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friends to subscribe one penny a week to it.'

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'I will give a penny a week to your box, Mary,' said Harriet; papa allows me four-pence, but I have something to do with three-pence, so can only spare one penny."

'How much will that be in a year, Harriet?'

Four and four-pence a-year.'

'Well, mamma, you know you and papa sometimes give money both to Lucy and me, we can put that into the box; and if I were to take such good care of my clothes, that they would last longer, perhaps you might give me some more money.'

'Very well, my dear; but remember to ask God to give His Holy Spirit to prepare missionaries, and to bless their endeavours to do good; and recollect, that though now while you are children you can do little in teaching others to know the Lord Jesus Christ, yet that

all the knowledge you can now acquire may be laid by as a store, to be used in His cause at some future time, and that even now He may lead you, by His Spirit, to come to Him and be saved.'

While the children were engaged in thinking of what their kind parent had said, Martha brought in little William ; the dear little fellow had a kiss for every one. Martha came to speak of some particular business to her mistress, which obliged Mrs. Stewart to leave the young people for the present.

'Mamma, are you going away? You promised to tell us about the tigers, and the fire-flies.'

I hope to do so soon, my dear; in the mean time, your aunt Fanny would like you to walk with her.'

They were all soon ready to accompany aunt Fanny, who was going to visit the Infant School. After spending an hour there, where the two elder children and their aunt assisted the

mistress to instruct her interesting little charge, they returned home along the banks of a winding river; each trying to collect a variety of pretty flowers for the flower-pots in the nursery. At the same time arranging them in classes, and endeavouring to discover their peculiar characters and habits, in which employment they were assisted by their kind aunt.

CONVERSATION XXXIV.

ZOOLOGY.

WHEN the happy little people returned from their pleasant walk, they found Mrs. Stewart in the drawing-room. They had much to tell her, something to show, and several questions to ask. As this affectionate parent always delighted in giving pleasure to her children, they were glad to be with her, and spoke to her with the greatest freedom and ease, mingled with respect. After some time, Lucy, as if suddenly recollecting herself, said,

'Oh! mamma! where is the fire-fly? do you not remember about it; and the tiger you promised to tell us of?'

6 Yes, mamma; and the birds with the nests, I forget the kind of nests.'

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'Pendulous nests, my dear; do you know the meaning of that word, Charles?' Yes, aunt, it means hanging.'

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'O, how droll! hanging nests! why all the birds' nests are in hedges, resting on twigs, or among the branches of trees.'

'Not all nests, Mary, even in this country; for some are made on the ground; and you know a swallow has built a nest in the corner of the nursery window, which, at Martha's particular request, your father allows to remain, and they return to it every year; but the birds with pendulous nests do not live in this country.'

'Oh! mamma, I long to hear about them; and the bats too, that eat the young birds.'

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And, if you please, aunt, will you tell me what the yellow paint is made of which is called gamboge?'

"Yes, mamma, and tell us about the monkeys too, if you please.'

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