LESSON XI.

Affection to Parents rewarded.-ANONYMOUS.

1. FREDERICK, the late king of Prussia, having rung his bell one day, and nobody answering, opened the door where his servant was usually in waiting, and found him asleep on a söfă. He was going to awake him, when he perceived the end of a billet, or letter, hanging out of his pocket.

2. Having the curiosity to know its contents', he took and read it, and found that it was a letter from his mother, thanking him for having sent her a part of his wages, to assist her in her distress, and concluding with beseeching God to bless him for his filial attention to her wants.

3. The king returned softly to his room, took a roll of duc'ats, and slid them, with the letter, into the page's pocket. Returning to his apartment, he rung so violently, that the page awoke, opened the door, and entered. 4. "You have slept well," said the king. The page made an apology, and, in his embarrassment, happened to put his hand into his pocket, and felt with astonishment the roll. He drew it out, turned pale, and, looking at the king, burst into tears, without being able to speak a word.

5. "What is the matter ?" said the king; "what ails you?" "Ah! sire," said the young man, throwing himself at his feet, "somebody has wished to ruin me. I know not how I came by this money in my pocket." 6. "My friend,” said Frederick, "God often sends us good in our sleep send the money to your mother; salute her in my name; and assure her that I shall take care of her and you."

7. This story furnishes an excellent instance of the gratitude and duty, which children owe to their aged, infirm, or unfor tunate parents. And, if the children of such parents shall follow the example of Frederick's servant, though they may not meet with the reward that was conferred on him, they shall be amply rec'ompensed by the pleasing testimony of their own minds, and by that God who approves, as he has commanded, every expression of filial love."

LESSON XII.

The honest Moravian.-THOMSON'S COLLECTION.

1. In the last war in Germany, a captain of cavalry was out on a foraging party. On perceiving a cottage in the midst

of a solitary valley, he went up and knocked at the door. Out came one of the Moravians, or United Brethren, with a beard silvered by age. 2. "Father," says the office, "show me a field where I can set my troopers a foraging." *Presently," replied the Moravian. The good old man walked before, and conducted them out of the valley.

3. After a quarter of an hour's march, they found a fine field of barley. "There is the very thing we want," says the captain. "Have patience for a few minutes," replied his guide; "you shall be satisfied." 4. They went on, and at the distance of about a quarter of a league farther, they arrived at another field of barley. The troop immediately dismounted, cut down the grain, trussed it up, and remounted. 5. The officer, upon this, says to his conductor, "Father, you have given yourself and us unnecessary trouble: the first field was much better than this." "Very true, sir," replied the good old man, "but it was not mine."

LESSON XIII.

Dr. Franklin's first Entrance into Philadelphia.-FRANKLIN. 1. I HAVE entered into the particulars of my voyage, and shall, in like manner, describe my first entrance into this city, that you may be able to compare beginnings so little auspicious with the figure I have since made.

2. On my arrival at Philadelphia, I was in my working dress, my best clothes being to come by sea. I was covered with dirt; my pockets were filled with shirts and stockings; I was unacquainted with a single soul in the place, and knew not where to seek a lodging. 3. Fatigued with walking, rowing, and having passed the night without sleep, I was extremely hungry, and all my mon'ey consisted of a Dutch dollar, and about a shilling's worth of coppers, which I gave to the boatmen for my passage. 4. As I had assisted them in rowing, they refused it at first; but I insisted on their taking it. A man is sometimes more generous when he has little, than when he has much mon'ey; probably because, in the first case, he is desirous of concealing his poverty.

5. I walked towards the top of the street, looking eagerly on both sides, till I came to Market Street, where I met with a child with a loaf of bread. Often had I made my dinner on dry bread. I inquired where he had bought it, and went straight to the baker's shop, which he pointed out to me.

6. I asked for some bis'cuits', expecting to find such as we had at Boston; but they made, it seems, none of that sort at Philadelphia. I then asked for a threepenny loaf. They made no loaves of that price. 7. Finding myself ignorant of the prices, as well as of the different kinds of bread, I desired him to let me have threepenny-worth of bread of some kind or other. 8. He gave me three large rolls. I was surprised at receiving so much I took them, however, and, having no room in my pockets, I walked on with a rolí under each arm, eating a third. 9. In this manner I went through Market Street to Fourth Street, and passed the house I of Mr. Read, the father of my future wife. She was standing at the door, observed me, and thought, with reason, that I made a very singular and grotesque appearance.

10. I then turned the corner, and went through Chestnut Street, eating my roll all the way; and, having made this round, I found myself again on Market Street wharf, near the boat in which I arrived. 11. I stepped into it to take a draught of the river water; and, finding myself satisfied with my first roll, I gave the other two to a woman and her child, who had come down with us in the boat, and was waiting to continue her journey. 12. Thus refreshed, I regained the street, which was now full of well-dressed people, all going the same way. I joined them, and was thus led to a large Quakers' meeting-house near the market place. 13. I sat down with the rest, and, after looking round me for some time, hearing nothing said, and being drowsy from my last night's labour and want of rest, I fell into a sound sleep. 14. In this state I continued till the assembly dispersed, when one of the congregation had the goodness to wake me. This was consequently the first house I entered, or in which I slept, at Philadelphia.

LESSON XIV.

The Rose.-MRS. SIGOURNEY.

1. I saw a rose perfect in beauty; it rested gracefully upon its stalk, and its per'fume filled the air. Many stopped to gaze upon it, many bowed to taste its fragrance, and its owner hung over it with delight. 2. I passed it again, and, behold, it was gone-its stem was leafless-its root had with

1 Pron. bis'-kits.

2 thrěp'-pen-nē.

3 grō-těsk'. 4 jur' në.

ered; the enclosure which surrounded it was 1 roken do wn. 3. The spoiler had been there; he saw that many admired it; he knew it was dear to him who planted it, and beside it he had no other plant to love. 4. Yet he snatched it secretly from the hand that cher'ished it; he wore it on his bosom till it hung its head and faded, and, when he saw that its glory was departed, he flung it rudely away. 5. But it left a thorn in his bosom, and vainly did he seek to extract it; for now it pierces the spoiler, even in his hour of mirth.

6. And when I saw that no man, who had loved the beauty of the rose, gathered again its scattered leaves, or bound up the stalk which the hands of violence had broken, I looked earn'estly at the spot where it grew, and my soul received instruction. 7. And I said, Let her who is full of beauty and admiration, sitting like the queen of flowers in mă'jesty among the daughters' of women, let her watch lest vanity enter her heart, beguil'ing her to rest proudly upon her own strength; let her remember that she standeth upon slippery places, "and be not high-minded, but fear.”

LESSON XV.

Story of Goffe, the Re'gicide.*-PRESIDENT DWIGHT.

1. In the course of Philip's war, which involved almost all the Indian tribes in New England, and among others those in the neigh'bourhood of Hadley, the inhabitants thought it proper to observe the first of September, 1675, as a day of fasting and prayer. 2. While they were in the church, and employed in their wor'ship, they were surprised by a band of savages. The people instantly betook themselves to their arms,-which, according to the custom of the times, they had carried with them to the church,--and, rushing out of the house, attacked their invaders. 3. The pan'ic, under which they began the conflict, was, however, so great, and their number was so dispropor'tioned to that of their enemies, that they fought' doubtfully at first, and in a short time began evidently to give way.

4. At this moment an ancient man, with hoary locks, of a most ven'erable and dignified aspect, and in a dress widely

1 Pron. daw'-ters. 2 wim-in. 3 In'-je-an, or Ind'-yan. 4 fawt. *A regicide is one who puts to death a king. Goffe, Whalley, and Dixwell were three of the judges who condemned to death Charles I. king of Great Britain. They afterwards fled to America.

differing from that of the inhabitants, appeared suddenly at their head, and, with a firm voice and an example of undaunt'ed resolution, reanimated their spirits, led them again to the conflict, and totally routed the savages. 5. When the battle was ended, the stranger disappeared; and no person knew whence he had come, or whither he had gone. 6. The relief was so timely, so sudden, so unexpected, and so providential; the appearance and the retreat of him who furnished it were so unaccountable; his person was so dignified and commanding, his resolution so superior, and his nerference so decisive, that the inhabitants, without any uncommon exercise of credulity, readily believed him to be an angel, sent by Heaven for their preservation. 7. Nor was this opinion seriously controverted, until it was discovered, several years afterward, that Goffe and Whalley had been lodged in the house of Mr. Russell. Then it was known that their deliverer was Goffe; Whalley having become superannuated some time before the event took place.

LESSON XVI.

The Camel.-From BIGLAND.

1. THE cam'el is a native of Arābia, and is chiefly confined to that and the adja'cent countries, where it has, from time immemorial, been used in trav'ersing those immense deserts of burning sand, which are impassable to every other quad'ruped except the drom'edary, which, although distinguished by a different name, and by having two hunches on its back, while the camel has only one, is supposed to be originally of the same race.

2. The camel is, to the Arabian, what the rein-deer is to the Laplander. Its milk is rich and nutritive; its flesh, when young, is excellent food, wholesome and invigorating; and its hair, or fleece, which falls off always in the spring, is manufactured into fine stuffs, and almost every article necessary for clothing, bedding, and the covering of their tents.

3. To comprehend the full value of this animal, we must figure to ourselves a country without verdure' and without water, where a clear sky and burning sun above (from which no friendly shade affords a shelter) parches every living creature with intolerable thirst; while an immense

1 Pron. ver-iür.