They hear no sound; the swell is strong;
Though the wind hath fallen, they drift along,
Till the vessel strikes with a shivering shock-
O Heavens! it is the Inchcape rock!

Sir Ralph the Rover tore his hair;
He cursed himself in his despair;
But the waves rush in on every side,
And the vessel sinks beneath the tide.

LXIV.INDIAN JUGGLERS.

IN India, the inhabitants are very fond of watching the tricks of jugglers, and sleight of hand performers, and the men who practise these tricks attain great skill, and do things which European travellers look upon with astonishment and admiration. Some of their feats are interesting as showing to what extent the powers of the body may be improved by cultivation; and they should stimulate us to show the same diligence and perseverance in the improvement of the mind. An English gentleman, who witnessed the performances of a company of jugglers at the court of one of the native princes, has given an interesting account of what he saw.

One of the men, taking a large earthen vessel with a capacious mouth, filled it with water, and turned it upside down, when all the water flowed out; but the moment it was placed with the mouth upwards, it always became full. He then emptied it, allowing any one to inspect it who chose. This being done, he desired that one of the party would fill it; his request was granted; but, when he reversed the jar, not a drop of water flowed, and upon turning it, to our astonishment it was empty. So skilfully were these deceptions managed, that though every one was allowed to examine the jar freely, no one could detect any thing that would solve the mystery.

It was a rough-looking vessel, made of the common earthen ware of the country; and to show there was nothing peculiar about it, it was broken in our presence, and the pieces handed round for inspection.

A man then took a small bag full of brass balls, which he threw one by one into the air, to the number of thirty-five. None of them appeared to return. When he had discharged

He then made

the last, there was a pause of full a minute. a variety of motions with his hands, at the same time uttering a kind of wild chant. In a few seconds, the balls were seen to fall, one by one, until the whole of them were replaced in the bag. This was repeated at least half a dozen times. No one was allowed to come near him while he was playing this curious trick.

The next performer spread upon the ground a cloth, about the size of a sheet. After a while, it seemed to be gradually raised; and upon taking it up, there appeared three pineapples growing under it, which were cut and presented to the spectators. This is considered a common juggle, and yet it is perfectly inexplicable.

A tall, athletic man now advanced, and threw himself upon the ground. After performing several strange antics, he placed his head downwards, with his heels in the air, raised his arms, and crossed them over upon his breast, balancing himself all the while upon his head. A cup, containing sixteen brass balls, was now put into his hands; these he took and threw severally into the air, keeping the whole sixteen in constant motion, crossing them, and causing them to describe all kinds of figures, and not allowing one of them to reach the ground. When he had thus shown his dexterity for a few minutes, a slight man approached, climbed up his body with singular agility, and stood upright upon the inverted feet of the performer, who was still upon his head. A second cup, containing sixteen balls, was handed to the smaller man, who commenced throwing them until the whole were in the air.

Thirty-two balls were now in motion, and the rays of the

sun falling upon their polished surfaces, the jugglers appeared in the midst of a shower of gold. The effect was singular, and the dexterity displayed by the men quite amazing. They were as steady as if they had been turned into stone; and no motion, save that of their arms and heads, was visible. At length, the upper man, having caught all his balls, and replaced them in the cup, sprang upon the ground, and his companion was almost as quickly upon his legs.

After a short pause, the man who had before exhibited himself with his body reversed, planted his feet close together, and standing upright like a column, the smaller juggler climbed his body as before, and placing the crown of his own head upon that of his companion, raised his legs into the air; thus exactly reversing the late position of the two performers. At first they held each other's hand until they were completely balanced, when they let go; the upper man waving his arms in all directions to show the steadiness of his position.

The legs were kept apart sometimes, one being bent, while the other remained erect; but the body did not seem to waver for a single instant. After they had been in this position for about a minute, the balls were again put into their hands, and the whole thirty-two kept in motion in the air as before. It was remarkable that during the entire time they were thrown, no two of them ever came in contact a proof of the marvellous skill displayed.

When they had done with the balls, the upper man took a number of small cylindrical pieces of steel, two inches long. Several of these he placed upon his nose, producing a slender rod full a foot in length, which, in spite of his difficult position, he balanced so steadily that not one of the pieces fell. He then crossed the taper column with a flat bar of copper, half an inch wide, and four inches long. Upon this he fixed one of his little cylinders, and on the top of that a slight spear; the whole of which he balanced with perfect steadiness, finally taking off every separate piece, and throwing it upon the

ground. Thus concluded this wonderful performance. Grasping the hands of his companion as before, the little man sprang upon his feet, and made a parting bow to the gallery.

LXV. THE REAPER AND THE FLOWERS.

LONGFELLOW.

THERE is a reaper, whose name is Death;

And, with his sickle keen,

He reaps the bearded grain at a breath,
And the flowers that grow between.

"Shall I have nought that is fair?" saith he;
"Have nought but the bearded grain?
Though the breath of these flowers is sweet to me,
I will give them all back again."

He gazed at the flowers with tearful eyes,

He kissed their drooping leaves;

It was for the Lord of paradise

He bound them in his sheaves.

"My Lord has need of these flowerets gay,"
The reaper said, and smiled:

"Dear tokens of the earth are they

She knew she should find them all again
In the fields of light above.

O, not in cruelty, not in wrath,
The reaper came that day;

'Twas an angel visited the green earth,
And took the flowers away.*

LXVI.➡ HYMN ON DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

ADDISON.

THE Lord my pasture shall prepare,
And feed me with a shepherd's care;
His presence shall my wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful eye;
My noonday walks he shall attend,
And all my midnight hours defend.

When in the sultry glebe † I faint,
Or on the thirsty mountains pant,
To fertile vales and dewy meads
My weary, wandering steps he leads,
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amid the verdant landscape flow.

Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread,

* In the above poem Death is personified as a reaper, who cuts down grain and flowers with a sickle. By "bearded grain," persons of mature age are meant; for, when wheat, and rye, and barley are ripe, little threads, like bristles, or hair, grow out between the grains in the ear. But the flowers are young children; and the reaper is made to say that when he takes them away, he carries them to heaven, where they will live happily with God, and saints, and angels.

† Glebe, literally, turf; used here for fields covered with turf.