that the nakedness of the indigent world may be clothed from the trimmings of the vain."

This remonstrance had the proper effect; they went with great composure, that very instant, to change their dress; and the next day I had the satisfaction of finding my daughters, at their own request, employed in cutting up their trains into Sunday waistcoats for Dick and Bill, the two little ones; and what was still more satisfactory, the gowns seemed improved by this curtailing.

DEFINITIONS.

- From "The Vicar of Wakefield."

- Văl'en tine, St. Valentine's day, the 14th of Febru ary. Shrōve'tide, the days before Ash Wednesday. Mich'ael mas, the 29th of September. Păd ū a soy', a rich, heavy silk.

AN APRIL DAY.

BY CAROLINE BOWLES SOUTHEY.

All day the low-hung clouds have dropped

Their garnered fullness down;

All day that soft, gray mist hath wrapped
Hill, valley, grove, and town.

There has not been a sound to-day
To break the calm of nature;
Nor motion, I might almost say,
Of life or living creature,

Of waving bough, or warbling bird,
Or cattle faintly lowing.

I could have half believed I heard

The leaves and blossoms growing.

Small drops, but thick and fast they fell,
Down straight into the ground.

For leafy thickness is not yet

Earth's naked breast to screen, Though every dripping branch is set

With shoots of tender green.

Sure, since I looked, at early morn,

Those honeysuckle buds

Have swelled to double growth; that thorn Hath put forth larger studs.

That lilac's cleaving cones have burst,

The milk-white flowers revealing;

Even now upon my senses first

Methinks their sweets are stealing.

The very earth, the steamy air,

Is all with fragrance rife!

And grace and beauty everywhere

Are bursting into life.

Down, down they come, those fruitful stores,

Those earth-rejoicing drops!

A momentary deluge pours,

Then thins, decreases, stops;

And ere the dimples on the stream
Have circled out of sight,

Lo! from the west a parting gleam
Breaks forth of amber light.

DEFINITIONS. Gär'nered, laid up, treasured. Studs, knobs, buds. Cleav'ing, dividing. Dim'pleş, small depressions. Am'ber, the color of amber, yellow.

ALEXANDER'S FIRST TRIUMPH.

Philonicus the Thessalian brought the horse Bucephabus to Philip, offering to sell him for thirteen talents; but when the attendants went into the field to try him, they found him so very vicious and unmanageable that he reared up when they endeavored to mount him, and would not so much as endure the voice of any of them.

Philip was displeased at their bringing him so wild and ungovernable a horse, and bade them take him away; but as they were leading him away as wholly intractable and useless, Alexander, who stood by, said, "What an excellent horse do they lose, for want of skill and spirit to manage him!"

Philip at first took no notice of the words of his son; but when he heard him repeat the same thing several times, and saw that he was much vexed that the horse should be sent away, he said, "Do you reproach those that are older than yourself, as if you knew more and were better able than they to manage the horse?"

"Let me try him," he said, "I will manage him better. than others do."

"And if you do not," said Philip, "what will you forfeit for your rashness?"

"I will pay the whole price of the horse," said Alexander.

At this the entire company fell to laughing; but as soon as the agreement was settled amongst them, Alexander immediately ran to the horse, and, taking hold of the bridle, turned him directly toward the sun, having, it seems, observed that the animal was disturbed and frightened by the motion of his own shadow.

Then the youth, letting him go forward a little, still keeping the reins in his hand, and stroking him gently when he found him growing eager and fiery, let fall his upper garment softly, and with one nimble leap securely mounted him. When he was seated, by little and little he drew in the bridle, and curbed him without either striking or spurring him. Presently, when he found him free from all rebelliousness, and only impatient for the course, he let him go at full speed, inciting him now with a commanding voice, and urging him also with his heel.

Philip and his friends looked on at first in silence and anxiety for the result, till, seeing Alexander turn at the end of his career, and come back rejoicing and triumphant for what he had performed, they all burst out into acclamations of applause. His father shedding tears, it is said, for joy, kissed him as he came down from his horse, and in his transport exclaimed, "Oh, my son, look thee out a kingdom worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too small for thee!"

After this, considering his son to be of a temper easy to be led to duty by reason, but by no means to be compelled, Philip always endeavored to persuade him rather than to command or force him. He saw that the instruction of his son was too difficult and important to be