APPEARANCES OF NATURE IN FEBRUARY. 51 the weakest and lowest of his creatures, in situations which appear to human wisdom to be inconsistent with their preservation. Would it not, then, be doing injustice to the wise and good providence of my Creator, to doubt his care of me, and to abandon myself to trouble and anxiety respecting my subsistence? Certainly that God who gives to birds and insects their food in due season, who provides their retreats and places of rest in pits and rocks, who directs them to find their food in different countries,-that same God will take care of me in every time of need and distress. I cherish a perfect confidence that he will furnish all that is necessary for my support; and even when my case seems to be most hopeless, he will find me a place of refuge, where I may repose in peace and safety. APPEARANCES OF NATURE IN FEBRUARY. Now shifting gales with milder influence blow, And, freed from icy bonds, down rush the swellings streams. THE earlier part of this month may still be reckoned winter, though the cold generally begins to abate. The days are sensibly lengthened, and the sun has power enough gradually to melt away the snow and ice. Sometimes a sudden thaw comes on, with a south wind and rain, which at once dissolves the snow. Torrents of water then descend from the hills; every little brook and rill is swelled to a large stream; and the ice is swept away with great violence from the rivers. The frost, however, returns for a time; fresh snow falls, often in great quantities; and thus the weather alternately changes during most part of this month. Various signs of returning spring occur at different times in February. The woodlark, one of the earliest and sweetest of our songsters, often begins his note at the very entrance of the month. Not long after rooks begin to pair, and geese to lay. The thrush and chaf 52 AGAINST FALSEHOOD. finch then add to the early music of the groves. Moles go to work in throwing up their hillocks as soon as the earth is softened. Under some of the largest, a little below the surface of the earth, they make their nests of moss, in which four or five young are found at a time. These animals live on worms, insects, and the roots of plants. They do much mischief in gar dens, by loosening and devouring flower-roots; but in the fields they do no other damage, than rendering the surface of the ground unequal by their hillocks, which obstruct the scythe in mowing. They are said also to pierce the sides of dams and canals, and let out the water: but this can only be an accidental occurrence, attended with their own destruction. Many plants emerge from under ground in February, but few flow. ers yet adorn the fields or gardens. Snow-drops in general are fully opened from the beginning of the month, often peeping from the midst of the snow: Already now the snow-drop dares appear, Its name and hue the scentless plant retains, The alder-tree discloses its flower-buds; the catkins of the hazle become very conspicuous in the hedges; and young leaves appear on the gooseberry and currant bushes. The farmer is impatient to begin his work in the fields, as soon as the ground is sufficiently thawed. He ploughs up his fallows; sows beans and pease, rye and spring wheat; sets early potatoes; drains his wet land; dresses and repairs hedges; lops trees, and plants those kinds which love a wet soil, as poplars and willows. AGAINST FALSEHOOD. It is of the utmost importance, my young friends, that you should always speak the truth. If you have AGAINST FALSEHOOD. 53 the happiness to acquire this good habit now while you are young, it will probably continue with you afterwards; but if, at present, you do not scruple to tell lies, and to deceive, what can be expected, but that you will become more and more deceitful as you grow older? When you have done any wrong, you may perhaps be tempted to conceal it, by telling a lie to your parents or masters. But be on your guard against any such artifice. It would be adding one fault to another, and so your conduct would be worse than before. Besides, if you make an honest confession, it is probable that the less notice will be taken of your fault; whereas, if it be found that you have committed a fault, and have endeavoured to conceal it by falsehood, your punishment ought to be, and probably will be, the severer. If you wish to be free from the temptation to conceal your faults by falsehood, study to commit as few faults as you can. Be attentive to your lessons and to your work. Avoid mischievous tricks and disorderly behaviour; and be careful to obey your parents and your masters. If your companions be bad and unprincipled they will perhaps desire you to conceal their faults by telling lies; and if you do not, they will reproach you, and call you tell-tales. It is to be sure very ill-natured, and very mean, to be always on the watch to discover faults, and, when they are discovered, to be eager to let them be known; but, when a question about the behaviour of others is put to you, you should either be silent, or tell the plain and simple truth. In short, whatever be the cirumstances that might tempt you to falsify, never yield to them. Falsehood is the mark of a mean and despicable spirit. If it should sometimes screen you from an inconvenience, and sometimes bring you a little gain, that would be an advantage not worth having; and you would not possess even that advantage long. Persons who tell lies cannot fail to have their falsehood detected, and then nobody will believe them or trust them. Falsehood, besides, is the source of many other vices; it renders the character altogether hollow and heartless; and would at last sink you down in worthlessness and contempt. Consider, on the other hand, the advantages of truth. What 54 SWEETNESS OF TEMPER NECESSARY TO HAPPINESS. think you of the satisfaction of your own minds? Will it not be very pleasant for you to reflect, that you have not descended to so mean a thing as falsehood? Is it not pleasant also to gain the esteem of others? And what is more estimable than truth? What can we say more honourable of any boy or girl, of any man or woman, than when we say, "This is one who may be trusted in every thing, and who scorns to deceive?" You are young, and perhaps you do not yet know the comforts and advantages of a good character; but believe me, if, by the blessing of God, the foundation be now laid of an upright and sincere character through life, you will all your days have cause to rejoice, that you were early taught to scorn a lie and to love the truth. Above all, remember what is said respecting falsehood in the word of God. You are told in the book of Proverbs, that lying lips are an abomination to the Lord :" and in the book of Revelation, that "whosoever loveth and maketh a lie," cannot enter into heaven. Lay to heart, my young friends, these impressive declarations, and never forget, that unless vou love truth, and hate every false way, you cannot please God, nor be received into his glorious kingdom. SINCE trifles make the sum of human things, To all, the gift of minist'ring to ease. The gentle offices of patient love, The mild forbearance of another's fault; GOD'S OMNIPRESENCE, GENEROUS NEIGHBOUR. 55 The taunting word suppress'd as soon as thought, Our joys, with those we love, are intertwin'd Th' obstructing thorn that wounds the friend he loves, But scatters roses to adorn his own. Small slights, contempt, neglect, unmix'd with hate, Make up in number what they want in weight; These, and a thousand griefs, minute as these, Corrode our comforts, and destroy our peace. ALMIGHTY God is present everywhere. He is at hand; he is afar off; he fills the whole universe. Here grows a flower, and he is here; there shines a sun, and he is there. He is in the breeze and in the tempest; in the light and in darkness; in an atom, and in a world. He is present in this flowery vale: He is present on that lofty mountain In the void waste, as in the city full. He hears my feeble voice, as he hears, before his throne, the sublimest songs which accompany the seraph's lyre. He is the God of the seraphim, and he is my God. He hears us both; and he hears also the notes of the lark, and the hum of the bee that flutters round the rose. Omnipresent Being! Hear me so as to grant my request. May I never forget that I am in thy sight; may I always think and act as in thy immediate presence: So that when summoned with the whole world of spirits, before the tribunal of my Judge, I may not be obliged to flee from the presence of the Holy of Holies. ANECDOTE OF THE GENEROUS NEIGHBOUR. A FIRE having broken out in a village in Denmark, a poor man, who was one of the inhabitants, was very |