1. The heart that is sinking in sorrow
May mourn but need never despair;
The night may be dark, but to-morrow
The sky may be smiling and fair.
As golden day follows grey morning,
As summer heat follows the rain,
As shadow makes light more adorning,
So pleasure is heightened by pain.

2. Our life is a state of progression,

a-larm-ing pos-ses-sion woe-be-gone

Though weary and rough be the way,
And ere we get good in possession,
Hard labour's the price we must pay.
Then pause not, though dark and alarming
The sky in the distance may lower;
Press on; there be regions more charming;-
The sunshine comes after the shower.

3. Then list not yon woe-begone lover,
And heed not that woe-boding friend;
The sooner your sorrows are over
The sooner your pleasures will end.
When joy thus with sorrow is blended,
Oh, why should life's cup ever cloy?
Or why should we wish our days ended
When sorrow's the sister of joy?

A dorn-ing, making it look Height-ened, made greater.

Pro-gression, going forward.
Re-gions, countries.

Sor-row, grief.

1. "Of what use are flies and spiders?" said Cora to her mother one day, after she had been looking at a spider's web, and watching the cunning insect catching the flies as they flew into the mesh.

2. Her mother said, "My dear child, I cannot explain why all creatures which we see around us have been made; though you must be sure that their creation must serve some wise purpose. But I will tell you a story to show that even a fly or a spider may be the means of doing some good. 3. "A young prince used often to wonder, as you do now, for what purpose such useless creatures as flies and spiders were made; and he wished he had the power to kill them all.

But this, of course, he could not do, although he was a prince.

4. "One day, after a battle which his father had lost, the prince was forced to hide himself from his enemies, who were seeking to put him to death. After wandering about for some time, he lay down beneath a tree and fell asleep. The soldiers were drawing near, and soon would have found him out, but just at that instant a fly stung his lip and awoke him. Seeing his danger, he sprang to his feet and escaped.

5. "A short time afterwards, the prince hid himself in a cave; and during the night, a spider wove

its web across the entrance. In the morning, the soldiers arrived at the cave; and while they stopped, the prince heard them talking together.

6

6. Look,' cried one of them, 'he is surely hidden in this cave.' 'No,' said another, that is impossible; for if he had gone in there, he would have brushed down that spider's web. Let us waste no time here.' And they passed on.

7. "When they had gone away, the prince raised his hands and eyes to Heaven, and thanked God for saving his life by means of these little creatures whom he had so much despised.

8. "To this story may be added that of the famous King of Scotland, Robert Bruce. Once, after he had been fighting hard with the English, who were trying to get possession of his country,

and after having lost many battles, he was obliged to hide himself in a rough country hut, so as to escape from his enemies.

9. "Lying on a miserable bed, and looking up at the ceiling, he noticed a spider trying to swing himself from one beam to another. Nine times the insect tried, and failed. This reminded the warrior of his many lost battles, and he said to himself, 'I am tired out and weary; but if the spider succeeds on the next trial, I will make one more effort to regain my crown, and free my country.'

10. "The spider again made a spring, and this time gained its object; on which, Bruce sprang up, resolved not to give up all hope. Again he gathered his forces together, fought a great battle with his English foes, and, signally defeating them, regained the throne of Scotland, and obtained the freedom of his country. The little spider taught the brave Scottish hero a useful lesson."

SUMMARY.-Flies and spiders may not seem to some people as if they were of any use. This was Cora's thought, but her mother showed her, by means of a story, that a fly or a spider may be the means of doing good. At two separate times the life of a prince was saved by these creatures. A fly stung his lip, and awoke him when he was asleep and in danger after a battle. At another time a spider wove its web across the entrance to a cave, and thus led the enemies of the prince to believe that no one could have entered lately.

VIII. THE HERMIT OF FURLO.

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daugh-ter es-cort-ed Pa-ris-ian

fright-ened

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sa-bres

gov-ern-ment re-ception

mes-sen-ger rob-ber-ies

oc-cu-pied for-tun-ate-ly

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1. Some years ago, when the Bourbons were driven out from Naples, the country was in a very unsettled state and much troubled by brigands. The mountainous district of Furlo was shunned by all careful travellers, for it was the scene of the most daring robberies that had ever been known.

2. Here, in a lonely spot, dwelt a hermit, who occupied a small hut, poorly furnished, and but scantily supplied with the necessaries of life. He spent the most of his time in going to see the sick and comforting the afflicted; and the quietlooking old man, with his long white beard and open countenance, was looked upon with favour by all.

3. One evening, a carriage containing a lady and her daughter was slowly wending its way up the steep hill past the hermit's hut, when it was suddenly stopped by a man wearing a mask, who demanded their money and other valuables. "My lady," said the polite robber, "I wish to do you no harm, but you see my men"-pointing to about twenty armed men drawn up at some distance under the trees. "I can very easily enforce my demand, but I trust you will not compel me to do So. Without more ado, then, I will trouble you for those rings, your watch, and also your keys."