrily at work amongst the flowers.

All nature is indeed awaking, and our land becomes cheerful with the sounds of life on every side. The ring-dove is heard cooing in the woods; the jay and the magpie uttering their peculiar cry; the jackdaw caws about his favourite dwelling; and the rooks are keeping up an incessant chorus, as they reestablish themselves in the lofty trees where they build their nests.

It is delightful to escape from the smoke and bustle of the crowded city now, and breathe the fragrant air, and enjoy the happy music of the lanes and fields around; and he who has arrived rightly influenced, may, at this season of the year, reap rich enjoyment and great spiritual profit from " a country stroll."

To those, too, who will look up and consider the heavens, some interesting phenomena present themselves this month (1849).

On

The SUN rises on the 1st of March at 12 minutes before 7, and sets at 39 minutes after 5; making the day 10 hours 51 minutes long in London, and it is about 14 minutes shorter in Edinburgh. the 20th of this month, the length of day will be the same in all places, the 24 hours being equally divided into day and night all over the globe. With us, and in all countries north of the equator, the days will continue to increase until June; while in the southern part of the globe the days will gradually shorten.

The MOON is at the full at 2 minutes after 1 in the morning of the 9th; and it will be new moon on the 24th day, at 6 minutes past 2 in the afternoon. The moon will pass near Jupiter (at about 3 degrees) in the afternoon of the 6th; and near Mars, at an equal distance, on the morning of the 21st; near Saturn on the morning of the 24th, at about half a degree distance; and