JUVENILE LITERATURE. 513 



extends, we find that people had learnt to measure their years by the 

 changes or revolutions of the moon. We are told in the Bible that many 

 nations did this before the death of Jacob, which happened 1700 years 

 before the nativity of our Saviour. 



" The custom of measuring time by weeks was universal amongst the 

 most ancient nations. The origin of this was probably the account given 

 by the first man to his descendants of the great work of Creation being 

 accomplished by the Almighty in six days, and the seventh being 

 ordained by Him as a day of rest. 



** In the early ages men began to lead a rural and pastoral life, and 

 were naturally induced to observe the various appearances of the skies. 

 Among these, the most obvious and beautiful were the periodical changes 

 of the moon ; and observation soon taught them, that these changes 

 happened about once in four weeks : hence was derived the division of 

 time called a month or moonth. 



*' As these people lived by cultivating the soil, and rearing cattle, they 

 could not fail to learn, that in the course of twelve months there was a 

 regular rotation of the seasons. They would find, for instance, the same 

 description of plants in flower, the same sorts of fruit ripe, and would 

 observe a return of many things which had been lost sight of for awhile, 

 or which had undergone considerable changes. This led to a still longer 

 measure of time called a year." 



Here is a species of knowledge, which has hitherto been in- 

 accessible to young minds, brought before them so simply, and so 

 rationally, that they at once are able to comprehend it. 



Again, the writer in describing the natural objects particularly 

 worthy of attention at the end of February, in that part of the work 

 devoted to the Seasons, mentions in the same clear and understand- 

 able manner, the phenomena attendant on the budding and growth 

 of trees. 



" Trees make a second set of buds during the summer, and, while the 

 first set is in full blow, we see at the point where the foot-stalk of each 

 leaf joins the stem, a very small bud; in this state it remains whilst the 

 leaves fall around it, and'the tree becomes quite bare in winter. 



** This bud is exactly like a seed, containing within it the rudiments or 

 beginnings of a new branch or plant: snugly and warmly protected from 

 cold and wet, this infant tree remains stationary during the rigour of 

 winter ; no sooner, however, does the sap begin to ascend, than it swells 

 out, and in the end discloses leaves, shoots, and blossoms. 



" This provision of buds on trees is most curious and admirable. A 

 tree during spring may be said to have a thousand new plants growing 

 upon it, and is an object full of interest. So perfect are these buds, and 

 so complete in themselves, that they may oftentimes be transplanted suc- 

 cessively from one tree to another, by merely making an incision through 

 the bark, carefully removing one of them, and then fixing it in the 

 wounded part, and covering it with clay; it then sends down shoots into 

 the inner bark, and soon grows and flourishes." 



The first portion of this volume is devoted to the calendar and 

 almanack, and gives a brief but most complete account of every- 

 thing connected with years, days, months, and weeks. The 

 second division contains a particular account of the months, accom- 

 panied by well-designed and well-executed wood-cuts. This ac- 

 count embraces the origin of their names, and the remarkable days 

 and incidents connected with them. The third division includes the 



