Humane Society. 185 time when she expected her mistress. As she unlocked the door, she heard a voice, saying, "I shall tell mistress; poor Poll had no supper." As the girl knew she had left no one in the house when she went away, she was very much frightened; and, when she recollected the parrot, her alarm was not much lessened, for she knew that her absence must be discovered, unless she could contrive to silence Poll. In vain she offered the bird the food she liked best; Poll still repeated, "I shall tell," and the girl felt so convinced that Poll would betray her, that she thought the best way was to confess her fault, and entreat her mistress's forgiveness. THE TELL-TALE MACAW. SIR Joshua Reynolds had a Macaw, a very handsome bird, and a great favourite with every one in the house, excepting the cook, who had taken a dislike to the bird, and was constantly teazing it, by taking away its food, and giving it sly kicks. The Macaw happened once to be in Sir Joshua's painting room, where there were pictures of all the servants, which Sir Joshua had been painting. The bird took little notice of all the rest; but, when it saw the cook's picture, it flew at it in the most violent rage, and tried to bite and tear it to pieces. This led to an enquiry as to the cause of the bird's dislike; and when Sir Joshua Reynolds discovered how ill the cook was in the habit of using his favourite, he dismissed her from his service. Y. E. HUMANE SOCIETY. DURING the late frosts, no less than two hundred and thirty-one accidents occurred at the Serpentine River, in Hyde Park, and the Canal in St. James's Park, notwithstanding the cautions given by the men employed by the Humane Society; of which number two hundred and twenty-eight persons were rescued by the means recommended by the Society, many of whom required several hours' constant medical exertion, at the Receiving house, on the North side of the Serpentine River, to restore the vital functions. TIMBER. EVELYN says, 66 my earnest advice to a person on first coming to an estate, is, to think of the great utility of the propagation of wood, for, I observe, there is no part of husbandry which men more commonly fail in, neglect, and have cause to repent of, than that they did not begin planting betimes." EVELYN'S SYylva. QUESTIONS FROM THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND. (See page 114, Vol. III.) IN what year did Edward the Third begin to reign? What age was he when he came to the throne? Who endeavoured to keep the power out of the hands of the young King? Where did the King seize upon the Queen mother, and Mortimer? What became of Mortimer? What of the Queen? What was the disposition of Edward the Third? * 1327. Don't be in a Hurry. What kingdom did he attempt to conquer? What nation did he next attempt to conquer? What was the young Prince called? 187 Can you relate any of the particulars of the battle of Cressy? What town in France did Edward besiege? How long was it before Calais surrendered? How did Edward meet the citizens of Calais after their surrender? When King Edward was in France, did the Scots attempt to invade England? Who commanded them? Do you remember the particulars of the battle of Neville's cross? Who was taken prisoner? What other great battle did the Black Prince fight in France? Who was taken prisoner? Did the Black Prince ever live to be King? Can you make a table of English Kings from William the Conqueror to Edward the Third, with the dates of the years when they began to reign? DON'T BE IN A HURRY, THERE are some people who seem to be always in a hurry. Their affairs appear to be of immense consequence; and they consider themselves as persons of extraordinary importance to have such weighty matters committed to them. It is, however, a saying of a wise writer, that, when a man appears in a hurry and bustle, he shews that his business is too great for him, and he thereby displays, not his greatness of mind, but his littleness. We will not, however, meddle with such questions as these, but will only advise our readers to avoid that inconvenience, which every one must experience, who puts off his affairs to the very last moment, and thus obliges himself to be in a hurry. In such a case, every trifling interruption is a serious calamity, and the slightest accident may produce the greatest inconvenience. And all this is very easily avoided, by merely beginning your work a little sooner than appears to be absolutely necessary. If any delay or interruption should then occur, you are provided for it; and, if nothing of this kind happens, you have a little time to spare, and will have no difficulty in finding a use for it. If being in a hurry, enabled you to get through your business in less time, there would be some reason for it; but it is generally the contrary; for a man in a hurry is so awkward at his work, that he can scarcely do it at all. There is a difference between doing your work in earnest, and doing it in a hurry. V. CRIBB THE BOXER. We never expected to supply articles for our magazine from the language of the Boxers; but the following anecdote of Cribb is too good to be omitted; we took it from the Morning Post. A youth, ambitious of acquiring pugilistic honours Selections from different Authors. 189 the other day waited on Cribb, the ex-champion, with the intention of taking lessons. "Now what do you consider the best posture of defence?" said the aspiring young hero. Why to keep a civil tongue in your head," was the judicious reply. 66 SELECTIONS FROM DIFFERENT WHEN gross ignorance is once removed and right principles are introduced, a great advantage has been already gained against squalid poverty. Many avenues of improvement are opened to one whose understanding is enlarged and exercised; he sees his own interest more clearly, he pursues it more steadily, he does not study immediate gratification at the expense of bitter and late repentance, or mortgage the labour of his future life without an adequate return. Indigence, therefore, will rarely be found in company with good education. Sumner on the Records of the Creation. Be not disturbed for trifles. By the practice of this rule, we should come in time to think most things too trifling to disturb us. Adam. Trouble is often the engine in God's hands to lift us up to heaven. The same. next to on himThe same. He is a happy man who is never angry; him is he whose anger immediately recoils self for being angry. How safe, and happy is the man, who is resolved to do nothing without God. Bp. Hall. He who tells a lie is not sensible how great a task he undertakes; for he must be forced to invent twenty more to maintain that one. Pope. Those who rest in a transient, short-lived affection, without sincere, constant, practical obedience, will never be accepted of God, and made happy in heaven. Dr. Doddridge |
