ly do they endear themselves to all about them, by being tractable, considerate, gentle, and grateful! but how painful it is, to see them peevish, self-willed, and unthankful! How much do the former qualities lessen the affliction; and the latter increase it!

A family where the great Father of the universe is duly everenced; where parents are honoured and obeyed; where brothers and sisters dwell together in love and har mony; where peace and order reign; where there is no law but the law of kindness and wisdom; is surely a most delightful and interesting spectacle!

SECTION VIII.

GOD is the kindest and best of beings. He is our Fa ther. He approves us when we do well: he pities us when we err: and he desires to make us happy for ever. How greatly should we love so good and kind a Father! and how careful should we be to serve and please him!

Never insult the unfortunate, especially when they implore relief or assistance. If you cannot grant their re quests, refuse them mildly and tenderly. If you feel compassion for them, (and what good heart can behold distress without feeling compassion ?) be not ashamed to express it.

Listen to the affectionate counsels of your parents; treasure up their precepts; respect their riper judgment; and enjoy, with gratitude and delight, the advantages resulting from their society. Bind to your bosom, by the most endearing ties, your brothers and sisters; cherish them as your best companions, through the variegated journey of life; and suffer no jealousies and contentions to interrupt the harmony, which should ever reign amongst you.

They who are accustomed to view their companions in the most favourable light, are like persons who dwell amidst those beautiful scenes of nature, on which the eye rests with pleasure. Suspicious persons resemble the traveller in the wilderness, who sees no objects around him but what are either dreary or terrible.

SECTION IX.

AN amiable youth lamented, in terms of sincere griet the death of a most affectionate parent. His companion endeavoured to console him by the reflection, that he had

always behaved to the deceased, with duty, tenderness, and respect. "So I thought,” replied the youth, "whilst my parent was living: but now I recollect, with pain and sor row, many instances of disobedience and neglect, for which, alas! it is too late to make atonement."

Sir Isaac Newton possessed a remarkably mild and even temper. This great man, on a particular occasion, was called out of his study to an adjoining apartment. A little dog, named Diamond, the constant but incurious attendant of his master's researches, happened to be left among the papers; and threw down a lighted candle, which consumed the almost finished labours of some years. Sir Isaac soon returned, and had the mortification to behold his irreparable loss. But, with his usual self-possession, he only exclaimed; "Oh Diamond! Diamond! thou little knowest the mischief thou hast done."

Queen Caroline having observed that her daughter, the princess had made one of the ladies about her stand a long time, whilst she was talking to her on some trifling subject, was resolved to give her a suitable reprimand When the princess came in the evening, as usual, to read to her, and was drawing a chair to sit down, the queen said; "No, my dear, you must not sit at present; for I intend to make you stand this evening, as long as you suffered lady to remain in the same position."

The benevolent John Howard, having settled his accounts at the close of a particular year, and found a balance in his favour, proposed to his wife to make use of it in a journey to London, or in any other amusement she chose. "What a pretty cottage for a poor family it would build !" was her answer. This charitable hint met his cordial probation, and the money was laid out accordingly.

ap

Horace, a celebrated Roman poet, relates, that a countryman, who wanted to pass a river, stood loitering on the banks of it, in the foolish expectation, that a current so rapid would soon discharge its waters. But the stream still flowed, increased, perhaps, by fresh torrents from the mountains: and it must for ever flow, because the sources from which it is derived, are inexhaustible Thus, the idle and irresolute youth trifles over his books, or wastes in play the precious moments; deferring the task of improvement, which at first is easy to be accomplished, but which

will become more and more difficult, the longer it is glected.

CHAPTER II.

NARRATIVE PIECES.

SECTION I.

The pious sons.

1. IN one of those terrible eruptions of mount Etna, which have often happened, the danger to the inhabitants of the adjacent country, was uncommonly great.

2. To avoid immediate destruction from the flames, and the melted lava which ran down the sides of the mountain, the people were obliged to retire to a considerable distance.

3. Amidst the hurry and confusion of such a scene, (every one flying and carrying away whatever he deemed most precious,) two brothers, the one named Anapias, and the other Amphinomus, in the height of their solicitude for the preservation of their wealth and goods, suddenly recollecte ed that their father and mother, both very old, were unable to save themselves by flight.

4. Filial tenderness triumphed over every other consi deration. "Where," cried the generous youths," shall we find a more precious treasure, than they are who gave us being, and who have cherished and protected us, through life?" Having said this, the one took up his father on his shoulders, and the other his mother, and happily made their way through the surrounding smoke and flames.

5. All who were witnesses of this dutiful and affection ate conduct, were struck with the highest admiration: and they and their posterity, ever after, called the path which these good young men took in their retreat, "The Field of the Pious.”

SECTION II.

Filial sensibility.

1. A STRONG instance of affectionate and dutiful attach ment to parents, has been related in the preceding section. l'he following display of filial tenderness, is scarcely less nteresting and extraordinary.

2. A young gentleman in one of the academies at Paris, was remarked for eating nothing but soup and dry bread, and drinking only water. The governor of the institution, attributing this singularity to excess of devotion, reproved nis pupil, and endeavoured to persuade him to alter his resolution.

3. Finding, however, that his remonstrances were ineffectual, he sent for him again, and observed to him, that such conduct was highly unbecoming, and that it was his duty to conform to the rules of the academy.

4. He then endeavoured to learn the reason of his pupil's conduct; but as the youth could not be prevailed upon to impart the secret, the governor at last threatened to send him back to his family.

5. This menace produced an immediate explanation 'Sir," said the young man, "in my father's house I eat nothing but black bread, and of that very little here I have good soup, and excellent white bread; and though I might, if I chose it, fare luxuriously, I cannot persuade myself to take any thing else, when I reflect on the situation in which I have left my father and mother.”

6. The governor was greatly moved by this instance of filial sensibility, and could not refrain from tears. "Your father," said he, " has been in the army; has he no pension ?" "No," replied the youth: " he has long been soliciting one; but for want of money, has been obliged to give up the pursuit: and rather than contract any debts at Versailles, he has chosen a life of wretchedness in the country."

"if the fact is as you

7. "Well," returned the governor, have represented it, I promise to procure for your father a pension of five hundred livres a year. And since your friends are in so reduced circumstances, take these three louis d'ors for your pocket expenses. I will undertake to

remit your father the first half year of his pension, in advance."

8. "Ah, Sir!" replied the youth, "as you have the goodness to propose remitting a sum of money to my faher, I entreat you to add to it these three louis d'ors. As I have here every thing I can wish for, I do not need them: but they would be of great use to my father, in the mainenance of his other children."

SECTION III.

Cruelty to insects condemned.

1. A CERTAIN youth indulged himself in the cruel enterinment of torturing and killing flies. He tore off their wings and legs, and then watched with pleasure their feeole efforts to escape from him.

2. Sometimes he collected a number of them together, and crushed them at once to death; glorying, like many a celebrated hero, in the devastation he committed.

3. His tutor remonstrated with him, in vain, on this barDarous conduct. He could not persuade him to believe that flies are capable of pain, and have a right, no less than ourselves, to life, liberty, and enjoyment.

4. The signs of agony, which, when tormented, they ex press, by the quick and various contortions of their bodies, he neither understood nor regarded.

5. The tutor had a microscope; and he desired his pupil, one day, to exam ne a most beautiful and surprising anmal. "Mark," said he, "how it is studded from head to tail with black and silver, and its body all over beset with the most curious bristles! The head contains the most lively eyes, encircled with silver hairs; and the trunk consists of two parts, which fold over each other. The whole body is ornamented with plumes and decorations, which surpass all the luxuries of dress, in the courts of the greatest princes."

6. Pleased and astonished with what he saw, the youth was impatient to know the name and properties of this wonderful animal. It was withdrawn from the magnifier; and when offered to his naked eye, proved to be a poor fly, which had been the victim of his wanton cruelty.

PERCIVAL