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ANGELINA. Is it stated to what part of the world St. Andrew travelled on the dispersion of the Apostles?

WILLIAM. Yes: the northern regions of Scythia, or countries around the Black Sea and neighbourhood, are understood to have been allotted to him; where he is said to have undergone great privations, and been placed in perilous circumstances; from which nothing but invincible courage and ardent zeal could have extricated him.

MR. CONSTANCE. We are told by an old divine, that Andrew was a right owner of his name, which signifies fortitude, as Simon does obedience; from which it has been wisely said, that “without obedience' no disciple enters the school of Christ, and without fortitude' none persevereth in it."

WILLIAM. St. Andrew was eminently successful in his labours; and after having established numerous churches, he returned to Jerusalem, but soon retired from thence on another mission, and ultimately founded a church at Constantinople. He preached also in Greece, where he was so successful in making converts as to excite the jealousy of Ægeas, a Roman governor of Patræ (a city of Achaia), who ordered him to be scourged and crucified.

MR. CONSTANCE. The manner of St. Andrew's crucifixion differed from all others who had preceded him, in the instrument being made like an X, two timbers crossing each other in their centres. Instead of nails, cord was used, that his sufferings might be prolonged. Rude as was the construction of the cross, to St. Andrew it appeared an object of the greatest beauty. It is related of him, that on seeing it he exclaimed : "Now, methinks thou seemest not common wood, but, as it were, consecrated with the body of my master, Christ; and by his extended limbs all over ornamented with pearls and diamonds. Before our blessed Lord ascended thee, thou wast somewhat of a formidable aspect, of some terror unto human eyes; but

now thou lookest like a tree of paradise, bearing celestial fruit."

MARIA. Is it stated where the apostle was buried? I have understood that his remains were conveyed to Fifeshire, in Scotland.

MR. CONSTANCE. It is quite impossible to say where his body might be removed or translated to, since it is asserted, that after his burial by Maximilla, a lady who had espoused Christianity, it was conveyed to Byzantium (Constantinople), by order of Constantine the Great, and interred in the church erected to the honour of the apostles; while the Scotch contend that St. Andrew's relics were conveyed by a pious Grecian monk into Fifeshire, in the year 368, being three centuries after his martyrdom; from which circumstance they deduce their right to claim St. Andrew as their tutelar patron. Of the Order of the Thistle, please to give us an account, William, which will close our duties for the evening.

WILLIAM. The Order of the Thistle was instituted by Achaius, king of Scotland, so early as 787, restored by James V. in 1540, revived by King James II. in 1687, and re-established by Queen Anne in 1703. It consists of the limited number of thirteen, the sovereign, and twelve brethren or knights. The star, which is worn on the left side of the coat or cloak, consists of St. Andrew's cross, of silver embroidery, with rays going out between the points of the cross. The motto is, " Nemo me impune lacessit," (No man provokes me with impunity). The badge or jewel, which consists of the image of St. Andrew, is worn pendent to a green riband over the left shoulder, and tied under the arm. The collar consists of thistles and sprigs of rue interspersed, and from the centre is suspended the image of St. Andrew, the whole of gold enamelled. The 30th of November is kept by Scotsmen in the same manner as the English, the Irish, and the

Welsh observe the anniversaries of their respective patron saints-in acts of benevolence and convivial association. It is, however, in foreign countries, when far away from the land of their birth, that mankind commemorate these particular festivals with any degree of enthusiasm: while resident in their native land, they neglect to do homage to the supposed guardian of their homes. Thus, St. Andrew's Day is scarcely noticed in Scotland, while in India it is observed with every demonstration of regard.

In consequence of the lateness of the hour, protracted by the length of the evening's Conversation, the party were compelled to separate immediately on its close.

DECEMBER.

THE last night of meeting, and the closing month of the year, afforded to Mr. and Mrs. Constance ample opportunity to enforce several serious and important lessons. The temper and disposition of the party also seemed to invite to such a course; for however much the preceding nights had been enlivened by their cheerful smiles, the present was marked by an evident absence of youthful gaiety, which had given place to feelings of contemplative pensiveness, occasioned, no doubt, by the reflection, that it was the closing hour of a long season of instructive converse, the several portions of which had been anticipated and enjoyed with delight. Having, therefore, successfully impressed on their young minds the propriety of carefully reviewing their actions during the past year, and the necessity of an attentive watchfulness over those of the future, Mrs. Constance made some allusions to the gloomy state of the weather, seeing that the long continuance of rain and mist seemed to fall heavily on the spirits of her youthful friends. She endeavoured to dissipate such feelings, by remarking, that "the season of winter, though generally considered to be a cheerless portion of the year, would not, if rightly viewed, occasion one murmuring sigh. I know (she said) that to the unimaginative and desponding, who look on the various changes of Nature with inat

tention, few charms or pleasures are afforded. The frequent absence or feebleness of the sun's rays, which

'Scarce spread through ether the dejected day,'

the heavy falls of snow, and the thick fogs, which appear to hang like clouds to veil the earth, added to the comparative absence of the feathered and insect tribes, the nakedness of gardens, orchards, and forests, all tend to depress the spirits of the thoughtless, and to make them ungratefully murmur against the operations of Providence. Those, however, who are sincere and ardent admirers of the works of Nature, contemplate the approach of Winter with very different sensations: they have no melancholy feelings associated with its return, whatever degree of seriousness may be created in their minds. When they perceive the apparent sleep of all vegetable matter, they observe the same Almighty goodness and wonderful power displayed, in granting rest to the earth at this season, as was discernible in the Spring of the year, when their Maker led into life all the various phenomena of his creative wisdom: they reverently acknowledge, that, in the magnificent system of his government, there exists no evil; that the appearances which, to our limited and temporary view, seem pregnant with destruction, are, in the boundless extent of his providence, the sources of returning good; and that, in the very hours when we might conceive Nature to be deserted and forlorn, the Spirit of the Almighty is operating with increasing force, and preparing in silence the renovation of the world.'* It is to those only, therefore, (she continued) who merely scan over the surface of things,-who can hear the storms and wintry winds pass by without reflecting upon their use, or perceive the snow come 'eddying down,' and clothing in a new

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* Alison's Sermons on the Seasons,

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