THE SHEPHERD-BOY AND THE WOLF. A SHEPHERD-BOY, who tended his flock not far from where some labourers were reaping, thought to amuse himself by calling out, The wolf! The wolf!' By so doing he succeeded two or three times in getting the men to leave their work and run to his assistance; and all the return they got was to be laughed at for their pains.

At last, one day the wolf really came, and began devouring the sheep. The boy now cried out in earnest. But the men, supposing him to be again at his old trick, heeded not his cries, and the wolf destroyed many of the flock. So the boy learned, when it was too late, that liars are not believed even when they speak the truth.

THE HUSBANDMAN AND THE STORK.

A HUSBANDMAN set a net in his field to catch the cranes which came to feast themselves on his newly-sown corn. When he went to examine the net he found a stork among the number. Spare me,' cried the stork, and let me go. I am not a crane, and I have eaten none of your corn. I am only a poor stork, and always do my duty to my aged parents.' 'All that may be true,' replied the husbandman, but since you have been taken in bad company, you must suffer for it.' So saying, he wrung his neck.

--

THE ASS AND THE LAP-DOG.

THERE was an ass and a lap-dog that belonged to the same master. The ass had plenty of hard work to do; he was drawing wood all day, and had to take his turn at the mill at night. In return for his labour he had as much nice corn and sweet hay as he could eat, and a good stable to sleep in; in short, he was as well off as an ass could be. The little dog was always sporting and frisking about, caressing and fawning upon his master in the most amusing manner, so that he became a great favourite. He received many a dainty morsel from his master's table, and in the evening he was allowed to lie on the hearth-rug before the warm fire.

The ass, seeing the dog thus living in ease and luxury, began to grieve over his own hard lot, and became envious and jealous of the favours he saw bestowed upon the little creature. If,' thought he to himself, 'I act a like part, perhaps I shall fare the same. I will try.' The next day, therefore, when he saw his owner approaching, he broke from his halter, and commenced capering and prancing about him in a clumsy, awkward manner, and finished his antics by jumping upon his master and pawing him with his rough-shod feet, braying at the same time, to imitate the little dog's bark. The servants, seeing their master in no little danger, rushed up, and, having released him from

the ass's caresses, they gave the foolish creature such a beating with sticks and staves that he never afterwards forgot his own position, but became contented with his lot, and so lived a happy life.

NATURE IN SPRING-TIME.

COME, let us go forth into the fields; let us see the flowers that have sprung up; let us sit down on the fresh green grass and listen to the warbling of the birds.

The winter is over and gone, the buds come out upon the trees, the crimson blossoms of the peach and nectarine are seen, and the green leaves sprout. The hedges are bordered with tufts of primroses, and yellow cowslips, that hang down their heads; and the blue violet lies hidden beneath the shade.

The young goslings are running upon the green; they are just hatched, and their bodies are covered with yellow down: the old geese hiss with anger if any one comes near.

The hen sits upon her nest of straw, and watches patiently the full time; then she carefully breaks the shell, and the young chickens come out.

The little lambs are in the field; they totter by the side of their dams; their young limbs can hardly support their weight. If ye fall, little lambs, you will not be hurt; there is spread under you a carpet of soft grass.

The butterflies flutter from bush to bush, and open their wings to the warm sun.

The young animals of every kind are sporting about; they feel themselves happy, they are glad to be alive-but they are dumb and cannot thank God as we do. We can thank Him with our tongues; we are better than they, and praise Him better.

The birds can warble, and the young lambs can bleat; but we can open our lips in His praise, we can speak of all His goodness.

Therefore, we will thank Him for ourselves, and we will thank Him for those that cannot speak.

CHILD'S WELCOME TO SPRING.

I'M very glad the Spring is come-the sun shines out so bright,

The little birds upon the trees are singing with delight;

The young grass looks so fresh and green, the lambkins sport and play,

And I can skip and run about as merrily as they.

I like to see the daisy and the buttercups once

more,

The primrose, and the cowslip too, and every pretty flower;

I like to see the butterfly flutter her painted wing, And all things seem just like myself, so pleased to see the Spring.

The fishes in the little brook are jumping up on high,

The lark is singing sweetly as he mounts into the sky;

The rooks are building up their nests upon the tall elm tree,

And everything's as busy and as happy as can be.

There's not a cloud upon the sky, there's nothing dark or sad;

I jump, and scarce know what to do, I feel so very glad.

God must be very good, indeed, who made each pretty thing;

I'm sure we ought to love Him much for bringing back the Spring.

NIGHT.

THE glorious sun has set in the west, the night dew falls, and the air, which was sultry, becomes cool. The flowers fold up their coloured leaves; they fold themselves up, and their heads droop on the slender stalk.

The chickens are gathered under the wings of the hen, and are at rest; the hen herself is also at rest. The little birds have ceased their warbling; they are asleep on the boughs, each one with his head under his wing. There is no humming of bees around the hive, or among the honeyed woodbines; they have done their work, and lie