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Fido was now his master's constant companion in his walks, playing and skipping round him, and amusing him by a thousand sportive tricks. He took care not be troublesome by leaping on him with dirty paws, nor would he follow him into the parlour unless invited. He also attempted to make himself useful by a number of little services. He would drive away the sparrows, as they were stealing the chicken's meat; and would run and bark with the utmost fury at the strange pigs, and other animals, which offered to come into the yard.

He kept the poultry and pigs from straying, and particularly from doing mischief in the garden. If his master pulled off his coat in the field to help his workmen, Fido always sat by it, and would not suffer either man or beast to touch it; for this faithful care of his master's property, he was esteemed very much.

He was soon able to render a more important service. One hot day after dinner, his master was sleeping in a summer house, with Fido by his side; the building was old, and the watchful dog perceived the walls shake, and pieces of mortar fall from the ceiling.

He saw the danger, and began barking, to awake his master; this was not sufficient, so he jumped up and bit his finger. The master, upon this, started up and had just time to get out of the door, before the whole building fell.

Fido, who was behind, got hurt by some rubbish which fell upon him; on which his master had him taken care of, with the utmost tender-` ness. And ever after acknowledged the little

animal as the preserver of his life. Thus his love, and fidelity, had their reward.

EVENINGS AT HOME.

THE HORSE AND THE GOOSE.

A GOOSE, who was plucking grass by the road side, thought herself affronted by a Horse, who fed near her, and in hissing accents thus addressed him" I am certainly a more noble and perfect animal than you; all your faculties are confined to one element.

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'I can walk upon the earth as well as you; I have besides wings with which I raise myself in the air, and when I please I can sport in ponds and lakes, and refresh myself in the cool waters: I enjoy the different powers of a bird, a fish, and a quadruped."

The Horse replied with disdain, “It is true you inhabit three elements, but you do not appear well in any of them. You fly, but can you compare your flight with the lark or the swallow?

"You can swim on the surface of the waters, but you cannot live in them as fishes do; you cannot find your food in them, nor glide smoothly along the bottom of the waves.

"When you walk upon the ground with your broad feet, stretching out your long neck, and hissing at every one who passes by, all beholders laugh at you.

"I confess I am only formed to walk on the ground; but how graceful is my shape! how well

turned my limbs! how astonishing my speed! how great my strength! I had rather be confined to one element, and be admired in that, than be a goose in all."

EVENINGS AT HOME.

Children, think about the Horse, of his strength, his shape, the different ways in which he can be employed, and every thing you know about him.

EXPLANATIONS.

Element. The least part of a thing. A letter is the element of a word. Flour, water, and the other substances which make bread, are the elements of bread.

Many years ago it was believed, that every thing in this world was made of fire, air, earth, and water; so these were called the four elements. They are still called the four elements, though many other elements have been discovered.

It is said that birds belong to the element of air, because they fly in the air; that quadrupeds belong to the element of earth; and fishes to the element of water.

Surface. The outside. The skin covers the surface of our bodies.

THE RAT WITH A BELL.

A LARGE old house in the country was so infested with rats, that nothing could be kept away

from them. They ran up the walls to eat the bacon, though hung as high as the ceiling; they plundered the store room of sweetmeats, and made great holes in the pies and cheeses.

They gnawed through cupboard doors, and ran races within the walls, and under the floor. The cats could not get at them, and traps only now and then caught a heedless straggler. One of these was taken. A little boy fastened a collar about his neck, with a little bell fixed to it, and let him loose again.

The Rat was overjoyed to be free once more: he ran to the nearest hole, and went in search of his companions. They heard the bell-tinkle, tinkle, and fearing something was coming among them to hurt them, away they ran, some one way, and some another. The bell-wearer ran too; he guessed why they fled so fast, and was very much amused at their fright. Wherever he came, not a tail was to be seen; he chased his old friends from room to room, and from hole to hole.

He soon had the whole house to himself, and all the good eatables fór his own use; he liked this very much, for a few days; but he soon grew tired of being alone, and longed for his companions once more.

His difficulty was, how to get rid of the bell. He pulled and tugged at it with his fore feet, and almost wore the skin off his neck, by dragging at the collar; but all was in vain. The bell was now his plague and torment. He wandered from room to room, seeking some other rats-they all kept out of his reach. At last as he was moping

about one day, he fell in puss's way, and was devoured in an instant.

EVENINGS AT HOME.

The Rat was as much pleased when all the other rats ran away, through fear of him, as some silly children are, when they play tricks upon their companions. These silly children would do well to remember the story of the rat. They may be amused a little while by the pain they give to others, but this foolish pleasure will not last long. Those who make others afraid of them, make themselves disagreeable, and then no one likes to play with or to be near them.

THE KID.

KIDS are little goats. Goats do not like to live in the streets and houses, like the dogs and pigs. Goats love to run and jump about in the country, and to gnaw the bark of trees. Goats give very thick, rich milk. People cannot carry cows to sea in ships, so they take goats, which are smaller than cows, and do not take up so much room in the ship. Without goats, the people in ships would not have milk for their

tea.

Mary, a little girl, who lived in a place where there are many goats, taking a walk one day, found a little kid; its mother, the old goat, had left it-it was almost dead.

Mary felt sorry for the poor little kid; she took it up, hugged it in her arms, and carried it

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