He pushed out his tongue and tasted.

It was

a strong poison, but sweet as honey. He tasted again-again-again; and then fell down, dead as a door-nail!

Little children, what lesson have you learnt from the gluttonous bear ?—John de Liefde.

1. All nature was still, and the soft, mild air fanned her forehead. The light of hundreds of glow-worms shone amidst the grass and the moss, like green fire; and if she touched a twig with her hand ever so lightly, the brilliant insects fell down around her, like shooting stars.

2. Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from morning to night, as from the cradle to the grave, is but a succession of changes so gentle and easy that we can scarcely mark their progress.

THE RIVAL SINGING-BIRDS.

A BLACKBIRD and a Wren, in the depth of winter, chanced to perch at the same moment upon a holly-bush, and at once fell a-wrangling over their claims to the berries.

"I'm the biggest," said the Blackbird, "and I have the sweetest note."

"That has nothing to do with it," said the Wren; "the Robins and I have the best right, because we attend to the hollies, and spend our days more among the hedges than you do."

"That's nonsense," said the Blackbird, "else why has Nature given us such a liking for the berries? If you go on the way you're doing, we'll have to show you that Might is Right, and then you'll come off but poorly, for you're a small shabby creature at best."

Just then a Thrush flew by, and, hearing the sound, drew near. Knowing the sweetness of his voice, they agreed to refer the case to his judg

ment.

After hearing both sides, the Thrush said that singing could not of itself entitle a bird to berries, nor could the mere fact of residing in the bush where they grew. He was of opinion that it would be better for them to refer it to an old Crow, a friend of his, who lived not far off, if they really could not agree to eat berries quietly on the same bush for once in winter-time.

But both declared that they wouldn't do it; it would be a mere eating of their words; and they

asked him to point out the way to the wise Crow's quarters, whither they sped as fast as they could. The Crow had so much to say, and so many

authorities to consult, that the Thrush and his family had the holly-bush well cleared of berries before the Blackbird and Wren returned.

The Wren nearly died of cold and hunger; and the Blackbird was so vexed that, for a long time, he did not sing so sweetly as he had done before.

LEARN:

A-wrang-ling, disputing, making a small quarrel.

en-ti'-tle

SPELL AND WRITE:

| judg'-ment | o-pin'-i-on | de-clār ́-ed

WRITE FROM DICTATION:

1. Christmas-time drew near, and many young trees were cut down, some eren smaller and younger than the fir-tree, who enjoyed neither rest nor peace with longing to leave its forest home. These young trees, which were chosen for their beauty, kept their branches, and were also laid on waggons and drawn by horses out of the forest.

2. In the early morning you may often behold water hanging in wreaths of fog over the rivers and ponds. Fogs frequently extend over towns, and are sometimes so thick or dense, that people cannot see each other as they walk about, and have to use lamps and torches to assist them in finding their way. When a cloud is carried along the hills and highlands, it is called mist.

A PERSIAN FABLE.

"A DYING man," thus the Persian tale goes, “said to his son, 'My son, take this bag of stones. It is the only inheritance I can leave you. It was given to me by my father, who said there was a great blessing connected with it. What that blessing is I never could discover, though the bag has been lying for years under my bed. But perhaps you will be more successful than I in finding out the secret. Only do not throw away the bag, but keep it faithfully as your father's last gift.''

The old father died, and the young man, lifting the bag on his shoulder, took his staff and wandered away to try his fortune. He walked for weeks and months through various countries, in the heat of the burning sun, and the rather heavy bag became a real burden to him.

As, in his opinion, it contained only common stones, he often felt tempted to throw it away. But, impelled by filial piety, and still expecting to discover the secret some day or other, he resisted the temptation, and continued to carry his burden. in the sweat of his brow.

One evening, after sunset, he seated himself on the 'grass by the road to rest from his fatiguing walk. He threw down his bag in a rather fretful mood of mind. Owing to the fall, the cord with which the mouth of the bag was fastened broke, and several stones rolled out.