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 sorrow, 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 approbation, and the money was laid out accordingly.

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 ne 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 recollected that their father and mother, both very old, were unable to save themselves by flight.

4. Filial tenderness triumphed over every other consideration. "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 affectionate 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. The following display of filial tenderness, is scarcely less interesting 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 his 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 per on ?" "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 a contract any debts at Versailles, he has chosen a life of wretchedness in the country."

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7. "Well," returned the governor, " if the fact is as you 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 father, 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 maintenance of his other children."

SECTION III.

Cruelty to insects condemned.

1. A CERTAIN youth indulged himself in the cruel entertainment of torturing and killing flies. He tore off their wings and legs, and then watched with pleasure their feeble 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 barbarous 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 express, 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 animal. "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.

SECTION IV.

Selfish sorrow reproved.

1. ONE day, during the summer vacation, Alexis had prepared himself to set out, with a party of his companions, upon a little journey of pleasure. But the sky lowered, the clouds gathered, and he remained for some time in anxious suspense about his expedition; which at last was prevented by heavy and continued rain.

2. The disappointment overpowered his fortitude; he burst into tears; lamented the untimely change of weather; and sullenly refused all consolation.

3. In the evening, the clouds were dispersed; the sun shone with unusual brightness; and the face of nature seemed to be renewed in vernal beauty.

4. Euphronius conducted Alexis into the fields. The storm of passion in his breast was now stilled; and the serenity of the air, the music of the feathered songsters, the verdure of the meadows, and the sweet perfumes which breathed around, regaled every sense, and filled his mind with delightful emotions.

5. "Do not you remark," said Euphronius," the delightful change which has suddenly taken place in the whole creation? Recollect the appearance of the scene before us yesterday. The ground was then parched with a long drought; the flowers hid their drooping heads; no fragrant odours were perceived; and vegetation seemed to cease. To what cause must we impute the revival of nature ?"

6. "To the rain which fell this morning," replied Alexis, with a modest confusion. He was struck with the selfishness and folly of his conduct; and his own bitter reflections anticipated the reproofs of Euphronius.

SECTION V.

We are often deceived by appearances.

PERCIVAL.

1. A YOUTH, who lived in the country, and who had not acquired, either by reading or conversation, any knowledge of the animals which inhabit foreign regions, came to Manchester, to see an exhibition of wild beasts.

2. The size and figure of the elephant struck him with