mother one day as she went up to the window. "I am beginning to think my dear daughter will get well again." 8. She had noticed that her sick girl had been getting more cheerful and stronger of late; so on the morning that the pea-vine blossomed she raised her up in bed, and leaned her against a chair. The next week she was able, for the first time in many months, to get out of bed and take a few steps. 9. How happy she was as she sat in the bright sunshine, and looked at the growing pea-vine! The window was open, and the morning breeze came skipping in. Then the girl leaned her head out of the window and kissed her vine. That day was a happy holiday to her. 10. "The good Father in heaven, my dear child, has planted that little flowering pea here for you, and also to bring hope and joy to my heart." So spoke the mother, and truly, too. 11. Now, what became of the other peas? The one which flew out into the wide world, and said, as he passed, "Catch me if you can," fell into the gutter beside the street, and was swallowed by a dove. 12. The two which went off together fared no better, for they were both devoured' by hungry pigeons.3 13. The fourth pea, which went off toward the sun, did not get half-way there, but fell into a water-spout, and lay there for weeks, growing larger all the time. 14. "I am getting so corpulent,” it said one day, "I shall soon burst, I am afraid, and that will certainly be the last of me." 15. And the chimney, who afterward wrote his cpitaph, told me a few days ago that he did burst. So that was the last of him. 16. But the sick girl stood one day, with bright eyes and red cheeks, at her mother's window, and folding her hands over the beautiful pea-vine, thanked her Heavenly Father for His goodness. 1. WHENCE come these feathery' forms of light, That meet our wondering eyes? Say, were they borne on angels' wings, 2. They come, they come, with noiseless tread, A bright and glittering band; 2 Their fairy forms of matchless grace, Fresh from a Father's hand. 3. A carpet soft they quickly spread 4. Alike on lordly cities fair, And on each quiet town; On lofty hall and lowly cot, Cometh this blessing down. 5. Say, wherefore come these dazzling forms, All fashioned by a hand divine, 6. They come to teach us lessons sweet, To lead our thoughts from earthly things 7. We love the summer rain-drops well, That patter on the leaves; As well we love the fleecy wreath Which winter for us weaves. 8. Both are alike the gift of One 5 Of boundless power and worth, 9. O! may this Father, ever kind And keep us, like the snow-flakes, pure, 1 FEATH'ER-Y. Like feathers. 3 GLĀDE. An open space in a wood, 4 AR-RAYED'. (-rād). Put in order; here clothed, decked. 5 WREATH. Something curled or twisted; a garland, a chaplet. XVIII. THE DEFORMED PALM-TREE. YOUTH'S COMPANION. 1. ALMOST every one who reads much has seen pictures of the palm-tree. It has a long trunk, and at the top long, broad leaves stretch out in every direction. It is one of the most graceful objects in a tropical' landscape; and if you ever see one growing, you will remember it as a magnificent' tree. 2 2. I was sailing up the beautiful bay of Rio de Janeiro,* and as the steamer approached the pretty island* called Paquete, the attention of the passengers was directed to a tall palm-tree, which, instead of having its limbs spread out alike in every direction, had them all turned over one side, forming a complete loop. It was strangely deformed, and looked all the worse because it was near other trees that were well-shaped 3. Many of the passengers had seen the tree fifty times, but still they looked at it and talked about its deformity. And the tree seemed to hang its head for shame. There it stood, and having got this bend in it, the larger it grew the greater the deformity was. There was no help for it, and people would talk about it as long as it was in sight. 4. I inquired how it became so misshapen, and I will venture to say not one of you can guess. But I wish you to remember how it happened. 5. When that tree was young, and its tender leaves were shooting straight up into the air, a spider made a *Re'ō dā Jā'rd. web extending from the top of the leaves down to the trunk. As the young leaves grew, they found themselves drawn down on one side by the spider's web, and so having once got the wrong berd, they kept on growing that way. 6. What a lesson to boys and girls who are forming habits that will last them through life! Just let selfishness, for example, direct the motives of your actions, draw them earthward, and make them grovelling,* grow up disgustingly deformed. and you will 1 TRŎP'I-CAL. Pertaining to the tropics or torrid zone. 2 LAND'SCAPE. A tract of country which the eye can comprehend in one view, a prospect. 3 MAG-NÌF'I-CENT. Grand, splendid. 4 ISLAND (i'land). Land wholly surrounded by water. 5 GRŎV'EL-LING. Creeping low on the ground; low and mean. XIX. - CANUTE'S REPROOF TO HIS COURTIERS. MRS. BARbauld. CANUTE, King of England. OSWALD, OFFA, Courtiers. SCENE.-The sea-side-The tide coming in. 1. Canute. Is it true, my friends - what you have so often told me that I am the greatest of monarchs ?1 2. Offa. It is true, my liege;' you are the most powerful of all kings. 3. Oswald. We are all your slaves; we kiss the dust of your feet. 4. Offa. Not only we, but even the elements, are your slaves. The land obeys you from shore to shore; and the sea obeys you. 5. Canute. Does the sea, with its loud, boisterous' waves, obey me? Will that terrible element be still at my bidding? |