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sure-footed, and so useful in climbing the steep mountains. There once was a time, as you have perhaps read in your Bibles, that the judges and kings of Israel used to ride upon white asses, and then they were much esteemed. When you read also of the treasures of the patriarchs and men of old, you generally find that asses are mentioned as part. It was then a fine animal, exceedingly spirited, and nearly as tall as a small horse; and because it was a mark of royalty to ride on an ass, you will recollect that the Lord spoke by the prophet Isaiah of His visit to Jerusalem, and said, "Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek and lowly, and riding upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." It was not on account of the Lord's humility that He chose to ride on an ass, but because the Jewish kings and judges always did so, and He went to Jerusalem then, as the king. The people acknowledged this, when they sang, "Hosanna to the Son of David;" meaning by those words that they received Him as their king.

The ass is an exceedingly patient animal, even under the harshest and most unkind treatment; and though he seems so dull, becomes very fond of his master, and by his acute scent can discover him at a great distance, even in a crowd. He is by no means delicate in his food, though he is very parti

cular in the water he drinks, which must be perfectly clean, or he will not touch it ;-he is always careful when he drinks, not to make the water muddy by putting his feet in it.

The ass is principally used for carrying burdens on his back, and for this use he is very well adapted. He is not so quick in his movements as the horse; but he is comparatively much stronger, and will, if left to himself, travel further in a day: but he is chiefly valued in mountain districts, because, being so sure-footed, he can climb safely where a horse cannot stand.

When it is spoken of in the Word, the ass has not so high a signification as the fleet and beautiful horse, which, in olden times, was principally used, not as now for a beast of draught and burden, but as an animal for war,for the cavalry, or horse soldiers, and for the chariot of war. The ass corresponds to the truths that we learn by education which have reference to this life; that is, it corresponds to natural truth.

Natural truths, or all sciences, in fact, every thing you can learn as children, even about your good and kind Heavenly Father and Saviour, are represented in the Bible by the ass; because just as the ass would carry you quietly and patiently on his back, so these will lead you on, till you are able to become wiser, and learn more important truths. They

are, in fact, means to help you to do so. Reading, you know, assists you to become wiser and more useful, and better, too, if you use it properly, and read what is good, and try to profit by it. For by reading you will become intelligent, and capable of understanding things that now you cannot comprehend. And when you think of reading, as a means or help to become wiser and better, it is like an ass to you, and really carries you on your journey. This, then, and all similar knowledges, together with all you learn by your present studies, is what is meant generally in the Bible by the ass.

What you learn now will be, like the ass to his master, faithful to you. It will be stored up in your memory, and when you want it,— when you wish to understand something else about God, and His church, and how we are to be saved, and how the Lord came to redeem us, you will always find what you now learn ready to help you, and to enable you to comprehend that which, without such knowledge, would be dark and mysterious; and in this use, you may see that it is just like the patient beast of burden-the ass, which carries his owner on his back, and is always faithful to him, and ready to serve him.

We could tell you much more respecting the ass, which would make you sure that what we have said is really meant by the ass in the

Bible, but we will leave it for you to think of, and for your parents and teachers to tell you. If you ask them they will inform you what is meant by the affection of the ass for his master, and why he is so careful and particular as to the water he drinks, and many other things that you will be able to think of respecting him.

You must take care, however, that you put all your knowledges to a good use, for if you do not, if you acquire the love of reading what it is not right to read, or of doing what you ought not to do, by means of what you learn, then you will change the correspondence, and your knowledge will not be like the meek and patient and useful ass, but rather like the wild and useless and vicious ass, upon which, if you were to mount and try to ride, he would only throw you from his back and trample upon and kill you. You will see, then, that it is very important to what use you apply what you learn: if to a good use it will make you happier and better; but if to a bad one, then it will only prove hurtful to you, and destroy all your hopes of happiness, both in this world and in heaven.

THERE never was a right endeavour but it succeeded. Patience and perseverance, and we shall win at last.

THE WOLF AND THE LAMB.

THE moon beamed brightly on the snow which covered the landscape, as a mother and her little boy turned from the window of an old-fashioned house, towards a large bright fire, and seated themselves near it.

"Father is late to-night; and he will have a long cold ride. I wish he was here. It seems so long when we are watching for him! How long do you think we shall have to wait, mother?"

"It may be half an hour; perhaps not so long; but if you wish the time to appear less tedious, you had better find some employment. I will light the lamp, and you can get your book of animals."

"O, yes, mother! and I will get scissors and paper, and perhaps you will cut out some paper animals for me?"

The mother assented; and when the lamp was lighted, the little boy appeared with his book, paper, and scissors; and she proceeded to imitate such animals as he selected, while the child arranged his "menagerie," as he called it, with great glee.

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See, mother! I have put the lamb, and the dove, and the cow, and the pigeon, and the horse, and all those good animals by themselves; and the naughty tigers, and wolves, and fierce beasts on this side. Be

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