1. THE governor of New Amsterdam had a large electrical eel, which he had kept for several years in a tub, made for that purpose, placed under a small shed near the house. This fish possesses strong electrical powers, and often causes scenes of diversion among the soldiers and sailors, who are struck with astonishment at its qualities, and believe it to be in league with some evil spirit.

2. Two sailors, wholly unacquainted with the properties of the animal, were once told to fetch an eel which was lying in a tub in the yard, and give it to the cook to diess for dinner. It is a strong fish, of seven or eight pounds' weight, and gives a severe shock on

being touched, particularly if at all irritated or enraged.

3. The sailors had no sooner reached the shed, than one of them plunged his hand to the bottom of the tub to seize the eel; when he received a blow which benumbed his whole arm. Without knowing what it was, he started from the tub, shaking his fingers, and holding his elbow with his other hand, crying out, "I say, Jack, what a thump he fetched me with his tail!"

4. His mess-mate, laughing at such a foolish notion, next put down his hand to take out the eel; but receiving a similar shock, he snapped his fingers likewise, and ran off crying out, "Why he did give you a thump! He's a fighting fellow; he has fetched me a broadside too! Let's both have a haul at him together, Jack; then we shall board his slippery carcass, spite of his rudder."

5. Accordingly, they both plunged their hands into the tub, and seized the fish by a full grasp round the body. This was rougher treatment than he commonly experienced, and he returned it with a most violent shock which soon caused them to quit their hold. For a moment they stood aghast, and shaking their fingers, they capered about with pain and amazement, declaring that their arms were broken, and that it was the evil spirit in the tub in the shape of an eel.

6. They now perceived that it was not a

simple blow of the tail, which they had felt before; nor could they be prevailed on to try again to take out the fish, but stole away, rubbing their elbows, and abusing "the trick about the cook and the eel."

8. The form of this fish is not so round as that of the common eel. The head is flatter, as is likewise the tail, and much broader; the back is wide, and the body tapers down somewhat abruptly, terminating beneath in a thin membrane, forming a kind of fin.

9. The shock communicated is sometimes very powerful, and precisely resembles that from the electrical machine, and may be received both from contact, and by means of conductors. This fish once gave me a severe blow from touching it in the water, with the end of a polished ramrod

QUESTIGNS.-1. What particular powers does the electrical eel possess? 2. What trick was played upon one of the sailors? 3. What did his mess-mate say, as he received a shock from the eel? 4. What did they then conclude to do? 5. Did they both succeed in taking it? 6. Could they be prevailed on to try a second time? 7. Describe the electrical eel. 8. What is said of the shock given by

this eel ?

LESSON LXIX.

Spell and Define-1. NURS' E RY, a plantation of young trees. 2. PRU' NED, divested of superfluous branches; trimmed. 3. NEG' LI GENCE, habitual neglect of what should be done. 4. CHAL' LENGE, to call to a contest; to invite to a trial. 5. SU PE RI OR I TY, the quality of being greater or more excellent than another in any respect. SCEND' ING, coming down. 7. A WRY', twisted toward one side. 8. CI' ON, a twig of any tree. 9. IN GRAFT', to in.

6. DK

sert the cion of one tree or plant into another. 10. STUNTED, hindered from growth.

NATURE AND EDUCATION.-A FABLE.

1. NATURE and Education were one day walking together through a nursery of trees. "See," says Nature, "how straight and fine those firs grow,-that is my doing! But as to those oaks, they are all crooked and stunted: that, my good sister, is your fault. You have planted them too close, and not pruned them properly."

2. "

Nay, sister," said Education, "I am sure I have taken all possible pains with them, but you gave them bad acorns, so how could they ever make fine trees?"

3. The dispute grew warm; and at length, instead of blaming one another for negligence, they began to boast of their own powers, and to challenge each other to a contest for the superiority. It was agreed that each should adopt a favorite, and rear it up in spite of all the ill offices of her opponent.

4. Nature fixed upon a vigorous, young, Weymouth pine, the parent of which had grown to the mainmast of a man-of-war. "Do what you will to this plant," said she to her sister, "I am resolved to push it up as straight as an arrow." Education took under her care, a crab-tree. "This," said she, "I will rear to be at least as valuable as your pine."

5. Both went to work. While Nature was feeding her pine with plenty of wholesome

juices, Education passed a strong rope round its top, and pulling it downward with all her force, fastened it to the trunk of a neighboring oak.

6. The pine labored to ascend, but not being able to surmount the obstacle, it pushed out to one side, and presently became bent as a bow. Still, such was its vigor, that its top, after descending as low as its branches, made a new shoot upward; but its beauty and usefulness were quite destroyed.

7. The crab-tree cost Education a world of pains. She pruned and pruned, and endeavored to bring it into shape, but in vain. Nature thrust out a bough this way, and a knot that way, and would not push a single lead

ing shoot upward.

8. The trunk was indeed kept tolerably straight by constant efforts, but the head grew awry and ill-fashioned, and made a scrubby figure. At length, Education, despairing of making a sightly plant of it, ingrafted the stock with the cion of an apple-tree, and brought it to bear tolerable fruit.

9. At the end of the experiment, the sisters met to compare their respective success. "Ah, sister!" said Nature, "I see it is in your power to spoil the best of my works."

10. "Indeed, sister!" said Education, "it is a hard matter to contend against you; however, something may be done by industry and application."