Little Steady.-Papa ! Mr Steady. Her concern was for the pain which she felt in her finger, not for the fault which had occasioned it. Little Steady.-She was very naughty, I know; for she said that she would get a pair of thick gloves, and then she would tease Pompey. Mr Steady-Naughty girl! how ill-disposed! Then my lecture was lost upon her. I bade her, whilst she felt the smart, resolve to profit by Pompey's lesson; and learn to believe, that her friends might have good reasons for their orders, though they did not think it proper always to acquaint her with them. Little Steady.-I once cut myself with a knife which I had not leave to take; and when I see the scar, I always consider that I ought not to have taken the knife. Mr Steady. That, I think, is the school-house; now go in, and be good. The Pictures. LADY LOVECHILD had one room in her house fited up with books, suited to little people of different ages. She had likewise toys, but they were such as would improve as well as amuse her little friends. The book-room opened into a gallery, which was hung with prints and pictures, all chosen with a view to children; all designed to teach little folk whilst they were young; in order that, when they grew up, they might act worthily. There were written accounts of each picture, with which her ladyship would often indulge good children. Sometimes she walked about herself, and explained a few of the pictures to little guests. One day I chanced to be present when she was showing a few of them to her little visitor; and I think my young reader may like to hear what passed. Lady Lovechild.That is Miss Goodchild: I have read an account of her written by her mamma.. Miss.-Pray, madam, what was it? L. Lovechild.-It is too long to repeat just now, my dear; but I will tell you a part.-She was never known to disobey her parents; never apt to contradict her brothers or sisters; but was ever ready to comply with any request of theirs. I wish you to read her character, for she was a pattern of goodness. Miss.-Pray, madam, was she pretty? L. Lovechild. She had a healthful colour, and her countenance was sweet, because she was always good-humoured.-That smile on her mouth seems to say, I wish you all happy; but it was not for her beauty, but her goodness, that she was beloved, and on that account only did I wish for her picture. Miss.-Pray, madam, why is that boy drawn with a frog in his hand? L. Lovechild.-In memory of a kind action which he did to a poor harmless frog. You shall hear the whole story:-I was taking my morning walk pretty early one day, and I heard a voice say, Pray do not kill it; I will give you this penny, it is all I have, and I shall not regard going without my breakfast, which I was to have bought with it. ན You shall not lose your meal! exclaimed I; nor you,`naughty boys, the punishment which you deserve for your cruel intention! Miss.-Pray, madam, what was the good boy's name ? L. Lovechild.-Mildmay; he was always a friend to the helpless. He never fought at school, except in defence of the little boys who were oppressed by elder ones. Miss.-How cruel it is in a great boy to be a tyrant ! L. Lovechild.-Dunces are often cruel. My young friend redeemed a linnet's nest from a stupid schoolfellow, by helping him in his exercise every day for a fortnight, till the little birds were flown. The Hedge-Hog. MASTER William Gentle was walking with his grandpapa; they met some boys who had a hedgehog, which they were going to hunt. Mr Gentle ordered them to release it. The boys pleaded that the hedge-hog would injure the farmers by sucking their cows; and that it therefore ought to be killed. Mr Gentle replied, If it were proper to deprive the animal of life, it would be a duty to do it in as expeditious a manner as possible, and very wicked to torment the poor creature; but the accusation is false, and you are unjust as well as cruel. Release it this instant. William.-Will the hedge-hog be glad when he gets loose? Grandpapa.-Very glad. William. Then I shall be glad too. Grandpapa.-I hope that you will always delight in making other creatures happy, and then be happy yourself. you will William.-I love to see the dog happy, and the cat happy. Grandpapa.-Yes, surely; and you love to make them happy? William.-How can I make them happy? Grandpapa.-By giving them what they want, and by taking kind notice of them. William.-Can I make my brothers and sisters happy? Grandpapa.-You can each of you make yourself and all the rest of the children happy, by being kind and good-humoured to each other; willing to oblige, and glad to see the others pleased. William.-How, pray? Grandpapa.-If you were playing with a toy, and Bartlet wished to have it, perhaps you would part with it to please him; if you did, you would oblige him. William.-Should not I want it myself? Grandpapa.-You would be pleased to see him delighted with it, and he would love you the better; and when George goes out, and you stay at home, if you love him as well as you do yourself, you will be happy to see his joy. William.-I shall be happy to see his joy. Grandpapa.-Your parents are always watching over you all for your good; in order to correct what is amiss in your tempers, and teach you how you ought to behave; they will rejoice to see you fond of each other, and will love you all the better. William.-Grandpapa, I remember that my brother wrote a piece last Christmas, which you called Brotherly Love ;-I wish I could remember it. Grandpapa.-I recollect it ;-you shall learn to repeat it. William.-I shall like that: pray let me hear it now, Sir. Grandpapa.-You shall. "The children of one family should be like the "fingers on a hand; each help the other, and each "in his separate station promote the good of the "whole. "The joy of one should be the joy of the whole. "Children in a house should agree together like "the birds in a nest, and love each other." William.-I thank you, grandpapa: I remember Watts' hymn! "Birds in their little nests agree; Pray, grandpapa, what is jealousy? Grandpapa.-A passion which I hope will never enter your breasts. Your excellent parents love you all equally, and take care to make it appear that they do so. A good parent looks around with equal love on each child, if all be equally good, and each be kind to the rest. Where a family is affectionate, how happy is every member of it! each rejoices at the happiness of the rest, and so multiplies his own satisfactions. Is any one distressed ?-the tender and compassionate assistance of the rest mitigates where it cannot wholly relieve his pain! "Our joys, when thus shar'd, will always increase, The Boys and their Cakes. I WILL tell you a story: There was a little boy whose name was Harry; and his papa and mamma sent him to school. Now Harry was a clever fellow, and loved his book; and he got to be first in his class. So his mamma got up one morning very early, and called Betty the maid, and said, Betty, I think we must make a cake for Harry, for he has learned his book very well. And Betty said, Yes, with all my heart. So they made a nice cake. It was very large, and stuffed full of plums and sweetmeats, orange, and citron; and it was iced all over with sugar; it was white and smooth on the top like snow. So this cake was sent to the school. When little Harry saw it, he was very glad, and jumped about for joy, and he hardly staid for a knife to cut a piece, but gnawed it like a little dog, |