دل

MAN in New Jersey (United States) told me the following circumstances respecting himself and one of his neighbours:

I once owned a large number of hens. I generally kept them shut up. But, one spring, I determined to let them ru run in my yard, after I had clipped their wings so as they could not fly. One day, when I came home to dinner, I learned that one of my neighbours had been there, full of wrath, to let me know my hens had been in his garden, and that he had killed several of my yard. I was greatly

enraged because he had killed my beautiful hens, that I valued so much. I determined at t once to be revenged, to sue him, or in some way to get redress. I sat down and ate my dinner as calmly as I could. By the time I had finished my meal I became more cool, and thought that, perhaps, it was best not to fight with my neighbour about hens, and thereby make him my bitter, lasting enemy. I decided to try another way, feeling sure that it would be better.

After dinner I went to my neighbour's house. He was in his garden. I went out and found him in pursuit of one of my hens with a club, trying to kill it. I accosted him. He turned upon me, his face inflamed with wrath, and broke out in a great fury.

"You have injured me by letting your hens loose into my garden. I will kill them all if I can get at them. I never was so vexed in my life. My garden is ruined."

"I am very sorry for it," said I. "I did not wish to injure you, and am sorry I let out my hens. I ask your forgiveness, and am willing to pay you the damage they have done."

The man seemed confounded. He did not know how to answer me. He looked up at the sky, then down at the ground, then at me, then at his club, and then at the poor hen he had been pursuing, and said nothing.

"Tell me, now," said I, "what is the damage, and my hens shall trouble you no more. I will leave it entirely to you to say

what the damage is. I cannot afford to lose the friendship of my neighbours for hens, or anything else."

"I am a great simpleton," said the neighbour. "The damage is not worth talking about; and I have more need to compensate you than you me, and to ask your forgiveness than you to ask mine."

N

The Country Larson.

EAR yonder copse, where once the garden smiled,
And still where many a garden flower grows wild,
There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose,
The village preacher's modest mansion rose.

A man he was to all the country dear,
And passing rich with forty pounds a year:
Remote from towns he ran his godly race,

Nor e'er had changed, nor wished to change his place;
Unpractised he to fawn, or seek for power,
By doctrines fashioned to the varying hour :
Far other aims his heart had learned to prize,
More bent to raise the wretched than to rise.
His house was known to all the vagrant train.
He chid their wanderings, but relieved their pain ;
The long-remembered beggar was his guest,
Whose beard, descending, swept his aged breast;
The ruined spendthrift, now no longer proud,
Claimed kindred there, and had his claims allowed;
The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay,

Sate by his fire, and talked the night away;

Wept o'er his wounds or tales of sorrow done,

Shouldered his crutch, and showed how fields were won.

Pleased with his guests, the good man learned to glow,
And quite forgot their vices in their woe ;
Careless their merits or their faults to scan,

His pity gave ere charity began.

Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride,
And e'en his failings leaned to virtue's side;
But, in his duty prompt at every call,

He watched and wept, he prayed and felt for all.
And, as a bird each fond endearment tries
To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies,
He tried each art, reproved each dull delay,
Allured to brighter worlds, and led the way.

OLIVER GOLDSMITH.

Young Scholars' Compositions.

A DAY AT LYME REGIS.

IT was a delightful day in the autumn of last year when, with a few friends, we set forth on an excursion to Lyme Regis. Having seated ourselves in a carriage hired for the purpose, we were soon on our way. The scenery for miles around was most enchanting, and, being a wellwooded country, the different shades of foliage afforded a very picturesque view. We passed by fields where the corn was fast ripening, and, further on, the reapers were beginning to cut down the golden sheaves and bind them up in bundles to be carried away. But soon another scene presented itself, for we were nearing the precincts of Lyme. When there, we first of all made our way to the pier, on which we had a delightful walk. We soon reached the very extremity of it, and, there sitting down, we watched the vessels discharging their cargoes, while far away in the distance we could see the white sails gliding gently over the smooth waters, and at length disappearing from our view. Feeling rather hungry, we began to retrace our steps to the town, where, after taking some refreshment, we walked about, and finally, getting tired of that, we proceeded for a walk on the cliffs. But our time was getting short, and we returned once more and found that our carriage was waiting to take us home. We had a delightful drive back. All was rest and quiet. The reapers had left their work, the birds had ceased their warbling, and the moon was shining brightly over all. At last we came in sight of Seaton lights, and in a few minutes we reached our homes, having had a delightful holiday, though rather fatigued with the day's exercise. ELIZA BAILEY, aged 13.

Sir W. C. Trevelyan's School, Seaton Devon.

AN EXCURSION ROUND THE ISLE OF WIGHT. LAST Summer I and a few friends agreed to have an excursion round the Isle of Wight; so one morning in July we left Shirley at eight o'clock, arrived at Southampton about nine, and left the Royal Pier about half an hour afterwards in the steamer Vectis. The weather was fine till we arrived at Cowes, when it began to rain, but it soon ceased. After we left Cowes we passed by one of the new ironclads, the Royal Sovereign; it is very large, but lies low in the water. We steamed slowly down the Solent, and passed several small fishing towns on the shore. When we reached the Needle Rocks it became very rough, and most of those on board were sea-sick. We reached Shanklin about two o'clock in the afternoon, where the steamer stopped. We landed here, and walked about for two hours. The chief place of interest in Shanklin is the "Chine," which is very grand. When we got on board the steamer again it was calmer, and we had a pleasant voyage home. We passed the Queen's marine residence (Osborne House) just after leaving Ryde. We reached Southampton about eight o'clock, having thoroughly enjoyed the day's excursion. EDWARD GODDEN, aged 14. Shirley National School.—I certify this to be the production of the boy whose name it bears. W. ROLFE, Master.

A DAY AT BURY ST. EDMUNDS,

Ar the age of eleven I and my brother, having had the promise of a day's holiday, chose to go to Bury St. Edmunds to see the annual gala. As the 'bus hired from Newmarket for our village was full, the only chance left us was to go by rail. We took train at Dullingham, being the nearest station, and arrived at Bury St. Edmunds about 10:30 a.m., where we were met by our friends living in the town. We then proceeded to the cricket-ground, from whence the procession started. It was a very grand spectacle, headed by four bands of music and followed by three clubs, the Oddfellows, the Foresters, and Ancient Shepherds, dressed in the orders of their clubs. These were followed by about 10,000 persons. They marched through the main streets, all shops being closed in honour of the day. When they came to the Angel Hill, volleys were fired as a greeting to the old Abbey Grounds, where the sports were held. At one o'clock we took our tickets, and after a great crush we reached the inside of the grounds, where every sport imaginable awaited us. It being a fine day, we paraded the grounds until our attention was drawn towards the acting-stage. Here we witnessed a great variety of performances, such as tightrope dancing, toppling, and comic and sentimental singing. In another part of the grounds there were various races: amongst them there was an amusing donkey race. We then visited the Horticultural Show, where we saw some very fine fruit and vegetables. At five o'clock we were all very glad to hear the bell ring for tea. Water was boiled by an engine placed there for that purpose. After tea, uncle told us the story of the ruined walls, the remains of ancient wars, and showed us the tombs of noble warriors who fell on the battlefield. Balloons were then sent up, and the grounds were illuminated. A grand display of fireworks, which continued till 11 p.m., brought the day's festivities to a close. The amusements being over, the music struck up and played us out of the grounds. We then returned home, well satisfied with what we had CHARLES A. MORLING, aged 13.

seen.

Steeple Morden School, Royston.-I certify this to be Charles A. Morling's own work. ELIZABETH REED, Mistress.

A DAY AT STURTON TOWER, IN SOMERSET. ON a nice summer day I went with some friends to Sturton Tower, which is a very ancient building. We started at half-past eight in the morning. We went through Motcombe, and from thence to the large woods of Sturton. The tower stands on a hill, overlooking the woods and valleys. We ascended the tower by going round and round until we reached the top. Sometimes we found loopholes, where the archers used to sit in olden times and shoot the besiegers who surrounded the tower. This was where Alfred the Great was obliged to hide himself. It is said that he and a few followers were obliged to stay here a very long time without water; that they prayed to God for water, and a spring sprang up; and that they put up a monument at the place where it sprang up, in thankfulness to God. At the top of the tower is a marble balcony, with iron railings round it. When we got to the top of the steps there was an opening which led to the balcony. From the balcony we could see, with a telescope, ships going up and down

the Bristol Channel, When we came down from the top of the tower we had dinner, for the ride had made us hungry. After dinner we played cricket; and them we had tea. We boiled the kettle out of doors, for which we got fuel out of the wood below. After tea we went home, having enjoyed ourselves very much indeed. We reached home about half-past seven, and were quite tired with our holiday.. GEORGE COLLIER, aged 13. Charlton National School, Ludwell, Salisbury.—I certify that the above is the work of the boy whose name it bears. CHARLES VELDEN, Master.

Editor's Examinations.

Answers should reach the Editor by the 10th instant. They should be written on only one side of the paper, and should not contain a larger number of words than would fill one-half or three-quarters of a page of this Magazine. Each answer should be signed by the writer, and should state his age from his last birthday. Boys and girls who have completed their thirteenth year are eligible to answer the first question; boys and girls under thirteen must confine themselves to the second question. The papers written by scholars of the same age will be examined together, and the writers of the two best in each division will receive a prize. All papers should contain a certificate from the teacher of the school that they have been honestly worked. Transcription is not composition.

SUBJECTS FOR THIS MONTH.

For Seniors. (Boys and girls of the ages of 13, 14, 15, and 16.) Write an essay on the precious metals (limited to 300 words).

For Juniors.-(Boys and girls of the ages of 9, 10, 11, and 12.) A map of the county in which your school is situated (to be copied from John Heywood's county maps).

The Publisher has much pleasure in giving PRIZES to the writers of the two best answers to each question in every number. The first prize will be a book of the value of FIVE SHILLINGS; the second, a book of the value of THREE SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE. Two books of each kind will be given-four in all; but a Scholar, after taking one prize, cannot obtain another until an interval of six months has elapsed. Should his paper during that time obtain the distinction which would otherwise entitle him to a prize, it will be printed in its proper position, but the prize will be awarded to the Scholar who has written the answer next in merit.

PRIZES FOR LAST MONTH'S SUBJECTS.

A five shillings prize to CHARLES SMITH, aged 13 years, National School, Ardwick-le-Street, near Doncaster; and to JOHN LANDER, aged 11 years, Board Schools, Saltash.

A three shillings and sixpenny prize to SAMUEL RAWSON, aged 14 years, Riddings National School; and to F. W. SETTLE, aged -12 years, Great George Street Model School, Salford.