them again, and with signs of inexpressible fondness, went round one, and round the other, pawing them, and moaning. Finding at last that they were cold and lifeless, fhe raised her head towards the fhip, and growled a curfe upon the murderers; which they returned with a volley of mufket balls. She fell between her cubs, and died, licking their wounds.

Can you admire the maternal affection of the bear, and not feel in your heart the warmeft emotions of gratitude, for the stronger and more permanent tenderness, you have so long experienced from your parents?

THE FALLACY OF EXTERNAL
APPEARANCE.

Is

Is there any hidden beauty, faid Alexis to Euphronius, in that dufky, ill-fhaped stone, which you examine with so much attention? I am admiring the wonderful properties

properties, not the beauty, replied Euphronius, which it poffeffes.

It is by

means of this ftone that the mariner fteers his trackless course through the vast ocean; and without it, the fpices of the Eaft, the mines of Peru, and all the luxuries which commerce pours into Europe, would for ever have remained unknown.---The curiofity of Alexis was excited, and he was impatient to learn in what wonderful manner fuch advantages could be derived from a fubftance apparently of fo little value. ---This magnet or loadstone, for it is known by both names, faid Euphronius, imparts to iron the property of fettling itfelf, when nicely balanced, in a direction nearly North and South. The failor is therefore furnished with an unerring guide in the midft of the ocean. For when he faces the North, the Eaft and Weft are readily ascertained, the former lying to his right, and the latter to his left hand. And from these four points, all the fubdivifions of the mariner's compass are formed. The figure of a ftar, which

you

you so often draw upon paper, will give you a clear idea of the compass. Make yourself a master of it; and from the prefent inftance of your want of knowledge, learn a becoming modefty in the judgments, which you form concerning the productions of nature. The whole creation is the workmanship of an Omnipotent Being: and though we cannot always trace the marks of harmony, beauty, or usefulness, yet doubtless to the eye of a fuperior intelligence, every part of it difplays infallible wisdom, and unbounded goodness.

SELFISH SORROW REPROVED.

IT

T was a holiday in the month of June, and Alexis had prepared himself to set out, with a party of his companions, upon a little journey of pleasure. But the sky lowered, the clouds gathered, and he remained for fome time in anxious suspense about his expedition; which at Jaft was prevented by heavy and continu

ed

ed rain. The difappointment overpowered his fortitude; he burst into tears; lamented the untimely change of weather; and fullenly refused all confolation.

In the evening, the clouds were dif perfed; the fun fhone with unusual brightnefs; and the face of nature seemed to be renewed in vernal beauty. Euphronius conducted Alexis into the fields. The ftorm of passion in his breast was now stilled; and the ferenity of the air, the mufic of the feathered fongfters, the verdure of the meadows, and the sweet perfumes which breathed around, regaled every sense, and filled his mind with peace and joy.

Don't you remark, faid Euphronius, the delightful change which has fuddenly taken place in the whole creation? Recollect the appearance of the scene before us yesterday. The ground was then parched with a long drought; the flowers hid their drooping heads; no fragrant odours were perceived; and vegetation

what

getation feemed to cease. To cause must we impute the revival of nature ---To the rain which fell this morning, replied Alexis, with a modeft confufion. He was ftruck with the selfishness and folly of his conduct; and his own bitter reflections anticipated the reproofs of Euphronius.

A

HONESTY AND GENEROSITY.

POOR man, who was door-keeper to a house in Milan, found a purfe which contained two hundred crowns. The man who had loft it, informed by a public advertisement, came to the house, and giving fufficient proof that the purse belonged to him, the door-keeper restored it. Full of joy and gratitude, the owner offered his benefactor twenty crowns, which he abfolutely refused. Ten were then propofed, and afterwards five; but the door-keeper ftill continuing inexorable, the man threw his purfe upon

the