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of enjoying the fine weather, and sporting about like these pretty flies, which appear to be the happiest creatures in the world.

Sometime after this, the weather grew very cold, the sun was scarcely seen to shine, and the nights were chill and frosty.

As the same little boy was now one day walking in the garden with his father, there was not a single ant to be seen, but the flies lay scattered up and down in the path, some dying, and the rest already dead with cold and hunger.

Now as this boy possessed a kind heart, he could not help pitying these poor flies, and asked, "What has become of the ants, that we used to see here ?"

His father said, "The flies are all dead, because they were careless creatures, and took no pains to lay up their stores for the time of need.

"But the ants, which have been

busy all the summer, providing for their support during the winter, are all alive and well; and you will see them, as soon as spring returns, coming out again, as brisk and lively as ever."

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise; which, having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

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TRY AGAIN; OR TIMOUR THE TARTAR TAUGHT BY AN ANT

Timour, the Tartar, though a great conqueror, was once forced to seek safety from his enemies, by hiding himself in an old building.

While he was sitting here alone, in a state of almost hopeless despair, he at length spied an ant trying to carry a grain of corn, larger than itself, up the wall; when lo! it sud denly lost its hold and fell.

Again and again, it strove to reach its hole at the top of the room, but it as often fell back.

Still, with renewed courage, it would repeat its efforts; and not less than sixty-nine times, did this watchful hero see the laboring insect, with its burden fall to the ground.

But the seventieth time, it reached the hole with its prize; "and the sight," said Timour, "not only gave me courage to persevere against my enemies, but taught me a lesson, I shall never forget."

We should first decide what we ought to do, and then keep trying until it is done.

If the little ant had courage to try again after failing sixty-nine times,

how many times should little boys
and girls try their lessons, before
they give them up?

"Tis a lesson you should heed,
Try, try again;

If at first you don't succeed,
Try, try again:

Then your courage should appear;
If you only persevere,

You will conquer, never fear-
Try, try again.

Twice or thrice, though you should fail,

Try, try again;

If at last you would prevail,
Try, try again;

If you strive, 'tis no disgrace,
Though you fail to win the race;
What should you do in the case?
Try, try again.

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All that other folks can do,
Why, with patience, may not you?
Only keep this rule in view,
Try, try again.

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A rough diamond lay in the sand, among many other, more common stones. A boy picked up some of them to play with, and carried them home, together with the diamond; but he knew not what it was.

The father of the boy, watching his play, observed the diamond, and said to his son, "Give me that

stone!"

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