to be searched this very minute, I venture to say that one would be found in your pocket.

James. In my pocket? You may search me, and turn my pocket inside out. I have nothing but my hand in my pocket, except my knife, an apple, my pocket-handkerchief, and a piece of whipcord.

Joseph. Nothing but your hand? Why, the human hand is the very machine I have been speaking of.

James. The human hand? You said it was worth two hundred and fifty pounds.

Joseph. Yes, I did; and I hardly think you would part with a hand for twice that sum, and I am certain that, if you were to lose it, you could not replace it for two thousand five hundred pounds.

James. You said it would reach to the top of the church-spire.

Joseph. Yes, I did; and had it not done so, they would have found it difficult to put the weathercock on the top of the steeple.

James. But what did you mean by saying it was made of twenty-seven hard pieces, most of them with springs or hinges tied together in a most curious manner?

Joseph. The hand has twenty-seven bones; the joints are the hinges; the sinews keep the bones together; and the flesh is a soft substance that covers the whole. The leathern bag is a glove, which is worn commonly, especially in winter.

James. I never could have believed it.

Joseph. Yes; surely the human hand is the most useful machine in the world, and we cannot be too thankful to God for His gift. It ought always to be used for His glory and the good of our fellow-creatures.

QUESTIONS:-1. What is a machine? 2. Why is the hand called a machine? 3. What is the hand composed of? 4. What are some of the uses of the hand? 5. What is the worth of the hand?

FLOW gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes,
Flow gently, I'll sing thee a song in thy praise;
My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream,
Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream.

Thou stock-dove whose echo resounds thro' the glen,
Ye wild whistling blackbirds in yon thorny den,
Thou green-crested lapwing, thy screaming forbear,
I charge you, disturb not my slumbering fair.
Thy crystal stream, Afton, how lovely it glides
And winds by the cot where my Mary resides;
How wanton thy waters her snowy feet lave,
As gathering sweet flowerets, she stems thy clear

wave.

Flow gently, sweet Afton, among thy green braes, Flow gently, sweet river, the theme of my lays; My Mary's asleep by thy murmuring stream,— Flow gently, sweet Afton, disturb not her dream.

QUESTIONS:-1. Who is the author of this poem? 2. Where did he live? 3. When? 4. Name some more of his poems and songs. 5. Repeat any of the verses you may remember. 6. What is the name of this song? 7. Where is Afton? 8. Why does he say "sweet Afton"? 9. What's the meaning of "flow gently"? 10. When does a stream not flow gently? 11. Why "green braes" or hills, and not mountains? 12. Why does the poet sing about Afton at all? 13. What's the meaning of "murmuring stream"! 14. How many kinds of birds are here mentioned? 15. Name them. 16. What is the kind that whistles? 17. That screams? 18. Have you seen any of these birds? 19. Is Afton a clear or muddy river? 20. How do you know? 21. It "winds by the cot," &c., what's the meaning of that? 22. Where was Mary when she gathered "sweet flowerets"? 23. What makes you think so?

II.

What makes the Spring?

re-main', stay still, continue

spa'-cious, wide, roomy.

spar'-kle, shine, glitter.

a'-zure, faint blue colour.

bless'-ed, happy, holy.

chil'-ly, a little cold.

hues, colours, tints, dyes.

"weal or woe," happiness or

joy'-ous, glad, merry.

misery.

WHAT makes the spring?

The flowers?

Oh no! oh no! oh no!

'Tis not the flowers, but something more;
For though at home we have a store
Of lovely flowers, they do not bring,
With all their hues, the joyous spring.

What makes the spring?

The sun?

Oh no! oh no! oh no!

Since oftentimes his blessed light
In winter will be clear and bright;
And sparkle, play, and paint in vain,
For chilly still our hearts remain.

What makes the spring?

The blue?

Oh no! oh no! oh no!

For though that spacious azure sky
O'er stream and field may cast its eye,

A heavy dreariness we feel,

As though we were in winter still.

What makes the spring?

Is't love?

Oh yes! oh yes! oh yes!

Love which can weal or woe impart
At pleasure to the world's great heart,-
Love which by gentle breathing can
Bestir the little heart of man.

Love makes the spring!

Yes, love!

Oh yes! oh yes! oh yes!

Oh! never, then, this truth forget,
Deep in thy heart love's fountain set;
And round about thy humble home
A constant spring shall ever come.

QUESTIONS:-1. What do you say makes the spring? 2. Is it the flowers? 3. Well, what does spring make or bring? 4. Name some flowers that come in early spring. 5. Where may lovely flowers be seen when it is not spring? 6. What is meant by the hues of flowers? 7. Name some flowers that have beautiful hues? 8. Does the sun make the spring? 9. Name some season when the sun shines brightly as in spring. 10. Is it the fine blue sky that makes the spring? 11. How can you show that it is not? 12. What does the poet say makes the spring? 13. But does love make the real spring? 14. It only makes something like the real spring, what is it? 15. Try if you can show how love may be said to be like the spring?