Uncle Philip. It is a very cunning fly, as well as curious.

Henry. Why? what does it do that is cunning? Uncle Philip. When it is frightened, it will fold up its case and saws under its body, draw up its legs, and pretend to be dead; and then it will not move, even if you stick a pin through it.

LESSON XXXVII.

EXERCISE UPON THE LETTER L.

Lean, long, line, loll, lovely, lightly, lately, listlessly, literal, littleness, lovingly, locally, loyally, latently.

How sweetly slow the liquid lay

In holy hallelujahs rose,

To hail the lovely holyday,
And live unto its close!

Mary and her Dog.

"A STORY! a story!" exclaimed little William and Francis Stanley, as they climbed to the coveted seat upon their father's knees.

"A story, my boys? What shall it be? Goody Two Shoes,' or 'Jack the Giant-Killer'?"

"No, father, neither of these," said William; "we have read them more than twenty times."

"And we know them all by heart," exclaimed Francis. "We want a true story-something about yourself when you were a little boy, like us."

"Well, be it so; the employment is not without its charm. I love to think of my boyhood's days; those days when even nature seemed to wear a gayer, brighter dress; when the grass was greener, the sky bluer, the summer breeze sweeter, softer.

Well, boys, you shall have a story, and a true one too. "My little sister Mary was four years younger than myself, and a laughing, merry, blue-eyed little girl she was. She was my playmate and companion at all times. My brothers used to laugh at me because I preferred her quiet, innocent amusements to their noisy, and too often mischievous, games; but I did not mind them. We studied our lessons together, and rambled over the fields, and through the woods, gathering wild flowers, and listening to the singing of the birds, ourselves as gay and happy as they.

"One day, when Mary was six years old, we went to visit the children of one of our neighbors. We found them playing with two beautiful little spaniel dogs, and we soon joined in the amusement. We passed a delightful afternoon; and, just as we were preparing to go home, one of our young friends took up the prettiest of the two dogs, and presented it to Mary, saying, as he did so, 'Here, Mary, we will give you this one, if you choose to carry him home!'

"Give him to me for my own, to keep always.

exclaimed Mary, her eyes beaming with delight. 'Do you mean that I shall keep him always?'

"'Yes, always,' said the boy. 'We know that you will take good care of him; and one is enough for us.'

Mary thanked the little boy for his kindness, and we went home overjoyed with our treasure. We had some difficulty in agreeing upon a name, but at length concluded to call him Cato. Mary made a beautiful collar for him, and I made a kennel for him to sleep in at night.

"From this time, Cato was our constant companion whenever we went out into the fields or woods to play. I will relate one little incident to show you that he was a dog of great sagacity as well as affection.

"One lovely afternoon in summer, our studies being over for the day, Mary and myself, accompanied by Cato, sallied forth upon one of our favorite rambles. We walked leisurely along, gathering flowers and berries, till we arrived at a little grove, our usual resting-place, where, throwing myself down upon the grass, I soon fell asleep.

"I know not how long I had lain, when I started from my sleep, awakened by Cato, who was barking in my ear, and pulling at my collar with his teeth.

"Where is Mary?' I exclaimed, rising to my feet; for she was not there. The dog, as if comprehending my question, moved a few paces from me; then returned, and commenced pulling at my legs. This he did several times, till, at length, thinking he wished

me to follow, I did so. He led me to a little thicket of high-bush blackberry vines, where I found Mary in a pitiable plight.

"In trying to reach some nice-looking berries, she had become entangled in such a manner as to make it impossible to extricate herself. Her bonnet hung dangling on the bushes, her frock was torn in tatters, and her face and hands were dreadfully scratched. After a long time, I succeeded in releasing her from her unpleasant situation, and we returned home, Cato wagging his tail, and looking as conscious as a child of having done something deserving praise. Ever after this, he was a great favorite in the whole neighborhood."

LESSON XXXVIII.

EXERCISE ON QUANTITY.

Aid, hail, aim, game, blame, flames, arm, harm, all, call, he, me, time, fire, woe, old, cold, home, roam, pure, sure.

The flames rolled on! Home! home! my own loved home!

Pity the sorrows of a poor old man.

Keen blows the wind, and piercing is the cold.

Note to Teachers. — In prolonging the sound of the above words and syllables, the pupil should avoid the slightest drawl.

The Black Bonnet.

ROSAMOND was with her mother in London. One morning, an elderly lady came to pay her mother a visit. When the lady went away, Rosamond exclaimed, "Mother! I don't like that old woman at all; I am sorry, mother, that you promised to go and see her in the country, and to take me with you, for I dislike that woman, mother."

Mother. I will not take you with me to her house, if you do not wish to go there, Rosamond; but why you dislike that lady I cannot even guess; you never saw her before this morning, and you know nothing about her.

Rosamond. That is true, mother; but I really do dislike her; I disliked her from the moment she came into the room.

Mother. For what reason?

Rosamond. Reason, mother! I do not know; I have no particular reason.

Mother. Well, particular or not, give me some

reason.

Rosamond. I cannot give you a reason, mother, for I do not know why I dislike the lady; but you know that, very often, or at least sometimes, without any reason, without knowing why, we like or dislike people.

Mother. We! Speak for yourself, Rosamond; for my part, I always have a reason for liking or disliking people.