how shall I make atonement?" This was the hardest ques tion.

20. "Shall I go and tell her that, in counting my money this morning, I discovered that she gave me a ninepence too much yesterday?" "No," said I, "I will not do this, for 1 have told falsehoods enough already about the affair. Shall I carry a ninepence to her and confess my fault? But I have no ninepence; I spent it for my skates. Shall I give her the skates?

21. "These," I thought, "would be of no use to her. Besides, if I do so, my father and playmates will inquire for them, and I must tell them all of my conduct, or tell more untruths, to conceal it. What course shall I take? One thing I am resolved upon, and that is, I will tell no more lies about those skates. But if I tell the truth, what will my father say to me? What will my playmates say?

22. "And yet, is it not nobler to frankly confess a fault than meanly to conceal it? Ah, I will go to my father at once, tell him the whole truth, and ask his forgiveness and advice." I dressed myself in haste, went to him, confessed my guilt, and asked his forgiveness and counsel. He readily granted both.

23. The first boon made me feel happier, and, under the direction of the last, I sold my skates for what they would bring, carried the money to poor Mary, gave it all to her, as I implored her to pardon me. She forgave me, and took the money, after considerable urging on my part, "for her poor babies," as she said. I had wronged her much, but I had wronged myself even more.

24. She was happy, now that I had made restitution; I was still happier. I felt the weight of guilt removed from my mind, and then beamed upon me, for the first time for twelve painful hours,

"The soul's calm sunshine

And the heartfelt joy."

I learned enough by that transaction to convince me, that for boys, as well as men, Honesty is the best policy.

QUESTIONS. 2. What was the business of Mary Seldon? 3. Where did she live? 3. Why is December so called? 4. What did the boy buy of her? 5. What mistake did she make in the change? 6. Why did he not return the change? 11. Did he think he had done right? 13. What did he tell his father the skates cost him? 13. What is the effect of telling one untruth? 15. How did he feel when engaged in the skating party? 17. As he thought on his crime, how did it appear to him? 21. What did he resolve upon? 22. What did he do to his father? 23. What did he do with the money for which he sold the skates? 24. How did he then feel? 24. What moral lesson is taught by this piece?

ERRORS.-1. Sof'ly for softly; 3. sper'its for spirits; 4. o'pun for oʻpen; 6. echo for ech'o; 8. neuk for nook; 9. pay'rent for parent; 10. an'gels for an'gels; 10. spere for sphere; 13. gar'munts for garments; 23. scaf for scarf.

PRIDE AND MODESTY.

M. DAVIDSON.

[The following piece must not be considered as literally true, but as a fictitious narrative or fable, designed to enforce the moral principles of modesty and humility.]

1. JUST where a wild and rapid stream

Rolled back its waves in seeming pride,

Flowers of each softly varying hue
Were sweetly blooming side by side.

2. Shaded by many a bending tree,

Their glowing cups with dew-drops filled,
Nature's fair daughters blushing stood,

And all their fragrant sweets distilled.

3. Oh, 't was a wild and lovely spot,

Which well might seem a spirit's home!

A lone retreat, a noiseless grot,

Where earth's rude blasts could never come.

4. Within a broad and open glade,

A tulip spread its gaudy hue,

While, 'neath the myrtle's clustering shade,
A sweetly drooping lily grew.

5. As the light zephyrs o'er them swept,
And heightened many a rosy glow,

A strange, deep murmur round them crept,
Like distant music, wild and low.

6. 'Twas the gay tulip's fragrant breath, Which many an answering echo woke, As to her lowly neighbor thus,

With proud and haughty mien, she spoke :

7. "Away! frail, trembling flower, nor dare To droop beside my glittering form! Behold how bright my garments are,

And mark each sweetly varying charm!

8. "Then hie thee to some lonely nook,
Nor show thy pallid features here;
Go, murmur to some babbling brook,
Where, like thyself, each scene is drear!

9. "Hast thou assurance thus to gaze

On one who nature's self beguiles?

Hence! haste thee hence! and hide that face,
Where parent nature never smiles."

10. She ceased;

-

a sad, sweet whispering rose, Which thrilled the zephyr's listening ear; Soft as an angel's gentlest tone,

Too heavenly for this mortal sphere.

11. 'Twas the pale lily's silvery voice,

Which rose in low and thrilling tone,
Like breath of wild Æolian lyre,

Moved by the wind-god's" tenderest moan:

12. "Great Queen!" the lovely gem replied,
"I view thy charms,—I own thy power,
And, void of envy, shame, or pride,
Admire thy beauties of an hour.

13. "Full well I know, my pallid brow

Can never match the hues of thine;
Nor my white robes the colors wear
Which on thy dazzling garments shine.

14. "But the same hand hath formed us both; And heaven-born Nature smiled as sweet As on thy form, when the low flower

Was peeping from its green retreat.

15. "Here was I planted! let me here Still live in purity and peace; The lily's eye shall never weep,

NOTE.

winds.

To gain the tulip's gaudy grace.

-a Wind'god; Æolus, who is regarded, in mythology, as the god of the

16. "But, O! forget not, 'mid the pomp
Of earthly kingdom, pride, and joy,
That boasted beauty must decay,

And withering age thy pleasures cloy.

17. "Receive the lily's kind advice,-
Retire from scenes of public life,
And pass thy days in solitude,
Apart from vanity and strife.".

18. While the sweet murmur passed away,
The stately rose as umpire came;
The lily shunned her proud survey,
The lordly tulip bent for shame.

19. In accents bland, but nobly firm,

The queen-like floweret soon replied,
In tones which charmed the tender flower,
And humbled more the tulip's pride.

20. "Come hither, pure and lovely one, With thee no garden plant can vie; Not e'en the tulip's gaudy hues

Match with thy stainless, spotless dye.

21. "Come to my bosom, emblem fair
Of heavenly virtue's fairer form!
Here let me learn each modest grace,

While here I hush each wild alarm.

22. "Come to my bosom! What so pure, So lovely, as a modest one,

NOTE.

a There are many varieties of the rose, varying in their simple colors and shades of mixture; as red, white, yellow, purple, black, striped, &c. Six varieties are enumerated in the United States, several hundred in Europe, and new ones may be produced annually from the seeds.