1. Go with me to the stream, on this bright summer day, And I'll show you the brown water-rat at his play; A glad, innocent creature, for whom was ordained a The quiet of brooks, and the plants they contained. 2. But, hush'! step as lightly as leaves in their fall: Man has wronged him, and he is in fear of us all. See'! there he is sitting, the tree-roots among, And the reed-sparrow by him is singing his song. 3. See how gravelyb he sits'! how sedate and how still, Like a hermit of old at his mossy door-sill'!

See, see'! now his mood of sedateness is gone,
And some very queer motions he'll show us anon.
4. Look! look now! how quickly the water he cleaves'!
And again he is up 'mong those arrow-head leaves;
See his little black head'! how his eyes, sparkling, shine'!
He has made up his mind on these dainties to dine!

5. Sure, he has not a want which he can not supply
In a water like this, with these water-plants nigh.
Yes; a plentifule table is spread for him here:-
What a pity it is man has taught him to fear!

6. Look'! look at him now! how he sitteth afloat
On the broad water-lily leaf, as in a boat'!
See the antics he plays'! how he dives in the stream
To and fro-now he chases that dancing sunbeam;
Now he stands for a moment, as if half perplexed,"
In his frolicsome heart, to know what to do next.
7. Ha! see him now! that dragon-fly sets him astir,
And he launches away like a brave mariner ;i
See there'! up the stream how he merrily rows,
And the tall fragrant water-reed bows as he goes'!
And now he is lost at the foot of the tree;-
'Tis his home, and a snug little home it must be.
8. And 'tis thus that the water-rat liveth all day,
In these small pleasures wearing the summer away';
And when winter comes', and the water-plants die',
And the little brooks yield, him no longer supply',
Down into his burrowk he cozily1 creeps,

And quietly through the long winter-time sleeps.
Thus, in summer, his table by Nature is spread';
And old mother Earth makes, in winter, his bed.

a OR-DAINED', appointed.

b GRAVE'-LY, solemnly.

SE-DATE', calm; undisturbed.
d CLEAVES, divides by swimming.
PLEN'-TI-FUL, bountiful; abundant.
AN'-TICS, queer motions; oddities.

[LESSON LXXXIII. is a description

MRS. HOWITT.

8 PER-PLEX'ED, puzzled.

h FROL'-IC-SOME, full of playfulness.
i MAR'-I-NER, seaman; sailor.
J FRA'-GRANT, sweet-smelling.
K BUR'-ROW,
hollow place in the earth.
Co'-ZI-LY, snugly; comfortably.

of the habits of the water-rat, in

his home by the meadow-stream. The innocent pleasures in which he wears the summer away," when he is undisturbed, are described. He sleeps in his burrow through the winter.]

GENTLE WORDS AND KIND DEEDS.

One gentle word that we may speak,
Or one kind, loving deed,

May, though a trifle poor and weak,

Prove like a tiny seed:

And who can tell what good may spring
From such a very little thing!

and a bird', and a rabbit'.

Six living objects."

1. "How many living objects do you see in this picture?" asked Willie. 2. "Let me see," " said Lucy. "There are two men', and two women', That makes six in all.

3. "Are you sure that is right'?" asked Willie. more'? I think I can see a

"Can't
find
you any
great many more."

4. "Now where', Willie'? There may be some more over the ridge of the hill, or in the grass', or among the flowers': but I can't see them'. There may be a great many insects flying about the flowers; but I am sure they are not in the picture."

5. "I think I can see more than a dozen living I

objects," said Willie. "Don't you see the lilies in the water', and the flowers around the rabbit', and all the grass on the ridge where the people are', and the three little trees on the hill-side beyond them'? And are not all these living objects' ? Are not all those plants alive'? and the grass, and the trees' ?"

6. "Now, Willie', you are always trying to puzzle' me." Lucy sat silent for a while'; but pretty soon she asked, "Why do you call the trees, and the grass, live objects'? They can not move about, like animals'."

7. "No," said Willie; "but they grow', and they are alive, are they not'? There are some dead trees'; and there is some dead grass'; but when the trees and the grass grow, are they not alive'?"

8. "Are stones, and rocks, alive'?" asked Lucy. "No," said Willie. "Uncle John says they were made as they are; and that they were never alive."

9. Just then Uncle John came in, when Lucy asked him why trees and plants are live objects, any more than stones.

10. "Because," he replied, "the tree and the little plant have roots by which they get their food from the earth, leaves by which they breathe, and little tubes, or sap vessels, through which the sap flows to nourish them. Have stones any such way of living?"

11. Lucy saw there was a greater difference between plants and stones than she had ever thought of; and that plants, as well as animals, really live,

"But why," she asked, " do not stones

and grow.
live and grow also?"

12. "I can not tell you why they do not," said Uncle John, "any more than I can tell you why God did not make all things alike. All we can

say, is, God made them so."

[LESSON LXXXIV. The chief design of this lesson is to lead children to reflect upon the leading distinctions between animate and inanimate nature. Let the teacher aid the pupils in following out the reflections which the lesson naturally suggests.]

LESSON LXXXV.

NOW AND THEN:-By-and-By.

1. "Now" is the syllable ever ticking from the clock of Time. "Now" is the watchword of the wise. "Now" is on the banner of the prudent.

2. Let us keep this little word always in mind. Whenever we have any work or study to do', we should do it with all our might', remembering that "Now" is the only time we can call our own.

3. We shall find it a poor way to get through the world, if we fall into the habit of putting off till to-morrow, what should be done to-day', saying, "Then I will do it." No! this will never answer. "Now" is ours. "Then" may never be.

4. Do not trust to that mischief-maker By-andBy. He is a bad pilot'; and if listen to him',

you

on the desolate shores of NEVER he will be sure to land you-by-and-by.

5. There is a little mischief-making