XXV.—THE WILD-STRAWBERRY FLOWER.

ST

I.

TRAWBERRY blossoms, one and all,
We must spare them-here are many!

Look at it, the flower is small

Small and low, though fair as any.

II.

Pull the daisies, sister Ann-
Pull as many as you can;

Fill your lap and fill your bosom ;
Only spare the strawberry blossom.

III.

Daisies leave no fruit behind
When the pretty flowerets die;
Pluck them, and another year
As many will be growing here.

IV.

God has given a kindlier power
To the favored strawberry flower:
When the months of spring are fled,
Hither let us bend our walk;
Lurking berries, ripe and red,
Then will hang on every stalk,

Each within its leafy bower;
For that promise spare the flower!

XXVI.—FIRST VIEW OF THE SEA.

HA

ARRY had often heard and read of the sea, but he had never seen it. He was therefore much pleased when his father told him that the cottage where the family were to spend the summer was on the seacoast.

2. As soon as the carriage stopped at the gate, Harry and Lucy got out and ran toward the cottage. The cottage was at the foot of a hill covered with trees, and in front was a nice lawn surrounded with evergreens.

3. There was also a honeysuckle porch and a bow-window, and the rooms, though small, were neat and well furnished. Harry and Lucy quickly went over the whole house and grounds, and Lucy, in particular, was delighted with all she saw.

4. "In one thing," said Harry, "I am disappointed—and a great thing."

5. Lucy, opening her eyes wide, said, "What, dear Harry?"

6. "The sea," said Harry; "no view of the sea anywhere. I thought the cottage was to be on the seashore."

7. And so it was, but the sea was hidden by the evergreens. Harry persuaded Lucy to put off unpacking their trunk, and to go out with him in search of the sea.

8. He led the way, and as they went round the little lawn she stopped to admire every new flower and shrub. He ran on, joyfully shouting, "This is the way!-follow, follow, follow!"

9. But suddenly he stopped and was silent, struck with the first sight of the ocean. Lucy followed, and turning abruptly the corner of a rock which had hid the view from her, exclaimed, "The sea! the sea!"

10. They stood for some moments in silence, looking at the vast extent of water, far, far as the eye could reach, bounded only by the sky.

11. It was a still evening; the tide was ebbing, and there was a long bright light upon the water, while the green and white waves, curling gently over each other, moved on continually.

12. "How beautiful! how grand!" exclaimed Lucy. "Is it not more beautiful and grand than you expected?"

13. "It is," said Harry.

to look and to listen to it."

14. Lucy stood beside her brother a little while longer, and then ran back to the house to call her mother to come and look at it before the red sun should be quite set. Her mother came, and they found Harry still on the same spot, fixed in admiration.

15. His mother seemed to know what he felt and thought, and to sympathize with him just as he wished. She expressed for him in words that for which he could not find utterance-the ideas of boundless extent, duration, power; the feelings of admiration, astonishment and awe.

16. While his soul was thus impressed, she selected the proper moment to raise his thoughts still higher-even to that Power by which the ocean, the sun, the earth, and we ourselves, were created and are preserved.

O

NE day a Scotch nobleman, who took a great interest in farming, bought a cow from a gentleman in his neighborhood. The cow was to be sent home the next morning.

2. Early in the morning, as the duke was taking a walk, he saw a boy trying in vain to drive the cow to his residence. The cow was very unruly. and the poor boy could not manage her at all.

3. The boy, not knowing the duke, bawled out to him, "Hallo, man! come here and help me with this beast." The duke walked slowly on, not seeming to notice the boy, who still kept