divided into zones, each of which has its peculiar vegetation. The equatorial zone is the region of palms and vast timber trees, and of aromatic seeds, called spices. The tropical produces sugar, coffee, and fig-like fruits; and the sub-tropical, olives and myrtles, rich fruits, rice, and tobacco. The temperate zone has the various corns; and, in its colder part, oak and other trees, with orchard fruits. The arctic region affords pines, and still further, mosses alone; while eternal barrenness reigns at the poles.

QUESTIONS.

On what does vegetation chiefly depend? What kind of vegetation is most common in the hot, temperate, and cold regions of the earth respectively? What are spices, and where do they grow? Into what classes are plants divided according to their structure? Describe the lowest forms of vegetable life. What are monocotyledons? Give examples of any growing in England. How are the trunks of timber trees formed? What are isothermals? Name the vegetable zones of the earth. By what plants is each zone known?

Gone into disuse, disused. Literally, drawn ; removed from one regiment to another.

Variegated with cross lines; formed into little squares like a chess-board, by lines or stripes of different colours.

Disbanded, Dis and band; Fr., débander, Dismissed from military ser

Spindle,

to disband. A.-S., spindel,

vice.
The pin used in spinning-
wheels for twisting the
thread, and on which the
thread, when twisted, is
wound.

A kind of linen manufactured
in Holland.
Profitable; gainful.

Towards the middle of the 17th century, two young

men of the name of Wilson, the one from Flakefield,

and the other from its neighbourhood, repaired to the city of Glasgow, and there commenced business. The sameness of name having, however, occasioned, frequent mistakes in the way of trade, the one was distinguished from the other by the cognomen "Flakefield," the place of his birth. His real surname soon became obsolete; and the name of Flakefield, in place of Wilson, descended to his posterity.

To this man's son the now flourishing city of Glasgow is in a great measure indebted for her rise to opulence and grandeur.

Flakefield put one of his sons to the weaving trade. The youth, after learning the business, enlisted, about the year 1671, in the regiment of the Cameronians, but was afterwards drafted into the Scottish Guards. During the course of the war, Flakefield's regiment being ordered to the Continent, he there procured a blue and white checkered handkerchief, which had been woven in Germany, and which greatly struck his fancy. He thought that, were he fortunate enough to return to his native city, he would attempt a manufacture of the same kind. With the greatest care the soldier-weaver preserved a fragment of the cloth; and being disbanded in the year 1700, he returned to Glasgow with the fixed determination of accomplishing his praiseworthy design.

A few spindles of yarn-the white ill-bleached, the blue not very dark-were all that poor William Flakefield could collect at the time, or, indeed, that could then be found in Glasgow. His first web was composed of about two dozen handkerchiefs. When the

G

half was woven, he cut out the cloth and took it to the merchants, who at that time traded in salmon, Scotch plaiding, hollands, and other thick linen. They were delighted with the novelty of the blue and white stripes, but especially with the delicate texture of the cloth, which was thin set in comparison with the hollands. The adventurer asked no more for his web than the cost-price of the materials, and the ordinary wages for his work. This was willingly paid him, and he went home rejoicing that his attempt had not proved unsuccessful. This dozen of handkerchiefs the first of the kind ever woven in Britain -were disposed of in a few hours. Fresh demands were daily made on the gratified weaver; and the remaining half of his little web was bespoken before it was woven. More yarn was, as speedily as possible, procured, and several looms were immediately filled with handkerchiefs of the same pattern. The demands increased in proportion to the quantity of cloth that was manufactured. Some English merchants, who resorted to Glasgow for thick linens, were highly pleased with the new manufacture, and carried a few of the handkerchiefs to England 'for a trial. They met with universal approbation; the number of looms continued to increase; so that, in a few years, Glasgow became famous for that branch of the linen trade. A variety of patterns and colours were soon introduced. The weavers in Paisley and the neighbouring towns engaged in the business; and the trade was at length carried on to a great extent.

Our readers will see from the above from what a

small beginning this very useful and lucrative branch of business took its rise, and which was also the means of introducing others still more extensive. But though Flakefield laid the first foundation of the prosperity of Glasgow, it appears that, like too many of the benefactors of mankind, he reaped neither emolument from his labour nor gratitude from his townsmen; since we find that, in old age, he occupied the humble station of town-drummer to the city which his enterprise has raised to the rank of one of the first manufacturing and commercial cities of the British empire.-Penny Magazine.

SUMMARY.—Towards the middle of the 17th century two young men of the name of Wilson commenced business in the city of Glasgow. One of them was called Flakefield, from the place of his birth. This youth enlisted, was sent with his regiment to the Continent, and there bought a blue and white checkered handkerchief, which struck his fancy. After leaving the army he attempted this manufacture, and was very successful. A variety of patterns and colours were soon introduced, and the trade was at length carried on to a great extent.

Flakefield, a small place in the parish of East Kilbride,

Lanarkshire.

Glasgow, one of the principal manufacturing and commercial places in the world. It is situated on the banks of the Clyde. Paisley, a large manufacturing town of Scotland, in Renfrewshire, situated on the river White Cart.

Unpunished, Un, not; Lat., punio, punish, Not punished; punish, to give

from pœna, pain.

pain for a crime or fault.

My little dears who learn to read, pray early learn to

shun

That very silly thing indeed, which people call a pun; Read Entick's rules, and 'twill be found how simple an offence

It is to make the self-same sound afford a double sense.

For instance, ale may make you ail, your aunt an ant may kill;

You in a vale may buy a veil, and Bill may pay the bill.

Edward Theodore Hook, a popular English humorist and novelist, was born in London in 1788. Between the years 1824 and 1836 he wrote about thirty volumes of novels. He was also editor of the John Bull newspaper. He died at Fulham in 1841.