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the card on the lady's table, and blushed to see it almost covered with figures; she had time to think a little before the lady appeared, and she rejoiced to find she had fewer faults than the day before to mention : and great was her satisfaction when the lady rubbed off one or two of the figures. For many days, and even weeks, Elizabeth continued to pay these visits of confession to the lady; and one day she set out with a light heart, for she could honestly tell her kind friend, that she might rub out every one of the figures on the card. "I do not think," said she, "that I have done any thing wrong since yesterday. I have finished my lesson without a mistake: I have left nothing in disorder, I have governed my temper; and I hope I have not told the slightest untruth." The lady was almost as happy as herself; and Elizabeth felt so much satisfaction in the plan of self-examination, that she entreated her to permit her to continue it with her until she had quite lost all idle habits.

She felt very grateful to the person who had thought of so excellent a plan of instructing her how to become respected and happy.

She was not corrected all at once; no, many figures were daily put down on the card before Elizabeth was quite so free from fault as her sister: but she was amply rewarded for the pains she took to improve herself, by the esteem and affection of Emma and of all her friends, who now enjoyed her society, and respected her because she had shewn strength of mind to persevere in conquering the force of early habit.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

PRAYER is the soul's sincere desire,
Utter'd, or unexpress'd,-

The motion of a hidden fire

That trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,
The falling of a tear,
The upward glancing of an eye,
When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech
That infant lips can try,

Prayer the sublimest strains that reach
The Majesty on high.

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,
The Christian's native air,

His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters Heaven with Prayer.
Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,
Returning from his ways;
While angels in their songs rejoice,
And say " Behold! he prays!"

Nor Prayer is made on earth alone;
The Holy Spirit pleads,

And Jesus, on the eternal throne,
For sinners intercedes.

O Thou, by whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the Way,
The path of Prayer thyself hast trod,
Lord, teach us how to pray!

MONTGOMERY.

THE BEAVER.

THERE is no appearance of extraordinary sagacity in the Beaver when it is caught: on the contrary, it is only a mild, gentle creature, and is surpassed by many others both in cunning and industry; yet the natural history of this animal when left at liberty, is very surprising and interesting. It is the only quadruped that has a flat, broad tail, covered with scales. Its hind feet are webbed; but not the fore-feet, which it uses like hands. It is about two feet long, and one high. In figure it is not dissimilar to the rat. Its colour is light brown the hair of two sorts; the one long and coarse, the other fine, short, soft, and furry.

About June and July the Beavers begin to assemble on the banks of some river or lake, where they design to erect their building. They collect in companies of two or three hundred. If it is a lake, where the water is always level, they begin at once their habitations ; but if it is a river, they build a dam or pier, which crosses the river, so as to form a dead water. They fix on a tree that grows near, which they quickly fell with their sharp teeth, and always take care to make it fall in a proper direction, to be the foundation of their work. They cut branches of trees, four or five feet long, which they drive into the bed of the river for stakes, at regular distances, and fill up the intervals with smaller pieces; then, to make it waterproof, they fetch clay, which they plaster over the whole, and which answers the purpose of mortar. It is curious to see these industrious animals swimming with the stakes in their mouths. When the wall, which at bottom is generally ten or twelve feet thick, and, in length, often

reaches a hundred, is finished, they erect their houses: these consist of three stories, one above another; the undermost beneath the water, the two others above it; so when the water rises from floods or rains, they inhabit the uppermost tiers. Each story has a separate entrance. The number and size of the apartments vary according to the number of the inhabitants; however, they all live together very sociably. The building is completed by August or September, when they lay in their winter stock of provisions. Though during the summer they feed on fruits and vegetables, they content themselves with wood and leaves for the winter; taking care that the wood should be soaked some time in the water before they eat it. If the hunters destroy any part of their building, they repair the injuries with great exactness. If, however, this misfortune often happens, they forsake the place and go elsewhere. They have been known to place their dwellings on land, but always in situations where they could have a communication with the water. They prefer young wood to old the hunters take advantage of this circumstance, to plant trees near their places of resort, and when they come to fetch the wood, take them in nets, or hunt them with dogs. The beaver, when pursued, trusts to its speed as long as it can; but when desperate, will make a stout resistance. If unmolested,

the young ones remain three years with the old ones : sometimes they continue to live with them, if there are apartments enough.

Some Beavers make a new building every year; some only repair the damages the former has sustained. They are natives of North America.

They are hunted for the skin and hair, as well as for a substance called castor, which is valuable as a medicine, and which is contained in a little bag the Beaver is furnished with.

The hair is used in the manufacture of hats.

WHAT MUST BE, MUST.

"Now, you know, Master Henry, that you must come in; and you must change your shoes before you go to school, and it is almost school-time, Master Henry."

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Master Henry was playing at trap-ball, which he liked very much still he was quite willing to go to school in proper time; but he had a little false pride, which felt hurt at the manner in which Mrs. Betty conveyed the summons. "I will be sure to come in, in proper time for school, Betty," said he, stiffly; never mind me:" and he began again to play at trap. In a few minutes, Betty summoned him again: "You know, Master Henry, you must come at last, so you might as well have done it at first," she said, as Henry prepared to obey. This sounded like reproach; and Henry began to look angry; but fortunately, his mother came in a gentle word from her set all right; and, after using the utmost expedition, he was just in time for school.

Betty complained to her mistress that "somehow or other, Master Henry, since he had grown a great boy, would seldom come in when she called him. If she called him gently, he did not seem to hear; but if she called him sharply, he turned obstinate."

Henry's mother talked with him concerning this petulance. She found that it arose from a false kind of spirit, which made him unwilling to be obedient to a servant. She reasoned with him upon this: "When Betty sees you playing in the garden, and knows you ought to come in, it is kind of her to tell you so."

"But she does not always speak kindly."

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