"Quack, quack!" said the duck, "I wish you all

well,

Though I can not tell what is polite."

"The will for the deed," answered Benny the brave;

"Good-night, Madame Ducky, good-night!"

The geese were parading the beautiful green,
But the goslings were wearied out quite;
So, shutting their peepers, from under the wing,
They murmured a sleepy "good-night!"

Now the shades of evening were gathering

apace,

And fading the last gleam of light;

So to father and mother, both Fanny and Ben Gave a kiss, and a hearty "Good-night!

XXVII.

MORNING PRAYER.

ESUS, Lord, to Thee I pray :

JES

Guide and guard me through this day;

As the shepherd tends the sheep,

Lord! me safe from evil keep.

Keep my feet from every snare,

Keep me with Thy watchful care ;

All my little wants supply,

If I live, or if I die.

And when life, O Lord! is past,

Take me to Thyself at last.

XXVIII.

WATER.

OW wonderful is water,

H°

Though we see it every day!

It's clear as air, and useful

For more than I can say.

It's very good for drinking,

It helps the ships to sail;
It falls from clouds in raining,
And in the snow and hail.

What could we do without it?
No trees or grass could grow;
And we should all be thirsty,
And not know where to go.

The oceans would be valleys
That never could be passed;

No clouds would come to shade us,
And the earth would be a waste.

How good a thing is water,

To every thirsty child!

Strong drink will make men angry,
This makes us calm and mild.

It tastes the best of all things
When we are warm or dry;

And if we're not, we should not drink,
There is no reason why.

XXIX.

THE POND AND THE BROOK.

EIGHBOR Brook," said the Pond, one day

"NE

"Why do you flow so fast away? Sultry June is hastening on,

And then your water will all be gone."

"Nay, my friend," the Brook replied, "Do not thus my conduct chide; Shall I rather hoard than give? Better die than useless live."

Summer came and blazing June
Dried the selfish Pond full soon;
Not a single trace was seen
Where it had so lately been.

But the Brook with vigor flowed
Swift along its pebbly road,
And the fragrant flowers around
Loved to hear the happy sound.

All that you do,

Do with your might;
Things done by halves.

Are never done right.

One thing at a time,
And that done well,

Is a very good rule,
As many can tell.

Moments are useless,

Trifled away;

So work while you work,

Play while you play.

MY

XXXI.

Youth's Companion.

MY GARDEN.

Y little garden is the spot Where I delight to be; There is no place, where'er I go, That is so dear to me.

My little garden ever yields

The sweetest fruits and flowers, 'Tis here I labor through the day, And spend my evening hours.

I plant, and prune, and water it
With diligence and care;

That every plant, and shrub, aud tree,
Abundant fruit may bear.

There's not a flower of brilliant hue,

In woodland or in fields

That can outvie in colors bright
The flowers my garden yields.

My garden e'er affords to me
Some profit and pursuit ;
'Tis here I cull the sweetest flowers,
And taste the richest fruit.

Then in my garden let me toil,
And spend my moments there;
For what my labor has produced,
I ever find most dear.

C. W. Sanders.

XXXII.

KITTEN GOSSIP.

ITTEN, kitten, two months old,
Woolly snowball, lying snug,

Κ'

Curled up in the warmest fold
Of the warm hearth-rug,
Turn your drowsy head this way.
What is Life? Oh, kitten, say 1

"Life?" said the kitten, winking her eyes, And twitching her tail in a droll surprise"Life? O, it's racing over the floor, Out at the window and in at the door;