11. When the story was told at the police office by the hair-dresser, the theft of the loaf was visited by no severe punishment. The culprit was released with a proper rebuke and some good advice. Many friends were raised up to the poor family, and they were soon restored to health and comfort, and all through the thoughtful humanity of little Ruth.

ΧΙ. THE MISCHIEVOUS BOY.

1. I RESIDED in Philadelphia, in the vicinity of a market. One evening, as I was quietly sitting with my family, I heard a loud rap at my front door. front door. I immediately went to the door, and was surprised, on opening it, to find no one there. I shut the door, and turned to go to the parlor. 2. I had hardly proceeded a yard, before rap, rap, went the knocker again. I hastily opened the door, but no one was to be seen. I concluded that some mis'chievous boy was disposed to have a little sport at my expense, but, as I was not willing to be annoyed with mischief, I shut the door, and kept hold of it. Very soon the raps were repeated.

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3. I suddenly opened the door; but nobody was to be seen. The evening was dark, and, as I stood at the door, the raps were renewed for a few seconds. I stood in astonishment; but, upon putting my hand upon the knocker, the mystery was unravelled. I found a string tied to it, and my little persecutor was standing behind one of the pillars of the market with one end in his hand, operating upon my knocker at his pleasure.

4. I closed the door and went out a back way, passing down the foot-way, till I got some distance below the lad, when I turned and came up behind him, and took hold of his arm. He was very much alarmed, and began to entreat me to let him go, when the following dialogue took place: 5. "Well, my lad, thou art amusing thyself at my ex

pense. I want thee to go home with me."

"O, you are

going to whip me! Please let me go, and I will never do so again."—"I will not whip thee, but thou must go home with me.'

6. After repeated assurances that I would not whip him, at length the poor fellow consented; but he had no faith in my promise not to whip him, and went in the full expectation that he was to be punished. I seated him in the parlor, and took a seat by his side. He was a bright-looking little fellow, about thirteen or fourteen years of age.

7. I asked him if he went to school. He replied that he did. "Canst thou read?" I inquired. "Yes."—"Well,

let us read a few chapters in the Bible."

8. I opened the Bible, read a chapter, and then gave it to him; and I was much pleased to discover that he could. read so well. We spent about an hour in that manner, when I remarked that we had spent the evening very pleasantly together; I now thought it was about time for him to go home.

9. "If thy father or mother inquires where thou hast been," I said, "tell them that thou hast been spending the evening with me; and when thou feelest an inclination to be a little mischievous, call upon me. I shall always be pleased to see thee." He left my house rejoicing, and

never troubled me afterwards.

I. T. HOPPER.

XII. THE MIMIC.

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1. A MIMIC I knew, who, to give him his due,
Was exceeded by none and was equalled by few.

2. He could bark like a dog; he could grunt like a hog;
Nay, I really believe he could croak like a frog.

3 Then, as for a bird, you may trust to my word, Twas the best imitation that ever you heard ·

4. It must be confessed that he copied birds best
You'd have thought he had lived all his life in a nest

5. It happened, one day, that he came in the way

Of a sportsman,

6. And near a stone

an excellent marksman, they say.

wall, with his little bird-call,

The mimic attempted to imitate all.

7. So well did he do it, the birds all flew to it; But, ah! he had certainly reason to rue it.

8. It turned out no fun,- for, the man with the gun, Who was seeking for partridges, took him for one.

9. He was shot in the side; and he feelingly cried,
A moment or so ere he fainted and died :119

"Who for others prepare a trap, should beware
They do not themselves fall into the snare."

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"Fear not, good fellow, for your hoard!
I come to lodge, and not to board!"

TRANSLATED FROM THE GREEK BY COWPER.

XIV. ON LEARNING TO SAY NO.

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1. It often requires great courage to say NO. But, by being able promptly, on occasion, to utter this little mono-syllable,¤1 you mav save yourself a deal of trouble. Your

welfare, your integrity, your self-respect, may depend on your ability to reply, resolutely, NO.

2. You are urged by some of your companions to engage in some amusement, or to go on some excursion,59 which you know to be wrong. You say no at the outset, firmly and quickly, and there is the end of it.

3. But, if you hesitate, you will be importuned until you will probably yield; and, having thus given up your own judgment, and violated your conscience, you will losc your power of resistance, and yield to every enticement.

4. Joseph has cultivated decision of character. He never hesitates a moment when anything wrong is proposed. He rejects it instantly. The consequence is, his companions never think of going to him when they have any mis'chievous scheme on foot.

5. His prompt and decisive no they do not wish to encounter. His parents can trust him anywhere, because they have no fears of his being led astray; because he has learned to say no. And this relieves them of a load of

anxiety.

6. Reuben is the opposite of this. He wishes to please everybody in everything, and therefore has not the courage to say no to any one. He seems wholly unable to resist the temptation. He is, therefore, always getting into difficulty,— always doing something that he ought not, through the enticement of his companions.

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7. His parents scarcely dare trust him out of their sight, they are so fearful that he will be led astray. He is thus a source of great anxiety to them, and all because he cannot say NO.

8. Now, let me beg of you to learn to say No. If you find any difficulty in uttering it, if your tongue will not easily do its office,- go by yourself, and practise saying no, NO, NO! till you can articulate the word clearly, distinctly” and without hesitation.

9. Practise it till you have it always ready on your

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tongue's end, to utter with emphasis to every girl or boy, man or woman, or evil spirit, that presumes to propose to you to do anything that is wrong.

10. But there are occasions when it may be well to cultivate the power of saying yes. When asked to do a fellowcreature a kindness, the granting of which will not conflict with our duty to ourselves or others, we should then avoid that little word no, so proper in repelling temptation, or rejecting a wrong request.

Newcomb.

XV. TO A BUTTERFLY.

1. STAY near me ! - do not take thy flight!

A little longer stay in sight!

Much con verse" do I find in thee,
Historian of my infancy!

2. Float near me! - do not yet depart!
Dead times revive in thee;

Thou bring'st, gay creature as thou art,
A solemn image to my heart,

My father's family!

3. O! pleasant, pleasant were the days,
The time when, in our childish plays,
My sister Emmeline and I

Together chased the butterfly!

4. A very hunter did I rush

Upon the prey-with leaps and springs
I followed on from brake to bush;
But she (Heaven love her!) feared to brush
The dust from off its wings.

WORDSWORTH.

XVI.

THE KING AND THE FLATTERER.

1. DIONYS'IUS, the tyrant of Sicily, was far from being happy, though he had great riches, and all the pleasures