It was at this moment Julia looked around to admire the scenery, and beheld a Rainbow. "Look, look!" she said, "mamma, what a beautiful Rainbow! How wide it spreads! How many colours are there? Let me count them. One, two, three, four, five—" "My dear," said her mamma, "there are seven, and in the following order: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and violet. These colours appear so much the more lively, according as the cloud behind is darker, and the drops of rain fall the closer. The Rainbow can last only while the rain continues. The sun must be behind us, and the rain opposite "Where do we read, my dear, in the Bible about the Rainbow?" asked Julia's mamma. "I think, mamma," replied Julia, "it was to Noah as a sign the world should not again be destroyed by water, and we read so in the book of Genesis." "Yes," answered her mamma, "my dear, you are right. How very fearful would Noah and his family have been whenever they saw dark clouds arise and an appearance of much rain, if God had not kindly said what he intended by the Rainbow! But he explained it by saying, 'I do set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between me and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth!' "A bow bespeaks terror; but this has neither string nor arrow; it is an emblem of peace. If it had not been said that it was a token to all generations, even we should have feared a deluge whenever a storm approached. How must Noah have felt when he and his family left the ark, and not a vestige of any thing remained they had seen before! For the waters had covered the highest mountains, and had risen fifteen cubits higher; that is, seven yards and a half; so that in vain would salvation have been hoped for from the hills and mountains. What was Noah's conduct on leaving the ark? He did not forget (as many do) the mercies of God which he had received. The first thing he did was to build an altar for the worship of God. One would have thought, so dreary as every thing must have appeared, his first care would have been to build a house for himself and family, warm and sheltered as they had been in the ark. But no; Noah feared God, and therefore his first care was to serve him. "May it be so, my dear, with you," continued Julia's mamma. "May you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto family prayer When they arrived at their abode, as Julia's papa was not expected that night, her mamma, according to her usual practice in his absence, rang the bell for the servants to attend family worship; and a large family bible being laid on the table, her mamma, with great solemnity, read the twenty-ninth Psalm, which being done, all kneeled, and she, in a sweet, feeling manner, approached the throne of Mercy. 'May angels guard thy head, And through the hours of darkness keep Their watch around thy bed!'" I hope, my dear young reader, you will consider what Julia's mamma said to her for her instructions and comfort about the Storm and the Rainbow is here mentioned for your instruction and comfort too on such occasions. Only fear God, and you need not fear any thing else. How dreadful to hear in the sky The thunder so long and so loud! To witness the fork'd lightnings fly, Discharged from yonder black cloud! Lord, mercy on me do bestow, And show me the peaceful Rainbow! In vain to shelters do I run, If I find no shelter in Thee; No threat'ning dangers can I shun, Thou can'st hush my fears I well know, By showing the peaceful Rainbow. That tells me the storm shall soon end, The earth shall be delug'd no more, That God is my father and friend, Whose love is great as his power. His signal to creatures below Is the peaceful, lovely Rainbow. This bow is not bent by a string, Because the anger is all fled; Nor has it an arrow to fling, So that I have nothing to dread. And God now would have me to know, All is mercy in the Rainbow. In future, then, when I'm afraid, And darkness and storms fill the air, I will think that God who them made, Views me as a child of his care; That storms will soon cease from below, And the sky display the Rainbow. FINIS. ———————————— T. C. Hansard, Printer, Peterboro'-court, Fleet-street, London. ———————————— New and Approved Reward Books, JUST PUBLISHED BY FRANCIS WESTLEY, 10, STATIONERS'-COURT, AND AVE-MARIA-LANE. ————— 1. THE WASHERWOMAN. By a Lady. Neatly printed, with Four Wood Cuts, 32mo. Price 1d. 2. HENRY'S SERMON to his Servant, when he was only Eight Years Old. By a Lady. Embellished with Four Wood Cuts, and neatly sewed in stiff Wrappers. Price 1d. 3. THE VILLAGER'S DAUGHTER. Embellished with Four Wood Cuts, and neatly sewed in stiff Wrappers. Price 1d. 4. THE YOUNG LOITERER. Neatly printed, 32mo. Price 1d. 5. THE SNOW DROP. Neatly printed, 32mo. Price 1d. 6. THE YOUNG MECHANIC. Neatly printed, 32mo. Price 1d. 7. THE LITTLE ARTIST; or, The History of Francis Thomas. Second Edition. 32mo. Neatly printed. Price 1d. 8. A MOTHER'S NARRATIVE. 32mo. Neatly printed. Price 1d. 9. No. 1. GEMS OF SACRED POETRY, selected for Sunday Scholars. Illustrated with 15 Wood Cuts, 32mo. Price 1d. 10. No. 2. Ditto. Ditto. 11. No. 3. Ditto. Ditto. 12. ARITHMETICAL TABLES for the use of Schools. Neatly printed, 32mo. Price 1d. ******* This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will be renamed. |