AUGUST.

THE season advanced, and the days began to shorten, though this change was not very perceptible at the beginning of the month. The fruits were advancing to maturity, and many of the grains were already ripe. The Indian corn, although not ripe, was in a state to be eaten green, and furnished a most delicious article of food, particularly when, after having been boiled, it was cut from the cob and mixed with shell-beans. This dish, so great a favorite in New England, is said to have been in use among the Indians, whose name for it is now retained in some parts of the country, viz. succotash.

"Father," said Frank, toward the close of this month, "I heard John saying the other day, that he must make haste and get in his grain; for if the rains came on before it was housed, it would grow. Is it not good to have it grow as long as it remains in the

field? I should think the more it grew the better it would be."

MR. MILTON. "In a late season, or when the weather has been rainy, the grain gets beaten down to the ground, the seeds are shed, or rotted by the wet, and, if the weather is warm, the grain grows; that is, the seeds begin to sprout and put out shoots. Grain in this state is sweet and moist: it soon spoils on keeping, and bread made from it is clammy and unwholesome."

GEORGE. "I recollect, you explained this to me once, when I was reading Mr. Southey's story about Bishop Hatto, who was eaten up by the rats."

FRANK.

"Eaten up by the rats! What was that story, and what had it to do with grain sprouting?"

GEORGE. "I will try to repeat the lines to you, and then you will see.

"BISHOP HATTO.

"The summer and autumn had been so wet,
That in winter the corn was growing yet;
'Twas a piteous sight to see all around
The grain lie rotting on the ground.

"Every day the starving poor
Crowded around Bishop Hatto's door,
For he had a plentiful last year's store,