In the 17th century, the boots of gentlemen were ornamented with tops, sometimes elegantly fringed with lace, and the shoes also had immensely large rosettes of different-colored silks, (No. 16).

We are coming now to comparatively modern times, and some now living can remember the high-heeled shoes worn by the ladies in the last century. No. 17 represents a shoe of this description, such as was worn by the fashionable men of the day.

The shoe and boot represented in Nos. 18, 19, are still worn in France: the jack-boot has been so often noticed by travellers and others, that it hardly needs description; it is, however, perhaps, not generally known, that the foot of the wearer of this unwieldy boot does not reach the sole, but is received in a space about four inches above the ground, so that the heel of the wearer is immediately in front of the spur. The wooden shoe is formed out of one solid piece of wood, and is worn in France chiefly by the children and women in country places. It is the wooden shoe alluded to by Goldsmith's porter in the Citizen of the World, who, while resting from his load, declares the French to be only "fit to carry burdens, because they are slaves and wear wooden shoes." No. 20 is a kind of sandal worn by the mountaineers in Switzerland, studded with iron spikes, to prevent the foot slipping.

The snow-shoe is formed of a frame-work of wood, strongly interlaced with thongs of leather; it is employed by the Esquimaux and the Canadians, to prevent their sinking into the snow, when crossing their extensive plains. This shoe causes great pain to the wearer until after considerable practice in the use of it.

No. 21.

We cannot better conclude this account, than by noticing the machines invented by Mr. Brunel for the purpose of making shoes for the army and navy. The chief difference between his method and that in common use, consisted in the employment of nails of different lengths, for the purpose of uniting the various parts of the shoe, the only part subjected to the operation of sewing being

the three pieces of which the upper-leather is composed, namely, the vamp and the two quarters. The cutting-out is performed by large steel punches of the proper form; the holes to receive the nails are made with the greatest regularity, and by a very simple contrivance the nails, which are also made by the same machine, are dropped with unerring certainty in their places, and at one blow they are all driven in to the proper depth.

The nails employed are of three kinds: 1. The long nails, which form a complete row, as near as possible to the edge of the whole shoe, passing through the two soles, the welt, and the upper-leather; the heel is also fastened on by a row of these nails, round its edge. The heads, or thick ends of the nails, are seen on the lower side of the soles, and keep the leather from wearing.

2. The tacking nails, which are of such a size as to pass only through the sole and the welt. Of these there is a row all round the edge of the foot, but farther from the edge than the row of long nails.

3. The short nails, which only penetrate through the thickness of the lower sole; they are disposed in parallel rows across the tread of the foot, and also in a double row parallel to the outline of the toe, at about three quarters of an inch from the edge.

SAMUEL.

SAMUEL, the son of Elkanah and Hannah, was the sixteenth in descent from Korah, the seditious Levite, and contemporary with Samson: his mother having obtained him by earnest prayer, she devoted him to the service of GOD, as a Nazarite, from his infancy, and assigned him to Eli, for the service of the tabernacle. When Eli became incapacitated for his duties by weight of years, and was sinfully indulgent to his sons, one morning, ere the lamps of the tabernacle were extinguished, the LORD called Samuel, as he lay in his bed near to that of Eli, and told him what calamities would assuredly befall Eli, because he had not restrained the wickedness of his sons. From this time forth Samuel was acknowledged to be a prophet, and, when Eli died, succeeded him as judge of Israel. Samuel had two sons, Joel and Abiah, whom he appointed judges of the people, but they perverted justice, and received bribes, which the elders made a pretext for asking a king. The LORD directed Samuel to anoint Saul to be their king, but this prince having rebelled against God's commandments by sparing Agag, and "the best of the sheep," he was afterward rejected, and David, the son of Jesse, anointed king in his place. Samuel withdrew to Ramah, where he presided over a number of young men who had devoted themselves to the peculiar service of God; and there died, about A. M. 2947.

THE AFFECTIONATE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.

101

THE AFFECTIONATE DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.

RUTH I.

Where is the breast, that e'er can rival Ruth

In tenderness, susceptibility,

And fervor of affection ?-ANON.

To a mind at all impressed with religion, it is a very pleasing thought, that all our affairs are under the superintendence of the SUPREME BEING. The most minute, as well as the most mighty events, are "ordered after the counsel of his will."-"The very hairs of our heads are all numbered; and not a sparrow falls to the ground without the notice of our heavenly FATHER." The Book of Ruth presents us with a series of striking and instructive events, and powerfully illustrates the kindness of the providential government of the blessed GoD; showing us how he can make the greatest evils subserve his gracious purposes toward his people.

In the commencement of the history, the inspired writer introduces to our notice a very interesting narrative of facts. In consequence of the sins of Israel, Lev. xxvi. 18-20, their land was visited with a sore famine, and many of its inhabitants were induced to leave the place endeared to them by their birth, and a thousand other tender associations, and sojourn in foreign countries. Among others who went into the land of Moab, was a man named Elimelech, his wife, who was called Naomi, and their two sons, who were named Mahlon and Chilion. There seems to have existed no pressing necessity for this family to leave their religious connexion; since many of their neighbors were enabled to brave the horrors of the famine: beside which, Elimelech's family was but small, and he was a man of some property, for he "went out full" but, alas! anxiety to keep and increase their property often induces even the people of GOD to run into the way of temptation. Thus was it in the case of Lot; and so, on the present occasion. After a continuance of some time, the good man died, leaving a widow, with her two sons, in a strange land. Here, however, the LORD provided for them. Though the poor woman had to mourn the loss of an affectionate husband, she had comfort in her sons; who, soon after, took to themselves "wiyes of the women of Moab." It is a matter of lamentation that they had not religion enough to induce them to select companions so intimate from among their own kindred: but the good hand of God was pleased in this case to overrule the event for good. Ruth's marrying an Israelite led to her conversion to God; but let not this be considered an encouragement for "the sons of GOD" to run counter to his positive commands, in taking to themselves "wives of the daughters of men;" for let it be recollected, that her conversion was never made manifest till after the death of her husband; and, probably, it was not the affectionate expostulation of her partner, but his death, in connexion with the holy life, the con

versation and the prayers of Naomi, which brought her ultimately to GOD. The marriage of her sons afforded to Naomi, we may readily suppose, no small source of pleasure. Her fond imagination pictured scenes of enjoyment for her children for many years to come; and when she reflected on her own distressing bereavement, she would present the ardent prayer that her sons and her daughters-in-law might be spared as blessings to each other; "that their sons might be as plants grown up in their youth; that their daughters might be as corner-stones polished after the similitude of a palace." She hoped to see her grandchildren rising up around her, and to have the opportunity of telling them, for their instruction and amusement, the scenes of her youth, and the acts of that beloved individual whom she had laid in the tomb, but whose name and memory she highly revered. But, alas! our best joys are fleeting and short-lived; in a very few years her sons were cut off, and their wives became widows. Death, the universal conqueror, spares no age; he favors no class; he cuts asunder the closest ties and separates the most endearing connexions. The good old mother committed them to the grave; wept over their ashes, and bowed with submission to him who possesses a right to do as he pleases with his creatures.

Having buried her dearest hopes, Naomi resolved on leaving the land of her sorrows, and returning to her pious kindred and acquaintance. She communicated her design to her daughters-inlaw; who, in a manner that indicated their kind regard to her, resolved to accompany her, at least a part of her journey. When they had proceeded some distance, the venerable woman, feeling for their situation, and anxious to save them from fatigue, wished them to "return, each to her mother's house;" expressing the kindest desires on their behalf: "The LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead and with me: the LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voice and wept." Who can read unmoved the description of a scene like this? How suitable a subject for the pencil of the painter! How many tender associations rise up in each of their minds! One almost hears the prayer of this aged widow for these her daughters in affliction; and we wonder not to hear them saying, "Surely, we will return with thee unto thy people." Such was the resolution of each for the moment. Are not many of our pious resolutions the result of an equally transient feeling? If so, it is no wonder that, like Orpah, we are soon moved from our purpose, and turn back into the world. The good woman seems to have indulged the apprehension, that mere natural affection led them to speak thus, and again presses them to return. Orpah consented-kissed her, and returned; but Ruth possessed a regard to her that was more than natural. Her mind had been impressed with the importance of religion; she had witnessed Naomi's holy conduct; and had become convinced of the superior excellence of her character; and "Ruth clave unto her ;" nor could any argument that Naomi used,