whole front of the edifice. One was an oak, and the other a linden-tree, and their boughs, it was strange and beautiful to see, were so closely intertwined together, that each tree seemed to live in the other tree's embrace. While the guests were marvelling how these trees, that must have required at least a century to grow, could have come to be so tall and venerable in a single night, a breeze sprang up and set their intermingled boughs astir, and then there was a deep broad murmur in the air, as if the two trees were speaking. 'I am old Philemon!' murmured the oak. 'I am old Baucis!' murmured the linden-tree. But as the breeze grew stronger, the trees both spoke at once: 6 Philemon! Baucis! Baucis! Philemon!' as if one were both, and both were one, and talking together in the depths of their mutual heart. It was plain enough to perceive that the good old couple had renewed their youth, and were now to spend a quiet and delightful hundred years or so, Philemon as an oak, and Baucis as a linden-tree. And oh, what a pleasant shade did they fling around them! Whenever a wayfarer passed beneath it, he heard a cheerful whisper of the leaves above his head, and wondered how the sound should so much resemble words like these: 'Welcome, welcome, dear traveller, welcome !' [Write from dictation] The ancient couple, now become venerable trees, stood in front of the edifice and intermingled their branches lovingly-the reward of having exercised kindly affections towards their fellowcreatures. The stranger with the majestic appearance, who filled their minds with reverence, and his companion who displayed a mischievous spirit, insisted on leaving in the early morning, and walked along engaged in familiar conversation with the old man and his wife. LITTLE WHITE LILY. 1. Little white Lily Till the sun shone. 2. Little white Lily Has clothing and food.' Dressed like a bride! Shining with whiteness, And crowned beside! 3. Little white Lily Droopeth with pain, Waiting and waiting For the wet rain. Little white Lily Holdeth her cup; Rain is fast falling And filling it up. disabled, cultivate, necessaries, gratitude, naturally, charitable, benefactor, recollected, experiment, assistance, innocent. There was once a poor lame old man, who lived in the midst of a wild moor, in the north of England. He had formerly been a soldier, and had almost lost the use of one leg by a wound received in battle, when he was fighting against the enemies of his country. This poor man, when he found himself thus disabled, built a little hut of clay, which he covered with turf dug from the moor. He had a little bit of ground, which he made a shift to cultivate with his own hands. Besides this, he sometimes gained a few halfpence by opening for travellers a gate, which stood near his house. He did not indeed get much, because few people passed that way; what he earned was, however, enough to purchase clothes, and the few necessaries he wanted. He never failed, night and morning, to pray to God; and, as he was known to be an honest man, he was respected by all who knew him. The old man lived alone. In his walks on the moor, he one day found a little kid that had lost its mother; he took it home to his cottage, fed it and nursed it till it grew strong. Little Nan, for that was the name he gave it, returned his cares with gratitude, and became as much attached to him as a dog. All the day she browsed round his hut, and at night reposed upon the same bed of straw with her master. Frequently did she divert him with her innocent tricks and gambols. She would nestle her little head in his bosom, and eat bread out of his hand. The old man often beheld her with silent joy, and would lift his hands to heaven, and thank God that, even in the midst of poverty and distress, He had raised him up one faithful friend. One night, in the beginning of winter, the old man thought he heard the feeble cries of a child. As he was naturally charitable, he rose and struck a light; and going out of his cottage, looked about on every side. It was not long before he discerned an infant on the ground. The old man stood amazed at the sight, and knew not what to do. He took it up in his arms, and perceived it was a fine healthy boy, though covered with rags; the little foundling, too, seemed to be sensible of his kindness, and smiling in his face, stretched out his little arms as if to embrace his benefactor. When he had brought it into his hut, he began to wonder how he should procure it food; but looking at Nan, he recollected that she had just lost her kid, and saw her udder distended with milk; he, therefore, called her to him, and holding the child to her, was overjoyed to find that it sucked as naturally as if it had really found a mother. The goat, too, seemed to receive pleasure from the efforts of the child, and submitted to discharge the duties of a nurse. Contented with this experiment, the old man wrapped the child up as warmly as he could, and stretched himself out to rest. Early the next morning, he was awakened by the cries of the boy for food; and with the assistance of the faithful Nan, he appeased its hunger as he had done the night before. The old man became more and more attached to the little foundling, who, in a short time, learned to consider him as a parent, and delighted him with his innocent caresses. Gentle Nanny, too, the goat, seemed to adopt him with equal tenderness as her offspring; he would nestle close to her, and go to sleep in her bosom. In a short time, little Jack was completely master of his legs; and as the summer came on, he went with the goat upon the moor, and used to play with her for hours together, frisking about as if he had really been a kid. As to his clothing, Jack had neither shoes, stockings, nor shirt; but the weather was warm, and he felt himself so much the lighter for every kind of exercise. In a short time after this, he began to imitate sounds; nor was it long before he learned to speak. As he grew bigger, Jack became of considerable use to |