What I preserve can perish never, 2. "I speak all dialects; by me EI The deaf may hear, the blind may see, 3 "I am an omnipresent soul; I live and move throughout the whole; 4. "All that philosophers have sought, 5. "Ah! who like me can bless or curse? And shame on him who wrongs the press!" James Montgomery. 1 WHY need I strive and sigh for wealth? It is enough for me That Heaven hath sent me strength and health, A spirit glad and free: Grateful these blessings to receive, I sing my hymn at morn and eve. 2. On some, what floods of riches flow! The more they have, they seek increase: 8 A vale of gloom this world they call; Much happiness it has for all, And none are grudged a share. The little birds, on new-tried wing, And insects revel in the spring. 4. For love of us, hills, woods and plains, And birds sing far and near sweet strains, "Rise," sings the lark, "your tasks to ply!" The nightingale sings "lullaby.” 5. And when the obedient sun goes forth, When bloom o'erspreads the glowing earth, I think these glories that I see 6. Then loud I thank the Lord above, 1. WHEN Sir Astley Cooper, a celebrated English surgeon, was a boy at school, and not yet thirteen years old, he gave a memorable proof of his calm courage in dealing with that human frame, which afterwards formed the chief subject of his laborious study. A son of his foster-mother, a lad rather older than himself, while driving a cart loaded with coals for the vicar,EI fell in front of the wheel,82 which passed over his thigh before he could regain his footing, and, besides other injuries caused a laceration of the principal artery." 2. The unfortunate boy was bōrne home utterly exhausted, and sinking from loss of blood, which flowed so copiously that, surgical aid not being at hand, the assembled villagers, finding their efforts to stop it utterly futile, were in terror of his bleeding to death; when Astley, having heard of the accident, hur ried to the place. 3. Undeterred by the feeling of sickness which the sight of so ghastly a wound naturally produces, and undismayed by the affright of the trembling spectators, he, with consum'mate presence of mind and a firm hand, instinctively did exactly what should have been done, encircled the limb with his handkerchief above the wound, and bound it so tightly that the bleeding was effectually stayed till the arrival of the surgeon, with whose aid the boy was saved. 4. The faculty which he here displayed, and which is known by the name of "presence of mind," is one which we should all eultivate, both with a view to our own good and that of others If Astley, instead of bracing himself to a manly effort, had given way to the agitation and alarm which had rendered the grown persons about him unfit to render aid, the wounded boy might have died from loss of blood before the surgeon could have reached the spot. 5. An instance similar to that related of Astley is on record, in which a young girl exhibited equal presence of mind. A man reaping in a field cut his arm dreadfully with his sickle, and divided an artery. He bled profusely; and the people about him, bōth men and women, were so much stupefied with fright, that some ran one way, some another, and some stood stock-still. In short, he would have soon bled to death, had not a brave girl, who came up, slipped off a scarf from her neck and bound it tight above the wound, by which means the bleeding was stopped till proper help could be procured. 54 6. We should never seek danger, for that is folly; but if danger occur, we should call up courage to meet it firmly and calmly. Our clothes, or the house we live in, may catch fire· we may be thrown into the water; or, when we travel in a carriage, the horse may take fright and run away with us. In such circumstances, our persons may suffer great hurt, or we may even be killed. But there is the less chance of our coming to harm if we act with prudence, and coolly do the best we can to save ourselves. 7. In danger, some are so confounded by fright that they are quite unable to do anything for their own protection or relief. The danger is thus greatly increased, and they may be hurt or killed, when others would escape. In all dangers, it is of the greatest consequence not to become alarmed. We ought to try to keep ourselves quiet and watchful, so as to be able to do all that can be done to escape the impending evil. 8. Any one whose clothes catch fire ought not to run away for assistance. While we stand or run, the clothes burn very quickly, and soon scorch the body. It is best to throw ourselves on the floor,58 and roll ourselves there; for then the burning does not proceed so rapidly. If we can wrap a carpet or heavy woolen coverlet closely round us, we shall almost instantly extinguish the flames. 9. In making our way through a burning house, we ought act, if it be full of smoke, to walk upright. We are then in danger of being suffocated. It is best to creep along on hands and knees, for the freest air is to be had close to the floor. 10. If thrown into the water, and unacquainted with the art of swimming, we should not struggle or splash, for then we shall soon sink. We should be quiet as possible, and try to keep our lungs inflated with air. The body is lighter than water, and is sure to rise to the surface and remain there, if we do not exert ourselves too violently. 11. If run away with in a light vehicle by a frightened horse, if it appear most prudent to leave the vehicle, we should try to let ourselves softly down behind. It is to be remembered that, 'n going along in a vehicle, we acquire an im'petus, or tendency o move forward, which our will cannot arrest. We ought. therefore, in quitting the vehicle, to throw ourselves in the same direction it is going, so as to prevent the sudden check caused by reversing the impetus. Chambers VII. WAS IT RIGHT? 1. AN English stage-coach, filled with passengers, was pro cceding towards a large town. The conversation of the travellers turned upon highwaymen by whom the road was infested. and who frequently stopped and searched travellers. They debated amongst themselves as to the best means of preserving their money. Fach boasted of having taken his precautions, and of being quite safe. 2. An imprudent young woman, wishing, doubtless, to display her superior cleverness, and forgetting that frankness, in such eircumstances, may be ill-placed, said, "As for me, I carry all my wealth about me in a bank-note for two hundred pounds, but I have so well concealed it that the robbers will certainly never be able to find it, for it is in my shoe, inside of my stocking." 3. A few minutes after, th. y were attacked by highwaymer., who demanded their purses; but, discontented with the little thy found in them, they declared, in menacing tones, that they |