also woven into stockings, gloves, and other articles; and finally, the cocoon, when the silk is wound off it, is used for making artificial flowers, and is considered to be the best imitation of nature, when painted and made up: but it is a very poor one, for nothing that man can make equals the flowers of the field, and man has, after all, no materials of his own; he only uses those which the silk-worm, or sheep, or plant, had worn before.

LESSON VI.

AGAINST PRIDE IN CLOTHES.

How proud we are! how fond to shew
Our clothes, and call them rich and new!
When the poor sheep and silk-worms wore
That very clothing long before.

The tulip and the butterfly
Appear in gayer coats than I;

Let me be drest fine as I will,

Flies, worms, and flow'rs exceed me still.

Then will I set my heart to find
Inward adornings of the mind;
Knowledge and virtue, truth and grace,
These are the robes of richest dress.

No more shall worms with me compare,
This is the raiment angels wear;
The Son of God, when here below,
Put on this blest apparel too.

It never fades, it ne'er grows old,

Nor fears the rain, nor moth, nor mould;
It takes no spot, but still refines;

The more 'tis worn, the more it shines.

In this on earth would I appear,
Then go to heaven and wear it there.

Keeper was a farmer's mastiff, honest, brave, and vigilant. One day as he was ranging at some distance from home, he espied a wolf and a fox sitting together at the corner of a wood. Keeper, not much liking their looks, though by no means fearing them, was turning another way, when they called after him, and civilly desired him to stay. "Surely, sir," says Reynard, "you won't disown your relations. My cousin Gaunt and I were just talking over family matters, and we both agreed that we had the honour of reckoning you among our kin. You must know that, according to the best accounts, the wolves and dogs originally were one race, in the forests of Armenia ; but the dogs, taking to living with man, have since become inhabitants of towns and villages, while the wolves have retained their ancient mode of life. As to my ancestors, the foxes, they were a branch of the same family, who settled farther

northwards, where they became stinted in their growth, and adopted the custom of living in holes under ground. The cold has sharpened our noses, and given us a thicker fur and bushy tails to keep us warm. But we have all a family likeness which it is impossible to mistake; and I am sure it is our interest to be good friends with each other."

The wolf was of the same opinion, and Keeper looking narrowly at them, could not help acknowledging their relationship. As he had a generous heart, he readily entered into friendship with them. They took a ramble together, but Keeper was rather surprised at observing the suspicious shyness with which some of the weaker sort of animals surveyed them, and wondered at the hasty flight of a flock of sheep as soon as they came within view. However, he gave his cousins a cordial invitation to come and see him at his yard, and then took his leave.

They did not fail to come the next day about dusk. Keeper received them kindly, and treated them with part of his own supper. They stayed with him till after dark, and then marched off with many compliments. The next morning, word was brought to the farm that a goose and three goslings were missing, and that a couple of lambs were found almost devoured in the home field. Keeper was too honest himself readily to suspect others, so he never thought of his kinsmen on the occasion. Soon after, they paid him a second evening visit; and next day another loss appeared of a hen and her chickens, and a fat sheep. Now Keeper could not help mistrusting a little, and blamed himself for admitting strangers, with

out his master's knowledge. However, he still did not love to think ill of his own relations.

They came a third time. Keeper received them rather coldly, and hinted that he should like better to see them in the day time, but they excused themselves for want of leisure. When they took their leave, he resolved to follow at some distance and watch their motions. A litter of young pigs happened to be lying under a haystack without the yard. The wolf seized one by the back, and ran off with him. The pig set up a most dismal squeal; and Keeper, running up at the noise, caught his dear cousin in the fact. He flew at him and made him relinquish his prey, though not without much snarling and growling The fox, who had been prowling about the hen roost, now came up, and began to make protestations of his own innocence, with heavy reproaches against the wolf for thus disgracing the family. "Begone, scoundrels, both," cried Keeper, "I know you now too well. You may be of my blood, but I am sure you are not of my spirit. Keeper holds no kindred with villains." So saying, he drove them from the premises.

LESSON VIII.

THE COTTAGE GARDEN.

flour-ish-ing

em-ploy-ment

neigh-bour-ing

tra-vel-ling

goose-ber-ries ve-ge-ta-ble

cab-bag-es plea-sant-est

A neat and flourishing cottage garden is one of the pleasantest sights in the world, and I wish it

were a common one.

It is surprising how much

may be made of a very small space of ground if it is properly managed: the greatest part of the work may be done by children, and it is a very amusing employment-much more so than filling holes with dust or making mud pies. Let us suppose that we have got a piece of ground which we want to turn into a garden-what is first to be done? It must be well dug up, and raked smooth, and laid out in beds, in the first place. We will suppose that it is autumn, which is the season for planting-we must, therefore, beg a few slips and cuttings from some friend or neighbouring gardener: in one corner, we will set slips of thyme, mint, and sweet marjoram, for these herbs are very fragrant, and pretty; they are sometimes used to give a pleasant flavour to broth. Against the walls of the cottage, we can plant cuttings of China rose and wild clematis, which is called in England, travellers' joy, because it grows by the side of the roads; it is a very pretty creeper. We must now think of the spring, and if we wish our garden to make a gay show in March and April, we must plant some bulbs of crocuses and snowdrops, and some roots of primrose and violets. Primrose roots can be very easily obtained by those who live in the country, for, in most places, they grow wild in the fields; by planting primroses in manure, they can be made to turn pink; the first year, they blow very pale pink; the next, deeper, and so on till they become quite crimson. We must not neglect, however, the useful part of our garden. This is not indeed the time for sowing most sorts of vegetables, but we may sow a