man is, you would be glad to afford him a little relief." Peace, girl," said her father, "and

eat your porridge.'

13. Rose, seeing she could not prevail on her hard hearted father to lend the man any assistance, resolved to do what she could herself. She therefore eat but little of her porridge; and when her father was gone out, she carried the rest to the poor man in the shed.

14. She found him in a calm sleep, and not being willing to wake him, she sat down by his side, till he awoke, and then kindly presented him a little refreshment. This would not satisfy her friendly heart; but seeing him exposed to the damp air of the evening, she went and brought him some clothes to cover him in the night.

15. In this manner, the good girl provided for the poor sick man, by giving him a share of her own portion of food, every day, till he had quite recovered, and was able to pursue his journey.

16. When he departed, he shed many tears, and blessed her a thousand times for her kindness. He said he could express his gratitude only by words, and tears of joy; but he was sure that heaven would reward her.

17. This generous conduct of Rose was soon reported in the neighbouring villages, and every one was pleased and delighted with it. In a few years her amiable behaviour made her the admiration of all who knew her; and a wealthy, young farmer, being charmed with her virtues, offered her his heart, his hand, and his fortune.

18. Thus was Rose raised from poverty, by her virtuous and good conduct, and now lives in wealth and plenty, the joy of her husband, and the pattern of her sex.

THE MISTAKE.

1. One day, a poor woman, encouraged by the great fame of Cardinal Farnese's generosity, came into the hall of the Cardinal, with her only daughter, a beautiful girl of twelve years of age.

2. When her turn came to be heard, among the croud of petitioners, the cardinal, discerning the marks of an extraordinary modesty in her face and manners, as also in her daughter, encouraged her to tell her wants freely.

3. She blushed, and with tears addressed him; My lord, I owe for the rent of my house five crowns, and such is my misfortune, that I have ot wherewithal to pay it. What I desire of our lordship is, that you would please to interose your authority, and protect me from the violence of a cruel man, until by my honest inustry, I can procure the money for him."

4. The Cardinal, moved with admiration at the woman's virtue and modesty, bid her be of good courage. He then immediately wrote a billet, and giving it into her hand, "Go," said he to my steward, with this paper, and he will deliver thee five crowns to pay thy rent."

5. The poor woman, overjoyed, returned the

Cardinal a thousand thanks, went directly to the steward, and gave him the note, which when he had read, he counted her out fifty crowns.

6. She, astonished at the meaning of it, and fearing this was only the steward's trick to try her honesty, refused to take more than five, saying, that she asked of the Cardinal no more, and she was sure it was a mistake.

7. On the other side, the stward insisted on his master's order, not daring to call it in question: But all the arguments he could use were insufficient to prevail on her to take more than five crowns.

8. Wherefore, to end the controversy, the steward offered to go back with her to the Cardinal, and refer it to him. When they came before the prince, and he was fully informed of the business, "It is true," said he, "I mistook in writing fifty crowns; give me the paper, and I. will rectify it."

9. Therefore, he wrote again, saying this to the woman, "So much candour and virtue deserve a recompense; here I have ordered you five hundred crowns; what you can spare of it, lay up as a dowry, to give to your daughter in marriage.

Z 2

As children sometimes want relief from their usual studies in school, they may occasionally exercise themselves in committing to memory the following pieces.

THOMSON'S PRAYER.

Father of Light and Life--thou Good Supreme, O teach me what is good; teach me thyself. Save me from folly, vanity and vice

From every low pursuit and feed my soul With knowledge, conscious peace, and virtue pure; Sacred, substantial, never fading bliss.

UPON A WATCH.

Little monitor, by thee,

Let me learn what I should be ;
Learn the round of life to fill,
Useful, and progressive still.
Thou canst gentle hints impart,
How to regulate the heart:
When I wind thee up at night,
Mark each fault and set thee right,
Let me search my bosom too,
And my daily thoughts review;
Mark the movements of my mind,
Nor be easy when I find
Latent errors rise to view,
Till all be regular and true.

A MORNING HYMN.

Arise my soul, with rapture rise,

And ill'd with love and praise, adore
The awful Sovereign of the skies,
Whose mercy lends me one day more.

And may this day, indulgent Power,
Not idly pass, nor fruitless be;
But may each swiftly flying hour
Advance my soul more nigh to thee.
O deign to lend a favouring ear,
When I, a sinful mortal, pray :
In boundless goodness deign to hear,
Nor cast me from thy face away.
Then let me serve thee all my days,
And may my zeal with years increase ;
For pleasant, Lord, are all thy ways,
And all thy paths are paths of peace.

RELIGION.

O blest Religion, heavenly fair,
Thy kind, thy healing power,
Can sweeten pain, alleviate care,
And gild each gloomy hour.
Thy bright, thy sacred lamp alone
Unerring points the way,

Where happiness forever shines,
With unpolluted ray ;

To regions of eternal peace,
Beyond the starry skies;

Where pure, sublime and perfect joys,
In endless prospect rise.

Then let my heart confess thy power,

And find the sweet relief.
To brighten every painful nour,
And soften every grief.