tea-leaves, if dried and weighed, would be found to have lost part of their weight, and the water would have gained it.

P. When I observed that chalk was insoluble, you said pointedly, in water it is: I suppose, then, that in some other liquid it is soluble.

T. Yes-in acids; that is, in vinegar and other liquids of a similar class. Indeed, in proper menstrua, not only is chalk soluble, but most other bodies; even the metals, those solid and seemingly indestructible bodies, by being put into certain liquids, become converted into transparent fluids.

P. How exceedingly curious!

T. It is. Upon this principle are founded many curious matters in the arts. Thus, spirit-varnish is made of a solution of various gums or resins in spirits, that will not dissolve in water. Therefore, when it has been laid over any substance with a brush, and is become dry, the rain or the moisture of the air will not affect it. This is the case with the beautiful varnish laid upon coaches. On the other hand, the varnish left by gum-water could not be washed off by spirits.

P. I remember, when I made gum-water, upon setting the cup in a warm place, the water all dried away, and left the gum just as it was before. Would the same happen if I had sugar or salt dissolved in the water?

T. Yes, upon exposing the solution to warmth, it would dry away, and you would get back your salt or sugar in a solid state, as before.

P. But if I were to do so with a cup of tea, what should I get?

But your question
It is the property

T. Not tea-leaves, certainly! makes a few observations necessary. of heat to make most things fly off in vapour, which is called evaporation, or exhalation. But this it does in very different degrees to different substances. Some are easily made to evaporate; others with more difficulty, and others not at all by the most violent fire we

raise. Fluids in general are easily evaporable; but not equally so. Spirit of wine flies off in vapour much sooner than water; so that if you had a mixture of the two, by applying a gentle heat you might drive off almost all the spirit, while the greater part of the water would remain. Water, again, is more evaporable than oil. Some solid substances are much disposed to evaporate; thus, smelling-salts by a little heat may entirely be driven away in the air. But, in general, solids are more fixed than fluids; and, therefore, when a solid is dissolved in a fluid, it may commonly be recovered again by evaporation. It is by this operation that common salt is obtained from sea-water and saltsprings, either by the artificial application of heat, or by the natural heat of the sun. When a quantity of water contains as much salt as it will dissolve, it is called a saturated solution; upon evaporating which a little, the salt begins to assume the solid state, forming little regular masses called crystals. Sugar may be made in like manner to form crystals, and then it is sugar-candy. But, now to your question about tea. On exposing it to considerable heat, those fine particles in which its flavour consists, being as volatile or evaporable as the water, would fly off along with it; and when the infusion came to dryness, there would be left only those particles in which its roughness and colour consists. This would make what is called an extract of a plant.

P. What becomes of the water that evaporates?

T. A very proper question-it ascends into the air, and unites with it, causing it to become moist or dewy. But if, however, the vapour in its way happen to be stopped by any cold body, it is condensed—that is, it returns to the state of water again. Lift up the lid of the tea-pot, and you will see water collected on the inside of it, which is the condensed steam which rises from the hot tea beneath it. Hold a spoon or knife in the way of the steam which bursts out from the spout of the tea-kettle, and you will find it immediately

covered with drops of water. This operation of turning a liquid into vapour, and then condensing it, is called distillation. For this purpose, the vessel in which the liquor is heated is closely covered with another called the head, into which the steam rises and is condensed. It is then drawn off by means of a pipe from this vessel called a still, into another called a receiver. In this way all sweet-scented and aromatic liquors are drawn from fragrant vegetables by means of water or spirits. The fragrant part being very volatile, rises along with the steam of the water or spirit, and remains united with it after it is condensed. Rosewater and spirit of lavender are liquors of this kind.

P. I think I have heard of making salt water fresh by means of distillation.

T. Yes, that is an old discovery lately revived. The salt in sea-water being of a fixed nature, does not rise with the steam; and, therefore, on condensing the steam, the water is found to be fresh. And this indeed is the method nature employs in raising water by exhalation from the ocean, which, collecting in clouds, is condensed in the cold regions of the air, and falls down in rain. But our tea is done; so we will now put an end to our chemical lecture.

REBEKAH.

REV. GEORGE ASPINALL, D.D.

THE gorgeous Oriental sky

In tints of sapphire, green, and gold
Shines soft o'er Padan-aram's trees,
On shepherd, flock, and fold:
The noontide heat is past; the sun
His daily course hath ceas'd to run.

Without the city, tow'rds the well,
The ancient steward turns his head,
Around his form the gabardine
In sombre folds is spread,
And as he halts upon his way
E'en thus doth Eleazer pray:

"O God of Abram, bless his cause!
Judea's maidens hither soon
Will haste for water-at Thy hands
I beg a special boon:

Let her who standeth by my side,
And gives me drink, be Isaac's bride."
But lo! ere yet the pray'r of faith
Is fully breath'd, what vision bright
Advances from yon grove of palms
To greet the old man's sight,
With virgin loveliness beclad
And form'd to make a hermit glad?

that brow,

What grace sits thron'd upon
How ripe the olive in her cheek!
A fairer help-mate for his son

In vain may Abram seek:

And on her shoulder she doth bear
A pitcher with the utmost care.

A flowing robe of purple silk

Enstarr'd with gems is round her spread, A circlet of the purest gold

Adorns her queen-like head:

Her eyes would Erebus illume,

Her tresses shame the raven's plume.

But see, she gains the well, she stoops,
Then rising from the mossy brink,
She stands before the aged man
And bids him freely drink:
His camels too, her care partake,

And drain huge draughts their thirst to slake.

Enough, old man, thy task is done,
Now let thy costly gifts appear;
Enclasp the bracelets on her arms,
With rings bedeck each ear:
With full success thy work is crown'd,
And Isaac's peerless partner found.

"Tis eventide, and in the fields

A student reads from Nature's book,
And broods o'er subjects new and old
With meditative look :

But hark! that distant tramp, as made
By some approaching cavalcade!

A muffled tread of camels' hoofs
Falls on the youthful student's ears,
And, now emerging from the shade,
A retinue appears:

Look up, young Isaac, dost not see
What store of treasure comes to thee?

Behold yon band of damsels bright
On camels mounted, each in place,
And in the midst behold yon maid,
Yon paragon of grace!

She is thy second self, thy life,
Rebekah, thy predestin'd wife!

Go bear her to thy mother's tent,
Bid her exult as at thy birth,
And as they slay the fatted kid
And feast with sacred mirth,
Let Sarah laugh and Abram joy
That fair Rebekah weds their boy.

Rebekah! e'en thy very name

Comes fraught with music to mine ear: The grand old Jewish days return,

Their glories reappear:

I live past time, and seem to tread
The holy ground of which I've read.