land of Goshen amid the plagues of Egypt. But then he must be extremely cautious, and ever on his guard; for, should he inadvertently go abroad, and leave the key in his door, the housemaid, who is always on the watch for such an opportunity, immediately enters in triumph, with buckets, brooms and brushes; takes possession of the premises, and forthwith puts all his books and papers to rights—to his utter confusion, and sometimes serious detriment.

LESSON XLVIII.

Importance of considering both Sides of a Question.BEAUMONT.

In the days of knight-errantry and paganism, one of the old British princes set up a statue to the goddess of Victory, in a point where four roads met together. In her right hand she held a spear, and her left hand rested upon a shield; the outside of this shield was cf gold, and the inside of silver. On the former was inscribed, in the old British language, "To the goddess ever favorable;" and on the other, "For four victories obtained successively over the Picts and other inhabitants of the northern islands."

It happened, one day, that two knights, completely armed, one in black armor, the other in white, arrived from opposite parts of the country at this statue, just about the same time; and, as neither of them had seen it before, they stopped to read the inscription, and observe the excellence of its workmanship.

After contemplating it for some time, "This golden shield," says the black knight-"Golden shield !" cried t white knight, who was as strictly observing the opposite si “why, if I have my eyes, it is silver."-"I know nothing of your eyes," replied the black knight; "but, if ever I saw a golden shield in my life, this is one."- "Yes," returned the white knight, smiling, "it is very probable, indeed, that they should expose a shield of gold in so public a place as this!

For my part, I wonder even a silver one is not too strong a temptation for the devotion of some people who pass this way; and it appears, by the date, that this has been here above three years."

The black knight could not bear the smile with which this was delivered, and grew so warm in the dispute, that it soon ended in a challenge: they both, therefore, turned their horses, and rode back so far as to have sufficient space for their career; then, fixing their spears in their rests, they flew at each other with the greatest fury and impetuosity. Their shock was so rude, and the blow on each side so effectual, that they both fell to the ground much wounded and bruised; and lay there for some time, as in a trance.

A good Druid, who was travelling that way, found them in this condition. The Druids were the physicians of those times, as well as the priests. He had a sovereign balsam about him, which he had composed himself; for he was very skilful in all the plants that grew in the fields or in the forests he staunched their blood, applied his balsam to their wounds, and brought them, as it were, from death to life again. As soon as they were sufficiently recovered, he began to inquire into the occasion of their quarrel. "Why, this man," cried the black knight, "will have it that yonder shield is silver."-" And he will have it," replied the white knight, “that it is gold." And then they told him all the particulars of the affair.

"Ah!" said the Druid with a sigh, "you are both of you, my brethren, in the right, and both of you in the wrong: had either of you given himself time to look at the opposite side of the shield, as well as that which first presented itself to view, all this passion and bloodshed might have been avoided: however, there is a very good lesson to be learned from the evils, that have befallen you on this occasion. Permit me, herefore, to entreat you never to enter into any dispute, for the future, till you have fairly considered both sides of the question."

LESSON XLIX.

The Flight of Xerxes.-MARIA J. JEWSBURY.

I saw him on the battle-eve,

When like a king he bore him ;
Proud hosts in glittering helm and greave,
And prouder chiefs before him:

The warrior, and the warrior's deeds-
The morrow, and the morrow's meeds,-
No daunting thoughts came o'er him;
He looked around him, and his eye
Defiance flashed to earth and sky.

He looked on ocean; its broad breast
Was covered with his fleet;-

On earth; and saw from east to west,
His bannered millions meet;—

While rock, and glen, and cave, and coast,
Shook with the war-cry of that host,
The thunder of their feet!

He heard the imperial echoes ring,-
He heard, and felt himself a king.

I saw him next alone :-nor camp,
Nor chief, his steps attended;
Nor banner blazed, nor courser's tramp
With war-cries proudly blended.
He stood alone, whom Fortune high
So lately seemed to deify;

He, who with Heaven contended,

Fled like a fugitive and slave!

Behind, the foe;-before,—the wave.

He stood,-fleet, army, treasure,—gone,

Alone and in despair!

But wave and wind swept ruthless on,

For they were monarchs there;

And Xerxes, in a single bark,

Where late his thousand ships were dark,

Must all their fury dare:-
What a revenge-a trophy, this—
For thee, immortal Salamis !

LESSON L.

Pairing Time anticipated.-CowPER,

Ir chanced, upon a winter's day,
But warm, and bright and calm as May,
The birds, conceiving a design
To forestall sweet St. Valentine,
In many an orchard, copse and grove,
Assembled on affairs of love,

And with much twitter and much chatter,
Began to agitate the matter.

At length, ́a bulfinch, who could boast
More years and wisdom than the most,
Entreated, opening wide his beak,
A moment's liberty to speak;
And, silence publicly enjoined,
Delivered briefly thus his mind :—
"My friends, be cautious how ye treat
The subject upon which we meet;

I fear we shall have winter yet."

A finch, whose tongue knew no control,
With golden wing and satin poll,

A last year's bird, who ne'er had tried
What marriage means, thus pert replied:-
Methinks the gentleman," quoth she,
Opposite in the apple-tree,

By his good will, would keep us single
Till yonder heaven and earth shall mingle

Or (which is likelier to befall)

Till death exterminate us all.
I marry without more ado:-

My dear Dick Redcap, what say you?"

Dick heard, and tweedling, ogling, bridling,
Turning short round, strutting and sidling,
Attested, glad, his approbation

Of an immediate conjugation.
Their sentiments, so well expressed,
Influenced mightily the rest :

All paired, and each pair built a nest.

But, though the birds were thus in haste,
The leaves came on not quite so fast;
And destiny, that sometimes bears
An aspect stern on man's affairs,
Not altogether smiled on theirs.

The wind-of late breathed gently forth-
Now shifted east, and east by north;
Bare trees and shrubs but ill, you know,
Could shelter them from rain or snow:

Stepping into their nests, they paddled;
Themselves were chilled, their
eggs were addled:

Soon, every father bird and mother

Grew quarrelsome, and pecked each other,

Parted without the least regret,
Except that they had ever met,
And learned in future to be wiser

Than to neglect a good adviser.

MORAL.

Misses, the tale that I relate

This lesson seems to carry ;

Choose not alone a proper mate,
But proper time to marry.