solation here." The dying man took the twig, and was glad. He
smelled on it the fragrance of Paradise, and then was his soul
elevated: "Children," said he, "eternal life dwells not for us on the
earth; you must follow after me; but on these leaves I breathe the
refreshing air of another world." Then his eyes failed; his spirit
fled hence.

Adam's children buried their father, and wept for him thirty days; but
Seth wept not. He planted the twig upon his father's grave, at the
head of the dead man, and named it the twig of the new life, of the
awakening up out of the sleep of death. The little twig grew up into a
high tree, and by it many of Adam's children strengthened themselves
with comfort of the other life. So it came to the following
generation. In the garden of David it blossomed fair, until his
infatuated son began to doubt on immortality; then withered the twig,
though its blossoms came among other nations. And as on a stem from
this tree, the restorer of immortality gave up his holy life; from it
the fragrance of the new life scattered itself around far among all
nations. W.G.C.

* * * * *

ANCIENT NAVAL LAWS.

The laws made by Richard I. for the preservation of good order in his
fleet, when he was sailing to Palestine, were as follows:--He that
kills a man on board shall be tied to the body and thrown into the
sea. If he kills one on land he shall he buried with the same. If it
be proved that any one has drawn a knife to strike another, or has
drawn blood, he shall lose his hand. If he strike with his fist,
without effusion of blood, he shall be thrice plunged into the sea. If
a man insult another with opprobrious language, so often as he does
it, to give so many ounces of silver. A man convicted of theft, to
have his head shaved, and to be tarred and feathered on the head, and
to be left on the first land the ship shall come to. Richard appointed
officers to see these laws executed with rigour, _two of which
officers were bishops_. A.H.K.--T.

* * * * *

NOTES OF A READER

THE ATMOSPHERE.--CLIMATOLOGY.

_(FROM PART XIV. OF KNOWLEDGE FOR THE PEOPLE; OR, THE PLAIN WHY AND
BECAUSE.)_

_Why may the atmosphere be termed a fourth kingdom of Nature?_

Because it extends its influence in an equal degree over the three
kingdoms, the animal, the vegetable, and the mineral, operates upon
each after a distinct manner, and appears rathe