THE BOY WHO HAD PRESENCE OF MIND. 141

clearly and acted wisely in a moment of danger. This quality of mind is very valuable. Children should cultivate it in little things by not allowing themselves to be frightened at trifles. Some little folks, for example, act wildly if they see a cow or a dog near them; if, in crossing a street, a horse is coming towards them, they run wildly hither and thither; if they hear an unusual sound in or near the house at night, they grow so scared that you can almost hear their hearts beat. Such conduct shows want of clear thought and wise action. It is the opposite of presence of mind. Those easily-frightened little folks should try very hard to think clearly and act wisely whenever they see anything that alarms them.

THE WASP AND THE BEE.

A WASP met a bee that was just buzzing by,
And he said, 'Little cousin, can you tell me why
You are loved so much better by people than I?
My back shines as bright and as yellow as gold,
And my shape is most elegant, too, to behold,
Yet nobody likes me for that, I am told.'

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'Ah, cousin,' the bee said, 'tis all very true, But if I were half as much mischief to do, Indeed they would love me no better than you. You have a fine shape and a delicate wing, They own you are handsome, but then there's one thing

They cannot put up with, and that is your sting.

'My coat is quite homely and plain, as you see,
Yet nobody ever is angry with me,

Because I'm a harmless, and diligent bee.'
From this little story let people beware,

Because, like the wasp, if ill-natured they are, They will never be loved, though they're ever so fair.

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF IT.

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ROBINET, a peasant living in a province of France, after a hard day's work at the next market-town, was returning home with a basket in his hand. 'What a delicious supper I shall have,' said he to himself. This piece of kid, well stewed down, with my onions sliced, thickened with my meal, and seasoned with my salt and pepper, will make a dish fit for the table of a prince. Then I have a good piece of barley-loaf at home to finish with. How I long to be at it!'

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A noise in the hedge now attracted his notice, and he spied a squirrel nimbly running up a tree, and popping into a hole between the branches. 'Ha!' thought he,' what a nice present a nest of young squirrels will be to my little master! I'll try if I can get it.' Upon this, he set down his basket in the road, and began to climb up the tree. He had half ascended, when casting a look at his basket, he saw a dog with his nose in it, ferreting out the piece of kid's flesh. He made all possible speed down, but the dog was too quick for him,

Robinet

and ran off with the meat in his mouth. looked after him- Well,' said he, then I must be content with plain soup-and no bad thing neither.'

He travelled on, and came to a little cottage by the road side, where an acquaintance of his was sitting on a bench in front, taking some refreshment. He invited Robinet to share it with him. Robinet seated himself by his friend, and set his basket on the bench close by him. A tame raven, which was kept at the house, came slily behind him, and perching on the basket, stole away the bag in which the meal was tied up, and hopped off with it to his hole. Robinet did not perceive the theft till he had got on his way again. He returned to search for his bag, but could hear no tidings of it. 'Well,' says he, 'my soup will be the thinner; but I will boil a slice of bread with it, and that will do it some good at least.'

He went on again, and arrived at a little brook, over which was laid a narrow plank. A young woman coming up to pass at the same time, Robinet gallantly offered his hand. As soon as she had reached the middle, either through fear or sport, she shrieked out, and cried she was falling. Robinet, hastening to support her with his other hand, let his basket drop into the stream. As soon as she was safe over, he jumped in and seized it again, but when he took it out, he perceived that all the salt was melted, and the pepper washed away. Nothing was now left but the onions.

"Well!' said Robinet, 'then I must sup to-night upon roasted onions and barley bread. Last night I had the bread alone. To-morrow morning it will not signify what I had.' So saying, he trudged on, singing gaily as before.

THE BIRD'S NEST.

ONE bright morning in spring, many years ago, a poor boy sat under an oak, and took care of his sheep. All of a sudden he saw before him a handsome boy in a rich dress. It was the young prince, who was about ten years old. The shepherd-boy did not know him, but thought that he belonged to the forester, who came sometimes to the neighbouring hunting-castle.

'Good morning, sir,' said the boy; can I do anything for you?'

Tell me,' said the prince, are there any birds' nests in this wood?'

"That is a strange question for a young forester,' said the boy: 'do you not hear thè birds singing? Of course there are nests. Every bird has its nest.'

'Then I dare say you know where there is one?' said the prince.

'Oh, yes, a beautiful nest!' said the boy. The most beautiful I ever saw. It is neatly woven with yellow straw, and lined with the softest moss. And there are five little eggs inside, almost

as blue as the sky that you see through the oakleaves.'

"That is charming!' said the prince. Come and show me this nest. I am quite impatient to see it.' "That I can well believe,' said the boy; but I must not show it you.'

The prince's tutor, whom the boy had not before noticed, then came forward, and said,—

'Do not be uncivil, my lad; this young gentleman has never in his life seen a bird's nest, and has long wished to see one. Give him this pleasure, and take him to it; he will not touch it, he will only look at it.'

The boy stood up, but shook his head, and said, 'I am sorry; but I must not show the bird's nest.'

"That is unkind,' said the tutor; it ought to please you to give pleasure to another, and above all to our young prince.'

'Is the young gentleman the prince?' cried the boy, taking off his hat. 'I am proud to see the prince; but I cannot show the nest, even if it were to the king himself.'

'Tell me why you cannot,' said the tutor. "If you really have a good reason, it would be better to say it.'

'Indeed I have a good reason,' said the boy. "My friend Michael, who keeps goats up on the mountain, showed me the nest, and made me promise not to betray it to any one.'

That is quite another thing,' said the tutor. But wishing to test still further the honesty of the boy, he took out a purse and said, 'Do you see

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