at school. Returning to his native town, he fell into bad company, and conducted himself in the most unworthy manner. He soon reduced his parents to beggary, and brought down their grey hairs with sorrow to the grave. Impelled at last by want, he put forth his hand and stole. For a little time he succeeded in this wicked practice without being discovered; but at last his thefts began to transpire and to be talked of: and having engaged in an extensive robbery with some of his worthless companions, he was found out and cast into prison. While in solitary confinement, he began to think of his folly; but it was too late. He was taken from his prison to the court of justice, found guilty, and sentenced to be transported for life. Unhappy Heartless, he is now driven to his work by a cartwhip. He must now be obedient and tractable, whether he will or not; and, to make the matter worse, he has no prospect of escape from his sad condition. His life furnishes a memorial of the folly and danger of rejecting good advice and contracting wicked habits. May God grant him grace yet to repent of his sins, and us to take warning from his example!

Catkins are the imperfect flowers that hang from trees in the manner of a rope or cat's tail.

The cistus-flower is more commonly called the rock-rose. It grows wild in this country, and is one of the prettiest of wild flowers.

It was a common notion in former times that coming events are often preceded by signs showing their nature. These signs were called omens. So rooted was this belief among the ancients, that they almost never commenced a journey, or took any important step, without first inquiring whether the omens or prognostics were good or bad. This was foolish; but it would be well for us, before beginning any work, to think whether it be such as God approves and will bless.

The changes which winged insects undergo are very curious. The egg first becomes a grub or caterpillar. After shedding its skin several times, the grub changes its form, and becomes an object which has not the least appearance of a living creature. It is enclosed in a hard case, and is called a chrysalis. In this state it remains a week, a fortnight, or a month, and sometimes three, six, or ten months, till at length it issues from its tomb a winged butterfly.

An earthquake is a tremor or shaking of the earth. Earthquakes occur most frequently in warm countries, and they are among the most fearful of natural evils. They sometimes swallow up whole cities with their inhabitants. The west coast of South America is very often visited by them. In Europe no place has been so frequently and so fearfully visited by earthquakes as Lisbon, the chief city of Portugal. In Scotland there is one district where they are

often, though slightly felt,—the neighbourhood of Comrie, a small town in Perthshire.

In measuring length, we reckon by feet, yards, miles, &c. A foot is twelve inches; a cubit is the distance from the elbow to the end of the middle finger, or about eighteen inches; a yard is three feet; a mile is one thousand seven hundred and sixty yards; a furlong is the eighth part of a mile; and a league is three miles.

The beaver is a very remarkable animal, found in the northern parts of America. It is about two feet long and one foot high, and in figure somewhat resembles a rat. The beavers are social animals, and their societies generally consist of more than two hundred. They always fix their abode by the side of a lake or river; and, in order to make a dead water above and below, they erect, with incredible labour, a dam or pier, perhaps a hundred feet long, and ten or twelve feet thick at the base. When this dyke is completed they build their several apartments. These are divided into no less than three storeys, are most substantially built, and serve as most convenient and secure storehouses for the food which they lay up for the winter.

Halcyon is both a noun and an adjective. When a noun, it is the name of a bird, which the poets say causes the sea to become a calm whenever it alights on the waves; when an adjective, it signifies calm or tranquil.

A brazier or brasier is one who works. nu is got in the earth known metal; but it is pper. It is formed by combining copper in like gold of fused state with a substance called lapis calaminaris. Pinchbeck, or prince's metal, which is a good deal like brass, is made by mixing copper and zinc.

SECTION I.

A GOOD SCHOLAR.

If

A GOOD Scholar is known by his obedience to the rules of the school, and to the directions of his teacher. He does not give his teacher the trouble of telling him the same thing over and over again; but says or does immediately whatever he is desired. His attendance at the proper time of school is always punctual; he takes his place quietly, and instantly attends to his lesson; he takes no toys from his pocket to amuse himself or others; he has no fruit to eat-no sweetmeats to give away. any of his companions attempt to take off his eye or his mind from his lesson, he does not give heed to them. If alon still try to make him idle, he bids them let him go on to disturb and vex him, And if, after this, they that, both for their sakes and his own, he may teacher, and, by a wise reproof, prevent the continuance of such improper and hurtful conduct. When strangers enter the school, he does not stare rudely in their faces; but is as attentive to his lesson as if no one were present but the master. When the scholars in his class are reading, spelling, or repeating any thing, he is very attentive, and studies to learn by listening to them. His great desire is to improve, and therefore he is never idle, not even when he might be so, and yet escape detection and punishment. He minds his business as well when his teacher is out of sight, as when he is standing by him. If possible he is more diligent when his teacher happens to be for a little away from him, that he may show "all good fidelity" in this as in every thing else. He is desirous of learning something useful every day; and he is not satisfied if a day passes without making him wiser than he was before. When he has a difficult lesson to prepare, or a hard task to perform, he does not fret or murmur at it. He knows that his master would

not have prescribed it to him unless he had thought that he was able, and that it would do him good. He therefore sets about it readily; and he encourages himself with such thoughts as these, “ My parents will be very glad when they hear that I have learned this hard task; my teacher also will be pleased with me for my diligence; and I myself will be comfortable and happy when the exercise is finished: the sooner and the more heartily I apply myself to it, the sooner and the better it will be done." When he reads, his words are pronounced so distinctly that you can easily hear and understand him. His copy-book is finely written, and free from blots and scrawls. His figures are well made; and his accounts are in general free from mistakes. He not only improves himself, but rejoices in the improvement of others. He loves to hear them commended and to see them rewarded." If I do well," he says, "I shall be commended and rewarded too; and if all did well, what a happy school would ours be!" His books he is careful to preserve from any thing that might injure them. Having finished his lesson he puts them in their proper place, and does not leave them to be tossed about, and by that means torn and dirtied. He never forgets to pray for the blessing of God on himself, his school-fellows, and his teacher; for he knows that the blessing of God is necessary to make his education truly useful to him, both in this life and that which is to come. And finally,

when he is He remem

it is his constant endeavour to behave well out of school, as well as when he is in it. bers that the eye of God is ever upon him, and that he must at last give an account of himself to the Great Judge of all. And therefore he studies to practise at all times the religious and moral lessons that he receives from his master, or that he reads in the Bible, or that he meets with in any other books that are given him to peruse. MAY.

THE SEASONS.

WHO is this beautiful virgin that approaches, clothed in a robe of light green? She has a garland of flowers on

her head, and flowers spring up wherever she sets her foot. The snow which covered the fields, and the ice which was on the rivers, melt away when she breathes upon them. The young lambs frisk about her, and the birds warble to welcome her coming; when they see her, they begin to choose their mates, and to build their nests. Youths and maidens, have ye seen this beautiful virgin? If ye have, tell me who she is, and what is her name.

Who is this that cometh from the south, thinly clad in a light transparent garment? Her breath is hot and sultry; she seeks the refreshment of the cool shade, she seeks the clear streams, the crystal brooks, to bathe her languid limbs. The brooks and rivulets fly from her, and are dried up at her approach. She cools her parched lips with berries and the grateful acid of fruits. The tanned haymakers welcome her coming; and the sheep-shearer, who clips the fleeces off his flock with his sounding shears. When she cometh, let me lie under the thick shade of a spreading beech-tree,-let me walk with her in the early morning, when the dew is yet upon the grass,-let me wander with her in the soft twilight, when the shepherd shuts his fold, and the star of the evening appears. Who is she that cometh from the south? Youths and maidens, tell me, if you know, who is she, and what is her name.

Who is he that cometh with sober pace, stealing upon us unawares? His garments are red with the blood of the grape, and his temples are bound with a sheaf of ripe wheat. His hair is thin, and begins to fall, and the auburn is mixed with mournful grey. He shakes the brown nuts from the tree. He winds the horn, and calls the hunters to their sport. The gun sounds. The trembling partridge, and the beautiful pheasant flutter, bleeding in the air, and fall dead at the sportsman's feet. Youths and maidens, tell me, if ye know, who is he, and what is his name.

Who is he that cometh from the north, in furs and warm wool? He wraps his cloak close about him. His head is bald; his beard is made of sharp icicles. He loves the blazing fire high piled upon the hearth, and the wine sparkling in the glass. He binds skates to his feet, and skims over the frozen lakes. His breath is piercing