man, who is a worthy young man, being grieved that he had spoken so hastily and harshly to a good and honest boy, has ever since proved a kind friend to him; and, besides many other good-natured actions, has, in his leisure-hours, taught him to write and cast accounts.

THE TWO KNIGHTS AND THE SHIELD.

In times long ago, there was a class of persons called knight-errants, who were clad in coats of mail, and rode about singly, either for the purpose of fighting with each other at tournaments, or for redressing the wrongs of those who sought their assistance. Well, in those barbarous fighting times, two strong and warlike knights, com

ing from opposite directions, met at a place where a statue was erected.

On the arm of the statue was a shield, one side of which was of iron, the other of brass. As the two knights approached the statue from opposite quarters, each only saw one side of the shield; one saw the iron side, and the other saw the brass side. They immediately fell into conversation in regard to the structure before them, when one remarking that the shield was made of iron, the other corrected him, by saying it was made of brass.

The knight upon the iron side, of course, did not receive the correction. He maintained that he was right; and after arguing or disputing for a short time by harsh language, both gradually grew angry, and soon drew their swords to fight. You will think it very absurd that any two persons should attempt to decide who is right and who is wrong by fighting; but among ignorant, proud, and conceited people, that has been a too common practice, as the history of mankind informs us.

A long and furious combat now ensued between the two knights; and when at last both were exhausted, unhorsed, and lying bleeding on the ground, they found, to their great surprise and vexation, that the sides of the shield were of different metals; and that if each knight had at first taken the trouble to look at both sides, they would have saved themselves from quarrelling, and also great personal injury.

This story affords a good lesson. It shows us that, before disputing or arguing upon a subject, we should carefully examine both sides of it.

THE OLD MAN AND HIS ASS.

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An old man and his little boy were driving an ass to the market to sell. "What a fool is this fellow," says a man upon the road, to be trudging it on foot with his son, that his ass may go light!" The old man hearing this, set his boy upon the ass, and went whistling by his side. "Why, sir," cries a second man to the boy, "is it fit for you to be riding, while your poor aged father is walking on foot?"

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The father, upon this rebuke, took down his boy from the ass, and mounted himself. you see," says a third," how the lazy old knave rides along upon his beast, while his poor little boy is almost crippled with walking!" old man no sooner heard this, than he took up his son behind him. "Pray, honest friend," says a fourth, "is that ass your own ?" "Yes," says the man. "One would not have thought so," replies the other, "by your loading him, as you do, without mercy. You and your boy are better able to carry the poor beast, than he is to carry you." Any thing you please," says the owner; and dismounting with his son, they tied the legs of the ass together, and, by the help of a pole, tried to carry him upon their shoulders over the bridge that led to the next town.

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This was so amusing a sight, that the people came in crowds to laugh at it; till the ass, not liking the position in which he was placed, burst asunder the cords which tied him, slipped from the pole, and tumbled into the river. The poor old man made the best of his way home, ashamed and vexed, that, by trying to please everybody, he had pleased nobody, and lost his ass into the bargain.

MUNGO PARK AND THE NEGRO WOMAN.

Mungo Park was a traveller, who, a number of years ago, went on a journey into Africa to discover the course of a great river called the Niger. His course was long and painful, across wide desert countries, where there are many wild beasts, and where there are nations of black men that are constantly at war with each other. After much toil, the traveller reached the banks of the Niger, which he saw was a fine broad stream like the Thames at Westminster, and glittering in the morning sun. He was now desirous of crossing to the opposite side, but he could not find a boat at that time, and he resolved to wait at a village close at hand till next day.

Mr Park, accordingly, went to the village to seek for lodging and food; but the inhabitants had never seen a white man before, and they,

being afraid of him, would not admit him into their houses. This was very mortifying, and he was obliged to sit all day, without victuals, in the shade of a tree. The night came on, and threatened to be very uncomfortable, for the wind rose, with the appearance of a heavy storm of rain; and there were so many wild beasts in the neighbourhood, that Mr Park thought he should have to climb up the tree to rest all night among its branches.

"About sunset, however," says he, in his book of Travels, " as I was preparing to pass the night in this manner, and had turned my horse loose that he might graze at liberty, a woman, returning from the labours of the field, stopped to observe me, and seeing that I was weary and sorrowful, she, with looks of great compassion, took up my saddle and bridle, and told me to follow her. Having conducted me into her hut, she lighted a lamp, spread a mat on the floor, and told me that I might remain there for the night.

Finding that I was very hungry, she said she would get me something to eat. She accordingly went out, and returned in a short time with a very fine fish, which she broiled on some hot embers, and gave it me for supper. The rites of hospitality being thus performed towards a stranger in distress, the kind-hearted negro woman pointed to the mat, and told me I might sleep there without any fear of danger. She now called to the female part of her family, who had been gazing on me with astonishment, to begin spinning cotton, and in this they employed themselves the greater part of the night.