"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a eloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily entangle, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." "Know ye not that they which run in a race, run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain." "If a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully." "Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but, we an incorruptible!”—R. W. Hamilton. DISAPPOINTMENT IMPROVED.. "It is impossible for us to know what are calamities, and what are blessings; how many accidents have passed for misfortunes, which have turned to the welfare and prosperity of the persons on whose lot they have fallen? How many disappointments have, in their consequences, saved a man from ruin."—Spectator. "I am very apprehensive, sir," said William Annesley to his father, "that the rain will prevent our excursion to Cothele House." "I fear it will," said Mr. Annesley, "the clouds are very heavy, and the wind in an unfavourable quarter, and while it remains there, the rain will continue. It may, perhaps, change about noon, if not, it will continue to rain all the day, and our jaunt must be postponed." "Oh dear!" said young Charles, "how vexing! what a disappointment it will be to us all, after being dressed for the occasion, and the horses saddled, and provisions prepared-how vexing!” "This is only a specimen of what you must experience in the road of life. Disappointments and changes are the lot of human nature, and it is very wisely ordered, Charles; for were it not for these annoyances, we should think that this is our rest, and thus neglect to seek that which remaineth for the people of God." The mansion of Cothele, already referred to, is situate on the banks of the Tamar, delightfully secluded by woods of oak, ash, and chesnut. The mansion and furniture are remarkable for their antiquity; the hall is hung with old arms, armour, and stags' horns; a figure, in complete mail, stands at the upper end. The furniture is after the fashion of the Elizabethan age; cabinets of antique make, old music books, one of which bears the date of 1556, and other curious articles, invite the attention of the virtuoso and the antiquarian, who cannot be otherwise than gratified at the sight. Cothele was the seat of the family of that name, until the reign of Edward III. when Hilaria de Cothele, heiress of William de Cothele, married William Edgcombe, now spelled Edgcumbe. The chapel, whose roof is observed at some distance among the woods, is connected with a memorable incident. Sir Richard Edgcombe being suspected of partizanship with the Earl of Richmond, in the reign of Richard III. it was determined to secure him, and he was closely pursued from his house into the woods. Having gained a little upon his pursuers, just as he had reached the summit of the rock upon which the chapel stands, he put a stone into his cap, and flung it into the stream, while he himself slipped down the face of the rock, and concealed himself from his pursuers, who, supposing he had drowned himself, desisted from the pursuit. He thus gained time to cross over into Brittany, and upon his return built the chapel, in grateful acknowledgment of his escape. It was at Cothele that the mother of Richard Edgcombe, the first baron, created in 1742, was singularly recovered from death. She had been ill, and apparently dead, but after her body had been actually deposited in the family vault, was restored to her friends, and five years after this extraordinary event, she gave birth to a son! Cothele is about five miles from the town of Callington, in the parish of Calstock. To visit and survey the beauties of the place, and the surrounding scenery, a party had been formed, consisting of Mr. Annesley's family and a few friends; saddle horses and gigs were in requisition, and all eagerly desired to set off; but the rain continued to increase, rather than to diminish, and when the clock struck twelve, every idea of taking the excursion that day was abandoned. All the party, except Charles, appeared resigned to the disappointment, but he could not forget Cothele, and the anticipated ride on his favourite pony; and exclaimed peevishly, "I wish the rain had not come; are you not very angry, papa? a?" "Angry! my dear boy, it would be wrong indeed to be angry on account of that which does so much good. The rain that is now falling is a great blessing, and we ought to rejoice in our disappointment. It is one of the good gifts of God, and so great a blessing calls for our gratitude. Did you ever read any account of the production and advantages of rain?" "No, father, I do not recollect that I have; I remember what is said by Isaiah, (chap. lv. 10,) As the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth."" "Rain then, you perceive is a Divine blessing, the free gift of God. It descends to benefit the earth, and render it fruitful, making 'it bring forth and bud."" "I should like to have some account of the formation of rain, and shall be much obliged if you will favour me with your observations." "Certainly; though I cannot give you a very satisfactory account, I will do my best. After all the attention that has been bestowed on the phenomena of rain,' says one of our latest writers, 'many difficulties attend the investigation, that have not yet been surmounted."" It is pretty clearly established that rain is carried up into the atmosphere by evaporation, and that the extent of this evaporation depends mainly upon temperature. For, though in some instances its precipitation is affected by local causes, it is nevertheless clear as a general principle, that much more rain falls in the Equatorial than the Polar regions. That this process of evaporation is continually going forward seems evident, for it has been asserted, upon very high authority, that if all the watery vapour suspended at any one time in the atmosphere were to fall to the earth in the form of rain, it would not cover it to a greater depth than about five inches. This constant replenishing and exhaustion of the atmosphere, beautifully illustrates the remark of Solomon, whose enlightened and comprehensive philosophy went quite as far as the researches of our most scientific enquirers in the present day-you remember, I dare say, the text to which I refer? Charles. "All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place whence the rivers come, thither they return again." (Eccl. i. 7.) Mr. Annesley. Exactly so; you will not find in all the writings of our modern meteorologists, so complete and lucid a statement of the facts of this interesting study. Why is the sea not full, but because the quantity continually poured into it by the rivers, is evaporated into the atmosphere? And why do the rivers never fail, but because they are replenished from the clouds thus produced, which, pouring their contents upon the mountains, form rivulets, rills, streams, and torrents, to restore to them the waters they are constantly discharging into the ocean. Charles. Thank you, father; I cannot doubt after such indisputable authority that this is the true theory of the formation of rain; but I should much like to know something of the causes which contribute to bring down showers in so apparently capricious a manner. For instance, we have had many days of beautiful weather until this very morning, when now, just as we are contemplating a delightful jaunt, the rain comes down, without a prospect of its holding up. Mr. Annesley. I am sorry, my dear Charles, you should think anything in God's providence capricious; but such an insinuation can only arise from ignorance. In many climates, neither the rain, nor even the wind itself, is at all inconstant, but returns at stated periods. In most tropical countries rain falls only at particular seasons of the year, there being scarcely any rain during the other seasons. Thus at Bombay, the rainy months are June, July, August, September, and October, while the other months are almost without rain; but on the opposite side of India, along the Coromandel coast, the time of the occurrence of the rainy season is reversed." Charles. That is very singular, father; can you account for this difference? Mr. Annesley. It has been remarked that the "effects of different localities, and of different circumstances in the same locality, appear to influence the fall of rain;" for instance, more rain usually falls in the neighbourhood of the sea, than in the sea itself; among mountains than on plains; in torrid than in temperate climates; and these facts render the study of meteorology exceedingly perplexing, even to those who have more time than myself to bestow upon it. Of one thing, however, we may rest assured, that in this, as in all his other operations, God is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working!" (Isaiah xxviii. 29.) "Sing to the Lord, exalt Him high, Who spreads the clouds around the sky; Charles. What an inestimable blessing must rain be to the earth! The more I think upon the subject, the more I repent my impatience and hasty expressions; I see, now, that I acted improperly. Mr. Annesley. You certainly did, and I hope you will hereafter be more guarded, and check that impetuosity of temper, which is a prevailing feature in your disposition. The blessings of rain are numerous and abundant. It brings with it a refreshing coolness, the agreeable effects of which we experience as soon as it has fallen. To rain is partly owing the origin of fountains, wells, lakes, rivulets, and rivers. For want of it, as in a time of great drought, the earth and its vegetable productions, languish and mourn. You have witnessed this recently, in the withered aspect of the garden. The seeds sown, come up sparingly, as though they had not strength to break through the earth. And in the fields which you have passed through, you have seen large apertures, all betokening the parched nature of the ground, for want of rain. Charles. I have remarked this attentively, and it seems to me, that the shrubs and flowers before the house already assume a different appearance since the rain fell. Mr. Annesley. They do; rain conveys moisture to all vegetable productions; it circulates in the minute vessels of plants and trees, and conveys to them those nutritious juices which support their life, and promote their increase; it detaches from the mountains a soft rich earth which it deposits in the valleys where it falls, and thus contributes to its fertility. The more you examine the works of God the more you will perceive of his wisdom and goodness. The sun that shines in its splendour, the, hail that rattles on the ground, the snow that whitens the fields, the dew that glitters on the herbage, as well as the sweeping storm, the roaring thunder, and the vivid lightning, proclaim the majesty and the goodness of God, and should lead us to exclaim, "O Lord! how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all." Charles. Your remarks bring to my recollection some observations which the Rev. Mr. Manton made, a short time ago, in a sermon on Isaiah xxxii. 15, “Until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest." He noticed the text as a promise of the Holy Spirit, in all his reviving, fertilizing influences, and illus |