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out again, except to have been devoured, or put to death in some way or other. Though man does not look so fierce as a cat, he is as much the enemy of mice."

EVENINGS AT HOME

THE WASP AND BEE.

A WASP met a bee, and said to him, "tell me, what is the reason men are so fond of you, while they are so ill-natured to me? We are both very much alike, only the broad yellow rings round my body, make me much handsomer than you are; we have both wings we both sting when we are angry, and we both love honey; yet men always hate me, and try to kill me, though I am more familiar with them than

you are.

:

"I pay them visits in their houses, at the tea table, and at all their meals, while you are very shy, and hardly ever come near them, yet they build you curious houses, sometimes of wood, and sometimes of straw, and take care of you. I wonder what is the reason."

The bee answered, "because you never do them any good, but on the contrary, are very troublesome and mischievous; therefore they do not like to see you; but they know that I am busy all day long in making them honey. You had better pay them fewer visits, and try to be useful."

EVENINGS AT HOME.

THE LITTLE DOG.

"WHAT shall I do," said a very little dog one day to his mother, "to show my gratitude to our good master? I cannot draw, or carry burthens for him like the horse; nor give him milk like the cow; nor lend him my covering for his clothing like the sheep; nor produce him eggs like the poultry; nor catch mice and rats as well as the cat.

"I cannot divert him with singing like the linnets and canaries; nor can I defend him against robbers like the great dog Towzer. I should not be fit to be eaten, even if I were dead, as the hogs are. I am a poor insignificant creature, not worth the cost of keeping; I don't see that I can do a single thing to entitle me to my master's regard." So saying, the poor little dog hung down his head.

"My dear child," replied his mother, "though your abilities are but small, your good will entitles you to regard. Love your master dearly, and show him, that you love him, and you will not fail to please him."

The little dog was comforted, and the next time he saw his master, ran to him, licked his feet, gambolled before him, and every now and then stopped, wagging his tail, and looking at him in the most affectionate manner. The master observed him.

"Ha! little Fido," said he, "you are an honest, good-natured little fellow!"—and stooped down to pat his head. Poor Fido was ready to go out of his wits with joy.

Fido was now his master's constant companion in his walks, playing and skipping round him, and amusing him by a thousand sportive tricks. He took care not to be troublesome by leaping on him with dirty paws, nor would he follow him into the parlour unless invited. He also attempted to make himself useful by a number of little services. He would drive away the sparrows as they were stealing the chicken's meat; and would run and bark with the utmost fury at the strange pigs, and other animals, which offered to come into the yard.

He kept the poultry and pigs from straying, and particularly from doing mischief in the garden. If his master pulled off his coat in the field to help his workmen, Fido always sat by it, and would not suffer either man or beast to touch it; for this faithful care of his master's property he was esteemed very much.

He was soon able to render a more important service. One hot day after dinner his master was sleeping in a summer-house with Fido by his side; the building was old, and the watchful dog perceived the walls shake, and pieces of mortar fall from the ceiling.

He saw the danger, and began barking to awake his master; this was not sufficient, so he jumped up and bit his finger. The master, upon this started up, and had just time to get out of the door before the whole building fell.

Fido, who was behind, got hurt by some rubbish which fell upon him; on which his master had him taken care of with the utmost tenderness, and ever after acknowledged the little

animal as the preserver of his life. Thus his love and fidelity had their reward.

EVENINGS AT HOME.

THE HORSE AND THE GOOSE.

A GOOSE, who was plucking grass by the road side, thought herself affronted by a Horse who fed near her, and in hissing accents thus addressed him—“I am certainly a more noble and perfect animal than you; all your faculties are confined to one element."

"I can walk upon the earth as well as you; I have besides wings with which I raise myself in the air, and when I please I can sport in ponds and lakes, and refresh myself in the cool waters: I enjoy the different powers of a bird, a fish, and a quadruped."

The Horse replied with disdain, "It is true you inhabit three elements, but you do not appear well in any of them. You fly, but can you compare your flight with the lark or the swallow ?"

"You can swim on the surface of the waters, but you cannot live in them as fishes do; you cannot find your food in them, nor glide smoothly along the bottom of the waves.

"When you walk upon the ground with your broad feet, stretching out your long neck, and hissing at every one who passes by, all beholders laugh at you.

"I confess I am only formed to walk on the ground, but how graceful is my shape! how well

turned my limbs! how astonishing my speed! how great my strength! I had rather be confined to one element, and be admired in that, than be a goose in all."

EVENINGS AT HOME.

Children, think about the Horse, of his strength, his shape, the different ways in which he can be employed, and every thing you know about him.

Element.

EXPLANATIONS.

The least part of a thing. A letter is the element of a word. Flour, water, and the other substances which make bread, are the elements of bread.

Many years ago it was believed, that every thing in this world was made of fire, air, earth, and water; so these were called the four elements. They are still called the four elements, though many other elements have been discovered.

It is said that birds belong to the element of air, because they fly in the air; that quadrupeds belong to the element of earth; and fishes to the element of water.

Surface. The outside.

surface of our bodies.

The skin covers the

THE RAT WITH A BELL.

A LARGE old house in the country was so infested with rats that nothing could be kept away

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