was long thought to be the seeds of a plant, is a very small red insect', that is obtained in great numbers in Mexico', and in some of the warm countries of South America. It is found feeding on the cactus plant. If you should moisten some of the dry coch'-i-neal in vinegar, you might perhaps see the ringlets of the insect's body, and also its little feet.

28. "But here I can show you a picture of the cactus plant on which the coch'-i-neal feeds, and also a picture of two of the insects, although both are here made much larger than they are in nature. The male insect is seen on the left, and the female on the right. It is the female insect-ugly

looking as it is here-which is so much prized for the beauty of its color."

29. "How strange?" said Lucy. "I wonder how many people know that coch'-i-neal is only a dried insect! Poor little creatures!

I wonder how many of you it would take to weigh a pound!"

RE-FLECT-ING, thinking; considering.
THRIVE, grow fat..

COR'-DI-NA-RY, usual; customary.

d SA-LI'-VA, spittle.

e Pu'-TRID, decaying; rotten.

f IM-MENSE', very great.

RE-MARK'ED, said.

h DAM'-AGE, injury.

1 REM'-E-DY, Cure.

RE-FLECT -ED, considered.

K FUR-NISHED, supplied.

1 Pronounced kotch'-in-eel.
m PRIZED, valued.

[LESSON LXV. explains some of the uses of insects. What is said of spiders; of caterpillars, grasshoppers, flies, etc.

One of the important uses of flies. they eat, etc. Bees and locusts.

How flies eat sugar.

What is said of the lady-birds-what The silk-worm. Cochineal.]

1. "Will you walk into my parlor'?" said the Spider to the

Fly;

""Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy';a The way into my parlor is up a winding stair;

And I've many curious things to show when you are 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."

2. "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'."

66

'Oh, no, no," said the little Fly; "for I've often heard it

said,

They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed."

3. 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 can not be:

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

4. "Sweet creature'," said the Spider, "you're witty' and you're wise';

How handsome are your gauzyd wings! how brilliant are your eyes'!

I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf;

If you'll step in one moment', dear', you shall behold' yourself."

"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're pleased to say;

And bidding you good-morning now', I'll call another

day."

5. 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 subtlee web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the fly.

6. Then to his door he came again, and merrily did sing,
"Come hither, hither, pretty Fly', with the pearl and sil-
ver 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!"

7. 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, and 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 parlor'; but she ne'er came out again! 8. 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 counselor, close heart, and ear, and eye, And take a lesson from this tale of the spider and the fly.

a SPY, see.

b SOAR'-ING, flying aloft.

AF-FEC-TION, love; good-will.

d GAUZ'-Y, like gauze; thin as gauze.

e SUBTLE (sut'tl), artful; cunning.

DIS'-MAL, dark; gloomy.

g COUN'-SEL-OR, one who gives advice.

[LESSON LXVI. This fable very forcibly depicts the well-known cunning of the spider, and the simplicity of the silly fly. The result furnishes a useful moral. Words of flattery and falsehood, though repelled at first, by being often repeated at length exert their baneful influence upon the vain and weak-minded. Thus, in the first, second, and third verses, the fly, knowing the treachery of the spider, repels all his blandishments; but, in the fourth verse, begins to yield, and promises to "call another day." The artful spider then felt sure of his victim; and the result proved that he had not misjudged the effects of his "flattering words."

Observe the circumflex accent on "your," last line of first and second verses; and on "your," and "mine," last line of sixth verse.]

LESSON LXVII.

KEEP TO THE RIGHT..

1. "Keep to the right'," as the law directs',"
For such is the rule of the road':

Keep to the right, whoever expects
Securely to carry life's load.

2. Keep to the right, with God and his Word';
Nor wander', though folly allure';d

Keep to the right, nor ever be turned

From what's faithful', and holy', and pure'.

3. Keep to the right, within and without',

With stranger', and kindred', and friend':
Keep to the right, and you need have no doubt
That all will be well in the end.

4. Keep to the right in whatever you do',
Nor claim but your own on the way':
Keep to the right, and hold on to the true,
From the morn to the close of life's day.

a DI-RECTS', orders; commands. b RULE, law.

c WAN-DER, go astray.

d AL-LURE', attempt to lead astray.

[LESSON LXVII. It is a well-known law of the road, that each one shall "keep to the right”—that is, in the direction of his right hand—in passing another. The same phrase, or sentence, is here appropriately used, but with a different meaning, to, enforce a principle of God's lawthat of doing what is morally "right" on all occasions.]

LESSON LXVIII.

THE GOLD SOVEREIGN.

a

1. "When I was in my eighth year," said Judge N- "my father and mother being poor, with a large family of children to support, I was bound out to a farmer by the name of Webb, in whose service I was to remain until I should reach the age of twenty-one years.

2. "I can not say that I had a very easy time in Farmer Webb's service; for although he was an honest deacon, and a kind man in his family, he did not believe in allowing boys to be idle: so I had plenty of work to do, and very little time for play.

3. "Money was not very plenty in those days; and I had lived with Deacon Webb three years before I had handled any coin except a few copper