CONTENTS.

Lady Burdett Coutts's Fountain.

UR cut is a correct representation of one of

the principal ornaments of the Victoria Park, in the East of London. It is wellworthy of universal admiration. It is of great height, and is artistically composed of different kinds of marble, granite and other stones. It has three jets of water flowing from fancy figures or sculptures. Towards its summit is a

beautiful clock. The fountain is reached by three flights of steps, and around it are tastefully arranged beds and vases of flowers, both native and foreign. It is surrounded by a pretty lake, over which are bridges. This lake, or sheet of water, is inhabited by several varieties of fish and aquatic birds, including swans. For this valuable contribution to the park, the public is mainly indebted to the Baroness Burdett Coutts. Its entire cost amounted to nearly 9,000 pounds. Her ladyship, for many years, has been distinguished for her acts of kindness and benevolence. She seems never to forget that our Divine Master said, “The poor ye have always with you,” and that she possesses her wealth as one of the Lord's Stewards. Her delight has been to use her wealth to the glory of God, and for the benefit of her fellow-creatures.

Let us, however, not forget that the Master noticed and honoured the poor woman who cast two mites into the treasury, being all her living. “ The Lord loveth a cheerful giver.” - T.J. B.

Tậe Months and Remarkable Days.

BY THE REV. W. L. ROBERTS, HOLMFIRTH.

I. JANUARY

a

E purpose in these papers to give the read

ers of the “ Hive brief account of the months of the year, and the most remarkable days in them. By the time they receive this number, the month of January will either have commenced, or will be very near.

January is so named from Janus an

old Roman god, supposed to be sometimes called Dianus, which probably meant the sun. He was a two-faced god, one face old, looking backward, the other young, looking forward. January was not always the first month in the year. Until the year 1752, the year commenced on the 25th of March. There had been an error in reckoning the length of the year in former times, and it had been discovered that the error now amounted to eleven days; so Parliament passed a decree that in September, 1752, eleven days should be omitted, and that the day after the 2nd of September should be called the 14th. The year was made to begin on the ist of January.

New Year's Day is a very interesting and solemn day. Wherever we go, when we meet with friends and neighbours, the salutation is “ A Happy New Year to you ! ” and the reply is “The same to

This constant interchange of salutations, gives a very lively, cheerful aspect to New Year's Day; and still it is a solemn day to many people, who look back over the year that is gone, and remember the lost time, the lost opportunities of getting or of doing good, as well as the many actually wrong

you!”