kind of mortar, which they prepare of dry grafs and clay mixed together. In August or September they begin to lay up their ftores of food; which confift of the wood of the birch, the plane, and of fome other Thus they pass the gloomy winter

trees.

in ease and plenty.

These two American animals, contrafted with each other, afford a moft ftriking picture of the bleffings of industry, and the penury and wretchedness of sloth.

L

THE FOLLY AND ODIOUSNESS
OF AFFECTATION.

Ucy, Emilia, and Sophronia, feated on a bank of daifies, near a purling stream, were liftening to the music of a neighbouring grove. The fun gilded with his fetting beams the western sky; gentle zephyrs breathed around; and the feathered fongsters seemed to vie with each other, in their evening notes of gratitude and praise, Delighted

Delighted with the artlefs melody of the linnet, the goldfinch, the woodlark, and the thrush, they were all ear, and obferved not a peacock, which had strayed from a distant farm, and was approaching them with a majestic pace and expanded plumage. The harmony of the concert was foon interrupted by the loud and harsh cries of this ftately bird; which, though chafed away by Emilia, continued his vociferations with the confidence that confcious beauty too often infpires. Does this foolish bird, faid Lucy, fancy that he is qualified to fing, because he is furnished with a spreading tail, ornamented with the richeft colours ? I know not, replied Sophronia, whether the peacock be capable of fuch a reflection; but I hope that you and Emilia will always avoid the display of whatever is inconfiftent with your fex, your station, or your character. Shun affectation in all its odious forms; affume no borrowed airs; and be content to please, to fhine, or to be useful, in the way which nature points out, and which reafon approves.

THE

THE PASSIONS SHOULD BE GOVERNED BY REASON.

SOPHRON OPHRON and Alexis had frequently heard Euphronius mention the experiment of ftilling the waves with oil, made by his friend Doctor Franklin. They were impatient to repeat it; and a brisk wind proving favourable to the trial, they haftened, one evening, to a fheet of water in the pleasure grounds of Eugenio, near HartHill. The oil was fcattered upon the pool, and fpread itself instantly on all fides, calming the whole furface of the water, and reflecting the most beautiful colours. Elated with fuccefs, the youths returned to Euphronius, to inquire the cause of such a wonderful appearance. He informed them that the wind blowing upon water which is covered with a coat of oil, flides over the furface of it, and produces no friction that can raise a wave. But this curious philofophical fact, faid he, suggests a most im

portant

portant moral reflection. When you fuffer yourselves to be ruffled by paffion, your minds refemble the puddle in a storm. But Reason, if you hearken to her voice, will then, like oil poured upon the water, calm the turbulence within you, and restore you to ferenity and peace.

AFFECTION EXTENDED TO INANIMATE OBJECTS.

A BEAUTIFUL tree grew, in an open fpace, oppofite to the parlour windows of Euphronius's houfe. It was an object which his family often contemplated with pleasure. The verdant foliage, with which it was covered, gave an early indication of spring; its spreading branches furnished an agreeable shade, and tempered the heat of the noon-tide fun; and the falling leaves, in autumn, marked the varying seasons, and warned them of the approach of winter.

One

lucklefs

lucklefs morning, the ax was laid to the root of this admired tree; and it fell a lamented victim to the rage for building, which depopulates the country, and multiplies mifery, difeafes, and death, by the enlargement of great towns.

You now feel, faid Euphronius to Alexis on this occafion, the force of that good-natured remark of Mr. Addifon, in one of the Spectators, that he fhould not care to have an old stump pulled up, which he had remembered ever fince he was a child. The affections of a generous heart are extended, by the early affociation of ideas, to almost every furrounding object. Hence the delight which we receive from revifiting those fcenes, in which we paffed our youth; the school where our first friendships were formed; or the academic groves in which fair fcience unveiled herself to our enraptured view.

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