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leaves float on the surface of the water; the wallflower takes root in the hard stone, and spreads its fragrance amongst broken ruins.

Every leaf is of a different form; every plant hath a separate inhabitant.

Look at the thorns that are white with blossoms, and the flowers that cover the fields, and the plants that are trodden in the green path. The hand of man hath not planted them; the sower hath not scattered the seed from his hand, nor the gardener digged a place for them with his spade.

Some grow on steep rocks, where no man can climb; in shaking bogs, and deep forests, and desert islands. They spring up every where, and cover the bosom of the whole earth.

Who causeth them to grow every where, and bloweth the seeds about in winds, and mixeth them with the mould, and watereth them with soft rains, and cherisheth them with dews? Who fanneth them with the pure breath of heaven, and giveth them colors and smells, and spreadeth out their thin, transparent leaves?

How doth the rose draw its crimson from the darkbrown earth, or the lily its shining white? How can a small seed contain a plant? How doth every plant know its season to put forth? They are marshalled in order; each one knoweth his place, and standeth up in his own rank.

The snowdrop and the primrose make haste to lift their heads above the ground. When the spring cometh, they say, "Here we are." The carnation

waiteth for the full strength of the year; and the hardy laurustinus cheereth the winter months.

Every plant produceth its like. An ear of corn wili not grow from an acorn; nor will a grape-stone produce cherries; but every one springeth from its proper seed.

Who preserveth them alive through the cold of winter, when the snow is on the ground, and the sharp frost bites on the plain? Who saveth a small seed, and a little warmth in the bosom of the earth, and causeth them to spring up afresh, and sap to rise through the hard fibres?

The trees are withered, naked, and bare; they are like dry bones. Who breatheth on them with the breath of spring, and they are covered with verdure, and green leaves sprout from the dead wood?

Lo, these are but a part of his works, and a little portion of his wonders.

There is little need that I should tell you of God, for every thing speaks of him.

Every field is like an open book; every painted flower hath a lesson written on its leaves.

Every murmuring brook hath a tongue; a voice in every whispering wind.

They all speak of Him who made them; they all tell us he is very good.

We cannot see God, for he is invisible; but we can see his works, and worship his footsteps in the green sod.

They that know the most will praise God the best; but which of us can number half his works?

LESSON XLIII.

Action, (not ac-shn,) nation, ration, motion, promotion, devotion, occasion, conclusion.

The same, continued.

COME, let us go into the thick shade, for it is the noon of day, and the summer sun beats hot upon our heads.

The shade is pleasant and cool; the branches meet above our heads, and shut out the sun, as with a green curtain; the grass is soft to our feet, and a clear brook washes the roots of the trees.

The sloping bank is covered with flowers: let us lie down upon it; let us throw our limbs on the fresh grass, and sleep; for all things are still, and we are quite alone.

The cattle can lie down to sleep in the cool shade, but we can do what is better; we can raise our voices to heaven; we can praise the great God who made.

Note to Teachers. "There is a vicious manner of pronouncing the terminations tion, sion, &c., by giving them a sharp hiss, which crushes the consonants together, and totally excludes the vowels, as if the words nation, occasion, &c., were written na-shn, occa-shn, &c. As words of these terminations are very numerous in the language, any improper mode of sounding them must tarnish the whole pronunciation, and therefore ought to be most carefully guarded against. These terminations, therefore, ought to be pronounced as distinctly as if written nashun, occazhun, &c.". WALKER.

us. He made the warm sun, and the cool shade; the trees that grow upwards, and the brooks that run inurmuring along. All the things that we see are his works.

Can we raise our voices up to the high heaven? can we make Him hear who is above the stars? We need not to raise our voices to the stars, for he heareth us when we only whisper; when we breathe out words softly, with a low voice. He that filleth the heavens is here also.

May we, that are so young, speak to him, that always was?

May we, that can hardly speak plain, speak to God?

We, that are so young, are but lately made alive; therefore we should not forget his forming hand, who hath made us alive. We, that cannot speak plain, should lisp out praises to Him who teacheth us how to speak, and hath opened our dumb lips.

When we could not think of him, he thought of us; before we could ask him to bless us, he had already given us many blessings.

He fashioneth our tender limbs, and causeth them to grow; he maketh us strong, and tall, and nimble. Every day we are more active than the former day; therefore every day we ought to praise him better than the former day.

The buds spread into leaves, and the blossoms swell into fruit; but they know not how they grow, nor who causeth them to spring up from the bosom of the earth.

Ask them, if they will tell thee; bid them break

forth into singing, and fill the air with pleasant sounds.

They smell sweet; they look beautiful; but they are quite silent; no sound is in the still air, no murmur of voices amongst the green leaves.

The plants and the trees are made to give fruit to man; but man is made to praise God, who made him.

We love to praise him, because he loveth to bless us; we thank him for life, because it is a pleasant thing to be alive.

We love God, who hath created all beings; we love all beings, because they are the creatures of God.

We cannot be good, as God is good, to all persons every where; but we can rejoice that every where there is a God to do them good.

We will think of God when we play, and when we work; when we walk out, and when we come in; when we sleep, and when we wake: his praise shall dwell continually upon our lips.

LESSON XLIV.

The same, concluded.

THE glorious sun is set in the west; the night dews fall; and the air, which was sultry, becomes cool.

The flowers fold up their colored leaves; they fold

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