we shall be well received by my friend. Shall we return and see how that dear little fellow is going on?'

They did so; but finding that Charley was in a comfortable sleep, while his parents were eagerly listening to the recital of their friend's recent adventures, they made but a short stay, and again sallied forth into the streets of the beloved city.

'See,' said Da Costa, as they stepped aside to avoid a guard of the swarthy Egyptian garrison just passing, 'See how the ancient oppressors of our people again lord it over us; not as of old in their own dominions, but within the walls of Jerusalem! Neither is it Egypt the mightiest of kingdoms, but Egypt in the lowest depth of degradation, peopled by woman-hearted poltroons-governed by a revolted slave.'

'Yet there are promises for Egypt,' observed Alick.

There are; and the time draws nigh for their fulfilment. I'm glad you reminded me of it: "In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance." The time is near!'

It was now evening, and the sun's last beams rested gloriously on the brow of that three-capped hill which spreads its broad rampart along the eastern side of the city. Look,' said Da Costa, at the Mount of Olives; tomorrow we will cross that deep ravine, the valley of Jehoshaphat, of which I may almost say the very soil is composed of the dust of our

buried tribes, and we will ascend the hill, where David went up, weeping as he went; and from its height we will take a survey of our own city, and talk of what yet shall be, when the Lord ariseth to have mercy upon his Zion!'

Alick's heart swelled with emotions for which he could find no name. Charley's innocent discourse, so wise in its baby simplicity, describing the Lord Jesus weeping over his stubborn Jerusalem from that spot, was vividly remembered; and the argument that had followed seemed to derive additional distinctness from the sight of that sacred hill. In silence he gazed upon it, during a momentary pause on an open spot, and then again they plunged into the narrow streets that led to their destination, flanked on either side by those blank walls which lent so cheerless and deserted an aspect to the city. A heap of rubbish next lay in their path, as they passed along the slope of Zion, and Alick, with downcast eyes, stept as softly as though he were treading on flowers which he feared to crush.

'You are unusually silent, Cohen,' said Da Costa at last.

'I never in my life felt such a dreadful depression of spirits,' answered he, with difficulty restraining his tears. I cannot describe it to you: my heart is weighed down, and a sort of dread overshadows me; my very thoughts seem spell-bound. At one moment I could almost say, Take me hence; but the prevailing desire of my soul is never, never to leave this spot again. O to sit down in the dust, the dust of Zion! O for liberty to weep and lament, and to plead with Him, the Holy One, for pity; pity upon bis own Jerusalem!' and leaning over a heap of

stones, piled breast-high in his path, he buried his face in his hands, and suffered the tears to flow.

'You shall have your fill of weeping and lamentation,' said Da Costa, in a voice that bespoke him unusually agitated, but not here. We shall presently be among our own people. Come; I like not to linger in this place.'

Why not? Is it not Mount Zion?'

'Yes; through a mistake of mine in taking a wrong turn we are on the acclivity of our holy mount, and a goodly site our worthy English friends have chosen for their experimental building. These things are collected for the erection of a Gentile church,'

'Jerusalem is full of them,' said Alick.

'Yes, but this is to be a Protestant one: a rare novelty to be sure!' he spoke scornfully, but Alick exclaimed Why then it will be the best of all.'

And therefore in one sense the worst; for the more attractively error arrays itself, the more dangerous. It is no matter,' he added haughtily; let them build the time is near when every abomination shall be swept away, and the pure worship of the God of Israel in all its majestic splendour be re-established here.'

He drew Alick away; and descending again, they soon reached the quarter allotted to the Jews, in the farther part of which they entered an iron door, placed like others in a dead wall, and found themselves in a tolerably spacious court belonging to a substantial house. The door was opened at Da Costa's summons, and Alick almost drew back in surprise at the scene which met his eye.

The apartment, though low, was of good dimensions; and there, ranged along the sides, on hand

some though plain divans, he beheld a number of females, habited in the oriental costume, unveiled, and many of them very beautiful. Their apparel was very plain, but carefully arranged, in one or two instances only approaching to richness. The rest of the party consisted of the most imposingly striking men he had ever seen assembled. Diversified in dress, the high black cap with a band of white or grey muslin predominated, intermixed with turbans of yellow; and some few plain skull caps. They were remarkably handsome, of noble, erect figures, except where bowed by age, and all bearded. All were evidently dressed to the extent of their means, but poverty was apparent in many instances. The courtesy, the affectionate warmth of their simultaneous greeting, soon dispelled from Alick's mind every feeling save that of sympathy: and the familiar tones of the sacred language, which seemed exclusively to prevail, fell not only on his ear but his heart. He was in the city of Jerusalem, and all about him were Jews. Da Costa, who had easily acquainted himself with every turn in the youth's ingenuous character, had calculated on the effect of such a meeting to counteract influence which he greatly dreaded: and their present host, one of the most zealous, if not the most bigoted of his race, had eagerly entered into his design. His venerable and stately appearance, as he laid his hands on Alick's head, and pronounced a blessing, filled the youth's heart with affectionate awe; and with attention keenly awake, he prepared to enjoy that evening's important privileges.

C. E.

AUGUST, 1842.

FEMALE BIOGRAPHY OF SCRIPTURE.

HANNAH.

No. II.

THE power of sympathy in alleviating sorrow, is so great, that he can never be said to be wholly miserable, who has one truly sympathizing friend at his side in the hour of trial. But if its power be great, its presence is also rare: and perhaps there is no ordeal which those who suffer have to endure more trying, then the trite common-places wherewith wellmeaning friends would seek to administer consolation. This is especially the case, when the afflic tion is of that nature which does not command general sympathy: and when the sneers of the malicious and unfeeling, as well as the harsh judgments of the rash and ill-advised, attend its course. From the former class, indeed, the sufferer often feels too far removed to be greatly injured by them; for there must be a certain acuteness of feeling, before sorrow of any kind can be intensely felt and with the latter class, a simple exposition will often turn a harsh reprover into a friend; but when they who would fain console us, shew at the same time that they deem our grief unreasonable, and marvel that with so many mitigations we should mourn at