EI lighted. It was, in fact, a beautiful little drāma of domestic love. 3. The mother bird was so busy, and so important; and her mate was so attentive! Never did any newly-married couple take more satisfaction with their first nicely-arranged drawer of baby-clothes, than they did in fashioning their little woven cradle. 4. The father bird scarcely ever left the side of the nest. There he was all day long, twittering in tones that were most obviously the outpourings of love. Sometimes he would bring in a straw or hair to be interwoven in the little fabric. 5. When the young became old enough to fly, anybody would have laughed to watch the manoeuvres of the parents. Such a chirping and twittering! Such diving down from the nest, and flying up again! Such wheeling round in circles, talking to the young ones all the while! Such clinging to the sides of the shed with their sharp claws, to show the timid little fledglings that there was no need of falling! 6. For three days all this was carried on with increasing activity. It was obviously an infant flying-school. But all their talking and fussing was of no avail. The little things looked down, then looked up, but, alarmed at the infinity of space, sank down into the nest again. At length the parents grew impatient, and summoned their neighbors. 7. As I was picking up chips, one day, I found my head encircled by a swarm of swallows. They flew up to the nest, and chattered away to the young ones; they clung to the walls, looking back to tell how the thing was done; they dived, and wheeled, and balanced, and floated, in a manner perfectly beautiful to behold. 43 8. The pupils were evidently much excited. They jumped on the edge of the nest, and twittered, and shook their feathers, and waved their wings, and then hopped back again, as if they would have said, "It's pretty sport, but we can't do it." 9. Three times the neighbors came and repeated their graceful lesson. The third time, two of the young birds. gave a sudden plunge downward, and then fluttered and hopped till they lighted on a small upright log. And, O ! such praises as were warbled by the whole troop! The air was filled with joy. 10. Some flew round, swift as a ray of light; others perched on the hoe-handle and the teeth of the rake; multitudes clung to the wall, after the fashion of their pretty kind, and two were swinging in most graceful style on a pendent hoop. Never, while memory lasts, shall I forget the swallow-party. Mrs. Child 1. WITH silent awe I hail the sacred morn, That slowly wakes while all the fields are still! 2. Hail, light serene! hail, sacred Sabbath morn! The sun a placid yellow lustre throws; LEYDEN XLIX. THE ALPHABET THE KEY TO KNOWLEDGE. 1. WITH a knowledge of the alphabet a man may, by perseverance, acquire all other kinds of knowledge. In Scotland, more than a hundred years since, there lived a boy named Edmund Stone, whose father was gardener to the Duke" of Ar-gyle'. One day that nobleman found on the grass a volume of Newton's works in Latin. 58 2. The duke was surprised to find that any of his laborers could read such a work. Being told that it belonged to his gardener's son, a youth of eighteen, he summoned him, and said, "How came you to a knowledge of these things?" Edmund replied, "A servant taught me, ten years ago, to read. Does one need anything more than the twenty-six letters in order to learn everything else that he wishes?" 119 3. Then the duke, still more surprised, sat down on a bank, and received from Edmund the following account: “When the masons were at work upon your house, I first learned to read. I observed that the architect used a rule and compasses, and made calculations. 4. "I inquired what was the meaning of such things, and was informed that there was a science called Arithmetic.EI I learned it. Then I was told there was another science called Ge-om'etry. I procured the necessary books, and learned Geometry. 5. "By reading, I found there were good books, in both these sciences, in the Latin language. I bought a dictionary, and learned Latin. Then I understood that there were good books of the same kind in French. I bought a dictionary, and learned French. 6. "It seems to me that, when we know the twenty-six letters of the alphabet, we may learn what we please." Edmund Stone was afterwards well known as an author, and published a number of mathematical works. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1725, and died in 1768 1. THE sun is careering, in glory and might, 'Mid the deep blue-sky and the clouds so bright; The billow is tossing its foam on high, 2. The linnet is singing the wild wood through, 1. To warn us from lying, we should do well to consider the folly, the meanness, and the wickedness, of it. The folly of lying consists in its defeating its own purpose. A habit of lying is generally detected in the end; and after detection, the liar, instead of deceiving, will not even be believed when he happens to speak the truth. 2. Nay, every single lie is attended with such a variety of circumstances which lead to a detection, that it is often discovered. The use generally made of a lie is to cover a fault; but, as this end is seldom answered, we only aggravate what we wish to conceal. In point even of prudence, an honest confession would serve us better. 3. The meanness of lying arises from the cowardice which it implies. We dare not boldly and nobly speak the truth, but have recourse to low subterfuges; which always show a sordid and disingenuous mind. Hence it is that the word liar is always considered as a term of peculiar reproach. 4. The wickedness of lying consists in its perverting one of the greatest blessings of God, the use of speech; in making that a mischief to mankind which was intended for a benefit. Truth is the greatest bond of society. If one man lies, why may not another? And if there is no mutual trust, there is an end of all intercourse. 5. An equivocation is nearly related to a lie. It is an intention to deceive under words of a double meaning, or words which, literally speaking, are true; and is equally criminal with the most downright breach of truth. A nod, or sign, may convey a lie as effectually as the most deceitful language. 6. Under the head of lying may be mentioned a breach of promise. Every engagement, though only of the lightest kind, should be punctually observed: and he who does not think himself bound by such an obligation has little pretension to the character of an honest man. GILPIN. LII. SIR WALTER SCOTT AND HIS DOGS. 1. AFTER my return from Melrose Abbey, Scott proposed a ramble, to show me something of the surrounding country. As we sallied forth, every dog in the establishment turned out to attend us. There was the old and well-known staghound, Maida, a noble animal, and a great favorite of Scott's; and Hamlet, the black greyhound, a mild, thoughtless youngster, which had not yet arrived at the years of discretion; and Finella, a beautiful setter, with soft silken hair, long pendent ears, and a mild eye, the parlor favorite. EI 2. When in front of the house, we were joined by a superannuated greyhound, which came from the kitchen," wagging his tail, and was cheered by Scott as an old friend and comrade. In our walks, Scott would frequently pause in conversation, to notice his dogs, and speak to them, as if rational companions; and, indeed, there appears to be a vast deal of rationality in these faithful attendants on man, derived from their close intimacy with him. 3. Maida deported himself with a gravity becoming his age and size, and seemed to consider himself called upon to preserve a great degree of dignity and decorum in our society. As he jogged along a little distance ahead of us, |