sembled at the foot of the mountain, without being able to gain the least intelligence of the child.

After reposing themselves for some minutes, they formed into different bands; and night coming on, the parents in despair, refused to return home, for their fright was constantly increased by the knowledge they had of the mountain cats, an animal so rapacious, that the inhabitants cannot always defend themselves against their attack.

Then they painted to their imaginations the horrid idea of a wolf, or some other dreadful animal, devouring their child. "Derick, my poor little Derick! where art thou?" frequently exclaimed the mother, in language of the deepest distress, but all of no avail. As soon as day-break appeared, they renewed their search, but as unsuccessfully as on the preceding day.

Fortunately an Indian, laden with furs, coming from an adjacent village, called at the house of Le Fevre, intending to repose himself there, as he usually did on his travelling through that part of the country. He was surprised to find no one at home, but an old negress, kept there by her infirmities. "Where is my brother?" said the Indian. "Alas!" replied the negro woman, "he has lost his little Derick, and all the neighbourhood are employed in looking after him in the woods."

It was then three o'clock in the afternoon. "Sound the horn," said the Indian," and try and call thy master home, I will find his child." The horn was sounded; and as soon as the father returned, the Indian asked him for the shoes and stockings that little Derick had worn last.

He then ordered his dog, which he brought with him to smell them; and then taking the house for his centre, he described a circle of a quarter of a mile, semi-diameter; ordering the dog to smell the earth wherever he led him. The circle was not completed, when the sagacious animal began

to bark. The sound brought some feeble ray of hope to the disconsolate parents.

The dog followed the scent and barked again; the party pursued him with all their speed, but soon lost sight of him in the woods. Half an hour afterwards, they heard him again, and soon saw him return. The countenance of the dog was visibly altered; an air of joy seemed to animate him, and his gestures indicated that his search had not been in vain.

"I am sure he has found the child," exclaimed the Indian, but whether dead or alive, was at present the cruel state of suspense. The Indian then followed his dog, who lead him to the foot of a large tree, where lay the child in an enfeebled state, nearly approaching death. He took it tenderly in his arms, and hastily carried it to the disconsolate parents.

Happily, the father and mother were, in some measure, prepared to receive their child. Their joy was so great that it was more than a quarter of an hour, before they could express their gratitude to the kind restorer of their child. Words cannot express the affecting scene. After they had bathed the face of the child with their tears, they threw themselves on the neck of the Indian, whose heart in unison melted with theirs.

Their gratitude then extended to the dog; they caressed him with inexpressible delight, as the animal, which by means of his sagacity, had found their beloved offspring; and conceiving that, like the rest of the group, he must now stand in need of refreshment, a plentiful repast was prepared for him, after which, he and his master pursued their journey. The company, mutually pleased at the happy event, returned to their respective habitations, highly delighted with the kind Indian and his wonderful dog.

LESSON 30.

The Squirrel.

The squirrel is a beautiful little animal, equally remarkable for the elegance of its form, the live-' liness of its disposition, and the agility of its motions. It is gentle and harmless; though naturally wild, it is easily tamed; and though excessively timid it soon becomes familiar. Being naturally fond of warmth, it will, when domesticated, creep into a person's pocket, sleeve, or bosom, with the most perfect confidence.

Its tail constitutes its greatest singularity, as well as its principal ornament. It is also not less usèful than ornamental; for being sufficiently large and bushy to cover the whole body, it serves as an excellent defence against the inclemencies of the weather. It also greatly assists it in clinging and adhering to trees. Linnæus, with other naturalists, assures us, that in crossing a river, the squirrel places itself upon a piece of bark, and crecting its tail in order to catch the wind, uses it as a sail, and thus commits itself to the mercy of the waves.

It would certainly be both curious and interesting to be an eye-witness of one of their voyages, and a benevolent heart could not forbear wishing safety and success to the little navigators. The fact, indeed, would appear incredible, were it not attested by such respectable evidence. If, however, it be true, it exhibits a striking specimen of animal instinct, although not more wonderful than many others, which are displayed in the brute creation.

The Red Squirrel.

The pretty red squirrel lives up in a trec,
A little blithe creature as ever can be,

1

He dwells in the boughs where the stock dove broods,

Far in the shade of the green summer woods.
His food is the young juicy cones of the pine,
And the milky beech nut is his bread and his wine.
In the joy of his heart, he frisks with a bound
To the topmost twigs, then down to the ground,
Then up again like a winged thing,

And from tree to tree with a vaulting spring;

Then he sits up aloft and looks waggish and queer, As if he would say, "Ay, follow me here !"

And then he grows pettish and stamps with his foot, And then independently he cracks his nut.

But small as he is, he knows he may want In the bleak winter weather when food is so scant So he finds a hole in an old tree's core,

And there makes his nest, and lays up his store; Then when cold winter comes and the trees are

When the white snow is falling and keen is the air;
He heeds it not as he sits by himself

In his warm little nest, with his nuts on the shelf.
Oh! wise little squirrel! no wonder that ho
In the green summer woods is as blithe as can be

LESSON 31.

The Deaf, Dumb, and Blind Girl.

In the city of Hartford, Connecticut, among other interesting institutions, is an Asylum for the education of the deaf and dumb. The building is : large and commodious, and finely situated upon a commanding eminence. Among the inmates of the mansion is one, who particularly excites the attention of strangers. She is entirely deaf, dumb, and blind. Her name is Julia Brace; and she is

a native of the immediate neighbourhood of the Asylum.

She was the daughter of exceedingly poor parents, who had several younger children, to whom she was in the habit of showing such offices of kindness as her own afflicted state admitted. When the weather become cold, she would occasionally kneel on the floor of their humble dwelling to feel whether the other children of the family were furnished with shoes or stockings, while she was without, and would express uneasiness at the contrast.

Seated on her little block, weaving strips of thin bark, with pieces of leather and thread, which her father in his processes of making shoes rejected, she amused herself by constructing for her cat, bonnets and vandykes, not wholly discordant with the principles of taste.

Her mother sometimes left her with the care of the young children. On one occasion, she discovered that her sisters had broken a piece of crockery, and imitating what she supposed would be the discipline of their mother, gave the offender a blow. But placing her hand upon the eyes of the little girl, and ascertaining that she wept, she immediately took her in her arms, and with the most persevering tenderness soothed her into good humor and confidence.

Her parents were at length relieved from the burden of her maintenance, by some charitable individuals, who paid the expenses of her board with an elderly matron, who kept a school for small children. Here her sagacity was continually on the stretch to comprehend the nature of their employments, and, as far as possible, to imitate them. Observing that a great part of their time was occupied with books, she often held one before her sightless eyes with long patience. She would also spread a newspaper for her favorite kitten, and