is gone. Thus passes like the leaves away, THE BROOK AND THE FOUNTAIN. A FABLE. A FOUNTAIN varied gambols play'd, While gently murmuring through the glade, Perhaps it gave one envious gaze In all the colors of the sky, Alternately it shone : The brook observed it with a sigh, But quietly roll'd on. The owner of the fountain died; But still the brook its peaceful course Her ample, inexhausted source, From nature's fount she drew. "Now," said the Brook, "I bless my fate, My shewy rival gone; My little stream rolls on. "And all the world has cause, indeed, Το own, with grateful heart, How much great nature's works excel The feeble works of art," MORAL. Humble usefulness is preferable to idle splendor. MAKING RESOLUTIONS. NEVER form a resolution, that is not a good one and when once formed, never break it. If you form a resolution, and then break it, you set yourself a bad example, and you are very likely to follow it. A person may get the habit of breaking his resolutions; this is as bad to the character and mind, as an incurable disease to the body. No person can become great, but by keeping his resolutions; no person ever escaped contempt, who could not keep them. If any of my young friends resolve to read this book through, as proposed in the introduction, I hope they will not fail to do so, unless they have good reasons for it. A YOUNG Wolf said aloud, "I may well of my father's great courage be proud; Wherever he came, Flock, shepherd, or dame, All trembled, and fled at the sound of his name. Two hundred or more,-Oh! he made them all fly! One day, by a blow, He was conquer'd, I know; But no wonder at last he should yield to a foe: He yielded, poor fellow! The conquering bellow Resounds in my ears as my poor father's knell - Oh!” While, leering aside, He laugh'd at his folly and vaporing pride: "My chattering youth, Your nonsense forsooth, Is more like a funeral sermon than truth- How your old father fell; And see if the narrative sounds as well. Your folly surpasses, Of monkeys all classes; The beasts which he frighten'd or conquer'd, werc asses; When the shepherd asleep, The dog by his side for safety did keep. Knock'd down by a whack From the very first bull that he dared to attack- But soon overpower'd, He lived like a thief, and he died like a coward." TO MY COUSIN ANNE, ON RECEIVING FROM HER A NET WORK PURSE MADE BY HERSELF. My gentle Anne, whom heretofore, When I was young, and thou no more Than plaything for a nurse, I danced and fondled on my knee, A kitten both in size and glee, I thank thee for my purse. |