put down what each came to give. Many came forward and gave, some more and some less.

Among those that came was a rich old Negro, almost as rich as all the others put together, and threw down upon the table a small silver coin. "Take dat back again," said the Negro that received the money: "dat may be according to de first resolution, but it not according to de second." The rich old man accordingly took it up, and hobbled back to his seat again in a great rage. One after another came forward; and as almost all gave more than himself, he was fairly ashamed of himself, and again threw down a piece of money on the table, saying, "Dare! take dat!"

It was a valuable piece of gold; but it was given so ill-temperedly, that the Negro answered again, "No! dat wont do yet! It may be according to de first and second resolution, but it not according to the last;" and he was obliged to take up his coin again.

Still angry at himself and all the rest, he sat a long time, till nearly all were gone, and then came up to the table with a smile on his face, and very willingly gave a large sum to the Treasurer.

"Very well," said the Negro, "dat will do; dat according to all de resolutions."-Facts and Incidents.

GIFT OF A POOR BLIND GIRL.

A POOR blind girl brought to a Minister thirty ings for the Missionary cause. He objected,

"You are a poor blind girl, and cannot afford to give so much."

"I am indeed blind," said she; "but can afford to give these thirty shillings better, perhaps, than you suppose."

"How so?"

"I am, Sir, by trade a basket-maker, and can work as well in the dark as in the light. Now, I am sure in the last winter it must have cost those girls who have eyes more than thirty shillings for candles to work by, which I have saved; and therefore hope you will take it for the Missionaries."

is a very beautiful bird, but not to be compared with the blue jay of America. This elegant species, arrayed in blue, varied with purple and white, and barred on the wings and tail with black, is a native of the woods of North America, and is remarkable for its noisy chattering, its variety of tones, its screams, cries, and squalling. It is a shy, recluse bird, tenanting the recesses of the forest with its mate; but in the months of September and October uniting into flocks of forty or fifty, which straggle irregularly through the woods in search of food, -acorns and berries. During this season they lose part of their shyness, and keep chattering to each other in a variety of strange and querulous notes.

The blue jay builds a large nest, frequently in the cedar, sometimes in an apple-tree, and lines it with dry fibrous roots. The eggs, five in number, are of a dull olive, spotted with brown. The male is particularly careful of not being heard near the place, making his visits as silently and secretly as possible. His favourite food is chestnuts, acorns, and Indian corn: he occasionally feeds on caterpillars, and sometimes pays a plundering visit to the orchard, cherry-row, and potato-patch. He also plunders the nests of small birds of their eggs and young, tearing the callow brood by piecemeal, and spreading alarm and sorrow around him. Sometimes he will assault and kill full-grown birds, as warblers and finches, and devour them.

THE MERCHANT AND HIS NEIGHBOUR.

A FABLE.

(Translated from the French.)

66

A MERCHANT of Persia or China, (it matters not which,) says Pilpay, being about to make a voy age, deposited at the house of his neighbour one hundredweight of iron. Not having met with the success he expected, he returned home. The first thing he did after his arrival was to go to the house of his friend. "I want my iron," said he. Concerning your iron," said his friend, "I am sorry to tell you bad news. An accident has happened which no one could foresee. A rat, a troublesome rat, has eaten it all. But who can help it? There is always in a granary some nook by which these little animals enter and make great havoc." The merchant was astonished at such a wonderful story, and pretended to believe it.

Some time after he found his neighbour's little son in a retired place; he took him to his house, and kept him in a room: the next day he invited the father to dinner. "Excuse me," said the father, "I pray you: there are no pleasures for me; for some one has taken away my only son." "I am truly sorry for it," said the merchant, (feigning to weep,) and I was an unwilling spectator of his unhappy fate. I saw him carried away by an owl; but I could not save him." "Impossible!" said the father: do you mock my distress?" "I think it quite as likely," said the merchant, "that an owl should carry away a child who does not weigh half

an hundredweight, as that one rat should eat a whole hundredweight of iron."

The neighbour finding that he had to do with a person whom it was not easy to deceive, willingly gave up the iron in exchange for his son.

MORAL.

It is ridiculous to attempt to make people believe impossibilities. When the truth is not told, it is both foolish and wrong to endeavour to support it by reasonings.

L.

TRY.

LITTLE readers, pray attend
To the counsels of a friend :
Here's his text before your eye,
In that little word call'd-TRY.

Try to do what's good and right,
When at home or out of sight;
Never do a thing that's bad,
For to do it will be sad.

Try to be at school in time,
Just before the clock strikes nine:

Try to say your lesson well,
When you read, or when you spell.

Love your father and your mother,
And your sister and your brother;
Be kind to other girls and boys;
Never scold or make a noise,