BELL-RINGING.

THE picture represents the ancient method of bellringing. David, the sweet singer of Israel, is supposed to have been very partial to bell-ringing as well as the music of the harp. Music has possessed in all ages a charm for both old and young. Mozart, the great composer, is said to have died while finishing his celebrated "Requiem."

The English are particularly fond of the music of bells. Most of our churches have a peal of bells, which are rung upon all occasions. Sometimes they ring in honour of the birth of a dear child; sometimes in celebration of a joyful marriage; and they are often muffled to toll out a funeral dirge. I dare say you have heard what they call ringing the

changes, which are produced by shifting the order in which the bells are sounded, making a very pleasant melody, especially if heard from a distance or across the water.

The practice of bell-ringing is very ancient. As early as the year 680 they were used in Brittany, in France, from whence we probably derive the art. The bells have all different names; and in the Roman Catholic church are baptized and blessed by the priest.

The Curfew Bell was a peal which was rung every night at eight o'clock by order of William the Conqueror, at the sound of which every person was obliged to rake out his fire and put out his lights, under a severe penalty. This law was afterwards repealed but it is still common in some parts of the country to term the ringing of bells at night a Curfew. In convents it is customary to ring bells at matius, or morning prayer, and vespers, or evening prayer.

In this country the ringing of hand-bells was once extensively practised, and is still common in many places. All manner of merry tunes are played upon them, very pleasant to hear. Sometimes the bells are fixed on a stand, as in the engraving, and struck with wooden hammers, by which means one person can play a variety of airs. The figure is intended for David, and is taken from an old edition of his Psalms.

When you hear the merry chimes ring out as they call you to church on Sunday morning, you will recollect what I have told you about them, though you must not forget that they form no portion of the solemn service in which you are about to join.

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DARE say, my young readers, many of you have seen monkey dancing in the streets, or perched on top of a poor Italian boy's organ; and very cunning and mischievous animals they are, I assure you. There are several varieties of the monkey or ape family, and they all, more or less, bear a resemblance to man, so much so occasionally, as to make us quite ashamed of our vices, so readily are they imitated by the monkeys. The character of the whole tribe is much the same: they are all furnished with hands instead of paws; their ears, eye-lids, lips, and general figure is like that of man; and their whole appearance offers a picture that may well offend and mortify those who make their personal appearance the sole object of their admiration. The monkey in the picture has a long tail, prominent nose, and round head. It is covered with hair, and is capable of walking upright. This is a re