joy, returned to his house, and falling on his knees, offered up his most grateful thanks to God, who had graciously condescended to bestow on him such a son!

17. Hence you may learn, my young readers, how much you have it in your power to prove a blessing to your parents, and a comfort to yourselves. It is not necessary, that in order to do so, you should be reduced to the necessity that poor Harry was: for, however exalted your station may be, you will always find opportunities enough to give proofs of your duty to your parents, your affection for your brothers and sisters, and your humanity and benevolence to the poor and needy.

18. Happy, indeed, are those poor children, who have found a friend and a protector while they were needful and helpless; but much happier those, who, without ever feeling the griping hand of penury and want themselves, have received the inexpressible delight that never fails to arise from the pleasing reflection of having raised honest poverty to happiness and plenty!

Arthur, Adrian, and the Gardener.

1. ADRIAN had frequently heard his father say, that children had but little knowledge with respect to what was the most proper for them; and that the greatest proof they could give of their wisdom, consisted in following the advice of people who had more age and experience. This was a kind of doctrine Adrian did not understand, or at least would not, and therefore it is no wonder he forgot it.

2. This wise and good father had allotted him and his brother Arthur a convenient piece of ground, in order that each might be possessed of a little garden, and display his knowledge and industry in the cultivation of it. They had also permission to sow whatever seed they should think proper, and to transplant any tree they liked out of their father's garden into their own.

3. Arthur remembered those words of his father, which his brother Adrian had forgotten, and therefore went to consult their gardener. Pray tell me,' said he, what is now in season to sow in my garden, and in what manner am I to set about my business?" The gardener hereupon gave him several roots and seeds, such as were most proper for the season. instantly ran and put them into the ground, and the gardener very kindly, not only assisted him in the work, but made him acquainted with many things necessary to be known.

Arthur

4. Adrian, on the other hand, appeared not to be pleased

with his brother's industry, thinking he was taking much more pains than was necessary. The gardener not observing this indifferent treatment, offered him likewise his assistance and instruction; but he refused it in a manner that sufficiently betrayed his vanity and ignorance. He then went into his father's garden, and took thence a quantity of flowers, which he transplanted into his own. The gardener took no notice of him, but left him to do as he liked.

5. When Adrian visited his garden the next morning, all the flowers he had planted hung down their heads like so many mourners at a funeral, and, as he plainly saw, were in a dying state. He replaced them with others from his father's garden; but, on visiting them the next morning, he found them perished like the former.

6. This was a matter of great vexation to Adrian, who consequently became soon disgusted with this kind of business. He had no idea of taking so much pains for the possession of a few flowers, and therefore gave it up as unprofitable. Hence his piece of ground soon became a wilderness of weeds and thistles.

7. As he was looking into his brother's garden about the beginning of summer, he saw something of a red colour hanging near the ground, which, on examination, he found to be strawberries of a delicious flavour. Ah!' said he, I should have planted strawberries in my garden.'

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8. Some time afterwards, walking again in his brother's garden, he saw little berries of a red colour, which hung down in clusters from the branches of a bush. Upon examination, he found they were currants, which even the sight of was a feast. Ah!' said he, 'I should have planted currants in my garden.'

9. The gardener then observed to him, that it was his own fault that his garden was not as productive as his brother's. 'Never for the future,' said he, despise the instruction and assistance of any one, since you will find by experience, that two heads are better than one.'

The little Girl's journey to Market.

1. NOTHING can be more natural and pleasing than to see young children fond of their parents. The birds of the air, and even the wild inhabitants of the forest, love and, are beloved by their young progeny.

2. A little girl, who was about six years old, was very fond of her mother, and delighted in following her every where.

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Her mother being one day obliged to go to market, wished to leave her little daughter at home, thinking it would be too fatiguing for her and troublesome to herself; but the child's entreaties to go were so earnest and pressing, that her mother could not withstand them, and at last consented to her request. 3. The cloak and bonnet were soon on, and the little maid set off with her mother in high spirits. Such was the badness of the paths in some places, that it was impossible for them to walk hand in hand, so that the little girl was sometimes obliged to walk on by herself behind her mother; but these were such kind of hardships as her little spirit was above complaining of.

4. The town now appeared in sight, and the nearer they approached it, the more the paths were thronged with people The little girl was often separated from her mother; but this did not at present much disturb her, as by skipping over a rut, or slipping between people as they passed, she soon got up again to her mother. However, the nearer they approached the market, the crowd of course increased, which kept her eyes in full employment to see which way her mother went; but a little chaise drawn by six dogs having attracted her attention, she stopped to look at them, and by that means lost sight of her mother, which soon became the cause of much uneasiness to her.

5. Here, my little readers, let me pause for a moment to give you this necessary advice. When you walk abroad with your parents or servants, never look much about you, unless you have hold of their hand, or some part of their apparel.And I hope it will not be deemed impertinent to give similar advice to parents and servants, to take care that children do not wander from them, since, from such neglect, many fatal accidents have happened. But to proceed

6. The little girl had not gazed on this object of novelty for more than a minute, before she recollected her mother, and turned about to look for her; but no mother was there, and now the afflictions of her heart began. She called aloud, Mother, mother;' but no mother answered. She then walked up a bank, which afforded her a view of all around; but no mother was to be seen. She now burst into a flood of tears, and sat herself down at the foot of the bank, by which people were passing and re-passing in great numbers.

7. Almost every body that passed said something to her, but none offered to help her to find her mother. What is the mafter with you, my little dear, said one, that you cry so sadly?'

'I have lost my mother!' said the little girl, as well as the grief of her heart would permit her to speak. Another told her never to mind it, she would find her again by and by. Some said, 'Do not cry so, child, there is nobody that will hurt you or run away with you.' Some pitied her, and others laughed at her but not one offered to give her any assistance.

8. Such, my little pupils, is the conduct of most people. When any misfortune brings you into trouble, you will find enough ready to pity you, but few who will give you any material assistance. They will tell you, what you then know yourselves, that you should not have done wrong; they will be sorry for you, and then take their leave of you.

9. The little girl, however, was soon relieved from her present terrible anxieties. A poor old woman, with eggs and butter in a basket, happened to be going to the same market, whither the little girl's mother was gone before her.

10. Seeing the little girl in so much distress, she went up to her, and asked her what was the matter with her. The little girl told her she had lost her mother. And to what place, my dear,' said the old woman, was your mother going when you lost her?" 'She was going to market,' replied the little girl. Well, my dear,' continued the old woman, I am going to the market too, and if you will go along with me, I make no doubt but we shall find your mother there. However, I will take care of you till you do find her.' She then took the little girl by the hand, and led her along the road.

11. The good old woman gave her a nice piece of plumcake, which she thankfully accepted: but her little heart was too full to permit her to think of eating at that time. She therefore held it in her hand, saying, that she would eat it by and by, when she had found her mother, which she hoped would be soon.

12. As they walked along, the good old woman endeavoured to amuse the little girl by telling her pretty stories, and inquiring of her what books she read. I very well know,' said the old woman, that young children are too apt to be fond of histories of haunted houses, of witches, ghosts, and apparitions, which tend only to fill them with idle fears and apprehensions, and make them afraid even of their own shadows." But when the little girl told her that her books were the Bible, and other good books, she seemed perfectly satisfied.

13. They had hardly entered the market, when the rambling eyes of the little girl caught sight of her mother. She shrieked with joy, and, like an arrow out of a bow, darted from the old

woman, and flew to her parent, who clasped her in her arms, and after tenderly embracing her, 'How came you,' said she, my little dear, to wander from me? I have been so frightened as to be hardly able to contain myself.'

14. The little girl took hold of her mother's hand, but could not speak, till a torrent of tears gave ease to her heart. As soon as she was able to speak, 'My dear mother,' said she, 'I stopped to look at a pretty little chaise drawn by six dogs, and in the mean time I lost you. I looked for you, I called for you, but I could neither see nor hear you. I sat down by the side of a bank some, as they passed, pitied me, and others laughed at me; but none attempted to take care of me, till this good old woman led me by the hand, and brought me here.'

15. The little girl's mother was very thankful to the good old woman for her tenderness and humanity to her daughter, and not only bought of her what eggs and butter she had left, but even left her a small present besides, which she a long time declined accepting, saying, she had done no more than what every good christian ought to do.

16. The little girl thanked the good old woman over and over again, and all the way home talked of nothing but her kindness. Nor did she afterwards forget it, as she would frequently go and pay her a visit, when she always took with her some tea and sugar, and a loaf of bread. The little girl's mother constantly bought all the eggs and butter the old woman had to spare, and paid her a better price for them than she could have got at market, saving her, at the same time, the trouble of going thither.

17. Thus you see, my young friends, what are the consequences of good nature and humanity. You must accustom yourselves early, not only to feel for the misfortunes of others, but to do every thing that lies in your power to assist them. Whatever may your condition in life at present, and however improbable it may be that you may ever want, yet there are strange vicissitudes in this world, in which nothing can be said to be really certain and permanent.

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18. Should any one of you, my little readers, like the little girl, lose yourselves, would you not be happy to meet with so good an old woman as she did? Though your stations in life may place you above receiving any pecuniary reward for a generous action, yet the pleasing sensations of a good heart, on relieving a distressed fellow-creature, are inexpressible.