MARIA went with her father and mother on a spring morning for a walk. "Why do people like the violet so much?" asked Maria; "they have beautiful songs about it, and every one seeks it, and is pleased when he finds it."

"It is the first gift of spring, after the cold winter," said her mother. "We think most of what is good or beautiful when we have been without it for a time."

"And we think the more of it," said her father, "because spring gives us the little flower so quickly and gladly. He who does a kind thing quickly shows that he does it willingly, and deserves thanks; and it makes the pleasure the greater to think of how it was given."

"Do they not call the violet the flower of humility?" asked Maria.

"It deserves the name well," answered her mother, "for it grows out of sight, hidden by other things, and yet it blooms and smells as sweetly as any flower that grows."

"And people prize it," said her father, "and seek it none the less, and are so glad when they find it."

"It is very nice that God gives us the modest, beautiful flower so early," cried Maria.

"And by its giving us its first beautiful gifts with such modesty," said her father, "the Spring leads us to expect a great deal, besides, that is charming and lovely. For what is noble and great only flourishes where modesty and humility dwell."

Maria now found a full-blown violet on the road-side among thorns, but a dew-drop shone on the blue cup of the flower, and bent it down to the earth with its weight. She stood and looked at the flower, and cried, "The heavy drop will destroy the violet, and beat it quite down to the ground."

"Not at all," said her mother. "The clear drop shines in the beautiful cup like a pearl. The sun will soon warm and drink up the whole of it, and then the violet will lift itself up fairer than ever, and smelling more sweetly."

"And though it grows among thorns," said her father, "the thorns do not hurt it. They protect the tender flower from the cold breath of night and from the stormy winds. For it is cared for by heavenly

love."

Then Maria looked at the flower, and said, "I will not pluck the violet, then, till it has been strengthened and lifted up by the dew-drop and the sun."

"How innocence and love trust in God's care of all things!" said her mother.

"It is because both innocence and love are from God himself," replied her father.

DICTATION.-The violet is the flower of humility; it hides below other things and yet blooms and smells very sweetly;

and it is prized none the less for its modesty. What we give willingly and quickly is prized. The dew-drop on the violet bends it down, but the sun soon drinks it up and then it is more beautiful than ever. The thorns protect the tender flower from the cold breath of night and from stormy winds, and the dew strengthens it.

QUESTIONS.-Why do we love the violet so much? What is the violet called? Why is it a picture of humility? Is it less cared for on that account? Does the dew that bends the flower hurt it? What are said to come from God?

"I WISH I had some good friends to help me on in life!" cried lazy Jack, with a yawn.-"Good friends! why, you have ten!" said his master.-"I am sure I have not half so many, and those I have are too poor to help me."-"Count your fingers, my boy," said his master. Jack looked down on his big, strong hands. "Count thumbs and all," added the master." I have; —there are ten," said the lad.-"Then never say you have not ten good friends, able to help you on in life. Try what they can do for you, before you grumble and fret because you do not get help from others."

QUESTIONS.-What did the boy complain of? What kind of a boy was he? What did his master tell him to do?

How many friends had he? What were they?

THE MONTHS.

Spell the MONTHS and the FLOWERS in this Lesson, and tell what each month brings.

JANUARY brings the snow,

Makes our feet and fingers glow.

February brings the rain,

Thaws the frozen lake again.

March brings breezes loud and shrill,

Stirs the dancing daffodil.

April brings the primrose sweet;
Scatters daisies at our feet.

May brings flocks of pretty lambs,
Skipping by their fleecy dams.
June brings tulips, lilies, roses;
Fills the children's hands with posies.
Hot July brings cooling showers,
Apricots and gillyflowers.

August brings the sheaves of corn,
Then the harvest home is borne.
Warm September brings the fruit ;
Sportsmen then begin to shoot.
Fresh October brings the pheasant;
Then to gather nuts is pleasant.
Dull November brings the blast,
Then the leaves are whirling fast.
Chill December brings the sleet,
Blazing fire and Christmas treat.

DICTATION.-January brings snow and cold; February brings rain and thaws; March brings loud and shrill winds;

April brings the primroses and daisies and lambs; June brings tulips, lilies, and roses; July brings showers; August brings sheaves of yellow corn and the harvest; and so each month has its rich gifts.

The

A GOOSE kept at East Barnet a few years ago, was noticed to attach herself in the strongest and most loving manner to the house-dog but never ventured to go into the kennel except in rainy weather; whenever the dog barked, the goose would cackle, and run at the person she supposed the dog barked at, and try to bite him by the heels. Sometimes she would attempt to feed with the dog; but this the dog, who treated his faithful friend with coldness, would not suffer. goose would not go to roost with the others at night, unless driven by main force; and when in the morning they were turned into the field, she would never stir from the yard-gate, but sit there the whole day in sight of the dog. At length orders were given that she should no longer be troubled, and being thus left to herself, she ran about the yard with him all night, and whenever the dog went out of the yard and ran into the village, the goose always went with him, keeping up with him by the help of her wings, and in this way,