reading, but to the love of it. It appeals, in the first instance, to the powers of observation and imagination; but it does not overlook the fact that it is through these faculties, in the case of children, that the judgment and reasoning powers are first reached, and the taste and moral sensibilities are first cultivated. The pieces selected are of a character well calculated to give life, and point, and fresh interest to the daily work of the class-to allure the children to read, and to make them delight in exercising their power of reading. They avoid as much as possible that dull solidity which so much tends to make school hours a weariness to the young.

The numerous Illustrations afford an important aid in this respect. The interest of children is far more readily quickened through the eye than through the understanding; indeed it is through the eye that the understanding itself is most quickly reached. Good pictures are amongst the best incentives both to reading and to thinking. Certainly he were a dull boy who could look upon the clever picture of the Sleeping Sailor surrounded by the Night-capped Monkeys at page 65, or of the Tiger at page 52, or of the Dog and Shadow at page 125, without wishing to know "all about it." It should not be overlooked, at the same time, that pictures like those in this volume, which are not only appropriate and instructive, but highly artistic, serve an important end in training the eye and cultivating the taste. Nearly the whole of these Illustrations have been designed and drawn specially for this book. They are therefore not merely pictures thrown in for the sake of convenience or variety--they are really illustrative of the lessons to which they are attached.

The Proverbs, Anecdotes, &c., scattered through the volume, will afford a pleasant change from the more continuous lessons ; while the elliptical form in which many of them are given will exercise the ingenuity of the children, and encourage them to voluntary working,-truly the best assistant which the Teacher can have in the performance of his arduous duties.

August 1864.

A BOY was one day sitting on the steps of a door. He had a broom in one hand, and a large piece of bread and butter, which somebody had kindly given him, in the other. While he was eating it, and merrily humming a tune, he saw a poor little dog quietly sleeping not far from him. He called out to him, "Come here, poor fellow!" The dog, hearing himself kindly spoken to, got up, pricked up his ears, wagged his tail, and seeing the boy eating, came near him. The boy held out to him a piece of his bread and butter; and as the dog stretched out his head to take it, the boy hastily drew back his hand and hit him a hard rap on the nose. The poor dog ran away howling most

dreadfully, while the cruel boy sat laughing at the mischief he had done.

A gentleman, who was looking from a window on the other side of the street, saw what the wicked boy had done. Opening the street door, he called him to cross over, at the same time showing him a sixpence, which he held between his finger and thumb.

"Would you like this?" said the gentleman.

"Yes, if you please, sir," said the boy, smiling; and he hastily ran over to seize the prize.

Just at the moment that he stretched out his hand, he got so severe a rap on the knuckles, from a cane which the gentleman had behind him, that he roared out like a bull!

'What did you do that for?" said he, making a very long face, and rubbing his hand.

hurt you, nor ask you for the sixpence."

"I didn't

"What did you hurt that poor dog for just

now?" said the gentleman.

"He didn't hurt

you, nor ask you for your bread and butter.

As

you served him I have served you. Now, remember dogs can feel as well as boys, and learn to behave kindly towards poor animals in future."