"There is nothing more striking, when we consider every thing in the shape and construction of a nest, than the wonderful instinct of the feathered tribe.

"Their skill in placing their little habitations; the materials which they get together for the purpose; the curious construction; the rough outside, so opposed to the soft lining within; and the method, which is sometimes observed, to place them on such parts of the twigs or trees as shall keep them out of the reach of animals that might destroy them. These prove the instinct of birds to be very great, and at the same time show the great kindness of their Maker, in furnishing them with such a principle.

"If you and I could see that little nest, in all its parts, we should behold the most inimitable art displayed in placing together a parcel of rude, ugly sticks and straws, and moss and dirt, by which that little untaught creature hath formed it into what it is. And then, its inward part is equally curious. You would find hair, or feathers, or wool, so placed within, as to line every part of it; by way of guarding the tender bodies of themselves and young, and keeping them warm.

"Would it not be cruel, Henry, to rob a bird of all its labour? and how much more cruel must it be in those wicked children who steal birds' nests with their young ?"

The Peevish Boy.

ONE day, in the month of June, Thomas had got every thing ready to set out on a little jaunt of pleasure with a few of his friends, but the sky became black with thick clouds, and on that account he was forced to wait some time in suspense. Being at last stopped by a heavy shower of rain, he was so vexed, that he could not refrain from tears, and, sitting

E

down in a sulky humour, would not suffer any one to console him.

Towards night the clouds began to vanish; the sun shone with great brightness, and the whole face of nature seemed to be changed. Robert then took Thomas with him into the fields; and the freshness of the air, the music of the birds, and the verdure of

the grass, filled him with pleasure. "Do you see,"

said Robert, "what a change has taken place? Last night the ground was parched; the flowers and every thing seemed to droop. To what cause must we impute this happy change?" Struck with the folly of his own conduct, Thomas was forced to admit, that the useful rain which fell this morning had done so much good.

The Boy and the Looking-glass.

A LITTLE boy, when his father and mother were from home, was playing at ball in a room where there was a looking-glass.

Before he began to play, he had turned the back of the looking-glass towards him, for fear he should break the glass. It would have been better if he had gone out of doors to play at ball. As he was not a careless boy, I wonder he was not afraid of breaking the windows as well as the looking-glass; but I suppose he did not think of that.

Whilst he was playing, and, perhaps, not thinking at all about the looking-glass, his ball struck the wooden back, and broke the glass. When he saw the mischief he had done, he was very sorry; and, I believe, he was afraid his father and mother would be displeased with him.

When his parents came home, he went to his father, and said, "Father, I have broken the best lookingglass in the house! and I am very sorry for it." His

father looked kindly at him, and said, "I would rather that all the looking-glasses in my house should be broken, than that one of my children should be guilty of falsehood."

The little boy hearing his father say this, and seeing that he was not angry, felt comforted; though, I suppose, he wished very much that he had not broken the looking-glass. After that time, when he met with an accident, he confessed it; and would not, on any account, tell an untruth.

The Sun.

THE sun rises in the east; and when he rises, it is day.

He shines upon the trees and the houses, and upon the water; and every thing looks sparkling and beautiful when he shines upon it. He gives us light and heat; it is he that makes it warm. He makes the fruit ripen, and the corn ripen. If he did not shine upon the fields, and upon the gardens, nothing would

grow.

Sometimes he takes off his crown of bright rays, and wraps up his head in thin silver clouds, and then we may look at him; but when there are no clouds, and he shines with all his brightness at noonday, we cannot look at him, for he would dazzle our eyes, and make us blind. Only the eagle can look at him then the eagle with his strong piercing eye can gaze upon him always.

When the sun is going to rise in the morning, and make it day, the lark flies up in the sky to meet him, and sings sweetly in the air; and the cock crows loud to tell every body that he is coming: but the owl and the bat fly away when they see him, and hide themselves in old walls and hollow trees; and the lion and the tiger go into their dens and caves, where they sleep all the day.

He shines in all countries, all over the earth. He is the most beautiful and glorious creature that can be seen in the whole world.

us.

The Moon.

THE moon shines to give us light in the night, when the sun is set. She is very beautiful, and white like silver. We may look at her always, for she is not so bright as to dazzle our eyes, and she never scorches She is mild and gentle. She lets even the little glow-worms shine, which are quite dark by day. The stars shine all round her, but she seems larger and brighter than the stars, and looks like a large pearl amongst a great many small sparkling diamonds.

When you are asleep, she shines through your curtains with her gentle beams, and seems to say, Sleep on, poor little tired boys, I will not disturb you. The nightingale sings to her, and sings better than all the birds of the air. She sits upon a thorn, and sings sweetly all the night long, while the dew lies upon the grass, and every thing around is still

and silent.

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 would attend to.

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.

The Tiger and the Camel.

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, above all, the placid sweetness of his countenance. "What is the name of this lovely animal," said he to the keeper, "which you have placed near one of the ugliest beasts in your collection, as if you meant to contrast beauty with