them to; and what you call chirping, were cries and lamentations.

19. Could those birds have expressed themselves in your speech, you would have heard them say, "Ah father and mother, save us, for we have fallen into the hands of cruel children, who have robbed us of our feathers! We are cold and in pain. Come warm us, and cure us, or we shall soon die !"

20. The little ladies could no longer refrain from crying out, and accusing Billy of leading them into this act of cruelty. Billy himself now seemed to be sensible of his fault, and felt not only the smart of having a few hairs pulled out of his head, but the reproaches of his conscience.

21. It appeared to the father, that there was now no need of adding to the punishment of his children; but only to caution them, never, in future, to torment any creature unnecessarily, but to pity their distresses, and do all they could to relieve them. And I never heard that Billy, or his sisters, were guilty, after this, of any cruel conduct towards the little birds, or any dumb creature ; but were very good children.

THE INORDINATE DESIRE OF WEALTH CURED BY A DREAM.

1. I live upon a stony piece of ground, consist ing of about one hundred acres, in the township of Abington, about ten miles from Philadelphia.

By great industry in cultivating this farm, and constantly attending the Philadelphia market, I contrived to bring up a large family of children to that age, in which it was necessary to settle them in life.

2. At this time their demands upon me increased, but my resources were stationary. In this situation my mind vented itself in perpetual wishes for wealth, equal to the exigencies of my family.

3. One night, after passing the evening in listening to stories of the immense riches of B P G C, and others of the wealthy citizens of Philadelphia, I had the following dream, which I have been persuaded to communicate to the public.

4. I thought that all the stones on my farm were suddenly converted into gold. The joy I felt, upon this occasion, cannot be described. I walked across my fields with exultation, dazzled with the splendour of the riches which met my eyes wherever I looked.

5. I now began to devise the ways, in which I should employ my suddenly acquired treasures. -I built myself, in imagination, a large house, I got me a carriage, I portioned off my children agreeably to their wishes, I entertained the citizens of Philadelphia, and attended the theatre and other places of public amusement.

6. After satisfying myself with these reflections, I began to think of collecting my wealth into one mass, and putting it into some place of security. It was now near sun, down, and I be

gan to entertain fears from the inroads of my neighbours upon my fields, during the night.

7. I saw, at once, the difficulty of collecting my treasure, in one evening, or even in two ol three days. I thought of employing a great many hands for the purpose. But who, said I, will watch them, to prevent their robbing me?

8. I thought of hiring guards. But who, said I, will ensure the fidelity and integrity of these guards? I thought of employing persons, who should first cut off their pockets from their clothes.

9. But said I, they may still rob me, by concealing in their mouths, or swallowing small lumps of my gold. For I felt as great a dread of losing as much of this gold, as a man could conceal in his mouth, as if it had been all I had in the world.

10. My anxiety now became very great; but it was only the beginning of my trouble. I exténded my views beyond the moment I have described. I began to think of the kind of building, in which I could secure my wealth. I found upon calculation, that it could not be contained in a house of less size than the large German Lutheran Church, in Philadelphia, and that such a house could not be completed in less than two years.

11. In the mean while, I fancied I saw my gold exposed to plunder, not only by my neighbours, but by thousands of other people, who could not fail of hearing of the opportunity which my fields afforded of acquiring an independence, by a night's excursion to them.

12. In this situation, my soul was torn with unutterable anguish, I sighed and groaned to such a degree, that I awoke my wife, who lay by my side. She was much agitated, and supposing I was very ill, awaked me.

13. Never did any man enjoy an escape from drowning or fire, more than I did my deliverance from the distraction into which my dream had thrown me. I wept several minutes, before 1 was able to tell my wife the cause of my distress

14. I arose immediately after day break, and visted my stony fields with more pleasure than ever I had done before, in any period of my life. I embraced a smooth stone, on which I had often trodden, and pressing it to my bosom, thanked heaven that it was not gold. Ever since I had this dream, I have envied no man his riches, and have been perfectly contented and thankful.

15. One thing I must not neglect to mention, and that is, that in my wishes for great wealth, before I had this dream, I always said I would employ a part of it in building churches, establishing free schools, and relieving the distresses of the poor: but in my dream, I never once thought of churches, schools, nor of a single poor man, woman, or child, upon the face of the earth.

A FARMER.

A REMARKABLE DELIVERANCE FRÒM

SHIPWRECK.

[The following story was related by Henry Laurens, Esq. President of Congress, when in London, in 1782. From his own knowledge of the circumstance, he was enabled to attest its truth.]

1. In the year 1740, a Captain Shurbrick, who commanded a vessel, which had made several voyages to Charleston, in South Carolina, was lying off the bar, almost ready for sailing, when suddenly a tremendous hurricane arose, which continued the whole night.

2. When the morning came, it appeared that much damage had been done, and that Captain Shurbrick's vessel was missing. His friends at Charleston, were alarmed and anxious for his safety. It was the opinion of some that he had gone down as soon as the huricane commenced; while others thought, that as he was nearly laden, he had pushed away for England.

3. This was the subject of conversation that day. The next night, the lady of a merchant in Charleston, at whose house Captain Shurbrick was very intimate, dreamed that the vessel was lost, but that the Captain was floating on part of the wreck.

4. This she related to her husband, and prevailed upon him to send out a schooner some few leagues, in hopes to assist Captain Shurbrick.