The Donkey and the Mule.

if there be any, and carefully shutting the Oratory into great repute. Hence the doors and windows, extinguish the this species of musical drama obtained other lights, except only a small candle the general appellation of Oratorio. so placed in a dark lantern upon the altar that the crucifix may appear clear and visible, thus making all the room dark. Then the priest, in a loud and doleful voice, pronounces the verse Jube Domine benedicere, and going through an appointed service, comes Apprehendite disciplinam, &c.; at which words taking their whips, they scourge their naked bodies during the recital of the 50th psalm, Miserere, and the 129th, De profundis, with several prayers; at the conclusion of which, upon a sign given, they end their whipping, and put on their clothes in the dark and in silence.'

The Oratorio commenced with the fathers of the Oratory. In order to draw youth to church, they had hymns, psalms and spiritual songs or cantatas, sung either in chorus or by a single favorite voice. These pieces were divided into two parts, the one performed before the service, the other after it. Sacred stories or events from scripture, written in verse, and by way of dialogue, were set to music, and the first part being performed, the sermon succeeded, which the people were induced to stay and hear, that they might be present at the performance of the second part. The subjects, in early times, were the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, Tobit with the Angel, &c. and similar histories, which, by the excellence of the composition, the band of instruments, and the performance, brought

PAUSE before you follow example. A mule laden with salt, and an ass laden with wool, went over a brook together. By chance the mule's pack became wetted, the salt melted, and his burden became lightest. After they had passed, the mule told his good fortune to the ass, who, thinking to speed as well, wet his pack at the next water; but his load became the heavier, and he broke down. That which helps one man may hinder another.

Lesson in Latin.

Hearing is audītus,
Infant's cry vagītus ;

Lachryma's a briny tear;
Tears and heavy sighing,
Baby's piteous crying,

Ne'er may mother see or hear!

Sharpest thorn is spina,
Sword's sheath is vagina,

Ensis means a sword of steel;
Foeman fell and fierce,
Ne'er my child shall pierce,
Tearing thorn she ne'er shall feel.
Seta is a bristle,
Carduus a thistle,

Aper is a foaming boar;
Thistle ne'er shall prick her,
Bristle ne'er shall stick her,

No wild beast my babe shall gore.

Twilight.

Furnished for this work by LowELL MASON, Professor in the Boston Academy of Music.

Peter Parley's Travels in Canada.

We have lately received from London a small volume of "Peter Parley's Tales about Canada," and shall have the pleasure to present our young readers with a number of them in the course of the year. The first portion will be a sketch of the land and water scenery, &c.-The above cut is a true representation of a Canadian log-house, in which often will be found, well accommodated, a considerable family. We will begin with Parley's excursion up the St. Lawrence. VOL. IX. JUNE 1841.

M

LETTER I.

Mouth of the river St. Lawrence.-Sailing up towards
Quebec.—The Islands.-Quebec and its fortifications,
-Ferry-Boats.-Plains of Abraham.-Lord Dalhousie's
Monument to Wolfe and Montcalm.

Let me begin my Tales of this interesting country, by telling of its situation in relation to other parts of the globe, and its divisions into various districts. Then I may tell you of its rivers, mountains, lakes, forests, and other similar matters; besides an account of the birds, beasts, and fishes, common to the country, and of the native Indians, &c. So that when I have finished you will know a good deal about Canada.

First, then, if you look at the map you will see that Canada forms a northern part of that large continent called North America, and is about 3000 miles from Great Britain. This continent is much larger than the whole of Europe, being 3000 miles in breadth and almost 5000 miles in length.

a river, you imagine a small stream that you can row across in a few minutes, and see from shore to shore with the greatest ease; but what would you think of the American rivers, some of which are almost 500 miles over at their mouths ?— The St. Lawrence is not so large as this, but it is nearly a hundred miles from shore to shore at its entrance, and the passengers on a ship in the middle of the stream for a long way up cannot see the land; the only indication that I had of being in the river was seeing now and then a bird winging its way across. The captain of the ship had a canary bird, and he said he could always tell when we were in the river by the cheerful motions of his bird; and I really do think that the poor little fellow knew he was getting away from sea danger, for he sang sweetly enough and seemed as merry as a cricket.

When I had been in the river two The possessions of Great Britain be- days, I began to catch a sight of the banks sides Canada, are New Brunswick, Nova on the south side, but could see little else Scotia, Newfoundland, Cape Breton, St. than a blue hazy-looking line of what I John's, and Prince Edward's Island. In was told was the coast; after a few hours all these places the people number about farther sailing, as the sun got more to the a million and a half. westward, wild and woody mountains began to show themselves with their bold rocky shores and sweeping bays; to these were added, as we advanced, little white specks, which I was told were towns and villages to the south; at last I got a glimpse of the north side, which rose up in lofty mountains and seemed almost divested of verdure.

If you look at the map again, you will see a large river; now take the point of a pen and traverse this river from its mouth as far as you can go by water. I remember well enough when I first entered this river, although I had been in much larger rivers, that it struck me as being one of the most noble and majestic rivers in the world. When you think of

If you look in the map you will see