world to feel at a loss: so, "yah, yah," broke forth instantly from every tongue, which meant, in their language, How d'ye do?"

Like

The acquaintance thus commenced, they made mutual enquiries as to what each had seen and heard. The Gulls had a great deal of news, for they had lately come from Ireland; and what they had seen there made them plume themselves on their good fortune, in not being like some other two-legged things that inhabit that country. themselves, they observed these creatures had often to travel hundreds of miles for food; but then, what a difference? instead of a pleasant little pleasure trip, they had to work harder then ever to procure it. Then they had many skirmishes to tell of, which had taken place between their own tribe and the cormorants; but things seemed settling down now times were more severe; for they had all too much to do to get a living to find much time for quarrelling.

"You must find it dull work, I think, Tom Pigeon, living mewed up in this place as you do; though, to be sure, use is second nature.'

"You say very truly, Jack," he replied; "every thing comes easy when you are used to it. I, on the contrary, should have thought your perilous life very agitating. I would not have Mrs. Pigeon and the little ones exposed to all you go through, for the world. And then what sad temptations for the young,-what scenes of cruelty and bloodshed, I quite shudder to think of it all."

At this remark, the gulls set up a loud laugh, which might be heard for miles round; the poor little pigeons were quite frightened at the rough company they had found,

and flew round and round in circles, each one bringing them nearer to their home.

"And this is where you live, is it?" said Jack; "a tidy little place, and tolerably convenient, I dare say; but I wonder you don't build for yourselves; you might find such very desirable places in that sand-bank. We build in the cliffs, and then, being close to the sea, we know all that's going on; and just take a cruise or two, according to circumstances."

"That seems all very suitable to you, but for us it would not do at all. Since we have learnt to live in this domestie kind of way, we depend, you see, entirely upon the folks at the farm for our daily supply of grain. Every morning they sprinkle our first meal at the foot of the house, and for the remainder of the day we go round the estate, and are certain to find plenty."'

"Dear me! what a dependant life, to be sure! Then you really have nothing to do, no anxieties, and no enemies; but only eat, drink, sleep, and teach your young ones to do the same ?"

"Oh dear, no!" said Mrs. Pigeon, "I assure you we are very much harrassed by the polecats. I have to lament the loss of many of my family. They climb up the pole at night, and drag our little ones out of the holes, while we are asleep. This is a sad drawback to our happiness."

Then, I suppose, with this exception, you have nothing to fear, but live on till you die! and when the house is too small to hold you all, you build another ?"

At this remark there was considerable agitation among the flock, and a low plaintive "coo arose from all sides.

John scarcely liked to ask the reason, but an old batchelor kindly relieved him from his embarrassment, by telling him that the farmer thinned the flock occasionally for his own dinner.

This, thought John Gull, is a pretty climax! They sell their liberty first, only to lose their lives in the end, and this forsooth to supply their protector's table.

"Let us be up, my friends, and back to the sea, for I'd rather be a wild bird of the ocean, than the most elegant gentlemanly pigeon that ever lived at a farm house."

Hereupon they took their leave, and after compliments on both sides, and a few circles in the air, to ascertain their exact position, they swept along with a joyous cry, to their homes on the rocky cliffs.

The Little Child's Poet's Corner.

ON THE SEASONS.

BY MARY HOWITT.

THE earth is thine, and it thou keepest,
That man may labour not in vain ;

Thou giv'st the grass, the grain, the tree,
Seed-time and harvest come from thee,
The early and the latter rain.

The earth is thine,-the summer earth,
Fresh with the dews, with sunshine bright;
With golden clouds in evening hours,
With singing birds and balmy flowers,
Creatures of beauty and delight.

The earth is thine,-when days are dim,
And leafless stands the stately tree;

When from the north the fierce winds blow,
When falleth fast, the mantling snow,-
The earth pertaineth still to thee!
The earth is thine,-thy creature, man!
Thine are all worlds, all suns that shine;
Darkness and light, and life and death,
Whate'er all space inhabiteth,-

Creator! Father! all are thine!

THE BOW OF PROMISE.

BY CHARLES MACKAY, LL.D.

WHEN skies are dark, and tempests blow,
And clouds discharge their rain,
Appears in heaven the radient bow,
And all is bright again.

Type of the promise kindly given
To man in days of yore,

That the incessant ire of Heaven
Should drown the world no more.

So in the heart where sorrow dwells,
And all is dark with care,

One cheering beam the gloom dispels,
And keeps away despair.
When once that hallow'd light appears
Athwart the clouds of woe,

A glory shines in human tears
And gilds them as they flow.

Like to the rainbow in the sky,
When storms their fury dart.
The other bow appears on high,

When storms are in the heart:-
"Trust in the promises of God,"
It smiles amid the gloom,
Lightens affliction's heaviest rod,
And cheers the darkest doom.