long, jocofely and carelefsly anfwered, Becaufe every morning in my life, I am hearing caufes. I have two fine girls, their names are Induftry and Sloth, clofe at my bed-fide as foon as I awake, preffing their different fuits. One intreats me to get up, the other perfuades me to lie ftill: and then they alternately give me their different reafons why I fhould, and why I fhould not rife. This detains me fo long, as I wish to hear all that can be faid on both fides, that before the pleadings: are over, it is time to go to dinner:

The MORAL.

Our term of life is fo fhort, that it will not allow time for long deliberations.

OF

F all the birds of the air. none but the magpye, it is faid, is capable of making a complete neft; for the covers the top, and leaves a hole to creep in at on one of the fides. On this account the reft of the birds affembled together about her, and begged fhe would inftruct them in the

art.

The magpye began her inftructions, and faid, "You must lay two fticks acrofs, thus:" Now, fays the crow, I fuppofed that to be the way to begin. "Then weave twigs around the bottom to fix the uprights:" Aye, anfwered the ftarling, I just thought that would be done next. "Then lay ftraw, mofs, and feathers:" any one, cries a third, knows how to do that.

When mag had taught them till the neft was half built, the replied, "As each of you knows how to build nefts better than I, you ftand in no need of my inftructions," and fo flew away and left them. And to this day the other birds can build but half a neft..

The MORAL.

They who pretend to know every thing before hand, will never reap advantage from inftruction.

Trumpeter in a certain army hap

Apened to be taken prifoner. He

was ordered immediately to execution, but pleaded in excufe for himself, that it was unjust a perfon fhould fuffer

death, who fo far from having an intention of mifchief, did not even wear an offenfive weapon. So much the rather, replied one of the enemy, fhalt thou die, fince, without any defign of fighting thyfelf, thou exciteft others to the bloody business: for he that is the abettor of a bad action, is at leaft equally guilty with him who commits it.

The Moral.

The fomentor of mischief is at least as culpable as he who puts it in execution.

POETRY.

COME

HOME children learn to fear the Lord; ·
And that your days be long,

Let not a falfe or fpiteful word,

Be found upon your tongue,
Depart from mifchief, practife love,
Purfue the works of peace;

So fhall the Lord your ways approve,
Your pureft joys increafe.

The Lord beholds and loves the juft
His ears attend their cry;

I

1

In him their fouls may ever trust,
For he is always nigh.

Though bitter forrows they may tafte,
And long affliction know;

The Lord, who gives them blifs at last,
Is their fupport below.

In danger's hour, though finners faint,
And fee no fhelter near;

God is a refuge for the faint,
And scatters ev'ry fear.

When refurrection's hour fhall come,
And death itself shall die;
The Lord will take his fervants home,
To endless life and joy.