The Little Gleaner Part 23

It is said that there are about a hundred kinds of flesh-eating plants all the world over, and of these, three--the sundew, b.u.t.terwort, and bladderwort--grow in this country.

The member of this species best known to British botanists is the sundew. The leaves of this plant resemble in shape a flat spoon, and the surface of their blades is covered with stout, erect, hair-like objects, each with a roundish head, which is surrounded with a sticky fluid.

Flies are the usual prey of the sundew. When one of these insects touches the blade of a leaf of the plant, the sticky points detain it, and the edges of the blade begin bending towards the centre, and continue to so fold themselves until the fly is entirely enveloped by them. After remaining in this position for many hours, or even days, the leaf gradually resumes its original shape, and an examination will show that nothing remains of the fly but the hard parts--as the wings, outer skin, &c. The rest of the insect has been dissolved in the sticky secretions, and absorbed by the plant.

Several of these plants have been placed near one another, and some have been covered by fine gauze, so that no flies could be caught by their leaves. The superiority of the plants that have been left in their natural state has clearly proved that a supply of animal food is not only advantageous, but almost necessary to them. (See Psalm civ. 24.)

"DRAW ME."

"_No man can come to Me except the Father, which hath sent Me, draw him._"--JOHN vi. 44.

"_Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out._"--JOHN vi. 37.

"_I am the Door._"--JOHN x. 9.

"_Draw me, we will run after Thee._"--SOLOMON'S SONG i. 4.

Oh, draw me, Holy Father, For in Thy Word I read That they who go to Jesus With all their guilt and need, Are certainly attracted By Thy almighty power, To find a happy entrance Through heaven's Living Door.

The world, which once did furnish The trifles I desired, Now gives no satisfaction; There's something else required: The devil would allure me With charms by him designed To cry, "Peace! peace!" but cannot Relieve my troubled mind.

I see no place of refuge To which I may retreat; No home, or kindly shelter, To rest my weary feet.

Where shall I go? where _can_ I?

Dear Saviour, hear my plea-- "Draw me, and I'll run gladly; Yes, draw me unto Thee."

A. B.

A BRAVE RESCUE.

It is only within the last few weeks that particulars have been published in the Swiss papers of a brave rescue effected on Mount St.

Bernard on the night of the last Sunday in November.

While a violent snow-storm was in progress, Grand, the manager of the hospice, noticed that his own special dog that was alone with him in his room became very restless, and made signs to him to go out. He took the lantern and fog-horn, and went out on the mountain, the dog leading him.

In a very short time he heard a call and groaning, and, helped by the dog, dug out of the snow an Italian, whom he carried on his back into the hospice.

The rescued man stated that his father, two brothers, and another Italian, all journeying home with him over the pa.s.s, lay buried in the snow. He had pushed on to obtain help, but had been overpowered by the storm. Grand made ready and went out again. This second search was more tedious, and led him further away, but at last the barking of the dog announced a discovery. It was the Italian stranger who was now saved and carried up to the hospice. A third time Grand and his dog sallied out into the tempest, and after a quarter of an hour's search found the others, near where the second man had been discovered. They were quite buried under the snow, and almost insensible. He took the most feeble on his shoulders, and with difficulty conducted the others to the hospice.

It was now past midnight, and his toilsome task had occupied Grand over four hours, in a blinding snow-storm.

A recent telegram from Geneva states that two avalanches have fallen on the above famous hospice of St. Bernard. The church has been almost entirely buried in snow. No loss of life is reported.

THE MUMMY OF SESOSTRIS.

A new Egyptian labyrinth was some time ago discovered at a place named Deyr-el-Baharee by M. Maspero, an orientalist of French nationality, who found in one of the underground galleries, hollowed through a mountain of granite, three sarcophagi of the Mosaic period. They resembled somewhat our modern coffins, except that they were much larger and rather clumsier in shape. But they were beautifully adorned with images of Egyptian G.o.ds and sacred animals, painted in colours that were still of admirable freshness, on a dark-brown ground. They bore numerous inscriptions in hieroglyphics and the demotic character, wherefrom the clue was obtained as to their ident.i.ty.

The sarcophagi, with their contents, were transported down the Nile to Boulag, at the gates of Cairo, and were opened in the presence of the Khedive and several pashas. The coil of thick cloth in which the first mummy lay was ripped open; then a narrow linen band of about eight inches in breadth, that went round and round the body several hundred times from head to foot, was unwound; after that, a second winding sheet of the finest linen was with great care cut open with scissors. At last a head appeared, totally unlike that of any modern human being. The description of it is given by M. Maspero in his report:--

"The head is long and small in proportion to the body. The crown is utterly bald; the hair is scanty about the temples, but grows in thick, lank tufts on the nape. It was white before death, but has been stained light yellow by the sweet essences with which the body was embalmed. The ears were almost round, standing out from the head, and are pierced like those of a woman. The mouth is small, and bordered with thick, fleshy lips, behind which is a row of white teeth that were kept clean with evident care. Whiskers and beard are thin. They were shaved during lifetime, but grew in the last illness, or may-be after death. The low forehead is narrow, and the brow prominent, and covered with white hairs. The eyes are small, and set close to one another; the nose long, thin, aquiline, and slightly flattened at the tip by the pressure of the bandages. The temple is hollow, the cheek-bones are prominent, the jaw is strong, and the chin very underhung. The face of the mummy is certainly not an intelligent one, and almost appears b.e.s.t.i.a.l; but it has an unmistakable look of pride, doggedness, and majesty."

[Ill.u.s.tration: RESCUE BY DOGS OF ST. BERNARD.]

As regards the body, it is that of an aged man, who was singularly vigorous and robust, and must have lived to nearly a hundred years of age.

From the inscriptions on the coffin, it appeared that the body it held had reigned over Egypt for sixty-seven years, during which time the country had attained the pinnacle of national greatness. The Hebrews groaned under his oppression, and hundreds of thousands, while employed to build the city of Ramesis, had died under the taskmasters' lash. This mummy was the greatest among the Pharaohs--Sesostris. He was found in a wonderful state of preservation, after having remained in that coffin for thirty-five centuries.

The second mummy proved to be that of Rameses III.

The third mummy became putrid from exposure to air, and was accordingly buried by M. Maspero. It turned out to be that of a queen named Nofritari, of the eighteenth dynasty.

WHEN thy hand hath done a good act, ask thy heart whether it is well done.--_Fuller._

"THIS IS THE WAY; WALK YE IN IT."

(PSALM cxix. 9.)

Wherewith shall the inquiring youth Attempt to cleanse his way?

This question asked the lips of Truth, And many since that day.

The answer's ready for the meek, And easy to be found; No far-fetched knowledge need you seek On false, on foreign ground.

Take heed unto your steps, dear friend, The Bible does declare; May you unto G.o.d's Word attend With energy and prayer.

"Take heed unto thyself," wrote Paul, "And to the doctrines, too"; Young Timothy obeyed the call, And G.o.d's salvation knew.

Friend, you may study well the law, And try to do your best; Remember, you will have to know This lesson with the rest.

But if you find yourself at last A guiltier sinner still, The Gospel is revealed for such-- "Come, whosoever will."

Yes, there the secret is made known-- The remedy you need-- The precious blood of Christ alone Can cleanse thought, word, and deed.

M. E. S.

_Corby._