But I often shall picture my sister kind
As she sits in the quiet shade.

I shall share with others my griefs and joys,
And my friends may be frank and true;
But I cannot expect from unthinking boys
The love that I found in you.

I shall wish for you oft in hours of glee,
In trouble oft crave your aid,

And I know that my sister will wish for me
As she sits in the quiet shade.

SHAKING THE CRAB-TREE.

"Up in the morning early,

The birds are on the wing;

The air is full of music sweet-
How merrily they sing."

HERE was once a very pretty farm in Berkshire, called the Vale. It was really a delightful spot, and any one who was not desperately wicked might have been quite happy there. Nature seemed as if she had specially selected it for some kindly-disposed person, and there was one of the kindest farmers in the world lived there. He was a comfortable-looking, rosy-faced man, with a most pleasing countenance; and no one could talk to him or be in his company without feeling happy. He seemed to live and thrive upon the happiness of others, for when he saw them happy he was the more so himself, and life seemed very sweet to all who worked for him and with him.

He was industrious, and therefore he was prosperous; he was prosperous, and therefore he was happy; for his industry produced both health and comfort, and the means of doing good to others. But though God blessed his labors with plenty every year, and his barns were always well stored, and his stock abundant beyond that of most other farmers, yet he was frugal. He never wasted anything, nor would he allow others to do so. He knew that though he had plenty, yet there were many thousands of persons to whom that which might be wasted would be a blessing; and if there was any spare milk, or anything else not likely to be used in the farmhouse, he always had it distributed to the deserving poor who lived near him. And he was so wise in the distribution of his kindness! He did not give always to one poor person and never to another equally deserving, but he had it all shared amongst them in turns. He knew well where each poor person lived, for he often called to see those who were deserving, and he would tell the dairymaid to send down to any one (whose wants occurred to him), to say that there was something for them at the farm. By this means he pre

vented poor neighbors from becoming jealous of each other, and no one depended upon charity from the farm, instead of working industriously, as they ought, for their living.

Now, it may perhaps appear to my little readers, that it was all very easy for Farmer Tripp to be kind and good-natured because he had plenty; but they must not conclude that having plenty always includes a good-will towards our fellow-creatures, and a desire to benefit them.

Oh, no! There are very many persons who have many thousands of dollars more than they know what to do with, and yet they never think of the poor; they are so comfortable themselves that they think no one else wants. But I think I hear some of my little readers say, "What a pity it is Farmer Tripp had no little boys and girls; for they must have been very happy children, and their mother must have been a happy mother to know that they had so kind a father!" But I will at once ease their fears in this respect, by telling them that there was a Mrs. Tripp, and there were also two sons and one daughter, and, as might be expected, they were very happy. Now I

have told you that Farmer Tripp was prosperous and happy, and I will also tell you, that when once a man has become settled in the world, he seldom fails, unless from some fault of his own, or from some unforeseen and serious misfortune, and that was not the case with Farmer Tripp. So we will see how the two sons got on, that you, my little friends, may take a lesson from their life.

Harry and John were the names of these two sons. Harry was the eldest, and he was of a goodnatured disposition, and did no harm to any one; but then he did very little, if any, good, and he scarcely ever thought of being kind and attentive to his parents, or to any one else, unless John put him in mind. of it by setting him an example. Harry had nothing vicious or unkind about him; but he seemed too comfortable himself, like the rich persons I have mentioned before, to think much of the happiness of others. But it was a very united family, though there was this defect in Harry's character; and Farmer Tripp took great pains with his sons. He set them a good example, which is a very important thing, and he also told them that they must be indus