SOME one had once left his flute behind him, by chance, on a seat in a field, where he had been playing. It happened that a donkey was feeding near, and that as he wandered about nibbling the grass, he came near the seat. Of course he must needs smell all over it to find out what it was, and he poked his nose here and there to discover. So it was, however, that as he examined the flute, wondering how men could get such music out of it, he gave a great sigh, some of the wind of which blew into the hole in the flute and made it sound. "Dear me, dear me," cried the donkey, "I never thought I could play, but you see I can. I would like to know who will say after this that I am not a flute-player?"

If he had not been a donkey he never would have thought himself one; for it is not a chance hit that shows skill, nor does the making a single sound on a flute prove that you can play it.

If good we plant not, vice will fill the place, And rankest weeds the richest soil deface.

DEAR mother, guess what I have heard?

Oh! it will soon be Spring!

I'm sure it was a little bird,
Mother, I heard him sing!

Look at this little piece of green,
That peeps out from the snow,

As if it wanted to be seen,—

'Twill soon be Spring, I know.

And oh! come here, come here, and look!

How fast it runs along! Here is a cunning little brook; Oh! hear its pretty song!

I know 'tis glad the winter's gone,
That kept it all so still,

For now it merrily runs on,
And goes just where it will.

I love to think of what you said,
Mother, to me last night,

Of this great world that God has made

So beautiful and bright.

MRS. FOLLEN.

G

A BOY was sitting in his room very busy with his lessons. Then the bright white sunshine saw him, and laughed in through the window to him, and said, "My darling boy, why are you sitting there in the house? Come out and play with me." But the boy would not rise, and said to the sunshine, "Let me get my lessons ready first."

As he is writing on, a beautiful little bird comes and pecks at the window-pane; turning its head on one side and looking very cunningly, it called, "Come along, boy, won't you? the wood is green, the sky blue, the flowers are in blossom.” But the boy does not rise, but says in few words to the bird-"Let me get my work done first." The boy writes on and writes on. Then the apple-tree peeps in and rustles with its leaves, and says, "Who would be so hard working as you! Look at my apples! I have made them all ripe and ready for you to-night." But the boy does not rise; he only says to the apple-tree, "Let me get my lessons done first."

At last he has them all done; quickly packs up his books and runs out to the garden. Hurrah! How the sunshine laughed! The apple-tree threw down apples to him, and the bird sang and nodded to him. The boy leaps for joy and huzzas in the fulness of his heart. "Now," he cries, "I can enjoy myself, for my work is done!"

I HAVE told you the fable of the "Hare and the Tortoise," let me now give you a story of another race, in a fable that has amused children for no one knows how long back.

A crab stole away from the shore to a green meadow and began to enjoy itself. By came a fox, and seeing the crab creeping slowly along began to make fun of it. "Mr. Crab," said the fox, "I'm glad to see you getting along so nicely; when do you expect to get across the meadow? It seems to me you are going backwards rather than forwards." The crab felt this mockery and answered, “Mr. Fox, you do not know my nature. I am a creature of noble and worthy race; I am swifter and lighter on my feet than you and your race, and whoever denies this has no sense. Mr. Fox, would you

like to try a race with me? A crown ? "

What will the stake be?

"I should like nothing better," said the fox. "Would you like to run from London to Berwick, or from London to Land's End?" "Oh, no," said the crab, "that would be altogether too far. Suppose we run a half or a whole mile with each other, that will not be too much for either of us." "" Ha ha! a mile, a mile," sneered the fox. But the crab began again:

"More than that, I shall give you a distance, and if you won't take it I'll not run at all.”

"What distance will you give me, then ?" asked the fox. "Just the length of yourself," said the crab. "Stand you before me, and I'll stand behind you; put your hind foot just at my nose, and when I say, 'Now, be off!' we shall start." This pleased the fox well. "I agree with you," said he, "every way," and then turned his tail to the crab, over whom it hung, long and bushy. Presently the crab lays hold of it with his claws without the fox noticing, and then cried, "Now, be off!"

Away went the fox, as he had never run before in his life, till the soles of his feet ached, and when he had got to the end of the race, turned quickly round, as was natural, to see where the crab was, and cried, “Where are you now, Mr. Crab ? How long will you be in coming?" But the crab, who of course was farther on than the fox who had swung him round on his tail, cried out behind him, "Mr. Fox, what was that you were saying? I have been here quite a time waiting for you. What makes you so slow?"

The fox was confounded. "You must be a witch," said he, paid his wager, and went of with his tail hanging down for vexation.

In the morning think what to do, and at night ash what

done.

have

you

have

you