Africa, feeding chielly upon vegetables; leading a social and harmless life.

3. They lay their eggs, as many as 40 or 50 in a season, which are very large, being 4 or 5 inches in thickness, in the sand, where they are often forgotten by the mother, or are destroyed by the wild beasts.

4. This animal devours leather, hair, grass, stones, oyster shells, lead, iron, or any thing that is given to it, and is always ready to eat.

5. The size of this animal is very great, being from seven to eight feet high when the head is raised, and is strong enough to carry a stout man on its back. It is classed among the unclean animals by Moses, and is in fact a very greedy and filthy bird.

6. The Ostrich runs with great swiftness, its legs being long, and as large as a young colt's; its wings also serve as sails and oars to help him along.

7. It never tries to fly, for the feathers are not like those of any other bird; they are not close and fast together like the feathers of a quill, but loose, and all very soft and downy.

8. It has on each wing two curious spurs which, it is said, are of use by bleeding the animal as the wings flap against its sides, when runs, and becomes overheated; for it is naturally very hot blooded, and might, but for this means of relief, be suffocated.

it

9. The head is small, the neck very long, and being covered with very small feathers,

you can observe any thing large that it swallows, passing in a winding way down to the body.

10. The eyes are bright, large, and round, with eyelashes, the thighs without feathers, the legs covered with scales, and the foot has two large toes; the inside one, the largest, is about seven inches long, with a claw at the end with which it strikes a very severe blow.

11. It fights with its feet, and has been known to rip open the body of a man with a single blow. When roused it makes a grand appearance; the head is thrown up, the breast forward, and the wings stretched out and quivering in a beautiful manner.

12. When pursued, it leaves behind the swiftest Arabian horses, but in a hunt of five or six hours is worn out. The Ostrich is noted for its want of care to its young, and as a stupid creature, being very timid.

13. I saw one some time since, which, when it was to be moved from one place to another, became so frightened that it could not walk, and had to be carried by two or three men, its weight being equal to a barrel of flour.

14. The Ostrich makes a very doleful, moaning noise, which renders the desert still more dreadful to the traveller. It is not, like most birds, anxious and careful of its young.

15. A fine description is given in the 39th chapter of Job, 13th verse. "Gavest thou wings and feathers unto the Ostrich? which leaveth her eggs in the earth and warmeth them

in the dust, and forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

16. "She is hardened against her young ones as though they were not hers: her labour is in vain, without fear; because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

17. "What time she lifteth up herself on high

she scorneth the horse and his rider."

LESSON XXVII.

THE DISAPPOINTMENT.

1. IN tears to her mother poor Harriet came,

Let us listen to hear what she says:

"Oh see, dear mamma, it is pouring with rain; We cannot go out in the chaise.

2. "All the week I have long'd for the journey, you know,

And fancied the minutes were hours,

And now, when I'm dressed and all ready to go,
Oh see, dear mamma, how it pours.

3. "I'm sorry, my dear," her good mother replied, "The rain won't permit us to go,

And I'm sorry to see, for the sake of a ride,
That you cry and distress yourself so.

4. "These slight disappointments and crosses

you hate,

Are sent you your mind to prepare, That you may with courage and fortitude wait

More serious distresses to bear.

5. “Oh think not, my child, as you grow up in life,

That pleasures unceasing will flow; Disappointment, and trouble, and sorrow, and strife

Will follow wherever you go.

6. "Though now the bright prospect seems opening fair,

And hope paints a scene of delight,
Too soon you will see it all vanish in air,
And leave you to darkness and night.

7. "Ah then, my dear girl, when those sorrows appear,

And trouble flows in like a tide,

You'll wonder that ever you wasted a tear
On merely the loss of a ride.

8. "But though this world's pleasures are fading and vain,

Religion is lasting and true;

Real pleasure and joy in her paths you may gain,

Nor will disappointment ensue."

LESSON XXVIII.

ADALINE SINGLETON.

1. ADELINE Singleton was a good tempered little girl, and did whatever her mother told her to do. She hardly ever cried when her mother did not comply with her wishes, and Mrs. Singleton loved her little daughter very much.

2. But although Adaline did as she was bid, and bore disappointments very well, yet she had one great fault, which had several times made her very unhappy; and which gave her dear mother great pain.

3. Adaline had sometimes taken what did not belong to her. Now this was very wicked, and little Adaline felt unhappy after she had done this naughty thing; and even when nobody was by; for God saw her always, and sooner or later, her fault was sure to be found out.

4. This little girl had always been very fond of sweetmeats, and her mother had a large tin box, where she kept cal e, and plums, and all the nice things which children love.

5. When Adaline had been good, Mrs. Singleton used often to open this box, and take out some gingerbread and some plums, and give them to her little girl.