bed-side he put his little arms round her neck, and bursting into tears, said to her, Dear mother, forgive me! I have been very naughty to-day. I have told a falsehood; and I have concealed it from you.-I was playing at marbles with my cousins: I won the game through a mistake which they did not find out; and I was so much pleased at being conqueror, that I did not tell them of the mistake. I have been very unhappy ever since, and I am afraid to go to sleep, lest that heavenly Father which you so often tell me of, should be angry with me. say he knows and sees every thing, shall I do that he may forgive me?" child," said the mother, "God is ever ready to forgive those who are truly sorry for their faults, and who resolve to do what is right. He hears our prayers; and he will teach us what we should do. Pray to him to forgive your faults; and endeavour never to commit the like again, lest you should displease him more by a second, than by the first offence.

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The little boy reflected seriously on the advice which his mother gave him; and prayed in the best manner he was able to Almighty God, that he would forgive him, and grant him his grace to do better for the future. He then fell asleep; and rose next morning happy and cheerful.-No doubt,

when he saw his cousins, he fold them of their mistake, and how much he had suffered for taking advantage of it, and as the only atonement then in his power, restored to them with eagerness, what had been thus unjustly acquired.

-000

The Banyan Tree, or Indian Fig.

THE banyan tree, or Indian fig, is a native of several parts of the East Indies. It has a stem, branching to a great height and vast extent, with hear-shaped entire leaves, ending in acute points. This tree is beautifully described by Milton:

There soon they chose
The fig-tree not that kind for fruit renowned;
But such, as at this day to Indians known
In Malabar or Deccan, spreads her arms,
Branching so broad and long, that in the ground
The bending twigs take root, and daughters grow
About the mother tree, a pillar'd shade,

High over-arch'd, and echoing walks between.
There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat,
Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing herds
At loop-holes cut through thickest shade.

Indeed, the banyan-tree is the most beautiful of Nature's productions in that genial climate, where she sports with so much profusion and variety. Some of these trees are of amazing size and great extent, as they are continually increasing, and, contrary to mostother things in animal and vegetable life, seem to be exempt from decay.

Every branch from the main body throws out its own roots; at first in small tender fibres, several yards from the ground: these continually grow thicker until they reach the surface; and there striking in, they increase to large trunks, and become parent trees, shooting out new branches from the top: these in time suspend their roots, which swelling into trunks, produce other branches; thus continuing in a state of progression, as long as the earth, the first parent of them all, contributes her sustenance.

The Hindoos are peculiarly fond of the banyan-tree. They look upon it as an emblem of the Deity; from its long duration, its outstretching arms, and overshadowing beneficence. They almost pay it divine honours. Near these trees, the most esteemed pagodas are generally erected under their shade the Brahmins spend their lives in religious solitude and the natives of all casts and tribes are fond of recreating in the cool recesses, beautiful walks, and lovely openings, of this shady canopy, impervious to the hottest beams of the sun.

:

A remarkably large tree of this kind is distinguished by the name of Cubbeer Burr, which was given it, in honour of a famous saint. It was once much larger than at present; yet what remains is about 2000 feet in circumference, measured round the principal stems ; the over-hanging branches, not yet struck

down, cover much larger space. The chief trunks of this single tree (which in size greatly exceed our English elms and oaks) amount to 350; the smaller stems, formed into strong supporters, are more than 3000; and every one of these is casting out new branches, and hanging roots in time to form trunks, and be come the parents of a future progeny.

Cubbeer Buiris famed throughout Hindostan for its great extent and beauty: the Indian armies generally encamp around it and at stated seasons, solemn Hindoo festivals are held there, to which thousands of vetaries repair. It is said that 7000 persons find ample room to repose under its shade. The English gentlemen, on their hunting and shooting parties, used to form extensive encampments, and spend weeks together under this delight. ful pavilion: which is generally filled with green wood-pigeons, doves, peacocks, and a variety of feathered songsters: crowded with families of monkeys, performing their antic tricks; and shaded by bats of large size, many of them measuring upwards of six feet from the extremity of one wing to the other.

This tree not only affords shelter, but sustenance, to all its inhabitants; being covered amidst its bright foliage with small figs, of a rich scarlet, which are exceedingly pleasant to the taste.