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suffered the insulting cries of the rook and the magpie, that this noble bird thinks fit to punish them for their folly. Like the lion, the Eagle disdains to share his plunder with any other animal'; and, unless pressed with hunger, will not eat any thing which he has not himself killed. Like him, also, the eagle is solitary', always driving away all other rapacious birds', and keeping the desert where he lives to himself. It is as uncommon to see two pairs of Eagles in the same mountain, as it is to see two lions in the same desert. Both the lion and the Eagle have fierce, sparkling eyes'; their claws are of the same form', and the cry of both is equally terrible to the beasts of the forest and the fowls of the air.

The Eagle is tamed with great difficulty'; and even when taken young and treated with kindness, he will sometimes turn upon his master', and wound him in a terrible manner.

Of all birds, the Eagle flies the highest, and can see to the greatest distance'; but his sense of smelling is not so good as that of the Vulture. He is so strong as to fly away with lambs, kids, geesc', and sometimes even with children. In Scotland, a child happening to be at play out of doors, an Eagle flew down, took it up', and carried it to his nest. But fortunately, the poor infant received no injury on the journey', and the affrighted parents pursuing after the robber, went to the nest in time to take it away before it was in the least hurt.

The Eagle is at all times powerful and ferocious', but is particularly so at the time when he is bringing up his young. At this time the pair make use of all their courage, strength and fierceness', in order to provide meat for their brood.

The quantity of provision which these birds carry to their young, is sometimes sufficient to maintain a family. Mr. Smith, in his history of Kerry, a county in Ireland', relates that, during a season of famine, a poor man obtained nourishment for himself and children by robbing a pair of young eagles of the food which was brought them by their parents. When the young birds became large enough to fly, the poor man clipped their wings, so as to keep them in the nest', and thus make the old ones continue to bring them food. In this manner was this poor family supported with kids, lambs, geese, and hens, during the summer.

It was fortunate for this man that the Eagles never caught him at their nest', for had this been the case', his life would have been in danger from their fury', as may be seen by the following story.

A man in the county of Kerry determined to rob an Eagle's nest, which was on an island', of its young. He accordingly swam to the island', at a time when he saw that the old birds were away, and', having secured the young ones, was returning to the land', having waded into the water nearly up to his neck. At this moment the old Eagles returned', and finding that their young were not in the nest', but in the hands of the man', they fell upon him with such tremendous fury as to kill him in the water.

LESSON XI.

THE TWO ROSES.

On the borders of a pond, situated in a beautiful flower garden', two roses grew side by side. They were both lovely, but not equally modest. One of them never thought of her beauty and attractions', but the other one thought of little else', and constantly admired her fair face', as it was reflected in the clear bosom of the pond.

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My dear friend'," said the modest rose to her one day`, "how can you be vain of what is so transient? The beauty, of which you are so proud', you may be deprived of in an hour': some fair hand may pluck you from the stem, to aid in adorning her bouquet*; or a strong wind may come, and scatter your pink leaves on the gravel-walk'; or even a worm may feast upon them, and deface them."

"I do not fear any of these threatened evils'," said the other rose': "if I am plucked', I shall still be lovely and admired'; and as for the wind or the worm', they would not have the presumption to approach me." As the silly flower thus spoke, a strong east wind suddenly rose', and', stripping off its leaves, sent them whirling over the bosom of the pond.

This story may show young people the folly of admiring themselves', and of being vain of that which sickness or death may destroy in an hour. Let them rather wish to make their minds' lovely; for these are imperishable, and may flourish forever.

* Bouquet, a nosegay; pronounced, bookay.

LESSON XII.

THE FOX AND SPANIEL.

A Fox and spaniel met each other frequently, till, at last', they became acquainted', and were so fond of each other's society', that they were seldom separated. The spaniel followed the fox in all his rambles', and was the witness of all his depredations. Sometimes the fox went into the hen-roost', and stole a hen or chicken'; sometimes he stole a lamb from the hill-side'; and sometimes he ran off with a pig that was astray in the woods. On all these occasions, he was attended by his playmate, the spaniel.

One day the fox entered a fine barn-yard', where there was a great deal of poultry of all kinds',-(hens', turkeys', geese', and ducks',-) attended, as usual, by his companion', the spaniel. Prowling along carefully', so that he might not be seen', the fox slyly drew near a fine fat goosé, which he intended for his dinner.

Just as he had seized the poor bird, and was bearing him off', the poultry set up so loud a cackling as to call the attention of the farmer', who was at work in a field close by. Seeing the mischief, he seized a loaded gun and fired at the fox and dog', just as they were leaving the yard.

The shot wounded both the animals, and they instantly fell. The farmer came up', and, seizing the fox', knocked him on the head', saying', "Rogue', and thief' that thou art! this is the last goose of mine which thou shalt steal', and I know well that it is not the first meal you have made from my poultry-yard.”

Then, turning to the dog, he said', "And you toó, shall die !" 66 'O, dear sir," said the poor spaniel', “dō nōt kill mē. I do not deserve to die. I never stole a goose in my life." "How can I believe what you say'?" said the farmer'. "I find you in company with the fox', and therefore you must suffer with him." So saying, he killed him without more words.

If children do not wish to be thought wicked and bad', they should not keep company with others who are sò; for, if they do not become as bad as the latter', they will suffer disgrace by being found in their company.

LESSON XIII.

THE RAT AND HER YOUNG ONES.

An old rat, that lived in a snug hole under a wood-housé, one day went out to find food for her young ones'; but, before she went, she gave them particular orders not to leave their home till she returned', as she feared they might get into trouble.

This advice the young rats were determined not to follow. They longed to leave their holé, and see the world', and thought that their mother was foolish' to be afraid of danger.

"What harm can there be," said one of them', "in going a little distancé? If we should see a cat, we can surely scamper away'; and, as there are four of us', we can warn each other of any evil. So let us go out', and we will get home before our mother returns', that she may not know of our disobedience."

So they all left the hole with great caution', looking to the right and left', to see if any cat was near. But they saw none', and ventured into a large room in an out-building', where there were several sacks of grain. This was just what they wanted', and they congratulated each other upon their good fortune.

They immediately advanced towards the grain, pricking up their ears to listen for any sounds', and moving very cautiously. Suddenly', one of them gave a dreadful shriek', and his companions, hastening to him, found him caught in a trap', which had been concealed under some bran.

In great fear, they all fled. The one that was caught tried in vain to draw the trap after him'; but it was so heavy that, in pulling it', he tore off his leg. But, though he was in terrible pain, he did not scream', for fear the cat should hear him', and catch him'; so he limped after the others as well as he could.

As soon as he got home, the young rats began to lick his wound', that he might be cured before his mother's return. For these foolish creatures forgot' that she must see that he had lost his leg.

While they were thinking of what they should say, to deceive their mother and hide their disobedience', she came in',

and, seeing one of them in great distress', asked him what was the matter.

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Oh, my dear mother'," said hè,

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"while you was gone', a strong iron trap came into the hōlé, and snapped off my leg." Yes'," said all of them together', "it came in', and seized ōur pōor brother's lēg', and bīt īt ōff', in spite of all we could do.

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"Ay', ay'," said the old rat', "I see how it is'; if you had not gone to the trap', it', certainly, would not have come to you. You may be thankful that you have not been killed by the cat', that I have seen watching for you not far off.

"As for you," said she to the one which had lost his leg', "you are punished severely enough for your fault', and I do not think that you will ever forget the lesson'; but your brothers I shall punish severely; in the first place', for being disobedient', and then' for telling me a falsehood to hide

it."

Children may not only learn the danger of disobedience' from this story', but they may see from it', that one sin generally leads to another. If they are so wicked as to disobey their parents', they are very often tempted to tell falsehoods to hide their disobedience'; and thus they commit two very bad and serious faults.

LESSON XIV.

A FOWL BROUGHT UP BY A CAT.

THE next morning, Mrs. Mills, having some business at a neighboring farm, proposed a ride thither to her young friends'; who, every hour more charmed with the society of their aunt', expressed the pleasure which they felt in the thought of attending her. The carriage was therefore ordered, and soon after breakfast they set out for the farm'; the mistress of it, who was the picture of neatness and good humor, with a train of little ones came out to meet them. Mrs. Mills, with her usual affability, inquired after the rest of their family', and said that "she had brought her nephew and niece to see the farm.”

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