lost. The Jews mingled it with that of their Chaldean conquerors, which nearly resembled their own, and wrote the Hebrew with the Chaldaic characters. Some portions of Daniel and Ezra are written in the Syriac or Chaldee tongue. The Samaritans, however, retained the ancient manner of writing, and preserved the Pentateuch, or five books of Moses, in the original Hebrew letter and language.

Amy. From what we read of Solomon's Temple, and other buildings in Scripture, the arts in those times seem to have been in great perfection amongst the Jews.

Mr. Austin. Both the first and second temple were chiefly built by foreign workmen. The Jews principally applied themselves to the cultivation of the earth, and they traded with the superabundant produce of their fruitful land, which was, according to the promise, "Flowing in milk and honey, fertile in corn, and wine, and oil." In the enumeration of the trade of Tyre, in the 27th chapter of Ezekiel, it is said that the Israelites traded in the markets of that great city in wheat and honey, and oil and balm. The balm-tree grew anciently only in Palestine, or, to speak more correctly, that of other countries

was not held in esteem. It seems that the produce of the various countries of the East were universally exchanged at Tyre for the "multitude of the wares of its making." The prophet says, "Arabia brought goats and sheep; Damascus wine and white wool; Tarshish spices, precious stones, and gold; Syria emeralds, purple, embroidered work, fine linen, coral, and agate." Other nations brought silver, iron, tin, lead, shining iron (or steel), vessels of brass, cassia, calamus, ivory, ebony, cedar, and rich apparel; some traded at the Tyrian fairs in horses and mules; and others "in the persons of men." From this great emporium, close to their own shores, the Jews were therefore abundantly supplied with all the luxuries of life. But we have had enough of Jewish history for the present. It is our custom, Amy, to choose in turn some virtue, which it is my task to find one model of from Scripture as you are-I will not say the stranger-but the latest arrival, you shall choose to-night. What shall it be?

Amy. Obedience to parents.

Mr. Austin. A good choice, Amy; for the worst parents are anxious for the virtues of their

children, and, generally speaking, the observance of this one duty leads to the fulfilment of all the other commandments. Gerald, what would you illustrate it by?

Gerald. I think I would choose the example of Isaac, in the land of Moriah: he seems to have been perfectly resigned to the will of his father.

Mr. Austin. The name of Isaac means laughter or mirth; and his obedience rendered him always the joy of his parents. Amy, what would you choose?

Amy. I would choose a more certain example of resignation than Isaac in the same situationJephtha's daughter: she is more than resigned to his will; she is happy to be the price of his glory.

Mr. Austin. Her reply does, indeed, convey this idea, and it is a beautiful example of the devotedness of your sex: "My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth: forasmuch as the Lord hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies." Florence, what example would you choose?

Florence. I would choose the kind-hearted Ruth: "Orphah kissed her mother in love, but Ruth clave unto her."

Charlotte.

I would choose Queen Esther, who minded all her uncle Mordecai said to her (just as Amy minds you, papa), and saved him, and all her nation. What a pretty story that is, and what a beautiful palace she lived in, the pavement of porphyry and blue marble and alabaster, the hangings of green and white and blue, fastened with purple cords and silver rings to pillars of marble, and even the bedsteads of gold and silver.

Edward. I would choose Samuel when he was a child, and stood with Eli in the Temple, and was so obedient to him when Eli's own sons were so wicked.

Mrs. Austin. I think you have rather named an instance of disobedience than of obedience, Edward.

Edward. Then choose for me, mamma.

Mrs. Austin. I would name a higher than all these. Samuel was consecrated from his birth, and was called by God as a child in the first temple to hear his will; but I would name that Holy Child, to whom the will of his Father

was shown from all eternity, and who yet, after declaring it to the learned of Israel in the second temple, meekly returned to live with his human parents, and was subject to them in all things, till he entered publicly on his divine mission.

Mr. Austin. All human example of virtue must of course fall infinitely short of this divine model; but the one I had chosen to illustrate the virtue of obedience has received the express approbation of God himself, who commanded Jeremiah to set it before the eyes of the disobedient Jews, as at once a model and a reproach.

Mrs. Austin. I do not recollect what you allude to.

Mr. Austin. I mean the example of the Rechabites. Edward, do you remember anything of Jehu?

Edward. I think it was he who killed that wicked Jezebel, when she painted her face, and dressed her head, and looked out at the window.

Mrs. Austin. Yes, it was he. During the short time that Jehu walked in the law of God, he destroyed the worshippers of Baal, and he chose on that occasion Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, "to come with him, and see his zeal for the Lord." This Jehonadab he employed to