marry her sister, who, he perhaps thought, would not be likely to get any other husband. Then, after all this, he thought to make him a servant to him all his life, to enrich him still more with his labour. He thought he had him fast and for ever in that sharp bargain about the sheep and cattle. But now Jacob paid him in his own coin, until he was poorer than when he began his dishonest treatment; for his sons, on seeing how things were going with them, got very angry with Jacob, and accused him of having "taken away all that was our father's, and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory." So Laban learnt also, by his long trial of deceit, that "honesty is the best policy." We will next follow Jacob back to his father's house in Canaan.

OUR OLD ARM-CHAIR.

OUR FIRESIDE CLASS.-With the present number we finish a short and simple exposition of twelve different languages, not counting the English. As we proposed at the outset, we have only endeavoured to show the relationship and resemblances between the members of each family. We have small space for illustrating them, but hope the few comparisons given will encourage many of our fireside circle to go deeper and further into the subject. Next month we intend to introduce them to the Celtic family, embracing the Irish, Gaelic, Welsh, Manx, Cornish, and Celto-Breton. We earnestly hope their courage will not fail at the prospect of such a walk through boggy, stony and out-of-the-way places.

THE CARPENTER and ConnoISSEUR.-The manufacture of ruins, ancient coins and pictures is a trade that many sharp and dishonest wits make money at. The celebrated Amsterdam banker, Hope, recently paid 2000 guineas for a Rembrandt picture, and felt that he had secured a treasure of almost unrivalled value. He sent for a carpenter to alter the frame a little, and, while watching the process, observed how well the wood had been preserved, considering it was nearly 200 years old. "No," said the carpenter "that is impossible, for it is mahogany, and that had not been introduced into Europe at the time." This led to the detection of the fraud, and the wealthy banker burnt the counterfeit picture. Doubtless there are hundreds of pictures,

statues, coins, and bone, brass and stone implements, of which it might be said of their possessors, "where ignorance is bliss it were folly to be wise."

COMPARATIVE INCONGRUITIES.-An Armed Peace; Black Snow; Redhot Ice; Frozen Heat; Sweet Vinegar; Sky Fish; Stone Cheese a Loving Hatred; Gunpowder Psalms and Hymns.

a

A POOR MAN'S PLEA IN COURT.-We do not know whether odder things are done, said or thought in America, than in other countries of free will, thought, pen and speech, such as Great Britain. But some eccentric incidents and ideas that crop up here and there in the United States seem exceptionally unique. One recently noticed is of this kind. A poor man, very pious and devout, had a case in court, and being unable to fee a lawyer, resolved to plead his own case against the shrewd and practised attorney of his opponent. The lawyer opened with a sweeping, crushing argument, which the poor man in vain endeavoured to answer. He broke down in the first three minutes, and stood for moment confused and speechless. He had been accustomed to plead at a higher bar from his youth, and with great fluency and fervour. A thought lighted up his face, and he said to the judge with great animation, "May it please your honour, may I pray?" The judge was taken all aback by the request, but said, after the first moment of surprise, that he could not object. So the poor man, rich in faith, knelt down before judge and jury, and in full court, and poured out his case and argument before the Judge of all the earth in such a fervid, clear, logical statement and appeal, that the whole assembly was convinced of the truth and justice on his side. When he arose from his knees, the indignant and defeated lawyer, seeing the verdict must go against him, demanded permission to close the argument. The judge replied, "You can close with prayer if you choose." The keen-witted attorney was nonplussed. He was a religious man and accustomed to pray in his own family, but not in such an assembly and in such a So, abashed and silenced, he gave up the case, and the poor man carried the day with his prayer.

cause.

Printed by W. M. Watts, $0,' Gray's Inn Road.

statues, coins, and bone, brass and stone implements, of which it might be said of their possessors, "where ignorance is bliss it were folly to be wise."

COMPARATIVE INCONGRUITIES.-An Armed Peace; Black Snow; Redhot Ice; Frozen Heat; Sweet Vinegar; Sky Fish; Stone Cheese a Loving Hatred; Gunpowder Psalms and Hymns.

A POOR MAN'S PLEA IN COURT.-We do not know whether odder things are done, said or thought in America, than in other countries of free will, thought, pen and speech, such as Great Britain. But some eccentric incidents and ideas that crop up here and there in the United States seem exceptionally unique. One recently noticed is of this kind. A poor man, very pious and devout, had a case in court, and being unable to fee a lawyer, resolved to plead his own case against the shrewd and practised attorney of his opponent. The lawyer opened with a sweeping, crushing argument, which the poor man in vain endeavoured to answer. He broke down in the first three minutes, and stood for a moment confused and speechless. He had been accustomed to plead at a higher bar from his youth, and with great fluency and fervour. A thought lighted up his face, and he said to the judge with great animation, "May it please your honour, may I pray?" The judge was taken all aback by the request, but said, after the first moment of surprise, that he could not object. So the poor man, rich in faith, knelt down before judge and jury, and in full court, and poured out his case and argument before the Judge of all the earth in such a fervid, clear, logical statement and appeal, that the whole assembly was convinced of the truth and justice on his side. When he arose from his knees, the indignant and defeated lawyer, seeing the verdict must go against him, demanded permission to close the argument. The judge replied, "You can close with prayer if you choose." The keen-witted attorney was nonplussed. He was a religious man and accustomed to pray in his own family, but not in such an assembly and in such a So, abashed and silenced, he gave up the case, and the poor man carried the day with his prayer.

cause.

Printed by W. M. Watts, $0,' Gray's Inn Road.