In many parts of England there is a custom which has been followed for centuries, of holding a festival after the crops have all been gathered in from the fields, and safely stored in the stackyard or the barn. This festival is called the "Harvest Home," because the produce of the harvest has been brought home; and when the anxious farmer has seen the toils of his spring aud summer's labour crowned with success, no fitter season could be found for innocent rejoicing than this, though the dark nights of winter are soon to follow. So when life's labour in the field of this world is over, and the night of death is coming on, how sweet will it be to the faithful to hear the cheering whisper, "Harvest Home!"

Sow in the morn thy seed,

At eve hold not thine hand;

To doubt and fear give thou no heed,
Broad cast it o'er the land.

Beside all waters sow,

The highway furrows stock,

Drop it where thorns and thistles grow,
Scatter it on the rock.

The good, the fruitful ground,
Expect not here nor there:

O'er hill and dale, by plots 'tis found,
Go forth, then, everywhere.

Thou know'st not which may thrive,
The late or early sown;

Grace keeps the precious germs alive,
When and wherever strown.

And duly shall appear,

In verdure, beauty, strength,
The tender blade, the stalk, the ear,
And the full corn at length.

Thou can'st not toil in vain ;

Cold, heat, and moist, and dry,

AN ill-fated cat one day fell into the hands of some young ruffians, just commencing their first acts of cruelty, which too often lead to great crimes, and to a disgraceful end. The little wretches had passed from cruelty to cruelty. First they stoned their victim, then they struck at it with a stick, and finished by throwing it into a pool of dirty water, in order to drown it.

During the process several people passed by, who, being as hard of heart as the boys themselves, and seeing nothing but sport in their work of mischief, Idid not take the trouble to make them desist. But, strange to tell, a large dog which had watched for some time what was going on, rushed forward upon the young assassins, and barking furiously, drove them away from the spot. He then sprang into the water to the rescue of the fainting and bleeding animal, and bore it off in triumph to his quarters. There, laying it down on some straw, he

128

THE HUMANE DOG.

licked it all over till it began to revive. After this he laid himself down partly upon it, and warmed it with the heat of his own body. The kind and loving dog next carried some food to his sick charge, and the people of the house, inspired by his example, brought out some warm milk to the poor cat.

Day after day the dog tended the object of his care, aided by the kindness of his master, until the cat had perfectly recovered. Both dog and cat were to be seen for several years thereafter at the Talbot Inn, Liverpool, living in loving companionship, the one as patron and protector, the other as faithful and affectionate follower.

Although dogs and cats are oftener foes than friends, yet probably the mutual dislike of these animals to one another, has been greatly increased by wicked boys in all ages and countries inciting dogs to worry cats. When dogs and cats live in the same house, they are usually loving companions.

Anecdotes by J. Whitecross.

DICTATION,

Divide into syllables, and accent the following words :-Commencing, cruelty, wretches, victim, triumph, inspired, example, perfectly, recovered, Liverpool, companionship, follower.

QUESTIONS.

Into whose hands did the ill-fated cat, fall? What did the little wretches first do to their victim? Into what place did they throw the cat? For what purpose did they throw it into the pool of dirty water? Who passed by during the process? Did they make the boys desist from their work of mischief? What animal had watched for some time what was going on? Then what did the dog do? When the dog rescued the faint and bleeding cat, to,

what place did he bear it off in triumph? What did he lay the cat down on? How long did he continue to lick it all over? What did he warm it with? What did the kind and loving dog do? What did the people of the house bring out to the cat? Until when did the dog tend the object of his care? Where were this dog and cat to be seen for several years thereafter? What was the one as ? What was the other as?

Cruelty to beasts, birds, fishes, or insects leads to cruelty to our fellows. The boy or girl who could causelessly torment a fly is likely when grown up to torment his neighbours. It is often necessary for our own existence to kill beasts, birds, fishes, and insects; but this becomes cruelty only when they are killed in mere wantonness. Whenever they are to be killed in the course of our duty, they should be put to death as suddenly as possible. To inflict needless pain on any living creature will give pleasure to the wicked and hard-hearted only. Kindness to defenceless animals such as horses, dogs, and cats, will be rewarded by their love.

YES, I love each living thing

That Heaven has called to birth,
Shaggy coat, or painted wing,
Beasts that toil or birds that sing,
Bees that hum or sometimes sting,
All, all possess their worth.

So, old Neddy fear not me,
For I've no whip or stick
Thy poor sides to beat, you see;
Munch thy clover, happy be,
Roll and tumble o'er the lea,—
Toss, tumble, roll, and kick.

And thou pretty little bird,
O! prithee do not flee,
I've no heart to take the nest
Where thy tiny young ones rest
'Neath thy warm and downy breast,
All in the hawthorn tree.

And thou butterfly so fine,

Why, why such haste I pray,
I've no wish to make thee mine,
And my fingers don't incline
To despoil that coat of thine,
So beautiful and gay.

R. III,

130

I LOVE EACH LIVING THING.

Little mousie, thou mayst run
Where sweet the blossoms fall;
Go, go and gambol in the sun,
I enjoy thy harmless fun;
I'm the enemy of none—

No, no, I love you all.

J. G. Watts.

QUESTIONS.

What should we love? What do all | Where is the nest built? What should possess? What is the name here given your fingers not incline to do to the to the ass? What is the ass told to butterfly? What is the little mouse do? What is the name of the place in bidden to do? What should we enjoy? which the bird's tiny young ones rest? What should we love? Beneath what do the young ones rest?

LXIII.-PULL IT UP BY THE ROOT,

In'-jure, hurt.

Un-du'-ti-ful, disobedient.

In-dus'-tri-ous, constant at work. Troй'-bles, torments.

"FATHER, here is a dock," said Thomas, as he was at work with his father in the garden. "Shall I cut it off close to the root."

"That will not do," replied his father; "I have cut it off many times, but it grows again stronger than ever. You must pull it up by the root, for nothing else will kill it."

Thomas pulled at the dock, but the root was very deep in the ground, so he asked his father to come and help him, and his father went and soon pulled it up.

"This dock root, Thomas," said his father, "which is a fast growing weed in a garden, puts me in