young sailor, who was a model of obedience and courage, early understood that to be worthy of attaining a rank that is to say, to have the right of commanding in his turn—it was not sufficient that he should inspire those under his command with respect, and show himself the bravest amongst them; he must also be the best informed, in order to deserve their confidence. 7. His father could only teach him to be a brave man; and on this point the education of Volney Bekner was perfect. His captain undertook to make him a well-informed man, and by the age of twelve he had attained the rank of head of the pilotapprentices. He had double rations and double pay. "If," said the commander of the vessel, "this little fellow continues to conduct himself with the same bravery and prudence, he will, I am sure, attain a position far above mine." 8. Then turning towards Volney Bekner, he added, "Is it not true, my lad, that you love glory?"-"Yes, captain," respectfully replied the child. "And do you know what glory is?" added the captain. "It is," replied the child, "faithfully to serve one's country, and honorably to fulfil the duties of one's station." XLIX. VOLNEY BEKNER: A TRUE NARRATIVE. PART II. 1. DURING a voyage from Port-au-Prince to France, it happened that the daughter of a rich American, who was on board with her father and governess, had made her escape from the latter, who had fallen asleep. The little girl imprudently went upon the deck; she played, she ran about; she got her feet entangled in the ropes, fell down and rose again, laughing at the accident; she faced the billows, that covered her with spray, and she laughed still louder than before. - 2. The sailors told her to take care, but the child foresaw no danger; she leaned over the deck, - the vessel heaved, the little American lost her balance, uttered a shriek, and disappeared beneath the waters. A sailor, perceiving her fall, immediately leaped into the sea, plunged, and, swimming for a few fathoms, caught the imprudent child, and reäppeared with her upon the surface of the waves. This sailor was the father of Volney Bekner. EI 3. But, in the mean time, the wind had veered, and although but a few minutes had elapsed since the intrep'id swimmer had plunged into the water to rescue the child from inevitable death, the vessel was already at a considerable distance from him. Nevertheless he still swam on; a few efforts more and he would restore to the arms of a despairing father, who awaited him on the deck, the child whom he had believed lost to him forever. 4. All at once the sailor stopped, and ceased following the direct line; he struggled with the waves to take a contrary direction, and shouted—"Help! help! a shark! It was, indeed, one of those voracious and monstrous animals, that was coming direct towards him, and threatened to devour bōth the deliverer and the child whom he held firmly pressed against his heart. 5. The whole of the crew were assembled upon deck; they fired at the shark, but the monster was undismayed, and continued to pursue his double prey, which he unceasingly harassed. The sailor increased his speed; but the shark swam still faster, and every moment gained upon his victim. 6. All who beheld this sight were struck with horror; the despair of the American, who thus saw his child about to perish before his eyes, amounted to madness: he wanted to throw himself into the water, but the crew restrained him; he offered the whole of his fortune to any one who would kill the monster: no one dared to attempt so perilous an enterprise; but at the very moment when the unfortunate father believed himself abandoned both by God and man, young Volney Bekner was seen in the distance, gliding beneath the shark, and thrusting into his body, up to the hilt, a large and sharp sabro with which he was armed. 7. No one had seen him plunge into the sea; and if he was now recognized, it was by the velocity of his course through the water; for Volney Bekner was so skilful in this kind of exercise, that he seemed more like a cavalier bōrne upon a fiery steed, than a man swimming. EI 8. The shark, dreadfully wounded, ceased to pursue the sailor, but only to direct his fury against a new victim; he allowed not a moment's respite to him who had struck him. By a generous impulse, Volney Bekner, fearing lest the monster might hesitate between him and his father, directed his course away from the vessel, whilst the sailor, who still protected the little American, gained the ship. 9. However stout a swimmer our youthful pilot might be, it was impossible for him to maintain a lengthened contest with his terrible enemy. When he perceived that his father had seized the rope thrown to him, he then thought of his own safety. Darting from right to left in oblique lines, in order to embarrass the enemy, who was close upon him, he succeeded in reaching a rope.. “He is saved!" was shouted with enthusiasm from the deck. 10. The rope was hastily drawn in, and already had it reached the height of fifteen feet above the surface of the water, when the shark, who had just disappeared, and had only dived to take more vigorous spring, darted in pursuit of the heroic boy, caught him by the middle of the body, and snapped it in two. Thus died, in 1760, in the twelfth year of his age, a youth as remarkable for his wonderful daring as for the gentler virtues of obedience, filial devotion, and a martyr-like fortitude of spirit. From the French of Michel Masson. L. THE LESSON OF THE SEASONS. 1. A PLEASANT story is told by Mrs. Barbauld of a youth who, rejoicing in the full play of healthful life and spirits, returned from a day of skating on the frozen pond, to tell his father that he wished it were always winter. The wise father made no comment on the boyish wish, but simply got him to write it down; and soon, amid the changes of the season, and varying occupations, all recollection of his wish had been forgotten. 2. The spring came in with its milder breezes; the leaves began to appear, the early flowers to bloom in the garden; the birds to build their nests, and the groves to thrill with the melody of their loves. Delighted with the change, young Henry could not help exclaiming to his father, as they walked forth together to enjoy the awakening beauties of nature, he wished that it were always spring. This, also, was noted down and forgotten. 3. Summer came, with its delightful warmth and its flōral beauties, and autumn followed, with its changeful harvest-fields; and each in succession seemed to the happy boy more delightful than all that had preceded. At length, when he gave utterance to the wish that the season of harvest, with its joyous reaping and its abundant fruits, should never cease, his father produced the record of his successive wishes, and proved to him how little capable we are of ordering that which is best for ourselves, or of wisely comparing the present with the past. 4. 5. O Nature! all thy seasons please the eye Of him who sees a present Deity in all. It is His presence that diffuses charms Yes! place me 'mid far stretching woodless wilds, There would my gratefully uplifted eye GRAHAME. 6. It is not requisite for us to explore those vast fields wherein the imagination is lost in the boundlessness of creation, in order to form some adequate conception of the attributes of the Creator. The minu'test of his works alike proclaim "The hand that made us is divine." The Spring discloses to us the swelling seed, the bursting bulb, the snow-drop and the crocus piercing through the half-melted snow, and the birds already beginning their ingenious structures in the still leafless boughs. 7. The Summer adds new and inexhaustible sources of instruction. Every leaf teems with life. The air is filled with the sounds of animated and joyous existence; the earth abounds with proofs of Divine beneficence, wisdom and power; and nature opens upon us in all her fulness, defying as effectually the comprehension of all that she discloses, as does that wider universe to which the astronomer directs his curious gaze. 8. So it is with Autumn: rich in her abundant harvests, and no less fruitful in abundant mental stores than in plenteous supplies for our bodily appetites. Last of all comes the Winter,the sleep of nature, with its snows, its ice, its decay, and withering, and death; and yet it, too, no less than all the others, abounds in proofs of wondrous wisdom, goodness and power. 9. God is indeed manifest in all his works. We cannot shut our eyes on the proofs which surround us, proclaiming for all existences a Divine Creator; for all governance, a Divine Ruler; and for all that is, animate or inanimate, a Divine sustainer, without whom existence becomes inconceivable, even for a moment. 10. Behind the visible is everywhere manifest the invisible. Nature, law and order, generation, vitality, reproduction, and all the instincts which so wisely guide the animate creation, will satisfy no intelligent mind as final causes. They are but steps in a process of reasoning by which, at length, we reach to that great First Cause, the Alpha and O-me'ga," the beginning and ending, the first and the last, the Almighty. 11. These, as they change, Almighty Father, these |