W

by

DALISSY.

9.

house, and behold! he

of the potter, is of history is full of in> the days of the old Sorrows of the Israelites and the remembrances in the field, when they aeir cruel task-masters; d of the remote past, how hin us! Or if, glancing kind, we examined the ations, our attention would t of the potter"-that art y others would be useless, if e uses of clay are numerous not about to speak of them. the reader a short sketch of has been called in these modern >tters." He is indeed a worthy › the sympathy and imitation of happily, we have, from his own ofs struggles in the acquisition of en his reputation is founded.

BERNARD PALISSY.

Born 1500-Died 1589.

"Then I went down to the potter's house, and behold! he wrought a work on the wheels."

WORKING in earth, or the art of the potter, is of the greatest antiquity, and its history is full of interest. Were we to go back to the days of the old Egyptians, we might recall the sorrows of the Israelites in the house of their bondage, and the remembrances connected with their labours in the field, when they toiled to make bricks for their cruel task-masters; and as we dwelt on this record of the remote past, how would our hearts burn within us! Or if, glancing over the history of mankind, we examined the memorials of bygone generations, our attention would often be called to "the art of the potter"—that art "without which how many others would be useless, if not altogether lost." The uses of clay are numerous and great; but we are not about to speak of them. Our purpose is to give the reader a short sketch of the life of Palissy, who has been called in these modern times "the prince of potters." He is indeed a worthy model to be offered to the sympathy and imitation of working men; and, happily, we have, from his own pen, the record of his struggles in the acquisition of that art upon which his reputation is founded.