first of May; then we should be sure of plenty of flowers, and have a fair chance of bright weather.

In Greece and Rome they always kept a festival as soon as spring began to appear, in honour of Flora, the goddess of flowers.

At the same season, in ancient times, the English used to form long processions, carrying green boughs, and leading oxen decorated with flowers; they stopped and danced round a tall May-pole hung with garlands. The little girls still crown

their favourite companion Queen of May, and carry baskets of flowers to their companions. I like this custom. It used to make me very happy to receive a basket of violets and a verse

of poetry from my scholars: there is something amiable and polite in such little attentions.

Some make the May-crown of card-board, bound with gilt paper to resemble a king's crown; but a simple wreath of wild flowers, tied in clusters, is far prettier. Baskets of white pasteboard, bound with pink or blue ribbon, are strong enough. Those made with deep scalloped edges, to roll over, and fasten on the sides, are pretty; moss may be sewed on, to give them a rural appearance; but a great quantity would be too heavy for baskets of such frail materials. Here are some verses

suitable to put among the flowers :—

Anemones, violets, cowslips, for you,

Fresh from the pastures, all sparkling with dew!
Then, lady, twine them round thy brow,
And be as blithe as we are now.

Nature's rich carpet now is spread

The young vines spring beneath her tread-
This wild-flower wreath we bring to thee,
In honour of her jubilee !

The blue bird now begins to sing,
The insect spreads his tiny wing;
And children, too, are very gay,
To welcome in delightful May!

All the goodly things that be
In earth, and air, and ample sea,
Are waking up to welcome thee
Thou lovely month of May !

A DUCK, waddling from a muddy pond, thus sounded her own praises, as she went :- "What animal has such extraordinary gifts as myself? I am confined to no element. I can walk on the earth, swim in the water, and fly in the air. On no other creature has nature lavished such various talents!" A wise old cow, that was feeding near the pond, thus reproved the vanity of the duck;-"Let me tell you, Mistress Duck, that

you talk like a foolish ignorant thing, as you are. It is true you can walk, swim, and fly; but how do you do all these things? Why, in honest truth, you do them all so badly, that it is enough to make one laugh to look upon you. When you can swim as well as the beautiful dolphin, run with the fleetness of the nimble deer, or cut the air as rapidly as the graceful swallow, then you may, with some reason, talk of your various talents; but, at present, you will least be likely to be ridiculed if you remain silent."

MORAL. There is small merit in knowing how to do a little of everything, provided one does nothing well.

THE UMBRELLA, THE MUFF, AND THE FAN.

TRANSLATED FROM THE SPANISH.

AN umbrella, lying on the table with a muff and a fan, thus addressed them :-"How strange it is that you do not learn to accommodate yourselves to circumstances, instead of being fit for certain times and certain places only. You, Miss Fan, are used merely for a few bright, warm, summer days, and are then thrown by. You, Mrs. Muff, are hid in à corner until the cold and stormy winter comes; and when the cheerful sun shows his face, you are considered as an incumbrance. But I am used at all seasons of the year: I protect man from the rains and snows of winter, and I likewise shield him from the too ardent sun of summer."

MORAL.-We should early learn what is useful, without neglecting elegance and grace, that we may adorn any situation in which we happen to be placed. A knowledge of useful things will enable us to bear poverty more cheerfully; while' elegant acquirements will serve to dignify and adorn prosperity.

You take wondrous care of your glossy fur,
And keep time, meanwhile, with a drowsy purr,
As if you despised the vulgar old cats,
That jump on their feet at the sound of rats.