who were witnesses of this dutiful and affectionate conduct, were struck with the highest admiration: and they and their posterity, ever after, called the path which these good young men took in their retreat, "The Field of the Pious."

SECTION II.

Filial sensibility.

A STRONG instance of affectionate and dutiful attachment to parents, has been related in the preceding section. The following display of filial tenderness, is scarcely less interesting and extraordinary.

A young gentleman in one of the academies at Paris, was remarked for eating nothing but soup and dry bread, and drinking only water. The governor of the institution, attributing this singularity to excess of devotion, reproved his pupil, and endeavoured to persuade him to alter his resolution. Finding, however, that his remonstrances were ineffectual, he sent for him again, and observed to him, that such conduct was highly unbecoming, and that it was his duty to conform to the rules of the academy. He then endeavoured to learn the reason of his pupil's conduct; but as, the youth could not be prevailed upon to impart the secret, the governor at last threatened to send. him back to his family. This menace produced an immediate explanation: "Sir," said the young

man, "in my father's house I eat nothing but black bread, and of that very little here I have good soup and excellent white bread; and though I might, if I chose, fare luxuriously, I cannot persuade myself to take any thing else, when I reflect on the situation in which I have left my father and mother." The governor was greatly moved by this instance of filial sensibility, and could not refrain from tears. "Your father," said he, "has been in the army; has he no pension ?" "No," replied the youth, "he has long been soliciting one; but, for want of money, has been obliged to give up the pursuit and rather than contract any debts at Versailles, he has chosen a life of wretchedness in the country."

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Well," returned the governor, "if the fact is as you have represented it, I promise to procure for your father a pension of five hundred livres a year. And since your friends are in so reduced circumstances, take these three louis-d'ors for your pocket expenses. I will undertake to remit your father the first half year of his pension, in advance." "Ah, sir!" replied the youth, "as you have the goodness to propose remitting a sum of money to my father, I entreat you to add to it these three louis-d'ors. As I have here every thing I can wish for, I do not need them; but they would be of great use to my father, in the maintenance of his other children."

SECTION III.

Cruelty to insects condemned.

A CERTAIN youth indulged himself in the cruel entertainment of torturing and killing flies. He tore off their wings and legs, and then watched with pleasure their feeble efforts to escape from him. Sometimes he collected a number of them together, and crushed them at once to death; glorying, like many a celebrated hero, in the devastation he committed. His tutor remonstrated with him, in vain, on this barbarous conduct. He could not persuade him to believe that flies are capable of pain, and have a right, no less than ourselves, to life, liberty, and enjoyment. The signs of agony, which, when tormented, they express by the quick and various contortions of their bodies, he neither understood, nor regarded.

The tutor had a microscope; and he desired his pupil, one day, to examine a most beautiful and surprising animal," Mark," said he, "how it is studded from head to tail with black and silver, and its body all over beset with the most curious bristles! The head contains the most lively eyes, encircled with silver hairs; and the trunk consists of two parts which fold over each other. The

whole body is ornamented with plumes and decorations, which surpass all the luxuries of dress, in the courts of the greatest princes." Pleased

and astonished with what he saw, the youth was impatient to know the name and properties of this wonderful animal. It was withdrawn from the magnifier; and when offered to his naked eye, proved to be a poor fly which had been the victim of his wanton cruelty. :

PERCIVAL.

SECTION IV.

Selfish sorrow reproved.

ONE day, during the summer vacation, Alexis had prepared himself to set out, with a party of his companions, upon a little journey of pleasure. But the sky lowered, the clouds gathered, and he remained for some time in anxious suspense about his expedition; which at last was prevented by heavy and continued rain. The disappointment overpowered his fortitude: he burst into tears; lamented the untimely change of weather; and sullenly refused all consolation.

In the evening, the clouds were dispersed; the sun shone with unusual brightness; and the face of nature seemed to be renewed in vernal beauty. Euphronius conducted Alexis into the fields. The storm of passion in his breast was now stilled; and the serenity of the air, the music of the feathered songsters, the verdure of the meadows, and the sweet perfumes which breathed around, regaled every sense, and filled his mind with delightful emotions.

"Do not you remark," said Euphronius, "the delightful change which has suddenly taken place in the whole creation? Recollect the appearance of the scene before us yesterday. The ground was then parched with a long drought; the flowers hid their drooping heads; no fragrant odours were perceived; and vegetation seemed to cease. To what cause must we impute the revival of nature?" "To the rain which fell this morning," replied Alexis, with a modest confusion. He was struck with the selfishness and folly of his conduct; and his own bitter reflections anticipated the reproofs of Euphronius.

PERCIVAL.

SECTION V.

We are often deceived by appearances.

A YOUTH, who lived in the country, and who had not acquired, either by reading or conversation, any knowledge of the animals which inhabit foreign regions, came to Manchester to see an exhibition of wild beasts. The size and figure of the elephant struck him with awe; and he viewed the rhinoceros with astonishment. But his attention was soon withdrawn from these animals, and directed to another, of the most elegant and beautiful form. He stood contemplating, with silent admiration, the glossy smoothness of his hair; the blackness and regularity of the streaks with which he was marked; the symmetry of his limbs; and