tle girl shed tears of grief. "How very sad it is!" said the daughter.

27. "It would be sadder still, my darling," said the mother, "if we did not learn a useful lesson from the ruin which here meets our view. We can plant more flowers, and tie up some of these anew; but what I have been thinking is, that now, at last, you can understand what I have so often told you about the necessity of training, and restraint, and culture, not only for flowers, but for us also in a fallen world.

28. "The wind has torn away these poor things from their fastenings, and they are growing wild, among the weeds, whichever way they please. I know some argue that the natural mode of growing is the best. But who can say so when they see such a result as this! These poor flowers are doing whatever they like, without restraint; and the end is, that our beautiful GARDEN is turned into a WILDERNESS!"

[The lady and her flower-garden. Directions to the Gardener. The Wind's visit, plans, etc. How he made the flowers discontented. His talk with the Morning-glory. The effect. What the Carnation said. What the Wind remarked to her. The effect upon the Carnation. What the Rose-tree said. The Wind's artful reply. The effect upon the Rose. What the Wind whispered to the Lily. The Lily's reply, remarks, etc. What the Wind promised the Lily. The return of the Wind. In what manner he came this time. How he managed, and what he did. How the flowers fared. Return of the Gardener. The mistress of the garden. The MORAL.

What is a fable? (See p. xi.) Under what figure of speech is it included? (See p. xi.) What moral precept is this fable intended to enforce? (See verse 27.) What, then, is the garden of flowers here designed to represent ?]

LESSON XXIX.

THE POWER OF HABIT.

1. I REMEMBER once riding from Buffalo to the Niagara Falls. I said to a gentleman, "What river is that, sir?"

2. "Well, it is here a beautiful and tranquil stream," said I. "How far off are the rapids'?"

"Only a mile or two," was the reply.

3. "Is it possible that only a mile from us we shall find the water in the turbulencea it must show near the Falls'?" "You will find it so, sir." And so I found it; and the first sight of Niagara I shall never forget.

4. Now launch your bark on that Niagara River whose surface is so bright, and smooth, and beautiful, and glassy. There is a ripple at the bow: the silver wakes you leave behind adds to your enjoyment. Down the stream you glide oars, sails, and helm in proper trim, as you set out on your pleasure excursion.

5. Suddenly some one cries out from the bank, "Young men', ahoy!"

"What is it?"

"The rapids are below you!"

6. "IIa! ha!" you laugh back; "we have heard of the rapids; but we are not such fools as to get there. If we go too fast', then we shall up with the helm, and steer to the shore: we will set the mast in the socket', hoist the sail', and speed to the land'. Then on, boys; don't be alarmed—there is no danger.'

7. The boat glides swiftly along, while scarcely a ripple in the smooth waters tells you it is moving down the stream. Soon another warning call reaches you from the shore:

8. "Young men', ahoy' there!" "What is it?"

"The rapids are below you!"

9. "Ha! ha!" you shout back again. "We will laugh and quaff: all things delight us. What care we for the future! No man ever saw' it'. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. Let us enjoy life while we may, and catch pleasure as it flies. This' is enjoyment. Time enough yet to steer out of danger'."

10. And so full of glee are you', that you do not know

how rapidly the current is bearing you onward-onward into the very jaws of destruction! Another shout reaches you- ·louder

you.

FIERCER than before.

11. "YOUNG MEN, AHOY!"

"What is it?"

"BEWARE!

YOU!"

It startles

BEWARE! THE RAPIDS ARE BELOW

66

12. Now you see the water foaming all around. How fast you pass that point! "Up with the helm !" Now you turn! You pull hard! Quick! quick! quick! Pull for your lives, men!" Ah! now you pull. You pull till the blood starts from your nostrils, and the veins show like whip-cords upon your brows! "Set the mast in the socket! hoist the sail!" Ah! ah! it is too late! too late! Shrieking, howling, blaspheming, over you go.

13. Young men'! thousands go over the rapids of Intemperance every year just in this way, through self-confidence and the power of habit, crying out all the while, "When I find that temperate drinking is injuring me, I will give it up!"

Adapted.-J. B. GOUGH.

TUR-BU-LENCE, disturbed state; commo- WAKE, track of the boat. b LÄUNCII, set afloat. [tion. d A-HOY', a sea term used in hailing. [This is an allegorical illustration of the danger to be apprehended from the habit of temperate drinking-a habit which leads the young onward so gradually toward the rapids of Intemperance that they apprehend no danger until they are on the very brink of destruction. What object is here described, and what is represented by it?]

LESSON XXX.

THE PLEASURE-PARTY.

1. A SHORT distance from the western coast of Norway is a terrific whirlpool, called the Mäel'strom. At certain times of the tide the water near it is kept in the most fearful commotion, and ships that are drawn into its vortexb quickly disappear.

a

2. On the shore nearly opposite to this dreadful place, one fine day in summer, a party of young people were walking for pleasure. A proposition was made to embarke for an

excursion upon the water; and some of the party, against the advice of their companions, stepped into a boat lying by the shore.

e

3. None of those who thus embarked were accustomed to the dangers of the sea. The young men could not plyd the oars as dexterously as those who are practiced in the labor. They supposed there could be no danger. The sea was so calm, the day so pleasant, and the winds breathed so softly', they felt all was safe.

4. Soon the boat was in motion, propelled rapidly by the oars. Ere long, however, the young men, fatigued with the exertion, ceased rowing, and were pleased to find that the boat continued to glide smoothly yet swiftly along.

5. They saw no danger, and apprehendeds none. They knew not that they were within the influence of the whirlpool, and that, although then passing around on its outermost circle, they were slowly but surely drawing nearer to a point whence there could be no escape.

6. Borne rapidly onward by the deceitful current, they soon came round nearly to the place whence they had embarked. At this critical moment, the only one in which it was possible for them to escape, those on shore perceived the danger of the unhappy party, and gave the alarm. They entreated those in the boat to make at least one desperate effort, and, if possible, reach the shore.

7. They entreated in vain. The party in the boat laughed at the fears of their friends, and suffered themselves to glide onward, without making one exertion for deliverance from the impending destruction. They passed around the second circle, and again appeared to their terrified friends on shore.

8. Expostulationi and entreaty were redoubled, but in vain. To launch another boat would only bring sure destruction to those who might embark. If any of the party were saved, their own efforts alone could accomplish the work.

9. But they continued their merriment; and now and then peals of laughter would come over the waters, sounding like the knell of death upon the ears of those on shore; for the latter well knew that now there was no relief, and that soon the thoughtless revelersk would see their folly and madness, and awake to their danger only to find that there was no longer a way of escape open to them.

10. Again they came round; but their mirth was terminated. They had heard the roarings of the whirlpool, and had seen in the distance the wild tumult of the waters. The boat began to quiver like an aspen leaf, and to shoot like lightning from wave to wave.

11. The foam dashed over them as they sped along, and every moment they expected to be ingulfed. They now plied the oars and cried for help. No help could reach them. No strength could give the boat power to escape from the vortexb toward which it was hastening.

12. A thick, black cloud, as if to add horror to the scene, at this moment shrouded the heavens in darkness, and the thunder rolled fearfully over their heads. With a desperate struggle the oars were again plied. They snapped asunder, and their last hope gave way to the agony of despair. The boat, now trembling, now tossed, now whirled suddenly around, plunged into the yawning abyss,' and, with the unhappy persons which it carried, disappeared forever.

13. Thus perished the pleasure-boat, and all who had embarked in it. And thus perish thousands in the whirlpool of dissipation, who at first sailed smoothly and thoughtlessly around its outmost circle, and laughed at those who saw and faithfully warned them of their danger. But, rejecting all admonition, and closing their ears to all entreaties, they continued on their course till escape was hopeless, and ruin inevitable.

14. Let every youth remember that the real danger lies in entering the first circle. Had not the pleasure-boat entered that, that unhappy party had never been dashed in