"I heard every thing you said," continued her ladyship, "thank God for enabling you to resist this temptation, and be watchful over yourself for the future: from this mo ment you shall be in my service; I will both maintain and clothe you: nay more, I will procure you good instruction, which will assist to guard you from the danger of similar temptations." The boy burst into tears; he was anxious to express his gratitude, but could not. The lady strictly kept her promise, and had the pleasure to see this poor chimneysweeper grow up a good, pious, and intelligent man.

WHEN George Washington, the late President of America, was about six years of age, some one made him a present of a hatchet. Being, like most children, immoderately fond of his weapon, he went about, chopping every thing that came in his way, and going into the garden, he unluckily tried its edge on an English cherry-tree, stripping it of its bark, and leaving little hope of its recovery. next morning, when his father saw the tree, which was a great favourite, in this condition, he enquired who had done the mischief, declaring he would not have taken five guineas

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for it; but no one could inform him of the offender.

At length, however, came George, with the hatchet in his hand, into the place where his father was, who immediately suspected him to be the culprit. "George," said the old gentleman," Do you know who killed that beautiful little cherry-tree yonder in the garden?" The child hesitated for a moment, and nobly replied, "I can't tell a lie father; -you know I can't tell a lie. I did' cut it with my hatchet." "Run to my arms, my boy," exclaimed his father. run to my arms! I forgive you for destroying my tree, since you have had the honesty and manliness thus to tell the truth respecting it."

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Gratitude.

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As the branches of a tree return their sap to the root, from whence it arose; as a river pours its streams to the sea, whence its spring was supplied; so the heart of a grateful man delights in returning a benefit received. acknowledges his obligation with cheerfulness; he looks on his benefactor with love and esteem. And if to return a favour be not in his power, he cherishes the remembrance of it through life.

The hand of the generous man is like the clouds of heaven, which drop upon the earth,

fruits, herbage, and flowers; but the heart of the ungrateful is like a desert of sand, which swallows with greediness the showers that fall, buries them in its bosom, and produces nothing.

The grateful mind envies not its benefactor, nor strives to conceal the benefit he has conferred. Though to oblige is better than to be obliged; though the act of generosity commands admiration; yet the humility of gratitude touches the heart, and is amiable in the sight both of God and man.

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The ungrateful Guest.

PHILIP, king of Macedon, is celebrated for an act of private justice, which does great honour to his memory. A certain soldier in the Macedonian army, had, in various instanees, distinguished himself by extraordinary acts of valour; and had received many marks of Philip's approbation and favour.

On a particular occasion, this soldier embarked on board a vessel, which was wrecked by a violent storm; and he was cast on the shore, helpless and naked, with scarcely any appearance of life. A Macedonian, whose lands were contiguous to the sea, came opportunely to be witness to his distress; and, with the most humane and charitable tenderness, flew to the relief of the unhappy stran.

ger. He bore him to his house, laid him in his own bed, revived, cherished, and comforted him; and, for forty days, supplied him with all the necessaries and conveniences which his languishing condition could require. The soldier thus happily rescued from death, was incessant in the warmest expressions of gratitude to his benefactor; assured him of his interest with the king; and of his determination to obtain for him, from the royal bounty, the noble returns which such extraordinary benevolence had merited. He was at length completely recovered; and was supplied by his kind host with money to pursue his journey. After some time, the soldier presented himself before the king; he recounted his misfortunes; he magnified his services; and this inhuman wretch, who had looked with an eye of envy on the possessions of the man by whom his life had been preserved, was so devoid of gratitude, and of every humane sentiment, as to request that the king would bestow upon him the house and lands, where he had been so tenderly and kindly entertained. Unhappily, Philip, without examination, precipitately granted his infamous request. The soldier then returned to his preserver; and repaid his goodness by driving him from his settlement; and taking immediate possession of all the fruits of his honest industry. The poor man stung with

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such an instance of unparalleled ingratitude and insensibility, boldly determined, instead of submitting to his wrongs, to seek relief: and in a letter addressed to Philip, represented his own and the soldier's conduct, in a lively and affecting manner. The king was instantly fired with indignation. He ordered that ample justice should be done without delay; that the possessions should be immediately restored to the man whose charitable offices had been thus horridly repaid: and, to show his abhorrence of the deed, he caused the soldier to be seized, and to have these words branded on his forehead” The Ungrateful Guest."

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Heaven.

THE rose is sweet, but it is surrounded with thorns: the lily of the valley is fragrant, but it springs up amongst the brambles.

The spring is pleasant, but it is soon past: the summer is bright, but the winter destroys its beauty. The rainbow is very glorious, but it soon vanishes away: life is good, but it is quickly swallowed up in death.

There is a land, where the roses are without thorns: where the flowers are not mixed with brambles. In that land, there is eternal spring, and light without any cloud. The tree of life grows in the midst thereof; rivers

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