Sydney, astonished at his importunity, gave that to friendship, which he had denied to his pecuniary proposals. He presented him with the microscope as a free gift. The Bramin received it with joy and gratitude; but no sooner had he got possession of it, than raising his arm on high, he dashed it with his utmost force against a stone wall into a thousand pieces. "What do you mean by this mad action?" said Sydney; was it for this that you coveted it so earnestly?"

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"Yes," replied the Bramin with dignity, "this small machine has rendered me the most wretched of the human species, by showing me that it was impossible to obey the precept of Brama and live. I was therefore resolved on its destruction, lest it should likewise embitter the peace of any of my brethren.”

Sydney, though he regretted the loss of his glass for so fruitless a purpose, could not help admiring the Bramin for his veneration of those doctrines he had early imbibed as the dictates of truth; and only lamented that he had not had the advantage of purer sources of information, before the prejudices of education had fettered his understanding. Whilst his erroneous notions of duty excited his pity, his virtue secured his esteem; and the longer they remained together, the more sincerely they regarded each other.

The hospitality of the Bramin, and his many amiable qualities, rendered Sydney's abode at his house so agreeable, that when the time of separation arrived, he left it with regret; and ever after considered the accident of meeting him in the cavern, as one of the most pleasing incidents of his life.

COLUMBUS.

WHEN Columbus, after having discovered the Western Hemisphere, was, by order of the king of Spain, brought home from America, in chains, the captain of the ship, who was intimately acquainted with his character, his knowledge and his talents, offered to free him from his chains, and make his passage as agreeable as possible. Columbus rejected his friendly offer, saying, "Sir, I thank you; but these chains are the rewards and honors for my services from my king, whom I have served as faithfully as my God; and as such, I will carry them with me to my grave."

RESENTMENT.

RESENTMENT may be distinguished into anger and revenge. Anger is the pain we suffer, upon the receipt of an injury, or an affront. Revenge is the inflicting of pain on the person who has injured or offended us. When prompted to resentment, we should particularly advert to the following reflections: the possibility of mistaking the motives from which the conduct that offends us proceeded; how often our own offences have been the effect of inadvertence, when they were construed into indications of malice; that the object of our resentment is suffering, perhaps, under a contrition, which he is ashamed, or wants opportunity, to confess; how ungenerous it is to triumph by coldness or insult over a spirit, already humbled in secret; that the returns of kindness are sweet, and that there is neither honor, nor virtue, nor utility in resisting them.

EXERCISE.

WITHOUT the regular exercise of the body, its health cannot be maintained; the body becomes weak, the countenance pale and languid, and the spirits depressed and gloomy. Regular bodily exercise, on the contrary, creates a healthy appetite, invigorates the powers of digestion, causes sound and refreshing sleep, a freshness of the complexion, and cheerfulness of the spirits; it wards off disease, and tends to preserve the vigor of both mind and body to an advanced age.

During the winter season, active exercise in the open air preserves the warmth of the body, and renders it less susceptible to the influence of cold, and less dependent for its comfort on artificial heat. The periods of the day best adapted to exercise are, early in the morning, and towards the close of the day.

Walking is the most beneficial and most natural exercise, because, in the erect position, every part of the body is free from restraint, while by the gentle motion communicated to each portion of it, in the act of walking, free circulation is promoted. Next to walking, riding on horseback is the kind of exercise to be preferred.

Many other species of exercise may be considered as contributing to the support of health; such as working in the garden, or in the fields, running, leaping, dancing, and swimming.

APHORISM.

WHEN Sorrow weeps o'er virtue's sacred dust,
Our tears become us, and our grief is just,

Mourns, but not murmurs; sighs, but not despairs;

Feels as a man, and as a christian bears.

THE FISHERMAN.

A PERILOUS life, and sad as life may be,
Hath the lone fisher on the lonely sea,

In the wild waters laboring, far from home,
For some bleak pittance e'er compelled to roam!
Few friends to cheer him in his dangerous life,
And none to aid him in the stormy strife:
Companion of the sea and silent air,
The lonely fisher thus must ever fare;

Without the comfort—hope, with scarce a friend,
He looks through life, and only sees

its end!

Eternal Ocean! Old majestic Sea!
Ever love I from shore to look on thee,
And sometimes on thy billowy back to ride,
And sometimes o'er thy summer breast to glide:
But let me live on land. where rivers run,

Where shady trees may screen me from the sun;
Where I may feel secure, the fragrant air;
Where whate'er toil or wearying pains I bear,
Those eyes, which look away all human ill,
May shed on me their still, sweet, constant light,
And the little hearts I love, may day and night,
Be found beside me, safe and clustering still.

METAPHYSICS.

A SCOTCH blacksmith being asked the meaning of metaphysics, explained it as follows; "When the party who listens dinna ken what the party who speaks means, and when the party who speaks dinna ken what he means himsel; that is metaphysics."

THE ADVENTURES OF A RAIN DROP.

WHEN I was first aware of existence, I found myself floating in the clouds, among millions of companions. was weak and languid, and had indeed fainted entirely away, when a breeze from the north was kind enough to fan me, as it swept along towards the equator. The moment my strength was renewed, I felt an irresistible desire to travel. Thousands of neighbors were eager to join me; and our numerous caravan passed rapidly through immense deserts of air, and landed in the garden of Eden. I fell on a white rose bush, which Adam was twining around the arbor where Eve was sitting; while she thanked him with her smiles, and shook my companions from the cluster of grapes she had plucked for him. I shall never forget the sounds she uttered! Mankind must have lost the knowledge of them now, for I never heard such tones; though, in a few instances, where childhood has been gifted with a rich, melodious voice, and I have heard it poured forth in careless happiness, it has seemed to me like the language of paradise.

As it was a cloudy day, and the sun did not appear, I slipped from a rose leaf to the bottom of a superb arum, and went quietly to sleep. When I awoke, the sun was bright in the heavens, and birds were singing, and insects buzzing joyfully. A saucy humming bird