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some grown people too, are apt to be discontented with the pleasures which are within their power, and in reaching higher they almost always hurt their hands. When the chesnut-burs began to open, and the high winds shook the glossy brown nuts to the ground, boys and girls forsook their summer plays to gather them. The little nutgatherers did not behave to each other as all children should who wish their heavenly Father to bless them in their plays. Some, who could move quick, gathered more than others, and then said, "see how many more I have than you." Those who had but few, became envious, and coveted the nuts which the others had gathered; and as they did not try to put such bad feelings away from their hearts, they often became so quarrelsome, and noisy, that even the squalling notes of the bluejay could not be heard, as he flew about in the chesnut grove.

One day Jane Lee took her infant Ruth in ner arms, and went to the grove, expecting to see the happy nut-gatherers; but she found them all like little enemies to each other,

snatching the nuts as they fell, calling out in anger, now I saw that fall, it is mine;" or

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"you shall not have that, I got here first.” Jane called them around her, and told them how bad it was to behave so unkindly to each other, and to covet all the nuts they saw fall. She said "God teaches us, in the Rible, that 6 we must do to others as we would wish them to do to us:' and if you do so, you will all be willing to let others gather as many nuts as they can, and those who have a great many will give some to those who have but few." Jane told them so much about the goodness of their heavenly Father, who made the chesnut-trees, and let them have the nice nuts to eat, that they felt ashamed of their naughty conduct. The rest of that nutting was a happy one, because the children félt kindly to each other, and even agreed to put all their nuts together, and then divide them equally.

Richard Lee was constantly employed as a wood-cutter; and Jane was never idle at their log-house home. She had a garden between the stumps of the trees; and the

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Lough fence which was just high enough to keep the fowls out, was almost hid by the vines of the morning-glory. Richard ploughed a small space for the cultivation of potatoes, beans, and other vegetables; nor would his wife permit him to leave his work, to attend to the garden; but she kept it clean, by going for a short time, every day, and pulling out the weeds when they first appeared. The same hands which kept every place around the house neat, made all things within look comfortable. Jane Lee's floor, oak table, and milkpail, were the whitest, Richard's clothes the best mended, and little Ruth the " leanest infant in Chesnut-town; and yet Jane

Lee never talked of how much she had to do; and when Richard came home, she was always ready to give him a comfortable meal, without teasing him with complaints of being tired.

Nancy Ridly, Jane's next neighbour, invited her one day to come and help her quilt. Ruth was so unwell, that Jane could not go. When all the quilters were seated at the frame, they began to talk, as quilting companions are apt to do, of their absent neighbours." So Jane Lee could not come,” said Betsy Wilts" throw us here the scissors— well, what a life she leads; work, work, day in and day out; and then she has that cross child to nurse; and, between ourselves, Richard is not over kind to her, or he would not make her weed the garden patch.

Nancy Ridly. Push that wax along Betsy; I have had my own thoughts, that Richard is not what he ought to be, to poor Jane; have you noticed how his clothes are mended, and mended? I suppose she is afraid to miss putting a stitch in them; for he is too proud to grub up a stump with a slit in his jacket.

Becky Harmen. True enough; and you remember, Nelly Tilson, the day of your quilting, all you could do she would not stay to supper; home she would go to get Richard's ready, just as if he ought not to wait once in a while, and let her have a little pleasure.

Nelly Tilson. Yes, I remember; but for my share I do not blame Richard. I think Jane wants to seem better than other wives; as to my Jacob, I am sick of hearing him talk about Richard's clothes being so well mended, and Jane being up, and at work, as early as he goes out to the woods in the morning. You may depend pride is at the bottom of it all. The other evening she sent me a head of salad, just to show how much better her's was than mine.

Rachael Andrews. Well, I do not think that Jane has that kind of pride; you may depend, Nelly, she sent the salad out of kindness; for I remember, one day I was with you in her garden, and you told her you loved that kind of salad, but could not raise it.

Nelly Tilson. Well come, we must talk less, or we shall not get the quilt out.

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