7. A few years ago, and I was a little infant, and my tongue was dumb within my mouth.

8. And I did not know the great name of God, for my reason was not come unto me.

9. But now I can speak, and my tongue shall praise Him; I can think of all His kindness, and my heart shall love Him.

10. Let Him call me, and I will come unto Him; let Him command, and I will obey Him.

11. When I am older, I will praise Him better; and I will never forget God, so long as my life remaineth in

1. A FATHER and his son were once sitting under a tree upon a hill. It was near sunset, and a flock of sheep were feeding near them. A strange' man came by, who had a dog with him. As soon as the sheep saw the dog, they became alarmed, and ran into some. thorny bushes which grew near by. Some of their wool caught upon the thorns, and was torn off.

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2. When the boy saw this, he was troubled, and said, "See, father, how the thorns tear away the wool from

the poor sheep. These bushes ought to be cut down, so that hereafter they may not harm the sheep." His father was silent a while, and then said, "So you think the bushes ought to be cut down?" "Yes," answered his son," and I wish I had a hatchet to do it with." The father made no reply, and they went home.

3. The next day they came to the same place with a hatchet. The boy was full of joy, and very eager to have his father begin to cut down the bushes. They sat down upon the hill, and the father said, "Do you hear how sweetly the birds sing? Are they not beautiful creatures?" "O, yes," replied the boy; "the birds are the most beautiful of all creatures."

4. As they were speaking, a bird flew down among the bushes, and picked off a tuft of wool, and carried it away to a high tree. "See," said the father, "with this wool the bird makes a soft bed for its young in the nest. How comfortable the little things will be! and the sheep could well spare a little of their fleece. Do you now think it well to cut down the bushes?" "No," said the boy; "we will let them stand."

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5. "My dear son," said the father, "the ways of God are not always easy to understand." It seemed to you very hard, yesterday, that the poor sheep should lose their wool; but to-day you see that without this wool the little bird could not have made its warm nest. So, many things happen to us which seem hard; but God ordains them for our good, and they are meant in kindness and love."

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1 STRANGE. Unknown.

2 ALARMED. Frightened, scared.
8 TROUBLED. Disturbed, vexed.
TUFT. A collection, as thread, hair,
or feathers in a bunch,

5 COMFORTABLE. In a state of comfort, free from distress or uneastness, at ease.

6 UNDERSTAND. Comprehend, know. 7 ORDAINS. Appoints, decrees.

1. IN the hard winter of 1783 and 1784 there were many sudden and heavy storms of rain. The streams and rivers overflowed their banks, and swept along large pieces of broken ice in their course.

2. In the city of Verona, in Italy, there was a large

bridge over the river Adige.* This river rises in the snowy mountains of Tyrol,† and runs with a rapid current. Upon the bridge there was a house in which the toll-gatherer' lived with his family.

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3. By a sudden increase of the river, this house became entirely surrounded by water; and many of the arches of the bridge were carried away by the huge blocks of ice which floated down the current. The part of the bridge on which the house was built stood the longest, because it was the most strongly made. But it looked as if it must soon go with the rest.

4. The poor man, and his wife and children, uttered loud cries for help, which were heard by a great number of persons who stood on the banks. Every body pitied them, but no one could do any thing for them, because it seemed impossible that a boat could live in a river running with such force, and so filled with blocks of ice.

5. A nobleman on horseback rode down to the banks of the river; and when he saw the dangerous position of the family, he held up a purse containing two hundred ducats3 of gold, and said he would give it to any one who would save them.

6. But the fear of death kept every body - even some sailors who were present from making the attempt. In the mean time the water rose higher around the house every moment.

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7. At last an Austrian peasant felt his heart filled with pity for the poor people, and resolved to save them if he could. He sprang into a boat, pushed off from the shore, and, by his strength and skill, reached

the house at last. But the family was numerous, and the boat was small; so that he could not bring them all at once.

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8. He first took three persons, and conducted them safely to land, and then went back for the rest, and brought them away also. Hardly was this done, when the house, and the part of the bridge on which it stood, were carried away.

9. The brave peasant was hailed' with shouts of joy and admiration." The nobleman offered him the purse of gold, and said that he well deserved it. But the peasant declined to take it, saying, "I did not do this for money; I am not rich, but I have enough for my wants: give it to the poor toll-gatherer, who has lost his all." And then he went away without telling the people his name, or where he lived.

1. SPEAK gently; it is better far

To rule by love than fear:

Speak gently; let no harsh words mar'
The good we might do here.