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the prison, the abodes of misery and vice, were the places to which he turned his step. He exposed himself voluntarily to the diseases which others shunnot from carelessness or rashness, but with a full sense of his danger, risking his life for the good of others, because it was necessary for him to know fully the evils which he desired to cure. For the same reason he visited the plague-hospitals in every town through which he passed.

The hardships of quarantine* at Venice were then very great. Wishing to know their full rigour, he went to Smyrna, while the plague was raging there, that he might sail to Venice from an infected port.

For nearly twenty years he passed his life in painful journeyings, unremitting labour, and continual danger, and at last died of a fever, which he caught through visiting a young lady suffering from that complaint.

man.

It is especially interesting to the Christian to know that Howard was not only a benevolent but a religious He frequently took occasion to express his sense of his own sinfulness, and his trust in his Redeemer. The following words were written by him only three or four days before his death :

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May I not look on present difficulties, or think of future ones in this world, as I am but a pilgrim or wayfaring man, that tarries but a night! This is not my home, but may I think on what God has done for me, and rely on His power and His grace! for

* When ships come into a port from a country where an infectious disorder rages, the crew are generally not allowed to come on shore before they have remained some time in a ship or other place, where no one can come to them, in case they should have the disorder and give it to others. Persons while kept in this confinement are said to be in quarantine.

His promise, His mercy endureth for ever. But I am faint and low; yet, I trust, pursuing the right way, though too apt to forget my Almighty Friend and my God.

(6 O my soul! remember and record how often God has sent an answer of peace, mercies in the most seasonable times, how often better than thy fears, exceeding thy expectations. Oh, why should I distrust a good and faithful God? In His word He has said, 'In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct. thy path.' Lord, leave me not to my own wisdom, which is folly, nor to my own strength, which is weakness. Help me to glorify Thee on earth, and to finish the work which Thou givest me to do, and to Thy name alone be all the praise.'

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In St. Paul's Cathedral is a monument erected in his memory, recording in words of praise the services which he rendered to his country. A simple memorial tablet placed by his desire in his parish church, bears an inscription dictated by himself.

JOHN HOWARD

DIED AT CHERSON IN RUSSIAN TARTARY
January 20th, 1790, Aged 64.
"CHRIST IS MY HOPE."

To the labour of John Howard, under God, we owe the excellent order and careful management of the hospitals and gaols, not only in England but throughout Europe.

The account of his life may well recall to our minds the blessings which shall be pronounced by the Son of man, when He shall come in his glory and all the holy angels with Him. Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, "Come, ye blessed of my Father,

inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. For, inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

LESSON 3.

THE BLESSINGS OF THE JUST.

THE rush may rise where waters flow,
And flags beside the stream;
But soon their verdure * fades and dies
Before the scorching beam.

So is the sinner's hope cut off;
Or, if it transient † rise,
"Tis like the spider's airy web,

From ev'ry breath that flies.

Fix'd on his house he leans: his house
And all its props decay:

He holds it fast; but, while he holds,
The tott'ring frame gives way.

Fair, in his garden, to the sun

His boughs with verdure smile;
And, deeply fix'd, his spreading roots
Unshaken stand a while.

But forth the sentence flies from Heav'n,
That sweeps him from his place;
Which then denies him for its lord,
Nor owns it knew its face.

* Verdure.] Greenness.

+ Transient.] Quickly passing by.

Lo! this the joy of wicked men,
Who Heav'n's high laws despise :
They quickly fall; and in their room
As quickly others rise.

But, for the just, with gracious care,
God will His pow'r employ;

He'll teach their lips to sing His praise,
And fill their hearts with joy.

LOGAN.

LESSON 4.

TEA.-PART I.

THERE is perhaps no single article of food, with the exception of bread, in more common use among the English people than tea. There are districts in England where the labourers are too poor to procure meat as a part of their daily food; but many who are content to live for the most part upon bread and potatoes, would be sorely put to it, if they could not add a cup of tea to their frugal meal. Common as tea now is with Englishmen of every class, it was scarcely known in this country two hundred years ago. In Queen Elizabeth's reign, we have accounts of the beef-steaks and ale, which were provided for the breakfasts of her maids of honour. Even in the year 1661, an Englishman, of a very inquiring turn of mind, writes in his diary of the 25th of September: "I sent for a cup of tea, a Chinese drink, of which I had never drank before." The produce of the East was in those days better known in Holland and in Portugal than in our island. It seems that the Dutch introduced tea into Europe, and that it was first brought to

London from Amsterdam. The marriage of Charles II. with a princess of Portugal was the occasion of the more general introduction of this beverage. So that a courtier of that period, speaking of Portugal, says, "The best of Queens and the best of plants we owe to that bold nation." In the year 1664 a great company, wishing to make a present to the king, purchased two pounds two ounces of tea, and in 1666 tea was sold in London for sixty shillings a pound.

Tea is, as might be expected, the national drink of the Chinese they take it at every hour of the day, and whenever a stranger pays a visit of ceremony, the servants of the house bring up cups of tea for their master and his guests. The tea is not made in the same manner as with us, but a small quantity of the leaves are placed in each cup, and hot water is then poured upon them; no milk or sugar are used. The Chinese are very particular as to the quality of their teas. There is one kind that is said to be reserved exclusively for the Emperor's use. The Russians drink their tea without milk, with a slice of lemon in each cup, and travellers tell us that the Russian tea is most delicious.

The tea-plant is chiefly cultivated in China. It is an evergreen shrub. The leaves, when full grown, are about an inch and a half long, narrow, tapering, and of a glossy dark-green colour. The flowers are not unlike those of the wild white rose, but smaller; and the fruit is about the size of the sloe.

The tea plantations are always situated on high ground, and in rich soil Every cottager or small farmer in the tea district of China has his garden of tea shrubs growing on the hill-sides, which are gene

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