UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 245 



as in the Bible. The forty years' temptation in 

 the wilderness evidently means trial. Forty 

 years long did I tempt and prove thee that is, 

 did I try thee. Again, in the text, " to take 

 him a nation from amidst another nation, by 

 temptations, by signs, and by wonders," Deut. 

 iv. 34. The word " temptations" is undoubtedly 

 put for trials ; for the miracles wrought in Egypt 

 were real trials both to the Egyptians and to the 

 Israelites, who were thereby given the alter- 

 native of obedience, or of obstinate resistance. 

 And St. Paul repeatedly tells us, that even good 

 men are allowed to fall into trying circum- 

 stances, for the exercise and improvement of 

 their virtue. 



I3th. My aunt has been shewing me various 

 species of the aphis to-day. 



There are two distinct sorts which belong to 

 the plum tree, one of a yellowish green, with a 

 round short body ; the other oblong, of a bluish 

 green, enamelled with white. The same kinds 

 are found on the gooseberry and currant ; and 

 the rose tree supports three distinct species. 



There are some amusing circumstances told of 

 the singular friendship that appears to subsist 

 between these little animals and ants, with whom 

 they share the honey they obtain, and are in 

 return assisted and protected. I met this 

 morning with an entertaining account of these 



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