with intense interest; but as they could only see a portion of it through the trellis, they looked out for some gate by which they might enter the garden. At a little distance they perceived a gateway, and they went to the spot, supposing they should find an entrance there. There was, indeed, a gate, but it was locked, and they found it impossible to gain admittance.

8. While they were considering what course they should adopt, they perceived an inscription over the gate, which ran as follows

"Ne'er till to-morrow's light delay
What may as well be done to-day;
Ne'er do the thing you'd wish undone,
Viewed by to-morrow's rising sun.
Observe these rules a single year,
And you may freely enter here."

9. The two youths were much struck by these lines, and, before they parted, both agreed to make the experiment, by trying to live according to the inscription.

1. I NEED not tell the details of the progress of the youths in their trial. Both found the task much more difficult than they at first imagined.

2. To their surprise, they found that an observance of the rule they had adopted, required an almost total change of their modes of life; and this taught them, what they had not felt before, that a very large part of their lives, a very large share of their thoughts, feelings and actions, were wrong, though they were considered virtuous young men by the society in which they lived.

3. After a few weeks, the younger of the two, finding that the scheme put too many restraints

The other

upon his tastes, abandoned the trial. persevered, and, at the end of the year, presented himself at the gateway of the garden.

4. To his great joy, he was instantly admitted; and if the place pleased him when seen dimly through the trellis, it appeared far more lovely, now that he could actually tread its pathways, breathe its balmy air, and mingle intimately with the scenes around.

5. One thing delighted, yet surprised him, which was this: It now seemed easy for him to do right; nay, to do right, instead of requiring self-denial and a sacrifice of his tastes and wishes, seemed to him a matter of course, and the pleasantest thing he could do.

6. While he was thinking of this, a female came near, and the two fell into conversation. After a little while, the youth told his companion what he was thinking of, and asked her to account for his feelings. "This place," said the other, "is the Garden of Peace.

7. "It is the abode of those who have chosen God's will as the rule of their lives. It is a happy home, provided for those who have conquered selfishness; those who have learned to subdue their passions and do their duty.

8. "This lovely garden is but a picture of the heart that is firmly established in the ways of virtue. Its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its paths are peace."

9. While they were thus conversing, and as they were passing near the gateway, the youth saw on the other side the friend who had resolved to follow the inscription, but who had given up the trial. Upon this, the companion of the youth said, “Behold the young man who could not conquer himself! How miserable is he in comparison with yourself! What is it makes the difference?

10. "You are in the Garden of Peace; he is excluded from it. This tall gateway is a barrier that he cannot pass; this is the barrier, interposed by human vices and human passions, which separates mankind from that peace of which we are all capable.

11. "Whoever can conquer himself, and has resolved firmly that he will do it, has found the key of that gate, and he may freely enter here. If he cannot do that, he must continue to be an outcast from the Garden of Peace."

CHARLEY AND ANNA.

Charley.

1. "O, SUMMER is coming, and now I can run," Said Charley, one morn, as he saw the bright

sun.

“I'll run in the fields and hear the birds sing;
I'll sing, too, myself, till the forest shall ring.
I'll hunt up my kite and make it go high,
And see what a speck 'tis, when up in the sky.
My hoe, and my cart, that's painted so red,
I'll take to my garden, and make a fine bed.
I will plant watermelon and green-citron seeds,
For this year, I'm sure, I shall keep out the
weeds.

I'll go to the pond and haul up my boat,

And get William to fix it all ready to float.

We will sail 'cross the pond on the first day of

May,

And gather sweet flowers that grow round the

bay."

Anna.

2. "But stop, little brother, you are going too fast; Such castles of pleasure, perhaps, will not last. When we say that we will, we but seldom suc

ceed;

And to be quite so certain, is hazard indeed;
And whether in work we engage, or in play,
We should look to our Father to prosper our

way.

He provides for our wants, and in mercy will lead,

And permits or prevents, as he thinks we best need."

BIRD SHOOTING.

1. "WELL, Harry, here is my new gun. Now I can bring down the hawks, pigeons, and partridges. I have been out this morning, and have had fine sport."

2. "Sport, Jack, do you say? have you had sport? hope?"

In what way

Not in killing birds, I

3. "Indeed I have. I killed two ducks at one shot; and, besides that, I killed a chipping bird, five tomtits, a snipe, and several lapwings. Now, what do you think of that?"

4. "What do I think of that? Pray, sir, what do you think of that? Or, rather let me say, why do you not think of that? How can you kill those innocent birds, especially at this season of the year, when they are rearing their young?"

5. "Why, you eat birds, do you not? I presume, you would have them killed before you eat them?"

6. "It is true, I have eaten birds, after persons like yourself had killed them; but let me tell you, if birds never got into the hands of the cook till I had shot them, it would be a long time before you would find any on the dinner table."

7. "But you eat chickens, do you not? What say you to that? You kill the chickens, I suppose?"

8. "That is quite another affair. You kill birds for the mere sport of the thing. This is wicked sport. Had I wilfully killed one of those little chipping birds, or a lapwing, as you did this morning, I should feel as if I deserved to have the mark of Cain placed on me."

66

9. Why, these birds live but a short time. They must soon die by a painful and lingering death, in the natural course of things. Now, then, if I can derive sport or receive pleasure by killing them outright, at once, so much the better."

10. "Just so. Now this is exactly the way I should reason if I were going to shoot you. Now, then, just step out yonder by the hedge, and let me crack away at you with my revolver. If I kill you outright at once, so much the better;' since you 'must soon die by a painful and lingering death, in the natural course of things,' Perhaps I may knock out one of your eyes, tear away a part of your under jaw, or shatter your knee, or

11. "O, horrible! horrible! don't speak of such things."

12. "Why, this is just the way you mash and - mangle the birds. You shatter their limbs and joints; you blow away their legs and beaks, and leave them to die a lingering, agonizing death. Even the thought of this is enough to make the heart of humanity bleed."

13. "Enough, enough say no more. I will consider this matter. But, Harry, did you never amuse yourself in catching birds?"