takes proper care of it when it comes up, may be said to be a benefactor to his country. Besides, no sight can be more beautiful and majestic than a fine Oak wood. It is an ornament fit for the habitation of the best man in the land.

H. I wonder, then, that all rich gentlemen, who have ground enough, do not cover it with Oaks.

T. Many, in Europe, especially of late years, have made great plantations of these trees. But all soils do not suit them; and then, there is another circumstance, which prevents many from being at this trouble and expense, which is, the long time an Oak takes, in growing, so that no person can reasonably expect to profit by those of his own planting. An Oak, of fifty years, is greatly short of its full growth; and it scarcely arrives at perfection, under a century. However, it is our duty to think of posterity, as well as of ourselves; and they, who receive Oaks from their ancestors, ought, certainly, to furnish others to their succes

sors.

H. Then, I think, that every one, who cuts down an Oak, should be obliged to plant another.

T. Very true; but he should plant two or three for one, for fear of accidents which may happen to them whilst they are growing. I will now repeat to you some verses describing the Oak, in its state of full growth, or, rather, of beginning decay, with the various animals living upon it; and then we will walk.

THE OAK.

See, where yon Oak its awful structure rears,
The massy growth of twice a hundred years;
Survey his rugged trunk, with moss o'ergrown,
His lusty arms, in rude disorder thrown,
His forking branches wide at distance spread,
And, dark'ning half the sky, his lofty head;
A mighty castle, built by Nature's hands,
Peopled by various living tribes, he stands.
His airy top the clamorous rooks invest,
And crowd the waving boughs with many a nest.
Midway, the nimble squirrel builds his bower,
And sharp-billed pies the insect-tribes devour,
That gnaw beneath the bark their secret ways,
While, unperceived, the stately pile decays.

THE SHIP.

CHARLES OSBORN, when at home, in the holydays, had a visit from a schoolfellow, who was just entered as a midshipman* on board of a manof-war. His name was Tom Hardy. He was a freehearted, spirited lad, and a favorite among

* A naval cadet, or young officer, whose duty it is to attend to the execution of the orders issued by the superior officers, and assist in the necessary business of the vessel, either aboard, or ashore. It is the station in which a young volunteer is trained in the several exercises necessary to acquire a sufficient knowledge of the machinery, discipline, movements, and military operations, of a ship, in order to qualify him for a sea-officer.

† A ship, intended for service in time of war, and also employed for the protection of persons and property, is so styled. in seamen's language.

his companions; but he never liked his book, and had left school, ignorant of almost every thing, he went there to learn. What was worse, he had a contempt for learning, of all kinds, and was fond of shewing it. "What does your father mean," says he, to Charles, "to keep you moping and studying over things of no use in the world, but to plague folks? Why can't you go into the naval service, like me, and be made a gentleman of? You are old enough, and I know you are a lad of spirit." This kind of talk made some impression upon young Osborn. He became less attentive to the lessons, his father set him, and less willing to enter into instructive conversation. This change gave his father much concern; but, as he knew the cause, he thought it best, instead of employing direct authority, to attempt to give a new impression to his son's mind, which might counteract the effects of his companion's suggestions.

Being acquainted with an East-India captain, who was on the point of sailing, he went, with his son, to pay him a farewell visit on board his ship. They were shown all about the vessel, and viewed all the preparations for so long a voyage. They saw her weigh anchor* and unfurl her sails; and they took leave of their friend, amid the shouts of the seamen, and all the bustle of departure.

Charles was highly delighted with this scene;

* To weigh anchor is to raise the anchor from the ground, preparatory to a vessel's sailing.

and, as they were

of nothing else.

returning, could think and talk It was easy, therefore, for his father to lead him into the following train of dis

course.

After Charles had been warmly expressing his admiration of the grand sight of a large ship, completely fitted out, and getting under sail, I do not wonder, (said his father,) that you are so much struck with it; it is, in reality, one of the finest spectacles created by human skill, and one of the noblest triumphs of art, over untaught Nature. Near two thousand years ago, when Julius Cæsar* went over to England, he found the natives in possession of no other kind of vessel, than a sort of canoe, formed of wicker work, covered with hides, and no bigger than a man or two could carry. But the largest ship in Cæsar's fleet was not more superior to these, than the Indiaman,† you have been seeing, is, to what that was. The natives ventured only to paddle along the rivers and coasts, or cross small arms of the sea, in calm weather; and Cæsar himself would have been alarmed, to be a few days out of sight of land. But the ship, we have just left, is going, by itself, to the opposite side of the globe, prepared to encounter the tempestuous winds and moun

* Caius Julius Cæsar, the first Emperor of Rome, is said to have fought five hundred battles, subdued three hundred nations, taken eight hundred cities, and conquered three millions of men. What a great amount of sorrow and distress must he have occasioned to his fellow-beings !

† A ship, intended for the East India trade.

tainous waves of the vast southern ocean, and to find its way to its destined port, though many weeks must pass, with nothing in view but sea and sky. Now, what do you think can be the cause of this prodigious difference in the powers of man, at one period, and another ?

Charles was silent.

Is it not, (said his father,) that there is a great deal more knowledge in one, than in the other? To be sure it is, said Charles.

Father. Would it not, think you, be as impossible for any number of men, untaught, by their utmost efforts, to build and navigate such a ship, as we have seen, as to fly through the air? Charles. I suppose it would.

F. That we may be the more sensible of this, let us consider how many arts and professions are necessary, for this purpose. Come, you shall begin to name them, and, if you forget any, I will put you in mind of them. What is the first? C. The ship-carpenter, I think.

F. True; what does he do?

C. He builds the ship.

F. How is that done?

C. By fastening the planks and beams together.

F. But, do you suppose he can do this, as a common carpenter makes a box, or a set of shelves?

C. I do not know.

F. Do you not think that such a vast bulk requires a great deal of contrivance, to bring it into shape, and fit it for all its purposes?