mined, if possible, to keep awake and watch how the mysterious work was done. But no sooner had the clock struck twelve than once more the same delicious music stole through the room. As before, she now found it impossible any longer to keep her eyes open. While her ear drank in the melody, by degrees every object faded from before her; and soon she sank into a sound and peaceful sleep. Again, as on the night before, the angels came and took up her task. While one plied the wheel and spun the thread, another watered the lily with precious and sacred dews, till a delightful odour filled all the chamber. And now, at the first movement of the sleeper, again the angels vanished as they came with noiseless wings and soundless tread. And so the guardian angels came and went night after night. But when at length the Maid's hard daily toil, together with the nightly angel-help, had brought a sufficient amount of comfort to the sick mother, and health once more returned to her cheek, then the midnight work ceased to be carried on by invisible hands. But the Maid's heart was strengthened. She grew even more trustful than she had been of old. She never any more shed tears when her wearied fingers refused to pursue their midnight trip. She knew and felt that the guardian watchers were around and about her everywhere, whether she could see them or not, and that they would surely assist her in the time of her need. Meanwhile the lily flower bloomed on and faded not; and was ever looked upon as an emblem of the blameless Maid. It was, besides, a tender and truthful witness to the presence of good angels in the chamber made sacred by the devotion of a duteous child. This is an ancient tale; and the Shepherds of old time, who watched their flocks beneath the night sky, and who heard it told, when they looked at a certain Constellation on high, fancied they could trace in the stars the figure of the maid; and they named the Constellation Virgo, or the Virgin. THE GARDEN. AUGUST. "It is the Crown of Summer-August tide! That matron-mith which wears a mask of pride Bedding Plants. These are now in their greatest beauty, and the principal care required will be to keep them within their proper bounds, as when the beds are formed on the grass, if the plants are allowed to overlie the margin for any time, the edges will be brown and unsightly for some months. In geometrical designs, where the edges are formed of box, it is necessary that they should be kept perfectly clear of plants, or else one of the principal charms of that kind of garden will be lost, and confusion result. Now is the best time to make notes of the kinds best adapted for producing decided effects or for particular situations. It is impossible, within the limits of our space, to enter minutely into this subject, which is a study of itself. But to give one of many instances, take a bed of white Verbena standing alone with only grass or gravel beyond it, and how inconspicuous it is! yet place on the other side a bed of Robinson's Defiance or the Emperor of China Verbena, and the white will appear whiter still, whilst the brilliancy of the other is greatly increased in intensity. It is clear, therefore, that effect will greatly depend on the position from which plants are to be viewed; and this should be the first consideration in those designs which are viewed from the windows of a mansion. The propagation of the more delicate sorts of bedding plants, such as Anagallis, Nierembergias, and Petunias, had better be commenced soon, in order to obtain a good supply of roots, the want of which is one of the principal causes of so many of these plants failing in the winter season; indeed, where there is abundance of room they would be better to be struck early enough to be potted singly, and get well rooted before going to rest in the winter. Dahlias will be much benefited by a good supply of stimulating liquid at intervals. Keep them well secured to strong stakes, and trap earwigs by inverting small pots on the top of the stakes. Pits and frames: As the most of these will now be at liberty, attention should be paid to the repairs of glass and painting, which is best done at this season. The insides of pits will also be very much the better for a good whitewashing with quick lime. Rose Garden.-Let the budding be now coinpleted as soon as possible. Cuttings of the various Chinese, Tea-scented, Noisettes, and other Roses, will root very readily in light soil under hand-glasses. The early cucumber-bed, if it can be spared, is an excellent place for striking them, and also late pipings of Cloves, Picotees, and Carnations. Early budded stocks must be looked over, and the ligatures loosened. Remove seed-vessels and past-flowering shoots from the autumn-flowering Roses. Florists' Flowers.-As soon as the first layers of Carnations and Picotees are well rooted, they should be carefully separated from the stock, and potted. The compost, which may consist of about equal parts of gritty road-scrapings, fibrous sandy loam, and well-decomposed leaves, should be thrown together immediately, if not already done, and very often passed through the hands of some one thoroughly versed in (and anxious for) the detection of that destructive pest, the wireworm. Pink pipings, when well rooted, should be planted in the beds where they are intended to flower. These beds should have some fresh compost laid on, and also some good decomposed manure, which, however, should be left at about spit deep, so that the roots may get the benefit of it next spring. Pot off the early struck Pansies, and place them on coal-ashes, in a situation where they get only the morning and evening sun. Propagation may be continued where a large stock is required. Shrubbery.-The principal routine here is to maintain neatness in every part. Continue the practice of reducing shrubs into compact, graceful shapes, and prevent the commoner sorts from encroaching on the choicer varieties. Planting may be commenced; but it is seldoin done, except where there is much to be completed. Our drawing of Drynaria was made from a plant at Kew. The pedestal and vase upon which it is placed, we have supplied as an illustration of the principle and application of particular plants in the way to which we refer. The following remarks respecting the plant itself have been sent us by Mr. Houlston: "DRYNARIA QUERCIFOLIA. Among the numerous and varied forms of vegetation that are disseminated throughout the realms of nature, we find that some are remarkable for their grotesque configuration, others for their graceful appearance or rigid structure, and some are absolutely essential for the existence of man. Every species, however insignificant it may appear, is conducive to some wise purpose, and may be regarded as forming a link in the great chain of nature, from which an important lesson is to be learned. The species under consideration is one of those evergreen tropical ferns that ornament our stoves with their graceful fronds, at all seasons of the year. It belongs to a very extensive group, originally arranged with Polypodium, but is separated from them by having compital punetiform sori, with a compound anastomosing venation. It is of a very rigid structure, almost without a parallel in the class to which it belongs. There are various forms of it generally distributed throughout the tropics of the Eastern hemisphere, almost every locality presenting one that is somewhat different in WAX AND HONEY.-Wax-lights, though we are accustomed to overlook the fact, and rank them with ordinary common-places, are true fairy tapers-a white metamorphosis from the flowers, crowned with the most intangible of all visible mysteries-fire. Then there is honey, which a Greek poet would have called the sister of wax-a thing as beautiful to eat as the other is to look upon; and beautiful to look upon too. What two extraordinary substances to be made, by little winged creatures, out of roses and lifies! What a singular and lovely energy in nature to impel those little creatures thus to fetch out the sweet and elegant properties of the coloured fragrances of the gardens, and serve them up to us for food and light!-honey to eat, and waxen tapers to eat it by! What more graceful repast could be imagined on one of the fairy tables made by Vulcan, which moved of their own accord, and came gliding, when he wanted a luncheon, to the side of Apollo!-the honey golden as his lyre, and the wax fair as his shoulders. Depend upon it he has eaten of it many a time, chatting with Hebe before some Olympian concert; and as he talked in an under-tone, fervid as the bees, the bass-strings of his lyre murmured an accompaniment. Leigh Hunt. THE GREAT INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION. Our feelings of national pride, our well founded hopes, our pleasant retrospections, and the sense of well nigh inexhaustible enjoyment, which, as individuals, so many of us experience, are at this moment quailing, as if before the terrors of a horrid nightmare! It is possible the World's last Wonder, the monument of Peace, the harbinger of good will, the true Temple of Concord and Industry, the CRYSTAL PALACE, may be razed to the ground! Yet the masses of the people, not believing that such a stolid absurdity can be committed, neglect to prevent it by their want of vigorous demonstration and active co-operation in the matter. Therefore do we enter this brief but earnest protest; therefore do we beseech our readers every one to use their individual influence in making widely known the people's will, for so it really is, and thus release the acting parties from the letter of their promise, opposed to the spirit of the whole national feeling. Even landholders and householders in the neighbourhood (see Lord Listowel's recent letter in the Times) are beginning to view the question in its proper light; but, were it not so, why should a few private and personal interests and prejudices stand in the way of a great public good? Our limits this month prevent our entering on much we have to say in reference to the one inexhaustible topic, the Great Exhibition, but we cannot refrain from offering a short quotation from an article in the "Athenæum." Speaking of the speedy prorogation of Parliament, the writer reminds us that it "will not assemble again, in the ordinary course of events, until the early part of next year. In the interval the Crystal Palace must be dealt with in one fashion or another. Before the Members separate for the holidays, such an expression of opinion should be obtained from them as will warrant the Minister in considering himself free from the obligation contracted last year, for the purpose of meeting an unreasonable outcry. "The Westminster Committee and some others, we observe, have in their petition declined to express any premature opinion as to the uses to which the Crystal Palace may be applied in future. This is prudent. Many will probably object to Mr. Paxton's fancy for an Italian climate,' who would yet desire to have the building converted into a winter garden, a museum of art and science, or a collection of natural produce. The simple thing is, to ask just now for the retention of the building, unfettered by any condition. On that point nearly all suffrages are united. Its future uses may be safely discussed hereafter. Its great characteristic is, that it is fit for anything. On the principle of Mrs. Glasse, we would say-first secure the Crystal Palace:-and this can be most readily done by the petitioners not requiring Parliament to commit itself beforehand to any definite and fixed proposal." THE WORK TABLE. ANTIMACASSAR IN CROCHET. Materials:-Evans's Boar's Head Cotton, No. 16; Boulton's Crochet Hook, No. 15. Rather more than one-quarter of the Antimacassar is given, the centre line of the Shield being exactly in the middle. The border is not intended to go all round, although this alteration may easily be effected. Make a chain of 352 stitches, and work one row in dc.; this forms the first solid row above the Vandyke edging. Then work from the pattern. When the last row of the Shield is done, allow for three open rows above into, instead of the two below it; which will cause the pattern of the border to be correct. Work the remainder from the engraved pattern, reversing the order of the rows. FOR THE BORDER.-Sc on the first stitch of the end, * 7 ch, miss 5, 1 sc, 5 ch, sc on same repeat. * 2nd row. Turn the work on the wrong side, and proceed without breaking off the thread. *7 ch, sc under 1st loop, 5 ch, sc under the same. Repeat all along the row. * 3rd. (Beginning to form a Vandyke.)-Turn the work, and proceed without breaking off the thread. *7 ch, sc under loop, 5 ch, sc under the same, 7 times. 7 ch, sc under next loop. 2nd row of Vandyke.-Slip 4 on the four last of 7, * 7 ch, sc under the next loop, 5 ch, sc under the same, * 6 times. 7 ch, sc under the next. 3rd.-Slip 4 to the centre of the last 7, and repeat the last row, only with one loop less. Continue working backwards and forwards, decreasing every time, until a single loop of 7 terminates the point of the first Vandyke. Break off the thread, leaving a length of 4 inches. For the succeeding Vandykes, join the thread on close to the last, and repeat the process. round a card 4 inches wide. Cut the pieces at For the fringe, wind the thread a dozen times one edge; pass the 12 threads through the chain at the point, and sew them securely, as close to the loop as possible.-AIGUILLETTE, CHINESE SLIPPERS. Materials a yard of rich black Satin, of the wide width; Gold Bullion; 2 skeins of the purest Gold Thread, coarse and fine; and of China Silk 5 shades of each of the following colours: blue, purple, green, yellow green, brown (shaded into orange), crimson, and a skein of the coarsest white Crochet Twist. The pattern for the front of the slipper, which it will readily be perceived is genuine Chinese, must be enlarged according to the size of the slipper required. It should occupy the whole front of the foot. When accurately drawn on stout writing-paper, the outlines and divisions must be traced by pricking them with a pin: then lay the pattern very evenly on the satin, with the smooth side of the paper upwards, and keep it in its place by means of weights. Rub some finely-powdered flake-white over the pattern with a large flat stump, and on removing the paper the design will be found traced accurately on the satin. Take a fine sable brush, dip it in a solution of flake-white and milk, and mark the outlines carefully. The gold pattern on the sides of the slippers must be enlarged, and marked in the saine manner. All the outlines are then to be worked by laying a line of the coarse white crochet silk on the satin, and sewing it over with fine silk of the same hue. Those parts only which are marked a, have the outline and filling up in fine gold thread, laid on and sewed over in yellow silk. The whole of the filling up is done in the delicate and effective stitch we term the French knot, which is worked in the following manner: -Draw the silk to the upper side of the work, then catching it in the left hand, an inch or two from the satin, twist it round the needle twice. and then insert the point of the needle in the work exactly in the same place where you drew it out. Gradually draw it up, and a knot is formed. The great art in this style of embroidery consists in making the knots all lie very evenly, and in properly introducing the shades. In every colour used the lightest shade must be nearly white, to avoid any strong contrast with the white silk outline. The colours are indicated by letters, and the shading in the engrav ing denotes the shades of each. a. Fine gold thread. b. Blue. c. Purple. d. Blue green. e. Yellow green. f. Brown shaded through orange to yellow. g. Gold embroidery, worked with fine gold bullion. h. Crimson. i. Thick gold thread. The arabesque patterns of the sides is to be formed of the coarsest gold thread, laid on and sewed over. There is a slight error in the engraving, a single line being here and there subThis must be corstituted for a double one. rected in the work. The ends of the gold threadare to be drawn through the satin. When made up, let the top of the slippers be trimmed with gold fringe, on the head of which a narrow ruche of ribbon may be laid. So many colours being used, almost any may be em ployed for the lining and ruche; but they ought to be the same. AIGUILLETTE. EMBROIDERY FOR A CRAVAT. Materials: Evans's Embroidery Cotton, No. 70. Having given the pattern for a Court Cravat in another number of this work, there is now presented a pattern suitable for embroidering the muslin point of the cravat itself. The small round flowers are formed by making a hole with a stiletto in the centre, and working all round it closely in long button-hole stitch. The fibres are run, and closely sewed over, and the spots are formed by sewing over and over again until a small raised dot is made. The open - hem in the centre of the larger flowers is made by successive and graduated eyelet-holes, closely sewed over. At each side is raised satin stitch. The outlines of the leaves are run and sewed, while the spots are formed by sewing twice over each, passing the needle, the second time, to the next spot. quires to be copied on tracing-paper. The pattern being the full size, merely re POINT LACE EDGING. Materials: Evans's Point Lace Cottons ; Braid No. 7. The reader will find the stitches used in the diagrams given of the various Point Lace stitches in former numbers of "THE LADIES' COMPANION." For so small a pattern, the finest cottons only are to be used, as Evans's AIGUILLETTE. Boar's Head 100 for the Brussels Lace, ditto 90 for the Venetian Edging, Evans's Mecklenburgh 120 for the Venetian Bars, and Evans's Meck. lenburgh 100 for the Point d'Alençon. This edging, being very strong, is extremely suitable for children's dresses, or for the trimming of a chemisette. AIGUILLETTE. not thick writing-paper, scrape some red or blue chalk, and brush it all over a sheet of thin tissue paper, shaking off any loose particles. Lay this tissue paper on the cambric or muslin, with the chalked side downward, and on it lay the paper pattern, which you must retain in its place by |