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THE BIBLE COVERED WITH DUST.

When I was young, there were few pretty little books for children to be met with'; no persons had taken the pains of writing them'; but now there are a great many books'-full of sweet and delightful instruction. Good little books, now', are almost as common as the wild roses and other lovely flowers in the valleys of the Alps': some may be had for a cent', some for two cents', some are as high as twelve', and some are still more expensive. You would do well, my little children', whenever you have a cent or two cents, or other money given you', instead of buying gingerbread and sugar plums, to carry it to the bookseller in your town', and ask him to give you some of his pretty books in exchange for your money'; but, I hope, that when you have got together a number of these little books', you will not be like my little friend George', of whom I am going to tell you a story.

You must know that I have a little friend to whom

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we gave the name of George'; he is a poor man's child, and lives in a neat cottage, just at the end of my garden: he is in his eighth year, and has been able to read his Bible ever since he was five years old. The first book I bought for him was his A. B. C.; and I am sorry to say, that by the time he had read it through', it was so torn that it could not be used again`; but as he promised me that he would take better care of the next book he had', I gave him a neat little Bible, and his mother covered it with red cloth. George was five years old, when this Bible was given him`, and he took great delight in it', and read it every day`; and I have often heard him reading it aloud, as he sat on the steps of his door', as early as six o'clock', when I went out in the garden to gather the flowers before the dew was off them.

So when a year and a half was gone, and I saw what a good use George made of his Bible', and found how many verses he could say', and how much he knew of all the pretty stories in it', I sent to the town for several other little books to add to his collection. When I presented them to him, he was very much delighted, and made a place for them on the shelf by his Bible. It was winter time', and the snow was on the ground'; so I could not walk in my garden', nor could George sit on the step to read'; but I considered that he would have a great deal of leisure to sit on his stool in the chimney corner and read', though I should not be near at hand to hear.

Several weeks passed away, and because of the snow', I did not see little George'; but when the thaw came, I put on my clogs* and went to his mother's cottage to inquire after him. I found the house very clean', and my little irfend at home. I sat down and

*Wooden shoes.

talked awhile with his mother'; and, upon inquiry', I found that George had spent some hours every day in reading. I was glad to hear this', but getting up to look at his books, as they were placed in order on the shelf, I was surprised to see the Bible covered over with dust, whilst the other little books were quite free from it, though they looked as if they had been often opened' and handled.

You may be sure that I did not fail to ask the little boy, how it came to pass that his Bible was so covered with dust', while there was no dust on the other books`; to which he answered, "It is because I did not want my Bible, Ma'am', when I had so many other good little books'; and so I have left it on the shelf till the dust has covered it over."

Now, as the little boy had spoken the plain truth, I did not rebuke him very severely'; but I pointed out to him, as I now do to you, my dear children', that you must not allow any thing' however good and pleasant', to lead you from the Bible', which is the best of books', and enough for the happiness of the whole world, if there was not another book to be found.

LESSON XIV.

THE CRUEL BOY.

I once knew a little boy, called Hugh, who delighted to hurt poor animals, and to see barbarous things. When any body told cruel stories, this boy would always laugh', his eyes would become bright', and he would look quite pleased. I will not tell you all the barbarous things which he used to do, lest you, also, should be a cruel boy', and should take pleasure in hearing them. This boy lived in the corner of a very

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wide and dark forest', near the mountains of the Hartz, in Germany`; and his father employed him in keeping sheep. There was, in the same country, another shepherd boy', who was as gentle and kind as Hugh was cruel. These boys often met each other', as they led their flocks to feed upon the mountains`; and he tender-hearted little boy, whom we shall call Claud', used often to reprove Hugh, when he saw him doing any thing cruel.

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Why do you throw stones at those doves, Hugh'?” he would say`; are they not beautiful to look upon'? and do they not make sweet sounds among the tall trees'? wherefore should you disturb them'? And why do you rob the nests of the singing birds'? What harm do they do you'? And what pleasure can you have in taking their eggs'?" "What is all this to you, Claud'?" Hugh would reply'; "I shall take my own way, and please myself as I choose'; you have no business to find fault with me, and I will do as I like."

It happened, however, one day in early spring', when the snow and frost had passed away after a very severe winter', that as Claud was driving his sheep up a sunny valley', on the very skirt of the forest', he saw Hugh, on a rock above him', throwing down large stones on something which lay at the bottom of the rock', where a waterfall, gushing forth', formed a clear and beautiful stream.

"What are you doing there'?" said Claud. "I saw a water rat'," replied Hugh', "and he has hid himself behind a bush', and I am trying to kill him."

"And what harm has he done you'," said Claud', "is there not room in the world for the water rat and you too'?" "I thought you would say so," said Hugh`, laughing aloud', and directing his dog to go down into the hollow under the rock, to help him to find out the poor animal.

Every shepherd in foreign lands keeps a dog to help him guide his flock`; and in wild countries these faithful animals are very useful to drive away the wolves which, on occasion, come out of the woods and attack the sheep', and sometimes even the shepherds.

Hugh's dog was a very faithful and sagacious creature', and obeyed the word of command in a moment: Claud saw him spring from the rock, as soon as his master directed him so to do', and a moment afterwards he perceived that he was smelling out the rat', which his master was trying to destroy': at the same moment', Claud saw Hugh lift up another large stone to throw down', and before he could cry out, “take care of your dog," the stone had fallen, and the leg of the poor faithful animal was broken.

When the dog felt the pain', he uttered a dreadful howling', which, echoing through the valley', put all his master's sheep to flight before the frightened boy knew what had happened.

"You have lamed your dog for ever'," said Claud, looking up at Hugh';" and this comes of your love of cruelty', and of killing and tormenting all that come in your way."

Whilst Claud was speaking, a dreadful growling was heard in the corner of the wood'; and two half famished wolves came rushing forward', and, leaping over the little brook, flew furiously', the one at Hugh', and the other at Claud'.

Claud called aloud to his dog, which was at his side in a moment', and came on with such courage', that the wolf turned round and fled to his place in the wood. But, though Hugh also called his dog', he was not in a state to come to his assistance. And when Claud was able to think of his companion's peril', behold, the unhappy boy was torn to pieces', and all that he and

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