be done, her cousin must be drowned before assistance could come from the house.

Luckily, she had on a long silk sash, which she untied, and, making a noose, threw it over Eliza's head, and told her to pass it under her arms in the manner of a child's leading strings. Margaret kept fast hold of the two ends, and by this means prevented her cousin from sinking any deeper, and also enabled her to catch hold of a bush, which grew at the edge of the bank.

But Margaret's strength was hardly equal to the weight which she had to sustain; and, the sides of the pond being wet and slippery, she had much difficulty in keeping her footing. Indeed, she only did so by standing ankle-deep in water in a hole, the sides of which were some support for her.

In this manner, however, she held up Eliza, till her strength nearly gave way, and she feared that every instant she should be obliged to let go the sash. The appearance of a man running towards them, gave her resolution and strength to hold on till he got up to her.

The children had fortunately met this man half way between the field and the house; otherwise both Eliza and Margaret must have been exhausted before any help could have come to them.

They were not, either of them, in the end, much the worse for the adventure; but Eliza was obliged to spend the rest of the day in bed, instead of enjoying herself with her young friends; and her companions had suffered so much agitation and alarm, that none of them had any spirits for play.

be-reft'

fört'u-nate-ly a-grēē'a-ble in-těnʼtiọn

per-pět'u-al grasping lis'ten 2 nôişe

a-bun'dant lil'y

Two little girls, named Emily and Frances, lived very near to each other. They were cousins; but they loved each other almost as well as sisters.

Both of them loved to do as their parents wished; and they were neat, orderly, and industrious. They also loved their books, and were always in season with their lessons at school.

Their teachers said that Emily and Frances were always obedient, and were very studious; and the clergyman noticed that they were silent and serious when they were at church.

Their good behavior gave great comfort to their parents; and nothing else made Emily and Frances so happy as to see that their parents were satisfied with their conduct.

There was another little girl, called Jane, who lived but a short distance from Emily and Frances.

1 Pron. kwŏi'e̟-tịz. 2 lis'sn.

She was not like them, but was full of sly tricks, and loved mischief, and did not obey her father and mother.

Jane was never happy; and, if she saw others happy, she loved to disturb them. Wicked persons are very apt to be envious; they are displeased when they see others enjoy the blessings which are given them.

One fine afternoon in the summer, when there was no school, Emily and Frances had leave to take their dolls and some other playthings, and sit under a shady tree, a little way from the house.

Their mothers told them to keep still in the shade, as the heat was very great. They were also told not to go farther than the great tree, for there might be a shower; and if they were far from the house, they might get wet, and be sick.

Emily and Frances had not long been at play, when Jane came up to them, and asked what they were doing. They answered her pleasantly and kindly; but she said, "It is silly to sit under this tree; come with me into the forest, and you will have a good time, picking flowers and berries."

They told Jane what their parents had said, and asked her to stay and play with them; but she refused. She said her mother had told her the same thing, but that she knew it never rained when the sun shone so bright.

Frances said that she should not think Jane would speak so, if she remembered the commandment, "Honor thy father and thy mother." Jane

said she did not remember it, and did not care for it. She then went away into the wood.

Jane had not long been gone before some black clouds arose in the north-west. They were soon overhead, and the lightning flashed from them, and the thunder was fearfully loud. The birds flew about, as though greatly alarmed, and hid under the shed, and in the barns; and the cattle ran about the fields, as if filled with terror. Birds and beasts seem to know when a storm is coming, and what kind of a storm it will be, much better than

men.

Emily and Frances hastened home, and had just reached their houses when the wind blew and whirled furiously, and the rain came down in torrents. Large hailstones also fell, and beat down the grass and grain, and broke the windows which were not covered with blinds.

These good girls were then very thankful that they were safe at home; but they thought of Jane, and of her poor mother. They told their parents all that Jane had said and done; and as soon as any one could safely go out, a man was sent to tell her father and mother where she was.

Her father went into the wood, and looked a great while for her. At length he found her, with her clothes completely wet, and her head, and neck, and arms sadly bruised by the hail. She was sitting under a tree, and was so beaten and frightened that she did not try to move.

When her father brought her home, her mother

did all that she could to prevent her taking cold; but the girl had been so long wet with the rain, that she was very much chilled. The next day she was quite sick.

For several weeks it was not thought that Jane would ever be well again. But at length she grew better; and then she told her mother that she should try to be a good child.

Jane kept her promise; but it was a long time before she found it easy to do right. When she had learned to fear the Lord, and to honor her father and mother, she was very happy.

MR. LORING was one morning riding on horseback, when, dismounting to gather a beautiful flower in the hedge, his horse galloped away from him. A little boy, in a field near by, ran across where the road made a turn, and, getting before the horse, took him by the bridle, and held