because there is something the matter with our

nerves.

Mamma. Yes, the tooth-ache, for instance, is occasioned by this means: as soon as the fine thread or nerve is destroyed or broken in a tooth, the pain

ceases.

Emily. Then would it not be nice if we had been made without nerves, we should have had no pain? Frank. But think, Emily, would you like to be deaf and blind, and have no smell or taste, just that you might escape a little suffering?

Emily. Oh no, brother; I forgot that we should lose all those things, by being without nerves.

Mamma. The marvel is, my dear children, that with such innumerable sources of pain as we have, for these delicate nerves are found in every part of our body, that we should endure so little.

Frank. It is indeed, mamma; I suppose they are well protected.

Mamma. Yes, they are; and the more delicate ones peculiarly so, especially the optic nerve, which is that by which we are enabled to see. I must not, however, omit to tell you of some other things, which are provided for the greater security of our bodies, from injury and dislocation.

Frank. What are those, mamma?

Mamma. These are white, hard, solid, inflexible substances, called ligaments, which fasten the bones securely, and keep them in their right places.

Emily. Is that their only use?

Mamma. No; some of them are employed to cover the tendons, and to keep them separate from the muscles.

Frank. How wonderful it is, that there are

such numbers of contrivances to hold our frame

together.

Mamma. There is another thing which I have not mentioned to you, and that is the membranes.

Emily. What can those be? I shall never remember even the names of all these curious things. Mamma. Membranes are thin sheets of animal substance, which are spread over every portion of the body.

Frank. And what for; I thought we were covered up enough by the muscles, and that we should only hear of the skin besides?

Mamma. The membranes serve very important purposes, and you would greatly miss them if they were wanting in your frame. Some of them are of a moist, and some of a dry texture. The former are of great use in moistening the surfaces of the tendons, and thus making them move more easily over the bones, whilst the other kind perform the important office of forming a covering for the bones.

Emily. What is the name of that covering?

Mamma. The periosteum. The membranes also form a covering for the heart, this is called the pericardium.

Frank. It seems almost endless to describe all the wonderful parts of our structure.

Mamma. It does indeed.

Emily. Mamma, you said you would tell us about the skin. I suppose that is simple enough; it is only just like a glove drawn over all the things you have been telling us of.

Mamma. If you were right, when we had a blister raised on our skin, and it peeled off, we should then see the muscles; but you know that is not the case.

Emily. Oh, mamma! surely there is nothing more between the muscles and the skin?

Mamma. No; but what do you think of our being provided with three skins?

Frank. Three skins; where are they?

Mamma. Each one is drawn over the other, and fits so well to it, that they seem to you as one.

Emily. Well, I should never have thought that there was more than one-would you, brother?

Frank. No, indeed. Are these skins called by different names?

Mamma. Yes, my dear. That on the outside, with the nails which belong to it, is called the cuticle or epidermis, the second is called the rete mucosum, and the third the true skin, cutis or dermis.

Emily. I hope, mamma, you will often talk to us again of what you have now told us, and ask us questions, and shew us more about it, for fear we should forget it.

Mamma. I will do so; but I should like you each to write down from memory all that you can recollect of our conversation, as that will serve to impress it on your minds.

Frank. And when we quite remember this, will you tell us more about how we are made, mamma; I do think it is so very interesting, and so curious?

Emily. Oh, pray do, dear mamma.

Mamma. I shall be glad to do so at a future opportunity.

[To be continued.]

M.

CHINA, INDIA, AND THE EAST.

WHAT an extensive prospect is opened to the view, by the few words placed at the head of this page! To touch even upon the outline, in respect either to its geographical, political or moral importance, is not our object; but there is one most affecting consideration relating to it, which we desire to bring before our Christian ladies-the unspeakably wretched condition of our own sex, throughout that vast territory. A field so immense bursts upon the eye, that to send into it a single reaper appears too trivial an attempt: the gathering in of a handful of corn will be no perceptible diminution of the mighty mass. True; but consider what is so reaped, without reference to what, alas! must be left to perish on the soil; and there is a bright beam of encouragement, to cheer even the solitary labourer, and the few compassionate friends who may dispatch her to the field. That small handfull of reclaimed seed will multiply, bringing forth, in process of time, many fold after its own kind; and these plants scattered again over the wide expanse, will become a handfull of a different character, even as that handfull of leaven, "which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." We cannot behold such an enterprize with the steadfast eye of faith, unless bearing in mind the assurance given to St. Paul, on his first

entrance among the unpromising Corinthians: "I have much people in this city." To those people whose hearts the Lord had prepared, was the Apostle sent; by them he was received; and of them he was privileged to form a beautiful church. Even so, in our day, yea, while we now prepare to send messengers, the Lord is preparing their hearts who shall receive them; and what his grace designs, his providence will effect, by bringing together the commissioned teacher, and the learner made willing in the day of his power.

Thus encouraged, we may venture to pause on the deeply affecting state of our poor eastern sisters; a state so dreadful, that the practice of female infanticide becomes meritorious even in the mothers's eye, who would far rather behold her offspring writhing in the agonies of a violent death, than bring her up to inherit the same bitter portion of oppressive cruelty, insult, and wrong. The depth of degradation to which our sex has fallen throughout those regions, is utterly inconceivable to Englishwomen, unless they peruse the authenticated records that are placed within their reach; and from such perusal no christian female could surely rise, without a longing desire to stretch forth the helping hand towards the afflicted daughters of Eve, on whom the primeval curse rests in almost unmitigated severity. He who receives Christ as his Saviour, with Him receives a free gift of all things. Godliness hath promise of this life, as well as that which is to come; and we invariably find that wherever christianity prevails, there is no longer male and female, according to the wide and degrading distinctions of privilege that had prevailed between them, but