outward coat. In this state the ancients compared the caterpillar to men when on earth; who, having no wings or power of lifting themselves from the ground, must be content to spend their lives in creeping about and seeking their food on the face of this earth.

"The caterpillar, having existed in its first form for a few weeks, enters into a new and curious state of being; it gradually becomes weak and unable to move actively about; its bright colours are pale and faded, and its body shrivelled and meager; it then begins to spin itself a web, in which it involves itself as in a winding-sheet, and there remains for a long time in a state of apparent lifelessness and inanimation. This state of the caterpillar was compared by the ancients to man when lying in his grave, dead, cold, and silent, and, as it were, without hope, When the creature has lain for a while in this state, as it were dead, the warmth of the sun at length revives it, in like manner as the power of God, in due time, shall awake the dead which sleep in the dust of the earth, according as it is written, Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, sing ye that dwell in dust, for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.' Isaiah, xxvi. 19.

"And now we come to the last state of this insect, when he forces his passage through the covering in which he has been involved, and comes forth an inhabitant of the air, being richly clad with gold and purple, and with fringes and embroidery which surpass the finest needlework. Thus this little animal becomes the lively emblem of the first resurrection, when the redeemed soul and glorified body shall meet again, and be satisfied in finding themselves renewed in the likeness of their Redeemer.

"And now I have explained to you, my dear little boy," continued Mr. Dalben, "wherefore the ancients, who were not acquainted with the doctrine of the resurrection of the body, compared the butterfly to the soul, of the immortality of which they seemed to entertain no doubt.”

Mr. Dalben and Henry continued to talk on these subjects, suggested by the history of the caterpillar, till they were arrived at home, and it was time for Henry Milner to go to bed.

CHAP. XI.

Containing some Account of the sixth Class of Animals, and a Visit made by Henry Milner in Company with Mrs. Kitty, during which the young Gentleman lost some Credit, and was somewhat lowered in his own Opinion.

THE morning after the walk to the river's side, immediately after family prayers, which Mr. Dalben always solemnized before breakfast, Henry Milner disappeared, and shortly afterwards returned, holding a large earth-worm in the palm of his hand, which elegant creature he contrived to drop upon the table-cloth, as he was holding it forth triumphantly for Mr. Dalben's inspection, exclaiming with eagerness, "There, uncle! there it is, the largest I could find under the stone, and there are many more, but I thought one would be sufficient."

"Yes, my dear boy," said Mr. Dalben, quietly, "quite sufficient; and now, my little man, carry the gentleman back to his abode under this wonderful stone, and do not disturb any more of the family at present.”

Henry obeyed, and presently returning, Mr. Dalben, whose appetite for his breakfast was not greatly improved by the sight of little Henry Milner's specimen of the sixth class of animals, took this opportunity to give his pupil some general ideas upon the subject of the sixth class.

"The sixth class of animals," said Mr. Dalben, "consist of worms, leeches, slugs or snails, sea-anemones, cuttle-fish, star-fish, shell-fish of all sorts, and animal plants, such as corals, sponges, and polypes; besides which we must add those little animalcula which are found in vinegar and in corrupt water, in sour paste, and other decaying bodies.

"All these creatures, with the exception of shell-fish, are for the most part," continued Mr. Dalben, " very disgusting in their appearance; and some of them, such as corals, sponges, and polypuses, have apparently little more life or understanding than the herbs of the field, though they are known to be living animals: some of these take root upon rocks near the sea, and grow up into hard and solid branches; others are, however, soft, and show that they are endowed with life, because they shrink from the touch. But despicable as this class of creatures called vermes is, nevertheless we may learn many less sons by contemplating them.

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"When the Scripture would represent to us a person who is weak, mean, and despised in the world, it compares him to a worm of the earth, because nothing is more despicable than a worm. The friend of Job, when speaking of the appearance of man before God, uses this expression, 'How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight; how much less man, that is a worm, and the son of man, which is a worm.' Job, xxv. 4, 5, 6.

"Humble and holy persons, Henry," proceeded Mr. Dalben, "persons who know their own natural vileness, will not be ashamed to compare themselves to worms: the holy Psalmist says, xxii. 6, I am a worm, and no man;' and indeed, in some respects, the worms of the earth are better than we are; for they are as the Lord made them, but we have corrupted ourselves, and departed from the way of the Lord, and are thus become more vile than the meanest reptile."

Henry looked grave, and said, "Uncle, I think I shall never despise these creatures again, so much as I have done."

By this time breakfast was finished, and Henry was called to his lessons. When the little boy was concluding his last task, Mrs. Kitty came