into a thick wood. The pig was soon missed, and a hue-and-cry was raised after it.

*

The farmer was in the act of tying up a horse in the stable; but he left it, to run after the pig.

His wife was ironing some clothes in the kitchen; and she left her work, to follow her husband.

The daughter was stirring some broth over the fire; and she left it, to run after her mother.

The farmer's sons and his man joined in the chase after the pig; and away they all went, men and women, pell-mell, to the wood.

The

But the man, making more haste than good speed, sprained his ankle in jumping over a fence. farmer and his sons were obliged to give up chasing the pig, to carry the man back to the house. The good woman and her daughter also returned" to assist the poor man who was hurt.

When they got back to the house, they found that the broth had boiled over,--that the dinner was spoiled; and that two shirts, which had been hanging before the fire, were scorched* and utterly* ruined.

The farmer scolded his wife and the girl, for being so careless as not to take the shirts and the broth from the fire before they left the kitchen.

He then went to his stable, where he found that the horse, which he had left loose, had kicked a fine colt and broken its leg. The servant was kept in the house for a fortnight, by the hurt to his ankle.

Thus, besides the injury done to the farmer's man, the farmer lost two weeks' work from his servant, a fine colt, a fat pig, and his two best shirts, to say

nothing of the loss of his dinner--all for the want of a sixpenny latch!

In this way were two good old proverbs* verified :*

For want of a nail the wheel comes off.

Safe bind, safe find.

What did

Who joined

QUESTIONS.-Why was the yard gate often left open? What was always happening? What did the farmer's wife tell him? he say? What happened when the pig got out of its sty? in the chase? What made them stop? What did they find on coming back to the house? What had happened in the stable? And all this for the want of - - - ?

Af-fec-tion, love.

THE SPIDER AND THE FLY.

Brilliant, brightly sparkling.
Coun-sel-lor, one who gives advice.
Cu-ri-ous, not often seen; rare; nice.
Dis-mal, causing horror; dark; gloomy.

Flat-ter-ing, speaking false praise.
Pan-try, a store-room, or press.
Soaring, mounting on the wing.
Subtle, very fine; cunningly made.
Wi-ly, deceitful; crafty.

"WILL you walk into my parlour?" said the spider to the fly; ""Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy.

The way into my parlour is up a winding stair;

And I've got many curious* things to show you when you're there."

“Oh no, no,” said the little fly; "to ask me is in vain,

For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."

"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring* up so high; Will you rest upon my little bed?" said the spider to the fly. "There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin;

And if you like to rest a while, I'll snugly tuck you in!" "Oh no, no," said the little fly; "for I've often heard it said, They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!"

Said the cunning spider to the fly-"Dear friend, what can I do To prove the warm affection* I've always felt for you? I have within my pantry* good store of all that's nice; I'm sure you're very welcome-will you please to take a slice?” "Oh no, no,” said the little fly, “kind sir, that cannot be;

I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see."

"Sweet creature," said the spider, "you're witty and you're wise; How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant* are your eyes!

I have a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,

If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself." “I thank you, gentle sir," she said, “for what you please to say; And bidding you good-morning now, I'll call another day."

The spider turned him round about, and went into his den, For well he knew the silly fly would soon come back again;

So he wove a subtle* web in a little corner sly,

And set his table ready to dine upon the fly.

Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing: "Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with the pearl and silver wing; Your robes are green and purple-there's a crest upon your

head!

Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"

Alas! alas! how very soon this silly little fly,

Hearing his wily,* flattering* words, came slowly flitting by.
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, her green and purple hue-
Thinking only of her crested head-poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held her fast!
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal* den,
Within his little parlour-but she ne'er came out again!

And now, dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly, flattering words, I pray you, ne'er give heed;
Unto an evil counsellor* close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale of the Spider and the Fly.
MARY HOWITT.

QUESTIONS. The spider asked the fly to --? He said he would show her -? The fly said? because those who went there - ? The spider then asked the fly to ? But the fly said? When the spider told her that she was very handsome, she promised was his words that made her come; and then he - - ?

PRONOUNCE in syllables :

-? It

TAKE CARE OF THE MINUTES.

Book-worm, one who reads a great | Plead-ed, said in excuse.

deal.

Bound-ed, rushed off.

Prep-a-ra-tion, learning one's lessons.
Prom-ised to, said that he would.

"I SHALL never find time to learn this tiresome lesson," said Robert to Frank as they left school; I can't be ready with it to-morrow."

"You have ten minutes now before dinner; why not begin at once?" asked his brother.

"Ten minutes! that's nothing. Besides, I must have a run with Rover now," replied Robert, whistling to his dog.

After dinner, the two boys walked off to school again. Frank took out his book and began to learn. "What a book-worm !*" said the other, laughing; and he looked out for birds' nests in the hedge, till they got to the school.

"Come off to cricket!" shouted a party of schoolfellows as they broke up from lessons. Robert bounded away with the rest. Frank promised* to follow in a quarter of an hour, and took out his book once more. This done, he played away with the rest, and enjoyed the game heartily.

The boys were tired that evening, and went to bed early. But when they returned to school next day, Frank knew his lesson perfectly, while Robert pleaded* that he had not had time to learn it.

"How did you find time, Frank?" asked his master.

"I had ten minutes before dinner yesterday, sir; a quarter of an hour going back to school; and as