DIGESTION.

DIGESTION is one of the most important of all the animal functions. The object is to convert food into nourishment, for the purpose of renovating and sustaining the system, by repairing the wastes which are continually taking place. This function alcohol peculiarly disturbs. From the stomach food passes into the intestines, having been changed first into chyme and then into chyle. The nourishing properties are there taken up by absorbent vessels, poured into the blood, and carried with it to the right side of the heart. From that, in tubes which God has prepared, called arteries, it is sent to the lungs. There it comes into contact with atmospheric air, and takes out of it which it needs, in order, with what it has, to support the body. It is then sent back in another set of tubes, called veins, to the left side of the heart. From that it is sent in arteries to all parts of the body, carrying to each part what each part needs. On these tubes, through which the blood with its treasures flows, are multitudes of little vessels whose office is, each one, to take out from the blood the kind and quantity of nourishment which it needs for its own support, and also for the support of that part of the body which is committed to its care. These little vessels, although exceedingly minute and delicate, are endowed with the power of taking that kind and quantity of nourishment which they need for the above-mentioned purposes, and of abstaining from what they do not need, and letting it pass on to places where it may be needed, or if not needed anywhere, it may be in due time thrown out of the body. And they are endowed with the power of doing this with a precision and accuracy which led God himself, in view of their operations, to pronounce them "very good." Had they not been deranged by sin, and abused by sinners, they would have shown to perfection the wisdom and goodness of their Author.

For instance, the vessels which are placed at the end of the fingers, as the blood comes there, will take out what is needed for their own support, and also what is needed to make finger-nails, while they cautiously abstain from that which will only make hair, and let it go to the head. Those placed there will take out what they need for their support, and also what will make hair, and work it up or cause the hair to grow, while they will abstain from that which will only make eye-balls, and let it go to the eyes. The waiters that stand there will take that out and work it up into eyes, or cause them to grow. So throughout the whole body.-The Temperance Manual.

See literary notice in Large Magazine for this month.

THE ARBORETUM, NOTTINGHAM:-No. 6.

HE Arborétum, which comprises about seventeen acres, and presents within itself a beautiful landscape, a people's park, and an ornamental garden, was first opened to the public on May 11th, 1852. It is laid out with exquisite taste and skill; is planted with almost innumerable very choice shrubs and flowers, and during the summer and autumnal seasons displays such a floral picture that it becomes "a thing of beauty," and the tens of thousands who visit it would like it to remain "a joy for ever." It certainly is one of the most attractive places of public resort, both for strangers and the inhabitants of Nottingham and county. It is situated in a very convenient and accessible locality in the suburban part of the town, and is about one mile distant from the railway stations, through the central, business parts of the town. The principal entrance to the Arboretum is in Waverley Street, near to the Government School of Art. Other entrances are in Addison Street and from Arboretum Street.

The "Quadrant," standing on the north side of the grounds, on an eminence, and commanding an extensive view of the Arboretum, School of Art, Ceme

tery, and a large portion of the town, is devoted to refreshment rooms, &c. Here nature's requirements are provided for by civil and obliging attendants, at any hour of the day. Tea, coffee, and food of various kinds are to be had. According to a printed bill of fares suspended in the rooms, parties up to fifty can be accommodated with crockery, hot water, tables, &c., at twopence per head, above that number at three halfpence, while Schools which may come to the town are at a nominal sum per hundred. About six hundred can be accommodated in the rooms at once. The gates are opened daily all the year round, from daydawn to dusk, and the entrance is always free! No dogs, no smoking, and no intoxicating drinks are allowed within the grounds. The town Corporation constantly employ a number of men to keep the shrubs, walks, and grounds in good order, while florists attend to the flowering department, supplying the grounds and beds with flowers from the conservatories, according to the flowering season of the year. These duties involve an annual outlay of about £1,000. On the south-east walk stands a monument to the late Fergus O'Connor, Esq., who was at one time a member of parliament for the borough. But the most conspicuous objects on the grounds are the " War Trophies," which consist of cannons taken at the seige of Sebastopol, and a Chinese bell taken in a recent war with the celestials. These War Trophies are represented in the engraving which precedes this article. These are supported on a large, elevated block of massive masonry, over which is raised a handsome turret. The following accounts are embedded in the masonry on the four sides of the square:"Cannons. Taken at Sebastopol during the Crimean war of 1854-5. Chinese Bell. Taken from a large and handsome temple near the east gate of Canton, by the 59th or 2nd Nottinghamshire regiment of foot, when that city was captured in 1857. This stood in the principal part of the temple, is believed to be a mixture of steel and silver, and was struck during religious ceremonies to call the attention of the Jass, or God, or to announce his presence.-Presented to the town of Nottingham by Lieut-Col. Burmester, C.B., and the officers and soldiers of the 59th or 2nd Nottinghamshire regiment of foot, in remembrance of a town and county from which the regiment has had so many good soldiers." The edifice, which is unique of its kind, was erected from designs by M. 0. Tarbutton, Esq., the eminent architect to the Corporation. The building is encompassed by slightly raised terraces, and, with its ornamental fencing, occupies a space of some fifty yards square, near the centre of the grounds. Space will not admit, at this time, of a description of the lovely lake, with its drooping willows, the aquatic birds fed on its bosom, and the swans so accustomed to receive the food offered them by children at the water's edge as to take it from their fingers. The Company's water is laid throughout the grounds, so that in seasons of drought the jets send forth their rippling rills among the plants and flowers, or by lengths of flexible tubing can be thrown in sparkling, fountainal streams, on any mound of shrubs or bed of flowers, or the rill can play its pearly pranks the live-long day. Often has the writer as he has rambled on the walks at early morn, or burning noon, or evening cool, been reminded of the first paradise-the Eden garden which God planted, Genesis ii. 8-10. "And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted

and became into four heads." Our first parents were compelled to leave the lovely paradise, the earthly Eden;-so, my dear friends and readers, shall you and I one day have to leave the fairest and the most lovely scenes of earth. The paradise and palace, the mansion and the garden-yea, all that is beautiful in nature and art, all that is now endearing in social bliss, must sooner or later pass from each one of us. Oh! allow me ask, have you a title to that inheritance which is incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away? If you, my dear friends, read the two last chapters of the book of Revelation, you will find

"There is a land of pure delight,

Where saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.

There everlasting spring abides,
And never-withering flowers.
Death, like a rarrow sea, divides
That heavenly land from ours."

May the writer and the readers live there for ever.
Nottingham.

P. DAYKIN.

GATHERINGS FROM MEMORY.-NO, XVI.

ONCE MORE ADRIFT.

1

THE excitement caused by my return, and the recital of my adventures, soon passed away, and it then became a matter of anxiety as to my future action. I had no wish to return to my old master, as I really felt happy that I was delivered from the ills I had had, though it might be to fall into greater ones. Liverpool was the place to which I turned my thoughts, as it was thither most who fell out of work in my native town resorted to seek a home. A day or two before I started for that place, a friend, who kept a drapery, offered me a situation as traveller, or to seek orders in neighbouring towns and villages, he being anxious to extend his business. This circumstance proved a hindrance to my subsequent welfare, as the sequel will show. Declining with thanks this friendly offer, I set sail for the large Lancashire seaport I have named. It was not long before I once more felt the action of my native failings: my bashful and timid disposition came in contact with my energy. I was willing, yea, anxious to work; and right grateful would I have been had some one applied to me to work for him; but, though want stared me in the face, I could do little more than look into the entrances of the printing-offices which I visited. During the week I spent in this foolish way, I was ever and anon stopped in my progress to the places of business I ought to have entered by the thought of the draper's offer I have named; for—although I might have known that I was entirely unfitted for a line of action which, more than most others, required a good face and plodding perseverance-it always came up before me as a reason why I should give in. Well, after spending my time more like a person on a