The humblest Instruments may sometimes do good service. THE LION AND THE MOUSE, A FABLE. As a Lion was sleeping one day in the sun, Caught a poor little Mouse, and wide open'd his jaws.- I am not worth your anger; but send me away, Hoh! hoh! quoth the Lion, and laughed, with a roar, But you've made Lion smile, so in peace you shall go; The Mouse sought his hole, and there vowed his sharp nose, Should never again break a Lion's repose, It happened, next night, as in search of his food, From this Fable we learn, how absurd is their pride, The following Epitaphs were sent us by our Correspondent N. L. H. ЕРІТАРН, In Horsleydown Charch, Cumberland, ON THOMAS BOND AND HIS WIFE. Here lie the bodies Of Thomas Bond, and Mary his wife. but She was proud, peevish, passionate. Her husband and child, whom she lov'd, Seldom saw her countenance without a disgusting frown, Whilst she received visitors, whom she despised, With an endearing smile. 1 Her behaviour was discreet towards strangers, but Imprudent in her family. Abroad, her conduct was influenced by good breeding, but At home, by ill temper. She was a professed enemy to flattery, The talents in which she principally excelled, Dispensed plenty to every person in her family, Would sacrifice their eyes to a farthing candle. but Much more frequently miserable In thirty years that they had lived together, That, notwithstanding her many virtues, He had not, in the whole, enjoyed Finding she had lost the affections of her husband, As a weekly monitor to the surviving That they may avoid the infamy Of having their memories handed down to posterity ANOTHER, Sacred to the memory of, SARAH MASON. READER, behold the tomb of one whose character was worthy of imitation. Though in a lowly station of life, and with no advantages of education, her conduct was always such as to make her beloved and respected by all who knew her. She was humble, pious, and gentle; patient, grateful, modest and sincere. Her care and love for her parents was remarkable; her attention to perform her duty to her master and mistress no less so. At the age of 28, it pleased God to afflict her with a painful and fatal illness, which she bore with a Christian's patience and hope: no murmur escaped her lips, and her constant care was to console her aged parents. She was followed to the grave by a great number of the surrounding neighbours, who had known her worth, and were anxious to testify the respect they had for her. ON TRIFLING IN THE CHURCH. WE have, at different times, received a variety of poetical offerings from charity-school children; and it is truly satisfactory to find that their education has turned their minds to such subjects as are set forth in their verses. We are, really, always sorry to discourage any attempts at what is good; but our young friends will see that what may make an innocent amusement, or afford gratification to private friends, may not always be suited to the critical eyes of the public. The following lines, however, sent us by a school child, may be of use. We give them, with the letter which accompanied them. ED. To the Editor of the Cottager's Monthly Visitor. SIR, HAVING seen several capital pieces, in your little book, about girls trifling in the church, and showing off their curl papers, and such foolish things, during divine service, I take the liberty of sending you the following lines. ON TRIFLING IN THE CHURCH. IN God's own house for you to play, And tempt the Almighty to his face. When angels bow before the Lord, His wrath may strike your guilty head, When death, the king of fears, shall come Great God, compassionate and mild, Teach them to pray and mind thy word, S. P. TRANSLATORS OF THE BIBLE... THE great English Bible, which was in use until the reign of King James I., denominated the Bishops' Bible, from the circumstance of its being translated at the instance of Archbishop Parker, by the Bishops and other learned men, was printed in a large folio, by Richard Jugge, in 1568. At the conference held at Hampton Court in 1603, many exceptions being made to this Bishops' Bible, it was, after due deliberation, recommended to have a new translation; when his Majesty King James issued an order to prepare one accordingly. "Not (as expressed in the preface) for a translation altogether new, nor yet to make of a bad one a good one; but to make a good one better, or of many good ones, one best." By the King's letter to the Archbishop, dated 1604, it appears that 54 learned persons were appointed to this important work. The translation did not commence until 1607, and then the number appointed was reduced to 47, either by death, or some other cause not now known. The work being accomplished, it was published in 1613, with a dedication to the King, and is the Bible now read by authority in all our churches. It is denominated King James's Bible. The learned Selden, whom Grotius designates "The Glory of the English nation," referring to this subject in his Table-Talk, says, "The English translation of the Bible is the best translation in the world, and renders the sense of the original the best. The translators in King James's time took an excellent way that part of the Bible being given to him who was most excellent in such a tongue (as the Apocrypha to Andrew Downes); and then they met together, and one read the translation, the rest holding in their hand some Bible either of the |