refentment, was running by the advice of a fervant, to acquaint the mother of Jacob with the exploits of her fon, "But, no," faid he, checking his speed," the is a fevere woman, and the "will horsewhip him without mercy, and, may «be, fhut him up in an out-house for a week "together: How fhould I like that for my"felf? No, no, I had better forgive him, for "this once."

Not long after this, Frederic was walking out with his beloved mother, when unluckily they ftrolled near a place where the thoughtless, wicked Jacob was amusing himself by throwing ftones with all his little force at every object within his reach, totally regardless of the mifchief which he might occafion. One of thefe unluckily hit the little Frederic on the head, and fetched the blood; but Frederic was too much of a man to cry at a little pain."Mama," faid the spirited lad, "this ftone has "hurt me a little, but I dare fay the pain will "foon be over." As his forehead, however, was all covered with blood, his mother went directly home with him, and had every proper care taken of his wound. It was an ugly one, and brought on a fever, and it was the end of feven or eight days before he was permitted to walk out, and his mother being engaged with company, ordered a fervant to accompany him.

As

As they were walking, the difcourfe turned on the wickedness of Jacob; and just as the domestic was hoping they might see nothing of him during their walk, they heard a rustling noife in a tree behind them, and down, at once, came Jacob, fcreaming and crying, from the top of an elm, which his usual spirit of mischief had tempted him to climb in pursuit of a crow's neft. "I fear," faid Frederic, exerting his utmost endeavours to raise the poor wretch, "that you "have hurt yourself fadly." Jacob ftill continued his groans and cries; and well he might, for, upon examination, his leg appeared to be broken in two places. "Poor fellow," said the benevolent Frederic, "how he must suffer! let "us contrive fome how or other, to convey him "home to his mother.-Unhappy woman! "what diftrefs muft fhe not feel when the fees "the condition of her unlucky fon!" Her diftrefs was great indeed. "Poor as I am," the exclaimed, "I can just support myself and this

66

ungracious lad; but how fhall I ever be able "to pay the long demand which the furgeon "will have upon me, by the time that Jacob "recovers." Little Frederic, who was a witnefs to her complaints, afforded to them those tears which his own fuffering could never extort from him." Make yourfelf eafy, my good

46

neighbour," said the amiable boy, "and oblige

"me

me fo far as to accept this new crown-piece, "which my good Mama has just given me, that "I might buy me a fairing, but I can do with"out it better than you can." The afflicted mother looked at him with filent admiration. Frederic proceeded to affure her, that as he was conscious of the smallness of the fum, (though it was his all) he would ufe his intereft with his parent for a larger fupply, and did not doubt to obtain it. The unfortunate woman now found her tongue, and expressed in the most affecting terms, her astonishment at seeing his earnestness in relieving that worthless lad, by whofe mifchievous hand his forehead was fill fmarting. "This," faid fhe, "is truly to return good for *evil!" Frederic now returned to his mother, and after giving her the hiftory of the whole occurrence, "How comes it, Mama," faid he,

that although I was truly forry for poor Ja"cob's misfortune, and though I feel both for "him and his mother, yet, on the whole, I am more pleafed than grieved?" Child," faid the lady, you have had an opportunity of doing "well, and you have made use of it; and, be

lieve me, throughout life you will find, that "the consciousness of having done a benevolent "action will be the moft effectual cordial for every painful sensation."

THE

THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE

LION.

HE Lion, though inferior in fize to several

THE

other animals which inhabit the fame countries with himself, is fo fuperior in the united qualities of ftrength, addrefs, and courage, as to have obtained the highest rank amongst the brute creation. Even the cumbrous Elephant, and the robuft Buffalo, are conquered by this lordly beaft, who proudly subdues and preys upon all, but is himself the prey of none. Nor is his courage lefs remarkable than his ftrength. The fierce Lion, who has been used to conquer, and is ignorant of the fuperior powers of man, will fometimes rufh upon a caravan which is travelling through the deferts, and fuch is his contempt of danger, that when he is repulfed, he does not turn his back and endeavour to escape, but retreats fighting, and defending himself against the attacks of his enemies. The largest Lions are about eight or nine feet in length, and three or four feet in height: their colour is yellow on the back, and a dusky white on the fides and belly. The male Lion is adorned with a large flowing mane, which grows larger as he advances in years; but the female is without this ornament, and is about one-fourth lefs in fize. In general the Lioness

is much more docile and gentle than the Lion; but when she has young, the becomes still fiercer than he, and will attack a number of armed men in defence of her whelps. Her care to fecure them from discovery is fhewn before their birth; The retires to the leaft frequented places, and when they are brought forth, fhe is fo careful to preserve them, that when the leaves them to procure food, fhe carefully brushes away the marks of her feet with her tail, that her young may not be discovered by the prints of her steps. The Lion is an inhabitant of warm climates, and is never found in the frozen regions of the North. Indeed the ftrength and fiercenefs of this terrible animal appear to be greatly increafed by the heat of the climate he inhabits; and there is a remarkable difference between the ferocity of thofe Lions which breathe the temperate air of lofty mountains, and of those which dwell in the fandy and fcorching plains. The American Lions, which are natives of a milder climate, 'have neither the fierceness, the strength, nor the courage of those born under the fervid rays of an Indian or African fun; nor are they adorned with a mane. Indeed, their differing in fo many respects has made feveral Naturalifts very doubtful whether or not they were of the true Lion fpecies.

Though the Lion is naturally an inhabitant of

hot