1. Ir is attraction which gives weight to objects; hence it is sometimes called grav-i-ta'tion, which means nearly the same thing as weight. Isaac Newton also dis-covered that all objects whatever have an attraction for each other, and always in proportion to their size and the distance at which they are placed.

2. Thus the moon, though a large globe, is under the attraction of the earth, and the planets are under the attraction of the sun. And it is by attraction they are all made to keep their proper distances from one another.

3. These discoveries were justly considered as among the most important ever made; and, for his having made them, re-flect'ing men will ever ven'erate the name of Newton. He was also the first who showed that every ray of white light from the sun consists of seven different colors; and he made known many other curious and wonderful things which were never known before.

4. He was of a mild and equal temper, and was seldom or never seen in a passion. He had a little dog which he called Diamond. He was one day called out of his study, where all his papers and writ ings were lying upon a table. His dog Diamond happened to jump upon the table, and overturned a lighted candle, which set fire to all the papers, and consumed them in a few moments.

5. In this way

Newton lost the labor of many years.

But when he came into the study, and saw what had happened, he did not strike the little dog, but only said, "Ah, Diamond, Diamond! thou little knowest. the mischief thou hast done!"

6. Though Isaac Newton was a very wise and learn'ed man, he was not proud of his learning, but was very meek and humble. He was kind to all, even to the poorest and meanest man. Though he was wiser than most other men, yet he said, a little before he died, that all his knowledge was as nothing when compared with what he had yet to learn.

7. He was sometimes so much engaged in thinking, that his dinner was often three hours ready for him before he could be brought to the table. He died in the year 1727, at the age of eighty-five.

2. A slide on the ice, if well frozen, or an hour's skating, or a good run in the cold freezing blast, will be of service to both mind and body.

3. Those persons in health, who shun out-of-door ex'er-cise in rough weather, are much more likely to

have their health in'jured by colds, than those persons who brave the chilling winds, and seek the glow which ex-er'tion brings.

4. Of course, the ex-pos'ure we undergo must not be such as our health and habits do not war'rant. Our parents or teach'ers are the best judges of what we can safely do in the way of ex'er-cise.

5. Skating is a good and healthful sport; but we should be always sure that the ice is safe, and never ven'ture on it against the ad-vice of persons better qual'i-fied to judge than we.

6. In learning to skate, the beginner should first be sure that his skates are fixed on his feet firmly and closely. If the skates slip about on the feet, the wearer is likely to meet the fate of the boy in the picture.

7. In Holland, skating is much practised, not only by men, but by women and children. The numerous ca-nals afford free scope for the ex'er-cise: and some very fast skaters may be found among the Dutch.

1. Do you see that old beggar who stands at the door? Do not send him away,

we must pity the poor.

O, see how he shivers! he's hungry and cold!
For people can't work when they grow very old.

2. Go set near the fire a table and seat;

And Sarah shall bring him some bread and some meat.
I hope my dear children will always be kind
Whenever they meet with the aged and blind.

GOOD WORKS.

CXX.

A PARABLE.

209

EI

1. A FATHER once re-lat'ed the follow-ing parable to his chil'dren: The viceroy of a certain isl'and was once sum'moned by his lord the king to ren'der an ac-count of his gov'ern-ment.

2. Some of his friends, on whom he had placed the great'est re-li'ance, let him de-part with-out stir'ring them-selves from their places; oth'ers, in whom he had not a little con-fid'ed, went with him only as far as the ship.

3. But some, in whom he had scarcely trust'ed at all, went with him through the whole of his dis'tant jour'ney, even to the king's throne, spake in his behalf, and ob-tained for him the fa'vor of the king.

4. The children did not un-der-stand who these friends could be; so their father said: "Man also has three kinds of friends on earth.

5. "But, for the most part, he does not learn to know them well till the time when he is called from this world, in order to give ac-count of his con'duct.

6. "The first of these friends, wealth and pos-sessions, re-mains be-hind; the sec'ond, his re-la'tions, ac-com'pa-nies him to the grave.

7. "But the third, his good works, follows him into e-ter'ni-ty, even to the throne of God, and pleads for him there, where it will be rec'om-pensed to each ac-cording to his works.

8. "How thoughtless-ly, then, does the man act who does not con-cern himself in the least de-gree a-bout such true friends!

CXXI. A STORM AT SEA.

1. PEOPLE who live on dry land cannot well know to what dangers the poor sailor is exposed. Sometimes for whole weeks in stormy weather, he has to go in wet clothes, and suffer almost all the time from cold.

2. The ship will toss so that he cannot walk a step without holding on to something. Sometimes a great sea will sweep over the deck, and carry off planks, casks, spars, and hen-coops; and then, if a sailor is not careful, and does not hold on to a rope or to the sides of the vessel, he, too, will be swept overboard.

3. The picture shows a ship that has been struck by lightning. Parts of her masts have been carried away. Her three masts are called the mizzen-mast, the main'mast, and the fore'mast. The mizzen-mast is that nearest the stern.

4. The sea sweeps over this ship so heav'i-ly that