UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 197 



Conducted by a sweeter star, 

 Than all that decks the skies above, 



He fondly hastens from afar, 

 To soothe her solitude with love. 



My uncle told me that Dr. Macartney, who 

 has investigated the subject of luminous insects 

 with great ability, has ascertained, that in the 

 glow-worm, part of the light proceeds from a yel- 

 low substance lying underneath a transparent 

 part of the skin. Besides this, he observed in the 

 last segment of the body, two minute oval sacks, 

 formed of an elastic fibre, wound spirally, and 

 containing a yellow substance also, but of a closer 

 texture, and giving a more permanent light. 

 This light seemed less under the control of the 

 insect than the other, which it has the power of 

 voluntarily extinguishing, and which ceases to 

 shine when extracted from living glow-worms ; 

 but the two sacks, when taken out, continue to 

 give light for some hours. 



Ilth, Sunday." I think, father," said Mary, 

 " that in reflecting on the three dispensations, it 

 appears, that neither the Jews, nor the religious 

 people of the patriarchal ages had that clear and 

 distinct knowledge of the doctrine of future re- 

 wards and punishments which we Christians 

 possess ; nor that full conviction of the immor- 

 tality of the soul which now cheers mankind." 



<c True," said my uncle, " those awful truths 

 had indeed been early opened to them, and they 



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