author of them, and the prěl'ate' summoned him into his presence, in order to compliment him on his talents. When poor Thomas became aware that the Cardinal had visited his garret, and that he had seen what he called the smudges of his friend Peter, he believed himself lost.

4. "You are no longer one of my scullions," said the Cardinal to him, little thinking that the child had a fellow-lodger. Thomas, mistaking the purport of his words, imagined that his master dismissed him from his kitchen: then the poor little fellow, seeing that his own existence, as well as that of his friend, was much compromised' by this act of severe justice, threw himself at his master's feet, saying:

if

5. "Oh, signore! what will become of my poor friend Peter, you send him away?" The Cardinal demanded an explanation of these words, which he could not understand, and thus discovered that the drawings were the work of a little shepherd, whom Thomas had secretly maintained for two years.

6. "When he returns at night, you will bring him to me," said the Cardinal, laughing at the mistake, and generously forgiving Thomas. That evening, the artist did not make his appearance at the palace of the Cardinal; two days, a week, a fortnight, elapsed, and still nothing was heard of Peter of Cortona.

7. At length, the Cardinal, who was greatly in'terested in the fate of the young artist, succeeded in discovering that, for a fortnight, the charitable monks of an isolated' convent had received and detained with them a young draughtsman," from fourteen to fifteen years of age, who had come to ask permission to copy a picture of Raphael's which was in the chapel of the cloister. This child was Peter. He was taken back to the palace of the Cardinal, who, after receiving him with kindness, placed him in the school of one of the best painters in Rome.

8. Fifty years later, there were two old men, living together

'Prel' ate, a clergyman of high rank. A cardinal is a prelate of the highest order in the Roman Church, next in rank to the Pope.-2 Pur'port, meaning.-3 Com' pro mised, put in danger.-- Is' o låt ed, separated from others; lonely.- Draughtsman (dråfts' man), painter, sketcher.- Raphael was a very eminent painter, whose works are the admiration of the world. He lived between the years 1483 and 1520.

like brothers, in one of the handsomest private dwellings of Florence. It was said of the one-" He is the greatest painter of our day;". of the other-" He will be the model of friends in all future ages."

1.

I

11. THE LAST LEAF.

SAW him once before,
As he pass'd by the door,
And again

The pavement stones resound,
As he totters o'er the ground
With his cane.

2. They say that in his prime,
Ere the pruning-knife of Time
Cut him down,

Not a better man was found
By the Crier on his round
Through the town.

3. But now he walks the streets,

And he looks at all he meets

'Wan (won), pale and sickly.-Mar' bles, tombstones.-Bloom youth.—' Cårved, sculptured; cut out.

That he had a Roman' nose,
And his cheek was like a rose
In the snow.

6. But now his nose is thin,
And it rests upon his chin
Like a staff,

And a crook is in his back,
And a melancholy crack
In his laugh.

7. I know it is a sin

For me to sit and grin
At him here;

But the old three-corner'd hat,
And the breeches,' and all that,
Are so queer!

8. And if I should live to be

The last leaf upon the tree
In the spring,

Let them smile as I do now,
At the old forsaken bough
Where I cling.

O. W. HOLMES.

A

12. AMUSING ANECDOTE.

4

YOUNG Parisian,3 going to Amsterdam, was attracted by the remarkable beauty of a house situated near the canal. He addressed a Dutchman in French, who stood near him in the vessel, with, "Pray, sir, may I ask who that house belongs to?" The Hollander answered him in his own language, “Ik kan niet verstaan" [I do not understand you].

2. The Parisian, not doubting that he understood, took the

Roman nose, a nose that is slightly curved like the beak of an eagle, and hence sometimes called an aquiline nose.--2 Breeches (brich ez).- Par is' e an, an inhabitant of the city of Paris in France; a Frenchman.Am' ster dam, an important city, the capital of the kingdom and province of Holland.

Dutchman's answer for the name of the proprietor.' "Oh, oh," said he, "it belongs to Mr. Kaniferstane. Well, I am sure he must be very agreeably situated; the house is most charming, and the garden appears delicious. I don't know that ever I saw a better. A friend of mine has one much like it, near the river at Chaise; but I certainly give this the preference." He added many other observations of the same kind, to which the Dutchman, not understanding them, made no reply.

3. When he arrived at Amsterdam, he saw a most beautiful woman on the quays,' walking arm in arm with a gentleman. He asked a person that passed him who that charming lady was; but the man, not understanding French, replied "Ik kan niet verstaan." "What, sir," replied our traveler, "is that Mr. Kaniferstane's wife, whose house is near the canal? Indeed, this gentleman's lot is enviable; to possess such a noble house, and so lovely a companion."

4. The next day, when he was walking out, he saw some trumpeters playing at a gentleman's door, who had secured the largest prize in the Dutch lottery. Our Parisian, wishing to be informed of the gentleman's name, he was still answered, “Ik kan niet verstaan." "Oh," said he, "this is too great an accession of good fortune! Mr. Kaniferstane, proprietor of such a fine house, husband of such a beautiful woman, and to get the largest prize in the lottery! It must be allowed that there are some fortunate men in the world."

5. About a week after this, our traveler, walking about, saw a věry superb burying. He asked whose it was. "Ik kan niet verstaan,” replied the person of whom he asked the question. "Ah!" exclaimed he; "poor Mr. Kaniferstane, who had such a noble house, such an angelic wife, and the largest prize in the lottery. He must have quitted this world with great regret; but I thought his happiness was too completes to be of long duration." He then went home, reflecting all the way on the instability' of human affairs.

'Pro pri' e tor, owner.- - Chaise (Sház), a small town in France.'Quays (kéz), wharfs; moles or piers used for the purpose of loading or unloading vessels. Ac ces' sion, addition. Com plète', wanting nothing; full. Du rà' tion, remaining in a particular state; continuance. -In sta bil' i ty, changeableness.

1.

THE

13. LIFE.

HE days of Infancy are all a dream,
How fair, but oh! how short they seem-
'Tis Life's sweet opening SPRING!

2. The days of Youth advance:
The bounding limb, the ardent glance,
The kindling soul they bring―
It is Life's burning SUMMER time.
3. Manhood-matured' with wisdom's fruit,
Reward of Learning's deep pursuit-
Succeeds, as AUTUMN follows Summer's prime.
4. And that, and that, alas! goes by;
And what ensues? The languid3 eye,
The failing frame, the soul o'ercast;
'Tis WINTER'S sickening, withering blast,
Life's blessed season-for it is the last.

ROBERT SOUTHEY

1.

2.

3.

14. THE Two Boys.

HERE were two boys, who were bred up together,

THERE

Shared the same bed, and fed at the same board.
Each tried the other's sport, from their first chase,
Young hunters of the butterfly and bee,

To when they followed the fleet hare, and tried
The swiftness of the bird.

They lay beside

The silver trout stream, watching as the sun

Play'd on the bubbles: shared each in the store
Of either's garden; and together read

Of him, the master of the desert isle,

Till a low hut, a gun and a canoe,
Bounded their wishes.

Or if ever came

A thought of future days, 'twas but to say

1Ma tåred', ripened; perfected in growth or years.- En sues', follows.-Languid (lång' gwid), weak; dull; drooping.