they alighted on a small upright log. And O, such praises as were warbled by the whole troop! the air was filled with their joy! Some were flying round, swift as a ray of light; others were perched on the hoe handle and the teeth of the rake; multitudes clung to the wall after the fashion of their pretty kind; and two were swinging, in the most graceful style, on a pendent hoop. Never, while memory lasts, shall I forget that swallow party.

The whole family continued to be our playmates until the falling leaves gave token of approaching winter. For some time, the little ones came home regularly to their nest at night. I was ever on the watch to welcome them, and count, that none were missing. Their familiarity was wonderful. If I hung my gown on a nail, I found a little swallow perched on the sleeve. If I took a nap in the afternoon, my waking eyes were greeted by a swallow on the bed post: in the summer twilight, they flew about the sitting room in search of flies, and sometimes lighted on chairs and tables. I almost thought they knew how much I loved them. But at last they flew away to more genial skies, with a whole troop of relations and neighbors. It was painful to me to think that I should never know them from other swallows, and that they would have no recollection of me.

.

XXI. TO A CITY PIGEON.

WILLIS.

STOOP to my window, thou beautiful dove!
Thy daily visits have touched my love.
I watch thy coming, and list thy note
That stirs so low in thy mellow throat,
And my joy is high

To catch the glance of thy gentle eye.

Why dost thou sit on the heated eaves,
And forsake the wood with its freshened leaves?

Why dost thou haunt the sultry street,

When the paths of the forest are cool and sweet?
How canst thou bear

Come then ever, when daylight leaves
The page I read, to my humble eaves,
And wash thy breast in the hollow spout,
And murmur thy low, sweet music out.
I hear and see

"Lessons of wisdom, sweet bird, in thee.

XXII. THE MONKEY AND CROW.

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IN the jungles about the neighborhood of Tillicherry, in India, there is a large species of monkey, frequently tamed by the natives; and at a village a short distance from this celebrated seaport we had an evidence of the remarkable sagacity of this animal. A few yards from the house of the person to whom it belonged, a thick pole, at least thirty feet high, round which was an iron ring, had been fixed into the earth; and to this was attached a strong chain of considerable length, fastened to a collar round the monkey's neck. The ring being loose, it easily slid up and down the pole, when he ascended or descended.

The monkey was in the habit of taking his station on the top of the bamboo, where he seemed to be watching with de

light the varied prospect around him. The crows, which in India are very abundant and singularly audacious, taking advantage of his elevated position, had been in the daily habit of robbing him of his food, which was placed every morning and evening at the foot of the pole.

To this he had vainly expressed his dislike by chattering and other expressions of his displeasure equally vain: nothing that he could do was of any avail to scare away these unwelcome intruders upon his repasts. He tried various modes to banish them, but they continued to steal more or less of his allowance every day. Finding that he was perfectly unheeded, he formed a plan of retribution as effectual as it was ingenious. One morning, when his tormentors had been particularly troublesome, he appeared as if seriously ill; he closed his eyes, drooped his head, and acted as if he were in much pain. No sooner were his ordinary rations placed at the foot of the bamboo, than the crows, watching their opportunity, descended in great numbers, and according to their usual practice, began to demolish his provisions.

The monkey now began to slide down the pole by slow degrees, as if the effort were painful to him, and as if so overcome by illness that his remaining strength was scarcely equal to the exertion. When he reached the ground, he rolled about for some time, seeming to be in great pain, until he found himself close by the vessel employed to contain his food, which the crows had by this time well nigh devoured.

There was still, however, some remaining, which a solitary bird, emboldened by the apparent sickness of the monkey, advanced to seize. The wily creature was at this time lying in a state of apparent insensibility at the foot of the pole, and close by the pan. The moment the crow stretched out its head, and before it could secure a mouthful of the forbidden food, the watchful avenger seized the thief by the neck with the rapidity of thought, and secured it from doing further mischief.

He now began to grin and chatter with every expression of

triumph, while the crows flew around, cawing most noisily, as if begging mercy for their captive companion. The monkey continued a while to grin and chatter in mockery of their distress; he then deliberately placed the captive crow between his knees, and began to pluck it with the most humorous gravity. When he had completely stripped it, except the large feathers in the wings and tail, he flung it into the air as high as his strength would permit ; and the crow, after flapping its wings for a few seconds, fell on the ground with a stunning shock.

The other crows, which had been so fortunate as to escape a similar fate, now surrounded it, and immediately pecked it to death. The expression of joy on the monkey's countenance was altogether indescribable; and he had no sooner seen this fate inflicted upon the purloiner of his repast, than he ascended the bamboo to enjoy a quiet repose. The next time his food was brought, not a single crow approached it; and I dare say that he was never again troubled by those voracious intruders.

XXIII.-THE MOCKING BIRD.

J. R. DRAKE.

EARLY on a pleasant day
In the poet's month of May,
Field and forest looked so fair,
So refreshing was the air,

That, in spite of morning dew,
Forth I walked where tangling grew

Many a thorn and breezy bush;

When the redbreast and the thrush

Gayly raised their early lay,
Thankful for returning day.

Every thicket, bush, and tree
Swelled the grateful harmony;

As it mildly swept along,

Echo seemed to catch the song;

But the plain was wide and clear;
Echo never whispered near.
From a neighboring mocking bird
Came the answering notes I heard.

Soft and low the song began:
I scarcely caught it as it ran
Through the melancholy trill
Of the plaintive whippoorwill,
Through the ringdove's gentle wail,
Chattering jay and whistling quail,
Sparrow's twitter, catbird's cry,
Red bird's whistle, robin's sigh,
Blackbird, bluebird, swallow, lark ;
Each his native note might mark.
Oft he tried the lesson o'er,
Each time louder than before.
Burst at length the finished song;
Loud and clear it poured along;
All the choir in silence heard.
Hushed before this wondrous bird,
All transported and amazed,
Scarcely breathing, long I gazed.
Now it reached the loudest swell;
Lower, lower, now it fell,
Lower, lower, lower still;

Scarce it sounded o'er the rill.
Now the warbler ceased to sing;

Then he spread his russet wing,
And I saw him take his flight
Other regions to delight.

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