the real owner of that forest; should I not be obliged to pay for it just the same?

Philip. No, you would not; it would be brought to you without your having any thing to pay.

Mr. Wise. Do you think so? I think on the contrary, that it would come dearer to me; for in that case should I not have to pay the keepers of the forest, and masons to keep the walls in repair, and wood cutters to fell the trees?

Philip. Well, let that be as you say, you could not go thither to hunt.

Mr. Wise. And why would you wish me to go and hunt in that forest?

Philip. To have plenty of game, to be sure. Mr. Wise. Could we two eat up a whole deer?

Philip. We must have a good appetite to do that.

Mr. Wise. Not being able to go to the chase myself, I send hunters to do it for me. I appoint them to meet me at market, whither they bring me all the game I want.

Philip. Yes, for your money.

Mr. Wise. Agreed; but still I have the best of the bargain; I have no wages to pay them; I have no need to furnish them with guns, and powder and shot; all those ferrets, those terriers, and hounds, God be praised, it is not my victuals they devour.

Philip. Are those cows and sheep, feeding down there in the meadows, yours also?

Mr. Wise. Yes, they are. Don't you eat butter and cheese every day? It is they who provide those articles for us.

Philip. But, papa, if all those flocks, and all those rivulets are yours, why have not we at our table those great dishes of fish, flesh, game, and fowl, which rich people have?

Mr. Wise. And do those rich people consume all that is put upon their tables?

Philip. No; but they can make their choice of the different dishes on the table.

Mr. Wise. And I make my choice before they are brought to table; I have every thing that is really necessary; superfluities, indeed, I have not; but what should I do with them if I had them? I must have also an additional stomach.

Philip. No matter, rich people make good cheer, and you cannot.

Mr. Wise. I make better cheer; I have a sauce which is almost always wanting in great feasts, and that is a good appetite.

Philip. But the rich have money to purchase whatsoever they desire, and to satisfy all their whims. Can you do so, papa?

Mr. Wise. Yet I am better off than they, for I have no whims at all.

Philip. Yet there is some pleasure certainly in gratifying whims.

Mr. Wise. But there is much more pleasure in being contented; and I am contented.

LESSON XVIII.

THE GREAT GARDEN- -continued.

Philip. Does not God, papa, love rich people more than he does you, since he has given them great treasures of gold and silver?

Mr. Wise. Philip, do you remember that bottle of Muscadel wine, which we had the other day when your uncle dined with us?

Philip. Yes, papa, you were so kind as to give me a small glass of it.

Mr. Wise. You came to ask me for another glass; I could have given you more, for there was enough remaining in the bottle. Why did I not give you more?

Philip. Because you were afraid that it would make me ill.

Mr. Wise. Yes, I remember that I told you so then. Do you think I was in the right.

Philip. My dear papa, I know that you love me, and that you only wish my welfare; so I am sure that you would not have refused me that wine if you had thought that it would give me pleasure without injuring me.

Mr. Wise. And do you imagine that the good God has less regard for you than I myself have? Philip. No, papa, I do not think so, since you have told me so many wonders of his goodness.

Mr. Wise. On the other hand, do you believe that it would be difficult for him to give you great riches?

Philip. Oh no! Not more difficult than for me to give any one a handful of sand.

Mr. Wise. Well, then, if God, being able to give you great riches, and willing your happiness at the same time, do not bestow them upon you, what ought you to think of his refusal ?

Philip. That the riches which I ask of him might be prejudicial to me.

Mr. Wise: Is that quite clear to you?
Philip. Yes, papa, I think so; but-

Mr. Wise. Why do you shake your head? you have certainly some objection in your mind. Philip. Why, I can't help thinking, in spite of all your reasoning, that this fine country is not yours.

Mr. Wise. And what makes you think so? Philip. Because you cannot do with it as you please.

Mr. Wise. Do you know Mr. Richards? Philip. Do I know him? Yes, yes, I know him well enough; it is he who has such beautiful gardens.

Mr. Wise. And can he enjoy them just as he pleases ?

Philip. He, poor man! He can do no such thing; he does not dare venture to eat a single grape.

Mr. Wise. Yet he has fine vines in his garden? Philip. Yes truly; but that can only make his mouth water and teaze him.

Mr. Wise. You see then that a person may possess good things, and yet not be able to use them just as he pleases; I cannot do just as I please with my garden here, because I cannot afford it; and Mr. Richards cannot make what use he pleases of his, because his health forbids. I am still the happier of the two.

Mr. Wise taking his son by the hand, came down the hill with him. They passed near a meadow, which they had taken for a fish pond, when they were on the height, because it was covered with water. Mr. Wise exclaimed, do you see that meadow which is a now a mere marsh? The neighbouring river must have overflowed at haymaking time; all the hay harvest is lost for this year.

Philip. The owner of the meadow will be very sorry, I believe, when he sees all his hay spoiled.

Mr. Wise. The loss of the hay is not the only calamity. The dikes of the river must be repaired, and perhaps a new sluice must be made. He will be well off, if this mischief do not cost him the value of the produce of his meadow for ten years. I thought there was a mill somewhere here about.

Philip. So there is, papa, look, there it is! Mr Wise. You are right; I see it now. It was because I did not hear its clack going. I dare say that the inundation has carried away the wheel works. Let us see! Yes, indeed, it is so, it is all in ruins. What will become of the unfortunate proprietor? He must be very rich, if he can stand against so many losses.

Philip. I pity him with all my heart. But, papa, the time for work is over; why do the masons stay at their work still?

Mr. Wise. I don't know. Let us ask one of them. Why are you at work so late, my friend? The Mason. Sir, we shall pass the whole night here. Yesterday, after dark, some robbers threw down this part of the wall, got that way