knowledge and sagacity of these little creatures, in relation to the order and peace of the family.

Naturalists have stated, that a single queen bee will, lay from sixty to seventy thousand eggs in one season. And a single hive will sometimes furnish three, four, and five swarms in one summer. Each of these swarms is supposed to contain thirty or forty thousand bees, and to have one queen with them. A good swarm sometimes weighs eight or ten pounds.

The times of swarming are often twice in a season; that is, in the first and last summer months. The time of day is most commonly between ten o'clock and two, when the weather is warm and fair. Of latter years, large houses or hives have been made for bees, so as to prevent them from swarming.

It is believed that the working bees travel several miles in search of honey and food; yet they have an instinctive knowledge of their course home, so as seldom or never to be at a loss in returning to their hives. The blossoms of white clover and buckwheat are very grateful to them, for the honey they contain.

It was formerly the practice to suffocate the bees, in order to get their honey. But of latter time, great improvements have been made in the manner of keeping bees, and obtaining the honey without destroying their lives, or depriving them of a sufficient portion of it for their subsistence during the winter.

If a glass jar, or other vessel, be turned bottom upward, over a hole made in the top of a bee-hive, and covered so as to make it dark, the bees will fill it with honey; and it

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may be taken off, by passing a wire under it, and set on the table for use, exhibiting a beautiful appearance.

In contemplating the natural history of bees, who can forbear to admire the wisdom and goodness of the bountiful Creator, who has endowed them with such intelligence and sagacity,-taught them order, industry, and economy, and fitted them for enjoying all the happiness of which they are capable!

and

The industry and economy of bees and ants have long been proverbial; as holding up a useful lesson to youth, mankind in general, to incite them to lay up a good store of knowledge and virtue in early life. A mind well improved in youth will be a valuable treasure, and a source of happiness and comfort to those who arrive at old age.

STEAM-ENGINE.

A CERTAIN Wter, in speaking of the powers with which man is invested, says, "He plants his arrows in the back of the whale, the monster of the great deep, and holds him in durance by his cords, while his life-blood is poured out and mingled with the waters, until he submits in death his gigantic carcass to the disposal and use of man. He also directs the lightnings, and chains to his cars, to travel as upon the wings of the wind, an agent in nature whose power is equal to the rending of mountains."

This power is steam; and the steam-engine is among the wonderful inventions of modern times. It consists of a large hollow cylinder, or barrel, in which is placed a moveable piston, nearly like that of a forcing-pump.

contemplating; endowed; economy; proverbial; general; incite; define it. Spell knowledge; treasure; source; sagacity; define it. Spell happiness; enjoying; industry; bountiful.

SPELL engine; invested; define it. Spell durance; define it

This cylinder is connected with a large boiler that contains water, to which a strong heat of a wood or coal fire is ap plied. The water being made to boil, is constantly passing off in steam; and this steam, entering the cylinder, forces up the piston, till it opens a valve which lets in cold water.

This small portion of cold water condenses the steam, which instantly loses its elastic force, and the piston falls down in the cylinder. But a fresh portion of steam from the boiler again raises the piston till it opens the valve; and again the cold water rushes in at the valve, and chills or condenses the steam, so that the piston falls again.

The piston being connected with a large horizontal beam, called the working-beam, this continued action moves it up and down. The other end of the working-beam being attached to a crank, changes the direction of the force, and turns the paddle-wheels that work in the water, and propel the steamboat.

Thus, steam, by its elastic power, is the force which moves the piston; the piston gives motion to the workingbeam; the working-beam turns the crank, and the crank turns the wheels. These are the simple principles of steamengines.

But a steam-engine may be so constructed that it will regulate its own motions. By machinery, it will furnish a continued and regular supply of water to the boiler; it will open and shut its valves, supply oil where there is friction, and even ring a bell to apprise its attendants when any thing gets out of order.

Thus, a steam-engine, though it possesses the power of

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hundreds of norses, or "equal to the rending of mountains," may yet be easily managed by one or two persons who un derstand its operations.

Steam-engines are applied to mills for grinding grain and making flour, and other purposes, and also to manufactories of various kinds, as well as to boats and vessels.

In propelling wheels on rail-roads, a steam-engine is placed on a carriage to which it gives motion, and is thence called a locomotive. This has a tender attached, that con tains the engineer, or driver, and a supply of fuel and water. To this the cars for passengers, and baggage, and goods, are fastened; and, by the force of steam, they are all carried along at the rate of fifteen to twenty miles in an hour, with a rapidity "as upon the wings of the wind," that once would have been thought impossible.

By the use of steam-engines and rail-roads, travelling is facilitated; the oppression of stage horses, as formerly driven, is avoided or lessened; and if a proper degree of prudence and care were exercised, without too much haste, these improvements might be a benefit to the human family, for which gratitude should arise to Him who teacheth man knowledge and discretion.

manufactories; propelling; define it. Spell carriage; locomotive engineer; define it. Spell passengers; fastened; rapidity; impos sible; facilitated; define it. Spell oppression; avoided; lessened exercised; gratitude; discretion.

COUNSEL TO YOUTH.

To be good is the way to become happy; and the way to become good, is to keep the mind, the temper, and the conduct rightly regulated and governed every day.

In order to attain this, it is needful to be watchful over your thoughts, words, and actions. And the best way to gain a habit of constant watchfulness and care, is to remember your Creator in the days of your youth.

This is that fear of the Lord" which is said in the Bible to be "the beginning of wisdom," and which teaches to hate and avoid evil. It is so to bear in mind that God is ever present, the overseer of all your thoughts, words, and actions, as will induce you to avoid that which you know to be evil, and to say and do that which is good and right.

To begin every day in a proper manner, it will be found a good practice, as soon as you are awake in the morning, to turn your thoughts towards your heavenly Father; and endeavour to feel thankful to him for his care and protection over you, during the past night, while you were asleep.

This sense of gratitude and love towards God, for the blessings of preservation from harm, and the continuance of your health,-will lead you to feel sincere desires that he may preserve you from all things that are not right in his sight, during the ensuing day.

If you are sincere in these desires, you will feel a prayer arise in your heart that he may not only preserve you from all evil in thought, word and deed,—but also that he may assist you by his grace and good Spirit to fulfil all your duties, and so to live in his fear through the coming day, as to gain his favour and approbation.

This morning devotion, though it may be only in thought, will induce you to maintain a watchful care over your tem