It is supposed that there are in Europe about eight hundred thousand Gypsies. They are an illiterate race, and have not any settled religious opinions; nor do they celebrate any religious rites: they are peculiar in their dress, and are not cleanly in their habits: they are fond of fine colours in ribbons and other articles of dress. Some years since, some benevolent persons endeavoured to impart religious instruction to a number of Gypsies in the neighbourhood of Southampton, and several of them became reformed, and learned trades; and two of them became teachers in a Sunday-school.

THE CAVE OF ENGEDI.

THE lovers of romantic history have much admired the life of Robin Hood, and his merry men of Sherwood forest. The particulars of the story may be given in the words of Stow. "In this time (about the year 1190, in the reign of Richard I.) were many robbers and outlaws, among which, Robin Hood and Little John, renowned theeves, continued in the woods, dispoyling and robbing the goodes of the rich. They killed none but as such as would invade them, or by resistance for their own defence. The saide Robert entertained one hundred men and good archers, with suche spoiles and thefts as he got, upon whom four hundred (were they ever so strong) durst not give the onset. He suffered no woman to be oppressed or molested; poore men's goodes he spared, abundantlie relieving them with that which by theft he got from abbeys and the houses of rich old earles, whom Maior (the historian) blameth for his rapine and theft; but of all the theeves he affirmeth him to be the prince, and the most gentle theefe." His tombstone is shown near the nunnery of Kirklees in Yorkshire, where, as the story goes, he was bled to death by a treacherous nun, to whom he applied for phlebotomy. The epitaph gives the year 1247 as the time of his death. But what impression is the embellishment of such a story likely to produce on the mind of ardent youth? In many instances, we fear, the impression would be, that a lawless life of pleasure is

better than honest plodding industry. This, however, is a life, which though romantically embellished, is contrary to the will of God, and must end in shame and misery.

We wish to present to our readers a far better illustration of heroism and magnanimity, drawn from the Word of God, where the best examples of right moral conduct are certainly to be found. Now, if our young friends have become enchanted with romantic story, what can better suit them than the history of David, the shepherd boy of Bethlehem, who passed through many strange vicissitudes until he became a great and powerful king.

Let the reader employ his imagination, and picture this youth of ruddy countenance, watching his flocks by night, gazing with silent rapture on the starry firmament above him; or anon, aroused by the cry of distress and howling rage, pursuing the bear and the lion, plucking the bleeding lamb from the jaws of destruction, and laying the monsters of the forest lifeless at his feet. Then let him listen to the beautiful music of his harp as he celebrates his deliverance, and sings of the goodness and mercy of God. But this happy youth is not destined to spend his days in seclusion, nor to waste them in tending harmless flocks. His country is in trouble, fighting against her enemies, and many a noble youth has gone to the wars. The brothers of David are there. At his father's bidding, he hastens to their relief, when he beholds a giant foe stalk forth to defy the hosts of the living God. His bosom is fired with indignation-the true spirit of valour springs up within him—and his soul places its reliance for success apon God. What story of giants and giant-killers can be more entertaining than this! See the stripling youth goes forth to meet the armed man; not with weapons of steel and greaves of brass; but with his shepherd's scrip, and his sling and a stone; with his arm nerved with zeal for God, and an unerring aim, directed by an invisible hand, the stone smites the giant, and he falls thundering to the earth.

So great was this deliverance that the virgins of Israel, in their simplicity, extolled his praise. "Saul hath slain his thousands, but David his tens of thousands." This

excited the envy of Saul. David became an outlaw through the malice of his king. Saul discovered his superior virtues and he hated him. Exercising the power of an absolute monarch, he violated all the principles of gratitude, justice, and righteousness, in compelling David, for safety, to forsake his court, and hunting for his life to take it away. David was thus compelled to wander from place to place, that he might escape from the malice of his enemy, hiding himself in the more distant fortified cities, or for greater security seeking covert in dens and caves of the earth.

Many persons who saw and felt the injustice of this persecution, joined themselves to David, and became his devoted followers. Yet we do not find him practising the part of a marauder. He did not rob the rich to benefit the poor, as though liberality on the one hand, could compensate the guilt of ill-gotten booty on the other. Neither did he turn his hand against his enemy, or scek, by injustice to injure him. He was ever ready to render service to any whom he could befriend; and if all his conduct was not unexceptionable, yet his general principles were those of justice and generosity. We have lately had a description of true valour presented to our consideration (see page 179), and we would now present the character and conduct of David in illustration. The following is from a Jewish pen, in which we have a supposed dialogue between David and his men in the Cave of Engedi. The motives that might have determined him to embrace the opportunity for Irivate revenge, are put in the mouths of his advisers, and the whole is in probable keeping with those characters who had thus associated with him. But the magnanimity and valour of David is made to appear, by his resistance of te conflicting temptation of his mind, and in simply cutting off the skirt of Saul's robe, when he might as easily have taken his life. (See 1 Sam. xxiv.) May our readers learn that "Vengeance belongeth unto God,"-that we must not avenge ourselves on our enemies, and that good for evil should be returned to our foes.

'Listen to me, my sons, while I relate to you the valour and grandeur of a man. It is not the valour of a

warrior, neither is it the grandeur of a rich and powerful man; but the valour is that of a man who could conquer his passions, and the grandeur is that of his soul. As the clouds of heaven shed the blessings of the Supreme alike on the wicked and on the righteous, so is the mild and benevolent man who can curb his anger. He, like a rock, stands firm and fears not, though the sea rage, though surrounded by its foaming billows. He is unmoved, being supported by righteousness. Nothing can shake him although encompassed by the breakers of death. He listens not to the voice of flatterers, pays no attention even fo the advice of his best friends, should they urge him on to vengeance against his enemies; for " good-will to man," is his constant beacon to it are his eyes directed; where it guides him, he follows. His only desire and delight are centred in humanity, which never deserts its followers, although they should for a time wander, deserted, forlorn, and with no one to support them in their hour of need.

So fared it with the good David-who was obliged to flee from Saul, and wandered in the wilderness like a lost sheep, or like a bird that hops from twig to twig-when he was in the fastnesses at Engedi, concealed from the wrath of his pursuers, who sought to take his life. There sat David and a few of his trusty followers, in a desolate and dreary cave, into which the glorious light of heaven had never beamed, nor the sun shed its genial rays. Darkness, and the shadow of death alone, there took up their abode. There, no voice of joy was ever heard; no voice but the voice of bleating goats, or the yells of devouring animals. There sat David, mild, placid; nay, even cheerful, as a bridegroom in the chamber of his bride, or as king on his throne. His little host, hungry, fatigued, exhausted, despairing, from the troubles which they had endured, communed with each other, and said, "Up! let us urge him on to turn against Saul, and at once to revenge him and ourselves for all the evils to which that tyrant has subjected us. Let us go and remonstrate with him, and require to know the cause why he delays in attacking Saul! Has he not heretofore vanquished and overcome his enemies? Are we not strong enough? Then, why should

we any longer wander in this dreary wilderness, enduring hunger and thirst, and deprived of every comfort of life? Our wives, our children, and our effects, have they not already become a prey to Saul and his army? Up, then! Let some one address him and urge him to the onslaught."

'Thus they communed, when Jashobeam, the son of Hachmons (See 1 Chron. xi. 11.) advanced to David and addressed him: "My lord David, thou art no stranger to the deeds that I have accomplished. From the very moment when I attended thee to win thy dowry from the Philistines, has my soul not at all times been true to thee? Hast thou not always prospered when thou wert pleased to listen to my counsel? and why? Because I never hastened to effect a purpose without first looking to the result. How frequently have I not checked the young warriors, who, impelled by anger, impetuously rushed to the charge, ere they had considered the consequences! Allow me now with great submission to say, that I am equally dissatisfied with thy deportment. Is it fitting for a warrior like thyself to be lazy? to sit thus in a state of apathy? Why does fear possess thee? or why art thou afraid, that thou flecst like a hind when pursued by the hunter? How art thou changed? Where is now thy daring spirit flown? Thou who couldst truly boast, Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them;' thou who didst exclaim on that memorable occasion, 'Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine!' Didst not thou slay the haughty champion? and with what? with a small stone! But now that thou hast a sword, spear, and javelin, and art surrounded by this trusty band of warriors, thy spirits flag, and thou art fainthearted. Who is Saul, and who are his men? Did I not, with this spear, lay prostrate at my feet three hundred warriors at one time? Surely we can vanquish the son of Kish, and his imbecile adherents. O that thou but knewest how my soul thirsts for the blood of thine enemies! how anxious I am to meet, to combat, and to overcome them! thou wouldst rejoice at our success. We surely are powerful enough. Strangers to fear, not one of our pursuers shall