leave to water.

digging, planting, weeding, and sometimes they had Each was ready to lend any of his tools to his brother. Each was happy to assist in any plan, if his brother needed help.

The boys did the chief work in their sisters' gardens and their greatest joy was to present little nosegays to their mamma and sisters.

There were sheep kept upon the lawn; the pretty creatures were so tame that they would eat out of a person's hand. You may believe that the children. were very fond of feeding them; they often gave them their little barrow full of greens. There was no danger of the little folk not thinking to perform so pleasing a task as this. One day George was reading aloud to a younger brother, whose name was William-" Do as you would be done by."

William.-Pray what does that mean?

George. I will show you now; you hear the sheep bleat. So he ran and got some greens, and gave to the sheep.

George. You see what it is to do as you would be done by the poor sheep are hungry, and I feed them.

William.-I should like to feed them; but I have no greens.

George.-Here are some of mine; take some, and give it to them.

William.-I thank you, brother; now you do by me as you would wish to be done by.

The next day William saw a poor woman standing on the outside of the iron gates. She looked pensive; and the child said, What do you want, poor woman?

Woman.-A piece of bread; for I have had none

to eat.

William had a bit in his hand; he had just begun to eat it. He stopped and thought to himself,-If I had nothing to eat, and I saw a person who had a

great piece of bread, what should I wish ?-that he should give me some. So the good child broke off all but a very little bit (for he was very hungry,) and said, You shall have this bread which the maid gave me just now." We should do as we would be done by."

Good boy! said his mamma, who chanced to pass that way, come and kiss me.

William ran to his dear mamma, and hugged her saying, I am never so happy as when you say, Good boy.

Mamma.-I was seeking for Mary, to tell her that Lady Lovechild has sent to have you all go with us: but for your reward, you shall carry the message to the rest. Go: I know it will give you great pleasure to rejoice your brothers and sisters.

The Fair.

JAMES and Edward Franklin had leave to walk about, and amuse themselves in the Fair. They saw a great many people, who seemed very happy; many children merry and joyous, jumping about, and boasting of their toys. They went to all the stalls, and bought little presents for those that were at home. They saw wild beasts; peeped into show-boxes; heard drums, trumpets, fiddles; and were as much pleased with the bustle around them, as you, my little reader, would have been, had you been there.

Mrs Franklin had desired them not to ride in a Merry-go-round, lest they should fall and hurt them

selves.

Did you ever see a Merry-go-round? If you never passed through a country fair, I dare say you never did..

As they passed by, the children who were riding, called, "Will you ride? will you ride " James.-No, I thank you, we may not.

Edward.-I should like it, if I might. One girl called, "See how we ride!" One said, "Oh! how charming this is!" One boy said, "You see we do not fall." James. I am not fearful: but my mamma forbade us to ride.

One boy shouted aloud, " Come, come, you must ride; it will not be known at home. I was bid not to ride, but you see I do!"

Just as he spoke, the part upon which he sat broke, and down he fell.

In another part of the Fair the boys saw the children riding in a Toss-about. They were singing merrily the old nurse's ditty:

"Now we go up, up, up,

"Now we go down, down, down,
"Now we go backward and forward,

"Now we go round, round, round.”

The voices sounded pleasantly to Ned's ear; his heart danced to the notes; jumping, he called to his brother James, "Dear James, look! if I thought that our mamma would like it, I would ride so." James. My dear Ned! I am sure that my mamma would object to our riding in that. Ned. Did you ever hear her name the Toss

about?

James.-I am certain that if she had known of it, she would have given us the same caution as she did about the Merry-go-round.

Ned paused a moment; then said, "How happy am I to have an elder brother who is so prudent!" James replied, "I am not less happy that you are so willing to be advised."

When they returned home, each was eager to relate his brother's good conduct; each was happy to hear his parents commend them both.

The Stubborn Child.

Mr STEADY was walking out with his little son, when he met a boy with a satchel on his shoulder crying and sobbing dismally. Mr Steady accosted him, kindly inquiring what was the matter.

Mr Steady.-Why do you cry?

Boy. They send me to school, and I do not like it. Mr Steady.-You are a silly boy; what! would you play all day?

Boy. Yes, I would.

Mr Steady.-None but babies do that; your friends are very kind to you. If they have not time to teach you themselves, then it is their duty to send you where you may be taught; but you must take pains yourself, else you will be a dunce.

Little Steady.-Pray, may I give him my book of fables out of my pocket?

Mr Steady.-Do, my dear.

Little Steady.-Here it is-it will teach you to do as you are bid-I am never happy when I have been naughty; are you happy?

Boy.-I cannot be happy; no person loves me.
Little Steady-Why?

Mr Steady.-I can tell you why; because he is not good.

Boy.-I wish I was good.

Mr Steady.-Then try to be so; it is easy; you have only to do as your parents and friends desire you.

Boy. But why should I go to school?

Mr Steady.-Good children ask for no reasons; --a wise child knows that his parents can best judge what is proper; and unless they choose to explain the reason of their orders, he trusts that they have a good one; and he obeys without inquiry.

Little Steady.-I will not say Why again, when I

am told what to do; but I will always do as I am bid directly.-Pray, sir, tell the story of Miss Wilful.

Mr Steady.-Miss Wilful came to stay a few days with me. Now she knew that I always would have children obey me; so she did as I bade her; but she did not always do a thing as soon as she was spoken to, but would often whine out, Why? That always seems to me like saying, I think I am as wise as you are; and I would disobey you if I durst.

One day I saw Miss Wilful going to play with a dog, with which I knew it was not proper for her to meddle and I said Let that dog alone. Why? said Miss. I play with Wag, and I play with Phillis, and why may I not play with Pompey?

I made her no answer; but thought she might feel the reason soon.

Now the dog had been ill-used by a girl who was so naughty as to make a sport of holding meat to his mouth, and snatching it away again; which made him take meat roughly, and always be surly to girls.

Soon after, Miss stole to the dog, held out her hand as if she had meat for him, and then snatched it away again. The creature resented this treatment, and snapped at her fingers.-When I met her crying, with her hand wrapped in a napkin, So, said I, you have been meddling with the dog. Now you know why I bade you let Pompey alone.

Little Steady. Did she not think you were unkind not to pity her? I thought (do not be displeased, papa) but I thought it was strange that you did not comfort her.

Mr Steady.-You know that her hand was not very much hurt, and the wound had been dressed when I met her:

Little Steady.-Yes, papa, but she was so sorry. Mr Steady. She was not so sorry for her fault as for its consequences.

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