6. A gentleman in England had land worth a thousand dollars a-year, which he cultivated himself; but, nevertheless, he fell into debt, to pay off which he was obliged to sell one half of his property. He then let the remaining half to a farmer for twenty-one years. 7. Before that time had expired, the farmer, one day, bringing his rent, asked the landlord if he would sell his land. "And would you buy it?" inquired the landlord."If it so please you," answered the farmer. 8. "How comes it," cried the gentleman, "that, after I was unable to live upon double the quantity of land, paying no rent, you, living on this small piece, for which you paid rent, have gained enough to purchase it?” 9. "O!" said the farmer, smiling, "but two words made the difference; you said Go, and I said Come." "What is the meaning of that?" inquired the gentleman."You lay in bed," quoth the farmer, "or took your pleasure, and sent others about your business: I rose betimes, and saw my business done myself." Chambers. LXXIV.- THE FRACTIOUSE MAN. There are some men who have so bad a temper that they will get angry without a cause, and make both themselves and others very uncomfortable. I hope my young readers will never give way to such a propensity as that exhibited by Mr. Cross in the following conversation between him and his hired man, John. Mr. Cross. WHY do you keep me knocking all day at the door! John. I was at work, sir, in the garden. As soon as I heard your knock, I ran to open the door with such haste that I fell down. Mr. C. No great harm was done in that! Why didn't you leave the door open? John. Why, sir, you scolded me yesterday because I did so. scold. When it is open, you scold; when it is shut, you Mr. C. What to do? What to do, did you say? John. I said it. Would you have me leave the door >pen? Mr. C. No. John. Would you have me keep it shut? John. But, sir, it must be either open or Mr. C. Don't presume to argue with me, fellow ! Mr. C. Silence, I say! John. And I say that a door must be either open or shut. Now, how will you have it? Mr. C. I have told you a thousand times, you provoking fellow - I have told you that I wished it But what do. you mean by questioning me, sir? Have you trimmed the grape-vine, as I ordered you? John. I did that three days ago, sir. Mr. C. Have you washed the carriage? John. I washed it before breakfast, sir, as usual. Mr. C. You idle, negligent fellow!-you haven't watered the horses to-day! John. Go and see, sir, if you can make them drink any more. They have had their fill. Mr. C. Have you given them their oats? John. Ask William; he saw me do it. Mr. C. But you have forgot to take the brown mare to be shod. Ah! I have you now! John. I have the blacksmith's bill, and here it is. Mr. C. My letters office? Ha! You forgot John. Not at all, sir. The letters were in the mail ten minutes after you handed them to me. Mr. C. How often have I told you, sir, not to scrape on that abominable violin of yours! And yet this very morning, you— John. This morning? You forget, sir. You broke the violin all to pieces for me last Saturday night. Mr. C. I'm glad of it! I told you to saw and put done? Answer me that. Come, now; that wood which into the shed — why is it not 60 John. The wood is all sawed, split and housed, sir; besides doing that, I have watered all the trees in the garden, dug over three of the beds, and was digging another when you knocked. Mr. C. O! I must get rid of this fellow. He will life out of me. Out of my sight, sir! Imitated from the French. plague my LXXV. THE SAILOR-BOY OF CARRON. 1. IN the month of October, 1811, the sloop Fame, of Carron, in Stirlingshire, Scotland, was captured by a French privateer off the coast of Northumberland. The crew were transferred to the French vessel 47 to be carried off as prisoners to France, with the exception of an old man and a boy, who were left on board, with six Frenchmen, to steer the sloop to a French port. 2. Soon after the sloop had parted with the privateer she was overtaken by a severe storm, which drove her to the mouth of the Firth of Forth, with the navigation of which the Frenchmen, as well as the old man, were unacquainted. 3. The night being dark, and oil and candles being expended, or thrown overboard, the compass was useless. The men, in despair, allowed the vessel to go before the wind. The boy, who was only thirteen years of age, had made one or two voyages before, and had observed some thing of the neighboring coasts and islands. He 4. He recognized the peculiar beacon-light on the island of Inchkeith, which lies in the middle of the Firth. took the helm, and steered accordingly, till he got the vessel to St. Margaret's Hope, where he knew there was a British man-of-war. On approaching that vessel, he called to its crew to send a party on board, as he had six prisoners to deliver. 5. The Frenchmen, intim'idated, and glad to be saved from the storm, made no effort to escape. When the party came from the war-vessel, they actually found the six Frenchmen already made prisoners by the boy, who had gathered all their arms beside him. The ship and cargo were saved for the owners. 3. Alas! none knew him there! He pointed to a stōne, On which the name he breathed was traced, A name to them unknown; And then the old man wept. "I am friendless, now," cried he, “Where I had many friends in youth, Not one remembers me!" T. H. BAYLY LXXVII. THE CROCUS' SEI SOLILOQUY." 1. Down in my solitude, under the snow, Here, without light to see how I should grow, I'll not despair, nor be idle, nor frown, Though locked in so gloomy a dwelling; My leaves shall shoot up, while my root 's running down, 2. Soon as the frost will get out of my bed, I will peer up, with my bright little head; ΕΙ Then from my heart will young petals diverge,' 3. Gayly arrayed in gold, crimson and green, Will they not wonder how one so serene If patient to-day through the dreariest hour, EI We shall come out the brighter to-morrow! 1. A PIOUS father had an unruly son, who, refusing all exhortations, spent his days in the company of bad men, and indulged in every sensual pleasure. Thus his heart became more and more corrupt, and every virtue was deadened within him. The father mourned in silence for the perversity of the youth. 2. After some time the father fell dangerously ill; and, |