a

Once when I was in Vienna, there was dread of mad dogs. Orders were given to kill the spot all straggling dogs whatsoever. Men employed for this purpose, and they generally carried a heavy club, which they flung at the poce "Practice makes perfect," you know,

were

animals.

one

"

and these men were soon able to deal so certain an aim as either to kill or maim a dog at one throw. Well, day close to the edge of the river, one of these men flung his stick at a wretched dog; but he missed his mark, and his stick fell into the river. The poor animal following his instinct or his teaching, at once plunged in, fetched back the stick, and laid it down at the feet of its owner.

The

man snatched up the stick, and dashed out the creature's brains.

breakfast dinner

nice

slice

through threw

manners

habits

TOMMY AND THE PIG.

"IF you want to tame animals," said Mr. Barlow, "you must be good to them, you must treat them kindly; and then they will no longer fear you, but come to you, and love you."

66

Indeed," said Harry, " that is very true. I knew a little boy who took a great fancy to a snake that lived in his father's garden. When this boy was taking break fast, he used to sit under the nut tree and whistle. Then the snake would come to him and eat out of his bowl."

"And did it not bite him," said Tommy.

66

No," replied Harry, "it never hurt him in the least."

Tommy was much pleased to hear all this; and being an active and good-natured boy, he thought he would try his hand at taming animals. So he took a large slice of bread and went out to seek some beast that wanted taming.

The first thing that he happened to meet was a sucking pig. The tiny pig had rambled from its mother, and was basking in the sun. Tommy could not let so fine a chance slip. He called

66

Pig, pig, pig, come hither little pig." But the stupid pig only grunted and ran away.

"do

"You little ungrateful thing," said Tommy, you treat me in this manner when I want to feed you? If you do not know your friends, I must teach you at any price." Saying this, Master Tom sprang at the pig and caught him by the hind leg. For did he not want to give piggy a nice slice of bread?

But the pig began to grunt and to squeak

so much that the sow came running to the place to see what was the matter.

Tommy was not sure that the mother would be pleased with his civilities to her young one; SO he thought it best to let her go.

The youthful pig, glad to get away, took the shortest cut. Now this was between Tommy's legs, and threw him down.

The place where this happened was very wet and muddy, and I leave you to fancy the state in which poor Tommy was. But to make things worse, the old sow, who came up at that moment, rushed at him and rolled him in the mire. Mr. Barlow, hearing the noise, came and found his pupil in this woeful plight. He asked what was the matter. Tommy said, "Sir, all this comes from taming animals. I wanted to make them gentle and to love me. You see the result."

"Oh!" said Mr. Barlow, "you don't seem to know that there is a right way and a wrong way of doing a thing."

SPRING.

I AM coming, little maiden,

With the pleasant sunshine laden,

With the honey for the bee,

With the blossom for the tree;

With the flower, and with the leaf,
Till I come, the time is brief.

I am coming, I am coming,
Hark, the little bee is humming,
See, the lark is soaring high
In the bright and sunny sky,
And the gnats are on the wing,
Wheeling round in airy ring.

Sandford and Merton.

See the yellow catkins cover
All the slender willows over,
And on banks of mossy green,
Starlike primroses are seen,

And their fine green leaves below,

White and purple violets blow.

Hark! how the new-born lambs are bleating,
And the cawing rooks are meeting,

In the elms, a noisy crowd;
All the birds are singing loud,
And the first white butterfly,
In the sunshine dances by.
Look around thee, look around,
Flowers in all the fields abound;
Every running stream is bright,
All the orchard trees are white;
And each small and waving shoot,
Promises sweet flowers and fruit.
Turn thy eyes to earth and heaven,
God, for thee, the spring has given;
Taught the birds their melodies,
Clothed the earth, and cleared the skies,
For thy pleasure, or thy food,

Pour out thy soul in gratitude.

The Dutiful Deg.

A gentleman, who was staying at an inn, one

day took out his purse to see how much Presently he went away

had.

for

money

he

some time,

leaving his dog behind. Having occasion to open his purse again, he missed a sovereign. When the gentleman returned to his inn, he was told that his dog must be ill, for he would not touch his dinner. It was strange, however, that he would not allow it to be taken away. But on his

the dog instantly

came to

master entering the room, him and dropped a sovereign at his feet. He then returned to his platter, and devoured his dinner with all the haste of sharp hunger.

the dog would not eat his dinner ?

tell why

Can you

THE RAT WITH THE BELL.

A LARGE, old house in the country was so over-run with rats that nothing could be kept safe. They climbed the walls to attack flitches of bacon, though hung as high as the ceiling. They got down into the store-room and cleared it of all jams and jellies. They gnawed through cupboard floors and ran races behind the walls.

The cats could not get at them; they were too cunning and too well fed to meddle with poison; and the traps only now and then caught a heed less youngster. One, however, was at last caught. A