"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so

Will

high;

you

rest upon my

the Fly.

little bed?" said the Spider to

"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin ;

And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!" "Oh no, no," said the little Fly; "for I've often heard it said,

They never, never wake again who sleep upon your bed!"

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly: "Dear friend, what can I do

To

prove the warm affection I've always felt for you? I have within my pantry good store of all that's nice; I'm sure you're very welcome-will you please to take a slice ?"

"Oh no, no," said the little Fly; "kind sir, that cannot be;

I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"

"Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise;

How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!

I have a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,

If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."

"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're pleased to say,

And bidding you good-morning now, I'll call another day."

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,

For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back

again :

So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,

And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.

Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing, "Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;

Your robes are green and purple-there's a crest upon your head;

Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,

Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by; With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,

Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue

Thinking only of her crested head-poor foolish thing! At last,

Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast!

He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,

Within his little parlour-but she ne'er came out again!

And now, dear little children, who may this story read, To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne'er give

heed:

Unto an evil counsellor close heart, and ear, and eye, And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.

BIRD-NESTING A TRUE STORY.
LITTLE HARRY went peeping the hedges along,
For dearly he loved a bird's nest;

He soon found a linnet's the green leaves among,
Then a wren's with the gold-tufted crest.

And next a fine thrush's, the lining was clay,
All smooth as a cottager's floor;

Then a sparrow's, a robin's, a chaffinch's gay—
He was never so happy before.

Six nests, and such nice ones, how lucky was he!
He knew not which most to admire,

Some had eggs, some had birds, but to watch them and

see.

How they grew was his only desire.

For mamma had oft told him 'twas cruel to take
Either young ones or eggs from the nest;

That the mother, if frightened, her brood would forsake, And she knew how to manage them best.

So to visit his treasures though often he went, 'Twas but to strew crumbs on the ground,

And to peep at them softly, well pleased and content
To find them all there safe and sound.

Soon, thanks to his caution, the parents less shy,
Would sit still when he came for a space;
Or if they flew off, they but hovered hard by,
And the young-they looked up in his face.

They would open their bills, stretch their necks up, and

seem

As if begging he'd feed them, and he

Began thinking mamma was mistaken, and deem
That frightened they never could be!

And wishing, oh! ardently wishing he durst
Take but one darling bird, one alone;
He was sure 'twould be happy, and carefully nurst;
It was hard that he could not have one.

With these thoughts in full tide, he was loitering alone,
Near the hedge, when a visitor came,

Who talked of bird-nesting, as many have done,
Without the least mention of blame.

J

He chatted so freely of tame birds and wild,

Of the ways to ensnare them and win,
Soon Harry perceived (more than half reconciled)
That this gentleman thought it no sin.

"But is it not cruel, sir?" "Nay, but why so?
If you tend your young nurslings with care,
Quite tame in a cage and familiar they'll grow,
And as happy as birds in the air."

The very next morn the chaffinch's nest
Was empty and desolate found,

And loud was the wail of the parents' distress,
As they flitted distractedly round.

And Harry was missing, and none could tell where;
He was searched for in chamber and hall,
And then in the garret; and lo! he was there,
But weeping he answered the call.

The poor little birds, he had brought them at night,
He had foolishly hid them in bed,

And returning at morning, with grief and affright
He found every one dying or dead.

His fault, his mistake, rushed in pangs on his mind,
He was weeping with deepest regret ;

There was no need to scold had mamma been inclined'Twas a lesson he ne'er could forget.