which most persons are so fond of: but in a few weeks it becomes sour; and if it be left exposed to the air, it will in time turn to vinegar.

8. And what merry times boys have, in the fall of the year, in nut-gathering-and not only the boys, but the squirrels also. After a few hard frosts the shucks of the hickory-nut, and the burs of the chestnut open, and their fruit falls to the ground. Sometimes boys climb the trees, and shake off the nuts, or they beat them off with a pole. Boys gather black walnuts, and butternuts also.

9. Gaily chattering to the clattering

Of the brown nuts downward pattering,
Leap the squirrels red and gray.

On the grass land, on the fallow,
Drop the apples, red and yellow;

Drop the russet pears, and mellow;

Drop the red leaves all the day.

[LESSON LXXIX. The story of the farmer's life is here continued,

Plowing and sowing in autumn.

The fall-sown grain.

from page 129. Gathering apples. Winter apples. Making cider. Nut-gathering. Closing lines of poetry. What trees have the reddest leaves in autumn?]

BAD THOUGHT.

Bad Thought's a thief! He acts his part';
Creeps through the window of the heart';

And if he once his way can win',

He lets a hundred robbers in.

ADVICE.

If wisdom's ways you wisely seek',

Five things observe with care';

Of whom you speak', to whom you speak';
And how', and when', and where'.

1. Has the farmer any work to do in the fields, after the fall-sowing, and the gathering of the ap ples'? Have all his crops been gathered'? Has his Indian corn been secured'? It is now that his corn harvest begins-in those pleasant autumn days that are called the "Indian summer," when the air is almost as soft and balmy as in spring. time.

2. Sometimes the corn is cut up by the roots, and drawn off to some grassy spot, where the ears of corn are husked, and then stored away in the barn, the corn-crib, or the corn-house. The cornstalks are bound up in bundles, to serve as fodder for the cattle in winter.

3. Sometimes the corn is husked where it grew, after the stalks have been cut off as low down as the ear. Sometimes the ears of corn are picked off before they are husked, and carried to the barn, there to be stripped of their husks in cold weather, when but little out-door work can be done.

4. There is a picture of a corn-husking, or husking-bee, at the head of this lesson, and this is the story of it. The old man who lived in the cottage which we see, was poor, and he was sick also, and he did not know how he should get his corn husked. He was greatly troubled about it; for he needed the corn, to make Indian meal of it for himself and his family; and he needed the cornstalks, and husks, for his cow.

5. His neighbors talked the matter over, and they agreed that they would make a husking-bee for him. So one cool but pleasant November evening they went more than twenty of them-and the old man knew nothing about it—and by midnight they had husked out all his corn, and put it up nicely in the corn-crib. They had a pleasant time.

6. I wish I could have seen the old man, and heard what he said, when he looked out of the window the next morning, and found his corn-crib full of corn, and the corn-stalks handsomely stacked up near by. I think a tear started in his eye, as he said, "My good neighbors have done this. May the Lord bless them for all their kindness to me."

[LESSON LXXX. The story of the farmer's life in autumn is here continued. The corn harvest-Indian summer. Methods of securing the A corn-husking by moonlight.]

corn.

LESSON LXXXI.

AUTUMN.

1. Summer's over-summer's over-
Sighing breezes whisper now';
And the leafless trees now cover
Misty vale and mountain's brow.
2. Now do Autumn's winds come rushing';
Now December's tempests moan';
Now the leaves, in beauty blushing',
O'er the faded earth are strown.

[LESSON LXXXI. is a brief but vivid poetical description of autumn. The "sighing breezes" that announce the departure of summer, give place, in December, to "rushing winds," and "moaning tempests." What is the meaning of "the leaves in beauty blushing?”]

LESSON LXXXII

WHY CALL ME POOR?

1. Why call me poor'? The sunbeams smile
As warmly, brightly on my home,
Though 'tis an humble, log-built pile,
As on the lordly palace dome.

2. Why call me poor'? Content am I
My lot to bear, where'er it be ;
Though grief may sometimes cloud my sky,
I'll hope a brighter day to see.

3. Why call me poor'? I am not so,

While God's rich bounty still is mine:

To him my all of good I owe

Whom', scorner', owest thou for thine'?

[LESSON LXXXII. The answer to the question, "Why call me poor ?" is designed to express the idea that no one is poor who can enjoy the ordinary gifts of God's providence, who is contented with his lot, who lives in hope of a brighter day, and who feels that he owes all to God alone.]

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 ordaineda 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 gravely 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'!d 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!